The Book Hook

I wish I could say I never abused books.  But I do.  I open the spine and I leave them around the house.  I'm almost always in the middle of reading a book (and one on my i-pod!)  I don't buy books very often.  So I'm torturing poor library books.  Just call my bedside table Guantanamo Bay.

My sister Arwen is a librarian.  She is super-scandalized by my behavior.  I drew her name for Christmas this year and I knew right away what I had to get her.  The book hook.

Isn't it beautiful?  You rest your book on it and you can keep it open WITHOUT hurting the spine. I can't really say why I thought it would be perfect for Arwen.  Books on her nightstand receive spa treatment to my Guantanamo Bay.  I'm the one who really needs the book hook and yes I did have an acute sense of gift remorse on December 26.  Arwen are you still using the Book Hook?  If not......

The only problem was......$$$$$ 

€30 for the book hook

€30 for shipping (from Germany)
________

€60 = $85  is a bit pricey for a few pieces of wood.  

Luckily I have connections. 

My friend Steve is a local high school shop teacher.  He hooked us up and let us use all the power tools two used-to-be-blond girls could dream of.  Megan (of 2008 Greece fame) tagged along.  As did Baby G and Megan's Baby "L." 

Steve insisted we all wear safety Goggles.  

Baby G doesn't realize that safety goggles have become semi-shick lately.   
Consider them pre-hipster glasses.

She got happier once we let her push the buttons to the super huge sander.  

Megan got excited to push the button too. 

I did the manual labor.  

Once we sanded and sanded and sanded it was time to glue all the pieces together.
We used really cool exotic wood called purple heart.    

The babies just chilled.  Dangerous power tools aren't their thing.    

2 hours later we had THE BOOK HOOK

I gave it the opera singers test.  It held up agianst High C.  

It was beautiful.  

THE BOOK HOOK

Now for those of you who also loose bookmarks and are prone to hurting the spines of your book I am excited to say that I'm doing my first ever blog give away.  AND I'm going to give away a BOOK HOOK!  

More details to come!

Lost wallets and good Karma

Today I got this text from Spencer:

• "I lost my wallet! It fell out as I was riding my bike.  I had my debit card canceled."

You know what a lost wallet means.  New drivers license.  New student ID.  New debit cards.  New Credit cards.  New Health insurance cards.  New Dental card.  Library card.  The list goes on and on.  Our list included a new national parks pass $80 (non-refundable.) a UTA card.  USA Cycling cards.  A few un-cashed checks and $20 cash.  (obviously we aren't millionaires but who can afford to loose a wallet?!?!)

Then around 3:45 today two guys I'd never seen in my life knocked on my door.   They had found Spencer's wallet in the street.  They searched  through it, found his address and drove up to the avenues to deliver it.  Everything was in the wallet.

We read about liars and thieves all the time in the news.  I'm here to say that the world has good people.  Lots of good people.  And although you know lots of good people most of the good people in the world are strangers to you.  Think about it.  It is a comforting thought.

I also might be persuaded to believe in Karma.   6 years ago I was jogging in the avenues and found a wallet. It belonged to a Japanese girl.  It had her passport, her student i.d., and a $100 bill.  I tracked her down via a friend of mine (Angie Clarke) who speaks Japanese.  She sent both me and Angie a $40.00 gift card to Wall-Mart.  What goes around comes around.

I thanked the guys who returned Spencer's wallet and I really really hope that if they every loose their wallets that Karma will catch up to them as well.

The new hair cut

I was sick of my long hair.  Mostly because long hair + no time = ponytail.  Two days before school was out (when I have endless time to spend on my self) I decided enough was enough and I chopped it off.  It still hits below my shoulders (my husband's request) but they took off over 5 inches.  We are currently with out a camera.  The family camera (a gift from an ex-boyfriend years ago) finally died.  My sisters really wanted to see so here you go thanks to the camera phone. 

When I realized that my shirt matched my pet bird I felt I coulden't get any nerdier so Petie might as well be in the picture too.  Plus he recently molted (feather are allover my house) so new hair cut kind of applies to the bird too.  umm...I'm going to stop talking about the bird now. 
 

What do you think?  Does it look shorter?  Should I go shorter? blonder?  or grow it back out?

Acronyms that affecty my L.I.F.E.

