Early...
Too early for summertime...

Dad and I are heading out to East Texas to see my grandparents. Then over to Shreveport for some gambling. Maybe I'll win big so I can have plenty of spending money for New Zealand ;0)

Saw my cousin yesterday and his wife and their two beautiful babies. Parker is 2 years old now and you can tell it, he's a handful and has way more energy thans should be allowed. Chloe is eleven months old already. I had only seen her once, at Christmas. She's beautiful and has big blue eyes and a big smile.
Dad and I are going to see my Grandparents in East Texas this Saturday and we may swing on over to Shrieveport to a casino.
Sometime next week I'm hoping to meet my newest baby cousin, Rachel.

Texas is warm and sunny, and a little bit humid. Not too bad though.

First time I've ever gotten on a plane and then been forced to get off. They de-boarded the plane after letting us sit there for fifteen-twenty mins because of technical difficulties. They got a mechanic to fix it and we were a little more than an hour late getting off the ground. I ran through the msp airport and missed my connecting flight by four minutes. Waited an extra hour and a half and caught a later flight. Made it home alright. Lots of hugs from the parents, didn't think my mom was going to let go of me at the airport.

Went to see LXG today with the folks, they liked it.
Went out to eat at On the Border /drool TexMex!!!

Having fun with my parents and the critters have welcomed me back with open paws.

Word of the Day: Presuppose

Did a short three-part skit with four classmates today in front of the class. I got to play a short-tempered teacher who yells at a kid and a trouble-making class-clown who was very disruptive. It was fun to let loose and be a huge brat.
Then we watched a video from the 2001 Paralymics in Sydney, Australia. It was amazing to watch a man with no arms win medals for the breast-stroke, women and men in wheelchairs competing in chair races and marathons, and a blind men and women running and swimming their way to the end.

I got another email about New Zealand, this one had a link to a site where I found a bunch of information about student teaching abroad and it is specific to me, so when my placements are made I can see where I'll be going and they'll have contact information for me as well.

Word of the Day: Bamboozle

Two days and Two hours till I fly home.
(But who's counting? ;)

Plans, plans, and more plans...
I'm such an over-achiever. Or maybe it's because I'm so excited.
I am planning what I want to see, where I want to go, I know I want to stop by Australia and pick up a boomerang. I want to see some kangaroos and koalas. I want to go to the top of a few mountains see some big volcanoes. I want to go to Ashburton where my spinning wheel was made. I want to see any remains of the LOTR filming.

I could go on and on but I have work to do.

Word of the Day: Altruistic

Hmm... having some problems with font colors and size. Gonna need Aya's help I think.

I've had an intersting day. My class spent half an hour walking around blind-folded. I had to guide this guy around and then he guided me around. We both managed to keep each other from banging into anything. It was a scary experience at first, very disorienting. I'm glad I knew the building really well already, still there are a bunch of little things you don't notice normally, like slight slopes and exactly how many steps here or there, just how low the water fountains are, etc. You have to really trust the person who is guiding you. After that we headed over to the gym where there is a big indoor track with several basketball courts inside it, one was sectioned off for us. In there we played wheel-chair basketball. Keep in mind I'm a horrible basketball player when I'm standing. It was pretty fun, I only got hit in the head with the ball twice, dropped it more than that... made no goals. I was only out there for about 15-20 mins and my right hand was developing blisters. I had to sit out the rest of the time and gave someone else a turn. My poor palm... It was fun though. Both activities were fun and informative.

Word of the Day: Aggrandize

Working on a new look for my blog, obviously. Having a bit of trouble with the blogouts not showing up and the blogger site doesn't want to link to my pictures from geocities. Aya said she'd host them for me, so just need to get them transferred to her server and change my links.
I got tired of purple, can you believe it?!

On Thursay, just after I posted, I received an email saying I had been officially accepted to the overseas student teaching program. Later that afternoon I got another email saying I was accepted to go to New Zealand! I was so beside myself it was all I could do to keep from jumping up and down like a giddy child. I found out just before I had to give a workshop on how to make a website, so I had to keep my cool, but as soon as I was out of there I called my parents and told Aya. Everyone I've told has been so happy for me and supportive. It's a wonderful feeling. Even people who I don't know very well are happy for me. Then there's the people that do know me who knew something was up right away: I walked into Aya's house and her mom's like "Ok, what's the good news?" I was like "Huh? How do you know there's good news?" "Because you've got a huge smile." hehehe ok ok... so I had a permagrin, can you blame me? ;)

I'M GOING TO NEW ZEALAND!!!!

*grin*
SO much to do: passport, plane tickets, find out exactly where in NZ I'll be placed and contact them, memorize some basic NZ geography, start collecting a teacher wardrobe, and more...
Luckily I found this awesome site: Pure NZ.com where you can plan trips and it has tons of info and pictures!
It's now been three days since I found out and I'm still so excited it's hard to sit still. I told poor Aya to just ignore me when I burst out with the random "Wow!" as I do when it strikes me again that I get to go.

