A higher sense of humor

I got a new calling. For those of you unfamiliar with my faith, it is the practice for each member in a congregation to hold a position to make sure all functions of the congregation are performed.

There are a few 'dreaded' positions foremost the calling of NURSERY LEADER. A close second would be GOSPEL DOCTRINE TEACHER. I got one of those and it wasn't the nursery leader one.

This is where I know God has a sense of humor, for no mortal man would think it a grand idea for ME to teach adults the deep gospel doctrine of the Old Testament. But apparently God does.

And as it turns out, he must have a sense of humor about how I get these calls. For when I was called as the nursery leader, the person in charge made one slight slip and forgot to ASK me before announcing it over the pulpit as is custom. He knew it instantly as my head jerked up in surprise and maybe a 'little' trepidation. This time as it turns out...I was just given a warning. The Sunday School Counselor in charge of teachers gave me a call and the conversation went something like this.

SS: Since you are one of the new Gospel Doctrine Teachers would you mind teaching on Sunday?
ME: I think you have the wrong number...me no speaky english. Oh yeah, and nobody bothered to tell ME that I was a new Gospel Doctrine teacher.

As it all turns though I think this is just a cosmic plan to get Mike to regularly attend class because you KNOW he'll be there when I teach...or else.

Split Personality

I have two personalities. There is Regular Me and Coupon Me. Regular me is kind (mostly), patient(frequently), easy going (often), and thrifty (occasionally). Then there is coupon me. Coupon me is anxious (always), demanding(often), unforgiving (A LOT) and stressful (Always). When I go to a store coupon me is HAPPY when I A. Make A List and B. Bring my coupons. Coupon Me, gets very irritated and indeed has been known to yell at Regular Me, when I make a 'non-coupon' trip to the store then find a couponed item that is either A. on sale or B. not on sale. If the item is on sale Coupon Me berates Regular Me for not bringing the coupons with so I could get the extra super duper deal that Coupon Me thrives on. If the item is not on sale, Coupon Me berates Regular Me for not bringing coupons so 'at least I wouldn't have to pay full price.'

Coupon Me is extremely happy when A. I go coupon shopping and B. The store actually has the advertised items in stock and C. when I get FREE stuff. In fact, Coupon Me likes option C SOOO much that she has (on occasion) bought something like yucky Cheez-It crackers just because they were free. Regular Me HATES Cheez-It crackers and would never purchase them in her right mind. Regular Me's children also hate Cheez-It crackers. Which brings me to my next point.

Does anyone want some Cheez-It Crackers?

Regular Me would like to kick Coupon Me to the curb except for Coupon Me HAS managed to amass a semblance of food storage including a full year's supply of Italian dressing. Coupon Me has also managed to save SOME money. Regular Me has the quandary of whether or not to resubscribe to the local newspapers (times 4). If Regular Me orders the papers, then 1. Her children will continue to be happy that they all get their very own copy of the Sunday comics, but 2. Will also hand total control of the shopping mojo over to Coupon Me for the next six months.

Please Advise.

Poor Customer Service

Poor customer service as in..that poor girl in customer service as in...me. It's been a tough couple of weeks customer service wise. A few Christmas returns, a few broken items, a few wrongly sent (oops) items...the regular.

I had one customer call me to compare my products to **** that he bought at another establishment that will be known as Wally and Mart. He swore at me, and griped at me and complained at me...and this was BEFORE he ordered. I guess it was all a 'butter-up' act for his call AFTER he ordered. You see he designed a grand meat smoker needed a rack, ordered mine then got mad at ME when the rack didn't fit. He wanted me to pay to have MY racks modified. Um...no. I offered a refund and free return shipping. Apparently the racks weren't that bad afterall.

I had a guy order 10 bowls....yep 10, sent them all back.

I had a girl order a box of muffin baking papers...yep ONE box. Then wanted it overnight, so intentionally ordered it overnight, and then, was upset because we expedited it.

