Logic-Toddler as Kryptonite-Superman

Currently Jack is in his room crying. Why? Because he peeled an orange and got sticky hands, then came to me and said an "ant" was biting him. I logically suggest how about we go wash the "ant" off? Which was then followed by a five minute progressive melt down. You know the kind that starts as a few mumbled words behind a small tear that slowly builds into a flood of tears, ear piercing cries, and loss of postural control; all because a parent used some logic? These are very difficult years.

That's it, I'm pissed.

I haven't felt like this for a long time, but I'm pissed..., I mean I'm really really pissed. But not the kind of mad that makes someone go postal. I'm pissed and I'm going to give my dissertation a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick in the chin. Like I want to spend an all nighter, more like an all weeker, and get it done now. Seriously, it's 11:30 pm and I'm considering going back to the office/lab to make some revisions, not because I really like writing or because I've got some new interesting ideas. But because I don't want to spend another breath talking about, or another neurotransmitter thinking about my dissertation. I've reached a new breaking point. Well, more like an old one. I feel like I did in high school when my football coach said I wasn't good enough. That pissed me if so much that I would do everything I could to prove him wrong.  I'm there now, and this damn dissertation is getting finished assp.

"But we need to snuggle."

Jack and I are just doing our nightly routine, drinking some milk and reading a book. I try to prep him and say, " When we're done with this book we need to brush or teeth and go to bed." He doesn't respond. When the book is finished, (which I'm overjoyed about because it was probably the worst literary work we have in the house, Mike the Knight, it's just terrible but Jack likes it) he says "We need to snuggle." He snuggles in close and rests his head on my leg. Now it's already past bedtime but I'm thinking I could let this slide for a few minutes. A few minutes later he rolls over and is sawing logs. Now this is a rare occurrence, he never falls asleep in my arms/lap so I decide I'm going to just soak it all in. But here I am now, an hour later, and my legs are numb and I think it's time I put this kiddo to bed.

 

Little Kicks

Tonight I felt the tiny little kicks of baby Davis #2. The reality of our growing family is starting to set in. I've been so busy these last several weeks with job applications and lab work that I haven't allowed myself much time to think about it. Tomorrow, we'll find out if we're having a boy or a girl!

Science sucks

I hate science! It sucks! Things never work out like they are supposed to. And in the off chance they do, they never repeat themselves. At least that's how it works for me. I have the touch of King Midas' forgotten twin brother, whose touch turned everything to dirt. I want to quit and get a job working construction, where I can show up, get my check, and go home to forget it all until the next day. I will never recommend that anyone be the first PhD student for a new faculty member because all you well do is spend the first three years testing protocols, trying to show proof of concept only to realize that you have no data and less than one year left to do an entire dissertation...oh yeah and still no proof of concept. #%?!

Prophetic Dress

Short ties are cool. The last thing I want to worry about as I eat my bowl of cinnamon toast crunch (yes I know this will give me diabetes) is my tie getting dunked in milk. My family made fun of me for my short ties and would often ask if I would wear them longer if the prophet told me to...like that would ever happen. On my wedding day all my buddies wore their ties short, as a joke but I still one upped them with a bow tie. As I was getting ready to move out east for school Lindsay said we should probably take some time to see her grandpa in the hospital. We stopped what we were doing and made the drive up. We arrived at the hospital only a few minutes before grandpa Schettler passed away. It's was a very sad day. Grandpa Schettler was well known and liked. His viewing was very well attended and was upbeat. An old military friend of Grandpa Schettler showed up and the atmosphere in the room changed, it was the prophet, Thomas Monson. He shook many hands including mine and read a letter to the family. Later that evening our paths crossed again and a man standing next to me said something like "isn't he a fine young man?" To which President Monson acknowledged and then the  man said something like "except his collar button is showing." Without missing a beat President Monson said "That's because your ties too short." Jaw dropped as he walked away. The unfathomable happens, the prophet just said my tie was too short. I will never live this one down.

Milestones

Today I hit a milestone in cycling, actually 1,000 milestones to be more precise. The first 1,000 miles are the hardest miles to get on in the year and fighting winter weather doesn't make it any easier. Other updates in my life besides cycling include acceptance into BYU's graduate program for exercise physiology. I wanted to start up in July but there aren't any classes so it looks like I'll back in the classroom in the early fall. The personal trainer job isn't all that it is hyped up to. I'm putting out applications for other jobs and will take the first thing that comes along. I'll be heading down to Phoenix this week to spend some time with the family and to get to some sunnier weather.