Cumulative Record

Training

2011-11-03T22:59:00.001-06:00

We are headed to Utah for Thanksgiving this year. I will be "running" a 6k with a lot of my family Thanksging morning. Snapped this picture out on the bike trail while "running". I heard that people feel sad when they see birds flying south for the winter because they know there is a long winter ahead before the birds come again.

Occupy Lincoln

2011-11-02T16:59:00.001-06:00

Today was a cold windy mess full of "frozen winter mix". I bet it was a long day for these guys.

Lunch at Grateful Bread

2011-10-29T21:54:00.001-06:00

Mac and cheese with artichoke hearts and kalamata olives, cheddar scone and grapefruit soda. This is one of the coolest places in town and right next door to the Violin Shop. So I got new strings and an amazing lunch.

Auntie Mary came for a visit

2011-10-27T07:10:00.001-06:00

We had the best time and managed to get a lot accomplished in a weekend. Highlights include the pedestrian bridge between Omaha and Iowa, pedicures, the UNL football game against Ohio State that was the greatest comeback in UNL history (we left before the comeback), the zoo and enough beef consumption to last a lifetime. She spoiled us rotten. We love you!

My walk back from class

2011-10-27T07:04:00.001-06:00

Campus is beautiful right now. I love Nebraska in the fall.

My crazy cat

2011-10-27T07:00:00.001-06:00

Pippin is the crazy cat around here. I even turned the water on in the sink and she didn't move.

Emerging

2011-07-18T15:05:00.002-06:00

I have finally emerged from the craziest semester ever. Today I didn't teach so I made a ruffly felt rosette wreath while watching Kindermusik training videos. I just got back from a great vacation that I will post about soon.

My favorite spot

2011-05-05T12:33:00.001-06:00

This has been my favorite spot this spring. I drive over with my lunch and sit in my car with the windows down and listen to Anne of Green Gables books on tape. It has been a nice refuge from this semester. Yesterday I turned in my 14 page literature review and I have three more projects to turn in tomorrow. But right now I just want to soak in the deliciousness of spring.

"You can have it all, just not all at the same time"

2011-02-07T22:22:00.003-07:00

This has been an interesting 30 days. Work, school, gym, husband (I'm afraid sometimes they are in that order). Sometimes I feel like I'm rocking it, sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. But these two people have helped me find some perspective. The first is a blog post from a new favorite Giver's Log. My favorite part of her post about finding balance:
"The only problem about the words 'finding balance' is that they make balance sound like a lost pair of keys. Something you uncover once and then you're set. But from everything I've heard or lived, I'm pretty certain that is not how it works."

The second is from a new found obsession of TED talks. These are conferences where super smart people get together and give talks about their life work in 18 minutes. They are fab. I subscribe to their youtube channel and they are the perfect length for a study break to get me pumped up to read for another two hours. Nigel Marsh speaks about finding balance by giving ourselves more than a day to get everything done, but less than "before I retire". His push is for giving tiny amounts of important time to the most important things at somewhat regular intervals. It doesn't have to be everyday, it doesn't need to be every week. This is my pitfall. I feel like in order for me to really accomplish my goals I need to be working on them everyday or every week, and then I fail. This talk helped me gain some perspective. Even if I only talk to one old friend in the entire month of February I have met my goal of catching up with friends. Let me know how you find your balance.

Organized Exercise

2011-01-22T22:33:00.002-07:00

So this past week I went to two workout classes offered by campus rec. The first was Turbo Kick and the other was Zumba. As I was packing my gym bag the morning of Turbo Kick I was reflecting on how much organized exercise I had participated in before. The answer would be: not much. The last probably being the high school basketball team. (I guess I did a yoga class my senior year of high school, so that sorta counts because I only sorta attended.) I was a bit nervous and I actually decided to wear my cool roller derby tee shirt because I wanted the other kids to think I was cool. It's like I'm 14 again.

But once I got there things got much better. There were a ton of people in the class at all different fitness levels. The instructor was fun, but not ditsy and she was pouring sweat just like the rest of us. There is also something to be said about a lot of people doing the exact same thing at the exact same time. Like when we would all kick and jump together and it would make a big "boom" on the wood floor. It's exhilarating. It's like the high I get when I play music with a huge orchestra. It's fun to do be synchronized.

I didn't like Zumba as much as I liked Turbo Kick. Mostly because I felt like an idiot shaking my hips and butt, and I also felt like I wasn't working very had because I couldn't figure out how to make my feet move like the instructors. She also turned down the lights because it's supposed to feel like a "dance party" instead of an aerobics class. So I couldn't see and I couldn't do the moves.

So, I have accomplished by goal of working out 4x a week for the entire month of January and I'm feeling good. The scale won't move an inch, but I feel good.

My sister, Jana

2011-01-02T22:58:00.002-07:00

said I should blog more as part of my new year's resolutions. That would make the total number of resolutions three.

1) Average a 4 day week at the gym (I already accomplished this in December)
2) Talk to my friends more often (got a new web cam from Santa that I like to use on Skype)
3) Blog more

We had a great Christmas. Stayed in Nebraska, ate too much food and watched way too much T.V.; it was so nice. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle this semester. It's going to be a doosy. I got called to be the ward choir director so this semester I am:

1) Taking 7 grad school credits
2) Teaching 54 students a week
3) Have two church callings that take an extra two and a half hours every week on top of the three hours of church on Sunday
4) Going to the gym 4 days a week
5) Continuing my Suzuki mentorship which requires around 2 1/2 hours of homework a week

I am already praying for discipline. I think the key to this semester will be prayer, gym, eating breakfast and packing a good lunch. I got into a nasty Starbucks drive-thru habit last semester and I'm determined to not let it happen again.

I am going to rock 2011, I hope you do as well!

Got the letter today..

2010-11-18T20:42:00.002-07:00

I am an official grad student in UNL's Child Development and Early Childhood Education Program. We are ordering a pizza to celebrate. Yee Haw!

First two weeks of class, who are all these 9th graders?

2010-09-04T19:35:00.002-06:00

I have made it through two weeks of class and I am really loving it. Granted I'm only taking one class, but I really like being there. I also found out that in order to get financial aid I have to have 4 credits and not just 3 so I've added a practicum credit working in the child development lab on campus 3 hours a week. I get to help in the toddler room, I'm looking forward to it.

I also feel a million years old on campus. There are all these 18 year olds walking around in their pajamas and it dates me quite a bit.

I am leaving on Friday morning to attend a Suzuki teacher class called "Suzuki Principles in Action" in Steven's Point WI. The class it two days long and focuses on how to improve your teaching. After the class I will be starting a year long mentorship program with Pat D'Ercole. We will be filming our teaching and then discussing it with Pat and two other teachers in the program. I am really excited for what this year will bring for my teaching. I feel like I'm on the edge of something really big and this year is going to be an amazing journey.

I'll bring y'all back some cheese.....

We're still here, with some news

2010-08-19T21:18:00.002-06:00

No pictures-sorry, but I have exciting news! Scott did a great job at his Master's proposal defense and after a short one month research project and some finishing touches on his paper he'll graduate in December. Scott's program is a combined Masters and Ph.D so we stay put for another three years, but any kind of graduating is good news.

News #2 We got a new kitty. We've been thinking about getting Gimli some company for awhile and Scott's labmate had to give up his cat when he went away to grad school. So instead of going to a shelter she came to live with us. The two cats are very slowly getting to know each other. We think they will be friends eventually.

News #3 I've decided to go back and get my Master's degree in Child Development. I took the GRE last Monday and I think I did well enough to get accepted. I been accepted as a non-degree student so I will start classes next week. In October the department will review my application and hopefully I'll be accepted into the program. I'm really excited to get started.

Besides all of that news things are great. Scott and I are celebrating our 5 year anniversary this weekend. We're having a great time and loving life here in Nebraska.

Okay, I don't know when I'll get better at this

2010-03-10T12:51:00.003-07:00

Reasons we're not blogging:

1)Scott has had to go to the lab EVERY SINGLE DAY since Christmas Day (and we got snowed in that day, or else he would have needed to go in then as well). I don't remember the last time he got to come to church with me. This is a picture of him in his lab coat when he brought it home to wash it.

2)This sweet little girl came to stay with us for the weekend when she was sick and her mom (and dad) had a brand new baby and they couldn't be in the same house for awhile. She is taking violin lessons and was playing with my box violin and singing Tucka Tucka Stop Stop while doing her listening. The video is very short and very cute.

3)I am an avid user of Google Reader now so I don't visit our blog very often, which reminds me how long it's been since I've blogged.

4)I also got sucked into watching Gilmore Girls on DVD and it's ridiculous how much time I've spent with those ladies.

We are doing super great. My studio is thriving (10 more students and then I'm full!) Scott just doesn't stop working and Gimli has become quite social even when strangers are in the house.

I have fallen for Alton

2009-12-29T13:53:00.003-07:00

I am a fan of the Food Network, but I've never really latched on to shows like Barefoot Contessa and Everyday Italian. I do like shows like America's Test Kitchen and now I have another, Alton Brown's Good Eats. I think the reason I love these shows is the same reason I loved Rose Levy Beranbaum's "The Bread Bible". In all of these mediums they explain the science behind the magic. You not only get killer recipes, but you understand the science behind why they are so wonderful. Once you have the understanding behind it, then you can apply those same principles to other meals. I totally geek out over science based cooking. Alton has served us well this past holiday season. He provided the recipes for the most loved dishes at Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

Squash Soup
Pumpkin Mousse
Christmas Soup

Above you can see him making a smoothie with my other favorites Jimmy Fallon. BTW, if you don't already watch Jimmy Fallon, you really should be. I never watch it in real time, but my DVR is full of it.

