What else have we been up to?

Other than that fateful day, these are a few of the other things we've been up to.

For starters, I graduated from Brigham Young University...

...along with a few of my best friends.
Random roommates freshmen year = best friends for life. 

oh Brooklyn.

This was Thursday and Friday. It was the following Monday that Robert crashed. I had my camera with me because I had gone to lunch earlier with the girls, but didn't think to take pictures of the fire truck, ambulance, police cars, and that darned truck. Oh well.

Next on the menu is Robert's surgery, which was the next Wednesday.

It's a little difficult to tell from this picture but the anesthesiologist was HUGE. When he walked in and announced he would be the one to knock Robert out I thought,  
"I bet you will."









Robert got a little bored while waiting for surgery, as you can see from this robe instruction pamphlet.

The very next day was our First Anniversary! Yep, I spent the day at work, got home at 9 p.m., watched a little Perry Mason with Robert, then we went to sleep. We did not save the top of the cake but my mom surprised us with this frosting rose she's been keeping in the freezer. Thanks mom!

It looks about as good as it did on our wedding day...

We didn't feel too bad about having no fun on our anniversary (though I liked Brian's suggestion that we celebrate by BOTH taking Robert's percocet...which we did not, by the way) because we've been looking forward to our trip to Florida with the whole family!
It started out that our first flight was delayed, so they gave us each $25 to spend on food in the airport.
Robert got a fortune cookie that said, "From a past misfortune, good luck will come to you." Dad got one that said, "Share yourself and your profession with close friends." HOW DO THEY KNOW?!

Thanks for sharing your profession, Dad. We really needed an advocate. One call...it was just *snap* that easy.

 When we finally arrived at midnight, our rental car was not there. So they upgraded us to a sweet van for freeeee.

LIZARD!

I never knew, or didn't remember, what it was like living with a toddler. Robert and I interrogated Charlotte about this. The only answer we got was, "I sink it's toospaste."

Hide and seek. Silly Robert. 

SMOOOOOOTHIES

 True to the Hawaii sand sculpture tradition, we hatched our own sea turtle.

Gorgeous!

Beachin'

She LOVED the beach and the ocean and the airplane.

 We grilled every night! Hamburgers, fajitas, shrimp, kabobs. We had breakfast burritos, pancakes, German pancakes, french toast. Mmm Mmm!

The view from our backyard.

Bye bye, House!

A wonderful vacation!

Robert and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Today is Thursday.

So far it has been easier than Wednesday...

which was harder than Tuesday...

 which rivaled Monday...

which was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

On Monday I got a call from Robert whilst at work. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, not because he called me at work, but because I knew he was out on a bike ride. He always lets me know when he leaves for a ride, so by the end of the first *ring (Robin Hood ring tone) I had done the calculations in my head and determined, indeed, he was still supposed to be out on the bike.

A call when he's supposed to be on a ride always means trouble. And I'm always worried.

"Hey Chris,"
he says, calm and collected, but still breathing a little hard.
Step 1 in my head: Ok, at least he's OK. He probably has a flat tire.

"I've, uh, got some bad news..."
I hear a car wiz by fast in the background.
Step 2 in my head:     o.o   . . . . .SPIT IT OUT THEN!

"I, uh, crashed..."
Step 3 in my head: He crashed, but he's talking to me so he's ok. Thank God. But, must be real bad news about the bike....his TIME TRIAL BIKE! Well, I'm just glad you're ok. So tell me your TT bike is in two pieces. Go ahead. I can totally handle it. 

"...and I... I think my collar bone is broken again."
Step 4 in my head I forget everything about bikes: Oh. Oh no. This was supposed to be his season. He has been working so hard, training, studying, building his race bike, honing in his time trial bike. This can't happen. Noooo! I am so so so very sorry. Oh, what awful timing. 

He told me where he was, I google mapped it, grabbed my purse, and left.
Step 5 in my head: Waaaaiiiit just a cotton-pickin' minute. Where he told me he crashed is totally flat. He must have been hit by a car!
Someone's gonna get it when I get there...

