101 Here I Come

English Lesson

2012-02-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

http://collider.com

On Friday I saw the cutest movie The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams, and Channing Tatum. It was cute. Sweet. Romantic. Hilarious. All of the above. Throughout the whole movie I couldn't help but think about the irony of the menus that they wrote their vows on: Cafe Mnemonic. Now I don't know if that cafe actually exists in Chicago, and if it does, how coincidental is that? Who would have known that this little cafe would have such an influence on a couple, or amnesiac patients.

In Greek Mythology Mnemosyne was a Titan that personified memory and also the mother of the 9 muses--the inspirations for the arts. It is also the origin for the term "mnemonic device," which is a memorizing trick. So all this connects back to memory or remembering.

And, to add more trivia to this entry (trivia of my favorite kind): in Harry Potter Mnemone Radford created Memory Modifying Charms, the same "Obliviator" charm that rebounded on Professor Gilderoy Lockhart erasing his memory and making him basically crazy, was the first Ministry of Magic Obliviator.

Could it have been a Hollywood add-in to for kicks and giggles? Conicidence? or a Real thing? Either way it is ironic. Donchya think?

Livre des Rêves

2011-12-10T04:46:00.000-08:00

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Night Circus is a magical book, and I like magic. It is told in a nonlinear way, and Morgenstern's style is unique and fresh. This is a book that you have to pay attention to the chapter titles, locations, and dates, or you can get lost very easy--like the labyrinth. Because of the structure of the book the mystery/climax is more intense, exciting, and emotional.

While reading, the author brought me into a world that was misty and dreamy, like the rêveurs'.

The characters are unique and have an unreal, but real quality to them, like they belong in this world of dreams--a contortionist with tattoos that are not typical tattoos, a clockmaker who creates a "dreamlike" clock and only he has the skill to do such a feat, twin redheads who can read people the stars and train kittens, and leading the cast 2 magical foes who fall in love.

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2011-10-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

This month the movie Anonymous comes out. It's about Shakespeare's authorship. My opinion--William Shakespeare wrote it all (take that Oxford). The movie looks compelling & I am for sure going to see it!The link is to a Stephen Colbert video, it's hilarious, interviewing Stephen Greenblatt, America's Shakespeare expert (he's like the Olivier & Branagh of the academic world), during the interview they compare McCain & Obama to Shakespeare characters.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/186547/october-02-2008/shakespearean-candidates---stephen-greenblatt

What's Wrong With Kids These Days?

2011-09-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've only been teaching for 3 weeks, and I've observed something about the kids today--they have no manners and they somehow feel entitled to everything. Really? What have you done in your life to deserve anything? I blame it on TV and the feminist movement.

I guess being disrespectful comes with the territory. Or teenagers aren't being shown respect at home, and so they don't know how to give it? Maybe? Well newsflash, "Teens, your brains are underdeveloped and you haven't matured beyond a teaspoon." It's like The Hungry Caterpillar. Adolescents are in the eating phase (literally and figuratively), not even in the cocoon yet. I think the cocoon comes during college, and then sometime between their 2nd and 3rd year of college they emerge as a butterfly. Even then, they still don't have things figured out, I know I don't, and I've been graduated for almost 4 years now. But, being a teacher in-and-of-itself deserves respect. Being an adult deserves respect. Being human deserves respect. But teenagers need to check themselves before they get any, they deserve it for being human, not because they actually accomplished anything. To me, just being kind and not obnoxious deserves respect because that's hard to do as a teenager, appearance means a lot to these kids and being a suck-up takes away their street-cred.

So here's what's been on my mind this weekend: an episode of Eureka and Bones, and some random kid banging on the piano.

In season 2 episode 4 Jack Carter's daughter Zoe is supposed to go live with her mom, but she doesn't want to and she exclaims "Don't I get a say in this?" Well, I've never been married and I don't have kids, but I don't think this is a decision that the parents made before the divorce, that Jack would get her for a year and his wife would get her for a year. Kids really don't know what is best for them, and adults don't really know either, but they do have more life experience. Being divorced obviously makes things more difficult, but they are trying to be amicable--that should count for something. I just don't think teens can think straight, they're too emotional, hormonal, and dramatic--ok so that was redundant, but it's clear, "it's a barbarity that clarity is a rarity." Why are teens portrayed as being smarter than adults, because it's just not true. I think it's because teens don't actually portray teens on TV or in the movies. They're usually 20something, only on the Disney Channel and Bella on Twilight (but that was cutting it close).

In an episode of Bones there was a little girl in a beauty pageant. Now those things are just messed up. The parents, kids, and judges. Yeah I want my future daughter be confident, to have good posture, speaking skills, and all the things that is expected of pageants, but I don't want my daughter to be mean, and a brat. Bones was a little disturbed by pageants, parents, and little girls dressing older than they should. Shouldn't that be a sign to anyone? Kids need to be kids.

The other day, I was playing beautiful music on the piano and some obnoxious kid banged on the bass keys really loud. It scared the bageegees out of me. I just looked at him, and had to pretend to not care, but I was boiling up inside. That is just rude. Didn't your mother teach you not to bang on the piano while someone else is playing it. Bang all you want when no one else is creating pleasant sounds. I wanted to tell him off, but he's not my kid, and if the mom was there she probably would have yelled at me. Why didn't she yell at him for doing something so ugly and bratty. You should have seen the look on his face when I stopped to see who he was. It was mischievous. Really? You think that's cute? Well right now you look like. . . . like some bad kid from the scriptures. . . . Laman! (Ok so that was the meanest thing I could say about someone else's child.)

So, I guess you're wondering what the feminist movement has to do with this. Well it's simple. There isn't a parent at home to teach kids the value of being a child. To be kind. To respect adults. And to tell them to turn the TV off, and read a book instead, like The Hungry Caterpillar.

Hopefully, I will have my students whipped into submission by Christmas, and then I get to start over again after Christmas break! The joys of being a teacher!

Psych

2011-09-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

Since I got Netflix I've been watching Psych. There are only 4 of the 6 seasons. I've watched all the episodes but one, so I started watching them again in random order. I don't want it to end. I love Psych too much, and seeing all the episodes watched would make me sad. Plus I'm afraid that if I do finish the final episode they will take it off "Instant Queue," and then I will have to add DVD to my account and pay an extra $2. No thanks. For now.

When the Right Door Opens You Just Go Through

2011-08-06T10:58:00.000-07:00

The story you have all been waiting for: "How I got my new job"

The story is actually kinda long, so I posted it in the "Pages" tab click on the link to your right (not mine) with the same title.

A Spell of Happiness

2011-07-18T23:59:00.000-07:00

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really love The Peachkeeper, and so I figured Garden Spells would be good, and it is, but I was surprised by a few things. The Peachkeeper has minimum to 0 swearing (as far as I can remember), and the "romance" scenes isn't as "romantic" or not as detailed as GS is (I know I'm somewhat naive, but that is why I figured GS would be just as good). I don't want to compare the books, they are both equally good and entertaining, but I was surprised by the language and "romance" in GS

I do enjoy third person narrative, especially an omniscient narrator, it's very rare these days, the narrator got into all the minds of several characters, and the reader is able to see different scenes in Bascom, North Carolina, and not just the Waverly home. The characters are lovable and jump off the page. Really, they are well developed and each character's presence affects the tone/setting, especially other characters.

The pacing of the story was just right. Sarah Addison Allen has a gift for detail, and conveying magic in the real world (I just got done reading the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and watching the film, so magic is stuck in my head right now), instead of a world created especially for magical beings. The past, present and future come together in a neat bouquet of flowers, herbs, thorns, and apples, which have a little magic of their own.

There were some funny moments, moments when I cried, felt anxious, and moments when I was just plain happy! A treat for the senses!

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ภูมใจ to be American

2011-07-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

Yay! It's the 4th of July. A day where BBQ's and swimming are a part of the celebrations (like turkey on Thanksgiving and presents at Christmas), eat watermelon and have seed spitting contests (and pee all night long), and watch fireworks into the night (and pee because you ate too many slices of watermelon, I swear watermelon is 99.9% water and .1% fruit). I guess it is also a good time to be thankful for how lucky we are as Americans. I'm not being "arrogant," but I just call it good ol' fashion pride (the good kind and there is a good kind despite what people say). In Thai, there are different words for pride, the good kind--not boasting, but feeling good about a sense of accomplishment, a healthy dose of sef-esteem/confidence-- ภูมิ ใจ (pronounced poomjai), and the bad kind--arrogant, obnoxious, "I want to pop your head like a pimple until you shut-up about yourself"-- อุทธัจ (ootat) or ความอหังการ (kwamahang gan). Around Bangkok, I would see banners that read "ภูมใจไนไทย" (or something like that), and it made me think of that great song "I'm Proud to be an American." ภูมใจ allows us to go out and make something of ourselves. To capture the American dream. To rise from the ashes and be a noble nation/people. It's why Americans love Kate, Her Royal Highness Duchess of Cambridge--a middle class girl who becomes a princess, I mean duchess--that is all I want! So, I think it's ok to be ภูมใจ, and it's ok to be ภูมใจ of America. We have accomplished a lot in our short existence.

Yes, we are lucky to live in America, and don't you forget. It took living in a foreign country for me to realize it. Not that where I lived was bad, it just wasn't America. Thailand is a free country (but with most free countries there are boundaries and laws to protect people from their own stupidity), the name does mean free, ประเทศไทย, not "land of smiles." There are some laws in Thailand that we don't have in America that are based on tradition and culture--like you can't talk bad about the king, but a taxi driver will go off on the prince/future king (???), or you can't sit on, or pose, like a Buddha statue in a picture to be a cute or funny tourist, because you will get arrested. I saw Brokedown Palace--you don't want to get arrested. (It's scary being in a foreign country and going to their jails, and facing their court system, and not really knowing what is going on around you because of a language barrier). Of course, I love Thailand (like I love America, it is my second home), and admire the people's devotion and respect to their culture, traditions, and laws (I try my best to respect their customs and beliefs--I never talk bad about the king, he's cool). We have things that we honor and respect--the flag.

So back to why I started writing this . . . ภูมใจ to be American

A little website called Facebook
Freedom of Speech
Freedom to not listen to others overusing (abusing) their freedom of speech
Freedom to be Creative and innovative
Decent education
You can gossip about anyone in Hollywood to make money (i.e. Us and Star magazines)
Fireworks on the 4th of July
You can drink water from the faucet

There are a bajillion things that makes America great. And yes, I am ภูมใจ to be American!

Netflix Is a Very Bad Thing. . . For Me

2011-06-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

For People like me Netflix is a very bad thing. Last week sometime, I discovered a show called Veronica Mars. After the first episode I was hooked. Blast those cliffhangers! I've basically been watching it nonstop--before bed, when I wake up. When I'm not at home, by my computer, I'm wishing I was so I could watch the next episode, and find out what really happened to Lily Kane. It's gotten to the point where Veronica Mars was in my dream.

This summer I planned on getting caught up on my reading and superseding my (too-low-set) goal for the year. (My goal is 12 books, I was looking forward to reading at least that this summer!) But no, I'm craving Veronica Mars. Before Veronica, I was watching Psych, what can I say I'm a sucker for snarky detectives.

Why am I obsessed with Netflix--I can watch episode after episode without waiting a week, and the perkiest perk of all, no commercials. I've also watched a few movies. So what is a girl like me (a girl who loves movies and tv) to do when Netflix is tempting me? Addictions can be such a waste of time, and so is writing this post.

The Tortoise Went Faster Than This

2011-05-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

It's been almost four years since I (officially) graduated from college, three years since I walked, and 2 since I became a credentialed teacher. (It's been seven since I left Thailand.) And now, I am officially a substitute teacher for the Kern High School District! Slow and steady wins the race. Well, this must be a neverending race because the rate I'm going is slower than slow. The tortoise went faster than this, like a bajillion times faster.

I'm thinking in 3 more years I will be a full-time teacher with a salary, benefits, a retirement package and the whole shabang. The most exciting thing about being a teacher is having my own a classroom. A classroom I get to decorate and buy fun organizational stuff for. A room with bookshelves for my ever expanding library--thank you Borders for going out of business and slashing prices dramatically! My own desk with knick-knacks, freshly sharpened pencils and inked-up pens, and a new computer and printer. A mini fridge to store my lunch and my secret stash of chocolate. Neighbors that I can go to lunch with and commiserate over why the educational system is so screwed up, and students that are too-much-to-handle.

Finally feeling accomplished!

Chapter Three

2011-04-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Chapter Three: Unicorn Crossings

The troll didn't quite give up yet. He thought and thought. Finally, he came up with something. "I'll make two paths one with traps and one with a deep hole in case she doesn't pick one." Now the dumb troll didn't know that the unicorn was standing outside the cave to hear the nasty old trolls plan.