MPA stands for Midwest Psychological Association

2009-12-19T20:32:00.005-07:00

This email popped into Scott's inbox the other day, I'm a proud wife:

Dear Mr. Barrett
Congratulations! Your submission to the 2010 MPA Conference entitled "Nicotine enhances resistance to extinction of operant responding in rats" has been selected for a Graduate Student Research Award. This award is given to the best submission by a graduate student in each of the five content areas of the conference (i.e., clinical, developmental, neuroscience, cognitive, and social psychology). Your award certficate will be presented before the Presidential Address on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 3:00. You will also receive one year membership in MPA.

Sincerely,
(name withheld by blogger)

He won in the Neuroscience category. He's the man.

The Barrett Christmas Card

2009-12-14T22:15:00.002-07:00

Gimli loves the Christmas tree and spends a lot of time underneath it, so we decided it would be our Christmas Card. We are fat and ugly now with no kids so we figured our cute cat would have to do. We hope you have a Merry Christmas.

Love,
Scott and Jentry Barrett

Hold on, it's not October?

2009-12-04T13:29:00.002-07:00

For some reason I keep thinking that we're in the middle of October. And every time I write the date I'm taken aback by the fact that we are in December. This semester has rocketed by. I have discovered Google reader and it has changed me. Why I didn't do it before I don't know. But I think it keeps me from blogging more. Because I'm not visiting my blog everyday I don't think about posting. So updates:

We are doing great. Scott's parents came out for Thanksgiving and it was my first time cooking everything. I think it went well, I only slightly burned the stuffing. Thank you food network for your recipes.

While Scott's parents were here Gimli (our cat) had a very big break through. Whenever visitors are in the apartment she hides in her box. But the first night the Barretts were here she came out after about 20 minutes and stayed out. It was a big step. We are proud parents.

Scott is working his fingers to the bone. He spends 10+ hours on campus every single day running experiments, writing articles, analyzing data and writing computer programs. His work is starting to pay off and he is really enjoying what he is doing.

I am doing great. I'm up to 27 students and I feel like things are starting to calm down a bit. I am working a bit in the studio office and hanging door advertisements in the area as well so the days are long but the weeks are short.

Besides that not much is going on.

Vogue Fashion?

2009-10-23T17:10:00.004-06:00

Looking for the next fashion trend this season? Want that look to really set yourself apart from the crowded masses? Or maybe you're looking for that next piece to wear to the big gala that is sure to be the talk of the event. If so, look no further! Follow the link below or watch the embedded video on the newest fashion statement fresh from none other than London: R.P. - Encore

A friend of mine from USU tipped me off to this site. At first I thought it was a big joke, but then I watched the CNN video. The results were myself and my fellow graduate students in the lab nearly wetting ourselves in concert. I really like the gem-encrusted headpiece. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)

What happened to the Barrett family? Long time no post. Any news from Nebraska?

2009-10-18T21:59:00.003-06:00

My sweet friend Cassidy made the above comment on my last post this past weekend. I knew I hadn't blogged in awhile, but I didn't realize it had been almost two months. It seems like school just started a few weeks ago. Things have been kicked into high gear here. Now that I'm teaching full time my days are long but the weeks are short. I've been doing marketing for the studio in the morning and then teach all afternoon and evening. And then usually have a wedding to play at on Saturday.

Scott spends all day at the lab. He is working like crazy and getting a ton done. He's presenting at the Neuroscience Conference in Chicago next week.

Today is Gimli's birthday (we think). She got a piece of cat furniture and a new litter box.

And just for your viewing pleasure:

Here is a picture from our vacation in Colorado this past summer. Scott and his dad are guarding the entrance to Mike and Kelly's kitchen.

First Day of School

2009-08-24T09:11:00.003-06:00

Now that Scott and I are not driving to campus together and Scott doesn't want to wait until 8:30 at night to be picked up we decided we needed to get another vehicle. So off to the scooter store we went and picked up this little beauty. So we took a picture this morning as Scott goes off for his first day of school as a second year graduate student. Not that Scott got much of a summer vacation. I think there were four days total that he didn't have to go into the lab (including Saturday and Sunday). He works very hard and it is paying off for him. I'm so proud. Plus I think he looks hot with his helmet and avaitors.

A big fat change

2009-08-21T15:06:00.002-06:00

I am officially using my college degree to earn all of my income. That's right, folks. My last day at my office job is next Friday and then I will be teaching vioin, Kindermusik, and Children's Music Academy full time. I'm totally stoked. This has been a very long time coming and I'm so grateful that the time has finally come. So there's our news.

T. Boone-Gettin' it done

2009-08-14T11:36:00.002-06:00

The National Clean Energy Summit 2.0 happened this past week in Vegas and T. Boone's website just released this video. I think the Pickens Plan is a leap forward in reducing our dependance on foriegn oil. Van Jones is also feautred in this vide. Van Jones wrote a book called Green Collar Job Economy. He is also President Obama's Green Jobs Advisor. He brings up some great points in the video. Take a look, 6 minute video.

Mammograms are not for the faint of heart

2009-08-05T16:26:00.002-06:00

So today I went in for my first ever mammogram. I don't recommend these for anyone who doesn't have to have one. They hurt like crazy. And why they are taking the x-ray you aren't supposed to breathe so I thought for sure I was going to pass out. But the radiologist said that everything looks okay. So I'm waiting for my doctor to call me and tell me what the next step is. But I think everything is going to be just fine.

Blogs you should be reading

2009-08-04T09:51:00.004-06:00

This one is a personal blog about two of my most favorite people. My cousin Max and his awesome wife Brooke. They are in Jerusalem (yes that one in the Middle East) for the next two years while Max gets his Master's Degree at Hebrew University. They just arrived and one of their latest posts is a view from their hotel balcony where they can see not only the Dome of the Rock, but the Mount of Olives as well. I have a hard time imagining places from the Bible as real places, they just seem to exist in pictures in my mind, but I think through their blogging I am going to gain a greater understanding of the Holy Land.

Brooke is a master blogger (find their blog about their other adventures in the Middle East here) and I am so excited to read about all their adventures in Jerusalem. So put it on your blog roll even if you don't know them, because I get the feeling we are all going to be able to experience something awesome while they are there.

http://brookemaxinjerusalem.blogspot.com/

The girlie doctor

2009-07-30T08:44:00.003-06:00

I love my OBGYN. She's nice and plesant and when you have an appointment at 9:00 you see her at 9:15 which is just amazing to me. I went in for my yearly on Monday and she found a lump on my left breast. A million things ran through my mind. Mostly it was, "what do you mean, a lump?" She said that she thought it was just fiberous tissue, but I needed to get an ultrasound just make sure. She said that I might need to have surgery to remove it, but maybe not.

I felt so many things the rest of the day. I had to go back to work and I felt like I was in a cloud the whole day. How long had that lump been there? I felt guilty. I always tell the doctor that I do my own examinations, but the truth is I probably only remember every three months or so. I went to workout on my lunch break and felt the lump and almost completely broke down in the locker room. If I had cancer everything would change. Would Scott be able to stay in school? Would I be able to keep my job and my insurance? Would I have to move home? I was in a million places at once and no where in particular.

I called the radiology receptionist to make the ultra sound appointment and she had to enter in all my information and apparently she needed to enter in "reason for appointment" about 600 times because she kept saying under her breath, "left breast lump". It freaked me out every time I heard it. I made the appointment for Wednesday and all I could do was wait.

I had my full breakdown Monday night. Scott was wonderful and gave me a Preisthood blessing and that really calmed me down. The next day I really didn't think about it, and when I did I didn't dwell on it.

On Wednesday morning we went to the radiology building and checked it. In the waiting room was a whole array of women. Young, old, some even younger than me. On the coffee table were magazines with titles like, "Living with Cancer".

I got called back, got my gown on and the radiology clinician did the ultra sound. She had to keep going over it again and again. Then she called the doctor in and he did another ultra sound. The doctor finally told me that it looked like all normal tissue and that I would probably just need to follow up with my doctor to see what she wanted to do next.

I was so grateful that things were normal. But the truth is that I do have a lump and it could turn into cancer. I don't know how likely this is, but it could still happen. It's really made me think about what I eat and how much I exercise and take care of myself. I doubt I will ever forget to do my own examinations again.

So this is my reminder to you, one week after your period is over, check yourself.

UPDATE: My doctor's office called. They didn't find anything on the ultra sound, but she wants me to go in for a mamogram just to be sure. I'm glad.

Blogs you should be reading, if you're not already

2009-07-26T19:51:00.005-06:00

Picture from Smitten Kitchen.

I'm really trying to blog more. My friend Natalie has posts called Pin In where she talks about all the cool things she's found on the internet that she loves. So I thought I would do something similar. We all have our favorite blogs that we wouldn't mind reading every day. My number one blog is the Smitten Kitchen. This spunky New Yorker is just an amazing chef, but it's her pictures that draw you in. The reason I like her pictures most of all is that she shows "process" pictures. She shows you how to go from A to B. And I never feel overwhelmed by her recipes. Everything she cooks she makes seem doable. I know lots of you read her blog, but if you don't, you should. Share with me your secret blog delights. Cuz I do love the comments.

Missing Pioneer Day

2009-07-24T12:19:00.003-06:00

I got out of bed today knowing that everyone in Utah was either sleeping in or going to the parade. I loved the 24th of July as a kid. It's the parade where you got to decorate your bike or wagon and walk down 4th north. You got to have more fireworks and more potato salad and more hamburgers. I think having a state holiday for your "founding" is a rare thing. It doesn't happen in Nebraska or Colorado. So for all you luckies that didn't have to work today, tell me what you did instead. I'm at work, but still very grateful for the pioneers.

