Julie « The Rohr Family

I Want to Believe

I am a huge science fiction fan. I love science fiction books and t.v. shows and movies. I’m a dork, I know, but I can’t help it.

My first real experience with this genre was “Star Trek” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space 9″ and the other various Star Trek’s out there. For the record, I am not a Trekkie. I don’t speak Klingon or dress up like Jean Luc Picard for Halloween. But I would try to never miss a Sunday that The Next Generation was on.

After the series was over, I entertained myself with the Star Trek books. At least Data and Counselor Troy could live on in the life of the books. Then, a new series on Fox piqued my interest. It was called The X-Files and it looked interesting. We didn’t start watching it right away, but about season 3 was when we got interested. It was my replacement for Star Trek, and again, I tried not to miss a Sunday night. I loved Scully’s skepticism and Mulder’s blind belief in all things paranormal. What a great team. I watched every season from then on, even up to season 9, when things got really stupid because Mulder wasn’t even on until the last episode. The series finale was also a huge disappoinment, but I watched anyway. I even went to the first movie.

When Emily was born, I needed something to do when I had those late night feedings. At the library, they had the complete X-Files series on DVD, and now I could watch from the first episode to the very last one. David really doesn’t like the X-Files, he tolerates it, but says it is too dark, so when I was feeding Emily at 3 a.m, I would stick a DVD in the computer and watch. My favorite seasons were probably six and seven. I was kind of sad to have it end.

After the X-Files finished on t.v., we moved on to other sci-fi shows like “Stargate” and the like. Since then, I haven’t found one that I like a whole lot, but that might be because we don’t have a t.v. (Ya think?)

One day, I picked up a Dean Koontz book called “Lightning,” at the store because I was looking for something to read on our flight to MN. It looked pretty good, so I bought it. Little did I know that this would begin my new obsession with sci-fi. I didn’t realize it was a science fiction book at the time, but as soon as I started reading I was hooked. I’m pretty sure I have now read ALL of the Dean Koontz books, except for the newest one that came out last Tuesday. I have even read them more than once, I like them so much. My favorites are: “Velocity”, all the “Odd” books, “By the Light of the Moon,” “The Face,” “Mr. Murder,” “Life Expectancy,” “One Door Away from Heaven,” and “From the Corner of His Eye.”

I’ve also read and liked Ted Dekker books, and of course, Frank Peretti. I go through them pretty fast, and they don’t last very long.

So I need a new sci-fi book or series to watch. I don’t particulary like the vampire books, even though I guess they could be considered sci-fi. I don’t want horror, either, like Stephen King. What have you read that you’ve liked that could be considered sci-fi?

I also heard that the latest X-Files movie was terrible. I don’t want to see it if it will leave my memory of Mulder and Scully tarnished. I just won’t see it. Besides, I heard it was extremely dark, and I don’t want to go that dark. So I haven’t seen it.

Written on December 9th, 2008 , Everyday Life

Normal

I’m thinking things are getting more back to normal. I don’t feel like the walking dead anymore and I have more energy–most of the time. I am getting things done, although I still feel like my house is a pit. Yeah, things are going along pretty good.

But “normal” is a subjective word. Things are not normal, as they were pre-Emily. Things are normal for our family at this point in our lives. Baby eats, poos, coos, and sleeps. Kids do school, practice instruments, go to activities and stuff. Dave and I do most of the stuff we did pre-Emily. Although I must admit, it takes a whole lot longer to do!

For example, last night, we headed out to rehearsal for worship. Before, I used to get the music together, type stuff out and get it all organized. We used to eat, load up the car with gear and go. Now, I have to make sure the baby is fed before we go, while simultaneously trying to get dinner together. I have to get music ready and I had to get Alex to bring all the gear downstairs, ready to load in the car. I also had to get the diaper bag ready, get another bottle, “just in case,” Get the clothes I was going to give away, get the diapers I was going to give away because Emily outgrew them, get the stroller, because she does better in the stroller than the car seat. But I did it! I was so proud of myself. Dinner was ready, and Emily was fed. The only thing I forgot was the stroller. We actually got to church 15 minutes early instead of right on time. We had time to make copies and David had time to get the sound system up and running.

