The _______ Life of Brent and Erika

I start classes today. Teaching, which is fun because I'm teaching a part of the class I've never taught before. But I'm more nervous about being a student again. I'm worried that I've gotten stupid since I graduated. Many people laugh when I tell them this, but I'm seriously. I haven't forced myself to think really deeply about many things in the past two years (that's not to say I haven't been thinking, or that I NEVER think deeply, I just haven't always engaged with things like I ought to have...), and I'm worried that I've lost the ability. I always live in fear that one day people are just going to wake up and realize I'm stupid, but it seems like I'm still fooling enough people that they let me into graduate school. It's also a definitive end of an era, a definite pattern for the future: yes, I started graduate school before being able to have a child (hope for a child was what kept me from applying in 2007, but in 2009 ...

Today, I went grocery shopping for the first time since July (we've been to buy bread and milk, but never really went shopping). I also cleaned out the fridge for the first time in a few months, and I did not know that macaroni and cheese could turn such a vile color when left untended in the back of the fridge for months. I've been trying to cook more lately, even if "cooking" means mac and cheese and steamed vegetables. However, I'm also starting graduate school next week, which means that three nights a week, Brent will be in charge of dinner. This will be an exciting new adventure for us.

Bit 1: While making French Toast on Saturday, I put in a dash of paprika instead of a dash of nutmeg. We ate it anyway. Bit 2: After a terrible experience trying to watch Heroes (which I'm sure some of you love, but I just can't handle blown off heads. Sorry.), Brent and I decided we needed a safe show. We started watching Hanna Montana. And we kind of like it. Bit 3: Brent started school last week, and it's been a little stressful. Here are a few pieces from our Washington Vacation:

Yesterday was our fourth anniversary. It's interesting to look back and think about all the things that we thought would happen by now that haven't, the things we thought wouldn't ever happen that have, and the many surprises and miracles that have happened along the way. Those cute, young (thin!) people in 2005 had no idea what they were getting themselves into, but one puppy, two graduations, three houses, four vacations, and five jobs later these slightly older and fatter people in 2009 are glad they went through with it. 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009