My friend from high school recently got married. Within a year or two his wife got pregnant.
He and his wife lost the baby. 26 weeks into the pregnancy. They dealt with their grief in two ways (that I have seen). First, my friend got a tattoo to commemorate his child. Second, and much more shocking to me, the wife blogged about her experiences delivering a stillborn.
Awful. Horrifying. Disturbing. Those were the only words that I had to describe the blog. An account of an event that in my mind should have been personal and private. It made me wonder, was this normal? Should this be online? What was private anymore?
It wasn't until tonight that I got my answer. A close friend of mine, who is currently studying medicine, told me that only 40% of pregnancies result in healthy deliveries. 40%. Even if that number is slightly off (given the place of birth and/or circumstance), the fact is that every healthy birth is a miracle and more woman will have miscarriages than I had originally thought.
This changed my whole entire perception of the blog and how I felt about keeping a situation like that "private". It made me realize that I was more likely to have a miscarriage than popular culture had prepared me to be. Does that make sense? I mean how many TV shows, movies or songs have dealt with miscarriages?
Even though at the time I cringed and cried reading about carrying and delivering a child who's heart no longer beat, I now feel incredibly grateful to the woman who was able to verbalize the event at all. She made me realize how precious pregnancy is and how prevalent miscarriages are. They happen and somehow or another we have to move on and continue living. This was the way she dealt with her pain and I must respect that. Given a similar circumstance, who knows what I would do. I can't even begin to speculate.
Thank you Chelsey for sharing with us. I am so very sorry for your loose and I cannot even begin to imagine the difficulties you are going through at the moment. But I know that there are other women out there who are going through or have gone through similar situations that have found comfort in your accounts of your situation. And as for me, I am just grateful that now I am more aware and able to appreciate the miracle that pregnancy and birth are. So thank you.
If any of you would like to see Chelsey's blog, it is here. Please be warned it is graphic and tragic but that said, I think it is good for us to be reminded of our own and others immortality, as well, as how we, as individuals or as groups, can over come such events and still believe in the beauty that life has to offer us.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
And then there was job #2
I know, Kerri. I know. It has been awhile. But what's new with that one? :)
Alright... so... I have a new job. I know you all might be thinking, "Wait, didn't Meg just start a new job less than a year ago?". And yes, it is true! I had another job. However, fate smiled upon me and the company decided to cut half of my department (and that included me as well). Over the next two months.... oh alright Cole.... over the next three months, I sat around the house, contemplating life, setting up informational interviews (a.k.a coffee and lunch dates) and half-heartedly applying for positions that didn't really excite me.
Finally, I got a lead I was excited about! Ray's Boathouse is a well-known Seattle restaurant that sits on a pier in Shilshole overlooking the Puget Sound. They had openings for their summer staff and lucky for me, decided to hire me! So now I work at Ray's Boathouse in the evening as a server and I could not be happier.
The job is a perfect fit for me! The people at Ray's are warm and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and cozy and the guests couldn't be more excited to get a taste of Seattle and the PNW. I am truly blessed to have found such a great team to be apart of and look forward to watching all the beautiful sunsets this summer!
Alright... so... I have a new job. I know you all might be thinking, "Wait, didn't Meg just start a new job less than a year ago?". And yes, it is true! I had another job. However, fate smiled upon me and the company decided to cut half of my department (and that included me as well). Over the next two months.... oh alright Cole.... over the next three months, I sat around the house, contemplating life, setting up informational interviews (a.k.a coffee and lunch dates) and half-heartedly applying for positions that didn't really excite me.
Finally, I got a lead I was excited about! Ray's Boathouse is a well-known Seattle restaurant that sits on a pier in Shilshole overlooking the Puget Sound. They had openings for their summer staff and lucky for me, decided to hire me! So now I work at Ray's Boathouse in the evening as a server and I could not be happier.
The job is a perfect fit for me! The people at Ray's are warm and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and cozy and the guests couldn't be more excited to get a taste of Seattle and the PNW. I am truly blessed to have found such a great team to be apart of and look forward to watching all the beautiful sunsets this summer!
Friday, March 27, 2009
I gave you my 90 minutes!!!
Last week I went to the inaugural game of the Seattle Sounders F.C.. They played the New York Red Bulls (yeah, I know, damn Americans and their advertising!) and three goals later the Sounders had won their first official MLS match!
Now if you want a recap of the game, there are many other places that will provide more detail for you than I can.
What I want to address is the 32,523 people that came out to see the new MLS team play.
