Seven Short Days!

Well, another weekend has come and gone. Crazy how time is flying. I am always writing something about how times flies in my journal...so I guess there is transfer to my blogging. This week had some great weather. I was glad to get out and enjoy it, as I always seem to do. This week I did ride the bike a bit but I also got to go frisbee golfing with my friend, Kristi. As you can see by the photos it is an excellent golf course here in Provo. I will miss it when I go back to Wisconsin for the summer. It is a shame that Rhinelander does not have a course. I have to drive to Wausau to play and it is kinda a small course with lots of water hazards. I guess I will have to get down to Madison to see my sister so I can use the course down there. I enjoy going with my brother- in-law.
I think I am a little excited to be going home in a few short weeks, even though I do have a hard time adjusting to the transition. I already find myself being a little short with people in my circle. That is probably because I know I will miss them so I try go push away a bit emotionally. Not necessarily the healthiest way to deal, I will work on not doing that the next few weeks.

I got to go to Manilla, Utah and see my friend, Sarah, direct a play. It was "Into the Woods" and it was really good. It made me think back to high school when Sarah played Rapunzel. Good times. Where has the time gone. I sometimes feel like it was just yesterday that I was that nerdy kid who played in the orchestra! It was fun to spend time with the Bills and to sleep in the van both ways! I love those kind of weekends.

Last night, I finally got to see Spiderman 3. I was amazed at how much action they stuffed into one movie. I think they could have divided it and actually had a Spiderman 4, but it was real good. We did have some little girls sitting in front of us that would not shut up. I tried to Shhhhh them but it didn't work. Luckily, I did not get put in jail for hitting them. I only wanted to hit them and just dealt with it.

I am kinda tired right now. I guess it is a normal thing to be tired at 10. Last night I did not go to bed until 3am because I was distracted by a great documentary about ice cream. I like to fill my brain with useless information. One of my students asked this week why you would want to know so much stuff that really doesn't "matter." I took it as a teaching moment and asked him why he thought knowledge was a bad thing. He didn't have a real good answer. It kinda makes me sad that kids think that knowing stuff makes you "nerdy." I am glad that as I have gotten older(and wiser, of course!) I have realized how awesome it is to know things. I am always amazed at the things my friends know. It is cool to have a variety of friends who are passionate about a variety of things. It is good because they teach me things that I wouldn't otherwise have known because I wouldn't have searched for them! I am glad that we have each other to teach and learn from! I am glad we do not have to make this journey alone!

I talked to my mother twice today. She is excited to have me home in a few weeks too. I think she has a list of projects for me to do, but that is fine with me. I really think that I should make myself a schedule for each day because I often lose my time. I do know I want to write a lot this summer. In fact, I need to get my novel up and running again. Some of you know that I had it pretty much written and then lost my flash drive. Yes, a big lesson was learned: back up your files! I also want to write more poetry. So, I should set lots of time aside for writing. I also want to get my Phys. Ed curriculum a little cleaned up(I will get new textbooks for next year, and I am way excited for that!) so there should be time for that each day. And of course, I want to be riding my bike lots and walking lots. I think I will make a schedule! Hopefully, I will keep it too! :)

Well, not much else going on here. Tomorrow, I do not have students. Lots of meetings but no students. I am not sure which I would rather have, probably students. Meetings put me to sleep.

Only 7 days left with kids. I best be enjoying them while I can!

Take care and enjoy the time, for it passes quickly! :)

Lazy Saturday, Gloomy Saturday. Where did the Sun Go?

So, here are tulips again. Am I obsessed?....maybe!
The Spring type weather really helped the pinkish ones to blossom well. I am very proud of my little tulips you can tell. The funny thing is that I really didn't do much to make this process happen. I am pretty sure small children can dig shallow holes in the ground and then bury something in that hole. That is pretty much how simple it is to grow tulips, but they make me so very happy. Every time I drive in my driveway, I get a little smile thanks to these guys.

