I am an expert Haggeler

Rich with his future car (sort of)

This weekend i learned a little bit about haggling. We are getting a car for Richard and car dealers SCARE me. I read "Blink" and they talked about car dealer's instincts on who to give a good deal to. Well after reading about what they look for, I realized that I will always be given the higher price, just by virtue of being female. Not only that but I really don't know enough about cars to know what to ask about (just another reason that I will always get a higher price). Well this weekend we got to spend so time with Richard's parents. They took us out to look at cars. At the first place they did a lot of the talking just to show how it was done. Then we went to the next place and by that time we knew what we wanted and we already were armed with a pretty good quote from the other place. When the dealer talked to his general manager he said "these guys are no BS they just want our lowest quote." Can you believe that??? Wow...We are no BS. So now we are one step closer to getting a Subaru. Now Richmond dealers better look out, here we come.

Thanksgiving and such

Well I think its time for me to update the blog..."Richard's Thoughts" are getting old. SO Here is a run down of Thanksgiving. At work on Wednesday night we had a feast (I guess to stretch our stomachs in preparation for the next day.) Then Thursday morning we caught a ride with Jake and Marci and caravaned with Sara and Tommy to Richard's parents house for the big day. It was fantastic and my pants had enough give that it didn't hurt so much.
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I went back to Richmond with Jake and Marci, so that I could work on Friday. Work was not too bad(although there was definitely a higher percentage of people with chest pain). Then it was off to the Murder Mystery. This year the theme was that a movie filming company came to town then the murders started happening. One of the activities was to be the makeup artists. Here are Richard and I with our masterpiece make up

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I think I was talking.

Richard has his eyes closed, but you can see our zombies were quite scary.

Then there was a costume contest based off of a scary movie. Richard's mom came up with idea of us being Arsenic and Old Lace (everybody else seemed to get it, I didn't know what is was--now I know it is an old scary movie)

We didn't solve the mystery, but we had a great time. Unfortunately we had an accident on the way home.
So here is the story we got off the freeway, because my bladder is unbelievably weak sauce (and there was only a portapottie-a disgusting one at that, to add insult to injury). So after my rendezvous with the portapottie and my focus and attention back on the road, we went to get back on the freeway and I was coming down a hill toward the on ramp and the roads were slick, so when I pressed on the brakes they locked up and I couldn't stop. I even said, "Rich it won't stop." There were no cars in front of me so I thought it would be okay, but there was a truck with a horse trailer turning left. I cleared the truck, but the horse trailer swung into our lane and that was it. CRUNCH!! So Rich gets out of the car and apologizes. I got mad at him and said "it was not all my fault" Well apparently according to Rich, the lady I hit and our insurance company it was....DANG IT.

I guess it was a good thing Rich didn't get up for black Friday to get the TV we were going to get for Christmas because now that money is going to be used to fix my car. Bummer.

This is how we feel about that.

Random Facts I Learned Today

Patients often tell me random things and today I learned two random facts:

1. One patient told me that her son is a 4th grader in Henrico County and they are not teaching the kids cursive writing anymore.

My thought on that subject is no biggie. I really don't feel like kids will be missing out, but it is kind of crazy that it may be a lost art form.

2. One of my patient's works in research and development for Phillip Morris. I asked what kind of things she researched. She said they are looking at antioxidants with cigarettes. The reason they are looking at that is because they believe that a lot of the reason smoker's get cancer is due to the high levels of inflammation caused by the cigarettes. So they are hoping that by adding antioxidants to their cigarettes it will make them more healthy. Now if that is not wrong, I don't know what is. It is a huge glimpse into the minds of the cigarette companies, "maybe we can market these as healthy and then we can sell more." Also, of note: when I asked this lady if she smokes (before I knew what she did for a living) she told me that she did until she started working at Phillip Morris. Because as soon as she started doing research and saw just how damaging cigarettes are she decided to quit. How is that for Truth about cigarettes.

Fall Stories

My sister posted on her blog that she was starting a tradition of picking the best leaf of the year. I love that idea, so when Rich and I went on a walk at a nearby partk we picked some favorites.

And the winner is:

The primary program was today. I loved seeing the kids do their parts, but even more than that I loved being done with it. I was so worried about how is would turn out and if I needed to be doing more to be prepared. That being said, it really was great! I could tell that they worked hard with their parents. I was so impressed with how many of the kids memorized their parts. My favorite part was the kid whose assignment was to tell his favorite of Heavenly Father's Creations. He said, "animals like T-Rex"


Yesterday we celebrated Richard's Mom's birthday at short pump mall. We went out to eat and shopping. It was great to spend time with them AND it was a beautiful day.

