I love summer. Summer is popsicles, sleeping in and staying up late, reading fluff books, going to the movies, and basically doing whatever you want. Just reading that list makes me happy!! As it is, however, my summer hasn't entirely felt like that. Oh sure I've had my quick vacations to California, and yes I can sleep in when I want to. But this summer there's a boat load of work I still find myself having to do.
First I've got this Gilder Lehrman conference coming up in July. By the time I get on that plane to go to New York City, I must have completed three nonfiction history books. One of which is over 600 pages in length. Interesting, but definitely not the fluffy, beach reads I would hope to crack open in the summer.
Second, I'm working on a project for the Teaching With Primary Sources grant. I have to put together Primary Resource Sets for individual Indicators in the State Core. In fact, I am signed up to complete 18 of these sets. Yes, I get paid, but wow...I'm at "1 down, 17 to go" at this point. *sigh*
Third, I would really like to get up and going on my Curriculum plans for my night school classes next year. Life in the 2010-2011 school year will be MUCHO simpler if that gets done before September.
But going back to The Problem of Summer. The real problem is that IDEA of summer. I want to play! But my blasted logical mind is struggling to let me really enjoy the play time I take when there are all these other RESPONSIBLE things I should be doing. Blast.
I think the universe is trying to make me work too. When I asked my two-year old nephew last Sunday if we could "hang out sometime this week"--as long as it was okay with his mom, of course--she responded that he was pretty busy with playdates and other such things. Yeah, that's right. My two-year old nephew has a busier social calendar than me. Thank goodness I have those Resource Sets to keep me company, right?
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
California = #1
To celebrate another year as SURVIVORS of the public education system, Greg and I planned a road trip to California for the first week of June. My fab friend, Caryn, came along as well and I couldn't have been happier about that! The road trip proved not only to be full of grand and happy memories, but a wonderful way to cross #1 Take a Roadtrip off my 27 in 27 list.
We left on Sunday afternoon and I pulled my car back into my complex about 1:00 am on Wednesday morning. So the trip was, first and foremost, FAST. But I did mention fabulous, right? I had so much fun!
The drive to California was relatively uneventful. Caryn had provided us each a new/weird
treat--chili pepper covered pineapple which we consumed somewhere in Nevada, I think. Eating that (and a whole lot of other stuff) and singing our way through 3 volumes of Glee music took up most of the time. Arriving in California we did have a few speedbumps (metaphorical for the most part). We got a wee bit lost trying to find our hostess to procure the house key (Greg is GREAT at U-turns, though), Blueberry got a wee bit "smudged" when one driver--who will remain nameless--hit a pole, but all in all--we made it!!
Monday was spent basking in the beauty and magic of Disneyland Resort. We rode most everything we wanted to, and a few favorites more than once. We ate lots of luscious Disney treats--churros, ice cream, brownies, muffins, Mint Juleps (Disney First!). Really, you can't
rightly capture in a Blog the joy of seeing your best friend get drenched on Grizzly River Run, or the thrill of riding an insanely fast bobsled down the Matterhorn at night...wedged between somebody's legs. Just know--it was awesome. Approximately 15 Hours of Awesome, in fact. We ended the day how we started it--at the bakery. Greg loaded up on a brownie and Diet Coke to guarantee he'd stay awake for the drive back to our borrowed "pad." Not a usual meal for midnight, but there you go.
Tuesday we finally awoke...somewhere between 8 and 9, I believe. After some quick "readying" we headed for the Santa Monica Pier. Beach Time!! Unfortunately, the overcast skies didn't seem
to want to burn off too quickly. So we checked out stuff on the pier--including a Trapeze School?--and then wandered the beach for a couple hours. We saw somebody who was either "famous" enough to be readying for a photo shoot or a stranger who was just so full of herself she brought personal stylists along to the beach. Caryn and I discussed the HOT factor of clean cut surfers. And we built "sandcastles" with our feet. They met their demise by incoming waves, though Greg's hung on long enough to appear like a lonely Sand Mushroom as we walked away.
And we did walk away. We walked back to the car, changed back into travel wear, and headed home. Well, I should say that after one more quick California stop--to try my first ever In'n'Out Burger--we headed home.
Overall, it was a great California road trip with some truly hilarious and wonderful people. Fast. Fabulous. And a mere $75 extra at the car dealership to buff out the paint markings (ala The Pole) on the side of Blueberry.
