I am so not on top of things. I am very very lucky I remembered my mom's birthday this month...yikes! I feel like December is so crazy, and my students are out of control this month! They know Santa is coming...that can only lead to insanity. I hope you had a wonderful birthday Sarah! Yay for another year older and wiser!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, JO!
I don't know if I have a cute picture to post, but I wanted to give a shout-out to our favorite Southern California WM. And by the way, she had a birthday recently, so happy birthday, Jo. Here's to knowing you for 8.5 years (if I did that math correctly). Can you even believe that? Time flies in the "bubble." Happy birthday! We love you.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Way to go Jo!
I can't even imagine how much time and effort you must have put into the Prop 8 campaign, but I just wanted to say thanks. I'm happy and relieved that it passed. As for other decisions made about our country yesterday, well, I'm feeling less than stellar about some of those.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Theories
I've developed some new theories about my unemployment. I've never had a hard time getting a job that I wanted (up until now), so going on four months of unemployment has been a new and humbling experience for me. Here are my theories about why it's lasted so long.
1. The economy (obviously) - this is a big one... I apply for positions and they get cancelled, new jobs aren't posted, etc.
2. I am a young-ish, married BYU graduate living in Utah. This is my most recent idea about why I've been unable to get a job. I had my thoughts about it while I was still at BYU and interviewed with a few companies in Utah (not sure if you remember), but the ring on the finger is like the nail in the coffin. Since I've been unemployed, I've submitted applications for 36 positions, interviewed for more than 10 of those, and had second (or third) interviews for several. This destroys my theory about being a bad interviewer, because if I were really awful, I don't think they'd be calling me back. So, my strongest theory at this point is that I can't get hired because I'm a girl, I'm married (one step closer to baby) and they think I'm going to get pregnant any day now which means I'll last 9 months to a year at most, when they'll have to go through the hiring process all over again. It's times like this I wish I had gone into nursing or teaching - two fantastic, respectable professions that seem a little less subjected to this sexist rule.
3. God is trying to teach me a very important lesson that I haven't learned yet and will only see the meaning of in years to come.
4. I needed the time to get my own business rolling.
5. I'm supposed to be working on family history, volunteering, humanitarian aid projects, and serving the elderly in my now abundant free time. (this goes along with the lessons God is trying to teach me)
6. I'm supposed to have a baby. Now. (not sold on this one, just a theory)
Thoughts?
1. The economy (obviously) - this is a big one... I apply for positions and they get cancelled, new jobs aren't posted, etc.
2. I am a young-ish, married BYU graduate living in Utah. This is my most recent idea about why I've been unable to get a job. I had my thoughts about it while I was still at BYU and interviewed with a few companies in Utah (not sure if you remember), but the ring on the finger is like the nail in the coffin. Since I've been unemployed, I've submitted applications for 36 positions, interviewed for more than 10 of those, and had second (or third) interviews for several. This destroys my theory about being a bad interviewer, because if I were really awful, I don't think they'd be calling me back. So, my strongest theory at this point is that I can't get hired because I'm a girl, I'm married (one step closer to baby) and they think I'm going to get pregnant any day now which means I'll last 9 months to a year at most, when they'll have to go through the hiring process all over again. It's times like this I wish I had gone into nursing or teaching - two fantastic, respectable professions that seem a little less subjected to this sexist rule.
3. God is trying to teach me a very important lesson that I haven't learned yet and will only see the meaning of in years to come.
4. I needed the time to get my own business rolling.
5. I'm supposed to be working on family history, volunteering, humanitarian aid projects, and serving the elderly in my now abundant free time. (this goes along with the lessons God is trying to teach me)
6. I'm supposed to have a baby. Now. (not sold on this one, just a theory)
Thoughts?