Went to see Johnny English on Friday, and well none of us (4) was that impressed. It was too slow and too long in between jokes. I've never been an enorous fan of Bean but Aya is, and even she didn't like the movie.

Word of the Day: Beatific

You know just because they speak English in another country doesn't mean you'll be able to understand everything they say, slang and otherwise. I was scanning the The New Zealand Herald online and found a word I had never heard of before, spate using context I was able to get the jest of it, but I looked it up to be sure. The word was used in referenct to a recent spree of arsons. In other news there is a man in a coma after being attacked and the police are appologizing to a rape victim for a bungled investigation. Guess some things are constant throughout the world.
Hmmm looks like I need to learn how to convert Celsius to Farenheit as well as the exchange rate for New Zealand money to American. Ah so much to do. Need to get my passport... Yep yep... I will be going. I'm keeping a positive outlook.

In other news... I went to see Twelfth Night last night with a bunch of people from school at the local theater. It was quite fun. I went out to dinner before hand with everyone ate at an Italian restraunt. During dinner the subject of my not receiving an RA position, but rather being an alternate, came up and a professor, who happen to have given me a glowing recommendation, overheard. He was very upset that I didn't get it. He has some sway at the University and let's just say he is used to getting his way. I wouldn't be surprised if he called somebody to complain... *gulp* It was kind of funny... but mostly I just felt all glowy that he was really batting for me and was genuinely upset I didn't receive the job. A little while later he told me I should go talk to the secretary at the Ed office and tell her he sent me to see about a job. I politely declined as I already have two jobs scheduled for this fall. Anywho, it made me feel great that he's so supportive of me. I love that. Can't have too many of those kind of people in your life. I've got my parents, Aya, her family, that professor, and some other friends... Knowing people care is the greatest compliment you can receive.

Went to see The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and it was pretty good. The guy who plays Dorian Gray was bugging me the entire movie... I knew I recognized him, or thought I did, just didn't know where from. When I got home I looked up Stewart Townsend and Hello! he was in Shooting Fish, a very good movie.

Have my midterm tomorrow.

Found out I got an A in my class from last session which raised my GPA to 3.60 = if I were to graduate now I'd graduate Cum Laude and I only need 3.70 for Magna Cum Laude. I don't know if I can make it before I graduate next spring, but I can sure try...

It seems like forever since I saw the first (teaser) trailer for Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl but all my waiting and excitement was finally rewarded. Aya and I went to see it yesterday evening after we dropped Jeremy (friend from Tx.) off at the airport. It was a great movie, with a double dose of hunkyness to boot. When I found out it was over two hours long I though eek, but I made it without interruption (if you know what I mean). I think I might go see it again in the theater if I can. Defintely buying the dvd.

Probably going to go see The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I don't know much about it, but if it has Sean Connery in it, chances are it'll be good.

Then I'll just have to wait til the 25th for Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life which I'm not too sure about. Hopefully it's at least as good as the first one, if not better.

A month later, on August 26th is the release of LOTR: 2 Towers on dvd. WOOT!

Ahhh... so many good movies coming out!


Word of the day: Avarice

A lot has been happening this summer, no wonder it's flying by.

Our friend from Texas is up and we've been running around showing him things. We went to a fireworks show Friday night and a big 4th of July Party on Saturday. Sunday we went four-wheeling and to the State Park. In between these things we've been playing lots of board games and cards: Uno, Gin, Scrabble, Risk, Clue, Trivial Pursuit, etc. I've been loosing as usual... though I did win at Trivial Pursuit *cough* and we only played one game of that ;) We've also been to see Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Terminator 3 and we rented Just Married and The Recruit.

My poor parents are being stressed to the max. My dad's father is in a physical rehabilitation center, trying to get him to where he can walk again. My mom has been taking her parents around town to different assisted living places, trying to find some place that will satisfy them both. They're really picky and as expensive as those places are they really can't afford to be. Our friend who had cancer had surgery but still hasn't come back to work, he works for my parents, which means they are short-handed on top of everything else. I called my mom this morning and she sounded super-stressed.

On the up-side I get to go home in just three weeks. I know they're looking forward to seeing me and I can't wait to get the stuffings hugged out of me.

I can't belive I only have three weeks left in this class. I just started this morning. That's crazy-short. The class is Adaptations and Management. It deals with children with disabilities and inclusion and such.

Word of the Day: Ambulate

Very excited to find out the Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed movie should be coming out next year. Seth Green is in it, wooters, Alicia Silverstone, Peter Boyle, plus the main characters from the first movie. Should be out sometime next year! Very good news.

Hmm.... Blogger has revamped...

Well let's see...
I finished HP5 and just as good as the last one.
Aya and I went to see the new Charlies Angels Full Throttle movie.

Friend from Texas is coming up to see Aya and I this Wednesday and staying for a week.

Going to see fireworks this weekend and maybe party with some of Aya's family.

Just a few days left of class for this summer session. It went by SO fast. I have pretty much everything done but two papers I'm finishing up. I'll be done in time for the Thursday due date.

