Long Distance Relationship

So,
I have never used this blog to talk about my romantic relationship. I have used it to rant about almost everything else, but not very often about my personal personal life. Right now I am going to break my rule.

Last summer Chris (Boyfriend, but I hate that term because it sounds extremely high school-esque.) spent the summer in northern Indiana working an internship. It was my first long distance relationship stint. It was difficult, but we each took action to get involved in other friendships. I had an excellent time with my small group at church, family, and other friends. When Chris returned in the fall, I felt like I knew him better because of the experience. When the only tools that a couple have to communicate are the phone and the internet, they don't have the opportunity to just sit and enjoy each other's presence. (Which is a beautiful thing, but it doesn't really increase the amount that you know about another person.) When they are on the phone, they have to talk about life and important stuff, or what they did that day, or anything, or the entire phone conversation sounds like this:

(Note that the (Cricket) inserts are the sound that a cricket makes in the lull of conversation in movies.)

"(Cricket Cricket) So..."
"(Cricket) I don't know what to say...(Cricket)"
"(Cricket) Well..."
" I, (Cricket), I wish I had something to say..., (yawn) I already told you everything that I did today..."
"I should let you go to bed."
"No, (cricket) I want to talk... (Cricket) I just don't have anything to say (yawn)."

Anyway, Since graduation Chris moved back to W. I see him a few times a week, and talk to him about once a day. We have found that this is harder than him being far away. We do have the opportunity to see each other, but we can't afford to make the drive every day because of the simple enemies of time and money.

I am learning things through the experience, things that you wouldn't expect a person to learn from stuff like this. Like:
Take time to hang out outside/join a biker gang.
Do random things that you wouldn't normally do.
Don't set an agenda for everything; be spontaneous.
Don't be surprised by what blessings may come by phone.
Make the time that you have with the people you love a concentrated investment.

P.S. If you have any long distance advice, I would love to hear it.

Life Lessons

Recently I have learned some life lessons that I thought I would share...

1. Communication in all relationships is essential to the health of the relationship.

2. Never assume that you understand a person, even if you have known them all of their life.

3. Always take time to concentrate on the people who you love. (This means that you can not be distracted while you are taking this time. If there are distractions, remove them.)

4. It is better to stop talking about your worries and start praying about them.

5. Only God can truly change a person.


Beyond these things... Here are some life lessons that I am glad to share, but I do not know how applicable they will be to the general public.

1. If you choose to dress like a pirate and go out into public and smile at people you meet, do not expect them to smile back.

2. If you try to kick someone in the butt and actually miss and kick some one else (who you have never spoken to) in the butt, do not apologize immediately. Wait until the person has had time to process the incident and then admit to what you were trying to do and apologize profusely.

3. If you are going to be spending any length of time in Park City, make sure you Learn Spanish.

4. Sometimes you just need to blow off steam. If this means cramming 5 people into a TINY car and screaming "Move Along" while driving down busy city streets, then so be it.

Pirates

This evening I am going to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. I will not hesitate to say that I am excited as well as skeptical.

When I saw the Curse of the Black Pearl, I loved it so much that I think I bought it at full price when it first came out. This action goes against my "six month movie rule" under which I am not allowed to buy a movie until it has been out for six months and/or the price has gone down approximately $5 or $6. I thought that Jonny Depp was wonderful. I loved how many of the scenes were so similar to the actual pirates ride at Disney World. I liked the way that it appealed to so many people, and how the plot made you pity Barbosa as well as want him out of the picture at the end of the film.

Last year when I saw Dead Man's Chest I was much less impressed. I thought that the effects and stunts were alright. The movie was well done, but I thought that it was extremely dark. The opening scene in the jail with the tortured screams of the prisoners was unnecessary, and for me it was unwanted. Also, Davy Jones and his crew contained no comical characters as the last movie's villain's had. I do have to admit that they did try to make Davy Jones character rounded. The only character on that boat who was dynamic was Bootstraps Bill, and he was still as dark even in his transformation.
On the positive side of the film, I liked Jack Sparrow again as always. I thought that it was a great Idea to bring back Barbosa at the end. It is good that they found ways to integrate the cast from the previous movie. Orlando Bloom was not nearly as annoying as Will Turner than he is as Paris in "Troy." I am intrigued to find out more about Tia Dalma. (The witch doctor character).

So after tonight I will have an opinion on the next film. I will not immediately write about it, so that I do not taint any one's opinion of the film. I am hoping that this series will be like most trilogies in that the first film and the last film will be the best films in the series.

Lightening is amazing

Yesterday I went to work and then back to Mac to work on the ever coming Garage Sale. Seriously, if I post about it enough, I just might have one.

Anyway... after pricing all of my pre-sorted items and neatly placing them back in their corresponding boxes, I settled down with my sister to watch a couple of episodes of Reba. These were the first two episodes of the series. I have seen a lot of the episodes, but never had I seen these two. I give that show a lot of credit. It is funny and for the most part incredibly clean for the television of today. Plus it is a show that my sister and I both like. That is saying something.

After my insistence my family got carry out Chinese. I ordered Chicken fried rice, (The Chinese food staple in my life) and we all sat around and enjoyed our meal. Then we started talking about the future, and everyone got all stressed out and dinner did not end well. (At least there was Chinese food.)

Later, I went grocery shopping and headed for home. All around me was incredible lightening. There were cloud to cloud bolts, cloud to ground bolts, and the kind of bolts that you can't see because they are too high in the sky above the clouds. Although the lightening accompanied a flash flood that made it impossible for me to get through the water by my house without taking off my shoes and rolling my pants to mid calf (wasn't high enough), I loved it. I like the spring storms in Kansas.

Graduation weekend

Well,
All of the students (but a few who are working in the 'burro this summer) have left campus. It is a quiet atmosphere. There is not as much urgent work to do at work either.

Graduation week and weekend was great. All of the things that I had helped plan went well. Christopher, and Justin's reception went well. I don't think that Justin's family will ever be able to eat all of the left over food that they took home. Planning on 200 people may have not been the best idea.

At Katie's (Chris' Katie) reception, we did have almost 200 people. We all worked so hard to keep it running smoothly. We ran out of punch, and Mexican layer dip. Chris' dad came up with an alternative to Mexican layer dip that has similar ingredients because we ran out of cheese and tomatoes.

I went to work on Monday and worked on a large mailing. On Tuesday, I went to the Dr.'s for a check up for my job next year, and on Tuesday evening I went to Wichita to see Chris. We went with justin, elise, and doc to shop around then to Apple Bees. Becky met us there for just a short time.

All in all, I am exhausted. I think I am going to sleep the rest of the day. I have no goals, and no aspirations for the day. I want to start packing up things here in the burro for my move soon. I will have to be inspired.

I am thinking about trying to write a short book in a month with Doc, but I am not going to try it if I don't get some good ideas.... We will see.

One Minute post

So I am doing this as an experiment. I am going to post all that I can in one minute.

GO!

Ok, Yesterday was a great day. I went to W with Chris and we went shopping. He was looking for something to wear for Graduation. I found four shirts. He found one tie and borrowed a shirt from his Brother.

Then We listened to Katie have a concert. She did a great job!

All in all

STOP!

This is my one minute post.

yesterday ended with a purple coffee cup

Yesterday was Chris' first day of no college. We had an awesome day!

First we drove to Marion to get my TB test. (Which is red this morning, and I am afraid that they will tell me that I have to get a chest x-ray.)

Then we ran errands and got coffee at Little Pleasures.

After that, we cleaned out my music lockers. (all five years of music and books) The tub that we carried out of there was so heavy we had to drag it down the wolgi hallway.

Then we ran more errands which included going to Dale's and seeing Dawn (Chris' cousin's wife who we always see in the grocery store).

After that I collapsed on the couch and fell asleep while Chris went to church for a while.

For dinner we went to the lake and had a picnic with a group of friends and after we finished eating we skipped rocks.

Finally after all of this we went to Justin and Elise's to celebrate her finishing Music History. We watched American Idol and ate Smores.

The one downer of the evening. Malinda Doolittle got kicked off of American Idol. America let me down with that decision. The fact that people freaked out that she was so good that they voted for their other favorite and completely shut her out was extremely frustrating to her four loyal fans sitting that little living room. Simon was obviously also disappointed.

After we had gotten over our bummed state, we cooked our smores and then sat around and laughed at each other. The evening ended with us tattooing each other's feet.

A normal day, a fun evening, made a great day.

Random Fact: I have a purple coffee cup on my left ankle that says "Black and Strong and A Bit A Suga"

Shaken

I don't feel like I am going to be on solid ground again for a long time.

I am shaken. I have placed my feet on the sand of an enormous desert that changes with the will of the wind.