After almost 4 years, we've got some things figured out

2009-07-22T00:15:00.002-06:00

This past year in Lincoln has been a very interesting one. Lots of growth for both of us. I think the best thing that has happened in our marriage this past year has been how we split up the chores. Before we would wait until we had hardly any clean clothes left that we would finally haul everything to the basement of our apartment complex to get it done and it would take hours. Finally Scott decided that he hated folding the most, so he struck a deal with me. He'll wash and dry if I fold and put away. Deal. Then I decided that would also work with the dishes. So now I unload the dishwasher and he loads. It has turned out to be an amazing system. We always know who's "turn" it is and we never get really behind in the laundry or the dishes. Scott really does work a lot around the house. He always does the litter box every day, feeds Gimli, takes out the trash and 8 times out of 10 he vacuums and cleans the bathroom. Plus President Obama just signed a big fat grant for Scott's lab so my husband is the best.

New blog of awesomeness

2009-07-08T20:56:00.004-06:00

I've decided to start a blog dedicated to my teaching. Things are changing all the time with my studio so I thought I would start documenting. So do me a favor and put me on your blogroll!

polkadotsound.wordpress.com

The longer you wait...

2009-07-01T13:15:00.002-06:00

..The harder it is to play catch up on the blog. Here is a quick rundown of the last month:
1) Had a final concert with my cute OLLI folks-8 are now my private students. (8/17 ain't bad)
2) Went to Utah for my Suzuki teacher training and it was AMAZING! I am such a better teacher. Got to see some family and spend some serious time with my mama, which is what I needed.
3) Got back and the next day came down with the flu-not the swine kind-but I don't think I've been that sick in a long time. Missed 3 days of work (on top of missing 5 days the previous week because of being in Utah.)
4) Came back to work-got all caught up-and now I just want the three day weekend to be here.
5) I'm going to get better at blogging with cute pictures and clever things to say.

A post with a table of contents

2009-06-11T14:25:00.003-06:00

We had quite a weekend and I know I don’t like to read long posts so I’m devising a way for you to only read the news you want to. I will number the paragraphs and put the table of contents at the top.

1. I played two weddings in Omaha on Saturday
2. We ate at a restaurant famous for its “Testical Festival”
3. Scott’s new calling in church
4. I didn’t get puked on in nursery
5. Scott’s birthday on Sunday
6. Fun pictures

1) On Saturday I played in two weddings in Omaha with the quartet from my studio. We didn’t get lost, the weddings were nice and I visited the only castle in Nebraska. Scott was very nice and came along because on the way home…

2) We ate at a steak restaurant for his birthday. This restaurant has what is called “The Testical Festival” it is exactly what it sounds like. We got steak instead of testicals and left very full. It’s the best steak we’ve found in Nebraska so far.

3) On the way home a member of the High Council called for Scott and asked us to come in early for church. When we went to the meeting they called Scott to be the Executive Secretary for the Bishopric. Suddenly it donned on me that we are grownups. It’s a weird feeling.

4) In the nursery there is a very sweet girl who gets really worked up every time her parents drop her off. She gets so worked up that she pukes. We try really hard to get it in a bowl, but it usually ends up on one of us. This past Sunday she didn’t puke, she really didn’t even cry. The past couple of weeks I’ve made her sit in a time out chair if she started to cry and she can’t come out until she stops crying. On Sunday I took her from her parents and asked her if she wanted to play or if she needed to sit in the chair and she wanted to play with the babies and only three tears were shed. I felt like wonder woman. Nursery is getting easier-which is good seeing as Scott can’t help anymore.

5) We also had a small birthday party with some friends for Scott’s birthday on Sunday afternoon. I made a peach pie, pumpkin cupcakes and yellow cupcakes from a box. The peach pie was a big hit, the pumpkin cupcakes got eaten and we still have yellow ones left if you would like to come over.

6) Here are some favorite pictures from the weekend. Our friend's daughter Jane came up to see Gimli but had to look under the couch to find her.

I hope this ordering system has helped you navigate through this very long post. Don’t blame me if you skipped important information.

Julie and Julia

2009-05-27T17:30:00.002-06:00

New movie coming out in August. A movie about Julia Child and food blogging with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep! How could you not love this?

Dear Husband,

2009-05-23T12:21:00.005-06:00

This is your cat Gimli, she is waiting for you to come home. I think she is sick of me.

This is your wife, she cut off ALL of her hair and she's kinda freaking out about it. Come home from your fancy-shmancy conference. We miss you.

Our first week of veggies

2009-05-21T18:20:00.006-06:00

We picked up our first CSA bundle and it was fabu! We got salad greens (Scott picked up one of the leaves and said with a pout, "This one looks like a weed!"), broccoli raab (not our favorite), radishes, and the most wonderful spinach I've ever had. When we went to the farmer's market to pick up our veggies the guy at the booth introduced himself as our "farmer". I totally freaked out. This is going to be so awesome.

I just roasted my radishes in the oven and I stood over the pan and ate most of them. I think I'm going to have a tummy ache.

Saturday night, 8:00, panic attack

2009-05-10T16:16:00.005-06:00

At 8:00 p.m. last night I realized that I had failed to think of a cute craft for my nursery kids to do for their mother's the next day. So turning as I usually do to Amanda I was inspired my her genius and put a small twist on it.

Paint samples from Home Depot, sticky foam shapes from Michael's and sharpie messages. The kiddos colored them a bit during nursery and then completely man handled them so they were a bit wrinkled, but I assume the moms loved them all the same.

This past Thursday

2009-05-03T22:54:00.007-06:00

I got these:

From these fine fine people:

click to make bigger, they are so dang cute

They had a recital, and I couldn't have been more pleased with their playing. I get such a rush when I see a bunch of string students playing all at the same time, with all their bows going in the same direction, their fingers all going down at the same time. I was a very proud mama.

Dun Da-Da DUN!!

2009-04-13T19:27:00.003-06:00

My mother in law tells me that curtains are the easiest thing to make because it's just a straight line. Apparently she didn't tell me that I could still be awful at making them. But the curtains you see to your left were made by yours truly and I'm very proud of them. The stitching is not straight, the ends do not meet up, but I made them and I will probably make some more soon. A very nice lady in the ward who is a seamstress extraordinaire has a bunch of people over on Thursday nights and teaches them how to sew. Now I just have to figure out what to make next.

Surprise!

2009-04-03T19:31:00.006-06:00

This picture just seems far too appropriate to not use for this post. Last Thursday, the Barrett Family grew from two members to three! Meet Gimli, our long-haired tabby, whom we adopted from a no-kill shelter in town (picture below). She's 1.5 years old, is very shy, and hasn't let us pet her at home yet, but we're confident she'll come around. She currently lives in our spare room, but after she settles in over the next few weeks, we will give her access to the front room as well. In the meantime, we've been trying to win her over and make her comfortable by providing plenty of treats and by building her a cardboard mansion for her to hide in. Admittedly, it's been tempting for us to keep checking in on her, but we are trying to give her some space for the first few days until she gets used to her new environment. She's already been spayed and vaccinated and knows how to use the litter box, which is SUPER nice.

UPDATE: After a very successful petting session, we think Gimli is starting to warm up to us. She has a loud purr.

Community Supported Agriculture

2009-03-29T16:30:00.003-06:00

We are so excited because this summer we get to participate in the CSA program. Some info from the CSA website: A CSA, (for Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (or "shareholders," or "subscribers") of the CSA.

We paid about $300 and we get a box of veggies from a local Nebraska farm for 20 weeks in the summer. I love the idea of CSA because you are supporting local sustainable farming, you get great food that hasn't been covered in pesticides and hasn't been shipped from another country. If you would like to learn more about CSA farms in your community visit this website.

Our first tornado

2009-03-25T06:47:00.003-06:00

On Monday we experienced what I have been waiting for since moving to the midwest. A big fat tornado with thunder, lightning, wind, rain, hail, sirens, everything that is awesome. It actually wasn't that exciting. But Monday afternoon it started raining like crazy and then on the radio they issued a tornado watch, and then it turned into a tornado warning. There is a myth in Lincoln that tornados don't ever touch down in the city because we are in a bit of a valley, I don't know if that's true, but I've heard it from lots of people. Anyway, they upgraded to a tornado warning and as we were watching the rain outside suddenly the sirens went off. That means get to the basement. So everybody headed down to the basement with a radio and then just waited for the tornado to pass. It never touched down in the city, but touched down about 7 miles out of the city. It created some serious hail and made my afternoon interesting. So we are officially mid-western-ers, had our first tornado, and lived to tell about it.

The party had to end sometime

2009-02-26T21:15:00.006-07:00

So I got a call from my church leader last week asking me to come to church early to meet with him. I thought that he was going to ask me to help out with some committee, or head up a church dinner. What I didn't expect is for him to release me from my totally awesome calling as Relief Society Chorister which I totally rocked at, to Nursery Leader (nursery is for children 18 mo-3 years old during Sunday school). I was totally blown away. I was really liking my other calling and I was teaching them all sorts of cool stuff like how to sing alto, how to sing solfege, and I was about to start on key signatures when I got released. Now granted I have taken quite a few children's music classes and so I could experiment a whole lot on these kids with different games and songs, but I'm afraid it will really isolate me from the rest of the congregation. The lady I'm taking over for was in this calling for four years. FOUR YEARS! So if any of you have been in my situation before, help a sister out with some ideas.

