In Which Eris Gets Serious (sorry)

This has been eating at me for a while and I have to get it out. So, sorry blog readers, you're about to get the business end of a hissy fit.

Over the last three months I have been confronted with the ugliest, most unpleasant, and just plain mean aspects of the religious community I am part of and I want to scream from the rafters: STOP JUDGING PEOPLE!

I want to say this to all those people who think that because I don't conform to the ridiculous stereotype you have created of what a good Mormon woman should be that makes me inappropriate or offensive. I cannot understand what makes you think you have the right to decide what I should think, say, wear, believe, or type and I am going to very nicely tell you to eff off and shut the hug up.

So, let me close by saying one more thing: Your tendency to doubt my commitment and sincerity, my worthiness and just me in general are a statement ABOUT YOU, not me. I am done caring about what you think, but when I decide not place myself in your presence be assured that I am not there because you are unpleasant, not because I am unworthy.

Date Night (simulated)

Mr. Eris and I once spent our "honeymoon" at Disneyland and since we will be gone for our anniversary we decided to celebrate in the Magic Kingdom today.

The Dapper Dans (a barbershop quartet) helped Mr. serenade me on Main Street with "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," including an amazing big finish. We made reservations at the Blue Bayou - the restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean and enjoyed some ridiculously overpriced food and a lovely atmosphere. Finally, we spent the day being congratulated by cast members all around the park. It was a nice day.

And now for something completely different

For all the times I've been to Disneyland, there a few things I've never done, including the Tom Sawyer Island and the Mark Twain riverboat. Well, today, due to a couple of ride closures, we had some time to kill in New Orleans Square. Dangitall if those boring old standbys weren't pretty fun! The kids ran around the island - chased most often by their fathers and grandfather (while the women-folk pretended to be nuns or lesbians because that would be less embarrassing than admitting we were not only with them but actually married to these men). I hate to say it, but we had fun with these culturally insensitive, and pretty racist, attractions.

Oh, I also learned that trying to cram three kids, one teenager, my father-in-law and me into one teacup on the Mad Hatter ride is doable... but I don't recommend it.

It was a very successful and educational first day!

Counting Down...

Tomorrow we leave for our big, surprise family trip! Three days in Disneyland, a presidential library, three days with Grandma and Grandpa, and then one day in Vegas. I think I'd be more excited if I was even remotely prepared. What do I have left to do. Let's see.....
1. Pack for me
2. Pack for Little Ms. Eris (she doesn't know about the trip!)
3. Pack for Littlest Ms. Eris (neither does she!)
4. Pack the van
5. Clean the house
6. Fix a Girl Scout snafu I created
7. Everything else
8. Run a conference call at 6 am tomorrow
9. Meet with Dad and Athena for breakfast chat

We are leaving at 8 am. I should be fine. Right? RIGHT??

I'm Back!

I have decided to try to post to his blasted blog at least weekly. For right now, the posts will likely revolve around my professional angst, hitting volleyballs, and trying to figure out how to raise a teenage boy. If you're interested stick around...

I am on the third draft of my dissertation proposal and I think this thing just might drive me to drink. I am spending a lot of time finding a lot of projects that absolutely must be finished before I attempt to write another word, but I am forcing myself to write at least daily. I have what feels like crippling performance anxiety - something I have never experienced with research or writing until a year ago - and I am trying to find ways to beat it. Any suggestions would be helpful. Prayers would be nice too. And if you know voo-doo, I'll take that too!