Sheba on Drugs

Are you writing a paper for your Masters degree?
Cramming for a test?
Stressed about work or life in general?
Just need a break?

Well I've got the perfect stress-breaker for you.

Ingredients:

One naturally silly cat.


One ginormous container of cat nip.


Directions:

1. Give cat a liberal pinch of cat nip.

2. Sit back and enjoy.



Warning: Use care, especially during dry times of the year. Static electricity may develop. Cat fur may take on an unsightly appearance, similar to mange. Cat may snap-crackle-and-pop while walking around. You may receive a slight shock if the cat rubs against you.

Dangerous wind chills

The public schools have all closed today due to "dangerous wind chills."

The University? Business as usual. Never mind that it's -22 actual temp and -42 wind chill. Bah...

Not that I'm surprised. One time the wind chill was -60 and there were warnings not to go outside with skin exposed because frostbite could occur in seconds. The University didn't bother to close then either. Mind you, I still lived on campus then. Now I actually have to warm up my car, drive to school, find a parking spot, and walk to school.

It just occurred to me...

Maybe you don't know what I'm writing my paper on...

My question is: "How are teachers using blogs in their classrooms?"

Nifty, huh?
Two of my favorite things; teaching and blogs.

I sent out a questionnaire to 26 teachers with various types of school-related blogs. I'll send more if I can find more teacher/class/school blogs. If you know of any and would like to share, I'd love you forever :)

I'm also reading journal articles and books. There doesn't seem to be a lot out there about this topic and most of what is out there has been published very recently (last 6 months).

All about the paper...

Ok... so this bit isn't about the paper...

It was around -30 this morning. Right now it's -13 (actual temperature) with a wind chill of -41. WAY too cold for me. Yes, that's right. Such a thing as "Too cold for Aspen" does exist... it starts around -20.

This bit isn't about the paper either, but it is very important...
One of my friends who had a baby in early December stopped by my office today with baby in tow. Cuteness! First time I've seen him.

Now... to the paper...
I've been working diligently on my paper. I really have. Go me!
/pats self on back

I changed advisers for my Research Paper. My previous adviser is retiring at the end of this semester and wanted all her advisees to defend their papers by April 15th. I'm not sure if I will be done by then (my goal is April 30th) and I'm afraid I'd rush too much and be unhappy with my results. Besides, she has something like 50 advisees, 27 of who are doing graduate papers. We both agreed it would be best - for both of us.

My new adviser is actually my old (Undergrad) adviser, so I know we work well together. Plus, she found a sample proposal for me to look at.

My next paper-related goal is to have my adviser look at my proposal early next week. It needs to be approved and I need to get all of my committee members to sign my "Form 3" - saying my proposal is ok and that they WILL be on my committee.

Once that is done the Graduate Office can continue processing my request for graduation.

Eeeee!

I still need to do a Written Exam, but I'm not even thinking about that until after my Research Paper is done. I've GOT to get the dreaded paper over and done with!

Most importantly, I feel good about my paper. I'm actually working on it - constantly and I'm getting stuff done. I know I will finish it. I couldn't have said that 2 weeks ago.

The Hobbit

Ok... so I know I'm probably the last person on earth to know this, but apparently Peter Jackson and New Line have put aside their differences and come to an agreement. They'll be starting work on The Hobbit soon. I mean really... who else could do it? It has to be the Kiwi!

B-b-b-bowling!

I've never claimed to be a great bowler. Actually, I'm pretty poor. My average is 96 - and that's after 3 years of being on a league. One night last year, I bowled a Turkey (three strikes in a row) and almost passed out. My highest score was 142 and I did a happy dance.

So... Imagine my utter shock when tonight... out of nowhere... my first game I bowled a 4-Bagger (four strikes in a row) and my final score was 195.

*tee-hee*

Uhm... yeah... I'm flying high :)

One for the parents...

From Two Lumps.

Graduation... again!

I just turned in my graduation petition and paid my $10.

This will be my 3rd graduation...
1. High School
2. Bachelor of Science in Education
3. Master of Science in Education
4. .... Ph D? ....

Gah! I've been in school forever! What will it be like to be on the other side of the fence full-time?

I'm already looking for jobs and plan on attending the Education Job Fair in April. I've got a bit of teaching experience:

Student Teaching
1 year subbing
1 summer Upward Bound
Multiple workshops for the Ed Dept
1 workshop for Share the Future
5 time Teaching Assistant
And my current job, by its very nature, requires me to teach students and professors new computer skills.

