Friday, January 16, 2009

Musings

Amazing what little things keep running around inside my brain while I'm waiting for Gray to fall asleep.

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I got something in the mail last week that was miraculously neither baby- nor bill-related. It was something just for me, and I haven't opened it yet. It's not a package of something I bought online or a magazine subscription. It's not a personal item from a friend. It's strictly business. It's a sealed manila envelope, and it cost UVU exactly one dollar to mail it to me. It's the application packet for the 2009 Dental Hygiene program.

I have to get moving if I'm serious about applying to this year's program. If that's the case, why did I wait so many months to request an application? I don't know. I'd like to say I've been too busy, but it only took an email to the department to request it. And I actually thought about it several times before I finally sent my request. Truth be told, I'm as scared to get into the program as I am to get denied, for a couple of reasons.

First, the program costs $20k. We already have that saved up, so it's okay theoretically, but seriously...TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS? Even worse, who's going to watch Grayson while I'm off getting educated and how much will that tack on to the cost? The class times vary from semester to semester, but had I gotten into the 2008 program, my classes for this semester would be more or less from 8:30am to 2pm Mon, Wed, Fri. But last semester it would have been Mon afternoon, all day Tues and Wed, and Thurs morning. Completely different schedules every semester. Additionally, there are required clinics and experiences scheduled outside of class time throughout the semester that would take me away. Can I leave my baby all of that time? And if so, with whom?

Josh and I have talked a little about buying a home near UVU's campus and giving a room (or preferably a downstairs MIL apartment) to a fellow student/nanny in exchange for her to watch Gray while I'm in class, but it's so scary to bring someone into your home like that. And truth be told, we don't necessarily want to own a house in Utah County. Our ultimate goal is to get back to southern Utah where Josh can go back to school full-time. Getting stuck with a house anywhere in northern Utah may hinder that, which is another reason we've not yet purchased a home.

So where should we buy, if at all? Buy a house in southern Utah now and rent it out until we get down there in a few years? Or just keep renting up here, putting all extra money into our 'down-payment fund'? And why are homes so big? Don't people realize that the more home you have, the more you have to clean and the more opportunity for stuff to get lost?

How come so many of Grayson's things are lost and where did they go? Small board book. Teething ring. Blanket. Sock. Plastic snack holder with lid. Another sock. Nail file. Teething tablets. It seems something is always suddenly missing. As someone who always knows exactly where something is (just ask Josh, I'm like magic!), it's bewildering and absolutely frustrating. I hate this part of being a mom. This part plus the part where my kid doesn't like me wiping his nose and face are my least favorite parts. (And yet my baby doesn’t seem to mind when HE wipes his face on my shoulder or pants.)

And why do so many of my pants need safety-pins to stay on? Do clothes keep getting bigger? I've been the same weight and height since I was in high school, and for the life of me I don't understand how I was a size four 15 years ago and now some one's and even zero's are too big. What gives, clothing manufacturers? Do I need to start shopping in the junior section? And if so, what are the chances I'll still find 'long-length' jeans there? And why are pants only sold in even-numbered inseam lengths? A pair of jeans with a 33-inch inseam would be absolutely perfect, yet it seems so unattainable.

I'm hungry. Going to go try and eat myself into a pair of pants now, I suppose.

4 comments:

Jillian said...

That's funny because I was just thinking that clothes seem to be getting smaller in size. I'm not gaining weight....I'm not. I'm not. I'm not!

HKins said...

Paige I'm trying with all my altruistic ability to feel bad that you can't fit into size zero pants cause they're too BIG, but it just ain't workin!!
Yippee for getting the application to college. Do it! Don't think about it just do it. Not finishing my bs is one of my biggest regrets...my only regret actually....oh, and that bag of chips I ate the other night but we won't talk about that. :) Seriously, what better thing can you invest in then your education? Exactly, nothing!

Karynn said...

You are making my laugh! I don't have an answer for you, but I may have some insight into one of your possibilities. YES...get back to Southern Utah! :-) But seriously, and I really need you to take me seriously, if you buy a home down here, be prepared to pay the mortgage whether or not you have it rented. Many of my landlord friends and I are cursing our tenants right now, or rather SQUATTERS. I haven't received a full month of rent since last May and three tenants have caused a minimum of $1500 damage EACH. In fact, we are evicting someone right now. So...please don't get yourself into that situation. It is not a good time to rent something out, but it's the opportune time to buy. Just in my humble investor's opinion. :-D

And I KNEW the sizes were all askew! I was a 9-10 when I got married, and I was a 9-10 last fall, but 20 pounds apart (20 lbs. less at marriage). Now, explain that! The "new" 9-10 is really a 14 in disguise, isn't it??? :-) I've been trying to tell people, but they all feel so great in their new smaller sizes, they are in denial! Not me!

AND...as if you asked for it, in my personal opinion, the bigger the house, the easier to keep clean. There may be more to clean, but it stays clean longer, if that makes sense. Not sure why that is, but I've found it to be true with each of our 3 "upgrades". Again, my personal opinion. I know my SIL hated living in a big house, bought a much smaller one and is so content, so it depends on the person, but I like the space. Of course, there will be 6 of us soon, so we use every inch.

I like your musing...please do it more often. And you go eat those sizes back on and make the rest of us feel better, would ya?

Daisy Paige said...

Thanks for the heads up, Karynn. I told Josh and he said we'll definitely need to keep that in mind when it comes time to make an actual decision.

I'm going to apply to the program. I've requested all my transcripts, filled out the application, am attending Microbiology this semester and have scheduled Josh's days off so I can take the HOAT. I guess we'll see what happens!