As the school days wind down (we have 12 left, but who is counting?), I think I am remembering what happens at school less and less. I really have enjoyed my students this past week. They are very funny. I really surprised one of them when I kicked him out of advisory class. He was just being a pill and trying to be funny but was kinda being disrespectful to me at the same time. Finally, I just told him to leave because he couldn't be respectful. The surprise in his eyes was pretty funny. Sometimes I think my students forget that I am their teacher and start to treat me more like a buddy. Which is okay and kinda flattering, but I cannot allow them to take that too far. I am still the teacher and need to be respected. But we do have a fun time together.

I have been very happy because it has been nice enough to take them outside lately. Three days we were able to play Ultimate Frisbee behind the school in the nice sunshine. I like that. I tried to play with my girls PE class a little one day, but it hurt my ankle a bit. I am getting tired of being on the DL, I really hope it gets good enough to run on by June! :)

I really wish I would carry around a little notebook to write down all the funny things that happen at school. Maybe Monday that will be a new thing. I need to remember the crazy things my students say and do. I sure do enjoy them. I guess I could even say I will miss them this summer but don't tell anybody. One of our seniors was talking with me the other day and asked me how long I was going to be at Independence. I told her about 3:30. She didn't think that was very funny and she was serious. Maybe it is hard for these kids to think that people really do stay at jobs for long periods of time, or maybe she was just curious as to why I would want to stay with the "troubled" ones so long. I really don't have an answer to how long I will stay at Independence, but I do know that I stay with the "troubled" ones because I know they are not failures like a lot of people may say they are. I know that they can succeed at whatever they want to do in life. I don't know how to motivate them to do great things, but I do know I can motivate them to succeed in my classroom, and that is what keeps me around! I love those kids.

Well, I better change the subject before I make my computer crash because they really don't work well under water. I hate to be sappy.

Last night, I took my adopted little brother to an arena football game. It was so much fun. Unfortunately, the Utah Blaze lost because the other team scored with 20 seconds left in the game. Dang it! It was a great game though. Very close, obviously. Josh (the little bro) really had a good time. It is fun to see kids really get excited about things. He brought my attention to so many things I may not have noticed had he not been there. I was glad to give him the experience. We even got to go on the field afterward and get an autograph from the Blaze's best wide receiver. That was even way cool for this kid! The turf was way cool. Very spongy. I really am curious as to how they store the floors for the different events, seeing the Energy Solution Center caters to basketball, football, and concerts. It also can be an ice rink, as it was during the Olympics. Way interesting stuff!

Today I am lacking motivation. I really should be grading some health assignments and I should be a better roommate and clean the floors. I am a slacker in both categories. So, here is to me getting motivation and to everybody having a great Saturday. Later, A

Do NOT eat Moldy Bread!!!

Well, It is half way through the week. I am tired. Usually, during the year, I feel this tired on Fridays. Today is just a special day I guess. My students were actually hilarious today and the day seemed to go really smooth. I like days like that. They are funny, even if they are a little hyper with the end being so near. It always helps for me to have a good sense of humor with them to keep them on their toes. The only thing I can remember from today was a girl telling me that there were bugs on the gym floor(she said it as if it were my fault and very gross!). I told her that it was merely my Aunt Rita and she thought it was funny...but silly. They do react well to my silliness!

The weekend was good. I think I blogged about it already. The pictures on here today are of my trip to Village Inn with my friends. Ben Gale, his brother Joseph and my roommate Mary Beth. Those Gale boys are so hilarious. Joseph found it very important to pose with the three hot chocolates he drank. Fun times.

I have been even more excited about my tulips the past few days. Some pink ones finally blossomed so they are not just only white anymore. That is exciting. So, I will have to take more pictures of they for your viewing pleasure.

