Interns, interns everywhere!

I am involved in coordinating an internship programme in IT for college students. It is a part of my job that I truly enjoy and I look forward to it. It is great seeing students grow and evelop over the summer and then to see them graduate and enter the workforce with a greater understanding of what they will be doing compared to their peers.

This year's interns started on Thursday and have thus far had quite a bit of soft skills training (customer service, networking, presentation skills). Yesterday, they had to start working on project plans for the team projects that they have to complete and on Monday they start with their respective employers for the summer. We pull them out of their employer's offices for a week each month for IT training and they also have to participate in 2 networking events each month.

As fun as this is, they're driving me nuts! I didn't realise how much I adore silence until I had to facilitate the 'project planning' yesterday and today. The questions, oh the questions... and most of them are silly questions!!! Yesterday I thought it was just me but when I swapped with the other coordinator at lunch time yesterday, she called me last night to say that they were driving her nuts too! I had to lay down the law this morning - they had to calm down and be more professional in their interactions. It helped a bit but a few of them are still over the top. Yeah, I was happy to hand them over this afternoon as well.... I get them back next Friday for presentations and their first exam - I hope they'll be much calmer by then!

Week 8

Date/Week: June 2; week 8


Total weight gain/loss: 166.2 (0)

Belly measurement: n/a

Milestones: can sometimes find a heartbeat for a few seconds on the doppler (just wanted to try it out) but won't use it until the 2nd tri; next u/s on June 4

Physical Progress: clothing is a bit tighter around my waist; now sleeping in my sports bras....

Symptoms: nauseous but the preggie drops are helping. I am also loving Twinings lemon & ginger tea. Constipation is a PITA (literally) - now eating a high fibre cereal for breakfast and more fruit during the day to help...

How do I feel about my body: some days I feel like a bloated cow and others I feel feminine (I mostly feel like a bloated cow)

Food cravings/aversions: egg foo young, cheese & crackers, watermelon

Sleep: Exhausted during the day. Napping after work and going to bed at 9 - 9.30pm. Waking up at 2/3am for about 30 minutes but then can sleep until about 6am.

Energy level: I don't really have any... I feel so lazy. Aidan has to drag me out to walk in the morning!

Exercise: walk almost daily; highland dancing 1x this week; highland dancing performance (warm-up & 1 dance)

Baby Movement: not yet

Thoughts and Feelings? I have my paranoid moments but I am a bit better than I was last week (I say that now... we'll see what I say after Friday).

What I am looking forward to: seeing what the sproglet looks like at the next u/s

What am I reading / things I’m learning: 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' / For Aidan (concerning the bbs): Look, appreciate but don't touch

Week 8

SATC2 Tonight!!!

SATC has been a favorite of mine. I think it's because it's the out of control life in NY that I could have had if I had moved there for college like I had originally planned... no, I do not think that I would have ever lived life like that, even if I lived in NY. I just liked the escapism of it all. I could not imagine having a life even a fraction like any of the characters. I think I would have had a nervous breakdown in my 20s - and I wouldn't even want to think about what my mental state would have been in my 30s.

I am looking forward to tonight because the premier that I am going to is supporting a local Autism early intervention centre. I think it is great to take a much anticipated movie and raise money for an important cause. I've be attending a pre-show cocktail party at a designer shoe store and then it'll be off to the movie. And yes, I'm going with 3 friends so even if the movie isn't that great, at least we'll have fun!

UPDATE!!!


I had good fun tonight. I was a bit late to the cocktail party (ok, I was almost an hour late but it was tough getting out of the office). I didn't manage to change out of my work clothes but I did have on my Dune shoes that I purchased at Covent Garden in 2008 (I love them!). The cocktail party was pretty cool - cocktails in mod glasses sushi, raffle tickets for fabulous prizes (the draw is on my b-day - June 21), and lots of beautiful shoes to drool over. I met up with my friends and soon we were walking up the street to the theatre - about 60 or 70 ladies, dressed to the nines, all hiking up the hill to see a movie. It was kind of embarrassing but also sort of fun.

