CHRISTMAS TIME!

We have been excited to get Christmas decorations out for a while. I took advantage of Benjamin working a couple Saturdays ago, and wrapped his Christmas gifts. He couldn't be outdone, so within a day or two, he also wrapped presents for me. We had two different piles of gifts, since we haven't invested in tags yet. But looking at a pile of presents doesn't lend itself to putting Christmas off until after the Thanksgiving holiday.

We finally got ourselves a Christmas tree! It's BEAUTIFUL. We decided to put it in the kitchen corner this winter, since our living room is so crowded.


(By the way, the angel on top was a Shopko buy in our Thanksgiving adventure! We're excited to have an angel to use this year.)



Ok, so this is what our tree REALLY looks like. We wanted to cut our own tree this year, and found out the closest place we could go to do it was in Price. AND we don't have a truck or anything to put a tree into. AND we are seldom at home before it's quite dark, which makes it less exciting to wander around the wild and chop/drag a tree home. We talked about it, and decided we'd go for a fake tree this year, since it's already a week into December, and we fly to Georgia in just two weeks. That's a lot of work for only a couple weeks enjoyment.
We were lucky to find this little tree at DI, and we won't feel bad disposing of it after just one year of use. I especially love our presents at the base.

Isn't he cute?

Thanksgiving in Idaho!!

Well, we're a little late in getting everything announced to the world, but we had a great Thanksgiving! Thanks for asking! We drove to Idaho, and played for a few days with our favorite Grunigs! Heather was my longest roommate from years past, and I was there when she and Trevor began to be an item...ah...the Brentwood!

So, we spent the big day in Pocatello at Trevor's parents' house, and then a couple days in Idaho Falls at Heather and Trevor's very own beautiful house. Someday, I hope Benjamin and I can be all grown up like the Grunigs. Both out of school, at least one real-life job, and a little Grunig to keep them laughing every day. Little James is a cutie, and I'm so happy that he warmed up to us before we left.

Thanksgiving dinner!









We saw the Idaho Falls Temple, where our Kotter grand-parents were married.










We helped get ready for the next big day.


Benjamin and I had our very first day-after shopping experience. We hit ShopKo first. This is the line at 5 am outside the doors... Some people are REALLY crazy...But we had fun, and even found a deal or two we couldn't resist.







Playing games with the Grunigs and Heather's siblings: Jarom and Amy.





Ahhh...the fun times!
Little James with a big cheeser!

The GRE!

Standardized tests are always fun, but I've never had one that told me so much about myself.

First I just want to announce that I finished the Physics GRE, and the General GRE, and Emily finished the PRAXIS. So, whether for good or for bad, we're done for good.

The general GRE was quite an informative test for me. It is the test required to get you accepted into graduate schools. Really it is just like the SAT. It has the same sections with the same types of questions. It doesn't even have questions harder than the SAT. That bothered me, "Do they think I haven't learned anything during the past 4 years and $16,000 of college?!?"

Well, it turns out I got EXACTLY the same score on this test that I got on the SAT, so I guess I didn't learn anything. I've had quite a few discussions about my failure as a college student (since I didn't learn anything), and I've decided that the GRE wasn't designed to test knowledge, but rather it tests your ability to think and reason.

So this test can't tell me what I've learned. I MAY have actually learned something during my years in college, but the test tells me one thing for sure....
I definitely didn't get any smarter while I was here.

Good news is my percentile ranking (percentage of people scoring lower than you did) stayed the same as well, so I haven't lost any ground compared to all of the other kids who also didn't get any smarter while in school.

Conclusion: I think some people get smarter while in college. They're the ones that graduate and get jobs. Those of us that didn't get any smarter are the ones who think it's a good idea to commit to another 6 years of school, working 80 hours and week, and getting paid nothing... hmmm.... That actually makes sense.

