Crabby Patty Day!!

Happy B'day, AJ!!

"Now that we're men..."!

I love you more than air!!!

Yellow Pea

Every tried 'em? I made soup yesterday and have been enjoying it today. Kids hate po' folk food like pea soup, etc. so it's all mine. A sprinkle of bacon on the top and a slice of wheat bread w/butter on the side. That's what I'm talkin' about.

Schnee mann

Yep, you see correctly, sir. Building a snow "whatever" in a t-shirt and shorts. Ah to be young and fearless again. Oh, wait....that never happened.

So, okay. The kids wouldn't make a wish list this year and every time I ask what I can get them for Christmas they say they don't really want anything. They really mean that. On top of that, they didn't want to decorate the house for Christmas either. Just the tree and lights on it. We did get a "secret neighbor" plan together and they take turns delivering the surprises each evening. That has been a good touch on our holiday spirits.

Mainzel memreez

FINALS ARE FOR SUCKERS!

Yeah, that's right, I said it! Finals are never final. There will always be more.

So far I've completed Econ and Remote Sensing finals. Friday I have Stats and Middle East History finals. BACK TO BACK---------3 hours each.

Getting ready for Christmas??? NOT. I know the ideal is to have moderation in all things. Anybody wanna clue me in on how to make that possible? There is no such thing as moderation in my life. Everything wants to be first and everything wants to be IT!

Well, as somebody clever has put it: I'm this side of the dirt so life is good.

Know one thing I'm grateful for? Sis and bro love. Can't make it without it. I mean, these ar

e the folks who remember I'm on the planet and care if I'm surviving. These are the folks who put my name in temples, pray for me and mine, send me encouragement in many forms, remember my name........These are my lifeline. For this (them) I am grateful.

My friend up north confirmed that dad is definitely still in the CITY. I wonder if I should send a card for the holiday. I know if I put on a return address it will be rejected. Maybe I'll send one without the return address. Might as well. Can't hurt.

Been contacted to be part of a cancer gene research project by Hunstman Cancer Institute. So far the process has been easy but I'm anxious about future testing to come. I'm willing because it will give me data to pass on to my siblings and kids about the gene and the chances of them getting cancer too. It's worth it.

I think about that time often these days. It was so scarey. Really scarey.

We have our Christmas tree up with lights on it. That's it. No other decorations. Kids didn't want to deal with getting them out and such. Can't blame 'em but they are kinda young for Scrooge-ness. We are doing a secret 12 days of Christmas for another family, though, and they get more excitement out of that than anything else. Me too. They picked out the tokens

and added tags to them and then they are delivering one each evening to the family we chose. It is good to watch them give and be excited about it. (Remember, they ARE teens, you know.)

Went to see CC dance and AJ play pit in their respective concerts at the high school. Got them on video. I get choked up watching them enjoy their lives. I'm happy watching them be happy. They are talented, that's for sure.

Something great is happening and something even greater will come next.

To 16 and Beyond!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CC!!!

You go girl.

I love you to infinity and beyond.

Buggin'

So, the university has decided to change the program I'm working through. The upshot is: they have added another semester to my load!@)$(&!_@$!_)*!!!! Apparently, the capstone class is a two semester ordeal that has to be taken Fall and then Winter before you can graduate. The email came around today, way after the add/drop deadline, which has left a boatload of us high and dry until NEXT FALL! A WHOLE YEAR FROM NOW! They also removed the ridiculous history of the middle east classes that I've been killing myself in. So, I've taken classes that now are not necessary and I have to take more classes that I can't even get into until a year from now. I feel so ripped off! Nothing I can do. Stick it out, graduate a year after I was supposed to, which means I have to fill the semesters up with nonesense filler classes now, or the other option is to drop out and bag the whole thing. Like I said before, if it doesn't suck, it blows.

I'm buggin'.

Disneyland weekend

Aren't they cute?

Wish I could have gone with them.

I miss 'em.

When they called Friday night to tell me about their motel room I worried....but I gave the instructions to barricade the door with a chair and to not leave the room til morning. What, me worried? ABSOLUTELY! Ghetto motel in L.A. does that to a mom.

Discerning

It is 2:30 a.m. and I'm online trying to put thoughts into words. Not my forte'.

