A Love Letter

Dearest Mr. H~

I know you wonder what in tarnation I do all day, since the house is no cleaner when you come home than it was when you left. Here is a typical-ish day:

Today I was a lot of things, and did a lot of things. It started with me waiting at the bus stop for 40 minutes wishing you had gone to school this morning, so i could hitch a ride with you. Oh well, I eventually thawed out... :)

Once I got to work, I was already tired. I ate my banana for breakfast but was disappointed to remember that the prescription mouthwash leaves a metallic taste in my mouth for HOURS after. Bummer. Then I missed you. Then I got a little lazy at work and had to work really hard to keep doing my work. It was difficult. Did I mention I missed you? 

Then, the advil wore off, and my tooth was screaming with pain. It was at that point, I wished you were around to give me a big hug (but not too tight--didn't want the tooth to hurt even more). So I took 5 more advil to combat the pulsing pain. 

Remember my co-worker Delaine? Well, today was her retirement social. Apparently our department gave her a digital picture frame for her going away present, and it had pictures loaded on it already. This is where I got a little upset for the day. Remember that time we had Jenn take our pics in the canyon? Well, she put one of us on it which I thought was weird, and then was irritated about later. Then I just missed you again. You looked all hot in the picture with a cute little grin on your mug. Love you!

Boredom was next. Or maybe that was impatience--not sure. I saw these beauties, and was just WAITING for all the speeches to finish so i could help myself to a delicious slice of heaven--errr--cake. We know how I like me my cake! Then I realized, it was from Schmidt's bakery. Did you know that's where we got our wedding cake? Then I missed you again. 

This is what I did while I was waiting patiently (at first) for speeches to end, and cake-eating to  begin...Don't worry, my eyes didn't get stuck that way like they always say.
This one actually hurted a little. 
Then I missed you again. Then I wrapped up some cake and brought it home for you. and for me. 

After work, I walked to the bus stop, and once again, waited for the bus. This time I think I only waited about 35 minutes--but I missed a bus, and then a different bus missed me. Bummer. Finally got home, and went to the Nord. Rack to get some Christmas/Birthday shopping done. Unfortunately, only Birthday shopping was done. Then I missed you again. 

When I got home, this is the next thing I did:

Made some dinner -- check out how tasty this looks...! Mmm...the cheese was good. Then I noticed the pan you obviously made your eggs in, and remembered those FANTASTIC eggs you made me for breakfast last week. They were SUPER tasty, and I totally wished you were here to make some more for me. My salad was good though. Look at those delicious chunks of fresh yummy mozzarella cheese soaked with balsamic vinegar. Remember how I LOVE vinegar??? 

Then I went to the gym. Too lazy and tired to really get dressed in gym clothes, I just wore my pajamas that I LOVE!!! Favorite P.J. pants ever! I was SOOOO tired that it was all I could do to stay the whole 3o minutes. Thought I might die. Everybody Loves Raymond was on the t.v. (I was lazy and only biked 5 miles today instead of the usual running/walking). It was their wedding episode, and they did this thing at the toast where they linked their arms before drinking. I want to do that. Can we do that sometime buddy? I love you. This is the part where I missed you again. Then I thought about ice cream, because I saw a commercial with ice cream, and then I thought about that time you came home from the gym at midnight, and downed half a carton of Breyer's ice cream. I had a little chuckle, and considered coming home to eat my own little bowl of caramel delight ice cream. I wished you were here to indulge with me. 

Then I came home and decided to write you a love letter before bed. I'm sitting on our couch in the Highland sweatshirt I stole from you that you stole from your ex-g/f that she stole from her brother (or ex-ex-b/f??) and my favorite p.j. pants. Missing you. and Loving you like mad!!

Come home soon, and don't forget my nightly smooch! 

Love and kisses, 

Your darling Squash (I am darling you know!!! even if I am hopped up on advil and vinegar)

The Return

So for those of you who remember my Valentine's Day this year, it was spent in some pain. I had a Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma on my upper right jaw. This little onus of mine created quite the turmoil at the time, but it was excised, and sent off to be biopsied. You may recall that the Periodontist thought it was a "Pregnancy Tumor", even after I assured him I was not, nor have I ever been, pregnant. Well, I survived that. I was told there was a 7-17% chance it would come back. A couple weeks back, I noticed another bump in my mouth in the same place but on the other side.

