Category: Random Babblings

No exciting news to report at this time

I just want to reflect a bit as this week is kind of a big milestone week for mee.  Most people probably think I must be referring to the fact that on Tuesday (two days ago) my pregnancy hit 39 weeks.  While that is true, and a great thing, that is not what I am reflecting on today*.  On Monday I had the pleasure of going to yet another doctor’s appointment.  As I was waiting for the doctor to come in and check things out (you know the “fun stuff.”  Well at least hearing the baby’s heart beating is fun) I noticed the date written down “11/29/2010.”  Time has flown by!  Without my seeing it.  Specifically, ten years of time.  On 11/29/2000 I entered the Missionary Training  Center prior to going to Chile.  Wow!  That was the day I met for the first time Monica and Amy (and the elders in our district), it was also the last opportunity I had to meet up with Fiona (and meet her new husband Zac), it was nice to have a friendly face next to mee in that farewell meeting.  That was still in the day they allowed family/friends to come past the curb.  Though living so far away, I flew out alone.  Fiona and Zac brought mee a box of Andes mints, which were delicious and I loved them, thank you.  However I was probably too selfish to share them, and I am sure I ate them all myself, my apologies to Amy and Monica.  I know I am not as good at keeping in touch as I wish to be, but I am grateful for the internet and our ability to be in contact over the distances, and through our own web spaces we can know what is happening in each others’ lives.

*Here is a picture from Tuesday, mee at 39 weeks:

belly shot 39 week

And this one too, because I like my shirt, and I think it hides my belly, kinda, though I am pretty proud of that belly…

bellyshot39weeks

(Also, because it makes mee laugh.)

Quick rant

So, not that I want to get negative on here or anything, but I think I will for a few minutes.

Our water bill is due the same day each month (this is not the negative part).  I most of the time remember when that day comes up.  Not always though, sometimes the date occurs to mee a few minutes before the office closes.  Today was one of those days.  We made it over in time, so no late fees charged. Yay!!!

The electric/gas bill on the other hand cannot pick a  regular day to be due (this is the infuriating part).  I never know what day of the month it will be from month to month, It gets moved around and on occasion has left us with the bill being due twice in one month.  It does not happen often, but it has happened.  I liked it when it was due about a week after the water bill was due, and I had a good shot at remembering to get them both paid on time.  This last one arrived and I looked at the bill, and saw “15” of the month.  Well, when it occurred to mee this afternoon that today is the 15th, I grabbed the bills and set out to pay them, only to realize that when I saw the “15” it was really a “12!”  Great I get to pay a late fee, and it is no where near another bill due date for us to be able to remember to pay it on time.  And, it gets even worse knowing that the bill does not get printed the same time each month, so there is no way to know that it will be arriving in the mail at a set time either.

How rude!

Not bill related, but while I am on the whining kick…. We went to St Louis a few weekends ago* and had a couple of interesting retail experiences.

The first experience: we went to the customer service counter and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited some more.  Finally, we walked over to one of 4-8 employees, standing around, not helping anyone.  We asked if that person would be able to help us out.  She said she would page the customer service representative to the counter and told us to walk over there.  We did as we were asked (told).  We waited another at least five minutes, after the page was made.  We saw the form sitting on the counter that we would need to fill out; we decided to be proactive and start filling out the form.  We figured if it took that long just to get a person to help us, we would be sitting “forever” waiting to get the paperwork going.  As I was filling in the last part of the form, we saw the customer service representative walk up to the counter.  Yay, we were going to be assisted.  Not!  Another customer that walked in the door at the same time that the employee walked up to the counter was asked if she needed any help.  (In my head: “Are you ——- kidding mee?”)  CSR got on the computer and looked up some information for her and then walked away from the counter, still not acknowledging our presence, despite the page being for us and we had clearly been sitting there for quite a while, with no assistance.  We almost walked out.  At that time, the CSR returned to the desk and asked if we had been helped.  No, that is why we were still sitting and waiting for her.  She took our paperwork, typed on the computer** and got us on our way.  I was a bit surprised that they had her as the CSR, not only for her inability to be helpful, but in regards to her hygiene.  She had what looked like left-over chewing tobacco wedged in her teeth (she was not “chewing” at this time), and her finger nails were caked with stuff under them.  I only hope it was not contagious, since she was after-all touching lots of things other people would purchase and take home.  If I wasn’t ready to walk out while waiting for someone to help us, or after the CSR attended a customer that had just walked in the door instead of the people who were waiting and had had her paged (us), then the lack of cleanliness was almost enough to make mee do it.  But I was feeling stubborn-ish and did not want to let my waiting be in vain.

