After Two and a Half Years of Living Here...

...I finally figured out that if I close the blinds the OTHER WAY, I won't wake up to the morning sun shining in my eyes.

I Think I Can?

This past week, Bon and I have found ourselves eating a lot of foods from cans - soups, stews, Chef Boyardee, Home Style Bakes (I particularly recommend the Chicken and Biscuits). No big deal, except that our can-opener is broken. You'd think we'd remember this every time we reach for a canned meal - but, no - we just begin to open the can with the opener and realize that we made a mistake.

Why is our can-opener broken? (and just to clarify, I'm talking about a manual, hand-operated one - not an electric one) Because of me. Ever since I was little, I've always struggled with opening cans with a can-opener. I think it's because I'm left handed; I don't know why that would affect things, but it just does. (side note: I can only operate "left-handed" scissors with my right hand - they won't cut the paper if I try with my left hand. weird.)

Anyway, somehow our can-opener has gone completely defunkt. Opening cans has now become a two person job. It's quite a scene to witness when we need to open a can: we attach the opener to the can as usual, then Bon uses one hand to tightly hold the two handles together so the sharp blade part will actually reach the can top to cut it, he uses his other hand to rotate the can, one of my hands does the same, while my other hand cranks the handle in the opposite direction as specified on the opener. Our arms are all twisted around each others' and we have to stop and restart frequently to readjust the opener.

It's quite the ordeal and very hilarious to watch, I'm sure.

"We're just a two-man novelty band"

So a couple of months ago (when we still had money to spend somewhat freely), Bon and I purchased tickets to see Flight of the Conchords. It was last night, and it was awesome.

For those of you who aren't familiar with them, let me introduce you:
"Flight of the Conchords is a Grammy Award-winning New Zealand comedy duo composed of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. Billing themselves as "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo accapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo", the group uses a combination of witty observation, characterisation and acoustic folk guitars. The duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an American television series, which premiered in 2007, also called Flight of the Conchords." (source: Wikipedia)

We've watched the first season of their HBO show (season 2 is on now, but we don't have HBO, so we'll have to wait for it to come out on dvd) and have their cd. Both are hysterical. The two guys are so clever and funny!

Anyhoo, the live show was just as awesome! It was basically just the two of them - sitting on stools with their guitars, surrounded by some synthesizers and keyboards - fiddling on their intstruments and playing songs. It wasn't stand-up comedy or a full-out concert; it was a beautiful blend. After a song or two, they'd take a break and just go back and forth with some pithy banter (although, the crowd was obnoxious and would keep yelling out - stupid drunk people who think it's a one-on-one conversation between them and the preformers) and then go back to their songs. I think what I liked best about it was that, even though we were the second-to-last row in the whole place, it still felt like they were there just to hang out and have fun. A couple of times, Bret forgot his lines in the middle of a song and Jemaine would tease him and get him started back up - no pressure, just two guys having fun.

Anyway, Bon and I loved it! We were cracking up the whole time. On our way back out to our car, we saw a queue of people gathered outside of the tour buses out back - so we went and joined them. We stood out there for about an hour, waiting for Bret and Jemaine, but they had already escaped out a different door. Alas. But it was still a super fun night!

I'm including two videos - one is from their tv show and the other is from one of their live preformances (they did this one at our concert last night - it's kind of long, but it's worth it).

This is not the post I had intended to write...

The post I had intended to write was going to be humorous. But about an hour ago, I got some news that knocked the wind out of me and wiped all humor from my mind. Bon's hours at work just got cut down to 20 a week.

I really don't know what to do. I'm just stunned. For the past 9 months, Bon's been working 32 hours a week and fitting classes in around it. This is his last week of classes for the school year and then he was going to be going back to a full 40 hour work week. Even though it wouldn't cover all the bills, we were anxious for the extra money. If we would still be short on money with 40 hours a week, how will we survive with just 20??

