The Race Continues

I realized this morning that I have not posted in a while. I thought this week would be less busy than last week, but that is not the case. I have something every night this week, and poor Jon is down to his last five days of class, and then two finals and he is done with his first year of med. school!

So a recap on where I left off last...

First off a correction, the tour Jon gave last Friday was not for an interviewee. It was a sophomore at Kent State, who is interested in going to med. school when she graduates and just wanted to take a tour of UTCOM (University of Toledo College of Medicine). Everyone who has been accepted to med. school has to accept or reject their offers by tomorrow (Wednesday) and then the wait list will be prioritized and people will begin to be accepted off the wait list. It is a crazy time! I am glad we are past it, but feel for those who are still waiting to hear. Good luck!

Friday night, Jon and I went to a barbecue with a few of the med. students and their families. There was tons of good food and good conversations. We left a little early to go and play volleyball at the church and get in a little exercise. We also had to fill our car up with gas. It cost us more then $50! Ouch!

Saturday morning, we took our monthly trip to Michigan. This month we decided to go to the ward (Elder's Quorum) temple trip. It was fun to go at a different time when it was still light for the drive home. We actually did not have any spectacular finds or adventures this trip. Which was okay! The picture at the right is of a tree in front of the stake center next to the temple.

On our way home we stopped and got or twenty-three cent pizzas with our rain checks. It was nice to not wait in line and chat with the worker who was a little stressed, but still kind of smiling. I guess they sold around 600 pizzas in 2 days. Crazy! I have been and will be eating pizza all week. I love Papa John's Pizza!

Mother's Day was really good over all. The only down side being the perfume in sacrament meeting, which caused me to have to sit in the hall for the whole meeting so I could breathe. At the end of the meeting, the youth in the ward gave out carnations to all the women over 18. Then, Jon and I enjoyed food and games at our friends, the Ziemers, after church for the rest of the day.

On Monday, I was actually able to get a lot done around our apartment. The one down part is that our vacuum started smoking from the motor, and it appears we are going to have to get a new one. Sad! Oh well. We fed the Elders, had Family Home Evening, and then went to work out with the Deweys. Sister Dewey made an amazing discovery with my back problems. She poked around a little and found that my spine is rotated between my shoulder blades. Why, in all the doctors I have been to over the years, has no one caught this before? So now my exercising with the Deweys can be focused toward helping correct the problem. It was amazing to finally find out what the problem has been all these years of pain! Thanks Denise!

I thought I would end this post with a picture of my bean plants. One has not grown too much, but the other is about double in size. I found a new home for them. I have to remember to bring them to the Ziemers next time I go over there.

Busy, Busy Week

This week has been crazy! Not only has Jon had two tests, but I have had tons more to do then normal. Our Anniversary turned out to be a day where we did not get to see much of each other, but we had previously decided to celebrate on the weekend.

Tuesday, Jon studied most of the evening and I was gone so I think it was a little easier for him to get things done. I do try really hard to let him study, but sometime I just keep asking him questions and stuff. I visited some sisters in the ward and then I went down to Haskins, Ohio to scrapbook. I have made a new friend in the last few weeks. She is awesome! We had fun chatting and kind of scrap booking. Well, Julia was scrap booking, but I do not know if you could call what I was doing scrap booking. I had one of those books that you just slide the picture in and then can write something about the picture on the margins (Thanks Emilee for trading me at the baby shower so I did not have to have lotion and stuff that I was allergic to). Now you would think that it would be easy to just slide pictures into the pockets, but I got to the end and there were extra pictures. I thought I had figured it out so that would not happen. Looking through the pages I found some I had missed. Oops! Needless to say it took me 2 hours to do something I thought would be a breeze. Next time maybe I will do some real scrap booking. We laughed and talked and broke a light bulb (well her husband did, but he was trying to help) and just had a good time! It's so good to have another good friend around!

Wednesday while Jon was taking his first test this week, I tried to catch up on some cleaning around the house that has been neglected for a while. I got the kitchen looking nice, but that was as far as the cleaning went. Today the kitchen looks like it did before, so today will be the same battle as Wednesday. The dishes were not as bad as this picture, but it felt that way.

