Reasons to be Thankful

So Facebook has been flooded lately with daily thankful statuses. While I opted out, I have plenty to be thankful for. Since Thanksgiving is one week (and one-ish day) away, I thought this would be the perfect time for a thankful post!

1. Tyler Chase. I managed to find this guy seven - seven and a half on December 2 - years ago. I never imagined we would have made it this far, but I am glad we did. I always tease and act like he's a bother, but I often say that I don't know many people who could put up with half the things he does. He brings me back to earth. I'm thankful to have him in my life and the comic relief he provides.

2. My family. While I put them in "one" number, I have separate reasons for each. My mother has been my main motivator since I can remember. She may drive me nuts sometimes, but she truly is a great friend (as well as my mother). I am thankful to have her to count on when things are up and when things are down. My father and I have always had a unique relationship. Even though neither of us are all that "sentimental" or "expressive," he's always been there for me. He encourages my schoolwork and raised me to appreciate the finer things in life: Jeeps and 4-wheeling! My middle brother, Gregory, was a special "present." I waited 9 years to be a big sister, and I can't have asked for a better brother. We may not always see eye to eye, and he may be the lone "feeler" in a family of jokesters, but he has one of the biggest hearts and cares about me more than I deserve sometimes! I am so proud of everything he has accomplished and all the things he will be accomplishing as he prepares to complete his first year of high school... And eventually a degree ;) My youngest brother, Jeffrey, was not always appreciated by me. Actually, when I found out I would be a big sister again, I cried. And then when I found out it was another brother, I got mad. But God has reasons, and he probably knew I didn't need a sister. Instead, I got Jeffrey. Who is a little too much like me but has a great sense of humor and keeps us all on our toes. I look forward to all the excitement he provides my parents as he enters high school next year. I am lucky to have two amazing brothers who are finally getting old enough to be cool! :) I am truly thankful to have such an amazing family, and I miss being near them while I work on this degree!

3. Extended family. Somehow I hit the jackpot here too. My Nanny and Poppy have always been amazing; it is hard to not be around for Friday/Sunday night dinners and Nanny's cooking. I miss them so much, and I can't wait for Thanksgiving and apple pie! I know how proud they are of me, and I hope I can continue making them proud. I miss my Grandma and Grandpa Houser, too. Grandma had to be one of the most amazing women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She cared about everyone. I miss playing Sorry and Memory with her! While I never was as close to my Grandpa, I truly admire his service to this country and his dedication to providing for his family. He served in WWII and experienced things that I hope to never experience... And I know I won't have to because of all the brave men and women just like him who sacrifice for this country every day.

4. My "new" family. I officially added a whole new family this summer... despite calling them "family" for a few years now. I am so blessed to have married a man with an amazing family who welcomed me. I know Tyler is such an amazing man because of how he was raised, and I will be forever thankful for that. And now I have the sisters I have always wanted... And a few brothers too! And nieces and nephews to spoil!

5. My education. Law school is often a pain in my behind, but when I complain, I remind myself there are (somewhere out there, I'm sure) people who would love to be in this position. I am blessed to have an opportunity to further my education and in such a challenging way. I can't imagine being anywhere else right now, and I am glad I ended up at Washburn.

6. My law school family. I have met some of the most AMAZING people in law school. It is crazy to think we can spend so much time together and still get along so well (little family problems aside!). I love being somewhere that I truly fit in, and it is awesome to know that I will forever have the relationships I have formed here.

7. My friends. I know I have some of the greatest friends a girl could ask for. So many of you reminded me of this when you joined Tyler and I this past June to celebrate our marriage. I always say that my family and friends are far more important than any stress or schoolwork I may have, and that is most definitely an understatement. A people person like myself could never survive without you all.

8. General health and good fortune. I never wondered where my next meal would come from or where I would sleep at night. Again, I have my parents and family to thank. Because of them, Tyler and I can take care of ourselves. I think it's one of the greatest testaments to a parent when their children can stand on their own and make it in this world. I have always been blessed with employment and am thankful for those skills. I know we'll always "get by."

9. My (former) students. I know I will never be able to tell them, but I learned SO MUCH in my year of teaching. Every day I tell people that I miss my students the most. They may not know it, but they made that year bearable. I learned patience and compassion and what it truly means to be a part of a "community" when I taught at Bishop Carroll. Maybe someday I'll return to teaching, but I don't think it will ever be the same as that first year!