Good Times...

2009-02-19T12:05:00.002-07:00

Some things never get old...

Nothing new, but I come back to these time and time again when I need a good chuckle.

Research Report

2009-02-16T09:21:00.004-07:00

One of the most vexing questions I have to answer on a regular basis is: "what do you do at the university?" This probably does not sound like a difficult question, but it's much more complex than it may appear. You see, the program I am in is entitled Behavioral Neuropharmacology. You can't exactly rattle that name off to people without (1) sounding pretentious, (2) receiving a blank stare in return, and/or (3) having the question repeated. Alternatively, I could say that I study psychology (our home department), but that results in a different set of problems. Generally, people either (1) make a joke about how you should "psychoanalyze" them, or (2) promptly change topics by mentioning something harmless like the weather while not so subtly eyeing me up and down as if I had all to recently escaped from a mental institution. When people hear you study psychology they automatically jump to the conclusion that you are training to be a clinician or desire to author the kind of self-help books on which you might collaborate with Dr. Phil. What's worse is that I don't really believe that I study "psychology" at all, but that is just where programs like mine end up at universities, for historical reasons. For this reason I tend to give the Behavioral Neuropharmacology / Neuroscience answer, because blanks stares, repeated questions and pretention are far more tolerable than being perceived as a sweater-wearing, sofa-enthusiast with a penchant for writing on clipboards.

The problem with answering that I study neuroscience is that most people unwittingly demand further explanation. What they don't realize is that they don't *really* want further explanation because that warrants a much longer, detailed, and tedious conversation than they originally bargained for. What people really want is "small talk," and there frankly is much in the way of small talk in behavioral neuropharmacology. Oh sure, I can say "I work with rats" or "I study drug addiction," but that inevitiably leads to probing questions that lead into the above-mentioned tedium, or to different sorts of misperceptions (Willard anyone?). Let's face it, when you ask someone what they do, you aren't really asking them to give you a ten to fifteen minute lecture on animal models of drug addiction, how they do and do not help us better understand patterns of human drug abuse and potential treatment problems, and what they tell us about general principles of learning which is what you really care about anyway and all this drug business is just a means to the end (and where the grant money is found).

I've tried to find ways to solve this social problem, and the conversational awkwardness that it precipitates, but not to much avail. The first solution I came up with was to lie. You know, just say I study something else that I know a little something about and that is far less conversationally inhibiting, but still interesting. The best way to do this is to pick a subject that virtually everyone knows something about, and that sounds interesting, but not too interesting (Political Science is a definite no-no here...). For instance, biology, genetics, or economics. Of course, this strategy runs into major hiccups when (1) someone else present already knows what you study, (2) the person you're talking to specializes in the field you just chose. Of course, my first attempt at lying about what I study resulted in the latter possible outcome, creating the sort of awkwardness I had hoped to avoid.

Since lying about what I do doesn't seem to work as I intended, I have to come up with another way of getting around this social predicament. In the meantime, I will have to fall back other flawed strategies or learn to deal with the standard social awkwardness that is the burden of scientists who inject animals with illicit drugs. However, you can avoid hearing a long and boring lecture on neuroscience by either accepting the fact that I study economics when I tell you so, or by reading our blog! I recently published my first peer-reviewed article (as 2nd author) in the journal of Behavioural Pharmacology. I can't link you the full article for copyright reasons, but I can provide a link to the abstract. As I publish additional articles, I will likewise link their abstracts via our blog, so that you CAN avoid awkward conversations about how I don't really privately speculate about what deprivations you may or may not have had during the "oral" stage of you psychosexual childhood development. Perhaps you might even find them interesting! One can dream, can't they?

"Nicotine does not enhance discrimination performance in a temporal bisection procedure."

It. Was. Awesome.

2009-02-07T12:35:00.007-07:00

It couldn't have gone any better. They are wonderful, excited, and willing. This is going to be great.

Jordy's wedding

2009-02-04T18:30:00.008-07:00

Last weekend we flew out to Salt Lake City to see my brother Jordan get married to Abbie Laurence. It was a wonderful weekend full of lots of family and food. I got to hold lots of babies and see neighbors who I hadn't seen in a long time. We really like Abbie and we're amazed that she wants to hang out with us forever. Here are some fun pictures of the weekend:

Omaha Zoo

2009-01-26T23:21:00.003-07:00

For MLK day we decided that our service would be to "donate" our disposable income to the Omaha Zoo. This place is rockin'. This is a picture of us with our 3-D glasses on for the movie "Wild Ocean". The really awesome thing about the Omaha Zoo is that a lot of the inside exhibits are designed for the animals to roam quite freely. There was a desert dome that had things scurrying about and then in the basement of that building had a swamp exhibit. I think the swamp was our favorite part. You walk around this boardwalk with hardly any light and all around you is alligators, beavers, mostly alligators. Then in some really dark corners of the swamp the boardwalk is very squeaky and it un-nerves you quite a bit. If you want to come visit us we promise that the zoo will be on the agenda, we might even buy you a bag of sweets.

They have a jungle that is the same sort of set up with monkeys running around on ropes that run above your head and parrots that look like they could just start flying over to another spot at any time. They also have a butterfly exhibit that is really neat as well.

Scott and I have decided that when we retire we want to work at the zoo. There were two older ladies who worked there who were giving a talk about an iguana to a bunch of school kids and they had the iguana right there for the kids to come up and pet. That sounds like a really cool job to have.

The Vornado

2009-01-18T17:35:00.002-07:00

Coolest name ever for a space heater. We got this for Christmas in hopes that it would decrease our utility bill. This thing is awesome. It heats up an entire room but doesn't just turn on when it gets cold and turns off when it gets hot. When the room reaches the desired temperature, it just slows down the fan a little bit and doesn't put out as hot of air. It also somehow "vortex-es" the air around so the air is constantly being rotated so all the air is warm and you don't have hot and cold spots in the room. It also is cool to the touch and automatically turns off if there is an obstruction in front of it, or if it falls over. Also nothing bigger than a number 2 pencil can fit through the grills.

The cool part is that we only heat up the room that we are in. It usually stays in our bedroom. And we are usually able to turn the regular heat off all together. I think in the last 2 weeks that we have had it we have only had to turn the heat on 3-4 times and it is usually only for an hour or so. We have to keep the space heater running all day in our bedroom because of my instruments, but we're hoping that our utility bill will be much happier because of it.

OLLI-What I'm doing with my spare time

2009-01-14T18:56:00.001-07:00

I work in the dean's office of Education at UNL. Housed in the same college is a program called OLLI. It is a community ed program for people over the age of fifty. People volunteer their time and teach classes and the classes are really quite awesome. Computer classes, learning about the middle east conflict, they go on tours in Chicago, world food classes etc. So I decided that it would be awesome to teach a Suzuki group class for OLLI. Now mind you I've had adult students before, but never 12 of them at the same time.

The class will be set up with the first 45 minutes being a group class and the second half will be a master class situation where every other week they get a private 7 minute lesson while everyone else watches. It should be very interesting and exciting. I went to an open house for all the members to check out what classes are being offered and everyone I talked to thought it was such a cool idea. The people who are signed up are totally stoked and that makes me totally stoked. Only two of them have had any kind of violin experience and it was when they were in grade school so everybody's really starting from scratch.

Hopefully by the end of the six week course everyone will be able to play tucka tucka stop stop and we can put on a recital for people to come to. I was amazed at the open house how many people were convinced that they couldn't do it. They would say to me, "I really want to, but I just don't think I could do it." There was nothing I could say that could convince them otherwise. If I am really good at documenting the successes of this first class it will inspire those who have made up their minds that you have to have talent in order to succeed with music. I'm out to prove them wrong. Wish me luck!

All things January

2009-01-10T20:08:00.002-07:00

So we haven't been blogging about our actual lives for awhile. I think the main reason is because our camera is totally shot. It got dropped awhile back and ever since the focus has been slowly dying and now it can't take any pictures. And I feel like nobody wants to read a blog post without at least some pictures. So I'm just going to post pictures that were taken awhile ago. The one to the left is of us on our honeymoon in Durango, CO.

We had a wonderful holiday. Stayed in Lincoln for Christmas so Scott could finish up his research project and then we headed to Denver for New Years. We spent the time with Scott's parents and his sister Ellen and her husband Kevin. We were spoiled to death and also went to the zoo which is way more fun in the winter FYI.

As I've read other blogs about the new year, or reflections on the old I've tried to figure out what I would want to say about 2008. It was a big year for us. Scott graduated, we moved to a brand new place with brand new people. I conquered yeast breads and my new boss called me "a very goal oriented person" I think that's one of the best compliments I've ever received.

So the new year comes with new goals. We got the 10 minute trainer workout videos and we've been diligent so far. I've written down all the dinner meals for the month of January and their accompanying grocery lists. We're eating more lettuce and less pizza. And Carrie said that if you practice for at least 5 minutes a day it counts, so I'm think I'm going to try to do 100 straight days of practice again.

I am famous and people do care

2008-12-11T07:21:00.002-07:00

So in my RSS feed yesterday I got an email from Obama's transition website. It said the following:

"With so many Americans involved in the political process for the first time, there's a great deal of interest in what's happening inside the Transition right now -- and what happens next.

Today, we're rolling out a new feature that lets you ask the Transition team any questions you have about the issues that are important to you.

You can also browse through questions other folks have and check off the ones you think are the most interesting.

The Change.gov community has jumped into a true two-way dialogue with our Transition team members. So far, we've asked you questions about major issues in our discussion forums, and you've flooded this site with your comments.

