Yeah, that basically describes my life the past few weeks. The everything because I've been really busy with school. The semester is winding down and I'm feeling that end-of-semester crunch. I am very much looking forward to Thanksgiving break. No school, only turkey, rolls, and pie. Oh, and sleep. Lots of sleep. Does it get any better than that?
And the nothing because I feel like I haven't been able to get anything done because our computer caught a virus and we haven't had a computer at home for the past couple of weeks. We ended up buying one and it arrived yesterday. Hallelujah! It's shiny and nice. It was hard not being able to get my schoolwork done when I was here but the computer was not!
My back went out Wednesday. Stupid thing. I went to the doctor and he gave me some anti-inflammatory pills and some muscle relaxers. He told me to just take half of a muscle relaxer because a whole pill might knock me out too much. My family has a high tolerance for drugs so the half pill didn't do much last night. I think I'll go without tonight. Hopefully I'll sleep a little better. The doctor also recommended physical therapy, which I tried to make an appointment for but they put me on hold for over 10 minutes. I got frustrated and hung up. I should call back but I haven't. . . yet. I will. Eventually. :)
My ward had a Visiting Teaching Conference last night. It was nice to get to know my partner a little bit better. That's always hard for me to get visiting teaching rolling when I don't know my partner very well. I just need to step out of my comfort zone more often.
Anybody going (or has anybody gone) to New Moon? I am a closet Twilight Book Series fan. I feel like I have to be or I get ridiculed for being unintelligent. Hey, I like the books for their entertainment value, not their literature value. It's my brain melt. My niece said the movie was good, much better than the first, so I'm looking forward to it. Can you believe I'm lucky enough to have a husband who is willing to go with me? Yeah, Ben rules.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Poetry
So, I'm finally braving it and posting a poem from this semester. It's one my professor asked me to read in class. Hopefully you all enjoy it. And if not, just don't tell me. Just kidding, critique away!
Chips of Paint
From the wall of rich trees apples thump onto unkempt grass,
green upon layer of green.
From the low-set window she watches them fall
and flinches as angry words fly from the kitchen,
shouts and bangs hanging in the air.
She plays with her tiny porcelain figurines,
wrapping herself in their world of painted-on smiles,
prim, lacy dresses and well-tailored suits.
Obedient little girls and boys.
Outside, the house paint is cracked and chipping,
showing signs of years of neglect,
but no one notices,
for the apples trees with their juicy burden
curtain the house from a pointing audience.
And she sits, staring outside at her green world,
her sunny hair sliding down the sides of her anxious face.
Each time another apple drops she watches,
knowing that the leaves will soon turn yellow and twist to the ground
and stripped of leafy flesh and fruit
the trees will bare their naked arms,
exposing the empty held within.
Chips of Paint
From the wall of rich trees apples thump onto unkempt grass,
green upon layer of green.
From the low-set window she watches them fall
and flinches as angry words fly from the kitchen,
shouts and bangs hanging in the air.
She plays with her tiny porcelain figurines,
wrapping herself in their world of painted-on smiles,
prim, lacy dresses and well-tailored suits.
Obedient little girls and boys.
Outside, the house paint is cracked and chipping,
showing signs of years of neglect,
but no one notices,
for the apples trees with their juicy burden
curtain the house from a pointing audience.
And she sits, staring outside at her green world,
her sunny hair sliding down the sides of her anxious face.
Each time another apple drops she watches,
knowing that the leaves will soon turn yellow and twist to the ground
and stripped of leafy flesh and fruit
the trees will bare their naked arms,
exposing the empty held within.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
For the love of laundry!
That phrase is definitely a two-edged sword for me. I love laundry, it smells fabulous, but at the same time I despise it. It never sleeps, I think it breeds while I'm out of the house, and to have someone else pitch in and help requires diagrams and detailed instructions. Oi vay.
