"Guess what we were doing last week at this time?"

I'm just using mom's favorite expression to start a conversation. "Guess what we were doing last week at this time?"Poopy, er, I mean "Poppy," always looks adorable!
The new toy yet to be released: The Micah spinning top.

Thankfully, Smiley the dog did not eat our chickens.


Wilbur and Reed's leg.

I love this picture!

Harry Potter came out the same weekend the other Edges visited, and Ricky did his best to concentrate and read...say, Rick, have you finished it yet?

This spot was Smiley's favorite spot while he was visiting. Now the chicks claim it as theirs!

Swim Meet

I got the opportunity to swim the grueling and intense race known as the 400 IM. It's a combination of all four strokes, for 400 meters. (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle.) And my dear coach told me this morning to go all out this morning, because we'll probably have a thunderstorm tonight, and the prelims will be counted as finals.
So I go hard as I possibly can. I got a decent time, only 3 seconds off my personal best time. I'm content with that. What's more, I got first in the prelims!
Come night. I swam a leg of a relay, the 200 free, 100 breaststroke...and the clouds are getting closer and closer and closer.... but not close enough soon enough. I had to swim that dern 400 IM again! So I race as hard as I can, and it hurt so bad...but I went a very good time! My personal best time in three years! Yay!
"Girls, get out of the pool right now! There's lightning, and...clear the pool now!"

Ugh...even though I was praying for that storm to be here before the 400 IM, I'm glad it didn't. It was worth the pain to get a best time.

The storm was pretty intense at Kearns, but once we hit about 90th, completely dry. Three soaked bodies in a soaked car on a dry road....

But just now? The storm finally came here! (That never seems to happen...)

Running Around the U

I drove to the TRAX, only to miss the train by a literal two seconds. I hastily bought my ticket, and ran to the train, pushed the button for the doors to open, but, alas! They didn't open. And the train took off.
So I got to wait for only fifteen minutes for the next train. Then I was off towards downtown. I successfully made it to the U, only to scamper about searching for certain buildings. I did have a map, but no sense of direction, so I had a difficult time.
I finally found the Henry Eyring Building, the building full of chemistry.
After realizing the building is more like two interconnected buildings, I finally found the academic advisor's office. He wasn't there. So I waited around in the hallway. A tall man in coke-bottle glasses greeted me with, "Do you want to graduate?"
Appalled by this question, I meekly said yes, and followed him into his office. He looked confused. I started the conversation by saying that I'm thinking about majoring in chemistry. He asked me what classes I've done so far...he didn't realize that I was a brand new freshman. He assumed that I was a junior or at least a sophomore.... well, I guess people learn new things everyday.
He talked to me about chemistry majors, and how wonderful they are, and that if I graduate with a chemistry major, I'm very welcome to join the research team there, etc., etc., etc.
Then he asks me what background I have. I told him I got a two on my AP chem test...he looked a little disturbed. "So, what would Mr. Statler tell me about you?"
Uh....
Anyhow, I told him I needed a little bit of help getting the classes I need because they're all full. He proceeds to do it on the computer then and there, but the power went out in the entire building. Which is apparently not a good thing because there are labs and experiments in progress, and the ventilation system is down, and some experiments might go awry without the proper power to keep them going...
So he writes down my name and number on a sheet of his "high-tech paper" and the classes I need.
I hope I get them...his office is very cluttered and unorganized...that paper with my name and needs on it may never resurface...

I'm not so sure...

I'm not so sure about the accuracy of these. But the results were amusing. Thought I'd share with ya.

You're Animal Farm!

by George Orwell

You are living proof that power corrupts and whoever leads you will
become just as bad as the past leaders. You're quite conflicted about this emotionally
and waver from hopelessly idealistic to tragically jaded. Ultimately, you know you can't
trust pigs. Your best moments are when you're down on all fours.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

You're a Mongoose!

Famous and fabled, you are well-loved by those around you, especially
those above you. You rise to many challenges, and your speed and agility allow you
to outwit those you don't like and others hate. While you don't appear vicious,
your unassuming appearance helps draw people into underestimating you. You really
like the name Rikki.


Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

"Hairy Pottah"

I told everyone that I'm not really into this last book. I'm tired of the same plot and formula used for fantasy series. An ordinary person is pulled into an extrodinary world, and they are the ones to save it from evil. Their mentor dies, someone evil turns good, and lots of characters die, and then good finally prevails over evil, and everyone (that's left living) lives happily ever after. Woo hoo!

