New Moon...okay, i'm back on the bandwagon.

Warning, I am definately-always have been and always will be-a team EDWARD person!

Ok, so I didn't like the first movie all too much. I was not impressed. (yes I know they had a small budget, but still.) This second movie blows it out of the water!

Oh my, loved it! Still have the happy butterflies feeling. I seriously drooled over Edward! Jacob was hot, but still he's not the same! Edward is just soooooo romantic. He's a perfect impossibility. (Mr. Darcy's replacement.)

They did a really goo job at not making this the annoying movie I anticipated. (The book still annoys me!) The screaming people in the audience don't help, but it wasn't too bad. (Right before Jacob takes off his shirt for the first time, this guy in the audience yelled "Wooo!" It was a perfect breaker from all the drooling teenagers.)

I loved the effects in this movies. My hat's off to whomever did the werewolves! They were freaking amazing! No wimpy wolves here, uhn uh! They made me cower a bit. (Especially when one of them looks strait into the camera and growls. Shackles rising! Creepy goodness!)

If you really want the low down on this movie, read Nicole's blog.

I LOVED IT!!!!

-To the critics- Shove off, this movie made bank its first weekend! Suck on that! :p

Just a few weeks now.

Life is going soooo much better this half of student teaching. I like third grade so much more than fifth! They actually want to be there and they love learning. They ask when they can learn more cursive or they get so excited when they get to start learning their multiplication facts. It makes me wonder f I was that excited when I was their age. :)

It also helps that my teacher is simply amazing at what she does. My supervisor told her that she now sees that I'm actually talented at teaching and she just wasn't able to see it in my previous environment. (I'm so happy that she can see how I really am around kids! I hated who I was when I was around my grouchy mentor teacher.) If you ever chance upon this Stacey, thanks for changing me to my new teaching assignment! It's mad a world of difference. I actually feel I can do this now.

My mom talked some sense into me about getting a masters degree. She told me to wait till after i started working with a district, then get my masters. They are less willing to hire someone with a masters because they have to pay them more. Makes perfect sense right? Not really, but whatever. I understand that they don't want to have to pay more money, but you'd think they'd want someone who is more qualified. Just a thought.

We've had SEP conferences the past two nights. I'm so tired!!! But I simply must finish my book!

I've just started reading the Ranger's apprentice series. LOVE IT! Seriously, read them if you get the chance. I just have to say, I fully utilize my local libraries! (both the Salt Lake County and City! I love having two separate systems to get books from!)

So I graduate the 12th of December. I'm probably going to walk too. It will be good for my parents and me. (It's only $30 for the cap and gown, why not!) I'll be the first in my immediate family to graduate from college. I'm excited and nervous to move on with my life. I always thought I'd be married at this point, or at least dating someone a little seriously. *sigh* But since this is not the case, I feel a little off.

It will happen eventually. But I'm so impatient! I hate waiting!

Light at the End of the Tunnel

3 more days and I'm done with 5th grade! WAHOO! I'll really miss the students but not the teacher. She is so frustrating! She says one thing then two weeks later tells me she said the exact opposite and is not happy that I listened to her first instructions. Come on lady! Just because you think you said or did something, doesn't mean that you did! (I swear she's the type of person that thinks about something enough that they think it really happened.)
I spoke to the student teacher in the room next to mine. She'd been an aid at the school for 15yrs prior to this and really knows my teacher well. She said that she was shocked that they'd give a student teacher to her. (among other things) I wish she'd talk to my supervisor about my teacher. It might help me out some. (I only feel slightly attacked when my teacher talks to my supervisor. No biggie.)

Okay! Done with the venting! Promise, for today anyway. I'm reading Stephenie Meyer's book The Host. It's super good! I don't want to write lesson plans! I just want to read. I need to know what happens next! Seriously though, I really can't put off my lesson plans any longer, but i really want to read instead! Drat! i love books way too much!
Nicole, I blame this book on you! Thanks!