But I saw something at Wal-Mart today that lifted my spirits, as much as they can be lifted when thinking along laundry lines. . . no pun intended. I love Gain detergent but I haven't been able to buy it since we bought our front-loading washing machine because it requires the high-efficiency detergent. But now, they have Gain he! I'm so happy, I could cry. . . and do laundry. :)
But I saw something at Wal-Mart today that lifted my spirits, as much as they can be lifted when thinking along laundry lines. . . no pun intended. I love Gain detergent but I haven't been able to buy it since we bought our front-loading washing machine because it requires the high-efficiency detergent. But now, they have Gain he! I'm so happy, I could cry. . . and do laundry. :)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Random Tidbits...again.
I really hate that it's been so long since I've posted. Especially because I'm sure I've missed some great writing opportunities by being so darn stinking busy with school! I was commenting on a friend's blog and realized my fingers haven't buzzed over the keys in a while, and I've missed that!
Her post was about her kids writing a message to her (in what looked like candy Nibs) that said, "I love you." It was done by her almost four-year-old, and her kindergartner (I think). I commented on how nice it is to know that we're loved and appreciated, especially by those we love and appreciate, which reminded me of the great and funny things my kids have said this week. So here's a little recap.
Saturday morning is usually waffle morning at our house. My awesome and amazing mother-in-law gave us an old waffle iron that she wasn't using, or that her mom wasn't using, and it makes great waffles. So we usually make a double batch, freeze them, and pop them in the toaster during the week so the kids don't have to eat cereal all the time.
Well, I realized in the middle of the mixing that I was short on oil. It always happens when I've put almost all of the ingredients together that I realize I don't have enough of something. Does that happen to you? Anyway, Melanie and I quickly got dressed to go grab some oil, and of course, Riley wanted to come. He was still in his pajamas so I just threw a jacket and some shoes & socks on him and out the door we went.
We got to the store and Riley was holding my hand, and just being his normal chipper self when slowly I feel his body start to stiffen and he kind of starts to hunch down and slow his step. I look down at him and ask, "What's wrong?"
He turns to me, and with a very concerned face glances over at the cashier and whispers, "Do you think she'll say 'No pajamas allowed?'" I quickly told him he was fine and that people come to the store in their pajamas all the time. He recovered in no time and we headed down the aisle for some oil. There was a man pushing a big broom down the aisle, and Riley, being his normal friendly self, said, "Hi!"
"Hi there," the man replied.
"I'm having waffles for breakfast," stated Riley.
"Really?" the man said. "Can I come to your house and eat?"
"Sure," Riley replied. "Someday."
After much muffled laughter from Melanie and me, we bought the oil and went home. I went straight to the kitchen to finish up the waffles, when Riley came in and started jumping up and down and saying, "I'm ready for you to hold me now!"
I need to insert a little back story here. I'm always cold. Carter has inherited Ben's built in furnace capabilities and so I always tell him to come toast me up. Riley has picked up on the idea that I like being toasted. Anyway...
I turned to Riley and said, "I can't hold you right now. I've got to finish making the waffles. Sorry, bud."
Without a pause he sidled right up to me, smiled, and rubbed his little palm against my leg and said, "See? I'm toasty."
That morning was one of the funniest I've had in a long time. It's days like that that make me realize what a great and worthwhile sacrifice my kids are.
Riley wasn't the only one who was funny this week. Carter also made me giggle, and this requires a little back story as well. Around our house, we talk about who has what "superpower." Ben is the Finadiator (thank you, K.C.). That means he finishes every body's food, and he has his own built-in radiator, thus the toasting. I won't tell you what Mel's superpower is because she'd kill me if I did. Carter is called "Brainmelt" because if you turn on a video game or the TV or the computer, he is GONE! Riley's superpowers change daily depending on if he's Batman or Sonic or Link, you get the picture.
Anyway, I let Carter have chocolate syrup on his waffle this morning and I told him he could take a homemade Oreo for his morning recess snack. He then proceeded to tell me that my superpower is being nice. Man, I wish I could say that my kids say that about me all the time! I guess it's a good goal to aspire to, huh? :)
Her post was about her kids writing a message to her (in what looked like candy Nibs) that said, "I love you." It was done by her almost four-year-old, and her kindergartner (I think). I commented on how nice it is to know that we're loved and appreciated, especially by those we love and appreciate, which reminded me of the great and funny things my kids have said this week. So here's a little recap.