Currently I'm experiencing mild or moderate symptoms from the following:

ADD (diagnosed just after my undergrad)
PCOS (diagnosed last fall)
CF (as a carrier and potential CF parent)

What would I do if I got cancer or something and it didn't fit in a short acronym? 

Despite these acronyms I am relatively healthy.  I ran 5 miles yesterday.  I can walk.  I can read.  I successfully hold down a good job. I am not depressed.  I feel mostly healthy but I guess I no longer feel invincible like I did in my early 20's.  Having good health is such a blessing!  Lets all enjoy what we have in the time we are given. 

Positive

I had a hunch this would happen. It still hit me hard. The news came while I was driving home from teaching. The nurse was very professional. But I just wanted her to hang up right away so I could cry. I didn't say much to her. I feared my voice would shake and betray me.

Now the optimistic among you will be saying: "But don't worry Spencer is most likely not a carrier." and "Wait to panic until you find out more." This is all good advice. I really appreciate all the love and support. I would feel very alone with out such wonderful friends and family. Thank you all.

Spencer has a 1/29 chance of being a CF carrier. If he is a carrier of CF then our children have a 25% chance of having CF.  I do not have CF.  Carriers of CF don't develop CF.  You either have it or you don't. 

It is hard to drive when you are crying.

Despite some really wonderful things that happened today....

1. A good friends Bachelorette party
2. Good talks with co-workers
3.Talking with Spencer

....this felt like a very dark day. Not even my bright yellow sweater or husband could make me feel better. I'm not asking for lots of loving responses.  I try to keep this blog as real as possible and this has been a very real day.  We all have them.  I can't wait for tomorrow.  

Presents to me!

My birthday was this week. Last year I was turning 3o, which means this year I'm 29 again. Last year their were lots of things I wanted...their are still lots of things I want. I made a list of some present ideas and had faithful readers of this blog (all 3 of you) vote. Thanks for voting here were your choices:

1. Living room couch
2. CZ earrings
3. i-pod
4. Guitar
5. Kitchen Aid Mixer
6. Hawaiian vacation
7. New Lap Top
8. New fingernail
(this last on is in reference to this event)

Most of you voted for a Hawaiian vacation which would have been nice. For my actual birthday present I ended up getting CZ earrings. But in the passing 365+ days since my last year I've managed to score most of the items on my original list. Here is an update!

1. Living room couch - Grandma's old couch Feb 2009
2. CZ earrings - Birthday last year
3. ipod - Birthday this year (BE EXCITED!)
4. Guitar - I stole my parents guitar back.
5. Kitchen Aid Mixer - Christmas 2009 (sale pending)
6. Hawaiian vacation - still a dream away...sigh
7. New Lap Top - birthday last year
8. New fingernail - still not as good as new but close.


If you read that last list closely you will realize that I have an ipod. Yep! I'm in club ipod! or club apple or something nerdy/cool. That was my birthday present this year! Hurray!

Having an ipod has never been a top priority although I've always thought it might be nice to have one. But I'm not a very spendy girl. I would convince myself it wasn't worth the money with arguments like this: I've run 100'ds of miles with out one. They cost so much money! They are so trendy. You hate headphones...But finally I caved. The hardest part was picking out the color. They have so many! Here are a few:



But I finally picked this yellow one. Yellow is my favorite color. I've spent all day playing with it instead of studying. I'm kind of excited!
Books on Tape/CD are a big part of my life. Now made easier!
And then their is music. That is kind important to me too.

How does one avoid getting sick?

I'm sick. Again. I'm. sick. again.

As I told my mother yesterday (doesn't everyone just want their Mom's when they are sick? even when you get 'old'?)

Mom: how are you feeling? -asked in a very tender loving motherly voice.
Me: "I feel awful. I can't breath out my ears." -said in a very sulky voice.
Mom: You can't breath out your ears? (laughing gently)
Me. No I can't....I mean I can't hear....but I can't breath either. Ahhhhggg!

I've realized that I get sick often. I don't know why. I eat okay. I exercise. I am RELIGIOUS about getting enough sleep. I wash my hands. I take vitamins. I've never smoked a day in my life.

Despite all this I have the worst immune system. I catch all germs with in a 50 mile radius. It is one of the reasons I decided not to become a professional opera singer. SO much pressure not to get sick. So instead of singing professionally I became a teacher (which I love more) I teach high school where I"m exposed to lots of germs. Although after 4 years teaching I would think I had built up some immunity. This is my 2nd cold this fall. I got sick on Friday right in the middle of my family's San Diego fall vacation. It was not fun. I was grouchy the rest of the trip, (sorry family.)