Last story: At work I was standing in the hall and this lady walked up behind me and said "hey, have you been gaining weight?" (I have...dang drug reps and their dang tasty foods) I said, "uhhh yea...can you tell? " She said "yea" Then all of a sudden it occured to me that she was incredibly impudent (as Jane Austen would say). And I told her, "that's not very nice." Really...can you imagine saying that to somebody?!?!?!

Punkin contest

A couple of weeks ago at work they started talking about the pumpkin decorating contest. I love Halloween because it is the only holiday where everyone really wants to be creative. I am always amazed that every year I see a new idea (usually for costumes) that I had never even thought of before. Anyway, I really wanted to do something creative, so I asked Rich to come up with an idea for me. His idea: the ugly duckling. I don't know if you can tell from the pic but the duckies are all pumpkin except the ugly duckling, which is a squash.

They were so awkward, but I really started to like them a lot. I won an honorable mention.

Here were some of the other ideas

Halloween Costumes

So I know Halloween is a week gone, but our computer has been out of commission with a backlight out and our mouse pad malfunctioning, but I wanted to post about Heather's great Idea. She is a GENIUS. Her idea was to go as an eHarmony.com couple. Then, she stepped it up a notch, a big one. She came home one day and said "Richard, what if we shave a bald patch in the middle of your head?" I was unsure at first, but then I realized; HEATHER IS GOING TO LET ME SHAVE MY HEAD, HECK YES I'M IN! So we made some t-shirts that had profiles that looked like we had grossly misrepresented ourselves, dressed up in some goofy costumes, and then shaved me a cul-de-sac. Enjoy the costumes that brought home the first place costume trophy, BOOYAH:

Here's the profile. I was a hot doctor and she was a Dallas cowboys cheerleader. On the front it said "eHarmony worked for us."

Here's our first place trophy.

Chili Bowl of Victory

So last year Rich entered the Chili cookoff for our ward Halloween party. He wrote out the items that he thought would taste good in chili, then he whipped it up with out any recipe. It was truly impressive, then he won 2nd place. This year the person who won first place the last two years in a row had moved so we thought he had first place in the bag. Well ,we didn't count on some other competition and he got third. BUT (and I am not just saying this because he is my husband) in my opinion his really was the best. I think he is really good at making a chili that is sweet with the perfect amount of heat. So even though he won the third place chili bowl of victory, he won first place by my judgement.

Tagged

Mary tagged me, which is good because our computer is broken and I couldn't post about our AWESOME halloween party experience until I can download pictures. So until then:
8 tag by Crystal:
8 TV shows I like to watch:
The office, Grey's anatomy, Hereos, Top Chef, Design Star, Everybody Loves Raymond, Scrubs
8 things that happened yesterday:Spinning class, work at glen forest office, work at ridgefield office, get completely caught up on paper work, read conference talks, got some cute earings from Rich, got dressed up and went to dinner at a cool downtown restaurant for Restraurant Week.

8 Favorite places to eat:
Bistro 27, Panera, Pho Ha, Cafe Rio, Salsarita, Cheesecake Factory, Shockoe Expresso and Roastery, Tobacco Company
8 things I’m looking forward to:
The office tonight, girls night tonight, Halloween party tomorrow, announcements on who won my works pumpkin contest,THE WEEKEND, the primary program practice, the gym saturday.
8 people I tag:
Lindsay Noble, Marci Spendlove, Sara Dunn, Jennie Taylor, Diana Edgell, Alexis Kelly, Deborah Dunham, Jenna Hatch

Things To Do before becoming a mom

Yesterday was our stake temple trip, but Rich had to study, so I went up with one of my friends (whose husband also had to study) and her two kids (ages 2 1/2 and 9mos ish). We swapped time at the temple. I realized there are some things I need to do before becoming a mom.

-Begin lifting weights (but not just any weight 45 pound large awkward strollers and 20 pounds squirming/crying children--By the way my biceps and pectorals and so sore today, best work out I have had in a long time)
-Learn how to operate complex machinery (all you have to do is press the red button, then twist the handle, then pull up to collapse a stoller--of course why didn't I think of that and apparently you have to press both buttons at the same time to elevate the handle on a carseat. Most importantly all FIVE straps have to snap into that other piece to prevent the child from toppling out of the stroller onto the pavement-luckily so long as you have three snapped into place the topple stops two inches above the ground)
-Study physics (If the pacifer falls out of a child's mouth traveling at X velocity and hits the asphalt at Y angle how far under the car do I have to crawl to retrieve it, what is a the splatter pattern of projectile spit up, because I can only see it on my arm and I am sure it went someplace else)
-Study microbiology (If said pacifer fall on asphalt does the 10 second rule actually apply and which microorganisms do I need to worry about and at what temp water do those microorganisms die--don't worry Sara I washed it before I put it back in his mouth)
-Learn to sing (my kids won't know that I am a child of God isn't supposed to crack on the high notes)
-Become bilingual (Kidenese is a very difficult language to understand)