I think Elizabeth is having a hard time with this new “normal”. We have made sure that we spend time with her alone–and Alex too, so they know they are loved, but they aren’t helpless, like Emily. Last week, we went out and had coffee and shopped. David took Beth out to lunch this week, and last week, he took Alex out. This is the new normal.

For Thanksgiving, we went to our friend’s house. That was an ordeal. All I had to do was bring rolls and pie. I got the rolls and pie (homemade, by the way.) but the whole getting out and over there was ridiculous! I had to bring Emily’s sleeping bed, diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, the bottle, the formula, the high chair, the stroller, the monitors and various other things. I felt like we were moving in! We got over there and Emily went down upstairs, but since it is so far away, I needed the monitors so I could hear her if she started to fuss. We had a great time, but wow, this is the new normal!

Tomorrow I am going to attempt to go to Michael’s and get some yarn for a blanket I am crocheting. I am also going to attempt to go to the grocery store. We’ll see how that works out….

Written on December 4th, 2008 , Everyday Life

Things that really irritate me

Just a list…

1. People that are constantly late.

2. When I am late.

3. Violins that are out-of-tune, especially in an orchestra.

4. When I ask my children to do something and they tell me, “ok. Just a minute…” and then don’t do what I asked.

5. Sopranos that are flat. As in musically, not chested.

6. When I make a mistake while making dinner and the dinner isn’t as good as it could have been.

7. Retail service people that don’t provide service.

8. Being told that the McDonald’s ice cream machine is broken. (That is a lie, people. I had friends that used to work fast food that told me they would tell people the machine was broken because they didn’t want to have to clean the machine. Apparently, it isn’t that easy to clean.) Can 3 stores have broken ice cream machines?

9. People that send emails telling me that Proctor and Gamble is headed by a Satanist.

10. Forwards on email that have some sort of conspiracy in it, like saying Madeline Murray O’Hare is trying to take prayer out of school. She is dead! Snopes is an excellent site to find out if these rumors are true or not.

11. Emails stating that Obama might be the antichrist.

12. Little boys bathrooms. (Stinky!) Also cat litter that hasn’t been changed.

13. Eggplant.

14. Children that leave their stuff where they drop it.

15. Being told, “I don’t like that,” when I tell someone what is for dinner.

16. Going out to eat for a special occasion and having crappy food.

17. People that get paid to do something that they don’t do.

18. Gossip.

19. Dog smell.

20. Dog drool.

21. Sniffing dogs.

22. Jumping dogs.

23. The smell of the fish department of any store.

24. People that need to get the last word in.

25. When someone insists that they are right and you have the proof they aren’t, but you don’t say anything because you don’t want to offend them.

26. Emails that state “if you don’t send this to 10 people in ten minutes, you will have ten years of bad luck,” or other such luck related statements.

27. When children don’t study for tests and say they are ready to take the test. The same goes for children that say they practice, but you can tell they don’t.

28. People that use the “f” word in every sentence they speak.

29. Age spots.

30. Gray hairs.

31. Nylon socks. They make my feet sweat, which in turn, makes them smell horribly.

32. Having to shave my legs and then getting a nick.

33. Trying to wax/shave my bikini line.

34. When someone yells at my kids.

35. When someone is mean to my kids.

36. 40 watt light bulbs.

37. Spit up on my shoulder or down the front of my bra. (Yes, that has happened. All you can do is laugh.)

38. Pencils that squeak when you write with them.

39. Sleeping too late in the morning so you’ve thrown away your day.

40. The smell of raw chicken.

Written on October 27th, 2008 , Kids, Music

Smile

Emily has been sleeping so much better, and as a result, so have I. I think the colic is becoming a thing of the past. She really is a very sweet baby when she isn’t writhing in pain.

I took these pictures after she had her bottle and she was sitting cooing and smiling at us.

We have so many pictures of Emily, I’m going to need to get some more of Alex and Beth up. Soon.

Written on October 13th, 2008 , Everyday Life

Almost 2 months

On Sunday, Emily will be 2 months old. Technically, today she is 8 weeks old. I can’t believe it has gone by so fast! She is beginning to come out of the colic and has been sleeping a lot longer at night, which is great. I feel so much better with 6 hours of sleep than I did with 2 or 3!

My dear husband took these adorable pictures, and he also posted them on his blog, but I just love looking at them, so here they are again.