The Unexpected Road Trip

I got a phone call from my aunt last Thursday. She said she was coming up to Minneapolis for the national Eastern Star Conference/Get-together and she just wanted to let me know that she'd be in the same state as me for a week. I got all excited and asked her what her schedule was like - she said she had the weekend open but all this week was booked. So..... I decided to hop in my box and drive the 4 hours down to the twin cities to see her!

I left on Saturday morning and got there at 2:30pm. She was in a tour that didn't finish until 4pm - so I kept myself entertained at the Mall of America. I then met up with her and her 3 travel-companions in their hotel. We drove around Minneapolis for a while (I don't know the area any better than they do - but I did manage to find a Best Buy and to show them the MOA - without getting lost!). We had dinner at an Outback Steakhouse *drool*! And I dropped them back off at their hotel around 11pm.

Sunday morning I went to an Eastern Star service (church and some other stuff) with my Aunt and then we met up with the other ladies and walked around downtown MSP. I got to chat with three lovely Scotish women who told me I absolutely HAD to come to Scotland... uhm yeah... DUH! hehehe I told them I WOULD be there - hopefully sooner rather than later.

I had to leave around 4:30pm on Sunday, but it was totally worth the 24 hours! And I didn't have to drive back alone because my friend D was coming back from the cities and he rode back with me (instead of his other possible ride). So yay!

Fun weekend with my aunt and her friends = WOOT!

Happy 10 Year High School Reunion to Me

Yup.

In a few hours a large number of 1996 Ryan High School Graduates will be getting together at a Texas Country Club to compare lives, wives and husbands and to share 10 years worth of work, school, travels, success and who knows what else.

What an odd thought.

And where am I? I'm watching My Fair Lady while cleaning my apartment, after running errands most of the day.
And when they all get together what will I be doing?
*think*
Well, Dr. Who is on at 7pm.

A couple of weeks ago...

I was sitting on my couch, spinning on a drop-spindle when I got a call from Aya.
"You should go down to such-and-such I was just there and they had a stack of records for sale and the one on top was a John Denver one."

"OOooooooOooH reaaaallllly!?!?" (that was me by the way)

So I put away my spinning and headed to such-and-such where (thanks to Aya's marvellous directions) I found exactly what I was looking for.
Good news: It was his Greatest Hits album - the one I'd been looking for!
Bad news: It had a MASSIVE gouge (not a scratch, a gouge) all through one side.

Color me bummed :(

So I went to the desk and asked if they had any more records about and the lady showed me to a booth.

I sifted through it picking out some awesome records - INCLUDING: One FREAKING brand new John Denver's Greatest Hits! Can you believe it? Awesomeness!

I also bought a double Four Seasons album and Marty Robbins album... I brought the purchases up to the counter and the two ladies behind the counter were like....
"Woah.... You have great taste in music. You're too young to have such good taste in music!"

To which I grinned and replied: "Well blame my parents. This is the music they raised me on."

Then I called my Mom to thank her for sharing her excellent taste in music ;)

Hello to Lynda in Australia!

I'm very happy you found my site!

My family has had some sort of Belgium for most of my life. When I was about 6 or 7 we had a Belgium Malinois who (unfortunately) went a little nutty and we had to find him a new home. Very sad :(

After him we got a Belgium Groenendael named Bear. We had Bear for 14 years and it took my parents years and years to get over losing him. In 2003 they started looking for a new puppy and were able to find Bear's breeder again. They got a new puppy named Kodiak (Kodi for short) in 2004. He's adorable and hyper and loveable and always has a silly grin on his face! When I'm back in Texas visiting my family I spoil him thoroughly!

I was hunting for a picture of him and discovered I don't have any good ones! I shall remedy this at Christmas, but for the time being here is a picture I took with my cell phone:


I can't have a dog where I live now, but one day I will! And I would like a Belgium of some sort.... Groenendael, Tervueren or Laekenois...

I met my first Tervueren a couple of weeks ago, a beautiful girl named Holly. Now I just need to meet a Laekenois and I'll have seen one of each! The Laekenois intrigue me... they seem to come in different shades of creams and some have more dark markings than others? And the short wire-y hair... Yes! I must meet a Laekenois!

All three of our Belgiums have been people-lovers... I wonder if that is common in all four of the breed types? I know that having two Groenendaels has spoiled our family. I don't think my parents will ever change breeds again.

Anyway... I love your site! I get this big grin on my face looking at all your beautiful dogs. I loved the two weeks I spent in your country back in 2004 and if I'm every back your way I might even come and say HELLO in person!

Oh... and out of curiousity where/why/how did you pick the name Aspen for your Tervueren?

2 years ago today

I was fully immersed in my Student Teaching....

And about to see such breath-taking things like this:


And these:


And about to hug the Party Tree from LoTR:


And meeting a bird on the verge of extinction:


And the view I woke up to every morning:


What? Who?
Huh?
Reminiscing?
NO-no no.... I'm working, honest.

Tervueren

My dad sent me an email the other day with THIS LINK to a person in Australia who raises all sorts of Belgium sheepdogs - including this Tervueren named Aspen :)

Lovely dogs.

Absolutely gorgeous and huge hearts :)

I WANT A PUPPYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

Catching Up is Hard to Do

For some reason I haven't been in the blogging mood for the last week or so.
I know that's very uncharacteristic of me, but oh well!

So..

Taos was loads of fun.
Got to hang out with the 'rents and see some people I hadn't seen in a while.
Got some great fiber (mostly spun alread - which means lots of crochet and knitting). A friend taught me how to reverse-knit (instead of pearling) and I'm giving that a go. I could always knit pretty well, just never got the hang of pearling. So I'm very slowly working on a simple scarf, just to make myself remember how to reverse-knit. There are so many neat things you can do with knitting, and I just want to learn it because it's a challenge, because I can spin and crochet and I can't knit..... er pearl.... well you get the idea :)

Mom and Dad gave me a couple of skeins of their hand-painted alpaca when I was down there *DROOL* and I made a scarf out of it - SUPER fast, took only one day.


And yes, it's a holy scarf ;) But alpaca is surprisingly warm. Plus I made it really long, like to my knees almost :)


I took a couple of pictures on Oct. 11, 2006 - our first snow. My car in the morning:


And the foggy lake on the walk to work:


So.... Bowling last night was an adventure. First game I scored 2 points above my highest score and the last two games I scored below my average. BAH! Was fun anyway - which is the point of all this - though I have to remind myself sometimes.

Lots of homework to do today - time to get on with it.

Taos, NM - Wool Festival 2006

I didn't take very many photographs this trip. It was cold and rainy most of the time and I was really busy.

Here's what I did photograph:

A friend of my family has a friend who has this house, where we stayed during this trip:


A neighbor of this house had this gorgeous fence... with an even better view beyond it, the mountains (hiding in the clouds):


My parent's booth - left side: Naturally dyed yarns (the shawl is made from all naturally dyed yarns) and Hand Painted yarn (wool and alpaca):


My parent's booth - right side: Hand Painted roving (you spin this to make yarn):


Waiting to board my plane, leaving Albuquerque, NM airport:


After a 4-hour layover in the cities, sitting in the plane that brought me home:


I met/saw LOADS of doggies! Including:
*2 Chinese Cresteds.
*2 Airedales (one lovely girl named Bear).
*1 Belgium Tervuren - My first! Gorgeous girl named Holly!
*1 Belgium Groenendael - Like our Kodi, but bigger!
*1 Newfoundland - named Kate.
*1 Huge Husky mix - named Trout.
*1 Beagle
*1 Belgium Malinois at the Albuquerque Airport on the way home (We used to have one of those).
And many, many, many more!

Now that I've met a Tervuren I just need to meet a Laekenois.... but they're extremely rare and I don't think there are many at all in the United States. But they're really pretty - I saw one on TV once (dog show).

More to come... :)

Oh honestly...

I didn't sleep very well last night.... that usual pre-trip list of things-to-do beating around in my head.

I drug myself out of bed this morning, got dressed, made coffee, grabbed up my stuff (including spinning stuff for a demo later today), drove to work and as I was loading me and all my stuff into the elevator, pulling my work keys out of my pocket.... *tink tink clank clank tink*... yes.... that little crack between the floor of the building and the floor of the elevator... my key-chain came apart and all of my keys scattered to the floor and I lost two keys to the bottomless pit. These are my work keys mind you... they belong to BSU.

I went and told our Department Secretary and she made the call to get a maintenance guy come to fish them out for me. About 20 minutes later I got a call from the office saying they had my keys and when I went down to get them she handed me an entire set of keys (about 10 - personal and work).

"Uhm... Those aren't my keys..."

The baffled secretary took a moment to process this and we both burst into laughter. Apparently the guy was still looking down there (I think a separate guy had taken they keys from him and brought them up to the office) and the guy that did the fishing brought up my two keys a few minutes later.

Thank goodness.

Ah well.... I felt better that I wasn't the only person it had happened too, but yeah... I still couldn't believe the timing.

5 Year Plan

1. Finish Masters
2. Move back to Texas *cringe* and teach for no less than 3 years
3. Pay off student loans
4. Find job at Community College or University (possibly as adjunct)
5. Begin work on PhD

Yup.

