The Woes...

So we've been trying to sell our house for several months now. I know, it's a bad market, a terrible time to sell, the wrong economy - but the right time for us (we think). We wanted to go to Logan, but that didn't happen, so we were hoping to sell our home and rent or live somewhere cheap for a while so we can send Art to school. BUT, it seems that's not going so well.
We had the big realtor tour today where they come and visit and then leave comments. Pretty much the same thing over and over "curb appeal is not so good, but the inside is gorgeous!" As if I didn't know that! I know just how I would fix the curb appeal, if I had the money - do you see the problem here?? We would love to pour a new driveway, build a garage, put on new siding, and sparkle up the outside, but that's a pretty extensive, and expensive, project. If we could sell the house we would have money for that, but wait...that doesn't quite work....
So here I sit, eating entirely too many leftover delicious cookies taking out my real-estate frustrations on my blog. Stupid realtors.
(On top of that, I have Pandora on "funk" and the song "Freak-a-zoid" is playing - there is something wrong with this day!)

Lazy Summer Days...

I try to avoid lazy summer days. I really despise lazy summer days, but there is no way to fill every second of my day with chores. So, I try to get caught up on my reading during the summer (I fall horribly behind during the school year as I can not keep my eyes open!)
I began my summer reading with a Harry Potty rereading (that's what he's called in our house, it makes Roxy and Erik giggle). There is a movie coming out and I need to get the facts fresh in my head so I can give an accurate critical judgement of the movie - so why not reread the series. Harry Potty is great, that's just all there is to it! (and I'm so glad she put the romance in at the end, I do love the idea of Ginny and Harry having adorable genius wizard children....)

Next I discovered the 3rd book in the City of Ember series (Yes, there are 4 books total, but one is a really stupid prequel). It was an interesting story that kept me going with some pretty good twists and turns, but the details and explanation were just not as intriguing as The City of Ember. I am a fan of the series, I like the idea, and it's a great connection to our study of Electricity, (and I love getting kids hooked in a series because then they just keep reading!!) I also like kids to read this before they read The Giver, which can be fairly intense if you are not prepared - the City of Ember is a light warm-up to the idea.

Somewhere in here I read a couple of REALLY STUPID romance novels, jeez, seriously - how do people tolerate such nonsense... (sorry if you love a romance novel, maybe I just pick terrible ones, but they are always so empty - I'll stick to kids books)

Next up, a lighthearted, easy Mormon reader. It's a cute book that Jamie sent me to read on a day "when you don't want to think". It is the story of a year in high school as told by various characters. They come from a variety of groups and find themselves intertwined in peculiar ways. It is a great book when you don't feel like thinking.

Last, but certainly not least, Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. This story is based on the life of the authors Great-Grandmother. It is a rivetting tale of life on the Montana prairies, and paints such beautiful pictures of nature, and the relationships within. The main character is a cross between Anne of Green Gables, Laura Ingalls, and Sarah Plain and Tall - she's quite the character. I was most taken by the voice in this novel which truly puts you in the story and fills you with emotion. A fantastic read!

Next up, going to try some adult books (adult - as in they don't come from the children's section of the library. Grown-up books are so hard for me - cut the rambling details and get to the point!)... As well as eat away at the pile of books that are "must reads" from my students. So many books, so little time. (And yes, there is so little time, because when I start reading I usually fall asleep so my reading usually occurs in tiny bursts.)

weakness....

I've been up since 12:30 AM (see prior post about the evil dentist)...
During my long hours I have drank gallons, literally, of water, but have not been able to find anything to eat. So here I sit, waiting to go to my dentist appointment (thankfully my dentist is kind enough to find space for me!) and clicking about on the internet. And this is what I stumble upon....Good Grief. Normally, I would just start baking, because - why not? But I have to go to the dentist, he's thwarted me again!
So I head off cookie-less, finally finding something worth eating, but having to leave with an empty but watering mouth. But I'll have you know, I'm leaving the butter on the counter - there are cookies in my future....
So much for eating healthy....

