(3) Thu Jun 25 20:39:40 pay for that upgrade:

I asked drew last night if he thought Steve Jobs bought his new liver.  He immediately replied that he wasn't sure but if anyone deserves to pay for an upgrade, it is him. 

I laughed harder than I had in weeks.  Drew has heard my complaints about upgrading my first generation ipod touch software, which I put off for 1.5 years, such that it cost me $5 rather than $20.  Open source programming is very important to drew. That said, I'm pretty sure  I'm on the verge of purchasing the iphone GS; though I am still intrigued by the Palm Pre, and loyal to Palm since they have been the maker of my smartphone for 5+ years.

I'm wrapping up this pregnancy.  Officially 8 months; with a little more than 4 weeks left. We're having a boy; the room is painted, bassinet is ready, cloth diapers and clothes are washed.  We're still trying to wrap up some home projects before he comes, but this is hindered by my new need to have a daily nap after work.  I feel the baby move less than everyone would like, and was sent to labor and delivery yesterday.  The non-stress test was okay, though he still didn't move much (3 times in 75 mins).  My doctor wants me to be seen more, so I will be back on Monday.

Apollo is doing fairly well though since my last post, he was severly ill in May (for 6 days; constant diarrhea and vomitting for 6 days) and he was attached by a doberman at our local 'dog' park 11 days ago.  Most of his wounds are doing well, but one has gotten worse rather than heal.  We went to the vet today and he wasn't too concerned; just monitor and more neosporin as it apparently is okay if he licks some neosporin as the antibiotics aren't absorbed orally.

That's it for now.  Perhaps I will be posting some more as  I take a 6 month leave from work soon.  But maybe not.

 

 

Fri May 15 10:47:49 dog gone:

Today apollo was missing for about a half hour to an hour.  Our electrician left the gate open and he got out.  Drew called me and I left work in record time without saying anything to anyone. 

Driving home was very scary as last night we were at the dog park at dusk when a small black dog got loose. We looked for him for about an hour, but I don't think the owner had found him yet.  I was upset about this for a lot of last night, only to have a similar thing happen to us the next day.

We're so lucky to live in such a nice neighborhood.  One woman apparently found Apollo.  A different neighbor I came across down the street told me about the woman who found a nice dog.  While Drew and I were out, the same woman must have returned the dog to our electrical workers.  We never got a chance to thank the woman who kept Apollo safe, but we hope we meet her soon.

(2) Thu Jan 22 00:09:03 ring bandit dog:

Fifteen minutes after putting my wedding rings on the edge of the bathtub, Drew's keen ear heard a metal sound in the bathroom.  He came and asked me how many rings I had.  He found my wedding ring, but my engagement ring was missing.  

We searched around for a bit, Drew even gave Apollo a ball of foil to see where he may try to 'hide' it.  However, with each minute, I became more concerned that this would have bad health effects.

We have access to a metal detector, so we ran the metal detector over Apollo, even though he sort of ran away from it. I was sure that the detector was giving a 'positive' result, however, Drew was not so sure. It was definitely unreliable.  

Still panicked, we called vet and got referred to an emergency vet in Palo Alto.  Again, feeling a sense of urgency, we took him to the vet.  After a 2 hour vomit induced visit with an x-ray, totally over 300 dollars, still no ring.  

We returned home, ready to resume a search, while checking to be sure Apollo didn't find it first.  

Of course, we found it plain view in the front bedroom within 3 minutes of being home, since we weren't clouded with the fear or panic that he may have eaten it. He just 'transported' it.

Not a great night, but at least it ended well. 

(3) Thu Jan 15 11:34:46 In other news:

We're pregnant.  I finished my first trimester recently, and amazingly, like clockwork, my textbook first trimester symptoms are disappearing.  I got my first night of good sleep last night in at least two months; actually slept until 7:30 am!!! many sleepless nights which has been awful for my concentration at work and general energy level.  Also, very glad to finally have an appetite again.

I still am looking forward to doing a year in review with photos, but am waiting on Drew to catch up on photo tagging.

Here is the first (edited) baby photo.

(2) Mon Dec 29 21:12:12 Year in Review:

I like how a lot of the blogs I read do this year in review, month by month, so here is my first attempt.

