Kearns Holiday Open {Swim Meet run-down}

***Picture Heavy...FYI***

Wednesday, December 28th
Tanner has been swimming since March...that's about 9 months.  He's come so far, and can successfully (without drowning) swim across the pool several times during workouts with the team.  His coach and I decided he was ready for a few meets, so we made the Holiday Open a priority.  This is a meet I attended YEARS ago, EVERY YEAR the week following Christmas.  Good times, I'm tellin' ya!  I was excited to see fellow swimmers and also to see him swim.

Since it was just me and him, I decided to make a date of the weekend and have some fun.  We ate dinner at Crown Burger (fond memories, but greasy, too) and walked Temple Square.  We even made it to the Visitor's Center to see the Christus.

Thursday, December 29th
Keith and Tricia were gracious to let us use their spare room to sleep in, and my little brother made the best egg salad sandwiches for our lunch that I've EVER had.

Then on our way to the meet (about a 30 minute drive across to the West Side of SLC) I got a phone call from my brother, saying a certain someone had likely taken his keys and he couldn't leave for work till he had them...so in the middle of the "spaghetti bowl"/Redwood Road/I-215/I-15 (can you tell I had NO clue where I was?) I turned around and made my way back to meet him and give him his house key (he found the others in his pocket. LOL!).

Tanner was signed up to swim the 50 backstroke and the 50 free.

He was excited and so was I...he did well, for his age, and for his ability.  Our goal was to beat splits of 2:44.00, since his 25 bk was 1:22...I haven't gotten the results back yet, but his time showed up on the clock as 1:56.81!!!  Although he was last place, he was racing against boys twice his age.  I am so proud of him!

Swimmer's Feet:  Peeling and nearly Raisin-like. 

Killing time while I decide what to do for
SIX HOURS!!!

When I told his coach we'd stick around for his next event (50 free), she informed me that he was to swim it the next day...I was planning on him swimming them both the same day then heading home, as that's what the online info stated.  So, we waited around at the pool for a while, and then I got up the courage to call my mom to see if she'd watch the little kids an extra day, and to call my little brother to see if we could crash at his house one more night.  They kindly said, "yes".  So then I had to figure out what to do for the next SIX hours, till Keith and his wife got home from work.

We settled on going to see Keith at work to pick up the house key we returned earlier.  Doh.  Then making a day of it at Thanksgiving Point.  (Now that I think about it, we could have got to Cabella's and watched the fish for FREE!  Another "Doh"!)

Regardless of our many options, Tanner really enjoyed the Museum of Ancient History with dinosaurs and 'cool stuff', as well as the Art Institute where we watched glass being blown and saw beautiful Stained Glass windows being constructed.

After 3 hours of that fun, I decided we should head back to Keith &; Tricia's to take naps and just relax.  On our way there, we ventured into IKEA.  That was a mistake!  I thought we'd just "go in and see what they had", but was forced by their marketing gurus to take a tour of the entire place...now I NEVER have to go back.  Talk about OVERWHELMING!!!  And EXHAUSTING.

Friday, December 30th
We woke up early and headed  back to the pool.  Long story short, Tanner didn't want to swim.  And Coach Denise wasn't going to 'make' him.  However, he DID decide to jump in after the other boys were about half way across the pool...

...and finished after a painfully embarrassing 2:33.20.  Um....yeah.  We won't be doing another swim meet till he's more proficient in the water.  Like maybe next October.

Needless to say, we were both so upset at each other, we drove straight from Kearns to Chesterfield in silence (without naps!  Just pure tension and silence.)  I'm not even joking.

After a quiet and contemplative drive to my parents', I loaded the car with Christmas Goodies, buckled in the boys and headed home.

Lesson to be learned:  Get over it and don't reminisce in the glory days through a stubborn six year old.  Time to move on.  

__________

Thank you to my mom and sisters and brothers for keeping tabs on Kortlen and Taylor.  Apparently they were 'delightful' and Kortlen 'lost' his binky, so I don't have to worry about it anymore.  YAY!  And thank you to Keith and Tricia for putting up with us two nights in a row.

Please Tell Me.

In lieu of a Family Home Evening full of fighting, I opted for some therapy.  I put the big boys in front of a movie and the baby to bed, then sat myself down in my cleaned kitchen.

Please tell me I'm not the only one that has a paper-mache'd can full of these:

And please tell me that I'm not completely crazy for splurging on these:

And doing this.  For 45 minutes.  See the pretty flowers forming?

