Sunday Random

-At exactly what age do little boys start seeing every piece of paper as a potential paper airplane?

-The restroom at work has 4 stalls and 5 sinks.... Just who is sharing the stall?

-I miss the 6th ward. In fact, I sniffle a little just thinking about it.

-There's a sign on the paper towel holder at work that says "in case of emergency advance manually". What kind of emergency would require the use of paper towels?

-Never bring treats to Primary. They will expect them every Sunday.

-No matter how tightly the lid is on, the cooler will always leak.

"Honey, can you answer that?"

K, so I have a confession to make. Really just something to point out that I'm sure most of you already know about but for some reason I feel the need to let you all know that I know that I'm bad at these things.... Like explaining myself for example. You may have to read that last line a few times in order to get my meaning. I know cause I had to already!

I am a horrible communicator over the phone. I would rather text, email, write a letter, sign language, hand puppets, mime... the list goes on, in order to communicate with someone. I suppose there's always the old fashioned method: face to face, but let's not get carried away here. I even go so far as to have distress at email requests because I will respond with clarification questions and fret over whether or not the recipient will get the information in time. I could always pick up a phone and just pass on the information verbally, but that would be all too convenient and we can't have that now can we.

I just don't do well over the phone. In fact the only times I have really good phone conversations are with a) my mother, b) my sister, c) my best friend, or d) my husband. Of course I was only good with my husband while we were dating. That whole can't-be-together-after-certain-hours-because-it's-illegal kind of thing. So you stay up all night talking on the phone because it's the only thing you can do. Then you get married, go to bed at 9 and never look back.

I have often wondered if I have a problem. I have often wondered if I care that I have a problem. I will get stressed out about calling the people I visit teach! I make my husband call and invite people over for dinner, games, whatever. I think I may have some deep-seated fear of rejection and if I can just get it secondhand then at least the blow is softened somewhat. It all seems very silly, but... (if you could see me I would be shrugging right now). I don't mind it when anyone else calls, I'm just usually not the instigator.

So, what does this all mean? I have no idea, but it's kind of interesting right? And now you know why David is always the one that calls and invites you all over for dinner!

To infinity and beyond!

I don't know how many of you have had the privilege of being trapped in a genuine Sullivan family debate/argument/all-I'm-saying-is conversation, but boy oh boy have you missed out!

I recently had the privilege of being trapped in the car from Enterprise Utah to Hurricane Utah while one was taking place. It's about an hour drive and there's not much in the way of scenery to take the mind off of the conversation. My only escape was falling asleep. They are sometimes about the most pointless things ever too.

K, so not silly to them, but... So, Saturday was the day. We had just had the graveside service to lay Grandma Clove to rest. It was a beautiful sunny day, family was gathered, and for a funeral it was really quite an enjoyable day (all things considered). Then it happened. Ivan, the aspiring writer, has come up with an idea about a television series that he thinks would be good. It's largely based in science-fiction with some real world application. David, being the ever-practical man that he is, is gifted at finding even the slightest flaw in a theory and must make his point known. Ivan will defend his theory to the death. Normally not a bad thing... if the whole thing weren't based in technology that doesn't exist. The whole "science fiction" thing kind of makes it that way doesn't it? But don't worry, neither is to be deterred. Examples from Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica were even brought into play.

The next 45 minutes and beyond was filled with reasons why infinity exists or doesn't exist, traveling faster than light, massive amounts of energy being contained inside the human body with strategic reinforcements.... If I can borrow a phrase from Tawnya, seriously! I have a gift of being able to tune things out for a fairly large period of time and I actually made it with no serious feelings of hatred/die die die towards anyone in the car. We went out to eat and I thought that would be the end of it. Boy did I underestimate the stamina of Sullivan men to carry on a useless conversation with such passion. We got back into the car and it was as if there were no break. All I could think of was Toy Story: "To infinity and beyond!!" Too bad that was about the conversation and not flying into space. I would prefer the later.

We're organized.. well kinda.

So, in an effort to not let this summer get away from us like we have every other summer, David and I have put together an online calendar of events. The link is conveniently located on the right sidebar of this blog! Cleverly named "Calendar of Events". I know, my creativity slays me too.

And what does this mean for you?? Well, first of all, there are lots of you that we want to get together with. So, rather than play email tag/facebook tag/ etc. just take a look at our calendar and let us know what and when you would like to do something with us. We really just needed to get the family things on so we knew what was going on. That's it. Nothing special. Just there.

Let's talk about...

-Why I have a seemingly constant red mark on my forehead. Oh yeah, it's because I have inexplicably slipped back into that magic time when you start learning to do your own hair and as a consequence burn your forehead repeatedly while trying to do something with your bangs. WHY do I even have bangs!! Why do I have to try to do something with them? Oh yeah... because I have fuzz for hair. Seriously, I got up this morning, looked in the mirror and had the distinct impression of an overgrown q-tip having attached itself to my head during the night. Uh-huh. Scary.