That afternoon the unicorn hid behind a tree to see the nasty old troll finish his plans.

She knew where all the traps were, she could fly over them. "Dum dee dum dee dum what shall I do today. Oh-me-oh-my! A path. Better yet, two paths. Which one shall I take?"

She thought the second one had a hole, so she could fly over the hole. She picked the second path. She found the hole and saw the troll setting up the net.

The unicorn waited for the net to be set up. When the troll was ready he ran out of the hole and behind a tree. The unicorn stepped up to the edge, and threw a huge stone in the hole.

The net came up. The troll was so excited he tripped over a stump, rolled down into the net, and captured himself.

What will happen next? Will the troll finally capture the unicorn? And where is the princess in this story? Stay tuned for the concluding chapters of The Unicorn, The Troll, and the Princess . . . .

Don't Go to the Taco Bell on Chester and Brundage, You Might Cry

2011-04-22T09:17:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Taco Bell and ordered their Deal 2: Regular drink, Doritos and Double Decker Taco for $2.00. I said "The Double Decker Taco meal Deal 2." Straightforward, right? . . . Wrong!

When I got my food I took it back to my table and unwrapped my taco. I noticed it looked weird. Like maybe someone added nacho cheese. So I proceeded to put mild sauce on it. Then, when I inspected it further, I noticed that it was indeed nacho cheese sauce on both sides of the soft shell. I guess the Cheesy Double Decker Taco is a new thing that they are promoting, and they decided to try it out on me. . . . I don't know.

I took it back up to the counter and the lady basically said it was my fault because I did not specify. ??? Yeah, I didn't know I had to. (She was in the process of collecting change from another customer and seemed very put out by me that she was very short with the other guy, but she asked what I needed while helping the gentleman. I would have waited for her to finish with the guy.) I was in shock that the lady would address me in such a manner. She was very aggressive and rude. I tried to calmly explain to her that I said "I ordered deal 2 with a Double Decker Taco." That does not mean I want a Cheesy Double Decker Taco, I have never had to specify before, and this cheesy thing is new, so it would be on them to ask me which one I wanted, so they would not make a mistake and have to eat 89 cents.

Why was she biting the hand that feeds her? The customer is always right, right? All I wanted was my taco made the right way. That's all. I don't want her job, I don't want her to get in trouble, but I will make sure of it now. Where was her manager? There was another lady standing over her shoulder that did not say anything, that did not come to my aid. Luckily, a male employee came to my aid and didn't make a fuss over it, and said he would "just make a new one" and "it's no big deal." That's it! That's all I wanted! For someone to just make me the taco that I wanted. I wasn't trying to make a scene , but the lady surely did want to. Don't blame me for your incompetence, it's your job to get the order right not mine. That's why the cashier/server informs the customer that there are multiple options, and then the customer decides, and finally the cashier/server repeats back the order before hitting "TOTAL." The lady nearly brought me to tears.

At any other Taco Bell the person behind the counter would have apologized profusely and taken back the taco and give me a new one with cinnamon twists. I'm not one to hold a grudge, or sincerely wish horrible things on people, but I sincerely wish that she gets fired--even in this economy!

Chapter Two

2011-02-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

Chapter Two The Lost Gremlin Named Corny

The troll may not be able to catch this unicorn, but he tries and tries to capture the unicorn. He thought and thought. He finally came up with something.

"I can disguise myself as a gremlin and name the gremlin Corny. I'm so wicked," he said to himself (he likes to talk to himself, he is a loner).

The next day he hid behind a stump by the pond. The unicorn got another sip of water. All of a sudden, a little tiny gremlin popped out. The unicorn was drinking the water she eyed the gremlin. Then she turned her eye to look at her lovely reflection. She saw that nasty old troll's reflection, and looked up (she was very clever) and saw the sneer on the gremlin's face. She found out that the gremlin was really the troll, so she decided to go along with the joke.

When he took out his net to get ready to capture her she flew away. The troll said, "Darn it! She found out." The unicorn said, "Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha! You didn't get me."

The troll was so mad he turned back into a troll and turned blue.

I wrote the story in pencil, I am surprised that the story has lasted this long. Growing up, I was told that pen lasts longer, and doesn't smear like pencil--well I proved the critics wrong. I know there are a lot of mistakes, but I didn't have an editor to tell me that I was making a lot of leaps. My fourth grade imagination is not like a J.K. Rowling or Jane Austen, and yes I did take lots of leaps in writing this story visualizing the scene at the pond, expecting the reader to just know the actions of the unicorn and troll. The illustrations help too!

I didn't realize it at the time, but I made a pure and perfect animal really vain.

P.S. In this story gremlins are suppose to be cute and good fairy creatures, like Gizmo before water spills on him in the classic movie Gremlins.

The Story I wrote in the 4th Grade: Chapter One

2011-02-05T11:47:00.000-08:00

While cleaning out the garage and going through boxes of old stuff--stuff from Thailand, stuff from my childhood through high school, and early college years, I lovingly call my "goof-off years"--I found a story that I wrote and illustrated in the fourth grade: The Unicorn, the Troll, and the Princess. I really liked unicorns as a child. I still want one!

Well I decided to edit it (mostly change punctuation and spelling errors, and take out repetitive phrases), and post it here chapter by chapter (there are only 5 short chapters), along with three poems I wrote: "Trolls," "Unicorns," "A Princess."

Chapter 1 Almost Captured

Once there was a unicorn. It was so friendly, so wise, and so talented. It had wings like a dove and flew swiftly through the air. Everyone liked the nice friendly unicorn, but a troll wanted to capture her horn for the power. The power was so strong it could purify poisoned water. The troll wanted to capture this unicorn so he could take the horn for the power.

When the unicorn heard this she was so frightened she went into the forest so she couldn't get captured. She went to a pond to have a cool sip of water (it was a very hot day). She stood up to see her lovely reflection. Her reflection looked funny, then she noticed a troll was walking up to her with a net. When the troll was about to capture her, she flew away. He tripped over a stone fell into the net and floated down into the pond. The troll said, "I'll get you next time!"

Brought to You by the Letter O

2011-01-24T08:12:00.000-08:00

O isn't necessarily my favorite letter in the alphabet (because of a certain billionaire's self-absorbed use of it) like Q and X (I especially love K), but I do appreciate it because it is one of the underused vowels (Wheel of Fortune will agree), and I do like the underdogs (the reason I rooted for the Jets).

One of the coolest words in the English language is "onomatopoeia." O is used 4 times, once for no reason (it's like a silent E), and it basically comes after every consonant. So, with those hints spelling onomatopoeia should be easy, right? Yeah, I know it still takes practice. Another reason why onomatopoeia is so cool is because of its meaning. It's that word that you can never think of when you want to say, "what is it called when a word makes a sound? You know a sound word like 'buzz' or 'beep' or meow.' That word." That's what onomatopoeia is... a sound word. I know onomatopoeia sounds like a terrible skin disease that causes puss to leak out of boils, or an Italian saying in their sing-songy English "I gotta go pee-a."

I wonder if the fantastical Cirque de Soleil show "O" in Vegas is short for onomatopoeia, and the producers couldn't figure out how to spell it correctly and just gave up . . .

What Is This Really About?

2011-01-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

One of my facebook friends from college current status is a quote from the hilarious show Community (by far one of the funniest shows ever, like up there with Arrested Development), but he didn't stop there. He continued to post quotes from the show, and they are all definitely funny. Of course I added my "hahaha!" in there (in case you didn't know I disdain "lol" and never use it because it is overused, most of the time, inappropriately--I burned my finger lol. My boyfriend cheated on me lol. I gave you herpes lol, ok so that one is appropriately used but you get the drift, and I also don't like it because people are really saying laugh[ing] out loud, come on we really don't say that in a conversation you just laugh so why not use the onomatopoeia for laughing "haha?"), and another guy just clicked on "Like." That is not enough.

Why doesn't facebook offer a "Love" button. Like is not intense enough. It's a weak emotion. It's noncommital. It's like saying "Meh. I don't love, but I don't hate." And that is not how we should talk to our friends. We need to love what they do, or hate it, and we tell them that to their faces ... sometimes. . . right?! And we especially "Love" everything about Community.

Jeff Winger's snarky comments. Abed's infatuation with John Hughes and pop culture--he's like "I see your value now" Rainman. Brita who tries to be extreme and nonconformist when she really isn't. Pierce who is creepy, and oblivious to his creepiness. Shirley, sweet Shirley, who explodes if you badmouth Jesus (and I agree with her). Annie, who has her panties wound so tightly that she is one explosion short of an aneurism. Finally, Troy, the jock he's too. . . ambidextrous . . . I mean ambiguous.

Yes, last night's episode was funny, and I have been waiting forever for new ones, one can only watch the stop-motion Christmas special for so long to fill the void, and in case you were wondering I thought it was the most Christmasy Christmas episode of any show Fall season.

So, yes I wanted to "Love" all the comments my friend made because they were more than just "meh." Oh, and Facebook doesn't have a "Hate" button either.

Do Pretentious People Know They Are Pretentious?

2011-01-10T09:57:00.000-08:00

I have met a lot of pretentious people in my life--and I apologize if I've ever given off the pretentious vibe --and I wonder if they realize they are pretentious. I met a boy in college who thought he was the pooh, but he wasn't. He was unkempt with greasy hair and grungy clothes, and he liked to give his opinion when it wasn't warranted.

One time I was talking to one of the teachers (an adjunct who had a Master's and was accepted to a graduate program) about fairy tales, and I guess you can say he had first hand experience with fairy tales because he used to live in Germany, the land of fairy tales--Grimms Brothers, Neuschwanstein--and the pretentious undergrad rudely butted into our conversation and inisted that the adjunct was talking about a fable. A very different sort of story (although, they are both included in the folk tale category) and a very specific type of storytelling. Yes, fairy tales have morals like fables, but they are implicit not explicit like fables, and besides, since when has Cinderella ever been a dog? They kind of went back-and-forth for a while (really, it was ridiculous and the pretentious fool should have just shut up when he had the chance). After the room was cleared, the smug pretentious jerk looked up fables on-line and found out he was wrong, but never owned up to it like a pretentious fatherless child would do. I only know that he looked it up because after he left the room I looked up the history of the computer that he used and he googled fables. I felt pretty good after that.

That was then this is now, and I ran into another pretentious person the other day, and she was offering me unwarranted advice. I am older than her, have had cooler experiences than her, and I know what I am doing. Anyways, I did look up her suggestion, and maybe she was right, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to her . . . because she is pretentious.

It's Been a Long Time: My Go to Topic

2010-11-28T09:18:00.000-08:00

Well, yes, I know it's been a long time. The last time I posted something was sometime in the summer, and my background has been a beach for many months. "Stuff" has happened, and I've either been too lazy to write about it, or annoyed with my computer's dysfunction (it seems to have grown a brain of its own). You probably hate recaps, so I'm not going to do that . . .

Recently, I saw the first installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and it was really really good. (I tell everyone that.) It also ended in a good spot, where there was a climactic scene, and a good stopping point so the second part can just . . . . go. (I also tell everyone that.)

It's almost the end of an era -- a decade of reading and re-reading, watching and re-watching Harry Potter. I don't confess to be a Harry Potter expert, but I will say I know quite a bit, enough to win trivia games. Harry Potter is the only series that I have been so dedicated to, next I would say is The Chronicles of Narnia, then The Twilight Saga (I only re-watch with friends never really because I love it and think it's so amazing). When I was a kid though, I really loved The Baby-Sitter's Club.

What I Like About Summer

2010-06-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Well it's summer. My favorite season. I love hot weather, the smell of sunblock, and wearing flip-flops all the time. My feet are no longer bound by socks and close toed shoes (except at work), they feel so trapped, and it's such a pain to put on socks, tie shoes, or buckle straps. It saves so much prep time.

Another thing I love about summer are the movies. Out are the depressing epically long films, and in are the funny ADD friendly films that are mind numbing, perfect for forgetting all the calculus and Shakespeare that we really don't need to know--unless you're an engineer or college professor.

But most of all barbecues. Being outside. OFF. and Lots of free time.

Pretend that . . .

2010-05-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

Pretend that you are on a Jungle trek and everything is going according to plan. Your guide has kept you safe thus far from Jaguars, human eating pythons, mosquitoes, piranhas, and even a Venus fly-trap. As you delve deeper into the jungle the branches and foliage get thicker, you can't see your way, and the dirt is getting softer, but it's not quick sand--your guide knows better than to lead you into that. So, you both pull out the machetes and wade through it all. After a long time your machete gets dull, and tired (it too needs a rest), and so you need to stop to sharpen it, but you don't have a whetstone, and there is no way to sharpen the one tool that you thought would help you in the jungle. So what do you do? . . .

