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 :)

Letters and distances

So my supervisor at work, Mike, moved to Colorado. Before he left, he was given two framed pictures, and since they wanted as many people as could to sign the pictures, they were left in an accessible place for everyone to see. Silly boy left his address on top of them where just anyone could see it. So I wrote him a letter, just for fun. Told him I didn't expect a reply. But yesterday I recieved a letter back! So fun!

Poor guy's having an adjustment out there--he's never lived in the desert before, and the job isn't quite what he'd hoped it would be. His family is still here in MD, waiting until school is out before joining him out there, and he's kind of sad. Started me thinking, though. I've done that move-across-country thing five times, now, and it's never easy. And yes, I do it by myself because who's going to come with me? But you know, my church really makes it possible to move so far from family and friends. Basically I show up and people are there to assist me--with rides, with directions, with whatever I might need. Visiting and Home teachers are assigned, and soon enough I have friends and places to go and things to do that are not work related. This is such a blessing. I've known other people who've made long-distance moves that after a year or two decided to move back where they came from--all the friends they had were from work, and it just wasn't enough.

Even when I didn't want friends the church still provides me with them. A few years ago I swore off having any more friends after my very-best-friend-in-the-whole-wide-world 'dumped' me (this happens to me a lot, I'm not sure why). But somehow I've found myself with a group of friends that don't seem to mind how weird I can be (or maybe they just don't know yet *eg*). So thank you, friends.

(Man, didn't realize how sappy this was going to get!)

dogies dogies everywhere!

Went to a Pet Expo last weekend with some friends in VA. It was fun, and now I want my doggie! Or two! I'm going to get a small dog, probably a Llassa Apso or a Westie. Since I'm gone so much, I may get two dogs, so they can keep each other company. I'm going through either a Shelter or a Rescue group, and I'm getting an older dog (I really don't have the time or patience for a puppy). So many applications to fill out! Anyone want to be a reference for me? I have my friend from VA and Charlie Miller, but they typically want three references. They can't be family members, either (which is kinda bad, since my family are the only ones that have seen me with dogs).

And then I'll have fun 'child' stories to tell!!

Pumpkin Cookies!!

A friend gave me this recipie:

1 box spice cake mix
1 normal-sized can of pumpkin (does not need to be spiced)
1 cup raisins (ok, I use raisens, she uses chocolate chips)

Mix. bake in oven at 375 for 15 minutes. YUMMY!!!

I was having a bad day yesterday, so when I finally got home last night (after my haircut and a framing party), I made cookies. And I watched Lost. Which totally blew my 'NO TV THIS WEEK' goal. I spend too much time watching tv, so I tried to cut it out of my life this week. Failed that one. Failing my diet too. Although these cookies are only 220 calories/ 25 g fat per serving (which is 3 cookies). How can you go wrong with that??

Daely came! Daely came!

Ok, so I promised I would over the weekend, but you know how weekends can be... So here's my update (sans pics--I'll get them up someday soon, I promise).

Tuesday Mar 6 I picked up my niece from the airport (Daely is 22, so she's really fun to hang out with). We went to dinner, then made it home in time to watch Gilmore Girls (yay!). I showed her the basement where she would be staying, and she agreed that it was very cool.

Wednesday Mar 7 we got up early and went to the Savage Train Station to catch the last train into DC. No problems, but it did snow. Not a lot, but my niece comes from CA and what happens? It snows. I asked her if she wanted to walk to the Mall or take the Metro, and she left it up to me, so we walked. I love how quiet it gets when it snows. And there were very few people out and about as we walked from Union Station to the Washington Monument. We were able to get tickets to go up--my first time, since ususally they're out of tickets by the time I get there. It was really nice. I took pictures from all four sides. Very cool. We came down and walked over to the new WWII monument (it's very beautiful, if you haven't had a chance to go there yet). I took pictures of the states I have affections for (California, Maryland), and we walked around. Then we went over to the Lincoln Memorial, which for the first time I've been there in years there was no scaffolding inside--Yay!! After which we walked over to the Natural History Museum for lunch (mistake!--way too pricy for the food we recieved), then went through that museum. When we were finished, we had enough time to head over to the castle before taking the Metro back to Union Station and catching the train home. That night we had tickets to Medieval Times (yay! again!), since Daely has never been (I quite like it, although for real jousting go to MDRF). We had a few moments upon arrival so she bought shoes and I bought a new cell phone/palm pilot (so I don't have to carry around two separate things anymore). Daely helped me pick it out. We arrived back home quite tired so we crashed.

