The Most Patient Animals In the World Must Live in Mongolia

If you haven't seen the documentary Babies, you should. It's whatever you want it to be: a happy little movie with cute babies, a look at child development, a commentary on societal norms, or a variety of other things. I have to admit that one thought that stuck with me is that Mongolia has some of the most patient animals in the world. That baby tugs them, pulls their hair, and they don't ever react. Also, the Japanese baby throws a grand fit that made me laugh a lot.

P.S. Thanks to Betsy for helping me figure out how to put the video in here!

A Month is Better than Seven

In the quest to keep up with things, I have done better at keeping the house chores done about every two weeks or so. Not perfect, but not awful.

I am still not good at doing the things I want to do. By the time I get home from work, make and eat some dinner, and do my chores, there's not a lot of time left. A perfect example of this happened last night: I got home, (on time!) we ate dinner, (Joe made it,) Joe went to work at the radio station, and I started my chores. I cleaned the bathroom and put all the laundry away, all the while thinking that I could do "my" stuff after one more thing. So I made our lunches, emptied the washing machine of water, (it broke last week,) put dishes away, made coffee for this morning, and took all the recycling out to the garage. And then I was ready to sit down and check my email. At 10:35 or so. To be fair, I did sit on my bed and watch a half hour of "Bones" after putting the laundry away, so I did get a little rest in there. So at 10:35 I made myself some herbal tea and checked my email, Facebook, etc. I went to bed at midnight. That's too late for a week night. Suffice to say I'm still working out the kinks of the system.

And I have not blogged twice a week, or even once a week. But this post will be just a little over a month since the last one, and it was seven months between the last one and the one before that, so I'm making progress. I find that I have trouble knowing what to write about. I could write about what I'm doing, thinking, etc., but won't people be bored reading about the mundane details of my life? Of course, I read lots of blogs and am very rarely bored, so that may be flawed logic. And then I start thinking that I only need to write about deep, sometimes emotional, sometimes not, thoughts, like Jack Handy only not funny. But that also seems likely to lose readers. As I've thought about it, I think the best blogs are the ones that are a combination of both, that are just an honest commentary on life. Life isn't always mundane, but it isn't always exciting or "deep," either. It's just life.

Taskety Task

My dear friend Betsy has inspired me to try a task schedule (sounds better than chore schedule, I think.) So, two days a week, I have put "blog" on my schedule and we'll see how it pans out. The thought of getting things done in a timely manner and not trying to cram it ALL (along with time for friends, fun, and family,) into the weekend is nice. I hope my perfectionist nature doesn't get in the way when things don't go according to plan or I don't get everything done the way I want to when I want to, because then I tend to just give up. If it's not perfect, or maybe if it's not my best would be a more accurate description, then I don't want it. Not always the best attitude to have, but it is how I operate.

I don't have a lot to say, so I think I'll just link to a favorite blog of mine, Cake Wrecks! I look forward to this one every day, especially on Sundays when they feature cakes done right. Enjoy!

There's No Place Like Home

I am BAD at this blogging thing. Bad.

But, it is a nice way to share information.

And we have news.

We are moving to Garden City.

I got a very good job working with a grant project in Finney County.

I officially start April 19th, (also my Dad's birthday.)

I am overwhelmed, overjoyed, and sad, all at the same time and all mixed in with what feels like a gazillion different emotions.

Emotions about the move, leaving my job, leaving Denver, being closer to family and friends, living in a small town, the new job, how this will affect our lives . . . you get the idea.

So, that's our news. I'll try to keep you posted as things progress, but I make no promises, as we've already established I am a BAD blogger. :D

Days One and Two

Day one of our "staycation" was pajama and movie day. Of the six movies we rented for the day, we made it through four of them on day one. Without formally consulting Joe, I would say we rate the movies we watched as follows: Monsters vs. Aliens - 2 thumbs up; The Proposal - 2 "ehs" (my made up rating for a mediocre, "eh," kind of movie; Year One - 2 THUMBS DOWN; and Adventureland - 1 thumb up (Joe) and 1 thumb down (me.) To be fair, we watched Adventureland as we were going to sleep, and it just seemed to drag on and on to me.

Day two we did some shopping, ran some errands, visited Berry Patch Farms, and went out for a late lunch/early dinner, then met up with Joe's friend Tom at the Irish Snug. At Berry Patch Farms, we bought some apples, Pablano peppers, two small pumpkins, and two gourds. They offer a hayride/tour, which we chose not to do. We had fun taking in the mountains, the people, the chickens and roosters, and the produce. Tom owns a tour bus and travels all over the country taking bands to various destinations for gigs. Usually when he rolls through town we don't get to see him because he has to sleep, but he was here for several days in a row this time, so we were able to hang out a little bit. It was wonderful to see him!