Check out our new "Open for Questions" feature, and keep the conversation going."

So I logged on and asked the question: "What do you plan to do to our food industry to make it more sustainable? Will there be changes to our farming policies?"

So far out of 5038 questions, mine is 6th in popularity with 1572 people "checking that they think it is interesting". I feel very famous and expect a call from Obama at any second wanting my personal input!

You can check out my famous-ness here and submit your own question to President-Elect Obama.

If I were famous and people cared

2008-12-08T13:40:00.005-07:00

On NPR Music they interview famous musicians and ask them what their favorite recordings are and then let the rest of us listen to them. So I decided to do the same sort of thing, and recomend that you post yours as well, it brings back all sorts of memories.

First is a really odd sort of song. Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915. It is so strange on first hearing. We played it for a concerto concert at USU and it became a serious favorite. Listen to it at least two times, if not more. The six eight time is just addictive.

Second is Phil Collins' cover of You Can't Hurry Love. I think of all the covers of this great song, his is my very favorite, can't tell you why, just love it the most. Maybe it's the fun video.

The Third was introduced to me on a car ride with Nick Maughan my freshman year in Logan. He had a fabu CD of Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax playing cello sonatas. He played for me the third movement of the Rachmaniov Cello Sonata Op. 19 and my life was never the same. I later got to play the third movement with Aram Arakelyan on the viola and it is still one of my most favorite pieces.

I forget who burned me a copy of Eva Cassidy's music, but it is a lasting favorite. Her version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow makes you yearn for Oz. She died young of cancer and really didn't become famous until after her death. Also check out her Fields of Gold. Also another NPR goldmine is when commentator Rob Kapilow talks with Performance Today's Fred Child about how Somewhere Over the Rainbow is musically put together. Amazing.

And the last would have to be Tucka Tucka Stop Stop. It is the very first full lenghth piece Suzuki violinists learn. People ask me all the time if I get sick of it, but I really don't. It makes me smile everytime I see a group of young violinists perform this piece for their parents. You know how many hours of work has gone into that one 20 second piece and I usually end up beaming with pride. You Suzuki teachers know what I'm talking about. I don't have a video or a recording of it, but just imagine a bunch of little kids looking really cute, or check out these cute kids playing another fun piece last year.

Our new toy

2008-12-03T21:16:00.003-07:00

Scott got me an aerogarden for my birthday and we finally got it in the mail. I am growing herbs in mine right now because that's what it came with. But next I'm hoping to grow cherry tomatoes. It has lights that turn on automatically and a light that shows up when I need to add water. It grows with no dirt and has water constantly pumped over the roots. It's dang cool and it will be nice to produce my own food since this summer's "balcony garden" was a bust.

Thank you all for your very nice comments about the race. We did well, I was very slow, but I'm proud that I trained and accomplished my goal. Now we need to figure out what to do next.

Running out of breath

2008-11-17T20:59:00.003-07:00

For my birthday what I decided I wanted to run a 5k and I wanted Scott to run it with me. Now my husband is a trim man, but running is not his cup of tea. Actually, he hates it more than anything. But he loves me and he said he would train with me. We've been running for about 6 weeks now and the race is on Thanksgiving morning. We're using this running schedule and it has been a life saver. We've hit 20 minutes straight and that is quite a big deal for both of us. I think that the only way that I'm going to consistently exercise is if I do it with Scott. I don't have the will power to get out of bed in the morning if he gets to stay in the warm covers. And I don't do well at night because I'm the only one suffering, and I want someone to suffer with me. So who knows what will happen to our exercise regiment once Thanksgiving is over, but I've got a few ideas. Scott will hate all of them I'm sure. The picture is of a running rhino, that's how I feel when I run.

You Wanted Change? It's Time To Help

2008-11-06T12:49:00.003-07:00

This is a great article from Dick Meyer about how change is going to have to come from the ground up as well as the top down.

October

2008-11-05T19:32:00.002-07:00

So we've been slackers in the blog o sphere lately. I think blogging comes in waves with me. I just have to be in the mood. October was a lovely month here in Nebraska. It's so strange but the leaves didn't change for the longest time and yesterday it was 70 degrees outside. I actually really miss the cold Logan mornings. I'm ready for pea coats and scarves.

Scott's parents came to visit and they spoiled us rotten. It was nice to see some familiar faces and they were very nice house guests. Because they came we finally had to clean out our second bedroom and so now I have a studio to teach in.

I now have a grand total of seven students and I'm liking all of them.

I had a great birthday with lots of love from family and friends. I got lots of beautiful things and was again spoiled. I had to teach that night, but we went to a great little Greek place and I ate way too much and we even got dessert.

I got half way through Thomas Friedman's book before having to return it to the library so I'm now back at the bottom of the list. But I immensely enjoyed the first half and recommend it to anyone.

We finally signed up for curb side recycling. They gave us a nice big bin and come and get it every week. They recycle cell phones and chargers and all those misc. cords that seem to appear in every drawer in our house. They take grocery bags and produce bags and every kind of plastic you could think of. all for only $11 bucks a month. And if I get another person to sign up for it we get a month free. Oh, and we took our old computer monitor to Best Buy to have them recycle it and they gave us store credit. Awesome. I'm really excited about our recycling, can you tell?

That's about it from us, the election is finally over and last night all I kept dreaming about was Anderson Cooper and David Gergen.

2 More Days!

2008-11-02T17:53:00.001-07:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Did we really need all those debates?

2008-10-29T07:32:00.001-06:00

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

This is rolling around the internet and I think it's great.

Hot Flat and Crowded

2008-10-10T14:05:00.003-06:00

So I started my new book from the library today. So far, I love it, here's my favorite quote so far:

"There is a third trend, though, and this is the one that gives me hope. This is the trend toward what I call "nation-building at home". While Washington may be gridlocked and drifting sideways, and our economic management has been anything but responsible, our country is still exploding with innovators and idealists. Every week I hear from people with thier new ideas for making clean energy, or with new approaches to education or with new thoughts about how to repair something in our country that desperately needs repariing. And though some of these ideas are wacky, the number of people experimenting in the garages and local communities certainly tells me that this country is still bursting with vitality from below. Our young people are so much more idealistic than we deserve them to be, and our broader public, though beraten down at times, is still eager to be enlisted-enlisted to fix education, enlisted to research renewable enery, enlisted to repair our infrastructure, enlisted to help others. You can see it in the number of college graduates lining up to join Teach for America. They want our country to matter again, they want to be summoned, not just to do nation-building in Iraq or Afghanistan, but to do nation-building in America-to restore and revitalize something they cherish but feel is being degraded."

Thomas Friedman-Hot Flat and Crowded-Why we need a green revolution - and how it can renew America

Here's my main question..

2008-10-06T13:51:00.003-06:00

The housing market is a complete disaster, but those stupid dancing people advertising for cheap morgages are still dancing in the middle of my news articles. Shouldn't they be gone by now?

What I've been making

2008-10-04T11:05:00.003-06:00

This is not my picture, nor are any of these pictures mine, but this is from my new favorite blog Smitten Kitchen that Amanda turned me onto. I'm going to be attempting this apple cake this afternoon. I've been trying to get a lot of cooking done on the weekends and then eat it all week. Here's my list:

Macaroni and Cheese

Black Bean Soup

Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

Beef, Leek, and Barley Soup

Whole Wheat Zucchini Pancakes

So many books, so little time

2008-10-02T12:43:00.003-06:00

Remember the good old days of Pizza Hut Book it? Those were the days. So the library here in Lincoln is amazing!(Said in a Kelly Kapoor voice from the office). There are five libraries and you can request a book on the website and they will drive it over to the library that is closest to your house. This might be how most library systems work, but coming from a one library town like Logan, this is big time for me. They also have a really nice interlibrary loan system that pulls from all around Nebraska. So when we first got here I went crazy and checked out all sorts of books and never got around to reading them all before we had to take them back. So I've gotten better but this week all of these books that I've been on huge waiting lists for have all showed up and they all have people waiting for them after me so I feel like I should get them all read. So here is my reading list for the next couple of weeks:

Currently Reading:
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver 352 pgs
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 206 pgs

Currently waiting at the Library for me to pick up:
Hot, Flat and Crowded Why We Need a Green Revolution - And How it Can Renew America by Thomas L. Friedman 438 pgs
Alcohol Can Be a Gas! Fueling an Ethanol Revolution for the 21st Century by David Blume 591 pgs.

Now for some of you (Amanda, Brooke) this would be no big deal, but I am less diligent about picking up a book when I have a spare second but it will build character.

Voting Early

2008-09-29T14:11:00.003-06:00

I went to the Lancaster County Election Office today on my lunch hour and registered to vote, and now have my Election 2008 ballot in my hot little hands. Early voting is the way to go in my opinion, mostly because I've spent hours upon hours waiting in line to vote, but now I get to fill it out and mail it back, no lines involved. It also gives me a little bit more hope that my vote will actually be counted. I'm not trying to be cynical here, but the last two times I've tried to vote my registration somehow was not on their list, I had to vote absentee and who knows if my vote actually ever got cast. Now all we have to do with the Nebraska government is get new license plates, new driver's licenses and renew our car.

Election 2008

2008-09-26T10:42:00.016-06:00

Whether you like John McCain or Barack Obama, or neither, these videos are pretty funny and I think capture a bit of the spirit of this election season. Many of you may know that I do not particularly care for politics, and I declare my position to be nonpartisan (I dislike political parties). As such, do not interpret my sharing of these videos as some form of trickery to endorse one candidate over the other. Instead, watch with interest to the competitive spirit of what is shaping up to be one of the most interesting Presidential races in decades. Enjoy!

