Trash Today, Trash Tomorrow

So I'm sitting here catching up on blogs. Reading new posts. I'm especially enjoying Summer's entry about the Little House books. Love them. Nothing endears a child to me more than when they walk into the classroom with a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder in their back pack. I walk past their desk during SSR (Silent Sustained Reading, for all those not familiar with Ramona Quimby) and we share a knowing smile. Anyway, as I'm reminiscing about the good old days in the Big Woods, I hear the sound of metal screeching and plastic banging. A horrible car crash in my car port? No -- The garbage truck. I missed it for the second week in a row. Ugh! Good thing I live by myself and don't accumulate too much trash, but I might need to make a few midnight garbage drops this week. (Really, I need to get back on schedule. Shower before 10:00. Leave my house once a day. Take trash out Wednesday night.) Good thing tomorrow is August 1st. Next week I'll be forgetting garbage day because I'll have too much to do. I need to find a happy medium. I'm either all in or I'm all out.

Dentist

I just made an appointment to get my teeth cleaned. I am so scared. On my list of fears I should have included going to the dentist. I know I will get a lecture about the benefits of flossing. My palms have already started to sweat. I put the appointment off all summer. But now I have to use up my flex spending money so here I go. August 11th is the date. The countdown has begun.

Tag

Kiley just tagged me so I guess I'm it. Here it goes. Post these rules on your blog. Answer these 15 questions about yourself on your blog. Tag five people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Here it is:

JOYS:

1. Spending time with nieces and nephews.
2. Going down a size.
3. Really good romantic comedies.

FEARS:

1. Snakes.
2. After my neighbors tub fell through the ceiling into her kitchen, a former irrational fear just became rationalized.
3. Forgetting I am supposed to teach something, somewhere. Remembering at the last minute and showing up unprepared.

GOALS:

1. Lose weight and more weight.
2. Have enough money in my savings to buy a car outright when the need arises.
3. Minimize my television viewing.

OBSESSIONS/COLLECTIONS:

1. Blogging.
2. Reality TV and DVR (This really interferes with my goal).
   
3. Collecting good children's books.
   

RANDOM SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT ME:

1. I never forget to DVR an episode of This Week with George Stephanopoulos. I watch the featured guest, even sit through the round table discussion just so I can see (a) who died and (b) the funnies. I love all the political humor.
2. I also always DVR VH1 Top 20 Countdown. This I do not watch in its entirety. I can get through the two hour program in 15 minutes.
3. I almost didn't graduate from high school. Despite being offered three full-ride scholarships to three different universities, I was short a P.E. credit. I took correspondence bowling from BYU and bowled 30 games in three days. The end result -- massive blister on my thumb and a high school diploma. I do know how to hand score a bowling game but I can't get my average about 70.

Tag: Melanie, Lesley, Amie, Nicky, and Tina (I know your blog is still not up. Hopefully, this will give you an easy post.)

War Games

So last night I went to the "special screening" of War Games: The 25 Anniversary. Oh the memories...here are some of my favorites.

• Computers the size of the room (WOPR)
  
• Dial up modems where you actually had to put the phone on the device
• Rotary dial phones
• phone booths
• DOS screens with the flashing green or blue square as a curser
  
• Scroll printers with the two color stripe paper and the side hole strips that you had to tear off
  
• Floppy disks
• aerobics outfit: leotard over tights with a belt and leg warmers
• sweat pants with elastic at the waist and the ankle
  
• jean jackets
• top loading VCR
  
• Mrs. Pac Man and Galaga
• The threat of nuclear war via the Russians
• metal garbage cans with a lid
• young Ally Sheedy and Matthew Broderick (remember Project X and Ferris?)
  

My favorite moment occurred when the movie theater was having technical difficulties and the screen appeared blank except to show a computer screen with an error page message -- I bet about half the people in the screening could have helped them with the troubleshooting.

Happy Pioneer Day!

This is what Dudley did while I was sleeping. (Yes, that is the new phone cord I risked my life for.)







