running with scissors...

A friend sent me this (I'm going to have to figure out colors, it was much prettier in the email). While I could make snarky coments about some of these things, I can totally relate to most of them!

Those Born 1930-1979
READ TO THE BOTTOM FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH BY JAY LENO. IF YOU DON'T READ ANYTHING ELSE---VERY WELL STATED

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shar ed one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because,
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computer! s, no Internet or chat rooms.......
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine th at!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them...CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good .
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

My tree bloomed!

I was afraid my tree wasn't going to bloom, with it trying to bud before winter was completely finished, but I looked out today and there are white blossoms everywhere! I will have to take a picture :D

Last night I spent about an hour or so outside, mowing my lawn and attemting to chop down the weeds. I got a little clipper, thinking that since my yard was so small I really didn't need a full-size trimmer. Turns out I ought to have bought a machete. The clipper kept jamming. Oh well. I'll take out my Pampered Chef kitchen shears next time and just cut all the grasses and weeds down. My clipper should be able to handle it from there.

I went last Saturday to meet the Beagle Brothers, Lenny and Lloyd. They're younger than I had thought, only about 1 year old. They were overstimulated at first but then quieted down and we had some time just sitting. They're both handsome little guys, both white and tan, one being lighter than the other. I'm not sure which is which, and I intend to give them new names if they come to live with me, but the lighter one is more adventurous and comfortable with new situations. The darker one is more shy, so may have the tendency to act out a little more. Neither are housetrained at the moment, so that will be something I need to work on. The rescue group is sending someone to do a home visit this Saturday, and I'm thinking I may have to go shopping and get some doggy supplies. I have a pen I ordered from PetSmart coming either today or tomorrow (depending on when UPS deliveres it), but I need to get a crate, bowls, leashes, toys, brushes... time to dig into the portion of my tax refund I've been saving just for this occaision!!

I'll be picking up my dogs on May 5, which should be interesting given that I have about three other things to do that day. After I get them home, though, they'll have to go right into the crate for a while. Or maybe out in the back yard to play. Since I'm having company, either one would work. I don't want them overwhelmed by too many people, so they'll be downstairs while I teach my quiet book class upstairs. If all goes according to plan and I can get my dogs. So exciting!!

My perspective on this weeks events

Several of my friends have posted regarding the horrible happenings at Virginia Tech this week. I was sitting in a meeting with my boss and our other team member when he got a CNN update talking about the shootings. I was amazed the rest of the day when everytime I logged on to AOL they had a higher number of people who had died. I couldn't believe how the number kept rising.

I did check with my friend who had gone there, and she said just to pray for the families there. I don't think she had any friends attending there at this time, so that's something.

I had a friends of diverging desires at our Monday FHE this week--one that wanted only to talk about what had happened, and one that hadn't really processed it yet so didn't want to talk about it.

As for me, I blanked it out. Sounds bad, doesn't it? I was at the University of Iowa when the exact same thing happened, only less people died. People I knew, three of my professors, were shot and killed, one twice (just to make sure). One of my fellow grad-students was killed, and another was the one doing the shooting. An administrator was shot, and her secretary wounded, made a parapalegic for life. Yeah, I know all about college shootings. Took me years before I could even think about it without feeling devastated. I was on the sixth floor, the shootings happened on the second and third floors. So maybe a little callous of me not to pay attention to all the news reports, but I know that these people need the world to stop invading their privacy and allow them to mourn. Pray for them, send them financial assistance, but let them find peace in their own way. There are plenty of people there to help.

I pray that peace will be restored to the earth someday soon.

From Mendy and Jann...

...and Corrine...

For hours and hours I could...
Watch TV
Read
Sing

I feel best about myself...
When I am helping others
When I exercise

I absolutely cannot stand...
Cleaning the toilet.
Bugs.

