Why I Love Broccoli

Ok, I'll admit it...my last post was slightly depressing. So I thought it would be most appropriate to blog about something that makes me happy; something that makes my heart skip a beat: broccoli. That's right, beautiful green broccoli. Ok so I exaggerate a little when I say it makes my heart skip a beat (that would actually be chocolate) but I seriously have a lot of affection for this veggie! Let me tell you why:
1. Broccoli looks like a miniature tree. When I eat it, I can pretend I'm a giant and that I'm so big that I can pop these little trees in my mouth to munch on.

2. Broccoli is green. And I always hear people saying, "Go green!" these days so hey, I'm goin' green with broccoli.

3. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable. What is that, you ask? I have no idea, but it sounds like it could kick some major butt when it comes to viruses and diseases. (kick-butt definition)

4. Broccoli is so healthy for you, it is sometimes called a "miracle food". How many of you are gonna turn down a miracle? No one? Ya, that's what I thought.

5. I love the way broccoli tastes. I know that may be weird to some people, but I think it tastes delicious. Sometimes I even get cravings for it. I get cravings for cheeseburgers and fries more often, but when I get a hankerin' for some miniature trees, I just gotta satisfy it. And I definitely don't feel bad about that.

Although I am betrothed to broccoli, there is one thing I could do without: funky broccoli breath. But other than that, I love me some broccoli! Maybe tomorrow I'll tell you why I love corn!

fRuStRaTiOnS!

Right now there are lots of other things I need to be doing (exercising, making dinner, planning sharing time, planning my lesson) but one of the reasons I have a blog is to vent when I'm frustrated, whether anyone reads about it or not. And right now I am frustrated to the max.

This is how I usually look while at my computer...ask Evan.

I am frustrated that my husband, a very qualified, hard working college graduate cannot seem to find a job. I am frustrated that after many late nights, exhaustion-induced tears, lesson plans, great evaluations and references, and good interviews I have not been offered a teaching job. I know, I know, you're probably saying "join the club, lady!" As I receive email after email telling me that "the position has been filled, but please feel free to apply for other openings as they become available" I want to scream. I can't figure out why I'm not good enough. I can't figure out why after doing what I thought I was supposed to do I may not get a chance to practice what I've learned. Life has no guarantees, you say? Well you are 110% correct. But as much as I keep thinking "I just wish someone would give me a chance" I know I'm not the only person in the world dealing with this situation. Take, for example, the young man who came to my door just a few moments ago. He was trying to convince my husband to buy a $40 bottle of "miracle" cleaner. He seemed pretty down and out as he kept repeating that he only had 2 bottles left and really needed to sell them. Usually door-to-door salespeople bother me, but as I listened to Anthony relentlessly pitching this product to my husband I couldn't help but think, "Wow, you are in the exact same boat as I am. We both just want someone to give us a chance. We both keep getting turned down even though we are trying to be honest, hard workers." Do I think his $40 miracle cleaner works? No. Has he ever used it? Probably not. But I couldn't help but be frustrated as my husband had to turn him away. I would have done the same thing as Evan. We can't afford to be laying down $40 for cleaning fluid. And I'm sure Anthony, who has probably been out all day being turned down at every door, doesn't want to hear that we understand his problems as we sit in our air conditioned apartment. I don't know where Anthony lives, but it was just another reminder of how unfair life can be. Well I guess in the temporal sense life is usually unfair. And since I cannot currently remember my existence before this life, I sometimes have a hard time accepting the dichotomy of this temporal estate. But I've been taught and believe that in an eternal sense it is 100% fair. And that we will be blessed for the faith and good works we demonstrate on this earth. So as for right now I'll keep applying for jobs and hoping that someone will see that I am worth hiring. And if no one sees that worth then I'll pick something else to do and be just as happy. I hope Anthony keeps trying really hard too. One day when I have $40 to spend on cleaner I will gladly buy it from him.

