The Secret Life Of Me

So some of you may have noticed that I have been more tired than usual, and somewhat of a recluse after 8:00 p.m. You’ve also probably seen the dark circles and thought it was from diligent studying. Well, I have an explanation. First, I have to say, I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want anyone to think differently of me and/or Josh. We have struggled immensely with excessive car damage and had to pay for extensive repairs. This has been a strain on our resources (aka “…a taxation on my resources” ha ha ha). The truth is, I have a second job. I didn’t want anyone to think differently of us, so I haven’t really told anyone. I work at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB) cleaning floors from 9:oo p.m.-1:oo a.m. Luckily the work is such that I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep. No matter how exhausted I am, I would never be able to fall asleep. Next time you happen to go into the JSMB, just look around the Main floor, and try to think how long it would take you to sweep, and then mop/condition every inch of marble on the floor. It takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes (that’s if you do the stairs that have marble on either side). Now the secret is out. It has been a really hard job for me simply because of the hours. If I didn’t have a day job, it wouldn’t be a problem. I usually get to work by 8:15 (sometimes 8:00 and sometimes 8:30—which is fine with my employer). I work through lunch (I do eat, I just don’t always take a lunch “break”) and usually go home around 4. I will usually sleep for a couple of hours and then go to the gym. Then I leave by 8:40 p.m. to get to work. I’m usually home by 1:30 ish, but it takes me some time to wind down and get ready for bed, so I will sometimes just mill around for a little while, before retiring. My legs are usually so tired from all the work, that all I want to do is sit on the couch and curl up my legs. The hardest part of my day is getting up in the morning. I have been drinking some caffeine in order to keep up this schedule (for the last month now), but I decided that I really shouldn’t drink it (or acquire it in any other form…No-Doz). This week I have gone the whole week without so much as .5mg of caffeine (not really even in chocolate!) and it has been very very hard. The pay rate is actually really good, but my body is suffering. I haven’t gotten sick yet, but I constantly get headaches (that get in my eyes and make my vision blurry and hard to see) and the last couple of days I have been so tired that I have been dizzy. I am most likely going to quit this job. I interviewed for a job (at the gym) from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. that pays $3/hr less than I am making at the JSMB, but the sleep is seeming to be more important. This means I will probably work from 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (ish) during the day, and then ride the bus to the gym, then I’ll already be there so I can work out after my shift, and then Josh can pick me up, or I can ride the bus home. I know it seems like a lot, but I feel very strongly that we need to get the “unnecessary” debt from car repair taken care of soon. We’ve been commanded not to have unnecessary debt, and I feel very strongly that if we work hard to get rid of the debt, the Lord will help us and strengthen us both. Whichever job I end up with, it will probably only last for the summer, but most likely not past the end of the year. I want to be prepared in every way possible, and follow the teachings and guidance of the prophets and eliminate this debt. I apologize for the misleading answers I may have given to anyone concerning this job, but I didn’t want anyone to think any less of us. I know that sounds silly, but that’s how I honestly feel. I’m not asking for sympathy or anything else for that matter. It’s just been too hard to try to come up with excuses why I can’t go somewhere or do something (or why I had to leave the wedding reception without helping with the cleanup). On a happier note, I finally decided I want to major in English, and after I receive my Associate of Arts Degree (in English) I want to apply to BYU. I can apply all (but one I think) of the classes I have been taking at SLCC to my Associates and get credit for them. Hopefully by the time I finish my Associates I will not only be able to get into BYU, but I’m hoping the frontrunner train will go all the way to Provo by then. How awesome would that be??? (I get a free UTA ECOpass from work).

Emergency Lysol Spraydown

I apologize for my blog hiatus. I have now returned. I had an extremely busy weekend! I ran/walked the 5K, I taught Relief Society, took a final, and prepared for a midterm (today--just finished) and organized the kitchen with Josh (he did most of the work). I hate to have this particular post have to be what finally got me to write again. Let me give it to you straight:

A smelly old lady sat on me.

