"Bergs in the 'Burbs

THE BLOG HAS MOVED!

2010-06-24T21:08:00.002-05:00

WOW! We're for real now. The new address is:

www.bergsintheburbs.com

Still working on getting the comment boxes to work on the blog. Subscribe to the RSS for now and I will try to get it up and running!

THE BLOG IS MOVING!

2010-06-22T12:55:00.003-05:00

Our new temporary address is:

http://web.me.com/drothenberg/bergsintheburbs/Welcome.html

I'm working on getting www.bergsintheburbs.com so look for that in the coming weeks!

The 'Bergs have new 'Burbs!

2010-06-18T07:38:00.008-05:00

Well, we don't exactly have a new home yet (besides the new home on the net.) As soon as our house sells in Nashville (Please, God, Please, God, Please) we will be moving to the wonderful suburb of Farragut near Knoxville, TN. Darren is excited to start a new job at a Distributor called Beverage Control, Inc. (And I'm so happy he's back in the distributor world. He is so passionate about managing people and never got a chance to do that working for the winery.)

Darren is thrilled to be back in his home town with a lot of friends and connections. I, however, was a little hesitant because I remembered Knoxville as a kind of dirty, crappy college town. (Being so in love with Nashville, I was also super-sad to leave our great community there.) I'm finding out every day how great the 'Burbs are here. We hope to "stick" here for a really long time.

So you don't have to worry, wine friends...you will still have your connection. New and exciting wines will still find their way to my table and I'll still be able to post about my suggestions and tips, so no need to get anxious.

I'm looking forward to staying home with Miller. Two days in Knoxville and we've already found a fabulous group of girls (and babies) to hang out with. I was a little worried at first about finding things to do during the day so the weeks don't get monotonous. But it seems like every day so far we've had an outing or something to do. Sincere thanks to Ashley B. for taking me under her wing!

I'm also excited to be able to maintain this blog a little better than when I was working, what I called, 2 full-time jobs. I've never been sure if people even read this besides my family (obviously preaching to the choir). So hopefully between the pictures, insight, and occasional food & wine tidbits I can gain some readers.

In other words....I'm BAAAAAaaaaaCCCCCCkkkkkk!

I know I've done it several times already, but I promise this time is for real. Stay tuned for updates on what's going on in our 'Burbs, because it's sure to be a roller-coaster of a year!

(Here's a little picture of Miller that Mimi & Poppy had made while we were on vacation. They're so sneaky!)

Things that annoy me in the news...

2010-04-08T20:39:00.002-05:00

'Nuff Said

Wine of the Week....(it's BaAAAACK!)

2010-02-07T10:22:00.004-06:00

If you're a Zinfandel or Cabernet lover, try this exceptional IGT Super-Tuscan made by Ruffino. It's juicy, spicy, and big: you'd be surprised to know that the blend is mostly Sangiovese. Modus is definitely not your Nonna's old-world Chianti. Think of it as a Napa-style wine with a hint of the vanilla/violet aroma associated with the Chianti region. Just plain YUM! Coming in around $30, it's a little pricey, but well worth it!

(And if you live in the Clarksville, Springfield, or Smyrna areas....please ask your local retailer for this item: Momma wants to win a trip to Italy!)

Whew! It was great, 2009, but we're moving on...

2010-01-08T16:59:00.008-06:00

I wish they had an app for Blogspot so that I could update while on the road. But alas, they do not. So since we've been traveling for the last couple of weeks/preparing for me to go back to the old grind, there has not been much time for updating. This one might be a little long.

We left to visit my parents in Lancaster for Christmas/Mom's surgery/last time we'll probably ever visit before they move to Louisville. Packed up in my TrailBlazer, let's just say the ride was tough. A snowstorm kept us from traveling our normal route and we were forced to take the long way through Atlanta. After ten hours, 6 stops, two backaches, one tired dog and one unhappy baby, we finally completed our journey. (I wouldn't want to have been sitting in a carseat that long either...makes me wondjavascript:void(0)er whether babies have their limbs fall asleep in those things.) Needless to say, the next day Darren traded in my "Lil' Red" for a brand new Mommy-mobile. The trip back was comparably a breeze.

Mom's surgery went well and we are so glad she is recovering so quickly! She is cancer-free and although she had to have one more minor procedure, we think the battle is over. What a weird 2009 it has been! 2010 is looking so much more hopeful!

Dad starts at GE on Monday and we are so happy that he's finally found a new career. He will be doing design work for their new Energy-Star washing machines, so any and all complaints about the ones you currently have will gladly be taken. We're hoping to maybe be able to "try out" some of his work, especially since he's set his mind on coming up with a completely sound-free machine. (Samples, anyone?)

We spent Christmas in Knoxville and drove back through the snow-covered Appalachians to D's parents house. Even a week after the snowstorm, the drifts on the side of the road were enough to bury cars. We continued his parents tradition of eating Chinese on Christmas eve by having a lovely dinner at P.F. Chang's. (Why is it I never get tired of that place? It is so good!)

Finally we made our way back to the humble abode. We spent the rest of the week storing up sleep and preparing for me to go back to work. So far everything's been a breeze. I forgot how much I love my job...I mean, I get to drive around and enjoy wine with some pretty fabulous people. (Of course, it'll be a little while longer before I can actually drink the wine...right now I'm sticking to the old spitoon).

Miller's having a great time at "school" and I'm so happy that we've found such a great place for her. She's still growing like a weed and if she keeps this up we'll be having to get a new car seat soon because I think ours only goes up to 22 pounds. I can't believe she's getting so big, so fast. (She's been so cute lately, cooing and talking in baby-language. We'll buzz our lips at her and she'll buzz right back with the proudest look on her face. Adorable!)

Then and Now

2009-12-14T16:14:00.008-06:00

In honor of our 10 year high school reunion this year, I thought I would post some pictures I found in my "Mr. Eggleston" scrapbook from 11th grade. It was great to catch up with all my DB girls at our annual Christmas Dinner, and I wish I had brought these pics with me to show. But here they are for y'all to enjoy! Merry Christmas!

Then.....

Now.....

(And sorry, Becca...I didn't have any fun pics of you in my book, so you'll have to dig yours up and find some since the rest of us have to be put through this humiliation!!)

Little Turkey

2009-12-09T13:34:00.007-06:00

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance...A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.."
-Ecclesiastes 3:1-6

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's a time to take inventory of the past twelve months that are slowly coming to a close and a time to give thanks for blessings past and future. It's a time to get together with friends and family and celebrate the good things in our life, even if the past year has been filled with hardship. We have so many things to be thankful for: most of all for Miller, who has a magical way of making people instantly forget their problems. Here are some pictures from Miller's first Thanksgiving!

Santa Claus is coming.....

2009-12-09T10:34:00.006-06:00

Over Thanksgiving, the family made a trek out to the Opryland Hotel to have dinner and see the Christmas decorations and lights. It was M's first visit to Opryland with all of the lights up, and the family's first visit in a long, long time. Here are some pics:

Old Hickory Steakhouse...our favorite!

Lights in the Atrium

Mom looking cute in a Santa Hat!

Stopping for M's dinner...

In front of the Grand Christmas Tree.

Walking through the Atrium

Pictures with Santa! (Had no idea he would be there or we would have dressed up more for the occasion....now we know!)