*sigh*  Feeling a bit better, that's for sure!  Now we can do homework with pencils instead of crayons.

And because I couldn't get enough, I went a head and did this:

It's cheap therapy, I'm tellin' ya!

And it's looking like I might need to replace my Jr. High Colored Pencil Collection.  I've protected them for the last 15 years, but alas; all good things must come to an end.  I see an inexpensive birthday present on the horizon!

What do you unwind? 

Um....

It's still gonna be alright.  I'll put my big girl panties on and keep it together, but never mind about that awesome post two weeks ago (you know, the one about the job?).  Just never mind.

My frivolous find

I've been looking for years for an inexpensive piece of furniture that I can make my own.  I found a headboard and footboard at a local thrift store for $7.  SEVEN DOLLARS!  Rails included.

So, after figuring out it wouldn't fit in my trunk (duh), I called a fabulous furniture re-finisher and dear friend, Becky (seriously, I can't remember if it's a y or ie or i...I'm sorry!!!) to help me out.  She rushed to my rescue and loaded up my find in her husband's truck and we did some more thrifting before returning home.

Friday, while Ryan worked like a mad-man, I spent his earnings that day on primer, paint, and some hardware, in addition to some wood decals.  (Thank you, dear!)

I sanded.  I painted.  I sanded.  I attempted to antique with stain.  I re-painted.  And drilled.  And attempted to attach the feet that wouldn't fit into the insert-bolts I bought, and so I purchased NEW hardware.  Who knew there was such a thing as a T-Nut?  I learned a lot about nuts and bolts this weekend.  I also made 5 trips to Home Depot, including the kids' crafts that are already in the garbage.

In between conference sessions I'd run out and put another coat of sealer on....and below is the finished product.

By Saturday afternoon, I was ready to get 'er assembled so I could put my room back together.

We found this dusty mess...

...and cleaned it up.  *Phew!*  It really was organized, just grody/dusty.  And those mattress bags???  They went out to the garage...for when we MOVE...which is hopefully SOON!

So we're all set up, and Ryan helps me to put the box springs in...and they.don't.fit.  !!!!

Luckily my dad is going to come to the rescue and cut the frame, weld a 5" section in, and we'll be back in business.  As it is, we're sleeping on the floor...and our pillows keep falling between the bed and the headboard....can't wait to get it put back together!!!

The most exciting part is that because of the feet I added (see bottom of picture) we will have room to put our food storage under our bed!  Yay for more storage!!!

A little gem I found next to the dumpster on our way to Yellowstone a few weeks ago is my next victim.

Any suggestions on fabric color?  And should I paint the wood or re-stain it???  It's flecking bad and will have to be completely redone.

What gives

really?  I just spent 30 minutes filling in all the blanks with red stars between putting children to bed and cleaning the house for a tired husband to come home and you send an automatic reply of THIS????

REALLY?

Thank you for submitting your resume to the Telephone Coordinator position.

Bechtel Marine Propulsion CorporationBettis Atomic Power LaboratoryP. O. Box 79West Mifflin, PA  15122-0079
Dear RYAN L,
Your responses to our initial questions for the Telephone Coordinator position indicate that your citizenship, academic background, and/or your experience do not meet the minimum requirements for this role.  If another position becomes available in which you have an interest, we will look forward to renewed contact from you. 
Thank you! 
Sincerely,
Employee Relations and Talent ManagementBettis Laboratory

Because seriously.  What gives?   A Telephone Coordinator position.  Kortlen could do it.  He can hold a phone to his ear and babble.  WHY WONT YOU LET MY HUSBAND IN THE DOOR??????  Just his big toe?  His smiling face?  PHHHHUUUUUUULEEEEEEEEEEEEASE?!?!?!   I'm begging you through black-mascara-from-yesterday-tired-and-weepy tears.  Please?  Pretty please? 


While you reconsider, I'll edit some pictures from our fun weekend.  And maybe blow my nose some more.  Uggh.

{Good Things to Come}

"Trust God, and believe in good things to come."

-Elder Jeffery R. Holland

I think that I can do that.  
I think that I can.

All is Well

...all is well.

Toilet Crisis averted after a couple of new tools and some elbow grease...and a lot of hot water and laundry detergent.  I'm still drying towels.  And have watched the clean and clear water go down smoothly, without dry-heaving more than once this evening.

There is milk in the fridge.  A quick run to the store wound up lasting more than I bargained for, while I watched at least one lady 'lose it' at the check stand over a dumb coupon.  And THAT is why I am not a coupon queen.  or coupon clipper.  I was also reminded why I don't take three hungry children to the store at 6:00 pm.  I think it was all those methane fumes that got to my brain cells.

