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So What is he up to these days?

I realized that there is a lot of back blogging regarding Adam. Squadam. I'm kind of grouchy so this probably isn't the best time to write this blog but I can't think of any other time to do it. Some of you know that Adam had a job at HSBC last April, as a loan lender. Fortunately he knew that it was not right for him and kept job hunting. He quit the last week of July and began working for Texas Oncology at a hospital in Arlington. His job title is cancer registrar. It includes a lot of stuff but he's not a secretary (that's what his job title makes it sound like). He helps stage cancer after it has been diagnosed, leads cancer conference meetings every week, abstracts, runs a clinical trial program... on and on and on. He does a lot of stuff. Just stuff. And a lot of it is boring to him. That's what he does during the day. About a month ago we were sitting in the doctor's office for my check up and he said "So I have a second job". That's how it went. He'd had it for about a week but this was the first time he had time to tell me. His second job is working for a doctor at the medical school he wants to go to assisting in research studies. Right now he is going through charts and trying to find different correlations regarding cancer (this patient and this patient both used birth control etc). Anyway this job is leading him to meet some of the bigwigs at the school giving him an inside edge when he applies to this medical school. He got this second job just a few weeks before the April MCAT was held and decided it would be best to hold of until May (Tuesday after memorial day) to take the MCAT. More schmoozing time, more studying time. Also he is still the executive secretary and spends Tuesday evenings and ALL of SUNDAY at church. So right now he goes to work, stops working but stays there and studies for 1-2 hours, comes home does some work. Watching tv on the internet and then goes to sleep and does it again. Saturdays he studies and does stuff for the Bishop. He has a pretty hectic schedule. Last weekend was our Anniversary. Adam got home from Minnesota on Friday but had agreed to volunteer as the Team Captain for Relay for Life. Funny thing how they didn't mention what all was involved. So he spent Friday - Saturday (the idea is that Cancer never sleeps) in arlington trying fund raise for the American Cancer Society. Yep. Got off the plane, repacked for the night, left. He got home around 5:30 am. Abby and I did the Mayfest so that he could sleep. He got up just in time to go to the priesthood session of Stake Conference. And then we were doing Stake Conference. It feels like things are piled up on each other. This weekend is Mothers Day, Josiah decided to come for a visit (this is an entirely different blog), Adam has the MCAT in 2 weeks...It's crazy. I'm a single mom with a paycheck.

Interesting Article

I recently found a website called www.babyfit.com and found this interesting article about weight-training http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=708 It just talks about the benefits of weight training. I have had a hard time feeling motivated about weight training for the last year and a half or two. I used it to lose a lot of the initial weight after Abigail, until it became comfortable to run again. Then I always promised myself that I would be committed to it again. I do a few machines everytime I go to the gym and have a few hand weights and resistance bands at home but I have not been very consistent. Anyway this was a good article for me stumble on.

6 Things Everyone Should Accomplish By the Time They Are 18

My friend Alyssa tagged me months ago, like March. I think that this hit me kind of at a busy time. Also I reflected a lot about what I didn't know or had not accomplished by the time I was 18 and therefore also what I have not yet accomplished. I also thought of Abby and what I want her to accomplish by then. Here's my best shot at it, in no particular order.

#1 Everyone should know how to fill out basic forms. Fortunately this is one that I did know how to do but found working with the general public that most people struggle with. You should know how to fill out medical forms, including all of the information pertinent to yourself. You should be able to fill out a job application. You should be able to fill out a college application. You should be able to fill out a basic tax form.

#2 Everyone should understand basic finance ideas by this time. This one I did not know. But I was not alone. I remember, as may Alyssa, asking why I was paying extra for utilities. I didn't sign up for that I said. Ha ha. I had no idea what they were. I am not sure if this was because I received the information and filed it in the not pertinent to me right now file or if I never received the information. I also had no idea how to communicate with my bank or how to keep records of my finances. Another big doosie: I had no idea how interest in my credit card worked, non the less fees.