When the MLS initially decided to add a team in Seattle, many debated on the future of the MLS. Would the US ever embrace the sport they way the Europeans did? Could Seattle be the American capital for soccer? How could they create a team and an atmosphere around the Sounders that resembled the European leagues but still be genuine to Seattle with its own American flare?
Tough questions. But the Sounder management moved forward, holding a statewide vote on the team name, creating a Members Association called the Alliance (where the members can vote to fire the general manager), advertising in a typically American fashion (I have never seen commercials or billboards for European teams abroad), creating the Sound Wave (the team's marching band) and placing free scarves all over the city to get people excited about the first game.
Well, the effort worked and the entire lower bowl of Qwest field was packed. Here is a video of what it was like being down at the stadium. Check it out and I will be adding a few of my own pics and videos later on:
Now if you want a recap of the game, there are many other places that will provide more detail for you than I can.
What I want to address is the 32,523 people that came out to see the new MLS team play.
When the MLS initially decided to add a team in Seattle, many debated on the future of the MLS. Would the US ever embrace the sport they way the Europeans did? Could Seattle be the American capital for soccer? How could they create a team and an atmosphere around the Sounders that resembled the European leagues but still be genuine to Seattle with its own American flare?
Tough questions. But the Sounder management moved forward, holding a statewide vote on the team name, creating a Members Association called the Alliance (where the members can vote to fire the general manager), advertising in a typically American fashion (I have never seen commercials or billboards for European teams abroad), creating the Sound Wave (the team's marching band) and placing free scarves all over the city to get people excited about the first game.
Well, the effort worked and the entire lower bowl of Qwest field was packed. Here is a video of what it was like being down at the stadium. Check it out and I will be adding a few of my own pics and videos later on:
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Birthdays! Birthdays! All around!
I celebrated my (gulp) 25th birthday last weekend. Along with Cole's 28th birthday and my dad's... well let's just keep you guessing on that number.... birthday.
But the best part of the evening ended up being opening the presents. Go figure. But it's not what you think at all! Let me explain....
My mom had a couple clothing size presents for myself and my dad. You know the clothing boxes that are oh so obvious. All of a sudden, my brother gets all worked up.
"No you didn't. Mom, that better not be what I think it is! Because you know that's what I want. I want it. Mom, you know that is what I have been wanting for ages."
I am obviously confused but continued to open the present and this is what I found.... along with my brother's reaction:
Now while I promised my brother I would not put this video on youtube, he never said anything about my blog. :) I heart you, bro!
And to give my bro a little more credit, he thought I was getting a Sounders FC jersey! I would have reacted the same way if I thought he was getting one!
The day after my sickness, Cole and I traveled up to Vancouver for a birthday getaway. We had a lovely time. Relaxing. Walking through Stanley Park. And eating till our hearts content!
If you want to hear more about my trip and the most intense experience I have had in awhile, call me and just ask me about E Hasting Street.
And to give my bro a little more credit, he thought I was getting a Sounders FC jersey! I would have reacted the same way if I thought he was getting one!
The day after my sickness, Cole and I traveled up to Vancouver for a birthday getaway. We had a lovely time. Relaxing. Walking through Stanley Park. And eating till our hearts content!
If you want to hear more about my trip and the most intense experience I have had in awhile, call me and just ask me about E Hasting Street.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
New Year's Resolution
Not to be so cynical.....
The earth is a beautiful place.
People are genuinely good.
Love and compassion are abundant.
And life is a blessing.
I often forget how lucky I am.
The earth is a beautiful place.
People are genuinely good.
Love and compassion are abundant.
And life is a blessing.
I often forget how lucky I am.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
My White Christmas
My house is covered in snow.
Let me repeat that.... my house is covered in snow!!! For those of you who do not live in the Pacific Northwest, this is extremely unusual! And incredibly cool!!!!
This is my first white christmas... EVER!!! And while I must say that I enjoy it, I am also glad that this is not every year!
Perhaps if our city didn't shut down at the mere thought of snow, and perhaps if they used salt on the roads instead of sand, and maybe if people (including myself) knew how to drive in snow, then maybe maybe maybe that would be alright.
But we don't and because of this I almost got stuck at my little apartment all by myself on Christmas! Thankfully we had a break in the weather on Tuesday and my papa came in his four-wheel drive SUV and rescued me!!
Now I am with my family and we have been working hard! If you look at the picture below you can see how much snow has fallen over here. I also encourage you to notice our driveway and the fact that you can see the pavement. Yes, that is right.... yours truly took part in making that possible.