Step 6 in my head: I am speeding this time. Last time it took me an HOUR to get him. This time will take me 15 minutes, I swear, and any cop who dares pull me over is gonna get it.

Robert was headed north on Red Wood Road and turned right onto 2100 N. The Truck was headed south on Red Wood Road and turned left onto 2100 N, both heading east. See that first dirt road on the right? The truck, without ever seeing Robert, and without any signaling, turned right onto that road, right in front of Robert. Bam.


View Larger Map
The police man in charge of the incident was nice but just...not...getting it. He came over and said, "I'm not going to cite either one of you but the fault is on Robert."

After sufficient yelling and enacting Robert "going around the truck" (as the cop suggested) into 50 MPH traffic, the kind police man decided to change his mind about putting fault on the cyclist, versus the truck driver, who, I might respectfully add, (description was removed because my mom said it wasn't very nice. Though it WAS true) and claimed he "never saw Robert." Isn't that a clue that it might be HIS fault? Anyway...not pointing fingers.

Next stop, Emergency Room. We know the drill. They took x-rays and verified a broken collar bone, and sent us home. Gram and I got an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon Tuesday, who told us surgery wasn't needed. They'd put him in a figure 8 sling and check on him that coming Monday.

Step 7 in my head: I hate that sling. I already hate it because it means he can't get on his bike as soon as he wanted to. Just operate. Call the real surgeon (we were talking to the PA) and get him in here (he only comes in once a week) and just get it done. Robert is an athlete, for Pete's sake. PLEASE. Someone just understand that!

In the mean time, the automatic chlorine feeder at the pool was broken and I had an appointment Tuesday evening for it to be fixed. Guess who came Tuesday morning to check chemicals? The Health Department. Guess who shut down the pool even though I explained "By nature of a treatment center, no one swims unless I schedule them. It wasn't being used. It's CLOSED!" Health Department.

I am frustrated with people not understanding what I am saying to them. I just want the police man, the surgeon, and the Health Department to set procedure and habit aside and use a little bit of common sense. Just hear me out:
1. It wasn't Robert's fault. I know you claim to be a cyclist, Mr. Police Man, but he wasn't cruising along at 10-15 MPH, he was flying at around 30-35. It happened faster than you are imagining.
2. He needs surgery. He wants it stable so he can ride. We've been working towards this season for so long. Mr. Doctor who only comes in once a week. Just come SEE him. We have plans, we have a family trip paid for, we have our first anniversary coming up. PLEASE. Time is of the essence!
3. The pool was fine. I had the problem under control. I just didn't have time to put up a "Closed Pool" sign (A. because it was obvious, and B...) because I was rushing off to pick up my husband off the road after being hit by a car.

Then yesterday I was trying to help Robert put up pictures in our room and I dropped it on his brand new race bike, which isn't even finished being put together, and hasn't ever been ridden...and now there is a big ol' scratch on the frame.

I cried.

It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, and I cried for about 45 minutes.

We got in the car and went to see the Disney Nature Chimpanzee movie.

We got two large popcorns and Sour Patch Kids. 

Today is MUCH better, and things are looking up :)

I'm so thankful that he is ok, that it is the summer, that we're insured, that my dad's a lawyer, that I have a full time job, and that we have a window unit to keep our bedroom nice and cool since Robert does a lot of sitting around at home these days.

We may have terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days...or weeks. But life is full of wonderful, spectacular, joyful, very good times.

My final finals

Oh, the things I accomplish while avoiding Econ.

But the end is in sight! Or perhaps the beginning...
the beginning of gardening, reading good books, cooking tasty meals, staying on top of the laundry, getting a trim, biking, swimming, spending time with my sister and her babies, sculpting, finding a new passion. I will do all these thing.


I have my econ final Tuesday at 7:00 am. 

I have my math final Wednesday...or Thursday morning. 

I have breakfast at Kneaders with my girlies Thursday morning (after math test).


I have GRADUATION Thursday and Friday!!


I have a race to attend Saturday. (East Canyon. One of Robert's favorite races.)