Happy Summer!!!
We left on Sunday afternoon and I pulled my car back into my complex about 1:00 am on Wednesday morning. So the trip was, first and foremost, FAST. But I did mention fabulous, right? I had so much fun!
The drive to California was relatively uneventful. Caryn had provided us each a new/weird
treat--chili pepper covered pineapple which we consumed somewhere in Nevada, I think. Eating that (and a whole lot of other stuff) and singing our way through 3 volumes of Glee music took up most of the time. Arriving in California we did have a few speedbumps (metaphorical for the most part). We got a wee bit lost trying to find our hostess to procure the house key (Greg is GREAT at U-turns, though), Blueberry got a wee bit "smudged" when one driver--who will remain nameless--hit a pole, but all in all--we made it!!Monday was spent basking in the beauty and magic of Disneyland Resort. We rode most everything we wanted to, and a few favorites more than once. We ate lots of luscious Disney treats--churros, ice cream, brownies, muffins, Mint Juleps (Disney First!). Really, you can't
rightly capture in a Blog the joy of seeing your best friend get drenched on Grizzly River Run, or the thrill of riding an insanely fast bobsled down the Matterhorn at night...wedged between somebody's legs. Just know--it was awesome. Approximately 15 Hours of Awesome, in fact. We ended the day how we started it--at the bakery. Greg loaded up on a brownie and Diet Coke to guarantee he'd stay awake for the drive back to our borrowed "pad." Not a usual meal for midnight, but there you go.Tuesday we finally awoke...somewhere between 8 and 9, I believe. After some quick "readying" we headed for the Santa Monica Pier. Beach Time!! Unfortunately, the overcast skies didn't seem
to want to burn off too quickly. So we checked out stuff on the pier--including a Trapeze School?--and then wandered the beach for a couple hours. We saw somebody who was either "famous" enough to be readying for a photo shoot or a stranger who was just so full of herself she brought personal stylists along to the beach. Caryn and I discussed the HOT factor of clean cut surfers. And we built "sandcastles" with our feet. They met their demise by incoming waves, though Greg's hung on long enough to appear like a lonely Sand Mushroom as we walked away.And we did walk away. We walked back to the car, changed back into travel wear, and headed home. Well, I should say that after one more quick California stop--to try my first ever In'n'Out Burger--we headed home.
Overall, it was a great California road trip with some truly hilarious and wonderful people. Fast. Fabulous. And a mere $75 extra at the car dealership to buff out the paint markings (ala The Pole) on the side of Blueberry.
Happy Summer!!!Thursday, June 3, 2010
And Here is My Report...
School is OUT for the summer!! 180 days down, 0 to go. Wahooo!!!! The celebrations will go on for at least a month and a half, and then I'll have to start focusing on going back to school. But let's not put such a damper on things at this point.
No, the point of this is to remind you all of a little goal I set for myself back in August--No Treats for the School Year. There were some pre-designated treat days and even treat weekends, and I'm not going to lie and pretend I didn't justify a few other occasions that came up (i.e. the night I was literally surrounded by brownies, eclairs and sorbet at a wedding reception and decided that spending a Saturday night serving a friend was treat-worthy). But for the most part...I did it. Really. I turned down cookies, donuts, candy bars, birthday cake, cupcakes, ice cream and more for over 9 months. Whoa.
I bring this up not to gloat, per say. I imagine most people aren't impressed, anyway, but more likely find it bewildering. Because...who does that?! I sit here as the one who accomplished it and just think, "Holy cow! I did that?! Why? Whoa!!" Seriously.
I know the why--I'm insane, plus I had a great desire to slim down the waistline. And there were positive outcomes in that as well as other areas. For example, this experience taught me that I have amazing willpower in big, strict things. Its the small, normal things that I need to work on. Namely, having moderation in all things--including treats.
I'm going to have to adjust to life with treats again. I'm fairly confident the alien feeling of cookie consumption will aid in the new goal of Treat Moderation--the next step to becoming a somewhat normal, well-adjusted human being. I'm also fairly confident the alien feeling will disappear all too rapidly. I'm just hoping it doesn't disappear along with the box of Girl Scout Thin Mints in my cupboard.