Confession

2009-12-09T10:22:00.003-06:00

It has been brought to my attention that I am really slacking when it comes to taking and posting pictures of M. And I will admit, I have NO excuse. I could lie and say "I have to SLEEP when the baby SLEEPS" and I have no free time for computers or scanning or writing. This is, by the way, the most annoying piece of advice to a new mom that you could ever give and I promise to never dole it out myself.

In truth, I should have all the time in the world. ***knock on wood*** M sleeps on and off from about 11PM to 11AM and is in a semi-wakeful state for the rest of the day. (For those of you who know me, it seems as though she has taken after her mother and can fall deep into a REM cycle at the drop of a hat). So the lack of posting is simply laziness (or obsessive constant cleanliness) on my part. (Now that Nellie is back, I spend a lot of my free time picking up dog hairs, ugh!)

I apologize. And I promise that more updates will be in store.

Things that annoy me in the news...

2009-12-04T14:16:00.002-06:00

Since I don't often have the time (or mental energy) to blog lately, it takes a LOT to make me pull the "Things that annoy me" out of the closet and dust it off. This irritates the crap out of me:

Pinhead

So you're a starting linebacker for a football team that is not only expected to win the SEC Championship this weekend, but also a shoe-in for a National title and you can't make a better decision than this? Police said they had to risk their lives just to jimmy open the car window to put the car in PARK after this kid drunkenly fell asleep at the wheel with his car stopped at a stop light! Have the foresight to take a taxi and not throw away a bright future: whether it be yours or an innocent's. It's called "tolerance" for a reason!

Miller gets a B+

2009-11-17T17:30:00.005-06:00

Today we went for Miller's 1 month check-up at the pediatrician's office. I was a little worried about her being fussy, seeing as our appointment fell between meals and I was sure she would start getting hungry. But alas, amongst the doors and doors of wailing children, M was quiet as could be. I even think I saw her scoff when one especially noisy child started screaming his head off. I know that today was just a good day and I'm sure there are bad to be had, but I couldn't help feeling so proud as our pedi poked and prodded her and she just laid there smiling. Even after her Hep B vaccination she just turned red, shed a few tears, then perked up like a coffeemaker and gave Dr. Mehrotra a big giggle.

Like we thought, she has grown considerably. It's only been 3 weeks since our last visit and she has grown over an inch and put on about 2 1/2 pounds. No wonder those dipes are starting to get a little bit tight. This puts her at about the 89th percentile of females, which I consider a solid B+.

Serendipatiousness

2009-11-15T19:39:00.007-06:00

There are two things that got my mind rolling this weekend about all of the strange coincidences that have occurred in my life.

First, I happened to catch one of my favorite movies: Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsdale. I love this movie even though watching it now (and not in HD) makes me remember exactly how old I am. Over the years I've become a total believer in "fortunate accidents."

Second, D's longtime friend Tony came to visit for the weekend. As I listened to them swap stories about their glory days playing for the Thundercats in Knoxville, I realized another strange parallel in our lives. If I had happened to hang out with a few younger, more catty group of "kittens" in my sorority in college I might have met him or his friends years ago. And this isn't even the start of it! The following are some more of the "serendipitous" parts of our lives that ended in our eventual meeting:

1) D was swimming for a country club in Knoxville when I was swimming for a country club in Nashville. His Dad and my Mom were both meet officials. Though D eventually quit swimming to play football, I continued on. When I moved to East Tennessee I swam in meets at Oak Ridge High School, where his Dad was the swim coach.

2) My swim team used to work the Vanderbilt football games to raise money for our booster club. I was probably filling drinks and counting change in the concession stands when D was out on the field playing ball.

3)When I was a senior in college, I interviewed for 2 jobs for after I graduated. One was a position with Gallo where I had the chance to go to either Oklahoma, Texas, or South Florida. I chose South Florida and accepted their offer. The other job was working in Knoxville...for D's Dad's company. Just weird.

4) Little known fact: I actually met D at a bar in Deerfield Beach the week I moved to Florida...a week before we started working for the same company, in the same division. (Little-er known fact: we both caught each other's eyes because we were the only two people in our office that could see each other over the cubicle walls!)

5) And the most "fortunate" accident of all...Hurricane Frances. If our company hadn't had a late meeting the night Broward/Palm Beach counties were evacuated, D and I may not have become so close. You see, I had no gas and by the time we got out, there was none to be had. So I was forced to hitch a ride with whomever I could. 24 hours later we were still in the car evacuating. Needless to say, we then became quite good friends.

So as you can see, I feel like the stars aligned after several missed encounters. It's funny how life goes sometimes, isn't it?

Catching up...

2009-11-14T10:41:00.006-06:00

So there have been so many things that I've had the urge to blog about lately, all of which are lost on the way to actually sitting down at the computer. Between bottles, visitors, changing my and baby's clothes 10 times a day from all the spit up (and consequently doing a bazillion loads of laundry a day) it seems my brain has become accustomed to thinking about the same 5 things over and over. It's turning into Jell-O. I need to blog like a senior citizen needs to do his crossword puzzles. So I'm going to cram all the random things I've thought about this week into one Blog O' Mini-Blogs. Here goes:

1. Banana Bread. I made it with chocolate chips this week. Simple but brilliant addition that I recommend you try next time you have bananas lying brown and stinking on your counter because you don't have time to eat anymore. Thanks D for holding our child for ten seconds while I could bake.

2. Champagne. (Excuse me, rather "California Sparkling")
I don't get to indulge as often as I used to, but when I do I make sure it counts. My lovely friend Hector with Freixenet sent me a bottle of their new sparkling from Gloria Ferrer called 'Va de Vi'. In one word: REFRESHING! Probably one of the most satisfying sparklers I've had in a while. It tasted like a fuzzy navel sno-cone from BeachHut smelled, bringing back great memories from high school. (Kingsport ladies give a holla!)

3. Speaking of High School. Found my old scrapbook from Mr. Eggleston's 12th grade AP English class. Laughed like hell when I turned to the "Likes and Dislikes" portion of the project. I liked "Black Mercury Cougars" and disliked "Paying $1.50 for Gas." My how times have changed. I think at some point I will have to scan some of those pages and write a whole post about how fat I thought I was back then. Jesus.

4. Fall. Both as the season and the verb. I love this time of year. I hate when D leaves the swing in the middle of the bedroom floor when I have to get up in the middle of the night. Let's just say I'm glad I didn't use many of my post-partum painkillers when Miller was born because I'm needing them for my jacked up knee now.

5. My friend Heather. I could kiss her for all the comic relief she brought to my life this week. (Not to mention all the diaper changes I didn't have to do because she was so excited to 'take care' of Millie.) Here's just a tid-bit: "Hey, isn't that the guy from the Red Stripes?" she shouts loudly as Jack White sits down at the table next to us for dinner. Good thing Chrissy was light on her feet and started talking about Jamaican beers. I'm still laughing about it now.

Ok, so I think that's all I have time for today. Hopefully I can be a little better in the future about finding a few minutes to blog-as-I-go during the week. (And so my brain doesn't turn to mush like those bananas on my counter.)

**she says as she stuffs her face with chocolate banana bread, yum**

Miller makes the funniest faces....

