I am just a couple days shy of 7 mos pregnant now.  It’s going to sound trite but I really cannoy believe how the time flies ... July will be here before I know it.  I’m already less than 100 days from my due date.

I don’t know why I’m up so early this morning.  Maybe a little bit excited ... we’re going to a class at the hospital - infant care for dummies, essentially, because I’ve only held a very few newborns in my life and certainly never taken care of one full-time.  I fully expect to be amused by this class, if only out of good-natured laughing at Scott as he tries to diaper a doll.

Anyway, I’ve got about an hour before I actually need to get shaking, so in the meantime here’s a survey (stolen from Scott W.) to pass the time.

FAITH
1. What religion do you follow?
I’m just ... not anything specific.  I was raised Catholic and if pressed will tell you I still consider myself one - lapsed anyway - but the Pope and I disagree on some pretty fundamental things so I’m not sure we’ll ever fully reconcile. 

2. What religion were you raised as?
Catholic - my mom is still very much so.  It’s ... a little intense.

3. Do you believe that forgiveness is a religious property, or a human property?
What kind of weird-ass question is this?  It sounds like someone trying to be philosophical and wise.  Anyway.  I believe forgiveness is a human ability, but like thoughfulness or an IQ over 7, not everyone has it.

4. Do you believe in magic?
I believe in looking for the magical (read: inspirational, uplifting, optimistic) all around me.  I often find it in strange places too, but it keeps life interesting.

5. What was the last promise you broke?
I don’t know that I have broken one recently, actually.  I take promises very seriously.
 
7. Do you believe that anyone could be perfect?
Never.  But I think that if everyone would just try real hard to be just-plain-old GOOD to one another the world would be a damn sight better than it is.

HOPE
1. Did you get everything you wanted over the last holiday season?
I didn’t really want anything particular for Christmas and anyway, to whine about what you didn’t get strikes me as very selfish.

2. Regarding your future, what is the best thing you could hope for?
Happiness and prosperity for myself and my little family.  Good health for my son.  A better day for our country.
 
3. Do you let yourself get your hopes up for something even if you know that there is a large chance of failure?
I try to be hopeful until impossibility becomes reality.  Positive thinking does have power, but negativity just makes the anticipation so much worse.

4. Have you ever bought a lottery ticket?
I’ve been given them at Christmas by bosses and thrown in for office pools, but never actually bought one myself. 

5. Do you gamble?
I don’t see the point.  I have money, I want more of it, so explain risking losing it all?  I’d rather put it in the bank - or into a new pair of shoes

6. Have you ever had something called off on account of bad weather, but then gone ahead and done it anyway?
Another bizarre question - and the answer is no.  And even if I HAD, I don’t like bad weather.  Going out without an umbrella makes me very cross indeed.
 
CHARITY
1. What causes do you support?
The Red Cross for the work they do for people in need around the world.  AAUW for their support of women’s education.  The Democratic Party in the hopes of ousting the current regime.
 
2. What causes have you given money or time to?
Money to the Red Cross, the March of Dimes, and every year to the American Legion when you see them out with their little red poppies.  Time to my local women’s center, where I’m a rape crisis counselor for Sexual Assault Support Services.  I go to the hospital with rape victims and counsel them through their first contact with the police.  It’s hard work but so gratifying - and humbling.

3. Have you ever worked in a soup kitchen or done another kind of outreach for the homeless?
Not for the homeless per se, but in college I volunteered at a homework clinic for children in a poor neighborhood.
 
4. Would you ever consider joining the Peace Corps, Amnesty International, or another travel-inherent worldwide charity group?
I think I’m too much of a princess to rough it like that, unfortunately.  But I do support the work these groups do and if they ever hit me up at a time when I had some extra money lying around, I’d give it to them.  I also really admire the concept of Heifer International ... I’d like to send them a donation someday.
 
5. Do you give money to the homeless on the street?
Fortunately one doesn’t encounter homeless on the streets in our area.  It makes me concerned about where they DO live though.  But if a street person hit me up and I had change in my pocket, I’d probably give it to them.  I know it’s not the best way to help them, but it seems heartless to rationalize not giving when I have plenty.

6. Have you ever helped out a friend with basic needs, like rent or food?
I lent a friend money once to cover her rent, but that’s about it.
 
7. What’s the greatest extent you’ve gone to help a friend in need?
I gave a friend a place to live during a difficult time in her life.  While it didn’t have the practical effect I had originally desired, it did seem to get her going in a new direction emotionally - which in retrospect is actually better.   

FORTITUDE
1. What are you most afraid of?
Spiders.  Drowning.  Losing the people I care about.

2. What did you do today that was really brave?
So far all I’ve done is carry a load of laundry downstairs.  Not exactly heroic, right?  Well, try it 7 months pregnant and 30lb. heavier than you ever thought you’d want to be.

