...I Read a Book

I love reading. It's definitely in my top five of favorite things to do. But I am a weird reader. (Yes- there are different types of readers.) There are fast readers, slow readers, impatient readers, antsy readers, indifferent readers, etc. I would categorize myself as a fast, weird and impatient reader. What I mean is this: when I read a book I HAVE to finish it. I can't stand to just read a few pages here and there. And if I can tell something exciting is about to happen I HAVE to get to the exciting part. Even if it means reading six more chapters to get to it.

It is for this reason that I simultaneously love and hate reading. I become this insane voracious person who can't get enough of the fantastical world the author has created. I need to know what is going to happen! This is also the reason why I never ever ever read books during my semesters at college. If I start a book you can be sure there will be no studying or homework done well (or done at all) until the book is finished. I stayed up until ungodly hours of the night reading just because I knew I had to finish before I could start a paper. It's ridiculous. I'm ridiculous. I know.

So, due to my OCD with reading, I've stopped reading. Strange, isn't it? My love for reading is actually the thing that is keeping me from it. It's a sad life I lead. BUT, I recently finished a book. It was glorious and I've decided I cannot hide my love any longer. It's time. Time to pick up the four other books I started reading a few months ago and finish them. I can sacrifice a little sleep for that right? So if you see me and I look slightly disheveled and smell a little funny, please be kind. It's only because I haven't slept or showered in a couple days. But hey- don't blame me! It was the books.

...We had Thanksgiving

Yeah. Thanksgiving. You know- that holiday that occurred about 3 months ago? Well I just got the pictures back from it and decided to share the wonder that is a Peterson Family Thanksgiving.

This year my entire family migrated to Utah for Turkey Day. My parents rented a house up Little Cottonwood Canyon that could accommodate all 10 adults and 5 kids. (Side note: you'd think that since adults matched kids 2:1 we'd have the kids under control right? Wrong.) As always, we had a blast together and succeeded in refraining from killing eachother. Here are some highlights:

First- there is a tradition in the Peterson family that if there is a big, clean, empty sink you must bathe your child in it. I have no idea as to the origin of this tradition. Maybe great great great Grandpa Orville was a cheapskate and refused to buy a bathtub. I don't know. But it's a beautiful thing and we all thoroughly enjoyed watching my oldest brother Danny bathe his daughter.

Look at that face- priceless.

Second- GAMES! We love playing games as a family. We are all very competitive in a fun way... most of the time. However, I have no pictures of playing games because I was too busy winning most of them. :)

Third- eating. We love good food and we love to eat it. I also have no pictures of this because no food lasted long enough to take a picture of. Yeah...

Fourth- Temple Square. We went to Temple Square one night because my sister-in-law had never been and really wanted to see the lights. Bad idea. There are a ridiculous amount of people at Temple Square on Thanksgiving weekend. It turned out being a nice visit, but dude- I hate large groups of people and freezing cold temperatures.

Graham HAD to push Owen around while yelling "Choo Choo!" so everyone in the way would know to move.

So all in all it was a wonderful holiday full of fun, stress, gluttony and name calling. All part of being a Peterson.

Perfect.

...I Learned that America had Problems

That's right. We have problems, people. I realized this when I was sitting at work chatting with one of our patients. He was a high school senior and I was asking him if he was taking a government class. My question was followed by a very blank stare...silly me, I just assumed that every high school senior had to take government like I did. Sure, high school was a while ago but I'm not THAT old! So I asked him if his school required any sort of government or history class or something that would teach them about United States politics. He perked up and replied yes, they did but the course isn't called government, it has been given the poignant title of American Problems. For reals?! American Problems? I seriously couldn't believe it- I was actually a little upset with the school district here. Who names a high school class American Problems? Yeah- that incites a lot of civic pride. Genius.

...I Read This Story

And it was HILARIOUS! You should read it. And then send it to everyone you know. And then read it again.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=665847

...I Tried to go Sledding

And an hour and five stores later, I gave up. Apparently stores no longer carry this cheap plastic wonder. Needless to say, a part of my childhood died that day. But don't worry- I redeemed the afternoon by making a snowman instead.

Oh how you've eluded me, old friend.

...I Tried To Be Charitable

And it backfired. Well not necessarily backfired, but definitely didn't work. Here's the story:

I'm walking into Temple Square in Salt Lake to meet a friend for lunch. As I'm going through the gate, a woman stops me and asks if I have any spare change. I reply that no, I didn't and that I was sorry. So I continue on my way and while my friend and I are having lunch, a lady at the sandwich shop comes by and asks us if we want some free bread since they can't use it for sandwiches anymore. Of course, still being in the starving student phase of life, we say yes. Since my friend has to go back to work, I take both loaves of bread and start walking back to my car. As I'm walking through the same gate on Temple Square the same lady stops me and asks for change. I say that no, I still didn't have any, but I did have a loaf of bread that she could have. Now I'm thinking that this is awesome- perfect opportunity to help someone and I actually had something I could give. So I'm all geared up to hand over the bread when this exchange takes place:

Me: I do have a loaf of bread I can give you. It's pretty good.

Lady: (sheepishly backing away) I...uh...well, mumble mumble mumble....I'm on a diet and watching my carbs.

Me: Huh? (followed by a very confused and suspicious stare)

So I stand there for a few seconds not really believing what this lady said to me. If you are homeless and someone is offering you free food, you would take it right? I'm not crazy in thinking this, right?! Needless to say I walked away very confused. Was she faking? I have no idea. It makes me want to be cautious in giving to those who are homeless because now I'm suspicious of everyone. 

...I Had a Blog

And after promising myself to update it regularly, I promptly forgot. Huh. But don't let my blogging absence fool you into thinking that I lead a boring life full of mundane things unworthy of blog-ness. I don't even know why you would think that at all. I'm a little offended at the suggestion. The truth is- I've been too busy and/or lazy to update. But today is the day, I can feel it in my bones....or maybe that's the cold weather....but regardless, today is the day.

I am now going to relate an event that has been very emotionally trying for me. My cousin got a puppy. And why, might you wonder, is this such a horrid thing? Because she got Satan's puppy. Yes, she got a demon masqueraded as a cute little dog with floppy ears and a waggly tail. I'll prove it to you:

Because I'm the nice cousin that I am, I offer to help out and take the puppy outside to potty train him. Imagine a brisk fall morning, the leaves are glittering with the morning's moisture as I step outside and feel a subtle breeze on my face. I begin walking toward the lawn, hopeful that this morning's potty training session will be a success. Now imagine my surprise when I look back and see that the puppy is not following me, but instead is sitting patiently at the side door, eager to get back inside. I chuckle to myself as I go over to coax the little guy into the yard. I soon realize that all my tugging is in vain- this dog is not having any of it. As the last resort I bend down to pick him up. I start walking toward the yard when.... nowayyouhave
gottobekiddingmeughihatethisdog. I look down to see a stream of wetness on my clothes. Yeah- he pees on me. All over me. Fortunately for that little sucker I was still in my pajamas.

So just remember kids- just like my life can look boring and that puppy can look innocent, looks can be deceiving.