I just don't know what to do about it. I feel like I've had a cough my whole life. My sister thinks it is allergy induced asthma (who know it had a t?) and told me to go get tested by an allergy specialist. Every October I get a cold with a cough that lingers in various stages of severity till the next October comes and I get a fresh cough. I"m amazed I can even sing at all. This makes me so sad because I spent a good portion of my life training my voice.

This weekend I made the mistake of not bringing any cough drops or Kleenex's to California. Luckily their were some still lingering in the dark places of my purse from my last cough outbreak.

I could keep this to my self but I really want to know what I should do? Dear Internet please help me figure out how to avoid getting sick. I"m pretty much willing to do anything short of sporting a Michael Jackson surgical mask. I promise not to shake hands. I promise not to share drinks, chap stick or food (gross.) I just want to never get sick again. Help please help. Love the Sicky.

Light. Sun Light. Lamp Light. Moon light. Star light.

Summer is fading. The days are getting shorter. It is dark now at eight instead of nine. I wake up in the mornings to run and I run in the darkness. It is well past the solstice. The light is changing. The earth gets closer to the sun but tilts away. All the shadows change. Noon sunlight in September is so different than noon sunlight in June. North America settles down for winter and its Argentina’s turn for summer.

Can you tell? Does anyone feel it? I’ve always felt the light change as Fall came on. I’ve always noticed a change. Not just a temperature change although that happens too. I’m talking about a visual difference in the way the sun hits the earth. In winter it becomes quite pronounced but I can feel the sunlight change as fall approaches. Spencer thinks I’m crazy. The first fall after we got married I started talking to him about “how the light changes” and Spencer’s teased me ever since.

Not only that he teased about how much of a big deal I made about lighting. He said “You are the only person I’ve ever known who refers to the sun as The Light.” Only then did I realize that not everyone cared as much about light as I do. I’m light sensitive. Not in a -I’m a vampire way- but in an obsessive compulsive way. Rooms have to be lighted in a certain way. Not too much light can come in from any one direction. Over head lights are NO good and should be used sparingly. . I don’t like to run once the sun gets to a certain level in the sky. These are things I adjust and change constantly and I can’t relax unless it is as perfect as I can get it.

I think I’ve been this way all my life but years of singing in Opera’s in college and the directors yelling “find the light” may have also helped me “find the light” the right kind of light.

What do you think about light? Or The Sun? Does anyone else find themselves tweaking the lighting around them? Does anyone one else feel it?

Hard day

I'm feeling a little down. To make myself feel better I put on my bran new shoes . I've been wearing them around my apartment all morning.



It seems to be helping a little.

What do you do when you are blue?

The Farmers Market

It is the place to be. Old people, young people, beautiful people, rich people, poor people, skinny people, hippies, tattooed people, dogs, birds (seriously a guy comes every time with his pet parrot on his shoulder) etc. Every Saturday morning during the summer months the normally scary pioneer park is transformed into the farmers market.

Local farms sell their goods, be it honey, cheese, lamb meat, peaches or soap. Artisans sell jewelry, leather purses, art work pottery and so on.

For the last 60 years my family has had a farm. It is one of the last places in Orem not turned into subdivisions. When my Dad retired from Medicine he decided to grow a big garden. Then he got the idea to sell his excess. Now it is a family tradition. I sell for him sometimes and it is pretty fun. Great people watching, great to be outside, great everything.


We sell whatever my dad decided to plant which so far this year has been spinach, lettuce, peas, beats, beat Greens, dill, onions, zucchini, and back choie which I have no idea how to spell but I did manage to sell quite a bit.

We also sell Rocks. Magic Rocks.

Add distilled white vinegar, food coloring to our magic rock and in two weeks you will have beautiful aragonite crystals. We sell them for $.25 cents and the kids go CRAZY!

Magic rocks, want- to-be-rock-stars and old Russian ladies trying to barter. What more could you ask of a Saturday morning.

The Rest of the Story. The rest of 10 stories.

The rest of the story. The blog where I tie up all the loose ends I've mentioned in previous blogging.