It's time to get out of the jungle and on a plane (yes in the middle of a jungle) and head to the beach, to sit-back sip on Mai Tais and turn a radiant golden brown! (Who wants a burnt grilled cheese sandwich?) Time to go back to the place that made you happy and calm and feel good about life. The place where you can plan your next great adventure, maybe next time your adventure can be a "Spycation" like they did on the last episode of Castle, but without the deadly outcome.

Tuesdays With iTunes

2010-03-02T00:13:00.000-08:00

Every Tuesday iTunes has new free music, videos, and even t.v. shows (I figured out that when I go on around 9 or 10 pm PST Monday night the new stuff is posted), and if I'm lucky a free audio book (just an excerpt), but they never seem to have movies . . . . Well this week the music video was "Halfway Gone" by Lifehouse. It seemed pretty good and so I went ahead and got it. Well, lately my new favorite song is "Hey Soul Sister" by Train, and as a friendly suggestion by the "genius'" at iTunes I previewed the video. I love it. In the short 30 seconds I felt the video captured the essence of the song, and for $1.99 I will probably purchase it so I can have it forever, and not when it expires on youtube, and of course the quality will be better! But here it is for your viewing pleasure, and mine too--until I buy the video). It's like "deep fried chicken!"

Getting Caught Up: Family and Football

2010-02-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking that it has been a long time since I last blogged, and while a lot of things have happened, at the end of the day I am just too tired to write about it. Today, though, has been a pretty good day to get caught up--since I am not working at either one of my jobs.

Super Bowll 44 was AWESOME! That was an amazing comeback for the Saints. And it's not Karhma, they obviously wanted it more than the Colts. When my team isn't in the Super Bowl I root for the underdog. This year I claimed 2 teams, the Vikings and the Ravens--because purple is my second favorite color (could you imagine a football team wearing pink?), and if you've been a loyal follower of my blog since January of 2008 you know the other reason.

This week should be an exciting week. I'm watching the Hubble kids, and The Lightning Thief
comes out.

2010 Here I Come!

2009-12-31T14:32:00.000-08:00

Sadly, 2009 is coming to an end, and that means it is time for me to reflect on this year and all the cool things that have happened. It seems that '09 started off with a bang and then kinda whimpered out, like a really bad fireworks show without an explosive finale. Maybe it was the Obama "change" America was high on, and when there wasn't much of a change everyone felt jaded. Twenty-ten is going to be a good year, I can feel it!

Working backwards here is what happened this year:
My niece Chloe was born
Saw "The Blind Side" 2x
Job searched in California and found 2--Banana Republic & Boys and Girls Club
Was on the news because of my job search
Made the move from Utah to California (all good things must come to an end)
Kelly Clarkson!
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince finally came out
More job searching and interviews in Utah

. . . and that's pretty much it. Lots of time with my family and friends, watching my nieces and nephews grow (one of them is 16 already!), and all the little things in between.

Wow 2009 was a jam packed year!

The best movie of the year

2009-11-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

I recently learned who the second highest paid player in football is: the Left Tackle, or the guy on the blind side. Two Fridays in a row I paid full price to watch The Blind Side, and I will probably do it again. It's a good movie. (Sandra Bullock's best role this year, although I think Mary Horowitz was pretty cool in All About Steve--maybe only because I can relate to her nerdy side.)

The movie is so uplifting, and so good. I really like Michael Oher ("Oar like the paddle"), he's a beast, with 98% protective instincts.

The movie has inspired me to read the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, and be a Baltimore Ravens fan. I need to buy a Ravens hoodie to make it official.

Next Monday the Ravens are playing the Green Bay Packers.

How Far WIll You Go for an Obsession?

2009-11-20T10:43:00.000-08:00

I'm running on only 3.5 hours of sleep. Why do I do this to myself? Oh wait, because I'm a self-proclaimed nerd, and I love my nieces and nephews and apparently their friends. Last night I froze my bottom off waiting outside from 8-10 pm, and then in the theater from 10 pm-12:01 am to see The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

It was about 20 minutes before we were to go into the theater that I started handing out the tickets when I realized I was one short. Luckily, I had the receipt, so I got the manager to sign the receipt, and I was able to get in. Later I learned that I handed one of the kids an extra ticket (they were stuck together).

Once we got inside and claimed our seats, a group us took our camping chairs out to the car, and some people watched Twilight on the computer before the movie started, of course, so they could have the story fresh in their mind, while other people napped for about an hour or so before the movie--hey whatever helps you stay awake during a 2+ hour movie.

So, that is why I am only operating on 3.5 hours of sleep. Eventually I will take a nap, or just go all day like I did last year.

The things we do for our obsessions!

Into the future

2009-11-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

My Monday ritual has been going to my 13 year old niece's volleyball game, afterwards going over to their house for dinner, watching CW shows together (we don't get CW on our satellite), and then come home around 10 pm.

(My nieces really like this show,

while I love this show,
and we like this show)

Well, Volleyball is over so I was going to come home early and mix up my Monday night primetime shows, but my other niece begged me to stay and watch One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl, since it has become a tradition I couldn't say no, so I said "Alright" and stayed.

While we waited for her friend to come over (she doesn't get CW either), she didn't arrive until 9, so we skipped OTH and went straight to GG (Yay!). While I was waiting I went ahead and set the recorder for Thursday at 8 pm on the CW network. It is true I love Vampire Diaries. That is my new favorite show, and we haven't gotten into the show together (I tend to watch it by myself on my laptop), so I am hoping we can add it to our "tv bonding" time.

In order for me to record a show on Thursday evening I had to skip ahead on the cable's "Guide" to set the recorder. Growing up, watching tv wasn't always this easy, nor was it as time-saving. When I was little you couldn't turn to a guide on your tv, we had to purchase a TV Guide magazine (or read it in the entertainment section of the newspaper), then record our shows on VHS, and we could only record one show at a time; then in 1997 when Tivo was invented-- a box you could hook up to your tv to record, pause, and fastforward through shows independent of satellite or cable boxes--our lives were simplified. With Tivo we could record multiple shows at the same time, save them as long as we want, and program it to record one episode or the series whenever it came on without being home; we no longer have to worry about missing our shows, and we can catch up on a season during our free time. Now, our satellite or cable boxes come with DVRs (for a little extra money). Tivo and DVRs are a huge time saver, we can watch two shows in 8 pm - 10 pm time slot in about 1.5 hours, that's 30 minutes shaved off!

Setting the recorder for Thursday was like going into the future. I felt like Marty McFly for a brief second. I'm a time traveler now. It's every sci-fi lover's dream come true!

Maybe being on the news will help me get a job

2009-11-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

After moving back to California the job search has been slow, but I know that something will happen. It has to. I have worked a little here and a little there, but nothing permanent yet.

Last Thursday my dad told me about a job fair around 10 am. I quickly got ready, updated my resume and printed 20 copies, and drove to the Kern County Fair Grounds (I turned down the wrong street and had to back track) by the time I got checked in it was 10 minutes to noon (it was over at 1 pm). This job fair was different from the job fairs I've attended at UVU--employers didn't bring pens--but I made some contacts with potential employers.

Today I am finishing up some resumes, and I am going to fill out some applications. So yes, the job fair was useful, but what was the most useful was being interviewed by Sabrina Rodriguez on 29 Eyewitness News. An old friend Facebooked me to wish me luck, while other friends called to tell me they saw me on the news. Hopefully my 15 minutes of fame will help secure a job!

Subbing Is Not as Easy as It Looks

2009-09-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday was the first time I subbed (and I just barely recooperated) and it was interesting to say the least. I subbed in the fourth grade for half-a-day, I started after lunch and went until the end of the day. I was able to meet the teacher and watch how she does things, so that was nice to see how to run an elementary classroom, seeing how I don't know. My experience has been with teenagers, and while I am sure kids no matter what age group will act up for subs, I can handle teens-- they just kinda check out.

The kids were sweet and liked me (I think) but they were all over the place. They tattle, touch each other, can't sit still, tell me how to do things, do the pee pee dance (when they don't have to pee), ask to go to the bathroom or get a drink (right after lunch or recess), get bloody noses, get their feelings hurt, waste time, tell me unnecessary stories, and need a lot of personal attention. It's a mess, and I don't have the patience for it, and maybe they picked up on it because there were a few times that I got frustrated and barked at them. Before P.E. I asked them to sit silently for a minute so I could gain some sanity, and I wanted to see if they could be quiet, but after 20 seconds I got bored.

I have a new respect for elementary teachers, it is a tough job. They have to be nice to other people's children. They have to be like moms and dads and doctors and nurses. They have to deal with a lot of issues that they aren't necessarily trained to deal with--like bloody noses, how does that happen randomly?--and look good at the same time. They have to be nurturing and deal with hurt feelings--telling them to suck it up doesn't fly for these keds. Teachers just don't teach and that's never been in their job description. It's not like doctors or lawyers or engineers, where they just focus on one job or one skill, teachers have to multi-task and be everything at once. It's a tough gig, but someone has to teach the lawyers and doctors and engineers and businessmen to do what they do.

I'm glad it wasn't a full day, I don't think I could have handled it very well, but the kids survived. . . and I'm still here!

More Tests

2009-09-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

I really hate taking tests. I especially hate it when my future is determined by the outcome of those tests. We all had to take those poorly written standardized tests to move on to the next grade (a lot of times those tests have nothing to do with any content that you learned), or the SAT/ACT for college, and then once you got accepted into preferred college you had to take a placement exam for math or English. Then there are those exams that are required for aspiring teachers (even teachers have to take tests).

I'm talking about my TB test and my physical. I passed! So now I only have 2 or 3 more hoops to go before I can substitute. I, luckily, have a year to take the CBEST and will wait a few months. I think I'll take it after I start substitute teaching; that way I will have a little money in my pocket, and I will have an idea of what to expect on the test. The only way to get over my hatred of taking tests (well mostly "test anxiety") is to be prepared.

I Have to Do That?!

2009-09-07T07:50:00.000-07:00

Since I have moved back to California I've been working on getting my substitute teaching application together. If you've ever tried to substitute teach in California it's quite the process. I first went to some of the district offices and then my sister told me I should go through the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS). So I did. I got a pile of papers to fill out, and a checklist of stuff to do; unlike Utah, California requires there substitute teachers to have at least a B.A. or in pursuit of one, and take the CBEST (a general knowledge test), whereas Utah only requires there subs to breathe.

Even though I have my Utah teaching license that limits a few hoops, but it also means that I have to spend $5 to have my transcripts sent. (That's right it costs $5 to send transcripts now when just a few years ago it only cost $2.) It's going to cost my somewhere between $150 and $200 just for the opportunity to put in a movie for kids that dislike new authority figures for about $100/day, with no medical benefits. (Sometimes being a substitute teacher is hazardous to your health.) Here's a rundown of what it takes for me to start substituting:

Fingerprinting and background check ($63)
TB Exam ($12.50)
Physical ($30+ varies on physician)
CBEST ($41, but I have a year to take it)
Request Transcripts ($5) and proof of UT license
Fill out the CA sub application (free) and other paperwork
Evaluation of transcripts ($55)

What I thought would take a few days to do, is going to take a week-and-a-few days. On Friday I went to the clinic all excited to be able to get my TB test, but once I got there they told me they weren't doing them that day because Monday is a holiday*. What does that have to do with Friday? So my adventures continue.

*A friend informed me that it takes about 72 hours for TB results to appear, and since Monday was a holiday and the "County" clinic would be closed it would affect the results.

Change Is Good-- Right?!

2009-08-20T18:55:00.000-07:00

So my adventures in Utah are coming to an end. Looking back I was able to do some cool stuff like:

(New Kids on The Block, Stephenie Meyer, and Kelly Clarkson)

and some bad stuff happened to me like:

three car accidents (only one was my fault), and mosquito bites that grew to the size of a watermelon. (Yeah huge!) But, most importantly graduating. That is what I came here for. I'm definitely gonna miss all the friends that I made

and Maggie and Miley

(and their parents and my brother of course).

Although it's a sad time, it's also an exciting time. Change is good . . . . right ?!

The True American Idol

2009-06-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Kelly Clarkson is AWESOME!! She is definitely my idol. She sang all her good songs, and the ones I don't know. . . . yet. In attendance: Justine (my Aussie); Stephanie and Jenny Mitchell (twinners); Sydney, Brea, and Bailey; Kyla, Talina, Katie, Sheri, and Callie; and Me. She is definitely worth the $15 bucks- shoot I probably would have paid for the VIP passes, but then again I wouldn't have had as much fun without my homies.

