Dude... why me...

I'm tired. After work I went to school to meet with someone at 5:30 until class started at 7:00, then I stayed until 10:00 working on my IDEA project because I was afraid to save and try to finish it later cuz I didn't know if I'd lose my work and have to start all over. Anyway, around 8:00 I got really hungry cuz I missed dinner so I went to the candy machine to get a bag of chips and...

Seriously?

It took about five extra minutes and some pounding, but eventually they fell down.

General Conference

This morning I had the great privilege of going to the Sunday morning session of General Conference with my hubby and little sister. Geoff has been once before, and it was mine and Danielle's first time, ever. My uncle, who lives in Arizona, managed to get some tickets, and then he ended up not going so he gave three of his tickets to us.

It was pretty exciting. It starts at ten, but we needed to be in our seats no later than 9 for Music and the Spoken Word, and we sort of overestmated the timing of the crowd, so we got there way early. Got great parking though. Now, I don't generally just listen to Mo-Tab for fun, but in the MATSW they sang two songs that I just love love love. My Shepherd Will Supply My Need and Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. I really enjoyed it.

The conference itself was really good. I enjoyed all of the talks, and we're for sure going to buy the conference session of the Ensign because there were a lot of really good talks. President Eyring and President Monson both spoke, and there were others.

The one thing that was really funny about the whole thing was that there was someone sitting quite near us that had the worst gas I have ever had the misfortune of being around. We sat there for nearly four hours, and it was happening right from the very start and getting worse with the passage of time, to around every two or three minutes. Whoever it was was a master SBD-er, cuz I never heard a sound to help me figure out who it was, although I had my suspicions. Anyway, we were happy to get outside afterward but aside from that, it was a great experience. And I'm glad my little sister could come with us.

Cheesy is my thing, I guess

It's 9:30 Friday night and I'm about to fall asleep sitting up. And Wally is picking cat food up off the floor because his food dish is empty. Sometimes when that happens and he gets really hungry he jumps on the giant bag of cat food in the kitchen and meows to get our attention. He's pretty smart.

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Got a weekend of conference and homework homework homework ahead. Will be fun. We decided we should really start doing a weekly date night again. So last night was our date night for this week and we went to a seminar called Crucial Conversations, hosted by United Way to raise $$. I actually thought it was very beneficial and am glad we went.

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The presenter talked about that one guy who, in his research, could watch a couple have a heated conversation for 20 minutes and predict with 90% accuracy which couples would be divorced within five years. It was the third time I've heard about this dude, but I think I learned the most out of tonight. His predictions were based not on all the good things couples do to strengthen their relationship, but how they handle their disagreements - in other words, the way in which we handle our disagreements is important! The four behaviors observed were Invalidation, Criticism, Escalation, and Withdrawal. (Similar to the "four horsemen:" Criticism, Defensiveness, Contempt, and Stonewalling).

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Anyway, he said that studies have shown that when your emotions heat up, the part of your brain that processes logic and reason shuts down, and your muscles get all tensed up, posing you for fight-or-flight. And usually what happens is we end up saying and doing things that are harmful to the other person and ultimately our relationship with them, and nothing gets resolved. So he said - and I could really stand to practice this - is when something is said or done and you feel your emotions spark up, the first thing you want to do is 1) stop, realizing that you've stepped into a "crucial conversation," and 2) think of questions. Specific questions: "What do I really want to get out of this? What do I want for them? For our relationship?" Thinking the questions through brings your brain back into the picture and gets you to calm down, and gives you direction and focus. When your interaction is through and you want to evaluate it, ask yourself if you got closer to resolving your problem, and if you are closer as a result of the interaction. So anyway, Geoff already has the book because he went to a two-day training when he first started his internship, and I want to read it eventually. (He says there's a lot more stuff in the book and it goes a lot more in-depth.) I'm sure the whole process is much easier said than done, (and probably easier understood when presented by them and not me) but I want to try it for sure.

