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!

A & A Adventures!

I spent about 25 hours with a five year old in the last two days. I think I actually like kids even more after this experience than I did before, which is a lot. It was funny today when A and I went to pick up my friend A and her Daughter A. Wow. The four As! I just realized that! When we picked the other A & A up, I looked in the back seat and looked over at my friend and said: "Wow, there are TWO carseats in my car. This is weird." It was fun though.

A and I first went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Pointe this morning. He had a blast. It was hard to rein all his energy and keep him focused but it was a blast. After we explored for an hour or so we headed over to Cabella's and watched the fish in their huge tanks. The coolest part was that they started feeding them about five minutes after we got there. It was so cool. I feel like a mean human, when I say, I actually loved seeing the big fish eating the little goldfish. A was a little concerned for the goldfish and kept saying to me: "Would you want to be eaten by a fish?"

Then we headed to pick up the other A & A and we all went to Mcdonalds for lunch and the kids played in the playland. It was fun to see the kids try to keep up with each other. We then went to the Veggie Tale Pirate movie. It was very fun. Not the highest quality movie but it entertained us. Then it was time to take A back to my place so his mom could pick him up. I was actually sad to see him leave. I had a blast with him and it was a little too quiet back in my apartment after having him here.

Tonight I went with a friend to 27 Dresses. It is a fabulous movie. I think it will be in my movie collection someday.

Well, I better sleep! Cheers to a four day work week!

Presidents are Good for Something!

Three day weekends, now that is one good thing that Presidents have given us. I am grateful for a day off tomorrow because of some very good Presidents' birthdays. George Washington was a great man. He didn't even want to be President. That really should be a requirement for Presidents, they have to not want to be one, and so we make them be. I think that would solve a lot of problems in our country. Also, Lincoln is the other President who has a birthday around this time of year and that made Presidents Day come to pass. Abe was a good man too. He helped free slaves, which was a huge thing!

I haven't done too much this weekend. Friday was Burger Friday, so a few of us from work went to Red Robin for dinner. Man, I love that place. Yesterday, I didn't do much of anything. I did meet up with my friend, who has an inner ear infection, and we attempted to see Enchanted at the dollar theater, but it was sold out. We went to lunch. It was funny to see her try to walk because her balance is all off and she looked intoxicated. Very entertaining.

Today was church and I am now watching one of my friend's five year olds for the night and tomorrow because the friend has to work. He is a good little guy and is watching Finding Nemo right now. I do have to say that I love the Dori character in that movie. Amnesia is very humorous.

Tomorrow we plan to go to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Pointe and then go to lunch with my other friend and her little girl. Should be a good day.

Happy Single Awareness Day!

This year was the first year where I did not go around with my chin down because it is Valentine's Day and I am single. Maybe that sentence was a little ambiguous; I did not go around with my chin down and yes, I am still single!). It was like any other day for a change. I completely forgot it was V-Day until I was at school in the afternoon(I had been at a training all day long). Nice. Usually, I call it "Singles Awareness Day." Basically, if you are single, there is no other day the whole year where you feel as single as you do today. I am glad it wasn't too painful. The only sketchy part of the day was being at the grocery store and being in line with a bazillion people because the store is only competent enough to only have one person working. Of course, all the other people were there because they didn't realize it was Valentine's until they woke up and had to go buy something "special" for somebody who, I am sure, deserved it! It was crazy and made me mad. The other thing that made me mad this morning was the snow on my stairs and the snow on the roads. Basically, it was just the snow. Not my favorite thing right now.

It was nice to have a day away from school today. It is like a mini-vacation even though I am still doing school stuff. I am liking the training because it gives me lots of ideas to use in my classroom right away. Good stuff.

Just a quick note to end on: Don't break up with people on Valentine's Day. It sucks. Don't do it.

Alice Education!

Well, No creative juices tonight. Also, pretty tired. I got tagged again by a friend from work, so I decided to educate you all again about me. Enjoy!

1. What time is it? 
9:49 pm


2. What's your nick name? 
Ali or Rita
3. What are you most afraid of? 
Somebody jumping out at me from my shower, after I come home.
4. What is the most recent movie that you have seen? 
August Rush. I hated it. Seriously, how many movies have to tell us that true love is sleeping with somebody the first night you meet them?
5. Place of birth? 
 Wausau, WI


6. Favorite Food? Lasagna made by Mom. Chili also made by Mom.
7. What's your natural hair color? Light Brown
8. Ever been to Alaska? 
No, but I would love to go one day!
9. Ever been toilet papering? No, but I have been sporking which is so much funnier. You get those half-fork half-spoon plastic utensils and put them in the lawn of somebody you hate, or like a little.
10. Love someone so much it made you cry
? Nope, still waiting for my prince to come!
11. Been in a car accident? 
Yes, in college were playing in Salt Lake (school was in Logan) and my roommates and I were in two separate cars. We stopped for a stoplight and the other car of roommates hydroplaned and rear-ended us. Funniest part was that I saw the whole thing before it happened through the side mirror. Crazy!
12. Croutons or bacon bits? 
BOTH!!! 


13. Favorite Day of the Week? 
FRI-DAY!!! 



14. Favorite restaurants? Su Casa(Murray, Utah), Gandolpho’s (Center Street in Provo, Utah), Nicoitalia’s(best pizza in Provo), Red Robin(anywhere), Mine Company (Wausau, WI)
15. Favorite Flower? 

Tulip
16. Favorite sport to watch? Baseball. GO DODGERS!
17. Favorite drink? Rootbeer on draft
18. Favorite ice cream? Right now any combo of cookies and ice cream from Smart Cookie.
19. Disney or Warner Brothers? Warner Brothers
20.Ever been on a ship? 
Yes. 


21. What color is your bedroom carpet
? Some weird Gray
22. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Zero. I am an excellent driver. And a good teacher, too! You’re welcome, Sarah!
23. Last email from? A former co-worker
24. What do you do when you are bored? DDR, read a good book, watch TV, or go for a bike ride or walk
25.Bedtime? 
I should be in bed at 10:30, but it is usually closer to 11:30. I am a night owl. If it were up to me, I would be up until 2am every night!
26. Favorite TV Show? The Office followed by Chuck. Thank you writers for coming back!
27. Last person you went to dinner with? Anjai
28. What happened at 30? I was in San Francisco with a cool person. It was fabulous!
29. What are your favorite colors? Light blue, and Green.
30. How many tattoos do you have? NONE. I would never be able to decide on just one anyway!
31. How many pets do you have? Zero. Would love a dog that would fetch Frisbees for me.
32. What came first the chicken or the egg? Neither.
33. What do you want to do before you die? Fall in love and make it to London and Sydney.
34. Ever been to Hawaii? No, but really, really, really want to.
35. Have you been to countries outside the U.S.? Yes, Russia and Mexico.