And then my hairpiece fell off

There I was, having a "good hair day" with the pony-tail, braided hair piece over my wimpy, flat hair. Dang, I looked good. So, I'm up at the board, in front of my Italian class last night, when I hear some giggling from the back. I turn around and there it is... my hairpiece lying on the floor. I froze for two seconds. I couldn't believe this had actually happened... and to me. It was like I was having an out of body experience - looking at myself and this nightmare - the professoressa who wears a hairpiece!? It gets worse. I tried to laugh it off, then I put it back on, only to have it promptly fall off again two minutes later. The humiliation was complete. I threw it on the table and moved on. An hour of night class to go... Gulp. Somehow, I got through it. After class, I got therapy from a few of my friendly female students who could relate. We all had a good laugh. But it is still soooo embarrassing! Of course, if I were them, I would be chortling up a storm and telling everybody, but alas, I was the clown for the evening.

Winter Visitor

I've been debating whether or not to go to AZ over Christmas break because Peter and I are driving to UT for almost two weeks, and its already a long time to be away from my thesis.... Well, my nephew, 2 year-old Theron broke the deal. All the pictures and reports I hear of him are just too cute , he's such the jokester, he's the party animal, etc. , that I couldn't stay away any longer!? So, Theron, I'm coming to visit you... and all of the other Reynolds clan. January 2 - January 11. Classes at UNO begin on January 12, so the professoressa has to be back by then! Looking forward to it! Yay.

A spiritual feast!

I love General Conference; it is truly an opportunity for revelation and refreshment. We don't have digital cable - the only way to watch it at home in Omaha - so we went to my in-laws, where they had a laptop se up. My favorite talks, quotes and stories include:

1. President Uchdorf's talk on HOPE. I love when he said that hope is both a principle and a commandment. It is manifest in confidence, enthusiasm and patience. Quoting Abraham, when times look bleak, "against hope we believe in hope.

2. Elder Oaks talk on appropriately partaking of the sacrament and preparing for sacrament meeting. "We cannot consistently retain the spirit of the Lord unless we consistently obey his commandments."

3. President Monson's reminder to "enjoy the journey!"

4. Elder Wirthlin's story about his daughter's blind date... who turned out to be there for her younger sister to go babysitting.

5. Elder Christofferson's talk on ZION, especially his thoughts on unity.

Of course, General Conference is ALL GOOD! As Brother Mecham, my institute teacher would say, these are our "marching orders." What are some of your favorites?

Here are a few pictures of us watching conference. Of course, we always maximize our time at the Nelson home. :)

The not-so helpful husband

Peter tried to fix my FAVORITE pair of boots when the heel and bottom came loose last week. I was gone all night, teaching my night class at UNO. With all good intentions, he pulled out the 'ol gorilla glue... and here are the disastrous results. For any of you unfamiliar with Gorilla Glue, it EXPANDS... a lot... so hopefully you'll learn from our mishap. Anyway, I'm grateful for Peter's willingness to help me. He's adorable. Poor guy spent all night trying to wipe it off. Someday it will be funny. But not quite yet. :)

A typical Saturday in Omaha

I took a long walk this morning, finishing up at the Farmer's Market, downtown, where I got some huge zucchini and six bell peppers. I'm concocting some vegetarian recipes because my sister Merf is coming to visit me in two weeks! Yay. Thanks, Edie, this means a lot to me (she has nearly six nicknames and I just realized that I used two of them in the same phrase). Peter and I are excited to see you and to show you a gorgeous fall in Omaha. Bring your jacket 'cuz temps are dropping! Peter and I usually go to the gym in the late morning or rollerblade on one of the many trails around Omaha, then go to the computer lab for a few hours (we don't have the internet at home). He studies and I work on my thesis. Later, we go to his parents for some free grub (we obviously need free food if we can't afford the internet at home). We spend the night at his parents every Saturday night for two reasons: they live right by the church and Peter walks to his 6:30am Bishopric meeting. Then, I can take our only car to church at 9am or so. Its fun to spend time over there with them in their big fat house all weekend. Back to the thesis... ugh...

Happy 1st Birthday!

Here are a few members of the Nelson clan with Pierre and Rachel's twins - Jordan and Morgan - on their first birthday!

Cancer sucks!

My thesis advisor, Dr. June Mecham, told me last November that she had breast cancer. The doctors had caught it early, although it was an aggressive form. At age 35, she's healthy and we were all optimistic about her chances of a full recovery. She underwent chemo all last year and her hair began growing back this summer. 3 weeks ago, they found a lesion on her liver. !? The doctors were afraid it had spread to her liver. She went in for another round of tests last week, and the verdict is that it HAS spread, not only to her liver, but to her bones and her lungs. It is at stage four, so terminal, and she doesn't know if she has a few months, or a few years. :( There are not really any words adequate to respond to someone when they deliver news of this nature. I was devastated and horrified. She has a 2.5 year old! She finished her PhD only a few years ago and with a 900 page book about to be published, she is at the beginning of her career. It is going to be a very difficult year for me, working closely with her on my thesis, watching her suffer and worsen, knowing that she knows that her days are numbered. I have been somber and pensive this week, reflecting on the plan of salvation and the gloriousness of the Resurrection. What a blessing to have the gospel. Interestingly, Dr. Mecham is teaching a class on the 'Medieval Church' this summer. We were lightheartedly joking about the Catholic church and its colorful history. She remarked that it is necessary to be able to laugh at all religion's history because, "all religions are man-made and men make mistakes!" Well, I didn't bear my testimony about a church that is definitely NOT man-made, at least not in that moment, but I'm sure praying for the appropriate moment sometime this upcoming year. The irony is that she specializes in women's spirituality in the middle ages. Its been difficult to perform an academic exercise on the subject, considering how I feel about my own religion and my spirituality. So, that's my life right now. I am sad for her. We're the same age. But, God is good. Of that I am sure. And He has a plan...