One small breeze turned into a strong wind and now all of the sand beneath my trepidatious feet is blowing away.

If I move, I will fall.

If I do not move I will sink into the changing sand and loose my way even more.

I moved, and I fell.

God, Please take my feet and place them on the Solid Rock. Do not let me go astray. Let me love those around me with your perfect love. Grant me peace.

The wash your hands post did not work

So, About a week ago I posted on the value of hand washing/sanitizing and trying to contain germs. Well this cry for help did not work. It all started on Sunday. My stomach was upset. It wasn't anything that hurt or anything, I just had an enormous amount of extra air in there. (I am feeling rather uninhibited right now, so you may want to run for cover)
After the gaseous experience passed (ahem) I began to feel fuzzy in the head which was accompanied by a strange sensation in my fingers, elbows, and shoulders. (My immune system is completely ridiculous. It creates war zones in all of the joints in my arms.) After these sensations ended I got the "upper sore throat." This begins behind my nose behind the "pharyngeal tonsil." (see diagram) This is an annoying soreness that is just enough to make me want to pour soothing water into my nose, and the only thing that keeps me from doing so is the knowledge that it would burn and cause me to want to swear.
The next day the soreness in the throat had moved down to settle where these things normally do. (It was much less painful than the previous day, probably because of the two tons of elderberry concentrate that I guzzled.) My nasal passages were not to be outdone by my throat, and they began a steady post nasal drip.
Finally today my body feels alright, my head does not. It is slowly draining every last bit of mucus out of my body. I will hopefully be a snot free person by this weekend, or it will be very difficult completing my tasks.

To all of you out there who are wondering, Yes I still wash my hands regularly and use hand sanitizer when hand washing is not available and after every time I blow my nose!)

May 9th included Murder, Mystery, and Fireball

I am beginning my day in 4th grade. I am expecting it to be an eventful one. This afternoon is a play day for the 4th and 5th grades. I should have worn something different. I will have to go shoe-less because I am not getting these soaking wet.

Yesterday was Christopher's and Justin's birthdays. Last year we kidnapped them and took them out for Pizza in the middle of the night, so we knew we had to top that. Elise and I worked out butts off organizing a mystery dinner based on the game clue. We had it in the little theatre on the stage with stage lights and drippy candles. Everything looked amazing. I was afraid that people wouldn't get into it, but I think that everyone had a good time. After the dinner we unloaded everything at my apartment and did an enormous amount of dishes.

Later we drove over to Hillapalousa to see if anything was going on. It was over already, so we went to Justin and Elise's to play Fireball. I probably shouldn't be telling you this, so Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa, don't worry about my safety. Fireball is a game that Chris learned from the people who he went to church with in Indiana this summer. In the Game Fireball, You take a tennis ball and soak it in gasoline. Then you throw it above a candle so that it ignites. After the ball is on fire you let it bounce a few times without touching it because it is too hot right after ignited. Before the ball goes out somebody goes and catches it, and then you play a game akin to hot potato, only you are playing with a flaming tennis ball. The grass was so wet from the rain, it didn't light at all. The first few bounces leave little flaming patches on the ground, but they go out as soon as the gas burns up. I was surprised at how cool the ball was for being on fire. I have been told that the flames usually singe the hairs on your hands, but from today's inspection, all of my hand and harm hair is in tact. Elise was the only person who was less than thrilled about the activity. We got to play three times, and then decided that the neighbors wouldn't like the activity, so we went to the lake to continue. We only forgot one thing, the matches. So after driving to the lake to play fireball, and trying to light a candle with a car lighter (which doesn't work) we returned home.

Chris came over and opened the gifts from my parents and from me. All in all it was a good birthday. He also did his senior presentation yesterday and I think that he is glad to have it done. He did an excellent job.

Well that was my May 9th. I will tell you about today some other time.

nothing to say

I have started two posts today. I can't finish either one of them. I just don't have anything to say.

Today our office all went out for coffee at the same time. It was good. I got a pican bar to go with my coffee.

Blah...

Hickups strike again

So, I have the guilty pleasure of listening to Kidd Kraddick in the Morning. So, this morning while he was beginning to talk about last night's American Idol performances he got the hick ups. The entire show halted to talk about different ways to get rid of the hick ups. He even had Al hold his earl lobe and tap on his wrist six times. There were also suggestions to stand on his head and drink a glass of water, be frightened by Big Al, lay upside down on the sofa, and any number of other things.
All that I can say, is the only fool proof way that I have found to rid myself of the hick ups is to drink water from the opposite side of the glass. DO NOT try to do this standing upright. I have seen people try this. IT DOES NOT WORK. You will wind up with water all down the front of you.

Education Completion Dinner

Last night I attended the Education Completion dinner for graduates of Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. I must say that the dinner was great. Pioneer did an excellent job with the food. It was the best meal that I have ever eaten that was catered by the college.
The main speaker was a principal. (I know him from my student teaching experiences.) He talked about the differences in students, and how we need to acknowledge those differences in order to truly become teachers. He did an excellent job. The rest of the education department took the time to say a few words. We all took a group picture. And that is it. That is my last official act as a student at Tabor College. I thought that I was done after student teaching, but it never really ended. Soon students on campus will leave and I will be here working for alumni. Then I will leave and go out to do what I have been trained to do. I will teach elementary music kindergarten through fifth grade. I am excited; I am apprehensive; I am ready to know what this will be like.

garage sales

This morning I woke up at 6:40. Why? you may ask, well because it is the season of garage sales! Chris, Em, Justin, Elise, and I got up at the butt crack of dawn to drive all over Hillsboro and seek out plunder from other people's discards. I am now the proud owner of a new jacket (from Old Navy with tags still on, never been worn) and the VHS Newsies. I also got an old antique door from a farmstead. With Christopher and hopefully his grandfather's help, I will be making this door into a fabulous coffee table. (It may be the longest coffee table on record) Chris got a chair straight out of the 70's. It is in Great shape and it has great aesthetic lines. I am proud to say that I spotted it first.

Now all that I need to do is figure out when My garage sale will be. My sister and I are working on getting it all together, but we hit a couple of snags. It may be farther into may than we originally planned. I have heard some people say that this means that I won't have it at all, but I intend to have one, I just don't know when.

All this to sum up the fact that I really want to know where I will be living next year so that I don't feel spread out so much. I am ready to plunge into teaching. I just wish that the rest of life would order itself.

"My shepheard will supply my need Jehova is His name."

The most attractive man with a Butt Chin Ever

I rest my case.

That Touch of Mink

Yesterday I watched the Movie That Touch of Mink. It is a great old flick with Dorris Day and Carie Grant. Day plays a beautiful who has refused men's advances all of her life until she meets Grant a well spoken owner of some sort of credit company. Day falls for Grant who offers her a trip around the world with him but not in holy matrimony. In a backwards mix up, Day takes him up on his offer only to gravely disappoint him on their first "night" together when she breaks out in a rash from nerves of their "progressive" situation. She and Grant have a couple of other rendezvous mix ups, and in the end they wind up getting married. On their wedding night Grant breaks out in a rash because of their "traditional" situation. The audience can only assume that they get over their inhibitions, because the movie ends with a touching shot of Grant, Day, and their bouncing Baby.

All in all it was a clean movie that was based on Sexual Tension. How did film makers of the 50's (even though this film came out in the 60's) do that. They were successful in this film as well as dozens of others that I have seen. (Most of which contain Cary Grant, but only because I have had a Grant fixation for the past couple of months or so.) Why does sexual tension in current films end in a passionate love scene with the camera panning the couple as they undress each other only to pan away to the window or fade to black? Most of the time the love scene is not even vital to the resolution of the plot. Blah...

Change Gears...

Last night at Sonic I ordered three separate orders of almost the exact same thing in the course of 30 min and sent one of the orders to another car in the lot. It was hilarious and so much fun!!! Sorry to all of you Hillsburry sonic people.

I need to get more sleep.

Wash your hands

So,
Within the last month most of the people around me have gotten this bad cold which develops into a sinus infection which for Chris and Ashley has drifted into their ears and caused them much pain. I have observed that this stinks, and that we should all, as good human beings, observe some curtsies for those around us.

First: Wash your hands, a lot!
Second: If water and soap is not available, use hand sanitizer.
Third: Use disinfectant spray and spray all fixtures, handles, and door nobs. (at least 3-5 times a day
Fourth: Take a vitamin or some vitamins. They help boost the immune system and therefore stop the spread of germs.

I know that this post is somewhat pointless, and could be considered mildly annoying, but you know what...
It is what I wanted to contribute to the public today.

Tuesday's Reflections on Monday

On Monday I subbed. I went to Tabor to work till 10am then I subbed for the rest of the day. It was an interesting day. I don't know how to quite explain my entire experience.