The prospect of staying here in MN is shrinking daily.
I have to move South where it's hot and there's lots of people and I'm 2-days-drive from my best friend. I'll be stuck in the South for at least 3 years.
Unless by some insane miracle I can find a teaching job here in MNÂ? but with the job market as it is now - and me having a masters.... yeah not so promising.

OR

I could win the lottery, buy my parents a beautiful home wherever they want and then travel the world, possibly settling in NZ.

(Note to self: must play to win)

Berne's not the only one seeing things...

Nope...

Twice, TWICE in the last week I've seen things that made me cringe. The most recent was a comment card at a local, upper-class, hotel. I'm not even an English major... but then again, maybe it's the Educator in me that is having such a hard time with this. I'm not saying I'm perfect, not by any means. I probably have a dozen errors in this one post. However, I'm not an International Hotel chain and this isn't being posted for customers.

It's in my blood, ya know?

Every once in a while I just have to look and see what's out there in the way of NZ possibilities....

Working Holiday - almost too old for this one

Skills Wanted

Immigrating

Work Options

Oofda.

Refuse to Lose

I loved, Loved, LOVED THIS MOVIE!
And not just because of the VW Bus :)

Bowling has started back up - this past Sunday was our 3rd night. I've bowled twice and my average is pretty much the same as it was the end of last season - despite having not bowled at all this summer.

Went with Aya and D yesterday to check out a possible/likely reception place. Pretty sure this is the one they'll go with cuz Aya loves it so much - and it is beautiful, right next to the lake :)

Post #666

Hey Aya - no no YOU - yeah that Aya...

Check THIS out.... check out the names of the actors/actresses.
Apparently you've been leading a double life - and kicking some arse in the process ;)

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) has a NON-HP movie coming out: Driving Lessons. It looks quite amusing.

Oh and a Big-Fat-Hairy: SNORT!

Ren Fair, Lobsters& Frogger

Drove down to the cities Friday night with 7 other people - most of whom I didn't really know. We took two cars - thank Dad AGAIN for the walkie-talkies. They make road trips SO much more fun!

My group was an active one - singing songs - quoting movies - telling jokes - LOTS of laughter...

Spent the night at one of these people's parent's house... (yeah bad grammar :P) We all fit in the basement. Aya and I got snuggly in a full-sized bed. We have slept in the same bed before on various trips/vacations, but those were queen-sized beds. This was.... much cozier.
The mom was adorable and lovely and totally accomadating. She made sure we were all comfortable and settled in and then made us all breakfast in the morning before seeing us off (with much picture-taking).

We were quite a site - all but one of us dressed up - and at the gas station a couple stopped and asked if they could follow us because they didn't know where the Fair was. We made it to the fair (with the strangers) and then split off into two groups to explore.

Had a great time and only bought one thing - other than the Turkey leg (because it's the Ren Fair - you have to get a Turkey leg!) - and that purchase was a feather fan because it was quite warm - 85ish. Luckily there was an on-again/off-again breeze.

Despite my attempt to evade a sunburn (spf 40) I did get one = Lobster Aspen.
We left the fair about an hour earlier than we had planned to - most of us were worn out - even the two that were protesting our early exit. After we hiked back to our vehicles and hit the highway all my passengers passed out and two in the other car as well. An hour down the road we stopped at a fabulous restaurant/gas station/bakery for dinner = Yummy!

The last hour on the road was spent in a rainstorm - dodging froggies. I think I only got 5 or 6 of them :( Kind of gives you a new perspective on Frogger.

Made it back here a little after 9 - unloaded everyone else - came back to my apartment and watched the SG1 I had recorded - then passed out about 10:30.

All-in-all I had a blast. A lot more fun than I thought I would.

Slept in reallllllllly late today and I still need to do my homework for Web Design and I've got bowling at 6:30pm.

Back into the College Student routine!

Not Me

We were discussing our Portfolio Projects in class today and whether one should post links to their blog/wiki on their Online Portfolio. I had included it in my Inventory list. Someone in class said, "Yes, but that can come back to bite you." To which Dr. Morgan replied (with a chuckle); "Probably not in her case."

Now he might have been implying that my blog is completely devoid of life or exciting tidbits - or simply stating that it's content is innocent enough.

I'm looking at it as a compliment. I made a choice early on - before I ever started this blog that I wouldn't put anything on here that I wouldn't want my parents/teachers/friends/a perfect stranger to read. As it turns out both of my parental units, multiple friends, at least two teachers, and nobody knows how many strangers - do in fact read/have read my blog.

Now I'm not saying I lead this crazy-super-wild life and I never post any of it here. My life is rather uneventful - and I like it that way. But, I choose what exciting tidbits go into my blog. Ladies choice! And if it's interesting enough for you to read, you read it. More likely if you know me well enough and you're curious about what happens to me on a semi-daily basis - then you read this thing.

And I'm happy with that.
I'm over my wanting to be exciting and well-read.
Take it or leave it!

Now... moving on...
If you are vertically challenged, then you may not understand this bit at all... but if you are vertically gifted, then you will probably understand this all too well.
I'm rather tall, 6'ish and I don't really know anyone much taller than me. I have a few male friends who are an inch or two taller - but they're too close in height to affect my perception. I pass tall people on a daily basis, but when one of those people stops and stands right next to me (as happened today) so that I am fully aware of their tallness and how I don't even come to their shoulders - well that's just trippy. I feel short. That doesn't happen very often.
I think I like it.

Why am I so tired?

You know how sometimes you have so many different things going on and they're all spread out and changing times and all of your energy is directed at making sure you don't forget to do one of those really important things because you don't want to let anyone down....?

Yeah.

Typical beginning-of-the-year madness is upon me. My one meeting a week turned into two, which turned into three. But they're important meetings - informational and such. (And I thought I'd have a break on meetings after leaving Res. Life!)

I need to get fingerprinted for my background check and get a signature from the Registrar and pay my $88.00 (plus fingerprinting charge) so I can get my license... oh and don't forget the official copy of my transcript (plus fee) that I need to send in with the application and fingerprint card.

Looks like my Friday-Freeday is completely booked and I'm just hoping I have enough time to get it all done. At 4pm we're heading down to the cities for the Ren Fair! (YES FINALLY!) Aya and 3 of her staff and D and me... should be interesting since I don't really know her staff.... but we've got a free place to stay = bonus! Should I wear my dress? /ponder

I also need to finish my homework for tomorrow.

/sigh

Sleep sounds really freaking good right about now.

Oh, btw I'm REALLY enjoying stopping by The Lodge. Making time for that :)

Happy Belated Birthday to Sharon!

I'm so very sorry I missed it!
I've been very naughty and have lapsed on my blog-reading as of late.

Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
*BIG BIG HUGS* - More real ones coming your way on Thursday!

/frown
/feels very, very bad

Check this out:
Dolly Parton
The Rolling Stones
The Skids
The Honeycombs
Hot Chocolate
Dean Martin
Nerina Pallot
The Monkees
Tobey Keith

Just a sampling from one radio station... isn't that hilaroius?

Love those Brits.

Finally caught up on The Lodge and I love that I can pick out most of the writers - from reading their blogs and their personalities come shining through. Good way to spend your lunch.

And now - to work!

/dance
I passed!
*tee hee hee*

Ok... So you didn't hear the scream of joy...

Yes I got my test results, but you didn't hear the scream.
Why not?
Because it was more of a squeaky-squawk of relief - while trying not to cry because I was so happy... and so very, very relieved.

Yes indeedy. I passed that ugly test and I never have to take it again.
In fact, I scored kinda high on it. According to the testing service I got the highest points for "Average" - any more and I would have been "Above Average" - But I'll take average if it means I never have to take that test again! Thank you very much!
/beam

Christmas has come early...

Yep. Really early this year.
My great find has led to a hunt for records and after stopping at two thrift stores I've come up with 7 records - all but two are Christmas Records. But I don't mind! I love sitting here doing my homework to the sound of Bing Crosby and Burl Ives.
And soon will be the soundtrack to Oklahoma and something from The Lovin' Spoonfull.

I love old things!

Did you hear the squeal of delight?
My mom sure did - as I was on the phone with her when it happened....
(And no I didn't get my test scores yet - though I called ETS and they say they mailed them Tuesday)

I was on my way back from checking my mail when I stopped by a house that's for sale and was having a garage sale. It's a cute little tan house with a brick fireplace (with vines creeping up it). I was looking for a bookshelf but found something else instead. They had this OLD record player and it was only $20.00 and I LOVE records and I've been wanting one for a long time.... so I asked the guy to hold it for me and waited for Aya and D to get off work to help me move it. We got it back to my house and couldn't get it to work. We went out to dinner and when they dropped me back off I played around with it for a bit - called my mom and asked what she knew about record players - and then *SQUEAL* got it to work myself! And it's AWESOME!

They had kept the sign and the price tag - they paid $249.95 for it about 40 years ago. The wife wanted a record player so bad after they got married and even though she only made .75 cents an hour she set up a payment plan of $5.00 a month for this beauty!


It has built-in speakers and a storage space for records.


It has a light on the inside - that still works.


It plays 16, 33, 45, and 78! It plays 10-12 records at a time - depending on size. And it has an auto-play feature.


tee hee hee heeeee

See, when my parents brought me home from the hospital they put me in my crib and put on a John Denver record. My childhood was filled with record music. I even had my own little player (no idea whatever happened to that) but I've been missing the crackly-popping-goodness of records for years now.