Video 1:

Video 2 - FOLLOW LINK

Video 3:

Video 4:

Big Bang Theory

2008-09-24T09:36:00.002-06:00

So, as of the few weeks, I have a new favorite television show. It's called The Big Bang Theory, and it on CBS on Mondays. Here are some clips of my favorite scenes from last week's season premiere.

Waiting is the hardest part...

2008-09-12T15:32:00.001-06:00

Five minutes, starts out a bit slow but totally worth it. New season starts soon!

Friends, Violins, and Tomatoes

2008-09-11T08:05:00.002-06:00

Not much has happened since our last post, though it sure seems like it was a while ago. We made some new friends in our ward, a young couple who moved in just about a month ago. Oddly, we discovered that we have uncanny similarities with them. As it turns out, Scott Church is from Centennial, Colorado as well, and actually lived in my same ward in Colorado, not a few blocks from where my parents live now. Their family moved out about the same time that my family moved in. Not only is his name also Scott, but we like the same music, know the same people, and we both want to be professors. Heather and Jentry seemed to get along quite well also, both being fans of BBC specials and girly movies (though that appears not to be too uncommon). Anyway, we were glad to make some new friends here in Lincoln, and I think it has helped make Jentry feel a bit more at home.

Jentry has been busy trying to get her studio up and running. We had some brochures and a large banner made to help her advertise. I'm trying to convince her to make a yellow pages ad, and maybe post in the classifieds or on Craig's List. She does have a website up and running though, www.lincolnviolin.com. She has also contacted various pre-schools and kindergartens in the area, asking if she may come give a presentation on the violin. So far we've heard back from only one school, but it's only been a few days since she mailed out her requests. She has a clever way of trying to get the parents interested as well. When she gives her presentation, she will also give the children stickers that say "I learned to play the violin today!" on them with her web address and name below. Hopefully, when the children come home wearing their stickers, the parents may be intrigued and visit her website. We'll see what happens.

Other than that, things have been pretty slow. Lots of rain, on and off again, which is nice. Jentry's tomato plant is a single, green tomato growing on it, despite the heavy abuse it sustained over the course of the summer. Her black beans have also been growing rapidly, but no fruit on them yet. We're not exactly sure what to expect, or whether or not we'll have to artificially pollenate them like we did with the tomato plant. And that's just about it!

A small small world.

2008-08-29T11:14:00.002-06:00

Today I was sitting at my desk working on (yet another) Excel spreadsheet when in walked a professor and her new grad assistant. I looked up and was suddenly looking at (a stunned) Christina Squire from Tolman Elementary and the LDS Bountiful North Stake. I blurted out, "You live in Nebraska?!" I jumped up and we gave each other a huge hug and started talking a mile a minute. She just moved here two weeks ago with her husband for them both to start grad school. I've known Christina for as long as I remember. She's a year older than me, but we went to school together and were in the same LDS Stake and served on the Bountiful Youth Council together. She's an amazing girl and we both marveled at what a small world it is. As I sat down and started thinking about the encounter, the talk by Elder Bednar on "The Tender Mercies of the Lord" popped into my head. I know that Heavenly Father is looking out for us here and I know He sent us here for a reason, and this is one of them. I can't tell you what a comfort a familiar face is in this sea of unfamiliarity. Christina and I both actually started to cry a bit as we were talking about how we don't know where anything is in the grocery store or how we look for people we know as we walk through a crowd, but then realize that we're not going to know anyone. Seeing Christina today was a blessing and a comfort to me and I know that we're not here alone.

African Wisdom for Life

2008-08-28T13:58:00.003-06:00

On my desk is an "African Wisdom for Life" daily calendar. The wisdom for today is, "The tree that is not taller than you does not shade you." -African proverb

I don't know what to make of it, any ideas?

I don't want to be a bummer anymore

2008-08-21T19:56:00.002-06:00

Sorry this blog has been a bit of a bummer lately, but things are looking up. My parents are much better and my dad's surgery went well and my mom is recouping in style with her sisters in St. George. We are doing well. I now have four students from the music store and I taught them for the first time yesterday. I forget how much I love teaching when I go for awhile without doing it. Scott starts school on Monday and I think he is excited, but you can never tell... We celebrated our 3rd year anniversary yesterday and it was very nice. We ate really good Indian food (spinach naan, I don't need to say anymore). Then we missed our first movie time so we went to the 9:40 showing of Traveling Pants. We had the entire movie theatre and probably the entire building to ourselves. I enjoyed the movie and we sat and commented and sang as loud as we wanted. A perfect date for us.

Crazy things

2008-08-14T08:56:00.004-06:00

Thank you all for your comments and concerns over my tranistion period. I got lots of good advice and perspective from those who have gone before. Thank you for your love, wisdom and understanding. We have been watching the Olympics and I have three students now through the music store down the street. Things back home in Utah have been a bit scary, but okay. Check out my brother's blog to see what's going on in the life of the Stoneman family.

The following spouse

2008-08-07T18:04:00.003-06:00

This is what Amy Odum (one of Scott's amazing advisors at USU) called me (or my role) before we left Logan for Lincoln. She had been a following spouse years before and then eventually got her own Ph.D. I've been thinking a lot about this phrase ever since we got here. When we started down this path of graduate school it was obvious that we would go where Scott needed to go. His field is way more specialized than anything that I wanted to do with a graduate degree and when people questioned me about "following him" I was like, "duh, of course we're going where he needs to go". I didn't feel like I needed to defend the fact that I was taking a back seat, and I still don't feel that way. I know that coming here was the right choice for us and it holds in store many things for me that I know will enrich my life.

What I didn't know was what being "the following spouse" was going to do to the image I had of myself. In Logan I had many things that defined me. My music, my students, my church, my schooling, my friends, my husband, my family, my job etc. Most of the things that defined me existed before I met and married Scott and he just added to this wonderful mixture of my self esteem.

When we came here a lot of those things were no longer there. Well, they still were a part of me, but I wasn't able to partake of them everyday. I missed having students and close friends and family. I missed having a direction in my life. When we were in Logan it was always really clear cut what was next; graduate from school, work for a year while Scott finishes, go to graduate school for Scott. And that's where it always ended when people asked. Now that we're here, I find myself floundering for what I really want to do.

It's not to say that there isn't plenty for me to do here. I want to start a master's degree in learning disabilities, I want to get a big studio and teach lots of kiddies, I just didn't expect me to feel this way. It's like I have nothing to really attach myself to. I'm jealous of Scott who has this title and future sketched out for him for the next five years "graduate student". My future is much more uncertain. I'm not complaining, I'm not bitter, I'm just reflective. I know that many of the readers of this blog have been, are or are going to be in this situation; so I want to hear from you.

Update

2008-07-29T21:38:00.002-06:00

Things are humid and sticky here in the heartland. We are getting along fine, even though our a/c stops working on the dot every Friday afternoon so we can spend the weekend simmering in our own fluids. But it's fixed now.

My job is going well. I'm really liking the people I work with and campus is beautiful. The work I am doing is pretty clerical at this point, but I've been promised that it gets better.

Scott is being research-y, and I think he is ready for school to start so he has something to do while he has to wait for me to get off of work. The tomatoes are blooming and I planted black beans on Saturday that are already shooting out of the dirt. Besides that, not much is going on.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

2008-07-22T20:23:00.003-06:00

This weekend I finished the above mentioned fascinating book by Michael Pollan. It has three sections. The first is how corn has taken over our entire diet and a substantial part of our farmland. The second is his experience in a sustainable farm "Polyface Farm" in Virginia. The third is his quest to create a meal that he "hunted and/or gathered". After reading the book I've come up with some goals for my eating. Granted they are goals and probably not all completely feasible until Scott has a real job, but I think my heart's in the right place.

1)The bulk of what I put in my body should not be processed
2)The food should mostly come from a local source
3)Meat should be a special occasion. Most of our meals should be meat free.
4)The meat that we do eat should be grass fed - we can get this at our farmer's market-I don't know what we're going to do in the winter, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
5)I want to grow a large part of my own food. This is really the only way I can figure out how to achieve all of this. Vegetables are expensive and food from your own backyard has very little carbon footprint!

Now of course this doesn't mean that we won't eat out or demand these rules from anyone else. I'm really not sure if I can enforce these rules on Scott. I just want to try to be more responsible with what we spend a lot of our money on. "Eat your view!"

The Case of Animal Activism

2008-07-16T14:04:00.009-06:00

As a scientist and animal researcher, I obviously have biased opinions about animal rights. The nice thing about this blog is that I get to share them with you. Better yet, if you disagree, you have to post it on your own blog because this blog is firmly opposed to absurd opinions.

Now that I've hopefully limited my audience by offending some of our readers, I can finally get to the point. Animal research is an essential part of biomedical science. Some would have you believe that it is unnecessary, avoidable, and even a hindrance to scientific progress. These people would also have you believe that scientists who practice animal research are heartless, cruel and sadistic individuals who relish in inflicting pain and suffering on other species. Many would also try to convince you it is just to strike back at research institutions through vandalism, threats on personal safety, burglary, arson, and other illegal activities. It should go without saying that these people are idiots, plain and simple.

The sad part is that like many idiots, they are good at making their voices heard. Of course, when you look closer at what many of them say, it makes you wonder why they are permitted to open their mouths (see a list of interesting quotes). Nonetheless, they have their first amendment rights and they exercise them liberally. Unfortunately, this has the effect of making their opinions seem more prevalent than they really are, and can have the effect of making it look "mainstream" or even "popular." To complicate the matter, those of us who disagree with their views tend to remain quiet, even in the face of their hate-filled propaganda. That is something that I mean to personally change.

