This is Seth. He cruises around in his Chariot while his mother and I work up a sweat training for our triathlon. Periodically, he coos, gurgles, and giggles as we pass yapping dogs, swimming turtles, and the local neighborhood woman who cheers us on. After a really rough work out, he might even take a nap, holding his stuffed dog for comfort.

This is Jenny. For the record: this picture does not do her justice. Running with her is challenging. Not everyone can look as cute as she does, while pushing a Chariot and smelling like Europe! She’s the instigator behind this whole triathlon. Many of the girls in our ward have her to thank for motivating goals, stronger bodies, and good times.

Then there’s me. The dork who still wears elementary school shirts. Looks goofy in a bike helmet and pretends she actually knows how to shift gears. Despite this, I will say I’ve come a long way since the beginning of the summer. I can now run about 3 miles, bike more than 10 and swim many laps across the pool. The trick will be whether I can I can do all those together one after another. Wish me luck! Six days and counting…

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Apparently, a broken water main that is gushing water throughout the parking lot is considered an emergency. As such, you do not have to wait for four days for the work men to show up. In fact, you don’t have to wait at all or even make any phone calls; by the time you realize there’s a problem they’ve already shown up to fix it.

All you have to do is endure a day without any running water—after you’ve gone running and are dripping sweat. Pretty much equivalent to four days without a functioning dishwasher.

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It seems as though from the moment I graduated high school, I have been perpetually waiting for some life altering force beyond my control to tell me what direction I go in next.  I feel like I’m engaged in a soon-to-be decade long poker hand.  Sure, every so often someone raises or checks, or maybe I get to make a relatively small, incremental decision about my fate.  Even the decisions I have made however, all seem to be leading to some grand, culminating event, but what that event is - I’m not sure.  I’m waiting for the cards to be flipped over.  Is it my career?  Having a family?  Buying something like a wheel-barrow that seems only appropriate to buy when you are settled down?  A future wheel-barrow purchase doesn’t seem to be important enough to wait this long for, but it just might mark the transition from one phase of my life to another.  I don’t know, but I do know it is not my turn to decide anything. 

I am currently waiting to hear back from a pile of employers that I have intereviewed with at various stages, or to whom I have sent letters grovelling for a position as their summer slave.  With each passing day a trickle of rejection letters steadily arrives in my mailbox.  Sometimes, like a drop in the proverbial bucket, a lone letter informing me of a call back interview makes an appearance.   Yesterday: 7 rejection letters.  As for me, I’m patiently waiting.

Law School, Scott Stuff | 2 Comments »

If only you could be so lucky as to have your old, crappy dishwasher break mid-cycle.

If only you could be so lucky as to have all your dishes coated in tomato seeds and dishwasher detergent.

If only you could be so lucky as to not be responsible because you rent, not own.

If only you could be so lucky as to have a rental agency to call and complain to.

If only you could be so lucky as to have your broken dishwasher declared a non-emergency.

If only you could be so lucky as to have to call the rental management four days straight before getting a response.

If only you could be so lucky as to have them finally show up, while your gone and leave without doing anything.

If only you could be so lucky as to have to call again to get them to come back.

If only you could be so lucky as to have your old, yucky dishwasher replaced with a brand spankin’ new one, free of charge.

If only you could be so lucky as to have your house perfumed with stinky boy stench after the workmen leave.

Lonica Stuff | 2 Comments »

With her husband, Dave, MIA (he’s in Phoenix on an away rotation) I thought we should celebrate Candace’s birthday girl style. After lunch at a nearby café, we came back to our house for a surprise birthday get together with all the local girls.

It took a bit of planning to find a time when she was available, but we finally managed. Everyone enjoyed some frosted cupcakes and homemade ice cream.

She even got to open some homemade gifts from the neighbor kids. I bet you all wanted a card with “Ewww” written on it in purple crayon for your birthday didn’t you?

Apparently Candace does.

Life in OH-IO | 4 Comments »