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Okay well now I'm really falling asleep. Oh, one more thing I wanted to add because it was a poignant moment for me:

A few mornings ago I was just really having a hard time of it, and mom emailed this picture to me. My aunt found it and we'd never seen it before. That's me at whatever age, and mom and dad. It struck me the moment I looked at it at what a happy child that is. You can see it in her face and body language, happy and excited, untouched by fear hurt and anger, and there she is surrounded by mom and dad, just chillin'. It reminded me of just how blessed am and have been and how many things I have to be grateful for, and how a bad morning really isn't that big of a deal. I feel so much gratitude to Heavenly Father for my awesome 'rents, and just really everything, for such love and blessings too many to count. I know there are many that aren't so fortunate, who endure some horrible things, and my heart just aches for them. It's the least - the very very least - I can do just to be grateful for what I have.

Yes, I know I'm cheesy. SO cheesy. :)

Such great parentsies

Mom recently got a new job in Provo somewhat near where Geoff's office is. Today she bought this huge box of bagels and shmear (including the seasonal pumpkin flavor) and took it to Geoff's work for him and his coworkers. (So nice!) Except Geoff had come home for the day not feeling well, so she brought it up to our house. I was home on lunch break at the time bringing some chicken soup for Geoff. So it was a really nice surprise and soooo thoughtful of my mom! She's so sweet.

And I don't think I've written about this yet but Geoff's dad sent us a huge package from Emergency Essentials - like seriously this huge box of stuff, which is in our kitchen right now. It has everything in it that you would ever need in an emergency. And I'm betting it was expensive because it's pretty hard to not spend $50 each time you go in there. So thoughtful of him too! We have such great parentsies they take such good care of us!!

Dopey Mopey Utah Drivers

This week is crazy!!

AND WE HAVE SNOW!! On the mountains. The leaves just barely started to turn last weekend, how can there be evil snow already. Oh well.

You know, early last week, there was a traffic boo-boo made by - I assume - UDOT, on the highway I use to get to work.

• Boo-boo#1: No warning. Normally they'll have signs warning you there will be construction on such and such days and from when to when. Not this time.
• Boo-boo#2: reducing a two-lane plus turning-lane highway to one lane, for a two-mile stretch of highway that wasn't even being worked on.
• Boo-boo#3: Not having a turning lane for a busy intersection, causing a backup of cars upon cars - most of which needed to go straight - to have to wait for the few that needed to turn left. Hence making everyone have to wait for approximately one light cycle per every three cars.
• Boo-boo#4: They did this in RUSH HOUR.

Lucky for me, I'd left for work 20 minutes earlier than normal that day, and only got to work ten minutes late. I've been using the freeway ever since.

Since the experience, I think I've come to realize the difference between Utah traffic and the little bit of southern California traffic I experienced while there. Why Utah drivers and California drivers each think the other is the worst ever.

In California, there was no real speed limit, only "The Flow." And "The Flow" was usually about 10 mph faster than the posted speed limit. Go any slower than The Flow and prepare to be honked at, flipped off, cut-off, screamed at, or something similar. Conclusion - California drivers are openly aggressive. In Utah, honking and flipping off are 98% unheard of, but Utah drivers are passive aggressive. Tailgaiting, slowing down to bother the tailgaiters, refusing to move for motorcyclers, not allowing someone to merge, and positioning your car's butt just over far enough that no one can squeeze by you are all very common.

Maybe, Utah drivers are not being passive aggressive but they're just downright dopey. I often have a hard time figuring out if a driver is really trying to piss me off or if they're just a frickin' moron. That's right, I said MORON. As in, HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET A DRIVER'S LICENSE YOU HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO DRIVE! Ha ha. Maybe I belong in California. I have a co-worker who drives the same highway and has the same anger-tendencies toward traffic and we gripe about it all the time to each other. Her son teases her, "Mom, they have pills for that kind of thing."

