Green Bay Times

Today it was snowing. I think it does that a lot around here seeing the snowbanks are about at my waist in most places. Some are so big that the mailboxes look as if they were meant to be held up by the snow. It is weird. So, Utahns, you cannot complain about the little snow you have had so far(yes I know some of you are going: "but we just got six inches the other day"). The total here in Green Bay is about 36" and that is just in December alone! Crazy. I am regretting not bringing boots along.

Many of you did not get the end of my story of my flying adventure. I did get on a flight to Green Bay, obviously. The little ticket counter lady was very nice to me. I thought I would just come here seeing my parents had planned on driving here today. I figured I saved myself a bus ride(the only way to get to Rhinelander last night was to get on a chartered bus) and a car ride. The total of all the driving would have been about five hours. It was a good deal to get on a GB flight seeing that many flights were booked. My aunt and uncle picked me up and took good care of me. I am even without clothes because my luggage went to Rhinelander without me. Apparently, the luggage would fit on the later flights just not the people. My aunt and uncle provided me with pajamas and I just wore the same clothes today. It as nice to have an easy choice when it came to what to wear today! Ha.

I got to surprise my grandma because she thought I would be with my parents today. (The parents have not gotten here btw. They decided not to brave the weather and drive.) I went with my uncle to take my grandma to get her hair done. When she was getting in the car, I said: "Hi, grandma!" Luckily, that did not startle her and she was delighted to see me. Her appointment was in Walmart so it was convenient for me to go and buy a few things that I needed, like deodorant and a few shirts.

My cousin also came to visit with her two kids today. I had a fun time coloring with them and playing. They are so very cute. Unfortunately, I do not have my camera cord so you will not be seeing any pictures until that gets here. I am glad to know where my suitcase is but am frustrated about all the stuff I do not have. Sigh, oh well.

By the way, Happy Christmas. I hope that the warmth of the holiday is settling into your soul. I hope you feel the love of God and how amazing the gift of His son truly is. I hope you know that I know Christ is the Savior and that I also know that he still lives. He not only was born for us but the greatness of his life and the gift of his death was for us. I know that life's journey is all about learning and drawing closer to our Creator through Christ. Please take a moment and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. I am saddened by the loss of that true meaning of Christmas. Some people might as well just call it Mas, because Christ is lost in all the presents, decorations, and food. I feel so blessed to know my Savior and to celebrate his birth at this time. I hope that all of you have a very merry Christmas and that you are surrounded by love and peace. Cheers!

The Traveling Alice Update

Here is the latest in the long saga. I read my ticket wrong and actually was booked on a flight to rhinelander for tomorrow. That would have made for difficult times because my parents are planning to drive to Green Bay tomorrow. Well I got on a flight going to Green Bay tonight at seven. My wonderful aunt and uncle are going to take me in for the night, saving me a five hour bus ride tonight followed by a two and a half hour car ride tomorrow. This is good news. I am hoping that this next flight will have no problems. If it does, I may just request a flight to Fiji and say sorry family...I got a better offer.

Here is to all of you having the Christmas spirit and to me getting it back! Cheers!

Alice's Hellish Traveling Tales

Here I sit in the Minneapolis Airport. If you were to talk to me about an hour ago, you would have encountered an optimistic traveler who was almost home. See yesterday I was supposed to fly out of Salt Lake and be in Rhinelander at ten last night. Obviously, that did not happen because my flight out of Salt Lake was cancelled due to "flight crew" issues. I was okay with that because I figured the snow was going to make me not fly anyway and I had mentally prepared for spending an extra night with the Bills.

I was excited to get to Minneapolis and see that the weather was clear and that my flight was on schedule. I was then even okay when my flight changed gates. Then I was completely angry when I found out that yet again my flight was cancelled. Looking back on it my mad panic was funny but I was not a happy camper. Luckily, I was quickly booked on a 9:15 flight to Rhinelander because all of the other people who were supposed to be on my flight were told that there were no flights to book them on until Christmas day. There was chaos everywhere and very angry people yelling at the counter lady. The Christmas spirit was high.

So here I sit after calling all the rental car companies and being told they have no cars available and finally accepting my fate to miss the dinner with friends from high school and blogging. Note to self: get pilot's license and a new plane soon!

Break Starts!

Friday was an eventful little day. It was the last day of school before Winter Break. We had a good time during our half day of school. The only class I had was Leadership. I really do love my students. Aren't they cute in their new sweatshirts? Each year it is a tradition at our school that our students are gifted a sweatshirt. For many of the students, it is their only present for the holidays. I really like the design this year. It is actually a zip up which is awesome. It is also not Navy like the twenty other sweatshirts I own.

After the students wrote some letters to former students who now serve in the military(also a tradition at our school), they then headed to the gym or cafeteria for some fun activities. I was over the basketball tournament in the gym. The students could also go watch a movie or play games. It was a fun time.

Then at 11:30 the kids went home. I went to lunch with some of my co-worker friends. At 2, we played a basketball game. We lost and only scored 3 points. It is turning out to be a frustrating season so far. The boys' team won though so that was good.

