Caution: Sexy picture

I had a really hard time deciding what to title this blog entry. My first thought (and favorite title) was "Female Porn" but decided that was probably a bit risque in case a random bishop or co-worker were to view my blog. My next thought was "Dishes." Too boring, need I say more? Finally I decided on something that was mildly inappropriate, but still toned down.
Because really. . . what's more sexy than a man doing dishes?

More freedom

We're cautiously letting General have more freedom. Usually when we leave the house, General has to be down in the basement. We've got a nice area fenced off with toys and blankets, water and food, but it is a chore to get him in the basement. He hates the basement and will do anything to avoid getting caught when he knows that's where we want him. We've tried to make it a better place by only feeding him down there, but even the wont of food for my food crazy dog isn't enough of an allure for him to voluntarily go downstairs.

We started to allow him to stay upstairs when we're gone for short periods of time. Twice he's been left alone with full freedom to wander (and possibly chew) and (so far) he's been a good boy. He hasn't torn apart my knitting. He hasn't chewed a shoe. We even (accidentally) left the bathroom door open and he didn't touch the garbage. He can be such a good boy (when he wants to be).

We've also been allowing him the freedom to roam a little. We don't put him on a leash when we're headed for the car. He loves car rides and will ignore anyone or anything if the car door is open and he thinks he gets to go for a car ride.

Finally, I've been allowing him to stay off the leash and wander a bit when I'm down working at the garden. He gets chained up as soon as he takes too long to come back or wanders too far, but usually he's good at staying right in the yard. He did scare me the other day when I called and called for him and he didn't come back. I ran around the block and couldn't find him. I looked in his favorite places and couldn't find him. On the verge of tears, I went back to the garden. Someone started to whistle at me and when I turned, a construction worker was holding my dog. General went over to talk to them and decided that they were much more interesting then our yard, so he just ignored me. I ran over to get him and needless to say, he was chained to the fence the rest of the afternoon. Silly dog. He has his freedoms, but he'll soon learn that they can be limited.

I love to see the temple

Last night, James and I were called and set apart as temple workers. We're so excited to be able to serve in the temple. We'll be working in the baptistery which means James gets to be in charge of the groups that come in and I get to be in charge of lots of laundry. But laundry in the temple has got to be better than laundry at home, right?

It will be tough to serve in the temple and do our Sunbeam calling and work and do everything else that life requires, but the sacrifice will be well worth it. The only big hindrance that we may foresee is James having to give up his overtime. But we're hoping he can work with supervisors to get the necessary time off. If he doesn't I'm sure some door will open up.

Despite the challenges that working in the temple may present, we're so excited to be able to serve in the Winter Quarters Temple and hope you all come by and visit us :)

Greatest show on dirt

Last night marked the official start of the College World Series (CWS) and I came as close to watching a baseball game as I will EVER come. I am absolutely not a baseball fan. I'd much rather watch paint dry than sit through an inning. But seeing as I live about a mile and a half from the stadium, I let my old roommate talk me into walking to the stadium and attending the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony consists of a bunch of Omaha big wigs giving speeches and an introduction of all 8 teams that "survived the road to Omaha." That was a big theme. Surviving. I didn't know that the road to Omaha was that dangerous. When I took the road to Omaha, it was pretty easy and uneventful, but evidently these teams went through some kind of peril and were the last surviving of their kind.

After we watched these surviving young men walk across the field, the real reason I came began. The fireworks show. The fireworks for the CWS are the best ever. I've heard that the one fireworks show costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and I love it. It's the only reason I support the CWS. Other than the fireworks show, I hate that they had to pick Omaha for the CWS. I mostly hate it because the traffic around my house is horrific. I don't dare venture close to my exit from the freeway. To take the 13th street exit, traffic is backed up for miles and miles. Then once people get off the freeway, they begin congesting the neighborhoods looking for a free place to park. It gets super annoying when my 15 min drive home takes over an hour.

Despite all that I hate about the CWS, last nights fireworks made it worth it. So, in the next two weeks, if I'm talking to you on the phone and complaining that I'm in standstill traffic, just remind me that I saw the fireworks.

Confession

I have a confession to make and it's time I come out and admit it. I've been a closet NPR and PRI (yes, there is a difference) fan for about two years. I was so ashamed for so long to listen to such a *gasp* liberal station. And there are some things that I get too frustrated to listen to (usually just "On-Point"), but the bulk of the programing is so insightful I just can't help myself. I have to listen.

My week's just not complete without "This American Life" or "A Prairie Home Companion." I get so interested in the stories they tell. How can you be bored with the likes of Ira Glass being broadcast through the radio? Oh and the news, the glorious news. Where else does one hear news stories about the trial of the one surviving gunman from the Mumbi attacks? I'm a news junky and there is no website or other radio station with more real news.

There you have it. I am an addict. I listen to my local NPR station. I listen in the morning. I listen in the evenings. I even listen all day Saturday. I'd listen at work if I could. And like all addicts, I feel a need to get other addicted. Knowing that it can become an addiction, please be careful, but try out your local public radio station. Start on a Saturday with "Car Talk" or "Whattda you know." Work your way up to "Market Place" or "Morning Edition." From there, the world, err radio, is your oyster. Go explore the world that is public radio. There's so much to discover and one day, you may have a confession also.

Snooze

You know it's going to be a bad day when you don't even remember turning off the alarm clock rather than hitting the snooze.

Why I love to vacuum

If you chance to meet a frown

This picture used to scare the begeebies out of me when I was a kid.

This Sunday, James and I get to induce nightmares in a new generation Sunbeams with the scary smiley frowney face man.