Saturday morning is usually waffle morning at our house. My awesome and amazing mother-in-law gave us an old waffle iron that she wasn't using, or that her mom wasn't using, and it makes great waffles. So we usually make a double batch, freeze them, and pop them in the toaster during the week so the kids don't have to eat cereal all the time.
Well, I realized in the middle of the mixing that I was short on oil. It always happens when I've put almost all of the ingredients together that I realize I don't have enough of something. Does that happen to you? Anyway, Melanie and I quickly got dressed to go grab some oil, and of course, Riley wanted to come. He was still in his pajamas so I just threw a jacket and some shoes & socks on him and out the door we went.
We got to the store and Riley was holding my hand, and just being his normal chipper self when slowly I feel his body start to stiffen and he kind of starts to hunch down and slow his step. I look down at him and ask, "What's wrong?"
He turns to me, and with a very concerned face glances over at the cashier and whispers, "Do you think she'll say 'No pajamas allowed?'" I quickly told him he was fine and that people come to the store in their pajamas all the time. He recovered in no time and we headed down the aisle for some oil. There was a man pushing a big broom down the aisle, and Riley, being his normal friendly self, said, "Hi!"
"Hi there," the man replied.
"I'm having waffles for breakfast," stated Riley.
"Really?" the man said. "Can I come to your house and eat?"
"Sure," Riley replied. "Someday."
After much muffled laughter from Melanie and me, we bought the oil and went home. I went straight to the kitchen to finish up the waffles, when Riley came in and started jumping up and down and saying, "I'm ready for you to hold me now!"
I need to insert a little back story here. I'm always cold. Carter has inherited Ben's built in furnace capabilities and so I always tell him to come toast me up. Riley has picked up on the idea that I like being toasted. Anyway...
I turned to Riley and said, "I can't hold you right now. I've got to finish making the waffles. Sorry, bud."
Without a pause he sidled right up to me, smiled, and rubbed his little palm against my leg and said, "See? I'm toasty."
That morning was one of the funniest I've had in a long time. It's days like that that make me realize what a great and worthwhile sacrifice my kids are.
Riley wasn't the only one who was funny this week. Carter also made me giggle, and this requires a little back story as well. Around our house, we talk about who has what "superpower." Ben is the Finadiator (thank you, K.C.). That means he finishes every body's food, and he has his own built-in radiator, thus the toasting. I won't tell you what Mel's superpower is because she'd kill me if I did. Carter is called "Brainmelt" because if you turn on a video game or the TV or the computer, he is GONE! Riley's superpowers change daily depending on if he's Batman or Sonic or Link, you get the picture.
Anyway, I let Carter have chocolate syrup on his waffle this morning and I told him he could take a homemade Oreo for his morning recess snack. He then proceeded to tell me that my superpower is being nice. Man, I wish I could say that my kids say that about me all the time! I guess it's a good goal to aspire to, huh? :)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Poetic Irony and Me Rolling My Eyes
Last week there was a Creative Writing Conference at SUU...which I didn't attend. Mainly because last week was one of those weeks when I wondered why in the world I'm going to school, and also because I had a nasty cold. As part of the conference there were two writers invited to speak. One is a fiction writer and one writes poetry. Since I'm in a poetry class, my teacher scheduled to have this poet, we'll call him "Bob" come and speak with our class last Thursday.
I was looking forward to Bob's visit. We had been reading out of his recent book of new and collected poetry, and although some of it made me go, "Huh?" most of it was nicely done. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in his visit.
I'll admit he gave some good advice. He told us that spewing out words on the page, the good with the bad, is a good way to write because you can go back later and clean up the messy bits. He said that what you're interested in and involved with quite frequently will make it's way into your poetry, and it should. But then, he had some qualities that, for me, stereotyped him into this "poet" category.
