Infinite

This was a challenging topic for me. I finally borrowed an idea for eternity from elsewhere, as infinite and eternity are very closely aligned.

This is a photo of our bathroom mirror reflecting its various decorations, Ron at age 14ish, the Cardston Temple, the moon & attendant stars on and on for infinity. . . .

February 27, 2008

Today was another pretty unremarkable day. It was a cool, sunny day. I Took the bus to school, attended class and rode the bus home. . . .

Now that I think about it, there was an incident on the bus that was pretty unusual. People spend a lot of time complaining about how rude and uncaring some of the bus drivers are. On the way to school, I noticed three young girls get on the bus and they were gabbing and giggling in their little gaggle. Next, the bus driver was asking them questions. After a few confused looks, they realized that one had left her purse at the stop where they had gotten on the bus. At the next stop, our bus pulled over, the forgetful one ran to the bus waiting behind us, retrieved the abandoned item and returned. It struck me that someone picked up her purse for her (presumably without rifling through it) and two bus drivers actually coordinated with each other to get it back to her quickly. It was a little thing, and took lees than a minute, but in this day of automation, voice-mail and bureaucracy it was nice to see some humanity and kindness practiced.

Have a great evening. . .

February 26, 2008

The last two days have been just gorgeous, but this morning is a bit gray. The snow is almost completely gone.

After church on Sunday, we watched the RM, then had dinner. For those who haven't seen the RM; It is a movie about a returned LDS missionary. He finds a different world when he gets home beginning with his is family having moved while he is away. It is cute and has a kind-of sappy love story in it too.

Yesterday was the first day back at classes for me after the week off. I walked around in a half fog, but all-in-all it was a pretty uneventful day. I did get my genetics quiz back, and I did fairly well on it.

Today is my long day so I had better "get on my horse" and get going now.

February 23, 2008

The ice on the river is really breaking up now. I shot this yesterday (the camera's date setting is off by 12 hours).

Ron and I went to the local home center where we picked up a few new toys with the gift cards he was given at his retirement last year. We added a planer, reciprocal saw and a new cordless drill to our tool collection.

last night after dinner at home with the kids, Ron and I me Jim and Linda at the show to see Vantage Point. It was a very good movie.

Today was puttering day. . .Ron and the boys helped a friend move, the girls and I baked chocolate chip cookies, I helped Elizabeth with a school project, made flan, vacuumed, then Ron, Dax and I built a new kitty scratching post/condo structure. Patchy seems to like the condo part, now we'll see if they actually use the scratching post part;

Tonight we had a "TV Dinner" and watched "While You Were Sleeping" during dinner. The kids had never seen it and I think they really enjoyed it.

Today started out gray, but it turned into a nice sunny day in the 50's.

February 21, 2008

Today was very laid-back. After I got the second of my physics problems out of the way, we met Jim and Linda for lunch, I'll bet you never guess where! (It starts with a C and ens with o and has ostc in the middle) We got updated on Linda's trip to Las Vegas, it sounded like they had a great time.

We had plans to vacuum and dust, but we ended-up napping in front of the idiot box instead. Not much ese going on, the sun was out again and it was another cool, but beautiful day.

Picture perfect- Shadow

This is the Earth's shadow on the moon. I got this picture of the lunar eclipse last night. Since I can't use a cable release on my camera, I had to do a bit of retouching to get the dual image out, but I think it came out OK for an amateur.

February 19, 2008

Yesterday was spent hooking the water and ice-maker part of the fridge up. It only took the normal 3 trips to the hardware store before we got it figured out.

We met Jim and he treated us to lunch at his favorite establishment. Afterward, I got out the scissors and clippers. Everyone got their ears lowered and everyone had a different request. Kaili wanted "side bangs" and a long layer cut, Ellie wanted a "Bob with front bangs", Adam and ron wanted buzz cuts and Dax wanted his short on the sides, but long on the top. He has really gotten into "primping" to the point that I think he is worse than the girls. I think everyone was relatively happy with the results. I shot this picture this evening as the older three and Ron were running out for activities. I don't think my smartie-pants husband thought I would really post it. . .

I wrestled with a couple of my physics problems this morning for a few hours and went through a little of my old financial stuff and did some organizing while Ron ran kids to music and art lessons.

This evening Ellie and I played Wii sports while the others were out for the evening. It was another beautiful sunny day today. The snow is making a quick exit and the river ice is breaking up now. That's my story for today.

February 17, 2008 Bye-Bye Sweet Spike

Today was a bitter-sweet one for me.

Church was nice, Kaili gave a wonderful talk and Adam, Elizabeth and I sang with the choir for the intermediate hymn.