These are the first four songs that played on the shuffle setting of my iPod this morning:

1. Josh Groban "Oh Holy Night" (This song also has become a favorite catch phrase. e.g. see a cute guy, response: Oh Holy Night!)
2. Death Cab for Cutie "Someday You Will Be Loved"
3. Sarah McLachlan "Hold On"
4. Hilary Duff "The Beat Of My Heart"

I'm off to meet up with everyone who is going to the parade, later we'll be swimming, and tonight I'm going to the re-release of the classic War Games with Amie. Nothing celebrates our pioneer spirit like the threat of nuclear war.

Share a memory

So it looks like a lot of us are playing. It is easy for me to write comments on other blogs, why is it so hard for me to post this on mine? Ugh. I feel Jack Nicholson screaming in the background, "You can't handle the truth!" Or whatever....

So here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory of you and I. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.
:-)

Monsoon

Okay, so I didn't realize that my trip to get new phones might actually turn into a near death experience. I was being facetious when I said by choosing Walmart I might get a new blog entry out of it. Don't mess with the blog gods because apparently they are listening.

So it's the first time I've left my house in three days. I've been cooped up devouring The Host ever since Kiley lent it to me. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself because I have 1) showered before noon 2) read a chapter in Classroom Discussions and 3) worked on my syllabus for fall semester. So far it's been a highly productive day -- why not take on the challenge of a few errands? I get in my car to leave. First stop -- the library. I've been driving for no less than five minutes and the heavens open up and literally dump gallons of water on top of my Hyundai. The wipers are going at warp speed. Water is rushing all over the road and all along 45th South the traffic signals have gone out. My quick trip to the library turns into a test of wills -- me versus mother nature. I don't have any of the three umbrellas I own with me so I decide to just put the books in the little drop slot. Just opening the window soaked me up and down. Anyway, I couldn't return without my phones. I mean I had already blogged about it. I was on a mission. So I drive to Walmart and am lucky to get the first spot right after all the accessible slots so I'm still pretty far, but not as far as I could be. I wait for a minute or two realizing that the downpour is not going to stop. I rush into the store soaking myself head to toe. In addition to my early morning shower and my planned late night water aerobics I get a mid afternoon soaking. I am also met with the fantastic news that Crayola crayons are now on sale for 20¢ instead of the 22¢ I paid for them two weeks ago. Normally, I could deal with that kind of disappointment but today it was just salt in a wound. I did find my phones -- a nice little package deal -- two handsets for one low price. I hung out in the store trying to let the storm pass and picked up some energy saver light bulbs to replace the ones that disappeared from my lanterns when the painters came. I got an extra phone cord for the aforementioned lame phone just in case there is a power outage (thanks for the heads up Kiley), I purchased the as seen on TV Ped Egg that is one of Kelly's favorite beauty tools, and I picked up a new pair of flip flops because my sandals were soaked through and I can't stand it when my feet are wet. So, said storm, disappeared leaving nothing but blue sky. The only reminder being downed tree limbs, debris in the road, and of course my soaked clothing. But I was still without a book so I stopped at FYE because Barnes & Nobel was just too far today and checked out their book selections. I got everything on sale. These are the books I got: The Memory Keeper's Daughter, White Teeth, and The Lottery and other stories. Remember The Lottery the one where the people in the village stone the winner, or uh loser. Creepy -- I can't wait. I'm really liking this short story kick. Anyway, now that I'm home it's time for me to dry off, so I can put my swimsuit on, so I can go get wet again.

New phones

"Lame phones on top of Classroom Discussions a Retrospective"

So I don't have a digital camera but I do have a MacBook with Photobooth. Yes, that is the Dudster in the background, and a label remnant on the office rug that I fell asleep on a few days ago -- gross. For the last year or so I've known I need to get a new phone. Why pay for caller ID when the caller ID screen doesn't work? Why have a cordless phone when it only can hold a charge for an hour? Why put up with weird silent pauses creating conversation gaps? Why? Because I'm lazy and unwilling to deal with change. A new phone can be a big change. First, I have to get used to the new ring, I have to figure out how to cradle it on my neck, and I'll probably have to invest a little more than the $9 I spent on the first one in order to get it right. Well, now my upstairs phone has taken to hanging up on people. Dudley used to be in charge of that. When I was sitting on the bed he would just walk over to the phone cradle and step on the hanger upper button. Now when people call I have to quickly announce that I'm on my "stupid" phone so no one gets offended when they get cut off four times during our conversation. So my initial delay in buying a new phone has now been magnified instead of purchasing one I'll now need two new phones. Who's stupid now? (Sorry for the use of the "s" word. I know there is probably a class full of second graders who would be appalled. But it is what it is.) So off I go. My new dilemma -- Walmart or Office Max? Who am I kidding? It's definitely Walmart. It'll probably give me new material to blog about.