1. Do you notice and patterns in our classroom? - The rest of the Story
Referencing the time I created a seating chart for my high School German students based on their hair color. THE DAY after I posted the blog a kid in my last German class said "Hey have you ever noticed that all of the blond kids sit on that side?" which made me think he read my blog...which scared me slightly. Just kidding. They all thought it was a GREAT April Fools joke and I changed the seating assignment the next day.

2. My Long Lost Twin - The rest of the story:
For the record I don't think I look like Sherry Renee Scott or Candice Bergman. But I'm flattered really, they are beautiful women. The old lady in German who is still in love from Young Spencer on his mission (she sends him annual birthday/Christmas/Easter/Boxing Day gifts) told him when she called one morning (5:00 a.m.) that I look like Heidi Klum. I SO WISH but really I have yet to find my twin.

3. New Years Resolutions - The rest of the story:
I kept my fingernails painted for 3 months. I even painted them black which I told Spencer was trandy and he kept calling me gothic so that hasn't happened again. Then the painting got old. I tracked 30 hours of practicing the piano. Then I realized I hate practicing. Loosing weight...some days up. some down.

4. My Husband Drilled a Hole in my Finger - The rest of the story:
CAUTION: This post is rated PG-13 for graphic images and blood.
Last August I slammed my finger in my trunk. After 3 days of AGONY! Spencer DRILLED A HOLE IN MY FINGER to relieve the pressure. Eight months later the nail is almost grown back. But not quite.

5. Greece - The rest of the story:
I think the guy in Crete I gave my blog address to is still a faith full reader. He was cute in a I still live with my mother Greece boy kind of way. I still think Santorini is one of the planets most magical places.

6. My Husband's Internet relationship - The rest of the story.
One of my most clever posts. To fill you in: He is STILL obsessed. OBSESSED. with his bike. He walks into the bike's bedroom to say goodnight to it every night hanging on the wall. Recently Spencer upgraded his mistresses. His new bike-mistress has a larger frame and slightly different coloring. Same make and model though. Can't fault a good thing.

7. The Gang - The rest of the story.
I took creative license with this post and made it out like we were mobsters. NO ONE believed me obviously. It was just a get together of bunches of mission friends. Pictures of this year and last. Last year was slightly different because neither Megan nor Traci had yet produced offspring. Everything changes in 9 months.

8. June 30, 2007 - The Rest of the story.
This post was the one where I gush about my wedding. I still look back and think. "What a perfect day!" we are still really happy.

9. My top 5 mistakes as a teacher - The Rest of the Story
I love my job and I'm very passionate about teaching. but I do make some mistakes. My most hilarious ones are listed here. I have one to add to my next list you can read it here.

10. Here I come - The Rest of the story
This was my very first blog post ever. I've now posted over __times. I can't believe how much I love blogging. I started as a more interesting way to keep a journal and a way to improve my writing. Both have improved and it has been a fun hobby.

First impressions of me....and mine of you.

One the whole I realize that I don't do the best with first impressions. I wish I had Dr. Freud here to tell me why. I think I'm shyer than people realize, or intimidated by people. Once I met a Dr. at a party (not Dr. Freud) He got my number (good 1st impression on him) and after we went out a few times he told me: "Nothing seems to intimidate you." That was his impression?!?! I sure had him fooled.

Tonight before the concert started I sat next down next to Rosie who was sitting all by her self and looked lonely. Rosie is in her 60's is kind and genuine and very motherly. These qualities are attractive to me in people and over the last year I've taken to sitting by Rosie on Tuesday nights. Tonight she said "Can I tell you my first impression of you? Don't be offended." Oh dear I thought because I really am sensitive to what people say and think about me! I'm a pretty decent person and I'd like to convey that to the world although I've had my darker moments - everyone has.

"You came into choir and you were so pretty and you were always dressed so cute. Then I overheard you talking and you were saying something about how you would only ever live in the Avenues or Sugar house and I looked at you and thought this girl is so snobby." Oh dear oh DEAR!

Rosie finished her comments tonight by saying "Now I realize how down to earth you are." Does she also realize that my cute clothes are falling apart because A.) I am too cheep to buy new ones and B.) I hate shopping. Maybe she can see through me now. But I'm glad she likes what she sees.

