That Can't Be..Or Maybe it Can

When I was in my early twenties I would hear impossible stories and roll my eyes.

One I recall was about a woman who went to the emergency room because of stomach pain and discovered that it wasn't stomach pain.  She was 9 months pregnant and giving birth. It was utterly ridiculous. Any woman--even a non educated one--would know she was pregnant before she was nine months along.  Even if she didn't get morning sickness, she would recognize when she had sex, her periods stopped and her belly moved by its self.  I am not wrong here I thought defiantly.  How could a woman not know that she was pregnant?  Idiots, we are talking about idiots, I complained very vocally about it.

In my late thirties came my opportunity to claim my place--as one of the idiots.  I discovered I was pregnant with Gavin four and a half months into my pregnancy.  I had no inkling of this knowledge until the actual discovery of it.  What finally tipped me off?  I was running one morning around the track, and just couldn't push myself to hit the split times. When I jogged to recover between the splits, my heart rate returned to normal and I felt good.  However during the splits my energy plummeted.  After my third failed attempt at the split time I said to my friend "It feels like I am dragging another person around with me."  Her comment back to me?  "Have you considered that maybe you are?"

What?  No, I thought. This couldn't be.  I reasoned with my friend.  For starters I was taking the pill--like clock work.  Add to that my lack of a menstrual period was perfectly explained by the intense physical training I had been doing in preparation for the upcoming marathon. And for the crowning reason that this could not be so, I threw up every morning during the first three months of pregnancy, for all three of my previous pregnancies, and I had not been nauseous at all.

And yet, I was, in fact, pregnant.  (I can now say it was the best surprise I have ever received! And that God has a plan, even if he doesn't let you in on it.)

It was painfully obvious to me at the time that not only should I never say never to avoid being the idiot, but also,

Party Etiquette

I need your help.  I simply don't have a lot of experience with parties, or with appropriate etiquette for them.  Let me explain what I am talking about, and then I hope you'll take a minute and tell me what you think we should do in the future.

Usually we alternate years, as partners to be in charge of the office Christmas party.  Because of all we had going on in December, Shawn's law partner and his wife, very kindly offered to be in charge of the office Christmas party--even though they had been in charge the previous year. I was very grateful.

For the past 5 years, the party has been held at the new law office, been a catered dinner in the conference room, and we--as the partners--have personally paid for the dinner, as well as donated gifts (about $400) for a white elephant gift exchange.  (This is in addition to the Christmas bonuses that employees receive based on the number of years they have been with the firm.)

This year it worked better for our partner, who was in charge of the event, to hold it on a night that Shawn "helps" Santa. They decided to have the party early--dinner was scheduled at 6:00pm--so that there would be no conflict with the appearance at 8:30pm.  The party was held at their beautiful new home, and they cooked the dinner themselves--instead of having it catered.  An extremely generous gesture.  When we asked what we could do to help we were told not to bring anything and to "just come and enjoy".

When we arrived at 6:05pm no one else was there.

Pinewood Derby 2013

Being how Gavin has been a cub scout for less than a month, and we have not had a boy to participate in the Pinewood Derby before, I was a little concerned.  If you haven't recognized it in previous posts, I will put it plainly, Gavin has a competitive streak. (I wonder where he gets it?)  And in our ward/troop we have a couple of the most competitive fathers boys that I know.

Carpool Fodder

I know you already know I think driving the carpool is one of the most comical things I do.

I laugh, inquire into 8 year old minds, and discover that life is so much simpler than I often make it.

Today however, it seemed that possibly life was a little more complicated than I had assumed.


Gavin turns to one of the boys in the carpool as he steps out of the car.

"Hey Matt.  Tomorrow will you ask your mom if we can get together and change the world?" (When you put it that way how could I or Matt's mom say no.)

"Well," responds Matt reluctantly.  "I can ask her but I am not done with my drawings."

"Okay" concedes Gavin. "When you are done with the drawings ask your mom."

"Alright." the boy says as he shuts the car door. "See you tomorrow."

I look quizzically at Gavin and his slightly frustrated expression.  He responds to my look.

"Matt is sure taking a long time to draw up the plans.  He and I are going to build an arc reactor that will change the world."