But how would you react if this happened to you: You're driving a one-lane highway, and a tractor pulls out two cars ahead of you. The speed limit is 50 and you need to get to work, but the guy driving the tractor mopes along at about 20 mph. You are the third car behind the tractor, but pretty soon you see a line of cars behind you going a mile back, at least. Wouldn't the polite thing for the tractor to do be to pull over and let people pass? Nope! Not this guy. He's off in la-la land, not a care in the world. Finally you reach a point where you can pass, and you see everyone behind you honking their horns and flipping him off as they pass him. (It must've been part of the 2%). What would you do? Where's a cop when you need one. If I were a cop I'd be pulling his butt over so fast. 30 over the speed limit is considered reckless driving, what is 30 under the speed limit, huh?

Happy Birthday mom!

This morning I went to a baby shower that Staci had at her house for Kayt (the friend who just adopted.) It was fun to see them again. I knew most of the people there from the ward, although there were also some family and co-workers of Kayt's. Her little baby Addi is so cute. Kayt kept saying, "I'm so obsessed with her." She's such a cute mommy. It was funny at times there would be three or four different conversations going on, and I mostly just sat there and listened, because they were talking about their kids. It was interesting because I heard lots and lots of pregnancy stories, childbirth, newborn, and all kinds of poop, pee, and vomit stories, and Kayt's seriously adorable mother in law kept turning to me saying, "this is what you have to look forward to." Ha ha. It was a little overwhelming just thinking of "that" life, but fun. I loved the hustle and bustle of Staci's house, and I really do want my own big family someday, but boy I am just not ready to start that committment just yet. But I'm glad I went. One thing I really noticed was just how much my friend Kayt is able to draw in people around her - all different kinds of people and personalities - and make them feel loved and accepted and happy. She really is such a wonderful person, and I will miss them so much when they move to Florida in a month. (Her husband will be working down there.)

Then we cleaned house, our weekend activity, a task that never seems done, ha ha. (Oh, house smells good by the way.) Mom and dad came for a few minutes for some cake and ice cream - it's my mom's birthday! We chatted and watched a little football and ate cake and opened presents. They are going up to Snowbird to spend the evening with their friends. My parents are cute. Happy Birthday mom! We love you!

Shoulda named him Stinky

I know it's gross. But once in awhile, when I walk into our house, it stinks. Partially, it's our house-cleaning. Though Geoff is pretty good about keeping up with the dishes, and often laundry. I clean the bathroom every couple of weeks. But MOSTLY, I blame the cat. For example:

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A couple of weekends ago, Geoff and I rolled up our sleeves and went to work - he cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, I scrubbed the bathroom squeaky clean, we did all of the laundry, took out all of the garbages, even the litter box was changed. There was nothing to speak of that could cause a stink. In a good mood, I plugged in the candle warmer and dropped a Wassail-scented wax nugget in it, and popped some cookies in the oven. Not only did our house not stink, it smelled heavenly.

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For about ten minutes.

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It was at that particular moment that Wally decided to take a dump in his litter box, which we realized as soon as it hit our nostrils. Being that our house is so small, the truly horrendous odor quickly filled the entire house, overpowering any and every good smell we had going. I was so pissed! You know, nevermind that everyone (or every animal) has to poop now and then, and that he was using his designated toilet area, and that he doesn't know any better and can't help it. The smell was so completely intrusive that I got mad at him. And, sadly, this sort of thing happens all the time. All the time. Sometimes I wonder why I agreed to get a cat. And I keep saying to myself that after Wally dies, we aren't getting another animal until our house is big enough that we can have a good spot for a litter box, like a backyard.

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But I also love the fat little furball. Hence, my love-hate relationship with the cute animal. I took these pictures last night. It's a typical night in the life of Walter Sylvestersmith.

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Not too happy that I interrupted his grooming session for a picture:

If looks could kill. I think he thinks I'm a moron.

The philosophical pose: "He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened."

We worked out a litter-box cleaning system now, too. So hopefully that will help.

Wish I had a river

I've still got a little homework tonight, but instead I went shopping and am now making a big ol' giant playlist for when Alison comes home next April. (I know a little premature, I'm just excited). It contains all the hits that've come out in the past year, that are on our itunes. Browsing music is fun. The homework can be done on my lunch tomorrow.