Last night, I got to go to dinner and a movie with one of my friends that I haven't seen in a few months. It is weird that you can live minutes away from somebody and not see them for months at a time. It was good to catch up.

I saw Four Christmases, which turned out to be a good movie. It is pretty funny. I didn't really love the morals that were taught at the beginning but it was an entertaining movie. I am hoping to watch a few movies while home too. There are always good ones out over the holidays.

Today, I got to sleep in which was glorious. I haven't been doing much of that on Saturdays thanks to basketball. I am about to get ready to head to the school to work on the sewing projects. It should be thrilling. I head out in two days and I am excited. Have a great Saturday!

Sometimes you just have to blog...

We are in Pac-Man right now.  This means I have five students in my Health classroom working on makeup work.  Pac-Man is the new name for OPAC.  OPAC stood for Operation Pass All Classes.  Pac-Man is not the video game but stands for Pass All Classes, MAN!  Silly huh?  But really this new program at our school has helped many of our students get their grades up.  Hopefully, we will see some improvement in our graduation rate as well.

Last night, I did some cleaning and got my laundry done.  I am trying to make my weekend a little less stressful, seeing I have to be ready to head to Wisconsin on Monday. I also have to get some sewing done so I will be a little sewing girl the next few days.  

It is snowing a lot today.  Man, when winter decides to show her pretty little face, she really gets it out there.  I am hoping that it will NOT be snowing on Monday when I head home.  I hate the whole delay stuff.  It does not make me a happy camper.

I really do not have a whole lot to say.  I am excited that today is the last day of real classes and tomorrow is a half day and then I get a two week vacation.  What do I plan to do with my time, you ask?  Well, I really want to spend a lot of time in front of the TV watching movies.  I like to do that.  I would also like to read a book that is always fun.  What else?  Hmmm.  I really haven't gotten that far.  I really do like spending time with my family.  They are cool cats.  I will also love getting to see my little grandma.  She is so cute and funny.  And seeing my favorite aunts and uncles is always good.  (see how I was sly to not say aunt and uncle...you gotta keep your favorites to yourself sometimes.)  

I also have plans to get together with a few of my friends in Wausau.  I have awesome friends all over the globe really.  Okay, so I don't know anybody overseas right now but coming in January I will know somebody in Denmark.  And next summer, I will know somebody living in England.  

I am just rambling.  Do you like these kinds of posts?  

I actually am enjoying the snow lately.  Part of this has to do with the fact that it is still a new thing for me right now.  Usually, by January, I am sick of snow.  I am going to try to be better about not being a hater of snow this year.  Wearing my wonderful pink jacket helps me to feel the love for cold and winter.  I will just have to start wearing it around the clock to have the love.  

I do not love how people drive in the snow, especially the first few snowstorms.  They are dumb...'nough said.

So, what are you getting me for Christmas?  I really would like a Wii.  I played Guitar Hero this morning and got the Wii itch back.  I would also like world peace but really I don't think that will happen for a long time.  Not until the guy we celebrate Christmas for come back at least.  Don't forget about Christ this Christmas.  Unless you are Jewish, then just ignore everything I just said.  I kinda felt like that was sacrilege there.  Really, I love Christmas for the reminder it gives me to be a little more Christlike.  I sometimes struggle with being nice to people.  Especially those that I find to have less of an IQ than I have.  Like those idiot drivers and my silly neighbors who still throw trash onto the law hoping the garbage fairy will come and take it to the dumpster.  Maybe I just need to carry a handful of candy around to throw at people.  Maybe that is not a good idea because even a nice gesture like candy can be ruined if you totally hit the person in the head hard!  I know that with drivers and neighbors that is exactly what would happen.  Then I would start buying bigger and heavier candy and would probably then be in the Utah County Jail instead of Rhinelander, Wisconsin for the holidays and I really don't want that.  

I would also accept any kind of iTunes gift cards.  I am addicted that that little iPod.  His name is Iggy and he pretty much is my husband.  Okay, so not really because that is sick and wrong but really I love him.  If he were a man I totally would marry him.  Don't tell my bike though, he will be jealous.

Really, you don't have to buy me a present.  Your presence is present enough for me.  Hopefully, I will get to see you this holiday season. If not, I really hope it is good for you.  I am hoping you also get to be surrounded by loved ones because that is really what the season is for.  I feel bad for people who are far from their families and don't get to celebrate properly.  I really am a blessed person and don't need anything.  Really, I have so much.  A good job, a warm(well at least everywhere but my room) place to sleep, enough food to eat(actually too much food), a car to get me places, great and I mean amazingly great friends, an education, mad driving skills, a testimony of my Savior(which is the most important thing and which brings me so many of the things that I am blessed with), a calmness(see previous), and many many many many many more blessings.  

So, instead of focusing on the things you want and lack this Christmas, reflect on the things that you do have and how blessed you are.  

Well, gotta head to teach.  I am not editing this right now so excuse any of the mistakes.  Later!