Thursday was another busy day. Jon again had a test the next day, so he studied all night. I went to walking group in the morning so I could get a little exercise, but had to leave right after the walking part was done, so I could shower and be ready to take someone to the airport in Detroit. It was the first time I had driven to the airport. I think I have only been to the Detroit Airport once before and I was a passenger. It was not too bad. I made it without getting lost at all and made good time, too, since there was no traffic at all.

I was home just in time to pick Jon up from school and get to a 2:30 appointment. We had wanted to go take advantage of the 23 cent pizza at Papa John's earlier in the day, but we did not get there until after4:00. There was quite a line, but we thought we would wait for a little while. I mean you cannot beat Papa John's pizza for less than a quarter. Not long after we got there, an employee came out and stood behind us and started handing out rain checks. We were going to be the last ones to get the pizza deal for the day. We talked to the lady and she said we could wait and get pizza today or we could take the rain check and still get the $0.23 pizza between now and Sunday. The idea of getting our pizza when there would be less of a line for the same price really appealed to me since I was tired and hungry and did not want to wait. We both got a rain check and decided to go back on Saturday afternoon to get our pizza for less a quarter. I cannot wait for some pizza. This will probably end up being our anniversary celebration dinner on the weekend. Can we beat the price though?

After Jon and I can home and heated up some leftovers, I got a call from a sister in the ward to go to a Stake Relief Society Activity with her. I had been debating all day if I was going to go, so I decided to go. It was a breast cancer awareness night. Chrys Peterson, a news anchor from Channel 11 news here in Toledo, was the main speaker. She is a member of the other ward that meets in the same building as our ward. She is also the Honorary Chairperson for the "Northwest Ohio/Komen 'Race for the Cure' for Breast Cancer." It was very interesting! She also had member of the stake who were survivors of breast cancer talk a little about their experiences. I was really glad I went and was made more aware of this horrible disease. There was also free stuff given out and lots of pink desserts.

Today, Jon has another test. He is also doing a tour for an interviewee. I was thinking it was really late in the year for UTCOM to still be doing interviews, but I guess there is one next week too. Good luck to all those still waiting to get into a school this year!

Well, there are a few things that Jon and I have been doing the last few days. I hope next week will be a little less busy.

Hey Everyone in the Toledo and Cleveland Area!

Do you want $0.23 pizza tomorrow? Click here to find out how. To find out why click here.

Once Upon a Time, In a Land Far Away...

Today, Jon and I have been married for four years. We were married for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls, Idaho LDS Temple. It has been the best four years of my life so far. To be with my best friend forever is such a great blessing.

I love you, Jon!

Boys Night Out and Girl Party

Last night, Jon and I went to a HALO party with other members of our ward. I was the only wife there since the host's wife was out of town. It was really fun! I have gone to two of these nights and I enjoyed myself. There is always lots of good food, and it is kind of funny to see doctors, residents, and med. students shooting each other up on a video game. One med. student said he thought of it as shooting robots and then it was okay. Jon and I left at 1:00 a.m. and there were still about 9 playing. I don't know how late they stayed. It is good that they have some kind of release from their work, and it is quite entertaining.

This afternoon, I went to a baby shower. It was quite different from the party last night, but still fun in its own way. I have attached a picture of the blanket I made for Kirsten's future bundle of joy.

Another Plant Update and a New Toy

I was going to transplant my bean starts (that is right another one worked out too) yesterday in honor of it being May Day, but I did not get to it. Instead, I did it this morning. I dug up my sad dead garlic, and planted a bean in the little pot. I planted the other one in a plastic cup (I will have to be really careful not to over water this one since it has no drainage). I do not know what I will do when they out grow these little containers in my window. Oh well, it has been fun to have something growing. Here are some pictures.

This is the new one that can up about two days ago.

Here are the two together. I used straws and bag ties to hold them up so they could grow straighter.

Yesterday I also get a new toy. I have been needing a new mop for a while. When we moved here I bought one that had replaceable heads so I could just but a new mop head instead of a new mop when I needed one. The time came when I needed a new mop head, and they do not carry the changeable heads any more. I was a little saddened by this. My floors have been neglected far too long, so finally, I broke down and bought a Swiffer Sweeper that can also be used as a mop. It will actually be less expensive in the long run and it works great. So much better then a mop and bucket of soapy water. It gets the corners so much better! It is also way easier. Less work for me to mop my kitchen and bathrooms! Yeah! I am a happy "camper" now.

Sportsmanship in College Softball

This is an amazing story! And not just because I love softball.