Rain or shine Kelly rocked the field!

That's Not Very Nice

2009-06-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

So I've watched the New Moon trailer a couple times, and I am excited. It looks like it should be good. It's a lot brighter than Twilight. The colors are warmer, like orangey, whereas Twilight had blue hues which gave it a darker feel. Obviously it's the director's style and artistic vision, and the reason for it remains to be seen.

I do find the poster to be a bit deceiving. Jacob with his back to Edward seems normal since they are mortal enemies, but it's Jacob who is guarding Bella (which happens for most of the story), but Edward is just as protective of Bella, and that's basically why he does everything he does. But, it's the placement of Bella and how she is holding onto Jacob that is frustrating. Bella inadvertently leads Jacob to believe he has some chance (which isn't very nice), while Edward is being pushed out of the picture.

Just google "New Moon trailer" and you can find about a 1,000,000 different hits on it. It's pretty intense.

Picture retrieved from: http://twilightguide.com/tg/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/new-moon-movie-poster.jpg

A New Epidemic

2009-04-24T22:03:00.000-07:00

Last night I stayed the night at my sister's house so I could watch my niece this morning while she took her other daughter to a doctor's appointment. She got home around 11 am, and I hung around for a little bit, and then someone came knocking on the front door. I thought it was my niece banging on one of the doors in the house because she got locked inside one of them, or something. I heard my sister talking to someone outside, and so obviously I became interested. It was a Kirby vacuum salesman. She invited him in for a "brief" demonstration (he ended up staying from almost 2.5 hours, and he ate a hot dog).

He showed us all the cool gadgets, directing most of his attention to my sister. During his first hour he showed us all the neat tricks, and it's "transformer" capabilities--from upright to hand held to canister. He told us about CBD, and then proceeded to show us what it is. He went over to the couch and started to vacuum it. I thought he couldn't pick up a whole lot because it's a microfiber couch and it would be easy to see the dirt. When he was finished he showed us the results. It was disgusting. (I obviously had been laying there about an hour before). The dust, dirt, lint, dead skin, etc. was thicker than the dirt that came out of the carpet. Concentrated Butt Dust, CBD. I wanted to buy a Kirby for myself.

The second hour wasn't as impressive--just putting the vacuum away.

Harry Potter Trailer

2009-04-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

This movie looks so AWESOME!!

Stupid Warner Brothers making us wait 7 months.

Lots of Stuff Goin' On

2009-04-11T23:59:00.001-07:00

This week has been an exciting week. First off my sister Kendra and her kids from California came up to visit; then I certified at work and now I can get paid just a little bit more than before; I saw three movies Monsters vs. Aliens, Hannah Montana and Taken; went to my niece Miley's first birthdya; and ate out a lot. I've been so busy that I have not had time to take my daily naps, and have been living off of Mountain Dew just to survive. I love Mountain Dew and rarely drink it because of all the caffeine, sugar, and caffeine that I can only handle a little bit ever 6-12 months or so. I observed that when I drink Mountain Dew I usually toss and turn for most of the night (which is expected), but mostly because I have nightmares and have to go to the bathroom a lot. (The last part is really annoying, but there's more to that story that will have to be told at another time.) So, anyways life is great, and I'm just hangin' out wastin' time! Happy Easter and have a good life!

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-03-29T22:31:00.001-07:00

So Wednesday is my birthday (and my niece's pictured here), and I am excited. I also don't know what to do. It's not a milestone birthday, so it's not like I can have a huge party and get gag gifts or something. It's kind of an insignificant age. I know for sure I am going to go out to dinner with my brother, and my sister and her family (yeah Kyla we're going to dinner in case you were wondering) probably to Caraba's because I've been craving Italian food lately, and last year we went Thai. So, if you have any suggestions on what I should do please leave a comment, or a birthday wish, and shower me with presents (cuz that's my favorite part!).

The Curious World of the Internet

2009-03-14T09:21:00.001-07:00

Today I just realized that I am becoming something that I never wanted to become . . . . addicted to on-line games. I know, sad huh?! I was having a conversation with a friend on Facebook, and we were talking about how nice Facebook is to keep in touch with friends, and I mentioned how recently I've made friends with people from all over the world because of [gulp] games. Yes I am ashamed. I have joined the on-line game community, and I don't know where it will end. So far I haven't given any money to this world, and I don't intend to, the only thing they are going to get from me is my time . . . which eventually leads to money. OH NO! What have I gotten myself into?! It's a vicious cycle. It's a vortex of evil continually spiraling down to the burning pits below- the earth's core of course, which is as hot as the sun's surface (according to Wikipedia, the source of all truth and knowledge). See! Look! The sun is in the earth's core.*
This fact causes me to wonder, how far into the earth's crust have we dug? Have we dug far enough to end up in China, or Antarctica? Antarctica would be cool! I wouldn't mind meeting the penguins, it's the leopard seals I'm afraid of . . . they're vicious.
The world is full of curiosities--penguins, the sun at the center of the earth**-- all of which can be explored from the safety of our homes, on the internet. Thank goodness we have the world at the reach of our fingertips (and wire connection to the wall). My brain hurts, I think I will escape in the depths of the world wide web, and play a game.

* Photo courtesy of: http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/assets/images/2003/May-09-2003/Earth_cutaway.jpg
** I know that the sun is not inside the earth. That was just for dramatic effect--hope I didn't pop your imaginary balloon.

What Does Ipso Fatso Mean?

2009-03-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

I've recently been watching the show Kath & Kim, and it is hilarious! The show comes on between My Name is Earl and The Office on Thursday nights, two of the funniest shows on tv right now. I can't help but laugh at the clueless mother-daughter duo. What makes the show so funny is the malapropisms (wrong use of a word that sounds similar) like ipso fatso and cashmire throws (ipso facto and cashmere) trying to sound sophisticated, but only come off sounding chichi (attempting stylish elegance, but ends up being affectedly trendy. If you pronounce it she-she, then you sound French and really posh). I am truly dumbfounded at what they say, and I am left thinking about what they really meant to say. The funny thing is they believe that they are saying the right word. They are a step above Camdentrash--Joy, Earl, Darnell, and Randy from Earl--but still not classy. Here is a short clip from the episode "Competition" which guest-starred Ron White (he's not in the clip) from the Blue Collar Comedy Tour with Jeff Foxworthy, from that description alone you can see how 93308* it gets.

You can watch the full episode on hulu.com.

*93308 is a reference that only a Bakersfielder would get, we call them 'o8ers' for short. I love people from that zip code.

New Blog!

2009-02-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

I started a new blog. This blog is more topic oriented rather than about randomness, my going-ons, or whatever crosses my mind at the moment. I'm setting it up so anybody who wants to post can; so send your email address to kerri.russell4181@gmail.com if you want to post stuff, and I will send you an invite to write for the blog, of course the comments are open to everyone. The blog is about books. It can be what you're currently reading, what you've already read, or about a book that you're struggling to get through and you just need a little motivation. If you're itching to rant (or rave) about Twilight, or you can't get enough of Jane Austen, or you want to discuss how "Big Brother is watching you" then head over to www.literature4theilliterate.blogspot.com and write a post or leave a comment. The title of the blog is "I'm Quite Illiterate, but I Read A Lot" from The Catcher in the Rye.

What Happens in Candy Mountain Stays in Candy Mountain

2009-02-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

I saw this video like a year ago, and thought it was hilarious. WARNING:The following video is sardonic, twisted, and contains candy and unicorns. It is not for the weak of kidneys. Proceed cautiously if you have a warped and twisted sense of humor.

I love the two unicorns that trick Charlie. Their voices are creepy and demented. "Charrrlieee. Come on Charlie. Let's go to Candy Mountain, Charlie. Charrrlieee." That's convincing enough! Hey I warned you.

Everything I've learned in Life I Learned From TV

2009-02-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

Last February a romantic comedy about a girl who is always a bridesmaid and never a bride came out. I was somewhat interested, since I will watch any chick flick and love it (except for Knotting Hill, I still can't watch that movie and want to stay awake for the ending), but alas, I felt somewhat indifferent about the movie. Then one day, I must have been watching something really fascinating because I didn't fast forward through the commercials, which I can't do anyways because I just have basic cable, and a preview for 27 Dresses came on, and they were playing my, then, favorite song "No One" by Alicia Keyes, and it was at that moment I had a strong desire to see the movie.

This made me think about the effect music has on us. I would say that I am more of a visual person, that is why I love watching movies and reading books--I create my own visual image from the words, if the author is good--but similar to how our sense of smell and taste are connected together, so are our sense of sight and hearing (that may not be scientifically accurate, but for the sake of argument just go with it). The other day I was "facebooking," and I saw an ad for the movie he's just not that into you, and so I decided to watch it. As I was watching it one of my new favorite songs was playing in the background "Love, Save the Empty" by Erin McCarley. It was at that point that I had a crazy desire to see the movie. Months ago, when I first saw the preview, I thought this could be a movie I would enjoy, and maybe it was because the song was in the preview the whole time and I didn't know it because I just barely discovered the song, and the other day when I was watching the preview the song really stuck out. I don't know, it seems the song really fits the theme of the movie, and the music hits my soul. This time my sense of hearing came in handy, especially for the producers of the movie because if they played another song, or didn't play anything at all, I probably would not go see it.

Now, I am interested in finding out how music effects people, like how music changed my emotions from indifference to desire. I also want to study people's facial expressions and body language to detect their emotions thanks to Lie to Me. See! Television doesn't rot the brain!

Trauma on Aisle 4

2009-02-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

I love being an aunt. I have the coolest nieces and nephews ever--and I'm not just saying that to get their "favoritest" aunt award! My oldest niece was so fun and cool to hang out with when she was little, now she's too cool for me, but I love family gatherings because I get to see all of the kiddies, and do fun stuff with them.

Today I went to lunch with my sister, two nieces, and Reggie. After lunch we went to Ross. We headed straight for the purse section. My little red headed niece loves purses, and so she obviously had to pick out 2 purses and carried them around the store (they were both snake skin, one was a tote and the other was a satchel). After we left that section we went to the back, and found more purses with Hannah Montana. (please see http://red-headed-family.blogspot.com/ January 21 "Best Purchase Ever!")

When we got to the front to purchase stuff (a matching game, a Hannah Montana nightlight, and one of the Hannah Montana purses) she threw the biggest fit ever, meanwwhile my other niece chilled in the shopping cart. She wanted all four purses. It was traumatic for her.

She certainly loves purses!

SuperBowl Madness

2009-02-02T14:18:00.000-08:00

In the past few years I haven't been watching football as much as I use to growing up, and I think that is because there aren't any teams that I can get behind. When I was a youngin' I was a fan of the 49ers. In elementary school, I remember a boy who was a die hard Rams fan came to school wearing everything Rams on Frideay, and on Monday was donning the winning team's gear (I think it was the49ers). This year the only football game I watched was the Rose Bowl, and the Super Bowl.

I watched it at a friends house who was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I was rooting for the Arizona Cardinals. I didn't really care about either team (and quite frankly the Steelers have a fistful and one set of rings, so they really didn't need anymore), so in cases like this I usually root for the underdog. It was fun to see my friend sweat in the last two minutes of the game when the Cardinals pulled ahead 23-20. I even teased her about some of the Steelers "unnecessary roughness" calls, and they were bad. Who starts a fight with the opposing team on their sideline, and right in front of the ref? If you're going to taunt the other team you do it secretly--definitely not a brilliant move!

The game was quite impressive, except for Springsteen's crotch shot during the half-time show, the commercials were ok, and The Office post show was hilarious, so all around it was a good night of entertainment.

To Blog-v. Display Going Ons in Your Life for the World to See

2009-01-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

It's crazy to think that blogging has become so.... ubiquitous that in random conversation we say "I'm going to blog about this." Even though we just barely communicated the story. Is that what communication has come to? Putting it up on the internet for people in Hong Kong to randomly come across a page of my life. They don't even know me, and yet I am willing to let them in to an intimate part of my life.

Another aspect of wanting to "blog about it," is the fact that sometimes we (or maybe it's just me) hate repeating the story 20 times to friends and family. I have a deja vu moment that I can't shrug off, but I keep telling the story on the phone, at family get togethers, in emails, not so much in text (but I would if I could text efficiently), or over a good meal; it's as if I've never told the story before. Although each telling of the story gets more exciting and hyperbolic because I have to make it interesting for me and my audience.