Oh need to get Aya to help me put some pictures up on my blog like she has.

Have you ever wanted someone or something you knew you shouldn't have? couldn't have?
It's a frustrating feeling. Especially when there is part of you that's certain it would be for the best if you did. Then there's the part that keeps saying really shouldn't even try. And the one that says you really can't, even if you did try. Through it all, even though it is obviously outnumbered, the first part keeps nagging at you.
Yep that's frustrating.

Wedding went well. Wound up sleeping in a tent Friday and Saturday nights.
Came back Sunday afternoon and watched The Hulk and it was better than I thought. The comic book style of editing was new and funky, though sometimes distracting.

I had ordered Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to be delivered Saturday, before I knew we would be heading out to a wedding. It was waiting for me at the post office today and I'm about a quarter of the way through it so far. Not at all disappointing.

Word of the Day: (you guessed it) Frustration

Picture of the Day: Why not?

To leave tomorrow or to leave Saturday. That is the question.
I have so much work to do still, but I am not sure I remember where Aya's cousin's house is.
Hmmm......
Better get to working now so maybe I'll have enough done in time to leave Friday and follow her family up.

So... bad things afoot.
Just found out a friend of mine back in Texas does have cancer.
Grandfather has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now and he has to be moved to some sort of retirement/assisted living care facility.
Dad had bunch of tests run, found out what was wrong with him = good, infection from iv = bad.
Other grandparents need to find some sort of assisted living place, but that'll be a lovely battle for my folks.

Yup that's about all the bad stuff.

Good things...
I'm enjoying my summer here. Finally got to 85, just yesterday. It's been beautiful and I'm loving my view of the lake. Class has been fun so far and I'm looking forward to the one next semester also. From what I've seen and heard that instructor is a hoot.

Okies feel better now, off to class.

Been watching Buffy's 4th season on DVD. I didn't realize that was the season with Something Blue, Hush, Beer Bad, and more. I've only gotten through the first 3 cd's but ooooo la la. I likey!
I think it's one of the funniest seasons yet, though it dealt with dramatic things too. We'll see what I think after I peak at the next three cd's. All I can remember is that Faith comes back = trouble.

I'm doing well in my class. However, there's only a couple weeks left to get all of my projects done. And I'm going out of town this weekend to Aya's cousin's wedding. Ugh. Need more time!

Quote of the Day: "Happiness and love is a very intransient subject and wherever you can find it, however you find it, you should go and find it," Bruce Willis

For Aya, who luvs Brucey ;)

Word of the Day: Everlasting

For my summer class we are required to do at least two literature circles, perhaps three if we have time. My group just finished our first book, The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton. It's a very well written historical fiction book in which a family moves into an old house which was a stop on the underground railroad during the time of slavery. I enjoyed the book, though it was hard to only read a designated set of chapters at a time, especially since it's rather suspenseful. Today we acted out a scene from it and I was narrator.

I'm not sure what book I'll be assigned next, but any of the ones from the list he provided us would be good. We wrote down our preferences and he's going to tell us tomorrow which one we get.

I hung out with some girls I hadn't seen in quite a while, we watched the movie Old School. I hadn't planned on seeing it, but when they asked me to come watch it I said sure, why not. It was pretty funny, in a very dirty sort of way.

I need to go buy BTVS fourth season on dvd! Think I'll head over to the store after I get off work ; ) Must keep up my supply of Buffy... now that... *sniff* it's over.... *sigh* It was great while it lasted! And I did miss one episode last season, so that'll be new when they finally bring out the last season on dvd : )

Word of the Day: Splendiferous

Picture of the Day: Purty Flower

First week of summer school went well, and of course the first weekend flew by. I didn't get everything done I wanted to, but I got a good start.
Uhm... that's about all there is... school, work, school, work...

Okie dokie, it's been quite a while since I've blogged and a lot has happened since then. Let's see if I can sum it up quickly...

Spring semester is completely finished, I have my grades, did very well.
Aya is now a college graduate, though she's still waiting on her diploma.
I bought tickets to visit Texas at the end of July through August 20th.
Made it through Aya's grad party and the next day's wedding shower for her soon-to-be sister-in-law.
Spent all but one night of my two weeks off hanging out at Aya's house.
She and I had managed to get all of my stuff thrown into my new dorm room late Thursday night before her graduation.
I read all four Harry Potter books and all I can say is WOW. I've pre-ordered the fifth one and I can't wait for it to come. With each new book J. K. Rowling has gotten better and more descriptive and she's thrown more and more stuff into it. WOW!!!
I have started on the LOTR Fellowship of the Ring, but yet again I've been halted by my class load. There is a BUNCH of stuff I need to read for my summer class and it looks like LOTR will have to wait until next summer session. *sigh*

That covers the main points.

Most recently: my grandfather is back in the hospital. He is having mini-strokes, he has a herniated disc in his back, and he is falling almost everytime he tries to walk. I wish I could go see him now, but unfortunately I have to wait until the end of July/first of August.

On a happier note: Word of the Day: Pukka