Here, at the End of All Things

The last few months, time has slowed to an almost stand-still as we've anticipated reaching a big goal to pay off the last of our debt, hopefully forever.  But the day finally came and we actually own all our possessions now!  It's probably not socially acceptable to post about this, but it's the most anticipated day of 2015 and we want to remember it, so oh well.  I know we are pretty fortunate, and I probably don't understand what the term "sacrifice " even means, but this moment was worth every sacrifice we made, however comparatively inconsequential.  We worked hard to get here.

Now we're feeling a lot like this:

The meteor in the back makes this photos the most hilarious thing I've ever seen.

and also this...

and mostly like this...

Memes are clearly the best invention of the 21st century.

We made the final house payment on Black Friday, which I thought was kind of hilarious--the ultimate online shopping at WellsFargo.com!  Except, we had to go into the branch 3 times to make it happen.  You'd think they'd make it easier for us to pay. them. money, but whatever.  Good riddance, Wells Fargo.  I think we'll celebrate by reprogramming our thermostat so I don't have to ask Scott if I have the chills or if it's just cold in here.

Also, someone point me in the direction of the nearest RC Willey.  (The dollar signs in my eyeballs make me wonder if I learned nothing at all...)

Trick Oreo Treat

In every city we've lived (yep, all 2 of them), Scott and I have found a special ice cream place to call our very own.   This is very important to us.  I think we are borderline-obsessed, which I guess is a result of banning almost all treats from our house.  Going out for ice cream becomes a bigger deal when you haven't bought ice cream from the grocery store in years.

Anyway, in Orem, our place was Sonic because we could get a chocolate malt to share for $1.19 after 8 PM all summer long.  Here, it is Baskin Robbins, which is conveniently located next to both the bank and the library (the only places we ever go). We considered Coldstone as our place but then after going there once, we realized...Coldstone is not even good.  They only have 1, maybe 2 chocolate bases, tops!  Now that we are BR-loyal, we take it pretty personally when we see our now rival location chuck-full of people.  What is this city coming to...?

The BR executives must have caught wind of our unfailing loyalty because they even emailed Scott to become a special VIP Baskin Robbins team member.  Sadly I did not get the same email, which Scott likes to hold over my head.

Anyway, I'm not really going anywhere with this, but last month we went in to try out Trick-Oreo-Treat, which is October's flavor.  We were surprised to notice on October 3 (Mean Girls reference) that NO ONE had made a dent in the Trick-Oreo-Treat ice cream bucket. 3 days, and not one person! How do these people not know about this limited edition flavor?!?!?  Don't they check their emails?  Even Rum Raisin had a few scoops taken out, which is confusing.

As I'm sure you're wondering, Trick-Oreo-Treat was, unfortunately, kind of a letdown.  Try as I might, I just can't win with Halloween Oreos.

Threat Level Midnight

Today was a threat-level-midnight kind of day.  I don't even know if I want to get into the details, but it literally involved me filling out forms for the Chinese Embassy in a speeding vehicle and turning them in at a random FedEx in the middle of nowhere at 6:58 PM when they were due at 7:00 PM.  Aye Carumba (if I knew how to say this in Chinese, I would).

I just want to lay in my bed...forever now.  Meanwhile I think it's high time to break out the great things list so I can return to equilibrium:

• On the way home from FedEx, I realized I forgot I had rolls rising at our house, so despite the madness we didn't have to settle on a mediocre dinner.
• Last week I planted 100 bulbs and I'm hoping the excitement of this will last all winter long.

• I made homemade tomato juice from the garden bounty earlier this week and it was so good.

• I had time to work out before I even realized today was a threat-level-midnight day, which allows me to not be working out right now. *Cue the hallelujah chorus.*
• I had two leftover pumpkins from Activity Days that I painted gold, and I love them.

• I remembered I had an $80 gift card leftover from last Christmas and bam, we just scored some new pillows and fall attire.
• Tomorrow, Pandora and I get to learn all about Iowa tax law from the comfort of our own home.

Phew, I guess life is pretty good after all.