Weekend in Rockford

We went home this past weekend. Neal and Betta were supposed to be there Saturday, but they got sick. Hope you’re feeling better!

A Sonnet

Ok, so I’m studying poetry and it kind of got to me and I had to write one myself. Don’t laugh!!! hehe :) I think I got my talent from Dad’s poetry skills. ;)

 

If flowers opened their petals at noon,

every day, without fail. And rainbows appeared

when I told them to. And the big round moon

shone bright every night with beauty so sheer.

 

If rain only fell when I got in the door

And snowflakes only fell at night.

And everyday the sun shone more

And the cold wind wasn’t such a fright.

 

If beauty were beauty, only for beauty

and love was much more than hate.

And laughter filled the busiest cities

and smiles were never smiled too late.

 

Then life would be purely and utterly pretty

Life would be perfect- but it’s not. What a pity.

Sickness

Loren says I need to write on my blog more often… so I guess I will. I just don’t have much to say that seems of any interest to anyone reading this. We don’t have kids, we can’t go on exotic vacations, I don’t have time to post about recipes and all of the cooking I do (although I’d love to!), my interests are probably not your interests…and basically, we’re just pretty normal people living a normal, uneventful life. It’s our life story and we like it that way. But who wants to read about it?

So the most eventful part of this past week wasn’t too fun at all. On Tuesday, we ended up making a late night/early morning trip to the ER because of some symptoms Loren was having that the Ask a Nurse said he needed to be seen that night for. We were there for a few hours. They ran tests and pumped him full of liquids, medicine for nausea and morphine. Everything turned out to be ok, and all in all, I was glad that we went for the peace of mind.

Turned out that Loren had a bad case of the stomach flu, along with some other symptoms that may not have been related. I will spare you the details. :)

Wednesday and Thursday, I wasn’t feeling well and ended up waking up with the flu myself. I haven’t had the stomach flu since third grade. Honestly. It was a shocker. I’d take a cold any day of the week compared to that.

So that’s the most eventful part of our life story that I have to share from this past week.

Wash your hands, cover your sneezes in your sleeve, drink your OJ and STAY HEALTHY!

Christmas Pictures

I never posted any pictures from Christmas, so while this is a little bit late…here they are!

So much fun! Wish we could all be together more often! Guess we’ll have to plan it! :)

A little Update

This was the first week back to school after Christmas Break. I was actually happy to be back into the school schedule routine again. It felt good to have some normalcy again after all that has been going on.

Once again, I am taking two classes. I am taking a class that sounds like it will be involving all poetry, but it’s a requirement. I’m never quite sure how to read poetry and some people get stuff out of the poetry that I am befuddled as to where they get it from. But maybe this class will help me to understand it better! :) The second class, I am going to enjoy much more. It’s Multicultural Lit. I always love learning about different cultures but what I find especially interesting about this class so far is not the separation of cultures, as it is being taught, but the unity of the cultures to form what we know as America. It’s another one of those history and literature classes combined which I LOVE! If I do decide to go on for my masters, it will probably involve either American literature or multicultural literature of some sort.

I’m sure you’re all asleep now! :)

Loren has been busy working at various places. He’s so lucky to have a job that he not only loves but can see the results of his hard work. It’s like he has a little footprint on so many different communities in the area. He’s helped build this school, this medical center, this theater, this pool, and on and on. It’s really remarkable when you think of all of the hard work and all of the hands that go into building and that he has a piece in all of that.

We’re looking forward to relaxing this weekend. I have a ton of reading to do for school, but that’s understandable and I really don’t mind it when I have the time. Loren can’t sit still for 30 seconds, so I’m sure he’ll accomplish project upon project. But for me, I’ll enjoy sitting in my chair and reading. :) Have a great weekend!

Winter Survival Tip #2

Can’t afford a vacation this year? Is the economy taking a hit on your relaxation time? There are so many people out there who have had to make drastic cuts on spending and vacations are usually the first to go.

This may be the English major in me, but I do have a solution for this, too. Grab a cup of coffee, a blanket, and find a comfy chair. This is the best time of year to find a good book to read.

Not enough people read books for pleasure anymore, but you can be transported to any time and any place you want to be! You can’t afford to travel to space? Well, have no fear- go to the library! Oh, you can’t afford to take that cooking class? Well pick up a cook book and get to reading. Can’t afford to go skiing in Vail? I’m sure there’s someone in a book who can!

There are books written about anything and everything. Pick one up (and open it)…go on…read it… and you’ll be transported to the most exotic places around the world…or even space!

Winter Survival Tip #1

That first snow is always a joyous occasion. It’s time to turn on the Christmas music and drink hot cocoa. The fire place is burning and you’re cuddled up under a warm blanket just watching those snowflakes gently fall to the ground. What beauty, what peace.

A week later, as you’re driving 35 mph in the 65, sticking your hand out the window to unstick the wiper blade from all the ice, thoughts of beauty and peace are the last things on your mind. “Ugh! When is this ever going to end?” you ask yourself, as you put your hands back at 10 and 2.  Truth is, it probably isn’t even officially winter yet. What sadness, what gloom.

But I have the answers for you. As you start to dive into that winter depression, take a moment and stop. (Very slowly of course…you don’t want to slide on the ice.)

Look at the snow covered ground all around you. This is totally a mind game. You think positive and everything becomes brighter. Instead of seeing the frigid white snow, imagine it as piles of beautiful, warm sand. And for just 5 months or so out of the year, this frigid Midwest can turn into a Caribbean vacation. Download a Jimmy Buffet album onto your iPod and you’re all set. Keep in mind, this only works while you’re indoors or in your car, but it’s a temporary fix to the torments of winter.

Crank up your heat and enjoy the beach view! (But keep that foot hovering over the brake.)