2009-11-05T17:20:00.009-06:00

....that I can't even imagine trying to capture on camera. So here's the closest I thought I could get to illustrating her funny looks for you all:

I see each of these grumpy looks about 20 times a day. What a silly, silly little girl! If I can manage to get this on digital, I will edit this post when I do!

Happy Birthday to me!

2009-11-05T07:51:00.006-06:00

I never really subscribed to the whole "astrology" thing until my friend Lindsay gave me a book called 'The Secret Language of Relationships' that blew my socks off. I never realized that all of my closest friends are either Cancers, Scorpios, or Pisces. Ironically, all water signs. (And D's birthday just happens to be 180 days from mine...a perfect trine in the astrological calendar.) Don't get me wrong, I don't live my life by the laughable blurbs in the Horoscope section of the newspaper. But it is nice to read the following as I forge into year 28 of my life. Geez, when did I get so old!

The Year Ahead: Forecast for November 2009 to November 2010

If You Were Born Today, November 5: You possess a rare balance between introspection and extroversion. You are able to look within for answers, and often do, yet reaching out to others and making social connections also comes fairly easily to you. You are quietly ambitious, and a strong sense that you will achieve can carry you far. You have an aptitude for the written word and/or you are able to charm others through your words. You are more adaptable than most Scorpios, yet you are determined in whatever ignites your passions. You perhaps appear to be more versatile than you actually are. You possess your own unique vision, and you are not a conformist. Driven by a quiet sense of a personal mission, if you follow your intuition, success is almost guaranteed. Famous people born today: Roy Rogers, Tatum O'Neal, Art Garfunkel, Bryan Adams, Vivien Leigh.

Your Birthday Year Forecast: The Sun conjuncts Mercury and squares Mars in your Solar Return chart. Your energy levels run high this year, but you should watch for hasty or impetuous behavior. Remember that "haste makes waste". This year is likely to be especially busy. You could be rather willful and impassioned, and it would be best to channel excess energy into healthy physical outlets. Others might find you temperamental. You feel a great need for action, but if you don't know where you're headed, you might take the wrong turn. As long as you channel the excess energy constructively, instead of wasting your time arguing or getting yourself into conflicts with others, you can accomplish much.

This can be a year when bursts of restlessness, rebellion, and impatience figure prominently. You have a tendency to take risks and to act on sudden impulses without considering consequences. You assert your will and individuality powerfully, and you are ready to fight for freedom. There may be changes in work schedules, or life's circumstances could challenge you in such a way that you need to change your goals or actions. This can also be a time when you tend to resist others and challenge them if they are trying to hold you back. Energy fluctuates this year. If you aren't too rash or impulsive, you might be able to free yourself from restrictive circumstances. You could also have more courage than usual to do things that break the routine, and confrontations engaged in this year could clear the air and help you to move forward.

Venus trines Neptune and Chiron, and you are likely to find yourself more accepting and understanding of your friends and lovers. Contentedness in love is likely to figure and to attract positive circumstances (and people) into your life this year. You are more imaginative and attuned to the world of beauty and romance this year. Gentleness with others is the best way to harness this energy and to attract what you want into your life. Social opportunities might increase, and a boost in your personal popularity and magnetism is also likely. Others are looking on you favorably, particularly friends and lovers. You'll have a chance to heal old wounds with regards to love this year. You're also bound to find new ways of making money.

Realistic optimism is your main avenue to success, while impatience or succumbing to tension and stress are potential downfalls. Social opportunities increase and an expansive, faithful attitude brings many rewards.

2009 is a Number Nine year for you. Ruled by Mars. This is a year of completion and transition. It is a time when we need to let go of things that no longer serve their purpose, and hold on to things that have a future. It is a time of cleaning out dead wood, not necessarily for new beginnings. It can be a time when a burden has been taken off your shoulders, and it can be a year of giving of yourself. Advice - let go of things that are holding you back, give of yourself and express your sympathetic, compassionate side.

2010 will be a Number One year for you. Ruled by the Sun. This is a year of action. The seeds you plant now, you will reap later. Others might find you less sociable, as you are busier than ever and you focus on your activities and your needs. Still, you are outgoing and your initiative is stronger than ever. Advice - Stand alone, take action, start fresh, express independence.

Four Generations...

2009-10-31T09:30:00.005-05:00

Miller met her Great-Grandparents yesterday! We spent an evening in Knoxville with D's grandparents who were stopping by on their way to Florida for the winter. It was a whirlwind of a day, but so worth the drive!

The whole gang....

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-27T15:10:00.005-05:00

From the 'Bergs....
Click Here

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!

2009-10-19T07:15:00.003-05:00

So on Tuesday, October 13th our baby girl decided to make a surprise entrance! Since I was one week past my due date, D and I had scheduled a birthday for Miller on the 15th. But I guess my body had it's own schedule.

After a questionable "was that my water breaking?" moment, we decided to go to the hospital to get checked out on Monday morning. We were 99% positive we would be returning to the house because I had absolutely no other signs of labor: no contractions, no dropping, no pain whatsoever. After sleeping in and having a nice breakfast, we made our way to the Labor & Delivery floor of Vanderbilt Hospital, joking that it would be a nice way to deliver a baby if it was the real thing.

One hour later I was prepped and ready for induction. My water HAD broken...which we couldn't believe! (Less than 15% of women have their water break before going into labor and reaching the hospital.) I was having contractions 5 minutes apart and not even feeling them. Thank God for good genes- this kind of painless labor also happened to my mother when I was born. I love you Mom!!!

20 hours, one episode of running out of the epidural, one allergic reaction to Penicillin, and 2 1/2 hours of pushing later....baby Miller came out to play! Face up, the only thing I remember is D laughing at the top of his lungs when her little chubby cheeks finally made an appearance. We had an overall GREAT experience and are really enjoying "learning" her. She definitely has a lot of personality. (And she looks JUST like D....what a cutie!)

I was back on my feet that day and doing spectacularly. (Well, other than the grotesque swelling that still makes my legs and feet look like giant sausages...ironic, isn't it? I thought that the last 6 months of cankles would be sufficient, but I guess my legs have other ideas.)

Stay tuned for more updates and pictures...and welcome to the world, baby girl!!

Baby Shower!

2009-08-23T07:57:00.015-05:00

So it's been a little while since I've posted, but believe me, I've had a good reason....let me tell the story from the beginning.

BAM! Flash! Ears pop and my hair stands up on end. Yes, my house was struck by lightning (while I was upstairs on the couch, nevertheless) Of course Darren is out of town on business for the rest of the week and I'm left to freak out and make sure the house isn't on fire. (Thank God for good neighbors!) Anyhow, we officially lost 2 satellite receivers, 1 phone line, 1 digital phone, and the internet for about 2 weeks. So that is my excuse...if excuses are even necessary in the blogging world.

So I'm back on line and have some baby shower pictures to post! Thanks to Chrissy, Heather, and Gina for hosting! It was a beautiful day at Gina's beautiful house....I really couldn't have asked for more! Thanks to everyone again for making it such a special day!

Outside on Gina's deck...it was 70 degrees and sunny!

Presents! Look at the cute duckie feet!