Central Washington offers the ultimate act of sportsmanship

Western Oregon senior Sara Tucholsky had never hit a home run in her career. Central Washington senior Mallory Holtman was already her school's career leader in them. But when a twist of fate and a torn knee ligament brought them face to face with each other and face to face with the end of their playing days, they combined on a home run trot that celebrated the collective human spirit far more than individual athletic achievement.

Both schools compete as Division II softball programs in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Neither has ever reached the NCAA tournament at the Division II level. But when they arrived for Saturday's conference doubleheader at Central Washington's 300-seat stadium in Ellensburg, a small town 100 miles and a mountain range removed from Seattle, the hosts resided one game behind the visitors at the top of the conference standings. As was the case at dozens of other diamonds across the map, two largely anonymous groups prepared to play the most meaningful games of their seasons.

It was a typical Saturday of softball in April, right down to a few overzealous fans heckling an easy target, the diminutive Tucholsky, when she came to the plate in the top of the second inning of the second game with two runners on base and the game still scoreless after Western Oregon's 8-1 win in the first game of the afternoon.

"I just remember trying to block them out," Tucholsky said of the hecklers. "The first pitch I took, it was a strike. And then I really don't remember where the home run pitch was at all; [I] just remember hitting it, and I knew it was out."

A part-time starter in the outfield throughout her four years, Tucholsky had been caught in a numbers game this season on a deep roster that entered the weekend hitting better than .280 and having won nine games in a row. Prior to the pitch she sent over the center-field fence, she had just three hits in 34 at-bats this season. And in that respect, her hitting heroics would have made for a pleasing, if familiar, story line on their own: an unsung player steps up in one of her final games and lifts her team's postseason chances.

But it was what happened after an overly excited Tucholsky missed first base on her home run trot and reversed direction to tag the bag that proved unforgettable.

"Sara is small -- she's like 5-2, really tiny," Western Oregon coach Pam Knox said. "So you would never think that she would hit a home run. The score was 0-0, and Sara hit a shot over center field. And I'm coaching third and I'm high-fiving the other two runners that came by -- then all of a sudden, I look up, and I'm like, 'Where's Sara?' And I look over, and she's in a heap beyond first base."

While she was doubling back to tag first base, Tucholsky's right knee gave out. The two runners who had been on base already had crossed home plate, leaving her the only offensive player on the field of play, even as she lay crumpled in the dirt a few feet from first base and a long way from home plate. First-base coach Shannon Prochaska -- Tucholsky's teammate for three seasons and the only voice she later remembered hearing in the ensuing conversation -- checked to see whether she could crawl back to the base under her own power.

As Knox explained, "It went through my mind, I thought, 'If I touch her, she's going to kill me.' It's her only home run in four years. I didn't want to take that from her, but at the same time, I was worried about her."

Umpires confirmed that the only option available under the rules was to replace Tucholsky at first base with a pinch runner and have the hit recorded as a two-run single instead of a three-run home run. Any assistance from coaches or trainers while she was an active runner would result in an out. So without any choice, Knox prepared to make the substitution, taking both the run and the memory from Tucholsky.

"And right then," Knox said, "I heard, 'Excuse me, would it be OK if we carried her around and she touched each bag?'"

The voice belonged to Holtman, a four-year starter who owns just about every major offensive record there is to claim in Central Washington's record book. She also is staring down a pair of knee surgeries as soon as the season ends. Her knees ache after every game, but having already used a redshirt season earlier in her career, and ready to move on to graduate school and coaching at Central, she put the operations on hold so as to avoid missing any of her final season. Now, with her own opportunity for a first postseason appearance very much hinging on the outcome of the game -- her final game at home -- she stepped up to help a player she knew only as an opponent for four years.

"Honestly, it's one of those things that I hope anyone would do it for me," Holtman said. "She hit the ball over her fence. She's a senior; it's her last year. … I don't know, it's just one of those things I guess that maybe because compared to everyone on the field at the time, I had been playing longer and knew we could touch her, it was my idea first. But I think anyone who knew that we could touch her would have offered to do it, just because it's the right thing to do. She was obviously in agony."