Remember I said I made some cash on eBay? Now I'm dealing with a couple of crazies who are trying to get me to refund money for items they have received. One says she didn't care for the item and wants a refund but she won't return it first. Another wants a refund and says a book didn't ever arrive but the tracking from USPS says it was delivered. Another thinks the shipping she paid for a boat-load of books was too high and she says I ought to be ashamed of myself... Like I said, crazies. But it is nastiness and I don't do nastiness very well. All I can do is let them post their ugly feedback and watch them try to get eBay to demand their refunds from me. It's all such a crock. I had such a great experience with 99% of the buyers, but now I have to deal with the "few" who want to rip me off. I don't want to live eternity in this kingdom, I've decided.

CC asked me AGAIN why we can't just sell this house and move. I know I've explained this to her at least a zillion times before but she either can't accept the answer or won't. I know we live in a crappy house in a crappy area. I know. I'm sorry.

Guess what I learned from Elder Bednar yesterday? Discernment is predicated on quick obedience. Discernment then comes to discern the bad in others and in myself as well as the good in others and in myself. I get it. My PBlessing says I have this gift. I get it.

The kids head out to Disneyland on Friday afternoon next. They are excited. It is the only way they will ever get to go. They are going with friends and I am hoping to come up with the money for their share. The Lord always comes through on these needs. And all needs. We live on the fumes of faith. (Or should I call it the bounty of faith?)

Speaking of con-artists: Chance is playing every one of us in the house! He gets his daily dose of moist catfood from one of us and then plays whomever comes into the kitchen for another. He's got those beautiful blue eyes that just get into your soul and he asks so nicely... We are on to his game. Such a player.

I walked down the sidewalk to see a friend and as I passed a car parked at the curb I noticed my neighbor sitting in the passenger side reading a book under the cab light. When I came back around, the neighbor had slunk down in the seat hoping not to be noticed. I thought of all of the reasons I would sit in my car to read and how I would want to be left alone too. I smiled to myself.

Better go to bed. It all starts again in a few hours. Right?

P.S. I miss my family.

Big DEAL!

Compare the Islamic Umma and its ideal with the early LDS concept and practice of Zion. DUE TUESDAY.

I'm thinking FAMILIES, CONVERTS, PERSECUTION, COMMUNITY, CHOICES ABOUT DOING GOOD...

Two pages.

Dry classes this semester. Economic Geography just isn't thrilling, is it. Statistics is sleeping pill in a paperback. Middle East History up to 1450AD is looking to be a much better experience than the last one of its kind. Remote Sensing is a lot of calculations again. Not one of my strengths. The guy teaching this class is in Stone's ward, I think.

School is such a great place for me to be. If I relax and just let it be what it is then I enjoy it more. The workload can get heavy. That along with working to keep the mortgage paid is very heavy. Plus trying to be some shadow of a parent to teens, making time t

o be with them, getting them outfitted and delivered, listening. I'm always on the brink of collapse it seems.

I was telling LL the other day that I'm just not pioneer woman stock. I get tired and I'm not feeling effective at anything I do in a day.

HERE'S MY MIRACLE STORY :

Yesterday I got the registration renewal notice for the car. Each year this is a time of fear because I convince myself that the car will never pass the inspections.

Well, I got the car straight into the mechanic and waited anxiously for the call. Brakes? Fuel pump? Mirrors busted off? When the shop called with the "all ready for you",

I walked over. CC went too. I was taking deep breaths trying to steady my nerves for what

was to come and CC said I was being crazy. What was the big deal, she was saying. It's just an inspection. WHAT WAS THE BIG DEAL?!!?!??!!!!?!?!! Yeah, it really wasn't a big deal on her planet but to me it was the potential for one more major problem that would require major cash that I major NEVER have. In the end, the car passed and I felt like I got away with something! As I walked through the lot to take the car away, I told CC I felt like I would cry. She, of course, thought I was a lunatic. I, on the other hand, was telling Heaven

ly Father thanks again and again and again for this mighty miracle in my silly little life.

Weekend Update

I made some money off of eBay and after figuring in the costs of the items, the packaging materials and the shipping costs, I did okay. I sold about half of the stuff I listed and some of it went for more than I could have imagined. The other side of the coin is that I am free of a bunch of "stuff" and the bookshelves are a little leaner. Maybe I can get on KSL classifieds and Craigslist and try to move the remaining junk that way. Hmmmmmm........