After church, we had 23 for "Mexican" dinner (including our 6). I did most of the food prep yesterday after Ron, Adam, Dax and I wrestled the new (to us) behemoth refrigerator up the stairs. It is really nice to have a decent sized fridge to hold everything now. We only have a little repainting and wall patching to do after the refrigerator "adventure".

One of the couples came over to adopt Spike. The kids haven't really been caring for her as well as they could and I have gotten tired of nagging them about it. We spend nearly all summer away from home, so she doesn't get the socialising she would like (or I would like her to have). This couple have quite a menagerie and they really care for their animals. Matt has even owned an iguana in the past and really wanted another. I felt a little saddened to see her go, but I know she will be much better-off in her new home.

February 15. . Flag Day

Here's some trivia for you. . .The new Canadian flag was first flown at Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965.

Today was pretty nice weather-wise. The bus ride to school was basically uneventful. At one stop a very loud and fairly obnoxious woman got on. She yelled to some friends at the back of the bus from the front about how she had just been fired from her job so she has the day off now. She joined them, but continued speaking very loudly about how many @#%^ skills she has dude and how @#%# the company is for firing her for using a $%#@ racial slur on the phone with a customer, "but I got lots of skills, dude. I gotta drop off my resume at this place then I can go smoke with ya, dude". . . blah. . . blah. . . blah. It is really nice to be able to plug into the MP3 player and tune out for a bit even if it didn't quite drown out the profanity laced ignorance we were all subjected to.

I got my calculus mid-term back already. Let's just say I passed it but, just barely. As far a math goes, a pass is a pass.

The genetics quiz today was VERY challenging! I think I finally figured most of it out in the end though.

Ron picked me up after school and we gathered the stuff for Sunday afternoon's repast and an appliance dolly. Hopefully we will get the fridge in and hooked up tomorrow early so I can get most of the food prepared tomorrow, then only have to pop it into the oven after church on Sunday.

Valentine's Day 2008

Today drastically improved after 5:20 when I left my last class. The calculus mid-term was so painful that I was still numb for the physics mid-term.

When I got home, I found the girls all dressed up for the occasion complete with very creative cards they had made for Ron and I. Ron had a very nice dinner all ready, complete with a chocolate cake with cherry jam in the middle. He had also picked up a collector's pin for me in Disneyland and a tote bag, CD and journal at Deseret Books last month.

I am still feeling a bit wrung out and will be glad to stay home all next week, even if I will be doing physics homework the whole time!

February 13, 2008

Here's the "new do" I gave to myself yesterday. It is a lot like the late 1970's revisited.

Today was beautiful and sunny and pretty uneventful.

I am beginning to get to know a few of my fellow bus riders now, and they are beginning to engage me in conversation now.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed about the 2 mid-terms tomorrow. I have been working on calculus, but we'll see how much I remember come test time. Physics is covering optics and waves, my two best physics topics last year. He says half of the questions will be conceptual, but he likes to sling the numbers around. I'm not sure this prof. really understands what it means to be not mathematically minded. He has also filled next week's reading "break" with several assignments, OH YIPPEE (NOT!!!)

It looks like there will be about a dozen extra folks here for dinner on Sunday, that will be nice. I'm probably going to make 4 pans of enchiladas (hopefully there will be one left over to freeze for later).

OK, off to the idiot box for the evening, I plan to get back on the studying first thing in the morning, when I hope to be fresh.

February 12, 2008

This is an annual appearance on the side of the street on my way to school. Someone colors this ice fall a few times each winter, and I always look forward to seeing it when they do.

Yesterday started with a cool walk and the bus ride to school. Fortunately, I found a different route to ride home so I'm saved the forced march between buses.

I started this morning with a new haircut. I'll post a new picture one of these days so you can see what I did to it.

Today was pretty warm, although it was dark and gloomy for much of the day. I am starting to feel a little bit of panic about the midterms later this week.

Not much happening besides school in my world right now. . .

February 10, 2008

Yesterday much of my day was spent wrestling with physics problems. I did finally manage to figure them out in the end.

Jim and Linda (complete with her cast) came over and we had tea and cookies for much of the afternoon. It was really nice to sit and chat for a bit and take a break from schoolwork and the routine. Ron, Jim and the boys started to wrestle with the fridge, but we really need to rent an appliance dolly to get it into the house and up the stairs. I am very hopeful it will be accomplished by week's end.

Church was interesting today as I didn't know about 1/4 of the people who are now in my ward. Several of my friends were missing, as they are now in the other ward. It will be good to get to know new folks again.

I have 2 midterms on Thursday (calculus and physics), then a genetics quiz on Friday. The following week is reading break so I won't have any classes to attend. I decided to start my break off with a bang and invite a bunch of people over for a "Mexican meal" after church next Sunday.

