Mike's Gone

They announced during Sharing Time in Primary that the Elder's Quorum would be bowling tonight at 9 pm. That's all fine and dandy for them, but Mike and I are on a 30 Rock kick--we're systematically working through all the seasons--and this really puts a damper on my night. But he's always complaining that the Elder's Quorum never does anything ("and the Relief Society is always doing things"--which is true) so he wasn't allowed to stay home, even when the temptation to watch another episode hit us both wicked hard. I've read a few chapters in my book, which I'm almost finished with but haven't felt up to reading lately--I think mostly due to being sick last week. Being sick always puts me off from reading, ironically. I just feel too tired to pay attention and take notes, etc., but I know that if I read it without paying attention or at least jotting some thoughts down I'm probably going to just forget about it and reading that part will have been largely worthless since I don't remember anything from it. It also takes longer 'cause my mind keeps wandering off the page and I end up back-tracking to figure out what's going on.

So, yeah, reading while I'm sick doesn't work out. Moving on.

I'm not sick anymore. Thank heavens. Last week really did a number on me, as demonstrated on Friday when I completely slept through my voice lesson--at 6 pm. That was embarrassing. My email to my teacher that night was just pathetic. Sunday I was well enough to fill in for a friend of mine who leads music for the Primary. Oh, my, she is the luckiest woman on earth! No, leading in Primary is not that great. It can be fun, but the big kids are constantly seeking attention (or avoiding it) and getting the Sunbeams to pass the teddy bear in a game of musical hot potato is like trying to get them to hold still while you saw their legs off.

But then you get to go to nursery. Oh, my! What an AWESOME gig! Man, that is where I'm supposed to be! And the best part is, two of the girls were home sick that day! (Not that them being sick is good, it was just nice to have such a small class.) It was Madie and three boys. They sit on these little carpet squares the teachers pull out for them and just stare up at me like high schoolers who think they'll get As if they stay awake! The three littlest ones--Madie, Ezra, and Weston--all lit up when I pulled out little suns on popsicle sticks for them to hold while we sang Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam. Weston kept running up to me every time I'd pull something out of the bag and clap his hands together until I gave it to him. Hahahaha! I was cracking up! Even Ezra, who has had three hard weeks of nursery so far, calmed right down and smiled when singing time began. Oh my goodness, it made my week, that's for sure.

Speaking of little kids being cute:

Her foot looks huge in this picture. Well, actually, her feet are pretty big. For an 18-month old anyway. I'm planning on sending her to clown school.

And here's a little sumpin'-sumpin' I've been working on for a few days now. Part of me feels like it needs to be longer, but then every time I go to write more nothing sounds right. It all sounds like I'm trying to hard to lengthen it, so I guess this is it. I dedicate it to Tani, since she's always asking to read my stuff. Thanks, Tani! You're too sweet--I'm sure everyone else thinks that too. ;) (P.S. I hate, haaaaaaaate titling things. I'm so bad at it! If you have any suggestions let me know.)

Days pass slowly.

Weeks fly.

Time itself knows not what it does,

But tumbles down as so many beads

Off a broken necklace

Bouncing and scattering,

Then slowly spinning to their stops.

The 3 Ms and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Today has been...well, frankly I've sat here for quite some time thinking of how to describe it and nothing seems to be appropriate for a family blog.

Madie was cute enough when she first woke up but decided about an hour into the morning to make it a miserable one. She threw fits for two hours. Two. Hours. When we decided to head to the DMV she threw such a massive fit I told Mike I would just stay home (I was going to go to the mall, Mike was going to the DMV). As soon as I said it I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach: the last thing I wanted was to stay in an apartment that needed cleaning with a Mad Madie. After cleaning up a bit, I locked myself in the coat closet until Madie toddled off in a puzzled, silent search for me.

Hey, don't knock it. It works.

Shortly after letting myself out, Mike knocked on the door and said he left something. We were all noticeably more controlled--Mike had let off steam in the car, apparently--and he asked if we should try again. Madie went into her car seat without a hitch and we were all lulled into false and fragile security.