School starts next week. I like that I get a half of a week to myself before I have to start my own classes. This is going to be a great year for AJ & CC. Maybe me too?!

LL's girl is here "in country" as of late Saturday evening. We won't see her til Monday morning but her text said she was on the ground at the airport. I know it is knocking LL on her butt to have her girl here (and not there). I don't know how she managed to get from her airport back to her home. There aren't wiper blades on eyelids. It had to be killer. Her text said it was hard watching her daughter "walk away". It takes a lot of faith and guts to let go like that. It's LL's b-day tomorrow and this is a cruddy way to spend it. I wish I could fly out there and spend time with her doing some celebrating. Money is the root of all plane tickets!

Talked to Soda today. He called to ask me to come to his work so he could talk. Once I was there, all he wanted to tell me was that he wasn't a "cry baby" and that he was fine, "sorry to have bothered you". Geez, Soda. What the heck is so wrong with feeling emotional about the woman you love having a potentially life-threatening event in her life? How can you be that shut down? Sometimes he is such a neanderthal. But I love him anyway.

Gotta find a new phone plan. Stone wants the phone back for his boy once he is returned from hi mission next month. I don't know what I'm gonna do. Probably just go back to using a prepaid Tracfone and use it only if it is absolutely necessary. That will hurt, cuz I've just gotten used to having text access to LL and JW, etc. Easy come, easy go though.

My legal assisting is still going on. I tell you what, some of the things that people fight over when they are breaking up are so sad. And how about the way they put their kids in the middle of things as little guilt tools to manipulate their situations. Police escorts to supervise getting your stuff from your former house, not returning the kids from visitation, refusing to let the kids see the other parent, moving out of state where one parent won't see the kids very often if ever...Gotta have a strong constitution to handle this stuff day after day - for a living.

Ever read these books?

A Boy, A Dog, A Frog and A Friend

Frog on His Own

Frog, Where Are You?

A Boy, A Dog and a Frog

Just wondering...

Ebay & Lumps

So, Ebay has a free listing period until September 7th and I got in on it. I gathered up a pile of old books and VHS or DVD videos and clothes and auctioned them off. Some things went like wildfire and some fell flat. All in all I made some cash so now the kids can get their school clothes without mom cringing at the register!!! Thanks, Ebay!

In other news, we had a visiting teaching conference last night in which I sang with a group of sisters. The final number was about being sisters and they had us all stand up and hold hands in a giant ring while we sang it. http://www.defordmusic.com/mysistershands.htm

It was a sweet experience that threw me off my singing a bit but we got through it. And believe it or not, I did not indulge in the chocolate fondue fountain that was part of the dinner! It didn't appeal to me....go figure. But boy those croissant chicken salad sandwiches made an impression. I had to take a second one and go outside to eat it so I didn't give away my secret pig-out persona. GOOD STUFF, MANARD!

This morning I got a call from Soda. He just found out that his wife has found a "lump". She has to schedule a mammogram (appointments are a few weeks out) but she doesn't want to. This brought back all the nightmare memories of having watched her mother suffer and die from the same thing. He's so convinced that it will be the worst news that he is beside himself with grief already. "I can't do this." He asked me to not tell anyone so I'M NOT TELLING ANYONE! But he needs prayers to cope. I suggested he get on his knees and pour his heart out to the Lord but he didn't want to talk anymore when I mentioned it. I even said he'd want to help his son if his son was suffering with something this serious, and the Lord is just as loving a father with his sons. This made Soda so uncomfortable that he ended the call. Hmmmmmm.

LL's oldest daughter will be flying out here next week for school. She sent me a list of books that are coming here through the mail. She will be living on campus, which is a great thing for freshmen. LL is going to miss her girl, though. They are tight and great friends. It will be a rough one. That will leave LL at home with only two kids (cuz hubby is in Iraq and oldest boy is on a mission). She's a strong woman but things like this can tear you up for a while. I pray for her peace and safety all the time.

Stone's oldest boy will return from his mission at the end of next month. Stone is so excited to have his boy back! He said they will go as a family to Disneyland and then shortly after that he will take the boy on a cruise that goes down near where the boy served his mission. His next oldest boy is getting his papers in order to go next. Big changes in that household, man.