Children finally fell fast asleep.  No explanation needed, though I did say a little prayer in gratitude for the quiet evening.  I'm pooped.  No pun intended.

My floor also sparkled in appreciation, as it has been scrubbed twice in as many days.  The bathroom has also received its second detoxification in a week, and the door is locked.  NOBODY is allowed inside without written permission.  or at least without me knowing about it.

Looking forward to picking up where we left off on Saturday...by brining in Summer clothes, folding laundry, and packing for a week guaranteed to be fun, full of sunburns (sunshine or not) and adventures.

And just because, I need to share this picture...

This is my wild Indian.  He refuses to wear a shirt, and more than once tried to take it off at the store because he was "too hot".  The scabs on his face are from a brotherly brawl two weeks ago...Taylor just doesn't know when to quit pestering his older brother.  He is as hard-headed as they come, and such a cute little stinker.  It's his way, or the highway, and I am somewhat at a standstill with how to get through to him.  He is such a good little boy when he wants to be, but sometimes "Laban makes him" do "it".  He can't keep Satan and Laban straight, and it cracks me up.  I love him so much, and I'm trying not to jinx myself by thinking that we're going to butt heads when he's older.  I sure hope that he's learning positive things from these ghastly experiences he's creating!  I am so tired of spending his Christmas Gift money on toilet augers and Clorox.  And new towels and child-locks.  Ahhhhhhhh....life lessons.  and stocking stuffers!!!   Oh, Taylor, we love you!

Crap. Seriously, CRAP!

***mental images might be more graphic than one would like...read at your own risk.***

*deep breath* 

...if my kids flush ONE MORE THING down the toilet, I'm gonna SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know whether to cry because we only have one toilet that doesn't work, or to cry because we don't have two toilets that could potentially be clogged!!!  Seriously??? 

I caught the toothbrush earlier in the week, but they HAD to shove the baby's brush down, too.  Really guys?  REALLY????  What part of spankings don't you understand?  What part of "only poop, pee and a little toilet paper (and throw-up) is allowed in the toilet DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!?!?!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! 

Thought I had it taken care of, and we all get home from church and everybody unloads...and we have another giant mess.  I'm talking like bigger than big-foot mess.  

Crap.  

Crappity, crappity, crap.  

Of course nobody will fess up to committing the crime, or even seeing it happen.  I maintain I was feeding the baby before bed, and as always, this sort of thing always happens on my watch...so naturally it's my fault.  

I've quit worrying about crap hitting the fan around here.  I'm more concerned with WHY it's coming back up after I unclogged it the first time this morning.  For reals. 

***Sorry if you thought life was all roses around here.  Clearly life stinks at times.  like REALLY stinks.  I threw up in the tub it was so bad.***


PROBLEM FIXED!!!!!  I have an amazing husband.  Ryan found what was clogging the toilet after taking it completely apart and hosing it down outside...a stupid fifty-cent party favor; a flat-disk spin-top thingie.  COMPLETELY clogging the toilet, in the middle, where nothing could et to it.  SO after $50 in tools and some nasty smells and visuals (thank goodness I got to go visiting teaching!!) and the toilet connected, I CAN USE THE BATHROOM!!!!!  And I get to completely clean my kitchen and bathroom again, because you know the toilet dripped all the way to the back door.  BARFF!!!!!

♥♥♥

On a happier note,  Happy Sunday!!!   I got the sweetest complement by an atheist in Sacrament Meeting this afternoon (No, really!  He comes with his wife, who is a member of our church; Tanner sits by them nearly every week, and they love it!).  Apparently I have mad, as in awesome, mothering skills to keep my kids quiet after taking away all the 'intended quiet activities' we made in R.S.  Basically I took control by taking it all away and did it well, and graceful, and quietly.  Sweet.  

That complement alone makes up for the crap I'm dealing with in the bathroom.  :)  

{untitled}

I'm usually a pretty happy 'blogger'.  I usually don't cry about my woes on here, though on occasion, I have.

I want to just scream, and scream and scream right now.  I'm feeling defeated on so many levels.

I pictured so much more.  Why can't I be happy with the blessings that I have?  Why can't I love them?  and appreciate them?  and count them without falling apart?

My emotions are all over the place.  One moment I'm so full of gratitude, I could burst; and the next moment I'm gnashing at the bit, exploding and the tiniest infractions!