I guess some people prefer to blog because it is a form of journaling. We have moved away from the old fashioned pen and paper journals to the more high tech virtual world of blogs where people can even comment on our "going ons." It's become easier to type about it on the internet, then sitting in a comfy chair by the fireplace, sipping hot chocolate, and writing about your day, either way you can get carpal tunnel. If you have nothing to "blog" about you can always write about the hideous outfit Renee Zellweger wore to the Golden Globes.

Now I Have to Look for a Real Job

2009-01-10T07:36:00.000-08:00

I know it has been forever since I wrote, but here I am! Friday was my last day ever student teaching. I had a great experience. I got to teach at a high school and a junior high, and I like both. The students seemed really sad, I don't know if it's really because they will miss me, or they'll miss slacking off (probably slacking off). I guess you do get attached to people that come into your life, and then when you (or they) leave it is sad because you don't know if you will ever see them again. Oh well! It's hard to say which one I would like to teach at (because honestly I will take a job wherever), they both have their pros and cons: high school for the content and the maturity level (less telling the kids to be quiet, get on task, and that sometimes guys kiss other guys in nonromantic ways), junior high has less stress (more relaxed environment) and the students are still fun and like you (sort of). I think at any level, the kids will stare at you like a "deer in the headlights" whenever you ask them a question.

The only sad thing about ending student teaching is looking for a job. Once I get hired I will probably not stress out as much! More fun to be around.

Just so you know, Christmas was fun! I got to spend it with my family. Don't worry I will change the background (probably back to pink) as soon as the website that I get my free backgrounds from is up and running again (their site was down for routine maintenance or something like that).

Christmas

2008-12-30T08:56:00.000-08:00

Lately I haven't been writing much because I feel like my life is lackluster at the moment (like Carl Allen's, played by Jim Carrey, on Yes Man, which causes me to think that maybe I should start saying "yes" to everything?!), but something fascinating always happens around Christmas--like flying into Long Beach instead of Burbank and stopping to eat at Cupid's Hot Dogs because it's hard to find a good chili dog anymore, and then eating the traditional Christmas Eve won tons, opening presents and going to breakfast at Denny's on Christmas morning, and then going to see a movie that opens on Christmas Day because after presents there isn't much else to do.

If you're not already bored here's something exciting. Just the other night I was playing Rock Band, and I was the singer for either "I Think I'm Paranoid" by Garbage, or "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, or "Baba O'Reilly" by The Who, and I was getting my groove on (I was "playing" the tambourine) and I tripped over a huge box and fell on a controller. Now I have a huge contusion on my knee, and hit my head against my sister's soft plush foot rest. Only I would do something so stupid.

My Post "New Kids" Obsession

2008-12-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

I have a new obsession. Somehow (I don't know how) I got over New Kids on the Block (don't worry I still love them), and now I am onto a new song called "Unbeautiful" by Leslie Roy. She has a raspy voice that I love, and the first time I heard the song it reminded me of a song I should have heard in the movie Twilight. My obsession led me to buy the song off of iTunes breaking the bank at $1.07. Thanks to my sister-in-law Brooke, I learned how to embed YouTube videos (such as Jem), and I tried to look up a good video that does justice to the song, but my pickings were slim. This is the best I could do to share this song with whomever comes across my blog. (The song is set to scenes from Twilight)

Jem

2008-12-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

I decided, since I have nothing else to write about, to post about "Jem." I've been thinking about my childhood a lot (the other day I got a Happy Meal from McDonald's and they had My Little Pony toys loved it!), and "Jem" was one of those childhood joys. I loved watching her. It is because of her I still sing in my hairbrush!

Now It's Time to Break Out Those Dusty Christmas Records!

2008-12-02T20:25:00.000-08:00

I guess it is officially ok to start celebrating Christmas. I just feel like Thanksgiving needs it's time in the sun (it doesn't get much of it anyways, especially not this year, it was overcast all day in Bakersfield). Happy Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, and Christmas (and any other December holidays) to everyone. Happy Father's Day to all my friends in Thailand on December 5th (that's the king's birthday, he is turning 81 this year)! As a side note, I wouldn't mind being in Thailand right now, being stuck for a few extra day wouldn't be so bad to me, I just hope I wouldn't go broke from all the extra shopping I would be doing--Oh wait Thailand is cheap! (As of 9:33 MST the exchange rate is 1.00 USD = 35.6907 THB.)

Let's Get This!

2008-11-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

November 15 was the greatest night of my life. My life is complete, and I can die a happy woman! I've been waiting to see New Kids on the Block since I was eight years old, and it's been almost 20 years. The concert was so awesome!

I went with my Korean roommate Wendy, my Kiwi Krystie, and my friend Anela. We were pretty close, and there was a part where they went to a revolving stage in the middle of the crowd, and we were so close. They were literally 10 feet away. New Kids are such nice guys, and they are really great with their fans. It's awesome! It was so amazing. I will never forget it. They opened with "Single," and closed with "Summertime," and did two encores "Step by Step" and "Hangin' Tough." I wished it never ended, but I did need to come home, sleep, and wake up for church.

Natasha Bedingfield opened, and she was really good! Both performers (Natasha and NKOTB) interacted with the crowd, and got us all involved. It was great! I missed Lady Gaga, but I wasn't really upset about that because I don't really know any of her stuff, and she kinda freaked me out on "So You Think You Can Dance." Anyways, I highly recommend New Kids concerts to everyone. They are really great performers, and they care about their fans, and it's just all around good fun.

I obviously had to buy souvenirs, so I bought a New Kids shirt, and a program. I am so giddy, I was giddy all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and I will continue to be giddy for a long time after this! I'm gonna have good dreams for awhile!

"Let's get this!"

In the first photo Donnie is holding a shirt that a fan threw at him that says "I [heart] Mormon Girls!"
The second photo is of me with the girls!

Just 5 Days Away

2008-11-09T21:51:00.000-08:00

Guess where I'm going in 5 days! Nope, it's not Disneyland (although I truly do wish that). . . No, it's not there either! New Kids on the Block! Yes, in just 5 (long) days they will be in Salt Lake City, and I will be sitting in row 51 drooling like a geriatric over the amazing vocal stylings of Donnie, Joey, Jordan, Jon, and Danny.

I've loved them since I was 8, and I have never quite gotten over the break-up. In my infantile mind I thought they would be around forever singing and dancing to "The Right Stuff"--and they probably thought so too--but "fame is a fickle food" (according to the famous recluse Emily Dickinson). The concert is in West Valley so I am a little scared for my life, and the life of my car. But who cares. . . it's New Kids on the Block! Unfortunately, I will have to share the New Kids with my Korean roommate, Wendy (I guess New Kids were famous in Korea), and my friend Anela.

Emma: A Good Dose of Prozac

2008-10-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

I know I haven't written much lately, but honestly my life has been kinda dull. Except for the fact that I am student teaching 10th and 11th graders. They're super fun! Everyday is a new adventure. So far the students haven't made me cry, I made myself cry though. On Friday I felt like I am messing up sooo much and I am going to ruin their chances of getting into Harvard--like going from an "A" to an "F"--but then again, sometimes it's just them. I thought I was lazy!

I'm getting better, everyday is a new day, and every period is a new period that I can start over and do better.

So after my meltdown on Friday I watched Emma and felt so much better!

http://dvd.easycinema.com/easy/images/products/6/1306-large.jpg

My New Haircut

2008-09-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

So I don't usually like to put pictures of me on my blog because it seems so self-centered, egotistical, narcissistic, and vain. If I had my beautiful burmese cat that's all that would go up, but since I don't, I guess I have to put something up, and since I cut 10 inches off my hair I figured I should let the world see.

Yeah! Ten inches! I know it's soooo short.

"M" is for Maggie's Magnificent Moves

2008-09-13T14:26:00.001-07:00

After a long day of teaching I babysit my very adorable, energetic nieces Maggie and Miley (not Hannah Montana). Maggie likes to dance to "Shake It" on her kitchen table. Sometimes you just let 'em do what they want!

Miley was sleeping during the filming of this movie.

Spoiler Alert!

2008-09-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

Now that I am student teaching I will not write about my daily experiences (mostly because they will be filled with my teaching misadventures, and I should protect the innocent that and if they found out what I really thought about them . . . ) so hopefully my blog won't get too boring, but don't worry there is never a dull moment in my life!

I Told You I Could Do It!

2008-09-06T18:00:00.001-07:00

So, I decided to quit the alphabet thing for awhile since I couldn't think of anything starting with an "M" this week. (I'm going through a dry spell.) This week was my first week student teaching, but lucky me, I just sat back and observed the real teacher--which is nice because I don't really start full-time teaching for a couple weeks, so I can work on my unfinished lesson plans. The big novels I will be teaching are Beowulf and The Scarlet Letter.

Last Friday I taught because my co-op teacher was out of town. It was pretty cool. The first 2 periods were fine. We finished the work we were suppose to, and they behaved well (10th graders can be very chatty) except one girl was texting under the desk, but the substitute picked that up for me. That's the one thing I need to be more aware of is students sneaking notes, phones, and iPods. Last period, oh my goodness! It was fun, and some learning occurred, but . . . WOW! I couldn't contain myself. Tuesday through Thursday I felt tired by 3rd period, which is normal for me, (oh yeah, they do AB days here, and there are four 80 min periods a day + lunch), but when last period rolled around I wasn't as tired. I guess because I was active, and the kids were cracking me up. It was really fun, but I didn't really do any of the preparation. I think I can handle it . . . hopefully!

"L" is for Lacking Logos

2008-08-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

Today I watched Clueless, one of my favorite movies, and I realized how familiar one has to be with pop culture to get the subtext. I also realized that it is much like my all-time favorite movie Emma, which it confesses to be about. Yes, I did get the jokes, and (I feel so proud right now) a joke that I didn't get before--amazing how life changes perspective.

Anyways, the reason why I say that I was lacking logos (mostly because it's an "L" word) is because I watched it with my new Korean roommate, who isn't familiar with most of the slang, nor the American pop culture, nor the decade that the story takes place. (I was just starting high school in California when the movie came out, and I can blame Cher for using "like" 20 times in a sentence, for the way I talk. There you go dad! Now you know why I talk the way I do--Cher Horowitz's influence.) My roomie laughed at the right parts which indicated to me that she did get some of it. Afterwards, I asked if she liked it, and she said yes, and I told her that some of it she might not get because you have to be familiar with American pop culture. I don't know . . . maybe it will help her learn English faster, or maybe it will stunt her progression, but whatever the outcome it's a great movie!

"K" is for Kraze Times

2008-08-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

This week has been a crazy week. One of those transitioning weeks. I've been homeless (actually my junk has been homeless), working from 11-5 (which isn't a lot, I just don't like working that late, I'm a morning person), driving back-and-forth from Provo/Orem to Spanish Fork, and dealing with some faculty/staff changes at work (that's why I've been staying until 5). I'm just glad that I am taking next week off from work so I can mentally (and physically) get ready for student teaching. By then all my unpacking should be done, and I will be able to read through all the information I've been given about ST, finish The Scarlet Letter, write lesson plans, and, especially, read the "The Shafer Writing Program" that MVHS is using. I'd like to think I'm a good writer (my papers reflect that), but my strength lies in literature; I just like to sit and think--deeply--about a text. (Sometimes that's why I always look like I have a blank look on my face because I am thinking about something, most likely it has nothing to do with what you just said to me.) Being able to write is one thing, teaching an adolescent how to do it is another. Writing is an innate ability, but writing effectively isn't--it took me 27 years to figure that out.

"J" is for Junk in the Trunk

2008-08-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

It's that glorious time of year when I have to move. I hate it when a contract ends on the 16th of the month and the other begins on the 26th of the month. It makes me want to cry. Normally I'm a good planner and start preparing at least a week in advance, but my mind has been stressing about other things. (Also I just barely moved into this place and the thought of moving again escaped my conscious.) So, I didn't start packing until two days ago, and now I have to be out by tomorrow at noon. I have too much stuff. There's only so much that I can fit in my roommates room, and squeeze into nooks and crannies anywhere else. Looks like I will be living out of my car for awhile. Hmmm I've never done that! That might be cool!

"I" is for Incoherency

2008-08-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like your tongue is literally tied up, and you can't talk? or That your brain is thinking faster than your tongue can move and so you ramble on and on and on 'til your tongue catches up with your brain? Well that happens to me on a daily basis. Not only do I have a tongue-to-brain-synapse misfire, but I also have a problem with "word vomit" or "diarrhea of the mouth."

Earlier, I was talking on the phone with a student and all of the sudden my tongue got tied, and I felt the need to tell him that "I can't talk." What is wrong with me? Would telling him that I couldn't spit out a simple sentence make me feel better because he would then be sympathetic to my problems? (Because I wasn't feeling sympathetic towards his problems of IRRESPONSIBILITY, you're an adult man learn to take care of your problems.)