The second experience:  I was in need of locating a new brassier.  I knew the size and style, I just needed to find one.  Because this was a positive experience, I don’t mind telling the name of the place, the Motherhood Outlet Store.  I found the item, I walked up to the cashier and she asked if I had tried it on first.  I told her that I had not, since I was just at another place and found the item same style and size and tried it on, and it fit.  She encouraged mee to try it on anyhow.  And because we had just this summer given a seminar on fashion (of all things we could have talked about), and in the presentation we gave strong instructions to always try on clothes you will buy, I decided I should try it on.  I did, and it did not fit.  She told us that the clothes they have marked a specific way tend to have something wrong with them, sometimes it is a rip or a stain, and sometimes it is simply mislabeled.  This time it was mislabeled, or miss-sewn, it was not a “uniform” or “symmetrical” fit.  So, while we were unable to make our purchase there, we would gladly return there if the opportunity/need arose.

As we walked out of there we reflected on how the two experiences were so different, and how we would be much more inclined to return to the second store with ease, and be very hesitant to even step back into the first.  We have considered, yet have not done this, writing letters to the head quarters for each of the stores telling our experiences and telling them why or why not would we be willing to return.


* I will post more about that soon-ish (I love that ending “-ish”)
** Much more better is that she mistyped part of the info, so we had to figure it out when we got home from the trip

Can you believe it?

34 weeks down

2010 10 26 belly shot a

Only six to go?

2010 10 26 belly shot b

I can’t hardly believe that there are only six more weeks of this.  While it will be nice to have my baby in my arms, I think I will miss the fun stuff that comes with the baby being inside….

I have been busy sewing, and other stuff too, but there has been a good amount of sewing.  Lucky mee, I have pregnancy carpel tunnel syndrome-that they assure mee will end when baby comes out.  For now I wear wrist braces, and it makes it much more bearable.  I have been sewing blankets/quilts, some clothing projects, and I made major progress on my Halloween costume.  Pictures will come later.

And the white ghosts on my pants glow in the dark!

Hang up the phone and drive!

Listen lady!  It is a busy intersection, and you need to get off the phone.  There are stop signs each direction.  The car that I let go ahead of mee, had the right-of-way.  Then it was my turn, so I started.  You, however, were not paying attention to the intersection.  And would have plowed right into the side of mee if I had not been aware of you going and you not watching.  I braked, and stopped in time for you to not hit mee, and when I put my hand in the air (whole hand, not displaying any particular part of my hand, lest anyone think I was making a rude gesture) as if to ask why you went out of turn.  You just shrugged your shoulders, still holding the phone to your ears, as if to answer “whatever” and that it really doesn’t matter because you are allowed to drive irresponsibly.

If you are driving, just pay attention to the road.  If you really need to talk to someone, pull over.  If you think you need to keep talking to someone while driving, make sure you can keep your eyes on the road, and hands on the wheel.  The phones do come equipped with speakerphone after all.

Rules are meant to be followed

There are protection/safety/blessings in obeying the rules.  From playing games to laws of the land.  If you think about it, it may sound funny to think of “protection” in keeping the rules if you are say, five years old and playing Candy Land.  Though, there is protection, if you cheat you are likely to be hit (or something similar) by your playmate(s).  Sports, there is potential serious injury or death if any of the players thinks they do not have to keep the rules.  If you cheat in school, you face bad grades or possible expulsion; often times this goes on your “permanent record” and makes it nearly impossible to get into another school.  The basic ten commandments are there for our benefit.  So, as we think about it, there really is safety in keeping the rules.  This includes the high school track.