It all began with computers class in which I had to constantly spur one kid on until the end of class. It was a TASK!

After Computers came Learning Support which is a fancy name for Study hall. In study hall, two of my students were arguing about whether Ozzy Osbourne still did drugs or not. They finally decided to ask me and make me the deciding factor. I simply said that whether he does drugs nor or not his brain is already fried enough that no one will ever know for sure. I did let the LS class our 1.5 min. early because they are freshmen and they never get to be at the front of the line to eat. They were quite grateful.

I ate lunch, and then went to "Boys Weights." This class consists of mostly upper class men who are larger than me. They ran a couple of laps, and we went to the weight room. They cranked their music, took off most of their clothes, and started lifting. I went to the office to read a book only to poke my head out of the door when I thought that they were killing each other. There was a lot of screaming, yelling, grunting, and indistinguishable cursing, but there was no fighting and that was what I was the most concerned about. After they had finished lifting, we all traveled back to the gym to stretch. I do not know if I was the victim of a random "pants-ing" or if the kid was just stupid to pull down his own drawers, but I definitely got inadvertently mooned on the way back to the Gym. I debated all of the uncomfortable things I could do to this semi-delinquent kid, but all in all I came to the conclusion that he would not become any less of a delinquent if I did sit all of them down and give them a lecture about appropriate behavior and school protocol. I was not offended by the butt. I was not angered by the butt. Mostly I was amused by it, but I did leave a note for the teacher to remind his class to keep their pants on until they reached the locker room.

Compared to that, the freshmen/sophomore PE class was a breeze. We went outside and played softball. I forgot how awkward freshmen PE class can be. I also forgot how funny it is. I had a good time, but towards the end of the class I had to go to the bathroom and so did about half of the other girls out on the field. They kept yelling, "Can we go now? Miss Hope! I have to go to the BATHROOM!!!"

All in all it was one of my more eventful sub days.

The band came home

Well, the band came back on Tuesdaay, and I am no longer the foster parent to one possibly pregnant Kitti. I have to be honest, I understand cats much better than I used to. I used to think that you couldn't give cats commands like, come, no, and down, but cats, or at least this cat, responds to general commands. Except for when she does not want to come into the house for the night. Then your best bet is to let her sit outside till she gets bored and beggs to come in.

It is good to have Chris back. He had a good time on Band Tour. He even got to eat one of my favorite kind of German Chocolate. (Kinder chocolate) I asked him to bring me Kinder Bueno (a variation of this chocolate),on the condition that I never say the word Nummies again. In a surprising turn of events, the little shop containing the chocolate was closed when he tried to go back and get some. I don't know if this means that I can still say Nummies or not.

This afternoon I am bound for the Foot's wedding. She is getting married in Oklahoma tomorrow so Amy, Rachel, Sharon, Elise and I are traveling together today to go to the rehearsal and help with things. We get to stay in a guest house all together. It should be a great time. I hope I am awake enough for the event. This weekend is FULL of stuff to get done.

As an update on the rest of my life: I don't like apartment hunting. It is stressful and should not be a necessary part of re-locating. Just pray that I find something the I like that is affordable and close to my school.

Sometime I want to hear the song Closing Time on the radio. Hopefully soon.

(Written from the perspective of) Saturday April 21

This morning I spent my time with Simba the cat. She is needy. We read a book, played, and ate breakfast together. Then she meowed at me for 30 min, and it was time for me to go.

At 2:00 I went to Charles, and we began our cooking adventure. We began with the Cake. It was amazing the ingredients were
1lb bakers chocolate
1 3/4 stick butter
1 tbsp flower
1 tbsp sugar
5 medium eggs
That's it. Then entire thing is made mostly of chocolate. AMAZING!
After that we worked on the bred (Italian sausage and herb), Green Bean casserole, peanut butter and jelly meatballs (Much better than they sound), French Onion Soup, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Salad, and Pork chops and Rice. The food turned out amazing!

During the cooking, Rachel and I left to watch the promenade. I had a lot of fun watching the students drive up in their fun cars and watching them try to function like they normally would even dressed up in formal wear.

After that we went back and ate supper at the Remples, and then I went to take care of Simba again.

The evening ended at Rachel's where Becca and Aaron were baking pie. I froed out Aaron's hair, and Becca did the same to hers. They then got out their paints and painted with Bob Ross as we all watched. (the hair frowing was in dedication to Bob's awesome Afro!) I have to say that Aaron looked pretty good with the poof.

I was so tired that I turned in early, but after I left, Becca made her painting and another painting into impressionistic paintings with her Fingers. They look amazing!

It was a great day! One to remember.

Response to Sunday's earthday experience

So, I took the quiz that Doc has on his blog and these are my results. I am not sure how accurate they are because even though my part of Fern's house is only in the 500 sq ft category, the rest of the house is much bigger but I have no idea how much bigger. I think that obviously my biggest problem is the food issue. It is just so difficult to buy and eat food that is locally grown especially when I don't garden or can things.
Anyway do want to encourage anyone who reads this to consider the three R's (and not the scholastic ones) Yes, I am talking about Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Why? Because it is important for us to take care of what God has given us.

CATEGORY ACRES
FOOD 5.9
MOBILITY 0.2
SHELTER 3.2
GOODS/SERVICES 2.5
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 12

IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON.
WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.
IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 2.7 PLANETS.
http://www.myfootprint.org/

So what did I do on earth day? After a globally awakening church service, I went to Wichita with Amy and Gallivanted.

It was a wonderful experience, but not very globally friendly. We browsed a lot of stores, and bought not much. I did get a pare of black dress shoes which I was really excited about because I haven't been able to find any that I would buy for about 5 months. I also got a little yellow shirt which I am wearing today. (Hurrah for more clothes to wear for teaching!)We also went to a new store called "World Market." It was like a cross between Pottery Barn, Bed Bath and Beyond, Ten Thousand Villages, and Whole Foods. It was a great place to shop around. Amy bought an incense burner for the incense that Jen Jen brought back from Australia.

After Gallivanting, we went back to Amy's house and strung necklaces. All in all it was a great day!

Desolate Hillsboro

Well, Here I sit. Not at the Library where I normally post, but in Justin and Elise's house. They (along with many other Tabor students) are on Band Tour and currently are traveling from Denver CO to Utah. I am Cat sitting for them. Simba is a good cat, but last night after I let her into the house she lost her collar and now I don't know if I should let her roam around outside without one on.... The dilemma of not knowing anything about the cat/collar relationship is much more troubling than I had expected.

Since Chris and Justin were gone, and Amy is out of town, last night I filled my empty afternoon and evening with 6 and 1/2 episodes of Gilmore Girls. I watched the first six episodes. Three of which I have not seen. I plan on continuing this faithful watching now so that Chris does not have to endure it while he is in the same state with me.

It is windy. There is a stiff south wind that I will have to ride my bike into on my way back to my house. It made getting here much too easy so I guess that I will have to pay my dues to the ever-blowing Kansas wind.

Today, I plan on spending the day in cooking Lab with Charles R. He is a wonderful cook, and is going to teach me some of the secrets of the trade. I am truly excited especially for the chocolate cake. The whole ordeal starts at 2 and will wind up around 6. I will let you know the outcome of my cooking experience.

Saving this for a busy day

So, I don't have time to post. I filled this out a long time ago and saved it for when I didn't have time to post.
Here ya go:

WHO IS THE LAST PERSON

1. You hung out with? My parents
2. Saw you cry: Someone at the Thursday performance of Over the River and Through the Woods
3. Went to the movies with you? Chris and his Family (Night at the Museum)
1. 4. You went to the mall with? Justin, Elise, Chris (For about 10 min)
5. You went to dinner with? My Family (for my sister’s Birthday)
6. You talked on the phone to? Thee Bookstore (ordering Senior Bibles for graduation)
7. Said 'I love you' to you and really meant it? Chris

W O U L D . Y O U . R A T H E R ?

1. Pierce your nose or tongue? Nose
2. Be serious or be funny? Funny
3. Drink whole or skim milk? Skim (cheaper and less fat!)
4. Die in a fire or drown? Fire of Smoke Inhalation (Is that a cop out?)
5. Spend time with your parents or enemies? Parents

D O . Y O U . P R E F E R . . .

1. Flowers or candy? Wild Flowers
2. Gray or black? Black (it is so classy)
3. Color or Black and white photos? Color (if it is quality color, then Black and White)
4. Lust or love? Love
5. Sunrise or sunset? Sunset
6. M&Ms or Skittles? Skittles or Peanut Butter M&M’s
7. Staying up late or waking up early? Neither (It’s the truth. My favorite time of day is between 10:00 am and 9:00 pm. I like daylight a lot, unless it is a warm summer night.)

