Pregnant Gina Photo Update: I may have one tonight, as I'm getting a CD of images from my sister-in-law. Or, I'm sure someone will take a pic of her tonight at our family holiday party, so it will be soon. :)

Just letting you all know I haven't forgotten. :)

I'm sure this conversation has been had a thousand times on a thousand blogs, but I just need to share this, so what the hell.

Do you have a song that, no matter what's going on, where you are, what you are doing, you hear it and you smile and can get lost in the song very easily? And I don't mean lost like, singing along or anything, I mean, like, feeling like you ARE IN the song...like, it is you. Hard to explain I think...but many of you get what I'm saying.

Well, twice in the last month or so, I've found myself getting completely lost and immersed in a song that has been among my favorites in a very short (compared to my life) time. That song is "Fast Cars and Freedom" by Rascal Flatts.

Now, the weirdest thing is this...I have no idea why my love of this song goes beyond the other songs truly in my top 5, 10, 20, etc. I mean, yes, it's a very beautiful, well-put-together, upbeat song that really says "I love you" in an "unorthodox" way...it's about everlasting love and nostalgia for what the person is inside and the times spent, rather than what the situation is now. The memories, the beauty, the friendship.

Do I have this today with Gina? Sure. Could I sing this song to Gina and have it apply today? Sure (except for the Red Nova and dust trail parts, of course). But, that said, it's not like it's "our song" or even one of our songs. So, that's not really it.

Nor does it apply to any other situations. Nor does it apply to, say, my parents (as Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love" holds a deep, deep bond for me because of my parents) or anything like that. In other words, my brain, soul, psyche or whatever really relates to this song, and it's weird because I don't really know why. But I'll tell you, I can easily, easily close my eyes and just absorb every second of the song and totally, totally enjoy it. And, it kind of puts me at peace, too, in a sense.

It's just weird. Any thoughts? :)

It has been insane. Just all-out insane.

Between work getting busier, crazier and more demanding, the on-the-way baby, the holiday "requirements" such as parties, shopping and decorating, the work that needs to be done around the house, the snowstorms and the delays that they bring, the travel, and the desire to stay fit by going to the gym three times a week after work, it's a miracle I've been able to update my house blog, let alone this one.

So, I apologize, although you all know that I'm being insincere. :) Really, I'm not, but what else can I say? My life, right now, follows these three priorities (not in order): work, house, baby/Gina. That's about it. Seriously. And those three take up just about all my time.

In good news, I'm about to embark upon a major renovation of our basement family room -- tearing out the walls, drywalling, installing a bar, possibly a fireplace of some sort, the 125-gallon aquarium into the wall, and a nice big-screen TV (eventually) for entertaining. None of this, of course, will happen overnight, or anything close to overnight. But I want to tear the walls out before the baby comes, in the event that there is a bad case of mold -- I can more easily get Gina out of the house with the baby in her than get them both out once the baby is here. If the renovation lasts beyond the birth of the child (which it will, obviously), at least the unhealthy portion will be out of the way.

Also in good news, I'm headed to the championship game in two of my fantasy football leagues this year. So that will be nice, especially since, in both leagues, I started out crappily and bounced back nicely. We'll see how it goes though...I don't have high hopes, but I haven't had high hopes much this year as far as that goes.

And for those who remain interested, Ghetto Bowl XI will feature Extreme Flachulation (Conor) vs. Roving Rowdy River Rats (Mike Faber). Conor's team is the former Iowa Tornadoes, so Donna, you have someone to root for. :) And he still has Kurt Warner.

Ah well...that's about it for now...carry on...and if I go more than a month between now and my next post, have a Merry Christmas, to those who feel so inclined to do so. Those others of you, go see a good movie that day or something. ;) Also, if I don't see you...Happy New Year too!