Week in Review

Here is a short recap of my week.

• Monday -- Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen with Lesley. I luv the pear with gorgonzola pizza. Yum. It was fun catching up.
  
• Tuesday -- Finished Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger -- I didn't quite like it as much as Kelly did. But I do like the idea of collections of short stories. I can have closure without staying up super late to finish.
  
• Wednesday -- went to Thanksgiving Point children's garden. Very pretty. Also, new season of Project Runway. They had to make an outfit from items purchased at the grocery store. My favorite was the dress out of blue plastic cups.
  
• Thursday -- Fell asleep on my office floor. I'm still having a hard time finishing this "project." Watched Gev and Kherington get kicked off So You Think You Can Dance. Sigh -- Gev was one of my favorites. So far my favorite dances have been the weird Tim Burton bridal dance with Mark and Chelsie and the Bollywood dance with Katee and Joshua. I have also really liked most of the dances that Tabitha and Napoleon choreograph as well as Mandy Moore. I hate to admit that I like the dances that Mia Michaels choreographs but she really bugs me.
  
• Friday -- Crashed dinner at the Spruces. I was fortunate to arrive in time to witness the chipmunk hunt and to partake of the delicious peach cobbler (see family fun blog for details) but I left in time to sleep on my own pillowtop mattress.
  
• Saturday -- Just got back from the family BBQ at Danny and Nicky's. It was good to see everyone. Watching all the little kids run around was exhausting. This must be what it is like to teach in nursery -- a calling I am not willing to accept. But, they were so much fun to be around and a fun time was had by all. D & N thanks for hosting the event!
  

Sad Day

Yesterday it was announced that no more foreign missionaries would be sent to Russia. There have been rumors about this for months. Putin and his regime seem to be a little nostalgic for the "old days." I'm sad for all of my member friends and contacts. I have to remember however, that this does not mean the end of missionary work. The youth are the strongest element of the church there. They are willing and ready to serve their fellow Russians in a country that is starving for truth and light. I'm relieved that the Baltics are independent of Russia and will serve as launching points for missionaries who will be called to these border countries and will most likely cross into Russia for short trips to check on members. That's how they did it in the early nineties. Missionaries were called to Finland and made day trips in their street clothes into Vyborg and Tallin. Then later the same thing happened in Kaleningrad. My prayers are with the members and also with the Russian leaders that their hearts will be softened.

Necessities

Can I just say I love my label maker. How did I live without it? Here are a few other things I can't live without:

• food
• water
• shelter
• friends/family
  

I didn't want to sound completely shallow, so maybe I'll revise my statement. Here are a few other technological advancements I don't want to live without.

• Dyson label maker - Everything looks so clean and organized (or when I'm finished it will) Is it going too far if I start labeling the shelves in my kitchen -- plates, Tupperware, tacky teacher mugs?
  
• DVR - How did I ever watch TV before? It's to the point that I rarely watch anything live for fear of having to view a dreaded commercial. Now all the advertising is packed within the shows anyway. (I do stop for those Sonic commercials however. They are funny.)
• iPod - I love it. I remember back in the day having to call the radio station, request the song, wait until the song was played, stand next to the radio with a "boom box", press the play and record button down together, hope I got the beginning of the song, and pray that Melanie, Matt, or Michelle didn't walk in and ask what I was doing. It didn't matter that all the tapes had this static hum. -- Yeah, long live itunes.
• Laptop computer with wi-fi -- I know mine would work even better if I actually had a lap.
• Digital camera -- I don't own one of these but if I did have one, I wouldn't want to live without it.
• Dry erase board -- You write on it, with a colored marker, and you can still erase? So cool. No more chalk lines straight across your butt. Chalk lines were worse than VPL.

That' as far as I'm going today because by tomorrow I'm sure there will be some other invention that trumps all of the things that I love. As Matt says, my dad says, president Monson says, "Don't let today's conveniences become tomorrow's necessities," too late.

