So I'm working on this 4 page paper for my tourism class. No problem. Four pages is a piece of cake by now. It's an article studying the patterns of cruise line passengers while they are in port.

I came across this sentence:

"The average time spent in Zihuatanejo is influenced by the fact that an estimated 5 to 10% of passengers appeared to have had difficulty walking, due to old age, infirmity, or corpulence."

I thought to myself, "Corpulence? Now that's a word I've never heard. I have to look it up! I'll make it my word of the day for tomorrow. I bet it means degenerative diseases or something terrible. Maybe it's a nice word for something like atrophy or arthritis."

And you know what "corpulence" means?

FAT!

Yes, it just means fat.

That's hilarious.

PS-I just texted Jeremy and asked him if he knew what corpulence is and he's like, "Yeah, overweight." Like no biggie. Of course he knows that word.

Now I feel dumb. Haha. Does everybody know what that means but me? How did I do so well on the SAT with such poor vocabulary?

Look at these super cute cookies my neighbor made! She randomly asked me if I had a leaf cookie cutter, and would you believe it? I DID! I gave her my turkey cookie cutter as well for good measure and I'm glad I did. These cookies are so cute! And now Jeremy can't complain that I've never used these cookie cutters because now they've been used.

Don't let their adorable looks deter you, they actually taste good as well! I know, I was shocked. I love glitter on many things, but food is not one of them. I had a bad experience. But this glitter is totally unnoticeable once it's behind your lips. In fact, it's delicious! It must have come from fairies.

On another note, Jeremy's job is changing...AGAIN. This will be like the third or fourth time.

There are definitely pros and cons to this change.

PROS:

-Jeremy will be working during the day again! Whoo hoo! That means we can actually sleep together at night and that will be awesome and will make intimacy SO EASY. Like so easy I can't even fathom it. We will be in the exact same location for EIGHT HOURS every night and that is just such a blessing. Right now I don't think we see each other eight hours a week!

-Jeremy will be on an alternating schedule. One week he'll work three days, the next week he works four days, and it just alternates like that every week. Permanent long weekends!

-Another pay raise. This one is slight though compared to the last one. Depending on which shift he gets, it will be $40 or $80 per check increase. But hey, that's more than we're getting now! Yay!

CONS:

-On the days Jer works, he will have 12-hour work days. I know. That's a LONG DAY. And he will only have four hours to himself when he's not working or sleeping on those days. But hey, those long weekends will be all freedom.

-This will make it difficult for him to go to school after Christmas. We're not sure how it's going to work out yet. He'll definitely only be able to do night classes and only a few.

-He can either get the front end of the week, or the back end of the week. If he gets front end, all will be well and he'll work Monday through Wednesday and every other Thursday. However, if he gets back end, he'll work every other Thursday and Friday through Sunday. This means no weekends together and he'll work every Sunday which of course means he'll never be able to go to church. This is a major con. He would get the larger pay raise for this end, but the extra money is not worth it.

The other team lead guy wants the front end of the week as well, and he's atheist so he's not worried about missing church. I'm guessing he just wants free weekends. Which is understandable but still Boo! I want Jer to have weekends off of course for church, but also because if his off days are Monday through Wednesday, I won't see him much because I have school almost all day on those days. Jer decided if he is given the dreaded back end of the week, he's gonna look for the first opportunity to get out of that department.

So the new job thing could be really great or really lame. We'll know by the end of the year which it's going to be.

Seems like every married lady I know on the whole wide internets is doing this thing. So I'm going to roll right on that bandwagon!

How long have you been married?
Oh man I'm gonna have to count. Two years and....four months!

Is this your first marriage?
Yes. I was married at 20 so I would hope that would just be a first.

Is it how you imagined it would be?
Mostly yes. Sometimes Jeremy does things that just blow my mind, for better or for worse, but overall I think it's pretty much what I expected. I knew marriage wasn't just a joyride, I knew there'd be rough spots. But overall I thought it would be better than any previous living situation that I'd experienced and it definitely is. It's my favorite. And Jeremy's my favorite person to live with.

What would you change?
We'd have some more money so we could go on one big vacation every year. And a fancy date every week.

Are you married to your soulmate?
I don't really believe in soulmates. I think there's probably more than one person on this planet you could be happy with. However, I think Jeremy was an excellent choice and I can't imagine anybody else. He has many qualities that I really don't think I could have found anywhere else on the entire earth. (Like being from the same, small, kinda backwards town.) And I love that we went to the same schools, and came from the same place. Gives us so many things in common. And when I tell him the story of when Ms. Knight made me cry in front of the whole class, he knows who I'm talking about!