Ma was here last week for a night. She shopped and spent the night at our place. Next day we met Stone for lunch at a new Taco Time nearby. Before she left we watched 4 CD's filled with pictures of her trip to Rome and the Italian countryside. Lots of great photos of the statues and flowers.

AJ had band camp all week last week. From 8am to 8pm for a whole week! On Friday we parents got to go sit on the field and watch a sneak peak of their new performance for the year. I got a great seat right in front of him and took video and photos of my boy doing his music/ percussion thing! Talk about a thrill! It's so awesome that he has such talent and enjoys it at the same time.

CC went to girl's camp and had fun with her friends there. The leaders were acting like the girls, she said, and it was weird but fun too. She also went boating with her friends one day this week and to a water park with other friends this week. I have to say that she is very social and I envy her skills at this. Now we have to get her over this cough she has. She's ready for school to begin!

I'm tired. Legal work until late. Boxing and shipping Ebay stuff. Shower? Chya!!!

This week in review

Well, I turned in my first billing invoice to get paid for my legal assistance.

I'm hoping to get paid soon........

So, this week this is how CC and I spent our time. Chillin' and taking it easy.

.......

AJ just returned from a weeklong camp. He came in with stories and well-used camping equipment but what I noticed most of all was....

.....his stubble. Yep, that's right!

I love my kids.

In other news, it has been confirmed that the long-lost relative I mentioned the other day has been officially located! Although we are not welcome (for reasons we don't comprehend at all), we are very happy to know where this relative is and that they are alive. It is a sensitive situation. It hurts to be excluded and we don't understand at all. They have their reasons.

WE HATE IT BUT WE HAVE TO RESPECT THEIR WISHES THAT THEY WANT TO BE INVISIBLE AND WITHOUT ANY FORM OF CONTACT.

Type4You and Yappers

My friend asked me to help her do some document preparation for a local attorney. I transcribe dictation from a recorder and then handle the creation of correspondence and pleadings for the court. So far I've kept up pretty well and it feels good to be back in the legal arena again. Downside: I'm not getting much sleep because of all of the sitting at my computer.

-

There was the possibility of a full-time secretary job at BYU. One of the professors in the philosophy department had sent me word of the opening but only after the listing had expired. I had discussed it with the kids and with a couple of people I trust to give me good opinions. We all had the same idea that this would be a way to find some financial security for my family for a change. So, needless to say, we were excited at the prospect. However, it was soon discovered that the job posting was removed and there was no way to apply. Emails to the department made no difference. It was just gone.

-

Behind us is a new family with two straggly yapping mutts they keep tied to the fence with a 3 foot cord. These poor creatures are in 90+ degree heat all day and night and they bark and bark and bark. After I spoke with the new tenant once about it and it continued, I had no hesitation about calling the police for assistance. They dispatched an animal control officer but as soon as the officer arrived, the tenants scooped up the mutts and hid them from view. So, at 3 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. and 3:25 a.m., etc. the mutts yap and yap and yap waking the whole neighborhood. Am I the only one that is annoyed enough to call it in? This is such an unbelievable area.

-

I need a good dinner and a nice movie to help me relax and re-group. I think I'm dehydrated and exhausted from the heat and the work I've been doing both outdoors and indoors.

ksl.com - Man in jail after high-speed chase, multiple escape attempts

ksl.com - Man in jail after high-speed chase, multiple escape attempts

Yes, folks, we had an exciting news-worthy car chase and crash into a business in our area. In fact, the whole thing happened on my street! The spectacular car crash, driver ejection, police chase and tazer event brought all of us out of our homes to watch. I swear I could write a weekly TV show about the craziness of this street, but people watching it would probably find it too fantastic to be true and turn it to Oprah.

-

A Fifth

Soda came by to take me to Sonic for a burger during his dinner break at work. Thanks, Soda! He told me he wished he could do something to make my hard life better. It's nice that he notices and cares but there is really nothing he can do about it. I have to find an income!

It's been a long time since I've been to Sonic. Plain and simple burger with a piece of cheese and a bun. That was it. No frills at that place, man. NONE. Oh, and a strawberry slush too. Now, that was tasty all by itself. Cold drink on a hot day.

AJ marched in the Freedom Festival parade in Provo this morning. He found a good set of symbols in the band room and attached some handles to them. He said they played many of the stand-by songs the band has down pat. I'm proud of him for joining the band and for sticking to it.