Student Teaching

My life has been sucked into the black hole that I call student teaching. It consumes all around it, time foremost.
Okay, so it's really not that bad. Sure there are days where I break down and bawl like a baby after school, but is that any different from when I lived with my grandma? Not really.
Right now I am in a 5th grade classroom. The teacher and I actually have fairly similar personalities. However, we tend to see some things completely different. Like discipline. I hate negative discipline! I fully believe that negative reinforcement only produces more negative behavior and that positive reinforcement can help students a lot!
I feel that my classroom teacher overreacts with some things. Maybe it's because she's supposed to be sitting on the sidelines watching me mess things up. I don't know. I imagine it's difficult to hand your class over to some stranger and let them try to teach things to your students, especially when your name goes on their test results at the end of the school year.
We haven't had the best time so far, and admittedly I'm afraid that her opinion of me isn't very good. It makes me nervous to know that her ideas of me can affect my getting a future job or not. Truthfully, I hope she can overlook my shortcomings. I am still learning after all.
We'll see how the next three weeks go!

Long, great, and ruined weekend...

So I went to St George yesterday for a wedding reception. Yeah, a four hour drive. To sweltering heat.It was great! Nah, it really wasn't too bad. It was hot, sure. but it's nothing I haven't felt before.It was so worth it though. I got to see a group of my mission friends. (The people getting married served in my mission, one was a companion of mine.) I also got to practice my french. It was a lot of fun. And they served yummy french foods at the reception. I took pictures of the cake and I'll add them asap. It was really cute.

I also got to spend the night with my friend Emily Mortensen and her sister. We went to Dixie Rock, which provides an awesome view of St George. (I didn't get to try lying on my back and looking down at the city at night like my friend Nathan suggested. He says it looks like the ocean. But anyway, Emily and her sister were so much fun. I was laughing the entire time!We watched two movies: Henry Poole Was Here and Last Chance Harvey. We ended up watching Henry Poole because it was a preview on the Harvey movie. Both were totally cute movies. I recommend both!

I also saw this way attractive guy while I was down there. I felt like a complete dork the entire time he was around! But I'm liking Southern Utah a little more every time i go! :D lol, I get so girly sometimes! It's embarrassing!

So after the long drive home, I still managed to make it in time to lead the music in sacrament meeting. (So I might have been speeding a bit, except where the speed limit changed to 80! I didn't have to speed at all. Nor did I really want to, that was fast enough!)

But grandma had to go and put a damper on the whole weekend! I have to work tomorrow, then I was planning on going straight to Brigham City to help my mom in her classroom. So I was merely being polite and told her, so she could get one of my cousins to come and mow the lawn for her. She said it was okay then 20 min later, she has her evilly nice voice on and tells me that I'll just have to mow the lawn before i go to work then. When I said i couldn't because I need to take a shower and do my hair tomorrow, she tells me that I'll just have to get up early to get it all done. Then she adds"And if you can't get up by yourself, I'll wake you up." *evil smile* WHAT?! AM I A TEENAGER OR SOMETHING?! SINCE WHEN DID I BECOME HER INDENTURED SERVANT?! Seriously though! Would it kill her to have one of my cousins come do it? I'm freaking exhausted from driving so much and not sleeping well since i wasn't in my own bed. I need to catch up on my sleep! I'm human and sometimes i get a little worn down. GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! SHEESH!

Sorry, I really needed to get that off my chest. I called my mom to talk to her about it but she didn't really encourage me at all. She doesn't understand that I'm getting so tired of being ordered to do things. Would it kill my grandmother to actually ask, not just expect, me to do something for her? I hat being treated like an adult when it's convenient for her. I don't get people sometimes.

Luckily for me, my sister is going to have a baby soon and wants me to come move in with her asap. They are even getting a room ready for me and everything. It will be nice to be somewhere i can be appreciated.

Creepy Crawlers!

So, I need to upload a pic I took of this nasty bug that I caught in my bedroom. I think it is some kind of centipede. But it is seriouly weird looking. I showed my sister one I had caught and she freaked about it. She thinks it might be a mutated version of one.

I'm so tired of having to deal with these huge bugs and spiders in my living space! It creeps me out! Seriously, I get rid of at least 2-3 spiders a day in my room! Come on! Leave me in peace!

Getting ready to move, again.

Whew! It's been a long day. Actually it feels like Monday and Tuesday kinda blurred together. I got both a new futon bed and an arm chair on Monday. Paying a mere $50 total for both. Then today I found a fabulous computer desk and chair at IKEA, $57 for them. Not too shabby eh?

