Ping pong balls?!

Yes, it really is this slow at work. Yes, this really is my third post for the day. For anyone wanting to remind themselves why it's not a good idea to get slobbering drunk and then harrass a police officer, please see this article from ASU's student newspaper: http://www.asuwebdevil.com/issues/2008/02/27/news/703896

I have to admit, BYU's police beat never was this good (but the letters to the editor still have ASU beat...I haven't seen anyone condemned to outer darkness based on music choices yet here at ASU).

The Devil in the White City

**Didn't think I was going to get 2 books in the month, did you? Well, I finished this one on Wednesday**

Title: The Devil in the White City
Author: Erik Larson
Synopsis: Two stories told simultaneously: the problems and thrills of the 1893 World's Fair and the creepy serial killer running rampant in Chicago at the time.

I was both enthralled and majorly creeped out by this book. I couldn't put it down, but when I did, I had nightmares about murderers chasing me and Josh. I loved the tidbits about the fair. For example, did you know that Cracker Jacks and Shredded Wheat both made their public debut there? I've left out the cooler secrets for anyone who might want to read it themselves.

What's it worth?: Check it out.

The Screwtape Letters

Title: The Screwtape Letters
Author: C. S. Lewis
Synopsis: Screwtape (a devil) advises his nephew on how to best lure a "patient" to Hell.

I may be the only person left who hasn't read the complete works of C. S. Lewis, but this was the second of his books (other than his children's books) that I read. While I didn't like it as much as The Great Divorce it was not nearly as difficult as The Problem of Pain. I'll admit that I skimmed a few parts but others were so great I had to read them out loud.

What's it worth?: Buy it. It would be a good read again.

Gone Fishing

We spent Saturday at Saguaro lake enjoying a much needed day in the sun. A few days before, Josh & I had been talking about moving in a few years to see the world (if he works for the US Forest Service, we could go all over the place). While that's never out of the question, the perfect weather (in February!) and beautiful desert reminded us that we have too much AZ blood to leave for long.

Did I say fishing? I mean boating. Byron was the only one to actually catch a fish, although Josh did catch a big branch.

And for anyone anxious to see how Javier is growing (our newest nickname for the baby) here's the most recent picture:

I thought about including pictures of Josh's amazing job skinning the fish, but for you with weak stomachs, I resisted. Either way, we're having fish tonight!

What goes around...

Patience has never been my strongest virtue. I also don't appreciate being treated like a non-person. This morning, still asleep from the weekend, I was greeted with this email (I'll leave to the imagination which profane word she used):

"What the ****. I do not even have my car on campus and gave that thing back at the end of the year."

Mind you, this is an employee at the University. Biting my tongue (figuratively), I responded like I would had she asked the question nicely. Turns out, she was given a ticket in error. The error was voided the same day, but the system automatically sends out an email notice when something is added to your account. Anyway, I emailed her back and let her know it was our error and not to worry about it. I thought about ending with "Thanks for your considerate phrasing" but I controlled myself. I'm trying to keep my blood pressure down, and all, you know. Well, a few minutes later I got this email:

"Kimberly, Oh my gosh. I did not mean to send this email to you. I am so sorry for using foul language. I meant to forward it to a friend who always teases me about getting too many parking citations. Everyone I've spoken to today from the PTS offices has been extreamly helpful. My sincerest appologies"

I guess there is still room for the benefit of the doubt every now and then.

It could always be worse

Brian Luster came in to my office today. Poor guy. I wondered to myself if he ever ran into John-Michael Lusty on campus. Before my conscience got the better of me, I started thinking about his future employment options. Could he be a priest, pediatrician, or elementary school teacher? Probably not without a few extra challenges. It's like Dr. Gas (who took out my wisdom teeth) or Dr. Pain (he was a professor, right, A-L?).

At least no matter how we mess up parenting, our son will never have such restrictions. his only forseeable problem would be if he plays baseball. Who could ever compete with uncle Willy?

[Update: Jessie Boring got a parking ticket today. I wonder if Jessie Boring has considered a career as a professor?]

Ode to Rebecca

As I was pretty sick on Wednesday, this post comes a few days late. Still, in honor of Becca's birthday, I'm taking a minute to celebrate my amazing friend:


Even though my weird shyness and some over zealous junk mail filters kept Becca and I from realizing our friendship potential until after Halloween (we met as roommates at BYU in August 2003), we quickly realized we were made for each other.

Some favorite things that I love because they remind me of Becca:

1. Win a Date with Tad Hamilton
2. Raspberry & Oreo shakes (or concretes if you get the good kind)
3. Primary Children's Festival of Trees
4. Thanksgiving--Becca's family let me crash their Thanksgiving my first year at BYU. It wasn't home, but it was as close as I could get. And I learned to love sweet potatoes with butter & salt.
5. Creamies. Supposedly some Super Wal-Marts in AZ carry them, though I have yet to see any. Please, I just need some!

Things Becca taught me:

1. How to eat cottage cheese--I tried it to be polite and turns out cottage cheese isn't so bad with a fruit it can't ruin (a.k.a. pineapple)! I still won't eat it with peaches, which are too good to be messed up with cheese.
2. How to navigate roundabouts--You'd be surprised how many people can't handle the 2 roundabouts that exist in Tempe. Every time I see the disaster I think "if only they had a Becca to teach them how."
3. How not to clog the shower drain--Becca was the first girl I lived with other than my mom. What can I say? Quintin and I just don't talk about that sort of thing.
4. How to drive in the snow. Brrr.

Reasons I really owe Becca my first born child:

1. She took me to buy my winter coat. When I showed up at BYU with a jean jacket and wind breaker, she took it upon herself to prepare me by driving me (yes, she had a car!) to the store and teaching me about winter coats. She then proceeded to remind me to put it on every time I left our warm apartment for the next few years. It's so hard to remember to bundle up when you're warm...especially if it's just a quick trip!
2. She took care of Josh, inviting him to Thanksgiving dinner the year he couldn't go home, helping him move, etc. They might be friends in their own right, but I still love Becca for looking after him.
3. She did my hair for my wedding, and it was beautiful.

I could go on and on. Basically, my life is better for knowing Rebecca Mah..I mean, Mott. (Becca and I both tortured the RB receptionists when we'd make reservations to play racquetball. Something about 'Hunt' and 'Mott' made us sound like Kimberly Huh? and Rebecca Mah.)

I love you, Becca.

Ender's Game

Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Synopsis: Ender is chosen to save the world based on his intelligence, pluck, and overall personality.

The beginning reminded me a bit of The Giver in both how the society was set up and the selection of our hero. The book is definitely science fiction, but not too much to be a distraction (at least to me--I am a bit of a Star Wars nerd, after all), mostly because the protagonist is so appealing.

What's it worth?: Check it out.

The Professor and the Madman

Title: The Professor and the Madman
Author: Simon Winchester
Synopsis: Tells the story (more or less) of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary by focusing on the editor and one of the main contributors and their compelling lives.

My dad and I both really enjoyed this book. The two main characters make for a fascinating read and the author did a pretty good job of painting the backdrop well enough for the non-fiction to read less like a text book and more like a story. Although there is plenty to reccommend the book to people of varying interests, it might drag on in parts if you're not fascinated by words and/or dictionaries. There is a 4-page digression, for example, on a heated debate at the time of the OED's creation about the word "protagonists" and whether or not it could be pluralized at all. Not the coolest thing I've read in a while, but I like things like that so I was able to stay interested until the story picked up again.

What's it worth?: Buy it. If you're not that into language but want a good story, check it out from the library.