Purple People Eater

Who knew, purple is apparently my color. I don't think I have ever received so many compliments on how great my hair looks. It has been more than a little surprising - especially from people I totally thought would hate it - they gush over it. Coworkers, my bishop, everyone

Ring in the New Year at the Temple

Our stake held a temple day on January 1st. I can’t think of a better way to start the year than spending it at the temple. Three wards attended the session I did and it worked out that at some point in my life I have lived in all three of the participating wards. It was wonderful to have so many people I knew there. There were only a handful of people I did not know well.

Of course what would the trip be without an awkward conversation, we will call my conversation buddy Sister B.

Sister B (taking my hands): Was that your beautiful baby who was blessed on Sunday?

Me (smiling politely): No, that was my sister J's.

Sister B: What a beautiful baby. You have one as well don’t you.

Me (smiling even more politely): No, no I don’t.

Sister B (starting to look uncomfortable): Oh, I thought you and your husband had a baby as well. You have been married a while haven’t you. You must be having fun being an aunt.

Me (starting to feel ridiculous): Yes, but I am not married.

Sister B: Oh, I thought you were married. Are you at school at BYU?

Me: No, I go to San Jose State.

Someone else walks up to talk to Sister B.

Granted I have been moved out of my parents ward for almost a month, but I attended their ward for almost a year. A year during which I sat in Sister B's Sunday School class every week.



Though she is right, lil'J is a beautiful happy baby. Here is a photo taken on my phone before he left to go back to Provo.

Almost Over

A full realization has not yet hit that as of Monday I am completely done with my coursework for my masters program. Granted that pesky thesis is still to be completed, but that’s it. Hard to believe that by the time I finish in May I will have been in grad school for three years. It feels like it has been a lot longer. Relief and anxiety are the most appropriate words to describe how I feel about it. I am trying to let the relief run rampant and squelch the anxiety.

Par

This week has been excruciating in many ways. I am happy to announce I have now completed all the coursework for my masters program. Just that darn thesis to finish now. In addition to being the last week of school – the very last week, I interviewed ten people for jobs in my office. I can say without reservation that I hope not to interview anyone for a very long time. It is always good experience but normally we only do 3-4, so ten seemed over the top. Interviewing can be a wonderful confidence booster. However, it does compress the work week and when things are busy already, phew, I was looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

It gives me great pleasure to announce  for the first time in many months, I had a normal weekend. There was nothing normal about it – but it felt the way a weekend should. Lots of cleaning and organizing was accomplished. I slept in on Saturday and then met my friend B at the driving range at 11:00. We hit for an hour or so and then met B’s boyfriend JT (who some of you have previous acquaintance with) to play a round. I had the perfect first hole. It was a beautiful par. It could have been even better but I missed my first putt and had to settle for par. I basically killed everyone the first hole – and then proceeded at my normal level of expertise. But for having only played one other time in the last year I was feeling pretty good. The weather was beautiful, though slightly chilly. It was great to be outside. I feel like I hardly see the sun as it is now dark when I get off work. I was feeling so great afterwards I decided to go work out for an hour. I should have thought a little harder about that, since I have not picked up my clubs since this summer. Needless to say I could not move my arms this morning without groaning.