CC went tubing on the river with her friend this morning. She called to say it was fun and that she will be spending the evening with her friend and their family, even watching some fireworks tonight.

Finished the cleaning and vacuuming of LL's rental house. It's all ready for the new renters to move into. I did discover a broken sprinkler head so I have to find out how to repair that this week. I also re-programmed the sprinkler watering system to water for longer periods only a few evenings a week. Up to today it was set to water EVERY DAY for 10 minutes each section. No wonder the lawn looks so sickly. I changed it to every other day and up-ed the times as needed at each section.

Boring? You betcha!

Fourth

There are tens of thousands that will not be able to spend this weekend

with their families and friends as they continue to provide safety and security around the world. Please keep them and their families in your thoughts.

-----After the recent holiday sales I was looking to pick up an old gas barbeque somewhere so we could use it around our place. AJ told me that it wouldn't be cost-effective because we'd only use it once in a great while. He's right. But I had it in my mind that we could have our own form of memories in our backyard during these extremely lean financial times at our home. Needless to say we don't have a barbeque.

-

-----I think that is how I want to spend these types of holidays. A leisurely day with a sumptuous barbeque and all the fixin's. It has been years since we have had one. At that last barbeque we had Stone and his family over and the kids ran and played while the older ones sat in the livingroom and watched videos. The food was good but the quarters were tight. We just have such a tiny home and it makes some people uncomfortable to be here. Sorry.

-

-----So, maybe I am wishing to have a barbeque of our own so that the little family that we are can sit outside and have our own version of a holiday celebration.

-

-----Tonight AJ and I went to the grocery store and picked up some banana split supplies. We wanted something different to mark the occasion of Independence Day. We splurged on some hot fudge and carmel toppings (which we have never done before) and we came home and enjoyed the gooey ice cream desserts together. A short while later, AJ came into my room and announced that the sugar was getting to him and making him feel unwell, so he wanted to eat an apple to counter-act the effects. That was a breakthrough. He is definately a sugar-holic.

-

-----CC is away camping with a good friend and their family. She loves to go camping with them every summer. They have such a good time and even go boating on the reservoir. She has a signal up at the campsite because I was able to text her and ask how she was. She's having fun. She loves to be with people and she is good at it. We hope to see her late in the afternoon tomorrow.

-

-----JW called last night because his wife saw I was on FB and knew I was home. He talked about the probability of losing his job in October. Government bureaucracy. We are praying for them. He told me about the oil spill disaster in that area and the oil blobs that have washed up on shore. He said he can smell the oil when he goes on base to work. His calling at Church is still financial clerk and he's got he hang of it. H (his wife) has a new calling to create and maintain the Ward website. She will be amazing at that! V1 (son) has created his own computer out of bits and parts and he is happy with that. V2 (another son) is not into being told what to do now and is learning boundaries. They have a good renter for their house in Ohio who should be in the place for two years, and may try to qualify to buy it later. That is such a blessing.

-

-----We believe we've discovered something about a long-lost relative. No details on here but suffice it to say we have uncovered some interesting facts about current arrangements and locality. It was quite a surprise!

-

-----Thank goodnes LL has texting. We send each other messages whenever we have the inkling and it's nice to be able to do that. We keep in touch better now, but we will always be able to have a three hour phone conversation whenever the mood strikes. She is managing the affairs of home and hearth really well on her own. Even when there are "directives" from across the pond, she manages to keep her wits about her and get things done. Oil slick and all. I admire her courage and her skills.

Good Things To Come

So, Shep and Co. are going to be here in about a week for a visit. They opted to stay here with us (no accounting for taste) so we are shoveling as fast as we can to get the piles of junk out of the way.

Yesterday the kids helped me get the old window swamp cooler into shape and hoisted into place. After some tinkering (AJ got the tubing repaired to slow a leak) and some positioning (CC got the unit centered and the power connected) we enjoyed some cool air before we expired from the heat. The switch only works on LOW COOL now and we are certain that the unit is on it's last legs.

CC is a driving machine. Driver's Ed and "Ranging" are second-nature now. She's a veteran in the range cars and has to hit the extra brake pedal when rookies drive and panic. AJ begins his Driver's Ed classes and ranging next week. Should be an adventure in sibling rivalry!