Then today at lunch Kristin reminded me how snotty I was to her the first time we ever met. She tells me she went home and cried. I didn't mean to be mean, Kristin was just so UBER friendly that it scared my socks off and I had my guard way WAY up. I was trying to act "cool" but I've never been super great at acting cool. These stories do have happy endings. Kristin and I are now BFF's.

But those are 2 of what are I'm sure many bad impressions. It does bother me a little. On the other hand I suppose I haven't always bombed my first impressions. Spencer said he knew he wanted to marry me the minute he saw me. Seven years and thirteen days after that first meeting we got married.

So what was your first impression of me. Do you remember? was it good? or bad? (hopefully not) Let me know and I'll tell you my fist impression of YOU. (if you want)

My long lost twin?

Two weekends ago I was in St. George for a conference. While at this conference TWO people, complete strangers came up to me and told me they knew someone who looked just like me. I of course asked them if they had pictures of the people. I am always curious to see my twins. Of course they didn't happen to have pictures of my twin in their wallet. sadly.


Then tonight a girl I was talking to swore that I looked just like a Broadway actress. I wrote down her name and googled her! Her name is Sherrie Rene Scott. What do you think? Do I look like her? (ABOVE)



In college my boss at the McKay Music library where I worked in college said I looked like Candice Bergen. What do you think? She said If they ever made a movie of my life that Candice Bergen should play me. Do I look like either? See the survey on the side panel and vote!

I come home to find my husband in bed with another male

Rehearsal got out early. I was thanking my lucky stars that I might actually get to bed before midnight as I walked up the stairs to get to our apartment. I open the front door and listened. Silence. No lights. Wait....is that music coming from the bed room? Excitedly I moved toward the bedroom and pushed the door open.

Sprawled out on the bed was my husband. He looked quite content and why not? On top of him was the male referenced in the title. I shouldn't say sprawled...perched is more like it. They lay their so innocent so peaceful, both enjoying each others company. So unaware that all would come to an unpleasant end as the wife opened the door.

"SPENCER".......I shrieked "What is that $@*&4# BIRD doing in our BED!" Spencer had no response. He sheepishly picked up and left the room holding the corners of his shirt in an admirable but inadequate attempt not to spill the cracker crumbs that he had been feeding to the bird out of his shirt.

The bird exited the room with the love of his life, my husband. I stood alone looking down at the bed. Crumbs were everywhere! On top of the sheets, under the sheet, on the floor by the bed, everywhere! I pulled back the for display only pillows and right across one was a big bird poop.

Now this was not the first time. I'd found crumbs in the sheets the week before and consequently spend the entire day saturday doing laundry including all the bed washings. I hadn't exactly demanded that Spencer not feed the bird in bed but I'd had very obvious conversation about how sleeping on crumbs didn't exactly make for sweet dreams or romantic moods.

Less than 3 days later we were back to crumbs and even worse poop. I stormed into the bird's room ready to list all the reasons I had to be annoyed. But spencer's look stoped me in my trakcs. He looked at me with repentant eyes and gave me a signature sweet smile. I melted. I can't stay mad. I wish I could stay mad! Sometime I really want to be the kind of person to hold grudges but I just forget. Five minutes after I get mad everything is water under the bridge. As if the smile wasn't enough to temper my spirits Pete the pet bird who was still perched on Spencer's sholder chirped in too. He sang me his signature"wolf wisthels" that Spencer taught him last summer. Okay cute husband. Cute bird. Washable sheets. Life really isn't so bad. If you want to read the exciting story about how Pete came to be a part of our marriage click here.

Things that make me happy on New years day

Cross country skiing was the perfect way to spend new years. Being out side makes me so happy. So does hanging out in my ski cap with Karen and Liz. I'm so lucky to have such great friends.
me and Uncle David


Not to mention the coolest uncle in the world. This is Uncle David my mom's oldest brother. If you studied physics at BYU you might recognize him as the uber nerdy physics professor Dr. Allred. I love that he is always willing to go on a ski adventure and to sponcer non outfitted skiiers with the barrel full of cross counry skis he keeps in his garrage. Happy New year to everyone!

140 hours of overtime = 3 hour long fully body massages

The cast of 7 Brides for 7 Brothers


School started in August/September and since then I've worked 14o hours AFTER school directing our high school musical 7 Brides for 7 Brothers! Oh my goodness! Is that IN+ADDITION to your 40 hour a week job?