On top of that, bad grammar slips out, and I always catch myself doing it, and I definitely notice when other people speak improperly, but I don't call them on it cuz I'd rather have friends than not!

"H" is for Harry Potter

2008-08-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't written about my man in awhile, and he's slowly being "eclipsed" by Edward, but don't you fear Harry will always have a special place in my heart. I know, it's so weird to be obsessed with fictional characters, but they seriously have helped me get through some rough times in my life. I like to call it bibliotherapy (ok, so that's what the shrink calls it). Anyways, I saw the trailer for it, and I seriously got the chills. I am so excited to see how Hollywood interprets the magical world that J.K . Rowling created on screen. Here's a link to the trailer:

http://harrypotter.warnerbros.co.uk/site/index.html

I guess I'll be spending November 21 in line at the theaters! I think I should plan a trip to Thailand on the 2oth of November!

"G" is for Great Googelymoogely

2008-08-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

I honestly don't have much to write about. I ate at Ruth's diner on Saturday. It's in a canyon outside of SLC just past Hogle Zoo (I don't know what the canyon's called I'm sure it has a name). The food is really good; it's homestyle cooking like "mile high biscuits" mmmmm. Later I went to the Gateway Mall, and had a phish food ice cream cone at B&J's, then a friend-of-a-friend's reception, and to close my day, a dance at the SLC institute (where I randomly ran into an old friend who happens to be going to New Kids with me!). Oh yeah, there were some guys at the dance. That's all.

"F" is for Frustrated out of my mind

2008-08-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

Now that UVSC has become UVU things have gotten worse not better. Today I went to get my new UVU ID/ATM card and they totally screwed me (the first time was kinda my fault). My colleagues and I walked all the way down to the Student Center from the Liberal Arts building (which is quite the walk), and we briefly talked to the UCCU reps to get our cards. Since I already have an account there, I went on down to Campus Connection to get my ID. So, before we left Dorice told us to bring our student ID just to have, of course I am a motard and didn't bring it, because for some reason I thought my actual ATM card would be enough. The guy at CC told me I needed my Driver's License or some form of photo ID, being the lazy person that I was I tried to convince the guy that Dorice could prove I am who I say I am.

So, I ran back to the office to get my student ID (because my DL is such a pain to get out of my wallet) and ran back (part of the way). When I got back Dorice was still waiting to get her ID and I had to wait in line once again, and by the time I rolled up to the counter Kim caught up. I proudly, showed them my ID and they said that I needed my DL because my UVSC ID had expired. I just yelled at the guy "YOU'RE SCREWING WITH ME!" (and not in the "bad"way) Yeah I was infuriated. The other guy said that I just need some photo ID. My UVSC ID was only expired for a month, and then he has the gall to say that "it's the law." Then Kim tries to get her card too, and they won't let her. It's so frustrating, it's a good thing they served a chocolate fountain!

Later Kim went back with her DL sans UVSC ID, and they tell her that she needed both to get the new ID with all the bells and whistles. HOLY HANNAH! Someone shoot me now. What are they going to ask for next . . . . our SOULS? It's so ridiculous and frustrating. The guy just said that he would give it to her anyways. Which is what they should have done the first time.

"E" Is for Why Can't I Find an Edward?

2008-08-01T13:34:00.001-07:00

I finished reading Breaking Dawn on Sunday, and it's sooo good! (Don't worry I'm not gonna spoil it.)

Why can't I find a guy like Edward? Oh, that's right they don't exist (vampires that is)! He's way too perfect, and no man on earth can live up to those expectations. But, some guys can at least emulate, or mimic his perfectness. It's not that hard to treat a girl with respect, and like she's the only one on earth, and that you would do anything for her. Now is that too much to ask?!

But what do I know!

"D" Is For (Breaking) Dawn

2008-08-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

This morning I was up at the butt-crack of dawn to get to Borders. Today is the midnight release party for Breaking Dawn, and I can honestly say that I lived the title of the book. I was at Borders at 6 am because I figured there would be a long line because of my Harry Potter experience, and because Provo is the hot spot for "Twilighters," I am #57 (pretty close to where I was in line for Harry Potter). I gotta give props to my peeps at Borders, this year the event ran smooth as butter. You might think I am obsessed, but I actually enjoy waiting in lines for these events, I feel like I am a part of something big (bigger than me), but I draw the line at dressing up and camping over night (the person in the front of the line was there since noon yesterday--honestly, there wasn't a need for that). OK, so I am obsessed, but not obsessed! (My obsessions are Harry Potter, and presently New Kids on the Block.)

For rolling my butt out of bad at 5:20 am, (and actually getting dressed--yes a wardrobe change!), I deserve a medal.

"C" Is for Can't Wait to Get New Clothes

2008-07-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna do it. You can't talk me out of it. I probably shouldn't . . . . but I am. I need to! It's not a want, it's a need, a must, a . . . . if I don't do it now I won't be able to do it later. I need to get the bug out before fall, and besides, I am going to a party this weekend.

I was looking at the clothes in my closet and I realized that they are either too churchy or too schooly. Like they are clothes you just throw on when you roll out of bed for an 8 am class (normally, I would just wear my pj's on such a day, but I got in trouble for that, so I just make a nonchalant wardrobe change instead of getting dressed up). I don't have clothes or shoes for my nonexistent social life, but just in case I do get a life I need to be prepared.

I also need to get dressier clothes for the fall, so I will be taken seriously as a student teacher. I think I will get glasses too and wear my hair in a bun, the "no nonsense" look, to scare the pee out of the students. Teaching is going to be soooo cool!!

"B" is for Boo Radley

2008-07-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

I just thought of the funniest thing as I was reading an old posting about TKAM so Jem is the name of Scout's brother, and I am in the process of starting (just for kicks and giggles) a Boo Radley fan club on facebook. I even thought about making the tagline "Boo Radley is Jem's hero." So, the reason I thought that was funny (partially cuz I was thinking Scout was Jem) because I loved the cartoon Jem when I was little. I just thought it was funny that Boo could be her hero too! Anyone can join the club, so get on facebook, and get connected to all the Boo lovers!

P.S. Boo's real name is Arthur, like yesterday's word. We have already come full circle.

"A" Is for Arthur

2008-07-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was a part of a great discussion in my New Testament institute class about how being branded can affect a person's character, and outlook on life. I have been reading The Scarlet Letter, and instantly I was reminded of this classic piece of literature. The teacher used an analogy of two brothers that stole sheep and were branded "ST" (sheep thief), one became a bitter man living a nomadic life roaming from place to place, running away from his reputation, eventually he died alone and miserable, and was buried in an unmarked grave; the other brother decided he wouldn't let the brand dictate to him who he was, and lived his life out helping people and doing good, and eventually people forgot what the "ST" burned into his forehead meant.

Well, even if you haven't read The Scarlet Letter you probably know what it's about. Hester Prynne, a lonely Puritan woman with needs, is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest for the rest of her life for committing adultery. (Puritans forget that it takes two-to-make a baby, and to tango, and so Hester is the only one punished.) The mystery of the novel (and among the naive, clueless, blind Puritans) is "who's the daddy?" Pearl gets it, I don't understand why any of the adults don't (Pearl is the illegitimate daughter, or the spawn of sin).

After several years the statute of limitations was up and the case became a "Cold Case," but one determined man continued the search--Roger Chillingworth. There's about 100 pages of drama, Governor Winthrop dies, Arthur Dimmesdale (the local minister that everyone loves) yells out on the scaffold, and all the Salemites run out to see what the ruckus is about and a meteor flies across the sky back and forth magically making an "A" in the sky. Most of the peoplr interpret it to mean "angel" for the Governor (oh ye foolish Puritans).

One hundred pages later the villagers are still clueless (like the villagers in The Village). Thank goodness for the intelligent readers who can see through the minister's cloak. The "scarlet letter" doesn't mean adultery, or able, it means. . . Arthur! Hester was able to change and not let the brand affect her, and even though Arthur didn't wear a brand, he was tormented with a guilty conscious for the rest of his life. If anyone's life was ruined it was Arthur's not Hester's because she didn't have to dress so boring like the other ladies . . . she got to wear red! Isn't repentance awesome!

I Was Right

2008-07-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today's Breaking Dawn quote comes from Edward: "Oops."

I was right he didn't turn Bella into a vampire, but a griffin!
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/gallery/folklore/folklore/griffin.gif

"Why am I Covered in Feathers"

2008-07-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

Twilight is back in the media with the new Entertainment Weekly cover of Bella and Edward (they should have consulted me before going to press!), and I am at a loss due to the fact that the movie isn't coming out until December. Though the book release is 2 weeks away, I would like to see a picture of Stephenie Meyer on the cover rather than the movie. But that's not the point, on Stephenie's website http://stepheniemeyer.com are "quotes of the day" taken from the upcoming finale to the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. There is no backstory, or context clues, so they are just random. Today's quote is: Bella, "Why am I covered in feathers?"

Backstory #1:
Rosalie and Alice throw a sleepover/bridal shower for Bella. Like at all girl sleepovers there is a pillow fight, and it's fierce, cuz you know, vampires don't play fair--they cheat by using their magical powers--and Bella loses. She wakes up the next day surrounded by feathers, and Edward laughs at the scene.
Backstory#2:
The Cullen's lose their fortune, and all the vampires, including Bella, have to take on full-time jobs. Bella gets the worst one--plucking chicken feathers for KFC.
Backstory#3 (This is really fun):
Instead of turning into a vampire, like Edward promised, she turns into a griffin, a formidable mythological creature that is part lion and part eagle (the feathers), now she can kick butt!

What do you think it means?

I Must Have Really Liked the Movie!

2008-07-12T02:59:00.001-07:00

Friday night I was suppose to see Hellboy 2: The Golden Army with my niece, but she decided to go to 7 peaks, so once again I donned my tankini for public scrutiny (it wouldn't bother me so much if I still had the body I had in high school). But that night, my dream wasn't about waterslides, or peeing in the wavepool, or even overexposure, it was about Hellboy.

In my dream there were demons in my room playing tricks on me. They were moving stuff around, and it seemed so real that when I woke up I thought they had really moved stuff. It was one of those I'm awake, but still dreaming moments.* Why did I dream about Hellboy, even though I didn't see the movie? Was my subconscious telling me something? and Why was it so real?

I still want to go see the movie!

*In those moments right after I wake up, or in the middle of a nap, I am really out of it, and very vulnerable (so if you want something from me that is the best time to get it, so don't bother me!).

Cali or Bust

2008-07-08T12:20:00.001-07:00

So, obviously I had a blast in Cali, hangin' with the fam, swimming, getting some needed sun, and watching Hancock (excellent movie by the way). It was a much needed and deserved break. I forgot that I had my really cool digital camera, so I only have a few pictures and several videos from Sunday, which was the day my whole family was there.

Accepting Donations

2008-07-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have talked about my elation over the reunification of New Kids on the Block (if Spice Girls can get back together so can the boys from the city). Were they really split up? or did they take a hiatus from the music business? So, anyways, I really want to go to their concert in Salt Lake City, and being the "poor college (happily single) student" that I am, I will need to find someone to go with, this means that I will need to buy at least 2 tickets. I could use the ticket as a nonconfrontational, unscary way to ask a guy out (but most likely a guy would not want to go to New Kids), or convince a guy to buy both tickets. Either way tickets are not cheap, and I will need help in purchasing them. Therefore, I am accepting donations, or any financial support (like a loan with no interest!) in purchasing said tickets, and it could be declared as a tax ride off or something. Consider it charity!

Image taken off of Google images at http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2008/news/080512/new_kids400.jpg

A Piece of History

2008-07-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

I've seen quite a bit in my 27 years of life; a lot of history. Just think when I'm dead people will be reading (by then information will be implanted into people's brains) and learning about my generation, and all the crazy things we did. I was alive when the space shuttle Challenger blew up (I remember watching it happening live, or at least I think it was live, before I ran to the bus stop), I heard Ronald Reagan ask Gorbachev to "tear down that wall" (and he did), I wrote to soldiers in the first Iraq/Persian Gulf war, there was Rodney King, and I was forced by my dad to watch the O.J. Simpson car chase (that's two hours I will never get back). The O.J. Simpson trial was huge (that really blew up!). I was a senior when Columbine happened, and that was pretty much the end of my innocence.