Putting the stroller together....one of my favorite moments from the day, I don't think I've ever laughed so hard!

okay, so maybe I did laugh harder that day....Dale and Darren putting together the pack 'n' play

Southern Food & Wine Show

2009-08-04T17:33:00.010-05:00

So this weekend my company kicked off our very first partnership with The Food Network at the "Southern Food & Wine Show." It was exhausting, but fun...and I'm really proud of us for pulling off such a top-notch event in so little time. (They gave us a little over 3 weeks to prepare!!) Next year is already on the schedule, so make your plans to come and mingle with winemakers and celebrity chefs from all over the country!

This was before I logged about 8 miles walking around Opryland

Yay for our Florida friends! So glad to have Chris (aka Snowflake) working in Nashville now.

Larry David Spills Seinfeld Reunion Secrets...

2009-07-31T05:26:00.003-05:00

Okay...so I just stole this from E! Online....how exciting!

"The context is that for years I've been asked about a Seinfeld reunion," he says. "I would always say, 'No. There's not going to be a reunion show. We would never do that. It's a lame idea.' And then I thought it might be very funny to do that on Curb. I kept thinking about it. I started to think of different scenarios and how we can pull this off. I called Jerry and Jerry was game. I said, 'Well, I'll call the others.' And I did and we did it. So we're doing a Seinfeld reunion show on Curb."

What exactly will we see during the creation of a faux reunion special? "We're going to see writing. We'll see aspects of the read-through, parts of rehearsals. You'll see the show being filmed and you'll see it on TV. You won't see the entire show. You'll see parts of the show. You'll get an an idea of what happened 11 years later. It will be incorporated into regular Curb episodes, so the castmembers will be playing themselves on Curb while all of this is going on."

Though it seems this could take up the entire season, he explains, "The reunion is scattered through the season and I think the cast will be on five shows. All four won't be on all five shows. Jerry is on five shows; the others will be on at least four. The season finale will be about the reunion show. It could very well be [a one-hour episode], but I haven't finished editing it yet. But that's a good possibility."

Friends don't let friends drink friends....

2009-07-30T15:01:00.013-05:00

So you might say that D and I are slightly obsessed with the new HBO series TrueBlood. If we don't catch the new episode on Sunday night, you can be sure it's on our DVR. I've even gone so far as to read the books (which I will warn you are addicting. I swore not to get ahead of the show, but now I'm on #6, go figure...)

But we both agreed that this is taking it a little too far.

The fictional beverage "TruBlood" has now been officially launched through HBO.com. You can order it from the website, but word on the street is that this sweet, fizzy, blood-orange flavored drink is already making its way to the Happy Hour scene for TruBlood vodka martinis and other fancy cocktails. Can you believe it?

I don't think we'll be seeing this in Nashville, but I have to admit I might try it if I did. For right now I think I'll have to pass on ordering it from the net...my weekly dose of True Blood is enough to get me through.

For those of you who are a little late catching onto this show, a little advice: watch from the beginning. And if you haven't already been convinced...maybe this pic of Ryan Kwanten (who plays stumbly southern sweetie Jason Stackhouse on the show) will tempt you to check it out:

What a cutie!

Get a load of this....

2009-07-27T16:33:00.008-05:00

Meet Miller! So it's taken my latest supercreepybutawesome ultrasound pictures to get me out of my posting funk. So here's our little angel! (Of course, take a look at those hands...I think she's rubbing them together plotting how to jab me in the rib or roundhouse me in my spinal cord. She's going to be a handful!)

She has Darren's nose

We call this one the "Beauty Pageant" picture...her umbilical cord looks like a "Miss Tiny Womb" sash

Don't worry...she doesn't have a hole in her head, she's just squished up against my bellybutton in this pic.

And for those of you who got really creeped out by these pictures, let me assure you that I did too! There's a real baby in there!

Big Baby

2009-07-01T18:33:00.004-05:00

Okay, so this is my greatest fear, people....

On the left- Meet Chelsea Rose Mackay, the largest baby ever born in Australia, weighing in at a hefty 14 lbs. She looks like a toddler sumo-wrestler! This is a picture taken in the infants ward of Townsland Hospital in Queensland, Australia, showing Chelsea next to a 2 lb. preemie named Melissa. This picture scares the crap out of me!

And Really Quick....

2009-06-23T07:38:00.005-05:00

I just added some new songs to the playlist:

1) "Keep it Together" Dedicated to Brooke & Brittany Maness for their miraculous 1400 mile trip to save shelter dogs! Go girls!

2) "Bad Things"- the opening credits to "True Blood" that I'm SO glad is back for it's second season.

3) "Beautiful Mine"- the opening credits for "Mad Men" that starts back August 14th! Can't Wait!

4) "A-punk"-the opening credits for my favorite XM radio show "Broadminded" that I can now listen to at home with my new XM receiver! YAY! I was so worried that I would miss out during my maternity leave...thank God for good incentives!

My Big Fat Geek Wedding...

2009-06-15T18:05:00.008-05:00

I just have a photo post today: a couple of pictures of my cousin took(she is getting married next spring) . She is very fancy in her thrift store wedding dress...aren't these are the most awesome pictures ever!?!

Wines for the Weekend...

2009-06-13T06:23:00.011-05:00

With yet another weekend upon us, I thought I'd offer up some general assistance this time around. Summertime offers several unique opportunities for indulging. Here are my recommendations:

Grilling Out-

I could drink Zin all the time and be a happy camper, but the varietal does offer a certain something special when matched with just about any grilled food. The wine usually has a burst of juicy fruitiness and a touch of some exotic sweet spice, making it a perfect match for that nicely charred goodness. Burgers, steaks, barbecue...you name it and Zinfandel brings out the best in it.

Disclaimer: Friends Don't let Friends BBQ Drunk!

Boating-

On a hot humid day, there's nothing better than being out on the water catching some rays. One mostly thinks of a cooler full of beer in these types of situations, which can be oh-so refreshing. But let's take a moment to think outside the box. Or in the box for that matter. My recommendation is the *gasp* box wine for any mobile water fun. We aren't talking about your parent's Franzia anymore, people. The quality of most boxed wines has improved dramatically over the past decade or so. Just make sure you fork out at least 20 bucks for a 3L box (it IS four bottles of wine, y'all) and you'll be sure to get something that doesn't make your mouth pucker. If it really is a hot day, I'd try to find a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling to cool yourself off, just make sure you take the time to chill thoroughly before departure!

Black Box now makes Marlborough SauvBlanc in a Box!

Pool Party-

Okay, here I will recommend one specific wine. It's portable, it's refreshing, it's just cool: Sofia Coppola Cans. It's sparkling wine in (what looks like) a soda can! You can lounge by the pool with your pals and the kiddies won't even know! Now keep in mind it is a Blanc de Blanc, meaning it is a true, yeasty French-like sparkling. You'll need to have some nibbles nearby or you might find yourself with a case of the dry-mouth. Find it (or ask for it) at your local specialty store:

It even comes with a tiny straw!

Consumer Reports...

2009-06-11T06:30:00.008-05:00

I have to admit, both D and I are not really into this whole "Global Warming" trendy green movement. Don't get me wrong, Darren's not driving down the interstate throwing wads of paper out the window and I'm not running the water while I brush my teeth...God Forbid! We are both just thinking more along the lines of not being wasteful than trying to prevent Florida from being overtaken by the Atlantic. So sue me.