- Why is it suddenly easier for me to keep "my room" clean? I actually put up my clothes now! And make the bed! Cool huh! Not that I didn't do it before, but it was always after a rather large pile of clothing had accumulated in the corner/my-side-of-the-bed part of the room. Perhaps it has something to do with an actual closet to put them in... huh. Or maybe the fact that if the door is open all you have to do is look down the hall to see the bedroom and the spot where my pile would accumulate if given the chance. Could it be that I have enough pride to at least give off the appearance of cleanliness? Hmm.

- David and I are watching the 4th season of Battlestar Galactica through Netflix. The last disc came today and it's all I can do to wait for David to come home so we can watch it together. It's a good thing we waited to watch it till school was out because I am positive I wouldn't have been able to wait till he got his homework done. I'm not even sure how badly I want food tonight... just instant gratification through television. I know... kind of sad. But I've accepted it about myself. You should too.

- Every time I drive into our little cul-de-sac I get jealous because my landlord won't let me plant flowers in his semi-drab flower beds. I'm sure it will look fine in a month, but.... The whole drive is lined with tulips and daffodils and hyacinths in full bloom adding life and color to the otherwise green world. Not that green isn't good enough after the brown of winter, but there's just nothing like flowers in the Spring to lift your spirits. Especially when it insists on raining so much. That's one thing that I miss about our little pink ivy cottage... the flower beds that I could fill/plant/dig/kill at will. Sigh...

Sun Showers

I love rain! Okay, so I don't love it always, but there are just some times when it does my soul good. Like today. It rained with the sun shining brightly in the sky. Like little diamonds flashing with brilliance as they tumble to the ground.

There's just something so refreshing about a good rainstorm. Especially when there is thunder involved. Never in my life have I lived through thunderstorms of greater magnitude than I did when I was living in Missouri. The thunder would clap so loud it would jolt you right out of bed. Then the lightning would flash and it would penetrate even the darkest of curtains and light up the entire room. You just couldn't help looking out the window to see what was going on out there. It was awe inspiring.... and wet. Really really wet.

There is also nothing like getting caught un-prepared in a Missouri down pour. I swear an inch of water would be on the pavement by the time you ran from the car door to the front door. You learned fast to carry an umbrella even if it didn't look like rain. You just never knew.

Oatmeal

I have recently remembered a fetish I once had for flavored instant oatmeal. Weird huh!

I actually forgot that it had ever been a part of my life and on a whim, purchased the Western Family multi-pack of flavored oatmeal packets. (It was on sale) Thought it would make a quick breakfast/snack. Okay, seriously, who has oatmeal for a snack?

Anyway, I popped a bowl into the microwave (Cinnamon raisin) and sat down to eat. It was the smell of it all that reminded me that I used to eat this a lot. Memories of the mission field flooded my mind. In my first area, East St. Louis, Illinois, I had oatmeal for breakfast every morning. I remembered buying it at Shop N Save, and Aldi's (the store where you had to deposit a dollar in order to use the shopping cart... ghetto, but cheap!) Sister Sullivan was my trainer and this little farm girl had jumped into a whole new world. Those were good times. Not sure if I would repeat them, but I certainly wouldn't give them up.

My teenage son

Okay, so I really don't have a teenage son but sometimes I feel like I do.

My little brother Alex came to stay last weekend with us. I have been trying to get him to come and stay for awhile now. He graduated from High School last May and is trying to figure out what to do with life. That's why I wanted him to come and stay with me. Well, among other things.

It recently came to my attention that my little brother really was little when I was going through my stupidhood. When I graduated from High School he was 5 years old and thus blissfully unaware of my rebellious stage at the high and mighty age of 15-16ish. In fact, he was so blissfully unaware that when the local talent at the E-Z Way informed him otherwise, he was in shock and disbelief. I knew it was time to have some good one on one time and discuss life.

It was really quite fun. He came on Friday and stayed till Sunday afternoon. Since I was 14 when he was born, I spent a lot of time watching him grow up, hence the teenage son feeling. In fact when he was just a baby, mom would put me on Alex duty. I loved putting him down for a nap. I would lay his little head on my shoulder and lay down on the couch with him and we'd both take a nap. It was a hard job I tell ya. I have pictures of him learning how to walk and the whole schpeal (sp??).

So now that he is learning to walk in a more life altering way, it's hard to sit by and just watch. I see him going through so much. Struggling to know what to do, to know who you are. Mission, school, work... so many possibilities. I just love him so dang much and want him to make the right decisions. Makes sitting and doing nothing really difficult. But like the rest of us stubborn Hubbard/Robbins women, you put your nose in my business and I'll show you how fast I can go the other way.

So, my job is to be supportive and slip those words of encouragement in when the opportunity presents itself. Just do the right thing will ya! I'm going nuts here!