#3 Everyone should have a religious experience by 18. It's hard for me to say that everyone should be attending a decided upon religion or practicing a decided religion by 18. I do think that everyone should have an idea of what religion is and why it is so important to people. With this idea I guess that I want people to be respectful and tolerant of mainstream religions (I say mainstream because I don't think we should be tolerant of abusive sects ie David Koresh or the current FLDS crisis). By 18 you should know to be observant of others deeply held beliefs and show respect. I also think that by this age it is important for people to have started exploring what their own beliefs are.

#4 Everyone should have succesfully participated on a team or group striving for the same goal. This could be a sports team, student council, a youth group doing a service project. I'm not talking about an assigned school project that takes 1-2 meetings. I am talking about something more long term where the individual is invested in the results. These experiences are important to learn how to operate in a group. It also exploits our strenghts and weaknesses. Admittedley I hated group projects, it never seemed fair that my grade depended on others. However, I do think it has real world application. As much as I might dislike that the success of the project depended on other people this is true in work settings and community settings.

#5 Everyone should have engaged in an activity that increased their confidence, something hard that taught them how to cope with hard things and that they can do hard things. Also this activity should inspire them to continue working towards a goal. For me this was cross country. I made a goal at the beginning of my senior year that I would never miss a day of cross country. I succeeded with benefits that are still lasting today. I know that I can do hard things. I know how I cope with the ups and downs of adversity. I also made goals after the season was over to always be able to run a mile in 10 minutes. This has been true for most of the 10 years since I made that goal. It is true right now.

#6 Everyone should have participated in some form of community service/program that supports the community. This hopefully will become a lifetime pursuit. For me I really like to live in communities that have a strong community center. Orem, UT had a really good community, both rec center and library. Bountiful had also had really strong programs. The one that I have been most involved in however is Hurst. I truly have a strong love of Hurst because of the community programs. I also love to support the different local causes through running 5k's that support the community. I think that there are a variety of ways to support local community and that individuals should be aware not only of what some of them are but seek out the ways that they will enjoy and continue.

Politics

A few months ago Becca and I were talking about how something like this http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/issues/economy.html would be helpful. Anyway I glanced over it and it seemed helpful.

Hypermiling

Since I am a stay at home mom and can schedule most of my activities at my leisure I have started practicing hypermiling. A big part of this is driving slowly. Once I looked at this as a challenge it became easier. I really pay attention to how often I push the gas pedal and how far up my rpm goes (hopefully never over a 2). Also as soon as I park I turn the engine off and never start it before I am completely ready to go. But accelerating slowly and not using anymore gas at a red light or going 25 mph or slower down the hill to mom and dad's house (I can make it about a mile from either direction without gas to home) really makes people mad. I drive as far on the right as I can in case anyone wants to try and pass me. Anyway I read this article http://amasci.com/amateur/traffic/trafexp.html about driving in traffic. I do almost no highway driving so I don't know how well this works but I will try it next time. Also here is a website that give a basic understanding of hypermiling http://www.hypermiling.com/.

Too Long

It has been a long time since I last posted a blog, and not because there hasn't been anything to blog about. On Tuesday Rebecca and I had the opportunity to leave our babies behind and go to the temple. It was really nice. It was the only peace I think that I have felt all week. Also while we were in the session I think that I felt the baby kick. Pretty cool. My friend Aaron and Katherine had their baby early Wednesday morning. Aaron had flown back to Washington with his army unit to wait for their call to go to Afghanistan. Five minutes after he got off the plane Katherine called and said that she was in labor. Luckily Aaron's commander was compassionate and told him to go back home until Thursday night. So he was able to greet his little daughter before he goes. Adam is out of town on a business trip for job #1. I have a race on Saturday. I should clarify what racing consists of at this point. It doesn't consist of putting the baby in danger, like a lot of people think, it does consist of staying motivated and excited about working out. It really helps me want to keep working out. And you get free stuff too. Okay not free stuff but you get some cool stuff. Abby is obsessed with Ni Hao Kai Lan. Loves it. A lot. I'm glad. That's how I was able to write this blog.