I know what I'll be doing for my B-day...

HOW EXCITING
They're growing up too ... :)


Yes it is still 5 1/2 months away but come on! And I've started re-reading the first 5 books in preparation for the 6th one coming out in July.

/bounce

BTW back in MN now. Sort of moved into my summer housing - at Aya's mom's again. Still need to get some stuff out of storage, go grocery shopping, etc.
And at some point this summer I need to go through all of my stuff in storage and see what I can get rid of - then we're gonna have a big yard sale!

Start work tomorrow morning (back at the computer lab) at 8am.

June 13th - 16th will be in Arizona...

Then I get to relax and stuff.

And Another One Gone...

Another 2 week vacation over and done with.
I wound up sleeping (pretty much the entire) first week and a half. Haven't been that sick in a long time. Stupid chest infection and allergies and such. BUT! All better now.

Managed to run by the City Parks Dept and see a bunch of my old co-workers; lots of hugs and catching up. Saw my grandmother that lives here in town but wasn't able to get out to East Texas to see Mary K :( Feel horrible, especially since I promised repeatedly to come see her. Course I can't help it if I got sick... but still.

Totally excited Friday when I found a copy of Drowned Wednesday by Garth Nix - third book in his Keys to the Kingdom series - finished it up last night.

Totally shocked Friday when I calculated my baby Jake to be 17 years old (my puppy) and I've had him for 16 years. I'm 26 so I've had him since I was 10... well over half my life. Shocking really, didn't know he was that old. Still love him bunches, enough that it hurts every time I leave him to go back up North.

Today is my last day home until December. Two weeks seems a really short trip home - especially when you wind up sleeping most of it away. hmmm...
Need to pack tonight since I'm flying out at 6am tomorrow.

P.S. Just found THIS totally awesome blog!

It's hot down here

But not as bad as I was expecting Texas to be at the end of May.

Last week finished with a bang.
Got my British boys to the airport, checked out all my residents (and a couple ras), turned in my paper for ed research, all my paperwork for being ca, moved all my stuff out (on my own), packed up and made my flight to Texas on Sunday afternoon.

By Saturday noon I was barking/coughing non-stop. Made it home Sunday and saw my family doctor on Tuesday - basically crazy-bad allergies and an infection that's just short of bronchitis. He pumped me full of drugs and other than sleeping non-stop I'm also feeling a lot better.
Dad and I took a trip down to Abilene on Tuesday to fix up some more of the paperwork from my grandaddy's will.
Slept all day Wednesday and most of the day today.
Wore myself out last week and with being sick to boot - well I needed the rest.

Just checked my grades and they're all A's = 4.0 gpa. Nothing to cry about there :)

So exhausted - but all I've been doing is sleeping.
It's mind-boggling. My boddy is still in repair mode I guess.

But I made it through my first semester as a graduate student! /pats self on back

When I get back to MN I need to finish up the OBLC Website and Meet with Steve.

Flashing Signs

Not to steal Aya's thunder... but yesterday we were having lunch at TJ's and she was telling me how the coffee machine gave her a free coffee yesterday. I was surprised because in my 4 years here I've never heard of one of the coffee machines ACTUALLY giving away free coffee. She said the lights were flashing and then it spit her money back out.
Well this morning I put in my 75c for a coffee and the screen flashed...

WINNER


WINNER


WINNER


and then spit my money back out!

Woot!
/love free stuff

Last class of the semester was last night - just watched people present. The two ladies from our charter school talked about how things work out there and I found it very interesting. I'm thinking about asking if I can observe/volunteer there next fall. I need to get out in the schools and around kids.
Uhmm yeah... haven't so much finished my list as not done anything on it.
*cough*
Starting today though!
Plus tonight we're having a movie watching party for LB RA's and there is a party at one of my resident's new houses later - I'm planning on making an appearance at both.

New Life Discovered

It's official, I have a GA Position!

After months of uncertainty and hoping and going back and forth between the Ed, English, and CJ Depts I have accepted a position in the Education Department as a GA for next fall.
Oddly enough I will be taking over for my current boss at the Ed computer lab. I will be in charge of scheduling and I'll be a liason between the ED dept and Computer Services (who are taking over all the 'bug' issues which may arise). Best of all, I will be teaching some! Professors will bring their classes in and I will teach them how to use certain applications and make websites, etc. Exciting! That's what I really wanted, was an opportunity to teach and now I've got it!
I might be starting as early as this summer, but only if my boss gets a job she has applied for which starts in two weeks.
I was looking forward to a nice relaxing summer, but it won't happen if I take over the summer GA position; 40 hours a week and at least one independent study class.
I've decided to get two majors/masters - English and Ed with an emphasis in Technology. I need to see what my choices are for English emphasis..ss... whatever the plural is :).... yeah.... English major inc!