D O . Y O U . P R E F E R . . .

1. Sun or moon? Sun
2. Winter or Fall? Fall
3. Left or right? (Brained, or Handed?) Right for both
4. 10 acquaintances or having two best friends? Two best friends
5. Sunny or rainy? Sunny
6. Vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream? Vanilla

A B O U T . Y O U

1. What time is it? 10:22
2. First and middle Name? Jennifer Kay
3. Nickname(s): Jen, Jenni, Hope, Krebs, Slick, Hot Lips, Looser (thanks sister), and Hopie (thanks Natalie)
4. What is your birth date? August 2, 1983 (Did you know that current high school freshmen were born in 1990?)
5. What do you want? To always be in God’s will
6. Where do you want to live? Anywhere, Hopefully outside of the USA for a while
7. How many kids do you want? I used to want six, now I don’t know if I want kids (No Clue)
8. You want to get married? Yes

U N I Q U E

1. Nervous habit: I bite my nails
2. Are you double jointed? No
3. Can you roll your tongue? Yes, I taught myself last summer
4. Can you raise one eyebrow? Not very well. I am working on it.
5. Can you cross your eyes? Yes
6. Do you make your bed daily? For about a month at a time, then I don’t for a while, then I do again

R A N D O M

1. Which shoe goes on first? Right (unless they are sandals and I am sitting, then which ever is closest)
2. Ever thrown a shoe at someone? People, Walls, Other Random Objects…
3. On the average, how much money do you carry with you? $5 or $10

O T H E R
1. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? I always Twirl (What is the point of eating a long noodle when you cut it up?)
2. Have you ever eaten Spam? I don’t think so. If I did it was in junior high when spam was quite humorous to my good friends and I.
3. Favorite ice cream: Cookies and Cream, Coffee with chocolate chips, Vanilla
4. How many kinds of cereal are in your cabinet? Three: Bran Flakes, Rice Crispies, Golden Grahams
5. What's your favorite beverage? Pepsi, Ginger ail, Grape Juice
6. What's your favorite food? Ethnic Food (Chinese, Mexican, Indian, Italian, and lots more)
7. Do you cook? Yes

I N . T H E . L A S T . M O N T H . H A V E . Y O U ?

1. Had a b/f or g/f? Yes
2. Bought something: Yes
3. Most expensive thing you bought? A Dress (a very awesome dress)
4. Sang: YES
5. Been hugged: Yes
6. Felt stupid: Probably
7. Missed someone: Yes
8. Got drunk: No
9. Danced crazy: Yes
10. Gotten your hair cut: Yes
11. Cried: Yes
12. Lied: No
13. Snuck out of the house: No (sneaking out of one’s own house is a bit… pointless)

You Too

I am subbing at the Middle School today. I passed a teacher in the hallway. It was one of those "Long Hallway" encounter where you see the person approaching from far off and then debate for the next half a minute what you are going to say. I decided that I would speak first so that I was not caught unaware. I went with the traditional opener:

"Hi"

which was met with the reply:

"Doing well"

Not the correct response.

He had obviously thought that I would opt for the "Hi, How are you?" or the ever present "'Sup? (accompanied by head jerk)" option. But his anguish did not stop there. The "Doing Well" was complemented by:

"Doing Well, uhh... (Mutter, mutter, indistinguishable words...) Nice day..."

And then his voice trailed off as he continued his long walk down the hall to encounter his next...er...victim.

I only recount this encounter because I have the terrible habit of "You Too" when it is not applicable.

"Have a nice trip." - You too. but they aren't going anywhere.

"Good Luck on your apartment hunting." - You too. but they still have years of college to complete

"Get well soon." You too. but they haven't been sick since last July.

And the such.

So "Doing Well, Nice Day" guy. Keep Looking up! Because it is hard to make eye contact in the hallway that way.

Elise

This post is a dedication to my friend Elise.

Elise came to Tabor when I was a Junior. She has a sparkling personality that makes those around her feel great. She seeks God with all her heart and strives to be a wonderful wife, student, and vocalist.

Tonight Elise will give her Junior Recital with Andrew playing a trumpet concerto. I am delighted to also be singing her last number with her.

Good Luck Wonderful Friend. You will be amazing.

Tragedy

Tragedy Strikes Everywhere,
Sometimes the tragedies are personal, simply occurring within ones own person. They are emotional, mental, or physical trials that we do not let escape outside of the world of one.

Sometimes these tragedies escape our tall walls of self preservation and bleed over into the lives of the people we care about. Often this hemorrhaging of personal tragedy is beyond the control of the person bleeding. Sometimes they are completely unaware of their own tragedy, and sometimes they are unaware of reality altogether.

Tragedy can also come in horrific proportions such as mass chaos and the taking of innocent lives. These are the tragedies that get noticed. These are the tragedies that go down in histories. Terrorism, War, Mass Murder...

So, What do we do? How do we react? Prayer.
How do we help? How do we take action? Reliance on God to give us direction.
How do we mend? Only through the balm of the Living God.
How do we hope while others we love are still broken? By hoping in the power of Jesus Christ the Risen Lord.

I don't get it

Sometimes there are days that are so bizarre that it seems like I am dreaming. Yesterday was one of those days. Today I can only ask God, "Why?"

The rest of the weekend went well, but right now that seems pretty distant.

There is a Waterdeep song that keeps running through my head, so I will close with that.

Waterdeep: "Psalm 131"

Oh Lord my heart is not lifted up
My eyes are not raised to high for Thee
I do not think on things to great or marvelous
Or matters too difficult for me

But I have calmed and quieted my soul
Like a weaned child is my soul within me
I have calmed and quieted my soul
Like a weaned child with its mother is my soul within me

O Israel trust in the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore
O Israel trust in the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore

Wedding Buzz

Well, Tizz the season to get married. The summer months are approaching...

How many weekends are you traveling to weddings?
How many weddings are you missing to go to other weddings?
How much gas will be spent on the average trip to weddings this summer?
Is that why gas is so high? (curse fossil fuels!)
Do you have your wedding gifts lined up?
How are you helping your soon to be wedded friends?
What kind of bridal shower are you throwing?
How many bridal showers are you attending this spring?
How many Bridal showers did you miss because the Postal system did not work and you got the invitation two days after the actual wedding shower? (I missed One. Sorry Jill, the postal system failed me!)
Do you say yes to do the brides hair? Do you say no to the bride EVER?!?!?
Do you serve the punch or the cake?
How do you decorate the getaway car? Are you nice or mischievous?
Do you cut the circular cake in wedges or in long thin slices? (Try to cut the rectangular cake in circles!)
Are the groom's men banned from the vicinity of the punch bowl before the reception?
Are the groom's men banned from the entire reception? (Does that remind anyone else of King's Men?)
Do you take the "And Guest" or do you leave the "And Guest" at home?
What if YOU are the "And Guest," Do you go or do you stay at home?
Should I make friends with a pilot who can take me to Texas in May?
What do you say to His or Her side of the family in the somewhat awkward reception line? Does "Congratulations" really cut it?
Are you going to see these beloved friends who are getting married ever again?
Does this mean that your turn is coming? Will it ever come? (Probably round the mountain when it comes...)
What do you wear? Will it rain? Do you still wear the hot little dress to the wedding if it is cold? (YES!)
What would happen if you stood up and cried I OBJECT at the end of the wedding?
What if the "And Guest" stands up at the end of the wedding and cries I OBJECT!
What if the "And Guest" was your crazy uncle Bob?
Do I really go to Oklahoma 4 weekends in a row this June?
Should I rent an apartment in Oklahoma this June? (Probably)

Now I don't want people to get the wrong Idea. I actually love going to weddings. I am not a huge fan of receptions, but they have potential to be fun. I like the excuse to get out of town on the weekends to travel to weddings. I like staying in Cabanas in Oklahoma. I love my friends. I wish them well. I wish their husbands well. I pray for them in their first year of marriage.

So for all of you staring weddings in the face this summer, Shout Huzzah! And Don't Forget to weld the vents shut on your Get away car, or that thing is going to smell like Blue Cheese for months!

Cary Grant

Last night Amy, Rachel, and I watched Operation Petticoat and then we watched To Catch a Thief with Mike, Roman, and Chris. Both were excellent examples of later years of Cary Grant. I would have to say that Grant is one of my favorite actors of all time. Although there is serious rumor of him having a non traditional lifestyle, He is one of my favorite people to watch on the old silver screen. I would encourage anyone who enjoys old films to check out these two movies as well as, Arsenic and Old Lace, His Girl Friday, Father Goose, Charade, and Dream Wife. Each for its own Grant qualities. Our only beef with Grant? Why did you insist on wearing your pants so enormously high. I know that the era called for a tall trouser, but did you have to exceed height of any of the other people with whom you were on screen? Oh well... At least you made up for it in physical comedy, facial expression, good looks, and charm.