But of all my customers there is one that stands out. He shall be known as my hero for the rest of my days in customer service. He ordered 4 Full Size Cooling Racks. They are large...very large in fact. But like many customers he didn't fully read the description. However, in his returned box written on his copied invoice he wrote,

"I need to return these because I am stupid."

Yep, his invoice now enjoys a spot of honor on my office wall and he also got a free spatula for making my day! Thanks Mark from Massachusetts!

Good news on Brenda...

She blogged. A huge accomplishment considering what she has been through.

Welcome back Brenda...though you still have a long road to go to recovering fully...let it be flooded with steady progress.

Randomness

*I've been thinking a lot this weekend...but none of my thoughts have formed sentences as of yet...so here are some of the low lights.

* You shouldn't play Farkle on Sundays...Bad, Bad Luck.

* I have a really great post written, but I can't share until NEXT Sunday...Stay tuned.

* I had a whole bunch of things I was going to blog about...yesterday. Can't remember a one of them today. I'm blogging about nothing, because it seems if I put it off too much my Blog Mojo dies a horrible death and I never remember it. Hopefully I will soon be inspired.

* I am loving a book right now...I wish everyone could read it so I could discuss it with them. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Unfortunately it is due at the library tomorrow and I'm not done. I guess I should quit blogging and go read eh?

Prayers for Brenda

Anyone that has read my blog for more than once has seen my friend Brenda comment on here. She is a great friend. You know those friends that just 'get' you. You can talk about anything with and even if you disagree on an issue you come away enriched and uplifted. That's Brenda.

Brenda needs your prayers today. She is in the ICU with myocarditis. Basically, if I understand correctly, a virus has attacked her heart and the end result is similar to a heart attack.

Jana, if you know anything else, please let us know.

Love you Brenda...Prayers coming your way.

Awards

Today's awards are as follows:

The Clueless Politician Award goes to Nancy Pelosi, (D) Speaker of the House. If this award was given weekly she would win it nearly every time because she stuffs the ballot box. I have been astounded by the 'huh' things that come out of her mouth on a daily basis. Today's 'huh' moment comes with her comment that the election of Scott Brown (R) in Massachusetts, the bluest of blue states is 'not a referendum on healthcare'. Um...let's all say it now. CLUELESS. If it's not about healthcare itself it is MOST certainly about HOW healthcare reform is being brought about.

The Out of Touch Politician Award goes to Mr. Barack Obama and his white house crew. It's a two part award. First, the whitehouse lackey's that when asked by reporters what went wrong with the election after President Obama himself put his support behind Martha Coakley said, "Well we responded as soon as we could, if we had been asked for help earlier we would have helped." Funny thing was only 10 days ago Scott Brown was down by double digits in the polls. His numbers skyrocketed AFTER President Obama got involved. I'm not saying it's a direct result...but...well the result was as I said before...STUNNING.

Second part of the award goes to President Obama again for his actual speech at a campaign rally for Martha. {Someone get him a teleprompter STAT or he is liable to stick his foot in his mouth AGAIN}




The first 1:30 make my point.

The Best Come Back of a Politician Award goes to Scott Brown (R) Senator Elect from Massachusetts. His response to President Obama.

“Mr. President, unfortunately in this economy, not everybody can buy a truck,” Brown said in a statement. “My goal is to change that by cutting spending, lowering taxes and letting people keep more of their own money.”

And last...the Most Clued In Politician Award goes to Democrat Evan Bayh from Indiana

"If you lose Massachusetts and that's not a wake-up call, there's no hope of waking up." -- Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), quoted by ABC News.

For a nice round up of the festivities go here.

Stunning...

That's what the election results of the special election for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in Massachusetts was tonight. Senator Kennedy held his seat for 47 years and the last time there was any republican in the senate from the commonwealth was nearly 40 years ago in 1972. The election results were significant. Scott Brown (R) with 52 percent Martha Coakley (D) with 47. (1 percent went to an independent candidate).

