There's a hole in my pocket, dear liza, dear liza...

Do you remember the hole in the bucket song from Sesame Street? There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, there's a hole in my pocket, dear Liza, a hole! Then fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, then fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it! (I loved that skit on SS, but now that I am older I realize the song probably existed long before SS and I just don't know its origin. Oh well, it is still a great song!)

Today there is a hole in my/our pocket because yesterday we slapped down a bunch of money on practically a whole new wardrobe for Harold. He got 7 shirts (two white and 5 colored), 4 pair of pants, 3 ties and a belt. We didn't pay full price for any of it, but it is still hard to pay that much money. The kid ringing up the sale said, "Wow, that [the amount of money we were spending] is more than my whole paycheck." This comment in turn made Harold feel really guilty. He has never, in all his years, spent that much money on clothes in one trip. I really wish the kid would have kept his yap shut. As I said before, we usually don't spend that kind of money on clothes, but let me just say that Harold was looking kinda sloppy. This is a problem because I believe that the better you dress, the better you feel and the better your chances are of getting ahead in Corporate America. We just happened to have a few extra bucks and I feel that Harold is a wise investment.

My comment on Friday about being married to a very cute guy is true and I want him to be able to feel cute too, you know? Okay, maybe he shouldn't walk around feeling cute per se, but handsome, confident, capable. I, for one, am looking forward to watching him dress in the coming weeks. I hope he puts his cologne on every day too, as a nice smell never hurts.

I know I need to start posting more pictures but here is my problem. I use my work-issued computer for posting and I use my personal computer to download my pics. I cannot download pics onto the work computer. But getting online with my personal computer is a real pain in the rear. Thus, the picture dilemma. But, if I ever get it figured out I will post soccer pics and pics of Harold looking super, duper handsome in his new threads.

The Fight against White Matter Disease

Yes, it happened today, just like I thought it might. I got the dreaded pop quiz. Some of you may remember that my first pop quiz in history turned out pretty badly because I had decided to go lunching with my husband instead of attend class? But guess what? Today's quiz wasn't so bad. I was so, so, so ready for it. The prof told as at the beginning of the semester that he likes to give quizzes on the documents that we are assigned to read. We read three documents for today's class and I read them over three times and also took notes on the highlights from each. So when the teacher told us to look at two of the documents and choose one and write about the significance of that document to the French Revolution, I had it in the bag. Here's hoping the TA that grades the quiz thinks so too. I actually was quite nervous and my mind went blank for about 10 seconds, but then I pulled through. I can feel my mushy brain beginning to come back together to make coherent thought again, it's kinda nice.

This weekend promises to be enjoyable. We have a baptism to attend, women's conference, and our new ward meets for the first time as a unit. Too bad the meeting will be in an old brown building instead of our 2-year-old pretty chapel that I have grown used to. I have become a bit of a building snob and cannot believe I am being asked to attend a building that is so.....brown. Pride goeth before the fall they say, so I better strip that pride off and embrace the brown.

For the record: I am sitting here at my computer and Harold sits nearby reading a magazine. I looked over just now and you know what? He is pretty cute. I caught myself quite a great guy, and handsome too. Lucky me.

Soccer Season

This year both kids played soccer and today was the last day of the season. Mack's team had a rough year, only winning 2 or 3 games, but my son is a hard player. He can run and run, he can kick amazingly well and he is a tough competitor. I have no doubt that kid has some serious athletic genes in his body, although I am not quite sure where he gets it from. He must be a genetic combination of all the talent on both sides. Then there is Sav. Last year she ran like no other, but she would run up to the ball and suddenly stop just short of the ball, so she always looked like she was right in there, but never really made too much contact. This year she was amazing. She played forward almost all the time as she could kick the ball away from anyone and made so many shots at the goal. Her team went into the tournament in first place. They ended up taking third place which was a disappointment, but I could not have asked for a better season to watch. Her games were always exciting. Her coach would always compliment her as well, he was great. I am so proud of my kids. They amaze me in so many ways and I am so proud of them. Just needed to show off my proud peacock feathers. As soon as I get pics from my dad I will post them so you can see the amazing duo in action.