Cheers to you Cary! What a guy.

Yes No Maybe So

Do you ever feel like you are going round in circles chasing something? That is how I feel today.

Easter was great.

Friday-we went to Salina and drove around with my mom and sister. Then we went back to my house in Mac and ate Chinese food. We watched Open Season with my family. Then Chris and I watched Lady in the Water. His movies keep getting weirder and weirder.

Saturday-we went to Wichita to see Chris' family. The entire family was there. (both sides.) It was a colorful evening. I wish that we all weren't so tired. Everyone under the age of 24 looked like they were going to pass out.

Sunday-we lead music at our sunrise service at the reservoir. (my hands have never been so cold) It was 20 degrees out there. Then we went to 1st for church. Chris did a great job with the music. The choir sounded great! Then in the afternoon we went back to my parents house. We had a relaxing time there and then Kati and I died our hair. Mine is just a bit redder than my natural color, and hers is just a bit blacker than her natural color. It was a success.

Monday-not much has happened, just a lot of working and a lot of getting ready for senior night tonight.

I need a Nap

Potty Stomping

As most of you who read this blog may know, for the past three months I have been working as a Secretary here in the Alumni Department at Tabor. The office has been out of sorts for the past while due to a potty problem. The toilet on our half of the building has been "acting up," (not flushing as it is supposed to and running long after it should have stopped.)

We had the same problem about a month ago, and the Potty Stompers came. These men, who obviously have plumbing background experience, come into the office, take the toilet up off of the floor, put a large machine over the potty hole, and start it up. This machine makes a low rumbling sound which is accompanied by random sounds of vigorous stomping (which at times sounds like slow jack hammering). My office is adjacent to the bathroom, so the potty stomping is clearly heard from my desk. When these men come to stomp the potty, the other men who work in my office do the right thing and assist the potty stompers in any way they need. They check the progress of the stomping in the washroom, in the other offices, outside the office, and around the back of the office. After they fixed the problem last month, we got a new potty. This new potty was an estimated three to four inches taller than the last one that we had. (All in the office commented on the beauty and elevation of the new potty.)

Yesterday, the new potty broke. Today, the potty stompers are back.

If I were an olympian...

Last night, after teaching voice lessons, I went to Rachel, Amy, and Laura's. We talked and watched Dancing with the Stars. After that was over we watched Cool Runnings. This morning I got to thinking about what kind of Olympian I would be if I had the chance to be an Olympian.

(In this wondering I did not take into account my almost 6 foot frame since that dictates some of the events in which a person can participate.)

I found that I am most drawn to sports in both the winter and summer Olympics.

• I would honestly like to bobsled a lot. I know that it may seem cliche to say after I have just watched Cool Runnings, but I like to think that the film has no influence over my desire.
• I think that I would also enjoy slalom skiing. Something about the motion and the control of the skier is thrillingly precise.
  
• The Luge scares me beyond all shadow of a doubt, but if I prove to be good at it, I think it would be a blast. (I have similar thoughts about sky diving.)

As Far as the Summer Olympics go...

• Put me in a pool, and as long as I don't have to do the Butterfly I will be happy!!!
• Being on the diving team also would be AMAZING!
• Although I would detest playing sand volleyball in the little things that they wear, I would love having that kind of athleticism and endurance.
  
• I want to be a high jumper! Their event is the most awesome field event, right behind...
  
• THE HAMMER THROW. ('nouf said)
• If I could Compete, Really Compete in a Triathlon, it would be great. (I wish that I could only do the Swimming, and Cycling part. I hate running.)
  

So there are plenty of things that I would Love to do, but there are also things that I have no desire to even come near.

• I would NOT jump anywhere on skis, not for any amount of money, even if I was good at it.
• Boxing is completely out of the question. (can women even box in the Olympics?)
• Rhythmic Gymnastics, although similar to dance and as physically straining, has too much of a wuss reputation.
  
• Clean lifting 673,384,687,000 lb and putting the entire sum over my head does not have any appeal to me.
• No desire to run for more than to soar over a high jump bar. (I could run to train though, It is ok unless I have to compete at it.)
  

So there are my Olympian thoughts.

April First Weekend

So...
Friday I got to go out to Lunch with Panda and Amy. We had Mexican and it was oh so good. It was nice to hang out with these girls. Hopefully we will find more time soon.
In the evening, Chris and I went to Justin and Elise's for an upscale dinner. Justin is a wonderful cook. He and Elise made fillet min young, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casserol, and a chocolate browney dessert with sauce and strawberries. Holly cow it was so good. We also watched "Strainger than Fiction." It was a great movie in fact I might buy it.

On Saturday I was a judges assistant at the Music Festival in the morning. In the afternoon Chris and I went to Wichita to run aaronds before going to a dinner at his home church. The evening had a 50's theme. His sister sand back up for one of her friends, and Clinton sang in a Barbershop Quartet. They did a great job.
On our way back from the concert I found out that two of my friends just got engaged. Congradulations to Phil and Traci!!!

Sunday was my last performance at Elbing. The kids did a great job. I am going to have to post some pictures of them. They are a small choir, but they are mighty.
Sunday afternoon I took a much needed nap, and then I cleaned my apartment. It looks good by the way. Hasn't been that clean in about a month.
I went to the spring concert. My favorite was the flok song section by Von Williams.

All in all it was a great weekend.

Life and other mysteries

So,
Brief update...

I will probably be deciding what I am going to be doing with my life within the next week. I will soon let you know if I will become professional teacher, or a graduate student.

For those of you who forget what it is like to prepair for, apply for and interview for jobs, it is tedious, time consuming, and somewhat stressful.

Right now Chris is sitting next to me, writing a computer program for his senior project. He is murming like a black choir in church during the sermon when something in the program works. This is what happens when the strengths of the left brain and the right brain are equal and therefore combat each other for stomping grounds.

Sometimes I think that the verse about God, "Now we see in a mirror dimly, but soon we shall see face to face." also applies to humans about humans. I think I see who I am, but because I am changing and growing so much as a person, I don't think I realize who I am. (At least for probably 50% of the time.)

Warning: abrupt ending.......NOW.

Fun things

I don't want to gloss over spring break. So I thought I would summarize it (mostly for my own memory benefit) even though I am a couple of days into the following work week.

Fun (and some not fun like cleaning) things I did over Spring Break:

Weekend and Monday
1. Got my car back
2. Cleaned out my room
3. Played Computer Games with my sister
4. Went to Target with my mom and sister

Tuesday and Wednesday
5. Spent the afternoon with Amy and Doc. (watched movie, ate pizza)
6. Had a sleepover two nights in a row
#. Cleaned, Worked on Applications, Thought about the future
#. Ate Dinner with Mom and Ashley (had Pizza)
7. Hung out with Erin, Rachel, and Amy and watched Bond, James Bond

Thursday
8. Fried Pizza. Yes, The aforementioned ladies and I fried pizza. You can look up Fried Pizza on Wikipedia. Because we used batter to fry our pizza, ours would be dubbed the "Pizza Crunch." There are some photos on the Internet of batter fried pizza, but they used corn meal and we did not. It tasted like a cross between a pizza role and a cheese stick. The idea originated in Scotland. One Fried Pizza sight was boasting on how fried pizza is just one of the reasons why the hart attack rate in Scotland is one of the highest in the world.
9. Went and saw "Bridge To Terabithia" (good movie)
10. Ate Lobster
11. Had Coffee
12. Talked about nursing stuff
13. Watched "A Far Off Place" (Movie made by Disney before Disney got wussy)
14. Stood in the Middle of Main Street

Friday
15. Cleaned
16. Worked on Applications
17. Lounged

Saturday
18. Recycled
19. Cleaned
20. Hung out with Sister
21. Ate dinner with my family (Enchilada Bake)
22. Jumped on Trampoline with Kati and Lee
23. Came back to the burro and went to bed

Sunday
24. Church
25. Lunch with Pastor Randy and clan
26. Made Soup for Sick Elise
27. Welcomed Chris Home
28. Worked on applications and portfolio
29. Went to bed and said by to my first free spring break in four year.

In summary,
I realize that I ate a lot of pizza. Seriously...what is with that.
I had a great time with family and friends.
I would do it all again

Random Goal: I want to take up Rollerblading.

Short

Well, spring break is over. It was a good chance to see family, hang out with friends, and get practically nothing done.

I finished another application and sent it in. I also am going to another interview today. This one is in Salina.