I bought two records from the same people I got the player from - Bing Crosby's Christmas - what better voice to test out the player - and an old compilation record that has the song Convoy.

*dance*

Now I need to have a retro-party! Everyone has to dress like they're from the 50's and 60's... I need to get my poodle skirt from home.... *plans forming*

2 Reasons why I wish I were still On Campus:

1. I hate trying to find a parking space every morning
2. I miss the people

That's right. I put the parking first cuz I still see the people (though not as often), but I haven't had to hunt for parking on a daily basis for years. Granted, it's not nearly as bad as UNT, but still.

Bah!

I just spent 10 minutes using home-made lint rollers (scotch tape) to get all the cat hair off the other chair in my office - the chair that belonged to my former office-mate. I figured it was time after I had to warn the second person in two days not to sit in that chair unless they wanted a hairy back and bum.
hehehehe
It's too bad he had to leave. He made my job a lot more fun and a lot easier. Now I'm back to the two-person work-load all on me. But I shall persevere!

Still waiting for those test results - for my last teacher licensure test - still waiting - it's been 4 weeks - the time they said it would take - and I'm still waiting - and I can't apply for my license until I can prove I've passed all those tests - and I can't start sub'ing until I have my license - and - and - *DEEEEEP BREATH*

Honestly, I'm just terrified that I failed that test. How humiliating would that be?
Bah!
BAH!
BAAAAH!

Anywho; HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

*BLUSH* hehehe woooops!

It was bound to happen sooner or later - I accidentally posted to the Daybook instead of my own blog!
Tisk tisk tisk....
I deleted it though... but did I get to it before someone saw it?
Anywho... this is what I had posted:

MmmmMMmmm I missed those

Caramel Macchiatos from the Union.
I hadn't had one since May - they were closed over the summer - and the lines have been insanely long everytime I've been by so far this semester - I think everyone else was missing their caffinated beverages as well.

The trees are changing!

It does seem to be happening a few weeks early this year, but the fall colors are on their way.

I drove up north (following Aya and D) to D's house on Saturday and I noticed the change right away. We had a fun-filled day on the farm - animals, wild cucumbers, geese, shooting clay pigeons. Aside from paintball that was my first time shooting at a moving target. I shot AT 10 of them and finally got the last three that were thrown for me. It was a lot of fun. Shoulda seen Aya with the 12 guage she'd never shot a gun before and yelped after all three shots! Mwahahaha.... Actually, she just doesn't like things that kick back.. and I can't really blame her.

Sunday was spent shopping and then leafing through a huge pile of bridal magazines with Aya. They finally set a date so we started our girly-duty and were cutting and pasting ideas into her wedding book.

Yesterday I worked on my homework and now I teach another class!

Back to Basics

I got tired of my old header - it wasn't quite what I was going for and I didn't like the extra spacing on the right side... so.. back to basics for now.

Hopefully my Web Design class will provide me with some awesome inspiration and I'll revamp my blog - in depth - at a later date.

Maybe I'll abandon all of my worldly goods...

Move to Scotland and sit outside various pubs enjoying the music. Of course this would mean living on the streets and begging for money...

Hmm... Perhaps that's a bit extreme.

In any case, I'm very happy to have found Travelling Folk with Archie Fisher on Scotland Radio. It makes my work day much more enjoyable.

Listening to: Streams of Whiskey by the Pogues

Things feel right - sat through a class - and by the sounds of it it's going to be another fun one. Need to brush up on my Dreamweaver skills *flips through workbook* Yupppp definitely.

How lucky am I? I enjoy the majority of my classes. I'm SO in the right place.

Feels.... Normal to be back at work and school - the combination. Only a bit off with the lack of Res Life duties. And I get to teach Thursday and next Tuesday - exciting! Doing my usual technology tools workshop and iMovie workshop.

I've never watched Robot Chicken, but a friend sent me this link to a Star Wars parody and it made me laugh out loud, so I'm sharing it with you.

Back in the high life again...

Lessee...

Flew back to MN - president's plane landed right after mine in MSP and got a good look at it again from the runway as we took off right next to it.

Crazy bat flying around MSP airport while I was waiting for my flight - sent girls screaming and flailing - free entertainment.

Back in B-town on Tuesday - couple of meetings on Wednesday - There's an Aussie GA on campus now :)

Videotaped the Res. Life skits on Friday afternoon - hilarious.

Worked Saturday at the airport for Concordia - last day of work for them this year.

Sunday worked 9am - 5pm and Monday 9am - 3pm for Aya's front desk - doing check-ins. They were short on people so I volunteered to help out. It was actually fun.... not like running around as an RA, as I was at the desk, but it was similar to the rush I got being an RA. As I was sitting at the desk yesterday morning - during a break in students - I took a moment to absorb my surroundings and feelings. I belong in the Res Halls - On Campus - Here.... I like having my own apartment and all that comes with that (except the bills) but I miss living so close to my friends and all the people and activities. I'd like to work in the dorms, but still be able to have an apartment - to go home to my own place. This just confirms my decision of applying to be a Hall Director. I've been thinking about that for the last year and a half and I've decided if there are any openings for next year I am DEFINITELY applying.

Training in two new people for the computer lab today. 8am came awefully early. I don't think I'll ever be a morning person :(

Then my first class is at noon! Woot.

Catching up...

Dad has a big new beautiful truck - extended cab so there's room for all three of us - and extended truck bed so there's plenty of room for all the stuff he hauls - and a big engine to haul their trailer. His last new vehicle was a truck back in 1978. He's had new service vans for work, but it's not the same. I'm really glad he finally got something nice for himself - and it is REALLY nice :)

I've done bookwork, chatted with people I know, played my part in my Aunt's Eastern Star thing, got to visit with two cousins and meet the newest baby cousin (gorgeous little girl), I've gone through some of my old stuff from this new house and the old house, cleaned in the old house, dyed some yarn (my hands are bright-beautiful colours), I've played with puppy dogs and kitty cats, gotten lots of hugs - most recently from two friendly Albanian brothers.

It's been over a hundred every day I've been home =P thank GOD for AC.

It has been a busy and productive trip home. And I'm bringing all sorts of goodies back with me - it's good to go through your stuff old stuff...

Now I'm going to settle down in my recliner (so miss that when I'm up north) with a cat or dog (probably both) and watch a little TV.

I'm mellllllting....

I know how the witch in Oz felt... except it's not water that's making me melt, it's the non-stop 100+ degree weather we're having.
Why did I leave Texas again?
Oh yeah =P

LOTS of ups and downs over the past week or so.

Thought twice in the last few days that something really good was happening and both times I was let down.
Very frustrating
/sigh

Oh well.

Hot weather and disappointments aside... it's good to be home with the Parents and the pets and the friends and the family.

A gorgeous day...

According to the forcast - and the current temperature.
Thank goodness.
I'll be working outside in a tent for CLV's second I-Day.
Looks like it will be at least 15 degrees cooler than the last time I did this :)

To sleep tonight? or to stay up until 3:00am when I need to head to the airport?
Something to ponder while I sell assorted goodies to assorted children and teens, speaking assorted foreign languages.

Still need to pack, though I have everything laid out.... and I have decided to give up the luxury of a carry-on, due to recent events.... Just my purse and the 4th HP Book - which I am STILL reading. I've been a massive slacker when it comes to my reading list this summer :( I know I'll regret it come mid-semester.

A, eh?

Yes.
Indeedy.

I got an A in my online class.
I'm quite pleased - considering I got off to such a rocky start.

Otherwise Engaged

I had that icky-sticky-no-good test on Saturday morning.
Yeah.... it was hard.
Three other girls were taking the same test as me and ALL three of them were taking it for the second time because they had failed it the first time.
Encouraging, no?

/sigh

I have to wait 4 weeks for the test results.

But at least it is over and done with for now...

I spent my last weekend working for CLV.
My last weekend in Linden Hall.

Weird feeling - again.

There was a bat zooming around in the lounge last night - that was funny. Then he wedged himself in between a cabinet and a wall and when the guy I worked with tried to get it to come out (by nudging it with a straw) he started making these crazy chirping sounds - I'd never heard a bat that close before - he was not a happy boy.

And this afternoon I went shopping for wedding dresses with a friend (not Aya).

And now I'm home.
Enjoying the quiet.

Timing is everything...

So I am bummed because The Gaels are playing at Brigids tonight and I am going to be sensible and NOT go. Even though I've never seen them perform and I desperately want to... Because I have that freaking HUGE test at 7:30am tomorrow.

/sigh

One day.

ONE DAY.

Oh, and apparently I think too much. I think too far ahead. My brain's off-switch is missing 99.9% of the time.

Number 11

Star Trek XI is in the works....

Left to do...

Finished last paper for online class and uploaded it for the teacher.
Still posting to discussions through Friday.

At work now. Going to spend the majority of the day hunting online for things to help me with the Praxis 2 test I have on Saturday - starting to freak out about that - as I always do with tests.... The bigger the test, the more important the test, the more I freak.
*deep breath*
No pressure. If I don't pass it I can take it again and again and again and pay that $120 bucks over and over and over... and maybe one day get my teaching license. NO pressure.... Really.
*gulp*
I can do this. I'm gonna kick that tests big hairy bum!
*thinks happy-positive thoughts*

So... Test early Saturday morning then the rest of the weekend through Monday 1pm at the dorms for my last CLV weekend. Next week working in the office and Friday all day at CLV for International Day. Then fly home Saturday the 12th through the 22nd! Come back, work in office for a week or so and then School starts!