A friend and I walk in the mornings at the *high school track.  Diana is my fifth (and longest enduring) walking partner in the three-ish years I have been doing this early morning practice.  I have not always had a walking partner, but I find that while I do not like to be in a big group for exercise, it does help to have one other person that keeps mee going.  Sometimes I can handle having a second person, any more than that, and I start to get a wee bit uncomfortable.

Back on topic, we get to the track fairly early, and over the years I have seen many people come and go.  I see most people for less than two months.  This summer however there are two ladies that have been on and off through the summer.  We always greet each other.  I have a story from this Wednesday morning.  In this story I will refer to them as **OSL and ISL, standing for Out of Shape Lady and In-Shape Lady.

Well, Diana and I were walking and we were just past the middle of our second lap, and we heard a voice yell something at us, we did not understand the words, and we both asked, “What?” as I placed my hand up to cup my ear.
OSL:  Could you let us have the inside lane!
Diana:  There is no jogging on the inside lanes.  There is a big sign posted.
OSL:  We are just timing sprints!

I know she felt entitled to request this on Wednesday because they actually arrived a few minutes earlier than we did. ***Normally we are the first people on the track.  Also, OSL and ISL had not been coming for the last three weeks.  When they would go to the track, it was sporadic.  Each time though they would give us dirty looks like they could not believe  we wouldn’t move when we should know to get out of their way.  OSL would grunt at us each time she passed by us and get as close to us as she could, and half of her dirty looks were the stink-eye.  About five weeks ago (two before they took a three week break) ISL arrived after us, but still about five minutes before OSL.  She did some stretches and then decided she would go over and read the posted track rules.  She no longer gave us dirty looks or tried to make us uncomfortable with her body language.  In fact, she would even politely greet us. It is amazing what knowing the rules can do. Here is a picture of the sign posted:

trackrules

Back to the story:  if it were up to mee alone, we would have stayed put and continued walking in the inside lanes.  However, Diana is a good person.  She suggested to mee that we go ahead and allow them to jog (or sprint jog) in the inside lane.  I didn’t want to.  Because I am stubborn and it is a posted rule.  Diana however, saw a potential lesson in it for OSL if we gave her the lanes after pointing out the rule.  So we moved to a couple outer lanes.

The next time our paths crossed (we were walking the opposite direction from the one they were jogging) OSL yelled out “Thank you!”  We chose not to respond, for a couple reasons. First being that by that point I was ****starting to feel a bit snarky, and my reply would not have been very polite.  Second, I was not about to allow her to think I in any way approved of her actions.  Thirdly, I did not want to give her the validation.  This seemed to bother her, because the following time we crossed paths, she tried to thank us with more explanation as to why she was entitled to do what she wants.

If the rules were not posted (and if it was not common knowledge that joggers/runners leave the inside lanes for walkers on a track), and if she had not been giving us the stink-eye through out each encounter thus far in the summer…maybe, just maybe it would not bug mee so much.  I think it would still bug mee, just not as much.

The other part of her *****sense of entitlement that really gets to mee is that she totally seems to think that she is so much more important and that it is okay for her to break the rules.  And that she thinks nothing of requesting us (not a “please” escaped her mouth) to allow her to break the rules.  And did she even consider our wanting to keep track of how far we walk?  Why does she think we use the track, and everyday the same lanes?  Does it not occur to her that we want to walk a certain distance, and by making us switch lanes mid walk, we no longer have an accurate measuring of the distance?

No, it does not matter to her (or any one else who lives in entitlement-land) what the needs or wants of other individuals may be.

I guess that is why I like/appreciate rules.  They are just what they claim to be.  Following rules keeps us in check, and helps us not step on others’ toes.  What a less thoughtless world this would be (or at least appear to be) if we would all follow the rules out there, and stop looking for ways that they apply to everyone but ourselves.

Jacob suggested that perhaps she may be the bumper sticker driver from here.