3. Who is your favorite super hero, and why?
Eleanor Roosevelt, because she took her position in the public eye and used it to do something positive for the world.
 
4. Would you put your life in danger to rescue someone? .
I’m not Wonder Woman, ok?  But I will do my damndest to help you out.

5. If you were to face the Wizard of Oz, would you want more courage, more brains, or more heart?
Probably courage.  If you can believe it - sometimes I don’t speak up for myself as much as I should.

6. Have you ever gotten stage fright?
Sure.  I’m a lot more comfortable getting up in front of a crowd now than I used to be though ... probably because of all the presenting I do at work, and all the karaoke I do in my free time!

7. Do you consider yourself to be a leader or a follower?
A leader, though perhaps not always an overt one.

JUSTICE
1. Have you ever been summoned for jury duty?
Never, though I have a subpoena hanging on my fridge right now.  I was in a car accident recently - not my fault - and if the other driver contests her fine I’ll have to go testify against her.

2. If they reinstituted the draft (for both genders), would you go, or would find some way out of it?
I think I’d be exempt for health reasons or else as the mother of a small child.  But if not ... honestly ... I don’t know.

3. Do you support capital punishment (the death penalty)?
The liberal in me says it should be abolished.  The vigilante in me wants retribution.

4. Which should be guaranteed legal: cocaine, marijuana, heroin?
Marijuana should be legal. Look at all the money the government pulls in on other Sin Taxes - surely they’re flipping off a major source of revenue based on a false sense of morality.  It doesn’t hurt anyone.  Harder drugs should still be illegal, though - they are harmful to their users and to society as a whole, increasing crime and violence.

5. Do you believe that Dubya is rightfully President of the USA?
Ugh, we’re almost to January 20th 2009, so is there any point in debating this anymore?  Just count down the days with me.

6. What was your favorite media circus trial?
The last trials I followed with any attention were the Scott Peterson murder trial and Andrea Yates’ appeal and conviction overturn.  I think both verdicts were just.

TEMPERANCE
1. What do you have the hardest time moderating yourself on?
Sweets.

2. Do you collect anything?
Pounds?

3. Are you addicted to anything?
Not anymore, but I think I have an addictive personality.  I can become far too involved with things/ people.  I used to be a smoker before I got pregnant, whereupon thankfully, I was able to quit.   I’ve gotten to a point where I can be around smokers and don’t crave one, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to touch a cigarette ever again because I’d slide back so fast. 

4. Have you ever put anything on layaway or used an installment plan?
My last car ... and a couple times I’ve taken interest-free payments on expensive things like my wedding dress.  We’re currently paying off a new central A/C system. 
 
5. What’s your preferred method of paying for things?
Depends on how expensive it is.  We use our credit card for everything but we don’t tend to buy big things unless we know we have the money in the bank to cover it.  We’re actually pretty fiscally conservative for people our age, I think.  We don’t carry a credit card balance and we put away money in savings every month - even if it’s not much.

6. Tell us one thing you wish you hadn’t let yourself do:
I don’t have a ton of regrets in my life.  Maybe the only one was not sticking out my education major in college - I grow weary in the corporate world and often wish I’d become a teacher after all.  But that corporate job enables me financially to live a life I love ... so I really can’t complain.
 
7. Do you feel that you obsess over things?
I’d say that’s a fair assessment.  I like to be in control of what’s going on around me.

PRUDENCE
1. Who is the wisest person you know?
My cat.  Eat, sleep, and make people do stuff with your cuteness - what a way to live.

2. Have you ever participated in a vigil?
In college I used to attend the annual Take Back The Night march against violence against women.  I haven’t really done anything like that since entering the real world though.

3. Do you take advice when it’s given?
Rarely.  I like to find my own way.

4. What area are you wisest in?
I’ve had people tell me I’m a "voice of reason."  I like to think I’m practical and magnanimous. 

5. Do you drive defensively?
I try.  Unfortunately large objects seem to be irresistably drawn into collision with my car.  I have been hit 4 times in the last 10 months (by 3 cars and 1 deer).  None of these accidents were my fault, but I still suffered the inconvenience of them.

6. Have you ever had unprotected sex outside of marriage?
No - it just never seemed smart.  I was on the pill forever but I never let that make me make dumb decisions.  There’s a connection and a commitment implied in sex that I don’t take lightly and thankfully, even when I thought my heart was safe, I never put my body at risk.  I think that makes me able to not truly regret any of the relationship mistakes I’ve made - at least I kept a little of myself safe.  (And obviously after marriage I was still pretty careful until I was sure we were ready to be parents.  I think we’re ready.  I think!)

7. What did you learn today?
So far nothing - though in a few hours hopefully I’ll be a diaperinig pro!