10. Kansas State University. Yes, I had to have a non-sentimental one on here! I love my 'Cats. This year they have made it a little easier to love them, but I love what K-State stands for and the people there. I may not have always called it "home," but I have to thank Tyler for leading the way. I am an adoptive member of the K-State family and am VERY proud to be there. (Plus, it makes gameday so much easier in the Houser-Oblinger house!)

So there, my thankful post in one nice, neat list. Ha, as if I could put all that I am thankful for in one succinct list. As we all are, I am thankful for so many things-the sun rising, waking up in the morning, rainy days, and books-but I knew I needed to give credit to the most important things in my life.

Thanks, everyone! And enjoy the holidays!

Chili + Cinnamon Rolls

As the weather starts to cool off, I am putting soup on the weekly menu. Chili in the crockpot is one of my favorites. And if I have chili in the crockpot, I have cinnamon rolls in the oven. So, friends, how many of you are aware of the pure amazing-ness of the chili + cinnamon roll combo? I know the Mulvane grads are. Best lunch ever. If you were lucky, you would get the lunch lady that let you pick the biggest cinnamon roll with the best icing. Those were definitely the days. Because now I have to make my own. But I digress. Today I discovered not everyone has experienced this lunch. Shocked? Trust me, I most certainly was. And not only have people not eaten chili and cinnamon rolls at the same sitting, but they cannot believe why a person would want to do such a thing. This revelation prompted me to ponder how in the world this combination ever developed. So I did what anyone would do: Googled it and took an informal office poll...Because I just do not have anything better to do with my time...

My in-depth and hard-hitting research revealed that it's really a midwest thing. And I'm not talking Indiana midwest (or as one friend called it today, the mideast...HA). I am talking Kansas and Nebraska midwest. Maybe northwest Missouri, but do we really recognize Missouri? (Kidding. Kind of.) Everyone I talked to remember the "tradition" first popping up in school. I know that's where I first experienced it. The only variation I noticed was whether or not the cinnamon roll had icing. Ours always did. Obviously. BEST PART. The other similarity: no one seems to know where it started. Just that it was always served as school lunch.

For those of you foreign to this amazing duo: don't knock it till you try it. I cannot speak for everyone else, but you don't actually eat the two together. They are just included in the same meal. It's not like cornbread where you dip it in the chili. You just enjoy the cinnamon roll and the chili. Separately. But if you really wanted to, I am sure you could dip it.

One thing I know, I owe those visionary lunchladies of long ago a great big THANK YOU for giving me just another reason to eat cinnamon rolls as a "side."

Tomorrow night, chili and cinnamon rolls at the Oblinger house.

Kicking Off Fall

Bring on Fall! Like most, fall is a tie for favorite season. It means the return of college football and weather change and hoodies and soup and prime time television...And apple related dishes! So far, fall has been plenty full of K-State football. And this has been a great season to be a K-State fan. Instead of student tickets, Tyler and I are jumping seats each game... We have used his company tickets and some family tickets. Looks like we might have to fill in some gaps with GA tickets. The Wildcats have started the season 4-0 with the latest win over Oklahoma propelling the team to No. 7 in the AP polls. Hopefully the 'Cats keep it rolling! I think these pictures explain the season to now...

View before the opening game against Missouri State

Final Missouri State score

Final score against Miami

What happens when Tyler forgets sunscreen

Another fall favorite, season and series premiere, are in full swing this week. I have decided that I may have a problem...

List of fall shows

I mean, it's hard to choose just a couple. They are mindless entertainment. And having a DVR lends itself forces me to watch them. :) Definitely looking forward to a couple new ones this season - Revolution, Nashville, Mob Doctor - as well as my old favorites - Bones, Revenge, Amazing Race, The Good Wife, Modern Family, Scandal, Grey's Anatomy (among others). 

I am also working on finding decorations for the house. I am torn between two Target options:

 Owl Votives VS

Glitter Pumpkins

In the meantime, I plan to live fall to its fallest! We've already had one bonfire but no apple desserts to date. Ready for a pumpkin patch trip, too! This weekend, Tyler and I are headed home to watch Mulvane in their homecoming game against Rose Hill. Ye ole rivalry. Oddly excited!