Nevertheless, the endless displays of "green" dog treats and recycled toilet paper at the grocery store don't tend to catch my eye. But imagine my delight when I first see the new Dial Eco-Smart Refill Pouches! The idea is so simple! No more trying to tip the gigantic economy size plastic tubs of refill at exactly the right angle to pour into the soap dispenser only to have it come out too fast and doughnut up over the sides. To me it doesn't matter if it says "Eco" anything on the front...if it saves me time and money *dingdingding* I think we have a winner. (Although I must say it is satisfying to think of all the plastic bottles I won't be throwing in the trashcan.)

Here's a video that explains it a little more. Don't worry, you're not a bad person if you laugh at the SuperSavetheEarth-man narrating it....I found it very humorous too.

Wilderness Adventure

2009-06-10T07:12:00.001-05:00

This is unfortunately the only picture I was able to take before my camera battery died because I stupidly left the thing on for the whole car ride down. But yes, this is the view from the Lake House that D, myself, and 14 of my co-workers stayed at for a week at Lake Oconee in Greensboro, GA (aka the Wilderness).

We had a heck of a time relaxing, cooking-out, and playing poker....which I won by pulling out a Full House in the last round of our game....Sweeet! For a work trip, I must say that I rather enjoyed having a domestic, low-key vacation. (For those of you who remember last year's Cancun fiasco and my 2 week near death experience afterward which I termed the "Mexican Flu," you will recall that I never want to see a Mexican Airport ever again.) The house was amazing and we ate the most marvelous food. Between the waffles, filets, and Mitchell's killer Cast-Iron Pot Jambalaya, I'm not sure what was my favorite. Remembering the food makes me almost forget that I missed almost a day and a half of our trip after a horrific spider bite that landed me in the ER in Deliverance Country. Good thing it was a run-of-the-mill spider and not a scary-fancy-spider, otherwise the syringe of Benedryl they gave me might not have been enough. I guess it wouldn't be a trip to the wilderness without someone getting bitten by something....

(One thing I did learn from this experience, however, is that I will never use sleeping pills again! One Benedryl and I'm out like a light for at least 9 hours.)

What I'm Listening to....

2009-06-09T16:40:00.006-05:00

You have to have a certain amount of respect for the children of famous people who don't end up a total waste product, much less make something of themselves. Here are some artists who are beginning what I think will be pretty amazing careers. Check them out:

Ben Taylor, son of James Taylor and Carly Simon

His voice sounds just like his dad's if you catch it just right. And although some tracks on his album 'Another Run Around the Sun' are misses, there are a handful that I really love. Look for "Nothing I Can Do" on my MixPod (a song played at D and I's wedding) and "Digest." He also has a wonderful cover of Macy Gray's "I Try" out there, although I'm not sure what album it's on.

Schuyler Fisk, daughter of Sissy Spacek and Jack Fisk

I've been a fan of Schuyler's music since the beautiful duet with Joshua Radin called 'Paperweight' was released on The Last Kiss soundtrack. I've been a fan of Schuyler in general since her debut as Kristy in The Babysitter's Club, one of my favorite flicks from teendom. (Do you recognize her without the ballcap??) At long last she has come out with an album, called "The Good Stuff." There are some outstanding songs, like the catchy "Hello" and "From Where I'm Standing" that have been in her repetoire for years. Newly written tracks like "Good Stuff" and "Sunshine" show that there is only good stuff to come for Ms. Fisk.

Consumer Reports

2009-06-02T07:09:00.005-05:00

There are very few things in life that I say I could live without. Shoes, contacts, computers, thai pickle chips from PM....the list is actually quite small in the whole scheme of things. I am going to start a new mid-week series of posts, however, for those household items that I believe have been the greatest consumer products launched on the market in my short 27 years. I will start with my favorite:

Ladies, what did we do before the Pledge Multi-Purpose wipe?? I mean besides constantly spraying (and inhaling) Windex micro-bubbles of cleaner. Someone really had their thinking cap on when they thought of this ingenious product. Or maybe it was just a distraught housewife, tired of constantly being on the dust-bunny hunt. I find that keeping a pack of these in a drawer in each one of the rooms in the house really helps me keep my sanity. (And D probably doesn't even know they're there.)

One Dog at a Time...

2009-06-01T18:28:00.005-05:00

Nellie says click HERE!

Please visit my friend Brooke's blog "One Dog at a Time" to learn more about an awesome adventure she is undertaking this summer....all in the name of puppy love. I had no idea that people do what she and her sister are planning to do. (You must click to learn what I'm talking about.) It is so admirable! Please help her help shelter animals!

Chris' Graduation

2009-05-31T18:59:00.003-05:00

Had to post this when I got it today....my little baby cousin graduated from high school this weekend. He's the last of our generation and now he's going to college. I feel so old! I remember when he was born! Anyways, congratulations Chris and good luck at Auburn! War Eagle!

Fun Baby Things....

2009-05-31T09:32:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I have no idea where my dad found this...but I just wanted to post a quick pic of what might be the most awesome binkie EVER!!!

Whine Connoisseur????

How perfect is that...little Millie is so spoiled (and so are her parents!)

Wines for the Weekend...

2009-05-30T06:48:00.008-05:00

Barefoot Bubbly ($9-$11)
Ahhhhh.....I am finally back in a routine to do my weekly "Wines for the Weekend" post. This week, however, I'm feeling a little worn out and weary, so I'm going to write about an easy standby of mine: Barefoot Bubbly.

My love for Barefoot Bubbly was really thrust on me by chance. Every summer when D and I were living in Boca Raton we would work the Miami Boat Show and come home with 5 or 6 cases of the stuff. What were we to do but enjoy a bottle (or two) whenever we felt like it! It began to become tradition at the 'Berg household. A great, fizzy pick-me-up that was perfect whether we were having cocktails with friends or watching Heroes on Monday nights.

We prefer the Extra-Dry, bringing a touch of sweetness that matches perfectly when paired with Dole's Orange-Mango-Papaya juice that they sell at the grocery store. THE perfect mimosa...

Now there are a total of 5 varietals: the original Brut and Extra Dry, a Sparkling Chardonnay, Sparkling Pinot Grigio, and a Sparkling White Zinfandel. All to add some variety to your standby sparkling. ( The latter will soon undergo a namechange and become "Sparkling Rose".) I urge you to pick up a bottle or five to have at the house for unexpected guests. Because what's more unexpected than having a nice, refreshing glass of bubbly in the fridge for lounging on a hot weekend afternoon?

Coming along...

2009-05-27T06:59:00.002-05:00

We arrived home Saturday from a rainy one-day journey to Nowhere, AL to see my Mom's "people," as she calls her relatives. It was an exhausting day, only to become an exhausting week as D and Dad continued with their wainscoting project in Miller's room. I was hoping to post some 'finished product' pics by now, but unfortunately I only have 'coming along' pics. It's turning out that making all of the fine measurements, cuts, and miters have taken a little longer than expected.

Dad and D worked together like PB & J

Lacking chair railing and crown molding, hopefully to be finished today

Started painting last night (don't worry, low VOC paint here, people) You can barely tell the color difference in this picture.

R.I.P. Slammerhead!!!