I keep waking up at night all sick to my stomach. (No! I am not pregnant - this has been verified) I kept getting all sick and dizzy - so bad I had to come home from class one night. I did a little reading and thought, the nasal spray's making me dizzy. So I found all my nasal sprays and chucked 'em in the garbage and bought some sudafed to help with the sinuses. Had to sign something saying I would not make meth with my Sudafed. (Like I'm gonna! Just coming off a nasal spray addiction is bad enough, I will never get hooked on real drugs!) Then after a couple of days I read that Sudafed makes you dizzy. Grrr! So, no Sudafed today, and I'm hoping I can make it through the night without waking up sick. I drank lots of water today to try and rule out dehydration too, if that's what it is.

It is Wednesday! This week is taking forever! (sorry for all the whining)

To ten million fireflies

Today on the radio I heard some stuff I liked...

I get a thousand hugs from ten thousand lightning bugs

Picture from here. I liked his pictures.

Love my hubby

I got out of class at seven and stayed at a computer lab to do that project. It only took two hours, that was it! So if you caught a glimpse of the ranting post (which I deleted soon after writing) then you know I completely freaked out for nothing. It makes me happy. And the exam for a different class which was supposed to be on Thursday got an extended deadline, so the pressure is mostly off for the week. (mostly.) There was even time to come home and watch the Biggest Loser with my hubby. Okay going to bed now.

Yay! I am happy.

Oh tender mercy, someone up there loves me. I ran down to the school on my lunch break and walked into the classroom where I left my CD. Thankfully the room was empty except for a few students. I walked right up to the computer where I'd sat and opened the CD drive, and there it was!! Never thought I'd be so happy to see a piece of sample auditing software. My nice friend said he was happy to share his CD with me, but that would've only worked in the short term. So even though I'm grateful to him, I'm soooo relieved to have found my own. I'm hoping to plug through the entire project tonight, even if it means staying up late!

Earth to me, earth to me

Well, the airhead has made her appearance again. The IDEA software that we're supposed to be working on, it comes with a CD and an instruction manual, and my goal today was to spend at least a couple of hours on it. So, I read through the manual, go to insert the CD, and it's not there. Then I realize that I must've left it in the drive back at school. This is not good. Not only is the project due on Thursday, but it will be expensive to replace. Well, here's just hoping that no one else has used the CD-ROM on that particular computer since last Monday night. hoping hoping hoping. I'll be running down there on my lunch break to check on it, and hopefully there's not a class at that time. Oh I am such an idiot. I feel like crap. I could've sworn I took it back out. Apparently not.

Well, yesterday I spent 8 straight hours on homework stuffs, so I guess there's nothing left to do today.

I went to mom & dad's earlier today and Erik looked at my brakes. They were squeaky and I thought maybe the brake pads needed to be changed, but they're just a little dusty. So Erik took em apart and cleaned em. He's such a sweet little brother. And brilliant mechanic. He took it for a drive and said there's no warping and my alignment's good, and it appears my car's in pretty good shape for having the miles it does. I'm so thankful he did that for me. If I'd taken it to a repair place they probably would've charged a ton and told me I needed new brakes.

Today Geoff made chicken stroganoff & rice for dinner. He's such a good cook. And he cleaned the house and did laundry. Sigh. I think everyone has it together here but me, but I am so thankful for them.

Leading the revolution against irresponsible shoppers

So we're on our way home from Coney's and we're listening to "Who Asked You" on KSL. (A random-caller-driven gripe session) Geoff says he's going to call in so he gets his phone out and dials. We pull into the parking lot and I run to the radio in the bathroom while Geoff waits in the kitchen, still on hold. Finally, I hear him come on the radio. The radio guys say, "We're going to Geoff in Orem, Geoff, Who asked you?" Geoff replies, "You know I've called about this before, but it's something I feel very passionately about so I'm gonna continue to call, but I am sick and tired of people leaving their shopping carts all over the parking lot. I think it's disrespectful, selfish, and rude, and I'm prepared to lead the revolution against irresponsible shoppers, are you guys with me?" I am laughing my head off in the bathroom and Geoff comes in just in time to hear them laugh and agree that they're with him, then they go on to talk about some kid in the Macey's parking lot in Spanish Fork who he saw heave a shopping cart into a car with all his might. And that's the end.

