When I was in high school, I loved it when we had Fridays off for two primary reasons: 1) I didn't have to go to school and 2) I essentially had two Saturday nights. Forget about the day part of Saturday--those were spent cleaning (read, avoiding cleaning) or watching TV. Fridays off gave me one more night to spend with my friends. Monday holidays were useless to me. While I did enjoy the no-school part, I did not gain a single weekend night because I couldn't use Sunday night for friends. The whole Sabbath thing got in my way and (I thought) really crippled my social life.
With adulthood that has changed. Fridays off work are nice and I will certainly take them, but there is nothing better than getting home from church on Sunday and knowing that not one bit of my day has to be spent preparing to get up at the crack of dawn the next morning and renew the drudgery of another day at work.
"But Ruth," you may think, "you can just as easily enjoy that feeling the night before your extra weekend day when you have a free Friday." True, true. However, here's the thing that seals the deal. Along with enjoying a three day weekend, a beginning-of-the-week holiday leaves a special treat once it's ended: a shortened work week! When Friday is not a work day, you spend the entire week looking forward to the long weekend and forget to enjoy the shortened week. Monday holidays offer two weeks of bliss. One in anticipation and one knowing the weekend will arrive after only t-1 days.
Perhaps I will change my mind later in life. I can see that a Friday holiday would be preferable if you had to be at church on Sunday and didn't want to break up a family outing, but for now, I will enjoy free-Friday yet relish every Monday holiday.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Refocusing
I should stop saying I'll do better posting because I never do get any better.
Yesterday at work I was having one of those days--you know when you feel "off" and everything anyone does drives you crazy. I was bothered by all the Prop 8 craziness and was ready for a break from work. Anyway, as I was repeatedly telling myself to chill out and breathe before snapping at the kids, I decided to experiment a little and cut some of the "worldly" stuff out of my life. So far it's been easy because there's nothing good on TV on Friday nights and I spent all day today on Primary stuff. I don't know if I feel calmer because of that or because it's Saturday night and I still have three days of weekend and getting-things-done left. Yay!
Yesterday at work I was having one of those days--you know when you feel "off" and everything anyone does drives you crazy. I was bothered by all the Prop 8 craziness and was ready for a break from work. Anyway, as I was repeatedly telling myself to chill out and breathe before snapping at the kids, I decided to experiment a little and cut some of the "worldly" stuff out of my life. So far it's been easy because there's nothing good on TV on Friday nights and I spent all day today on Primary stuff. I don't know if I feel calmer because of that or because it's Saturday night and I still have three days of weekend and getting-things-done left. Yay!
Anyway, this is part of what I accomplished today.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Tagged
I was going to title this "Hubby Tag" but decided that had bad connotations. I am not a swinger.
1. Where did we meet? College. He thought I was hot stuff and made up a reason to email me on the student network and asked if we had a chemistry test that week. Being the kind girl I am, I responded, even though I had no idea who he was. I really don't know when we actually met.
2. How long did we date? Officially? About 6 months before we got engaged, but we knew each other a couple years before that.
3. How long have you been married? 5 years
4. What does he do that surprises you? I am very surprised when he offers to make dinner. And is it always very yummy.
5. What is your favorite feature of his? When he pretends to be mad, swats the air and runs out of the room. I laugh so hard!
6. What is your favorite quality of his? He cares a lot about the things he's involved with. I know his head is always filled with school schedules and sports. :)
7. Does he have a nickname for you? I can't think of one, but I'm sure he doesn't always call me by my name. I guess I must be so used to it I don't even notice anymore.
8. What is his favorite color? Blue
9. What is his favorite food? Carne Asada and his mom's potato salad.
10. What is his favorite sport? Basketball, no doubt. Beginning Wednesday my life revolves around the Utah Jazz and I think I'll become a basketball widow on November 17 when the high school team starts up.
11. When and where was your first kiss? In his dorm room the first week or so of the semester after he got off his misison. He claims he used his patented move to make him undesirable.