One time he made a comment along the lines of disbelief that someone in an upper division poetry class could never have read a Shakespeare play. Whistle, whistle, whistle. That would be me. He also said he never reads contemporary poetry or fiction. He tries not to read anything after written after 1945, with very few exceptions. So, apparently he shouldn't read his own poetry? He works in workshops at Standford. So does that mean he doesn't read his students' poetry either?
Yesterday in class we discussed some of the things we learned from his visit (I kept my mouth shut), and my professor mentioned what the poet had done after our discussion last week. As the students filtered out, he turned to my professor and said, "Look at that!"
"Look at what?" my professor asked.
"That pencil sharpener! I haven't seen one of those in years. It's so beautiful." he said. She then went on to say that this is what he does. Even while he's discussing with other people he's constantly taking in his surroundings. And she told us that's why she had to guard his time so carefully, because he gets tired very quickly from doing that.
Seriously? He gets tired from noticing a manual pencil sharpener? Are you kidding me? I'll just die if I come across a poem of his entitled, "Ode to a pencil sharpener in Cedar City." Really, I'll just keel over and leave this world, probably from laughing too hard.
I was looking forward to Bob's visit. We had been reading out of his recent book of new and collected poetry, and although some of it made me go, "Huh?" most of it was nicely done. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in his visit.
I'll admit he gave some good advice. He told us that spewing out words on the page, the good with the bad, is a good way to write because you can go back later and clean up the messy bits. He said that what you're interested in and involved with quite frequently will make it's way into your poetry, and it should. But then, he had some qualities that, for me, stereotyped him into this "poet" category.
One time he made a comment along the lines of disbelief that someone in an upper division poetry class could never have read a Shakespeare play. Whistle, whistle, whistle. That would be me. He also said he never reads contemporary poetry or fiction. He tries not to read anything after written after 1945, with very few exceptions. So, apparently he shouldn't read his own poetry? He works in workshops at Standford. So does that mean he doesn't read his students' poetry either?
Yesterday in class we discussed some of the things we learned from his visit (I kept my mouth shut), and my professor mentioned what the poet had done after our discussion last week. As the students filtered out, he turned to my professor and said, "Look at that!"
"Look at what?" my professor asked.
"That pencil sharpener! I haven't seen one of those in years. It's so beautiful." he said. She then went on to say that this is what he does. Even while he's discussing with other people he's constantly taking in his surroundings. And she told us that's why she had to guard his time so carefully, because he gets tired very quickly from doing that.
Seriously? He gets tired from noticing a manual pencil sharpener? Are you kidding me? I'll just die if I come across a poem of his entitled, "Ode to a pencil sharpener in Cedar City." Really, I'll just keel over and leave this world, probably from laughing too hard.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Still Breathing
That title is truly how I feel. That freshman oomph from last year is totally gone, and that leaves me so unmotivated with school.
Ben has just started working on his master's so it's a bit hectic at our house. The only person not going to school is Riley! Melanie is doing great in 6th grade. She advanced to the pre-algebra class, which is awesome. She has definitely noticed an increase in expectations and homework, but so far she has been handling it really well. Carter is adjusting slowly to 1st grade. He's such a bright kid, and a truly amazing reader, and he's awesome with numbers, but he'd rather be home with Riley and me than at school. He's plugging along though.
My classes are fine. Like I said, I'm just trying to get motivated! I'm really enjoying my geology class...don't tell Ben. He'll try to and convince me to change my major! But that is probably my favorite class, and it's an online class, so that's saying a lot. I don't like online classes at all. I'd much rather be face-to-face with my teachers.
Sorry this post is such a boring update. I just haven't had time to write anything interesting or creative. Maybe I'll get a bee in my bonnet and get going someday soon.
Ben has just started working on his master's so it's a bit hectic at our house. The only person not going to school is Riley! Melanie is doing great in 6th grade. She advanced to the pre-algebra class, which is awesome. She has definitely noticed an increase in expectations and homework, but so far she has been handling it really well. Carter is adjusting slowly to 1st grade. He's such a bright kid, and a truly amazing reader, and he's awesome with numbers, but he'd rather be home with Riley and me than at school. He's plugging along though.
