WALL-E and BBs

Today started out so great..slept in with Taylor, ate some yummy french toast for breakfast, watched a beautiful rainstorm, and then saw WALL-E with Rosie, Taylor, Mike, and Erin. As we walked out to the car after the flick, I noticed seven bullet holes in the side of Taylor's Civic!!!

I just came back inside from talking to a police officer who took the police report. A few silver BBs were in the cracks of the asphalt at our apartment, so it didn't happen in the parking lot of the theater. The officer said that two other people had filed reports in our neighborhood for BB vandalism. I guess that I didn't notice the holes in the car when we left for the theater because the car was still covered in rain from the storm.

This is the third incident with Taylor's "new" Civic since he bought it in March. First was the drivers side rear fender, then it was the rear bumper....both hit-and-runs in the airport parking lot. Now BB's at our apartment?

At least WALL-E was wonderful. I totally loved it and suggest you see it.

Summertime Slump

I've been feeling like I've been in a summertime slump lately. I consistently feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and guilty for not keeping up on my normal obligations. My sleep has been horrible, feeling less rested after 9 hours sleep than when I first got into bed. I even tried using my CPAP machine again (for indefinitely diagnosed sleep apnea) but ended up with a horrible swollen and pus-filled boil on the bridge of my nose. I have been eating more healthily and exercising more consistently, usually 2-4 times a week. I've even lost 12 of the 25 pounds I gained since moving to Michigan. But I don't feel healthy.

I miss having a large network of friends to make plans with on the weekends. The few friends we do have here usually decline our invitations. My next door neighbor and I have become friends, but she's moving across Plymouth next weekend, so I'm going to lose the only person who feels comfortable dropping in and spending time with no notice. I'm so spent by the time I get home from work that I'm probably not much fun to be around. Having an anorexic bank account is tough too.

So, faithful blog readers...what can I do to get out of this slump?

iPod H-M

H: Haley Bennett, Harry Connick Jr, Harry Nilsson, Hawthorne Heights, Hi-Five, Hinder, The Hollies, Holly Brook, Hoobastank, Hootie and the Blowfish, Howard Jones, Howie Day, Huey Lewis and the News, Hugh Grant

I: Icicle Works, Imogen Heap, Incubus, INXS, Indigo Girls, Ingrid Michaelson, Iron & Wine, Ivy

J: Jack Johnson, Jeckie DeShannon, Jackson Browne, James Blunt, James Brown, James Taylor, James and Morgan Garrett, Jamie Cullum, Jane Birkin, Janet Jackson, Jann Arden, Jason Mraz, Jefferson Airplane, Jem, Jericho Road, Jet, The Jets, Jewel, Jim Brickman, Jim Croce, Jim Sturgess, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Joe Cocker, Joe Jackson, John Legend, John Lennon, John Mayer, Johnny Cash, Jon Schmidt, Jordin Sparks, Josh Groban, Josh Kelley, Joshua Radin, Journey, Julie De Azevedo, Justin Timberlake

K: Kaiser Chiefs, Kajagoogoo, Kanye West, Kate Earl, Kate Voegele, Katharine McPhee, K-Ci and Jo-Jo, Keane, Kelly Clarkson, Kenneth Cope, Kermit the Frog, The Killers, Kimya Dawson, Kings of Convenience, The Kinks, Kirby Heyborne, Kiss, Kristen Chenoweth, KT Tunstall, Kurt Bestor

L: The La's, Leann Rimes, Led Zeppelin, Lenny Kravitz, Les Miserables Soundtrack, Lesley Gore, Level 42, Lex De Azevedo, LFO, Lifehouse, Linkin Park, Lionel Richie, Lisa Loeb, Lit, Live, Louis Armstrong, Lulu, Lynyrd Skynyrd

M: Madonna, Mana, Marc Broussard, Mariah Carey, Maroon 5, Martina McBride, Marvin Gaye, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Mary J Blige, Matchbox Twenty, Mat Kearney, Matt Nathanson, Meatloaf, Mel Torme, Metallica, Michael Buble, Michael Jackson, Michael McLean, Michelle Branch, The Mindbenders, Missy Higgins, Moby, Modest Mouse, Monica, Monkees, Moody Blues, MooseButter, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, The Motels, The Muppets, Muse

I just don't really know what to say...

With news like this ...it's hard to be optimistic about the future of my husband's career. I have no idea if my husband will be out of a job by the time the NWA/Delta merger happens. But with all the regionals that have gone under in the last two months, it doesn't look good for Pinnacle.

Otherwise, life's been kinda tough lately. Work stress is high, financial stress is high, and my health is hit-and-miss. Rosie's done with first grade on Friday, I'll be done with my semester officially within the next few days, and Taylor's been in SLC helping my parents move downtown this week. I'm trying to take joy in the little things. The new Coldplay album is fabulous, my air conditioner works, and I ate a really, really good orange yesterday. Michigan is beautiful and green, and I try to enjoy it as much as I can handle the humidity. We've had some breathtaking thunderstorms this week, and we've luckily not had to deal with flooding and power outages as other neighboring areas have. Lately I've been thinking about some quotes from Gordon B Hinckley:

"Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

"My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we 'accentuate the positive.' I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment and endorse virtue and effort."

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us,...if we put our trust in Him, if we pray to Him, if we live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

A little cost comparison

I typically fill up my 16 gallon gas tank every two weeks. My commute is 19 miles each way, and my Camry averages around 27 miles per gallon. Here's a comparison of my last few fill-ups:

4/16 $3.48/gal = $55.19 (15.8 gal)
5/1 $3.59/gal = $56.88 (15.8 gal)
5/15 $3.95/gal = $65.01 (16.4 gal)
6/2 $3.98/gal = $62.44 (15.6 gal)

I luckily timed my fill-ups well, because I missed the weekend where gas was consistently $4.08 - $4.19 per gallon. Waiting just a few extra days saved me up to $6 on one tank.

I get nostalgic thinking about the time I bought gas at the Willard Flying J in 1998 for $.79 per gallon, and I filled up my gas tank for less than $8 on my way up to Rexburg. Those were the days...