Thursday Mar 8 We didn't get up quite so early today, but I still needed to pack for the weekend. We left about 10:00 or so, and drove up to Hershey PA. The amusement park was closed (for winter), but the museum and Cocolate World were open. Can you say CHOCOLATE?? Daely's two favorite things are chocolate and cheese. Not together. I think... We wandered around for a bit and I bought lots of chocolate (and now you all want to be my friend, don't you?). I also found a couple of Navajo-made dolls at the museum gift shop, and a way too cool t-shirt "Chocolate is so hot" When finished, we drove up to my sister Beckie's in East Stroudsburg where we managed to arrive just as the kids were supposed to leave for swim lessons. Oh yeah, they were quite excited to see us.

Friday Mar 9 We slept in a little--the girls didn't let us sleep in *too* much (but that's ok). Of course, Collin had to watch his cartoons. Very important when you're 2. Bonnie didn't have school, but Malena needed to go to preschool (something I'm sure mothers understand). So we dropped her off and did a little shopping. I bought a lawn mower at Lowes (don't ask me why I have to go to PA to buy stuff for my house). We stopped by the mall as well, for dresses for the girls for Easter. Which of course they had to wear on Sunday, but that's another story. We picked up Malena and went to McDonalds for lunch (something I don't normally do, having a carefully instilled prejudice against the place, but you know, it wasn't too bad). The kids got to play in the play room, which they loved, but once they started getting too squirrelly, we had to leave.

That evening Daely and I drove into New York City to see Wicked on Broadway. I'd seen it a couple years earlier with Beckie, but Daely had never seen it (and if you've seen her LJ, you know how obsessed she is with it). There was a little snafu with the tickets (curse Ticketmaster!), but the manager, once he realized just how far out of state we were from, arranged for us to have seats in the back of the orchestra. Felt a little bad about that, but the seats were actually quite good. And the production was very good. Daely loved it. Me, I already loved it. though I think the Boq we had the first time did a better job of convincing me he was in love with Galinda.

Saturday Mar 10 we slept in. Daely slept in until noon. Malena kept asking me, "When is my cousin going to wake up?" Beckie had her women's conference that day, so she didn't get home until about 2:00, but that was fine. Daely played Super Mario with the girls, Collin puttered around the back yard, and I read the book I found at the mall the day before (nope, not a book-group book, a sci-fi book). Very calm. I think there was a shopping excursion at some point (I think we took the girls with us to put gas in my car so I wouldn't need to do that on Sunday), but over all it was a calm, hang-out sort of day.

Sunday Mar 11 was church. Up and ready for church, listen to Malena have a fit because her mom wanted to save the Easter dress for Easter (silly mom!), see Malena in her pretty Easter dress because mom got tired of listening to it (and I can't really blame her for that), then off to church. The girls were very well-behaved, Collin escaped once, but we got him back without too much disruption, and my sister teaches Gospel Essentials so we went to her lesson (which was very good). Then time for RS and home for lunch. I'd brought pizza from home--colored pizza--and the girls (incl Daely and me) loved it! Beckie thought it was weird, blue and red pizza crust, orange, red, pink, and green pizza sauce, but at least the cheese was normal colored :) After lunch we kissed Collin good-bye before he went down for his nap, then walked the girls round the block. then it was time to go. Daely drove back (in record time, I might add).

Monday Mar 12 Today we slept in a bit too, but not too much. We drove into DC, to the National Cathedral, and walked around for a bit (and I hit the gift store--HARD). We went to the National Zoo, and got to see all the animals we wanted too. I got to see the baby panda! Yes, I have pictures; he's just so cute! I wanted to see the baby giraffe (well, 5-year old giraffe), but that family is in Florida while they renovate their pen. So we walked back to the car, hitting another gift shop along the way, and then driving up through Rock Creek Park to the DC Temple. Which of course is closed on Mondays, but the Visitor's Center is always open. We were in time to watch The Testaments, which they just started playing again that day. It's about the life of Christ and corresponding events here on the American continent. It's very good, I highly recommend it. For Tuesday we had the idea to return to DC to tour the Holocaust Musem, but on the way home Daely asked if we could just stay home instead. Which was fine by me--I was up for taking her wherever she wanted to go, but I know I was tired, and I'm certain I wore her out, poor thing!

Tuesday Mar 13 Daely's last day :( Not a whole lot to today--I caught up on most of my tv shows while Daely slept in. We watched a movie, and she helped me switch out a light bulb. then we put my new lawn mower together and tried it out (did I mention the weather was warm and beautiful by now? The snow was all melted). I made dinner (yes, I can cook when I put my mind to it!), and then sadly drove her to the airport. She'd been getting homesick, though, so she was glad to return home. It was a very good trip. She's already promised to come back in a couple years (she already has her trip for next year planned out--Utah, I think).

Ok, I'm back...

I'm here, really I am. Blogging at work again (I'm so bad). Had so much fun with my niece last week, though. I still need to get pictures up, though. And read through my LJ's friend list...

I'll write up the whole experience this weekend, I promise!

I'm a Five!

And it's surprisingly accurate...