Yes, I'm serious. She smelled like urine, and she sat on me. I was on the bus, on my way home from class, and I was once again traumatized by the Free Fare Zone passengers. A rickety old lady with a very dirty hat who smelled like urine was sitting across from me. I usually sit next to a bar/pole so I can grab on and not slide around--plus it can sometimes provide a barrier between your personal space (which is always MUCH larger on the bus) and someone else's (or their lack of...). This time the pole was on my right and the lady got up from across the aisle, and sat down Right ON me. She was quite honestly sitting on my thigh. It wasn't an, "oh, pardon me, I didn't mean to sit on you!" because when I tried to squish even further away from her in hopes she would realize she was on me, she moved with me. She didn't get off my leg for a good 3 minutes. No Joke. It felt like 3 days she was sitting on me, especially since she was close enough that I could get a more personal whiff of multiple odors wafting from her body. As if just sitting on me wasn't enough, she reached over and grabbed the pole on my right side (she was on my left leg) and gripped tightly for a good minute. Her bony elbow was taunting my nose. FINALLY, when I thought I could not go on, she dropped her arm and scooted off my leg, but her legs were still flush with mine, her stench still penetrating my sniffer. I looked around, curious as to the number of available seats on the bus. I counted each head, and came up with 5. 1 was me, 1 was her, and 1 was a man in a wheelchair. That means there were only 2 other seats on the whole bus that were occupied, and she felt the pressing need to sit ON me, and then share my seat with me. What makes this even more astounding is the fact that I was on the bench in the front of the bus, where there are 3-4 seats all next to each other, not just 2. G-R-O-S-S! I am learning that I have a real need for personal space, something I was unable to communicate to her. This bus problem is not even one that could have been remedied by headphones (as most are, which is why I have them-whether or not they're hooked into any music...). When I returned back to work (I shuddered every step until I reached the bathroom) I went directly to the bathroom to wash, no--scrub--my hands. A fellow co-worker was absolutely brilliant. He suggested I spray with Lysol. I think he may have been joking, because there was great surprise when I responded with, "How fast can you get it here?" He attempted to spray me down, but he was a little light on the trigger. I snatched the can away and sprayed, no--soaked my whole left side of my body. I still felt there was a layer of grime I could not wash away, so I had to visit the vending machine downstairs in the breakroom for a delicious Rice Krispie treat to take me to my happy place. I felt I could not find my happy place on my own, without some assistance--hence the rice krispie treat. Lucky me, I only have to ride that particular bus one more time--a week from Thursday for my final. Perhaps I will drive--then I'll be the only one invading my personal space, and it will be my own stink I have to smell. Yich! I'm not sure if I'll ever come clean. (Besides being old and rickety, she kept twitching/convulsing, so I'm inclined to believe she had a disease--hopefully NOT communicable...and she really wasn't SUPER old, just like late 60's.)

By the way--consider yourself warned--the Free Fare Zone comes with a price...

Content

So I decided that I'm content. I'm feeling really good about a lot of things right now, even through my own little trials and hard roads, I'm feeling very content with life. Josh went to the Opthalmologist's office yesterday to discuss options about his double vision. His foot landed on a button on the floor (while the Dr. was out of the office) and a little pink dog mounted on the wall started barking and walking. Josh laughed for a good 5 minutes over that one. I had to agree that it was pretty darn funny!

Lucky for us Josh's real glasses look much better on him than these beauties!