January:  I spent over a week in Iowa and a weekend in Nevada campaigning for the ill-fated John Edwards campaign.  Despite the ending of the campaign, I loved this experience.  I met amazing people who worked on the campaign, including and especially Paula from LA, and I loved interacting with the public. Plus: great adventures in the cold snow.  My mom, sister, and I were in Las Vegas right before the NV caucus, where I did a little bit of campaigning as well.  January was totally defined by my obsession with the primary. 

February:  After John Edwards bowed out, I was squarely in camp Obama, though I still had sadness about Edwards not being successful.  I took a trip to West Virginia for work.  I cannot say that I liked West Virginia at all. Perhaps that is all I will say about that.

March:  This month was usual business, combined with Drew's grandfather and my great grandmother ailing.  This was a hard time, and lots of time was spent at bedsides.  In the end, they ended up dying within one day of eachother.  Drew's grandpa Fred was 91 and my great grandmother Ethel was 108! I was accepted onto the Belmont Green Advisory Committee.

April: Midway through the month Drew and I attended the memorials of both of our grandparents.  I also testified for my first homicide trial.  The testimony was long (2 or 3 days?) and the most difficult I had ever given.  Overall, I think it went fairly well though.

May: I took Drew's grandmother to her native England.  I drove her around and she saw 27 friends and family over 8 days.  It was a beautiful trip in the English countryside. Drew and I both started biking to work a few days a week.  We continued this until mid October when it was too dark.

June:  This summer was filled with baby and bridal showers. Some I attended, most I helped host.  Two babies were born to our friends. John and Karin had a boy early July and Matthew and Rachel had another girl in June.  Drew's sister and my sister were both engaged earlier in the year.  I helped throw showers for both of them (one at my house).  A very busy month. Drew and I went on our first solo camping trip; just the two of us, at nearby Memorial Park.  It was a great success; we had tons of fun and made it home in one piece.

July: For my birthday, Drew surprised me with tickets to see 'A Chorus Line'.  We had a fun night in SF.  My very good friend Janet, who also works with me, was winding down her days in California.  I hosted her a big lab-wide going away party.  I was so sad to see her go, and am still adjusting. 

August:  I threw my sister a Bachelorette Party at the family cabin in Tahoe.  It was a great success other than finding out about John Edwards' infidelity (and how he may have jeopardized the presidency) while up there,  Drew went to Glendale again, as he has been several times for work this year. He stayed down there for the SIGGRAPH conference.   I spent more than half the month on call for work.  Strangely, I never got called out until August 29th.

September: Weddings!  Drew 'married' his sister by officiating at her wedding in San Diego to her new husband, Brian.  Two weeks later, we attended my sister's wedding in Apple Hill.  I was 'lady of honor' for both weddings.  In between, we celebrated our two year anniversary at South Lake Tahoe.  Our friends John, Karin, Liz, and Hugh got us a gift certificate for the Black Bear Inn. We had a great time.  After all of this, we went and picked up the newest addition to our family.  Apollo.  Greatest pup ever.  Enough said.

October: Drew turned 30 this month.  Sadly, because of all the wedding activity/travel, I didn't get it together to have a proper celebration.  Instead, we just went to dinner and a movie.  I hope to have a 30 (and a half) birthday party early next year.  His movie, Madagacar 2, was being released this month and we got to go to a special screening. Apollo and Drew attend Puppy Kindergarten class at the humane society. Apollo meets his first girlfriend there, Roxy.

November: Obama! Then, on the heels of victory,  I went on a crazy, last minute, brief trip to Japan with friends Rachel and Matthew and their 5 month old baby.  It was wonderful and decadent.  Right after returning, Drew and I went camping with Apollo and our friends Laurel and Sofia.  It was great fun, though it was pouring down rain beginning at 7pm all through the night.  Turned out neither of our tents were completely waterproof.  It was a great adventure though, and the long dark night helped me recover from my Japan jet lag.

December:  I finished my last class for my MS in chemistry at San Jose State University! I began classes Fall of 2005. I still have my research to finish up and thesis to write. I plan to do this in the coming months.  So glad to be finally done with classes.  We had our fifth annual latke party on the eighth night of Hannukah where many of our friends and neighbors came by and celebrated with us. 

 

We're looking forward to the year ahead and all the great things to come :) Stay tuned for year in review via photos.