Wordle

This is a wordle. As Ashlee says, it's a toy for generating "word clouds" from text that you provide. The text for this one was taken from my blog. It supposedly gives more prominence to the words you use more often.

I mostly think it's really hilarious that the word thing is the biggest one there.

Needs a nap

I think it's a good thing this is my last semester. I'm not freaking out like back in January, but it's taking a toll. This final year of school has been kind of a trial, for sure. Geoff suggested I just focus on finishing the semester, and then I can worry about grad school and think about what will happen after that. I think that sounds fine.

I plan to spend literally all day Saturday working on homework. I'm a little behind in one of my classes, and I've got a project to do for another, in addition to the normal homework. So that will be fun. I'll wear my slippers, order pizza, throw some tunes on, and get to work.

There are a few minutes left of lunch break, so I'm going to nap now. Like Wally.

"Live Untied"

Project Read has a website/blog. Find out more about it here.

United Way (Utah County)'s website is here.

My grandma is on facebook

Yes, that's right, my grandma. Along with wearing levi's and reading blogs. And if you talk to her about it, she's been known to say, "Well, I don't live in cave!" I love her to bits. She is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world.

It almost makes me miss facebook. And now my grandma is there. I might have to re-open it.

One of my very favorite people in the whole entire wide world teaching one of my other very favorite people how to can peaches.

Dig in

I've been posting a lot. Got a lot of stuff rollin' around in my head, I guess. Tonight in class we were introduced to IDEA software, used for analyzing data, to look for fraud, my guess. We have a workbook that is supposed to walk us through the different steps. I didn't really do well with Microsoft Access last spring, and looking at this stuff brought flash backs of Excel tutorials and wanting to commit suicide. (Okay, kidding on the suicide part. Mostly.) But I was a little overwhelmed as I walked out to my car. Again, flashbacks of being a total basketcase last winter. There's nothing to worry about, just the best thing to do is dig in and DO IT.

Okay, this is not the most uplifting of posts. But thinking about the whole damn prerequisite thing is getting me kind of depressed. Almost everyone I've asked about University of Phoenix has said they would go elsewhere, especially when they hear how much it costs. I think they're probably right. I should probably keep looking for something else. So, the next thing to do is see if any of the schools around here (BYU, UofU, and if the Utah State program is still offered at UVU by next year) offer a Macc or MBA with Accounting emphasis degrees, during the nights/weekends or online. If so, then I'll need to find a way to take those prereq's. Need to ask them if they can be taken at those schools, or if the e-learners website classes are acceptable, and if so, how do I take them. Two of the three classes I need are offered by the Univ. of Phoenix through E-learners, ha ha. The irony.

Another little caveat to this whole thing is that the tuition-reimbursement program I've been using through my work stipulates that you continue to work for the company for at least one year after completing your degree or your last day of class, and I intend to honor it. So, if my only other option is to quit working and go to school during the day, I'll have to wait one year after finishing to begin again. Maybe that won't be such a bad thing to take a break though. I'd hate to have to quit though. I really love my job and the company. Especially when jobs are in short supply, it would be a real shame to give it up.

DUDE. I love music. It has a calming affect. About a year ago, my dad gave me a Jesse McCartney CD. He'd bought it thinking maybe the guy was related to Paul McCartney and that it might have some good stuff. Nope. Not to him anyways - it's really more dancy-poppy-hip hoppy... more my thing. I popped it in today and listened for the first time, and recognized eight of the twelve tracks as hits I've been listening to all along. It's the current fav.

Geoff is in the front room clapping whooping and yelling "TOUCHDOWN!!" and other things. He's so cute.

Well, gotta quit blogging if I'm gonna dig in and do it. Bye.