We will celebrate the close of a semester as we have always done (starting last semester) by going to 5 Guys. 

Is It Summer Yet?

I just sat down across the table from Robert to do some homework on my computer. Robert is also doing homework on his computer. Without looking up he simply asked,

"Wanna instant message??
.
.
. . . I mean, IM?"

It's funny because neither of us ever did that. I know instant messaging was all the rage when we were in junior high but Robert and I  both made it this far without ever having an account, er, user name(?) and we turned out just fine.

Speaking of doing just fine, is it summer yet?
Robert and I have been counting down since last summer until I graduate and he can put in a good racing season. He had his first race last Saturday.

In preparation for the first race and in celebrating the beginning of the season he had to do what all cyclist do...

One down, one to go :)

While taking some video footage of this he made me promise not to put it on my "blog thing." I honestly can't remember if pictures were off limits.

He was out in front the whole time, attacking and what not. Way to go, Robert! Raar!

Oh, also, remember how I mentioned Robert had had surgery back in January. Friday the 13th, to be exact. Well this is what was taken out of his collar bone. (It was put in October 2010 when he crashed and broke his collar bone into three pieces. Ouch!)

We were pleasantly surprised to find that it was blue.

Going to races are fun because there is a lot of energy and excitement in the air...and people like this to stare at and secretly snap pictures of.

Biggest gauged ears I have ever seen.

Robert is finishing out the semester while continuing to train like an animal. And by "finishing out" I mean getting straight A's. Sheesh.
I am also finishing out the semester as well as my undergraduate degree in Exercise Science emphasis Management, with a minor in Business! Woohoo!

I panicked about a month ago because I realized I would be finished with school; out of the comfort of being a BYU student and thrust in to the real world. I am an adult and I clean toilets at 5 in the morning. Well, I just hopped on the interwebs and found me a job, just like that.

I interviewed for and was offered the position of Aquatics Manager (Ooo la la) at a residential treatment center for at-risk youth. Sound familiar? It should, since I have been an assistant manager of a pool and tennis club and I've also been a mentor at a treatment center. I loved working at both and couldn't be more excited for my new job. It's full time with benefits and it's a perfect experience (and resume) builder for a managerial job in the exercise science field. (see above "Exercise Science Emphasis is Management" major)

Robert and I are truly blessed. 

Econonomics In Everyday Life

I am in an economics class here at BYU. I am taking ECON 110 from Professor Kearl, the best professor I have ever had, I might add. I enjoy the class and have learned so much about the difficult workings of "The Economy."

Today, this is how Economics helped me in my daily routine.

1. Made Robert a lunch
2. Attended Econ lecture, then math lecture
3. Completed math homework for today and Thursday
4. Ate lunch
5. Rescheduled my work training schedule (I got a job!)
6. Cleaned and put away 3 loads of laundry
7. Completed math homework for next week
8. Went grocery shopping
9. Cooked dinner
10. Organized my spice drawer. It was a mess!
11. Washed all the dishes/cleaned the kitchen
12. Organized my math binder
13. Cleaned the bathroom
14. Ate my dinner (Robert is still at school and I was hungry)
15. Blogged about how much I can get done in one day when I
procrastinate studying for my Econ exam tomorrow.

Saw-Whet

I think I found my new favorite animal...

other than kitty cats, of course.

Isn't he so cute!

This little guy is a Northern Saw-Whet.

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is a miniature owl native to North America.

Adults are 18 cm long with a 43 cm wingspan (about the size of a pop can).

Robert pointed out that if Charlotte were an animal, this may be it.

Big Eyes

Wise Beyond Her Size

Adorably Beautiful

We Have a Beta Fish Named Fred

Just now-

Robert: "Has fed been Fred?
              Has fed been fed?"
Christina: *Giggling "Has Fred been Fred? Ah!"
Robert: Ugh, has FRED been FED?
Chrisinta: You mean has FRED been FED?"
Robert: "Has Fred been Fed. That's what I SAID."
Christina: *Laughing
Robert: "Sheesh"
Christina: *More laughing
Robert: "So critical..."
Christina: *Much laughing.