Once the chair railing and crown molding pieces start going up the project will start coming together at a faster rate. We are so excited to have it all done so that we can start training Nellie to stay out of the room. She's starting to learn that she should stop at the door and lay down (which is really cute) but it will take months of repetition to make sure that she knows that Baby Miller's room is off-limits.

Vacation's Over...

2009-05-22T06:43:00.002-05:00

So we are back in Nashville and the vacation is definitely over (even though we still have 4 days left). Mom and Dad will be rolling into town today and the list of projects to be done is overwhelming! We will start the process of moving D's office upstairs, which means a tad more than just your typical spring cleaning. Getting all of his papers and gear transferred to a new spot will take all of the energy I have stored up so far on our restful week.

(P.S. Rest in Peace Wine Fridge...unfortunately we have no room for wine storage in our new nursery, darn!)

At least I'm looking forward to finally decorating the new baby room. My Dad and D are putting up wainscoating this weekend (see inspirational picture) and soon we will have baby furniture to buy. Thankfully we're not painting the room...we're going to leave it the same khaki-ish color with white wainscoting. I'm hoping it turns out in real life like it is pictured in my head.

Okay, so it won't be as fancy as the inspiration room, but I think you can get the general effect. I'm thinking that it will really help this room have some identity, being that it is the only one in the house without any real architectural feature to it.

I'm also really excited about our first gift for the room. Lately D and I have been like the Goldilocks of Glider/Rockers. This one's too small, too big, too Grandma, too right-off-the-set-of-Miami-Vice...there really are some ugly, ugly rocking chairs out there. My Mom finally found the PERFECT combo for D and I and I'm really still just in shock that she dug it up. (And it even has a recliner, to make those sleepless nights and little easier to take naps through!) I can't wait until everything's finished!

Here's Dad and Nellie checking it out!

And Oh, Joy! It is finally time to say bye-bye to Slammerhead...may he rest comfortably in the garage...(see original post)

Rothenbergs on Vacation

2009-05-18T09:13:00.002-05:00

“The Gastonian” circa 1868
Darren and I arrived in Savannah yesterday for a 3-day babymoon/anniversary/last vacation we’ll ever take by ourselves trip. We’re trying to soak it all in and unfortunately it’s soaking outside as well. But what we’re lacking in activities our B&B is making up for in charm. The Gastonian was built in 1868 and we’re directly across from the beautiful Forsyth Park in Historic Downtown Savannah. Our room is quaint with a real working fireplace (that may come in handy since it’s only about 55 degrees outside at the moment.) Our room is the “Mary Hillyer” room, named after the wife of the president of the Savannah Gas Company in the 1940’s. From what I can tell she was very involved in the historical preservation movement in downtown Savannah after the war. The once-family-residence has a beautifully restored parlor and kitchen where they serve high tea in the afternoons, cordials in the evening, and family-style breakfast with the other vacationers in the morning.

There are actually two residences that are a part of this bed & breakfast, connected by a wrought iron passageway over a perfectly maintained courtyard. We’ve peeked into all of the opened rooms in each building already, all but one. The Caracalla Suite. Listed as one of the “1000 Places to See Before you Die,” we’re strategizing as to how we will sneak a look inside the first-floor suite before we leave. Any ideas, please let us know.

(We made it! Here's a picture of the bathroom in the suite...a-MA-zing!)

Last night Darren surprised me with a lovely dinner at the famous “Olde Pink House” restaurant. It was superb for both of us, although D agreed that the braised pork shank I ordered was to-die-for. Yum.

Well, we’re about to head out to explore. Toodle-ooo!

The Olde Pink House...too bad the girl who took our picture couldn't work the flash!

Must-See Movies....

2009-05-15T16:40:00.001-05:00

Waitress
Starring Keri Russell, Cathy Hines, Adrienne Shelley, Nathan Fillion

This quickly became my one of my favorite movies of all time (and not just because I love Keri Russell from her days as Felicity, THE best tv show of all time.) The story is sad, but the comedic genius of the three main actresses keep you roaring laughing. I can't even describe, so I'm going to post a video clip....

P.S. This gets the Darren stamp of approval....he even jokes around with me with one of the quotes from the movie: "Now you have to promise you will NOT love this baby more than you love me!" So funny.

What I'm Listening to....

2009-05-14T06:42:00.001-05:00

Eric Hutchinson Sounds Like This

Okay, I'm gonna make this post short because I'm about to head out to work.

He looks like that nerdy guy that sat behind you in Accounting 202 tapping his pencil annoyingly on his desk. He sounds like 70 degrees and sunny driving with the sunroof open on the highway. I know you know what I mean....check him out!

Eric Hutchinson "Rock & Roll"
by brienta

Baby Jitters

2009-05-07T18:34:00.002-05:00

After all the daily doses of prenatal vitamins and DHA supplements I have been taking, my body should be a fortress when it comes to advancing bugs and germs. Sadly, this is not the case. Don't worry, folks, it's not the (shhh.....Swine flu). It seems that I have picked up a virus that's been floating around my office for the past week or so. No fun. And since sitting upright has become a job in itself, I have decided to take the next couple of days off to rest. Great, right??

Wrong.

Watching Erin Brockovich this morning was the highlight of my day. I started drinking hot tea with honey first thing, being that this is the only healthy sore-throat remedy that exists when you've got a baby in your tummy. The irony is that baby doesn't like said "tea." The nausea set in within minutes. It was all I could do to change the channel. Which I shouldn't have done....

Enter Baby Story and Bringing Home Baby and Listen to Mommy Scream Bloody Murder during Labor. For the first time I began to genuinely fear D-Day. I had to distract myself. I grabbed my laptop and began surfing the web. I had seen a commercial for a Nashville-Mom's networking sight and decided to log on. Maybe I'd get my sense of hope back about the miracle of birth.

Nope, wrong again.

Here I was overloaded with product placement ads and the general consumer-goods push of "What you need for Baby" marketing tactics. It was overwhelming to say the least! Boppy's and Bottles and White-Noise Emitting Teddy Bears, OH MY! We haven't even started thinking about these things yet! Here were thousands of people posting what color scheme they're using for their new baby's coordinating carseat and onesies and I'm still trying to figure out if I look pregnant or if I just look fat!

Maybe I'm overthinking things and I'll start becoming more Mommy-minded once we find out IT's gender on Monday. Either way, the Baby Jitters have definitely got me rattled...

To be continued...

American Idol Recap

2009-05-05T18:31:00.002-05:00

Rock Night!

First thing Darren says is "Randy Bedazzled his T-Shirt!" It's going to be a great show tonight.

Here goes....

Adam Lambert Whole Lotta Love

H: I completely agreed with Slash's advice...stick to the lower register, which Adam just threw out the window. I think he looks horrible in his outfit tonight. Sorry, but this didn't do it for me.

D: Uhhhmmmm.....pretty good, pretty darn good, pretty freakin' good.

Allison Iraheta Cry Baby

H: Love Allison's Hair! She sounds like the female version of Steven Tyler. Yes, I said that...rewind it on the DVR and see for yourself!

D: I'm feeling Randy...it only showed off her belting-it-out abilities.

DUET Kris and Danny

H: I thought it was pretty awesome, although Kris totally kicked Danny's butt. For some reason Gokey was a little pokey

D: Danny looked so nervous...like he didn't want to be there or he didn't want to share the stage.