Said goodbye to a couple more residents, one who will not be returning. Ugh. This is a rough time of year.

Finished the Floor CD's and I'm working on the Staff one now... need to go scan about 40 pics.

I've moved most of my stuff out of the dorm room and into storage - I only have the big things left; tv, fridge, microwave and computer and clothes. Oh and I still need to pack for my trip home - leaving on Sunday.

Hmmm... list time:

*Call all RA's to see if they have any pictures for me.
*Go to K-Mart with PO to buy CD's and cases.
*Burn CD's for staff.
*Finish handing out CD's to floor.
*Check out residents Thursday, Friday & Saturday.
*Return book to library.
*Call MK and find out when I can see her.
*Take bb's to airport on Saturday afternoon :( /cry
*Check with Dr. S about paper.
*Pack suitcase to go home.
*Move out rest of stuff.
*Get chair from Alan.
*Find out about summer GA position.

Spring is in the air...

Rain, rain, sun, cloudy, rain, humid (for MN), even hail! and more rain. That sums up the last few days.
Oh there was thunder too! /bounce

Took British Ben to the airport on Saturday afternoon. Sad to see him go and I know I'll have to say goodbye to my other two British friends this Saturday.

Yesterday was MC Nope Nope's birthday. I got cupcakes and made biscuits for our last staff meeting last night and then we busted the pinata's (one for Birch, one for Linden) we got at the Fiesta/End of the year Res Life Banquet.

Today's Get Fuzzy is pretty funny :) it made me chuckle at least - last couple weeks haven't been that funny.

Check out THIS LINK. hehehehehe
hehehe
hehe
he

Aaah I needed a good laugh :)

Back in the day....

Yesterday morning was the Res Life End of the Year Banquet - this years theme was Fiesta, since it was held on Cinco de Mayo :) Mucho fun was had.
I moved one car-load of stuff to storage yesterday... only 5 more to go =P

Working at the computer lab now and I'm rather bored - not that I'm complaining exactly, I love not having finals. I just don't know what to do with myself when I'm not stressing about school stuff.



Another Retro Site

Quiz time!

I made a Quiz for you! Take my Quiz! and then Check out the Scoreboard!

Thanks to Jer - I took his quiz, then made one of my own :)

Also, found THIS nifty link.

......

Just had a guy come into the computer lab that I hadn't seen since last summer. He's been over in Iraq since then and he's home for a couple of weeks before going back. He'll be done in December and then he's coming back to finish up his degree. He was showing me pictures and telling me stories and yikes. But yikes doesn't really cover it, does it? Not for war.
It was good to see him.

Paintball Rules

I got 6 hits; British Ben, British George, John, & Nic (all my residents except Ben, but he is around enough we kind of adopted him) and then some guy from Chris's floor twice.
I was hit on the gun twice and my arm once. Renata got me on the gun the last time, not sure who got me on the gun the first time - but some random guy, not part of our group, who joined us midway is the one who shot me in the arm. Got to say it stung a bit, as it does.... but other than that bruise I came away unscathed! Go Me!
It was fun and hilarious. There was snow... wind.... snow.... sleet.... snow.... hail!... more wind and snow. Not ideal conditions, but so much fun anyway and it made it more challenging.
We went to McD's afterwards, same as last year :) More great memories made.
Of course I was sick as a dog last night, even with the Nyquil I was coughing and it took forever to get to sleep.... uhm and people kept knocking on my door. I finally erased my entire board and wrote a huge note: "SLEEPING, KNOCK & DIE!!! Love Aspen"
And nobody bothered me after that :)

Slept til noon today and feeling a little better. I really only start coughing a lot when I lie down. Having flashbacks to my summer of bronchitis. Think if I'm not remarkably better by Monday(tomorrow) I will go see a Dr.

Paintball was fun!
/dance
/party
/doo doo doo

My VW Days Revisited

I grew up in a "VW" family. My parents first service van was a VW Bus, we had a yellow bug, another bus, and a VW Thing.