Some pictures from Berry Patch Farms:

Joe in front of the scenic display set up for us city folk.
.

A feathered friend. The chickens and roosters didn't even chase people!

There are beautiful mountains in the background, but we failed to catch them in our "do-it-yourself" photo. The barn is to our right behind us.

At my urging, Joe struck a "Vanna-esque" pose as he gestured to some of the many pumpkins and gourds for sale.

"Staycation" 2009

Wow, it has been a long time since my last blog. Sorry about that, but time flies when you're finishing a graduate degree and then spending time NOT working on a graduate degree. :)

Tonight is the beginning of Lowry "Staycation" 2009. We're very trendy! Actually, we wanted to get away, but it was more fiscally responsible to stay close to home, so here we are, ready for some down time.

Tomorrow is pajama day. We have 6 movies ready to watch in our PJs. I am excited to lounge a bit. The movies we have rented are Adventureland, New In Town, Shopgirl, Monsters vs Aliens, The Proposal, and Year One.

If you were having a movie/pajama day, what movies would you pick?

On a Happier Note

Following my "More to Love" rant, I offer some happier news: on August 14, 2009, I will walk in my graduation ceremony to receive my Master's Degree. Hooray! I will be DONE. I am very excited and completely exhausted from working on my Capstone this summer, but 3 MORE WEEKS! Woo-hoo!

"More to Love"

Tonight, Joe and I saw a preview for a show called "More to Love." You can see what it is about here: http://www.fox.com/moretolove/. I am appalled at the premise of the show, for a few reasons. They tout the concept that these women are "a group of real women" and that they want "to prove that love comes in all shapes and sizes." Fine. I believe that. Love shouldn't be based on outer beauty, but what is within. But the very title, "More to Love," is derogatory and indicates that at least one person, (whoever titled the show,) thinks there is a lot to these "real women." The bachelor on the show, (it's created by the same guy who created "The Bachelor,") is on the preview saying something about how he likes women of bigger sizes. That's not how he phrased is, but that's the point you get from the snippet. If this man and these women want to be on the show, great. I guess when it boils down to it, my entire issue is, why aren't these "More to Love," "real women" given a shot on "The Bachelor?" Would they not fit in? Would they feel self-conscious? Don't they deserve a shot? Isn't there a chance that a man who does not have a predilection for bigger women fall in love with one of them? And who should I be more frustrated with, the creators of this show or the women who agreed to do it - do they believe they aren't pretty enough or nice enough for "The Bachelor" to love them? (And it's not like all of those women are pretty or nice. But generally, they are very, very little.) Looking at the pictures on the website, some of the women are bigger, some are very average sized, and the guy himself is on the bigger side. I'm just disappointed in society. It is segregation, is it not? I hoped we were past that. Ugh.

Recipes!

I've been emailing some recipes to people and thought I'd share them here. They are not my own, and I've cited where each is from at the end of the recipes.

Baked Ravioli

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

Salt and pepper

1.5 teaspoons dried thyme or oregano

1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes

1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes

2 pounds ravioli

1.5 cups shredded mozzarella

.5 cup grated Parmesan

Preheat the over to 425ºF. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and the garlic, and season with salt and pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme (or oregano) and tomatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon, until the sauce is thickened and reduced to about 5 and ½ cups, 20 to 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the ravioli in a large pot of boiling water just until they float to the top (the pasta will continue to cook in the oven). Drain the pasta; return to the pot.

Toss the sauce with the pasta. Pour the pasta into a large gratin dish or 9-by-13-inch baking dish, and sprinkle with the cheeses. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

--From Everyday Food: Great Food Fast, 2007, page 313

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Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

nonstick vegetable oil spray
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cups canned vegetable broth (I've used chicken broth and chicken or vegetable bouillon cubes to prepare the broth, as well. The only thing is that if you use the chicken broth, it's not really "vegetarian" any more.)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
4 6-inch corn tortillas, cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips
1 and 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
2/3 cup canned black beans or pinto beans, drained, rinsed (I've always used black beans, just because I like them better.)
2/3 cup chopped zucchini
1 and 1/2 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeno chili (This is more for flavor than anything else, I think. It doesn't make the soup unbearably hot or anything.)

Spray large nonstick saucepan with nonstick spray. Add onion and garlic; cover and cook over medium-low heat until almost tender, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, cumin and chili powder. Add broth and 2 tablespoons cilantro; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until flavors blend, 15 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead; chill. Bring to simmer before continuing.)

