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I got my Master Naturalist paperwork today!

I’ve been on the waiting list for probably two years now. They are doing 2 sessions this year to give more people the chance to go through the program. There are 60 spots and over 70 people on the waiting list. So I filled my paperwork all out tonight so that I can drop it in the mail first thing. I don’t want to miss my spot!

Here are the classes:

Introduction to Conservation Theory & Practice

Woodland Wildflowers

Native Trees and Shrubs

Michigan Wetlands Habitats

Prairie Environments

Invasive Plant Species

I am also taking a supplemental class on Michigan Snakes.

I am pretty excited to learn all about nature stuff that is local.Especially since we practically live in a nature preserve.

We will be visiting different parks and nature preserves in the area.  I am hoping to find some hidden gems that we’ve not been to before.

As part of the program you also have to volunteer a certain number of hours in a conservation type setting. We will learn about what opportunities are available in the first class. I think it will be fun to get out in the community to help with conservation efforts.

I know I’m a huge nerd. But I like learning about things, what can I say?

I watched about half of the Oscars last night. But I feel I didn’t miss out because I watched an hour and a half of red carpet coverage (it’s like pre-game).

The winners were rather predictable. But Here are some random thoughts about the evening…

Miley Cyrus needs to learn to stand up straight.

Bright Pink lipstick is apparently in.

I am bummed that Gabourey Sidibe did not win for her role in Precious, but am glad to see that Monique won. I just think Gabby is so sweet and funny in interviews and stuff.

I am really excited that Kathryn Bigelow won best director because she is the first female to do so. However, I wish she had done something different with her hair.

Kathy Ireland stands like a Barbie Doll.

Jennifer Lopez and Queen Latifa are tied for best dressed in my opinion.

Demi Moore’s dress matched her spray tan. That is weird.

I don’t like the reading part during best screenplay. It’s goofy.

I thought Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin did a good job as co-hosts.

Guess that’s all! Award season is over, now we just have go about making our own opinions.

Last night hubs and I went to a fundraiser for the Art Council. My Studio went together and bought a table.

There was a silent auction and a live auction (we did not bid on anything). There were also games like Spin to Win and the Money Machine. I won 2 coupons to the ice cream shop. Someone from our table won $90 in the 50/50 though!

Here is hubs in the Money Machine.

He did not win either. Some guy cheated by catching all the money in his sweater.

And because I am a nerd I took a picture of our table. It had our name on it like we are official!

The attendance was way down and it seemed as though the bidding was pretty weak too. I can’t imagine trying to raise money for the arts during this economy.

I am having a hard time getting into American Idol this year.

I don’t think the singing has been very good so far, for one. Maybe once we narrow things down a little I might get more into it.

Also, Ellen is not as annoying as Paula, but she seems…pointless. I’m not sure why she is there. She adds nothing to the judging and four opinions seem to go on a little long. Three is plenty.

Instead of making everybody cut 3 minute songs down to 1 minute and still requiring the show to be TWO HOURS long, how about we cut out a judge. That way the show can either be shorter or the kids can sing a little longer. Because I am over listening to someone say a bunch of words without really saying anything.

In other TV news I heard that Glee is going on tour. While I am not surprised, is it too much to ask to just be able to watch a show and not have it shoved down my throat at every opportunity?

I think I’m starting to not like TV. Is that possible? I seem somewhat angry at it.

I’m sorry TV, it’s not your fault. You have been very nice in the past. We’re just having a bad spell right now.

I am, however, loving Life Unexpected (on the CW of all channels). So there’s that.

Even though I was totally exhausted, I decided to head out to the grocery store after dinner tonight.

Something about not having anything for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks made me think it was time.

It took sweet forever because I returned $13.50 of pop cans. For rarely buying pop, I’m not sure where they all came from, but I can say it has been a very long time since I returned cans.

Anyway, this story is not really about returning bottles (something my Ohio fam does not have to endure).

Ahead of me in line was a man & his wife and their 2 kids. They had 2 carts, one for each kid and some groceries. She is loading her cart on the belt and directing him on how to load his items onto the belt.

Now, as someone who is very particular about the order of my items on the belt, I can kind of relate.

But it was her tone that got me. It was a simple thing and really not a big deal. I mean, seriously, who cares if he puts the yogurt on after the toilet paper?

Well, she did, I can tell you that. I just thought, how sad that must be. Because you could tell from this incident, he probably didn’t do a lot of things right by her.

I know spouses do things that annoy each other (well not me of course. HA!) but wouldn’t everyone be happier if you just let some things go? I honestly think that being a forgiving wife makes me a happier person than being a nag and trying to make him conform to…well, I don’t even know what.

And I am CERTAIN it makes hubs happier.

It was just ugly, the whole incident. But a good reminder to keep my own tone in check when dealing with my husband. I don’t want him to be beaten down. We need to build each other up.

rant over.

We are back from visiting the fam in Ohio. It’s a long drive for such a quick trip!

We had a good time cracking up at letters and stories that Hubs and his brother made when they were kids.

Our favorite was written by Bro, in which is said that he knew Hubs like girls, but “they is flea bags”.

There was also mention of the old rhyme

“So so suck you toe, all the way to Mexico. While your there, comb your hair and don’t forget your underwear”

He wanted to know which was better, the Mexico thing or girls.

We also got to hear a story that hubs wrote about a panther attack, transformers and baseball (yes, all in one story).

We were cracking up! It was so funny. I also determined that any one of those things could have just as easily been written yesterday.

I am off from work until Monday. Today we are just hanging around the house, relaxing and watching nature shows in HD.

Well, Maisy is anyway. She stared at the TV for a good 40 minutes, even waiting through the commercials. There were a couple of times she couldn’t figure out where the birds went to when they flew off the screen.

Tomorrow we head down to the in-laws for a couple days.

It just a few days but I think we both needed a little break.

Today on the internet I learned that my couch cushions are toxic and likely to kill me. Also I learned on the internet that all the dust in my house is toxic and likely to kill me.

So, I’m not to sure what to do about that.

Hubs Aunt and Uncle were down in our area so they came over to see the house and have lunch. The last time they saw the house, it still had dirty carpet and was in general disarray. The carpet is gone, not too sure about the disarray…

As always the time was spent with good conversation and seemed to go too quickly.

They got to meet Maisy and she was chatty as ever. She does love to put on a show for the guests.

Marvin even dared show his nub for a brief moment before scurrying off to hide somewhere else.

The rest of the afternoon has been spent reading and napping.

It seems our weeks have been busy and crazy (and sometimes stressful) but our weekends lately have been slow and lazy. It’s a nice reprieve from the tasks of the weekdays.

This post doesn’t actually have anything to do with this picture, but I think it’s a funny picture, so I wanted to share.
So on with the post!
Last week I bit the bullet and signed up at a gym. Tonight was my first night.
Analysis: I am out of shape!
Not that I didn’t know that going in, of course. Before we moved out here, I belonged to a gym in town. I could do this same workout like it was nobody’s business!
I guess that’s what 2 years away will get you.
Not to be outdone, hubs went running tonight. I’m not so much into being on our roads in the winter in a car, let alone on foot.
I have to set up a time with the personal trainer so that he can confirm how out of shape I am. But then he’s going to help me get a plan on what to do about it, and that is good.
So here’s to not passing out on the treadmill!