Certain uncertainty...

I apologize for causing undue stress (Charm City Kelly) with my earlier post. I cannot go into too many details as yet, but I will elaborate. For some time now, I have felt a certain disquiet. Never sure what it was, and VERY NERVOUS about asking God for clarification, I just simmered. I really do not like change, and I know that this disquiet is usually the precursor to change. Recently, a chance conversation with a friend brought some possibilities to light. I feel a little better prepared for whatever God has in store for me, which is a big deal for a girl who really likes to dig in her heels. See, even when I am too chicken to ask, He is ready to answer.

Today I had a prayer answered. A prayer that I hadn't yet gotten together the guts to pray. A prayer that I was still to fearful to pray. Wow. My God is so awesome. (And yes, Dad, I do really mean awesome. He fills me with awe) Film at eleven.

When I was in Jr high, a local high school teacher was fired to demonstrating the correct way to put on a condom. (A banana was used in the demonstration) Now I hear that Kings Middle School in Portland, Maine will be offering full range contraceptive services to girls as young as 11. Wow.

I maintain that October is Las Vegas makes up for the nasty summers. This week was our annual "turning off of the central air" ceremony. Windows are open (with security bars in place, Dad) and fans are running. I love autumn. I love waking up to a cold nose and snuggling into Jon (I am married to a furnace); I love the smell of woodsmoke in the air as the fireplaces get going; I love the distinct aroma of rotting leaves. I am an autumn kind of girl. Sweaters and soup and the end of daylight savings time. At the end of summer's oppressive heat is the cooling. Seasons are, quite possibly, my favorite part of God's creation. Right now, Jon's and my life is in a summer; it's hot, sticky, and uncomfortable. There are brief moments of artificial cooling, but we always have to get back into the heat. Fall is my reminder that summer is not endless; at the end comes the cool. God will send a cooling season for our summer, just as he sends the cooling season f...

And so on and so forth. Thanks to a lot of prayers and pray-ers(you know who you are) and a little old fashioned pounding of the pavement, things are looking up. I started a new job at the beginning of August. The office culture is good, the location could not be beat (just over two miles- walking distance when I am not too lazy), and the work is getting more interesting. The drawbacks are mostly lack of flexibility (I really miss being able to shuffle my hours around to tackle church projects and have the occasional lunch with a girlfriend) and a much higher stress level than I am used to. Jon starts a part-time gig as a production assistant for a show at a major resort. I dunno if it would be proper to divulge too many specifics, but the resort only has three letter to its name, and is a block off The Strip. Full time would be ideal, but this is good to keep things afloat until he is recalled (We are praying for the first part of October on that one.). The head game? That's ...

There is pretty much nothing good about unemployment. I wanted to get that out of the way. It has, however, afforded me some reading and watching time that would otherwise not exist. This week's offering were pretty diverse: The Simpson's Movie I'll have to give this one a C-. If you love the TV show (which my husband does), you will love the movie (which he and millions of other Americans obviously did). There is pretty much nothing more to be said. I laughed a bit, but I really don't dig the humor so much. Beside, I was distracted by the inordinate number of CHILDREN IN THE THEATRE!!!! Big Love (Season 1, pilot and episode 2) I really want to like this show, truly. I have read nothing but good about it, and I want to be the type of person who "gets it" (how vain is that?). Confession: I don't "get it." Seems to me that the entire show is an excuse to show Bill Paxton having sex with three different women. I have the rest of t...

You know who you are. You are the parents who though it would be a fun family outing to the cinema. But why choose such a kiddie flick as Ratatouille or Surf's Up! when The Simpsons Movie looks much more interesting? Sure, why not! Here's the thing: movies have ratings for a reason. PG-13 is most likey NOT APPROPIRATE for your 5-7 year old bairn. Not only that, but your children do not contribute to my enjoyment of the movie with their constant squawking and squirming. Thank you for your future consideration. Sincerely, The Lady in the Front Row. (In my defense, this movie outing was by way of a gift to my Jonathan. No way would I go see The Simpsons Movie on my own volition.

