Room Temperature

There are days of my life when I feel as though things are kind of "just the same." Room temperature. Neither too hot, nor too cold. Like a shower or swimming pool that feels like...the air...so much so that you don't know you're even in water...just feels like air of a thicker consistency. Or something.

Like when friends I haven't seen in forever ask what's new in my life and I think "Job...not new, house...not new, calling...not new, scorpions...old news, boys...zero, children...still no" so I change the subject to talk about their 4th pregnancy or son getting baptized or something that seems a little more newsworthy. Yet nothing is bad...just everything is...the same. I realize I should be grateful that things are not horrible. I have all my appendages and a reasonably good job and amazing friends and family and car that treats me well and only a minor problem with potentially deadly insects. But still...for at least tonight it feels amazingly and disappointingly...tepid.

Quench, the Passion

I don't know when it began. I can't fathom the day it will end. It came on rather suddenly and will most likely be with me all my days. It's true, I am passionate about water bottles. Of course, not just any water bottles, there are certain specifications. (Please don't buy me any because I alone can determine if they meet the stringent specifications required to be accepted). They must be indestructable, they must hold 20-36 ounces...and they must be beautiful. This is my newest. I keep telling myself I will stop, but as this is a legal, harmless and fairly inexpensive addiction...it's likely that I may not stop just yet. I now have 7. Five Nalgenes, a camelback and my favorites...two cheapola "quench" Bed, Bath and Beyond wonders that are tall and narrow and easy for my small hands to grasp. They are by far my favorites. There was a semi-serious problem last week when I couldn't find my pink quench. Looked for it for a week. Turns out my roommate took it to work. Then she went on vacation. She now knows where I stand on sharing water bottles (at least those of the rare quench variety). But I did tell her I would buy her her own Nalgene. That seemed like a fair compromise.

Trying to Cut Back...

You know. I realized that 9 of 24 (or 37.5%) of my blog entries (now 10 of 25 or 40%) have been about or have at least mentioned scorpions. While that would probably be okay if this blog were an off-shoot of welovearachnids.com, I feel that my blog readership is down (judging by the number of comments left). So I must cut back on what I report about my pest problem. And so, I pledge to only report on scorpions when something major happens. For instance, if one of us gets stung and/or killed, or we discover a nest of 498... something along those lines. Please see my "scorpion count" ticker for up-to-date info on numbers. Personal requests for additional information and/or updates may be sent to this writer at her personal email address. If you don't have it, you are not allowed to ask. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

The Scorpion Has Left The Building

I realize that you were probably sick of hearing about scorpions by about #7. That doesn't change the fact that they are a daily part of my life.

Today, Natalie found #40. Unfortunately she found it at Delia's Cleaners in front of the girl who was about to dry clean her clothes. As Natalie handed the girl (who was on the phone) her clothes, the scorpion made its appearance. The girl screamed (the caller on the other end hung up). It's one thing to deal with them at home, it's another to start taking them places with us.

I have to give the Delia's girl credit though, after the whole ordeal (which ended when Natals killed the scorpion with a stapler), she still gave Nat a discount and told her she could be a VIP member for $9.99 "as long as you promise to shake the scorpions out of your clothes next time." I don't know that the lady who hung up will come back, but we sure will. Thanks Delia's.

Warning:

So. I just thought I'd "mix things up a bit with my blog" and look for a new template. Yeah, now it looks like a circus. It's 12:50 am and I have church in the morning. So...yeah, I'll get it fixed. Sigh. Shouldda just left it how it was.

Scorpions, Specks and Strawberries

Found 4 scorpions in 2 days. Now we have 10 in the cool whip container in the freezer, which reminds me...Taylor asked me to send him one. Need to ask Jeff and Kim if they're okay with their 8 year old having a scorpion. I figure that's gotta win some big "show and tell" points at school, right?

This week I've learned:
1-brush your teeth with your sonic mega turbo jet-powered toothbrush BEFORE putting on your black shirt...or half way to work you'll wonder "what the heck are all these white specks?!?!"
2-Saturday errands + 4 billion people + 113 degrees = Grouchy Jules
3-After two years in AZ, I STILL am not used to the water, therefore I think I can safely assume I will not ever like AZ water. Sick. Family and friends in Utah, be grateful.

My favorites this week: 1-strawberries from Fry's, 2-my pink water bottle, 3-Pumpkin Flax Crunch cereal (9 grams of fiber, folks), 4-three day weekend, 5-several great conversations with some of my favorite friends...

From Rand

For those who aren't prone to read the comments, you need to know of Rand's creativity. Nicely done, little brother. :)

"She is The Blogging Queen, not a Clogging Queen, older than seventeen
Blogging Queen, previewing her blog on her 17” screen.
She can type, she can comment, recounting the stories of her life
See that girl, counting scorpions, dig in the Blogging Queen!"

Rand's Song

"i'm never gonna blog again,
busy fingers, i've got no ti-me
though it's easy to pretend, i know you're not a fo-oool
should've known better than to lead you on
and make you think that i'd keep blogging
so I'm never gonna blog again...the way i blogged be-fo-oh-ore."

Just Stuff...

1. I love the gospel.
2. I love cloudy days in Arizona. I love rainy days even more. I love cold days the most. (Well, days between 60-70 degrees, I mean).
3. I have an amazing family.
4. I'm glad Lindsay didn't die in the freak ikea lamp/couch inferno. (Lindsay, you need a blog, that's a great story).
5. I guess I'm also grateful for 911. Now I see why I pay the service fee. In case my little sister is about to die in a couch fire.
6. I have great friends.
7. Only one scorpion in 16 days. That's something to celebrate.
8. My life is really pretty good.

ps...hey bon, recognize my new picture? ;)

A Good Education

so. i work with kids. lots of them. sometimes they have little pearls of wisdom for me. here is a random sampling of a few of my favorites:

• "last one there is a ROCKIN' egg"
• "you should only call 911 like if your mom dies or your house gets robberized"
• "i think i should eat more potato skins because i'm forgetting everything these days"
• "i didn't see a video, it was a MOVIE!!!"
• "duh, dynamite is out, bombs are now"
• upon pointing to a headstone i drew and asking what it represented, a client answered "rest in pieces!!"

P.S. you may notice that my scorpion count has not been updated for 14 days. this is not because i have gotten lazy. we have been scorpion-free for 2 weeks. either the new weatherstripping on the doors or the rain is the cause for this great thing in my life. either way, hallelujah!