No, the point of this is to remind you all of a little goal I set for myself back in August--No Treats for the School Year. There were some pre-designated treat days and even treat weekends, and I'm not going to lie and pretend I didn't justify a few other occasions that came up (i.e. the night I was literally surrounded by brownies, eclairs and sorbet at a wedding reception and decided that spending a Saturday night serving a friend was treat-worthy). But for the most part...I did it. Really. I turned down cookies, donuts, candy bars, birthday cake, cupcakes, ice cream and more for over 9 months. Whoa.
I bring this up not to gloat, per say. I imagine most people aren't impressed, anyway, but more likely find it bewildering. Because...who does that?! I sit here as the one who accomplished it and just think, "Holy cow! I did that?! Why? Whoa!!" Seriously.
I know the why--I'm insane, plus I had a great desire to slim down the waistline. And there were positive outcomes in that as well as other areas. For example, this experience taught me that I have amazing willpower in big, strict things. Its the small, normal things that I need to work on. Namely, having moderation in all things--including treats.
I'm going to have to adjust to life with treats again. I'm fairly confident the alien feeling of cookie consumption will aid in the new goal of Treat Moderation--the next step to becoming a somewhat normal, well-adjusted human being. I'm also fairly confident the alien feeling will disappear all too rapidly. I'm just hoping it doesn't disappear along with the box of Girl Scout Thin Mints in my cupboard.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Grades Matter
I am serious when I call Cold Cereal my favorite food. And I'm more than just a fan; I'm an educated lover of the stuff. Don't believe me?
Take THAT you doubters out there!A B+ in Breakfast Cereals. Skidoosh!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Battle of Bunker Hill? Really?
Its Civil War Test time again!! And this year I got a lot of correct answers. Really! For the most part--the most part--the students were factually correct. YAY! This year's weird answers mainly came in the form of the illogical, not-to-be-understood ramblings of the 8th grade mind.
Remember that old SNL Celebrity Jeopardy episode that goes something like: "Mr. Connery, you answered? Half of your hand. And your bid is...the other half of your hand. We've reached a new low."? Well, take a look at my favorite test this year.
We have reached a new low.
Here's a sampling of a few other favorites:
Remember that old SNL Celebrity Jeopardy episode that goes something like: "Mr. Connery, you answered? Half of your hand. And your bid is...the other half of your hand. We've reached a new low."? Well, take a look at my favorite test this year.
Side one of the test: A tracing of his hand.
Side two: A RAINBOW tracing of his hand!
We have reached a new low.Here's a sampling of a few other favorites:
“[Lincoln] got assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. This left John Adams as our president.”
(Shazaam! TIME TRAVEL!)
“President Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration was sort of like a treat to the South”
(A treat that makes you decide its time to secede...)
“Announcements by Lincoln made Confederates mad or even happy about war.”
(Just like giving her a zero made me mad...or even happy?)
“The South wasn’t very social cause they couldn’t talk to some cause they lived so far apart.”
(And they didn't have text messaging either!!)
Concerning Reconstruction: “Even though there was a lot of sadness, there was also happiness”
(Glad we cleared that up!)
“Another [disadvantage of the north] is they were the one’s who didn’t always know where the other side was.”
(That does make fighting each other rather difficult)
“The generals and the leaders were all good fighters but they really didn’t want to fight but that was because they were shy or something but they were very good fighters that’s what president Abraham Lincoln said.”
(Huh?)
“Lincoln…got assassinated in the early 1900’s”
(Time Travel AGAIN!)
"The battle that started the war was Battle of Bunker Hill."
(Um...no. That battle didn't start ANY war, actually.)
“Slaves were freed and later became Generals who became more.”
(What?)
“There were also teaching restrictions for them [Black Americans]; if there was one black in a room full of whites, that teacher would be shot.”
(Well, it could be...um...yeah. No idea. Yet again.)
“At the end of the war, General Lee and President Johnson sat down at the Church hall and had a meeting.”
(I'm going to chalk this one up to Civil War fan fiction)
“The final straw was Lincoln’s election because of his veins.”
(I have no response for this. None.)
“The Union were a bunch of pretty boys that didn’t use guns a lot.”
(HA HA HA!!! Sorry. But that's just funny.)
“One major huge event that changed the war was Abraham Lincoln!.…He was the Mickle Jordan of the war, and it made the south scared.”
(He’s an event now? I want to be an event. I want to be a Mickle Jordan of an event!)