I think I am going through Menopause. Last night I couldn't sleep because I had Hot Flashes all night long. I was a Furnace one moment and the next moment I felt normal. This is not supposed to be happening to someone who has only been on the earth less than 25 years. However it is confirming my theory about the legitimacy of the quarter life crisis. Amy and I are beginning to believe that some people experience quarter life crisis just as people do when they are at their midlife point. Is this true? I don't know. Is it possible? Most Likely.

On Saturday I was talking with my sister, and we were talking about how she used to run around with the neighborhood kids when she was younger. She said, "That was when I was in shape. You have to be in shape to run around with neighborhood kids because they never stop." I got to thinking about how true this statement is. When you are young and hanging around with the neighborhood gang, you have to be ready for anything at anytime. I think that this could become a theory about life, but it hasn't had the time to mull around in my brain long enough to actually become something.

Ahhhh

I spent the day with Amy and Andrew. It was good. We watched Rear Window. We talked, ate pizza, drank orange juliouses and then played around on the Internet. I like times like this. Amy and I told Andrew about our 8th grade trip and JJ's Jinko Jeans. It was great!

I probably spelled Julious and Jinko wrong. Sorry

Back from home

I had a lovely few days at home. It was raining this morning when I woke up. It was nice to lay in bed from 8:00 ish to 9:00 ish and dose in and out listening to the rain. It continued to rain the rest of the morning. I packed up my stuff, stuffed the pooch in her bed, and hit the road. I stopped at W-Mart to get a key (I finally remembered!) and drove the rest of the way back to the burro.

I just want to say that after this weekend Akon's song that goes like: "Nobody wanna see us together, but that don matter, cuz I love you." will always be amusing to me. If you know my sister and her boyfriend, you may get a kick out of this as well. Just imagine Lee falling asleep on the couch, and my little Asian sister sneaking up on him and singing the first line of the song complete with the Akon accent (Kind of Jamaican or Island-ish). Keep in mind that she is singing into his ear at a somewhat loud volume. Lee wants to be mad, but he is laughing too hard because she sounds so Great as an Akon impersonator. HA!

I found this brightly colored, Bob Marley reminiscent hat this weekend and I wore it to Wal-Mart today. Just want to let you know that people treat you like you are younger if you wear a weird hat.

Random Thought flying by: Did you know that Target carries fashion clothes for dogs, but only for dogs in small weight categories.... Will this encourage more dieting among dogs? Only time will tell.

Garage Sale

So, For about 3 years, my sister has been bugging me to have a garage sale with her. The problem is that we always think of it way into garage sale season, and therefore are never ready in time. Well this spring all that is changing. I am biting the bullet and cleaning my room out. My room at home was never the same after high school graduation. It became full of beautiful things that I had received as gifts, I never got rid of my old stuff, because it fit fine when I took college things to college, and left home stuff at home. Over the years things accumulated as things do. I have already gathered 5 boxes of things to sell. I have spent the last couple of days going through, not even half of my room. GRRRRRR....I need a new system. It is good to purge. I am finding things that I had lost and was actually glad to find such as:

1 Khaki skirt purchased at the GAP and worn 1 time.
2 Pink Koosh ball from 1989 lost somewhere in the late 90's
3 Hoop earrings purchased to match a shirt that I frequently wear Lost sometime in 2005
4 Two amazing headbands which have recently come back into style Purchased in the early 80's and lost in the mid 90's

So you can see that the spree has been beneficial for me already. Who knows what is yet to unsurfaced itself.

P.S. Becky, If you read this I found some stuff for your science classroom. (1 Turtle habitat, 1 Can of turtle food, 1 outdoor light simulating light bulb, 1 Bottle water de-chlorinator)

God is in Control

Today I am going to audition for a position as Graduate TA at WSU. I am nervous, I just need to get in there and start. My audition is at 1:50. I would love to get the job. If I don't get it, I will teach next year and make money for a change.

I really want my Masters. I really want to be an amazing conductor. I am not yet, but this would help get me there.

God is in control. He knows where He wants me. He will get me there as long as I follow Him.

That's all...

Sad Strange Little Car

I took my car (affectionately known as Little Timmy) to Irv Schroeder's for maintenance on Tuesday night. I needed to get it checked out before Amy and I went to Saint Louis. I was thinking yah, probably about a hundred bucks for belt/hose type stuff. Little did I know that the Boots had come off of my power steering column and had caused foreign debris to get lodged in my column gears. (Who the hay knows that a steering column has boots. THESE ARE NOT MY BOOTS!!! WHOSE BOOTS ARE THESE???? I HAVE NO MORE BOOTS!!!) So, the grand total to fix my little purple friend was rocking somewhere around the "I don't have that kind of money" dollar value. This put a kibosh on the Saint Louis trip, and now I have to stop singing the "Meet me in Saint Louis Louis" song.

I am trying to find the good in this fiasco. Perhaps I am supposed to be stuck destitute in Kansas for the rest of the school year. Maybe this is God's way of telling me to stick around and rest and do maintenance on my life. In the end the answer is, "Who Knows?"

Well, Back to work. Off I go to save the world of Alumni Records and Spring Gold Outings.

I resolve

I don't normally resolve to do things very often. (I do not pronounce the t in often, but you can if you would like.) But I would like to resolve to write in my Blog more.

I went back and read most of my postings, and it made me sad when there were only a few a month, or in some months there were no posts at all. I like looking back at what I was doing a year ago and trying to measure how much has changed. Since I don't keep a journal, this is the best way for me to record things. I am putting this resolution on the blog so that I actually do it. I am not disciplined enough to work on things that I resolve only in my heart.
......

Today is beautiful. I am glad that the weather is so nice, because it helps me keep my stress level under control. I audition at WSU on Friday, and I am trying to keep my nerves under control. It should go well, unless my brains drain out my ears on Thursday night. (Which might happen because I have asked God to let me bomb my audition if I am not supposed to be at grad school next year.)

I think that I will spend some quality time in the library studying music and filling out applications. Someday I will read this statement and remember this transition in life. I hope that it will be a fond memory.

As the old song goes...
Que Sera Sera, Whatever will be will be, the future's not ours you see, que sera sera...

Tuesday feels like Monday

I am back at work. (my normal every day job) Yesterday I subbed for Lynn at the Junior High/High School. It went alright. It was an early morning. SNC starts at 7:30, and I have to be there before everyone so it means I need to be there at 7:10 ish. I know that the real world will soon make this a routine in my life, but I am trying not to think about it.

I was running an audition in the practice room, and I came out of the room to find 7 guys crowded around an I-book creating their very own R&B music. It wouldn't have been so bad, but they had hooked the computer up to the sound system in the room, and were blasting their creation for the world to hear out the open choir room door. They tell me all the time that they are too white to move while they sing in choir, but they write their own R&B (Ok it wasn't that good). (These guys need to stick to Frank, Barry, Michael, and the such. Strangers in the Night just works too well for them.)

This morning (Tuesday) feels like Monday. I gave a voice lesson at 7:30 (not easy to do). It is hard to change 15 years of breathing habits. After the lesson I came to work.

I am excited about Sharon's senior recital this evening. It should be amazing. I have said it before and I will say it again... That woman is the best accompanist I have ever had and will ever have!

That's all for now

The Approach of Spring Break

I am shocked that next week is Spring Break. I don't know what to do with myself. I am going to miss going on Choir tour. I do not believe that a person has truly experienced life without the experience of traveling with 35-50 people in your age range on a buss for endless hours of I don't know what. There are key experiences that I remember about each of the trips' buss rides.

Freshmen year I remember Spying and recording observations of "Best Friends" and other upper classmen choir members.
I remember leaving traditional seat partner Becky, and she had to sit with Chris H. She has never let me forget this.

Sophomore year I remember the Mad Libs that Jodi and Laura did in a Chinese accent.
I am not positive, but I think that sophomore year was the year that EVERYONE brought a Guitar on choir tour. And EVERYONE played theirs on the buss. All at the same time. All different songs.
Sophomore year was also the year that Becky and I tried to sit with different people every time we stopped. People kept getting mad at us for moving around and taking their seats. (This statement is written with furrowed brow and protruding lower lip.)

Junior year I remember what it feels like to spend two 19 hour periods on a buss in two shots. This time is including but not limited to one very uncomfortable night on two buss seats and one more comfortable, but more interrupted night on the buss floor.
I also remember watching the Wal-Mart Baby movie with what's her face Judd. (This was not a good selection of film for choir tour)
I also remember Becky and I getting stuck in the seat with lights that did not work, and documenting our feelings about this with one of the worst pictures that I have ever taken.