YES directing the musical was in addition to teaching choir and German. The school Drama teacher had allot of personal Drama which doubled my work load. Consequently I've got "Bless your beautiful hide!" and or "Going Courting" permanently stuck in my head. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my job. But directing like teaching takes MANY MANY hours.

Meanwhile back at the ranch my poor husband had to fend for himself. I didn't cook. I didn't clean. I didn't blog. I deffinatly didn't do laundry.

I did work alot of late nights (till 11!). I did chew off my fingernails. I did gain 10 lbs. and I did learn alot of what to do and what not to do in directing. But things are looking better now. The show closed on Wednesday and today I've had the whole day to relax.

Hubby and I slept in and then rolled out of bed to head to the local massage school around the corner from where we live. They had a special 2 for one massage offer. We were eager to take advatage of it. Turns out we got even luckier. We bumped into fellow blogging friends Eddie and Jill who tipped us off that after you pay for your first massage they give you a complimentary one. What a deal!!! We gladly stayed and waited so that we could get another 1 hour massage. And then once that one was done we coulden't resist taking up the offer to get a third. So it was quite the relaxing morning. We had THREE hour long full body massagaes which turned out to be $3 a piece.

I feel I am well on the way to recovery. "Bless your beautiful hide!"

Results on 30th Birthday gift

Thank you all for voting in my first online survey on what to get myself for my 3oth Birthday. Thank you also for those of you who have access to my personal email and face book accounts who wished me a happy birthday. For my birthday itself I was sick. Spencer stayed home from church and took care of me. 30 seems allot like 29. But 29 seems allot different than 19. sigh.

On to the results. The winners were:

1. CZ Earrings
2. New Laptop

Yes I realize that NO one voted for these things. They were not my first choice either, however I'm so sick of not having a computer at home. Our old one has officially gone the way of the ghost taking all my pictures, resumes, recipes and so forth with it. I sure wish I'd backed it up!

My first choices were a couch and a Hawaiian vacation. Spencer and I went shopping for couches all day on Black Friday, by the way RC Willy hot dogs are totally disgusting. We didn't find a single couch we liked. So no couch. I'm still toying with the idea of going to Hawaii but I want a few thousand more in our savings account until we do.

So it boiled down to
necessary things: Computer
and relatively inexpensive: Earrings.

Thanks again for all you well wishes!

30 Birthdy. What gift should I get myself?

In less than a month I will cross the threshold of being old. The earth rotates around the sun, days pass and slowly the days of my tumultuous twenties will be over.
Stay tuned to my blog for all the self reflecting this birthday has caused me to do, but for now I need all of your help on some very important details. What should I gift myself for my 30th birthday. I have some ideas but I need your help!

Idea #1: Living room couch. If you have ever been to our living room you know it has some wonderful features including a wonderful view of Downtown Salt Lake City and all the lights, a Big screen TV , surround sound (obviously a boy lives here) a newly tuned piano, three potted plants, real wood book cases etc. Where it lacks is in couches. We have one leather mans football watching chair and one past its comfort prime love seat. I dream of the days when we have a real couch to sit in.

Idea #2: Fake (hopefully classy) CZ earrings I think most girls have a pair of these in their closet but not me. I'm thinking they could help me age gracefully in a classy way. I don't want to be one of those 30 year olds that looks like her teenage daughter dressed her.

Idea #3: i-pod I might be the only semi sociably acceptable person in my twenties with out one of these. In college I was always scrimping by avoiding having student loans by limiting almost all spending. By the time I could justify spending money on one I was married and just used my hu$bands (who for the record had had one since the very beginning making him infinitely cooler than me.) I totally missed the bandwagon on being a hip 20 something i-pod owning girl, but this birthday gives me new hope. There can't be as many 30 somethings with i-pods. There just cant. So maybe if I enter my 30's as an i-pod owner I might get some respect from my fellow 30+ year olds.

Idea #4: My own guitar
This was my latest idea. I'm a long way from Jimmy Page but I dabbled a little in college for fun but I no longer have that option as my parents have long since claimed thier guitar. Plus my poor neglected piano might do better if it had a friend.


Idea #5: Kitchen Aid

You don't already have one? The answer is NO. I blame all my kitchen problems on the fact that I don't have a kitchen aid. I"m sure if I did even the raisin brad Spencer and I survive on in the mornings would taste better just for having been stored on a shelf in close proximity to the kitchen aid. Spencer is totally fine with my buying one tomorrow but he's also alot better at spending money than I am, hens the big screne TV and no Kitchen Aid.