Ladies and gentlemen, summer is very nearly over.

How'd that happen?

No, really...?

Two Birds....

I sat down to email one British Boy and got an instant message from another. Good timing :)

Got my new power cord for my laptop - very happy to say that was the problem and now all is well. And in time for my last weekend at the dorms!

Spent Saturday helping Aya move into her new apartment - she's now a Resident Hall Director - woot woot wooooot!

Puppy-sat this weekend for her mom - and I WANT A DOG!
/sigh

BAH!

Anywho.... email sent.... chatting dying down.... time to finish that last paper for my online class.

Aya's Excitement!

hehehehe

I can FINALLY post about it since SHE finally did!

That's right ladies, gentlemen, assorted critters:
My bestest buddy in the entire world is getting married.
And I get to be her maid of honor.

/beam

Star-Bursting Rings

I learned how to do something today that I had been wanting to learn for a very long time. I went hunting and found a page with text-instructions, no pictures - and got myself thoroughly confused. After many attempts I gave up and kept searching - then found this How To Page which sorted me out.

I *heart* Bubble Baths!

Strawberry scented - bubble baths :)
It's been years since I'd had one and I was in the store - and there was a cute little Strawberry Shortcake bottle with strawberry scented bubble bath - so I bought it - came home - had myself a bubble bath.
Fun.
Relaxing.

I love playing with the bubbles and listening to them go *pop-pop-pop*

In other news....
I'm going to be a maid-of-honor. *grin*

And I ordered my books for my fall class: Web Design for Content Writers - Thanks to Dr. M for posting what we need well in advanced. I will be prepared!

Stormy days..,

Lots of emotions flying about lately.

A weekend in the dorms - much cooler than last one - but the internet was down in the building and even if it had been working my laptop power cord is kaput - ordered a new one today for $75.00 /joy

Just spent 3 hours reading posts for online class - never can stay up-to-date with it - and my plans to catch-up this weekend were foiled.

Still have a paper to write by Wednesday.
Frustrations abound in that area - won't go into details.

I've been thinking about my Kiwi friends a lot lately - and the British ones - and about grandparents.

BAH.

How sad is this: I can't wait for this summer to be over?
I think it's because of all that I still have left to do.

I wanted to have a garage sale this weekend - but no planning has been done and instead of getting rid of all that stuff and getting a bit of cash I've wound up spending more money for 3 months of storage.

I've got this weekend off - but I'm going to spend it trying to finish the last paper for my online class and studying for my last Praxis 2 test - which is August 5th.

I also work the weekend of August 5-7th. And of course I'm still working in the lab during the week.

Then I go home from August 12th-22nd.

Like I said - I can't wait till summer is over :P

On a happy note - Two different sets of friends have gotten engaged this month.
Congratulations to both of them.

Times, they are a changing....

Summer Shows...

Kyle XY - Synopsis: Teenage boy, Kyle (Matt Dallas) walks out of the woods with no idea who he is, where he came from, how to speak... etc... Learns to talk in a day, finds a home with a Psychiatrist and her family. Show is about his exploration of the world around him, people, himself... and a back-story is emerging about his identity - including a murder he may have witnessed.

The 4400 - I had avoided getting into another show (until now) so I only got into this one over the summer - watching the re-run marathon. Interesting idea. Good characters. But this season has been lacking for me. Plus they killed off a very likeable character and have added one that I don't like. *shrug* I keep recording it (since I am in the dorms Sunday night) and will see if it improves.
Synopsis: Basically 4400 people who have disappeared over time are altered and returned with special powers. They were apparently taken by people of the future who are using them to right future wrongs - make a positive impact on the world. And of course there's the government and private agencies interfering in everything.

Dead Like Me - I didn't really have much interest in this show until I saw a preview with Mandy Patinkin and my curiosity bone was tickled.... Remember the movie: The Princess Bride - Mandy was "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die." And aside from some commercials I hadn't seen him in anything for quite a while. So... I gave this show a go last night. Was happy to see Callum Blue of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Cute Brit. The show wasn't so bad actually. I'll be tuning in again to see what happens to this girl.
Synopsis: College dropout girl who doesn't get along with her mom - dies when a toilet seat from a Russian space station crashes to earth. Talk about freak deaths. Now she is a Grim Reaper, she gets her assignments via Mandy's character - on post-it notes. Odd, but interesting enough for a second go.

Eureka - Synopsis: U.S. Marshall and rebel daughter stumble onto a town of genius kids, adults... all experimenting and developing and stuff. Town sheriff injured - he recommends the Marshall to take his place.
The first episode was last night - and it would have made a good mini-movie. I'm not sure if this one will be fascinating enough to keep it going. Time will tell.

Psych - Synopsis: Very observant guy, photographic memory... Pretends to be a psychic so the Police Department will let him help with an investigation. He opens up his own detective agency and drags his buddy with him. Main character has problems with his father - but they seem to be working through them as the show progresses - father is finally getting through to his son... etc. I've chuckled off and on.

Stargate: SG1 - /sigh... No more Jack O'Neal.... The show is starting its 10th season and I've followed from the beginning - originally because of RDA. But... I dunno. I find it interesting that they have now added both Ben Browder and Claudia Black from Farscape. I watched Farscape for the first couple of seasons until it got too weird for me - and then I saw the end where they killed the two main characters and I was pissed. Any who - Back to Stargate.... I do like the chemistry between Black and Browder, but surprising better than that is the chemistry between Black and Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson). I'll keep watching cuz I always have and I'm not about to abandon it now. They're going in a semi-different direction and I'm curious as to where they'll end up. Plus I'm devoted to the characters :)

Stargate: Atlantis - Beginning it's 3rd season. Uhm... well... Not as good as the original. However, despite his being so much like Jack O'Neal's character, I do find myself chuckling at Joe Flanigan's Lt. Col. John Sheppard. Plus he has elf-ears which cracks me up (they're cute... really). I keep watching it because it is on after Stargate: SG1.

And I've just realized I spend 7 hours in the last week watching these shows.
But considering that's about the only TV I watch... I guess 7 hours a week isn't that bad. Occasionally I watch movies of my own, but usually I am working, reading a book, cleaning, packing/unpacking for weekends at the dorm, sleeping, doing homework, posting for online class... etc... So really, it's not THAT bad... Right?

If hell exists...

I really, Really, REALLLLLY want no part of it.

Especially after this weekend.

Cuz I'm pretty sure there ain't no AC and that in itself is a personal hell.

/whimper

Freaking HOT to say the least.... like hotter in here than out there... and I'm stuck in here.
/sigh
Thank goodness for fans.

I did learn something new... out of necessity. You know the old "hot water bottle" trick - yeah well the "frozen water bottle" one is even better! Boo yah! 'Course it's been rather humid and the bottles have been sweating something fierce.... but let me tell you - if you stick that ice-cold bottle in a few key places it'll cool you down rather quickly. And I don't even mind it "sweating" so much - that cold water does wonders. But the bottles melt so quickly :/

One more weekend this month - then one more in August... and I *think* that's it - the schedule does seem to change a lot.

Apparently mom is having lots of fun in New Mexico at her Fiber Retreat... I wanna goooooo! It's been years and years and years. But at least I get to go to the Taos Wool Festival this year!

It may be that...

brick, ACless building + 90 degree weather = oven = baked Aspen....

BUT

Not only have I spoken to a couple of Kiwi's this weekend, but today I got an email from one of them and an email from one of the Brits,

AND

A couple of friends are up for another friends wedding this weekend - and though I work I did get to see one of them.

SO

Life balances itself out.

ie: Grandmommy passing away - new baby cousin born and mother and baby doing well.

Round and round we go...

It's about time!

A sleepless night... so I made use of my time. 2am here = 7pm there
I called my friends in New Zealand (after a year and a half) and got the scoop on what's been happening since my departure - lots of babies. And I heard awesome sayings like "Happy Chappy" and "Good on ya" and "Quite chuffed"....
/sniffle
I miss them.
I miss everything about NZed.

I've been assured that I have a bed waiting for me whenever I do come back.

Thanks to J!

hehehe... I was whimpering to him on msn about how I was melting... So on his lunch break he brought me a few of those Icee-pop... thingies... the frozen - fruity - sugary things in plastic tubes... you know the ones. hehehe WOOT! Just what I needed.
hehe

J rocks!

Stargate's Back!

Yep... tomorrow night... Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis!

I'm such a nerd....

And I'm still pining for RDA (Richard Dean Anderson)... Stargate just isn't the same without him... and this... the 10th season.... /sigh... I miss MacG!

Still melting.... =P

But it could be worse... I know...

I'm melting! I'm melting!

It is SO FREAKING HOT in this computer lab. I only have one set of lights on, I only have 13 of 36 computers on, and I have the fan oscillating.... but it's still really hot. I'm sitting here - moving only my fingers - sweating. BAH

And this weekend.... in the dorms.... it's sposed to be crazy busy with kids coming and going at all hours - and the weather channel says it'll be 95 on Saturday... and me.... in the dorms... no ac.... /faints at the thought

Seriously folks. I hated the heat in Texas, but at least EVERYBODY had ac....
/boggle

I mean I know we only need it here maybe 2-4 months a year - at most... but still... /whimper

I miss my apartment.

