Sometimes You Sail Close to the Edge O' The Map

... and sometimes you bloody well go right off! So much has happened over the last couple of weeks that I don't even know where to begin. Work load has tripled, and my nemesis, who was supposed to be helping take the load off, was transferred by management to another - solo - project, so he wouldn't cause more damage in the department. I guess I wasn't the only one he was driving crazy! Add to that extracurricular activities (guitar lessons and thet like), a sick dog, and plans to go to Disney World in May, and you have one stressed pirate!

But there is one additional bit of news that is occupying 99.9% of my attention these days ...

There's a pirate-in-training on the way!

We found out about a week and a half ago that One Ring is pregnant, and after a trip to the doctor's last Thursday for ultrasounds and other tests, the due date was figured out. The li'l swab is due on December 16!

Needless to say, we're both ecstatic and freaking out at the same time. This will likely be our only child (unless One Ring decides otherwise - she is the "One Ring to Rule Them All" after all!), so we want everything to go as smoothly as possible. Which essentially involves me panicking about every little thing and One Ring studying everything she can get her hands on.

So there you go. That's why we haven't had reports of the Somali pirates who were taken to Norfolk, VA (my old stomping grounds!) for trial, and other bits of interest. I hope to post more, but time will only tell. In the meantime, please send thoughts, prayers, and superstitious pirate rituals our way, as the world needs more swashbuckling babies! : )