And poor Bon has been trying so hard ot balance school and work, and now that he can focus on just one thing, they cut his hours. And he's been working there for almost four years now (and doing an amazing job!) and his co-worker who has only been there for two years, didn't get a single hour cut!! And Bon's boss KNOWS that I lost my job! Why would they be so unfair to him after all he's done for them?

I've been looking for a job, but no luck yet. Bon and I had even started to talk about me possibly going back to school (and still working, of course). Well, this totally ruins that. It breaks my heart.

Why? Why is everything falling apart all at once?

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

On this Mother's Day, I am compelled to use my blogging powers to broadcast my love for my dear mom. She was the best mom for me - patient, gentle, patient, "lady-like", and patient - she was exactly what was needed to balance out everything I wasn't. I'm so grateful to her for everything she did (and continues to do) for me.

A month or so ago, she was the featured recipient of her ward's Relief Society "Friendship Basket". The lady presenting it to my mom did some reconnaissince work and emailed me some questions about my mom. Here are just two of the questions and my answers for them:

Your fondest memory of her as a mom?
(Two things)
My mom would read to me. We would sit on the couch, in my bedroom, or out on the patio swing and she would read books to me for hours while I would sit and draw. We read The Secret Garden, all the Anne of Green Gables books, all of the Little House on the Prairie books, and all of the American Girl books (well, all the ones that were out at that point - now they have like 20 more girls!) - before I was even 10 years old.

Also, my dad would travel a lot for his job when I was little. At least one night per absence, my mom and I would snuggle up on the hide-away bed from our couch, order Pizza Hut pizza, drink orange pop, and watch either Pollyana or The Parent Trap (the Hayley Mills version).

Anything else to share?
My mom is the sweetest, kindest, most patient person I know. She has set such an example ot me of how a "lady" should act. She's always put herself second to those around her. Most importantly, my mom has been the best mother - and best FRIEND - that I could ever imagine. She's been patient with me when I was more than aggravating and immature; she's listened to all of my heartache about school, boys, friends, boys, my future, boys, my fears, and boys; and she's always been there for a laugh or hug when I needed it. Being here in Arizona with her in Minnesota is very hard, I miss her SO much, but I know she's always thinking of me and praying for me - so I never feel too far from her.

I love you, Mommy!

How Cute Is This!?

I found this on Etsy (I'm addicted ot this site!) and totally want a set!(if you can't see, there's little numbers below each letter - they're Scrabble pillows!)

Some Odd New Characteristics Have Developed...

I've taken to cleaning things that don't need to be cleaned.

Wednesday night, I organized all our board games in a new (to them) cupboard. For the past two years, they've been stuffed in the trunk that stores all our blankets and this cupboard (well, it's a gutted jewelry armoire that Bon painted a lovely rust red for me and resides under a mirror in our hallway) has been mostly empty, sans a few odds n' ends and a tape-measurer from time to time.

Then, yesterday evening, I reorganized the trunk that had the blankets because the board game removal had freed up a lot of space. Now all of our extra blankets, sheets, and pillowcases are easy to access and nicely stored until such an occasion.

Oh, and yesterday morning (this was possibly the most unnecessary act of all), I swept our patio. Yes, I swept the outdoors.

There is a logical explanation for this, I swear. You see, we have a small patio off our bedroom (it's maybe 5' x 6') and it has a little closet that houses our washer and dryer (our apartments are weird like that: every unit does indeed have it's own washer and dryer, but they're outside - it really annoys me). Well, as you might imagine, it's very dusty in a desert. I was getting tired of my feet getting dirty every time I went out to do laundry, so I thought I'd sweep up the debris (yes, wearing shoes might have been a more obvious solution). It's actually nice to have a freshly swept patio.

The rest of our house is also unusually clean and I am all caught up on laundry and dishes! I keep telling myself how great this opportunity is to catch up on housework and really savor the joys of domestic bliss. I'm also enjoying getting to all the little arts and crafts projects that I have started over the past few months.

...I need a job.