* School starts this next week, and we don’t want to have to get up as early as we would have to in order to be off the track so as to not be there after the school day has begun (last year we did it), so we will have to move our walking to the university track, or walk laps around the town square.

** This reference is only to her inability to breathe as she runs/jogs.  She is a fairly small person, she just breathes really hard as she goes around the track, and looks as if she will pass out from exhaustion, doubled over at the end of each lap.  She might be able to breathe better if she would just drink some water and get her mouth/throat wet.

***While some days there may be other individuals who arrive earlier than us, we have always been there earlier than these two.

**** Oh we all know I was snarky feeling as soon as she demanded we give her permission to break the rules.

*****Really any person’s sense of entitlement bugs mee.  You don’t get things just because.  You can’t go around demanding things and still have friends (at least not friends that like you).

There is hope for this world yet

I was running some errands, and needed to get some salsa.  Jacob loves salsa and we were out of it.  I went to get the White Corn and Black Bean salsa because he likes it.  Today, it was on the top shelf, and pushed all the way back.  I am short.  I stood on the tips of my toes, and reached.  I could not even touch a jar.  So I took a few steps back to survey the scene.  Would the bottom shelf or two be sturdy enough to hold mee?  How much would I get hurt if it would not hold mee?  Does Jacob really need salsa?

At this point another shopper man came over and asked if I would like some assistance.  I admitted it would be great.  He got on his toes (also not that tall).  Reached and pulled down the first jar he could get.  It was covered in dried/sticky salsa.  He offered to get mee a clean one.  I appreciate that even people who don’t know mee also want clean products.  He asked if there was anything else I needed.  I told him there was not and thanked him.  The teenage boy with him was “patient,” his body language indicated that this is a regular occurrence with his dad(?).  It made mee tear up as I walked on to find bread.  They were happy tears.  I am so glad to know that people are still willing to help a person they do not know, and (at least by example) are teaching the next generation how to be kind to others.

Thank you kind sir, you are a gentleman!

Dear gum-chewer-lady

I walked away because I almost vomited on the toothbrush display.  I am pleased that you were showing interest in oral hygiene (next let’s work on showers, please) however, chewing gum just won’t help your efforts.  Though, the part that made me walk away was the fact that you were chewing loudly.  I thought a cow had walked up to mee and was masticating very wet cud.  The mental image I had before I looked over was of a nasty puree of grass and mucus spilling out onto the floor.  While I was relieved to discover that they did not allow a cow in the store to purchase toothbrushes, it was slightly more disturbing that a human was making the sound.  Please learn to 1) chew gum (and I suspect all your food) so that it does not sound as if it would fall out of your mouth at any moment, and 2) chew with your mouth closed-this, even if you keep chewing in the same style, will keep the rest of the world from hearing the sloshing inside your mouth, and frankly we don’t want to see what is in there either.

Sincerely,

mee

P.S. Are you the same person we saw the other day who has bumper stickers that read, “Why am I the only one on this planet that knows how to drive” and “My future’s so bright I need sunglasses” and then blew through a stop sign only to follow 2-3 feet behind a car in the left lane and then make a right turn with no use of turn signal (or lane change)? -m

We are so excited

So, yesterday was a big day for us.  We were able to secure more “stuff” aka paperwork, exchange money for goods, etc. in order to be able to own a mortgage.  Yay for us!

We (Jacob joined mee last night) went to Wally World again and obtained two more carts full of boxes.  We went some time after midnight, and the really good boxes appear for availability around 1a.m. (so I guess it could be considered this morning).

