Update

I feel like I have been really busy these last couple of weeks, but if you asked me what I've been doing, I don't think I could tell you.

School will be over in less than 4 weeks! It sounds like I won't have a job next year, so we'll see what happens.
I was looking through my school bag when I found a fortune cookie fortune from Panda Express from who-knows how long ago. It says "Avoid unchallenging occupations - they waste your talents." So true, Panda. So true.

Chad's family was here for Easter - and I owe you an update about that, but I don't have time right now. A good time was had by all. (I think)

I wish it would quit snowing here. We woke up this morning to 2 inches plus a nice layer of ice all over the car. I better not still be scraping my car in May.

... I really really really want to go somewhere warm and tropical.

Oh - and there was a district budget meeting last night at the elementary school just down the street from our house. It was a required public hearing - they weren't actually going to announce what they have decided to cut. We went over for about 20 minutes, and listened to a teacher in charge of the music/PE program at the elementary schools explain how awesome their program is. (Yes, music and PE are one position at the elementary schools). It really annoyed me. I spent high school going to Board of Ed meetings asking them to not cut the drama program. And I, of all people, do think music is important. But these people were just up there going "we're so important - feel guilty if you even THINK about cutting us." I was like that in high school, but there's more to it. The fact of the matter is, they have to make cuts. If that means making the PE/Music teaching a part-time position at the elementary level, they're going to do it. If that means the kids only have music once a month, they're going to do it. If that means they have a regular classroom teacher teach her own classes music and PE, then they're going to do it.

Obviously EVERYONE thinks what they do is important, or they wouldn't do it. And nobody wants to lose their job. I understand that. But education in Idaho sucks right now, and if they're mandated by the state to cut so many positions or so much money, then they're going to do it. And like I said, I love music, but they will NEVER cut math, or science or English before they cut music. They will make music an after school club. They will encourage kids to join community choirs (many of them already have). They will hire someone part-time.

This teacher was the only person we heard speak the whole time we were there. She and her colleagues (about 20 elementary PE/Music teachers) drafted this letter and read it to the Board of Ed. She tried to tell the board how important their recorder program was because after learning the recorder, a kid can pick up a saxophone and play right off the bat, and be ready for the band program. Which is stretching the truth quite a bit.

I think music in public education is important, but there are ways to incorporate it without having a full-time music teacher (at the elementary level). There are other ways to get kids music - they can take private lessons, or join a church choir, or join a community choir, or an after school club.

Listening to this woman blast the Board of Ed for cutting a program they hadn't cut yet was really frustrating. It made me want to go up there and say "You know what? Obviously I want to keep my job just like everyone else. But I understand you have to cut 1 classified position from our school, and I'm the newest classified position. And the current teacher can do my job and you don't have to pay her any extra for it. So I'll make it easy for you - just cut my job and move on to the next thing."

They were hoping the public hearing would provide the community the opportunity to give input on ways to make cuts without cutting important programs, but all it was was a "Don't cut MY job!" -fest.

All these parents show up to support their various causes, and I think - if we all just paid even $5 more in taxes, we wouldn't have this problem. But nobody would ever give up their precious money to taxes. Even if it paid for better schools, better roads, and better public services. When it comes down to it, the problem is money. And people don't want to part with it.

Random Thoughts

Tonight I went over to the church to help put together hygiene kits. As we worked, I overheard two women talking about how they had cottage cheese and fruit for various meals throughout the day. And I wondered to myself, at what age do the cottage cheese taste buds develop? It seems like everyone over the age of 40 eats cottage cheese with their fruit. And my mouth just can't get past the texture. Is there going to be a point in my life when I will suddenly lose my aversion to cottage cheese, and eat it whenever I have any kind of fruit? Just wondering.

Also - when did it become socially acceptable to clip your fingernails wherever and whenever you want? I have noticed this social faux pas (or maybe it's not a faux pas?!) on several occasions now. Sacrament meeting, school, meetings, ward parties/dinners. I understand if something happens and you chip a nail or have a jagged part for one reason or another and you want to just take care of it quickly. (Even so - shouldn't you at LEAST use a garbage can?) I just have a problem with people clipping their fingernails in public places, and letting their clippings fly around the room willy-nilly. I don't understand why people want to clip their fingernails in public anyway. Isn't that a personal grooming habit that should happen in the privacy of your own home? And just because they're your baby's fingernail clippings doesn't make it any less gross.