The theatre was decked out in pink and black balloons, men wearing black vests delivering popcorn to the ladies who purchased 'popcorn raffle tickets' (inside your bag could be  cool prize like a spa day or a limited edition SATC bottle of vodka, etc) and the reps from the charity wearing black vests with hot pink tutus. The theatre was packed and I was so happy that it meant that the charity would receive quite a bit of funding from the evening.

The movie was ok - not as good as the first movie IMO but that was to be expected. Some things weren't funny to me but I probably looked at it a bit differently due to the energy in the room. Yes, ladies were talking to the screen at times and reacting to what was going on. I can guarantee that when I see it on DVD, I will probably have yet another perception of it. While I won't discuss the movie since so many may still be going to see it in the coming weeks, I will say that it reminded me that life goes on - and the characters have moved on. I read a review before the movie that was somewhat critical of that fact but, upon seeing the movie, I do not believe that it could have been done in the same way as the tv series. In my final analysis, the characters have matured and so have I.

In any case, I had good fun tonight and I am glad that I got to share the experience with friends. It was great to laugh at things together, wolf down popcorn and teeter down the street in high heels.

Week 7

Date/Week: May 26 ; week 7


Total weight gain/loss: 166.2 (+4)

Belly measurement: n/a

Milestones: New bra size (sports bras are my friend); new blood pressure meds

Physical Progress: look bloated; bbs are quite impressive but the nipples are so painful (sorry for TMI)

Symptoms: pretty nauseous, some cramping and constipation

How do I feel about my body: feeling that I need to rethink my closet - did I always have so many tight clothes????

Food cravings/aversions: avacado dip; asparagus, sour skittles

Sleep: Desperate for a nap during the day. Sleeping in 2 hour stretches at night

Energy level: feeling pooped most of the time...

Exercise: walk almost daily; highland dancing 2x per week (more stretching, less jumping); cycling 1x per week; some prenatal yoga/pilates & fitness dvds

Baby Movement: not yet

Thoughts and Feelings? still pretty nervous

What I am looking forward to: seeing what the sproglet looks like at the next u/s

What am I reading / things I’m learning: 'Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy' / cramping is my uterus growing

Week 7

Sunday cycling excursion

Yesterday, we had to forgo the kayaking idea since Aidan hadn't registered the kayak with Marine & Ports (knowing our luck, the police would have been patrolling just as we would have started paddling...). Not one to temp fate, we decided to pull out our bikes and head towards Dockyard. Now, the bikes have been banished to our basement since the beginning of our TTC journey, when an overly anxious me read that cycling would be bad for "the boys" (if you get my drift). As things quickly went down hill, the bikes went further and further into the back of the basement. Yes we missed them - particularly for the Aquarium's annual fundraiser that we used to cycle around the Sound. So, it was with great nostalgia that Aidan pulled out the bikes yesterday morning and pumped up the tires.

We began riding to the railway trail and immediately Aidan realized that my gears weren't working properly. After riding about 3/4 of a mile, he tried to fix my top gear but it would take tools. We decided to keep going. Now, I had been complaining that I needed a workout. Well, I got one. I had to pedal my butt off to keep up with Aidan. Thankfully, it was a lovely day with a good breeze - I needed the breeze! Aidan did take some pity on me and we exchanged bikes at some point. Much better! However, the gel seat on my bike wasn't the most useful thing and I realised that my butt and inner thighs were killing me - from sitting... go figure! I worked through it and managed to get home by standing up whenever I went over a speed bump.

So triumphant, if not exhausted, we have returned to the world of cycling!