What do you argue about the most?
Probably distribution of house chores. He thinks because he works he should have to do less, I think because I do full time school and part time work I should have to do less. So we try to do even amounts of housework.

What do you see eye to eye on the most?
Haha. Um. Not politics. Not movies. Definitely not music. Maybe religion? We have similar TV tastes with the exception of Jon and Kate + 8. We both love The Office, 30 Rock, Desperate Housewives, and LOST. I've even grown to love Battlestar Galactica. (Did I just say that out loud?)

Where did you meet your spouse?
I don't remember the first time I met him. We'd been going to school together since 3rd grade. The first time I actually remember speaking to him was in 11th grade. But I signed his yearbook in 8th grade so there may have been some words there but I don't remember any of it. The first time I really remember seeing him and knowing his name was 5th or 6th grade I think.

Where was your first date?
Infamous Taco Bell night. You'll have to look through the xanga archives to get the story on that. Maybe somewhere around May 22nd 2004.

Where were you when you became engaged?
Basically engaged, I was in Utah and he was in NC. Officially engaged, we were on the porch swing in my parents front yard in Erwin, NC.

Did you live together before Marriage?
nope. Well, actually I guess we did for a little bit. We both lived in my Dad's condo in Florida with my Dad for a little bit right before the wedding. Dad and Jer's bedroom was upstairs and mine was downstairs.

What was your wedding song?
We didn't dance at our wedding but "our song" would have to be "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton because that's what played during the last make-out scene of the play where we fell in love.

Who was in your wedding party?
My sister, Lauren, best friend Hannah, neighbor Maegan, and roommate Marti.

Do you get along with the in-laws?
Depends on who counts as in-laws. Jer's mom passed away in 2002 but if she were here I know we'd get along.

Whats your view on Children?
We have no real number in mind. At the very least, we'll have three, and after that we'll just keep having them until we feel like everybody we're supposed to have is here.

Does your spouse feel the same way?
of course! He's very Brad Pitt that way. I think I could say, "WE HAVE TO HAVE NINE!" And he'd be like, "Sure, nine kids? No problem."

Are you a 2 peas in a pod or opposites attract couple?
Totally both. Just depends on what aspect of the relationship we're talking about.

Do you go out without your spouse?
All the time. The other night we went out just because we were alone while our boyscout was at scouts. I mostly wanted to just find a dark parking lot and make-out like old times but Jeremy neglected to brush his teeth before we left so we went and got ice cream instead. However, the Dairy Queen ice cream was really gross and I think I would have enjoyed the making out more.

How long are you away from your spouse before you start to miss him/her?
Um. Like two seconds. He's in the back room sleeping right now and I miss him. I'd rather be spending time with him every single second. Even when I'm mad at him I wish I could just hug him while I fume.

Have you ever compared your spouse to someone you have dated in the past?
Not on purpose. When we started dating, I started to realize that I really like dark eyes and dark hair way better than the lighter types I had dated in the past.

Do you trust your Spouse?
About big things, like fidelity, absolutely yes. However, if I ask him to do the dishes, I'm not always 100% sure it will get done.

Does your Spouse trust you?
I don't know. I know he does about big things.

How well does your spouse know your favorites?
Very well, I'd say.

Do you get along with your spouses friends?
Yes, I like to think so.

Does your spouse get along with your friends?
As far as I know. And we mostly have mutual married friends so...yeah.

Did you go on a honeymoon?
We had an amazing honeymoon on a Disney Cruise. BEST WEEK EVER.

Do you watch the same TV shows?
I already mentioned this. Basically the same, but I don't enjoy the Discovery Channel as much as he does and he could do with out TLC.

Can you agree on Pizza toppings?
We usually split our pizza's half and half. I like hamburger and he likes everything. When we make homemade pizza we both like pepperoni and sausage. Mmm. Now I want to make a pizza.

Who takes out the trash?
Well it's never me. Sometimes if its really smelly I will set it by the door as a hint.

Who does laundry??
Almost always me. But he helps me fold and put stuff on hangers. I hate that part.

Who cooks dinner?
Usually me, but he's great at helping me with it.

Do you have any traditions?
Holiday traditions. Mexican food.

Is there anyone in your spouses family that you cant stand?
I think we all know the answer to this question.

Anyone in your spouses family you adore?
Oh yes. I love his Aunt and her family.

Do you know your spouses passwords/pins?
yes. All of them, I think.