Tonight, I went for a walk with Mary Beth and then went to ice cream with some friends from church. It was 31 cent scoops at Baskin Robins today. I had cookie dough and chocolate mousse. Good stuff. My friend, Sarah, even paid the 62 cent for it. My friends are good to me. I also had an allergic reaction to something I ate for dinner. It might have been the bread because I noticed a little bit of mold on it. But did that stop me from eating it, no. I am not smart sometimes. Anyway, apparently I am also allergic to mold, not just to peanuts anymore. Weird adult onset allergies. Luckily, the anti-histamine made the itchiness go away.

I also was able to ride my bike to school today. I have kinda been lazy when it comes to that. I was sad to put on some of my shorts today and have them not fit so well. Breaking my leg made me gain a bit of weight. I guess I am just going to have to pedal more! There will be plenty of time for that this summer!

Well, I am a bit wordless. I hope all is going well for each of you. I also hope you are taking moments to stop and smell the roses. Spring is short! Later!

The Tulips Have Finally Bloomed!

Well, here are my prized tulips. I have been waiting for them to bloom, it seems like it has taken forever. I am glad though. It is officially spring now that they are here!

I have had fun this weekend so far. I was in Salt Lake last night for a baseball game. The Salt Lake Bees won 7-5. My friend, Shule, went with me. It was very fun. She asked me what I like so much about baseball and I explained to her that I like the crack of the bat, the cut grass, the long socks, and baseball pants. She then said: "Now I know why you truly love to watch baseball." Well, it is true I like to watch young men play baseball...but I really do love the game too. GOSH! What kind of person do you people think I am? :)

I also was able to visit with Ben Gale. He is a friend from high school and it is so fun to catch up with him. It is also interesting to know that people never really change too much. We mature and learn things but we are always the same person underneath! That is good. I love friends who I have not seen in years and it just doesn't matter; we just pick up where we left off!

Today hasn't been too productive. I really should be grading papers but I have no motivation. I guess they will wait! I finally cleaned my desk off in my Health classroom. It was very cluttered. If only I could find the motivation and desire to clean my office. I guess that too can wait. The weather is gorgeous today. I should go fly my kite. I am not too good at it but it is fun. I just really want to sleep and just hang out at home. Where is my motivation?

Well, I am out for now. Hopefully this next week will prove adventuresome too!

Spring Weather. Biking and Fun!

My week has been good. I have been enjoying my bike as the weather has gotten warmer. I have ridden in Provo Canyon as well as by Utah Lake. I even saw cute cows down by the lake...man I love cows, especially baby ones.

I am tired. My students are wearing me out lately. I think all of us are burnt out. It has been nice to get them outside this week to play soccer. My girls PE class has been impressive because they actually like soccer. In fact, they are my most dangerous class...I am worried they are going to hurt each other because they really want that ball and actually trip each other. Not safe, but very funny to watch! Even though they tire me, my students really make me laugh and happy. I am definitely blessed in the job category!

Tonight was "The Office" night. I am sure I have mentioned my roommates and my addiction to this show. It is hilarious. Not all of my friend are as impressed by it as we are, but we still love it. Thursday is like a holiday for us. We get excited. Tonight, Mary Beth and I got Cafe Rio (some fabulous Mexican food) and ate it before the show, Of course, we also had to watch some previous episodes on DVD in order to warm up. Man, we do have a weakness. It was good times though. That show makes me laugh and smile. Love it!

Tomorrow is Friday and I am way excited for it. A few friends and I are heading up for some baseball in Salt Lake. They have a minor league team up there called the Bees. I am excited to have hot dog and enjoy the game. I sure am a baseball/softball addict as well. Love it, love it.

Saturday I will be able to see my good old friend, Ben Gale. He is visiting because his brother graduated from BYU this week. We will probably have some good food and go ice skating. Fun.

Dick Cheney was in town today to talk at commencement for BYU. I didn't see him or his motorcade, but I was able to see his jet take off from the Provo Airport as Mary Beth and I were walking down by the lake. It was a cool thing. I did not think that big planes could take off and land from there, but I was thinking wrong.

Well, I am tired. Better head to bed. Have a great day and keep the chins up....it is almost summer! :)