Life

I saw a sign that said "there is no place lie Nebraska" and all I thought was: THANK GOODNESS.

Last week driving around Nebraska, rather boring. I find it funny that the 2 largest cities in this town are on the borders- an hour further you would be in another state.
But, I have also realized that Lincoln is not the worst place to live.
No, certainly not.

Also, I love what my husband does. It let us be outside- it makes us be active- it gives us a lifestyle we want. And I love it.
It causes us to always learn and be aware, and to meet the most interesting people.
And that just makes it all worth it.

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I didn't fail, I just wasn't successful.

Tonight Temple Grandin spoke at UNL.
We were pretty excited, and had been planning on attending for a few weeks- well before Christmas.
We even got there 30 minutes early, had a bag full of treats and toys for Sariah, had her in her pj's, and we even had dinner before we left- not rushing. Oh ya, we were PRE-PARED.

Except for the fact that UNL is an Ag-based school, and so we were not quite ready for the crowd of people that were there. Or the fact that there were no open seats by the time we got there. I mean, they had overflow seats. But then we found out that they were broadcasting it online. And heck, if we are gonna watch her speak on a TV anyways, we would much rather do it from the comfort of our toddler-friendly home.

BUT I was able to go all paparazzi and grab some horrible iphone pictures of her.
We even probably breathed the same air as her. Cool, huh?

By the way, this is Temple Grandin.

 

 

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She is an amazing women. In a nutshell: She was the first women animal behaviorist, revolutionized the meat industry as we know it, and has a PhD in animal science. By the way, she was diagnosed with brain damage and is considered autistic, although has accomplished HUGE milestones in her life and is a big autistic activist.

HBO did a great movie about her. Beyond this, she has personally been published many times- and is part of the BIG reason why I am A-OK eating a nice big steak for dinner tonight. At least that cow died happy, thanks to her.

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Anyways, it isn't always about the fact that you didn't succeed.
It's more about the idea that you get to try again.

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Living is fun.

Joe had to go be all "AG guy" and fertilize one of his research fields.

So, I made dinner for him before his left- ya, I am THAT good. 

I even had in ready before he expected- because, again, I am-that-good. 

But, I was trying to put Sariah down for a nap when Joe started to eat, so I was unaware of exactly what he was doing.

When I did come out to join him, I immediately asked how dinner was (I was, after all, pretty proud of it. Joe specifically asked for biscuits- and I made these 7-up Biscuits. They are a win).

Joe: It's great. I really like the biscuits (as I knew he would). What is on the apples?

Mary: *Shocked* Apples? (You see, I had also tried to make the house smell all season-y by boiling apples and cinnamon. On the stove. Next to everything else. TOTALLY not a good idea. Didn't work anyways- Steak/potatoes/biscuits is a bit of an overwhelming smell).

Then I started to laugh. And I told him how I was using them for scents, not to eat.

Joe: Oh, good. I was thinking, 'wow- she really is getting into this Pinterest stuff. Left the stem on and everything!"

True- it WAS a pinterest recipe. Just not for your stomach. 

Also, Sariah got her hand stuck in a box today.

Twice.

Same box.

Within a minute span.

Now, in her defense- it was one of those filling boxes, with the hand carriers, and there was really cool stuff in the box- like envelopes that are important to mommy. So, why not risk getting your hand stuck to terrorize the box's contents?

Also, Also, A while ago (like 1 1/2 years), when I was a T.A., I was grading papers one night. Not my favorite task, but something that must be done! I was reading out loud when I suddenly stopped and and re-read a sentence a few times, causing Joe to ask me what I was doing.

"The sentence- it say's, "In the movie, all the pheasants of the village would beg for money...", It doesn't make sense."

Then it hit me- PEASANTS! The kid meant peasants! And all throughout the essay, the kid said PHEASANTS. (Multiple times too- must have been auto correct all or something...). But, with the help of Joe's suggestion, I kindly informed the kid of his mistake each time by stating in the margins, "That's a bird", "Still a bird", "Bird", "Still has wings", "Not a person". And so forth. You get the picture, right? 

I couldn't stop laughing. Or trying to be sarcastic.

I feel bad, of course. 

But what could I have done? 

IGNORED it, been kind, and corrected him once?

No, that is for a teacher. Not a T.A. 

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