Touchy Feely

Some time ago Harold and I were at our friend's house, Wade and Ann. At some point during the evening Wade commented on how girls/women seem to have less physical barriers with eachother than boys/men. I thought about that for a while, and agreed but thought maybe he was being a little overly sensitive, but that I had seen girls being more touchy feely with eachother than men are.

Fast forward to my English class today. I sit down and proceed to diligently study as I am finding out I am deathly afraid of the pop quiz. As I read I hear two girls talking and I look up to see that one is massaging the other, with her left hand, to the side. But she is rubbing the shoulders, carefully shifting the other girls shirt when it slouches down a bit far, rubs some more, again with the shirt shift, more rubbing....all the while they are talking about Relief Society. Hmmm. So, I curiously watch, remembering the conversation with our friends, and try to analyze what is going on here. The one girl obviosly is trying to soothe her friend who is a bit stressed out. In fact, as I sat there I truly wished Harold was there as the longer I watched the backrub the more I felt the tension in my shoulders. This scene continued on for about 8 minutes. I have to admit, despite really needing a back rub myself by the time they were through, I was kind of grossed out by the whole thing, and I am a girl. I wonder what the boys were thinking. I wonder if they were thinking that the girl was cute and they wished they could help her out or if they were wishing their big buddy to the side of them could reach over and soothe the stress a little. Am I alone in this? After today I am with Wade 100%, girls need to stop touching eachother so much. Hugs are fine, the occasional soothing arm pat to say, Hey I know you are stressed, it's going to be okay. Those are fine. But the 8 minute backrubs have to stop!

Did I gross you out? Well, then you feel my pain. I am still trying to get over it myself. And Harold, if you read this I am sorry because I KNOW this will gross you out. But I might need that backrub, I am still super tense as a result of the whole affair.

The Harold campaign.....my Monday

The campaign continues. Harold, we know you are out there......

Here is a quick (and I use that term loosely) run down of how my classes went yesterday:

Before class: Went to the library and printed off Wikipedia reports on 18th century artists, i.e. Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and Jacques Louis David. Since my history prof hinted at a quiz that would involve identifying pieces of their art I had everything printed in color so that I could study the art, at .35/page I was bugged.

1. Native American Lit: Only one guy read more than chapter 1 of the new book so the discussion was seriously, seriously lame. It was so quiet in there. I was embarassed for us all but since I hadn't read more than the firt chapter either I had no room to judge.

2. Biology: More student presentations. We have to write down the names of the students presenting and their topic and turn it in at the end for 10 points. I spent the entire time reading my wikipedia print offs for history.

Lunch: I had brought tuna, crackers and an apple from home. It was seriously cold and rainy outside but I stayed outside to eat in an effort to spare others the tuna smell. But alas, I didn't have any gum for afterwards so I hope the apple took my tuna breath away. Also, I wanted a chocolate milk. The machine didn't have any so I ended up buying what is called "Cookies and Creme" milk. I figured it was just a slightly different flavor from original chocolate milk. I took one swig and the thickness and sweetness overwhelmed me. I looked at the ingredients. Whole milk. Yikes! Plus the entire bottle was 500 calories. WHAT? I thought I was doing myself a favor by not buying a candy bar. I took two more small drinks, couldn't get past the sickeningly sweetness of it and chucked the rest.

3. History: Darn that guy, no quiz. I was seriously trying to memorize works of art and their political significance. My brain doesn't latch on to this stuff quite as quickly so it was a real effort for me. Darn him. He is such a tease that guy. I am starting to get annoyed.

4. Short story: We discussed more Leslie Norris stories and I literally almost cried in class. One of his stories is called, Shaving. Apparently a lot of people read it in high school as it is highly anthologized into high school texts. I never read it before but it was a very touching, intimate story of a son who shaves his father who is dying of cancer. Also, the teacher handed back the quick from last week that I missed. I talked to him after about my concern that 1. My first quiz grade was AWFUL, and 2. I never took the second quiz. He assured me that he grades on improvement so the good news is.......there is no where to go but up!