Saturday I spent most of the day cleaning my future room at my sister's home. Since then Her husband has actually repaired most of the room. He's just going to paint and then we'll be ready for me to move stuff in. I still haven't talked to Grandma about it. I really don't want to either. I just don't want her to blow up at me or anything. *sigh*

Today was my Lia Sophia jewelry party, only one person came. :( (Well beside myself, my grandma, and my two sisters.) I'm just glad it's over with. I spent $115 on stuff. Not too bad really. Considering that it was buy one get the next two half off! I was actually only short $69 of getting free jewelry. Maybe I can talk my mom into buing some? It would be nce to get $50 free jewelry. I'd like to buy some christmas gifts with it.

Decisions

Grandma's been gone for a week now! It's so nice to have peace and quiet! I've actually done more yard word while she has been gone than I ever did while she was here. There is just something nice about being able to do something if you want to and not have someone tell you that you have to do it. I like gardening and helping things grow, but I like to do it at my own pace. I hated having her tell me that I was going to do something. (I guess it brought out a rebellious nature in me.)
Sadly she'll be back on Sunday. . . *NO!!!!!!*
I'm thinking about moving in with my sister Heidi. I'll admit that it isn't the most ideal place to live, but at least I'll be able to help out a little bit there. Especially where she is going to have her baby within a month's time. She'll need an extra hand.
I've been reading a lot lately. Currently I'm reading a book called Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. My friend Emily got me reading his books, and they're kind of addicting. :D
Tomorrow is my only real day off. (I have Sundays and Tuesdays off, so i can't really do too much on Sundays.) I feel like there is so much that I need to get done, I'm a little stressed about it. I'm going to watch my neices and nephew in Herriman for a few hrs, then I get to come back and pick up apples in the back yard so i can mow the lawn. I'd also really like to go see The Engagement tomorrow. We'll see how much i get done!
I'm really looking forward to this Saturday. I'm taking the day off (I'm using a floating holiday and still getiing paid, even though I won't have to work!) I get to go to Provo with Emily and her Family for our monthly FHE. It's going to be great.
This last Sunday was a bit chaotic. I drove to Brigham on Saturday night after work, spent the night, then went up to Logan to sing with Emily Job in her ward (learing the arrangement that day.) I then turned around, packed all my stuff into my car in Brigham City, and headed back to Salt Lake. It was way to much driving on 5 hrs of sleep. So I skipped the first two hrs of my church down in SLC and took a nap, barely making it in time to lead the music in sacrament meeting. *whew*
But I made it up to myself. Nicole and I had a yummy steak dinner afterward. Mmmmm. It was good to just hang out and talk a bit.
Well, I'm going to go read then go to bed so I can start my hectic Tuesday! Ciao!

Glasses

So as if the title weren't a big enough tip, I got glasses. Yup, my first pair. They're actually kinda cute too.
I first noticed my eye sight was a little off a few years ago in college. (before I went on a mission.) I noticed that i'd look down to write notes and then when I'd glance back at the board to confirm what i'd written, everything would be fuzzy. Well, it's been a few years and nothing has improved. Now, when I lead the music in sacrament meeting, I can't look down at the music without having the entire congregation becoming blurred. (which I guess would be a good thing if I was afraid to be in front of everyone.
So I decided to go visit an optometrist and find out what in the world was going on with my eyes. Actually, I don't have too much wrong. According to him, "Your left eye is a perfectly healthy eye, and the right one is just not perfect enough to start bugging you." That's good I guess. So my glasses actually only have one lense with a perscription. the other is just a piece of glass.
It will take me some time to get used to them. Truthfully the doctor said I don't have to wear them all the time, but recommended them for night driving. And I've found they are nice to have at movies too. The movie isn't blurry anymore!

(I think that my life is fairly boring if my exciting news for the week is getting glasses. *sigh* oh well!)

Work Update

I feel I should follow up on work. ;)

Everything is going fine. Taking calls isn't as hard as I thought it would be. Though I do tens to stress a bit with my stats. (it doesn't help that my older brother is a trainer there and he always checks my stats the counsel me about how to improve them.) I just got out of training for crying out loud! Leave me be!

Seriously though, I think everything is going to be fine. Though I'm not sure how well I'll do with french calls. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there!

Oops!

