Good ol' WebMD

I'm not feeling well (pretty sure it's a cold), and I don't feel like really doing anything, so, to pass the time, I am looking at my symptoms on WebMD, and I've found this sentence. (WARNING: grossness alert)

"Your nose may teem with watery nasal secretions or become thicker and darker."

If my nose becomes thicker and darker, I'm definitely calling my doctor.

Proof that, yes, Virginia, the world DOES need editors.

Counterintuitive

I was going to blog about a miserable old woman who, with one snarky little comment, ruined a good portion of my morning yesterday--a morning that had, up to that point, been going very well. "What should I have said to the bottom dweller that recently belittled my existence?" Well, I said nothing, which is probably good, and I'm totally over it now, so this blog is different than what I thought it might be. Counterintuitive.

After listening to Kendall Payne's "Pray" this week, I just cannot get the song, or the words, out of my head. So, here are the words for you to mull over, too. They are very counterintuitive.

I will pray for you now for you have been my faithful friends
While the road we walk is difficult indeed
I could not ask for more than what you’ve already been
Only that you would say these prayers for me

May your heart break enough that compassion enters in
May your strength all be spent upon the weak
All the castles and crowns you build and place upon your head
May they all fall, come crashing down around your feet

May you find every step to be harder than the last
So your character grows greater each stride
May your company be of humble insignificance
May your weakness be your only source of pride

What you do unto others may it all be done to you
May you meet the one who made us
And see him smile when life is through

May your blessings be many but not what you hoped they’d be
And when you look upon the broken
May mercy show you what you could not see

May you never be sure of any plans you desire
But you’d learn to trust the plan He has for you
May your passions be tried and tested in the holy fire
May you fight with all your life for what is true

I have been chastised

I haven't posted in the new year, and two people have mentioned it to me. I don't have much to say (!), except to let you know that I applied to UIS, and am awaiting their decision. I should hear by March 15th whether I am accepted into the program.

I have really enjoyed the wintry weather this week, even though I was disappointed by the lack of substantial precipitation. I had really (really, REALLY, REALLY) hoped for some good snow, but, alas, it was not to be. On Wednesday, when the girls were home for an ice day (not a snow day, thpbbbttt), we braved the weather and played outside for a while. Here is what we saw.

Our fence ice sculpture. I thought this was pretty cool, so I took several pictures of it. How did the ice form this way?
Notice the twisty formation at the top. One part of it goes to the front of the fence, the other goes to the back. (You can get a better look at it in the first picture.) And then, look at the "ribbon" of ice on the right--I think that is really fun.


Last picture of the ice sculpture, I promise. I just wanted to show you the zig-zag action on the right, and then another "ribbon" of ice that goes diagonally down the fence--nowhere else! I know I'm probably more impressed with this than I should be, I just thought it was so cool--very unique.


Lots of icicles--the melting of these icicles is what formed the fence sculpture.
And now, fun with super-macro, my favorite feature of our camera. Well, other than being able to look at pictures right after I take them.


If you look very closely at the ice here, you can see where it froze in the formation of the veins on the leaf.
Mini-sicles


I really liked the frozen droplets of water.