Sharing our feelings

Since it seems like we're all sharing our feelings here on our blogs, I'll join in, although be prepared: as with most of what I write, it's tongue-in-cheek.

I have to express my gratitude that Heavenly Father blesses me in spite of my lack of faith. I asked specifically today for two things: One, that I would not throw up in the middle of my final exam for my BYU class, and two, that I would be able to remember at least the things I studied. Both requests were granted. This proves to me that I need to stop worrying and start believing, because honestly, most of my prayers are answered, and they're usually answered in the way I asked for them to be.

I'm also having some feelings about Harry Potter. No, I don't imagine myself WITH him in any significant way or anything like that (get our minds out of the gutter!). I just have this nagging worry in my mind that Book 7 will come out, I'll cheat and look at the last page, and he'll be gone. Lots of people had the same worry prior to Book 6's release and he was fine (although we had to deal with the collective anguish of losing Dumbledore). It's one thing to have the books over and done with; another thing completely to have him leave his fictional existence forever. And honestly - it's not like he'll die and Voldemort will die, but then Harry gets to be resurrected. There's only one way that happens and we'll all have to wait for that. On the other hand, what a shame if someone else (traitor!) were to continue the series after Rowling dies - or even 50 years from now - and we get another "Scarlett?" Remember that scene on the beach?

Fortunately, I have a lot of other things to do besides mull this over constantly. Either way, life goes on for me (unless that semi with my name on it comes around the corner) and it's only going to get busier at this point.

While I'm on the topic of second-rate sequels - what was up with that last Anne of Green Gables movie - "Anne: The Continuing Story?" I think it would have been better NOT to have continued the story. They garbled the plot and, let's face it, Anne looks about 48 years old. Let's stop now before we get seriously depressed.

"Wish I was an English muffin about to make the most out of a toaster..."

Itching to travel

Happy Friday!

Ever since we moved into our new house, we no longer have "expanded basic cable," which includes channels like TLC, HGTV, etc. We now have "basic cable" because we had to get the cable internet connection anyway for Dan, and it was as cheap to have the basic cable as it was to go without. The trouble is, basic cable includes the major networks, TBS, religious channels, local channels, and every home shopping channel known to mankind. It also includes the Travel Channel. That is my downfall. The elimination of cable (mostly) from my life is a positive thing, but now I find myself soaking up the travel shows, and I'm getting the itching again to just go. Dan and I have this loose plan to go to Spain for our 10th wedding anniversary, so I think that's going to be my earliest opportunity. I hold onto hope that I will have the opportunity to travel someday because of a promise in my patriarchal blessing. I hope it meant I would actually travel and not just get a lifetime subscription to National Geographic.

Let me take just a few sentences to thank everyone who actually reads this blog. It's not the funniest, most well-written, or most revelatory blog in the world but it does provide a way for me to make some record of my life and work out the thoughts that sometimes fill my mind (I don't have a Pensieve to put them in.) Even if no one reads this I can "count" it as my journal writing, I hope.

"I'd save the receptionist. I just wanted to clear that up." (I was once a receptionist so I must agree.)

Poll

To all my LDS friends reading this blog: How many church callings do you have? I'd just like to know. Thanks for sharing.

I've had sort of a bad morning, and a crummy week. The only thing that will bring it back is two straight hours of ""My Name is Earl" and "The Office," which is pretty sad when you think about it - that only television can clear my head and give me some perspective. My frustration level is at the max, which I think has to do with hormones and stuff, but it doesn't make it any easier. I have to say this somewhere and cyberspace is as good as anywhere else.

In brighter news, at least North Muskegon isn't drowning in a flood like Houston or burning to a crisp like Sedona, Arizona. All things considered, it's a good day!

"Happiness depends not on what happens outside of you, but what happens inside of you." - Harold B. Lee

That's one long month

I realized when I was about to post this that I haven't blogged in a month. Unfortunately, like many other things, this has become sort of a "low-priority" item these days. So what's more important? Being sick all day, mostly - paying homage to the "porcelain god" on a regular basis, although for an excellent cause.

I have just a few beefs to make - this early in the morning I can't possibly be anything but cranky, right? - and this will, alas, have to be the place to put them.

First, I have to say that the death penalty is wrong. I'm sorry if everybody reading this is now calling me a bleeding-heart liberal (and they'd be wrong), but I just can't believe that a bunch of imperfect humans, with an incomplete knowledge of the situation (including the motives, intents, and feelings of the accused), can make such a final decision. All I know is, I certainly don't want the responsibility. And I get as mad and upset as anyone else at these criminals, who end people's lives and destroy families and all the rest. It's just that I believe that the final judgement rests with God, not with Judge Anybody or Governor Whatsit. So, present a compelling argument if you can, and if you really believe it.

Then I have to beef a little bit about the inappropriate use of the apostrophe in today's English. Now, I am a bit of a nut about spelling, anyway, if not English grammar, but this is getting out of hand - I see BILLBOARDS over the highway with incorrect usage! Here's the rule: You do NOT need to use an apostrophe to make something plural. You can just write "chickens," not "chicken's." Unless something belongs to the chicken, when of course you use the apostrophe to make the word possessive: "the chicken's egg." Or unless you want to shorten the phrase with a contraction: instead of the "The chicken is sleeping" you could use the apostrophe to say, "The chicken's sleeping." My main problem is that everybody and their cousin uses the darn apostrophe to make words plural, and it's a waste of a perfectly good penstroke (or keystroke). Even my husband's sign company has produced signs with this problem. Maybe in my next career I'll be a copy editor.

My last complaint (thank goodness; who's still reading this?) is about people who have nothing better to do, and so make trouble for others. I have an uncle like this: he's always trying to get me involved in things I care nothing about, or he'll call me and complain about something over which I have no control, usually church-related. But it doesn't just happen to me. We have a girl in our neighborhood (probably early 20's in age) who raises hens at a family member's farm north of here, then sells the eggs in our neighborhood. They're cage-free, organic, all the rest. Most of the neighborhood, myself included, appreciate her weekly stops to ask if we'd like to buy eggs. But one cranky person, probably older than dirt, decided to call City Hall and complain about her, thus requiring her to buy a license to run a business in North Muskegon. Oh, come ON! At $2 a dozen I'd hardly call it a business. Honestly. For those of us busy with a million different things (kids, work, church, house, etc.) this is unbelieveable.

On a more positive note: I have an amazing family. My husband has taken to washing dishes and laundry for the duration, and my daughter pats my back while I ralph. My mom, sisters, and aunts have been baby-sitting machines, helping me finish my BYU class or just giving me a break. And at least some of the men in the family freely gave their time to help Dan with the roof last weekend. I'd better stop now, because my gratitude list could go on forever.

"Cash your dreams before they slip away."