The Bargain's in the Eye of the Beholder

I thought it was a joke when I saw the giant produce box of over-ripe bananas sitting on my counter.  I really did.  But I should have known better.

"Only a dollar!" Mr. Wicke brags.  There is nothing my man loves more than a good bargain.  A close second is food.  Now you put those two together, and we are talking about a heady kind of euphoria. 

He shops a grocery store as most women browse the mall, picking up whatever catches his eye.  There are things I never, ever buy and yet we are always stocked (or overstocked) with cold cereal, ice cream, jello, cake mixes, canned frosting, cottage cheese, cool whip, and Kool-Aid.  Some of these items don't even register in my consciousness, but one look at my pantry would convince you otherwise. 

Stopping by the grocery on a whim or to pick up a real steal, Mr. Wicke will return home from work with bags of goodies; then the real fun begins.  We get to play the game, "Guess How Much This Cost?"  It goes something like this:

"Guess how much this cost?"

"Uhhhh, $25.00."

"No!" he crows, joy radiating from every cell in his body.

"Uhhh...$18.00."

"Lower!" he nearly sings.

"I give up."

"$3.00!  And guess how much I saved?!"

"I don't know."

"Four hundred and eighty-three dollars and ninety two cents!"

Something like that, anyway.  And then the real fun begins because I get to play, "What the Heck Can I Make With This Stuff Anyway?"  Inside the bags will be rice, motor oil, nutmeg, Jell-o, and Kool-Aid, of course.  So then I have to go to the store and spend the $400 he saved so we can actually eat.  But it makes him happy, so...whatever.

But the bananas?

"A dollar?"  I repeat far less enthusiasm.  "What am I supposed to do with an entire box of rotting bananas?"

"Banana bread?" he gapes as though the answer was so obvious.

"Two loaves of banana bread takes 3 bananas.  There are like 15 bunches in there!"

And did I mention that this is the Friday before Halloween?  As if I have time to makes loaves of banana bread!  I've got a school party to run, costumes to pull together, candy to buy, cupcakes to make, a side-dish to make, decorations to gather, pumpkins to carve and now banana bread?  Loaves and loaves and loaves of banana bread?  Who needs this kind of pressure?!

Oh, and I know.  You can freeze bananas...but only if your freezer isn't full of FIVE GALLONS OF ICE CREAM!  There was not even enough room for the NINE LOAVES of frozen bread dough that he ALSO brought home because IT WAS SUCH A GREAT DEAL.  I had to cook those up on Saturday and take them to the church Trunk-or-Treat just to get rid of them.

I am drowning in good deals around here.  Good deals and loads of bananas.  And those great deals are costing me my sanity.  I'd take time for the breakdown I deserve, but I've got banana bread to make...and banana muffins, and banana chocolate cookies...and banana....well, you get the idea.

I Found my Heart at UW

Mr. Wicke and I met at the University of Wyoming LDS Institute, which is remarkable in that it sets us apart from all of the other couples at church who customarily met at BYU, which was the tradition in our California ward, or, here in Arizona, who knew each other since attending high school at Westwood or Mesa High. But it's also remarkable since he had no business being there.

Why would a Mormon boy from northern California ever consider attending the University of Wyoming? My mother takes the credit saying that she "prayed him there," and as I have become a firm believer in mothers being given an extra ear in Heaven, I don't dismiss it. But I also don't disregard Brother Lawton who once attended UW himself and who at church one Sunday suggested to my Mr. Wicke that he look into it. Ultimately, however, Mr. Wicke insists he gets the credit because it was, after all, he who turned down the full-tuition scholarship from BYU to come and find me--oh, that and to get an education, I suppose.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad he was there that night. Glad because I get to spend forever with him, but also because it just goes to show that two Mormon kids, whose life ambition doesn't include attending BYU can still stay active in our church, find each other, marry in the temple, and have a really good life. All of that AND because I really love the University of Wyoming.

Oh, I know. They're a rowdy bunch. Just ask anyone from BYU who comes over for a football game. But they are also down to earth, solidly good people. Some of the best friendships of my life were developed there--people I still maintain deep connections with.

My college experience was made the day I auditioned for and got into a musical theater troupe called Centennial Singers. I knew it would be a great performing opportunity, but I had no idea what profound joy these people would bring to me. I found a new family there.

Some of them got together over the weekend, and while my heart wanted to be with them, my body needed to be here with my kids preparing them for the new school year. I dream that Heaven will be a place where such choices don't have to be made; I dream that it will be a place where I can be with everyone I love all at the same time. Until then, and until I can see them in person again, I want my UW soul mates to know that big pieces of my heart walk with you every day. You have changed me for better for good.