(Shazaam! TIME TRAVEL!)
“President Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration was sort of like a treat to the South”
(A treat that makes you decide its time to secede...)
“Announcements by Lincoln made Confederates mad or even happy about war.”
(Just like giving her a zero made me mad...or even happy?)
“The South wasn’t very social cause they couldn’t talk to some cause they lived so far apart.”
(And they didn't have text messaging either!!)
Concerning Reconstruction: “Even though there was a lot of sadness, there was also happiness”
(Glad we cleared that up!)
“Another [disadvantage of the north] is they were the one’s who didn’t always know where the other side was.”
(That does make fighting each other rather difficult)
“The generals and the leaders were all good fighters but they really didn’t want to fight but that was because they were shy or something but they were very good fighters that’s what president Abraham Lincoln said.”
(Huh?)
“Lincoln…got assassinated in the early 1900’s”
(Time Travel AGAIN!)
"The battle that started the war was Battle of Bunker Hill."
(Um...no. That battle didn't start ANY war, actually.)
“Slaves were freed and later became Generals who became more.”
(What?)
“There were also teaching restrictions for them [Black Americans]; if there was one black in a room full of whites, that teacher would be shot.”
(Well, it could be...um...yeah. No idea. Yet again.)
“At the end of the war, General Lee and President Johnson sat down at the Church hall and had a meeting.”
(I'm going to chalk this one up to Civil War fan fiction)
“The final straw was Lincoln’s election because of his veins.”
(I have no response for this. None.)
“The Union were a bunch of pretty boys that didn’t use guns a lot.”
(HA HA HA!!! Sorry. But that's just funny.)
“One major huge event that changed the war was Abraham Lincoln!.…He was the Mickle Jordan of the war, and it made the south scared.”
(He’s an event now? I want to be an event. I want to be a Mickle Jordan of an event!)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Catching Up with Myself
As an admitted Accomplishment Junkie, the past month has been AWESOME. Talk about a natural high! I have been able to check #8, #10, and #25 off the List o' 27. And I think it necessary at this point to report in on the awesomeness all that involved.
I checked off #25, Go Green, about a month ago. I purchased 5 reusable shopping bags from a local grocery store and started taking them each time I shop. The main problem with these bags--as Word on the Street would suggest--is that people just forget to take them into the store. In an attempt to combat this, I put the bags in my car; when I empty the bags at home I have to immediately put them back in the car before I can be Done. Workin' like a charm and I feel like a Go Green Pro. Captain Planet would be proud.
Happy Dance! National Boards are DONE!
On Friday, I took the National Board exam. The portfolio was finished up and mailed off about a month ago and only the test was left. So after 3 long hours, answering 6 exercises with 2-4 prompts each...I am finally DONE. Yes! Yes!!! YES!!!!!!!!! I won't find out the results until November, but right now...its done. I'm crossing off #10 with great flourish and topping it off with a bowl of frozen yogurt. Because, really, finishing National Boards is treat-worthy.
This is what finishers look like! Me and Catie after the 10K/5K in Ptown in April.
Goal #8 was to run a race--a 10K, a half marathon, or even a Ragner Relay. I have not given up hope of tackling a Ragner sometime, but nothing's on the board right now. However, in April I ran the 10K for the Boys & Girls Club down in Provo, and a few weeks after that I returned to Utah County to tackle the Provo City Half Marathon. The latter proved to be the wettest, coldest, most miserable 13.1 miles I ever hope to run. It wasn't fun--but I did it! No pictures of that "blessed" event because of the weather...and because my fingers were so numb after that I couldn't even get my hand into my pocket for the car key--forget working the zipper on my camera case!
All in all, life has been crazy and fun. There are fifteen days of school left and I am eagerly awaiting the onset of warm weather (Come on Utah--get it together!!) and time to CHILLAX. Woohoo!!
I checked off #25, Go Green, about a month ago. I purchased 5 reusable shopping bags from a local grocery store and started taking them each time I shop. The main problem with these bags--as Word on the Street would suggest--is that people just forget to take them into the store. In an attempt to combat this, I put the bags in my car; when I empty the bags at home I have to immediately put them back in the car before I can be Done. Workin' like a charm and I feel like a Go Green Pro. Captain Planet would be proud.Happy Dance! National Boards are DONE!
