Minnesota nice?

The people in Minnesota are, for the most part, very nice, considerate and helpful. There's always someone to help you at the grocery store, willing to work with you when you're frazzled and give your kids stickers (so I've heard). However, when it comes to driving it seems like they can't help tailgate each other. Now, usually when someone tailgates they want to pass you because you're driving too slow. About half the time that's the case here. You'll be going maybe 10 over the speed limit and even then someone races up behind you and sits in your tail (seriously, with inches to spare) until you move or they get around you. However, the other half of the time they'll just sit on your tail and when you move over they pass you going maybe 2 mph faster then you are. So I'm not sure why "Minnesota nice" doesn't apply to driving and why people insist on following so closely. One of these day's I'm not going to feel so "nice" and slam on my breaks and show them "insurance nice." :) Ironically, this picture is from a Florida agency and Florida drivers are known to be a bit crazy but at least they admit their mistakes here! Now I'm probably the pot calling the kettle black because I've tailgated myself, but this is just getting out of hand here!

I should have been a nurse

I'm a bad patient. I should mention that first before I explain myself. I self-diagnosed myself with strep over a week ago. I've been sick all year with colds off and on as I've been surrounded with germs at school. Ironic that we just studied germs...anyway...So I went to the doc and he agreed and gave me some antibiotics. I took them faithfully until a week later all my symptoms came back with a vengence. I went to the quickcare Friday and got a stronger dose of antibiotics. Well, we also realized that I was only taking half my dose before because I didn't pay close attention to the perscription. Anyway, doc thought it was best to just nip my now diagnosed tonsilitis in the bud. So, I took the new antibiotic faithfully until I noticed red spots on my arms in church. These spots spread all over my body and now my face is swollen with them. Apparently they are called hives. Never had hives before and wouldn't reccomend it! So I figured that looking like I have the plague wasn't good for work so I took the day off and went back to the original doc. He took me off antiobiotics (I guess I'm allergic now) and am taking antihistimines. I'm wondering if I was a nurse or something if I would know better or be more careful about taking my medicine..or recognizing hives. Whatever, I get a day off. With 3 weeks left I might as well use up my sick leave. :)

Triops, Tri-tablefauna and cults

These aren't really exciting things to note but this is our humble life. Whoo-hoo!!

1. When we were in Victoria we went to this bug museum and found these weird little shrimp/crab-like creatures called triops. Well, Kurtis hasn't been able to get over the novelty of these things and so he bought a triops kit online. $5.99 for eggs, food and water conditioner. He took them to work and tried to get them to hatch. On the 5th egg, Tito hatched and is now .4 mm long but a very active little guy. Kurtis is very proud of him. So Tito sits on his desk and distracts Kurtis and his colleagues all day from their highly exciting and motivating desk jobs.

2. My mom gave me these nesting tables which amazingly fit into my suitcase and survived the plane ride home. "Nesting tables?" Kurtis has asked, "what are they for?" Well, since we've had them (1 month or so) they've just been sitting safely nested by the fireplace. Then I uncovered this little starter plant kit someone had given me and decided to plant the seeds. The little kit fit perfectly on the smallest table. Yesterday, I asked Kurtis to by me a palm tree for a mother's day gift instead of flowers. For $12, who could pass up a tropical plant (in MN mind you) that will naturally clean the air and beautify a home? I couldn't. So the tree fit on the biggest table. Well, Kurtis then mentioned that I needed a medium plant for the medium table. Voila! Today at church all mothers and grown women received a cute little geranuim plant for mother's day. These fit on the middle table. This is my life. I have plants, I usually kill them but I'm hoping this time it's different. This is my garden.

3. Kurtis wanted to go to all the thrift stores in the area to get a lamp to keep Tito's (see #1) water warm. We were in Savers and split up to look around. I noticed that Kurtis was talking to an older man who I assumed worked at IBM also and was just chatting with Kurtis. Then as I neared them I thought, maybe he's a Jehovah's Witness and they're having a nice conversation. Well, the man did work for IBM many years ago and he was a sharing a religious message, but it wasn't quite so kind. He explained that he and his wife had been involved in a brainwashing cult and had their eyes opened last year. Now they have been born again and are concerned for the Salvation of others. Great message! However, when they found out we are LDS their eyes rolled and they became extremely concerned for us, saying that we too were brainwashed and were exactly like they were when they were younger. Needless to say, Kurtis did an excellent job of trying to bring the message back to asking the Lord to know of truth and trying to show these good people the similarities of our beliefs. Well, I was agitaged and didn't like to be told I was going to hell (is that prideful??) but they seemed to like Kurtis and were amazed by his sincerity. I think they gave up on me because they addressed everything to Kurtis.. they even prayed for him. I guess I wasn't worth saving. Oh well. They wanted to show us an anti-Mormon movie in exchange for coming to church with us. Maybe we can open their eyes again because they certainly won't open ours. I am grateful for my Savior and for the ability to turn to the Lord for answers. I know that if we seek we shall find, if we ask we shall receive, if we knock the door will be opened unto us to understand all things.