To be honest, I thought I could handle baby sitting without too much difficulty. It was tough, but I survived. The funny thing was the kids were great and actually watching the kids wasn't too bad, but it was all the other stuff that was difficult. My funny story from the Trip:
I was trying to put the 2 seater stoller back into Sara's car. I couldn't figure out how to fold it up (I tried many different tactics) and finally decided to try to shove it in the back of the car open (this probably isn't as comical without seeing how absolutely absurd it was to think that this huge stroller could actually fit in the car) So I pick it up and as I pick the stroller up I accidently hit the panic button on her keys. There I am in a dress trying to heave this open stoller into the back of the car (over half of the stroller was still hanging out) that is honking wildly. After that I gave up and left the stroller outside until Sara could get there to take care of it.

Needless to say this experience gave me a great appreciation for moms and all they do. You moms are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

Camping

I love camping and last weekend we went with our friends to a nearby campground. It was PERFECT!! We enjoyed tin foil dinners, smores and campfire pancakes. The weather was great and so was the company. If anybody is wanting to go camping we now officially own the equipment, just let us know when and where.

While setting up the tents the boys found a piece of mesh that they didn't have a purpose for, they decided that the purpose must have been for mesh thong (of course....don't all tents come standard with a mesh thong). What is worse that they still act like 12 year old deacons or that Marci and I giggled and took pictures like 12 year old beehives.

Team work

This is me after Richard threw an acorn at my head (that is my stink eye)

This is Richard after he threw an acorn at my head (yes, he is LAUGHING)

Shake your money maker

(okay so last time I didn't do 3 posts in one day...I guess I got distracted)

Two weeks ago Rich called me from his Flag football game and said, "hey, uhh I might need to see about getting an appointment at your office tomorrow. I think I hurt my finger." As the wife of a dental student, this is the last thing I want to hear. Broken right leg....fine, lacerated spleen...rough-but still fine, broken toe...great, concussion...okay-so long as there aren't too many, separated shoulder...tolerable; but a finger?? Those things are kind of important to a dentist. Last year one of our other dental school friends had to have surgery on his finger after a flag football game (we miss you Matt and Annie) and Rich said, "My finger looks like Matt's did." UH OH

He had an appointment with one of my colleagues, who referred him to an orthopedist. Well, I have never been so happy to hear that it was JUST broken. Broken is better than needing surgery. He had a follow up appt yesterday and they said it is healing well and he should be able to recover fully. We are so happy that we learned this lesson now while in school rather than learning it when we lose our income to this kind of thing. Also it is good that it was his left ring finger, which as one of the other dental students reassured me, "you could cut THAT one off and still work."

Catch up from last week

I would just skip a week, but this was an important post. SOOO... It's gonna be three posts in one day. Last weekend was Richard's white coat ceremony. It was exciting to see Rich get coated and to watch his dad get to help out. The funniest part of the whole thing was when I took this picture of Rich and his dad.

Apple...tree (you know what I mean) I just couldn't help but laugh.

I was so proud of him and excited that he is in dental school living out his dream. I think

Here are some other pcitures.

Something is Wrong with this picture

Read the following conversation:

M:I already told you that you have to finish packing your own clothes. I am not going to do it for you. You are old enough to pick out something to wear.
R: But I am tired and I just want to watch TV.
M: I am going to eat a bowl of cereal. When I finish that bowl of cereal I am coming upstairs, taking the bag and leaving. If you are ready, I'll bring you with me. If you haven't packed your stuff, I will leave without you.
R: You wouldn't leave without me.
M: Yes...I would!!! BUT DON'T TEST ME!!! Go upstairs and finish packing; it won't take you more than 3 minutes.
R: (laying sideways on the couch; pouting) AWWW...come on I am tired. Can't I just sit here while you eat your cereal and then have you help me.
M: I only have about 10 bites left you better hurry.
R: FINE!! (stomping up the stairs)

It sounds like a conversation my mom had with me many times...when I was a CHILD.

Unfortunately, this is a conversation between M(me) and R(richard).
SERIOUSLY?!?!

I know we are both pathetic. Me because I used my mom's old lines and him because he used his old lines.

Best part of the story is that when I came upstairs, Richard was standing in the middle of our bedroom, in his underwear, and his stuff STILL WASN'T PACKED!!! (He is reading this over my shoulder and say, that's not fair I was changing my clothes to get ready to go and I had put some stuff in the bag----he put his toothbrush in the bag)

Luckily, I am benevolent and didn't leave without him. We made it up to DC to stay with some friends and had a great time.

This is why my house is messy

This weekend we finally decided to clean our bedroom. This is the first time we have cleaned our bedroom since moving here in July (I know--pathetic, but at least we got it done). There were still boxes and picture frames sitting on the floor, as well as all the clothes and papers we didn't feel like putting away over the last 3 months. I started to unpack the picture box. I always get really distracted when I look at old pictures. Here are some favorites.

