Requiem for a Goldfish

True confessions...

1. Rainbow was not a goldfish, but a mean ol' beta.
2. He's been dying for more than 2 months now, and every morning one of us would run to the bowl and say, "Is he dead yet?" then tap the bowl until the nearly dead fish would move a fin or rise from the bottom.
3. I nearly decided to just flush him down the toilet in his un-dead state because a nearly dead fish is no fun.
4. Did I just say a nearly dead fish is no fun? I meant that a FISH is no fun.
5. I want to flush him. Sophie wants to plant him. In the ground. In February. She liked the Incredible Living Fish.
6. I never liked him.

So now the Greenhouse is down to three pets: one old nearly DEAF (not dead) dog with hip problems and skin growths and terrifically bad breath, and two guinea pigs, one that I love and one that I don't love as much. The fish demanded the least attention, but certainly gave the least love. The old sweet dog takes the most effort, but gives the most love.



Pets are work and pets can be really truly gross, but most of the time I think they're worth it. My children love them and have learned important lessons from them. And you know, sometimes we all need a smelly old dog to come over and love us when we're feeling blue.

President Hinckley

I have been thinking about President Gordon B. Hinckley, a man that I have admired for many years. I admired him because of his goodness, and also because he seemed to understand human frailties, our need for connection, hope and humor. I loved this about him.

One of my favorite quotes from him is typical of his good humor and down to earth philosophy:

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey...delays, side tracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

I AM thankful for the ride. Well, most of the time, that is. Sometimes I want the ride to be more like a Disneyland version of real life, but I guess I wouldn't gain much wisdom that way.

So here's to President Hinckley and his guidance for so many years...he'll be missed.

Pukey Valentine's Day

Do you know what takes the romance right out of Valentine's Day?

That's right, friends, the stomach flu.

And what's more fun than one person with stomach flu?

That's right, folks, three of us with stomach flu.

Oh, well, at least I got my wish not to have to work on Valentine's Night...

(Puking, etc. aside, it's been kinda fun to accomplish nothing other than playing the Wii, watching YouTube videos and sipping on Squirt.)

Customizing Queen

Look at my blog! I got it all prettied up for the new year!

I always have wondered how people get such fun backgrounds and I finally found one way...this blog (http://cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com/) gives backgrounds and info on how to do it. I'm feeling like quite the computer-savvy chica. Most of the backgrounds are too cutesy-cute for me, but I liked this one.

I'm in Love

...with my new lens!

I got it for Christmas after reading rave reviews about it despite its low (under $100) price, and I love it love it love it.

Here is just a taste. I haven't had perfect light or conditions yet to play with, but I am fairly happy with these pictures. Man, do I love baby skin. Don't you want to kiss off those cheeks?