Yesterday morning, I was driving to work, perfectly free from the Pottah world. But then I saw Harmon's. And I couldn't resist. In all of five minutes, I walked in, found the book, waited in line, and bought it. After work, I was plunged into the final (and concluding) book of Harry Potter. I read and read, only to take some short breaks.
Finished around one last night.

All I can say is, "I knew it!" Most of my predictions and musings that I made since reading the sixth book came true.

I could've done without the epilogue at the very end, though. It took away some of the effect. I would have enjoyed imagining what the future would've been like, but Rowling doesn't allow us to think about that. She'll tell you.

So, Pottah fan or not, I'm just very glad for a conclusion. And a confirmation that most of my suspicions were right.

PDA

Why the heck do teenagers (and even pre-teens) like to break off into couples, and in case no one knew that they were "going out," they have to slobber all over each other in public?
It's disgusting!
It's insecure!
It's immature!
It's infatuation!
As a lifeguard, you notice that many couples apparently think that the pool is a romantic spot to do their slobbering. I know from years of experience that the pool is indeed not a romantic place to dwell in. The water is disgusting...but we won't delve into that right now.
It's bad enough when you see little 12-year-olds doing it. It's disgusting. Who are their parents? When I was 12, I wasn't even thinking about boys...I was thinking about...swimming and soccer.

But I've found out something new. PDA is way worse when it's someone you know. I was once considered their "friend," but after graduation, I was no further use for them, and even though we are on the same premises often, they try very hard to ignore me and make it obvious that I'm being ignored. Frankly, I don't care. But when they're kissing and flirting in front of all the little kids I coach, then I'm bothered. Immensely. They apparently kissed underwater. These comments ensue from some of my little swimmers: (Keep in mind, the ones who witnessed are of Spanish descent. So imagine all of these phrases said with a little-kid latino accent...)
"Eww! Gross!"
(Me)"What happened?"
"Adam was kissing that woman in the pink suit underwater!"
(Me)"Are you sure?"
"Yes! I have four witnesses: my eyes, and my goggles!"
(Me) "Oh, that's not good. You should've punched them and told them to cut it out!"
"But Adam would've killed me!"
(Me) "I'll just beat him up if he lays one finger on you."
"Cool! Let's do it next time!"

I'm very tired of PDA. If you must go kiss someone, please go do it in front of your parents. Not at the pool. I've seen enough and yelled at enough to last me a lifetime.
Yes. I do yell at them. While other guards watch with fascination, or politely looking away...I whistle at 'em and tell them to cut it out. Usually the couple look insulted and move to another lonely corner in another pool to kiss, and to kiss so the whole world will witness the couople who will probably break up sooner than you think.

Stupid Reality

I had huge dreams that I was going to become a chemical engineer. I was going to take difficult classes and take on new ideas and use my brain to solve problems!

Enter Reality:

"Hey, you do realize you're probably going to get married and have kids, you know."

"Yes, but so what?"

"Well, being a chemical engineer...what jobs out there with that degree will allow you to be a proper mom?"

"Uhhh....dang."

Earlier this week I had a conversation with a friend who has already gone to college for a year. Beginning college, she wanted to be (i don't know what, enter some complicated term here _______.) But she changed her mind. She decided she wanted to be a health teacher. I asked her why. "Well, it'll sound really corny to you, but I want to be able to spend time with my family, to spend the summer with them..."

And now, I will try to be more sensible...and become a teacher of some sort. Hopefully chemistry or math. That's a more-mommy-oriented job. I can enjoy the summer with my kids and be home when they're also home...

There's nothing wrong with being a teacher.

Today I want to be...

An engineer of some sort. Something exotic sounding.

So In a boring conversation, I can say, "Hello, I'm a geological engineer."

"Hello, I'm a mining enineer"

"Hello, I'm a metallurgical engineer."

But....what if there's no job opportunities in those areas? Hmmmm....

Gaaaah!

It'd be so nice to know what I am working towards.

But I have no idea.

There are so many different unrelated subjects I love, and would love to major in them all! But...I must stick to two, a major and a minor.

But what?

At the moment, I'm leaning towards majoring in chemistry, and minoring in english. Then I'll become a technical writer. Like the one in Dilbert...always writing a "best seller novel", and no one appreciates your writing talents...

Maybe I won't satisfy any of my passions and go into...nursing! A nice flexible loverly job...

Any of you have any suggestions whatsoever?