Animals do indeed have rights, and they should be treated with dignity and respect. I believe that while animal research is essential to the progression of biomedical science, it should be conducted in a responsible and respectful manner towards the animals used. In my experience, this is the guiding principle that governs most, if not all, animal research laboratories. Animal researchers do not relish in animal pain and suffering, but we work to minimize or completely avoid it in all of our work. Researchers view loss of animal life as a necessary cost toward developing a science that will improve the lives of both humans and non-human animals. Without animal research, human and veterinary medicine would be still relying on archaic and inaccurate practices and create a far greater amount of suffering to both humans and non-human animals than it does at present.

I have personally had enough of the ignorant falsehoods that the extremist animal activist groups distribute. Furthermore, their tactics and illegal activities are detrimental to society and are designed to deter by fear and coercion (see list of illegal activities committed in the name of animal rights, posted with pride on their own websites...). The term 'terrorism' comes to mind... As such, I am vowing to be more vocal in speaking out in favor of animal research and against the violent, hateful, and dangerous activities taken my animal rights extremists. If you feel at all similarly, I encourage you to do the same, and find out more information from the sites listed below:

Pro-Test
Speaking of Research
Foundation for Biomedical Research
Americans for Medical Progress

Unleavened Bread

2008-07-10T05:33:00.003-06:00

We made naan, and I'm tickled about it. We fell in love with the Indian Oven back in Logan and I've always wondered how you would make naan (my personal favorite part about eating Indian food). Turns out, not difficult. Flour, salt, baking powder, and plain yogurt. Though the baking part was a bit intensive, I think this could become a habit. You have to have a hot griddle going and your oven on at 500 degrees so I don't recommend doing it in the heat of the afternoon. We topped ours with melted butter, honey from the farmer's market, and cilantro (had to use the dried stuff as mine is still trying to grow back).

Other things I have made during my unemployment:
Pesto-from my own basil
Tomato Basil Pasta Salad
Basil Lemonade-a new favorite-can you tell we had a lot of basil to use?
Baja Black Beans, Corn and Rice

My job is going to be a great one. One of my main responsibilities is to work with scholarship recipients and donors. The Dean wants me to start nurturing past donors and making sure that they get updates on the recipients of the scholarship that they funded, stuff like that. They had to do a background check on me because I will be dealing with other people's money and that takes 3-5 days so hopefully I will start on Monday. Here is my next gardening project.

Updates

2008-07-09T10:13:00.002-06:00

First off, this post is to commemorate our first 100 posts on Cumulative Record (this being the 101st post). Yay for us!

Since Jentry kept everyone in suspense about her job and everyone seems antsy to know what it is, I thought I might as well post and give our friends and family some updates on how we're doing in Lincoln. You'll note that this is a break from the norm in my posting style; as I mentioned to Jentry, I prefer to limit the topics of my posts to the superficial rather than real. However, it always brings a smile to Jentry's face when I do actually post something other people actually care about, so here I go.

The move went well, despite being expensive (as all moves are). The most costly part of the move was not the U-Haul rental, the new apartment deposit, the fuel consumed while travelling, or even our overnight stay in North Platte, NE. It was the gap between paychecks we're experiencing between our last checks from jobs in Logan and our coming checks from our new jobs in Lincoln. It's amazing what a difference a few weeks without pay makes when you're living from paycheck to paycheck. Nevertheless, we're surviving and actually doing quite well in spite of it (please, no charitable donations, unless you last name is Gates). Jentry had a slightly harder time of the move than I did, since when I got here I immediately had things to do in my new laboratory, whereas Jentry had to look for jobs and wait for them to get back to her, with nobody to hang out with all the day long. Being the trouper that she is, however, she got along quite well considering how miserably bored she must have been at home alone all day long while I was on campus.

Fortunately, Jentry will no longer have to endure to loneliness of our empty apartment, as she has indeed found a job, and just the job she was hoping to get at that. If fact, she has much reason to be happy because she actually got the first job she applied for, and not many people can say that. As fun as it would be to leave it at that and not tell you what job it is, I'm going to be civil and share the secret: Jentry is working as a Staff Assistant to the Dean of Education and Human Sciences on the East Campus of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It is the exact same job she had in Logan except that she'll be in the Dean's Office instead of the departmental office, and as a consequence, she'll also make a bit more money. What her additional responsibilities will be I am not certain, but maybe she'll divulge sometime if everyone behaves nicely.

As for myself, graduate school is both exactly and not exactly what I anticipated. My schedule is definitely more flexible, and I have a lot more freedom to govern myself and spend my time on things that I am personally interested in. In the same vein, however, I feel somewhat confused at times about what exactly I should be doing. Mostly I have been doing a lot of reading, both of various papers that have been recommended to me to read and articles that I find on my own that I suppose might be interesting of valuable to know. I have been doing a lot of procedural training as well. As every lab is slightly different on how they take care of their animals or perform their injection procedures, or maintain their laboratory, etc., I have a lot to learn about how things work around the UNL lab. For one, I'm having to learn to perform injections much more rapidly, for many more rats. It's a good thing. I really like the lab here, and I think their procedures are very refined and efficient, so I'm eager to learn what I can. On Saturday I will get my first experience with surgeries. Twenty rats need to have IV catheters surgically implanted, so several of the graduate students will be in the lab to perform them (which will take most of the day) and I will get to observe and be trained on anesthesia procedures, etc. It should be interesting, and I'll let you guys know how it goes.

As for my projects in the lab, I have been given several things to work on (as of yesterday), and all of them involve IV-prepared rats, which is a new experience for me. It isn't typical (from what I hear) for a graduate student to come into the lab and have several projects to work on immediately, or to even start training on IV-procedures so quickly, so I feel both a little nervous and pretty excited about the opportunity to do so. We'll see how things go. One of the big differences between this lab and the USU lab (of which there are many) is that most of the people in this lab have a strong neuroscience and pharmacology background, but less of a strict behavioral and learning training. USU was quite the opposite, for the most part. So it is interesting to be coming into the lab from a quite different perspective, and to both be completely ignorant of many principles of neuropharmacology, but somewhat knowledgeable about principles of learning and behavior. I'm very glad I came to this lab because I feel that I both have a lot to learn from the people here, but also a lot to contribute from my previous behavioral training. Let's say that I am optimistic about my experience at UNL.

That more or less sums up our experience thus far in Lincoln, but I'm sure we'll keep you posted on further updates.

Window/Balcony Garden

2008-07-08T06:08:00.009-06:00

What once were these:

Became these:

Are now these:

The tomatoes survived the car trip and are thriving in the humidity. I am growing them upside down so gravity does all the work and I don't have to worry about keeping them standing upright. With the process of getting them through the little hole in the bottom of the pot some branches got ripped off, but I think they will be okay. Hopefully before the summer is out we will have some tomatoes!

P.S.-I got a job - a really awesome one.

Home on the Range

2008-07-04T07:56:00.002-06:00

Jentry has recently been reading a book entitled The Omnivore's Dilemma, which from what I understand is a well prepared criticism on our food-industry's over-reliance on corn in virtually all food products. To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it yet, but I'm also not the one reading the book. One thing that Jentry and I have discussed a few times that the book mentions is the differential pros and cons of grass-fed beef compared to grain-fed (corn-fed) beef. To give a brief summary of the issue, post-WWII, the beef-industry has switched from raising cattle primarily in open grassland ranges to grain feedlots. The shift is largely due to ranchers' ability to produce beef year-round, at a lower cost (to producer and consumer), at a faster rate (corn-fed cattle grow much faster), and with more consistent results. Economically speaking, these are all terrific advantaged for cattle ranchers. However, proponents of grass-fed beef argue that there are several disadvantages to grain-fed beef. Some of those include:

Grain-fed cattle succumb to more health problems, like acidosis and rumenitis, "feedlot polio," liver problems and others. In fact, it is considered the norm for feedlot cattle to have one illness or another (Gardner, B.A., et al, "Health of Finishing Steers: Effects on Performance, Carcass Traits, and Meat Tenderness." J. Animal Science, 1999. 77:3168-75.).
Grain-fed cattle ranching practices are believed to contribute to climate change by environmental scientists. Obviously, this is one of the more controversial arguments against grain-fed beef.
Repeated studies have shown that grass-fed beef is nutritionally superior to grain-fed beef. Specifically, grass-fed beef is reported to have more beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), less saturated fat, more omega-3 fatty acids, more CLA (conjugated linoleic acid, believed to reduce the risk of heart-disease and cancer, and often added to grain feeds because of its health benefits), more Vitamin E, more protein, and lower levels and more benign strains of E. coli than grain-fed beef (numerous reports, but see Kraft et al. 2008, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 56:4775-4782.)
Antibiotics and hormones administered to grain-fed cattle have been correlated some health risks in humans, including breast cancer, premature sexual maturation in females and reduced antibiotic efficacy in treating bacterial infections (Casewall et al., 2003, J Antimicrob Chemother, 52, 2:159-61.)

While it is true that grain-fed beef is cheaper, easier to find, and argued by many to be more tender and flavorful, perhaps it comes at a unforeseen cost, particularly to human health. It's an interesting issue, one I'm not sure I've completely formed an opinion on, but aside from being more expensive and slightly less convenient to purchase, I don't see any reason not to prefer grass-fed beef when the choice is available. As a bit of a BBQ connoisseur, I'm thinking about grilling up some steaks from both grass-fed and grain-fed sources and comparing them in terms of flavor, tenderness, and cost, and perhaps posting my opinions for the rest of you to analyze. It seems like a good excuse for some great steaks nonetheless.