Does your spouse know your social security number?
Yes. And I finally memorized his after all the paperwork I had to do this last year.

Do you ever nag your spouse?
Yeah. I don't like to and I really try not to but when I ask twice and it doesn't get done I have to ask again.

Do you admit wrong doing?
I hope so. I think so.

Does your spouse?
When he really messes up he does. He doesn't really mess up often though.

How would you grade your sex life?
Now that's a good question to put at the end! Well, since he has been working at night and we don't live alone anymore, a whole week's worth has to be crammed into the weekend. Which makes for very fun weekends. But he is about to start working during the day again and I am so excited by the fact that we will be able to sleep and snuggle together EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. And I'm sure the sex life will be a lot easier to manage as well. Overall grade would have to be a B+ for now, and I know it will be an A after the new job schedule! But I don't want to say A+ because even though it's awesome, I want to leave room for improvement. I'm hoping that it will just get better every year and it will be an A+ 40 years from now.

When is the last time you or your spouse bought each other flowers?
Well, I usually get flowers for my birthday and Valentine's Day, but my last birthday was pretty hectic and I didn't get anything. I'm hoping he'll make up for it next year.

OMG!

Okay, I'm going to sound like such a nerd, but I'm so excited. I found this awesome app to put on my iPhone that allows me to listen to NPR and KSL newsradio on my iPhone! ANYWHERE!

This solves many of life's problems. Okay, so maybe just one, but I believe it will be life-changing nevertheless. I am so often in the unlucky situation that I am listening to a riveting news story on NPR, and I get to my destination and I have to GET OUT OF THE CAR.

It's terrible! I never get to hear the end of the conversation or hear the end of the story that some 90-year-old lady is telling about the Depression.

But with this amazing application, I can just touch a few buttons on the screen as I get out of the car and my listening is uninterrupted. Doesn't that just make your day? Well, if you are an iPhone user. Otherwise I think I may have just wasted a few minutes of your life.

Speaking of radio, there was this fascinating piece on there today about funerals. How cremation really isn't very "green" and the most "green" thing to do would be to just wrap people up in a sheet, not embalmed, and bury them in their relative's back yard.

But even more intriguing to me was the concept of a "Home Funeral." Instead of letting a funeral home take care of cleaning and dressing of the body, family members do it themselves! Now my first thought was, "Eww. Gross. Why would anyone want to do that?" But the more I think about it, the more I like it. For certain close people, of course.

If some horrible event were to take place, and I were to lose my Jeremy or one of my children, I think the idea of cleaning their body and dressing them for the funeral myself seems kinda nice. It almost seems more natural. I think I'd appreciate the extra day or two to be with their body and say my goodbyes.

I was shocked at my own thoughts! But it's really growing on me. Hopefully I'll just die first so I never had to deal with it, but in that event, I don't want some stranger being the last person taking care of my husband. I'm his wife and I think it should be me. I want him to look how he supposed to. I think the whole process of preparing him for burial would be kind of a nice way to find closure and move on. Not seeing him for a few days and then seeing this weird, life-like version of him in a coffin would just be so jarring.

Wow, I have to change the subject or I'm going to start crying. That's so hormonal of me. I'm starting to feel that panicky dread that I had to channel once in acting class when he was "Dying behind this closed closet door right here." Oh. Horrible day in acting class.

Anyways! I think that's all I have for you today. I have a certain trumpeter that is almost done with after-school band practice and I need to get ready to go pick said trumpeter up. Have a great afternoon everybody!

What do YOU think about "Home Funerals?" Creepy or comforting?

Sorry for the lack of posts on my part. I'm just so dang busy. Felt like poo today and slept almost all day. There was a parent conference at the Middle School today so we went to that at 9, and then Jer and I got in bed and didn't wake up until late afternoon. It was so nice. Although parent-teacher conferences are kind of awkward when the student is doing just fine and there's no issues.

It was just kinda like,

"How's he doing?"
"Oh he's doing well. Really improving with the trumpet. Grades and behavior are good."
"Great! Well anything we can do?"
"Not really, just keep doing what you're doing."
"Alright then."

Just kind of seemed like a waste of time but I suppose it's important to be involved.

Also, I think a reason I haven't been posting much is because of all this prop 8 business. It seems like it is always on my mind. I've thought and pondered about it for hours. Every day on the news they are talking about another protest at an LDS temple, or another celebrity bashing the Mormons. Today they had to evacuate Temple Square because of a suspicious box with white powder. The same thing happened at a temple in LA. I don't live in California so I didn't think it would affect me much but I guess I was wrong. That was so awesome of the Catholics to take up for us though. I still don't know how I feel about the Church's involvement. I feel like there must have been a good reason. But either way, the Church is still true and I won't be leaving anytime soon.