Halloween in Cedar City

We were so lucky to get to spend Halloween with the Shurtliffs in Cedar City. Brooklyn was the cutest cow that you ever did see, and farmers Tim and Amber filled her utter with candy. Benjamin and I dressed as Yin and Yang. I was as white as could be, and Benjamin (with curly hair and wide nose) was as black as we could get him. We had fun with our creative twist.



We also got to take Saturday and hike Angel's Landing at Zion's. It was beautiful. We had a great time, although we weren't exactly prepared for a full hike. We only had a bag of left-over candy to serve as lunch/dinner. But somehow we survived. You don't have huge muscles for no reason...


Yikes. I almost turned back...

Trying to get the full scope of how high we were...and I was too scared to get any closer than this. I think we decided not to rock climb this site, since it takes 3 or 4 pitches
of rope just to get down...

Crazy tourists...

Hey, check out what we found... Wohoo!! "ra-ra-rarara! ra-ra-rarara! GOOOO COUGARS!!!!"

I voted this morning, but Benjamin has to vote tonight

Actually I voted four times already, and I plan on voting several more times this afternoon.
Since they don't ask for any ID when voting, just a name, I can vote once for every name I can think of. I know there are a few problems with this voting method, but they are all small problems.

Q) How do you know the person you named isn't going to vote themselves?
A) They would be silly to drive down to the polling station when I've already voted for them...
Also, statistically Hispanics are much less likely to vote, so I usually say my name is Gorge Lopez or something like that.
Q) What happens when you vote proxy for someone else who does vote today?
A) There is a little confusion, but in the end we all know they voted for the best candidate(the one I chose).
Q) Did it raise suspicion to your Bishop's wife who works at the polling station that you've voted 4 times already?
A) It did get a little bit dicey once, but after I explained to her that I wasn't the white curly-headed Benjamin she knew, but rather that I was not white and my name was Gorge it was fine (since they don't ask for ID there)

Q) Why do you drive to a polling station, wait in line for hours, and miss school just to cast a vote that doesn't really matter.
A) You're vote doesn't matter because you only voted once. My ten votes today will be 1000% as effective as your vote. Also, I would vote on the internet, but the internet is a very new and unknown technology. It isn't nearly secure enough to be trusted with managing my credit cards, banking, IRAs, business and school info, and my vote....

oh wait....

Benjamin

Benjamin's Weekend Girlfriend

So, we are nursery leaders in our ward, and one of the little girls has become quite attached to my charming husband. Her name is Lily, and she has beautiful curly blonde hair, and a smile that can obviously melt my man. It's funny to watch her take Benjamin by the hand and lead him somewhere in the room. She will consume all his efforts and wrap him up in her imagination. They cook meals and taste everything good. They balance bean bags on their heads, and pretend the snakes are real and squeal about them. It makes me smile so big. Lily's mother is also in nursery with us, and she has told me that Lily is going to be quite a little lady someday soon. She already asks her dad to give her long kisses goodnight, and he's predicted she will be the best kisser in her class.

With all this background information, I was discussing something with one of the other adults in nursery this week. I glanced around, and mentioned I'd better go make sure Lily wasn't hitting on my man, and looked across the room right in time to see Lily plant one right on his cheek. Needless to say, I dashed over there, as quickly as I could and asked her (hopefully politely) what she thought she was doing. She put her finger to her mouth and told me to "Shh! He's sleeping." So...I hurriedly told her that only his "true love" can make him wake up. She kissed him again. Benjamin (he's a smart one, and could see the jealousy in my eyes) lay still, very very still. I told her I'd try, and gave him a little kiss RIGHT ON THE LIPS (which Lily said later was the "magic kiss"). To my joy, he instantly woke up.

I realized that maybe I shouldn't have even said anything, because maybe we shouldn't introduce kissing games in nusery...but Lily's mom thought it was very funny. Next it was Lily's turn to be asleep, and she wouldn't wake up when I kissed her hand. I'm fairly certain she was waiting for Benjamin to try to wake her up. Luckily, one of the little boys needed help fixing a train track or something, and Benjamin was distracted.