I am afraid of...
Dying and no one finding me for a week

I love to splurge by...
Buying movies and tv shows and books and office supplies
Adding to my doll collection, specifically Specialty Barbies and 12-inch dolls from my favorite movies (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Wizard of Oz, etc)

I save by...
Recycling (and someday hope to have a compost heap)
Having three grocery store cards (although sometimes it doesn't seem like I'm saving very much)

I am trying to work on...
my addiction to food

In high school...
I was a part of the top singing group in the school, Madrigals.
Took all the college prep courses

In college...
I went as far away from home as I though I could get away with (Idaho, Utah, Iowa)
Studied Physics and Astronomy (is it any wonder I never had any dates?)

I feel I'm a good aunt (was 'mom') when...
I send my nieces and nephews birthday cards *before* the birthday happens
I can play with any or all of my nieces and nephews

I regret...
Not spending more time socializing while in college
All the time I spend on the couch when I could be out with people

I could never have too many...
books, movies, and dolls.

What about you?

Leader of the Pack

A new diet...

I'm officially on my diet now, the South Beach Diet, Phase 1, Day 2. I did have a little fall last night (that could have been avoided if I hadn't stayed up to watch The Riches), but overall I'm doing good. So far. And fortunately I signed up to host for our upcoming ward activity, so I'm in charge of what gets served. It will all be renamed something Star-Wars-ish, but basically we're having Day 5 on the South Beach Diet *eg* I may have someone bring rolls for everyone else, though, so they don't think the meal is too unbalanced. But the food is all very yummy, so I don't thinnk they will complain. And I have to make ryshcate, a Corellian delicacy, like a chocolate cake only with a gingerbread mixed in. So yummy. I won't be able to have more than three bites, but that should be ok.

Oh, on another note, I will be going to meet some dogs this weekend, to see if they and I will get along. A pair of beagle twins that are very sad, which will promptly be named Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon if they decide to come home with me (although I don't think I'll be allowed to take them home just yet--I haven't had my home visit yet). They have checked my references, though (thanks, Jann!). If we decide that we're a match, I can start getting crates and doggy treats and signing up for obedience school and stuff like that. My home teacher leant me his 'Dog Whisperer' series and the book "Ceaser's Way" so I can learn more about how to treat my dogs. I get to be the leader of the pack! That will be so fun! They'll still run circles around me, though, I just know it!

Happy Sprin-ter!

I've decided that since our weather really isn't spring, and it really isn't winter, it must be Sprinter! Amid a forcast of possible snow tonight, my daffodils are blooming brightly. My tree didn't bloom, though. I was hoping it would, but maybe the constant back and forth between spring and winter discouraged the blossoms.

I did see a rainbow yesterday, though. I was driving home, the sun was shining, and in the east there was a cloud of darkness, against which a short but broad snippet of rainbow was shown. As we all know, rainbows are symbols of hope, so perhaps this crazy weather will settle down soon.

Work is going ok--I went to Ray last week and told him I needed more work to do, so he gave me some (more writing, oh joy!). I've also been over to the TIMED MOC (again, if I use acronyms or terms you want me to explain, let me know) and they've decided to put me on console (so I can help fly the satellite). This will be fun, and give me something productive to do. I'll get to hang out with Bob, who seems to be the only other person who misses Mike as much as I do (the long-haired creep took a job in Colorado). Although it did occur to me this morning, that before Mike pretty much had control over my destiny here at work, and now it's up to me to control my own destiny. I no longer have the safety net of him looking out for me, but I'm also no longer restricted by his idea of what I should be working on or doing. Hmmph.

Church stuff is going ok too. Had a Single Adult Committee Meeting this week, to which only half of the people who were supposed to come did come. It is on the same day of the month every month, you'd think they could remember... I guess I need to send out reminders. There is a dance tomorrow night I really should go to, as well. Once I get there I know I'll have fun, but getting there can be a challenge...

