My husband is more than cool

Tonight I'm just thinking about people and how they judge each other, and I wanted to write it out to make sense of it. Read on, but be warned that it may be mushy.

There is a girl who doesn't like my husband very much. I think she just hasn't really gotten to know the real him--like she hasn't allowed herself to be close enough to really know his character. Anyone who knows him knows he is really upbeat and positive and also very selfless. While he does like to play the "cool" card, it in no way interferes with his kindness and humility. It got me thinking about how easy it is to make a judgment about someone else, and to then continue thinking badly of them no matter what they do later on. In high school I learned that I had to put myself out there more. I actually felt really shy around people I didn't know very well, but it ended up looking like I was really snooty. I still try to make a real effort to be friendly--I am just not much of a talker and not particularly expressive, so I know I have to let people know that I really do like them!

So I am just thinking about all of this, and I'm guessing that the majority of the time, we just get people wrong. It's interesting to think about--there are so many different personalities out there (maybe some more different than others!) and yet we always expect people to think the same thing as us. How backwards is that?

And on a completely different note, I am thinking just how wrong she is and how wonderful my husband is. Sure, he is a cool cat. And he may seem like he is overly confident and perhaps arrogant at times. If she really knew him, however, she would know that he acts that way kind of as a joke. I mean, sure--he likes to dress "cool" and play "cool," but he is much more than that and is, in fact, a very humble, hardworking, sincere guy and would do anything to help someone else.

I'm thinking about my expectations for other people--I'm sure I have them. And what are they? I expect that they act a certain way, that they will have certain reactions, that they will like one thing and dislike another. Are expectations a good thing? Are they limiting? Or do they help us in some way? It is really interesting.

I think of President Monson's talk in the General Relief Society broadcast. He could not have been more spot-on in his choice of topic. Women especially are so bad about thinking the worst of others and judging when they ought to be understanding. I know I've often pointed out someone's dirty laundry on the line, when in reality it was probably just my window that needed cleaning. Sometimes those little judgments can blow up to major resentments of others. I am hoping I can see people for who they really are, and I am hoping I can be the person that gets up early to clean that dirty window!

rained in.

The weather is rain. Lots of it. There also happens to be a lot of thunder, so Here I am trapped in my apartment. I don't really want to take the scooter out in the rain, especially becuase I don't really have any rain gear. and visibility will be a bit harder.

I had a soup fest a couple of weeks ago and was making homemade soups every couple of days. Well one of them turned out really great! A corn "choup" (chowder and soup) by Rachael Ray. It had bacon and potatoes and was soo delicious. The other soups.... we'll call a learning experience. It was fun to get out the cookbooks for a little while.

I am currently reading Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery. It is such a wonderful book. Here are a couple of favorite passages:

"Can you sing?" asked a thin, freckled girl, who yet contrived to be very pretty in spite of thinness and freckles.
"No," said Emily.
"Can you dance?"
"No."
"Can you sew?"
"No."
"Can you cook?"
"No."
"Can you knit lace?"
"No."
"Can you crochet?"
"No."
"Then what can you do?" said the freckled-one in a contemptuous tone.
"I can write poetry," said Emily, without in the least meaning to say it. But at that instant she knew she could write poetry. And with this queer unreasonable conviction came--the flash! Right there, surrounded by hostility and suspicion, fighting alone for her standing, without backing or advantage, came the wonderful moment when soul seemed to cast aside the bonds of flesh and spring upward to the stars.

Another line I liked very much was "To love is easy and therefore common--but to understand--how rare it is!" This line comes just when she has finally met another human being who is like her father--someone she can really talk with and share her true feelings with. She hadn't had that connection with her starchy aunts or sarcastic great aunt or even with her school playmates. It isn't until she meets a fellow writer that she really connects on that level. I just love that italicized understand. I love those kind of relationships.

P.S. I just talked with Traci for an hour. When we get on the phone together, we just go off. It is so fun for me.

Drip drip drip little april showers

drip.. drip.. drip.. Lil april showers! Alright it isn't april and it hasn't been raining, however everytime our neighbors upstairs do their laundry, (which is everyday) a little shower begins in our family room. This has been going on since july... With no help from the management of the apartment. not only a shower but storm clouds gather on our ceiling. Ok so there aren't any storm clouds, but the ceilings paint bubbles into tiny little rainclouds that bring forth moisture, and drip drip drip. Well it happened again yesterday, ironically the day before, the management came and scraped off the rainclouds and repainted over, they told me they had fixed the pipes, (this is the 2nd time they've told me this.) And once again it is raining. I guess I wouldn't be that bothered by it. but it is raining really close to our electronics, and it did stop our clock the first time. This is the 3rd time its happening. Well anyways I called and left a message, sounding a little annoyed that they still hadn't fixed the problem, within an hour one of the management guys came over, I showed him the lovely video of it raining, and the bowl full of water. He was pretty helpful. hopefully we won't have anymore showers till April.