Senior year I remember making Chris watch Napoleon Dynamite in its entirety while he just wanted to sleep. (This was not me being mean, this was me being....well....being me. At least I didn't make him watch anything else.)
I also remember the 30 lbs of puppy chow that Elise made for the trip.
I also remember getting back on the buss after going to the Mall of America and seeing Roman's face at a Green state after realizing that he just dropped a chunk of cash on a Nice leather coat.

There are plenty of other things that happened on the buss on choir tour. Some of which I would rather not talk about. All of this to say. It was real, It was fun, I don't know if it was Real Fun though.

To those of you departing on Saturday,
Love your neighbor, and make sure the vents and lights work in your seat.

In general news:
I walked to work this morning. It was one of the most beautiful mornings that we have had this year. I wore a skirt and sandals, and the temperature was perfect. I am going to try to spend some quality time outside.

This week I am working for Brad (Tabor Choir) as his substitute while he listens to choirs in Miami or some place even warmer than here. (He tole me that it is raining there, and that makes me feel a little bit better. I hope he gets some sun shine, but that man is as happy as a lark as long as he is listening to good music.) I am so ready for spring. I love the feel of spring. Something about it just makes me feel like I can breathe easier. Like there is less pressure in life, and there is time to spend time with God, friends, and nature.

While I am talking about spring, I just want to give a shout out (I have never given a "Shout Out" before so bear with me) to daylight savings time. Mind you, I don't like falling back, but springing forward is awesome! I know that people loose an hour of sleep, but we gain another hour of light in the evening and that is wonderful!

In other news:
I am interviewing with WSU (grad school) and Salina Public Schools
I am also in the process of Applying at a couple of other places.


In shocking news:
My Kitchingroom is clean! It has not been clean since the beginning of the Tabor Phonathon which took most of my free evenings durring the week. And seriously, who wants to clean on Saturday morning. Not me!

In Good News:
I just finished reading the Chronicles of Narnia. They were just as good as when I read them when I was little. I am going to read The Hobbit next. I haven't read it yet, and I am excited to do so.

Update on the Random Rescue of Vegetation

Oh yah, The plant that I stole accounted in the blog "The Random Rescue of Vegetation" Died this year.
Take a moment of silence and then read about how Jill Fisher and I robbed Max Terman of a peace plant.

home again

Well I am back at home for an evening. I seriously think that I only get a chance to write when I am here. Something about not having internet at my home in the burro….

Well, I graduated. It is official. I just started working my first post college job. I am the Administrative Secretary to the Director of Alumni Relations. (Basically this means that I get to enter computer data and help plan events at Tabor. I like it, and hey, it kind of pays the bills)

I am taking the Praxis test tomorrow. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but I have been cursed with Test Anxiety for as long as I can remember. Hence I have been nauseated for the past three or more days.

On a lighter note, I am a certified substitute teacher. I have worked three days in the past two weeks. The first two days were in a choir classroom, and the third day I subbed in a band classroom. One thing that student teaching and substitute teaching has taught me is how to perfect “The Look.” This “Look” must have the sheer power to stop human thought, action, and emotion within a second. It must have the strength to incinerate ego in one pointed glance. And it must not be influenced by the utter ridiculousness of the typical classroom.

Finally, I will leave you with this…
I was leaving the school on Thursday afternoon (after teaching band) and one of my high school students ran up to me and gave me a huge hug. She brightened my day to a blazing gleam. The look on her face was radiant. I asked her and the choir director why she was so happy. It pretty much amounted to the fact that about five senior guys (who are very nice looking) had complimented her on her voice.
I say this because of my awareness of the effect that words have on people. I am trying to constantly remind myself not to just be careful not to say the wrong thing, but to strive to always be encouraging.

Christmas Eve

Christmas is here.

Yes, I know that it is truly Christmas Eve, but in my house, it may as well be Christmas. I just came back from Church. Pastor Tim talked about the wise men and how they came to find Jesus. He asked the question, “Who found Jesus, and who didn’t find Him?” It was posed to remind people what qualities it takes to find Jesus and realize him for all that he is.

And now for something completely different…

This holiday, as well as other holidays… I am surrounded with trays. I don’t have anything against trays, but where did the “holiday tray” idea come from. Who had the first holiday tray? Did it begin with an entire meal on a tray and then evolve to the traditional snack tray?

And now for something completely different…

This is the first Christmas with Eight people at my house. We often stay here in Kansas for Christmas and the rest of my extended family, except for my Grand Parents, stay in Indiana. This year is the first peak of what Christmas may become with my parents being the patriarchs of the family. Lee is coming with Kati, and Christopher is spending his first Christmas Eve with me. Tomorrow I will go to be with his family. Not many people get to be the inventors of holiday traditions. Many people just inherit their traditions, but in the case that we are 800 miles from other family we get to come up with our own. Although I miss all of my extended family, it will be good to find new ways to celebrate the wonderful gift of Jesus.

Ramblingsssss

This is the second to last day of my career as a student teacher. It is an interesting feeling. The semester has gone by so fast, that I didn’t even get a chance to notice how fast it was going. The weeks fly to the weekends, which are wonderful, but as equally short as the weeks.
The entire experience (student teaching that is) is summed up in a concert next Monday evening at in the high school gym. (the perfect, not so much, venue for a choir and band concert)
Over break (CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!) I will be working on studying for my PLT Praxis exam. Yuck!
I also want to begin working on a post which has a wonderful title. If it is good enough I will submit it to the paper for printing. It will have to be some decent writing. Better than this. I just want to join my gradually growing group of friends who write for the Free Press. (Notice the quality of alliteration in the last sentence) (Oh yah, Little A. my high school English teacher would be proud.)
So…..
I love Christmas, but I have a beef to settle with it.
What happens when I come up with a great idea for a gift, and I want to get it with another person (aka: Go halfzies) and the other person decides to up and want to get it all by themselves. It was my idea!!!!! My good idea is stolen!!!! I have to come up with a good idea, and my creative juices are not flowing as they should!!!!!
(All of the exclamation points may be annoying to read, but they truly convey my feelings on the matter)

Anyway, I am done with that rant.
Perhaps I will sing a different tune soon.
This was disjointed and somewhat un readable, but hey, so am I.

A breath

It is 11:44, I am sitting in the Vocal office, and I am taking a breath. This week has been full of ups and downs. I began the week with trepidation and depression. I did not want to leave my family and friends after Thanksgiving. I think that Thanksgiving had given me enough time to become discouraged with the general non-committal poor work ethic of students around the holidays, and I didn’t want to deal with it.
After a week back at school, I realize that all I can do is take life one day at a time. (A fact that I have been reminding myself for quite some time now, like my ENTIRE LIFE!!!)
This weekend looks like it will be a good time to do some relaxing and also a time to get some serious amounts of homework done. I won’t have to say that for much longer now.
So, for future reminder to myself, and others if you would like:
1. Don’t panic!
2. Pray a lot
3. Read Job
4. Know that friends will support you
5. Take time to laugh every day
6. Pull one Small practical joke monthly

"I have seen the others, And I will no other to follow me where I'm going"

Life is flying by.
Today has been one of ups and downs.
Let me start with yesterday. It was much more pleasant than today.
I got to go to Wichita yesterday and hang out with some wonderful friends. We ate out, and then went back to a home to watch a video creation. It was good to laugh with those people. I miss my friends who have graduated. I will become one of them in les than a month, and it is a bit frightening. I am so ready though. No More Homework! (for a short while at least)
This morning I was extremely discouraged during my concert choir. I just couldn’t conduct the song that we were working on. AHHH. I picked it because I knew it would be a challenge, but something with my brain and my arms was not connected today, because I couldn’t do what I normally can. I think exhaustion has made its way to my central nervous system.
Anyway…at least the 8th grade went well today. Let me tell you, those kids can get me going like no other class can. I feel like the general preparing for battle. I want to tell myself…..
“I have seen the others, and I will no other, to follow me where I’m going” (if you haven’t heard that song, you need to.”
Well, I have to gear up for one more class.
Tally ho!

a pause for a moment

Well, the semester is drawing to a close, as is my career as a student at Tabor College. I won’t get a chance to look back upon it until February some time, but I can wait until then.
Other than the fact that I don’t know whether I will make it through all that I need to get done in the next few weeks, life is going well.
I spent some of this last weekend in Wichita with Chris’ family. It was good to feel at home with them. I watched Katie’s half time show, picked on Clinton, and tried yet again to make friends with the dog.
I am so ready for thanksgiving. I miss my sister a lot. We are planning some serious bonding time together. It will be terrible if we don’t get to do everything that we want to do. It is kind of funny, our favorite thing to do together it rent a movie that one or the other of us swears that we will hate and cram together on the couch to watch it. We normally devour about 8 to 12 chocolate cookies then moan for ten minutes before eating another dozen.
Shenandoah is going well. We start our last performance in a little over two hours from now. It is a good show, and one that I will definitely consider doing again some day. I will have to have the good voices that we have in the men’s section in order to do it though.
That’s all for now….
I know that it is scattered, but hey those are my thoughts….