Personal stuff, I need to go to the doctor today for a follow-up. I had some blood drawn a week ago and the results were not good. Don't worry, I'm not sick. Yet. I need to diet and excersize. Time to get my bike, methinks. And once again go on the South Beach Diet. I had a lot of success with that back in 2003. then life happend and I got sidetracked. And stressed. Didn't help that I somehow ended up with five callings at church. So glad that I'm back to two. Three, with Visiting Teaching. Yikes. No dog yet, but I have been talking to a woman at Good Dog rescue. I guess I'm not being very proactive about that. It's a little scary sometimes, the thought of taking care of another life.

Ok, time to get back to work. Or start work. It is kind of early this morning. I'm leaving early for my dr appt, so I came in early to defray the amout of time I need to take off.

Another holiday...

survived...

A friend from church (Christina) invited me over for dinner after church. I went, and it was fun. Talk talk talk, hold and play with baby, get told some very important things by a two-year-old, what can beat that? I told her I'm a very good guest--I never notice messes, and I love children, no matter what hassle they're giving their parents at dinnertime (their parents seem to mind a lot more than I do). Besides, they're really cute with mashed cookie all over their faces :D

Yesterday was another 'great plans, no action' after I got home from work, but I did get my finances straightened out. I have to sit down at least once a month and balance everything. I hate doing it, I would rather just pretend that I have enough money to do what I want (hey, that line of credit for the bank is SUPPOSED to keep me from being overdrawn! What good is it if I don't use it?). Fortunately, this month, I have my tax refund(s) to keep me balanced. Sigh. I really wanted to buy something fun, though. Maybe I will anyway. I don't *really* need to save 1/3 of the refund, do I? Much more fun to spend it. (...must... not.. give in.. to the inner... Shopping Monster...)

Sent in an application to adopt a dog or two, so maybe I'll have pictures of my 'kids' to share soon. Sometimes I feel a little like 'one of these things is not like the other one,' reading my friends blogs, but I'm so grateful to be included I really can't complain. And I'm NOT STOPPING!! Especially since almost every week someone else gives in to the Blog Side and joins us! :D

Happy blogging!

Good Friday

And Mod 1 (the building where I work) is a ghost town. Maybe 6 people came in to work today. I'm ok with that, though. I'll go bother Dina later, and maybe take off early to go see a movie.

Haven't really done a true update for a little while, so thought I'd take a moment and do that. Last weekend was General Conference and I was really mad at Comcast and my computer. I finally was able to get conference on audio from the lds.org site, but I would much rather have watched it. Especially the Saturday Afternoon session (I might have to go watch that from the archives). I'm thinking I need to get either Dish network or Fios when it becomes available in my neighborhood. Or maybe I just need to dress up and go to the Stake Center. I got spoiled in Utah, when I was going to school there, because I could hang out on the couch with my roomies and listen. Ok, anger management moment over, I really enjoyed conference, and now have two goals to work on for the next six months.

Monday night the Single Adults went over the Whipples for FHE, which was so much fun. Their girls are so cute, and so fun to play with. I had Teralyn in Nursery several years ago, and Shaylee (sp?) when I would sub in Nursery. I guess I need to do that again now that Ashtyn is in there :) We learned the 4th Article of Faith and then played animal charades. Kathy Clark was with me, and she said, on the way home, that she'd been thinking about relearning the aritcles of faith, so this was a good motivator for her. Me, I just like playing with the kids :D

Tuesday night was the Stake Single Adult committee meeting. Since I'm the co-chair, I try to bring flyers of the upcoming activites, and give a report on the ones held the previous month. One sweet sister, the rep from another ward, tends to go on and on and on, but fortunately didn't take offense when I finally told her "thank you, you've made your point." It's hard to know how to interrupt people, but sometimes it must be done or the meeting will last forever. And nothing important will be resolved. :::sigh::: After the meeting my leaders asked me to stay for a bit and we talked about what they could do to help me. I really need a partner. I also mentioned my trouble with actually doing anything once I get home from work. I tend to lay on the couch for hours on end, doing nothing at all. Maybe eating. Not healthy. So one of them encouraged me to get off the couch and do something, and the other one suggested I go to the doctor to rule out anything physical. I've been like this for quite some time now--I always think that it's just been 'lately', but it's been a few years.