Kris Allen Come Together

H: Kris is definitely holding his own, which is awesome because I think his voice is the least "rockish" out of the top 4.

D: He doesn't look very happy with his performance.

Danny Gokey Dream On

H: Did not like this at all. Danny needs to go BYE-BYE!

D: That was terrible!!!!! No. THAT was TERRIBLE!!! I think I can do that last note better than he did.

DUET Adam and Allison

H: Allison's outperforming Adam, I think. Hated the song choice. Hated it.

D: It was fun. They were good.

Rainy Day Wines

2009-05-04T19:25:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I got so busy last week I forgot to post my usual Friday "Wines for the Weekend" suggestion.

Actually, that's a lie.

I was just so gosh-darn lazy from all of the yucky weather lately I failed to do anything but curl up on on the couch. So here are my suggestions for wines that are great to sip while reading books or watching sad movies on a rainy afternoon:

1) Angeline Pinot Noir ($15-$17) This Pinot Noir is a very clear, deep ruby-red color with aromas of raspberry, strawberry and a soft whisper of vanilla. Great for snuggling in with a nice bowl of soul-warming mushroom soup.

2) Red Rock Merlot ($9-$11)This is a fairly simple, but good Merlot. Perfect for a long lazy day of sipping. Medium-bodied and fruity, the aroma is full of plum and blackberry with a bit of an herbal note on the finish.

3) NxNW Columbia Valley Cabernet ($25-$27) What better rainy-day wine than one from the Pacific Northwest. Flavors of blackberry, caramel, and roasted coffee make this a yummy choice for the sluggish cab-lover out there.

Twitter @hanacarina, @droth77

2009-05-01T11:31:00.000-05:00

Since I have been on a good roll with the whole "Blogging" thing lately (and I have learned all about joining Twitter from The Broads on XM155 earlier in the week) Darren and I are now officially twittering. We're new at this, and really feel like old farts because of it, but please follow us if you're also Twittering!

Idol Recap

2009-04-28T18:38:00.001-05:00

Ok, so Darren and I are slightly obsessed with American Idol. Therefore I find it only fitting that we start blogging our thoughts on the weekly performances. So here goes!

Rat Pack Night

We're really excited about this night considering it's one of our favorite genres of music. I'm just going to type as we go (Darren doesn't even know I'm putting his comments into words.)

Up first...
Kris Allen The Way You Look Tonight

H: Best dressed of the night. I think Kris is now my favorite contender. Can't believe what Jamie Foxx said though, a little much, I think. Perfect song! He finally hit a good last note!

D:I wish he would have had the Big Band back off. I like it though. I agree with Simon...he doesn't have enough to win it.

Allison Iraheta Someone to Watch Over Me

H: I like the softer side of Allison. I think she'll get a few more fans out of this performance. Still hate what her stylist is making her wear.

D: No comments, just a big thumbs up.

Matt Giraud My Funny Valentine

H: Not digging it. He's definitely going home tomorrow night. It just sounded like he couldn't sing on key so he did all the riffs to distract us from that fact.

D: His voice annoys me a little bit.

Danny Gokey Come Rain or Come Shine

H: Danny's sticking around. It's like he can do no wrong. This is so hard!

D: It's good. I thought he was going to break into that one "DreamGirls" song at one point though.......And you, no you, NO YOU! You're gonna looooovvvvveee mmmeeee

Adam Lambert Feelin' Good

H: Awesome! So theatrical. Not a big fan of his falsetto, but still overall an impactful performance. He missed some notes but, unlike Matt, you didn't even notice because his delivery was so good.

D: I'm not sure...I liked the way it started. But he usually works a song into a frenzy and he didn't this time. Still my favorite though. He's the star of this show.

Bottom Three

H: Kris, Allison, Matt- Matt going home

D: Matt, Kris, Allison- Matt going home

Thank you for being a friend....

2009-04-27T19:20:00.001-05:00

It was a sad, sad weekend for many of us out here in TVLand...the legendary Bea Arthur passed away at the age of 86. I just wanted to take a moment to pay tribute to the women who made so many people laugh over the years.

The show was on the forefront of so many pressing issues of the time, many of which are still relevant now. In fact, I caught an episode the other day in which Sophia mentions government bailouts. (These, of course, were bailouts from the early '80s, but how funny to hear!)

It seems as though they just don't make sitcoms like they used to. So thank you to Bea and the rest of the cast for creating a show that can clog my DVR any day...and make the world a little more funny.

Wines for Thursday, Friday, and the Weekend...Frei Brothers Zinfandel

2009-04-22T19:38:00.001-05:00

I just couldn't wait to post about the newest jammy jewel I've discovered. I'd heard about the 90 pt. Parker rating on the newly released Frei Brothers Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, but I'm usually cautious until I've tasted it for myself. (And yes, you could say I'm a little biased because this is a wine my husband distributes, but I've learned to separate family business from my tender taste buds.) So here it is folks- the Zinfandel Lover's Zinfandel. The wine is the color of thick pomagranate juice and is slightly reminiscient of the aroma as well. It's complexity consists of dark berry, stone fruit and sweet spice notes with a hint of what I like to call "the 6th sense," meaning you can close your eyes and just imagine where this bottle came from. (The rolling hills, the lush creek bed, the smell of dirt and fresh cut grass.) It should retail at a store near you for under $20!

Things that annoy me in the news....

2009-04-21T13:17:00.001-05:00

This morning the news was all a-buzz with the controversial clip of the day, something I've termed "The Beauty Queen vs. The Blogger Queen."

If you didn't have the privilege of watching this year's "Miss USA" pageant or hearing any of the aftermath, let me fill you in. Judge Perez Hilton was chosen to ask contestant Carrie Prejean of California her final interview question on the show last night. What ensued was a cat-like battle of morals and words that has, in 24 hours, been broadcast around the world:

Perez:"Do you think that other states should follow Vermont, a state that recently passed legislation allowing gay marriage?"

Prejean: "No offense to anyone, but I believe marriage should be limited to the union of one man and one woman. This is just my belief and the way I was raised."

The camera shoots to Hilton's disgusted face and within hours he has video-blogged a tyrade in which he comments that the answer she gave was alienating to him and other gays and lesbians. (He also calls her a "dumb bitch" and posts other comments from people who back his opinion.)

I want to know who put Perez in charge? Why should his opinion be the only opinion that matters?!? It's true that Miss CA could have answered the question in a more strategic "middle of the road" way. But why should she be chastised for a giving an answer that she believes? I'm sure there are millions of people out there, gay and straight, who agree and disagree with Ms. Prejean. Shouldn't we all have the decency to respect other people's opinions?

SO annoying!

The End of the Season

2009-04-19T09:00:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to post this picture of my cutie husband after his last football game playing for the Metro-Police Law Dawgs this year. What fun it has been going to watch their games on Saturday nights...eating concession stand food and sitting on cold bleachers just brings back so many good memories.

Even though they lost the championship game, I'm so proud of D for "getting back up on the horse" as they say. He had some awesome blocks last night and it was apparent how much he loves being on the line. (Kinda scary when you're watching your husband get the brunt force of a few guys running at full speed, but it sure was exciting!)

I'm sure he'll be back for next year!

