Maybe this one WILL be QUICK!

Imagine, if you will, a person in shorts and a hooded sweatshirt riding a bike down a chilly bike path. The path curves alongside a tranquil river. There isn't much snow on the ground around the path, but the sun is slowly going down and it is getting colder by the minute. This person soon realizes that their legs are very cold and, in fact, that if they were to lick their bike, their tongue would get stuck. Thoughts of hypothermia set in and the person takes a shortcut back to their car!

Yeah, that was me today. I decided to enjoy the warmer weather and the sun by taking a bike ride. Maybe it wasn't the smartest idea I have had this week but I couldn't resist. Don't worry; I did not get frostbite. Utah Lake was actually quite beautiful with all of the ice on top of it. I enjoyed my ride, even though it was cold! Maybe next time I will wear more clothes!

Quick Blog!

Build-A-Bear Workshop is a pretty cool place. Yesterday, I made a new teddy bear for my friend.  (This should not be confused with the Tiddy Bear as seen on TV and The Ellen Show!)  Sometimes we do not have the words to say, or even the courage to say some words sometimes, I feel that a Build-A-Bear can communicate for you.  The only problem I had with the experience was that I wanted to keep Faith for myself.  Don't you think she is a cute teddy bear?  Anyway, I also dressed Faith kinda like me and realized that sometimes I am not as feminine as I could be.  I guess this is who I am but in our society it is sometimes hard to be a female who is not very feminine.  I imagine that it is easier than being a man who is not masculine though.  Silly gender rolls.  And I will just mention also that I am SO not gay.  Whenever I talk about my lack of femininity, I feel like people start to question my sexuality.  It doesn't help that I am also a Physical Education teacher.  For some reason, there is a stereotype that makes people think that female PE teachers are automatically gay.

Wow!  I didn't know this post would turn into a discussion on my sexuality.  I apologize for that!  Just thinking about all of this reminds me of a conversation I had on the phone with my mom a few years ago.  Mother, I apologize for this addition, if it offends you in any way.  I have told this story many times over the years and decided just now that my blog readers might find a little humor in it.  I was talking to my mom about a relationship with a man that was really frustrating me at the time.  Here is how the conversation went:

Alice:  I am just so sick of boys they really irritate me!

Mom:  Well, are you sure that you don't like girls?

Alice:  Um...I really am sure that I like men.  Girls just don't do it for me.

Mom:  Well...how would you know if you haven't tried?  

I quickly changed the subject because the next question I had in my mind to ask her was:  Well, how would you know if you haven't tried?  And I really didn't want to get into that awkward conversation seeing the conversation was already awkward enough!  Silly Sue.  Anyway, I thought that would be an entertaining discussion to share.  I wonder if my mom even remembers having that conversation.  It was a very long time ago, back in the college days, but it is a conversation I will never forget.

I recently read the StoryCorps book entitled:  Listening is an Act of Love   This is a great book and I highly reccommend it.  Basically, it is a collection of people's retelling of their their life experiences.  There are booths located around the country where people can go and be interview by a family member, friend or even a facilitator.  Anyway, you should check out the website at:  http://www.storycorps.net/

Unfortunately, the story I just shared with you all about the conversation with my mother would not be one of my top choices for what I would want to talk about given the chance to tell a piece of my life to the world.  I guess for today it will do though! :)

Crying is an Evolutionary Tool!

I hate crying in front of other people. I just feel stupid and weak when I do. I was reminded of this again on Friday. It has been an emotional few days. On Thursday, I got a text from a friend who told me that they had gotten some bad news about her mother. Her mom has cancer and the news is that pretty much the cancer is everywhere in her body. This friend didn't want to talk about the news and that was both hard and relieving. Hard because I really wanted to know what the news was(she didn't even want to tell anybody the news.) and relieving because I really didn't want to have to talk about it because I knew it was bad. Anyway, that day, whenever I saw her, I wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be okay. I couldn't do that because I knew both of us would lose it and that is not a good thing to do in front of teenagers.