Mr. Wicke and I send our love.

Post Edit: If you want to see these people in action and read exactly what I feel in my heart about these fantastic friends, go here. Jen says it perfectly.

Mr. Wicke Makes His Debut

Tah Dah! It has happened! Mr. Wicke has entered the blogosphere. I know! I couldn't have guessed it would happen either; he is such a private person and slow to join any fad or fashion. He's a man that likes to make his own way in the world I suppose, but he's obviously got something to say. I can't wait to see what it is. One thing I know, it will never be dull. Besides being the love of my life, the man is deep, quirky, witty, and intelligent. If that combination intrigues you like it does me, click HERE.

P.S. The views and opinions of said blog are solely those of the writer. His wife can not be held accountable for odd, strange, or puzzling posts. I will, though, happily take credit for anything witty or profound. (Isn't that how it is supposed to work in a marriage?)

Lord of the Flies

The flies in Arizona this spring are out of control. I don't know the reason for the increase, but our friends agree that they are much worse than our previous two springs, and their sheer mass has turned my adorable hubby into the door nazi.

Now, he has always had a thing with lights. In the evening we live like vampires, and I swear, if it were feasible, we would be going all Abraham Lincoln and live by the dim light of one candle. Currently that passion has been transferred to the sliding backdoor. "Close the door! Griff, get the door! Close the door behind you! What is so hard about closing the door?" Boom, slam, bang, shut.

I must have caught the door obsession too because I was aghast when I stumbled downstairs in my bathrobe one morning to find the front door blown wide open. "How long has that been open?" I mumbled as I took care of it, feeling proud that I was surely saving my family from an onslaught of nasty pests.

On hearing the door close, Thomas emerged from his office. "Did you know the door was wide open?" I asked.

"Yeah, there's a really nice breeze this morning."

Huh? The breeze immediately increased due to the whiplash of my brain. "Do you want a house full of flies?" I querried.

With sincere earnestness he replied, "I've never seen a fly come through the front door."

I guess this particular species of housefly is very informal.

It's Just our Nature

I am joining all my blogger friends. What a great way to stay connected!

So the most recent is that I'm trying to work out and get in shape. Argggh! I HATE it! I'm tired, sore, my head hurts, and I really want some chocolate. Everyone says that if I exercise long enough I'll get to where I really like it. I'm sure that is not true for me. I am a Libra. Not that I know what that means really, but I read once that we prefer lounging. Now that IS true for me. As soon as I can fit comfortably in my jeans again, I can not promise that I will continue. I'd like to believe I will...but I just don't think it's really my lifestyle. I'd like it to be, just like I'd like to be a morning person...there are just some things that go against my nature.

Hmm...that would be interesting. A list of things that go against my nature. Okay, I'm just making this up. Let's see.
1. Early mornings
2. Life without tv
3. Life without books
4. Bad food
5. Running
6. Not getting anything done
7. Indecisiveness
8. Anything taken too seriously
9. Ignorance
10. Ugly behavior
11. Ugly interiors
12. Ugly clothes

I want to see your lists. That was kind of fun.

Logan just had her first dance recital on Wednesday night. When she was done she got in the car and said, "I'm a talented dancer." I love self-confidence! Today she informed me that she is done taking ballet because she, "...already learned that." After 4 months she can check that off her list. World class ballerina? Check. Moving on! I guess that's just her nature.

As for Griffin, he's just terribly busy getting into trouble. He can't seem to learn the simple rule that if it is not yours don't touch it. He is a whirlwind of busy-ness and active energy. This about sums it up:

But I do have to give him credit. He was a terrific shopping partner yesterday. He even learned to say, "This is sooo cute!" Thomas hopes that is not in his nature.

Thomas is very busy with work and finishing that Ph.D. Yes, he's still working on it. But it should be done this fall...can't wait! It will be a good break for him. I say break because I'm sure he'll find some activity or cause or 4th job to fill his time. It's just his nature. Here are a couple of pictures from his latest project, MVP Gift Bag. This was his first big order, and as you can see it was a family affair. It also took up most of our living room for just a short spell. I didn't like that part much. What can I say: That's just MY nature. (I think I mentioned ugly interiors in the list above.)

After writing the above, it occurs to me that all of us come to the earth with a built in disposition. We spend our time here trying to refine it, but the essence of who we are really are doesn't change drastically, does it? I don't know, but if that is the case then I'm lucky to be surrounded by a family of people whose natures I really get a kick out of.