Wednesday, no surprise, I lay on the couch all evening--well, ok, I was taking a nap, that's a little more productive, but I HAD to stay up to watch Medium, because it's on the same time as Lost. Or I really would have gone to bed earlier. Another part of my problem is going to bed on time. This week my sleep schedule has been so wacky I haven't been able to GO to sleep once I lay down. :::sigh::: I'm going to get Tivo, though. I want the capabillity to record two shows at once so I can watch the shows I like and not feel like I HAVE to be home or I'll miss something.

Thursday my friend Angela came over and helped me get started on my Family History work, something I've been meaning to do for a really long time. She gave me things I can do (download PAF and import data from the Family History site), and hope that all is not lost. Or done. Being 5th generation LDS, most of the work that can be done, has been done. So I guess I can go through and check for sure. And call my Uncle Bill who knows just about everything about my Dad's family. After the training session, we went off to Book Club together where we had a great discussion about "What is the What" by Dave Eggers. Very good book, about the Lost Boys from Sudan. I highly recommend it. And you know what, once I got home I went right to bed, before 11:00pm (first time in a week) and went (almost) right to sleep. Sadly, this being Friday, I may stay up late again. Because I can sleep in tomorrow. I love to stay up late and sleep in. I need to get up early and go to bed early.

Work is going ok, I'm once again almost out of things to do--the two documents I'm writing I need to wait on for a while--they're not 'due' until October now, and I really need to wait for higher level documents to be worked out before I can consider mine 'done'. So I have to ask for more to do. Or maybe try to remember other things that have been suggested. I was supposed to go learn operations at STEREO, maybe I should do that...

I've started submitting applications to different rescues for a dog; I haven't heard anything back yet, though. I'll keep you posted about the dog adoption effort. I was going to put in my garden tomorrow, but it's so cold outside! I don't know, maybe we can at least get the bed prepared. That would be something.

Easter Sunday will be quiet--I'll make a nice Easter meal for myself and break out my copy of The Ten Commandments. I really have got to start inviting people over for dinner. It feels really lame to prepare a nice holiday meal for one person.

Lest I end on a sorrowful note, let me just say how grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through the Atonement all sorrows are swallowed up and turned into joy. I don't pretend to know even a small percentage of how this great sacrifice, and great gift, works, but I do hope that I can somehow be worthy of it. I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, that He lived, that He died for us, taking upon himself the sins and sorrows of the world, and (this is the best part) that He LIVES again, body and spirit joined together to make a perfect being. By following his example and keeping his commandments, we can be like Him. This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Happy Easter to all of you!

Me! Me!

Ok, so on LJ my friends take a lot of quizes (called meme's). Sometimes I take them and if I don't like the result, I don't post it. Then sometimes I really like the result, like this one:

You are Judgement

Happiness, Content, Joy.

Judgment is related to the Hebrew letter Shin, which is fiery and spiritual. A break from the past, going forward.

With Fire as its ruling element, Judgement is about rebirth or ressurection. The idea of Judgement day is that the dead rise, their sins are forgiven, and they move onto heaven. The Judgement card is similar, it asks the resurrection to summon the past, forgive it, and let it go. There are wounds from the past that we never let heal, sins we've committed that we refuse to forgive, bad habits we haven't the courage to lose. Judgement advises us to finally face these, recognize that the past is past, and put them to rest, absolutely and irrevocably. This is also a card of healing, quite literally from an accident or illness, as well as a card signaling great transformation, renewal, change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Interestingly enough, I've been getting this advice on several sides lately. In particular, I was struck by Pres Faust's talk on Sunday morning, about Forgiveness. This just seems to go along with that--forgive others and don't hold grudges. I'm really good at remembering all the wrongs that have happened to me, am I as good at remembering the rights?

Oh yeah, and I really like the cool dragon :)