Okay so I kinda forgot to update my blog. My bad!
The past two weeks have kinda been very similar. I worked. And I did little else.
I did get to go to Logan for my friend Emily's FHE. It was great to see everyone there. I brought the chips! (though I bought too many, oh well.)
It was good to see Em. It had been 3 whole weeks since I had seen her and it felt like forever! I hope i get to see her again this coming month.
Good News!!
I got my shift changed to Sundays and Tuesdays off! I don't have to change wards for July! Yeah! This will probably also make my bishopric happier too. :)
I've decided to go ahead and host a Lia Sophia party. (mainly to get the necklace I previously ordered as a hostess gift.) Though I find the jewelry to be too expensive, especially in this economy. I kinda feel bad, but I told the lady that I'd host a party for her and I don't like lying. even if it is for a good reason.
My grandma has been driving me crazy, as usual. But I only have a couple weeks til she goes on a two week vacation! Sweet freedom!
Well, I really must go to bed now. (this bedtime has become a bad habit!)

Second Week Down...

So I just finished my second week of training. I must admit I'm worried about Monday. We took live calls for the last 30 min of our shift on Friday. I didn't do so well. I don't know that I'm cut out for this. I'm just too nice.
You see, I work in a call center. We take calls for a hotel chain and book rooms for people. (they call us.) But we're still pressured into selling the highest priced room to our guests. I'm just not that pushy. If a person doesn't want it, they don't want it. I'm not one to talk people into spending money. (I fell too guilty.)
But I must admit that getting paid for one week, and seeing an amount that I usually would earn in a month at my last job, does help a bit. *sigh* oh well. Everything will work out, I hope.
My grandma is still driving me crazy. She likes to focus on topics that make me uncomfortable. She wants to sit and discuss them in length. Then she gets mad at me when I don't want to talk about it! It's so frustrating. She won't just drop it.
I spent most of the day with her today. She just never shuts up! I think the longest pause I had (which I thoroughly enjoyed) was about 45sec long. Why do people have to talk non stop? Are they not comfortable with a little silence? I'd turn on the radio, but she thinks it's rude. I just can't stand listening to her go on and on all the time. It drives me nuts! And I'm finding that I care less and less about what she has to say. It worries me that I'm becoming insensitive.
If you have any ideas, let me know!

Monotony

So this week went by in a blur of 8 hr work shifts. I must say i'm not to enthralled with the idea of going back to it tomorrow. (I need a longer break!) What ever happened to summer being a break from things? *sigh* I guess I get to wait til I'm a teacher for that!
I had another tiff with my grandma on Saturday. She's so grouchy sometimes!
Thankfully Nicole rescued me. She came over and did some laundry and my grandma was nice the whole time she was there. Thanks!
Nicole and I saw Land of the Lost on Friday night. It was stupid. Really stupid. But we were so slap happy we laughed through the whole movie. (not worth the price of the ticket though!) We both actually felt a bit more stupid for having watched it, if that is possible. If you must see this movie, wait til it is at the cheap theatre or even at Redbox. Seriously! Don't waste your money!
I also got to see Valkyrie. Great movie. I only wish their plan had succedded. It would have saved millions of lives!
Well, I've stayed up late enough! Goodnight!

Daily Dilemma

So guess what i got this morning? An email from the first company i interviewed with. They wanted to offer me a job too! *sigh* So I called my mom and we talked it over. Then I thought some more and sent the lady and email.
I decided to stay with the job I already accepted. Though I have slight issues with it, it pays more and the hours are more stable.
I hope I did the right thing!

New Job!

So, last thursday they tell me that they actually do want me to come in and interview Monday morning, right? So i went in. The interview went well. The guy said he was going to tell HR to go ahead and offer me a job! Then he says, go ahead and show up at 3pm. If someone from the class doesn't show up, you've got the job.
Well, luckily for me, there was a person that didn't come! Hello income! I figure that $12.25/hr isn't too shabby. :p Especially after getting $7.50 an hour for a year! I'll actually have spending money. Weird! :D
The only problem is that the only schedule they had available for July (after my training) is 1:30 - 10pm with Mon and Tuesday off. So I'll not be able to go to church with Nicole anymore. :( and I just was sked to be the ward music coordinator and chorister. I feel really bad that I'll have to tell my Bishop about the job implications.
I'm praying that I can switch to a different shift before July! Wish me luck!

Student Teaching Placement!

So I just got the email for my student teaching assignments. I'm not sure how being at the same school will work out, but I'm just greatful to know where I'm going!

