What Did We Watch?

Not a whole lot.

Private Practice. It was good. But after watching the distraught woman crawl around on the department store floor, trying to cope with the loss of her little boy, I just about pulled Isaac out of bed for hugs and kisses.

Grey's Anatomy. I'm unsettled. I enjoyed watching my favorite doctors, but I'm afraid that the carpet is going to be yanked out from under us, the loyal viewers. They're going to sock it to us. Deal us a low blow. Things went too well. Part of me half-way expected Burke to show up, that the rumored firing was just a publicity stunt. Stranger things have happened.

I wish I would have watched The Office. But I felt like I wouldn't have been able to catch up.

Even though I had watched several episodes of my recorded Ugly Betty episodes from last year in attempt to bring myself up to speed, I just couldn't watch their season premiere. Watching someone get picked on, even if she comes out on top in the end, just makes me squirm.

I missed the new Fox show with Kelsey Grammer and Patty Heaton. I'll need to set a timer for that one. It looks like it could be fun.

I didn't see Scrubs on the menu. Maybe next week. I am very much looking forward to it.

Meanwhile, we have several Showtime channels for a few days. Maybe something good will turn up there.

What's On Tonight?

For the first time (literally) in my life, I am not dancing in anticipation of the new fall TV season.

I'm such a TV junky. I (usually) love it.

But now, well. Not so much.

When I was young, the new season didn't just mean change and growth for my favorite TV characters, but also the fascination with 'what's their new opening theme going to be?'.

As years went on, it was the resolution to the now-common season ending cliff hanger. Especially once F*R*I*E*N*D*S rolled around. Ross and Rachel? Monica and Chandler? Joey and Rachel? Is Rachel really pregnant? These questions literally hung in a cloud over my head all summer.

Last fall I was pretty anxious to find out if life would go on for Izzy after the death of everyone's beloved Denny.

But this year? I dunno.

I am looking forward to Grey's starting, but I'm annoyed with the Meredith's-sister plot. And it appears that they're going to continue taunting us with the Izzy-George-Callie triangle, and are throwing in a possible pregnancy. Ugh.

I guess I'm kind of in to the Grey's spinoff with Dr. Shephard.

Many, my husband included, are SO excited for Heroes and House and probably even 24 to start. Blah.

I've completely lost interest in ER, though the addition of John Stamos should have brought me back. Should have.

It appears that Studio 60 isn't coming back, which does break my heart. THAT was good stuff.

My boycott of Gilmore Girls last year because of Luke and Lorelai's breakup was obviously in vain. I wish IT was coming back, that could definetly fill a void in my TV heart.

It's too late for me to start watching The Office. Too much catching up.

I annoy myself with my (closet) like for 2 1/2 Men. It's a bit much, and really? Charlie Sheen? But it is funny. And who can go wrong with John "Duckie" Cryer?

I am grateful to my Scrubs. Their childish humor does warm my heart. (No) thanks to David for deleting my Scrubs the Musical.

David announced to me last night that him and Maddie, after years of my snubbing, are in to Survivor China. Barf.

If I'm not careful, I might find myself sitting around watching (gasp!) Deal or No Deal. I do love the Howie.

Student Life

I have students. Some in Special Ed. Some in the math and English classes. I have students.

I have observations.

Like the special ed student who looks like a Weeble. Does he wobble? Yes. And he also wears nylon gym shorts pulled up to his armpits. Every now and then he gets in a mood. Of the affectionate sort. He gets a look on his face, something like the guy in the sports jacket with his shirt unbuttoned enough to show his chest hair and wears big gold chains. Okay, not really. But when he wants some lovin' he all but knocks you over. In the name of "hugging" me the other day, he totally copped a feel. For all to see. Needless to say, since then I try to stay on opposite sides of the classroom from him.

One of my favorite special ed students, a beautiful, petite black girl with a gorgeous smile, has problems with hygiene and often smells like B.O. Now in my second year of working with her, it appears that she is binding her chest. She wears layers upon layers of shirts and things are bunched up and just not right. I can only imagine why.

Along with the observations, I am surprised at what the students share with me.

One of my regular-ed students casually told me that her mom suffers from multiple personality disorder.

Another student's dad has Asperger syndrome.

These kids have so much to deal with, as if surviving high school isn't tough enough.

On the other hand, the girl that I hated after the first day of school is no longer in my class. I am part thrilled, but part not. Some obsessive side of me thought I could help her. Now I feel like I've given up.

But still part thrilled.

Our Little Soccer Star

Sort of.

This one makes me giggle.

Timing Is Everything

It truly is.

I always hope that I'll bump into a friend. Not just someone from the ward, though that's usually fun, but a long lost soul, someone I haven't seen in forever.

However, I've stacked the deck against myself living all the way out here.

It almost didn't happen.

If my plans didn't change in the middle of the grocery store, that phone call causing me stop and walk out empty handed...

And if she hadn't smiled and stopped me in the parking lot, I would have kept on walking, not noticing this cute, pregnant, familiar person.

Girls, it was Julie Powell! Granted, she was my sisters' friend, but I'll take whatever long lost friend I can get!

Even better, she lives a mile away. IN MY STAKE! Which, you know, says a lot in Utah.

She's lived out here for 2 years, has a girl and a boy and another boy on the way. She's beautiful and sweet and a exudes warmth and kindness.

I really can't get over the timing of it all and how close we live to each other.

We exchanged phone numbers, and hopefully we'll bump in to each other again soon.

Things Could Be Worse

The secret may or may not be out: I've been a little blue.

Things just aren't going my way...David and I didn't quite save enough to cover me not getting a paycheck for 3 months; my job(s) aren't as wonderful as I'd hoped; I've been dealing with what is apparently a chronic health problem; on top of that I've caught a cold; then there's always the death of my flat iron. I'm still in mourning. Not to mention the guilt of a broken promise to my mom that we'd be there to visit mid-August.

It's amazing how someone else, even a stranger can put things in perspective. "Oh, maybe things aren't quite so bad." Perspective.

Like the missing BYU student, the horrendous trapped miner saga, etc.

Yesterday I made my way to the pharmacy for another round of antibiotics and as I walked in, a couple walked in just a few steps ahead of me.

The man had either been involved in a horrific accident, or someone had taken a baseball bat to his body. One arm was in a sling, a blue bandage wrapped around his entire head covering his ears, both eyes were bloody (you know, the whites) and were swollen nearly shut, his mouth was wired shut so I'm not sure how many teeth he was missing, and his bandaged nose was obviously broken, the racooon circles under both eyes were a direct indication.

He was a spectacle. At different intervals all of the pharmacy staff stared, but tried not to.

This man had been through a lot.

Seeing this man, who tried to act normal and functional, put things in perspective for me.

And reminded me that things could always be worse.

And maybe it's not so bad.

Light a Candle & Say a Prayer

Tragic and untimely: my flat iron died. A moment of silence please.

A Kodak Moment?

I am constantly amazed and inspired by Sarah's work. With my wimpy little camera I try to apply what I learn from her.

Jordan and Melissa were out this weekend so she could find a modest wedding dress (did I ever mention their engagement?).

They thought I was nuts when I drove them out to the middle of nowhere to shoot them, err, with my camera.