Somebody out there is going to want me.

Right?

I mean throw in my semester abroad, RA and Hall Council experiences, 2 summers working for Concordia Language Villages, my sense of humor, and love of teaching and learning... I'm a real catch ;)

Plus, I'm willing to relocate.

Now, back to that paper.

Heath Ledger

I can't even tell you how sad this makes me.

5 1/2 Weeks

Wowsers.

I can't believe I just spent 5.5 weeks in Texas.

Got back to Minnesota on Saturday and was greeted with -20 degree weather. Even when I've been living here and have been acclimated (as acclimated as you can get to that cold of weather) I find that a bit too cold. To go from 40-79 degree weather to -20 = BRRRRRRRRRR!

Had a great trip home, filled with family, friends and fun. I was sorry to leave, but eager to return to my life up here. It's and odd contradiction... but I feel what I feel.

Sheba (kitty) was SO happy to get back to HER home (my apt). She had a bad attitude for most of the time we were in Texas. As soon as I let her out of her carrier (in the apt) she was running around, rubbing her face against everything and squawking happily. I guess it didn't smell like her anymore. She's been super-snuggly and purrs constantly. What can I Say? She's Adorable.

I've got to get moving on my paper. I brought everything to Texas with me, planning on working 4 hours a day, but my time was filled with other pursuits. So now I must live and breath my paper.

Taos 2008

Wonderful trip!

Finally got to meet the people at the Alpaca ranch (friends of my parents). I took lots of pictures of Alpacas (they have around 170). They're so sweet and gentle (totally opposite of llamas and camels). They rarely spit and they're so much smaller. They have a few babies which are ADORABLE. I got to help out on Sunday morning; feeding the alpacas, driving the hay truck, holding one while it got a shot, leading a blind one to its food and water.





This one is named Mr. T, because of the white markings on his face.


They also have 6 Great Pyrenees to protect their alpacas from coyotes and wolves. You can hear them barking in the night, but it's actually kind of soothing. Don't ask me which one this is, they all kind of look the same = BIG and WHITE. You can't go anywhere on their property without having at least one of them following you.


They have about 6 or 7 horses and a pony, but I didn't get pictures of them.

And of course I have to have at least one mountain picture...


The lady we stayed with had the cutest cat. His ear has a bit missing and one fang is longer than the other, but such a character. LOVABLE! He slept on the hide-a-bed with me and whenever I was in the house he was snuggled up to me. His name is Brutus.


I had a blast and I didn't want to leave. I hope I can go back and visit them soon.

Also went to several stores in Taos, including 2 pottery stores. My dad bought me a piece from a local artist (who we got to talk to).

Away

Happy Birthday Dad!

We're heading to New Mexico tomorrow morning.

Tonight, I mourn the loss of Sir Edmund Hillary, a remarkable (and humorous) man.

When I was in Dunedin (NZ) I visited the Otago museum and saw their Everest/Hillary exhibit. Looking at the photographs, reading about their trip, and then seeing the equipment with which they made their climb was... awe-inspiring. They had an area where you could write a postcard to Hillary and they actually sent them to him... I think it was mainly for the kids, but since I'm just a big kid I wrote one.

2008

Party went really well. Quite a few people showed up (customer/friends of my parents).

Been able to see most of my family and friends.

On New Years Day, Dad and I went up to Oklahoma to Arbuckle Wilderness. Mom had to work :( It's a 7 mile drive through the park and the animals are RIGHT THERE, in your face. They do have some of the more dangerous ones (tigers and wolves) in cages. You can buy cups of food to feed them and a camel got up-close-and-personal with me. I was trying to feed him out of my right hand, but he saw the cup I had in my left hand and lunged for it. Dad was trying to help by rolling up my window, but seeing a camel's head is bigger than it's neck, he actually trapped the thing in the car with us and it was like.... 6 inches from my face. LOL. I almost climbed in the back seat!

Dad got some good pics:
White Bengal Tiger


Tanish/white Buffalo


Also hung out with Jer a couple of times. Almost more than I do when we're in MN. Odd.

Went down to East Texas yesterday to see Mary K. Three and a half hours down, four hours there, and three and a half hours back. Long day, but totally worth it.

Oh and our very own Bengal has been keeping me entertained. She loves the little laser Dad got for her. Watch how she walks when she's coming out of the room. Sometimes she looks like a BIG cat.