We did it!

So even though Evan and I really finished college 4 months ago, it wasn't really official until we dressed up like this:
After 5 years of studying, exam taking, numerous papers, and several pointless assignments we got to show off our intelligence by wearing mu-mus and cardboard hats. Yes, we are that intellectually inclined. I think our costumes scream "Look Ma! I gradumatated!" more than "Ah yes, I did attend university for several years and received my Baccalaureate degree after arduous study and testing." But I guess people smarter than myself decided this is what educated people are supposed to look like. At first I was excited to wear the mu-mu, I mean gown. I thought because it was so big maybe I would look skinny in it. As evidenced by the pictures associated with this post, the gown only makes me look bigger, more house-esque if you will. But I guess people who tend to wear mu-mus, being larger in physical dimensions than others, don't usually look skinnier in said mu-mu. I'm not sure why I thought I'd be any different.
We attended both commencement (the big one with all graduates) and my convocation (the smaller one with only education graduates). Both ceremonies were good, not that I would attend another one of my own free will. The only thing that would have made them better would have been if we were handed a wad of cash and a card telling us where we would be getting jobs. Wow, that would be nice!
There haven't been any real changes in our employment situation. We are both waiting to hear about jobs. We are also considering selling all of our possessions and moving to a beach in Mexico. But with the whole swine flu/won't get it if you eat pork/wash your hands 5,000 times a day thing going on down there I think we'll stay put for now. I did stumble across these quotes and found comfort in them so I thought I'd add a little optimism to this post. Here goes:

"God's ways of educating our desires are, of course, always the most perfect... and what is God's way? Everywhere in nature we are taught the lessons of patience and waiting. We want things a long time before we get them, and the fact that we wanted them a long time makes them all the more precious when they come." ~Joseph F. Smith

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." ~Joseph B. Wirthlin, Come What May and Love It.

So I guess patience is the name of the game. Evan told me one time that I'm a patient person. He's obviously never heard the conversations I have in my head.

*Not pictured: Evan's parents (I'll get those pictures soon!)

long time no post

Ya ya I know. It's been a century or two since I last posted anything on here. So I thought I'd dust off the ol' blog and vent a little. Nothing too terribly exciting has happened in my life, so I'm turning to political stuff to blog about now. I'm not sure if this is really going to be about politics as much as it is going to be about opinions and when it's ok to have one...according to some people.

As some of you know, Evan and I do not currently have television capabilities so we watch shows and get our news from the Internet. So I heard about the whole Miss California "controversy" via the information super highway. I read about how during the question portion of the competition Miss CA was asked the following question by Perez Hilton, an openly gay celebrity gossip blogger: "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?" Miss CA's response was, "Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage, and you know what, in my country, and in my family I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you." Hilton immediately took to his blog to post that Miss CA was a dumb (insert obscenity here) for answering the question the way she did and saying she was the only person in Miss USA history to ever be booed. After watching the video I actually heard more applause for her answer than boos. It was obvious by her saying, "No offense to anyone out there" that she may have heard people booing, but I heard more applause than anything. While Hilton obviously does not agree with Miss CA's opinion on same-sex marriage, he obviously was not interested in her honest opinion even though that is what he asked for in the question. (Do you think every state should follow suit?) And he even asked that she explain herself. (Why or why not?) From the way he formed his question it seems like he wanted her to answer honestly and give an explanation. But that is not what he really wanted. He states on his blog that he really wanted her to answer in a more politically correct and less alienating way by saying that the forefathers of this country set up a government where the states make decisions for themselves. But had she answered this way, she wouldn't really be answering his question at all.

