Thursday, November 30, 2006

It is Finished...

And I was only 2 minutes late to class!! I pulled a famous Thompson all-nighter with Cali, and burned the midnight oil.

You, Me, and Dupree is a pretty funny movie. I’ve been an Owen Wilson fan for a long time, Monica for longer probably, and we were laughing pretty hard at parts.

Someone, who I don’t know, responded to my latest answering machine with, “That’s all you got?” I think it was a wrong number.

Either the dishes need to get washed, or we’re going to run out of money eating out soon.

I thought of a new answering machine jingle just in case the guy calls back. Hmm… Why do I want this scary man’s approval?

I haven’t eaten or slept all day, and all Cali does is eat and sleep all day—it’s like we are in alternative universes.

Wednesday nights are boring without Lost, we didn’t have to rush home from church to see it. Now that Eco (Echo?) is off the show, we can’t consider it church anymore.

We now have two Ford trucks, but only because I have a profound respect for Toby Keith and his politics. All the gas they consume makes me feel more Republican.

There are currently no $100,000/year counseling positions available in Colorado right now, so we’re out of luck.

Sometimes I wish that everyone snow skiing right now would break their legs, just because I am mad that they are skiing.

Oh yeah, and everything is not really bigger in Texas, except the conspiracy that everything is bigger in Texas.

I just realized the letters in Texas can be rearranged to spell taxes. Tennessee only spells Nessteene.

Yuo can udenrtsand me eevn if I tpye lkie tihs, so why do we wrroy abuot slpeilng.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Thanksgiving and Birthday Fun

We had a great Thanksgiving break in Springdale, AR and Springfield, MO. Thanksgiving dinner was brought to you by Cracker Barrel. I've decided this is the best way to do it. They have a special Thanksgiving plate with all the classics-sweet potato casserole, ham, turkey, stuffing, sides of your choice, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Basically, it keeps you from eating too much and you don't have to worry about dishes or leftovers. I was fully sated and felt fine afterwards. I really do think this is the way to go. . .

I was going to try to avoid it, but it was also my birthday weekend. I hate my birthday and try to downplay it as much as possible, but Monica made me celebrate it. So, Tuesday night we went to Bluefin (just the two of us and I didn't have to invite anyone!) and I opened my presents from her. First, I opened a present and it was a shirt from the GAP sales rack. Monica made an excellent selection—it was on sale and it looks good. Then, I got black socks from her, but in one of the socks was a big lump. I was thinking it was pack of gum and would have been fine with that, but no, it was a freaking 2 GB iPod nano. Being the grateful person I am, I immediately asked how much it cost. Prepared for the answer, Monica said she paid $50 for it, her parents chipped in $50, and the third $50 came from MY Best Buy gift cards I hadn't used yet. So, that made it a little better knowing she didn't drop $150 from our account on it. Now, I am just trying to get used to something I would never dream of buying for myself (I'm not trying to sound self-righteous, I just hate spending money). I'm not sure what to do when I get nice presents like that. Besides that, I got birthday money, and I will try to save it for as long as I can before someone makes me spend it. Fortunately for her, I tend to spend money when I get down (in my mood, not at the club).

Anyway, we came home Saturday in time for me to watch the OU/OSU game at Buffalo Wild Wings. We didn't go to Oklahoma this year because I didn't want to. Sometimes you just make decisions like that for no good or bad reason at all. They all called on my birthday yesterday and sang Happy Birthday to me on the phone, so it was like I was there. Now, I must put together a paper before Thursday at 1 PM, which by some miracle, I have already started, but don't plan to finish until 12:45 PM or later on Thursday.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

A Time for Change

Whoa! Things are changing around the Thompson house. Winter is coming, Bonneville is leaving, the Ford Explorer Sport is here, and we are looking forward to Monica’s 1 year anniversary with RemitDATA. I have to write a paper by the 30th, finish up my internships, and have my 26th birthday on the 26th. We have to decide where to go for Thanksgiving and Christmas and keep both families happy. The Christmas card picture needs to be taken (without Judson’s help, unfortunately), and someone has to write a clever “Year in the Life of the Thompson’s” ditty to include with the card. Then, we need to figure out addresses and who makes the cut.