Dumb Dentist...

I went to the dentist last week for a regular check-up and cleaning. No problems, in and out, easy right??
Never.
Of course I have Nielson teeth, so they suck. I have fillings and a possible root canal - that is not pleasant, but I can handle it.
The thing that gets to me, is ever since I left the dentist - I've had a TOOTHACHE! Remember, before = NO problems, After = Stupid aching mouth.
Dumb Dentist....

Jamie, You're not alone....

It was a good morning...5:45 am - Lunches had been made, Art had been fed and sent off to work, the dishes were done, the bread was proofed and rising, the laundry was started, the bed made, and I was just getting ready to sit down and eat my breakfast before we (the dogs and I) went walking. Just as I got the water added to my oatmeal, I turned around to put it into the microwave, whacked the dish against the fridge and sent the oatmeal flying. Yes, oatmeal flies.
It's hard to see in the picture, as oatmeal is beige (had it been hot fudge it would have been a better picture...) but from the above perspective, oatmeal covered the floor, garbage can, railing, wall, stairs, all the way up to the picture hanging above the stairway!
I don't know if you've ever had the opportunity to clean up oatmeal, but let me tell you this. It is not easy. It is neither dry, therefore flaking off; nor is it sticky, therefore easily wiped up, it is instead a vicious version of both...falling off the walls covering the stairs, while wedged into the cracks of every orifice.
So, now I've wiped up the kitchen floor, walls, railing, etc., vacuumed the stairs and succumbed to eating Apple Jacks - it was of course, the last packet of oatmeal...my walk is now running late, but at least I got to make Jamie feel better about herself (only makes sense if you regularly read her blog), and I don't even have pregnancy brain to blame.

sleep....

So it's summer, which means staying up late to enjoy those cool evening hours, and slowly crawling out of bed far into the morning. Well, that's what it means to MOST people...but me - not so much.

You see, Art is working a new schedule - his day starts at 6 AM and he works until 4:30, Monday-Thursday; then on Friday he works from 6-3:30; and on Saturday he works from 6-11:30... And with a 30 minute drive to work...that means we're all up at 5 - every day (and I mean every day, because by Sunday, my body and my dogs are so used to getting up at 5, that's what time we get up.)
I really don't have a problem with the morning - I'm an early bird. I function at 5 AM, however, I do not function at 9 PM, and this schedule is making it truer than ever.
Proof in point, last night we crawled in bed, cozied up in the blankies, shut all the blinds...and the room still sparkled with sunlight. As I got back up to find a way to block the light beating through the bathroom window, I glanced out to see that shining golden orb far from the horizon, over the fence the neighbor boy was mowing the lawn, out behind us the neighbor kids were busily scrambling up the ladder and going down their slide, a family rode by on their bikes, a few teenagers went skating past laughing, the world was still on the move, and we, well, I, was climbing in bed to join my already soundly sleeping husband....it was 8:30, and the young married couple with no children were off to sleep.

Sustainable Arts

I have spent the week at a class at the University of Utah called, "Sustainable Arts". I signed up for the Arts portion but was so fascinated by sustainable end of it, I was sucked in. We danced, painted, acted, and sang about the importance of saving the earth, and the principals of sustainability.

I have to say that it was kind of hard to find the motivation to get up and drive across the valley every day, but it was so worth it! Yesterday was our culminating project where we all taught an earth friendly mission that included all 4 art forms. It was so interesting to watch how these complicated concepts became simplified for kids and moved in such a creative way. We danced and moved for 7 straight hours yesterday, it was exhausting, but so incredible all at the same time. We began and ended with this song called "Save the Earth", which was beautifully sung by our Drama Chair, and danced by us!! Imagine 30 grown women, dancing, singing, and moving this song - and when it was over we all cheered, "Let's do it again! do it again!!"
The Arts work.

(Video will be posted later, when we get the DVD of our work.)