h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's been so long since I've been on hootoo, and so much has been happening! I suppose I should bring everybody up to date on my life. Feel free to just pretend to read this unless you have lots of time ... I have a feeling it might be rather long ...

First of all, TJ and I had the amazing and surprising news of finding out we were pregnant in November. Sadly, we lost our angel in December. It was absolutely devastating, all the more so since I felt it could have been our one and only chance to have a child.

TJ never wanted to have kids, and since I was 41 when we got married, I went along with it, as my doctor had said it would be very difficult to get pregnant even if we tried. Shows what she knows. My body certainly had other ideas. The only good thing to come out of all of this is the fact that TJ is now very open to being a Dad. He said that he realized that I wanted a baby much more than he didn't want one ... if that makes sense. So, we're trying again. We know that at my age, we've only got a 50/50 chance of carrying to term, but we're hoping that we got the bad 50 out of the way. I think we should give up actively trying by the time I hit 45, but it should be a fun year in the meantime.

We took a trip to Ohio just after Christmas. It was a lovely visit, and we luckily missed the big storm they got the week before. TJ got to enjoy the snow on the ground, but we didn't have to drive through it.

I got sidelined by the flu in the middle of January, which was great fun. The next week was when w**k got so crazy that I've barely had time to breathe. We had a huge series on Iraq, and it was just w**k and sleep for a couple of weeks. When we finally finished the Iraq series, Fashion Week started!

One light spot in the middle of all of that w**k was Newsday's Employee Recognition Week. I figured it would be nice to have a free nosh if I could leave the project for long enough. I was told that attendance was mandatory. How odd is that? You MUST come to this party and have a good time! Well, it turns out that my boss just wanted to get me there, because I won an award! Not that the award was such a huge deal (I've found that a certificate is pretty much only worth the paper it's printed on), but the $500 that came with it was wonderful! We had all sorts of plans on what to do with the money, and I had earned 3 comp days with all of that overtime. It turns out we didn't have a choice on what to do with the money or the comp time. TJ's uncle passed away, and we had to make another trip to Ohio. He was a special man ... "the" uncle for TJ and his sibs ... and we used all the prize money to pay for the trip. We hated to use it for something like that, but we were very glad that we had it just at that time, and didn't have to dip into savings for the trip (we gotta get the down payment for our future house eventually!)

A week after we got back from Ohio, TJ had to leave for Virginia for a business trip. He's still there. Happy Valentine's Day. We made sure we celebrated early. TJ made super-secret reservations for a dinner dance last weekend with a live band that did a great Sinatra. He still didn't tell me what my surprise was right up to the door of the place. The night was wonderful! Not only was the dancing divine, but it's nice to go to a place where you feel like the young ones! TJ sent me on Poets, and I've been getting silly cards in the mail every day. He mailed them from every state on the drive down to Virginia. He let me in on my Valentine's Day secret this morning, and told me where he stashed the for me. He'll be back next Sodit, and I'm taking my last comp day then to welcome him home.

In two weeks from today (Sodit), we're taking a long-awaited trip to Bequia! We were able to get free airfare to Barbados, so we only have to pay for the puddle-jumper plane and our accommodations. We haven't had a long really-real vacation since we got married. I'm not counting the numerous trips to Ohio to see family ... but even our honeymoon was only 5 days. We spent a few days at Niagara Falls in September, but this is our first real vacation with just the two of us. I really can't wait! We're hoping to have a Bequia baby!

Okay, I think that just about wraps things up. I had a free day here at w**k, so I was able to hop on here quick to let you all know what's up. I hope I'll get a chance to pop in more often.

Dude! If he's in my part of Va (I doubt it seriously) he oughta visit - I haven't seen either of you in ages!

(just kidding)

Thanks for the update.

Sorry to hear about your sad news. Amy kept me up-to-date but I didn't want to say anything. my love to you both.

but better news prevails, I'm happy you can find the time to get away.

Have a great time!

Hey, you seem vaguely familiar, have we crossed paths here before?

Nice to see you around, hope you have the chance to make an appearance more often. Sorry to hear of your loss, but glad it seems you're doing well. I was thinking of you guys when the big snowstorm hit up that way.

talk about mixed emotions. i am sorry to read about your loss but relieved to read that you seem to be taking it well. and i wish you all the luck in the world with that Bequia baby-project of yours

Shea!

Yup, mixed emotions about reading your post I hope you'll be around a bit more from now on

That's fantastic that you and TJ are going to have a chance to go away together on a trip that doesn't involve visiting relatives (or going to a funeral ).


A Bequia baby, what a wonderful idea! Hope everything works out the way you want it to!

Congrats on the award, too.


Hope you're able to drop by more often from now on.

Good to see you again Shea.

Shea!!

Head for the <ice-cream>

Great to see you about!

UG

At this point, you'll have to present us with an appropriate photo ID to verify that you are who you claim to be, "Shea". We cannot assume that the woman who will be cavorting with TJ in Bahrain (or wherever) is indeed the same woman we've come to know and love. Too many trips to Ohio generally result in UFO abduction, you know.

Shea -- or whoever you are.

I'm glad you "appear" to be back ... and that you "appear" to be well and happy, "Shea" ... nope. I'm not falling for it. You're an alien.

No ... photo ID is much too easily forged by aliens, therefore, we require more rigorous proof. Like, uh ... brain scans ... and, uh ... uh ... a note from your mother ... and well, this is going to be *very* difficult for you to prove, young lady.

You mean we might be talking to an impersonator?!


Someone who stole Shea's identity?


*calls 911*

My grandmother was 45 when she gave birth to my mother. I have a cousin who gave birth when she was 44. These things happen. I hope it works out for you, Shea.

first TJ stole shea from me and now someone has stolen her identity?

Yeah! Shae's back!

What about her back?

Well obviously it's going to get used alot because they're trying to have a baby!

And several of my friends in their 40's have just had their first babies. So I don't believe a word of the "50%" part!

And by the way... who's Shea?

Dearest Shea and TJ,

How great to hear from you again. Sad to hear your news, but so glad that the outcome that you baoth want one.

Congratulations on the award and am so pleased that you could go and share your Uncle's life with him and say good bye to him

TJ just improves with romantic love. You deserve it my darling, but how wonderful to think that you both have such a wonderful attitude to being together.

I hope that you enjoy your escape to your real-life holiday. I hope that the weather is what ou want it to be. I have no idea where you are going!!

K. and I send you our very fondest love and still live in the hope that we may meet up with you and have our clam chowder together!!

With much affection

A;so Ran1

Awww... You're all so sweet, thank you!

I kept going back and forth about sharing the bad news with everyone, but it's something that's changed me, and something that I think about every day (and still weep over occasionally), that I thought it was something that I should share. I'll admit that it's very scary to try again, because I keep thinking it could happen again, and it would be so hard to bear, but on the other hand, I really feel that I need to try again. It's kinda hard to explain.

AR1, the island of Bequia is in the West Indies. There's a lovely Guide Entry about it, if you're interested: A579053

I love you guys ...

Any of us who are mothers (or have maternal urges) understand why you'd try again, even though the same thing could happen again.