Tis’ the season to be busy . . .

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Voting Day

Yesterday, we voted at our usual place, South Park Elementary School. You hear the talk of other states where the lines were long because of ID checks, well, that didn’t happen to us. In fact, no one checked our IDs at all. Good thing, though, because I could have been anybody.

I voted Republicrat. I won’t tell you specifics of who I voted for, but I will tell you I voted for Mike Kernell (D) for State House Rep. because he campaigned at Cooper’s (a fairly dangerous grocery store near our house) during the last election. Somebody coming into the neighborhood really does make a difference—I feel like he actually cares about me and other Cooper regulars. I did drive to the election station in a Ford…hmm.

I hope you voted because you wanted to, not because someone told you you have to or you’re not a good person. I vote NOT because I am a Christian, I vote because I care who represents me in our pagan government. I will in no way condone the idea that it is our Christian duty to vote, because in my mind, it isn’t, but you may think differently, depending on whether you agree or disagree with me. The important thing is that you feel good about the reasons you vote.

So, this does not reflect any of Monica’s political views. We differ on politics, but somehow we still manage to love. This does represent my (Ben’s) views and I do approve this message.

Friday, November 3, 2006

Bad Day or Good Day. . .And the 10 Second Kiss

WOW! What a way to end a fun-filled week. Let me just cue you in real quick.

My truck stopped starting and I had to jump it for a few days. Then, on the way home from Hot Springs, I had to push down on the breaks fairly hard, and then I had to put up with the awful grinding noises ever since. Today, I was uninvited to a lunch by a school administrator THROUGH a third party fellow student. Let’s hear it for a real class move!!! I’m not bitter, just kind of feel devalued. Also, I found out today that I will not receive my diploma until December 2007, even though I will finish my classes in the Summer of 2007.

After that experience, I had a few counseling sessions (as a counselor). My car mechanic, Bill Edmondson, who is an incredible car mechanic, called and told me to call him about the Bonneville. Turns out the ABS system needs to be replaced, and that will be $1200. Well, that’s out of the question because car is not even worth that. I told him to just put break pads on it, and I’ll continue to drive it. That was the dagger in my heart today, but at least it came from the front.

So, it might sound like I am just female doggin’, but I’m not, and I am going to get in big trouble for that term. True, this was a bad day, BUT if you look at the other side of coin and the rest of the story, it gets better.

First of all, my truck just needed new battery terminals, which was a cheap fix. Second, my tension, frustration, and distrust of this administrator was confirmed and I can continue to be unsure of authority—very important to my generation. Third, FINALLY I HAVE AN ANSWER about what to do about the Bonneville. None of this guessing anymore, I can be sure it’s time to give up on the long fight. It’s actually kind of nice to have that burden off my shoulders. Now, we just have to find a car to replace it.

Last, and certainly most, I got to each lunch with my wife in the midst of all of this at Bluefin. Regardless of what happened today, that makes a beautiful day in my mind because I was with her. We started this new ritual called the 10 second kiss that we read about in a book we’re reading for Wednesday night class, and it is great. After teeth-brushing in the morning, right before work, we kiss for 10 seconds. Then, when she comes home from work, we do it again. It is amazing what these 10 seconds do for our marriage. So, please don’t get any negativity from this blog. It will all take care of itself in due time. What you do need to do is the 10 second kiss, and remember how powerful a few minutes of being with the one you love can be. It saved my day...

Thursday, November 2, 2006

Picture of Us

It has been quite some time since we put up a picture of ourselves, which is odd, because we are really in love with ourselves and like to look at ourselves. This picture was taken at Bluefin about a month ago when Monica’s parents came into town.