The next week, as far as I know, there was no kissing happening in nursery. But maybe Benjamin didn't tell me for a reason...Picture of Benjamin and his weekend girlfriend below...

After we clean up all the toys, it's BubbleTime!! Everyone loves the bubbles, and we're even teaching the kids how to eat the bubbles.

Hunstman Senior World Olympics

This past week, I got to go to St. George, Utah, and offer free hearing screenings to the athletes of the Senior Olympic games. We screened otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry, and pure-tone testing. It was pretty fun, although we were expecting to have more senior citizens come find us. We had some slow spells, because we need quiet for the testing, and they separated us from the other health screenings. Oh well. It was fabulous fun.

Testing the flacticity (flexibility) of my tympanic membrane.


The tympanometry guns look brutal, don't they?


Watching some of the senior men's volleyball. Russia vs. (unknown)


Rachel, Heather, Jenn, and Kristi


Stephanie, Heather, Emily, and Nancy

this is not an announcement

After having a fun discussion with Garrett and Katie about baby names, we decided we should write them down so we don't forget any of our favorites. These are in no particular order.
Let us know what you think.
Boys
Girls

Joshua
Riley
Caleb
James
William
Dallin
Ethan
Jonathon
Jesse
Carter
Michael
Jacob
Joseph


Rachel
Avery
Hannah
Charlotte
Afton
Ivy
Rebecca
Merry
Zina
Sarah
Emma
Elizabeth
Aurelia
Marie
Dixie
Lily

We are also trying to think of possible names that resemble our grandparents' names (cause we don't exactly want to use them directly much. can you blame us?): Florence and Vard, Bulah Beatrice and Harold, Eulalia and Doyle, Arelia. But we're not having much luck. What to do....

Note Bene:

There is a poll on the right hand side.
Let me know what you think.


results are in.....
3 votes for McCain's health plan
2 votes for Obama's plan

The Cold War

Today I have banded myself with a new fraternity. It's called club for rednecks, psychos, and lunatics.

I bought a gun.
I'll go ahead and answer your questions in advance: Yes, it's dangerous; and no, they didn't check to see if I was mentally stable before giving me a lethal weapon.

Honestly, it's probably safer that way. It's kinda like the cold war. If enough crazy people are carrying big enough weapons, then no one can be the aggressor. The penalty is too high.
Level-headed people with guns are worthless,and truly maniacal weapon wielders are dangerous. But give guns(or nuclear weapons) to the enough mildly insane people, the ones who are probably OK, the ones who have only lost a few marbles, me (still looking for my favorite blue marble that i lost while i was water tubing in GA), then the world becomes infinitely safer.
No one flirts with the "edge" of the laws, because my goofy cross-eyed grinning face might not be able to tell which side of the line they're on. You just don't test a loon.

So, peace is preserved by that time honored adage: "Better safe than blown up".



after receiving a few questions about this gun i guess i should explain more. It's a hi-point 9mm handgun (nice shiny black semi-auto pistol). We got the gun for two purposes:
1. safety, although springville isn't the world's most dangerous city, it's a long term safety investment.
2. it'll be fun to go shooting every once in a while. (mostly this reason is just a bonus, we wouldn't buy a gun for this reason).
Thanks for the comments/questions.

The Great Depression

So, at the end at the end of another good monday, we'll all sit down for family night and try not to think about the NASDAQ dropping over 9% today. Just think of it like tithing that you handed to the neighborhood drug dealer instead of your bishop, on accident. Really I don't think its such a big deal; historically the stock market has always rebounded from these "corrections". Like back in '29 when we had a correction and it only took until late 1954 to once again reach 1929 DOW prices. (25 years)

Worst case senario you were 65 and were planning on retiring that year. Even still you only had to wait a those few years until '54 when you could retire at the nice age of 90. The really bad news is that 60 year olds only averaged living for 14.7 more years meaning you'd probably die before you could retire. (did starvation or exposure of the old hoovervillites affect that?)