Well, I'm supposed to be writing a paper about population problems in China so I better get on that.

Oh yeah! Before I do though, I heard something on the Today show that blew my mind. Matt Lauer was talking to Sarah Palin and he said that 60% of Republicans think she should run for President in 2012.

Seriously?!!?

I was just so shocked. And also sort of embarrassed for the whole party. Is that number right? I can see her maybe running for Senate since Alaska likes her so much, but President? I really don't think the Republicans have a chance in 2012 anyways unless Obama just really makes huge mistakes. So maybe they figure that and it doesn't matter who runs. But if you are really trying to give your party a chance, wouldn't you go for somebody like Romney? I think just about anybody would be better than Palin.

Also, I'm working on this baby shower for Saturday. I'm so excited. A bit stressed and nervous too because I've never tried to feed and entertain this many people before, but mostly excited. I love the planning and organizing and shopping. I really hope Disney will let me do this kind of thing for them on a large scale. Conferences and workshops and stuff. I just love it. I can't wait to show you all pictures of the shower. I really hope it goes smoothly. I've really done my homework so I think it will.

Back to that paper now.

I am all signed up for classes for winter semester! And even though school is kind of killing me right now, I'm excited about next semester. Mostly because all my MWF classes are in the same building. And not just the same building. THE SAME CLASSROOM! Can you believe it? That is absolute HEAVEN for a wheelchair user like myself. I'm just tickled.

****

Oh, Kimball Tower. You are growing on me. Even though I am too afraid to look out the windows of your upper levels.

And you look stunning at night! Although I do not enjoy hanging out on your 6th floor all evening in study sessions.

****

Anyways, it turns out, I've been able to register since Nov. 4th, and I just realized it today, so it's quite nice that I was still able to get all the classes I want. And time wise, my schedule is exactly the same except with one extra class on Thursday. So I'm loving that. I really like how my days go right now and it works out well.

So I wasn't here when the UPS man brought my Disney money. Boo. Now I have to wait until tomorrow. I guess it's not that much of a bummer since I'm using all $1000 to pay off the credit card anyway. I mean, that's exciting, but not in a tangible way like a camera. However, Jeremy has mysteriously started working overtime. And I have a sneaking suspicion it's so he can buy me a camera for Christmas. Because he's just an awesome husband like that. (And also because I think he really wants that camera too...hmmm....)

Here's some exciting news! I finally bought new bras. I bought two new bras and these were the first bras I bought post-surgery. It was quite an experience. I'm like, exactly between two cup sizes, so that was interesting. And a pain in the butt. But it sure beats pre-surgery bra shopping! I got them from Mervyns. They are going out of business and had some sweet deals. I got a cute jacket, but I have since determined it is too big and I can't take it back. Boo.

Oh I am so tired. I think I will just go admire my new shower curtain as I brush my teeth and go to bed.

PS-Did you know I dyed my hair dark? I'm going darker next time.

PPS-I can't find my little pink camera and had to use the iPhone. Not too bad though, for a phone.

Ugh.

Should I get the fabulous camera at the great deal?

Or should I be responsible and pay off the credit card?

Dang. I think I better pay off the credit card. That will feel good too.

The economy still sucks so there will be good deals again, right? Right.

:But I really want the camera because the falling leaves are SO pretty and soon the snow and Christmas will be SO pretty and even Jeremy says I deserve something for myself:

I went to a camera store even though I have no money yet...haha!

I think between my husband and the camera people at Inkley's, numerous online reviews, and talking to about 10 photographers, I am leaning towards a Nikon D60. It doesn't have live view, and the screen is a little smaller than the xsi, but that's about the only cons I have. I really liked it. The menus seem to be easier to navigate, and supposedly the Nikon lenses are slightly higher in quality sometimes, depending on the lens.

They are having a sale right now that includes the camera and standard lens, plus the 55-200mm lens (both VR) an all in one printer/fax/copier/scanner, and 18 free classes so I can learn how to use the thing...haha. All that is for $750.

What do you think?

PS: don't forget to check out The Swafford Scoop! And email me if you can't access it yet.

I think I want an entry-level to mid-range DSLR for Christmas. I should be getting about $1000 from Disney this semester so I have to keep the price under that. What would you recommend?

I just want it for blog pictures, pictures of the family, vacation photos, the occasional sports shot, etc.