Week 6

Date/Week: May 19 ; week 6

Total weight gain/loss: 162.2 (-2.6)

Belly measurement: n/a

Milestones: first ultrasound (saw the heartbeat)

Physical Progress: nothing externally noticable except the inflating bbs

Symptoms: swollen bbs; some nausea

How do I feel about my body: feeling rather odd, particularly the nauseous moments

Food cravings/aversions: craving cheddar cheese and water crackers

Sleep: waking up at 1am and 5am consistently.... I need sleep!

Energy level: rollercoaster

Exercise: walk almost daily; highland dancing 2x per week; some yoga/pilates

Baby Movement: not yet

Thoughts and Feelings? cautious but excited

What I am looking forward to: the next u/s on June 4

What am I reading / things I’m learning:'Knocked Up' by Rebecca Eckler; the sproglet is currently the size of a blueberry

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

May ICLW!!!

HAPPY ICLW!!!!!

Welcome! I’m Marisa (35) and my husband is Aidan (37). Our history is on the left. As you’ll see, we just found out that we’re expecting. It’s the cautious time and we’re counting all of our blessings at the moment.

A friend of mine answered the questions to this quiz and I loved what I learned about her. I thought it would be a great way to share a bit about me for ICLW!

Getting to Know Me!

Apple juice or orange juice?  Apple Juice (Apple & Eve to be exact. There’s also a German one that I really like)

Are you a morning or night person?  Night. I can get things done in the morning – just don’t expect me to talk…

Which do you prefer, sweet or salty foods? It depends on my mood – and I sometimes like both together

What was your favorite childhood television program? The Muppet Show, Force Five Cartoons, JEM

Are you a collector of anything? Jewelry J

If you could be any animal, what would you be? I’d like to be a cat. I sometimes envy my cats’ lives.

What do you usually think about right before falling asleep? Often what I am thankful for. Sometimes I try to organize in my head what needs to be done tomorrow.

What's your favorite color? Blue – midnight blue is my absolute favorite

Do you believe in extraterrestrials or life on other planets? Most definitely – in such a vast universe there must be more life out there!

Do you believe in ghosts? Sometimes

Ever been addicted to a video/computer game? Civilization and Journeyman Project

You're given 1 million dollars, what do you spend it on? I’d love to set up a philanthropic trust after paying bills, etc.

Have any bad habits? I’m a pack rat…

List 3 of your best personality traits: entrepreneurial, visionary, focused

List 3 of your worst personality traits: control-freak, impatience, can hold a grudge

Have any celebrity crushes? Hugh Laurie

List 1 thing you wish you could change about yourself: I have polycystic kidney disease – I’d change that!!!

Any tattoos or piercings? Pierced ears (1 in each lobe); used to have my belly pierced.

What's the first thing you notice in the opposite sex? Legs J

Are you mostly a clean or messy person? In the middle…

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Bermuda

If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Chile; Argentina; New Zealand; Egypt; Greece

List 5 goals on your life's to-do list: 1) Go to Paris  2) Lots and lots of theatre  3) Achieve my Highland Dancing Member’s status  4) Learn to Flamenco   5) Continue to make a difference in my community

Name 1 regret you have: I don’t really have any since I wouldn’t be where I am today without what had happened in my life.

Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid: Watching MGM musicals with my dad

Name 1 thing you love about being an adult: Travelling all around the world!

What's your favorite song of the moment? "Wave" Frank Sinatra

What's your favorite thing to do on a Saturday night? Watching Doctor Who on BBC America

What's your favorite thing to do on a Sunday afternoon? Puttering around in the garden

You're about to walk the green mile, what do you have as your last meal? Cheesecake Factory Shrimp Scampi!

If you could have 3 wishes granted, what would they be?  Talk to my great-grandmother whenever I need her guidance; take away the polycystic kidney disease in my family; Have enough to give continuously to the charities that need help

Ever wish you were born the opposite sex? No – I like being a girl!

Name 1 thing not many people know about you: When I was 6, I wanted to be an airline stewardess.

If you HAD to change your name, what would you change it to? I really, really like my name – particularly when it’s pronounced properly (in Italy or a Spanish speaking country).

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