What do I think this means?

That Americans are still Americans. It doesn't matter what party you are, debating bills behind closed doors won't fly. Bribing senators to pass bills in the middle of the night like they did with the senators from Louisiana and Nebraska won't fly. Ramming through a bill as huge and earth shattering as healthcare reform without proper opportunity for those that have to vote on it to even read it through much less study it--WON'T FLY.

Of course republicans will say this is a mandate to follow their lead and possibly shut down ALL reform and democrats will say that it was a poor run by a poor candidate and do all they can to get the bill passed before they seat this new senator. BUT what they SHOULD get from it is that Americans want GOOD legislation. Legislation that won't bankrupt us or our children and grandchildren. And we want honesty, uprightness, and a view for what is good and right from our politicians.

I'm not naive enough to think they will get the message, but a girl can hope right?

Sometimes...

* Your kids come when you call
* Sometimes they do their jobs without complaint
* Sometimes they laugh and laugh together
* Sometimes they really are the best of friends
* Sometimes they make the right choice
* Sometimes they make your heart ache with their hurt
* Sometimes they make you beyond proud with their answers
* Sometimes they teach you lessons


I'm thankful for sometimes.

Not Yet...

Honesty. Who has it? Politicians--no. Sport Super Stars--nope. 4 Year Olds--Oh yeah.

Ethan was lamenting that Emily was going to be in school ALL DAY LONG. The conversation went like this:

ME: I said, do you love Emily?
ETHAN: Yes.
ME: Is she your favorite sister?
ETHAN: No, She's my best FRIEND.
ME: Who is your favorite sister?
ETHAN: Sierra (in a DUH MOM voice)
ME: What about Savanna? Do you love Savanna?
ETHAN: *deliberating*. Um...Not yet. She fights with me all the time.

One encouraging point is that he hasn't ruled out love for his next oldest sibling all the way. There is hope for the future.

Wow...I didn't expect that!

That exclamation was made by Savanna last week as she cut open her first pomegranate. Tons of bright red seeds met her eyes in an amazing star shape. But even more surprising was the size of the HUGE mango seed...and let me tell you that fruit ain't givin' it up easy. The protective pouch is fibrous and thick! Who knew you could have so much fun cutting 'Fruits' open.

Don't get me started on what's a fruit and what's a vegetable because through our research I found there really is no such thing as a vegetable...except maybe those guys that sit on the couch all Sunday watching football. It's all a conspiracy to get us to eat our greens and they don't really exist. Well, roots, tubers, greens and florets do, but Veggies...nope. What a relief huh? You can scratch that resolution off your list.

All this must mean just one thing. It's science fair time. And you know what?

I LOVE science and I'm not embarrassed to admit it. {I even like science projects AND science fairs.} Yep, I'm certifiable. Here are some highlights from Savanna's first ever science fair project.

Her Hypothesis:
Big Fruits have little seeds
Little Fruits have Big Seeds

Big Fruits have more seeds
Little Fruits have less seeds

Step 1: Measure the Fruits

Step 2: Pull out the seeds

Step 3: Count the seeds (approximately)

Conclusion: The size of the fruit does not determine how many seeds or what size seeds the fruit has. {Savanna's Words}I was most surprised about the pomegranate. I thought it would have medium size seeds but it a lot of small seeds. I was surprised to see such a big seed in the mango.

Wish her luck tomorrow!


And just in case you are ever so blessed to get to do a science project with your kids here are a couple awesome sites that will help you right through it all.

www.sciencebuddies.org Step by Step instructions for science projects for grades k-12
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/ Easily and Quickly creates graphs of all kinds.

Project 1

WAS A SUCCESS!

Our first project [Emptying, Cleaning, Chucking, Reorganizing EVERY cupboard and drawer in the kitchen...including the fridge and the freezer] under our new family Motto {A Place for Everything and Everything in it's Place} was a rousing success.