My Gram turned 85 last Friday. She keeps a schedule that is just madness- sheer madness! Between her hospice volunteer work, Emmaus community events and groups, and running errands for various homebound friends, Gram does more at 85 than most people half her age. Last year, she came up to Vegas for Thanksgiving (she lives in Yuma, AZ). The evening before she headed home, we all went out to hear Jon's band play. The above pic is the result of a little fun we had when she dozed off. (It was after midnight) Please know that none of the empties are hers (neither bottles nor glasses)...

So much is rattling around in my brain these days that I need to purge... -Togetherness is beautiful, and I not only love my husband, I also enjoy his company and like him. Having said that, I look forward to his return to full-time employment soon. Jon was laid off right before vacation (that is, the day we left) and I was laid off right after. Some more income sooner than later would be appreciated. -My being laid off is really just a kick in the pants from God. I had been very unhappy there for months, but really liking the money. Now I will be back in school full time and working part time. -The above hinges on Jon's working situation. He has an extremely good opportunity coming up, but we are playing the waiting game right now. We covet your prayers. -The waiting game is taking its toll on my mental health. IRL friends know that I have battled severe depression in the past. I am fighting its hold over me. I refuse to be ruled by irrational thinking!!!...

My darling sister and I have begun "The Great 30-pounder"- a race to see who can lose thirty pounds first. Jon is going to lose with us, but he is not allowed to compete. This is just between us girls. Not sure what is at stake. Any prize ideas??

I am back in the saddle this week. Beginning with a Feast, and another few posts browning in the oven... Appetizer What is your favorite fruit? I love love love fruit. I would rather have fruit that chocolate! Blueberries are a long time favorite. Mom tells a story about going to a pick-your-own blueberry farm with me when I was around 18 months old. She parked at the end of a row and put me in the back of the car with the tailgate open, giving me some toys to pass the time. When she went back to check on me, I was out of the car, sitting beneath a bush, and shoving ripe blueberries into my mouth as fast as I could pick them. Soup Who is someone you consider as a great role model? Just one? I'd have to go with my dad. He has overcome such adversity in his life, and never cried, "Poor me." Dad just takes what's handed to him and keeps plugging away. Salad If you were to spend one night anywhere within an hour of your home, where would you choose? Wow, I ha...

"Destroying human life, in the hopes of saving human life, is not ethical" Guess who?

Four days until a hug from Mandy, a Caleb laugh, that chicken smell. A morning with Dad (since he and I will be up way before anyone else), an afternoon jaunt, a late night cribbage game with Mom. Family vacation is upon us, and that means some surf fishing with Uncle Jim, pool time with Tara and the boys, and hanging with my baby brother . I have a few predictions for the week: 1) My nephews will be completely taken with my Uncle Jim, as he is simply the coolest uncle ever. (Sorry Jon, but it is true. You are second coolest, if that helps) 2) I will forget sunscreen on my feet and ears at least once and end up looking like some strange Vulcan-Hobbit cross. 3) It will take four hours before Mandy and I are rolling our eyes at one another. (Sisters are fun for that, right?) 4) After 24 hours, Jon and Matt will be itching to get away from so many women folk. Uncle Jim will already be on the beach with his fishing poles. 5) At least one Wolske (legal or biological) will end up with a...

A little over twenty years ago, I wrote an essay for a Father's Day contest. Our task was to finish the sentence "My dad is the greatest because..." My parents still have that essay -my careful fourth grade cursive on its Cabbage Patch Kids stationery. My guess is that it is in the stack of framed photos that need to be hung somewhere sometime (Does every home have a stack like that or is this a problem unique to Hutsons?) I do not remember all the particulars, but I know that some mention was made of pancakes for breakfast. I recall that, when the essay was read to the congregation, there were a few chuckles-- I imagine that I would chuckle myself to read it now. A lot has changed in those twenty years. Dad is no longer the "man in my life;" I cannot remember the last time I ate his pancakes for breakfast; it's been months since I even had breakfast with him! One thing has not changed- my dad is the greatest. He is the greatest provider I could have h...