After school: I ran some errands, bought Cocoa Pebbles at $1 per box, 8 of them, for Harold. Plus a bunch of Pop Tarts too. I had gone to the store the other day and they were having a deal. I purposely didn't buy the pop tarts because even though I don't really like them, if they are in the house I eat them. But Harold complained so off I went. A lady in my ward saw my cart and asked if my Cocoa Pebbles were Weight Watcher friendly. Of course I blamed it all on Harold, what else could I do? Tell her that I had already bought Honeycomb on Saturday and that I had planned on eating it all myself? Of course not. But seriously, I do prefer Honeycomb, but I won't be eating it. I try not to eat cold cereal because for me it is more of a treat/dessert than a meal.

FHE: Mackson gave a lesson on the Word of Wisdom to pass off an assignment in his Faith in God book. Together Mackson and I pointed out that Harold's love of Shells and White Cheddar is probably not a good thing. It was funny, watching Harold's face as I was dissing his favorite food. Of course Harold is WAY too nice to point out that I was 1. Drinking a soda, it was diet, but still, and 2. That I was also downing chocolate chip cookies. The funniest part of his Shells and White Cheddar is that it reminds me of that song, Knights in White Satin. Does anyone know the tune? If so, sing Shells and White Cheddar to it, it fits.

It's official: I belong to a new ward, the Maples Ward. We had at least half our ward stripped away and the townhomes across the street from us are now with us. Our new bishopric are all younger than me, which is a little odd as I am not THAT old. I admit I was feeling a little traumatized yesterday. I actually bawled and bawled during sacrament meeting: during the songs, during the sacrament, when our old bishop spoke. I took Janet's advice and wrote a note to our old bishop and told him exactly how much I appreciated him. I feel better now and ready to get on with the business of meeting the new ward family.

I am at school now. I have lots of homework to read, as I mentioned before weekends aren't exactly homework friendly for me. Of course weekends weren't homework friendly when I was single and trying to have a social life either.

On a crazy note from yesterday: My good friend informed me that when her cat dies she is going to have it cremated and spread it's ashes to the four winds. I told her that if she EVER does that, that I need an invitation to the event. A cat funeral. I have a cat, but when he dies there will be no cremation. Sorry Tiger, I wouldn't have myself cremated either dude.

I am also starting a campaign: I am calling it my GET HAROLD TO COMMENT compaign. Harold says he reads my blog but has yet to comment and he doesn't have sign on rights either so he isn't allowed to refute anything I say. Therefore, I want to see if he really reads this blog. Harold, are you out there? For all of you who want Harold to comment, please leave him a short note encouraging him to do so. Let him know you care.

More than words

I sit here not dressed, not showered and my teeth are fuzzy. It is 1:50 p.m. As a child you never think this kind of inactivity would bring you joy, but oh the joy I feel at this moment. It sure has been a nice day. I have been looking forward to it all week, lying in bed until I absolutely cannot lie there any more. In fact, the only reason I got out of my bed was because my friend Karen stopped by, bringing me gifts from a recent quilt fest she attended. Thanks Karen! Plus Karen delivered a really scholarly looking jacket that didn't fit her any more. I must admit, I think my new jacket will look very impressive on campus.

Harold just left for his meeting, his last bishopric meeting with our bishop. I don't know what today's changes will bring, but I am pretty sure we won't have the same bishop. I cannot describe to you the feeling of heaviness this brings me. I have had some really great bishops in my day, some really great ones. But this bishop has been an anchor for me and my family. He is an amazing person, so down to earth. He has been fun, loving, helpful and empathetic when things have been hard for us. I will miss him, so, so much.

When our ward split last time, one of the ward boundaries was our street. The people who lived across the street were no longer in our ward. You know what, we never really saw those people again. Maybe at Wal-Mart, or at the mailbox but that was it. Our lives weren't intertwined in that meaningful way that ward members are intertwined with one another. I think those people will be back in our ward again and I don't know a soul who lives over there. Now, in my defense, we have townhouses across the street. Our literal across-the-street neighbors total 16 townhouses, quite literally right across the street from us. So, it is hard to keep up with their comings and goings.

This may sound stupid, but I have to tell myself that I know the church is true, no matter what happens. I hope and pray our bishop is as meaningful to us as this last one. Bishop Ballard, I know you don't read this blog, but if you did I would want you to know how much we love you. You have been an influence for calm in our lives. Your quiet love and acceptance of us and all our quirks and faults has been steady and unfailing. Thank you.