Now I am apart of history. Today UVSC (my alma matter) officially becomes UVU, and we finally have an awesome library that is energy efficient, and environmentally safe. It's pretty cool, but I don't even get to enjoy the fruits. I was apart of the transition and all the hullabaloo over the past few years. For the first time I am proud to be a wolverine; before I would say that I go to UVSC with some contempt, as if it was a disease, maybe it's the stigma from being compared to BYU. Now we are out of BYU's shadow and can be our own university, and maybe someday we will have a football team, and the hugest rivalry known to man!

The Greatest American Novel

2008-06-27T07:50:00.000-07:00

I read To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time when I was 25; I saw the movie for the first time when I was 27. What have I been doing with my life? The first time I read TKAM I fell in love with the book--dropping Harry Potter down to second place. It is "The Greatest Novel" ever written. And the movie . . . . is amazing! This movie is an American treasure, and should not be remade, cuz who could play Atticus better than Gregory Peck, and Boo. . . .

Nobody told me that Robert Duvall played Boo Radley, my respect for the man has shot up 100%! I love Boo (and Duvall)!

I should start a Boo Radley fan club.

Sometimes I Wish I Were Mean

2008-06-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Today a person came into work and asked for some help. Being the nice person that I am (and because it is in my job description) I helped him. The problem with this guy is that he is really polite, so I would look like a rude annoyed [insert expletive here] person. Said person has been into the office at least 3 times before concerning the same thing. He's talked to the department chair, and the adviser about the same question, and every time he's gotten the same answer, which is exactly what I told him every other time he's come in. Get this, he wants to be a surgeon! hahaha

I had to explain to the distressed individual how to look up classes online, and I did it off the top of my head and explained it perfectly without having to open up the web browser, and the person still didn't get it. He said "I'm sorry I don't understand what you're saying. . . you're not clear." Was I speaking Chinese?! I told the person when you do a class search, look for the class that you want to take that is not located in these rooms[classrooms given here]--as if I didn't explain it clearly, how transparent do I have to be? So then I had to take the helpless person through the registration process step by step.

This person is a fully grown homo sapien with a fully developed brain, at the top of the food chain, not some 18 year old that needs their parent to hold their hand and wipe their nose (this type also annoys me, the student and parent), he's been doing the college thing for awhile, so I'm the one that's confused, about how he managed to get this far! It was really hard for me to control my facial expressions. When his back was turned I rolled my eyes, hit my forehead, and made nasty faces at him (it's really good that God didn't give us eyes in the back of our heads, or I would be in serious trouble, but I already am with Him--I'm so driving the bus). He thought I was being nice to him . . . he has no idea (and even if he read my blog, which he wouldn't, he wouldn't know I was talking about him)!

You probably think I am a mean person, which I am, but I would never be mean to your face. I don't have the guts!

The 21st Century Titus

2008-06-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

The other day I watched Four Brothers with Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese, Andre "3000" Benjamin, and Garrett Hedlund. I was thinking to myself this is a pretty decent revenge story, and how can I relate it back to Shakespeare (what can I say I idolize the man). Of course he is a man "not for an age, but for all time," according to Ben Jonson. The one good thing about my English degree is that I can relate anything back to Shakespeare. So, after watching it I seriously contemplated how "Shakespearean" is the movie?

It's totally Titus Andronicus, one of Shakespeare's bloodiest, revengiest, coolest plays!

In Titus, Titus comes home from a war with the Goths bringing with him their queen Tamora (vile woman), her two sons (I personally wanted to kill them and put them in a pie, like in Fried Green Tomatoes "Secrets in the sauce"), and Tamora's lover a Moor named Aaron (he is so warped and would do anything for love, but not the healthy kind of way, but criminal style). While Titus is at war (for 10 years) the emperor dies and his two sons, Saturninus (the oldest) and Bassianus, fight over the throne and Titus' brother, who happens to be the Roman Tribune, decides to wait for Titus to come back to make the decision--that's good thinking to have the war hero decide who the next emperor is-- and he picks Saturninus (duh!), Saturninus ends up marrying Tamora, very poor strategy on his part considering she is the enemy, a slave, spoils of war, and the bad guy. Titus ends up sacrificing Tamora's oldest son, Tamora's justification for revenge, and she, along with Aaron, plot revenge against Titus, and then Titus seeks revenge on Tamora, and it goes back and forth 'til they're all dead (no one is off limits), but of course it's way cooler than that (the details are not G-rated like most of Shakespeare). Aaron doesn't die though, he just gets buried up to his neck and starves to death.

Doesn't that sound like the basic plot to Four Brothers? The brothers' mother is murdered, they seek revenge, the murderer is like a Union boss or something (he has people doing his dirty work like Tamora), innocent people die along the way, and there is a big fight scene at the end. Shakespeare is more tragic, in that the main character dies, and it has more of a Renaissance feel to it; whereas, Brothers has a happier ending and a 21st century feel, the main character, Mark Wahlberg, doesn't die (a lot of unhappy ladies would have left the theater very sad that night). Another reason he couldn't die in the movie: he was Marky Mark (the pants dropper) that carried a cane with an 8 ball on it(I wonder if it told the future), and one of the few white guys in Hollywood with "real street cred."

I highly suggest reading or seeing Titus Andronicus. There is a pretty cool movie with Anthony Hopkins just titled Titus, that's how cool he is, he doesn't even need a last name!

I wonder if I could teach Titus in Utah schools?

Links to images (taken from google images):
Titus BBC
Four Brothers, cinemashelter.com

An Uneventful Event

2008-06-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

I know it's been awhile since I posted, but nothing, wacky, crazy, zany, traumatic, exciting, or eventful has happened the past week. (I know)! So, keep holding your breath until I get back to ya'll!

I Finished! (Finally)

2008-06-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

I finished reading The Host, and I love it! At first I didn't care for the ending, but now I realize that it fit the rules of the world that Stephenie Meyer created.

I highly recommend it!

Macbeth Movie

2008-06-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

This is the video I made for my media class. I will be teaching Macbeth this fall, so I am really excited to have something cool prepared for it! Enjoy!

Speculating the Twilight Saga Outcome

2008-06-02T07:18:00.001-07:00

I am really bugged by the new cover for the upcoming Twilight book Breaking Dawn. It's ugly, and lame. It was a total let down, and a waste of $13 (I got it on sale), [sigh] oh well, Iguess I can put it in my classroom. To me it feels like it deviates from the theme of the other covers--minimalistic . . . symbolic . . . you know--I just don't get what chess has to do with vampires (maybe Edward goes to a chess tournament and meets Bobby Fischer, who, according to Wikipedia, died this year, but he is immortalized as a vampire because Victoria made him a part of her vampire army--obviously before he died--and Bobby is her new love interest after the death of James, and Bobby manages to escape before the Volturi sweep in and clean things up, and then, this is where the plot gets good, because he's supersmart, you know, and is a good tracker, and hunts Jacob down after the big battle, and he holds Jacob hostage until Edward and Bella come to save him, because Bella convinces Edward to help Jacob, and Edward would do anything for Bella ["love"] and the "chess game" begins). But then again, I don't know how to play chess, and what it has to do with the Twilight saga is all speculative right now. I guess I will have to wait until August to read it; hopefully I will be able to make the connection.

I like the covers for Twilight and Eclipse, but New Moon and Breaking Dawn are just . . .I don't know, not relevant (and confusing). So, I guess the even numbers get the sucky covers, which is sad because I like even numbers.

I Am Going to Have to Hire a Driver

2008-05-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm usually a chill person, but I totally stress/freak out when I'm driving. I swear I will die early from a heart attack while I am driving. Granted, I am not the best driver in the world, or America, but I feel like I am a little better than Utah drivers, and they are the cause of my anxiety.

Today I was driving along a certain street in the certain town that I live in, and there is a line of cars in my lane ahead, and so I start to slow down . . . oh wait first before that story . . . so I turn right onto the above street, and there is an old lady turning into my lane while I am coming up behind her (from what I saw I think she was flipping a "Uey" in a driveway, and coming out of it) and she keeps going (finishing the maneuver) and so I swerve to miss her, thank God no one was coming up behind me, and then I continue on my partially merry way (my anxiety level went up, and didn't come down yet) until the next incident . . . before I hit the cars in front of me, leaving a gap, another person decides to pull-out in front of me TALKING ON HER CELL PHONE! Honey if you're going to pull out in front of someone make sure you are not on the phone. So, by now my anxiety is through the roof--of my car!

The problem is, is that people just don't pull out in front of you and get their butts in gear, they do it in slow motion. I hate it when I am driving at a comfortable speed, cruising along enjoying my tunes, with my hair blowing (to my air conditioner), with the right-of-way and then some putz makes me brake. That is the most annoying thing I can think of. Oh it continues . . .

So then I turn right onto a bigger street that goes up a hill, and more crap happens. This is ridiculous! I can't take it anymore! There is only one thing that I will have to do--hire a driver!

Chili's Potato Cheese Soup and Death Cab for Cutie

2008-05-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to the Death Cab for Cutie concert, and it was pretty cool. I got to be an "undercover" security personnel. I guarded the "secure area" (with a real security person, who looked more the part than me) where the bands got their food. I didn't get to see Death Cab though, just the opening band, Sara and Tegan. I've never heard of them, but apparently they're "big" and from Canada (that's probably why). They brought an interesting bunch of people. I felt bad for another band that got canceled.

Due to the crazy weather we've had here in Utah Valley--rain, hail, Antarctica temperatures--there was a delay. They didn't start letting people in until close to 7 pm (and the line was long, I bet they were as grumpy as the Stephenie Meyer people, but I wouldn't know because I was still guarding the "secure area"). Death Cab didn't come on until about 8:30 pm. I was able to leave the secure area to go watch the concert, but some couple with a baby decided to start nursing the poor cold thing in front of me (did I mention it was really cold outside). So I left, and switched posts with someone else, and started taking tickets while the girl I replaced took pictures.

It was so cold, my hands were numb, and I couldn't tear the ticket stubs off. Some people were getting impatient with me, and helped me out by giving me their stub, and then on one person's ticket I tore off the wrong perforated end of the ticket. It was a fun night though. I got to hear my favorite song (because it mentions Bangkok) "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" from the ticket area, but I was still happy! (for some strange reason I have a new attitude about things, I don't get so worked up about stuff anymore, except for bad Utah drivers) Oh, did I mention that Lehi has a 10 pm curfew?! Yeah so people started leaving before Death Cab was finished, but obviously I stayed to the end. I also thought that there would be no point because there was a long line to get out, but I went the back way (suckas) and got home sooner. I stopped at Chili's and got some soup, that really warmed me up!

I need to get a dog . . . No a cat

2008-05-22T11:45:00.001-07:00

So all my friends and family members that have blogs are always writing about their kids, and poopy pants stories. I have nothing like that, I feel so out of the loop. My woes seem so superficial: meeting Stephenie Meyer, American Idol, body injuries, old mission stories, and other random stories. I should buy a kid or something, so I can keep up. If anyone out there has multiple children, and would like to give one, or two, to me I will take them.

Or maybe I should get a dog! No, a cat because I don't care for dogs (they're too much effort), then I will have something to write about, someone to take pictures with (and post on my blog), and brag about. I could even name my blog after my dog or cat. I want a Burmese cat, and I can dress her up in a pink tutu and buy a tiara for her . . . Oh that would be so much fun! I am so excited now! I think I will name her Duchess.

But wait, the cat would get all the attention and not me. People will start commenting on how cute she is with her squashed face, soft fur, and the tiara . . . I should wear the tiara. It's a good thing my apartment won't allow animals or kids. I have a responsible free life, and it's great! No, I don't think I will get the cat, and just work on getting the boyfriend.

The New American Idol . . .

2008-05-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Just because David Cook is not LDS does not mean that he won't make a "good role model for the kids." He is just as humble as Utah's beloved Archuletta. At least I am entertained by Cook. Tonight was the first night that Archuletta gave me goosebumps singing, Cook's done it almost every week.

I knew Cook would be the next American Idol!

2008-05-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

I got tagged by my good friend Brianna (thanks a ton)!

1. List 3 Joys: 1) Ben n' Jerry's Phish Food and Dreyer's Mint n' Chip (when Ican afford it). 2) All eleven of my nieces and nephews (even the angsty teenage ones!). 3) Being able to relax and read for pleasure.

2. List 3 fears: 1) Drowning, really not being able to breathe underwater. 2) Coming down from heights (but not heights). 3) That I won't be a good teacher.

3. List 3 goals: 1) To eventually go to grad school (I am looking at a Master's program at Oxford, no GRE required!). 2) Finish my student teaching and get a job ASAP. 3) I just accomplished my huge life goal--to graduate from college.