These are my cute little brothers in 1997

These are my cute little brothers in 2008.Here is Richard rockin the side part on his mission. I truely believe that some people deserve to be exceptions from the side part rule and he is one of them. Apparently, it was a tradition to burn a tie 6 mos into your mission. I am sure his mom freaked when she saw this picture (what a waste of money).

This is me right after one of my high school dances. The minute I got home I had to eat, because I tried not to eat too much at the dances. My reason: at my junior prom we went to some seafood restraunt that had shrimp and my date looked at my pile of shrimp shells and said LOUDLY, "WHOA YOU ATE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE AT THE TABLE!"

This is us October 5 years ago-we had only been dating for about 3 weeks. We went to conference and asked some guy to take a picture of us. He takes the camara and instead of saying "say cheese;" he said, "Say-celestial kingdom here we come!" It was really awkward at the time, but I guess he was right.

Impudence

I am reading a Jane Austen book for book club and Rich said why do you like her books. My reply: because they are always so annoyed by impudence (1. The quality of being offensively bold. 2. Offensively bold behavior.)

I have a story of impudence that happened to me this week. The cable guy came to hook up our internet and cable. He was this 40ish black guy missing 2 of his front teeth. I was sitting on my couch reading a book (actually a church book, ironically) and he gave me the following lecture-I can't really call it a conversation because I just sat there laughing awkwardly. WARNING this is very impudent.

Cable Guy: My wife never lets me watch our cable. She always has stuff for me to do and I am sick of it. The problem with you women is that there is too much competition out there. See you women you start out all happy and in love and you give your man what he wants, then you have a baby and you start packing on the pounds. Your butt gets bigger and you get older and pretty soon your man...he lookin around at younger women. He gets tempted by them because they are young and thin and then he strays. And thats why you women get competitive. What the men don't understand is that all the women they have the same thing. This one might have a big butt and big breasts and that one might be young and look good, but either way they have the same thing. And really I don't care so long as my meat is pleased. But I think the problem with women is that they are selfish. When you first get together you like to please your man, but then the women start saying she's too tired or work was hard. that ain't right women should always please their man unless it's that time and then it is okay, but other than that it is just selfish...because otherwise we men are going to start looking around. You know you might want to stray but you shouldn't stray. You might see a guy with muscles and you want to touch his muscles, but you can't let that thought go from you head to doing something.......

Thankfully at that point Rich came home.
Talk about a rambling lecture.

Check out my weekend

It’s a race…It’s a race (said like Mr. Bean on Rat Race)

Ward parties are a lot like the pot luck dinners that so often accompany them. You never know exactly what you are going to get. Anybody who has had a pot luck dinner knows exactly what I mean. Well our ward party on Monday was like the dutch oven dish that you want to go back for seconds…and thirds. We had a great time at the Olympics themed party. We participated in the 50 yard piggy back dash (we may have had a chance to win, but I was too slow getting on Rich’s back) and the relay team. We have no metals to show for our efforts, but check out this picture.



Also, I got a tomato plant back in May that I had high hopes for (I LOVE homegrown tomatoes) and it was not meeting my expectations (as in it was pathetic and weak and fruitless). I was ready to throw it away when we moved to our new apartment. Well luckily, Rich didn’t give up on it. With his TLC and the abundant sunshine, which was absent at our old place, it has thrived. It is like a miniature forest.

Family Reunion and DC united

Before I start my post about this last week I must post this: I love the movie Dan in Real Life. It is so cute and I can't stop singing--let my love open the door... Also, Richard made some really good oatmeal cookies tonight (I guestioned his abilities and even made him show me the cookbook because I thought he was doing it wrong--he wasn't and they are great).

I come from a very large family with over 20 cousins on each side, whereas Rich's parents are both only children, so he has 0 first cousins (Can you imagine that...I still can't-after 4 years-fathom life without cousins). Anyway, his grandfather was one of 9, so he does have a large extended family that has a family reunion every Labor Day weekend in Luray, Virginia. I went to my first one two years ago and we got there, ate, had a ten minute presentation, talked and everyone left after 2 hours (everyone is pretty old, though). This was so different than what I grew up with (week long family reunions with games, quizes on family history and adventures with the cousins). The family reunion this last weekend was the same as the first one I attended. What are your family reunions like??

The best part of the reunion was when we showed up (about 30 minutes late). Rich's great uncle was sitting outside listening to the Virginia Tech game (ahh...quality family time.)

Here's Uncle Julian holding his radio.

Then that night we went to a DC United soccer game with our good friends Ben and Diana. The game was good, not great. It was a 0-0 tie, which is sort of a bummer, but it was still fun.

Here's us at the game.