I remember driving around in the Thing and seeing other VW drivers. We'd wave excitedly to one another as we passed. Something about VW's - at that time the new bugs weren't out - having one, driving one meant you loved them and when you saw someone else with one - well you had that common bond. It's not like driving a Ford Escort or Chevy truck... they're are fewer and fewer old VW's on the road. Anywho... that's the only time I'd experienced that sense of.... community amongst car owners (although I think it exists with everyone who owns classic cars) until now. There are loads of Elements in TX, so I never had this experience there, but up here in MN there aren't that many. Three times now, when I've passed another Element I've been waved at and smiled at. It's nice. It reminds me of the old days, toodling around town in our Volkswagons. :)
Ironically enough I had a conversation with Stephen, back during spring break, on the long drive to Fargo. He had taken out all of my cars books/manuals and was reading through them (Stephen digs vehicles). I also had one of the selling books.... the ones that show you pictures and detail the features of the car. He made the comment that it was interesting that Honda was appealing to the "Bug people." - to which I responded "Huh?"
"Beetles/Bugs, people who drive VW's. You know when they design advertising for things, like cars, they have a specific audience they are targeting. This book looks like they're appealing to the VW people."
Ironic, no?

I really want to see The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy which comes out today.
*cough* *nudge Aya* *cough*

Something I haven't done in quite a while.... Word of the day: Acerbically
I kind of got out of the habbit at some point, but I ran accross this word today and had to link it.

Last night there was a Dodgeball game in one of the gyms. It was put together by a couple of our male RA's. There were about 12 other people and myself. I officiated, both because I don't particularly enjoy being hit by balls and because I am sick. Ugh, and getting sicker - it took me over 3 hours to get to sleep last night. Hard to sleep when you're hacking up a lung =P
It was fun though. There was one guy, Jack, who is very... spry. He was the best dodger, without a doubt. For five games in a row he was the last one left on his team - facing 4-6 opposition. He was hilarious to watch. Interesting technique; he'd hoard all the balls and then at one point, to throw the other team off, he threw a ball directly at me.... well.... over my head by about a foot... but yikes! Totally unexpected! but it worked. It threw everybody off, including me.
Fun stuff.

Tomorrow we are going paintballing. I signed up, but I don't know if I will be feeling up to it. I'll go and cheer them on though. Three of the BB's are going... I think 28 people in all signed up - way more than last year.

Done with both of my presentations - just the paper left to finish up and then I'll be done with my academic stuff until next fall! Woot!

Still need to sign up for the Praxis test this summer, think I'll go do that now.

Winding up

Nothing too terribly exciting has happened lately.
Just closing down the year.
I have a presentation on Wednesday for my Ad Ed Psych class (by myself).
Aya and I are presenting on Thursday for our Teaching Writing with Technology class.
I have a 3 chapter research paper for Educational Research due next Monday.

Other than that I have to move out of the dorm (already started boxing things up) and I will be checking out a lot of residents since I don't have any finals. WOOT to that - first time in my life to NOT have finals!
/bounce

I've applied for two more GA positions, keeping my toes crossed on that.

Double Birthday

Happy 59th Birthday to my Mommy and Happy 27th Birthday to Jer!

Talked to my mom this morning and this evening - they're leaving for New Mexico tomorrow morning.

Had a big Birthday dinner with Jer and Aya and a bunch of their friends.

All in all it was a good day :)

Random Text Generators

Hummmm too many people with too little time create these sites - and even more people use them!

I found the following at Malevole:

Ten years ago a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem and no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-team.

I never spend much time in school but I taught ladies plenty. It's true I hire my body out for pay, hey hey. I've gotten burned over Cheryl Tiegs, blown up for Raquel Welch. But when I end up in the hay it's only hay, hey hey. I might jump an open drawbridge, or Tarzan from a vine. 'Cause I'm the unknown stuntman that makes Eastwood look so fine.

---- From 2 of my favourite TV Shows!

Also they have:

Thunder, thunder, thundercats, Ho! Thundercats are on the move, Thundercats are loose. Feel the magic, hear the roar, Thundercats are loose. Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thundercats!


hehehehehe!


Apparently there was a major drama on my floor last night. Having decided I WOULD get a good nights sleep I had turned my fan on high and had my headphones on. I had no clue until I was speaking with a fellow RA this morning that anything had happened. I'll have to get the rest of the details this afternoon.