Do you want to open a hymn book in Sacrament Meeting to have someone's bodily substance fall out on your lap?! Me neither! So please! If we must do it in public, let's not clip our fingernails anywhere but into a garbage can.

Also - I think we have the sweetest dog that ever lived. I can't believe how cuddly she is, and how cute she is when she's tired/sleeping. I'm glad I have her to keep me company.

And mom and dad, I think you should come visit us this summer. We could go to Yellowstone! And, if you come in the summer, it might not snow!

And what's in the Dickerson water?! Sheesh! Two babies within months of each other! Mom and dad will DOUBLE their grandchildren! We're happy for Erin and Bryce having a girl! Congrats Kyle & Jess!

... And I guess now I'm going to bed. Can you tell I'm bored?

Story Time!

Last night in the middle of the night, I was feeling a little uncomfortable, so I decided to roll over on my other side. My rolling over must have awakened the Sleeping Giant (aka Chad) and he grunted to acknowledge my presence. 0.2 seconds later I was met by a swift elbow to my eye. It wasn't that hard, just enough to hurt and render me completely and fully awake.

Then the following conversation took place:

Me: (moan) Ow! You just elbowed me in the eye.
Sleeping Giant: No I didn't.
Me: Yes you did! I rolled over and you elbowed me in the eye.
SG: Megan, there's no way I elbowed you in the eye! (He's yelling now)
Me: (I'm yelling now) So I elbowed mySELF in the eye?!
SG: (yelling again) You must have, because I didn't do anything!!!
Me: Are you serious?
SG: (still yelling at me) You must have rolled into your fingers or something because I DID NOT hit you!
Me: And somehow I elbowed myself in the eye?
SG: I guess so.
(or something along these lines - it was late)

And Chad's brother Stephen stayed with us last night, and I was afraid he was going to wake up and wonder why the heck we were yelling at each other in the middle of the night.

And he rolls over in a huff, mad at me for accusing him of elbowing me in the eye, and goes back to sleep.

And I roll back over the other way and can't believe HE just elbowed ME in the eye and now HE'S mad at ME?!!!

So this morning, he comes up to me and hugs me and apologizes for yelling at me in the middle of the night after he elbowed me in the eye. He said he was still half asleep and wasn't thinking straight. Which is true.

And now I giggle every time I think about it. He was SO adamant that I had, indeed, OBVIOUSLY elbowed MYSELF in the eye.

On This Day Last Year...

I graduated from BYU-I. Crazy that's it's been a year. Crazy that's it's only been ONE YEAR. That sure was a slow year.

Also -
THIS IS MY 200TH BLOG POST!!! WOOOO!!!!

Gas and Milk Guzzlers

Hello all.
Chad was just telling me that he was watching something on the news that explained that gas prices are going up because of unrest in Africa and the Middle East. Suuuure.... Also, because they create a special blend of gas to be used in warmer weather (summer) and it's more expensive.
I think this is just a bunch of crap. Like the year we got married and gas was up to $4.00+/gallon and then the gas companies had record profits.

When we were in Utah, Erin sent us to get the cheapest gallon of milk we could find. We were shocked to find it at just under $2.50/gallon. We buy our milk at WalMart and it's $1.68 ($1.86?) /gallon. We thought it was a crazy Utah thing. Then we went to buy milk when we got back from Utah, only to find that our WalMart milk was also up to $2.43/gallon. Seemingly OVERNIGHT. What happened?!!

Chad says maybe it's because of the political unrest in their pastures, and also because the cows are putting out a special blend of "summer" milk that costs more.

And I just found out I owe the government $210. Because I have so much extra money floating around.

Sheesh.

It's Spring Break!

and that means it's time to catch up on the blogging. Luckily, I have lots to blog about, what with the last week including Locks of Love, my birthday, and Lady's trip to the vet.

Friday was my birthday!!! I was up at 7:00 and couldn't go back to sleep, so Chad suggested we just go ahead and open presents. Since we were headed to Utah right when he got home from work, this seemed like the only time. (Hence the pajamas)

From Mollie: Lady was intrigued by the singing hamster. Gift card for FOOD!!! We do love food!