So, until next time!

Catching Up!

And I'm back! Pardon my absence... I just find I either a) don't have anything cool to say or b) forget when I do something cool. So since it has been four or so months, I thought I would do a catch-up post!

1. At the end of last semester, I moved from my first apartment... To my first duplex. Or shall I say our first duplex? ...See #3! Either way, I might give a tour some other time.

2. I finished my second semester of law school... Four to go! Now I am entrusted to choosing my own classes and schedule. I feel so grown up and mature. Ha!

3. Tyler and I FINALLY got married! June 2, 2012 - exactly seven years after we started dating - we tied the knot. It feels good to be official. But now I feel like I have to start my counting over. (i.e., next June 2, instead of our "8 year anniversary," it will be our first anniversary) I think I'll just say, "Seven plus one" next year.

4.  I started a new job...And my first job in the legal field. I am a law clerk for the Kansas Highway Patrol. I have really enjoyed it. Plus, I can always use some extra spending money!

5. I met my nephew, Grady Mack, on July 4. He's our new little firecracker! And I am more than happy to share my favorite holiday! Here's a not-so-recent picture of he and I:

6.  My best friend, Rachel, also got hitched on August 11 to her longtime love. I was very honored to serve as one of her bridesmaids. I enjoyed returning the favor; Rachel helped me so much on my big day!

7. I made it to another Old Settler's celebration. My middle brother, Greg (aka Greggy!), is a freshman this year and is a member of the Mulvane High Drumline. We watched him in the parade with his monster bass drum. He has grown up so quickly...I often feel lucky to be able to say I remember the day he was born. One perk of being the oldest by nine years!

8. I started another semester of law school. I decided to go ahead and finish up the required classes with Evidence, Constitutional Law II, and Secured Transactions. I added Health Care Law & Policy for fun. Add my Law Journal obligations on top of that, and I stay busy enough. Tyler has been great with the crazy schedule!

9. I met my niece, Hadley Ann, on September 13. She is beautiful; I wish we lived close to both Hadley and Grady... Maybe someday! I am thrilled to watch the two newest "cousins" grow up together. Cousins are always the best! Sadly, I do not have a picture with Hadley yet. I plan to have one soon!

10. I read and read and read plenty of books this summer! I had plenty of favorites. James Patterson's Private Games was great. I am still waiting to read Emily Giffin's latest. Alex Kava released another installment in the Maggie O'Dell series, Fireproof. One of my favorites is from the "romantic comedy" genre. I picked it up on a whim at Target... There's Cake in My Future by Kim Gruenenfelder. The book followed three friends after a "cake pull." (Which I really need to do some day...) I enjoyed the shifting stories. Definitely recommend it! I also read Danielle Steel's Friends Forever. I was not impressed with the writing quality, but I really liked the story. It follows five best friends and their journey through life. ...Basically I should not get on the topic of books! Because I ramble.

Really, that is my summer in a nutshell. It seemed a lot busier than that... Either way, I think I am ready to keep up to date now! Here's a picture wrap-up to leave you with:

 Celebrating the Olympics with Budweiser and apple pie!

Our new kitchen table!

A nice summer treat - Tad's sno cone!

May Madness

I know, I know... The madness month is technically March. But I am thinking May 2012 deserves the "mad" title. 15 days in, and May has already been jam-packed. For one, I finished my first year of law school! Yay! Just have to wait a month or so to discover how I did in my classes. There really is no way to tell until then. I am just happy to start reading "for fun" again! First on the list: Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos. Also, I have moved into what will be Tyler and I's "home" for a couple of years. We found a nice little duplex not too far from my apartment. Thankfully, my father and brothers were kind enough to make the trip up and help Tyler this past weekend. The four boys were in charge of moving on their own... Miraculously (j/k...kind of), everything was moved in one piece. Mom and I were out on this one; it was bachelorette weekend for me!

Now, bachelorette weekend came at the perfect time. Not too close to the wedding and immediately following the conclusion of two grueling weeks of finals. My bridesmaids and I had been planning a day of shopping followed by dinner and party time. My mother and her good friend, Mary, made the trip up from Wichita as well as my maid of honor, Rachel; my two bridesmaids, Jaime and Mary; and Jaime's friend, Jessica. A few of my law school girlfriends and my future sister-in-law, Megan, joined us from Topeka.