Been spending the past few days down at LL's rental house in Provo doing some cleaning and repair work. Hopefully I can begin to tear out old carpeting this week and get some vinyl flooring installed in the next week. It's a big project and I've never had to calculate square footage and do this type of installation before. But, I gotta start somewhere. I hope I make a decent selection of product that everyone will approve of.

My tomato plants are in rebellion. They are only a couple of inches high and refuse to thrive. Perhaps the $1.49 price tag should have tipped me off. However, hope springs eternal. "The Prophet said to plant a garden, so that's what we'll do!" I'm trying.

Coach Gardner from EHS died. Soda probably remembers him best from his football days.

The old OHS is being demolished this week. The new one is just to the south where the student parking and the tennis courts and driver's ed range used to be. Sad. Things keep getting old and keep being replaced wiping out all traces that they existed. Will that happen to me too?

Mom took a trip to Italy and sent us a postcard of all the sites to see in Rome. Not sure when she is due to return but it should be soon. I'm so glad that she got out of Mo and had an adventure. Wish I could go on one too. Someday.

I had to help CC actually change a tire as a requirement for her driving class. Took snaps of her doing the 8 steps on her form. A closer look at that tire revealed threads! Crap! Now I can't live in denial. I've seen it so I have to attend to it. Probably have to get all four replaced. Ka-Ching!

Text-ellent!!!

LL has texting now! Woo-Hoo!!! Happy dance......:)

Excellence

AJ got a certificate of excellence for a 4.0 gpa over the last three years of school
CC got a certificate of excellence for outstanding performance on yearbook staff.

These are some terrific kids with good sense and kind hearts.

Sometimes I think back to when I was their ages. I remember the teen years quite clearly, surprisingly. Perhaps its because I kept such regular journals during those years. The angst of life all scribbled down on the crazy pages. My best and closest friend, those journals. So many entries that begin with "I have to talk to someone...". 'Course, these two have it different but then again, every generation has it different, in their own ways. Duh. I wish I had been more like them, though, when I was that age. They have things "together" more than I did.....do.

Sad

So sad. Can't stop crying for the little guy.

http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/links_numbers/story/Police-Ethan-Stacy-beaten-to-death/1Xdk6laR4k2_Ku_s5eYi4A.cspx

Nailed It!

Happy MOM day!

This came to my door a couple of days ago. What a yummy surprise! I have the best sister in the whole universe!

Guess what my daughter did for me for Mother's Day?! She got up early on Saturday and went out front to weed and trim the plants and flowers. What an amazing surprise that was. She explained that she thought I'd like that better than something from a store. GOT THAT RIGHT! I loved it!!!!!

Did I mention that she also went for her Patriarchal Blessing this morning? It was a tremendous thing. Absolutely outstanding. What a wonderful young woman she is. I wish I had been more like her as I was growing up.

My son has been fighting a sore throat for a few days now. Just before he got it, he went for his Learner's Permit and got it! He also mastered the clutch and can drive like a pro now. I'm happy.

Quote Unquote

There are some movies that I watch over and over no matter how many times they play on TV. Do you do that too? I don't know why, they just "get in" and I have to stay tuned.

Shallow Hal "Hey, uni-brow. Double your meds and leave me alone!"

Fools Rush In "There are signs everywhere."

Bourne 1,2,3 "Get some rest, Pam. You look tired."

A Few Good Men "You messed with the wrong marine!"

Diehard "Come out to the coast. We'll have a few laughs."

Wedding Singer "Hey psycho...take off my Van Halen shirt before you jinx it and the band breaks up."

Steel Magnolias "I was there when that beautiful creature came into this world."

Good Will Hunting "Gotta see about a girl."

So far, I've watched Shallow Hal three times over the past 2 days (yes, that means twice in one day....I'm a geek).

Yeah, so judge me. You know you want to.

This evening I went to the library with AJ. We like to do that often. Anyway, I was so looking forward to finding a book I want to read because it's been so long since I read for my own pleasure. Did you know that I worked at that same library when I was 16? Good times....

Stone came by this morning. Out of the blue. He looked over my crumbling kitchen floor and gave me some insight about what it will take to improve it. He borrowed a couple of my prized MASH dvds and left behind an envelope stuffed with cash. I was so stunned. Still am. Answers to prayers come through good people like Stone. He's a good man.