Add tortillas, tomatoes, beans, zucchini and jalapeno to soup. Cover; simmer until zucchini is tender, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of cilantro and serve.

--From Bon Appetit Every-Night Cooking, 2001, page 69

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Tangy Beef Stew

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 10 minutes (I think it takes more like 20-30 minutes because of the chopping.)

Slow-Cook: 4 hours on HIGH or 6 hours on LOW

1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces (I think I’ve used white, yellow, and red onions for this.)

1 pound boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes (I’ve used round steak and it is very tasty, as well.)

1 tablespoon ground ginger

¼ teaspoon salt

3 medium-sized carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

2 large celery stalks, cut into 1-inch slices

1 large beef bouillon cube

2 cups water

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

¼ cup raisins (I have NEVER used raisins. It is delicious without them.)

¼ teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Cooked egg noodles (optional) (I always make this with the egg noodles.)

1) Layer onions, beef, ginger, salt, carrots, and celery in slow cooker bowl. Add bouillon cube, water, vinegar, and raisins, (if adding raisins.) Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours until beef is very tender.

2) Remove cover and stir in black pepper. Using a ladle, remove 3 tablespoons of liquid from slow cooker and place in a small bowl. Whisk in cornstarch. Pour cornstarch mixture into slow cooker; whisk to combine. Stir until liquid has thickened. Serve with noodles, if desired.

Per Serving (With Original Ingredients): 250 calories; 5 g fat (2 g sat); 27 g protein; 24 g carbohydrates; 3 g fiber; 653 mg sodium; 50 mg cholesterol

--Recipe from Family Circle, September 2008, page 202

I *Heart* Kansas

I stumbled across this blog: http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/, through one of my friends on Facebook. WARNING, it is very sad. I later found out that the members of this family are the good friends of the sister of a good friend of mine. (I'm sorry that is so convoluted, but I'm trying to protect people's privacy, since they're not people I usually mention on here.) Anyway, I thought about and prayed for this family as I read through their story, and saw my former Wichita life through parts of their experience.

Today, I read their blog and found a link to this: http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/love-is-a-movement-the-cora-project-3450/. It reminded me why I love Kansas and being a Kansan. People are so kind and so real, and it is beautiful.

Q & A

My friend Craig posted this on his blog, and though he didn't "tag" me, he did mention in one of the questions that I might be likely to fill it out, so as not to disappoint, here are my answers:

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes, in small quantities.
2. Have you ever smoked cigarettes? Not in quite a while, but yes.
3. Do you own a gun? No, but I'd really like to learn to shoot. (But I still don't think I'd like to own a gun. I'd like to rent one from a shooting range or borrow one from the shooting range or something along those lines.)
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Lime or Cherry.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes, sometimes so much so that it messes with my blood pressure. That doesn't happen much now that I have a doctor I fairly trust.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Yummy!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee with creamer.
9. Can you do push ups? Yes, but I can only do like 2 "real" push ups. I can do more of the "girly" kind, on my knees.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My engagement ring and my cross necklace. And my wedding ring. And my pearl necklace. And my two rings from James Avery. (I don't even wear that much jewelry, but I have a lot of favorites, apparently.) (And for some reason, that answer won't un-bold, but this little note will. Hmm.)
11. Your favorite hobby? Being with family and friends. Reading.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Nope.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Lack of self-control. (And I would say I'm very frustrated about it. I try not to hate myself.)
14. Middle name? Anne
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? 1.) I need to do homework. 2.) I need to do lesson plans. 3.) My head hurts.
16. Current hate right now? My cold.
17. Favorite place to be? Home, particularly GC home with Joe.
18. How did you bring in the New Year? I drank champagne with Joe and my Mom.
19. Where would you like to go? The beach. Ireland. Prince Edward Island.
20. Name three people who will complete this? Joe, Betsy, and Craig. (Craig already did!)
21. Do you own slippers? Yes, two pairs. I'm wearing one pair now.
22. What shirt are you wearing? A K-State sweatshirt.
23. Do you like sleeping on satin? I've never slept on satin, but I'm going to say no. I like cotton sheets.
24. Can you whistle? Yes.
25. Would you be a pirate? Probably not. Too dirty.
26. What songs do you sing in the shower? Usually whatever is on Joe's alarm when we wake up.
27. Favorite girl's name? I don't know. Ask me when I have a daughter.
28. Favorite boy's name? See #27 and change "daughter" to "son."
29. What's in your pocket right now? Nada.
30. Last thing that made you laugh? Tickles.
31. Best bed sheets as a child? Blue sheets with Mickey, Minnie, and the whole Disney crew! I still have them. I wish they were queen-sized because I'd love to use them again.
32. Worst injury you've ever had? This dumb abdominal muscle-y thingy.
33. Do you love where you live? It'll do for now.
34. How many TVs do you have in your house? Two.
35. Who is your loudest friend? Susan, a work friend.
36. How many dogs do you have? 0.
37. Does someone have a crush on you? I hope my husband does!
38. What is your favorite book? Well, The Bible. Coming Home, Doctors, and many more.
39. What is your favorite candy? M & Ms.
40. Favorite Sports Team? I've loved the Padres and the Astros and the Rockies are growing on me.
41. What song do you want played at your funeral? "Peace" by Rich Mullins

