Just a few haiku(s)

One-oh-one outside
Sweating, melting, really hot
How can you be COLD?!    

Swishing tails of koi
Turtles protecting the pond
Tranquil atmosphere

I don't mean to nag
I just think you need a break
Please, listen to me

I know what you want
Don't you put your mouth on me
Get lost, mosquito!

What 2015 Taught Me

I'm not going to make a list this year, mostly because no one reads blogs anymore. Why bother, then?  (Cue Tevye)...

TRADITION!!!

Anyway, the most important lesson I learned in 2015 was to ALWAYS do what is right! There were a lot of terrible events in 2015. It would have been only natural to think,"Why bother? The world is bleeped." Many people DO have that view. I, however, learned that it doesn't make life any easier to think that way.

Don't get me wrong... I haven't turned into an annoying, sunny optimist. I just simply believe, come rain or shine,  feast or famine, you must always do what is right. A bit of bad luck or a bad day isn't a free pass against being a good person. Bad things happen... it's called LIFE!!! Don't DWELL on the past; LEARN from it. Quit moping in your room like a baby and go do something worthwhile!!!

Long story short, that is what 2015 taught me.

Happy New Year!

What 2014 Taught Me

Here we go again...

-It feels good to be handed a diploma after years and years of schooling.

-I agree with Tiana... hard work is worth it.

-It shouldn't be, "Forgive and forget" but rather, "Forgive, don't dwell, and stay away from those who treat you bad. They wouldn't be jerks if they really cared."

-The lessons you learn while you're young really should stay with you for the rest of your life.

-A good attitude really says a lot.

-Loyalty is a trait I greatly admire.

-If I ever have kids, I'm going to do my best to keep them from having a, " ME, ME,ME," attitude.

-Some people just don't handle stress very well. It's hard to watch.

-I've come to enjoy peace and quiet.

-It doesn't help to light your fire with revenge.

-Cynicism breeds contempt.

And finally...

Turning 30 isn't that big of a deal.

What 2013 Taught Me

Whew... what a year that was!  It's amazing all the stuff that went down around the world, not to

mention in my own life.  I certainly wouldn't want a repeat, and it is my sincerest wish that 2014

will be a lot better.  Anyway, what I learned, in no particular order...


* "Monk" is an awesome show and I wish I would have watched it sooner.

* Although I've been there before, I still find the Tuacahn Amphitheater in St. George incredible!

* If you're truly, truly unhappy at your job, you are a complete idiot if you don't find a new one.

* Once you get a new job where you feel appreciated, you know you're actually accomplishing something, the manager(s) give good feedback, and they actually know what they're doing, you'll hit a level of job satisfaction that could never be reached had you worked in retail another 30 years!

* I really like my new job (in case you couldn't tell) and I feel so blessed that I have it!

* It is fun to "dress up" for work.

* It really is quite important to listen to your body.  If something's wrong, then you need to get it looked at A.S.A.P!!!

* You really shouldn't compare your accomplishments (or lack thereof) with other people your age. 

* People share waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy too much stuff online... especially Facebook.

* I totally do NOT understand the point of "Snap-chatting".

* I need to listen more to that, "Still, small voice". 

* Even though I don't have any, I am worried about what the world will be like for my children.  Actually, it really freaks me out.

* It is sad that with certain topics I am not allowed to say what I REALLY think, because all hell would break loose... even though others can say stuff without retribution.

* Okay... I guess there's nothing preventing me from saying that stuff, but I just don't WANT all hell to break loose. 

* If you play "Words With Friends" with a former English teacher, she will totally cream your corn!

* I now understand the saying, "Youth is wasted on the young".

* It really doesn't do anyone any good to DWELL!

* I am glad that I have my Faith.  It is important to me.

* It feels so nice to hold a diploma in your hand... even if it's only an Associates. 

* Someone who is really boring can also be really nice.

* It is incredibly awesome when someone encourages and helps you to succeed.

And finally...

* There really is a purpose behind the "bad things" that happen.  Even if you don't find out right away, there is always some lesson, experience, or outcome that, in the end, only makes things better.  I know that He in charge of all things.  Things do not happen by "accident".  Proverbs 3:5-6 sums it up nicely. 

Happy 2014!!!

P.S. I really don't care if you're offended that I mentioned my Faith.  It's my blog, so I can say what I want.  I also don't care that I don't care.  :)

What 2012 Taught Me

Holy crap! It is time for me to write another one of these?!! Whoa...

I saw a lot of change in 2012: births, deaths, engagements, weddings, break ups, hellos, goodbyes, "you suck!"s, and so on. I don't always handle change in the best way. I like to stay in my little nest, even if it was woven out of misery. I know that's no way to live, and 2012 didn't let me forget it.

* Math is still hard... REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HARD!

* It isn't always a "triumphant" feeling when you pass a hard class. I think it is the same reason you see tired looking marathon winners.

* I like art museums. It's hard to explain the experience of seeing a real life Van Gough, Monet, or Picasso.

* I guess it is the new "norm" for men to stay in the hospital right alongside their wives after giving birth. (No offense, but I find that very bizarre. There's no sense BOTH of you coming home sore, cranky, and utterly exhausted.)

* It is never too late to apologize, but it is apparently too late to be forgiven.

* Movies based on books are rarely good... The Hunger Games is definitely an exception to this rule!

* I would not call being stranded in the St. Louis airport for five hours, "Good Times".

* If you make under $10 an hour, it is less likely that your boss will give any sort of crap about you.

* In this economy, bosses rarely give a crap about anyone.

* People feel the need to get on a plane ASAP just so they can be the first one to sit and wait for 45 mins before take off.

* I really think we're going to be screwed for the next four years.

* I would REALLY like to be proven wrong on that.

* I think your kid is cute and it is good that you have one, but as a "non-mom" I don't really care about the details.

* I'd like to travel to more big cities.

* Heck, I'd like to travel more in general.

* I need to write more.

* I need to write better.

* If you're going to run out on your kids then at least have the decency to leave them ALL behind, rather than saying, "I'll take you two, but I don't want you three."

* When it comes to reacting around someone with memory loss people tend to think, "I don't want to offend or confuse him, so I'll just stay away." They do not realize that doing such only offends and confuses him further.

* I find it offensive to be too politically correct.

* I hate conspiracy theories.

* I hate feminists.

* I hate wimpy women who NEED to be "taken care of".

* I REALLY hate women who dress up as "sexy little girls". BLECH!

* A lot of innocent children were horribly murdered this year. I am not okay with that!!!

* Taking away alcohol didn't stop prohibition. Taking away guns will not stop tragic murders.

* You shouldn't feel bad for pulling yourself out of the mud when you've done everything you could to get someone to join you.

* It is never, ever, ever a good idea to think, "I will never be as sad/lonely/hurt/ as I am right now."

* It can be a good thing to reconnect with someone from your past.

And finally...

* It is not that people DON'T change, it is that people WON'T change.