Babies and Pizza

I am very happily expecting my first child in early November. So, babies are on my mind quite a lot. I imagine that it would be expected to look at babies differently, but it has taken me by surprise who taken I am by how small they are, the level of care they require and the adoration they inspire. Who would have thunk it?

I said to my husband the other day that while I became pregnant soon after our marriage - about 4 and a half months, I don't regret it and certainly don't feel as if I have missed out on any special time with him. We've had that during out courtship, engagement, months following our wedding and continue to have it during the pregnancy. I think I sum it up for myself as, "I was alone long enough, as was my husband and to have our own child on the way... Well, a baby is welcome anytime by us with
love and great optimism."

Now, onto the 2nd thing on my mind. Food. I love to cook. I love to read cook books, magazines, cooking and food blogs, try out new recipes, rip recipes out and file them away for the perfect dinner party. I think I would do more cooking had I a bit more countertop space, but I do fairly well with what I have - a kitchen block and some random feet snatched from the top of the fridge, sink top and above the microwave.

What has been on my mind as of late? Pizza. There is so much delectable pizza here in the New York City and the surrounding boroughs that to not think of it, seems rather cruel. And since I've been reading the charming blog of a man dedicated to the serious pursuit, discussion and most importantly, the consumption of pizza across America, I can't seem to stop thinking about it myself. Check it out for yourself and see if you're not soon dreaming of pizza. http://slice.seriouseats.com/

What is is though about pizza that inspires such fierce devotion? We all recognize mediocre pizza and certainly wax poetic about fantastic slices we've had. I think I like how it appeals to such a wide group of enthusiasts. It satiates children on a Friday night (and saves harried parents from cooking), it's consumed by high-powered bankers late at night while putting together a deal, it brings back fond memories for most adults of their high-school pizza joint with it's just so ration of cheese and sauce. It's as soothingly simple or as high-brow sophisticated as one wants to make it.

Ideas!

A mother, married already 4 times, who can't seem to remember the name of her fifth husband.
A son who announces his imminent release from jail with "change of address cards"
A father, brilliant, yet bumbling at times. He decides one day to repave the driveway, using the car as a steamroller to set the gravel. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, backkkk an' fortthhhhhhhh.
A black sheep cousin who lives in Arizona - waiter by day, host of a astrological cable access show by night. He calls himself "astro-fag" and make plentiful use of chiffon and back-lighting. "The cards tell me that there's a big ole planet moving into your galaxy. Well, my goodness, can you believe it's uranus?"
A woman who decides that she has dreamed all of history and tries to remember it all so that she can tell all when she wakes up.
A personal assistant who works for an A-list Hollywood couple. They are neither as cool, down-to-earth and youthful as the public finds them.
A girl who remembers the fashionable parties her aunt used to give. Now they don't seem quite so fashionable. Maybe rawwwther sad.
The exhaustion a parent of an autistic child feels. Each day the same with small variations that 5 years after diagnosis, don't give any hope for a breakthrough. Tomorrow it will all be forgotten.'
A new mom