Appetizer What do you consider to be the ultimate snack food? I cannot narrow it down to one, so I have to go with one sweet and one savory. Sweet- grapes; I love how they start out ho-hum and then literally burst in my mouth. Savory- I am a hummus junkie; garlicky, lemony, garbanzo bean-y hummus. Soup On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 as highest), about how popular is your last name? I would go pretty low for both my maiden name and my married name. Perhaps 1.5 for my married name and 2 for my maiden name? Salad Who is your all-time favorite sitcom character, and why? Gosh, I am drawing blanks this week. Right now I will go with Karen from Will and Grace . That annoying voice and the constant stream of alcohol and prescription narcotics always proved an interesting mix. A somewhat less vulgar Patsy Stone , if you will. Main Course Do you shop online? If so, name some sites you like to browse for goodies. Does a wild bear live in the woods? Yes, I shop online. Amazon , Lands...

Pretty nerdy. I just picked out a couple books for vacation; Genome: An Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters (a gripping page-turner, no doubt), and it's thrilling sequel The Agile Gene: How Nature Turns on Nurture . Jon and I caught a rerun of Nova Monday night which has had me reading all I can find about epigenetics . I have exhausted free resources which are not completely over my head and had to break down an find a book. I suppose I could have gone to the library, but I can shop Amazon in comfort... I am especially interested in what Matt Ridley has to say about Richard Dawkins and his "Selfish Gene" assertions. Maybe I should go back a read that first, but I really don't want to. Instead, I shall find myself a good summary. That's the ticket. I may be a nerd, but I am a lazy nerd. If anyone is interested in purchasing some Science Homework Offsets to fund my book habit, please let me know.

Appetizer Name something you think is “the best.” Fisher's Popcorn is the best snack food. Ever. Soup On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 highest), how stressed are you today? Today was a 9.8 all the way. Fortunately, I have a super-understanding husband who lets me vent and gives me time to get over myself. Yay Jon! Salad What kind of cleanser do you use to wash your face? Until one week ago, when my eyelids swelled up, it was ProActiv . Now I am using Neutrogena . Anyone want some Proactiv? I have two unopened cleansers, and one each of the toner and repairing lotion. Ugh... Main Course Tonight is a blue moon ! What is something that you believe only happens “once in a blue moon.” Once in a blue moon I can get one over on my husband. Maybe. He's pretty quick-witted. Dessert When was the last time it rained where you live? I don't remember, but it has been a couple months. This is the Mojave, after all. We are actually coming up on our "monsoon season" in ...

Karen . Really, Karen and her family have been such a blessing to (Jon and) me. Teaching is one thing, music is a nice bonus, but what turns a church into a church home is community. Karen "does community" in everything. She calls out of the blue to see how my week is going. She brings smoothies and coffee at just the right moment (when I am liketwosecondsaway from pulling out my hair). She also knows pretty much what I am going to say before I say it (a little scary for those of you who know me IRL). And you know what else? Karen knows when to not even ask. She just knows. My plate is full this week and hers is even more full, believe me. Yet she knows that the healthy thing for me is to not add something else. Knowing full well I would say, "sure, I'll do it", she just doesn't ask. I love that she has my back where I am lacking good sense.

1) For the first time in my memory, our gas prices are actually BELOW the national average. I filled up for $3.159, which while far from ideal, is much better than much of the country. I still cannot understand the perpetual desire to see conspiracies in all of this. ExxonMobil posted record profits because- say it with me now- they are THE LARGEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD . If they didn't have larger profits, I would be worried. Wouldn't you? 2) We have twenty-six days until vacation in OBX. I am really looking forward to spending good beach time with my mum, BIL, SIL, sis, and whomever else makes their way down to Corolla. Mum has let a house for a week and I am cooking for the crew. Some sun, some cards, some beer- good times. 3) Jon and I took in a movie this afternoon- Hot Fuzz , a cute British spoof of American action flix. Laughed. A lot. I love Bill Nighy any way I can find him. He was hilarious in Love, Actually and freaking brilliant in Notes on a Scandal . 4)...

Our sneaky-sneaky Congress and equally sneaky-sneaky president have slipped a minimum wage increase in with the rest of the pork-laden War Funding Bill. Jimmy Dean, anyone??