And the Winner (We Think) Is . . .

Today I had an appointment with my OB/GYN, who, conveniently, used to work in a pelvic pain clinic. (I didn't know this until today, but praise to God for putting her in my life.) We discussed the recent history of the abdominal pain, and then she did a physical exam. I'll not give you too many details about that except to say that at the beginning, she had me to a half crunch while she pushed first on the left and then on the right side of my abdomen, and I got tears in my eyes, said "ow" too loudly, and about jumped off the exam table when she did it on the right side. Her opinion is that the pain is in my rectus muscle. She said it is a common occurence that could have happened at any time, even just while doing something like lifting/carrying a laundry basket. She said recovery time is a minimum of 6 weeks from today, and recommended icing it and taking ibuprofen. So, for now, that seems to be the deal. I do have a colonoscopy and EGD scheduled, and I'm going to ask my primary care doctor if she thinks I should go ahead and do those, plus consider if I really want to do them, if they would give me peace of mind just to know, (as much as any of us can, anyway,) that it really is the muscle.

Thank you for all of your continued prayers and support. God is faithful, and He puts faithful people in our lives, which I can never be thankful enough for.

Update

I wish there was more to tell you, but the update on the abdominal pain is that it is most likely not: kidney stones, gall stones, an ovarian cyst, a tubal pregnancy, or anything, (like appendicitis,) that is causing my white count to be out of whack. I've had urine tests, blood tests, physical exams, and two ultrasounds, all of which have been normal. Yet, I continue to have pain.

So, this week I have an appointment when my OB/GYN to get a second opinion about what it could be. Also, after emailing my doctor today, she ordered a colonoscopy and an EGD, which will scope my stomach. Beyond that, I don't know, but we're going to figure it out. My doctor has been great in listening not only to what my physical symptoms are but how I feel about the whole thing, and has not made me feel like a hypochondriac.

The pain is less some days and worse on others. On Thursday and Friday I thought it might be gone, but even when it's barely there, I still have twinges. On other days, it is very definitely still there.

Thank you for your prayers and your thoughts. They help a lot in so many ways.

If You Would...

For those of you who we saw over the holidays, you know that I was having some abdominal pain. It's still there, and it is in my lower back, as well. I've been to the doctor, had some tests run, and have some ultrasounds scheduled for next week. The doctor thinks it's one of about 5 things: ovarian cysts, kidney stones, gall stones, scar tissue, or endometriosis. None are too serious, except for endometriosis, which can be, but isn't always. A remote possibility is appendix pain, but I'm not feverish or vomiting and my white count is normal. Scar tissue and endometriosis can only be definitely diagnosed by exploratory surgery, while the other things can be diagnosed by ultrasound and other tests.

If you would, please pray that we figure out what is causing this pain. It is interfering with my ability to do everything, including work, and I just want to know what is going on. This is the third time in a little over a year that I've had serious abdominal pain, and not only is it frustrating, it is a little scary, as well. (Just so you know, the doctor did say she is not concerned about cancer, because that would have shown up on the CT scan they did this past summer; however, I'm still a little scared.) I pray everyday that I'll be diagnosed correctly and that I'll trust God, no matter what.

Thanks.

Scholarships

I was in Best Buy this weekend, and I noticed a sign about a scholarship that teenagers could apply for through Best Buy. I read the sign and started thinking about when I was eligible for scholarships, the application process, etc. I remember how funny/strange I thought it was that when people donated money for a scholarship, they could specify the qualifications of who it went to, things like: "must be a descendant of Irish-Americans in Kansas" or "must be of Latin descent with an interest in pursuing photography as a career."

Anyway, I was thinking about this in Best Buy, and I thought, "Why don't adults get scholarships?" Scholarships apart from adults in school, I mean. Maybe the name would have to be changed from scholarships, (since that indicates school,) to "liferships" or "experienceships." (I'm not good at naming things - any suggestions?)

