random randomness

I was once a Hodge-Podge for Halloween because I couldn’t decide what I wanted to be. Consider this the hodge-podge of blog posts - nothing in particular to share, and yet so much to say.

It’s been a huge couple of weeks for our family. Apart from my grandmother’s surgery (who right now is doing well, by the way), we have welcomed a new baby girl and bid farewell to a brand new missionary. Both great things - both very special in their own way.

Things on Woodburn Drive have been discombobulated and messy. At times chaotic. And often times unpleasant. I have been sick for the last five days - not feeling so bad right now, but still feeling like a puddle of goo. Ammon is still teething. We welcomed his top right tooth on Sunday - one more to go. Ammon also seems to be going through a growth spurt at present. He has been sleeping around the clock lately - hallelujah for that… now I can get some rest - but today, he seems to not want to sleep at all. Go figure.

Speaking of Ammon… Ammon seems to have decided that he can forgo his afternoon nap now. Holy heck, I don’t think so. Every other day he seems to do this - of course, on the other day he realizes that his mom is not crazy and that he does need that rest. All of this equals a very cranky pill... well, two very cranky pills. This growth spurt business has seemed to put a hold on this whole situation, though… we’ll see what next week brings.

I have been trying to keep up with the Olympics when I can. I watched the Gymnastics Men’s Team Final after I finished the Women’s Team Final back last Wednesday night/Thursday morning, and saw some pretty wild stuff. Even though our team placed third - which is nothing to frown at… it’s certainly better than anything I could do - I think that they did well overall. I was most proud of them for graciously accepting the Bronze - grateful for the opportunity, and for, as they said, coming and doing what they came to do: Finish.

I won’t go into the Women’s Team Final, though I think the USA girls did their best. We all make mistakes - we just hope they don’t happen at the Olympics, of all places. But, for some, I think attitude showed more than the mistakes - in good ways and bad. But, again, I think they did their best - and deserved the medal they got.

The same can be said for the Women’s All-Around Competition that I watched at my mom’s house late (…late, late…) Thursday night along with some swimming. Definitely the best gymnast at that competition received a well-deserved Gold… even though the scoring was a little screwy there for a bit and I wondered what the outcome would be. And, I got see what everyone's been talking about with that unstoppable Michael Phelps...

Ammon and I went with my mom Friday afternoon to do some shopping for my grandmother. We had a fun time together and accomplished the task that was at hand. I even got to see my pal Carlise for a minute. She had her mom (my friend, Kira) stop by Kohl’s just to see me. How fun was that?!

Despite all the hullabaloo, Brian and I did manage to squeeze a date night in on Friday. We went out to eat, ran some errands and saw the new Mummy movie. It was fairly good; however, you have to forget the other two - which are by far my favorites.

I have been a tad distracted lately. I have decided to jump on the Twilight bandwagon. A little late, I know. I did the same thing with Harry Potter, though. The third book had been published by the time I decided I might like to read them. And then, that first book sat on a shelf for a year before I read it. Of course when I did, I wondered what the heck I was thinking, and read all three within days.

Truth be told, I really didn’t think I would like the Twilight series. Honestly, I didn't. I can handle witches, wizards and whatnots. But vampires just aren’t my forte. I have very vivid dreams, you see. But, the more and more I heard about them - and, most importantly, the more people that I personally know that have read them - I decided to give them a try. But I still wasn’t optimistic that I would like it - I was thinking that this was a series trying to ride the wave of this post-Harry world. And I had a problem with that. But, I still gave it a try - I’ll always give things a try - and boy, was I pleasantly surprised. I thought, “This isn’t half bad.?!” and buzzed through the first book like it was a tri-fold pamphlet.

I had Brian pick up the second book for me late Monday night… I couldn’t wait until the next morning. I am having a hard time getting through the first part of it, though - partially because I read the end first, and know what happens. So, of course the beginning is going to be a bit slow. That’s a bad habit I have - I have to open up to the back of every book and just see what's happening. I always see something that peaks my interest and keeps me reading. I had to rubber band my last Harry Potter book together so I wouldn’t instinctively take a peek.

And not the first nightmare. Kristy and I already have made a date to go see the movie…

Speaking of the movie, I think I like the idea of picking up this series when the movie is in the works. Because of this, I know what characters are “supposed” to look like, and I am able to put a face with a name. Not like with the Harry Potter series, where I had my own, established, characters in my head - only to watch the movies, and it just not be right. This way, I can avoid that aggravation at least. And, while I’m on the subject of the cast of characters, I finally figured out who Edward is… he’s Cedric Diggory. What a coincidence…

And Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has been pushed back to my birthday next year. A good birthday present, I know. Now I have even more time to get all hyped up for what looks like a great movie… only to end up sitting through a depressingly inaccurate film. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the Harry movies immensely. However, I have a huge problem with… let’s just call it creative license. I understand that things can’t be just like they are in the books, but come on. Just one little thing besides the title would be lovely.

On a happy note (let’s hope, anyway), our computer made it home today. Now I can begin to whittle down my to-do list. I believe that there are several people waiting on me to finish some things. Never fear!

I’ve been in a pretty dead-pan mood lately. I just haven’t felt well, and as a result, I haven’t made time to do the things I really enjoy. Like taking Ammon to the park, playing on the floor, talking to Brian more than just, “What’s for dinner?”. And all of these things effect my mood tremendously. I’m trying to do better - to be better. Speaking of my friend, Kristy, we had a very nice - and much needed - talk last night about everything under the sun, I think. So nice to have a friend like her, someone to talk to when you just don’t feel like talking to anybody else. And Kira and Becky, too - can’t forget them and our chats yesterday. Can’t forget their friendships either. Not to mention my little see-you-later-visit with dear Hila this morning. I’ll really miss that chick. Thanks girls, I love you.