My classes are fine. Like I said, I'm just trying to get motivated! I'm really enjoying my geology class...don't tell Ben. He'll try to and convince me to change my major! But that is probably my favorite class, and it's an online class, so that's saying a lot. I don't like online classes at all. I'd much rather be face-to-face with my teachers.
Sorry this post is such a boring update. I just haven't had time to write anything interesting or creative. Maybe I'll get a bee in my bonnet and get going someday soon.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Random College Tidbits
Tomorrow is my first day of school. I'm excited, but not enough that I can't sleep, unlike Melanie who didn't get to sleep until nearly 11:00 the night before school. Buying books for too much money is like a lightning strike to my school excitement.
I had a few thoughts and things to share before I get to school.
Here are the classes I'm taking this semester.
Intermediate Poetry Writing - I took creative writing from the same professor last semester and loved it. The class from Spring Semester compiled three different forms of creative writing - poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. This class focuses on poetry. Melanie loved the fact that one of my books for this class was about different forms of Haiku. The first half of the class will be focused on closed form poetry (writing a Haiku, sonnet, etc.) and the second half is open form (writing whatever we feel). I think both will be interesting, but closed form will definitely be more challenging. I'll have to write what I feel and fit it into someone else's form.
Introduction to Critical Literature and Theory - This English course will be a challenge for me. I've never taken a class that deals with any kind of theory, and so the subject idea will be new. And you should see the book for this class. I call it the purple bible, and it has over 2,000 pages. No joke. In double columns. With footnotes...well citations really, but it so reminds me of scripture. The English department chair, Dr. Kurt Harris, is teaching the class. I've contacted him through email a few times and he seems very friendly and helpful. Other students I've talked to said how accommodating he is. He's the one who waived English 1010 for me. These first two classes will actually have people I know in them! That's the first time that will have happened for me.
Human Development Through the Lifespan - Just a starter course for FLHD (Family Life and Human Development) courses. I've heard really good things about the professor, and I'm excited to get started.
Marriage & Family Relations - My brother-in-law Jon made the comment that this sounds like a class I'd take in church. Funny. This is the same teacher as for Human Development Through the Lifespan. In fact, it's in the same room, too. I told Ben I better find a seat I like because I'll be there for two hours. He said I better get up and walk around so I don't have numb bum.
How the Earth Works - Just a basic Geology course that fills the Physical Science general ed requirement. I'm taking it online, which makes me a teeny bit nervous. I've heard really good things about the ease of the course. It's self-paced and my goal is to finish it between the end of September and the end of October. And I so have a built-in tutor. You should have seen Ben when I opened my box of rocks. I really like Geology so this should be a good class.
On a new note, we have new neighbors. Mostly college boys, I think. I've seen a couple of girls here and there, but I think they just visit. They've been relatively quiet, which is great. Last year's college boys were anything but quiet. But why do they park in my carport? Can't they see the very visible 107 above my slot? The other day we came home and they were parked there. Ben knocked on the door to ask/tell them to move and no one answered. We just pulled in another spot, not someone else's carport, and a few minutes later they had pulled a motorcycle into their own spot. So now they were using their spot and my spot. I guess they get some of my annoyance that carried over from last year when the college boys did the same thing. It's not rocket science to know that the number above the carports matches all the house numbers in these townhouses and that YOU SHOULDN'T PARK IN MY SPOT! Sorry about the ranting. I'm calmed down now. Sort of. Temporarily.
Thursday night I went over to my friend's apartment and helped her organize her room. It was fun (I like organizing stuff), and we giggled, and she let me smell her coffee she brought home from Africa. Oh my goodness, it smelled so good. And everything she pulled out of the bag after the coffee smelled like the coffee. Did I mention I love the smell of coffee? Well, I do.
