Joy

So this morning I was pondering various things as I drove home from dropping my roommate off at the airport (at 5 in the morning) and listening to Christmas music. And it jut hit me how powerful this season is. How marvelously wonderful it is that God sent His Only Begotten Son into the world to save us. Can you imagine the joy of those shepherds and the wise men who came later, as the Spirit testified of the magnificence of the event? I mean, it was so amazing, that an heavenly choir appeared and sang to humble shepherds. Not one angel, not two, but a choir! There was so much joy in heaven that it had to be expressed in the mortal world. How wonderful that Christ came into the world!

And why? Why was it so joyful? Because he did it for you and for me. Because he did it for everyone for whom the holidays are hard, for those who have lost loved ones, those who struggle financially and feel like they can't celebrate like they want to, those who are single and wonder what it would be like to have someone special to share this time of year with. He did it for us. He did it so we could find joy in the season, because He is there, and He made it possible for us to come together, not just as families, but as communities. He shares the heavenly joy of the season with us, because He provides a way for us to be with our Father in Heaven and the rest of His family forever.
I know that He really did come, and the heavens rejoiced, and we can too. Would that we could all keep the joy of Him whose birthday we celebrate with us this season and all year round.

Who should pay?

I found this article on who should pay on the first date, and I have to admit, I totally agree. Maybe I've get myself into some tight binds because what I considered a date, the guy didn't, or I didn't ask the guy in a way that made him feel like it was his idea, but seriously folks, whose wearing the pants in this relationship? I agree, (and while I don't like using the term) it is sexy when the guy steps up to the plate. Just because I am independent doesn't mean I don't want a guy to take care of things.
Maybe I think about it as a sign of how things are going to be. Am I going to be the one in charge, or is he? PS. I want it to be him.

Parable of a well

"Once there was a deep well of water. Above it hung a pulley, with a rope over the pulley. At the extreme ends of the rope were two buckets. Water was drawn from the well by pulling the rope down. a full bucket would rise while an empty bucket would go down to be replenished. Those who used the well didn't realize that as the buckets passed they would talk to each other. One bucket was an inveterate pessimist. He was convinced that everything went wrong in his life. Whenever he passed his friend, he would recount what he considered to be deplorable circumstances in his life. His comments would include complaints such as: 'I hate being in a cold, dark, wet hole all my life. I work very hard, but no matter how many times I give water to others, they never thank me for it. It's discouraging. The worst part is that I am not succeeding. No matter how many times I come up full I always go down empty.'
"The other bucket was a classic optimist. Every time he would pass, he would try to lift his neighbor with his enthusiasm: 'I wish I could share the beauty of my life with you. I am so happy. When I feel myself rising I wonder, 'Will there be sunlight, or will there be glistening stars? Will it be that young boy who takes water for the garden of his mother, or the little girl who helps the mother make bread?' I love to come up because I can always help someone else. They don't know that I can talk, so they thank me with their eyes. My life is so worthwhile. The best part is, no matter how many times I go down empty, I always com up full.'"
Scott, Richard G. Finding Peace, Happiness and Joy. Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, 2007

Which bucket are we? How do we see life? Pessimistically or optimistically? What is our perspective?

Budget

I don't mind budgeting. My difficulty is budgeting for food and gas. I never know how much I am going to eat and how far I am going to drive. I just can't seem to do it.

What color eyes are you really?

Your Inner Eye Color Is Blue

You've got the personality of a blue eyed women You're intense and expressive - and always on the go You've also got a sweet, playful side - which draws men in

What Color Eyed Woman Are You Really?

My Life Is Boring

I keep thinking about posts to post, but every time I get to the computer, I completely forget what I was going to say. And then I try to think about anything to post, and nothing comes to mind. My life is super boring. I am not working and my classes are internet classes. So I spend a lot of time at home. And because I am not working, I have a lot of time to work on my homework, which I then become perfectionist about because I have so much time to think about it. So hopefully I will do really well in my classes this term.
My school is on the quarter system, but I am having a hard time switching from saying semester to saying quarter. So mostly I say term, because it denotes all types of break downs of school time.
And since I am verging on the blabbing part of the day, I think I'll be done.

New bruises

Any of you who know me know that I bruise easily. So on Friday I went to have a TB test. This is necessary if you want to work in almost any school district. Oh yay. This is the only time I consent to having a needle stuck into me. Saturday, I went to a service project with some people from my ward, and one of the guys was like "oh, that red spot means its positive" Well, I looked at it and thought it looked a whole lot like a bruise. (As one who bruises easily, this I know) So I got it read today. Yup, negative. Yup, that's a bruise.
Probably won't be too keen on getting more needles stuck into me. Not if it means being bruised for four days afterward.

Wow

Just amazing. Except that when I watch it, I think its alive.

Loud Irish Music

This is what my roommate likes to listen to in the shower in the morning. I think if I woke up to that, I would be grumpy. Perhaps all day. I think there is a reason people listen to it when they are drunk.
Just a thought.

Thanksgiving

The good and the bad.

The good
-Carpooled up to UT. Saved a lot of money. Yay!
-Gas prices much lower
-Stayed with my favorite family, made bread, pumpkin bread, and waffles
-Did no homework. Maybe that should be in the other section
-Went dancing
-the Band gave us two cds
-My partner and I both won passes to come back
-Visited with a friend from high school I haven't really seen in 10 years. Her little boy is adorable!

The stressful
-My carpool buddy is not punctual. We left an hour late to go up. She also came two and half hours late to pick me up to go back. And we didn't leave until late the next day to come back.
-I stayed up way too late three days in a row
-I only had one real meal on Sunday

Note - not enough sleep and not enough food makes Treatqueen not happy. Scully knows I have to be fed regularly. Sadly, my carpool buddy did not know this. I tried hard not to let this get to me, but I was quite stressed because of lack of sleep and food today. Fortunately, I ate more today and am working on more sleep. Still, it was stressful.

Rejection

You never get used to it. It hurts every time.

Holidays

I'm sitting here at my computer, pretending to do all the homework that I was supposed to do this weekend, and it is becoming more and more apparent to me how stressed I am. When I was a kid, holidays were fun. As an adult, they are simply stressful. I think this year it has a lot to do with the fact that I am living on student loans, which I absolutely hate (I do NOT like being in debt) and I don't have the money to go home, and am trying to find ways to cut costs, which leads me to do things that throw my schedule off and then I get more stressed.
I have got to get some of my homework done, but I have several posts I have planned for when I have some time. More on everything later.