The mail arrived and with it a card from LL. It's a picture of a kitty lying on its side with the phone up to its ear: "I just called to say I love you. Also, we're out of tuna." She has a darling little cat called Jasper. He's full of vinegar and makes LL smile. Everybody loves LL. She's a wonderful friend and sis.

Today is graduation commencement at BYU. Watched some of it on TV just because I was trying to picture myself there SOME DAY. One day I want it badly and the next I feel like I'm wasting my time. AAArrrgggghhhh.

Shun.......un-shun...Oh yea, I like to watch The Office over and over sometimes too.........re-shun.

Pile it on

I mean, I just don't seem to get it.

Went in to school today to finish a final project. As soon as I finished, my Prof. walks in, says hello and asks where I was on Saturday. Apparently, he gave the final Saturday morning while I was still in bed....nice. Luckily for me, I had my syllabus handy and showed him the final exam date on it. (Remember, it says Monday, April 20....neither of which are a match.) So, he admitted to the error and I took the exam on the spot.

Once home, I tried to clear up the snafoo with the IRS and got two different responses over the phone. Neither one offered confidence. I scribbled a reply on their letter and put it in the mail. Hope I don't have to serve time over it. No matter what else happens, it is clear that I won't see a tax refund of any sort. We normally live on a return over the summer. Now what?!

School's over for me until Fall. What to do...

I've looked for jobs month after month. Nothing but rejections.

Could use a getaway...car won't cooperate with that idea.

LL's husband deploys this week (training then overseas). It's killer that she has to go through this and I can't be there for moral support. LL is absolutely capable of managing. No question. She's got a whole ward that loves her and her family. They'll look after her okay. Her oldest son is away on a mission. Her oldest girl will leave home to come out here for school in the Fall. It's gonna be lonely. I just still have that old reliable pang that this is my job and I'm supposed to look after her.

One doctor checkup lead to a mammogram and bone density test. Grand total on the bill: $550. And that's AFTER insurance paid their portion. Where am I gonna come up with that? I can't NOT go to the doctor just to save money but my heck! Just put it on the pile.

Time for bed. No rest for the weary.

Open Street Map.org

Go see my final project online:

openstreetmap.org

Zoom in and check out the labels

in the old part of Lehi to see my handiwork.

Yawn*

Am I really this boring? Holy cow.

Easter tomorrow. Kids are hopeful. Easter Bunny didn't get a stimulus check....

Crunch time at school. (When isn't it?) This research paper on the Middle East is murder! I'd rather turn it in and take my chances but no.....I have to turn in rough draft after rough draft as the anal-retentatives slash and burn with their red pens. I'm fixin' to go all jihad on their behinds...

And who died and left an order for this crappy cold wind around here? It's supposed to be Spring, for cryin' out loud. Snow wasn't funny last week either.

I've obviously had way too much ice cream today. WAY too much.

General Conference got me out of bed today. Something about truth on TV just gets my attention. This evening I dropped AJ off for the Priesthood session and took CC shopping for a couple of hours. She's got great taste and knows what she wants. (She also has her own money, which helps tremendously.) I'm jealous.

I need a job.

Anybody wanna buy me a life? I'm so done with this one.

Top Ten

General Petraeus'

TOP TEN REASONS WHY BYU GRADUATES MAKE GREAT SOLDIERS:

-

10. They've already been on many missions.

9. Army chow isn't a problem for them, having been used to eating green jello with shredded carrots.

8. If they can't remember someone's rank, they just call them brother or sister.

7. They never go AWOL, they prefer to call it Less Active.

6. They seize objectives swiftly, if they are told there will be refreshments served.

5. They know how to make things happen in a desert - you just stride into a barren wasteland, plant your staff and proclaim "This is the place".

4. They have innovative ideas for how to deal with insurgents: start by assigning them Home Teachers.

3. They always have years of provisions on hand.

2. They are the world's most reliable designated drivers. (There is a special need for this...)

1. They understand how far Iraq has come over these 7 years and believe that Iraq's old spot in the Axis of Evil can easily be filled by the University of Utah.

Persepolis

Ok, so I had to watch this film to get some extra credit for a class. (Yeah, the class is that bad that I need extra credit!) It was such a predictable film, full of all of the angst a young woman has growing up in Iran. It didn't help that it was filmed in French either. The swearing was awful and ridiculous at the same time.

