"I'll take Potpurri for $200, Alex."

A few unrelated thoughts.

Taking the advice of a good doula friend, when I got my tattoo I totally "doulad" myself through the whole thing. It was very Penny Simkin-esque. I was awash in rhythm, ritual and to whatever extent I could, rocking. It was very interesting, actually. I was tapping my foot the whole time to the beat of my breath, in two three four, out two three four. I was a big foot tapper in my births as well. When I do prenatals with my clients we always talk about reactions to stress and coping mechanisms. I guess however you are in life is how you are in birth. Or vise versa.

I need a life doula for tomorrow. I have a root canal. Childbirth, no problem. Dental work, whole different ball game.

I have met with some really amazing women lately. I always feel so honored when I get hired, so grateful to be able to share in this amazing time in a family's life.

Listen to WFUV online, Fordam U's really cool radio station.

Welcome Back, Crazy Person

The problem with taking the summer off from work is that it's really hard to get back into the swing of things. Just last night I booked two appointments at the same time because I have fallen back into my old traps of deep, debilitating disorganization. For me to stay on top of my universe I have to force myself to write everything down (not on random bank receipts and gum wrappers) so I can keep it all together. It's not natural to me, but it's necessary for survival.

Earlier today I was tagged, which I don't really understand but apparently it's blogger speak for "you must do this."

Here goes.

The Rules:

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.

2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

3. People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules.

4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and that they should read your blog.


Here are some things.

1. I never step on the grates on the sidewalk. Total unexplainable phobia.

2. If given the opportunity (and a dark closet) I will crush Chips Ahoy cookies atop a bowl of Cheerios and soy milk.

3. I always eat some form of chocolate at a birth. Sometimes three forms.

4. Our second daughter was almost named Beasley and I am VERY GLAD SHE WASN'T.

5. My name is spelled Randi on my birth certificate. I added the "e" on the end in 7th grade. That's odd, isn't it? Aside from my family, there are probably only 3 people in my life who knew that before now.

6. As soon as I found out I was pregnant with my second, I went to see the midwife I had with my first. During the visit she told me she was no longer catching babies. I was so crushed; I cried on and off for days. As it turns out, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was carrying so much baggage from my first labor around with me that I believe I would not have had a successful home birth if the cast of characters was the same the second time around.

7. When I was in high school I had a friend down the street who lived with her grandmother. We used to smoke cigarettes out her bedroom window. One time we dropped one, but her grandmother was downstairs so we didn't think we could go get it. We attached a wad of chewing gum to a shoe, tied many shoelaces together and successfully hoisted it up to safety.

8. Aside from my youngest sister, I have the worst sense of direction on earth.

KW, KR, EV, JH...consider yourself tagged.