12. Favorite thing to do as a couple? We watch a lot of sports, but I don't know how much he likes it because I ask a lot of questions.
13. Does he have a hidden talent? Umm, maybe? Perhaps it's so hidden that I don't know what it is. :)
14. How old is he? 26
15. Who said "I love you" first? Probably him. He's a softy. :)
16. What is his favorite type of music? Aside from the SportsCenter theme? I catch him listening to the urban channel a lot. He claims it's his basketball players that change the station, but I know he's bouncing along with them.
17. What do you admire most about him? He's pretty patient, especially with me. I'm sure he just rolls his eyes when most hubsands would lose it.
18. Do you think he will read this? Hard to know. He reads the blog, but I've been so bad at posting that he probably forgot it even exists.
I tag Mande J. Have fun!
1. Where did we meet? College. He thought I was hot stuff and made up a reason to email me on the student network and asked if we had a chemistry test that week. Being the kind girl I am, I responded, even though I had no idea who he was. I really don't know when we actually met.
2. How long did we date? Officially? About 6 months before we got engaged, but we knew each other a couple years before that.
3. How long have you been married? 5 years
4. What does he do that surprises you? I am very surprised when he offers to make dinner. And is it always very yummy.
5. What is your favorite feature of his? When he pretends to be mad, swats the air and runs out of the room. I laugh so hard!
6. What is your favorite quality of his? He cares a lot about the things he's involved with. I know his head is always filled with school schedules and sports. :)
7. Does he have a nickname for you? I can't think of one, but I'm sure he doesn't always call me by my name. I guess I must be so used to it I don't even notice anymore.
8. What is his favorite color? Blue
9. What is his favorite food? Carne Asada and his mom's potato salad.
10. What is his favorite sport? Basketball, no doubt. Beginning Wednesday my life revolves around the Utah Jazz and I think I'll become a basketball widow on November 17 when the high school team starts up.
11. When and where was your first kiss? In his dorm room the first week or so of the semester after he got off his misison. He claims he used his patented move to make him undesirable.
12. Favorite thing to do as a couple? We watch a lot of sports, but I don't know how much he likes it because I ask a lot of questions.
13. Does he have a hidden talent? Umm, maybe? Perhaps it's so hidden that I don't know what it is. :)
14. How old is he? 26
15. Who said "I love you" first? Probably him. He's a softy. :)
16. What is his favorite type of music? Aside from the SportsCenter theme? I catch him listening to the urban channel a lot. He claims it's his basketball players that change the station, but I know he's bouncing along with them.
17. What do you admire most about him? He's pretty patient, especially with me. I'm sure he just rolls his eyes when most hubsands would lose it.
18. Do you think he will read this? Hard to know. He reads the blog, but I've been so bad at posting that he probably forgot it even exists.
I tag Mande J. Have fun!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Another thought on conference
I was catching up on my blog reading and read my cousin's post on conference. I appreciated her sharing her thoughts, and as I read I was reminded of impressions I had while listening the talks. I thought I'd share a couple of them here.
Last week I read in the Ensign a reminder that to get the most out of conference we can think ahead of things we want answered and pray for the Spirit to help us hear the things we need to know. If anyone needed that it was me. Do you ever have those times you suddenly realize how far you've drifted for the core of the gospel? I knew I needed to get back to what I know to be true and to live it every moment, so I was listening for magic words to light my fire again.
As is usually the case, I didn't hear anything new. I don't know that I even heard direct answers to my questions. But as I listened and tried to invite the Spirit, I was reminded of times I knew the gospel was true and felt God's love for me. In the last year and a half I have had so many moments when I knew without a doubt that I was one of God's beloved children and that he knew me and my pain and what I needed. But somehow in day to day life I forgot all that. When Elder Neil Andersen said, "I don't know everything, but I know enough," I knew that was my problem. I get caught up in bigger things, small details and other questions that distract from the center of the gospel, when I already know what really matters.