But comparing today to Black Thursday/Tuesday/etc is a slightly paranoid. There are a lot of misconceptions about the Great Depression that should be cleared up.
Here are the facts of the Great Depression. Clearly today is very different.

1. The stock market crash didn't happen in one day. It started with 3 days over the course of a week, with drops of 10% to 20%, and didn't reach its low point until mid 1932.
Here we only have drops of 5% to 10% happening 5 times over the course of 2 weeks. Totally different. I think we're on the up-trend now.

2. The stock market crash didn't cause the Great Depression. The Great Depression was caused by a degredation of values i.e. women began wearing short skirts, smoking, and drinking(but i wear leggings underneath the skirt). The emphasis was on getting rich and enjoying new fads(i-phones are neccesities, not fads). People carried this lifestyle beyond their means(matter of opinion). Keeping up with current lifestyles meant having to spend more money than you had so "credit" was introduced(extra credit, score!). People soon found that they were having to spend their income on past purchases(but i always make my minimum payment at least), and they couldn't make new purchases, so production fell and jobs were cut(but people will always need fast food servers). People were in debt so deep they defaulted on their home loans (is that bill due again this month?). Banks were over-leveraged and had to close (Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Wamu, Wachovia, Lehman Brothers, Bears Stearns, AIG, et al.) ...

Clearly we have nothing to worry about.

dang, I was about to go ebay shopping but this blog distracted me...I guess it'll have to wait until after our traditional Monday night Olive Garden and Malt Shoppe dinner/dessert.





http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761584403_2 Great_Depression_in_the_United_States.html#howtocite
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_of_1929
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005140.html

WHO DONE IT?

Last weekend, we had the Shurtliff family come to stay. One thing we were excited to do while they were in town was to host a Murder Mystery Night, complete with a three course meal. The theme of the game was set on a train leaving Paris as the Nazi troops were arriving. It was fabulous, and everybody had a great time. We were glad that everybody came in character, and we got to point our accusing finger at our friends. We'll try to figure out how to post some pictures of all the smiling "before" pictures. All secrets were revealed..."On the Last Train from Paris!"

My Dream House

In my spare time:) I decided i should become an architect. Heres a rough draft of my dream house.
I'm not great with SketchUp yet, but i'm working on it.

What you'll see first is the storage room (2 levels below ground)
next the family level (underground) with bedrooms, library, office, etc.
I haven't yet added the ground floor level which will be a very small modest house, for having guests, entertaining, a music room, a guest bedroom, a main kitchen, etc.

let me know what you think about it.







ok now we've added the top floor.
still kinda rough, but i think it hits most of the main points.

Is water essential???? I don't think so.

One of the great joys that comes with renting is getting to work with landlords/maintenance people.
For some reason our apartment has developed a plumbing problem, not a big deal if you can get it fixed reasonably quickly... yeah... lets get that one fixed.
Aside from the drama of trying to convince management that we do need to have running water, I have learned a lot about water this week.
People say that water is essential for life... I don't believe that any more. Water isn't essential, it's quintessential.
Don't know what that means? Neither did I until this water fiasco. Quintessential mean essential*essential*essential*essential*essential or essential^5, and that definitely describes water.

Did you know that without water you can't wash your dishes, then your kitchen stinks, then you don't want to eat, then you starve to death and die. water is essential^1.
Did you know that without water you can't brush your teeth, then your wife doesn't want to kiss you, then you don't care about living, then you die. water is essential^2.
Did you know that without water your houseplants dry up, then you have no oxygen in your house (because oxygen comes from plants), then you suffocate and die. water is essential^3.
Did you know that without water you can't shower...follow the same logic as number 2...then you die. water is essential^4.
Did you know that without water you can't flush your toliet. Then your apartment reaks, then you want to die, then you die. Water is essential^5.

Obviously water is not essential but quintessential. I also have noticed that without water you can't drink water. Assuming that never drinking water would lead to death would make water a sexessential, but that sounds weird so we'll forget about that and keep water my number one quintessential element.