my list

I keep a list on my phone of all those things I'd love to write about when I find the time to write.

But as the list grows longer,

my window of free time grows smaller,

and I begin to feel a bit overwhelmed
by the idea that I'm so very far behind.

Which makes no sense...
how am I falling behind?

I'm my own boss here.

No one knows I have this list.

And these aren't even "timely" stories.

I think I'm just so used to having deadlines...

anyway.

I think I'd feel more at peace if I shared just a small bit of this list.

so that's the plan today.

good luck keeping up with my 

ever-so-random ramblings.

1. I love the scent of hotel sheets.
I realized this on our most recent visit to the Marriott.
And as often as we're warned about the cleanliness of hotel comforters
or the mass of bed bugs revealed during Dateline's latest black light investigation,
these sheets,
to me,
have this  crisp, clean, fresh feel you can't find anywhere else.
Parker says this is all the result of an associative relationship.
Hotel sheets remind us of vacationing and our most memorable weekend get-aways.
And because we so love these respites from reality,
we have a highly positive response to the scent of our bleach-bright-white sheets.
 I thought that made sense...
but whatever the real reason may be,
I love hotel sheets.
I just do.

2. I cozied in for a quick Sunday nap around 4:30.
Parker held me tight 'til I drifted off to sleep
and tried to wake me when he woke.
but discovered I'd fallen into a Sunday coma.
And despite all his best efforts to help me avoid a sleepless night,
I slept on.
and on. and on. and on.
and straight on through until 8:30 a.m. the next morning.
16 hours of sleep people.
I nearly slept one whole day away.
And how would you expect one to feel after such a sweet slumber?
rested. 
refreshed. 
renewed.
revitalized.
I expected just as much.
But no.
This sleeping beauty battled a feverish flu instead.
My post-hibernation hangover if you will.
It's miserable.
I'm miserable.
And since sleep seemed to trigger it,
I'm absolutely clueless as to what the cure may be.
*pathetic whimper*
*sigh*
*a bit of music from the world's smallest violin*
I'll be fine in time...

3.  When Parker hit the hay on coma-Sunday
he supposedly was met by a little blanket hog.
As expressed in earlier posts,
Parker likes to tuck into a perfect made bed.
Much to his dismay, a cuddly little bed bug had fallen fast asleep all snuggled up in a tangled mess of blankets.
And anytime he attempted to pry the blankets from her little palms
she resisted.
With fervor.
And he laughed himself silly over it.
har. har. har.
That next morning 
the bed-maker recounted the story of the little bed bug who wouldn't share
and guess what?
No one believed him.
Because everyone knows this little bed bug LOVES to share.
Nevertheless,
he's standing by his story.
And the bed bug...
well...
she's finding every reason not to believe it.
"Did you at least try to cuddle me?"
"No..."
"Well of course I didn't share! 
You made my subconscious sad.
And sad subconscious-es don't share."
"Oh my! How could I have overlooked that?"
"Beats me..."

4.  I want more Words With Friends friends.
I love the friends I have now.
I play Words-With-Family.
Words-With-Bankers.
Words-With-Husband.
You name it!


but I have very few Words-With-friends.
so we should be friends!


Warning:
It's absolutely addicting.
 Whether you're a day or a year behind the bandwagon,
you'll be hooked.
Promise.

And note:
(I will accept games with family & bankers too.
their words seem to be the funniest anyway.
"boobie."
"beery."
"noodled."
you name it.
they play it.
it's hilarious.)


Also note:
Equally hilarious is the fact that my co-worker's husband is convinced "Angry Birds" is called "Birds With Friends."
LOL


end notes.

5.  Remember Spirit magazine's brain features that boggled my mind?
Here are the highlights...
I’m trying to focus like a laser on what Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman is saying, but her iPhone keeps pinging with e-mail alerts. “A wealth of information creates poverty of thought.” Ping! “We wear our ability to multitask like a badge of achievement when it’s really the worst thing we can do to our brain.” Ping! “Fifty percent of how we use our brain is toxic for the brain.” Ping! “The most powerful part of the brain is its blocking ability, but teens aren’t developing it because of information overload.” Ping!


