Payment Made

I know this is not too interesting - but I straightened out the payment with the books - just wanted to write it b/c I said I would :) I might be poorer, but I sure feel better!

That Manhattan Trip I was Talking About....

Here are some of those pictures I was talking about the guinea hen posting. B and I went to Manhattan for the day this week and met my brother in law for a coffee break from his work (he is a lawyer in the city):

While we were walking by the Fox News studio, Juliet from "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet" stopped us and interviewed us about pick-up lines, but they only put B on TV for a fraction of a second. Oh well, there goes our chances of being famous :)

As you can see, we caught a glimpse of the Christmas tree before they took it down.

Well, time for me to get back to reading my law school books that I didn't pay for yet (see post below); more on that later this week! Everyone have a blessed week and restful evening.

Keeping Me Honest

I'm telling the story of buying my books a) to make sure I follow through with something I need to do; and b) because I am amazed at my ability to be dishonest if no one is looking. So I went to buy a few books from my law school's bookstore yesterday because after looking at my syllabus online I discovered I was missing a few. I was a little peeved at having to drive an hour in each direction on a Saturday because I had already ordered my books ahead of time and for whatever reason, the ones missing were not sent to me as part of the course. My classes start Tuesday, so I didn't really have a choice because there's always an assignment due the first class, and luckily the bookstore was open for last minute purchases.

So I go to the bookstore and a nice guy (the same one that is always there) helps me find the books I'm looking for, I grab a few notebooks and a blank videotape (more on that in another post - its needed for one of my classes) and head up to the register. I notice as I'm paying that the total is startlingly low - $14 and some change. Anyone who has ever purchased textbooks knows that this is not possible, no matter how small or beat up the book may be. But still, I say nothing, partially thinking maybe since they are small paperback books that that is correct, but really knowing he must not have charged me for them.

So I get out to the car and study the receipt further and realize the books are not on there. In fact, if they had been, the total would have been over $200. So do I march right back in and point out the mistake and hand over my credit card so it can be charged correctly? No, I do not. I am in a rush and want to get home; I justify that we have already given so much money to the school, we deserve this little break. And off I go. But on the way home that little voice starts going: "What if the guy that helped you gets fired for the mistake? What if this is the beginning of a downward spiral for him and he can't find another job all because you were too dishonest and cheap to go back in and hand over the stupid money? He has never been anything but helpful to you and now you just possibly threw him in the fire." Not to mention the fact that what I did is in effect, stealing. So I call B to tell him the story (ever notice saying something out loud really drives the truth home a lot faster?) And of course B is like, "you have to straighten this out - what if the guy gets fired?" And as we're talking it is cemented that I must remedy this - phew! After being disgusted at myself for a few minutes I call the bookstore and ask for the guy and explain what happened; luckily he doesn't freak out and we agree I'll come in on Tuesday and get it straightened out.

That's part of the reason I'm writing this - so I can write a follow up post about fixing it. The other reason I'm writing it is because it just really drove home the point for me - character is not about what you do when others are looking, it's what you do when no one may ever know about your actions. Unfortunately I failed the first part, but I'm thankful I can go back and make it better. Sorry if I bored anyone with this post - its really an accountability thing for myself. Thank goodness for honest husbands and for that little voice called a conscience that God put in us all. Thanks for listening!

Guinea Hens

Per advisement from my dad (expert on anything to do with wildlife, hunting, fishing, gardening, chopping wood, building things, etc.) the pictures of the birds below are "guinea hens" or "guinea fowl"- I was way off on the quails. Apparently people keep them as pets and they make good watchdogs because they make shrill noises when anyone comes in their territory. I can confirm that they do indeed make shrill noises - they wouldn't move out of the way of our car.

Anyway, just been enjoying some time off with B before school starts next week. We went to Manhattan yesterday (I'll put pictures as soon as the camera batteries are re-charged). I can't believe how warm it got in the northeast these past few days. It has been in the single digits with the wind chill and suddenly flew up to 65 yesterday, so it was a good day for the city. Be back again soon, hope everyone is well.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe that it is 2008. Trish - congratulations on the new member of your family! Cameron is beautiful (see The Dish from Trish link - although I think most who might read my blog have been on Trish's for quite some time; just wanted to shout out a public congratulations to her and her family). Brittny thank you so much for your comment - I hope you are having a wonderful and relaxing vacation here - I look forward to reading more about it! I hope everyone is having a happy and healthy New Year. I always find this time of year to be weird; like there has been so much holiday that its hard to go back to normal schedules.

Otherwise I've just been gearing up to go back to school (but trying not to think about it too much). I'm taking a trial advocacy course this semester that the thought of is making me nervous. Basically its very experiential, you pretend you are a lawyer in a trial and examine and cross-examine witnesses all semester. I think it will be good for me though - I'm much better at the whole mediation; trying to make nice thing, so this will be a challenge.

B and I went on our first Sunday drive of 2008 today. We drove around in a town close to where I grew up. Here are some pictures of our drive:




Here are some quails that hopped across the road in front of us (at least I think they're quails, they kind of look like round chickens) You know, I was just checking online and I don't think they're quail - anyone know what they are?






I am hoping to get some flower pots painted before school starts up again, I'll post pictures of them if I do. I always have such lofty goals for time off from school but it never all gets done. Oh well. I'm hoping to prioritize things a little better this semester and not get aggravated so easily. I suppose I'll be writing more on that but don't want to do too much in depth thinking tonight; its Sunday evening after all :) Everyone have a great week!