February 8, 2008

Today was very frustrating for me on the physics front. I understand the physics concepts, but I continue to really struggle with the math part of it.

Tonight Ron is playing chauffeur for the youth dance, so he and the boys will be out until late. I asked the girls if they wanted to have dinner out and they chose Dairy Queen. I think they didn't want to miss too much television as they don't get to watch it during the week.

It was snowing again this morning, but we still don't have more than about 6 inches in the front yard. It has warmed up considerably since last week and remains just around freezing.

Picture perfect- Water

This is a photo from a fire I was on in Utah on the hills above Mapleton in the late '90's.

As you can imagine, we were very glad to see water, even if it came with wind to blow the embers around a bit.

February 6, 2008

A friend emailed this to me the other day and I thought it may be good advice for when you are having one of "those" days. . .

When you have an 'I Hate My Job' day, try this:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson and Johnson.

Be very sure you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed.

Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair. Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.

Now the fun part begins. Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement: 'Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized.'

Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times, 'I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control at Johnson & Johnson.'

HAVE A NICE DAY AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE BUTT THAN YOURS!

I woke up with a blazing headache, but fortunately it didn't last too long. I got my genetics quiz back today, I got 14 out of 15, so THAT was great!!!

Other than that today was pretty uneventful around here. On the weather side, it was just above freezing and the wind was calm. The sun was dazzlingly bright this morning.

February 5, 2008

Well, so much for the bus ride yesterday. It was quite nippy outside. I also stayed home long enough to see the announcement of who was named in our new First Presidency live on the internet. I was so glad to see President Eyering and President Uchtdorf named as the counselors to President Monson.

Ron took me to class, then ran errands for the two hours I was there. On our way home we noticed a column of smoke on the North Shore and were saddened to see it was the Japanese-Canadian Cultural Centre. They have some historical artifacts in there and serve a nice udon lunch once a month.

I did really well on last week's calculus quiz (100%), but I think I may have "tanked" on the genetics quiz. . . oh well!!! After speaking to my adviser last week, it seems as though I have about 3 more years at my present pace to get my degree, then another full year for a teaching credential. . . YIKES! I guess I am past the halfway mark at least.

Today was quite windy, but much warmer than it has been. I have had the "crankies" all day and am glad to be home finally. Tuesdays are REALLY long days for me.

February 3, 2008

I was able to snap this shot of the frozen North Thompson River on the way home from church today. It was a beautiful day and around 30 degrees F, so it has warmed up considerably.

Today was filled with BIG changes. As most of you know, we will have a new First Presidency this week. On a local level, we had a special "combined" meeting at church today. The 2 Kamloops wards have been lopsided and getting more so each day. Our primary had 65 children, the 1st ward had 15. We had a very large youth program, whereas the 1st ward essentially had no youth program. The new ward boundaries were announced and sustained this morning. Several of the kid's friends are now in the other ward. I think about 60-70 people went from the second ward to the first ward. The second ward also picked-up a few of the first ward members under the new ward boundaries. It will be very interesting in the next few weeks to see who is in which ward and who is in which calling now. Ron was released as the Elder's Quorum President, but we have been informed the Bishop would like to speak to us as he has something in mind for us. . .

Kaili has really been down with the ickies again. She stayed home in bed all day yesterday and today. Ron and I are both still feeling less than energetic, but we did manage to get the old dishwasher removed and the "new" one upstairs and installed yesterday. It seems to be working just fine. (The kids are VERY thankful to have it in operation). Next, (this week?) we will need to get the fridge installed. Our old one has several broken shelves, besides being far too small for our gang. The "new" one has an ice-maker and water in the door, which will be really nice.

I think I am going to give the bus a try again tomorrow, we'll see how it goes. . .

February 1, 2008

Tonight for date night, we met up with our friends Jim and Linda at Costco. We had a nice time chatting for awhile in the food court. We were going to go to the show or the home trade show or something, but we just called it an early evening instead. I took a quiz in each of my three courses today and I'm still a bit run down from being sick last week, so dog food shopping was probably about the right amount of excitement for me this evening anyway.It wasn't super cold today (just barely below freezing), but it was snowing a bit while we were out. I think there is something wrong with our crazy canook friend's personal thermostat though. As the rest of us were donning hats, scarves and gloves to make our way out into the evening, he was harassing us with "what are ya cold or somethin'?" The picture is Jimmy sporting HIS cool weather attire in the parking lot this evening.

Ron has had his hands full trying to keep the kids on track with their schooling this week, plus he took them all for immunizations and boosters yesterday. Tomorrow, I am hoping we can pull the defunct dishwasher out and see about getting the one we brought north with us installed, we'll see how much energy we have in the morning.

Hitting the hay, g'night all