Check out EatWild.com for more information on grass-fed meat.

New Pad

2008-07-03T13:31:00.007-06:00

Front Room

I put together this table all by myself!

Bedroom

The view from our balcony.

Nebraska sunset view from our balcony after a storm

Amazing Weather

2008-07-02T14:01:00.012-06:00

Amanda, one of the fellow graduate students in the lab, tipped me off to this great weather website that has much more information that weather.com, which is was I was using. the site is Weather Underground, and it's pretty cool, I must say. Best of all though were these amazing photos that people had posted on there of weather and wildlife. It makes me wish I had a fancy camera really bad. Someday it'll be my new hobby. Below are a few sample photos from the site.

We live in Nebraska now

2008-07-01T23:49:00.004-06:00

We made it to Lincoln. Here are a few things I have learned so far:

I hate moving mostly the packing and then the unpacking

Key Bank and T-Mobile do not exist in Nebraska (who knew? you would think that if they existed in Logan, UT they would exist everywhere else.)

Not having a job is boring

Not having a job and having to unpack boxes is even more boring

Not having a job and having to unpack boxes in the humidity and being alone because your husband is off being a Ph.D student is boring.

Pictures to come

Tagged

2008-06-25T16:44:00.005-06:00

Jentry:
4 Places I go over and over:
Work (Education Building)
Fine Arts Building
Grocery Store
Amanda and Richard's house

4 who email me:
People from work
Auntie Mary
USU String Academy peeps
Ideal Bite

4 Of my favorite foods:
Spinach Soup from Indian Oven
My mom's apple pork chops
Anything Scott or my dad barbecues
Chocolate English Toffee ice cream from Aggie Ice Cream

4 Places I would rather be right now:
Brighton Girls Camp
Wisconsin getting my master's degree in Suzuki Ped. from Pat D'Ercole
Baking new breakfast treats that were on NPR's website today
Playing tennis with my boy

4 Movies I watch over and over again:
Recently I've been watching over and over
North and South-BBC
Wives and Daughters-BBC
The entire Jane Austen series that PBS and BBC just did
While You Were Sleeping

Be tagged if you want to be tagged.

Picture of new apartment courtesy of google maps

2008-06-22T00:06:00.003-06:00

New Post

2008-06-16T19:01:00.002-06:00

We are moving to Nebraska in T minus 10 days. We bumped up our moving date for a number of reasons and we think it is the right decision. Because we moved up our date a whole month lots of things have to be done rather quickly.

Scott went out to Lincoln on Thursday and found us an apartment. It is on the south part of town (read nicer part) so that I can build up a violin studio. It has two bedrooms, a fireplace, a balcony off the master bedroom, a dishwasher, AC etc. I am very excited and will be glad to get out of the studio apartment we have been living in for almost two years now.

I have been at the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute since Thursday down in Draper. I am staying with my family and that has been fun. My sister Jessica came up from SUU for Father's Day so we were all there for the weekend and got to have one last weekend together.

My Suzuki classes have been amazing. I am very excited (read terrified) to start a studio completely over in a brand new town where I know hardly anyone. But my good friend Carrie just gave me all of her tricks on how to start a new studio because they moved to LA about a year ago.

So Scott got home last night and he has to pack the majority of our apartment while I am down here until Saturday. Then we go home and I finish up my last days at work, teach my last lessons and say goodbye to everyone.

Here's to a new adventure.....

Come fly with me, come fly

2008-06-10T21:11:00.008-06:00

So my boss took us flying tonight. He owns his own Sesna plane and has been wanting to take us for awhile. So with our days in Logan numbered we decided that tonight was the night. He even let me fly for awhile. It was so much fun and the views were just unreal. I am really going to miss these mountains. I also wish I was better at photography and had a really awesome camera. Here are some pictures of the flight and the plane. Scott got some new sunglasses for his birthday and I thought they were very appropriate for our flight.

You can see our apartment building in this picture, but it's really really small.

An "Active Lifestyle"

2008-06-09T09:33:00.002-06:00

How I wish this phrase described my life. I really would love to have this lifestyle of biking to work and walking to the grocery store and spending my evenings playing tennis. But alas, I'm lazy and I justify using my car way too much. I get into fits of working out that last for about 3 weeks and then life starts to come at me and my will power goes down the drain. So I ask you dear readers, how do you keep an active lifestyle?

A very interesting picture

2008-05-30T13:48:00.001-06:00

Depicts two million plastic beverage bottles, the number used in the US every five minutes. See the rest of his pictures here.

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-29T20:43:00.010-06:00

Scott had to go to Chicago to present research at the International Association for Behavioral Analysis so I decided to spend the weekend with my folks in Bountiful. My sister Jessica was up from SUU so we had a great time.
Thursday night we went to my sister Jana's madrigal concert. It was really the only pictures I took the entire weekend:

Going back to Viewmont High just made me realize how grateful I am to be done with it. Whenever I walk back into that place this feeling of self doubt and awkwardness just washes over me. I didn't have a traumatic high school experience, I had a great one, but going back just makes me feel so self conscious. Am I the only one who feels this way? Anyway, had a great time with the fam and I am glad that Scott's presentation went very well and that we are both back at home.

The nicest of Saturdays

2008-05-19T19:27:00.007-06:00

Friday night Scott and I headed down to Bountiful to watch the last (sniff) Jazz game of the season. My parents have an HDTV and bow howdy the game looked great. Saturday morning we came back because I went to the Farmer's Market with my old roommate V. I bought a basil plant and a delfino cilantro.
And a pussy-willow wreath for my mom.

After I got home Scott and I took sack lunches to Old Main Hill and read Watership Down under a very big tree and I fell asleep for a very nice nap.

Then we went and saw Iron Man.
I thought I wasn't going to like it, but I loved it.

Then we went to Costa Vida for dinner and then we went to Shopko to buy pots for my new herbs and I found the cutest of water jugs.

It's a blue elephant and I love him. Behind him in the picture are my growing growing tomato plants.

So tonight we ate sourdough bread, with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and basil that is currently growing in the window. I literally have no more window space and I have no idea how I'm going to move all of these plants to Nebraska. Scott thought we were being very European with our meal tonight. Hopefully next time we eat it I will have made the bread, the tomatoes will have come from our plant and maybe even I'll get brave and make the cheese.
What I need from you dear readers are lots of ideas on how to consume all of our basil and cilantro because I hear that it goes to seed quickly so we need to act fast.

What a game

2008-05-12T10:02:00.003-06:00

Click on it to make it bigger, it's a great shot.

What I did while I listened to the Jazz game

2008-05-07T23:02:00.002-06:00

my very first banana bread.

'cuz your my cheese burger

2008-05-07T21:56:00.002-06:00

I came across some veggie tales video today and it took me back to sitting in Natalie Adam's basement watching "Silly Songs with Larry" and laughing until I cried. I still laughed so hard today I was crying while watching the following video:

Walk like an Egyptian

2008-05-06T11:46:00.005-06:00

My cousin Max and his wife Brooke are studying abroad this summer. Max will be studying Arabic at the University of Amman in Jordan. They went to Egypt first and then after Max's semester they will go trolling around Europe. I am jealous and terrified at the same time. Anyway, they have some really awesome pictures on their blog of Egypt and wanted you all to enjoy them. And enjoy the music video for "Walk Like an Egyptian", there is nothing that I love more than 80's music videos.

Book Tag

2008-05-05T09:28:00.003-06:00

A tag that is interesting and fast:

I'd spent the afternoon making hay, really just lending a hand to a farmer making hay, and after a few hours in the midday sun hoisting and throwing fifty-pound bales onto a hay wagon, I hurt. - Michael Pollan The Omnivore's Dilemma

I am loving this book. It's about the food industry and the food chains that we are all apart of. It's really making me think about what I put in my mouth and where my food comes from. I recommend it to everyone.

Here's how to do the tag:

The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book
2. turn to page 123
3. find the 5th sentence
4. post the 5th sentence
5. tag some people

I tag everybody

What I had for breakfast this morning

2008-05-05T08:22:00.002-06:00

Homemade yogurt from Amanda (this girl is unreal), banana, and grape nuts all in the same bowl. Yummy.

Scott is a STAR

2008-05-02T11:26:00.004-06:00

Scott received a very nice award from the Psychology Department yesterday. He is the undergraduate S.T.A.R. (Scholarship, Teaching Assistant, Applied and Research) student of the year. The Department Head said that this award goes to the most well rounded student who excels in every venture they take on. His mentor Dr. Cheney gave a very nice speech about how great Scott is and how much he helps out everybody. It was a very nice awards ceremony and I'm so proud of Scott. He graduates tomorrow! The picture is of Scott and his three mentors, Tim Shahan, Amy Odum and Carl Cheney

My sweet kiddos

2008-04-30T21:38:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was my last fiddle concert with the USU String Academy. It was wonderful and my kids did great. The picture is of the entire string academy, cellos and everything.

So I don't think we'll be going to Wimbledon anytime soon..

2008-04-28T22:10:00.003-06:00

Scott and I pulled out the tennis rackets this evening and played for the first time since September. We were more than rusty, but enjoyed ourselves. Scott always seems to be able to bounce back faster then me after a break in our playing. He beat me 3-1 in our first match of the season, but I'll get better. The good news is that I think I am more patient with my tennis game and with Scott after this long long winter. I am usually a very poor loser when I comes to tennis, but tonight I was quite sportsman like if I do say so myself.