Walmart

So I went shopping at the evil empire. Crayola markers and colored pencils 88¢. Crayola crayons 22¢. After stocking up on more than $150 dollars of school related items I decided I would support the local economy and do my grocery shopping at Harmon's. It's hard to take a stand against corporate giants when their prices are so good. Oh yeah, I also bought a label maker. It's so cool. I'm thinking this might help motivate me to clean/organize my office. I'll get started on that right after my nap...

Disney Princess

Okay, I've always wanted to be a princess. Summer posted this on her blog and I was intrigued. These are my results.

You are Snow White -- Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

I knew that I had this amazing power to make everyone I meet fall instantly in love with me -- that's why I'm 36 and single. I just hope I also have the ultra cool soprano vibrato. Snow White knows how to sing!

Which princess are you? -- I'm still working on creating links so I hope this works.
http://www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354

Austen fan

So I've been trying to read Classroom Discussions -- definitely not a page turner, but I still have an office to clean and I needed something to distract myself from doing it so I checked out Austenland by Shannon Hale. Lesley gifted me a copy of Goosegirl a while ago which was one book I actually read during the school year and loved. I guess I'm stuck in the young adult fiction section of the library -- it's generally a safe place to read. Anyway, all of the other Shannon Hale "fairytale type" books were already checked out or on hold so I opted for the oh so non-fairytale --wink, wink-- adult fiction read of Austenland. It was super short but full of all the romance and whimsy my single 36 year old Austen fan could wish for. I also finished The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I found it under my bed. I forgot I started that book during the school year I think I was reading it one night and it must have slid off the bed and was nearly lost forever until yesterday Dudley was actually crawling under there. I thought he was stuck, or else he was going for my two gigantic boxes of cassette tapes. I'm never throwing them out too many memories -- I mean if I want to listen to the sound track of Top Gun or a super mix of OMD, REM, or INXS, I'll be ready. So...Dudley was squished and I went to give him an assist, which he didn't need, but fortunately revealed the whereabouts of Hugo.

Splash!

As promised here are some of the photos from our swimming trip.

Water Aerobics

Last night I went to water aerobics with my mom. I know water aerobics sometimes gets a bad rap. Just a bunch of old ladies with saggy arms. Yes....but, every time I go, there are usually a couple of young girls with Linda Hamiltonesque arms participating as well (they probably started out old and saggy it's just that they've been so dedicated to W.A. that the end result is getting younger and firmer), so if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me. Here are the top ten reasons I enjoy water aerobics.

1. No sweating.
   
2. Miss a step - no problem
   
3. Chlorine smells better than B.O.
4. 82 degree swim trumps 102 degree walk
   
5. Instructors like to play 80s tunes
6. When else can I do Russian kicks and suspended squats?
7. I get a pedicure every time I go. Who knew pool bottoms were so abrasive?
8. Pain free until you step out of the pool and get that cool jiggly leg feeling, like you worked so hard you might not be able to stand up.
9. Classes are usually at night so by they time I get home I'm ready to sleep like a baby. A really good, sleeping through the night, baby.
10. It forces me to complete my full leg shave. Generally that only happens on weigh in days.
    

So mom and I are resolved to keep up with water aerobics. (Number 8 might be a bit of a fib, right now my hands are so sore it hurts to type. I don't know if that is due to excessive water resistance or excessive blogging. Right now I'll give water aerobics the benefit of the doubt and blame it on carpel tunnel.)

Closure

I finally finished the Twilight books. It got a little scary at the end there. I just need a little more closure. Darn it. Now I'm going to have to read Breaking Dawn. The only problem is that it comes out in August and by August I'm already in school mode. I can't afford to mess with my sleep schedule then like I have the past few days. Dudley is getting annoyed too. He just follows me around hoping that I'm going to bed. He'll start pulling on my ankle and get restless if I'm still up past 10:30. He's like a little kid. He wants to stay up but he's too tired so he just gets onery. Alright the next book I'm going to read probably won't be the page turner I just finished but I promised myself I'd read it before school starts, Classroom Discussions: Using Math Talk to Help Students Learn. I'll be sure to update everyone on my progress.