 

Sun Nov 23 23:17:09 Second concert of the day:

Went to a lovely symphony with drew earlier in the day.

Fri Nov 21 15:55:47 Part 2:

(3) Fri Nov 21 15:53:44 Dog is my copilot:

Apollo and I on the way to the vet

(1) Sat Oct 18 16:36:46 Jewey Crafts:

My friend Glenda is making crafts for babies, some Jewish themed, some not.  I bought this pretty 'burp cloth' set as a gift. 

 

Check her out.

Fri Sep 26 22:56:59 Apollo:

So, in September, both drew and I had sisters that got married, and we got a new family member, Apollo. He fits in so nicely. Tonight he was sleeping in the room I left these slippers. I moved the slippers to the room I was in and he followed and nuzzled up against them. So nice. He's practically perfect in every way.

Sat Sep 13 11:18:32 little Apollo Patel Villafan Perttula :

we pick up the little guy one week from today.

 

(2) Tue Sep 02 12:52:50 We get the puppy soon:

Just 2.5 weeks.

Sun Jul 27 08:51:19 Besos is birdwatching:

He is so great. We are getting very used to having him around. Will be sad for him to leave tomorrow.

Thu Jul 24 20:57:24 Besos:

We are watching our friends' kitten, Besos, for four days. It is great fun as he is very sweet and cuddly, but also playful.

(1) Tue Jul 22 23:08:05 Packing and Janet leaving:

One of my very best friends in the world, Janet, or better known as J.P. is leaving, with her husband, for their new home in Austin. We had a last hurrah in SF complete with japanese food at a favorite restaurant, a nice long walk, and many hours of helping her pack.  luckily, when it came time to pack her knife block, I had a great tip from a crime scene I had worked which involved a knife block full of knives.  Maybe it isn't all that brilliant, but remember to use tape to secure all the knives to the block. Then they are quite secure in a box full other things.  I will miss janet very much.  

 

(2) Sun Jul 13 19:00:23 Watch out!:

Burning man season is upon us. Berkeley store keepers are catering to the crowd. Luckily aviva who was with me, shares my distaste.

(3) Sun Jul 13 14:46:09 Kp in high school:

test mail

(3) Fri May 16 16:59:01 Maybe things aren't so dismal...:

Though things are bleak in many ways, it was nice to note some good news this week: (in order of importance to me)

The polar bear is finally on the endangered species list (not that this matters to the current administration, but perhaps the next)

John Edwards emerged with an excellent endorsement for Obama, who is apparently destined to be the nominee (so happy to almost have a nominee)

The California Supreme Court overturned what I felt was a very stupid ban on same sex marriage

I successfully rode my bike to work two times this week. That is my goal until it gets dark early again. Drew also rode his bike this week for the second time this month

Last week, I found the perfect bag for my MacBook Pro and all the other things I like to carry around. I had many requirements for such a bag (non leather, nice to touch, no or minimal velcro, zippers sturdy enough to resist my destruction, the right dimensions/pockets for things, a touch of style, not black) Yesterday it finally arrived.

Sun May 04 15:47:45 Last day in England:

Today we went to Crawley to see Rosemary's sister-in-law, Rita, and her son Michael, and his wife, Nellie.  We had a lovely visit. Then we are off to the airport to fly out tomorrow morning. Goodbye England.

Sun May 04 03:23:35 Seventh Day in England - Heyshott to Lockerley:

Before leaving Audrey's, her son-in-law, Dary, showed me the boat he was building.  He has worked on it from scratch and I thought it was very impressive. 

We left Audrey's on Saturday morning to head West to Lockerley. Here, Jim, the husband of Rosemary's friend Cherry from when she was around 10 years old, lives. Sadly, Cherry passed away suddenly a few years ago.  But happily, we got to visit with their three nice children: Keith, Soula, and Peter, and Peter's wife and three children.  We had a really nice time, visiting all afternoon, and taking Peter's family's dog, Tara, for a nice, but muddy walk. Jim, in the yellow shirt, is over 90 years old, but he loves the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. None of his kids were familiar with the show, but I explained that it is one of the popular shows among my friends. Jim calls it "Great American political satire", which it is. 
Today we head East, near Crawley, to visit Rita, Rosemary's sister-in-law, and some of her family.  Then we head to the airport to fly out in the morning.