It is hard to go through the death of a loved one, but it is also hard to be a friend who has to see a good friend go through the death of a loved one. I feel like I never know what to say or do, but I feel so much sorrow. From past experience, I have realized that you can't just not say anything and avoid the person, because it doesn't help them or you. I am slowly realizing that just crying for and being there for a person is so important.

One of my wise friends, MBC, told me that crying is a good thing. People need to cry. Basically it is an evolutionary tool which signifies to other humans that you are hurting and need to be comforted. I had never thought of that before but it is pretty much true! I am trying to be okay with crying.

The weekend has gone too fast. I really would just like to go to Hawaii instead of work tomorrow. Too bad that is not an option. I am kinda burnt out right now. February does that to people. I have probably mentioned all of this already.

I was able to go to Enchanted again at the dollar theater. Love that movie. I sure do like movies. Last night, I went up to Salt Lake and spent some time with the adopted family. The Bills always have a way of calming me, even when they are sick and tired. Kent, Anne and I had a good hour long conversation last night. They are so supportive of me and so very nice. Erin and Isaac went to dinner with me. We were supposed to go to a movie as well but they were very tired.

Today was just another Sunday. I made some good pork chops.

Well, here is to a good week for everybody. Chins up; Spring is just around the corner! :)

Wednesday. Over Half Way to Friday!

This week is a short week for me because we had President's Day off. The weird thing is that even though it is a short week, it is DRAGGING on! I think the hardness of February has finally hit me. I am burnt out and have no patience for people.

My students in 8th hour noticed that I am moody lately. I guess I kinda wear my emotions on my sleeve sometimes.

I got some laundry done today. That was pretty much the excitement for today.

I think that is it for today. No creativity today.

Introduction to Alyssa!

The picture is of my friend Alyssa. I have learned a lot from this wonderful young woman in the past few months. She is phenomenal.

Today I picked on her a lot because I had to be her "designated driver" to get her to work. She has a pretty bad inner ear infection that makes her walk a little intoxicated. She decided that she shouldn't drive for a while. The funniest part about her walking is the fact that she keeps saying: "I am doing a lot better!,” which is usually said as she is headed directly into a wall. This is so very funny to me. Because Alyssa is a new friend, I am always worrying that I am being too mean to her when I am picking on her. She assured me today that if I knew her family, I would know that picking is totally okay.

Those papers in her hand are her divorce papers. I won't get into the details, but she is going through a rough break-up but she still is so happy and nice. She doesn't blame anybody and she is just looking toward the future. This is one of the things that makes Alyssa awesome. It took her a very long time to get those papers in. I think deep down she was hoping that the outcome could change but she has also realized that she won't be able to get what she wants, needs and most importantly deserves by staying with her husband. I looked at her today as we were wasting time at the end of the day at work and said: "I think it is a perfect time to go to the courthouse to deposit some papers." She agreed and I was proud of her. I think getting those papers in will prove to be a whole new beginning for Alyssa.

But enough about the sad thing in her life, which doesn't really make her who she is at all and onto the things that make Alyssa amazing. Alyssa is a Math teacher. And yes, because she is a Math teacher, she is a total nerd. The cool thing about her nerdiness is that she is totally okay with being a nerd. I think that is what sets us nerds apart and actually makes us cool. We know we are nerds and we embrace it! Alyssa is genuinely the nicest person you will ever meet. I have never heard her say a bad thing about anybody. She is a good example of being nice! She is funny too. It is cool that she can give back the picking as much as I can give it. She is also the mom of a hilarious 4 year old.

It is hard to know that in a few months Alyssa will move back to Las Vegas. I will really miss her. A cool thing has come out of all this though and that is the fact that I am realizing slowly that people come and go in my life. Each person leaves lessons with me and each person effects me. The key to all of this is to realize that these people make me better and that I should cherish each moment I do have with them!

I guess that is the point of this post. Seriously, most of you probably don't care about Alyssa because you don't know her, but I am sure that you have somebody like her in your life and you can appreciate how awesome that person is and that you should cherish the time you have with them!

I like all of you people too, and I am glad I have you to share my life with. Thanks for reading! :)

*Note* Alyssa and her daughter Alexa are the second A & A of yesterday's post. I finally asked her today if it was okay to blog about her. I am finally getting this whole blogging etiquette!