Thursday, October 09, 2008
updates
Hey girls. I've felt so out of touch lately... with everything! You, the world, etc. Anyway, the thing that my life has been revolving around lately is the launch of my new business and the accompanying website. :) I don't quite know what my expectations are for Sugarhouse Ink, but for right now I'm only hoping that perhaps a steady stream of Christmas card orders will help pay for the crown I found out I have to get. Boo for expensive dentist visits. Although, I'm sure someday Whitney will learn to love and appreciate crowns, root canals and the like. For now, not so much my favorite thing.
Spencer is gone for the weekend so I'm just hanging out at home alone. Oh, and what's with me not having a job yet? Seriously, I never expected the unemployment to last this long... but I'm thankful that it has; it's given me a chance to work on lots of my own projects and learn so many things I wouldn't have if I had been working.
So anyway, that's that. It's really late and I'm super tired. Have a good night and wish me luck at the dentist...
Spencer is gone for the weekend so I'm just hanging out at home alone. Oh, and what's with me not having a job yet? Seriously, I never expected the unemployment to last this long... but I'm thankful that it has; it's given me a chance to work on lots of my own projects and learn so many things I wouldn't have if I had been working.
So anyway, that's that. It's really late and I'm super tired. Have a good night and wish me luck at the dentist...
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Summer's Over
Dearest Mothers-
With the start of a new school year, I've decided to pause and finally blog about the summertime--blessed time of year that it is. I'm already a stress-case with school, so this will be as good a time as any. I'll try and go through as quickly as possible some of the highlights of the past one to two months.
1. We went to Europe! In addition to relatively clean hostels, here are the good points: we caught all of our trains, we ate fondue in Switzerland, we hiked the Alps, we saw beautiful architecture, I finally visited Auschwitz (more of a somber than good point but worth the trip considering I've read about it since I was 10--much more harrowing than I was anticipating), we met a family N. taught that is still active AND normal, we took a cog train up and down mountains, we explored the huge castles of King Ludwig, we ate dairy products for every meal, we peregrinated through charming European towns (Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Krakow, Berlin, Thun, Bern, etc.), we studied GRE words (as evidenced in the previous statement), we snacked on ice cream every chance we could, we swooned over cows with bells against the backdrop of waterfalls and verdant fields in Switzerland, we sailed around idyllic lakes with mountain-perched homes, etc. I came to the conclusion that we are moving to Switzerland when the millions come rolling in. That small country is the most pastoral place I have ever seen. Here are the bad points of the trip: we had to share a "sleeping car" (the seats pulled down into small couchettes) with two large Polish men, we forgot it was our anniversary until someone happened to ask how long we had been married, we couldn't stay with Rachael in Switzerland (lovely place but full of the most anal people I have ever met), it rained on one of our days in the Alps, everything was more expensive than we had planned, and we only had enough money for a tiny souvenir: a carved wooden Christmas ornament. See some of the pictures below.
2. N. took the GRE and is starting grad school applications. It feels weird: after so many years of living in Utah, I'm actually feeling sorrowful at the prospect of leaving. I remember coming out to BYU with the full intent of leaving within four years. Oh how things change.
3. We had a family reunion in Idaho and then Yellowstone, and I couldn't believe I had never been there before. We loved the geysers and sparkling colors created in the hot pots. And we even saw a grizzly bear. Very exciting. After the enjoyable time in Yellowstone, I compared the money we spent there with the money we spent in Europe. My conclusion? Our next Europe trip will be in ten years, and for the next decade we will dedicate all vacations to exploring the jewels and unheralded haunts of America. Then N. has promised to take me to Italy. Hopefully the PhD will be done by then...
4. I became an Olympic junkie. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. We watched more tv in the past two weeks than we have in a year of marriage, but how can you not? I cried when Nastia Liukin won gold, I cried when Shawn Johnson's parents broke down in the stands, I cried when they told a story of Kristy Coventry (swimmer from Zimbabwe) who returned with a gold four years ago and her country had a period of peace to celebrate her accomplishments, and I cried at the story of the Sudanese Lost Boy who was now a runner for the United States. And N. and I watched every Michael Phelps race, biting our nails and screaming out encouragements. He's my new hero. Even some of his races made me misty-eyed.
