roller coaster

Has anyone ever noticed how many ups and downs life brings? Even though some of these are minor, I didn't know how fast the ups and downs could occur! For example:

Last night:
Down: Found out mom has to have eye surgery. I don't think surgery could get more disgusting than that, although I'm probably wrong since they just use a laser.
Up: Found out that she has to wear an eye patch. That's pretty hilarious.
Down: Relief Society activity planning is stressful and tiring, especially when your husband is your only active committee member.
Up: The missionaries were at the building last night and helped us set up all the tables and chairs for the activity.

This morning:
Down: It was raining and windy today. I hate them both.
Up: I have cute rain boots and a raincoat.
Down: Rude patients on the elevator meanly told me I shouldn't care what I look like (says the woman in a mumu and slippers [slippers!] and a bald homeless-looking man).
Up: Bart was able to schedule his thesis committee meeting with relative ease and careful follow-up. HOORAY!

All in all, I think the ups outweigh the downs. Perhaps a better way to phrase it would be the blessings outweigh the challenges.

10:50 AM 4 PERMALINK

thank you

Everybody remembered my birthday. I got a phone call, text, package, or card from everyone in both families. It made me feel really good. Thank you, everyone!!

10:23 PM 4 PERMALINK

most like an arch

To Bart:
I memorized this poem in my first college English course. I recited it so well I actually got an A and decided that I should major in English (nothing like making major life decisions on a whim, right?). I thought the words spoke so beautifully of how a marriage should be. Little did I know that it was actually possible and that just a few years later I would have that very thing. I wish I could say it better (or even not in a poem since you are a scientist and not a poet) how much I love you, but this will have to do. Here's to three wonderful years! (starting tomorrow)


Most Like an Arch This Marriage

by John Ciardi

Most like an arch—an entrance which upholds
and shores the stone-crush up the air like lace.
Mass made idea, and idea held in place.
A lock in time. Inside half-heaven unfolds.

Most like an arch—two weaknesses that lean
into a strength. Two fallings become firm.
Two joined abeyances become a term
naming the fact that teaches fact to mean.

Not quite that? Not much less. World as it is,
what’s strong and separate falters. All I do
at piling stone on stone apart from you
is roofless around nothing. Till we kiss

I am no more than upright and unset.
It is by falling in and in we make
the all-bearing point, for one another’s sake,
in faultless failing, raised by our own weight.

P.S. I really hate it when people post sappy things on their blogs, but here I am doing it again. I guess love will do that to a girl, huh?

4:36 PM 6 PERMALINK

snow day

On Friday we got 28.5 inches of snow:


Today we got another 14 inches -- and a day off of work!


And this is what we did while we were snowed in:
(Hint: we want you to be impressed with our scores. We are very proud of them. If you aren't impressed, just pretend that you are.)


Here's hoping for another one!

9:27 PM 5 PERMALINK

oh the places you'll go

Katie's been to 38 states:


Bart's been to 32 states:



Bart and Katie have been to 18 states together:

(Not bad for three years.)

Not counting airports.
Plus Washington DC (which isn't a state).

Where have you been?
http://www.epgsoft.com/VisitedStatesMap/VisitedStatesMap.html

2:36 PM 3 PERMALINK