Oh my darlin...

Yes indeedy! I found Clementines at a local store.
Wooty woot woot.
Tiny-easy-to-peel-orange-goodness.

Working on the first paper for my online class - it's late because my book took forever to get here :P But I had to stop for a nummy clementine treat.

Back in the lab

Yep.

Back to the daily grind - not really though. I mean I am back, but it's hardly a "grind."

I forgot to mention that I got a free PotC poster when at the movie - that was cool. But I really need to go and see it again - when I'm not exhausted... to see if it really is disappointing or if it was just me.

It feels good to be back in the lab. Comfortable. As much as I gripe about how boring it is when I'm stuck here for 8 hours straight - it is sort of a home away from home. *shrug* Go figure.

I'm not talking about my grandmother. I'm trying not to think about it either. It's hard though. I've had several people asking what happened - why I was out - etc... and offering their condolences. And there was a beautiful Red-White-And-Blue Chrysanthemum (coinky-dink it's my birth flower) and a lovely card on my desk when I came in this afternoon. - From the Ed Dept. Very kind of them. I'll try to post pictures - if I don't kill it first! (I read the care directions 3 times)

Major congrats to Jessie & V on their AWESOME new car. They chose wisely ;)
Jessie - I think you'll find that when you pass other Ellies the people in them may wave at you - or at least have a big smile for you. Not always, but more times than not. We're like a community of sorts - like people who drive old (original) VW's.

Lindening it...

So... life back in Minnes-OH-ta...

After 3 hours of sleep I flew to the cities. I waited for three hours then took the offered free round-trip-ticket and waited another 6 hours for the next flight home.

Got in at 11 on Thursday and went directly to theater for the midnight showing of Pirates. (was wired - and it was PIRATES) Was somewhat disappointed in the move - though it picked up a bit towards the end.

Worked International Day (selling $900 worth of $5 t-shirts) for CLV. Came home. Passed out. Slept 11 hours *aaahhhh* (much needed).

Saturday - Monday - I'm in Linden again. Just chatted with a few friends I hadn't seen in a while - perks of being back in the dorms.

Good news:
I have a new baby (2nd) cousin! Ashley Grace! Very exciting news!!! She's almost a month early, but mother and baby are doing well.

And now.... back to the munchkins.... Six 11-13 year olds.... it's almost like being back student teaching.... without the accents.

I wish it would rain

It's been raining all around us and mom just called me to see if it was raining here because it is raining at the shop - but no. No rain for me.

Monday morning provided a sprinkly-service.
Had lunch with family and some close friends afterwards.

Parents closed their shop for 4th of July so I spent the day with them.
Today they're back at work so I'm doing dishes, packing (shoo-ing cat out of suitcase), laundry, playing with dog, loving cat and all while watching Celebrity Poker Showdown.

I fly back tomorrow morning but won't be back until late afternoon.
I work all day Friday for CLV - will have to catch the late showing of Pirates - then work this weekend Saturday-Sunday-Monday.

Today is the day...

The service begins in approximately 52 minutes.

Family

Not really sure what happened to Wednesday. I know I only got 2 hours of sleep on Tuesday night - and then an hour or two on the plane home.... Slept a bit Wednesday afternoon...

Spent all day yesterday with Mom and Aunt - packing up Grandmommy's stuff and moving it out of her room in the nursing home.

Dad and I went down to The Parks Mall in Arlington today. Met up with all of his family (minus MK). My Aunt, Uncle, 3 cousins & their spouses, 7 second cousins - and one on the way (baby girl - due in a few weeks!). They were down there getting a family potrait - since they were all in one place - very rare. One cousin lives in Nevada, one in Alabama, the third in Texas - me in Minnesota.... It's been 2.5 years since we've all been in one place.

Today was a good day.

"I fly a starship across the Universe divide

And when I reach the other side
I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can
Perhaps I may become a highwayman again
Or I may simply be a single drop of rain
But I will remain
And I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again...."
-The Highwayman

I went ahead and posted my Superman Returns post - because I composed it in my head on the way home from the movie theater. I had two voicemails from my Dad when I got home... The first one saying - "Hope you're having fun, love you... talk to you later." The second one saying - "Please call me when you get this message" - I didn't listen to the rest of it - I knew something was wrong after the caller ID gave me his number as the second caller. I called him and he did the "What's going on?" - I don't know you tell me... - "Where are you?" - I'm at home now tell me what's wrong... - "Grandmommy Jerry (tears welling up) passed away this evening."

Sobbing.
Tears.
Mind-numbing pain - but not exactly the physical kind.
The usual.

Grandmommy Doris - July 1986 or 87? (I was 8)
Grandaddy JB - March 2004
Grandaddy Lou - December 2004
Grandmommy Jerry - June 2006

I still have Mary K - Grandaddy JB's second wife.

/sigh

Flying home in 5.5 hours.

Superman Returns

Indeed.

Bryan Singer called Superman Returns a love story and a "chick flick". He was absolutely right on it being a love story. But I don't think it's just "chick flick."
After I got over Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane (and a brunette) I must say it was incredibly well done. Strong characters. Good plot. A lot of special effects, but awesomely done. An instant favourite for me.

Good job Brian Synger & crew. You did not disappoint me.

Now... For Pirates of the Caribbean...

Where will you be May 2007?

I will be at the first showing of:SPIDERMAN 3

*tee hee*

They are so teasing me.... a year in advance. That's just cruel.

2.75 Days to go

I'm looking forward to this weekend! I'll have Friday - Tuesday off!
If only I had the money to go somewhere, but no :( I want to go to The Cities or to Winnipeg or somewhere fun. BAH.

Superman is out tonight... 10pm showing *DROOL* I'm so there.

World Cup Game: England vs Portugal on Saturday... Go England!

Have a class starting Monday - but it's online only - woot.

That is all for now....

World Cup

On Satuday I watched my first (ever) soccer - "Football" - game. I decided to vote for Mexico - I thought it only fair seeing as they were my neigbors for 22 years. And though they did not win, it was an enjoyable experience.

On Sunday I watched my second World Cup Soccer/Football game. I was rooting for England - of course! And they won. Good on ya England!

Weekend is over and I'm back in the confines of the Ed Lab. Catching up on my emails, blogs, comics, etc. We had a fun group this weekend. 5 younger girls on Saturday and 10 older kids on Sunday. Went to the park/playground, watched a couple of movies, frisbee, talked... etc... Hauled around suitcases - most of which weigh more than the kids they belong to - mind boggling really. Wilted away this morning in the dorm - though the rest of the weekend wasn't too bad. (I'm not looking forward to July & August).

Listening to: Summer Sun by TEXAS... on Scotish Radio...

Go figure...

Ok I lied...

I don't think I was ever technically (or any other way) cool or hip.
hehehe
A girl can dream, eh?

Back to where it all began...

It occurred to me - while sitting in the lovely-green-rocking-desk chairs of Linden Hall - that THIS is where my blogging days began. In this building.
And this is one of the last times I will be blogging from here.

Odd.

Weekend watch (as I have dubbed it) is turning out to be quite interesting. The majority of the kids we have had so far have been from quite affluent families and from major metropolitan areas. Listening to them talk about their lives is an entirely new form of education. Like the 11 year old girl who is going to Canada... it's the 12th country she will have visited.... *boggle*

The group this weekend has been kind enough to educate me in some new terms:
*Like the difference between Emo, Punk and Goth.
*"Sketch" = dodgy, creepy, suspicious - also A "Sketch"
etc....
Apparently I'm way behind in the hip lingo.... I only thought I was cool and hip still ;)

...oD dluoC I sgnihT

Thanks to the Gothy Girl for the fun vids.
Especially David Lehre's MySpace spoof.
(It's possible I'm the last person on MySpace to know about that video)

Listening to The Cure: Close To Me
Playing on: Scotish Radio

After completing my Master's Degree my Choices are:
1. Find a job teaching in an elementary school (if I find one that will have me)
2. Find a job teaching in a community college (if I find one that will have me)
3. Start working on my PhD (if I can find a school that will have me) in either the US or the UK (or maybe NZ)
4. Find a job (of some sort) overseas - UK, NZ, Australia... (if I can get in the country and if I can find a job)
5. Go home and hide under my bed... no wait... that's not really a valid option.
6. Pursue a TOEFL or TESOL certification in hopes of finding a job overseas teaching English (again, if I can)
8. Get a job at a high-risk school district that pays insanely well so that I can pay off my student loans - so that I can go somewhere overseas and start fresh (financially).
7. All of the above and HOPE and PRAY I actually get something...

At the moment my preference is anything that will take me to the UK or Australasia.
Scotland.
/dreamy sigh

Number 5 is A L I V E !

So my ASL 1 & 2 teacher was just in the lab - saying hi to me - and I asked her if it would be possible for me to be an unofficial Teaching Assistant for her ASL 1 class this fall. She said absolutely! This is just what I need to keep from forgetting everything (again). It was SO hard taking ASL last semester after having been absent from all things ASL for 2.5 years. She said I can pretty much help as much (or as little) as I want. I can help guide groups when she splits the class up, etc. Exciting!