Wine for the Weekend...Von Schleinitz Pinot Noir Rose

2009-04-17T06:41:00.001-05:00

Seeing summer almost around the corner is exciting for all of us who live in a 'Four-Season' corner of the world. To add to the celebration of warm weather and being able to spend so much time outdoors, try this lovely Pinot Noir Rose from the Mosel Valley. Though red grapes were not allowed to be planted in this appellation until 1987, the crew at Von Schleinitz jumped at the chance to grow Pinot in the slate hills of the Northern Mosel. What results is a brilliant dry rose with a hint of minerality, beautiful peach and strawberry fruit, and a lack of tannin that really makes this rose standout from the masses.

5 Things I Love/Hate About Being Pregnant

2009-04-16T20:38:00.001-05:00

Things I love...

Being able to eat whatever I want and get away with it.
Darren's spontaneous foot-rub offers.
Having the suspense build to find out the gender.
Not having to lift much at work.
Shopping for baby-things.

Things I hate...

Having a superhuman sense of smell.
Having the seams of my pants imprinted on my belly. (Time to get stretchy pants, I think)
The constant slathering of Cocoa Butter.
The constant appointments at the doctor.
Not being able to eat sushi. :(

Stuff I'm listening to....

2009-04-15T21:21:00.001-05:00

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

This Vermont-based group released the album This Is Somewhere a little while ago, but it is still getting rapid replay in my 6 disc changer. If you think Scott McIntyre of American Idol fame is a genius musician with a visual disability, wait until you get a load of Grace. Yes, she's legally blind, but she can belt it out like a rockstar on tracks like "Ahh Mary" and "Big White Gate." The beautiful "Apologies" shows her off on the piano and she leads the group on electric guitar on most of the others tracks. (So move over Scott...she really CAN play.) The group altogether sounds like a modern female reincarnation of a seventies rock band. And if you have to try out just one song, I suggest the tender "Falling or Flying," a sweet rock-infused lullaby about hitchhiking across the country with truck-drivers. You had me at hello.

Things that annoy me in the news....

2009-04-13T17:54:00.001-05:00

Oh where oh where is Obama going to church on Easter Sunday? What's the new pup of choice? Who gave it to them? What is Michelle wearing today? Is Obama "Leader-y" enough for a Portugese Water Dog? Why didn't they get a pound puppy? What if it chews on Abraham Lincoln's Presidential desk?????????????????

Our country is being flushed down the toilet and all that the media can focus on is the Presidential dog. It really pushes my buttons that the journalists that so supported Obama throughout his campaign have now turned their heads to the important news of the day. Here is a clip from a piece that FoxNews was reporting Sunday:

"Already some 38 percent of Americans do not pay income taxes, and Barack Obama wants to increase that percentage dramatically. How ironic that he and other Democrats pretend to be targeting their message to "working-class" people when many of their constituents aren't working. But such is class warfare that the upper-middle class and wealthy are demonized as not earning an honest living.

Do you suppose it has registered with class warfare-receptive Obama voters that Obama is deliberately turning the American dream on its head? Could it be any clearer that his message to the middle class is: Don't aspire to achievement, success and wealth because a) it is immoral to have more than others, b) the government will take your wealth away from you and give it to others, and c) why bother to bust your rear end to make more when you can vote yourselves money from the public trough?

Obama let slip his socialist proclivities to Joe the plumber when he denied he wanted to punish wealth and insisted he just wanted to spread the wealth around. Joe was justifiably repulsed by Obama's cavalier attitude toward the American dream.

Democratic commentator Bob Beckel was dismissive of the significance of Obama's outright nod to socialism, saying we've had a progressive tax system since the income tax was initiated. Yes, Bob, and we've had socialists in America since then, too.

But what Beckel did not explain is that at least in those days, the stated purpose of the income tax system was to fund government services, not to redistribute wealth."

-D.Limbaugh

I think that's a little more important than a pooch.

2009-04-10T06:31:00.001-05:00

Wines for the Weekend

Trivento Torrontes- ($10-$12) Perfect for the springtime, this wine has a crispness that goes perfectly with that slight April breeze. Sweet in a subtle and fruity way, Torrontes is an alternative white that you should definitely explore. Pairs nicely with summer salads and fruit dishes, this wine is also perfectly suited as a post-spring cleaning patio-sipper.

Officially in Suburbia

2009-04-06T20:08:00.001-05:00

So my New Year's Resolution is to try to do a better job of keeping up this blog, especially since I'm expecting to have a lot to blog about in the coming months. Seeing as it has taken me about 4 months to start my "Resolution '09" you can obviously see that a lot has been going on in in the 'burbs this year. The title of this update refers to the fact that Darren and I have now officially entered so far into Suburbia that I think there's no turning back. We're having a baby! In addition to the manicured lawn and two-car garage we will now be going through the process of turning Darren's "man-space" office into a nursery for IT in the next couple of months.

*Note I will be calling the baby "IT" until the sex is known (or until I lose the habit of calling it IT)*

He's not very happy about having a change in his workspace and we're still not sure exactly where all of his gear is going to end up. But I know one thing for sure! Slammerhead the Hammerhead is going far, far away. For those of you who have never met Slammerhead, he is the 10 ft Hammerhead shark that Darren caught off the coast in Ft. Lauderdale and has mounted on our office wall. I think it's hideous. Darren thinks it's the creme de la creme of ultimate man-decorating. At this point the whole issue resides in strategy on my part. Saving up all of those "Honey won't you go get me Taco Bell" and late-night Macaroni 'n' Cheese runs for my ultimate goal: getting rid of the Slam. I think in the end I can march through some righteous cravings as long as I keep my eye on the prize. (And also secretly hoping that IT is a girl so there's no excuse to sell the monster to the local Red Lobster)

P.S. That picture is the only one on record that shows the magnitude of Slam's ugliness...just imagine.

2008-06-23T19:23:00.000-05:00

Wow! I finally got around to decorating our kitchen!

It is a drastic improvement from the bare, random box and wine storage that we had for the past year. (And always banging our head on the hanging light fixture!) When we moved in we decided not to paint the kitchen, seeing as we repainted almost every other room in the house. Even though I'm not a fan of the mustardy color, I like how the end result turned out. I'm especially proud of the table and chairs...I found them on Craigslist (for I won't tell you how cheap!) and sanded and repainted them. I'm so crafty!

Lake!

2008-06-03T22:21:00.001-05:00

Is this a kissy face or an "I'm really scared to get up on skis for the first time in a while" face? I guess we'll never know. This past weekend we had our first real houseguests! Chrissy, Heather, Maren, and Matt all hung out with us for a few days. We went to the lake on Sunday and everyone skied for a minute or two before they clunked out with muscle fatigue and passed on to the next person. We also spent about 45 minutes looking for a lost ski in the water. That was tons of fun! Our new patio furniture was put to the test and was given an A+! Peach Ice Cream was a hit as well....we'll have to do it again sometime gals!

Welcome!

2008-05-30T19:19:00.001-05:00

Welcome to our blog! If any is a good time to begin blogging and become addicted to the internet it is now....seeing Darren and I just got married (woohoo!) and that the summertime is usually a little slower paced here in Tennessee. We will try to post pictures and keep everyone up-to-date with what is going on with the Rothenbergs-West Campus. Please post comments!!!