I left Mike at the DMV in Tracy and drove a couple minutes down the road to Marshall's. Let me tell you some things about myself you may have guessed but might not already know:

1. I don't like Tracy. It's dirty, miserable little town with almost no self-sustenance. It's a parasite on the back-end of the Bay and would be much better if it were just torn down and allowed to be wild.

2. I don't particularly like Marshall's. I've been in a couple and just never found anything I really liked, but I'm usually willing to give it a shot if it's been a while. I haven't been in this one, and I haven't been in any for a number of years.

3. I hate DMVs.

While I was shopping at Marshall's, I was delighted to find a white tanktop I could use as an undershirt--mine is becoming bizarrely thin at the top and I can't figure out why--I also found a couple of other items that caught my fancy, but before I could start making my way to the dressing room, Madie decided she wanted to throw another tantrum. She threw herself on the dirty floor and cried angrily at me for not letting her push the cart into the clothes racks. I stood there and looked at dressed. We finally agreed on her being carried, since pushing the cart wasn't an option, nor was sitting in it.

I told the little Filipina woman at the dressing rooms how many items I had and she showed me to a curtained room. When I stood Madie on the ground she flipped out. She cried the whole time I was trying things on--I ended up only trying two, it was that much of an ordeal--and at one point when she calmed down to take a breath I hear through the curtain the voice of the Filipina woman:

"You know why? You know why?" I finally realized she's trying to talk to me. I didn't answer.
"It's because you make her too accustomed to being carried at home." I thought of all sorts of quips, but decided it was best to pretend I hadn't heard anything. Madie started crying again and I started changing back into my clothes. Again, as I was preparing to get out of the stall she tisked me and suggested I feed the poor baby. On my way out, she took my clothes and caught me by the arm--this lady was determined--"You shouldn't carry her at home, you know?"

I thanked her for her profound parental wisdom and skipped happily away, realizing the answer to my tot's tantrums.

On the way home Mike announced the car couldn't be registered in California for less than two thousand dollars until we proved some tax thing or other--you can add "I hate taxes" to the list.

Now there's a fly circling my head. In my house. I hate those things.

But I love cooking and trying new things, and I love whoopie pies, so off I go to experiment. Let this be National Whoopie Pie Day. Please? For me?

4th of July CRISIS!

So, Mike and I had planned on taking some friends down to his family cabin in Utah, but some family business got in the way, and now it doesn't look like we'll be heading down. That's fine and all, except that now we have no idea what to do.

Mike wants to go kayaking or hiking or something on Friday, I'm sure. That's fine, except that I can't go. (I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm a little out of commission in the "Working Your Abs Department.) Normally this wouldn't matter since I'm in classes all day Friday, so Mike goes to the temple, then if he has time, on a hike or something. But THIS weekend, I get Thursday and Friday off, so I'll have nothing to do while he's gone. I guess I could go with him and just hang out at the ending point of his trek or something, but that wouldn't be much of an improvement. Although I guess I could take a friend. Or a book. (They're really just about the same to me.)

Again, not seeing my husband for an afternoon really wouldn't be a big deal if we lived at all a normal schedule. But we don't. Mike's work and stake calling keep him the majority of the week/weekend, and my classes keep me the rest of the time we would normally spend together.

But it's more than all that. We also just don't know what to do on the actual 4th. Other than make ice cream. That's pretty much set in stone, since Mike's been waiting more than patiently for the first legitimate holiday to arrive since we've had the freezer. We've talked about going camping again, which I'd be up to. The last two times have been pretty fun. We'd just have to find a couple of couples to go, so maybe we'll invite the same people as were going to go to the cabin with us. I've also suggested a barbeque, watching a movie on a projector (if we can borrow one), and/or even a bon fire out at Beaver Dick or something. But apparently none of those sound interesting/are sinking in to Mike because he keeps asking me what I want to do for the Fourth.

Any suggestions?

Visiting Nauvoo

We just got back from our trip to Iowa to visit Holly and her family. We had a lot of fun, despite the troubles returning. Here are just a few of our pictures from the end of our actual stay in Iowa. We're starting with our trip to Nauvoo.

