locks for love

After cuddling with this bug at the Temple Visitor's Center while Kristen and Steven were at her brother's sealing, I ran a couple errands then went and picked up Mom so we could then go pick up Julia at the airport.  While we were driving back home I mentioned that I had made the decision that I wanted to cut my hair and donate it to Locks for Love.  I asked Mom if she would feel comfortable doing it.  She said no.  But then said, "I have a free haircut at Fantastic Sam's, we could go right now and do it!"  So I did!

i survived

paper cut poisoning

Pretty sure I'm going to die this weekend. 

I made a bad decision to get nachos last night at the movie theatre when Katy and I went to see "Rise of the Guardians" (which, BTW is a really cute movie!) and I'm still feeling the affects.  It was a rough night. 

I got a REALLY bad cardboard paper cut on my left middle finger that KILLS.  Yes, paper cut poisoning is a real thing.  I decided. 

On Sunday I am playing my flute as part of a flute ensemble for a special Christmas musical number, accompanying someone else who is singing in church, AND teaching Relief Society.  Why did I say yes when they asked me??

If I make it to Moday, it will be a miracle!

fox in socks

Here's something you may not know about me:  I HATE buying ridiculous, necessary things.  Like socks.  And underwear.  I think it's stupid.  When I'm President, I'm going to make socks and underwear free and they will magically appear in a box at your front door when you need new ones.

However, I'm not the President.

And I've put off buying new socks far too long.

So, I did what I hate and bought some new socks today.

couching

I learned a new sewing skill last night.  Couching.  I've been cross stitching for almost as long as I can remember and I've never done a design that called for couching.  In fact, I had to Google what it was.  After reading the instructions, this was the result:

Couching is what it took to do the little curly q's.  I think they turned out pretty good for my first try, if I do say so myself!

Here's the finished project:

Pretty awesome, huh?  :)

a christmas miracle

Last week I got a text from the library letting me know that an audiobook I had requested was in and ready for pick-up.  Two seconds later I got another text from the library telling me there was a fine due on my account which caused my blood pressure to spike and me to have a heart attack.

Why was there a fine due on my account?!?!  I don't destroy library books!  I'm a very responsible person and always make sure to take care of everything that isn't mine.  I return them WAY before they're due so there's never any problem!  I don't understand!!

So, I promptly got online and logged into my library account.  Low and behold, there was a fine on my account.  For $129.00!!

That was when I died.

There was no information as to why there was suddenly a fine for $129 on my account when the last time I even checked out a book was over a month ago!  The only thing that was listed was the book that the fine was in reference to.  Turns out, I remember the book.  It was an audiobook and it was stupid.  I only listened to two or three CDs before stopping.  I never finished it.  So now I was thinking, "Great!  It was probably a CD at the end that was missing from the previous person who checked it out and because it was too stupid to finish I didn't realize it and now I'm stuck with the fine for replacing the stupid thing!"

I seethed and stewed for a while at my desk.

But then I remembered that I had made a promise to myself to try and be more aware of service opportunities this month when they came my way in order to help spread the Christmas Spirit.  I had money in my checking account to cover the fine and maybe the person who checked it out before me wouldn't have the money, so this was going to be my Christmas gift to them and the library.

Sigh.

So, I went in today to pick up my books on hold and pay my fine.  When I got up to the counter I asked, what the fine was in reference to.  The librarian told me it was because a CD was missing.  She then went and got the audiobook and brought it up to the counter.  As she was going through it she was counting, "Disc 1, disc 2, disc 3, and here it's missing disc 4."  She went to turn the sleeve to continue counting but I stopped her.

There WAS a disc in the disc 4 spot, it was just turned around so the back was showing instead of the front.  I pulled it out, flipped it over and said, "Here's disc 4 right here."  

.....

"Oh, I'm sorry."  She says.  "They obviously didn't go through this very carefully.  Let's get that taken care of."

SIGH OF RELIEF!  I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THE FINE!!  IT WAS A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!!

My day went from this:

To this:

In a heartbeat and suddenly everything was right with the world once more!!  It was a VERY tender mercy from the Lord because, although I DO have the money to pay the fine, there are more important things (like my credit card debt) that I need to be using every spare penny I have towards.

my favorite word