And yes. I brought along Johnny 5 for my viewing pleasure today.

I SO WANNA GO!

Minnesota Renaissance Festival
August 19th through October 1st, 2006
Weekends, Labor Day and Friday, September 29th
Open 9:00 am to 7:00 pm • Rain or Shine

I've never been to this one - though I've been to the one back in home, Scarborough Fair, multiple times.

I missed out on the big trip (of friends) last year, but I will be going this year. Though I don't want to go alone... We shall see.

Things I do to keep from falling asleep at work...

I HEART Get Fuzzy.

Checking email.

Take silly little quizzes...

Your Ideal Pet is a Cat

You're both aloof, introverted, and moody. And your friends secretly wish that you were declawed!

What's Your Ideal Pet?

Looking forward to helping the people at Seeing Hands. (thanks to Sharon for the idea!)

Watch people.

Look into Upcoming Movies.

Finding funny things, like a Spike Music Video.

Etc... etc... etc...

Books - Books - BOOOOKS!

I've found a couple of books on Amazon that look very promising (for my Research Paper):

Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to the Blogosphere

AND

Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms

I'm also thinking about this one:

We've Got Blog: How Weblogs Are Changing Our Culture

From T.H.E. Journal

Why Blog?

Giddy Goodness

Focus on the happy.
That's my motto.
Sometimes it's hard to do, but not lately.

Happy #1 - Sitting at a stop light, singing to a song - bobbing my head around (with Aya and D in the car) when I see someone I know (in another car) grinning at me. I smile and wave and continue to sing. People in at least two other cars think I'm smiling and waving at them. They smile back and wave. I made perfect strangers happy = Sharing the Happy.

Happy #2 - Going to the post office to pay a bill and check mail box - expecting to find more bills - not finding a single bill - BUT finding a box. A box from a lovely British Boy. One of THE British Boys = Instant Giddy.

Happy #3 - Going striaght back to one's home to open said box - only to find that the British Boy has apparently made the box himself and glued it shut most effectively *grin* Model makers....

Happy #4 - Prying box open to discover two boxes of nummy British tea and a lovely, tiny, adorable, Matchbox version of your car = Tidy!!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love my British Boys!
Especially this one.

/smile

University of Oregon?

Mebbe.

The University of Oregon - Portland offers: Educational Leadership (D.Ed., Ph.D.)

That's the best one I've found so far. They're sending me catalog information :)
Eugene, OR is 8.5 hours from Reno, NV.... I could go visit my cousin from time to time.

Or maybe the University of Washington: Doctor of Philosophy program in the College of Education.

Possibles:
University of Montana - Butte
University of Colorado - Boulder

Negatives:
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
Montana State University
Concordia University - Oregon

The University of Minnesota wants to charge me $4.95 for their catalog.
*snort*

Okapi

Oka-what?
The Okapi - neat critters. First saw one at the zoo back home. Stumbled accross them again today while cruising the net. Their pretty awesome and rather deceptive. They have zebra-striped-bums (I love zebras too), but are actually closely related to giraffes. Mother nature likes to keep us guessing ;)

Warning: I'll be working in the lab full time for the next two weeks = lots of free time with computers = random postings. (Rather like this one).

Maybe I'll bring movies to watch? /ponder
So far this summer I have read The Old Kingdom trilogy & the Keys to the Kingdom (1-4) by Garth Nix and The Da Vinci Code.
I could re-read the Harry Potter Series, or Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy.
I could bring my spinning wheel and sit and spin all day long.
I have options.
I have a feeling mostly I will be looking into possible schools for my Doctorate. *shudder*
Dr. E That could be me. Heh. We shall see.
/grin

It's just the thought of being stuck in this room for that long. I get a little stir-crazy.

Oh well.

Just bought my tickets to go home in August (12-22)! I'll be in Texas during the hottest time of the year... but I'll get to see my family! Including baby cousins - one that's 2 years old and one that will be about a month old - and I won't have met either one of them!

US $9,600.00

The winning bid for the Alien Duck X-Ray on Ebay.

Winning bidder: goldenpalacecasino

On the plus side: "Funds from this NO RESERVE/SEVEN DAY auction will go to the International Bird Rescue and Research Center of California to support it's wildlife rehabilitation programs."

*grin*

I signed up yesterday to take the final portion of the Praxis 2 test. Assuming I pass it I will FINALLY be able to apply for my Minnesota Teaching License. I'm hoping to begin substitute teaching in the fall = experience & money without having to get another second job (Concordia is only for the summer).
Keeping my toes crossed. Of course the test was like $120.00 and I have to pay for the license... *mutter* But! I will make it back!

Had dinner with Aya and D yesterday. First time I'd seen or heard from her in a week. Yeesh.

2 hours of work to go - but who's counting ;)

Advisor = Awesomeness

So I've been stressing (as I'm prone to do) about not having all of my paperwork in for my Masters program, about not knowing exactly what my thesis/research was going to be on, etc. Today I met with my advisor for half an hour and I have now completed some important paperwork, have a good idea of what my thesis/research paper will be on and fell much better overall.

My advisor has this way of making me feel like I'm totally capable of doing everything I need to. Her confidence in me is unbelievably helpful. After half an hour with her I went from being unsure and nervous to being much more focussed and confident in myself and I've got my topic for my thesis. Half an hour. Seriously. She's really freaking good at her job. What can I say?!

Time to hit the books and start pulling together information. I am also looking into adding a Certificate in Online Teaching to my credentials. This certificate requires 9 credits - 3 are required for my Masters anyway and another 3 can be used towards my cognate area. It ties in directly with my cognate area. The only hitch is if the University will still be offering the classes, since the professor who was going to teach them has left. If they do offer the classes I will definitely be adding that to my repertoire. (yes I had to look up the spelling on that one ;)

So what is this newly discovered topic for my Research Paper?
Well it's going to go a little something like this:

What are effective strategies for using Blogs and Wikis in (Upper) Elementary Education?
I'll have to cover things like:
*Defining blogs and wikis
*Strengths and limitations
*Safety issues (confidentiality)
*Possibly interviewing teachers who may have used these tools...

I've got some books on this and I've been compiling a list of books related to this topic on my Amazon.com wishlist. I think I've kind of known what I wanted to do, but when my advisor suggested it for an option that cinched the deal. This is something I am interested in and that'll make it way more fun to do.

Rock on.

Where I've been...

Welp...
I made another trip to Moorhead this last Wednesday for work. I volunteered to drive everyone over there - everyone else was sitting at the table, staring at our boss in that - "I haven't had any caffeine yet and you want me to do what?" - Face.... you know the one.
After an hour on the road we met a rock-hauler coming the opposite direction and I flinched and the girl in the passenger seat squaked a bit as a ginormous rock came flying at her face. Yup. Huge chip in the windshielf of the camp van. I felt bad, but what could I do? (I was just really glad that it was their van and not my car - how bad is that?)

Thursday I spent the day in a CPR class and a First Aid class. *cringe* "This is what you do when someone has something large and pointy in their eyeball/protruding from their eyeball..." *twitch* How to make a sling... Wrap a gushing wound... You get the picture.
Oh well. Passed both tests (without a single missed question!) and I'll be getting my paperwork in the mail soon.

Friday morning was van training (a little late considering I've driven quite a bit already - but not with kids in the van). When it's raining and dark and you have 7-8 kids in the van do not speed. Watch for critters. Use common sense. Got it. I've been driving vans forever. I learned to parallel park in mom's ginormous van. (Yes! I just used ginormous twice in one post!)

Friday afternoon I drove up north for Libby & Spike's (Mike's) wedding. Chris and Ash were in his truck, hauling the pop-up camper and Dougster rode with me. He slept most of the time - through his cell phone - through the bumpy and wind-y roads - through his voicemail alert.... but the three or so times that Chris chimed in on the walkie-talkie Doug's head would pop up and he'd look around all paranoid. They've known each other for years (since Kindergarten) and they're always doing things to each other = paranoia. As soon as Doug saw that nobody was doing anything to him he passed back out. I also found it rather amusing that out of the four pillows I had in the back seat he chose the one with the Care Bear pilow case.


After setting up the pop-up camper (which was neat to see - I'd always wondered how they worked) we started a fire, huddled up and made smores.

It was a pretty campsite - next to a small pond - they had a playground (which Ash and I took full advantage of). Slept ok-ish that night in the camper. We kept ourselves entertained the next day and then went to the wedding - which was loverly.

Amazing. In the middle of nowhere - literally - way out in the country - there is this gorgeous little Catholic church.

Beautiful bride...


And the inside of the church was very ornate..




This was my first Catholic... anything (wedding-mass-church-event).

Reception afterwards and then the "Social Hour" - during which time a few people decided to take it upon themselves to partake in the customary decoration of the Groom's vehicle.


I snapped a shot of the sunset - since the Bride and Groom were trapped indoors.


Then dancing until midnight.
And I actually danced.
Some.
Seriously.
Or at least I attempted to. I'm not really sure if the flailing about that I was doing really can be considered dancing. I did the dollar dance with the Bride and one with the Groom - who twirled me like four times - which was fun cuz my skirt swooshed out all neat-like :) Then I flailed about some more until Renee took it upon herself to teach me how to dance properly. Then she tested me out with Doug. And then we all collapsed back at the table until a little before midnight. Everyone was tiring down and so we headed back to our little pop-up camper for a good nights sleep. I got up early and headed back home since I had to work yesterday afternoon.