Why am I feeling like being on my knees and pouring my heart out isn't helping?  Where is this light at the end of the tunnel I keep hearing about, but cannot see?

Sob, sob, boob, boob, "get over it" already, right?

Gluten Free Bread

Bought a "Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Bread Mix" for Ryan, 

and while it doesn't taste bad, it just looks so sad!

When Bob says to pour batter into a 9x5" bread pan, don't fool him with an 8x4".  It won't turn out so pretty.

***note to self:  Go ahead and use an 8x4" pan...just use TWO of them.  :)  

Needless to say, it's a good thing Ryan takes his lunch to work in a brown paper bag.  I'd wear one, too, if I looked like this.

Dislike

I dislike job interviews that "went really well!" but don't result in a job offer.

A Letter I'll Never Send

Dear Potential Employers,

My husband is seriously awesome.  But if one of you can't cut him a break soon, you might risk missing out on all he can do for you.  We've only applied to work for you BECAUSE he's qualified and BECAUSE he wants to work for you and help you and be a part of your awesomeness.

And if you choose someone else, that's fine.  They may or may not want the job as much as we do, but know that a simple rejection letter would be appropriate, if not nice.

Speaking of which, could you tell him what ISN'T working for you on his resume so he can work on improving it?  Because he's worked so hard, and he's tired of being paid less than earth worms for the work he does.  And quite frankly, the checkbook is tired of it, too.

My kids also need a bigger place to play, and I am going nuts, too...so a paycheck to go along with his qualifications would be superb.  We didn't quit a job in retail so we could earn a Master's Degree in another field just to return to retail.  If we really wanted a job in retail, we would have quit long before we were ever ahead in our education!!!

Just sayin'.  You could at least give him a chance.

Sincerely,
Your potential employee's wife

***Needless to say, it's been a downer of a day.  

lost...

...my motivation is. 

Find it, I can't.  (Ryan watched 10 minutes too much of Yoda tonight...with his StarWars blankie and all.)

For anything.

Not for sewing, crafting, cleaning, reading, playing, or even enjoying.

Well, that last one I'm working really hard on. 

The others will come back soon enough. 

*sigh*

Guess you could say I lost my spunk and am in a funk.  Blech. 

Starting Today

I have the world in my arms.  

These little boys are my everything.

I'm learning that "life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful". 

Quite recently there have been many moments of uncertainty, moments of fear, moments of tears and moments of pain.  But, they don't hold a candle to the moments of joy, happiness, gratitude, and peace I feel when I look into their eyes, and the eyes of their daddy. Ironically, I feel so safe wrapped up in their little arms, and comforted with Ryan by my side.  I wonder if it's one of those tender mercies, because I feel like I should be the one to wrap them up in my arms. 

Right now I feel like I'm out-growing my shoes and there aren't any new ones to replace the raggedy, holey and bottomed-out old ones.  But I also realize, that I have some shoe polish and my toe-nails are painted, so I can wear them in style. 

Every day it seems like I'm 'starting today' to be a better mom, to be a better wife, to be a better daughter or to be a better sister. Some days those shoes I'm wearing are too comfortable, which means I'm not growing at all.  However, today it seems as if I'm so uncomfortable, that my feet might burst through the laces.  So, maybe I'm growing through of this after all?

I guess when I wake up in the morning and see these happy faces, that I'll start again, 'today'.

The truth hurts.

While at work (just now, actually), making copies, hole-punching, and generally just cleaning off my desk, there were  three people at the counter needing information, all of which were taken care of by the secretaries.  As I was going about my work, minding my own business, out of the way, I was greeted by a (and I quote) "Gosh, girl!  You're getting so big!  How much longer do you have?"  Yes.  You read that right.

As I turned around to see who thought I was going to give birth right then an there, given my size, I saw a quite large lady who shall remain nameless, though I know as an acquaintance, but haven't seen her in about two weeks.  

I muttered loud enough for her to hear, and to answer her question, "Yup!  And I'm just gonna keep getting bigger.  I have ten weeks left."  And then I gathered my stack of stuff and marched back to my office, not quite knowing how to handle that situation. 

First off, I know I chose to be offended by her comment.  But seriously, WHO says to a knowingly pregnant woman that she is getting 'so big'!  Hell, I already know that!  I don't need someone to tell me, especially while suffering from heartburn after eating some chocolate!  (sorry.  but I'm a little put out by her comment, still.) 

Secondly, I know I shouldn't have been offended by her comment, because I am large and 30 weeks, but STILL!

