Common Cents

Inspiration has struck! My other half and I had been doing our thing to lose weight this year (I know, typical New Year's Resolution.) He's training for a half-marathon. I'm training for... life in a smaller body. I'm pretty sure I'm ready for that.

Anyway, the first month, he lost 10 pounds. I lost 2, but managed to find them in a I-hate-that-he-can-lose-weight-and-I-can't eating-fest weekend. Nevermind that he was running, swimming, biking, and cutting out refined sugars. I was thoroughly depressed about the whole thing. And then it hit me. A great idea to keep me honest and actually working at being healthy. This is it:

We each get a jar to our name (or initial, as you see). There's $20 in dimes and nickels to split. Every day, we get a dime for each healthy activity: no sweets, 30 minutes of exercise, and 5 fruits and vegetables a day. That's a possible 30 cents a day, with the option to earn another nickel for every 15 extra minutes of exercise. If we don't do the fruits and veg or exercise we don't get a dime. But if we eat sweets, we have to take a dime from our jar and add it to the other person's. When all the loose change is gone, whoever has the most, wins the cash / or the better prize.

I'm already pretty sure he's going to win. But I figure if this actually helps me to get in shape, I've won that much anyway! So far it sure helps me think twice about sneaking that cookie if I lose a hard-earned dime for it! Yay for inspiration! And for progress!

Are you calling me a liar?

Last month a representative from the FBI or something like that came to my house to do a background check on my neighbor.  At the beginning of the interview Mr Agent asked me some basic, identifier questions.


What is your name?
How long have you lived here?
What is your quest?
(He didn't ask about a quest.)
What is your occupation?
May we contact you about this interview in the future?
Blah, blah, blah.

I learned that when you tell the FBI your occupation is "being awesome" they will look at you, pause, and ask, "So ... housewife?"

I should have stuck to my description.  I like it much more.

Right on schedule.

I just, moments ago, found out what it means to be Rickrolled. 

Sure, it came about in 2008 but it's only 2012.  I have been even later to the meme party before.

I'm counting this as a win.

Gone Goldfishin'

Yesterday the husband was looking at the nutritional facts and ingredients for Goldfish. One of the ingredients listed is smiles. I think that's really cute.

"Wow, it's 55 fishes to make a serving," he noted. "Oh, and they have three grams of protein. ... That must come from the smiles."

Now that paints an interesting mental picture.

Picture lovingly borrowed from here.

We should have seen this coming.

I read on Time.com that the state Department of Education for Indiana has said teaching cursive is no longer required. So schools in Indiana can decide if they would like to teach cursive. I haven't written in cursive since I passed notes in 7th grade. After that it was print or nothing. Even my signature is mostly print.

The article states that while leaving cursive instruction at the door students 'will be expected to become proficient in keyboard use.' By that I assume they mean typing. Although it does conjure up an interesting image of a fourth-grader using a keyboard as a paddle while canoeing up the Mississippi.

Yeah, probably they mean typing.

What do you picture a keyboard being used as?




Cursive image borrowed from here.

If only I had a vintage Coke to drink along with these snacks.

These were packed away in a box of books and odds and ends. I don't know why these got boxed up. But now we know that Handi-Snacks are not a good long-term food storage item. .

And nnnnnow we know.

Formerly a Soda

On May 10, 1996 the Olympic torch came through Utah on its way to Atlanta, GA for the summer Olympics. Around that day Coca Cola went to my high school and gave out bottles of Coke. In high school I didn't drink soda at all, especially Coke. But I took one anyhow. I think I was hoping I was capturing a piece of history.

Fast forward to last weekend. In a box in a garage I found I still had this bottle. Have you ever wondered what a nearly fifteen-year-old soda looks like? Behold:


I opened it and took a whiff. Anyone want to guess what it smelled like?

It smelled just like Pepsi.

Today we learned where Pepsi comes from. You are welcome.

I'm Still Here

No, this is not a review of crazy Joaquin Phoenix's new flick.

Just letting you, our fan, know that the shrinking betties are still here. Not shrinking as much as we'd like, but still two "betties", that's for sure!

So... like you (I know you're like this because you're reading our blog), I was perusing random blogs and found what I am deeming

The Worst Kid Name Ideas of today

These are real names that "real" people gave to their kids. Either that, or for protection of their privacy, these are the aliases of real kids that parents are posting on their public blogs.

1. Avri
   (I'm assuming this is supposed to be Avery, though it just looks like Avril forgot the L.)
2. Logyn
   (The mother was inspired with this name while waiting for her ObGYN.)
3. Maddax
   (Let's keep the family united and make sure even Maddox's name can't be spelled right by anyone outside the family.)
4. Kamber
   (Now, see, this is clever because it's like Amber, but with a K. You could do the same with any other letter! Mamber, Bamber... Banana Fana Fo Famber...)
5. Teancum
   (I'm not going to make fun of this name. I cannot say the same for his peers... But I consider him a awesome Book of Mormon hero and an altogether amazing man! ... But how do you say it? Te-an-cum? Tean-cum? Better refer people to the Pronunciation Guide... Great idea on how to share the Book of Mormon!!)
6. Tillman
   (The boy was given this name because... A. His dad is a big football fan and reveres Pat Tillman., B. Someone in their family once had this as their surname... because that's what it is - a last name., or C. His occupation as a farmer was predestined. Till, man. You just can't fight that.)

Now, if any of these names happen to be your kids' names, or your own name -- I'm sorry. Did the parents not consider these kinds of things beforehand? Clearly, no. And for that, we will all be sorry.

What I learned today

There is no 5:45 bus. The first bus of the morning is 6:15.

Also, it's dark at 5:45.

Three apples high and on the FBI's most wanted list?

I finally have a job! I'm working through Kelly Temp Services at the Mayo Clinic. So I was sans employment for a couple of months. I don't know anyone here so I was home alone a lot. A lot. I'm worried I'm losing my funny. I made what I thought to be a hilarious joke and it wasn't well received. Please let me know what you think.

Jeremy and I were over at Steve's place. Steve told us how he'd been shooting at the shooting range. The conversation moved to how accurate army snipers have to be. Apparently they have to be able to keep their shooting cluster to the size of a grapefruit at 800 yards. FBI snipers have to keep their shooting cluster to the size of an egg at 800 yards.

"Who are we assassinating that is that small? The Smurfs??" I was so excited I'd thought of this joke it was all I could do to stop it from tumbling out in the wrong order. I sat back to greet the roaring laughter I deserved.

Instead Steve looked at me for a moment and then started explaining why it was necessary. Where was Jeremy in all this? He claims he thought it was funny but was laughing on the inside.

The lesson from this? My friends think I'm funny. People who I don't talk around think I'm stupid. I should talk more. Or not at all.

And I think that the Smurfs already have enough trouble with Gargamel and Azrael without the FBI getting on their case.

Candice is a genius and other observations

Yesterday I learned after browning meat for tacos to add salsa and let it simmer for a bit. Makes for delicious tacos. Candice did this last night. Taco night at the Jorgensens' is highly recomended.

I have to draw the line somewhere.

When going to the temple it's slightly ok to wear fishnets. It's not ok to wear fishnets with a seam. So be sure to pay attention when you get dressed.

What I learned today.

It is a bad idea to butter toast in the dark.