I loved that quote!
"A wealth of information creates a poverty of thought."


How often do I find myself splitting my brain between two thoughts before simultaneously forgetting both of them?
Too often!
How many times have I initiated a conversation, only to be distracted by the one being had next to me
(and then walked away feeling like the slight-ER for so poorly handling the first and the slight-EE for missing out on so much of the second)?
Too many!


Why then, 
when I'm fully aware that this is the risk associated with multitasking,
do I continue on with this bad behavior?


because "we wear our ability to multitask like a badge of achievement when it's really the worst thing we can do to our brain."


interesting, no?


And,
if you're interested,
the function of that "blocking" ability we're all failing to develop is this:
the brain’s great ability to neutralize distractions, 
to govern its own furiously thrumming pathways and trillions of synaptic connections for the purpose of heightened concentration and higher cognitive thinking. 


The brightest of minds are master-blockers.
I, on the other hand, am not.
but I do aim to try!


If you'd like to learn more about this topic click here.

6. Did you know..?
Two things distinguish the human personality from that of a mouse.
One is our profoundly social lifestyle. 
"Biologically, we’re built to share. Without ever meaning to, we care. Even the nastiest person you know cares more than the nicest weasel or bear.” 
The other distinction is the substantial size of our brains: 
“Our tremendous mental wattage, plus our social instincts, yield nuances of behavior that we don’t see in other creatures.” 
In a word: quirks.


The article goes onto explain how the human personality,
once described by more than 17,953 distinct adjectives,
can now be summed up in just 5 facets.
a.k.a. quirks
openness
emotionality
conscientiousness
orderliness
neuroticism
anxiety
extraversion
impulsiveness
and
agreeableness
altruism


While I'm never one to buy into personality tests,
I decided to give this one a go.


and what do you know?


the personality test based on the brain pinned me perfectly.


high emotionality
highly implusive 
and highly altruistic


with low levels of orderliness & anxiety
as much as I wish I were tidy, I'm not.
not just yet.


anyway, I liked it.
and if you like the idea
you can find the link
right here.

7.  I think we'll end with lucky number 7 tonight as we were very lucky, indeed, to have such an amazing leadership training this past week.
Our stake leaders pulled out all the stops
and connections
to schedule our meeting
in the Relief Society Building on Temple Square.


We listened to their inspired messages in a room that,
just hours before,
hosted an assembly of all the auxiliaries of our church.


As I gazed at the portraits of Sister Dalton, Sister Wixom, and Parker's favorite Sister Beck, I knew in my heart that they were the reason for the lingering spirit I felt there.
That little epiphany reaffirmed my testimony that they are called of God to lead the Young Women, Primary, and Relief Society programs of this Church.
They've been prepared.
And they are inspired.


As we toured their personal offices following the meeting,
I wondered if I'm living my life in a way that the Lord can prepare me.
Not to be a General President,
or even a president for that matter.
but to be His hands.
someone whose heart is susceptible to His Spirit.
a Saint who's worthy to carry out His work.


I'm not sure how He'll use me.
or if He'll even need me.
but because I hope He someday will,
I want
more than anything
 to be ready.


and on those days where I feel like I'm so far from seeing or reaching my full divine potential,
I find comfort in my favorite quote from training:
Things Work Out
"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is.
It all works out.  Don't worry.
I say that to myself every morning.
It will all work out.
If you do your best, it will all work out.
Put your trust in God and move forward
with faith and confidence in the future.
The Lord will not forsake us.
He will not forsake us if we put our trust in Him.
If we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessing,
He will hear our prayers."
-President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."

-Proverbs 3:5-6

I know with all my heart that this is true.
Now I just need to live it.
:)


happy Wednesday all!


'til next time...