Shopping was a definite success... We stuck to the Plaza. I am definitely a fan of H&M. Great clothes for an even better price. Dinner was also an excellent choice: Bucca di Beppo. I recommend it. Make sure you bring your appetite. I also went out at Power and Light for the first time. My experience with P&L had been limited to K-State games. A night out might come close to the excitement of college basketball. Maybe. Really, thank you to Rachel and Jaime for planning the weekend and to everyone else who was able to join us! I had a great time! I will leave you with a couple of pictures. As usual, I forgot my camera so I borrowed these from Jaime.

Thanks, Bucca, for the sign!

The bridal party!

The "going out" group.

Peace. Love. Books.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a reading obsession. I devour books. They make me happy. (Sometimes law school gets in the way... But it has books too! :)

My Topeka bookshelf. I'm out of room. Ty is really looking forward to moving them...

However, I like to think that asking me my favorite book is like asking a mother to pick a favorite child. (I say I like to think because I have no children. Shoot, it may be easy for a mother to pick a favorite. In my experience, they don't tell. But I digress.) So I thought I would compile a post of my favorites! I always like to hear what others are reading so I thought it might be fun for you to see what I read. And I wouldn't mind suggestions...

Just a few favorites.

So, in no particular order:

Harry Potter Series. (Photo: See above.) If you have yet to read the Harry Potter Series: get out from under that rock. Harry Potter is not a series about learning to practice witchcraft. It does not propose a new religion or a new deity to worship. No, Harry Potter is about good vs. evil; a battle everyone has. And, spoiler alert, the power of good over evil. Common themes: Friendship, loyalty, bravery, intelligence, innocence. I cannot sing the praises of J.K. Rowling's hit series enough. Love them. If I could teach a class just on Harry Potter, I would.

The Hunger Games. (Photo: See above. Also see: Catching Fire & Mockingjay.) I mean, honestly, what more is there to say? The first film just hit theaters less than a month ago (awesome, by the way). I think America knows what's up. But just in case: read them. They are not insanely graphic like one might think when told the premise of the story. I like to think of them as a modern 1984-esque series. But not as dry. Just do it, read them. I have. Ten times.

The Help.

Thank you Google Images and Amazon.

Another great book, and the movie does not do it justice. If you are one of those "I'll just see the movie" types, it won't work here. An eye-opening tale about the life of a maid during times when segregation was popular. Stockett does an excellent job of truly bringing the characters to life.

Water for Elephants.

Thank you Goodreads.com.

This is one that I have heard people either love it or they hate it. Obviously, I am in the "love it" camp. Another "one day" read for me. Just a great story. This novel is written as a "looking back" novel from the perspective of the main character as he "puts in his time" in a nursing home. The character really lets you know how it feels to be him, both young and old. The ending offered an extra special twist for me. Throughout the novel I could only think of an Alzheimer's patient at my late grandpa's Alzheimer's home. He told everyone he used to be an elephant trainer. I don't think he really was, but I couldn't help but relate the main character to this man's "stories."

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.  

Thank you Goodreads.com.

This book was suggested to me last summer, and I was running low on options so I finally checked it out at the library. And it was a great decision. The author told the character's stories through letters. Set in England in 1946, the book follows an author looking for her latest inspiration. Really interesting to watch the characters' relationships develop.

To Kill a Mockingbird. (Photo: See above.) The first time I read Mockingbird was 8th grade English. I remember forcing myself to read the first few chapters. And then I was hooked. Great character development and portrayal of a young girl's perception of the Civil Rights and segregation. As well as one of my favorite lawyers: Atticus Finch. (See previous posts to meet Atticus the dog :)

The Book Thief. (Photo: See above.) (Really, anything Holocaust themed.) First read this as one of my weekly chapter books for an undergraduate course. It was one of those that no one would read because of its thickness. Naturally that means I'll read it because that's just even more time I get to spend with the characters. Anyway, this novel is actually told from the perspective of death. And it does not focus on a Holocaust victim. Instead it focuses on a young German girl who becomes educated about the horrors around her through a refugee and some books.