Fast forward to today, 0830 and I'm sitting in the Dentist's office getting prepped for a crown, but the tumor had to come off since it was sitting right over the tooth that needed the crown. So this morning, I not only got a (nother) temporary crown, but I had my tumor excised. Lovely. I'm really not feeling so hot, and I certainly don't feel like working. I would rather go home and take 5 more advil and just sleep for the next two weeks.

The most unfortunate part??? Thanksgiving is Thursday. I suppose this will persuade me not to overindulge. I stopped for a Jamba Juice today, and I don't even feel like eating that. *sigh*

Friday

0800: Alarm Buzzes
0801-0859 Snoozing and Snuggling
0900: Out of bed
0930: Out of House
1000: Job #1
1200: Lunch with my Nancy Friend
1600: Leave Job #1 (Worked VERY late last night)
1630: Begin Job #2
Anywhere from 2000-2400: Leave Job #2
After that: Running...

and collapse into bed

Why I'm Smiling...

You could say today was just another day, until you stopped to smell the roses anyway. Today was going to just be another day. Believe me! When it was yesterday, today was just going to be another day. In fact, I stood in my bedroom last night and actually said out loud (to myself...), "Oh my word. Today is Wednesday. That means tomorrow is Thursday, and then it's Friday. It's almost Thursday, so it's almost Friday (maybe this is how I lose whole weeks at a time). Today was thus planned to be "just another day". Let me tell you why it is most certainly not. It's because 

i stopped to smell the roses...

It all started with a little snooze. When the alarm went off at 0700, all I wanted to do was snuggle closer to the pumpkin and sleep a little more. I whacked the snooze button and continued in my dream of investigating something or other, when i was jolted back to the very real buzzing in my head... *whack* and I was back, this time at work...? I continued to beat my alarm clock every time it tried to pry me from my dreams, and snuggling, until satisfied with my "snoozing". 0815 I padded into the bathroom and proceeded to "lather, rinse, and repeat". Normally, when I finally realize I've been snoozing and it is already 0745, in all my frustratedness I chew my pumpkin out for skipping another class. Mostly because I have now missed the bus, and was hoping for a ride to work, but reluctantly take the bus. This is the usual Thursday routine. Thankfully, today we shook things up a bit. Joshy made eggs for breakfast. I scooped out the last of the salsa and a dollop of sour cream and mixed it all together. It was delightful! Breakfast with my love! Couldn't have been better! My shirt had all kinds of sweater fuzz on it, so Josh took to it with a lint roller. It was so much fun to actually feel married again. To feel like we were more than just roommates, co-habitants of a (somewhat messy) 3rd floor apartment. It gets to feeling that way, not to mention mundane splashed with loneliness.

The journey continues with bendy flowers drooping over to persuade me to stop and look, and even smell....
I'm pretty darn lucky if yaknowwhaddimean...

I've had a run of bad luck so far this week, but it doesn't matter. The fragrance of flowers is overpowering the bitterness of an well-beaten path. For instance:

This is what my pretty shiny silver car looked like Monday night after a "run-in" with a pole (pun very much intended). What, you can't see it? See how the pole is white? and it has those marks?? Marks = car.

The Culprit: The neighbors REALLY need to retake Parking 101...or at least take it for the first time. This is their car, over on our side of the line (I know I sound like a child who has divided a shared room down the middle "don't even cross the barrier")

Another "mug shot" (the poles are the edge of their space--we park to the right of them)

The Victim: My pretty car, all beat up and broken.

The Crime from another angle...

I'm so glad I have the loving husband I do, you know, the one that didn't get upset about the car...being on the pole and a few bits on the ground. He wasn't upset about the amount of money it will cost (and I'm fairly certain he won't be too upset about it). After all, as my Dad says, "aren't you glad it's just money?"

Dare I say, Popcorn Popping...?

Salt Lake was dumped on with glistening white snow. I do not like to drive in the snow, and I think it is a pain in the neck to deal with, but when you stop and think about it, it sure is pretty. I took this picture from work (The Roof) a couple of Wednesdays ago. Pretty, right?

As I plunked down at the bus stop and spotted the bus just down the street, I remembered I forgot my keys! No matter, it was just another excuse to see husband Josh. My keys, a smooch, and he was off.