All the talks after that touched me, but during Elder Holland's talk I felt something I hadn't in a while. I once described it to kids in primary as a feeling in my chest that was so big I felt as though it would burst (in a good way). My heart was full with the Spirit. As Elder Holland talked about angels, I was reminded of the first night my mom was in the cancer hospital. It had been a rough day and we had just met with the doctor where she outlined treatment and risks. My mom was exhausted, angry, overwhelmed and scared (we all were) and as I left her alone in that hospital and drove the dark streets of Salt Lake, I prayed that someone would be with her that night. It was so hard to leave her when she was that upset, but I felt that she would be watched over so she could sleep and be strong. I don't know that angels were with her, but I know the Comforter was and was with me that night as well. How grateful I am to know I can call on my Heavenly Father for help and feel His love for me.
Last week I read in the Ensign a reminder that to get the most out of conference we can think ahead of things we want answered and pray for the Spirit to help us hear the things we need to know. If anyone needed that it was me. Do you ever have those times you suddenly realize how far you've drifted for the core of the gospel? I knew I needed to get back to what I know to be true and to live it every moment, so I was listening for magic words to light my fire again.
As is usually the case, I didn't hear anything new. I don't know that I even heard direct answers to my questions. But as I listened and tried to invite the Spirit, I was reminded of times I knew the gospel was true and felt God's love for me. In the last year and a half I have had so many moments when I knew without a doubt that I was one of God's beloved children and that he knew me and my pain and what I needed. But somehow in day to day life I forgot all that. When Elder Neil Andersen said, "I don't know everything, but I know enough," I knew that was my problem. I get caught up in bigger things, small details and other questions that distract from the center of the gospel, when I already know what really matters.
All the talks after that touched me, but during Elder Holland's talk I felt something I hadn't in a while. I once described it to kids in primary as a feeling in my chest that was so big I felt as though it would burst (in a good way). My heart was full with the Spirit. As Elder Holland talked about angels, I was reminded of the first night my mom was in the cancer hospital. It had been a rough day and we had just met with the doctor where she outlined treatment and risks. My mom was exhausted, angry, overwhelmed and scared (we all were) and as I left her alone in that hospital and drove the dark streets of Salt Lake, I prayed that someone would be with her that night. It was so hard to leave her when she was that upset, but I felt that she would be watched over so she could sleep and be strong. I don't know that angels were with her, but I know the Comforter was and was with me that night as well. How grateful I am to know I can call on my Heavenly Father for help and feel His love for me.
Conference Weekend
Can I just say that I love general conference? I feel so good after watching. Then between sessions I don't want the feeling to leave, so I avoid TV and actually get things done! I had a nice visit with my mother-in-law between sessions 1 and 2 (and I must say I am so lucky to have married into such a wonderful family) and after the second session I cleaned my car. The outside is still icky (it's been sprinkling so I don't feel guilty) but I armor-alled and vacuumed the inside. I still need to go use my mom-in-law's wet vac and tackle the spilled drink stains :( but at least the sand and grass are gone. Hooray!! And hooray for cool weather so I could finally work outside!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think I can put enough exclamation points to fully express my elation!
Yes, yes, we're still alive
I know it's been a long time. I get kind of lazy and distracted during the school year. As an example of that fact , I will share that I am currently sitting at the computer with one side of my hair braided and the other sticking out everywhere. (I would post a picture but that's crossing the embarrassment line.)
If you want to know what we've been up to in the last month, I'll tell you: nothing. We work, watch football and sleep. Troy has become an internet superstar. See his handsome face and learn about PV's sad loss last week here. He kind of looks a little silly because he's tall and the cameraman is short, so if he has bats in the cave (catch my drift?) don't tease him about it. And don't worry, we won yesterday in a decisive victory over the Coachella Arabs; however, there's no video of that one because the newspaper man was MIA.