Adoption

It's my lunch break. Do I nap? Or blog? Nap? Blog. Nap? Hmm it seems blog is winning so far anyway. So last week, it was summer, with temperatures in the high 80's. This week, it's fall, the leaves are starting to turn. I would perfectly happy if we could have spring, then summer, then fall, then exactly one day of winter, because that's about how long its charm lasts. You rarely hear people complaining at the end of summer, but at the end of winter, we are fed up with the snow and coldness and darkness.

I was reading this person's blog about some stuff that is happening with their adoption. I don't know this family at all, I followed the link at the urging of the author of this blog. But it got me thinking. (I know this is a super sensitive subject for some! I'm a little scared of hurting people's feelings by blogging about it. But it is my blog.) It seems I know more people who struggle with infertility than people who don't, and I know it's very possible we will face the same thing. We've talked about adoption, and agreed that we will be happy to adopt if needed. Having your own children is very special, but I really feel that adopting is very special in its own right too. In fact, we've talked about eventually adopting even if we don't "need" to, per se.

Even though I've never been through the adoption process and don't know the legalities, I'm very surprised at the situation that person is going through to keep their baby. Maybe they were just fostering and are now trying to make it permanent? I don't know. But anyway, somehow, the biological father of the baby now wants him back, even though the birth mother sides with the adoptive parents. They are having to go through court and everything. Seems this birthfather never gave a hoot about his kid until now. Why he wants him now is strange to me. I pray for the family though. Also, reading on, it seems that the second time they tried to go through the adoption process, they were picked by someone who wasn't really pregnant, who was just pretending. She kept changing her mind on the couple over and over, and finally told them she was about to give birth and had chosen another family, who was there at the hospital with her. Then they got a call a few weeks later from someone who said her cousin was about to have a baby and they'd been picked. Turns out it was that same girl playing a joke on them again, seemingly because she wanted attention. Who does that? A psychopath, that's who. You'd think there would be a way to verify with the adoption agency that the person you are attempting to build a relationship with is, in fact, pregnant, and that they are, in fact, registered. It scares me a little. All in all, I don't think that is the norm. I would like to research it though.

Quotes

Geoff and I were asked to read a couple of quotes in sunday school today. I couldn't manage to read mine loud enough for everyone to hear. :( But I liked it a lot, so I'm posting it as one of two quotes today. The second one, by Gordon B. Hinckley, I had glued into the binding of my scriptures way back in high school and is one of my favorites! I just happened to think of it today.

#1

Elder M. Russell Ballard:

"Life isn't always easy. At some point in our journey we may feel much as the pioneers did as they crossed Iowa - up to our knees in mud, forced to bury some of our dreams along the way. We all face rocky ridges, with the wind in our face and winter coming on too soon. Sometimes it seems as though there is no end to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision. Sharp edges of despair and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage... Occasionally we reach the top of one summit in life, just as the pioneers did, only to see more mountain peaks ahead, higher and more challenging than the one we have just traversed. Tapping unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance, we, as did our forbears, inch ever forward toward that day when our voices can join with those of all pioneers who have endured in faith, singing, 'All is well! All is well!'" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 82; or Ensign, May 1997, 61)

#2

"Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is not found only at the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arched across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, and neighbors! Love, like faith, is a gift of God. It is also the most enduring and most powerful virtue." - Gordon B. Hinckley

Love!

Also, while we were at church, sitting in the back of the cultural hall, I looked behind us and saw an open doorway with a staircase leading upwards. Wanting to find out where it went, we followed it. It lead up a full flight and into a room we'd never seen before or known was there, and then back down another flight of stairs to the back of the stage. NEAT! I've said before how our church building is such an old hodge-podge mix of hallways, rooms, and staircases. It's like they kept adding on and adding on randomly. I had this terrible thought that it would be the perfect setting for a cat-and-mouse horror/thriller movie, but that may be a little sacreligious. It's a church. It has so much personality though.

And I watched some previews for Twilight - New Moon, coming out in November! I can't wait to see it! It looks so good. One of my co-workers rented out a theater on opening night and is selling tickets to friends and family. I would go but the movie is at 12:54 a.m. on a Thursday night! I can't stay awake past midnight anymore. But I'm excited to see it.