- Today I gave a presentation on a topic about which I knew practically nothing, and I gave it to a group of neuroscientists, some of whom happened to be experts on the topic. I saw one of them roll his eyes and snicker while I was speaking. That felt fantastic.
And here is where I apply the life lesson I recently learned from rapper Kanye West: "N-n-now th-that that don't kill me/Can only make me stronger." This is wisdom, elegantly framed.
(It's a sign that I'm reading too much neuroscience literature that whenever I try to write "lesson" it ends up coming out as "lesion".)
- I am officially a permanent resident in Canada. Perhaps I should rename this website www.maeuti.ca (?) As with all other dealings with the Canadian government so far, this process was mind-numbingly drawn out and brimming with arbitrary hoops. No matter. Free health-care and exorbitant taxes, here I come.
- I had the blessing of baptizing our friend Yves and his daughter, Elaine. There is always such a good, clean feeling at these baptisms, and I felt privileged to be part of it. Of course, I didn't feel privileged that the water heater was broken, there was a leak in the font (it was only up to our mid-thigh when we stepped in, making "baptism by immersion" quite the task), and I made the mistake of refusing offers of help with lifting Yves out of the water -- he weighs 400 pounds and has bad knees. He and Elaine were such good sports about it, and everything turned out just fine.
- Our friends the Reeves came over for dinner. They brought Frank, their bulldog. He was a mighty foe, and he would have defeated me in our wrestling match (he goes for the feet) if little Jack Reeve (10 months) hadn't hit his head on yet another piece of our furniture, distracting Frank.
Frank is photogenic.
Frank diligently attempting to give a "high five".
I still don't know how, but I managed to get Kris to pose with Frank. I think Frank can sense the silent animosity.
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12 comments:
I get the same snickering and rolling of eyes in seminary when I try to talk about the trials presented in high school. Apparently I haven’t a clue what high school students face.
Today I evidently quoted some popular song because out of the blue one student started rocking out and the rest started giggling. I of course had no idea what the song was.
Kris,
Whatever you do--Don't give in to the French bulldog.
Frank looks great! about a million times better than one of those French bulldogs you keep talking about. He looks happy and fun (except when he looks like you glued him down for the photo with Kristen. he looks like he's trying to move but can't and it makes him a little disgruntled. Sorry, Kris, you might want to leave the dogs to Dan.
On the subject of Seminary, I try to be funny most days and almost always have to point out what was funny about what I said. Do you have any idea how demoralizing it is to have no one laugh when you say something hilarious? I try to make them tell me what their trials are but they don't go for it and make me ambiguously refer to my own past without saying straight-out that I ever dealt with temptations.
Thanks for the moral support russell. I too find myself making reference to "a friend that I grew up with." Sometimes I wonder if I am the only one who had trials growing up.
I am an attorney by day and this morning I made a contracts joke to my seminary class. Note to self: highschoolers do not think contracts jokes are funny.
Holy cow...we know a bulldog named Frank, also. Matt and I are not really dog lovers....But we met a bulldog named frank once, (a puppy) and have never forgotten him. He was truely awesome. That Frank from your blog looks pretty good too. Also, the other comments on your blog about seminary and students not laughing...I can empathize, I was a seminary teacher once and no one laughed at my jokes either, I just told myself it was because it was too early in the morning for kids to laugh?! right? P.S.- I hope i don't sound like I am just trying to fit in...by saying "i also knew a dog named Frank, and I also was a seminary teacher.." that would be rather sad, huh? -Stacers
I don't know how we started comparing seminary students to neuroscientists, but I think we should stop now.
Mer, that's cold. I thought you had my back.
Russell said:
Do you have any idea how demoralizing it is to have no one laugh when you say something hilarious?
Daniel responds:
Yes, I'd say I'm quite acquainted with the feeling.
Ammon,
What do you call it when some is being followed by a bamboozler?
"Con tracked."
Stacers,
I really wish you guys had a blog. I vote that you get one asap.
Kristen got a haircut...it's darling!
I have been wracking my brain for a response to "bunnies are not dogs, Laura," but I have come up with absolutely nothing. Bleh.
Laura,
I'm one step ahead of you. Here's my future response to your (imminent) response to me --
Laxatives are not cold medicine, Laura.
As I type this, I can't shake the image of that poor bunny trying to "keep it in" while sneezing and under the influence of laxatives. And that frightening little barking noise that he would make... So sad and funny at the same time. R.I.P.
Dan! Today I recommended you to be in a student commercial. I went searching for you on the internet and viola, I found yours and Kris's blog. I don't know if she remembers me or not. And I know she is good friends with Christy Mustard Welch too. I think I first met her, maybe, through Christy (?). Anyway! Hope you are both doing well! I guess you are moved from what I gather so you wouldn't be available to be our actor. :( bye! www.i-am-tam.blogspot.com
tamilisa@gmail.com.
Hey, I like Kris' short hair. Very cute, and it's always fun to change it up :)
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