We have been married for just over three and a half years, and have many times tried to set a scripture study habit.  We have tried to read from front to back, to have a different topic each day of the week, to do some other things that did not prove to be keep-ables.  However yesterday, we finished reading the Book of Mormon, in its entirety, together!!!  The strategy this time, was that I wrote (actually I typed it on the computer and printed it out) each chapter and had them in a jar, that we have been drawing at random for each day, sometimes more than one chapter if it happens to be quite short.  Honestly, it has been very fun to go about it this way.  We already have studied all the stories in there through out our lives, and so as we have been reading this way we end up jumping all over the place.  This keeps all the stories fresher in our minds.  And as an added bonus, we had the privilege a few weeks ago to attend the annual Seminary Vs Bishopric Scripture Bowl.  There is a Jeopardy style portion and a match the scripture with the content portion (for the first time in 10 or so years, the bishopric beat the youth in the jeopardy portion, though they youth won big time with the memory portion).  Anydangways, the point of telling about that event is that as we watched them, it seemed as though we had “just read that story” about each of the stories!  It was a really nice feeling.

And totally not from yesterday, but a few weeks ago…. A bit of back story.  We have two cars.  We only drive one car.  We have had the other car on the donut for a number of months, because we needed to buy a new tire.  Then another tire when flat.  And the battery probably needs replacing.  And some other thing that makes us “afraid” to drive it out of town, or over 35-40 mph else-ways a couple wheels may fall off.  So, it is sitting on the donut, and the wheel with the flat tire that needs replacing, has been leaning upside the porch.  One day I went out to do something, and noticed that it was gone, and there was no plant life growing in its place just yet, so it was a fresh disappearance.  This morning I wanted to use my hand trowel thing, and it was no where to be seen.  I had suspected it missing when the wheel went, though I did not look for it until today when I wanted to use it.  Now we are left with two questions: How do we (or even just “do we”) buy a new wheel? and Who steals a wheel and a trowel?  All I can figure is that some one must have had a greater need for it than us.  And If you see a new plant display in a Honda wheel…well, if I see one, I will laugh.  I think we have been laughing about it too much to find a way to be upset over it.

I got a new bracelet

And boy am I glad we pay for mee to have nice insurance.  (I would like to not have to pay so much, but still glad we can have it.)  Playing volleyball tonight I happened to attract the volleyball with the left side of my jaw.  I seem to attract the ball to my self often.  Just like any other time, I thought I was fine.  Then I opened my mouth and tried to close it again.  I was wrong.  The right side of my jaw was bad.  Very tearful.  I waited till our next between plays and “sneaked” out of the game.  My plan was to get a drink of water and cry in solitude till the pain subsided.  And with my luck, in walks our friendly doctor friend who asked how I was, and what I was feeling.  He called over to the ER for advice and suggested we (Jacob and I) go over.  So, over we went.  They had mee sit in a room and answer health history questions, and then after about half an hour sent me to get an x-ray of my head to check for broken bones or dislocated jaw.  After 20 more minutes they came back and told me I am not broken, just bruised.  That I need to take Tylenol, keep ice on my jaw, and stay away from chewy foods for a couple/few days till I am not hurting anymore, also to lay off volleyball for a while.  And of course if my jaw gets more painful or if I start to swell, or anything else really bad, to call and follow-up, either there or to my dentist.  The worst part of it all was when they would ask mee “On a scale of 0-10 how bad does it hurt?”  I did not know what to answer, and there were no charts around telling mee what the varying numbers meant.  At least not until after they had already taken all my info and had mee sitting and waiting for x-ray.  They need to make more (and bigger) copies of that chart and have them all over the place.  Or perhaps make wallpaper that is just the pain-ranking-chart repeated.  That would be helpful!

It has been replaced

Anybody remember this post?  Well, I do, every time I want to do laundry.

Last week for Family Home Evening we ate at a place that we like, we may even love it (though we do not call it home, so it should have been called Family out evening).  After we ate we decided to walk around a nearby store and see what we could see.  Not really interested in spending any monies, we just wanted to walk off some of what we had eaten.  Out of the blue, Jacob was pointing and telling mee to “Look!”  It was the basket that I have not been able to find in this town for over a year.  We bought two.  And sooner rather than later they will be marked with our name so that if any leave our house for some reason, they will be able to come back home.

We still are not sure how the old basket walked off, or why, but we have replaced it.  However, if it returns to us, we will welcome it into our home again, just as before.  No questions asked, at least not too many questions asked.