Josh was most excited about the "sunglasses" he got to wear home (since they dilated his eyes). Josh was nervous about his appointment, and I was nervous about the possibility he might have to have surgery again. Instead we filled a prescription for his glasses, which took 1 hour to fill! I took my glasses in 17 days ago, and they won't be ready until today or tomorrow (I called after my jealousy got the better of me). Though we have had to spend a fair amount of money on lenses, we were lucky enough to both have frames that were still suitable enough that we would only have to buy lenses. Thank heavens! :o) Yesterday was a rough day for me, I was really, really -- REALLY exhausted, and after Josh's eye appointment I went home and slept for a few hours, but not without getting in a good cry first! For some reason, I have become extremely interested in owning a baby chick. I don't want a chicken, and no-- I DON'T want to raise it to eat it-- I just want to have a fun little baby chick (I even named said baby chick--Mr. Peeps). Josh kept telling me no, I couldn't have one. I was getting more and more upset by this, I just wanted my baby chick, and then I just wanted to eat some Chinese food for lunch. That also was answered with a ringing No! It's better that we didn't though. While I no longer hunger for some delicious Chinese food, I still want a baby chick. Anyway, after a rough day yesterday, I am feeling really good about things in life. Yes, I'm still extremely busy, and yes, I wish I had more time to do some things, and more money to buy useless items I can't justify buying now, I am very content with life. Life isn't always a breeze, but every once in awhile, smooshed in between the moments of crazy busy schedules, and not enough sleep, and not enough rest, the Lord reminds me how blessed I am. We really are very blessed. Free from any serious medical issues, Josh and I are fairly healthy (we probably should eat more vegetables...but we're pretty good at going to the gym consistently--and for those of you still following, I'm winding up 10 weeks of consistent gym workouts! 5 days a week!) and we have a lot to be thankful for. Please don't misunderstand--Josh and I still have our own little trials, and hard things in life, our lives are not particularly "easy" right now, but I just feel content with the trials and the challenges I have, and I finally feel capable to rise above them, and to come out on top. I think for me, right now, this is the greatest blessing I have. To know that the Lord loves us and is mindful of the things that are hard for us, and that He is watching over us. I'm thankful for those moments in my life when it is clear to me that my Heavenly Father loves me. Sometimes it comes through recognizing something great that has happened in my life, and sometimes it is in the kind words or encouragements of another person. I hope someday, I can be that person. The one that helps others know how much Heavenly Father loves us, and that He is truly watching, ever watching. He lets us stumble and stub our toes, but when we start to fall face first, or slip backward, as we reach forward to grab onto something--it is usually He who catches us and helps us stand back up straight. So today, I'm counting my blessings that I'm content, that I'm loved, and that I love.

Nostalgia

I finally got my pictures on my computer (Many thanks to Jeff--for burning the pictures again!!) First let me say this--I loved ALL of these pictures, so I apologize in advance if you don't like yourself in any of them, but know that my intent was good pictures that I liked, never to embarass anyone at all.



I am using pictures to illustrate what Christmas was like. Thus, our journey begins (and these were going to be in order, but things got switched up a little...sorry...)

Crazy Aunts & Uncles

What's hanging out with the family without someone picking up a small child and "blowing bubbles" on their tummies!

Dave the Jungle Gym

Our airport greeting

Mom and Kevan (at the D.C. temple)

I really don't think this picture needs an explanation...(This is at Nielsen's Frozen Custard in D.C., our post-temple dinner)

Posed Pictures

Sammy and Sara

Sweet Sisters

Jeff and Zack

Jessie's Christmas Present-an iPod Shuffle!

Josh's Christmas Jammies

Katie and Zack

Kristen & Nathan

What a handsome dude!!!

Candid Pictures

One of the sweetest pictures I found--Jake and Megan

You better believe there were cameras flashing like crazy!!! This is Jake showing us his awesome Christmas present. Grandpa even helped him figure out his new camera.

Semi-Posed/Semi-Candid...Jeff & Emily, our gracious hosts!

Emily & Nathan kissing baby Zacky!

Emma resting on the Ship at Jamestown

Everyone's Favorite--baby Zack!

Kristen with Kevan's family at Jamestown (I realize this belongs in the "Posed Pictures" section--too much hassle to move it all around!)

