Monday, June 30, 2008

Cringe

There's this family story that comes up occasionally when my sister Joe (tia lila) and I are together. It involves me getting righteous, indignant and feeling like the age gap between us gives me license to order her around (all of two years.)

It happened when I was elevenish. All time in Arabia is divided into two areas: the apartment (the early years) or the villa (the later years.) We were in the villa. Joe and I shared a bathroom. She had recently discovered that if you roll up a ball of toilet paper and wet it with water it will stick to the corners of the shower, the wall, crevices along the bathtub. . . all kinds of cool places.

Spit balls, really. In all the corners of the bathroom.

This disgusted me. I was not a kid anymore to be entertained or envious of such tricks. I was a woman now & appropriately outraged.

So I find Joe and march her with my arms on her shoulders into the bathroom to show her something disgusting.

"What do you see??" I demanded as we both stepped in to the bathroom.

"um. . .you've got your period?"

(cue sucking sound as all my uppitiness leaves my body)

Ah, yes. so it seems I've accidentally left my bloody pad on the floor of the bathroom. But look up, look UP, UP! Do you see those disgusting spit balls!

Yeah. So I cringe even as I retell this story, even as I did at coffee Saturday night with the sisters and a few others.

But I got to this story from telling a more recent story, one that had happened earlier on Saturday. Joe, Samm, my mom & I were all sitting in Mom's living room. Joe & Samm were discussing that virus that women are tested for just prior to giving birth. If they have it, the docs administer an antibiotic. I don't remember what it's called but I do remember that the virus is not a sexually transmitted disease.

So Joe, trying to cue dr. Samm's memory of what it's called, is saying, "Oh you know. And they tested you for it when you're in early labor? And Fruitfemme tested positive for it? What's it called?" She looks to me. I'm squinting trying to remember. "Chlamydia! That's right! Chlamydia!"

"WHAT? I do not have Chlamydia!"

For the record, blogosphere, Chlamydia is one of the most common STDs in the us. There is nothing shameful about having Chlamydia. My vehemence was only due to the fact that it was spontaneously announced to my mother that I had it. If you would like more information about how Chlamydia is spread or treated visit this CDC website. Just scroll past the tragic looking white woman at the top--ignore her. Back to the story.

Laughter proceeded as Joe perhaps realizes she picked the wrong virus. Laughter, laughter, laughter from everyone. . . except my mother.

"was there some chlamydia scare i don't know about?" she asks gently.

"NO. For the record, there has never been any chlamydia scare of any kind. Also for the record, there has been no genital warts scare, no herpes scare, no PID scares, no scares of any kind whatsoever. . . For real, Mom. Mom? For real. Mom??"

"okay." she replies with an unconvinced inflection.

i just cringed.

Friday, June 20, 2008

traveling like a mfcker

I have been on the road constantly for the last month. I know that this should technically mean I would be blogging MORE (from hotel rooms) but it actually means I have been exhausted and get to sleep as soon as possible.

I'm still traveling a lot. Tomorrow & most of next week. So bare with me. While you're waiting, send some good vibes out. I can't tell you where to send them, exactly, because those aren't my stories to tell. But if you send them out in to the universe in the next couple of days they won't go to waste. I promise.

love, the ff

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Joy in a new day!

Scully has turned in her comps paper!

AND SHE'S STILL ALIVE!

What she is not: she is not awake. I expect her to sleep the rest of the week. We aren't spring chickens anymore, right?, and Scully got about 10 hours of sleep since Friday. By that measure, we snoozed soundly when Khubz was a newborn.

So YEA SCULLY!
Even if she did see invisible spiders everywhere towards the end.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

dark here this morning

Thought we could all use some sun.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

what we have


single healthy embryo
alhamdillah

smudge


Smoke induced halucination
Originally uploaded by lumendipity
some things shouldn't be said
the universe pays attention
i should too