Evidence

Some of you have doubted the fact that I am able to accomplish an independent study course - much less STATS 221 as independent study. I am here to set your ill-at-ease minds to rest, and prove to you that I have, in fact, opened my course and I am looking.

Even though I would rather:

• Pluck out EVERY hair on my body with tweezers
• Eat egg whites and celery
• Jump from a burning building into a pile of broken glass
• Shovel manure
  
• Cut off my toes - and NOT for the benefit of science
• Peel off my fingernails
• And any number of other measure of torture

I have started!

"You haven't told me yet," said Lady Nuttall, "what it is your fiancé does for a living."

"He's a statistician," replied Lamia, with an annoying sense of being on the defensive.

Lady Nuttall was obviously taken aback. It had not occurred to her that statisticians entered into normal social relationships. The species, she would have surmised, was perpetuated in some collateral manner, like mules.

"But, it's a very interesting profession," said Lamia warmly.

"I don't doubt it," said the lady, who obviously doubted it very much.

-The Dreaded Lesson Manual

I have it on good authority that we should trust the aristocracy - especially when they are right. (Meaning, not only is Stats NOT interesting...it is also torture, tedious, horrible and any other word you can possibly throw at it that is negative!)

For those of you wondering, though, (As I know a great many of you are) Stats is defined as:

Statistics is the science of collecting, organizing, and interpreting numerical facts—which we call data. We are bombarded by data in our everyday life. Most of us associate "statistics" with the bits of datum that appear in news reports: baseball batting averages, imported car sales, the latest poll of the president's popularity, and the average high temperature for today's date. Advertisements often claim that data show the superiority of the advertiser's product. All sides in public debates about economics, education, and social policy argue from data. Yet the usefulness of statistics goes far beyond these everyday examples.

In a completely unrelated note - Check out Ray LaMontagne and Landon Pigg...they are seriously so WONDERFUL to listen to and have an 98.7% rate of making me happy, with a zero margin of error.

Ray...



Or Landon...

mi padre

So yesterday was Father's day.

I have been thinking about my dad a lot. First I was thinking about what to get my dad for Father's Day. Then I was thinking about what card to get for Father's Day. Then I was thinking about the blog post I was going to write for Father's Day.

There was a lot of thinking, and a whole lot of nothing happening. But my father expects this of me...or he should. I am a master procrastinator. And no, I did not learn that from him. If I had picked up his traits, I would not be a procrastinator at all.

I wanted to write a big long post about all the things that I have learned from my dad, and the amazing life lessons he's taught me. For some reason, I keep thinking to myself, "Man, I must have gotten that _______ [insert trait/attribute/habit here] from Dad." Only, when I go to write it down, I can't remember what it is. But let me tell you, this non-existent list is getting quite hefty. Because, even though I can't remember; and even though we are so incredibly different: we're not really. He has taught me well. And as I grow and mature, I think I will be more like him. I'll just eat better.

As I was thinking about my dad the last few days, the main thing that just kept coming to my mind was: I love him.

I love him, a lot.

I just do. My dad is singularly, one of the greatest men I know. I love him. I love him. I love him. I just don't think that I say it enough. I don't think that the depth of my love comes across very easily. He is what I compare most men to. He is everything. Because he is the musician/farm boy/biker/nerd/business man/construction worker/athlete....all rolled into one. How awesome is that? He plays guitar, rides motor cycles, can build a house from the ground up, fix computers and all things electronic, plays basketball, and...he's spiritual. His background involves a turkey farm, tobacco farm, tractors and horses.

I don't know any other man that is as versatile as my dad.

On top of that, I love that he has truly taught me what to look for when I am looking for my own husband. It will be impossible to find someone with so many varied interests as my dad, but if I just look for the basics...I think I will do alright.

• Someone who loves the Lord. My dad served a full-time mission for the Church. He served in bishoprics and elders' quorum, and all other manner of church callings. He prays and reads his scriptures. And he is worthy to hold the priesthood - the power of God. I have never been turned away when I need a blessing, because he has always been worthy.
• Someone who works hard. My dad has always had a full-time job. It didn't matter whether or not he was in school full-time too, but he has always worked. On top of that, he has worked side jobs all my life. Whether it was fixing toilets, finishing basements, roofing or painting a house, building decks, etc. He used to referee basketball (awesome!). And on top of all of that, he worked on his house, too. Doing all of that and more. He's always on the go, and always working to provide for our family. There is nothing more commendable than that.
• Someone who loves his family. Not just his wife and kids - though he is particularly devoted to us all. But his mom and dad, brothers and sisters. My dad's family has taught me what a true family is. To be there when it counts. To sustain and support whether emotionally, financially or physically. I have been so blessed to be a member of his family - and I am so grateful that he has maintained those ties and relationships with his family members so that I could grow up with knowing my aunts, uncles and cousins.

So Dad, even though this post is a day late (two, if we are on Ohio time) I just want you to know that I love you and that I am thinking about you. And I appreciate you.

You are my hero. You are my example.

Love you,
Shelli

Whoamazing Sandwich!

On the way back from Idaho, we stopped at the Crossroads Diner in Tremonton, Utah. It was really ghetto and while speculating how they could possibly stay in business we ordered sandwiches. The sandwich I got was fairly delicious. And easily recreated.

So after I dropped Becca off at the airport, I tried my hand at making my own awesome sandwich - and succeeded, exponentially.

1. Sautee green peppers and onions
2. Melt pepperjack cheese on top of creation
3. Put turkey on whole grain bread
4. Add green peppers and onions, and a little bit of spicy ranch dressing
5. Return to pan to brown the bread
6. Add tomatoes

Um...can I just say - DELICIOUS! I would say that maybe it was because I was starving and that was the reason this tasted so good. Perhaps it was the fact that I made it myself using whatever pans and dishes and making messes knowing that I could clean it up when I wanted to. But no, that is not the case. It was just simply delectable. Yum yum yum. I can't wait until tomorrow, so I can have it again!

Or why wait...maybe I'll just have a midnight snack.

Now I just have to come up with a name for this...

A Crimson Frost - Review

A Crimson Frost by Marcia Lynn McClure

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Crimson Frost is quite possibly Marcia Lynn McClure's best story in her whole collection. (Do not confuse this with Broderick being the best hero - I still hold a soft spot for Ryder and Ransom and Mason...)



Set back in the days of kings, queens and valiant knights, A Crimson Frost follows the Crimson Knight and Scarlet Princess as they discover their secreted love for one another while living in exile when war breaks out with a neighboring kingdom.



The style of writing is similar to Born for Thorton's Sake. Her characters are likeable. Not as witty as Ryder - but then, Ryder wasn't dealing with war and threats on the life of his love. There were parts that were a bit redundant - but easily enough played off.



I really enjoyed A Crimson Frost, and felt that it was 1000x better than The Time of Aspen Falls. A Crimson Frost stays true to the reason why I started reading Marcia Lynn McClure in the first place.


View all my reviews.

According to Roberta...

I think I like living with Roberta. She is good for the self-esteem.
In the past few weeks that Becca has been away, Roberta (who is Becca's Mother) has given me quite a list of compliments as we have gotten to know each other.

Apparently, I have stunning eyes.

And a fiery personality - but in a quiet way.

And, I'm cute (also beautiful, gorgeous and any number of other synonyms). And sometime - in the near future - some guy is going to snatch me up because I'm so sexy.

Yup, I think I'll stick around here.