Just call me babe or sweetheart!

Not too much news today. I worked, I biked(enjoy the pics of me by Utah Lake...I do live in a very pretty place), I cleaned my bedroom, I went for a walk. Thrilling. Actually, laughing with a friend after our walk was pretty eventful but that is a whole different story!

So, here is a funny story from school this week. One of my students in Boys' PE referred to me as "babe" the other day. For some reason, that was very uncomfortable for me. I told him that I had two words for him: "Sexual Harassment!" He felt bad after I said that. The next day he said: "So, Alice, how do you feel about being called sweetheart?" I told him that I was sorry I was so hard on him the previous day and that I knew that he was just having fun and it was a term of endearment. The whole situation was silly and entertaining. We will see if he has any other creative terms to call me! This is one of my really good students and I know he is not trying to be weird or actually making it sexual in any way and so I think it is kinda cute.

I am glad for the weekend. It is going to be busy and go too fast. I don't like that part. Later.

Spring.....MAYBE?

Well, the flowers I planted over a year ago have started to come up. In fact, as my pictures prove, they are actually blossoming. I love that. I still am amazed how flowers work. These little bulbs that I buried in the ground just happen to sprout wonderful flowers each spring. It is awesome.

I was supposed to get my bike from the shop today, which made me very excited. Today was again warm and I had planned a ride this afternoon, but, with my luck, the bike was not done. The saddest part is that tomorrow it is supposed to rain or even snow. JUST MY LUCK!!! I was a little mad about it. SIGH.

I am really tired. I think I am tired of working. Good thing spring break is in a few weeks. I plan on going to Las Vegas and partying. Well, at least, partying as much as any Mormon girl can in Vegas!

Tonight I went to Gandolfo's with a few friends. So yummy. Then we watched Dan in Real Life. Apparently, I cannot get enough of this movie.

I should be sleeping. I think I might go do that now. I am glad the week is over half done. Summer really needs to get here. I also need some more bike time. I hope the weather will get nice again and I will be able to ride and ride and ride!

Life as I know it!

Today seemed to be an ordinary day. I think most days are this way. I guess I really wouldn't enjoy out of the ordinary anyway. It would freak me out.

Today I worked. It was mediocre. Lately, I feel as if I am not the best teacher on the planet. A lesson will go wonderfully in one class and then totally flop in another. Sigh, why can't it be perfect and wonderful everyday? Is it really possible to be burnt out when I just came off of a vacation? Seriously!

Tonight I babysat for my vice principal's children. I had a real good time. I sure do like kids. We went to the park, played with playdo(the pictures are proof) and watched Finding Nemo. Gabby was a very unhappy girl for half of the evening but overall it was still a good experience and I still hope to one day have my own children. That is always a reassuring thought after being around kids!

I like that it has been spring-like around here lately. It makes me feel less like sitting around in the dark, eating Ho Hos and crying alone in my apartment. I hope it will be nice after my bike gets out of the shop too. It looks as though I will have the bike for a day and then it will snow and rain. Depressing. Oh well. Spring will stay around one of these days.

Sunday!

Creative title, I know. Just a quick weekend update before I hit the pillow and end a pretty fun weekend.

Friday night my friend, Kristi, and I went to a Utah Blaze game(arena football). The Blaze lost their 4 game in a row. In fact, they have only played four games. Pretty depressing season so far. It was fun anyway. Kristi and I were pretty much zombies because the week was pretty draining but we still had a blast. We also went to my favorite restaurant, Su Casa.

Saturday, I did a lot of sleeping until 10:15am. Then I got up and walked to work and then graded for about three hours. I then walked back home and then showered and headed to Salt Lake again to go to the Utah Jazz basketball game. It was a great game. The Jazz were down by 11 at one time but came back and won. Much more luck that when we watched the Blaze. I went to this game with my friend, Anjai, and little brother(adopted of course!), Josh.

Today I slept and slept again and then woke up and ate and read and then went to church. After church, I went to the Bills in Sandy for dinner. I love real, free food. It was wonderful. It was a good Easter.

I bought myself a big bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs and that could have been a mistake but they really taste so wonderful. A little piece of heaven in each bite! :)

Well, better get to bed. I plan on walking to school tomorrow. Should be an adventure!

Bawlfest 2008

Yesterday, we had Challenge Day at our school.  It is hard to describe but it is basically a group therapy for everybody that goes.  It was cool to see my students actually get real and share their feelings with their group members.  The coolest part of the day was what they called "Power Shuffle."  Basically, all of the participants stand on one side of a line.  (there were 80 of us in this small space).   One of the leaders would then say a statement and then, if it applied to you, you would cross the line and go across the room behind another line and face all the people who did not cross the line.  Some of the statements were:

1.  Cross the line if you know someone who has attempted or committed suicide, or if you yourself have ever had suicidal thoughts.

2.  Cross the line if you have ever been told you were not good enough or that you are stupid.

3.  Cross the line if you have lost somebody that you love.

4.  Cross the line if you have ever been picked on or hurt by somebody in this room.

It was cool for the students to know that they were not the only ones going through tough things.  They also were reminded about how each person has worth and that we should be nice to all people, not just those we happen to like.  

My favorite part of the day was when one of my students came up to me and said:  "Alice, sometimes I complain about having your class twice a day and I say things like your class is lame, but seriously, you are my favorite teacher and I really enjoy having your class.  I am lucky to have you for a teacher twice a day."  I love that student.  He is truly one of my favorite students that I have taught in the last six years!  It was awesome to see all the students realize that their actions effect other people and to see them actually apologize to each other for things they have done to hurt each other.  I was reminded why I do the job I do and how lucky I am to associate with the future of our great country!

Challenge Day was a great experience.   Check out their website at:  www.challengeday.org

Another thing that I learned about myself is that I have a hard time sharing my feelings with people.  I especially have a hard time crying in front of people.  I was taught that I should not hold back those feelings because they are normal and that a good cry is how you let things out.  I need to be better about that.  I also need to not make fun of those around me when they cry because just because we are crying it does not mean that we are week.  I should not have picked on my brother about crying when I left Des Moines this weekend.  Sorry about that Bro!  Love ya!