Some may say that in a competition such as Miss USA you cannot answer questions like you normally would (isn't that called lying?). You have to answer in a way as to not offend anyone. What I find so frustrating is that Miss CA is now being berated by some people who have access to media outlets for answering the question honestly. I think it took guts for Miss CA to answer the way that she did. She easily could have given the typical "world peace" answer that beauty pageants are often made fun of for. Instead, she chose to express her opinion, and if I remember correctly we have something called freedom of speech in America. Just like Mr. Perez Hilton is allowed to express his views and opinions, so are the rest of us. I guess some people feel it's ok for other people to have an opinion as long as it's the same as theirs. Now, does that really make any sense...at all?!

And while we are on this topic: I also find it frustrating when people who do not agree with other's opinions accuse those people of being narrow-minded. Doesn't the very fact that they are calling someone narrow-minded for having an opposing view make them narrow-minded? I don't think people who agree with same-sex marriage are narrow-minded. I think they have an opinion. And that's ok.

Shhhhh!

(in hushed tones) Deer are easily spooked and I didn't want to scare this one away. That's why I'm whispering. Bambi decided to hang out in our neighbor's yard for a little while today. I'm not sure if she is easily annoyed by the paparazzi, but she let me take some action shots and even looked at the camera. Do I detect a hint of a smile? Yes, this is the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a few weeks.
















Bambi eating...

Bambi looking...

My husband has a blog.

So I guess my blogging has rubbed off on Evan. Or he got so fed up with my lame-o blog that he decided to make his own to counteract mine. Either way, here's the address: http://ejbethphage.blogspot.com . Yes, you can be impressed.

Dear person who refuses to use the dumpster,

While you probably do not read my blog, I feel it necessary to write to you. I know in times past the dumpster has gotten so full that the only option was to put your trash on the ground beside the dumpster. But, because I am amazing I took care of that problem so that the rest of the people that live here did not have to deal with mounds of trash strewn all over the parking area. And even though I was disgusted when I saw your bag of 40 dirty diapers laying in one of the mounds, I picked it up and put it in the overflowing dumpster; something you could have easily done yourself. How do I know that those dirty diapers were yours? Oh, well #1 I'm smart, and #2 I have a keen ability to deduce things. When I went out to the dumpster, the dumpster that was emptied yesterday, I saw something of yours sitting beside the dumpster.

It was one of those scooty things you put babies in so they can move around the floor. So because I am smart and because I have deductive reasoning skills I know that the same person that thought it was ok to leave multiple bags of dirty diapers on the ground would also think it was ok to leave more of their baby junk on the ground instead of putting it inside the dumpster where it belongs. Now, in your defense you may have been thinking that maybe it would take up too much space in the dumpster and that the garbage guys would get out of their truck and throw it in for you when they come to empty the dumpster next week. But really, that's not a good defence at all because never in the history of the dumpster being emptied have the garbage guys ever picked up the trash on the ground, as evidenced by the picture above. So how did all those mounds of trash disappear? My husband and I actually put all of the trash into the empty dumpster, not the garbage guys. And personally, I do not blame the garbage guys. I would not get out of my truck to pick up other people's dirty diapers.

So, I'm going to assume you are a rather lazy person and that you don't like to touch dumpsters. Well neither do I, but I picked up your bio hazardous bags filled with poop and pee and put them in the dumpster because a)I didn't want some small, innocent animal to get sick after rummaging through fecal matter and b)I get paid to make sure the complex looks nice. And in all honesty, before I got paid for doing this I probably wouldn't have picked up your trash. And, I probably would have been annoyed too that there was so much trash in the dumpster and considered leaving my crap on the ground. But that's the difference between you and me...I clean up after myself. Do you really think it is not your responsibility to properly dispose of YOUR trash? Well, here's a news flash: IT IS YOUR JOB TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TRASH! And when I find out what apartment you live in I am going to take the trash you leave on the ground and place it on your doorstep with a note saying I will continue to return your trash until you learn to put it in the dumpster. And you won't know who I am because you don't read my blog.

In the meantime, I'll go put that stupid scooty thing in the dumpster because, well I get paid to do that.

Your friend,
Annoyed