Getting ready to cross the Mississippi. I have OFFICIALLY crossed it now.

There was a holdup on the bridge - we don't know what - so Mike got out and posed for this picture.

We had a picnic at the park behind the Nauvoo temple. It was beautiful! Mike and I were planning to do a session at the temple while Holly and the kids played, but a construction worker right inside the gates told us it was closed until 2 pm. Holly checked with the Visitor's Center and they said you usually need to schedule sessions anyway, since the temple gets so much traffic.

A group of protesters hold a tea party - one of many apparently across the United States in efforts to reduce the rising taxes.

Holly and the kids admire the First Vision in the Visitor's Center.

In the Family Living Center, behind the Scovil Bakery, we were able to sample some bread baked in the little bustle oven you see in the wall behind it. They gave out recipes too. It was really good!

Holly and Ethan look on as Uncle Mike and Claire work the wheel on the rope sled.

Mike and me standing in front of the Mansion House.

Ethan, enjoying a stick of rock candy Mike bought him on his mother's lap, at the beginning of the carriage ride through Old Nauvoo.

Ethan enjoying a much-needed nap on his mother's lap about two minutes after the beginning of the carriage ride around Old Nauvoo.

Claire enjoying her piece of rock candy.

Mike got a few great shots of the front of the temple during the tour.

We followed the Trail of Hope - the beginning of the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo - down to the Mississippi. Next time we'll have to walk it so we can read all of the journal placards.

A statue of Joseph Smith instructing Brigham Young to take the saints west away from persecution.

Me, in front of the Mississippi.

Claire looks at Old Ned after the carriage ride. The Elders were really sweet to let the kids almost bombard the horses, of course, the horses were sweet as well. They did keep a fence between the two, which was probably a good thing.

Joseph Smith's office in the upstairs of the Red Brick Store. The store is now owned by the RLDS Church, and they actually keep it running by selling jams, pamphlets written by the Prophet, and lots of little souveniers.

We stopped for ice cream on our way out of town.

This is the morning of the day we left. Ethan immediately made our stripped air mattress a playground.

And this was Claire's outfit the morning we took off.

On the road again...

Epilogue: We made it into Rapid City, SD, where we planned to stay the night and see Mt. Rushmore the next day. Unfortunately, our car completely broke down, right as we pulled into a Nissan dealership. It was making a horrible noise and the acceleration was beginning to die, so we were lucky we made it into the lot. As it turned out, we had an axle leaking transmission fluid, and the entire transmission had corroded. This axle had leaked a few years ago, but Mike got it fixed quickly and has never had a problem with the car before or since. Anyway, to make a long story short, we had to rent a car and drive home to Idaho since the transmission they're putting in wont arrive until next Thursday or so. Mike will have to drive back to South Dekota and return the car and pick up our car. He's planning on taking a friend (I'll be at Ang's wedding) and making a camping trip out of it, so at least it wont be too dull.

The computer's working! Yay!

OKay, so I got my computer back a few days ago, and now I have time to actually tell everyone... not that it's a crucial piece of knowledge, but hey, we all scrounge around for something half-way interesting to blog about from time to time.

Luckily we have most of our wedding pictures on backup and Mum is going to see if she has any from the Maine reception saved on her computer. I also have all my important essays, short stories, and poems I've kept and re-written since high school on my jumpdrive or in hard copy, so we've got those. However, all my recipes - gone. All the pictures of old friends, roommates, parties, and Mike and me dating - gone. Every system converter I've downloaded so I can read .docx files, etc, - gone. The list of Latin words in their different declensions I'm supposed to have been keeping throughout the semester - gone. All the music I've been given by Mike, Jym, Josh, Angela, Celeste, and Levi, along with all the music I have purchased myself - gone. Worst of all, the video Alexa put together for our wedding - GONE!

Anyway, you get the picture.

Slowly, partly-surely, I will rebuild what I've lost. If anyone has the wedding video - AHEM, ALEXA! - I'd sure like to have a copy. Frankly I feel a little entitled to it, considering it's is my wedding video.