Block 1 – Spring Lane Elementary
5315 S 1700 ESLC, UT 84114
(801) 646-4906
CT: Donna Davis (5th Grade)

Block 2 –Spring Lane Elementary
5315 S 1700 ESLC, UT 84114
(801) 646-4906
CT: Linda Cruz (1st Grade)

Yeah! Today is a great day!

Unsure

So yesterday I was helping my mom in her classroom all day. Not long after school got out I got a phone call. It was the company I was going to interview with on Wednesday. They want me to come in on Monday and have an interview. They said that the class is still full, but sometimes someone won’t show up for the first day of training and I could take their place.
I still might not even have a job even after interviewing. I’m not sure how to feel about this. I don’t want to get my hopes up because I know that chances are, everyone will show up for the training class and I won’t get a job. But at the same time I want to think that I will get the job. But I don't want to be disappointed. *sigh*
Oh well, it should work out okay. Wish me luck!

8 Things Tag - Thanks to Nicole

8 Things I Love
1. Family
2. The Gospel
3. Friends
4. Icecream!
5. Movies
6. Books
7. Music
8. Personal Time

8 Things I Did Today
1. Woke up
2. Fixed my hair
3. Unpacked some of my stuff
4. Helped my mom in her classroom
5. Went to Brigham City
6. Blogging
7. Ate Dinner
8. Watching television

8 Things I Would Like
1. A Boyfriend
2. A Job!
3. A house of my own
4. A dog
5. $ to go to my Family Reunion
6. Go to Japan
7. Play the violin
8. Have more patience

Extinguished

So, a couple days ago i said that there was a light at the end of my no-job-tunnel. Well, today it's like I've had the door at the end of my proverbial tunnel shut in my face. To be short, my interview got cancelled. :( Now what?

I hate this waiting game. You turn in a lot of applications, then all you can do is twiddle your thumbs and wait! It's so frustrating!

I'm depressed.

Puppy

So my bf Nicole is on a puppy kick. She really would like to get one. (She assures me that she'll get over this.) Anyway, yesterday she told me I should move into an apt with her so we can get a dog. I thought about it. I even dreampt about it last night!

I think I want a dog too. But she wants a Chizer (cross of schnauzer and chihuahua.) and I don't like the chihuahua part of the dog at all! But I'm totally for a mini schnauzer. I've included pics. How can you not think these guys are cute?!

Starting out backwards...

I'm just starting out. True, but I'm not going to tell anyone about this blog till I have a few days down at least! Then I'll feel I have actually accomplished something. :D

So, where to start?

I moved to SLC to live with my grandmother during my student teaching this coming fall. So far things have been a little bumpy.
First speed bump is my grandmother. I love her. I really do. But, like most old people, she is very much set in her ways. She's a red personality and I'm a mix of blue and white. So sometimes we really clash...Though not too often. (She's only made me cry once so far.)
Second is my job situation. (I know I'm not the only one with this problem.) I've been searching for a job for the past month to no avail. I do have a glimmer of hope on the horizon though. I had an interview last Friday and they asked me to come in for a second interview on Wednesday. That's a good sign right? The main hardship about this is not having an income. I'm not used to being completely broke. I've always had a little spending cash on hand, but now I can barely afford gas for my car.
Third bump is moving to a new ward. (LDS translation for congregation if you were wondering.) I'm not very good at transitioning from one ward to another. I always feel so out of place. I feel bad for my best friend Nicole. I decided to go to her ward so I'd know someone. But I feel like I'm always following her around, clinging. I really wish I could just get over it already. But transitions are tough.
Fourth I really miss my friends from Logan. I kinda feel like I've abandoned them. My other best friend Emily just had surgery and I haven't been able to go visit. I feel like a horrible friend. :(
Fifth and, so far, last bump is my social life. It really takes time to develop a social circle when you live somewhere. I feel like I just got comfortable with my last social circle and now I have to start over completely! *sigh* I had 3 people in the last 3 days ask me about my "social life." What social life?! I don't have a job, so I don't have $ for gas, thus I cannot really go anywhere, it's all just one big vicious cycle! Grrrr!

Oh well, c'est la vie n'est pas? - did I mention I speak french? (I'm LDS and I served a mission to France and Switzerland. Enough said.)