Good tunes + helpful family members + disastrous kitchen + perseverance + Lunch at Sam's Club = Happy Mom


Tip for those that try this at home: It really doesn't matter if your cans are in order if you get your 4 and 6 year old to help.

A Big thanks to Mike, Emily, Tim, Sierra, Savanna & Ethan. It was truly a family project.

Now for next week...

A Place for Everything and Everything In It's Place

This was my Grandma Thornley's motto. She told it to me, she showed it to me. She had a buffet cabinet where she kept her stamps and pens and office type stuff. It was immaculate. (Incidentally she had at least two kinds of stamps at all times because she would not send her bills out with 'fancy' stamps. Anyone requiring money (that was not a gift) only got flag stamps. Even at a young age I was impressed with her orderliness. It didn't wear off too much on me...(though my cousin Sharon definitely inherited that gene.) {jealous} ;) Anyway, it is her one line advice that occupies my mind now.

You see it's the New Year. If calendar's are correct I should have already set, broken and discarded at least 2 or 3 resolutions by this point. I don't do resolutions. But if I did I would definitely put these items on my list:

1. Dusting
2. Folding Laundry
3. Sorting Mail

Because for sure I would break them.

I do however, like to improve. It's an annoying habit of mine...this need to improve. Annoying in that I don't do quite so quickly as I think I should. I think my problem is indecisiveness. After all it did take me 2+ years to decide on a paint color for my kitchen. 2 YEARS what is wrong with this picture it is JUST paint. On the other hand it is paint that with all the brushes and junk cost 200 buckaroos plus 3 full days to spread all over my huge kitchen canvas. {Maybe if I was rich I would believe in resolutions?}

So, in regular form, this thought of my Grandmothers has been percolating for a few months now and I have finally spilled the beans to my family that this was to be our new motto for the calendar year 2010. Which, of course, set my kids to teasing me about paint colors. You just can't win.

Granted I know I will never by my Grandmother, but come Jan. 1, 2011 I hope that we have at least a little less clutter, a few more book shelves, a couple of rubbermaid containers or in other words progress. I'm throwing my indecisionness aside, caution to the wind, junk to the dump.

And if that doesn't work, there's always Dusting.

It's A Small World After All

(Amy...notice my heading...I separated the After and the All just for you.)

SUBTITLE:

My Sister-in-law knows my Sister-in-law's Sister's Sister-in-Law

That's clear as mud right? I thought so...but just in case you weren't following I'll 'splain it. Ok Ricky this is how it goes.

My sister-in-law Charlotte (married to my brother Randal lives in AZ.)
My sister-in-law Brooke (married to my husband's brother Andy lives in UT)
BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE LOCATIONS ARE IMPORTANT!
My Sister-in-law's sister Amy (married to Damon who is somebody's twin brother lives in WA)
My Sister-in-law's sister's sister-in-law Trina (Married to somebody's twin brother {actually I think it's Aaron} lives in AZ.) {Sorry Trina, I don't know you [yet] so I'm unsure about linking--hope you don't mind}

AND Charlotte and Trina are friends. So there you have it...It IS a small world after all. ;)

P.S. I have it on good authority that Trina is two thumbs up AMAZING. {Charlotte being amazing herself, knows of what she speaks} Doesn't surprise me at all.

This 6 degrees of separation episode brought to you by Facebook and blogging.

What do you do...

when everyone in the family is suffering to some degree of seasonal affective disorder, you've just thrown your Christmas tree out and Spring is SOOO far away?

You make homemade ice cream of course {my hubby is a genius for the idea}...Rootbeer Floats to be exact.

PERFECTION!

New Year's Eve...It's a party.

New Year's eve at the Tree House...C.R.A.Z.Y

but fun:Now to work on some resolutions...

My new blog

No, I'm not abandoning this blog...but I have set up a new one to work on a 365 Photography challenge with some photography friends. I still plan to post here, but a lot of my photography related content will likely move to the new blog. Please come take visit.

Kat's Photo Stories