Some of the Fam--just chillin on the couch! (BTW-Josh got a haircutting set in his stocking. Santa definitely knew what Josh needed and what Katie wanted!)

Barf Bowls--man did the throwing up (etc) go around this year!!!

It would NOT be Christmas without some Christmas storytime with Grandma Lewis. What an awesome Grandma (and Mom for that matter!)

Katie & Josh's Trip to Washington D.C.

This was taken (by a stranger) from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. We had a great time (I realize I look sickly and pale--it was the middle of Winter. It was really nice in VA- but SLC is usually snowy in the middle of Winter! )

(This doesn't belong in this section--I KNOW!) Grandpa Lewis and Zacky having a nap! A lot of people had naps with Zack.


This is one of the guards at the Capitol building. I'm not sure if Josh took this picture because he was surprised at the size of the slugs (in the gun) or if he just felt like it would be a good picture to remember our trip to Washington D.C.

We were in the Air and Space Smithsonian on the escalators, and Josh wanted to take a picture of me, so I smiled, and right as he took the picture I started sneezing. I thought this was funny, so I included it. Please feel free to laugh at my expense, I'm still laughing myself.

Definitely the WORST part of the whole trip. If you know me at all, you know I hate "Stuffed (taxodermy) Animals. I cowered through the whole bottom floor of the Natural History Smithsonian. These are only a couple of the horrendous pictures Josh HAD to take.

No wonder I look sickly and pale in all the pictures, I clearly wasn't sleeping well with these characters floating through my brain matter!

Josh in front of the Supreme Court building. This was something Josh really wanted to see, we certainly got our exercise trying to figure out where this building was (we had no map...)


Misc.

In the visitors' center at the Washington D.C. temple, they had copies of the Book of Mormon in a lot of different languages--one being Arabic. We gathered around as Kevan translated parts (I think Alma...) for us, and showed us how he reads Arabic. Pretty cool!

7 Little Monkies, sitting on the bed...

Emma and Ashley enjoying cousin time in a tree somewhere in VA...

Ashley & Megan in the "armor" at Jamestown. They were hilarious!!!!

This last section is my favorite. As I was looking back through the pictures, I felt a sense of longing to be with my family again--my whole family. I pray that someday soon that will happen. As I continued to scroll through all the pictures of our families in front of the temple, I felt such a strong surge of love for each member of my family. I then was overcome with a great desire to be with my whole family in the temple--in the Celestial Room, and I thought even further about how much I want to be with my WHOLE family in the Celestial Kingdom in the hereafter. I felt a recommitment to the Lord, and to doing those things He commands so that I can do my part and be there. I want you all to know how much I love every one of you. I am so impressed with all your children, with their love for the Lord, and your desire as parents, to instill that in them. Thank you so much for all your love and support. We love you guys a lot, and think of you often!

Most of the family that was already in town (Kristen and Dave came the next day) on the steps at the visitors' center at the temple.

The Washington D.C. temple, at night.

Jeff & Emily, Ashley, Nathan, & Zack

Kevan & Sara, Jessica, Jacob, Emma, Megan, & Sam

The One and Only D-O-double G

While at work, my boss comes in and with a bewildered look on his face says, "Who is Snoop Dogg and why is he joining our church???" Through bursts of laughter I sputter back, "a rapper, and who said he was joining our church? Apparently, CNN had an article (dated April 1st) that talked about Snoop Dogg joining the church. It even had a picture of him with a book of mormon (have you ever heard of Photoshop??) and a quote: " I just can't get enough of the Book of Mormon", said Snoop Dogg. Uh-huh. I'm so sure. Anyway, my April Fool's Day was pretty dull, though a co-worker and I had schemed and decided we would saran-wrap some cubicles, or just cover everthing in aluminum foil. Neither of us stuck with it though. So, there it is, the best April Fool's Joke I've heard this year. I welcome any of your good April Fool's Day stories!!!