I need to:
- Finish up my presentation for Advanced Ed Psych for next Thursday
- Turn in my papers for Grad
- Plan presentation with Aya for next Thursday
- Do Ch. 2 & 3 of paper for Ed Research
- Start packing and putting stuff in storage
- Use the rest of my B$'s


On Sunday evening, while I was playing Halo with the guys the fire alarm went off. Firemen showed up in gear with hoses and axes... didn't miss that adventure! All over burned popcorn!
Some residents were a bit cheeky to me, but I spoke with their RA and he set them straight :)

I'm Tall

Weekend flew by, more so than usual.
I spent some time working on school stuff.
Sat in the sun, by the lake and read a book by a Kiwi author, The Bone People by Keri Hulme.
Went to Feast of Nations on Saturday afternoon. Got to play with my RHD's 3 kids for awhile - they turned me into a jungle gym!
Spent Sunday afternoon at Aya's grandparents - was her grandpa's bday on Saturday.
Had a yummy mocha thingy at a local coffee shop with British G and a short night class and got laundry done = good Monday.

And somebody's been giving me a hard time about being tall lately - I think they're just jealous ;)

Charger

Picture this....
I'm driving along with 4 other people, 2 of whom happen to be British. All of a sudden I hear (from the back seat) "PULL OVER! NOW! OMG OMFG! Aspen! Stop this car! You must pull this vehicle over as quickly as possible!"
Of course I comply, though I have no clue what is going on.

"Go back that way! There was a CHARGER!"

"A what?" I reply.

"It was an F-ing DODGE CHARGER! Oh My GOD!"

Yes... that is correct the 2 BB's who had never seen a real life "Dukes of Haazard" car were having a conniption fit.

It was really quite hilarious. And kind of cute really.
Another fellow, who was with us was as equally fascinated by the vehicle.

I think that's part of what I love so much about the BB's. So many things are new to them, it's like watching children see something for the first time - it makes it all new for you as well.

See for yourself... And I am 100% serious, those were their real looks, they didn't know I was taking the picture... the were THAT captivated!





I thought it was cool that it was purple, inside and out.
And he even had a Darkwing Duck on his antena!
The guy came out to his car when we were still there and the boys were too shy to say anything so I explained to him that there were a couple of Englishmen drooling on his car because they'd never seen one before and they wound up chatting for a good 20 mins about Chargers.

Hilarious.

"Buff! Man"

Whose Line Is it?

OH MY GOD!
FUN!

Aya, D, British G, D (hereto after referred to as MC Nope Nope) and myself went to a casino last night to see two guys from Whose Line Is It? :
Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood.

The ride there was somewhat uneventful, just chatting with MC Nope Nope and G and talking to Aya and D on the walkie talkies.
We gambled a bit for about 1/2 an hour when we got to the casino. And then it was time for the show... I've never laughed so hard for so long in my life. GOOD stuff. It was an hour and forty-five minutes of improv, like Whose Line and they used people from the audience. Good stuff.
We had a yummy dinner at one of the restaurants at the casino.
The ride back was great. We were all energized from the show and Aya and MC Nope Nope had a quote war on the walkie talkies - quoting lines from Monty Python (Holy Grail) and a few Spaceballs quotes. I never thought I'd live to see the day when Aya was outdone... Kudos to MC Nope Nope! ;)
G zonked out 1/2 way home... in a very uncomfortable position. He cracks me up! I find him sleeping half out of the lounge chairs and I keep expecting him to fall off, but honestly, he'd probably sleep right through it!

Raining now. Been raining off and on since we got back to town last night. BIG crash of thunder at one point this morning - woke me up! LOVED IT! Shook my windows.

Anywho... LOTS AND LOTS of fun last night. Definitely ranks at the top of my FUN THINGS I'VE DONE list!

See... don't I look happy?! =0)

Go Fly A Kite

I took the hint.
I received a box in the mail on Monday and was surprised at it's contents. I expected mail from Texas and instead it was a kite! Just a kite and instructions on how to fly it. I knew instantly it was from my father... and that it was a hint.
Stress less and "Go Fly A Kite!"

So today, I did.




4 of us, 2 kites, the slowly melting lake, and over an hour of FUN!

Blue Steel vs Magnum...

Watched Zoolander Sunday night with D and a couple residents who popped in and out.

