heat strike

The Friday evening before graduation my clothes dryer went out. Last Friday evening our hot water heater went out. I can hardly wait until next Friday evening. At this rate, maybe I'll be getting a new stove?! Mr. B has a sudden dislike for Fridays. Ah, when it rains it pours.

consumer affairs

Last Friday night my clothes dryer went out. So after graduation on Saturday Mr. B and I went out to Sears to purchase a new one. We made our selection and prepared to pay and the conversation went something like this:

Did you want to purchase the 5-year extended warranty for $69.95?

No thank you.

Are you sure ma’am? That $69.95 is cheaper than a service call.

Well hopefully I won’t need a service call.

Five years is a long time, are you sure ma’am?

For an appliance, or at least one that is of good quality, five years isn’t very long.

OK, ma’am, so that’ll be it for ya’? Your total is blah, blah, blah.

Oh, would you like the electric cord that goes with it?

What? Seriously? That is sold separately?

Yes ma’am.

So Mr. B put the old cord on the new dryer. Seriously. Isn’t that like selling shoes without shoestrings?
What is this world coming to?

kind(red)

Isn't it true that there is a time and place for everything? There have been times when I wished I had gone to college at the age I was supposed to...and then I remind myself that raising babies was far more important, and now I also realize I would never have appreciated earning an education then like I do now. Somewhere along the way I gained an observant eye that allowed me to see the potential for goodness in everything. I am filled with wonder and awe at the precious and glorious gift God has instilled in all things. Now that graduation is over, I know it is only a shifting of gears...a move toward higher ground. With all this crazy English stuff etched into my brain, I can focus on kids, students, the future. They are, after all, the purpose for all of those late nights and bazillions of drafts written and rewritten. I'm excited. I have my degree and I have been accepted into the teaching credential program. This weekend was a nice way to cap off those achievements. Erik came home and we were able to spend some time together. Both of the kids came to my graduation and I am proud of them for sitting through the entire event with minimal grumbling afterward. It was very long. The gift of their time just means so much to me. On Friday I was surprised by the UPS man (literally) as he walked up behind me and I didn't hear him. Lucky for him I have quick reflexes and didn't douse him with the garden hose! He laughed and handed me a box...a gift. Kimberly was so sweet to send me an adorable little Willow Tree figurine "Love of Learning" and a cute little Hallmark Red book "Be Inspi(red)" filled with words of hope and courage. She knows how I love "words" but what she doesn't know is that I had recently been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and their motto is "Let the love of learning rule humanity" and that these words had niched a special place in my heart. I love the idea of the love of learning ruling humanity. If everyone were filled with the wonder and awe of discovery, surely only good things would come from that. So thank you Kim and thank you to everyone who has sent me cards, e-cards, and gifted me with thoughtful words of encouragement. You have all shared in the moment and I just love knowing people I have never met can be so kind and loving....we could even transpose those words to say "Let the learning of love rule humanity." I like that. If only all the world could be like my sweet blogging friends!

Toms Shoes

I'm so excited! I ordered a pair of Toms Shoes and I already know what you are thinking...they are, uh,......different. Yes, they are and I will wear them when the nature girl side of me is wanting to come out and of course if you watch the video, you will understand their attraction.
*warning* turn off my music at the bottom of my blog, so you can hear what they are saying on the video.