On Friday, I took the National Board exam. The portfolio was finished up and mailed off about a month ago and only the test was left. So after 3 long hours, answering 6 exercises with 2-4 prompts each...I am finally DONE. Yes! Yes!!! YES!!!!!!!!! I won't find out the results until November, but right now...its done. I'm crossing off #10 with great flourish and topping it off with a bowl of frozen yogurt. Because, really, finishing National Boards is treat-worthy.
This is what finishers look like! Me and Catie after the 10K/5K in Ptown in April.Goal #8 was to run a race--a 10K, a half marathon, or even a Ragner Relay. I have not given up hope of tackling a Ragner sometime, but nothing's on the board right now. However, in April I ran the 10K for the Boys & Girls Club down in Provo, and a few weeks after that I returned to Utah County to tackle the Provo City Half Marathon. The latter proved to be the wettest, coldest, most miserable 13.1 miles I ever hope to run. It wasn't fun--but I did it! No pictures of that "blessed" event because of the weather...and because my fingers were so numb after that I couldn't even get my hand into my pocket for the car key--forget working the zipper on my camera case!
All in all, life has been crazy and fun. There are fifteen days of school left and I am eagerly awaiting the onset of warm weather (Come on Utah--get it together!!) and time to CHILLAX. Woohoo!!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Happy #200!
Dear Blog,
Happy 200th Birthday! I know you probably don't feel that old, but you are! This marks the
200th post on your fair wall. Crazy, but true. In human years, you're not even three, but the age of humans differs greatly from the age of Blogs.
Much has occurred since your birth in September 2007, and you are a lucky Blog indeed because so many of those changes and events have been detailed right here with you. At your birth, I was living in Bleak House with one roommate and a wall full of mice (didn't know that at the time...); today I'm living life solo in my very own condo, and heartily optimistic there aren't any rodents sharing the living space.
Would you mind if we wandered Memory Lane just a little bit longer? I promise just a small sampling. But in your 200 posts there are some favorites I feel to point out.
I can't deny that on your very first birthday (when I dubbed myself Felicity with the romantic idea of being anonymous and keeping you all to myself) I couldn't have begun to imagine myself where I am in 2010. But here I am, and I hope I'm the better for it.
Life is really grand, you know. And I am grateful and happy that I have you, my dear little Blog, to help me remember that fact as together we keep track of life's ups and downs.
Here's to another terrific 200 together!
*me*
P.S. Do you think this would justify eating cake?
Happy 200th Birthday! I know you probably don't feel that old, but you are! This marks the
200th post on your fair wall. Crazy, but true. In human years, you're not even three, but the age of humans differs greatly from the age of Blogs.Much has occurred since your birth in September 2007, and you are a lucky Blog indeed because so many of those changes and events have been detailed right here with you. At your birth, I was living in Bleak House with one roommate and a wall full of mice (didn't know that at the time...); today I'm living life solo in my very own condo, and heartily optimistic there aren't any rodents sharing the living space.
Would you mind if we wandered Memory Lane just a little bit longer? I promise just a small sampling. But in your 200 posts there are some favorites I feel to point out.
- My thoughts on Facebook were noted more than once. First in Welcome to the Book, and again in What if I don't want to be your friend?
- I dated three different men. One ended with a "meh," another with a "Jerk" and the last with a giant sob. My Mind is a Scary Place and Message I Need Today are definite faves in the relationship category.
- I traveled all over and used your writing space as a travel journal to detail a Forks roadtrip, O Canada!, two trips to New York, the food bonanza of San Francisco, Disneyland Disneyland Disneyland, and I'm sure many others.
- I started writing with you as a lowly 3rd year teaching. Now I'm finishing up year #5 as a National Board candidate, District trainer for Primary Sources, and Board Member of the U.C.S.S. (pretty much all thanks to Pam, btw)
- I ran and ran and ran.
- Remember my rant against LDS Fiction?!
- And the time I defended text messaging?
I can't deny that on your very first birthday (when I dubbed myself Felicity with the romantic idea of being anonymous and keeping you all to myself) I couldn't have begun to imagine myself where I am in 2010. But here I am, and I hope I'm the better for it.
Life is really grand, you know. And I am grateful and happy that I have you, my dear little Blog, to help me remember that fact as together we keep track of life's ups and downs.
Here's to another terrific 200 together!
*me*
P.S. Do you think this would justify eating cake?
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