From Chad: The current out-of-the-vault Disney movie!

From Chad's parents: Gardening book

From mom and dad:

Birthstone necklace with the Crown of Scotland (?)

T-Shirt Blanket!!!

Bagpipes?!!! Straight to me from Scotland! Pretty awesome, mom!! I have learned several songs on the Practice Chanter included, but am having trouble getting the bag to hold air. I think the valve on the Blowpipe (that keeps air from flowing back out) isn't tight enough, and I might order one that's a little plug to replace it. (The current one is a little flap of rubber that doesn't seem to seal well.)

From Chad - My final gift!! A web book! I wasn't as excited as Chad wanted me to be, but I am excited! I am using it RIGHT NOW! It is pretty awesome - and it's nice to have something so small and light to replace my laptop.


After this, I went to school and it was time for Locks of Love.
Here are the pictures! (I look a little better showered and contact-ed, no?)
Before:



After:



The haircut is cute. The stylist wanted to "backcomb" it (code for rat) even after I said it would be weird, so that's what you see here. It's fun and I like it short, but that style made me feel a little too Utah. So now I'm trying to figure out how to make it look decent without a lot of work. Meh. I'm not too concerned about it. It's just hair and it'll grow back, and in just a few months it will be at the awkward in-between length that I hate.

Anyways! Right after school on Friday, I came home to pack up the van and get ready to take the puppy and head down to Provo. Chad came home after work and we left around 6:00. The drive was good and easy and without incident (thankfully!). This was Lady's first long trip in the car. On the way down, she mostly sat on my lap, and had a hard time relaxing. But she didn't whine or bark or anything obnoxious.

We got to Erin's around 10:00 and the partying began. She definitely spoiled us. We had breakfast burritos on Saturday morning, Cafe Rio salads for dinner that night, stuffed French toast for breakfast Sunday, and some more Cafe Rio salad for dinner Sunday night, with cream cheese pie for dessert/my birthday. Everything was DELICIOUS! We played with the boys and they played with the puppy. Sawyer spent the weekend writing little scribbles on stuff and telling me they were for me and I had to take them home. He was pretty cute.

The weather was BEAUTIFUL on Saturday - brushing up on 70 degrees. And then that night it got really windy, and by Sunday morning there was a couple of inches of snow on the ground. Boo.

Erin took me shopping for my birthday on Saturday, but we came out unsuccessful. So I left with a little birthday moo-lah and I was planning on spending it yesterday while Lady was at the vet, but never got that far.

Anyways, Lady was awesome the whole time we were there. (Except for some barking when we tried to put her in her cage in the bathroom Friday night) She was really nice with the boys, and didn't make any messes in the house. She didn't chew anything up or eat anything she wasn't supposed to (except maybe random things she found under the boys' chairs at the kitchen table). She really didn't like Bryce for some reason though, and barked at him pretty much anytime he came into the room.

Then it was time to head back to Idaho. This is what we ran into just north of Salt Lake.

... Yuck.
Lady was even better in the car on the way back. She did this for a little while.

Haha. I think this next picture is pretty funny. Apparently I caught her mid-blink. But she looks old and wise.

She did this most of the way.


Then yesterday was the big day for Lady.
Before:

After:

I felt so guilty for dropping her off at the vet. We ended up paying full price (not getting a discount through the Humane Society - long story - there may be an angry letter involved...) She seemed to do well though. When she got home, she was really sleepy and cold. We set her up on the bed with her bed, my robe and a rice sack. She slept pretty much the whole rest of the day. She's actually been sleeping most of today too. I think she's still a little sore. She jumped off the bed when Chad got home from work yesterday and then regretted it.

That little dark spot on her shaved belly (that kind of lines up with the seam on my jeans) is the only incision. She has maybe 3 really tight and tiny stitches, and they will dissolve.

She's been a really good dog, and she keeps me company.

Now I have the rest of the week to do pretty much what I want, and I couldn't be happier about that. I can't wait for warm weather!! Idaho's not too bad in the summer, but winters really suck.

Also, I wish I lived closer to family, because a 4 hour drive is pretty lame.