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Below you'll find your test result. After, continue on to your homescreen to discover what we're about.

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5 - the Observer Thanks for taking the test !

you chose BZ - your Enneagram type is FIVE (aka "The Thinker"). "I need to understand the world" Observers have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful. How to Get Along with Me Be independent, not clingy. Speak in a straightforward and brief manner. I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts. Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable. Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity. If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place. don't come on like a bulldozer. Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy. What I Like About Being a Five standing back and viewing life objectively coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure not being caught up in material possessions and status being calm in a crisis What's Hard About Being a Five being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally Fives as Children Often spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on have a few special friends rather than many are very bright and curious and do well in school have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information assume a poker face in order not to look afraid are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected Fives as Parents are often kind, perceptive, and devoted are sometimes authoritarian and demanding may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele The Enneagram Made Easy Discover the 9 Types of People Harper SanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages You liked the test? so S P R E A D I T ! tell everyone!!! (use Quick-Paste below) and please don't forget to RATE it... (but remember! it had only two questions!!! That surely makes it worth a "5", right ;-))) you wanna know MORE? so check out, what Wikipedia says about your type... ...even more you'll find in Google or do you prefer to You are not completely happy with the result?! You chose BZ Would you rather have chosen: AZ (THREE) CZ (ONE) BX (NINE) BY (FOUR)

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on ABC You scored higher than 99% on XYZ

Link: The Quick & Painless ENNEAGRAM Test written by felk on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

My niece is coming! My niece is coming!!

I'm SO EXCITED!!! Daely is 23, and I haven't seen her since last May, when I went to California for my other niece's wedding (that was then cancelled--see LJ around that time for details). We go to Disneyland when I go visit her, so now she's coming to visit me and we're going to DC and to Hershey and to Broadway to see Wicked and it's going to be SO MUCH FUN!!!

So if I'm not around much this week, you know why. :D

And right now she's on the plane, probably flying over Texas. Woo hoo!!

March has blown in

Today it feels like March. There was a storm last night, but today it's all blustery outside, clear but not freezing cold. The daffodil bulbs I planted last November have started to sprout. Why, I do believe Spring is coming!!!

First week without Mike, we've done ok, Ray and I. He's setting up meetings, I'm attending them. It works.

I'm hoping to have some energy when I get home tonight--I really need to clean because my niece is coming on TUESDAY!!! Tomorrow I won't be home, Sunday is not the day for cleaning (and I'll be gone most of it too), and Monday night I have FHE. So exactly when will my house get clean if I don't do it tonight? NEVER. Or I'll just make Daely do it (heh heh)

Ok, off to work--I need to review some more comments on my lovely document--which is apparently too thourough :::sigh:::

East vs West, Home is best

So I've had this conversation a few times recently about admiting that I'm really from Maryland now. I've lived here for over 10 years--which is amazing to me, really. I grew up in California, in the same house for 17 years, then moved constantly over the next 8 years while I was in college, moved back home briefly, then came out here when I got a job. I lived in an apartment in Greenbelt for 2 years, then an apartment in Jessup for 8, and now I have a house. Most of my family is still out west, so that's where I go for vacations, but I guess I'm a Marylander now.

Very odd.

In other news, today I officially miss Mike (my ex-supervisor). He should be driving across Illinois at the moment, on his way to Colorado. And I want to go over some of the comments I've recieved on the document I was writing. To see what he thinks. Man, I'm going to have to start thinking for myself!! maybe even start making decisions too!! although I should probably not get too crazy...

First post

Thought I'd see what all the fuss is about. I have some friends over here, so I thought maybe I'd try setting up a blog here as well. I do have a Live Journal account http://julia0925.livejournal.com/ which goes back several years. Feel free to check it out :)

Today I'm kinda sad. It's my supervisor's last day--he got a job in Colorado and is moving out there next week. Actually, it's been a sad two months, since it's been that long since he told us he was leaving. Now my team of 2 is down to 1. Not really--Ray will be picking up most of Mike's work by virtue of my refusal to take Mike's job. And there's TJ, but I'm still not sure how he fits in. But I will miss Mike. He knows so much; I could have learned a lot from him. I'll learn things from Ray too, but not the same things. And we won't have anyone to throw things at us from across the room (Mike likes to throw frisbees and foam bricks at people). It's going to be quite boring...

Went Visiting Teaching last night, and got to hold Cynthia's baby (William is only 2 weeks old). He's so sweet. I just love babies :)

Finished reading "A Separate Peace" along with others in my book group. they liked it, I really didn't. Didn't like it the first time I read it in high school, not too impressed with it now. Gene is a creep. Phineas was a sweet boy, and Gene just couldn't handle it. Creep.

Course I think Mike is a creep for leaving, too. Maybe it's just the mood I'm in? Hoping others out there have a great weekend