Test Day

Nathan is taking the Navy Advancement Exam in the morning.  If you wouldn't mind saying a quick prayer for him, that would be awesome.

Here comes the sun!

Would you believe me if I told you it was almost 60 degrees in our fair city today?  Besta, Nathan and I took advantage of the sun and went on a nice, long afternoon walk to return our redbox movie.  Soaking up that vitamin D felt so good.  I remember when we moved here that people said the winters suck, but it just makes you appreciate the other three seasons that much more...and now I can understand the truth behind that statement.  (can you believe we've almost been here a year??!?)  Over the last few days I've found myself examining the trees a little more closely hoping to see a little smidgen of a sign that spring is coming...and guess what I saw today:

It won't be long folks...and I for one cannot wait!!

Seuss Dinner

Remember last week when I posted about Dr Seuss' Birthday? That night I made green eggs and ham for dinner and made a Seuss inspired cake.

The eggs are green...I couldn't figure out how to make the ham green so it is just plain ham.

My Seuss cake. It was just as yummy as it looks.

Sushi Night

We got together with some friends Saturday night, made our own Sushi and played games. It is so nice to have friends...life is so much better when you can share it with people you care about and who care about you.

Alison...she was a master roller...she whipped those suckers out really quick.

A close-up of the spread. Makes me drool just looking at it.

Christina is all business.

All the sushi goodness. Even with eight of us working on this spread we couldn't finish it off.

Christina made us each our own chocolate lava cake. It was heavenly. She and I share a passion for baked goods.

Gettin' me down

I mentioned before that I have been blue. That is the reason behind my lack of posts; and there are a few reasons for my aforementioned mood.

First - It is winter. I am not a fan of winter. I hate being cooped up inside. I hate not being able to wear 90% of my shoes. Yesterday was a beautiful day so I took Besta on a walk...which brings me to the second reason.
Second - I saw a dog get hit by an SUV yesterday. Besta and I were on the last leg of our long walk and I heard a dog barking and growling. The dog was across the street and I assumed on a leash. (Because come on people...we live IN A CITY on a busy street...leash your dog!) I turned just in time to see the dog start to run across the street. I watched as the dog was hit, then drug by the car. He screeched and howled in pain as he was run over by both tires. The dog got up and ran back to its side of the street...pretty sure it did not live. Besta was a bit shaken up. I thought he would come in after our walk and take a nap...but he acted weird all afternoon. I pet and cuddled him more than normal to try to help him. I have always had a soft spot for animals, and seeing one get hurt makes me sad.
Third - This job search is getting me down. It was hard the first time around...and this time is proving to be no different. I have had one interview...obviously didn't get the job. Sigh.
Fourth - We had a potential adoption situation fall through yesterday. It was a long way from being a sure thing, but it still got both of us a little excited. (We tried not to get our hopes up...but even a slight glimmer of a speck of a hope is enough to get us excited...those of you in the infertility/adoption world know how that is) A guy who went to high school with my mom served a mission for our church in Chicago. He had a connection to someone here who is pregnant and seriously considering adoption. Our information was passed along...but in the end she decided to keep the baby. It felt like reading yet another negative pregnancy test.

So there you have it.

To help lift my mood, I went grocery shopping earlier in the day (I'm a freak, I know) and then tonight me and the hubs went to see the new Alice in Wonderland movie in 3D. It was fantastic! (although truth be told, any flick with Johnny Depp in it can't do much but lift your spirits...am I right ladies??) Verdict?: Mood lifted.

Sweet surprise

So I have been feeling a bit sad. More on that later...maybe. I can't sleep so I am up watching TV and catching up on blogs. I went to one that I read purely for entertainment. Imagine my surprise when I saw OUR ADOPTION BUTTON on her side menu! I sent her the code for the button about four months ago...it never got put up so I figured it wasn't going to be. When I saw it tonight it totally lifted my mood. I even got a bit teary. (I told you...I've been blue.)

You wanna see our button in action? Go HERE. It is a little ways down on the left hand side.

Besta Singing

Seuss

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!

I have always loved Dr Seuss. In high school I could recite How The Grinch Stole Christmas in its entirety...I can still make my way through most of it with only a few helps. Whenever I see Dr Seuss books I can't resist picking one up to read...we already have quite a few collected for when we have kids. About a month ago I actually read a couple to Winston. Ya, I'm a crazy cat lady...so sue me.

One of my favorites that I like to pull out every now and then is Oh! The Places You'll Go! My mom gave me a copy for my High School graduation. I love its honesty. (Along with that always charming Seuss writing!) I was going to post my favorite little section...but I couldn't narrow it down. So here it is. If you haven't read it, I would heartily recommend at least borrowing this one from the library...the illustrations are excellent.

Without further ado...


Oh! The Places You'll Go!
by Dr Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do
to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.
Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true
that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,

for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,

headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come,
or a plane to go
or the mail to come,
or the rain to go
or the phone to ring,
or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil,
or a Better Break
or a string of pearls,
or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls,
or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone,
there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul.
On you will go though your enemies prowl.
On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!

So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

You can bet we're having Green Eggs & Ham for dinner!