Authors:
James Patterson. (Photo: see above.) I just feel like everyone knows who James Patterson is. The guy writes nonstop. I really like his Alex Cross books... Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, and his new one: Kill Alex Cross. Really keeps me interested and, sometimes, genuinely creeped out. Alex Cross is one of those characters that you (at least me) never get tired of.

Janet Evanovich. Stephanie Plum series. One for the Money made me laugh out loud. Absolutely ridiculous the things Grandma Mazur says. And the love triangle between Morelli, Stephanie, and Ranger is not a bad incentive to keep reading. Overall, these are just fun books. They don't make me think; they make me laugh. I have not seen the movie. I am almost afraid to see it. I just don't feel like an actress can do Stephanie justice. Especially with a fake Jersey accent.


Emily Giffin.

My own photo. I have real talent.

Also the other of the Something Borrowed book, Giffin writes some truly interesting story lines. They all tend to follow the same style, but I really love following along as her characters experience real-life crises and work their way through them. It can help anyone keep the things truly matter in perspective. I am really looking forward to reading her newest book, Where We Belong, when it hits shelves this summer.

Currently reading:

 Kind of a nice little $3 purchase at the law school book sale... I am only 20 pages in but so far so good! Hopefully I finish this week so I can focus on real reading (aka cases).

Looking forward to reading:

I purchased two of these at the law school sale and one on the bargain table at B&N. Probably going to be more of summertime reads... But I'll keep you posted.

While I know there are more that I have missed (see earlier analogy to children and picking favorites), these are the ones I share today. I'm sure I will have more to contribute as books continue to be published and classics continue to be classics. But that is for another day. And remember:

Special thanks to my friend Sami for buying me this bag!

April Showers

Wow! It has been almost a month since my last post. And it's not because I haven't had things to update! So I'll do a basic rundown:

Wedding - Coming along awesomely! Everything seems to at least be booked / scheduled. Now it's just the follow-ups, and those will come at the end of May. Crazy to think we are less than two months away... Seven years in the making! I have also had two showers already. I have the best friends and family there is. My maid of honor, Rachel, threw a shower over Easter weekend, and I enjoyed spending time with our friends. Today, my soon-to-be sisters-in-law and a law school friend hosted a Topeka shower for the KC family and law school friends. Fortunately, my mother and grandmother as well as Tyler's mother were able to make it. It wasn't for sure with this crazy weather! Needless to say, Tyler and I are very blessed. Thank you to all who have been able to come out!

House Hunting - Over! I believe we have found a place. Now it's just making sure everything is final. The idea is that we will take possession May 1. With finals, we will not officially move in until May 15.

Everything Else - I have been enjoying this awesome weather we have been experiencing this spring. It seems we are going to have a major bug problem; Tyler has already had a tick. But I'm likin' it right now! School is going well... Just hoping to survive the last four weeks, and then it's summertime! To end, my almost sister-in-law and I had a crafty / pinterest Sunday a couple of weeks ago so I think I will leave you with the photo montage...

The beginning of my crafty Sunday. The yellow scared me a little at first...

What I should have been doing that crafty Sunday. Appellate Brief. It's all turned in now!

The ingredients for dessert: Faux Key Lime Pie. Courtesy of a fellow law school student.

The finished project! Still needs some modge podge. It will go in our kitchen.

Dinner! Discovered it during a lunch break watching Food Network. BBQ Chicken Pizza. Even had green apples!

The Faux Key Lime Pie. Not too bad!

Not a crafty Sunday picture... Just making salsa in my new blender!

Madness!

Here I am; I have made it to spring break! It has been an eventful couple of weeks since my last update. Really, it has just been the craziness of being a law school student. But the wedding is really starting to gear up. This also means "house shopping" is kicking into full gear as well. Even though I have never shopped to purchase a house before, I might venture to suggest shopping for a rental can be just as stressful, if not more. Think about it... When you are house shopping, you can find something minor you don't like and change it once you buy the house. Rentals, not so much. You don't like the kitchen? Too bad. Then there is the whole list of "dos" and "do nots." No pets. (Some would see this as a good thing; Atticus might not.) Minimal holes in the wall. (Kind of a problem when I'm looking for a place for two long years.) No painting. (Boring.) Might want to activate the security alarm. (High crime.) And on and on. On the flip side, I feel lucky to even have the means to afford shelter and be picky about the shelter I choose. I am lucky to be marrying my high school sweetheart. Really, I am lucky to be in law school. So I'll keep the complaining to a minimum. Note: a minimum. Needless to say, anyone with some inside tips on Topeka living should feel free to contact me!