Third, just because she's big, doesn't mean she can tell me I am.  (and she is not pregnant)

And fourth, the truth hurts.  


***there will NOT be a scheduled belly picture, as I had planned for my 30 week mark.  Instead, you'll just have to picture a beached whale...sorry for the dissappointment.***

{untitled}

Why is it so hard for me to love my children for who they are?  And to have patience even when I feel like screaming my head off, so I do, then I feel so guilty afterward?  And to just love them, and hug them, and scoop them up and tell them just how much I love them?  

Why do I feel so inept when it comes to parenting, when I have such wonderful parents?  When I have a college degree that deals with family matters, and children, and raising them?  When I teach others as part of my job, these things I cannot successfully apply in my own home?

I realize I'm hormonal, emotional, and am probably too over-scheduled to really pay attention until it's too late.  I know I'm easily irritated, grumpy, and inconsistent.  I'm embarrassed it's this way.  It needs to change.

My boys (including my husband) are in need of my love and attention.  They need me to be here.  They need me to be present, to be focused on them, to tell them, in more ways that words, just how much they mean to me.

*sigh*

I don't know...

...how it happened. 

I wanted to make a meal.  I've been sick with a cold/flu for almost a week, and have just sent Ryan 'out' to get stuff for the kids and him to eat for days.  I've been content with fruitloops (he bought me another box without me asking - such a sweetheart).  Not only am I sick of my snotty nose, my sneezing and muscles 'you-know-where' that can't handle coughing ans sneezing, and fevers and chills, I am sick of paying for unhealthy food.  So back to the story, I wanted to make a meal.  A healthy meal.

I decided this morning to make Au Gratin Potatoes; aka, funeral potatoes.  How hard is that?  Seriously.  I've made them before, but because Ryan somehow dislikes cheesy, buttery, oniony, crispy potatoes and ham, I don't make them very often.  I thought I'd actually follow a recipe instead of throwing it together as usual, and it was quite the experience for us all. 

Needless to say, we had curdled cheese with ham and mushy-yet-undercooked potato SOUP.  I failed.  Miserably.  And I don't even feel good enough to go clean it up (granted, I earned a gold star by cleaning up the 'fixin' mess, I just haven't cleared the table from lunch).

These are the days I wish I had dogs, chickens, and starving children to feed, because there is a 9x13 pyrex dish full of perfectly fine food (well, it was fine an hour ago...don't even get me started on bacteria) sitting on my kitchen table; complete with almost a pound of shredded cheese and 4 cups of milk, not to mention almost a full cube of butter and 6 potatoes and other trivial baking goods.  What a waste.  Of time, of effort, of money, of food. Please pretend you don't know that I'm a home ec. major. 

I don't know.  Maybe Pizza Hut or Cafe Rio sounds pretty good for dinner tonight.  And tomorrow for Valentine's Day lunch?  You got it:  Cheese Sandwiches and Cherry Cream Pie.  After all, that's what Tanner wanted for lunch today.  

Time Management Issues

Let's be real, just for a second, maybe a minute.  Anybody else out there have "Time Management Issues"?

I should have had these photoshoots done three weeks ago.  One more to go (63 pictures left) and I'm done. 

I should have had two Christmas Presents for two darling boys to the quilter last month.  I have yet to start sewing these two quilts, but DO have them cut out...that's a start, right?  Guess I'll be quilting them...shoulda' stuck to my guns and went with Pottery Barn, darnit!

I should have my laundry done, but watched "The Biggest Looser" instead (with a small bowl of mint chip ice cream...it was only 1 cup's worth, but still).

I should have made a roasted chicken for dinner, but put off getting it in the oven on my lunch break, and forgot, so we had boring brown rice...and other things I scrounged up in the fridge.

I should have left the redonkulous socks on the rack, but bought them anyways to make fun sock monsters for two little boys' birthdays in less than three weeks *PANIC!!!*, but bought them anyways.  It can't take too much time, right?

I should have made Taylor's Christmas Stocking last winter, after he was born (wait, that would have been two years ago!), but put the material away for a day that slowed down...now I have a little over a month to get one more project done.

I should have read my scriptures this morning, but thought I'd get to work an hour early so I could work while it was quiet.  That was probably the worst decision of the day.  : / 

I should have played "Duck, Duck, Goose" with my boys a while longer, but Charlie Brown was doing such a great job of entertaining them,  I sat at the kitchen table and stared at the wall.

I should have taken the garbage out, but instead walked right past it. 