Hug it out

I just finished watching the Wimbeldon men's final. From beginning to end it lasted seven hours (including two rain delays). I didn't watch all seven hours. I've got a book to read -- yes, reading about vampires has made me adopt their sleep patterns. I was up till nearly 4 a.m. again. So I kept tuning in and out trying to see who won. I don't really care about tennis or Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, but I was intrigued. Would Nadal beat Federer, 5 time Wimbeldon champ? The answer -- yes. It was a good match as far as tennis matches go but the weirdest thing happened when John MacEnroe (sp?) was interviewing Federer the loser. He asked him how he was feeling and Federer said, "It hurts." Then John turned to him and said, "Let me give you a hug." Then Federer walked away -- interview over. Awkward. I guess sometimes a hug is all you need.

Twilight

I just finished the second book in the Twilight series. I've been holding off reading it because I knew I would do what I just did -- stayed up until 3:30 in the morning reading then woke up again at 7:00 with the book in the ready position right there on my pillow to continue reading. I can't do things like that when school is in session. That's what July is for. I do love my forced unpaid vacation. After breakfast here comes book number three. Who knew vampires and werewolves could be so entertaining. (I just proofread this paragraph and I caught 7 errors. That's what 31/2 hours of sleep will do to you. Hope I found 'em all.)

Happy fourth

Okay, I'm addicted to blogging now. It's more for me than anyone else. Somewhat of an outlet. The Fourth of July is a great holiday. Red, white, and blue, look fantastic together and who doesn't love fireworks? (Okay, maybe firemen and dogs) But, what a great way to celebrate. I myself am going to see a movie with mom and dad and have strawberry crepes for dinner. Yum. Then, I'll be home in time before it gets dark to hug the Dudster so he won't be scared when it sounds like Armageden (not really sure how to spell that). Fantastic day.

Animal sightings

Here are some favorite animal sightings from our Yellowstone trip. We had such a great time.
Bison from the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

"Wild" coyote sighting in the kids section. Ashley and Adam petting a deer and her fawn at the petting zoo in Bear World.
This bison was so close
Ashley could have touched it.

This bear was headed for our car. I think I was screaming so loud it scared him away. His buddy was on the other side eating leaves from a tree standing on two feet. Of course this was just one of the 50 or so bears from Bear world. However we did see a bear in the wild climbing a mountain.

Swimming with the fam

Today we had a lot of fun swimming at the pool. Kiley, Hannah, Madelyn, Miles, Michelle, Casey, Ashley, and Adam were all in on the fun. I'm glad my HOA fees are getting used. It was the perfect afternoon to cool off in the pool. We had lunch on the picnic tables on the grass. Gogurts are the greatest, so are summer strawberries and cherries. The kids were so great. When we left the decible level decreased significantly. I love summer. It's so nice to be able to spend time with the family. I can't wait to plan another day of swimming. We'll have to do it in the evening so dads can be included.

Yellowstone trip

I just got back from a vacation to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone with Ashley and Adam. I can't believe how fun it was. They were so great -- No complaining or arguing. It made the trip so exciting. I think some of the highlights were floating the Snake river, the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum in Jackson, staying in the western style cabin on Lake Yellowstone, the eggs benedict on crab cakes breakfast, seeing a black bear in the wild about 6 miles from the west exit, and the spontaneous stop at Bearworld just outside of Rexburg. I had so much fun with my adopted family. Thanks Melanie and Mark for letting me take them. I think I'll have to make it a tradition. I'm already planning a trip for the other nieces and nephews. They'll have to get a little older though. It gives me just enough time to start saving.

Night

I just finished reading Night by Elie Wiesel. What a powerful story. It was so sad and heart wrenching. How can people be so cruel? It was tough to get through. Kind of like Schindler's List. I'm glad I read it but I don't think I'd like to read it again. It's the kind of book you don't have to read again because the images leave a lasting impression. I hope I am never faced with the kind of decisions he had to face in his life. I feel blessed to be living at this time in this place. But I also feel moved to act in some way on the behalf of others. Genocide is still happening today. I think about what goes on in the Congo and Darfur, China and Korea, and who knows where else. There has to be something that can be done to end these atrocities. I might need to dust off my Amnesty International membership and start writing letters again.