Anyway, we found this list and it made us roll around the floor in stitches.....probably due to the lateness of the hour, but the next day when I read the list to Ben, he giggled, too.
1. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
2. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
3. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
4. Drive carefully . . . It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
5. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
6. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
7. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
8. Never buy a car you can't push.
9. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
10. Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep in.
11. The second mouse gets the cheese.
12. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
13. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
14. Some mistakes are too fun to only make once.
15. We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
16. Some days it's all fetching and no pats on the head.
I had a few thoughts and things to share before I get to school.
Here are the classes I'm taking this semester.
Intermediate Poetry Writing - I took creative writing from the same professor last semester and loved it. The class from Spring Semester compiled three different forms of creative writing - poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. This class focuses on poetry. Melanie loved the fact that one of my books for this class was about different forms of Haiku. The first half of the class will be focused on closed form poetry (writing a Haiku, sonnet, etc.) and the second half is open form (writing whatever we feel). I think both will be interesting, but closed form will definitely be more challenging. I'll have to write what I feel and fit it into someone else's form.
Introduction to Critical Literature and Theory - This English course will be a challenge for me. I've never taken a class that deals with any kind of theory, and so the subject idea will be new. And you should see the book for this class. I call it the purple bible, and it has over 2,000 pages. No joke. In double columns. With footnotes...well citations really, but it so reminds me of scripture. The English department chair, Dr. Kurt Harris, is teaching the class. I've contacted him through email a few times and he seems very friendly and helpful. Other students I've talked to said how accommodating he is. He's the one who waived English 1010 for me. These first two classes will actually have people I know in them! That's the first time that will have happened for me.
Human Development Through the Lifespan - Just a starter course for FLHD (Family Life and Human Development) courses. I've heard really good things about the professor, and I'm excited to get started.
Marriage & Family Relations - My brother-in-law Jon made the comment that this sounds like a class I'd take in church. Funny. This is the same teacher as for Human Development Through the Lifespan. In fact, it's in the same room, too. I told Ben I better find a seat I like because I'll be there for two hours. He said I better get up and walk around so I don't have numb bum.
How the Earth Works - Just a basic Geology course that fills the Physical Science general ed requirement. I'm taking it online, which makes me a teeny bit nervous. I've heard really good things about the ease of the course. It's self-paced and my goal is to finish it between the end of September and the end of October. And I so have a built-in tutor. You should have seen Ben when I opened my box of rocks. I really like Geology so this should be a good class.
On a new note, we have new neighbors. Mostly college boys, I think. I've seen a couple of girls here and there, but I think they just visit. They've been relatively quiet, which is great. Last year's college boys were anything but quiet. But why do they park in my carport? Can't they see the very visible 107 above my slot? The other day we came home and they were parked there. Ben knocked on the door to ask/tell them to move and no one answered. We just pulled in another spot, not someone else's carport, and a few minutes later they had pulled a motorcycle into their own spot. So now they were using their spot and my spot. I guess they get some of my annoyance that carried over from last year when the college boys did the same thing. It's not rocket science to know that the number above the carports matches all the house numbers in these townhouses and that YOU SHOULDN'T PARK IN MY SPOT! Sorry about the ranting. I'm calmed down now. Sort of. Temporarily.
Thursday night I went over to my friend's apartment and helped her organize her room. It was fun (I like organizing stuff), and we giggled, and she let me smell her coffee she brought home from Africa. Oh my goodness, it smelled so good. And everything she pulled out of the bag after the coffee smelled like the coffee. Did I mention I love the smell of coffee? Well, I do.
Anyway, we found this list and it made us roll around the floor in stitches.....probably due to the lateness of the hour, but the next day when I read the list to Ben, he giggled, too.
1. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
2. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
3. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
4. Drive carefully . . . It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
5. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
6. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
7. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
8. Never buy a car you can't push.
9. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
10. Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep in.
11. The second mouse gets the cheese.
12. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
13. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
14. Some mistakes are too fun to only make once.
15. We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty, and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
16. Some days it's all fetching and no pats on the head.
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