Went to see Sin City on Saturday with a bunch of people, Aya, her cousin H & her bf, D, B, Am, G, J... ugh too many letters. Let's just say a bunch of friends/residents :)

G's bday was last Saturday and R's is this Saturday.
Several of us have tickets to see Colin Mochery and Brad Sherwood perform this Saturday night. Wondering if G is still going since he planned to party with R... hmmm...

My pretty new plants are still alive, despite the reappearance of my root-nibbling mouse. I wake up in the morning to a counter full of dirt, where he has been devouring the roots.

Making a huge decision to change majors. Leaning towards a Masters of Science in English (as opposed to Education with Emphasis in Technology). Now would be the time to change if I wanted to - all the classes I am taking this semester count for the new degree.

Deadlines pressing in on me.
Bulletin Board to finish up today.
Get quotes and pictures of residents for Display board for OBLC.
OBLC website.
Paper for Ed Research.
Presentation for Ad Ed Psych.

Spring has sprung and Summer's right behind her.

I love 'my' British Boys & Texas Hold'em

Tuesday afternoon:
R asked if I would give him a lift to Home Depot. G asked if he could join us and if we could then go to the Post Office. I asked B (who was jamming on my guitar) if he would like to join us and he said yes.
So there I am, 3 British Boys, a beautiful sunny day, errands to run...
We popped the top on my big orange box, windows down, music blaring, and we were off.
I really never know what to expect when I'm with any combination of the three, much less all three, but I can pretty much count on laughing myself silly.
At Home Depot I found my elusive schefflera, aka umbrella plant, and bought 2! They're not in the cute bonsai form, but I'm happy with them. I named them Neville and Bruce, as per the BB's recommendation.
At the post office, waiting around with R, I made a funny film of him popping out of my sunroof and jumping down.
Then we headed to the GM for dinner. Jokes were told, yummy goodness was consumed, and a bit of car dancing was captured on video ;)
It was the perfect afternoon and just what I needed.

Texas Hold'em went well Tuesday night. I didn't deal, not enough people. In fact I actually wound up playing to get a table filled up and won the first game. I played a second game, but time was almost up so I went 'all in' and lost it all.

Yesterday was a bit rough. I have a night class (3 hours) with 4 teachers from Red Lake Elementary and yikes... all 3 hours were spent discussing what happened, their feelings, expectations of teachers, how their needs are being met, etc. Very emotional night.
Afterwards I went out with D, A, and R to the GM for some more Texas Hold'em and I won.
I might have had a bit of help towards the end, but really, I was winning anyway - they were just speeding it up.

And just to clarify - I don't play for money, just fun.

What's next?
I've decided to take the summer off - at least from school, I still have to work so I can afford to stay here.
I'm very seriously considering changing my major - again. I am looking at a Masters of Science in English. The program here is designed for licensed teachers who wish to improve their teaching skills in reading and writing and those who are interested in teaching in a community college. It's less credits than my Ed major, all in-person, and it gets me to the College teaching level faster.
Still feeling lost and confused about my life plans... just when I thought I had it all sorted. Funny thing, life.

Catching Up

Spent Monday night of last week and most of the day Tuesday with Aya & Mom.
No class Weds night because 4 people in my class work at Red Lake.
Weds night played poker at GM, 9 of us (8 playing Texas Hold'em). D was helping L and myself and L & I wound up being the last two, I had a huge pile! It was getting late so we said, "Next round, all in, no looking at the cards." And I won! But I was winning before that! Me! Only my 4th time to play. D is DEFINTELY my Lucky Charm!
Thursday, found out someone from the class I TA for passed away over Spring Break... he was so young.
Also found out I did not get the GA positing in English Dept.
/sigh
/sigh
Bought guitar to cheer self up. Learned 7 chords.

Friday left for Aya's Mom's house. Spent weekend lounging about, practicing guitar, cleaning, entertaining, playing RummiKub and a birthday party for M on Sunday (Sat was her 50th).

Sunday - return to dorms.
Monday - back to the grind.

There we go - mostly caught up now.
Still only know 7 chords, gonna go buy one of those big posters with all the guitar chords. Should help a lot.

What's next?
Paper for ED Research
Presentation for Advanced ED Psych
Texas Hold'em Tournament for Linden & Birch tonight, 7pm (set-up and deal)
Get tickets to go home this summer... as soon as I figure out when I can go home.