Learning New Things

One of the things I love most about life is how many new things we learn all the time. Even subconciously. Here is a list of things I've learned the past few weeks:

1. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel and carpal tunnel syndrome MOST often occurs because of paralysis due to inflamed musculature of the manus which is compressed by the retinaculum. However, our anatomy teacher expects 200 students in his class to assume that it actually occurs because of nerve damage. And when 95% of the class fail that portion of the test, he still thinks we are the problem. Not him. Lesson learned: Mark Neilsen believes he is the anatomy god on campus.

2. Redeeming Target giftcards on Black Friday is not only a stupid idea, but can cause death to insects and hard plastic packaging on steak knives. Lesson learned: DO NOT SHOP ON BLACK FRIDAY WITHOUT STRESS BALL.

3. I also learned this week of three new exotic dishes completely new to my world. These were presented on Thanksgiving dinner at Justin's grandmother's house. Frozen mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (canned green beans, campbell's cream of onion soup, fried onions) and carrot casserole (horseradish sauce, baby carrots and sour cream). I still haven't decided what the lesson learned here is.

4. Our upstairs neighbor does three things all day long over and over. Shower, vacuum and smoke outside. The car really never leaves the parking lot. Our neighbor to the right I have only observed a few times. The first time she asked Justin and I if we wanted to join her at a party called "Beer for Boobs." The second time I saw her she was exercising in front of the TV with a sports bra and panties on. Lesson: Apartment complexes are a cheap and fantastic source of entertainment.

5. Recently with the holidays and wedding, Justin and I have been eating out a lot and have gotten lots of yummy chocolatey goey gifts. Needless to say we have both put on a few pounds. A few days ago I mentioned I thought we should start eating less and exercising more because we look a little chubby. He looked at me like I had shot his dog. Lesson: Guys are as sensitive about their weight as women. Maybe even more so.

6. Two days before Thanksgiving my brother-in-law and his wife had their third baby. She is adorable because she's a newborn and because she's 1/2 Hawaiian. However, the night we came to visit she told me a lot about the child birth. I learned for the first time that after giving birth the mother will bleed heavily for 4-6 weeks and that tampons aren't allowed. I think that in itself is enough to make me want to adopt. Justin was also horrified. But for different reasons I think.

7. I learned a new word in the last week. "Niglet." To clarify, I'll use it in a sentence. "Erik, get off me you niglet." These were the words of my Aunt Cathy to my cousin. I still don't know what it means but I know it rhymes with piglet and sounds like chicklet. The lesson I learned was how much more effective made-up insults are than real ones.

8. With each passing day of marriage to Justin I'm learning the 5% rule is inaccurate. The 5% rule says that men only have a 5% chance of being right. However, I have short term memory loss from all the chocolate overdosing and second hand pot smoke (riding a gondola to work everyday this last winter after a bunch of snowboarders got out really sucked) of the past year. With Justin, the 5% rule really is more like a 55% rule.

9. No matter how much I beg him to eat organic healthy food with me, Justin will always love to eat green bean casseroles, pot roasts, coke, snickers and cocoa puffs. In my perfect world our house would be filled with organic produce and exotic spices, recycled furniture and soy clothing. But it's just not attainable. Especially when Target is close and Justin grew up with all that weird food. I resign my post of food nazi.

10. The best lesson I learned this week is actually a serious one. I've spent so much time planning our wedding, trying to keep my head above water in school and trying to get our apartment in order. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. This last week I didn't do well on two tests that I studied many hours for. Sometimes I feel like I'm so wrapped up in trying to get perfect grades and have the perfect apartment I can't handle anything less than perfect. Yet this week when my new niece Rylee was born, I felt a change. Justin and I went to the hospital in our pajamas. The first time I held her tiny body in my arms it was like a light switch went on inside. I felt an inner peace like I do when I read my scriptures or have sincere prayer to God. My thought was "wow, this is what REALLY matters." Family. Justin held his new niece after me and I saw the look on his face. It was so tender and sweet. I realized I married the perfect guy for me. He is the yin to my yang. It was a really simple moment. Just us holding a newborn. After we left the room, hand in hand walking down the hall in our pajamas, I felt so peaceful.
Yeah, I want to do well in school. Yeah, getting a well paying job would be nice. Yeah, a pretty apartment with new furntiture would rock. But really, as long as I am a good person and dedicate my life to serving my family and friends and strangers, I will have lived a good life. I want to be a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, niece and grandaughter. And I think "that's what it's all about."