In other news, exciting things are flurrying in the way of the big day. Because this week is spring break, I have lots of appointments scheduled. Saturday, mom and I visited a bakery to talk cake. Oh yes, my favorite. Not only do I love cake; I love looking at cakes at everyone else's wedding. So I am planning on a nice one. Naturally, I picked my cake. Mom likes to shop around. No big deal... More chances to test free cake for me! A little preview of the dream cake...

Courtesy of Pinterest... Originally from who-knows-where.

The rest of the week should be just as exciting... DJ, Florist, MORE CAKE, dress fitting, Caterer, Invitations... Not to mention the fact that it's almost time for the month of April showers. And I'm not talking about rainshowers. (Sorry, had to stick in an April showers cliche joke.) I am not being facetious when I say that I might miss wedding planning. As I sit three months out. We'll talk again the week before the wedding.

Other than wedding stuff, I just don't know what else there is!

Miscellaneous news: Being a K-State sports fan can be tough during basketball season. I am just happy to have converted to K-State sports when they actually make it to the tourney. So I'll take a round two (some say round three?) loss. But it is sad to not have a "dog" (ha, cat) in the fight. Doesn't matter, I still have the Wildcats winning... Kentucky, that is.

Also, my mom and I attended a cookie decorating class yesterday at Cake Stuff. All I can say is that I really enjoyed it! It was a lot easier than I originally expected. But I was going off of my experience with cake decorating which is a lot more work. Not necessarily a hobby that speaks to someone of little patience. Cookie decorating, on the other hand, certainly does. Hopefully everyone likes decorated cookies! Anyway, I remembered to take pictures:

In the early stages.

All four complete.

(It's a lamb; I wasn't sure how self-explanatory it was.)

 Like I said... Lots of fun. Hopefully I'll find time to make more!

I think this covers it. I also think I should maybe update more. I wrote too much here. It's a little scattered. It's madness! :) Especially because this should be a big week! HUNGER GAMES PREMIERES! I'll be there at midnight. I'll let you know my review.

Last thing... Book update. I had to temporarily suspend 77 Shadow Street. A lot of my "for fun" reading gets done before I fall asleep and that was not helping my dream state. Instead, I decided to freshen up on The Hunger Games to prepare for the movie this week. (Have I mentioned how excited I am?)

Anyway, until next time!

Hello, bloggers!

Well, this is it... I am a blogger! My (future) sisters-in-law and mother-in-law have been blogging, and I decided to join 'em. Why not? I am sure there is quite the demand out there to read about my life... Or not. Up to you.

I made the blog because I know how much I enjoy taking a peek into all these other people's lives that I kind of felt like a creeper. So why not let all them creep on me? It's only fair. But really I made the blog to share all of life's excitements.

Anyway, the blog-starting process really helped me answer life's big questions. Favorite books? Apparently I have the reading palette of a 14-year-old girl. The Hunger Games, Harry Potter? Really? (Let's be real, I had to stop myself from listing Twilight.) But you know, whatever. It just help me set a new blog goal: book club. Of one. Just me in the club. For you it means that I'll try to review a book a month. This can get dicey when analyzing how much free time I have, or rather don't have. But for you, I'll do it.

Making the blog also helped me realize I've missed about 5 days of March. Luckily, my apartment has a nice little grace period. But it's sad to miss that much of March. I don't really know why, but March is kind of a turning point for me. It screams, "SPRING!" March means spring break is two weeks away; it means chirping birds and a little less heater. This month, March means overdrive for me. Spring break will be a week of wedding planning and homework. And probably in that order. Let's be real, that's where my excitement begins. And it ends with The Hunger Games movie premiere. Highlight of my month. I'll keep you posted on that excitement.

Well, I'm an amateur at this blogging thing. I'll get better with practice, but I am glad to be started. Now, it's picture time... If I can make that work.

 Meet the newest member of the Houser-Oblinger family.

The German Shorthair, Atticus. Named after my favorite fictional lawyer.

And yes, Atticus is stuffed. It's a sensitive issue that he is working on.

 

My current read. It's taking a while because it's a little scary.