Who'd have thunk that making women wear veils and be subservient would be unpleasant? Islamic rule is scarey and mean. Oh? Being cheated on by someone you loves hurts. Really? Please. Depression can be hard. NO! Seriously?

I absolutely HATE this class. Not to mention the "instructor" and his angry little "TA". I had no interest in any part of the Middle East and this class has reinforced my dis-interest. Blechhh. But the beauty of it is: I get to take it all over again next semester cuz I'm gonna flunk it this time. Nice....

Dumb-da-dumb-dumb

Census 2010 is here.

LL was right. Why did I have to get a letter telling me it was coming in the mail and that filling the form out was mandatory? (Or else, what?)

Why did the form have another letter with it telling me it was a Census form and I should fill it out TODAY? (Or else, what???)

The waste of money is mind-boggling.

I get really tired of all of the dumbing down that goes on these days. Don't you get tired of it too? Schools do it. Stores do it. TV has always done it.

Have you seen the new traffic lights that have a blinking yellow arrow now? Just in case you didn't already know that you don't turn in front of oncoming traffic cuz you might get slammed... Really? Whew. Thanks, government. You saved me from sure and utter disaster once again.

My kids are reading To Kill A Mockingbird at school. The teacher has them act out portions of chapters, instead of reading the chapters. The kids have no clue what they are doing. Then they watch a piece of the film that is way out of context and take a quiz on it to make sure they are following the book.... Wow. Would it kill these "educators" to actually READ the BOOK and require that the kids do the same?

Not a week goes by that the school doesn't show a video as a babysitter in one class or another. No, they are not part of the curriculum. That is, I don't think The Incredibles or Bolt are part of the coursework. What's up with this? When I asked why the movie was played and what relevance it had to the class, they kids were as baffled as I. They say the teachers put on the film and leave the room.

Where is the blank on the Census form for this kind of crap? Epic fail!

Paper Topic:


Did the events of the 1972 Olympics in Munich affect Palestinian/Israeli relations.

I thought I'd write about this because it involves the history of the Middle East and because I'm the only one in the class (including the pretentious instructor) who remembers it happening. I was living there when it went down and I remember it vividly. So, I can use myself as a primary source as I write..... (Man, I'm old.)

My opinion is that it did not have much effect other than ratcheting up the world's interest. The hate and violence has been pretty constant otherwise. And like one person wrote: In spite of the violence and deaths, the olympics continued on as usual. It was like having a dance at Dachau, so to speak.

Taxed

All done. Mailing them tomorrow. It's amazing how much I pay in taxes in spite of having no job for over a year. Go figure.

So, what else?

Got any ideas on a topic for a Middle East History research paper? I'm blanking.

"Things will work out. Keep trying. Be believing. Be happy. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out." -Gordon G. Hinckley

While walking up to campus this morning, I had a prayer in my heart that I would have a clear mind and be able to work the computer problem that was giving me trouble. I knew that I would have a lot of students coming to me for help with it and I just had to get it to work myself first. I had no clue how to go about it, but I had to ask for help from the Lord. By the time I got to the Kimball Tower, I was impressed to avoid the lab, and go into the basement of the building to a secluded computer area where I would work uninterrupted. So, I did just that. As soon as I signed onto the computer, the impressions came step by step about how to proceed with the task. After several tries I got the problem completed. I logged off, offered my prayer of thanks, and I went up the elevator to the lab. Sure enough, there were several students there lying in wait. I was able to help them competently, thanks to the tender mercies of the Lord. For this, I am grateful today.

Ancient and Fabulous

Past the half-century mark, baby! [Whoever just said WAY PAST is just mean and cruel....]

LL sent me the coolest calendar with vintage covers from Mad Magazine on it. They are frameable, which I might just do.

Stone bought me lunch at California Pizza Kitchen today. Cheese raviolis! He was sure I'd be tasting them all day. NOT! That's gross>...

Got some cash from mom. Nice surprise for me! What to buy, what to buy....

AJ came up with his own gift idea: clean out, vacuum and wipe down the inside of the car. SWEET!!! It has been forever since the car had any attention {I might mention that most of the garbage in it belongs to AJ anyway, so...}

CC is keeping her tribute a secret.

Too bad I gotta spend the day in classes, but oh well. School doesn't care that I'm getting older. Right?