The glory of the human spirit that is prevalent in the Olympics always makes me emotional. It's as if everything upsetting and wrong is put on hold as we glory in the feats that are possible when body and will power are brought into complete agreement. Love it.
5. And then school started. Sigh. Back to the grindstone.
Love you all.
With the start of a new school year, I've decided to pause and finally blog about the summertime--blessed time of year that it is. I'm already a stress-case with school, so this will be as good a time as any. I'll try and go through as quickly as possible some of the highlights of the past one to two months.
1. We went to Europe! In addition to relatively clean hostels, here are the good points: we caught all of our trains, we ate fondue in Switzerland, we hiked the Alps, we saw beautiful architecture, I finally visited Auschwitz (more of a somber than good point but worth the trip considering I've read about it since I was 10--much more harrowing than I was anticipating), we met a family N. taught that is still active AND normal, we took a cog train up and down mountains, we explored the huge castles of King Ludwig, we ate dairy products for every meal, we peregrinated through charming European towns (Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Krakow, Berlin, Thun, Bern, etc.), we studied GRE words (as evidenced in the previous statement), we snacked on ice cream every chance we could, we swooned over cows with bells against the backdrop of waterfalls and verdant fields in Switzerland, we sailed around idyllic lakes with mountain-perched homes, etc. I came to the conclusion that we are moving to Switzerland when the millions come rolling in. That small country is the most pastoral place I have ever seen. Here are the bad points of the trip: we had to share a "sleeping car" (the seats pulled down into small couchettes) with two large Polish men, we forgot it was our anniversary until someone happened to ask how long we had been married, we couldn't stay with Rachael in Switzerland (lovely place but full of the most anal people I have ever met), it rained on one of our days in the Alps, everything was more expensive than we had planned, and we only had enough money for a tiny souvenir: a carved wooden Christmas ornament. See some of the pictures below.
2. N. took the GRE and is starting grad school applications. It feels weird: after so many years of living in Utah, I'm actually feeling sorrowful at the prospect of leaving. I remember coming out to BYU with the full intent of leaving within four years. Oh how things change.
3. We had a family reunion in Idaho and then Yellowstone, and I couldn't believe I had never been there before. We loved the geysers and sparkling colors created in the hot pots. And we even saw a grizzly bear. Very exciting. After the enjoyable time in Yellowstone, I compared the money we spent there with the money we spent in Europe. My conclusion? Our next Europe trip will be in ten years, and for the next decade we will dedicate all vacations to exploring the jewels and unheralded haunts of America. Then N. has promised to take me to Italy. Hopefully the PhD will be done by then...
4. I became an Olympic junkie. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who knows me. We watched more tv in the past two weeks than we have in a year of marriage, but how can you not? I cried when Nastia Liukin won gold, I cried when Shawn Johnson's parents broke down in the stands, I cried when they told a story of Kristy Coventry (swimmer from Zimbabwe) who returned with a gold four years ago and her country had a period of peace to celebrate her accomplishments, and I cried at the story of the Sudanese Lost Boy who was now a runner for the United States. And N. and I watched every Michael Phelps race, biting our nails and screaming out encouragements. He's my new hero. Even some of his races made me misty-eyed.
The glory of the human spirit that is prevalent in the Olympics always makes me emotional. It's as if everything upsetting and wrong is put on hold as we glory in the feats that are possible when body and will power are brought into complete agreement. Love it.
5. And then school started. Sigh. Back to the grindstone.
Love you all.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Busy as a Bee...well, maybe busier!
Wow. So, basically I am just taking a few seconds out to let you all know that I have not died and that I am sorry that I haven't been in touch lately! Unfortunately, that probably is not going to change too much until October or November. Work has been getting pretty overwhelming as I have been working on this, which is less than a month away. Not only that, but I am now in charge of coordinating the efforts for this in my ward (in addition to my 2 other callings and one other "vounteer" assignment. Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
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