If I have a ton of money one day, perhaps I will invent on of these "ships," and I will dictate who it will go to. I can think of a million good reasons people might need a little extra money: pay off debt, go on vacation, get a massage, buy a new car, go see someone he/she loves . . . the list goes on and on.

A friend of mine in Houston used to take part in these groups, (I can't remember what they're called,) in which everyone put in a certain amount of money so many times per year, totaling up to some certain amount, and then they took turns getting the money. It made me nervous, but if you could depend on the people, wouldn't it be worth putting in X amount of money each time to get X amount of money once a year? Maybe not, but I think the spirit of what I mean may be there.

The Past Few Days

Last night I got the news that my Capstone Proposal has been rejected unless I do some serious revisions. My Capstone is my big project, kind of like a thesis, except my plan was to do a creative project. Except my advisor recommended some changes. Those changes led to a proposal that I wasn't tremendously excited about and ultimately got turned down. Now, I really like my advisor, but I am very frustrated right now. I got his email at 7:30 last night. Tomorrow the university closes down until January 2, and my proposal has to be accepted by January 5th to do my project next quarter. It takes one to two weeks to get a proposal approved. You see the problems inherent in this dilemma. I do have another class to take, so I am thinking of doing that next quarter and my Capstone in the Spring. That will work, I think. Spring is just a crazy time at work, so I was trying to avoid doing that. Also, I was told today that if I want to do a Creative Capstone, I should consider changing advisors. What's a girl to do to solve a problem like this on Christmas Eve? I think this girl is going to ignore it until at least after Christmas Day.

Yesterday I finished my shopping, and while I was at the mall I had one of those experiences that is small, but changes you, and reminds you that hesitation is stupid. A man in a wheelchair was waiting to be helped at the Information Desk, and the women behind the counter kept ignoring him. Whether this was on purpose or due to the fact that they couldn't see him over the counter, I don't know. I knew just by watching him that he was frustrated, so I stepped back and waited to see if they helped him. If they didn't, I was going to ask the man if I could help him get their attention. Before I could do that, another person walked up and was helped, even though this man had been waiting. The man then yelled an expletive very loudly and motored away. The perfectly put-together women looked shocked, but not in the, "oh, that poor man, we didn't see him" way, but in the "oh, my what a disgusting man with no manners" sort of way. I should have just acted, instead of hesitating, and it left me with an icky feeling the rest of the day.

Joe is at work, and we leave as soon as he finishes, at 4:00. I'm ready to be home, to be comfortable, to be myself. Why is it so hard to keep track of ourselves and who we are?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Our First Christmas, Take 2)

So, Joe and I celebrated our "first" Christmas as a married couple last year, but it was a harried, no-nonsense Christmas, since I was crazy at work and going to school, and Joe was working retail. Ick. This year, we slowed down and actually decided to celebrate Christmas at our house, not just at our respective parents' houses. Today we bought a tree, some trimmings, and went to work on our own little Christmas.

Joe set up the tree and fluffed out all the branches.


He's a good fluffer!


The finished tree!


This rock nativity belonged to my parents. It is one of the Christmas things that I love and brings back memories of my childhood.


This nativity was given to me by Barb, a mentor of mine at the church I interned at my last year of college.

I love Christmas.

I Stuff

I am-desperately avoiding homework.
I want-a vacation at the beach.
I have-a wonderful life.
I wish-for contentment.
I hate-rudeness.
I fear-too many things.
I hear-the dishwasher.
I search-for answers when I should know that God has them all.
I wonder-if I'll get pinkeye from the kids at school.
I always-brush my teeth twice a day.
I usually-have to make Joe floss his teeth.
I am not-energetic.
I dance-when I'm feeling energetic and silly.
I sing-a lot.
I never-get close to spiders, if I can at all help it.
I rarely-stay up super late.
I cry-when I am overwhelmed.
I am not always-patient or polite.
I lose-confidence.
I’m confused-about LOTS of stuff.
I need-to be myself.
I should-be more productive.
I dream-about people.
I TAG-Joe, Darci, Chelsea.

A Tidbit

We're watching the debate, and I was cheering for Obama's statement about increasing funding for early childhood education, (not making a political statement here, just cheering for my kids,) I thought of this quote that a friend of mine who is working on her doctorate in Child, Family, and School Psychology (or something along those lines,) sent me from her reading.

"...up to half the achievement gap assessed in school age exists before children begin kindergarten."

I don't have the source, but isn't that incredible to think about?

Our New Car!

Today we bought a new-to-us car. It is a 2004 Saturn Vue, and we are very excited about it!