Idea #6: Hawaiian Vacation
Hawaii. I dream of you. I've heard you are paradise and I want to know for my self. I want to swim with the sea turtles and hike along the coast. I want to snorkel through the coral reefs and buy trinkets in Honolulu. Spencer has spring break in March and I've heard Hawaii in March is divine. I have to do it before I have children.

Idea #7: New Laptop



Yes our Laptop is sick and currently the resident nerds at the U have it in the ICU. We don't know if it is going to make it. The practical thing to do would be to gift myself a new one and call it a birthday present. But somehow turning THIRTY makes me feel like I deserve a real present that I want and not just what is most practical.

Idea #8: My new fingernail.

I'm dying for it to grow back in time for the big day. I only have two millimeters to go.

So what do you think? Please cast your vote and leave a comment.

If you are experiencing any of the following you may be stressed.

I think I'm stressed out. I have a few examples to support this theory.

1. Last night I painted only 9 of my nails. I painted even the stump of the finger that is growing back. It was the thumb that I forgot.

2. I accidentally put a can of pineapple in the freezer instead of the cupboard. I had to use it the next day so I defrosted it on the stove. (which works rather well)

3. I totally spaced the meeting I had on Wednesday night.

4. I know I had one more example but I totally forgot it. (also a sign of stress)

I love my job. I love teaching. But it is stressing me out.

My husband drilled a hole in my finger.

A few weeks ago I was closing my trunk with my left hand. Unfortunately for me the middle finger of my right hand was still in my trunk when I closed it.
"AHHHH" I screamed in pain. I panicked. I tried to pull it out. I pulled and pulled but my finger was stuck and the trunk had locked.

I looked around for someone willing to help the damsel in distress. I was alone. I pulled my finger again and it didn't budge. The pain was excruciating. I used my left hand to fish around in my purse for my keys. This was not easy but finally I managed to open the trunk and pull my finger out.

Immediately a big red spot of blood began filling up under the nail where the trunk had pinned it. By the end of the night the entire nail was a silvery black color.

Anytime I bumped it or moved it pain shot throughout my entire arm. I had no idea that a little fingernail could be so painful. I couldn't sleep so finally after 2 days I called my Dad who is a physician he said, "You didn't puncture the nail to relieve the pressure?"
"huh? Am I supposed to?" is this common knowledge. My dad then preceded to tell Spencer how to puncture my fingernail to relieve the pressure. My dad explained that you should get a needle and heat it on the stove. Spencer didn't look at all excited to operate until my dad said the word "Drill." Suddenly Spencer had a light in his eyes. "Yeah I've got a drill." A what? did my Dad tell Spencer to use his drill? On my finger?!? I was only listening to one side of the conversation. "Spencer still rambled on with my dad. Yeah drill bit, yeah okay got it.


apparently my dad felt that a drill bit would penetrate the nail easier.
The operating scene.Spencer changed into a different shirt to do the drilling. This shirt had a monkey with two bandaged arms and a chain saw and tag line that read "Don't juggle chainsaws." Yeah it gave me lots of confidence.


I was freaked out of my mind. The pain was so intense that I was agreeing to go along with the drill my finger thing, but naturally I was afraid that Spencer would drill too far and nail my finger to the kitchen table.
We cleaned everything with rubbing alcohol.
On the count of 3 Spencer was going to drill into the finger like planned. We counted to 3 several times which always resulted in my pulling my arm back before Spencer could do it. This continued for a half an hour. I realize that I am very dramatic but I think anyone would have done the same.
Finally I let him drill. The whole thing took a tenth of a second. Spencer pressed the drill bit lightly into my finger nail and soon blood was squirting out like a geyser. Immediately it felt better. So much better that I sat and squeezed blood out the hole and played with the skin and took all of these gruesome pictures.


After he drill my finger looked like this. Do you see the perfect hole his drill created?
A week later some of the blood came back my finger looked like this.
Finally the nail fell off and now it looks like this. People always ask me what happened. I'm tempted to tell them that I flipped someone off and God smote my finger but I don't. I slammed it in a car door. Then everyone precedes to tell me when the lost their finger nails. I just want it to grow back before my next birthday. Thanks for reading.