I've lots to unload, so I'll start with the most important news. It is official. We have two little peanuts in the making. Baby 1 looks like a snuggler, while Baby 2 looks like a thinker. We were not planning the pregnancy, but we are, nonetheless, very happy at the prospect and only a little nervous.
There was a time when I was not so thrilled at the idea of procreating. I preferred to think that it was something I was not up to due to selfishness, or that other people only did because they were convinced that it was what was expected of them.
I cannot point to any one thing that changed our situation, I can only say that we are two people that very much enjoy teaching and communicating with children and that have high hopes for the future of our planet. There is no delusion that we are raising the next Ghandi, Mother Jones, Woody Guthrie, or Dennis Kucinich, but we are happy to think that they may live in a world with just such personalities and to share with them the ones by which we have been influenced. As I write this, I am struck by the fact that there is really no supreme argument when it comes to having or not having children. Being trained and educated in the biological sciences, I tend to lean towards the genetic imperative, however subtle its hand (it's not as if we were thinking of the fate of the world or our own fate when we were conceiving). It could just be that we love each other so much and are content with our finances and general health and comfort, at this point in our lives, that we were able to cease thinking of sex as something that need be regulated or altered by birth control. The certain thing is that the motivation no longer matters. We are pleased with the result, and we look forward to sharing our happiness with our family and friends.
We will be doing this from a new vantage point if all goes well. We have a ratified contract on a new, old home down the road. It is a cedar-framed, brick beauty that has a large yard and plenty of space for two new sets of paws. The only hurdle left is getting our current place past inspection and fixing some of what they request without breaking our bank doing it (they already nickel and dimed us on the offer and the closing costs). I'm sure there are a few little things that could use attention, but we've taken care of all the big items and the place is, obviously, totally inhabitable. It just depends on whether they are picky jerks or realistic, good people (we only asked for the owners of the place we're buying to throw in around $200 worth of repairs, for what it's worth). We're looking forward to getting out of this vinyl village more than most of you know. It's all fine and dandy to visit us, here, and note what a swell place this is (thanks to the old lady's decorative penchant), but living here is a different story when you consider our feelings regarding sustainable accommodations.
I just got back from Charlotte, where I obtained my League Certified Instructor status from the League of American Bicyclists. It was nearly two full days of instruction and presentation that, while somewhat redundant for those that have extensive time in the saddle, was incredibly valuable for the future. I do intend to teach this stuff in schools, and I will post progress on that front.
I also got the rare chance to hang with my older sister and her two girls on the last day of the trip. I passed what appeared to be the world HQ for Philip Morris on the way. Interesting that most of the front of the property was pastoral with lots of what looked like prairie restoration or natural succession areas (former tobacco plots?), while the entrances echoed the fortress-chic that one would expect at military bases (who are you, what is your business, and where are your papers?). There was tons of Queen Anne's Lace in bloom.
Do not stand up in the waters of Lake Tillery in North Carolina. There are thousands and thousands of leeches under those waters. I suspect it has something to do with the solid floor of dead and dying introduced Corbicula sp. clams. Check your feet!
Oh, the moth at the header is a pterophorid (Geina sp., I believe) that may or may not feast upon your grape vines. He/she showed up on the back porch a few weeks ago. Also, cool commercial sent by mi hermano:
