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March 19, 2007
Simultaneous Release
I've been waiting to use that line from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Dani California.
So we just filed for two union elections. To most of you, this is nothing but inside baseball, and it won't make any sense. To say that we filed for one election on March 9 and a second on March 16 is like saying, "I have to do some garbly goop -- it's time consuming and stressful!"
Let me help with an analogy that may be more familiar.
Many of you have children, and wanted them, and like them a lot. They're cute and cuddly and they may support you in your old age (not that you'll need it, between CR and radical anti-aging biomedicine, but at least they'll buy you nice presents) But they are a lot of work, stress, heartache, and they can turn out very badly, sometimes through no fault of your own. When you contemplate having a child, you look forward to it with eager anticipation, and you may spend years trying to get pregnant, but you know that bringing up that child is going to be a huge, soul-consuming, life-destroying effort. (note to all you parents who are getting touchy about that phrasing: I mean that for a time, you give up a lot of your identity and put another's needs ahead of yours in order to take care of someone who needs you! Rewarding, but difficult!)
Then you find out you are carrying quadruplets.
That's what filing for two elections at the same time is like.
It's all so good... all the work we've been doing for years is paying off, and I'm so proud of my hard-working, sweet and cute staff who have sweat blood to bring about this day. They have no idea what's about to hit them, but my colleague in running the union and I do because we've both been organizers for years and have seen it all. It's a bloody battle, and we're walking into two of them at once.
Rather energizing, really.
On Friday we filed for the second, then our friend took the three of us out for lunch at Matyson, a fabulous French-ish restaurant in Philly. I had a lentil soup that was probably spiked with narcotics it was so good, followed by a shrimp, arugula and grapefruit salad with a citrus vinegarette. My friend the wine wonk brought along an elegant Oregon pinot noir and a fab Frenchy cab. The meal was divine.
Then we got caught in a storm, but luckily we weren't driving, we took the train, so I got home safely and skipped dinner due to large lunch.
Saturday MR and I had thought we would have a film crew at the house to do an interview with Aubrey, but thanks to the winter storm they cancelled. In the evening we had a potluck event with friends, to which I brought that black bean soup.
Sunday was a low key food day... half my usual Sunday breakfast because I wasn't very hungry, regular lunch, light dinner of Quorn roast with veggies. Spent most of the day working, with the exception of a very intense workout at the gym.
Today a colleague brought in his famous burritos, overstuffed California style, to work. He used to bring them all the time but hasn't in ages. Black beans, chicken, a little rice, avocado, lettuce, salsa, tomatoes. I'm guessing 500 calories. I ate that plus my salad and almonds, but had a light breakfast (megamuffin eaten on the road at 6:30 am on the way to a 7:30 am meeting) and light dinner (mashed cauliflower, flax oil, grape tomatoes: total: 150 cals. 6 oz glass of wine.)
I am exhausted and likely to remain so for awhile, but it's the good kind of exhaustion from good work done well. This going to be one of those times when I need my CR more than ever, and no doubt it will be a struggle to maintain it with all the stress + going out with non-CR'd folk, but it's what I've learned I have to do.
Meanwhile, I am SOOOO excited about next weekend! Who else is coming?
Jen -- thanks so much for your comments! What are you eating? When are you feeling hungry? We'll all do the best we can to help!
Yikes, this just in: my dad just called and said that some good friends of his, members of his old Sunday school class, are the parents of the missing boy scout who has been lost in the mountains of NC for three days now. Everyone out there who does so should please keep this boy in your prayers. I can think of nothing worse than being a parent and knowing that your baby was missing and possibly hurt. Their church pastor is up there with the family, and there was a vigil with 500 people at the church last night.
Makes me want to stay in and hold on tight to my sweetie and my kitty cats. We should never take those we love for granted, not for a minute.
Posted by april at March 19, 2007 7:29 PM
Comments
On bringing up children: most of what you say is true, except it being "soul-consuming & life-destroying". If anything, it is soul-affirming and life altering, in a most profound and positive way. In giving birth, one comes closest to realizing wonder of the Diety. If one can stay the course, through raising that tiny creature to adulthood, the personal growth is awesome, as patience and to truly give of oneself is learned. The reward at the end, seeing the man or woman one's child becomes, can be an incredibly fulfilling experience. This much I know. MoMR :-)
Posted by: Judith at March 19, 2007 5:50 PM
And your kid turned out really weird! But he's wonderful!
love a
Posted by: april at March 19, 2007 6:23 PM
Thanks April!
Right now I'm basically starting from scratch, and doing what you did in the beginning (only eating things with calories listed on the label that I can calc out quick).. So, yesterday for ex (please don't fret.. :)..I had cereal for breakfast (serving size so I could measure out) then I was starving by lunch time, so had a BLT (uugh) from the cafe, which I estimated to be 500 calories. And for dinner I had brown rice (serving size and some veggies). I'm usually hungry every 4 hours or so.. I know that I need to eat smaller meals more frequently (low cal ones), but am having such a hard time planning for it, with the new baby and work!! Your blog has really helped me want to start up again though. I think once I'm getting the sleep I need it will come easier !! Oh.. and about the child comments--- my daughter is a VERY difficult child (colic and all) but I love her to death. She keeps us up all hours of the night, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I like all parents had to give up a bit of myself (and CR) for her, but would do it over and over again a million times. She's the love of my life :)
Thanks again April !!
Jen
Posted by: Jen at March 20, 2007 5:56 AM
Oh beautifully put Mom of MR. I'll add this...you have absolutely NO IDEA what you are getting into until that child is born, then you have no time to wonder. Then you do it all over again and perhaps again and again. Cause they do say: it may be 90% pain, but the other 10% is a like a huge piece of heaven; so overwhelmingly wonderful, there's just nothing else like it!
Posted by: Deborah at March 20, 2007 5:58 AM
Good luck on your quadruplets, April!!
Posted by: carolyn at March 20, 2007 6:28 AM
Yikes, Jen! You're starving yourself to death with what you're eating and if you're breastfeeding your baby, she is either not getting the proper nutrition from you OR you're rapidly depleting yourself of vital calcium and protein. Try making a quick scramble/omelette with eggwhites & about half a pound of sauteed (or raw) veggies topped with a bit of lowfat cheese, drink a big glass of low fat milk with that, then if you're hungry mid morning, eat a little handful of almonds & some baby carrots with a fat-free yogurt and maybe a piece of fruit/some berries. You won't be hungry and you'll both be getting desperately needed nourishment. That may not be great CR but it's very nutritious and yummy! (Yet MORE unsolicited advice from MoMR) ;-)
Posted by: Judith at March 20, 2007 8:45 AM
Holy moly, April, you must be channeling my thoughts somehow! The day you wrote this post was the very day I was experiencing a soul-wrenching, life-shaking, creepy-crawly type of event that could only happen with kids. I'll be posting it in my blog shortly as I'd prefer to relive it only once. :)
Good luck with the quads.
And as with the lost scout, I can never watch CNN anymore. Any bad news about anyone, young or old, now makes me think "that is someone's child, and their parent's heart is breaking".
nen
Posted by: Nenette at March 21, 2007 7:56 PM