Holtman and shortstop Liz Wallace lifted Tucholsky off the ground and supported her weight between them as they began a slow trip around the bases, stopping at each one so Tucholsky's left foot could secure her passage onward. Even with Tucholsky feeling the pain of what trainers subsequently came to believe was a torn ACL (she was scheduled for tests to confirm the injury on Monday), the surreal quality of perhaps the longest and most crowded home run trot in the game's history hit all three players.

"We all started to laugh at one point, I think when we touched the first base," Holtman said. "I don't know what it looked like to observers, but it was kind of funny because Liz and I were carrying her on both sides and we'd get to a base and gently, barely tap her left foot, and we'd all of a sudden start to get the giggles a little bit."
Accompanied by a standing ovation from the fans, they finally reached home plate and passed the home run hitter into the arms of her own teammates.

Then Holtman and Wallace returned to their positions and tried to win the game.

Hollywood would have a difficult time deciding how such a script should end, whether to leave Tucholsky's home run as the decisive blow or reward the selfless actions of her opponents. Reality has less room for such philosophical quandaries. Central Washington did rally for two runs in the bottom of the second -- runs that might have tied the game had Knox been forced to replace Tucholsky -- but Western Oregon held on for a 4-2 win. But unlike a movie, the credits didn't roll after the final out, and the story that continues has little to do with those final scores.

"It kept everything in perspective and the fact that we're never bigger than the game," Knox said of the experience. "It was such a lesson that we learned -- that it's not all about winning. And we forget that, because as coaches, we're always trying to get to the top. We forget that. But I will never, ever forget this moment. It's changed me, and I'm sure it's changed my players."

For her part, Holtman seems not altogether sure what all the fuss is about. She seems to genuinely believe that any player in her position on any field on any day would have done the same thing. Which helps explains why it did happen on that day and on that field.

And she appreciates the knowledge that while the results of Saturday's game and her senior season soon will fade into the dust and depth of old media guides and Internet archives, the story of what happened in her final game at home will live on far longer.

"I think that happening on Senior Day, it showed the character of our team," Holtman said. "Because granted I thought of it, but everyone else would have done it. It's something people will talk about for Senior Day. They won't talk about who got hits and what happened and who won; they'll talk about that. And it's kind of a nice way to go out, because it shows what our program is about and the kind of people we have here."

PT again and Reminiscing

I started physical therapy (PT) again last night. I have done PT for my back twice before, and it did not seem to help much. I am not sure how motivated I was before. Denise Dewey, my bishop's wife and the 2nd Counselor in the Stake Young Women's Presidency, said she is going to fix me. I went over to her house last night to begin working out specific muscles. I am more confident this time that it will help. I am a little sore today, but I know I will be more sore before it gets better. I'll just have to see how it goes.

Today, I was reminiscing because a good friend of mine is headed out to BYU for Women's Conference. I hope she is able to enjoy herself. I suggested a few of my favorite places to eat in Provo and I have to say I really miss even half way decent Mexican Food for a good price. Here are a few pictures of places from my life in Provo. Does anyone recognize all of them?

The Weekend

Friday afternoon, Jon and I went to another softball game over at Rolf Park. It was fun to watch the rivalry between Maumee and Perrysburg High Schools. One of the base coaches had a t-shirt on that said "Maul Maumee."

We had to hurry home from the game so we could make it to a Stake Youth Fireside. There was a surprise change in speakers. It ended up being a former "Mrs." Utah. She talked about the struggles she had while growing up. It was pretty good. I got to sit on the stand with the rest of the Stake Young Women's Presidency.

Saturday was a fairly relaxing day. We just spent some time together, cleaned the bathrooms, and of course, Jon studied.

Sunday, we had ward conference. Jon went to his first ward counsel. Then he was sustained as the new Sunday School President during sacrament meeting. Sacrament Meeting was good. We heard a "State of the Ward" (like a State of the Union) from our bishop. We also heard about testimony, that this life is the time to prepare to meet God, our attitude through hard times is important, doing the small things makes all the difference, protect our families from the world, and living the things were are taught, among other things. It was also interesting to note that there were no prayers assigned ahead of time, so the bishop just called two people at random to give them.

Then I was able to go to Young Women's and help/observe with the lesson. Right now, I was told to just observe and help out where needed so that in the future, I can teach if needed. It was fun to get to know the youth in our ward a little better through their comments and what their "shinny boxes" are.

Later that afternoon, Jon and I went to a memorial service put on by the medical students for those who donated their bodies to the Anatomy Program. It was an awesome experience. It was such a neat thing that they do for the families of those who gave their bodies for furthering education. A little weird, but over all a great idea.

That was our weekend. It was busy at times, but pretty good over all. We are just sad at how fast it went.

Date Night

Yesterday after helping a friend who has been sick with her kids and some house work, Jon and I decided to go watch a local high school's softball game at my favorite park. We walked from our apartment the "back way" to Cass and over I-80. It was fun to watch, but made me miss playing so much more. Maumee High School won 7-0. It was pretty cold, because the wind started blowing and we were in shorts and T-shirts (it was 75 degrees when we left).

On our walk back home, we saw the mystery rodent, which has been seen around our apartment complex. We got a really good look at it right before it scampered into its home. It also kept peeking out to see if we were still there. I am pretty sure that it is a ground hog. It definitely looked like one.

BYU Graduation

I just wanted to say Congratulations to all our friends and family graduating from BYU today. You did it! Good luck with your future decisions!

A Few Random Things

I took Jon to school today so I could have the car. On our way, we saw something a little strange. We were stopped at a red light (for those who know Toledo, it was at the corner of Heatherdowns and Byrne). The light for the traffic going the other direction had turned yellow and a car decided to stop instead of going through. I goes the car behind it was late for something, because it swerved into the left turn lane and went straight though the red light. Just a little illegal. I used to think that Utah drivers are bad, but I have to say that there are bad drivers everywhere, and some of the Ohio drivers are really scary. My favorite is how many will stop a car length behind the line where they need to stop at a light.

On another note, Jon and I have watched two movies the last few days that are worth mentioning. The first was a few days ago on TV. It is called Princess. It was a very interesting modern day fairy tale and one that we really want to buy if it ever goes to video.

The other one, No Reservations, we watched for FHE (Family Home Evening). I have to say I was impressed at how clean it was. Jon and I can't remember any swearing, and there we bedroom scenes. I definitely recommend it!

The Last thing I have to blog about today is an update on my plants. The beans I started a little while ago didn't come up, but I planted some more a little later and it just popped up. My garlic is not doing so good. I am used to dry climate and having to water more often. I watered it too much and I do not know if it is going to make it. Also I think that my strawberry has died. I do not think it gets enough sun on our balcony. Sad day!

Here is the bean.Anyone remember doing this in grade school? Putting paper towel in a plastic cup, placing a bean seed between the side of the cup and the paper towel, and pouring water in the bottom of the cup. I have found this is the best way to start beans. Soon, I will transplant this one into some soil.Here is my sad garlic. It is still green, but I really don't know if it will make it.

Sunday Dinner

For dinner last night, I was making some twice baked potatoes. I have made them a few times before and they have turned out really good. This time was a little different. I noticed as I was scooping out the middles of the baked potatoes it seems a little harder than I remembered. I didn't think much about it, until I was trying to mash them up with my mixer. The sour cream, milk, and butter were mixing fine, but the potatoes were not, and the more I tried to mix them the messier it got. You see the other ingredients were just splashing all over and my attempt to keep it in the bowl with my free hand was failing. I realized that the potatoes were not cooked all the way through. I tried cooking them more in the microwave (about5 more minutes). It didn't help. Jon suggested using the cannery's potato pearl (we have about 5 canisters of them) to make the mashed potatoes. It turned out just fine that way.

What to do with these other potatoes? Being on a tight food budget, I didn't want to just throw them away. So I put them in a baking dish and baked them like Potatoes Au Gratin (funeral potatoes as we call them in my family). It seemed to work.

I'm glad it turned out edible. Only one time, in our 4 years together, have I made something that was totally disgusting. It was a soup that I tried put rice in. Didn't work. Once in four years of cooking dinner every night is not too bad. I love to cook!

Long Thursday Night

I had my first Stake Meeting last night. I was told that it was actually a shorter meeting, but it was still about 2.5-3 hours. We had our Presidency Meeting first, then we met with the Stake Young Men's Presidency, and then we had Stake Correlation (which is only every three months). It was fun, but long and tiring. I learned a lot more about what I will need to do in my calling.

On another note, I just thought I would make a few of you laugh by posting some fun pictures I got from my mom.

How much does a house weigh?
More than a rural two lane bridge can hold.

Now what do we do?
House for sale. Beautiful view overlooking water. Good roads to house....