Last night was my first time with kids for CLV - doing the weekend/overnight thing. There were only two girls yesterday. I entertained them (along with my new co-worker) and went to bed a bit early - luckily the girls were tired and passed out early as well. Hilarious to be sleeping in the dorms again - but I'm still used to it since I passed right out and slept straight through the night. Our floor is the one right below where I spent 2 years being an RA - I felt like I was right back at home - and it was good to see some familiar RA/resident/friends.

Up this morning (not too early thankfully) and then sent them off on the bus at 12:30. Ran home for lunch - then to work at the lab at 1pm and here I am. Until 4pm. Of course it's now 2:40 and it's taken me that long to catch up on emails, blogs, comics, and select pictures, cut them down, and add them into this post. Sweet. I only have a little over an hour of work left and then I'm going home and passing out! Oh. But I should watch Dr. Who first! (Thank goodness for VCRs!)

90 minutes

I've only been here (work) for 90 minutes.
I could have sworn it's been at least 3 or 4 hours.

Ugh.

Cruise Control

No... I'm not saying anything about Tom.

I'm referring to the most glorious automotive invention since the car itself - Cruise Control.

Aya and I piled into my orange box and followed her mom and grandparents down south. Aya's mom doesn't use cruise control and between that and all the potty stops and a brief meal break it took us over 5 hours to get there. ISH.

So... on the way back I just started without them, used the cruise control - stopped for 2 minutes (literally) to clean my windshield - and made it back in 3 hours and 45 mins. Woot Woot.

I heart Cruise Control.

Oh yeah the windshield... ISH... seriously... we went through a few miles there where it was raining bugs - it sounded and looked like rain, but it was bugs. ISH ISH ISH. Little bugs... BIG mess. I couldn't see where we were going because my windshield was SO freaking dirty. Now I have to go and wash my car again - I had it washed on Thursday of last week but you'd never know it now.

It was good to see some of Aya's extended family again at the graduation. I don't see her family as much as I used to.

Was good to be back HOME last night. Walking back into my apartment it really felt like coming home.
Oh and got an email from one of my funny british boys. That always brings a smile to my face.

btw: totally jealous of the brown eyed girl and her backwards boy - living my dream of backpacking through Europe - thoroughly enjoying reading about their adventures - living vicariously through them!

Congrats to my bowling buddy - Amy - on her wedding this past weekend. Very sad I missed it - but I'd already committed to the graduation.

Now Reading: Garth Nix - The Keys to the Kingdom - Grim Tuesday
(having already finished the Old Kingdom Trilogy and TKttK - Mister Monday)
I love summer reading!

First Day...

So yesterday was my first day at my new job. We all piled into a 15 passenger van and drove to Moorhead - where we each got into our own van - and drove them back here. All-in-all it was an 8 hour day - and I got paid for sitting/driving. Can you dig it?!
:)
Met some nice people.
Work there again next Wednesday & then next Thursday I get certified for CPR & First Aid.... well re-certified I should say :)

Aya's cousin is graduating from high school this weekend - so I'll be heading down south (just a bit).

Aya's mom sent me an email about a job search in Florida..... Do you think she's trying to tell me something? Maybe.... get the hell-out-of-town?
/ponder

Listening to: Sandi Thom - I Wish I was a Punk Rocker with Flowers in My Hair

NOOOOO!!!!

I just had to say no to a teaching opportunity - teaching writing this summer to Upward Bound students - because it conflicts with one of my other jobs.

/cry

That totally sucks.
I would have loved to do it.

/sigh

I passed the opportunity on to someone else who I know can use it though. That makes me feel a bit better.

/S I G H

"Compassion Fatigue"

What does that mean?
Well according to This NZ Herald Article:

"'Compassion fatigue' may be behind New Zealanders' slow response to the Indonesia quake disaster, which killed more than 5000 people and has left hundreds of thousands homeless.

New Zealand aid agencies said donations have been slow to come in since the magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit densely-populated central Java on Saturday.

The latest death toll is 5,427.

Oxfam New Zealand spokeswoman Prue Smith said it was possible that the sheer number of disasters over the last year -- including the Boxing Day Tsunami in South East Asia last year, and the massive quake in Kashmir in October -- had stretched the charity dollar."

Mother Nature is not happy with us.

Duck.... Duck....

ALIEN!

UPDATE: Buy it on Ebay!

There was actual SNORTage...

And I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Today's Get Fuzzy!

Seriously. I laughed so a hard I snorted... maybe more than once... but you don't really need to hear about that.
Just go check out the comic. It's a cutie ;)

You're HIRED!!!

I got a 2nd (summer) job!
I applied over the weekend (sent my application in online) and got a call yesterday saying they'd like to interview me today.... After talking with the lady for 45 minutes or so she gave me a job!
The Details:
*It's weekend work, so it works with my current job!
*It involves working with children!
*The lady who will be my boss seems reallllly nice and I think she really liked me!
*She's giving me time off in August to go home and see my FAMILY!

It's for Concordia Language Villages! Basically I will handle transportation of children between here and Fargo/Moorhead and a few other places. I will be in charge of weekend overnights and getting the kids to the airport here in town. It will involve some EARLY mornings (4am) but I will manage. I'm excited to:
a) have a job
b) be working with kids
c) about the pay - it's really quite reasonable
d) not having to worry about making my rent!

It's been over a week since the semester ended...

And I KNOW you're just chomping at the bit for the latest scoop from Aspenland... ;)

1. Completely settled onto New Apartment.
2. Read The Da Vinci Code & saw the Movie (in that order - and as usual the book was better) - Might add Angels & Demons to my Summer Reading List (if I have time).
3. Checked Grades (as mentioned before).
4. Re-reading Garth Nix's Abhorsen in preparation for reading Across the Wall (which I bought last summer but ran out of time after re-reading Sabriel & Lirael).
5. Took an entire week off of work! (minus a few emails) and enjoyed a life of leisure.
6. Attended Aya's 2 (two) graduation parties - one for friends & one for families.
7. Hung out with Aya & D and various members of Aya's family (my adopted/ive family); watched movies, played cards, played the game of LIFE, made Smores.... aaaaaaah *happy sigh*
8. Turned in my GA tuition waiver.
9. Did financial aid paperwork for summer and fall.
10. Wondered how that took up an entire week... hehe...

Anywho... I'm on the job hunt as well. I've applied at two places so far. *keeps toes crossed*. I HAVE to find a 2nd job. I simply won't be able to pay my bills on the income I receive as a GA.

Hope everyone's summer is going well. I can't believe we're on the second week already. Oofda.

Looking for a new car?

I can highly recommend ElementsAndFriends.com

*teehee*

I really like the crab one.... hehehehe

A-List

I'm rolling in the A's :)
Another successful semester.

/cheer

Guicy Jossip

hehe Ohhhh Dearrrr....

I'm afraid this will be quite anti-climatic....
hehe :)
But here you go anyway... Pictures of my new apartment :)

The door through which you enter:


The first thing you see, the dining nook (minus the nook):


To the left, the kitchen (gotta love the retro-avacado green fridge):


To the right, the living room:


Down a tiny hallway to the left is the bathroom (too small to take a good picture of).

And to the right, from the hallway, is the bedroom.
The beautiful, wonderful, comfortable, new queen size bed:


The computer/dresser/tv nook:


The reading nook (also in the bedroom):


There ya go :)
It's small and perfect for me and I love it! It's my first apartment!

She's baaaaaaack!

Yes indeedy do.
It weren't easy sailing mind ye, but I found my way back to the wonderful net of free information.

The guy came today to set up my TV, Internet and Phone.
Unfortunately, due to one tiny setting on my computer I wasn't hooked up to the juice until hours later (after multiple phone calls to the internet company and the place I got my computer from - neither of which were helpful). The computer store even sent a guy over and he couldn't figure it out either :P
THEN I called (Aya's) D and he was giving me ideas of things to look at - when I stumbled accross a setting and went OOO! Maybe that's it... and it was. And here I be.
And I'm hyper cuz I'm on the net again. Oh how I have missed you.
/smile

Anywho.... Apartment is almost entirely set up (went grocery shopping earlier so the fridge and cupboards are no longer bare) and I'll have pictures up within a day or so.

I'm in!

Yes indeedy.
After spending Saturday night house/dog-sitting for Aya and her mom I spent my first (uncomfortable) night in my apartment. I slept on the floor on my foam and feathery bedding. Could have been better :)
I watched the Buffy Musical and then Strange Bedfellows last night...
Today I waited around until 1pm and then called the place that was supposed to be deliving my bed - the lady I bought it from said that they would call me with a delivery time. The guy had no knowledge of this but said they would try to be there by 3pm. Aya came over and hung out for a while and then went back home. FINALLY at 3:40 they showed up to deliver my bed and by 3:44 they were gone. *SNORT* Isn't that the way it always is? hehehe oh well I have a nice BIG COMFY BED! /cheer
I will sleep GOOOOOOOOD tonight!

And Wednesday I get to do it all over again. Waiting for the person to come and set up my TV, Internet, and Phone. Neeeeeeeed internet. I can watch movies and have the radio on and what-not, so I don't miss my TV much at all. But internet! EEEEP! I am at Aya's house atm after being without internet for an entire day. hehehe I am an adict. I admit it.

Anywho. As soon as I'm plugged back into the net I'll post pictures of the Apt. I'm almost totally settled in now. Just need to find some cheap bookshelves for all my movies.

Oh.... Saturday was my last RA-day. Ever. Was sad when I was getting/giving hugs.
Went to the local Irish pub on Saturday night and watched This GUY. Who is freaking awesome :) He's the son of a friend (and former professor) of mine. Good way to end a busy/sad day.

Congratulations Professor Aya

That's right ladies and gentlemen. She has finished her thesis. She has walked in the procession. She is.... Graduated!

/cheer

A 6:40am start makes for an interesting day....

Wake up.

Get dressed.

Check out resident.

Check email, webcomics & blogs.

Check out another resident.

Go sniffing for the origins of a mysterious weedy smell (origin found: basement, person not found) - oooofda was it strong. Feeling good now ;)

(edit- I knew I forgot something) As I was headed to brunch I ran into the guy who shot me in paintball. He asked me how my arm was (1st time) and I showed him and he got this weird look on his face and said, "Oh. I'm sorry." (1 week later... ah well better late than never :)

Go to brunch with Aya and D.

Time is now 11:59 am.

Doug's my hero...

So I don't know how she did it - because she's a tiny little - 5 foot woman - but she did it. She got one of the dorm beds TOTALLY stuck. Now I've lived in the dorms for five years and been an RA for 3 years - so I've seen some pretty stuck beds.... the metal spring part hooks into the wooden part and if you don't get it on straight to start with = MESS. But this little 5 foot - teeny tiny woman - got a bed SO freaking stuck I thought it was a gonner.

But then Doug came by on rounds and with the help of my trusty hammer (thanks to mom and dad for that tool kit - it has come in handy SO many times - especially as an RA). So anyway - Dougster and my trusty hammer whipped that puppy back into shape :) Literally!

/cheer

Oh... and I just turned in my last paper for this semester = I'm totally done with Spring 2006!

/bounce

Another smile...

Found HERE

Things that make me smile

When I'm on my way to the Union for another Campus lunch and a friend stops me - invites me in for home-made pancakes and COFFEEEEEEE. And we lounge around in comfort eating cinamon pancakes and sipping delicious coffee.... reading through The Lord of the Rings Trvial Pursuit cards.

and

When I get into a SERIOUIS discussion with friends about the most recent episode of LOST.

Momma don't take no lip....

In case you're new to this here blog... My fellow RA's call me "Momma" because I'm "motherly" and caring and I bake them biscuits. I'm usually quite easy-going.

Usually.
hehehehehehe

I was checking out a resident - not one of mine - and I go to said resident's room and they still have half their stuff in there and it's a mess. I tell them they need to have all of their items out of the room and they need to fix certain things. This resident procedes to protest and say "It's not my fault..." etc... the usual load of bs and I said, "No. It's your room and your responsibility. Either you take care of it or I will have them bill you for the clean-up." In the midst of this the resident continued to protest. "No." I said. "Either you take care of it or Res Life will bill you the charges for the person who does take care of it. It's not my problem. Don't start with me."

mwahahahaha
That felt good.
I stood up for myself.
This person was 100% in the wrong and was pissing me off and I said exactly the right thing at exactly the right time (for once in my life) and this person shut their mouth and began cleaning.

*jump for joy*

Good job Aspen.
*pat self on back

Resident even appologized to me later, once they had cooled down.

But I'll never forget that look of shock on their face. I could just see them thinking: "Holy crap. She's serious." The jaw dropped and everything.

*bounces off to bed with visions of that look in her dreams

Sharon... for you...

Chibi Generator

Here's mine Aya...

Last night of duty...

Yuuuuuup

No more doing rounds, no more asking residents politely to close their doors because it's Grand Silence and I can hear them talking upstairs...

I'm almost done packing - just my clothes left to throw in bags and take over - and of course the big stuff (furniture). Then I'll be all ready in my new pad.

*grin

To do:
*Online Class.
*Turn in application for employment.
*Bowling tonight for Doug's birthday!

Battle Wounds!

So I've spent an hour here, two hours there - whenever I have free time - moving.

Saturday I decided to hold off on the moving and go Paintballing (is that a word *ponder) and uhm yeah.... So this was my 4th round of paintball and I got my first REAL owie. Usually I have bruises and welts and such... But usually the people I play with are nice and if they come within two feet of you they yell "Surrender!" To which I reply "YEAH YEAH! I surrender! Don't Shoot!" (Cuz it freakin hurts when you get shot up close) But yesterday this guy came right up behind me and as I turned around he shot me three times - without offering me the chance to surrender. One on the hip, one on the thigh, and one on my left arm:



Wow. I'm quite freckledy.
hehehe

So yeah... blood and paint and bits of the shell lodged in my skin. Ouch. It hit at an angle so it scraped the skin off and got bits of it embedded in my skin - which were fun to scrub out in the shower *cringe.
I usually wear long sleeves, but yesterday was too warm for that :( Never again! Long sleeves or no paintball! hehe I learned my lesson.

Oh but the good news is the guy that was on my team told me afterwards - "I was going to give him a chance to surrender - but then he shot you from two feet away and I was like 'Hell no!' and so I shot him." The guy on my team was about 7 feet from the guy on the other team when he shot him in the back of the thigh. Guy on the other team was complaining on the way home that it hurt for him to sit. *snort
I really felt sorry for him ;)

And then last night I was invited to go out to the bar with a couple of friends - I'm so not the bar-hopper-type. But I decided - Why not.
I was reminded the answer to that question.
1. People drink lots and do/say stupid/hurtful things.
2. Creepy drunk people drape themselves over you - uninvitedly (I'm totally making up words tonight) but thank goodness for friends who intervene :)
3. Cop barges in front of you as you are leaving, grabs guy by the back of the neck and drags him (flailingly) out the door. Right in front of you - both of them knock into you in the process. Guy is slammed against the cop car with his arm pinned behind his back and read his rights.

Do be do be do...
Interesting.
Sometimes fun.
Never dull.

Aaaah. I like my nice quiet nights of book reading, tv/movie watching, playing games and hanging out with friends.
I'm a home-body.

Aya's all moved back home now - helped her do that most of the day.

I've got to work in the lab/my office this week. Check out residents. And do the stuff for my online class that has been consistently pushed to the bottom of my list :(

Residential Life

So today was ou End of the Year Residential Life Staff Banquet.
My last one.

We had a pirate theme and I dressed up and let loose with an "Arrrrg!" here and an "Avast!" there.

People enjoyed the slideshow I made - lots of chuckling and such - and were most appreciative of the umpteen hours C and I spent burning DVD's so that they could each have their own copy of the skits and slideshows.

I received the "Tour of Duty" award for 5 semesters and a recognition for my GPA being over 3.5... it's actually 4.0.
*beam*

I also received an award (given by my hall director) for Dedication to Res Life (going above and beyond) which totally shocked me and one that made me tear-up = Outstanding Peer. That's the one that my fellow RA's in Linden Hall vote on.... and they picked me...

I'm going to miss this lifestyle... living with my friends and working with them and feeling so connected and loved.
BUT... many of them will still be around and I will still see them.
AND I have a nice new apartment that will be GORGEOUS when I'm all situated....
And I am working on that, slowly but surely - one hour here, 30 mins there...

Aya's cracking me up. She keeps wanting to see what I've done. Like she saw it earlier today and then I moved in a lamp and my loveseat (yes by myself and it was a pain) and she just HAD to see it. She's hilarious. She also informed me that SOMETHING had better be different every time she comes over too - so she knows I'm working on it still ;) Like I wouldn't! Hello! I can't wait to spread out!

So anywho... moving is a pain.... excited bout new apartment... sad about leaving Res Life - they've been really good to me and being an RA is one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Thank you Stevie B.

Personal Glitches

Due to several things:
*Spending 7 hours painting my apartment
*Icky weather
*Every-freaking-thing I try to do taking twice as long as I originally estimated... like work in the lab yesterday - so many tech problems I couldn't believe it! like everything that someone tried to do - or I tried to help them with - had to be done the hard way. *Grrrrr*

Due to things like that...
I haven't moved ANYTHING into my apartment, I have only read ONE chapter of stuff for my online class, and I'm still running around like crazy.

Yup.
It's the end of the semester :)

I WILL get it done!

I am completely done with my ASL class. (My presentation was a tad too long and I stumbled on some of the fingerspelling - nerves - but otherwise ok).
I am completely done with my Blogs & Wiki's class (I think my presentation went well).
I am done for the semester with my Independent Study course (will finish up the bits and pieces this summer).

I still have the Res Life Banquet.
I still have a LOT to do for my online class.
I still have residents to check out.
I still have ALL my stuff to move in.

Of course I want to spend all my time working on my new apartment *grin* because it's MINE... and it's new.... and since Aya and I painted it's BEAUTIFUL!

That online list thing is helping me keep an eye on all the stuff I still have to do.

*deep breath*

I think coffee affects my typing. I fell more random than usual today!

At work for a bit longer.... then leaving a little early to run a few errands.

SO much to do! I love it.... it is stressful... but if I didn't have anything to do I'd be bored to tears.... BAH!