Although I've accomplished little in the last month, I haven't been completely fruitless. In an effort to get on the ball with food storage, I cleaned out closets to make room. I emptied 1.5 closets, but haven't filled them with anything besides the canned goods I stocked up on during my last visit to Wal-Mart (I was going to do an entire post on that, but suffice it to say that I will not pay $2.09 for 10.75 ounces of condensed soup at rip-off Albertsons when I can get it for $0.89 at Wal-Mart). During the purging adventure, Troy found some valentines from his students when he was student teaching. He thought it was funny that growing up we would leave the valentines on the porch, knock and run, so he told his kids that if they did that he would give them bonus points. What a crazy boy. Anyway, it was funny to find them.
Oh, and I have gotten back on the Guitar Hero wagon. However, I hate Joe Perry because I can't beat his battle song and I can't move on with my rocking ways until I have conquered the stupid thing!
If you want to know what we've been up to in the last month, I'll tell you: nothing. We work, watch football and sleep. Troy has become an internet superstar. See his handsome face and learn about PV's sad loss last week here. He kind of looks a little silly because he's tall and the cameraman is short, so if he has bats in the cave (catch my drift?) don't tease him about it. And don't worry, we won yesterday in a decisive victory over the Coachella Arabs; however, there's no video of that one because the newspaper man was MIA.
Although I've accomplished little in the last month, I haven't been completely fruitless. In an effort to get on the ball with food storage, I cleaned out closets to make room. I emptied 1.5 closets, but haven't filled them with anything besides the canned goods I stocked up on during my last visit to Wal-Mart (I was going to do an entire post on that, but suffice it to say that I will not pay $2.09 for 10.75 ounces of condensed soup at rip-off Albertsons when I can get it for $0.89 at Wal-Mart). During the purging adventure, Troy found some valentines from his students when he was student teaching. He thought it was funny that growing up we would leave the valentines on the porch, knock and run, so he told his kids that if they did that he would give them bonus points. What a crazy boy. Anyway, it was funny to find them.
Those Richfield kids are too funny.
Oh, and I have gotten back on the Guitar Hero wagon. However, I hate Joe Perry because I can't beat his battle song and I can't move on with my rocking ways until I have conquered the stupid thing!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Labor Day Weekend
Wow, what a busy girl I have been. Sorry to my faithful readers. I finally finished handing out textbooks this week and am starting to regain my sanity. It's a very nice feeling.
Over Labor Day weekend we went to Phoenix to see Troy's sister, watch a baseball game and say goodbye to our friends who are moving to Philly next month. I will discuss three highlights:
1. Troy's sister wants to make room in her garage so she made us go through all her old baby and toddler clothes so she can toss the ones we think are ugly and would never use. The clothes sorting was as exciting as you'd expect. However, our niece and nephew were funny. They couldn't understand why we were looking at all these baby things if we weren't having a baby. Apparently there's no need for thinking ahead in the mind of a 7-year-old.
2. Monday morning our nephew Kyler was on a wild streak. While Troy was in the shower Ky decided to booby trap the place. He placed small rocks outside the bathroom door, leaned 8" skewers against it and tied a top vacuum cleaner to the handle. Then he put a bunch of stuff on the stairs. I don't know if he was trying to be sneaky (not successful) or just make things difficult.
3. Later that day we went to a Diamondbacks game with our friends, the Durrants. I am not a baseball fan. In fact, the biggest ballgame I'd watched was my brother's little league playoff game. But this was really fun. Baseball is MUCH better in real life than on TV. Because I don't have a team and Troy's team wasn't involved, we rooted for the D-Backs. There was a lot of scoring and a come-from-behind-win for the home team, so that made it extra exciting. Randy Johnson pitched (that's the only player name I recognized), but he's old so they pulled him in the second or third inning. Apparently I should have been extra excited because a guy hit for the cycle--meaning he hit a single, double, triple and home run--and it only happens once or twice a season, but on SportsCenter that night I learned another guy it the same day and a total of four did it in the last month. I think Troy was exaggerating the cool-ness. :) Another note: I did decide that being a spectator is very dangerous. On TV it looks like the foul balls gently float into the stands, but those things are lethal! I was greatful I was in a very safe box behind the plate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)