Assignment #52, learningtolovemore.com

Assignment #52
Originally uploaded by Ms. Ruth Meberg Stine.

So lately I've been feeling less than creative. Thanks to my brother Aaron, I stumbled upon this website were you chose and assignment and submit your project. The following is my submission:
Assignment #52
Write the phone call you wish you could have.

REPORTS:



Using a black pen, draw a picture of your cell phone. Be very precise and make your phone look as realistic as possible, you can trace the shape of the phone if you want. Please make your drawing by hand, not with a computer. In the window where the caller name appears, write the name of the person who you wish would call you. If you have to, use a fake name. Don't draw anything except the phone, leave the rest of the paper blank. In a separate email document, type the conversation you wish you could have with this person.

Me: Hello?
M: Hi Ruth! I was just thinking about you and thought I’d give you a call.
Me: Oh. I really miss you guys and wish I was home with you.
M: Your dad and I miss you a lot, too. We were just talking about you last night.
Me: Oh yeah?
M: Yeah. We were talking about how much you’ve changed. About how much you’ve grown and we’re just so proud of you.
Me: Oh Mom. I guess I know that you’re proud of me, but it’s so really nice to actually hear it.
M: Well, everyone needs to hear it, it’s okay. We all need to know our parents are proud of us.
Me: Sometimes I just feel so guilty, you know, for doing all that stupid stuff in high school. For lying all the time and not listening to you. I wish I had let you in more. I hate how ignorant I was, and sometimes still am.
M: Well, you were a stinker. You always lied when you were little. Do you remember that?
Me: I remember you telling me that “Ruth” and “Truth” were too close for me, because I never told the truth. I remember thinking that was really silly, but I guess it stuck with me. Now I value truthfulness in people more that anything else.
M: I don’t remember saying that to you!
Me: You always say that! I know. I remember lying straight to your face, when I was little and when I was in high school and thinking at both times, well, all I have to do is lie and they’ll never call me on it.
M: Uh huh.
Me: And then realizing, about 48 hours after you had dropped me off at college that you and dad knew everything I did. That you knew when I was lying and you probably were rolling your eyes at me and sighing, you know, cause I was such an idiot.
M: Well, what matters is that you’re okay now.
Me: Well I wouldn’t be okay if I didn’t make those mistakes early in life. And I feel now that you and dad were kinda there, waiting in the wings, and really stepped in when I could have REALLY messed up. I remember you coming downstairs after you waited up for me one night. I can’t imagine what you thought was going on with me at that time. Joe---remember Joe?
M: Uh…yeah. Of course.
Me: He’s married with kids now. Wow. Anyway, he’d drop me off on weekends and I’d always come home crying. But I wouldn’t tell you anything, I’d say we watched a sad movie or something. And one night I was crying and you came down and looked so upset. You asked what was going on with me. And I remember thinking, Ruth, what is going on? Why is this happening? How could you make your mom worry so much?
M: Oh, we were just worried about you.
Me: I know. I should have reached out more. I started me “ME” stage pretty early.
M: Well, you are very different from your siblings. Liz would have talked to me, but I don’t expect the same things from either of you. You know that.
Me: Yeah, I know.
M: Well. I hope your Easter was good and your ham turned out. I just wanted to call and say good job, keep going, you’re almost done with your first year of graduate school! We’re so proud that you’re working hard and we know you’re going to do great things.
Me: Thanks, mom. I love you.
M: Your dad and I love you, too. Give Tim a hug for us.
Me: Okay. I’ll talk to you soon. Bye.
M: Ummhmm. Bye.

I'm closer to 30 than I am to 20!

I'm closer to 30 than I am to 20!
Originally uploaded by Ms. Ruth Meberg Stine.

So says John Miller. I welcome the age of 25 with open arms. Max Gise has warned me that 26 is not such a great time. Gee, THANKS MAX.

Easter+Birthday=Fun.

Easter started with a bang in Cincinnati. While Morgan and Liz, my constant Easter companions, stayed in Chicago, I shared the amazing secrets of Cranberry n' Clove Ham with folks in the Queen City. Everyone brought a dish and several bottles of wine. Dance dance revolution and guitar hero were also played---no pcitures of the guitar hero because i was too busy rockin' the jenga. As follows.

FOOD! Notice all the cakes...ohhh soo good. I had cake for breakfast today! I think that's a sign that I've finally "made it."
I did of course make the ham, and my friend Tyler made some from-scratch mac and cheese. You can't see it, cause we devoured it.


Tim and Mary were clever and snuck in some birthday moments during our Easter feast.


Notice the smiles. We are happy...cause the wine has not run out yet.


We had a couple rousing games of musical chairs. Magdelena is always the best at these games, especially when dancing is involved.


It's never a party without Jenga! I said it once and I'll say it again, I'm so glad I have pretty friends to take pictures of.

DinoRock: Big Bad Baby Rex

I'm on my lunch break eating chicken planks and left over chocolate cake from an office party. What's am I doing at work on a Satuday? It's Dino Rock time, people!
Very very nice, and great puppets. And who can turn down a great puppet. Also, I am their "sound operator." Multi-talented, friends.

The Naked Chef

naked chef2
Originally uploaded by lyzjost.

Wow. I know that someday Tim and I will have beautiful babies, but nothing can compare to this birthday-stealing cherub.
Cheers to you, Ben! And to Mom and Dad (Liz and Aaron Jost)!

OH NO! I've been pedaling away on stationary bikes for 2 weeks so that I can run in May. Today I tried to run and only made it about 20 minutes, thanks to my STUPID miniscus. Please see below for details. Now I have to figure out if I can fix it with our health insurance. GOOD NEWS! Easter is Sunday.