4. List 3 current obsessions: 1) Anything Thai. 2) Twilight and Harry Potter 3) My next American Idol David Cook.

5. 3 Surprising/random facts about me (I am already a random person, so whatever I write here people probably know): 1) I injure myself a lot (almost on a weekly basis). 2) I love all animals except sharks alligators/crocodiles (any in that family), they're only good for accessories! (sharks don't make good accessories though) 3) I can touch my tongue to my nose and roll it like a taco!

Now I have to tag 5 people . . . Kyla, Kendra, Kiahna, Denise, and Brooke (keeping it in the family, cuz I don't want people getting mad at me)!

The Office and Stephenie

2008-05-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

In the host, on page 218 there is a reference to The Office. Stephenie (we are so tight we are on a first name basis) likes the show! Just thought I should throw that out there.

OCD: Obsessive Cullen Disorder, or OMD: Obsessive Meyer Disorder

2008-05-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

Last Night I was at the Stephenie Meyer event from 5 pm until midnight. Yes, I am a fanatic... but am I?! I came wearing black capris a white shirt (and my volunteer vest), but there were some fans dressed in "Twilight shirts" wearing pins that said I Love Ian, Jared, or whatever, one girl came as Wanderer, and many more interesting things. Yeah, I was dedicated, I went with a hurt ankle (it was still a little swollen), and it bothered me as the night progressed (but it was fine from 7 am 'til about 7 pm), but I think I was better off than some of the pregnant women that had contractions, and the girl that had an I.V. in her arm that had to get back to the hospital. No, I did not complain when people with special needs had to move to the front of the line to get there books signed (there were times when I stopped caring about telling people to back away from the stage to get pictures), but I waited until midnight to get my picture with her!

So, because I volunteered and did not camp out in front of Borders Monday night to buy The Host and event ticket Tuesday morning, and I dressed normally, and waited patiently to take a picture with her, does that mean I am obsessed? or does it mean that I have a well-adjusted appreciation/admiration for Stephenie Meyer and her writing skills?

On a scale of 1-10 how obsessed am I (1 meaning not at all, and 10 meaning Stephenie should put a restraining order against me)? Yeah, that's me standing on her right--suckas!!

The Next American Idol

2008-05-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

OH MY GOSH!! David Cook is so amazing! He is sooo going to win!

The News of the Future

2008-05-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

One of my classes this summer is a media/technology class. It has opened my eyes to a whole new world. I now realize how important using technology in the classroom is. I am also learning about all the cool new devices coming out, especially the technology they are using on the Nightly News with Brian Williams. When I saw this I thought, are you kidding?!

I think I'll blog about it

2008-05-01T20:35:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess I should talk about my graduation since it is the greatest thing that has happened in my life thus far. It was fabulous! I think my favorite part was that all my siblings, parents, Grandma Beylik, and 7 of my 11 nieces and nephews were there. (I like to keep things small and simple.) I got a purple camera that has a pinkish hue (kinda like how I say my hair is strawberry blonde, I am in denial about it being red, and because of my obsession with pink), and so I took pictures with it this weekend. One of my cute nieces apparently is camera shy, and so instead of getting pictures of her, there is a nice one of her tonsils. She also took pictures of my ear. I also took pictures of us at SLC Temple Square, and a movie (which only seems funny to us). All-in-all, it was a superrad weekend!

. . . . I think I'll blog about it! . . .

A Surreal Moment

2008-04-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

surreal: sur·re·al
\sə-ˈrē(-ə)l also -ˈrā-əl\
marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream; also : unbelievable, fantastic.

This is pretty much how I felt on Friday April 25, 2008. My dream of graduating from college finally happened, and it is definitely a weird sensation. In the moment I was fine, but when I thought about what was really going on it was unbelievable.

My 20+ year career as a student (I can't say that anymore on applications) is over. **sigh** But there is always grad school!! **yeah**

Now that I have my degree in my hot little hand (and I can finally say I have a BA, honestly, on my resume) does that mean that the last 20 years have been a dream?! Or when the school handed me my empty diploma case?! For people who have served an LDS mission, and come home you kinda know how I feel--did I really do that? was I really in the places I was? did I see all the crazy stuff I saw?

Yes, these moments are all surreal!

THE ABOVE PAINTING IS CALLED "THE SON OF MAN" BY RENE MAGRITTE, A SURREALIST PAINTER. IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PAINTINGS FROM THIS PERIOD/MOVEMENT OF THE 20TH CENTURY. TO SEE HIS WORKS, AND OTHER ARTISTS' CHECK OUT THIS COOL WEBSITE

"Harry Potter, the Cure for Reluctant Readers," or "The Perfect Man"

2008-04-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

So, I have been doing research on how to motivate students to read, and most of the research studies show that if you bribe a kid to do it, they will. When I was little, bribing me to read wasn't that hard, it was when I got into high school that it became a problem. I finally figured out why I lost interest in reading--part of it is due to the fact that I didn't like the selection of classroom texts, except for Frankenstein, Macbeth, and maybe Lord of the Flies--reader burn out!

So maybe in the second grade I shouldn't have read over 200 books, but I was in a competition, and had to be the best . . . at reading. Later, in the fifth grade we had to read From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg, a Newbery winner, and I hated it. I thought it was the worst book ever written, but apparently people loved it enough to give it an award. The only thing I liked about the book was that it gave me the idea to runaway and live in a museum, that's cool! My favorite book in the fifth grade was Wait 'Til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn, a story about a girl that becomes friends with a ghost that wants to kill her (hello!! smart one) it's a really good book, and it should have won an award. I read it again in the sixth grade and did a book report on it. I would suggest it for reluctant readers because kids like scary stories.

I think another reason that I didn't read as much in high school is also because I created the excuse that I was too busy to read books for pleasure, even during college, but really I was lazy (a symptom of reader burn out). It wasn't until Harry Potter came along that I got back into reading--it's like a shot of morphine, I'm addicted! I read the first four in the summer of 2001 within a week, and then read them again, and then the first one again before the movie. The fifth book came out while I was in Thailand, so I had to wait until I came home. The first week home, I didn't do anything until I finished. I watched the third movie, which wasn't good enough to hold me over until the sixth book, the movie sucked. (There were too many gaps between the books.) Harry Potter made reading cool again, and I embraced my nerdiness, and found people that were equally, if not greater, nerds than me (it's sooo nice to have a community of nerds). Now I am trying to read Wuthering Heights, and I'm having a hard time with it, but I am a member of SparkNotes (but not really), and use it when I am stuck with a difficult text **(Please see disclaimer).

So, I guess the point of this is that we shouldn't push kids to read a lot, and read stuff they don't want to. We should offer them opportunities to read when they want to, but not punish them with reading, like telling them they can't play XBox until they have read for an hour. This causes early onset RR, reading then becomes drudgery, and you lost him/her to the disease.

I decided that I want a husband like the Beast-- someone who will give me a library filled with books, all kinds of books, floor to ceiling, with 100 foot walls--that would be the perfect man (the beast not the prince 'cause he wasn't a very good looking prince).

**I really only use SparkNotes if I didn't do the reading, but hey, at least I can fake it in class. It should really be called "How to fake knowing what you are talking about in your English class"!

Finally...the Story Everybody's Waiting to Hear

2008-04-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

This week I went to NCUR in Salisbury, MD. It's to make nerds feel special. . . vindicated. Some eventful things happened to me, but I wouldn't be me if it didn't. My scheduled time to present the paper (I have been working on slavishly all semester) was moved from Saturday at 12 something to Friday at 3:40, so it was good that I didn't have to present on the shuttle on the way to the airport. My crabs wouldn't crack open, making it very hard for me to eat them, and causing all the juice to squirt on the people at my table. I had to check into the late registration desk taking an extra 10 minutes instead of a quick 30 seconds. On the way back I got in trouble with security at the airport because of my water bottle (I probably wouldn't want to drink it after all the radiation from the scanner) honestly I didn't want to cause trouble. The night before we left I remembered my camera after I zipped up my suitcase and was laying in bed (excited or nervous about missing the flight); I started looking for it and couldn't find it so I had to buy an $11 disposable camera. Thursday, the first day, I decided to dress up just in case I got bumped up to the first day (yeah right!) I wore my heels and got blisters, it's a good thing I prepared and brought my flats with me (and a change of clothes). . . . What else . . . well I guess that is all I can think of for now, but really I had a great time.

I didn't get to eat blue crab (or whatever it is that people get excited about in MD) because they weren't in season, but I did eat red crab (I guess) and lobster tails.

The whole experience was cool, and I wish that I went to a school with a pretty campus--pretty buildings, pretty flowers, and . . . just pretty all over.

You know if all that "truer than fiction" stuff didn't happen to me my life would be very dull, and nobody would care about reading it on my blog. I just have to say that sometimes being a nerd, a dork, a clutz, a goofball, quirky, random, and loveable pays off!

An Entreaty

2008-04-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

Does anybody wanna finish my projects and assignments for me?!!

(No I don't have burn out as a result of "senioritis," or what I like to call a case of "I am already graduated, and torturing myself by taking more classes so I can be a teacher!")

My Teaching Premier

2008-03-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a scary experience. I practiced being a teacher. It was scary because I wasn't as prepared as I should have been. I finished my lesson midnight the night before, and didn't really have time to practice, and go through the lesson. It started out well, and then I started to talk about themes in The Glass Menagerie. I was hoping that by talking about the controversial life of Tennessee Williams that would loosen the students up, but not in "Happy Valley," Utah (Jessica Biel says the movie is a "must see!"). After I bombed the second-half, I talked to the teacher and she told me that they aren't use to me, and don't know how to respond. The class is quite talkative with Mrs. Peterson (the real teacher). I tried to relax, but it's really hard when people just sit there and stare at you. I tend to be very honest when I am nervous (Mrs. P noticed and put it in my evaluation).

So I prepared better on Thursday, and added a weapon to my arsenal--candy! It still didn't work. I just hope that my class will respond better to me.

There is a quote by Julie B. Beck, that has more to do with being a mother, that helped me get out of my slump. It helped me get focused, and remember why I want to teach, "[I] gain[s] as much education as [my] circumstances will allow, improving [my] mind and spirit with the desire to teach what [I] learn[s] to the generations who follow [me]."* It's inherent! Teaching is in my blood. It's natural. It's what I am suppose to do.

Another reason why I want to be a teacher is because I get 3 months off a year! (This is where I would say, "Sucka!")

*I individualized the quote (kinda like what we do with the scriptures!) that's why there are brackets.

Graduation

2008-03-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Graduation is Friday April 25 at noon.

Is There a Drug For That? and My Dream as an English Major

2008-03-10T23:01:00.000-07:00

OK! So this is what I have diagnosed myself with so far: ADHD (who hasn't had it at one time), speech fluency AKA cluttering (if you ever listen to me talk you will know that I am somewhat incoherent), and receptive language disorder; this weekend I had a case of insomnia (thank you Mountain Dew), but made up for it with my fight against narcolepsy in church; I may possibly have anemia, but that's still inconclusive; I tried to develop tourettes, but gave it up; I also have chionophobia, Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (the fear of long words, but really multisyllable words--it's the closest I could find--I wonder if that is considered irony), Homichlophobia (thank you Bakersfield--fear of fog-- hahaha), and a good ol' fashion case of hypochondriatitis (wow! and neologism). At least I don't have MPD, Multiple Personality Disorder, with all my self-diagnosed diseases that would be scary! Oh yeah I also have the common cold. Don't worry, I will still be diagnosing myself at least until April, when I graduate.

How long do you think it would take Dr. House to diagnose me?

(I finally did it! I always wanted to write one very long convoluted sentence, my dream as an English major. Nietzsche would be proud!)

How Breaking My Eardrum Renewed My "Sparkle"

2008-03-10T09:55:00.001-07:00

When I was little my sister broke my eardrum. The details aren't worth mentioning (they might embarrass her), but she accidentally--really purposely--pushed a q-tip (that I put there) further into my ear than it needed to be. My mom was livid. My pediatrician was out of town, so a younger doctor prescribed ear drops, which by the way tastes nasty, and he didn't say there were birdies in my ear like my doctor would say (and not because they got out through the hole in my ear).

The point of this is because today I had an amazing experience in my Exceptional Students class that reminded me of why I want[ed] to be a teacher. It brought the "sparkle" back in my eyes.

We discussed students with hearing loss, and so we talked about ear anatomy, and it was really cool! (We also talked about blindness which reminded me of my blind grandma, and the hearing loss reminded me of my other grandma.) I love this class, and every time we learn about some new disorder or disability I diagnose myself as having that. (This time, though, I didn't diagnose myself with a visual or auditory disability, yeah me!)

I learned how the outer, middle, and inner ear works and its parts: hammer, anvil, and stirrup, eustachian tube, and cochlea. It was fascinating!

So, now I am excited about being a teacher again!