♥♥♥

Tomorrow will be better.  I resolve to be a little better.  It's Veteran's Day, and a County Holiday, so I'm taking a 'sick day' (the office is closed, and I don't get paid county holidays) to be a little kinder, a little motherly, and to manage my time so well, and be so productive, that my husband will come home and say, "Wow!  What Happened!"  instead of "Wow.  What Happened?"

{change.}

I feel antsy, like the calm before the storm...

We've been in the same place for just over three years.  Ryan's finishing his Master's and has plans to be done in March.  I am in a position in my job that is uncertain.  The boys are growing well, and much to fast.  I'm getting behind, or rather, haven't learned to say "No".  I like too many things.  I don't know how to stop!  I'm afraid that when I slow down I'll crash...there are no brakes...there's just a pendulum of tasks and it feels like there's no happy medium.   I'm wanting to turn back time, just a little while, and be a better mom.  I know that's not realistic, but I feel a bit defeated. My children deserve more of my time.  My husband deserves more of my time.  My calling deserves more of my time. 

At least I think I'm ready.  I don't know what kind of change, but I think even a little change might be good.  Maybe I need to throw out an old pair of shoes.  Maybe I need to stay on my knees just a few minutes longer.  Maybe I need to say "I love you" just a few more times.

One thing is for sure...when that storm hits, I want to be ready.  It's a good thing I'm not in charge, because I might have declared an emergency by now!

Refurbished Frustration

In the last two and a half weeks I have been through four phones. Bear with me. There is a lesson to be learned, and it has nothing to do with cell phones.

My original (and first EVER) cell phone, which we purchased in September of 2008 died. It's a Red Razor, and the pin holding the top and bottom together fell out one day. Ryan took it in and my sweet secretary at work got me a loaner phone from her mom over two hours away so I would have a phone while a refurbished phone was sent to me. No biggie. I can handle a few days without all my info on my phone.

WRONG!

A week later refurbished phone numero uno arrived, and my sweet husband took it in to get all my info switched over from the dead phone, with the kids in tow. Sweet. I am connected to the world again.

WRONG!

Refurbished phone numero uno had a key pad that DID NOT WORK, which made dialing any numbers, finding a contact so I could just call from Ryan's phone, or texting virtually impossible. No, just impossible. After two days of that nonsense, my sweet husband took it in and we started the process over. Great. I'm going to have a new phone.

WRONG!

Even though the manufacturer's warranty was not expired, they sent me refurbished phone numero dos. Okay. I can deal with that. Now I have a phone that works, I can call all my scouts and their mommies and tell them what the plan for den meeting is.

WRONG!

Key number "6" in addition to letters "m, n, & o", which are kindof an integral part of the alphabet and perhaps the most frequent letters next to "e" and "r, s, t, & l" did NOT WORK.

geesh. I am just about to blow a gasket...when at work this nice old gentle man goes on and on about how Ace Hardware might have more business if I worked there, or if they had somebody with my charisma testing pressure gauges for them...How am I supposed to go chew out a helpless sales associate and a measly little cell phone company after receiving such a complement? Well, I was determined to do it anyways.

WRONG, again!

I just about cried...pleading with the annoyed customer service rep, who couldn't do anything for me anyways because of policy, to GIVE ME A BLASTED NEW PHONE and take $30 off my bill because I hadn't been able to call or text for two weeks.

Poor guy. He just sent me down the street to the corporate store. Okay. I can do this.

I end up with another annoyed, but nice gal who promptly ordered MY THIRD REFURBISHED CELL PHONE in TWO WEEKS. *sigh* What's the world coming to?

Today that phone came. I took it and the other dilapidated-non-functioning phone in to get all my info transferred, and then I find out that they CAN'T TRANSFER MY PICTURES? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? and yes, I feel like shouting. Maybe I should just put my caps-lock on. NO? fine. There IS a happy ending to this...




After three refurbished phones, they'll give you a new one. Yup! And you know what? Third time's a charm, because so far I haven't noticed any problems with the current phone. Yet. Maybe as soon as I go back to the original store and find out the latest phone wont take my pictures, just maybe, they'll get me a new one.

Beat the system. That's what I keep telling myself.

As we attended the temple tonight, I was sitting, thinking, and a thought came to mind. "In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter?" I tell myself, "no, it doesn't really matter, but now I can look back and chuckle at all I went through over a measly cell phone, that I've survived quite successfully without for 25 years. hmmmm...something to think about." Too bad it took getting to the temple to get me cooled off about that.