On Tuesday, we put an offer on another house, in hopes we would be "home for the holidays". Unfortunately, interest rates were up again, and we didn't feel comfortable with the counter-offer they submitted. We were of one heart and one mind as we realized we were going to reject. Today we sent the rejection, and lo and behold--the interest rates were back down. No matter, we still feel we made the right decision. I loved how good it felt to be completely together on a big decision like that. These aren't even all the reasons I'm smelling flowers today, but I hope to tread this path, and many more like it, far more often. I'd like to frequent the path of flowers that stand to greet me as I pass, hoping they'll be noticed by this traveler. Best part...

                  today they were........

Seriously, I'm Shocking

...Or at least my shorts are...

Saturday was a quick gym day, I only had about 40 minutes, so I spent 35 on the treadmill, and then only about 5 minutes doing ab stuff. Anyhow, I was in a hurry so I grabbed the first pair of gym shorts in the drawer, and off I went. I happened to grab my basketball shorts (read: long shorts) that I have worn quite a few times before (and without incident I should add), but Saturday I had my headphones plugged into the t.v. on the treadmill, and I kept getting shocked. All I could figure is basketball shorts material isn't the greatest for running--especially if your thighs touch when you walk/run. I guess I'll stick with the shorty-short running shorts that won't shock me (sorry people on machines behind me...!).

The Polls are Open

I know I have asked some of you with great seriousness your opinions on buying a house. I have set up a poll on the right side of my blog, and I expect you all to vote. :o) I know that none of us really know what will happen, and predictions can be wrong all the time. This is your chance to opine on my blog. Let me know what YOU think will happen. You can vote based on what you think will happen on a National Level, or just based on whichever state you live in (and you International readers--we're talking U.S.) Besides, I'm having Blog-Block--nothing to write about right now. Get to voting! Polls are open for one week.

Pensive

So they say that change is good, right? Let's hope the changes we have in the next 4 years as a Nation, are good (I hope this no matter who the President is--though we already know). I have had a lot of little things rolling around in my empty head today, and I'm feeling pretty contemplative. I'm proud to be an American. I am proud to live in a country where we are afforded so many freedoms, and I only hope I can truly appreciate all the freedoms I do have. I strongly believe that no matter who I voted for for this election, we now have chosen a President for the next 4 years, and it is his duty to uphold our freedoms, and lead this country to the best of his ability. I also believe that it is our responsibility as Americans, as people belonging to the Nation he leads, to support him, and to respect him, and to honor him. We may not agree on all the issues he brings up, but he is still the President of the United States and whether or not he demands that respect as an individual, his position demands our respect. He may be the President, but we still have a voice through Senators, so I encourage all to make it known to your individual State Senators when you disagree (or agree) with certain issues that may come up. It is our responsibility. In Obama's words, "And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too."

For fear of sounding preachy, I'm hesitant to go on, but I'm going to continue anyway. I'll admit, the "economic crisis" we are in, makes me a little nervous sometimes. I just wish we had that magic little crystal ball that could tell us we are going to be fine in the future. In some ways, we already do. I believe that if we are living righteously (by whatever you and your religious definitions of that word are), we will be protected by the Lord. He will support and sustain His people as long as they are still "His people". I believe we are "His people" by the way we live our lives, and by which things we choose to make the focus in our lives. I know He loves us very much, and doesn't want ill to come to us, but sometimes, that it is necessary. Not to say he causes these things to happen to us, but rather, he allows trials to happen to us. Isn't that the point of being here? To pass the tests of life, whatever they may be, to prove ourselves worthy to be with Him again?

Said crystal ball would be particularly helpful as we decide whether to keep looking for houses, or to wait a little while. There are good and bad sides to it all. Finding the answers to such questions doens't come easily to me. Let's not forget that I happen to be a huge worry wart as of late.

One other thing rolling around in my head: Family. I love my family. My Lewis families, and my Higbee families. I do. I love them both, and I'm so happy to be a part of a family. I especially love my Josh family. I am thankful for the support our families are to both of us, and I'm missing certain families, as they live so far away. I'm so priveleged to have been born into, and to have married into, such amazing families. Parents with great knowledge, and are very shrewd. I appreciate each of them for their dedication to their church, to their beliefs, and to the importance of families. I love them all--even all you crazy cousins (inclusive of the "cousins-in-law"). I'm also thankful for great friends, who know we are still good friends, though I don't seem to have a lot of time to show them that.

I'm stepping off the soap box, but seeing as this is my blog, I'm allowed to opine. :o)