My driveway is steep. Some of you know this. At the time that my brother and I shoveled it the temperature outside was below freezing. So you can image my brother, in shorts and regular shoes, and myself digging under the snow only to find ourselves standing on a mound of ice!! Needless to say, we both took a couple of good falls!!
Let me repeat that.... my house is covered in snow!!! For those of you who do not live in the Pacific Northwest, this is extremely unusual! And incredibly cool!!!!
This is my first white christmas... EVER!!! And while I must say that I enjoy it, I am also glad that this is not every year!
Perhaps if our city didn't shut down at the mere thought of snow, and perhaps if they used salt on the roads instead of sand, and maybe if people (including myself) knew how to drive in snow, then maybe maybe maybe that would be alright.
But we don't and because of this I almost got stuck at my little apartment all by myself on Christmas! Thankfully we had a break in the weather on Tuesday and my papa came in his four-wheel drive SUV and rescued me!!
Now I am with my family and we have been working hard! If you look at the picture below you can see how much snow has fallen over here. I also encourage you to notice our driveway and the fact that you can see the pavement. Yes, that is right.... yours truly took part in making that possible.
My driveway is steep. Some of you know this. At the time that my brother and I shoveled it the temperature outside was below freezing. So you can image my brother, in shorts and regular shoes, and myself digging under the snow only to find ourselves standing on a mound of ice!! Needless to say, we both took a couple of good falls!!
And now, to get you further into the Christmas spirit.... here is a video of my brother getting a beat down from his big sis! Enjoy!!! I know I did!!! :)
Friday, December 12, 2008
My Next Adventure
There is a new idea on the floor.
After reading my blog, Buckles had an interesting proposition for me. He thought that I should also write a bit about places that I would like to travel to in the future. Since I am now back at home and reasons to write become fewer and far between (let’s face it daily life just seems dull when you are stuck in it), he thinks that I should start looking for my next adventure.
After reading my blog, Buckles had an interesting proposition for me. He thought that I should also write a bit about places that I would like to travel to in the future. Since I am now back at home and reasons to write become fewer and far between (let’s face it daily life just seems dull when you are stuck in it), he thinks that I should start looking for my next adventure.
And I support him on that idea! So here we go:
PATAGONIA: Los Glaciares National Park & Ushuaia
Ushuaia es una ciudad de Argentina y es la zona mas austral habitada del mundo. Whoops I mean.... situated on the Beagle Strait, Ushuaia is the largest city in Argentine Tierra del Fuego and arguably the southernmost city in the world.
Although it seems to attract many tourists, I think it would be amazing to see how a city that far south functions and what kind of customs have sprung from this factor.
After exploring Ushuaia, I would want to take a plane or a tourist bus (note: there is no public transportation around Tierra Del Fuego) to El Calafate, a town that sits right on Lago Argentina. It is the main attraction of this town, 50 miles away, that is the reason from my curiosity in Patagonia in the first place.
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The Perito Moreno Glacier is supposedly one of three glaciers in Patagonia that is still advancing. It is famous because it is dynamically changing which produces a cyclic phenomenon of forward and backward movement, with spectacular ice falls from its front wall.
I think it would be phenomenal to stand on a peak looking over this monstrous glacier carving its way down the mountain, moving with such force that it actually losing pieces of itself along the way!
So what do you think? Anyone interested in a journey south?
Ushuaia es una ciudad de Argentina y es la zona mas austral habitada del mundo. Whoops I mean.... situated on the Beagle Strait, Ushuaia is the largest city in Argentine Tierra del Fuego and arguably the southernmost city in the world.
Although it seems to attract many tourists, I think it would be amazing to see how a city that far south functions and what kind of customs have sprung from this factor.
After exploring Ushuaia, I would want to take a plane or a tourist bus (note: there is no public transportation around Tierra Del Fuego) to El Calafate, a town that sits right on Lago Argentina. It is the main attraction of this town, 50 miles away, that is the reason from my curiosity in Patagonia in the first place.
.jpg)
The Perito Moreno Glacier is supposedly one of three glaciers in Patagonia that is still advancing. It is famous because it is dynamically changing which produces a cyclic phenomenon of forward and backward movement, with spectacular ice falls from its front wall.
I think it would be phenomenal to stand on a peak looking over this monstrous glacier carving its way down the mountain, moving with such force that it actually losing pieces of itself along the way!
So what do you think? Anyone interested in a journey south?
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