Ache

Yesterday I got my first flue shot ever.
Last night my joints began to ache.
This morning my joints ache and my stomach is upset.
Is this a benefit of the flue shot?
All that I can say is, I better get exposed to the flue a lot this year,
And I had better not get it,
Because right now I am not so much a big fan of it at all.

The high school opens Shenandoah today for the junior high.
We are going to do the first act for them as a teaser.
Rehearsal went well last night.
There were only a few flubbed lines, and some weird costume issues.
Note to cast members:
One may not wear plaid flannel under a white dress shirt.

No sense

Which sounds more beneficial to all of you?

1. Working for an evening with a cast of high school students on their first dress rehearsal. Assisting an experienced director who I respect, and who trusts me to work with her talented students.

or

2. Sitting in a night class. While sitting in a night class, and sitting in a night class.

Now, I have an inclination of my answer…but that’s not important.

MAPS Rhymes with ...

MAKE A RECCORD! RING THE BELLS! I ATTENDED A USEFUL IN-SERVICE DAY!!!!!
Today I attended a technology in service day. I actually learned some things. I got to sit and actually work with the programs that they were teaching us to use. It was wonderful. It is so much better than the maps testing in service that we had to go to last month. (insert enormous snore)
I actually feel kind of bad about hating that maps in service anyway, because I am putting it on my resume because it looks good. Man, those principals and superintendents are going to look at that and be Highly Impressed. They will say, “My, what a fine student who knows what Maps testing is. She must be a huge supporter of high stakes testing.” Little do they know….
Yah, anyway. I am going to go run a HHS musical rehearsal.

Dang it, I am smart!

In class on Monday night we talked about how as teachers we want to give kids the tools to be all that they have the potential to be. Well what do you do when you ask a junior in high school what he wants to be when he grows up and he responds with “a fire truck.” Then what do you do with the elementary school who actually thinks that he is a fire truck. (true story there is a kid that thinks he is a fire truck, but only on the days that he does not think that he is a dentist, or a cat.)
Then I think about myself. What do I want to be when I grow up? Is it wrong that I still don’t know. I mean, I think that I want to be a teacher, but sitting here in this teacher’s office with a world of music students coming to me for help with EVERYTHING musical and most things not musical, I think, is it for me?
I have the potential to be anything. Seriously…. I feel that I could even make it in Law school or Med school. Dang it, I am SMART.
Teaching????????

Chicken Patty, my new nemesis

In case you ever wanted to know….
If you step on a 1.57 inch square of chicken patty with your left heel on a tile floor…
The result is somewhat similar to the consequence of a cartoon character stepping on a banana peel.
One can be sure that they will end up on the floor in the position of a hurdler soaring over the bar.

My Soapbox

Last night I was highly impressed with my junior choir singers.
For those of you who read, and don’t know, I am the Junior Choir director at Zion Mennonite Church in the Middle of Nowhere. We are working on the song “Glory Train” for two voices. It is a great song. Anyway… I have a 4th grader in choir who has the ability to follow a music score, read music, and carry a part by himself while others are singing something different. He is what I would consider a choral genius for someone his age in this day and age of forgotten choral music. I also have a 7th grade boy who is going into the beginnings of his voice change and has a 2 and ½ octave range that is clear and pure as a bell. There is also a 7th grade girl who has absolutely no breathiness in her tone. Seriously! Where do these kids come from? I am becoming more convinced that the music world of elementary schools does not expect enough of its young people. We could offer much more technical training to students. Instead we forget the capability of the students. It is understandable that not all students are going to have the characteristics of these few at Zion, but I believe that if we challenged students in choral singing, we would see talent that used to be seen in youth choirs all over the world just a few hundred years ago.

This town is too small for all of us

Well, I have my first cold of the season. What a kick. It isn’t even cold outside yet. The fall is only one week gone, and here I am snuffling up a storm. Perhaps the pressure in my head will go away so that the kid’s voices will stop sounding like they are coming from beyond the grave.
Today a fifth grader asked me, “I saw you walking with someone the other day. Who was he?” to which I responded, “He is my friend.” To which he responded, “I’ll bet he is your close friend.” To which I wanted to respond, “Kid, Hush your mouth yuh kid yuh.” Instead I said: “where were we…” and went back to my lesson.
Dumb kids. (they are cute though, and I love um)

now that i know this works

Here are some funny things that kids have said to me:

The 3rd grade class asks?
What’s your name? And what did you do with Mrs. Baltzer?

Interaction with a 3rd grade girl:
Question 1: Are you married?
Answer: No
Question 2: Do you have kids?
Answer: I like kids, but I don’t have kids.

Quotes by Jacob (5th):
My Name is Trogdoor.
Strongbad told me the answer.
Can we sing it like Strongbad?

The 4th grade class asks:
Question: Who is that man?
Answer: Mr. Loewen. He is my teacher.
Question: Who is his teacher?

Quotes by Tatum (3rd):
Miss. Shope?
Miss. Koop?
Mrs. Shope?
What is your name?

I will try to give you more stories when I have more time.

2nd atempt

This is my second atempt at posting, but bloger is being stupid, and won't let me post, so I am trying again.
I just wanted to update this blog. I haven’t forgotten about it; I have just been busy. I am in the middle of student teaching in the Hillsboro school district. I work with students ages first grade through twelfth. I love it. It is a lot of work and a lot of stress, but it is what I love to do.
I am also helping direct Tabor’s musical Into the Woods. It is going to be an amazing production. You should get tickets if you get the chance. We had our first act run through last night. It was rough, but promising.
Tonight I am going to College night in McPherson, and hopefully I will get to see my friend’s new baby. She was born just a few days ago.
Well, that’s a short and sweet update on me.

Here and Now

Yes, yes, I know. I haven’t posted in ages.
I am currently student teaching M W F at Hillsboro elementary and T H at Hillsboro Junior High and High School. I am enjoying my time here. I have been teaching third through fifth grades for a few weeks now, and I am going to begin teaching Second grade today. I had my first informal observation today. My college professor came to observe me today, and it went well. He had good responses.
The life that is not spent at school and doing homework for my night class is spent at rehearsal for Into the Woods. (The Tabor Homecoming Musical.) The talent of the cast is phenomenal. It will be an amazing show.
I did get to go to the state fair last weekend. It was so much fun. Christopher and I drove there and met Panda, Cara, and Jen K. We went in most of the barns, saw all the animals except the pigs, and bought bracelets to ride rides. The best rides were the log ride, the farris wheel, and this one ride that spun and swung (it might have been called chaos.) Anyway…we rode about 16 or more different rides. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.
Hopefully I will go to College night at Body and Soul on Friday this next weekend, and then to the Bethel/Tabor in Newton this next weekend.
So that is an update on my life.
May God Bless Yours.

A good fish story that has nothing to do with fish

So I know that I haven’t posted in forever and a day, but it has not been because didn’t want to. I have been pretty tired from work and friends. The summer is flying by. I have had two work experiences that stand out more than the others. I will share these with you in the most picturesque manner that I can afford on a Saturday afternoon.

We took the older kids camp to the state lake to go fishing. It was a beautiful day. It wasn’t too hot at all, and the kids were having a great time. I was teaching one of my 12 year old girl campers how to cast with an open reel fishing rod. It is more complicated with the button reel rod, and she was doing an excellent job. Suddenly about 3 yards to the right some kid yells SNAKE!! There was a small water snake (I don’t know what kind) in the rocks not far from us. The counselors told the kids not to provoke it, an order which was completely ignored, and they wound up scaring him into his hole. (An unknown location not far from us.) Not long after another kid at the next dock over yells something along the lines of ANOTHER SNAKE. They went to look at it and it was much LARGER than the first one. By this time I was just praying that I wouldn’t step on one that I didn’t see. Well eventually the snake business settled down. My camper asked me if I would like to cast and I said sure. About half way through my cast I realized that something was entirely wrong with how the cast was going. I wound up in the place that is past the point of no return. I threw the entire STINKING FISHINGPOLE INTO THE STATE LAKE!!! After doing this I saw no alternative than to swim out (in the snake infested waters) to get the pole. It was still floating and I didn’t want to try to get it with another pole just incase the movement would sink it. I took off my shoes, and fully dressed I waded out into the water. About 3 feet out I realized that there was a sharp drop off. Soon I found that my feet did not touch and I was literally gliding out into the water trying not to disturb our slithery friend from his restful slumber. I retrieved the fishing pole, climbed out of the lake, and tried to dry off. