Simple Pleasures

Hannah as been the person posting our previous blogs with a little of my input, but lately we (when I say "we" I really mean Hannah) have decided that I need to take a bigger part in posting blogs as well. So here we go!

As many of you probably know (and if you don't, I am now telling you) I have been out of work for almost five months now. It is very frustrating and depressing when you have applied for more than a hundred positions only to only hear back from a handful and get interviews from about 10% of those who do get back to you.

Then on top of that it seems that the four years I spent at BYU earning my Bachelor's Degree were wasted because I am not seeing any benefits to having it. I think that if I had the choice, I would go back to when I decided on my major, and change it to something that would serve me better for work.

Because of these particular trials I feel that I have been grumpy and irritable about 75% of the time, and when I am not grumpy or irritable, those feelings are lurking just below the surface waiting for any opportunity to lash out. Fortunately, as I have been experiencing these mood swings of anger, irritability, and grumpiness I have found small and subtle things that seem to help me feel better for at least a little while.

1. Reading. I have been doing a lot of reading recently. I have just finished reading the Harry Potter series again. These books are highly entertaining and they make for a nice escape from my moodiness to a world of magic and adventure.

2. Ice Cream. It seems that since we have moved to San Antonio that I have been eating a lot more Ice Cream. After the kids go to bed, about three times a week I help myself to a nice cold bowl of Ice Cream. Not only does it make me feel better, but it helps me cool off from the insanely hot days here.

3. Entertaining Videos. The other day, while taking a break from the job hunt, I stumbled upon these two videos. I find them very entertaining and have watched them over and over again, feeling happier each time. I hope you enjoy them too.

Sound of Music Train Station @ Yahoo! Video

Iron Man vs Bruce Lee @ Yahoo! Video

I am not sure if those are Hobbits at the end of the Iron Man video, but I still enjoyed it.

Anyway.... So these are just a few of the things that have been making me feel better. I hope you enjoy them as well.

IF

Our answers to "if" questions:

1. If you could be a super-hero, which one would you be?
Anthony: Spiderman
Hannah: Awesome Man

2. If you could choose how you were going to die, what would you choose?
Anthony: In my sleep
Hannah: Of old age and asleep

3. If you could hear what someone is thinking for a day, who would you choose?
Anthony: God, so I could understand what the heck is going on
Hannah: Ajax, our dog

4. If you discovered a new island, what would you name it and why?
Anthony: Anthony. Who doesn't want land named after them?
Hannah: Sweet! Cuz I discovered an island!

5. If you could solve the problem of hunger in the third world or repair the ozone, which would you do?
Anthony: Hunger, then I can move to one of those countries and not have to worry about food
Hannah: Definitely hunger

6. If you could stop a bad habit that you have, what would you stop?
Anthony: Biting nails
Hannah: Trichotillomania

7. If you could be famous (a household name), what would you like to be famous for?
Anthony: Video game skills
Hannah: Being everyone's ideal of beauty

8. If you could do any job, what would you like to do?
Anthony: Work for Marvel Comics or something involving video games
Hannah: Movie acting

9. If you found a suitcase full of $1,000,000, what would you do?
Anthony: Bury half of it because I don't know how banks will fare, and invest the other half; then do what I want during the days.
Hannah: Assuming it didn't belong to anyone, I would save it in several different banks and in my own safe, and spend it little by little.

10. If you had to choose between love and no money or money and no love for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
Anthony: Well, right now we have love and no money, so let's give money and no love a try.
Hannah: I want the love!

11. If you had to choose, would you give up your sight or your hearing?
Anthony: Hearing (I'd just read all the time)
Hannah: Hearing

12. If you were a candy, what candy would you be?
Anthony: the marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal
Hannah: A creme saver--strawberries and creme flavor

13. What kinds of problems would you have if you had to always tell the truth?
Anthony: People would be offended by my comments.
Hannah: I can think some really mean things about people that I would never normally say. I probably would not have any friends.

14. If you had no need to sleep at all, how would you spend all your nights?
Anthony: Learning, reading good books, or playing video games
Hannah: I would still choose to sleep because I enjoy it so much. It's an escape from reality.

15. If you were a color, what color would you be and why?
Anthony: Green; who doesn't like green (except in food and water)?
Hannah: Crimson; it's deep.

16. If you could date a celebrity, who would you choose?
Anthony: Sandra Bullock
Hannah: Antonio Banderas

17. If the whole world were listening, what would you say?
Anthony: "Don't be stupid."
Hannah: "Will someone please hire us?"

18: If you couldn't think of anything to blog about, what would you do?
Answer "If" questions.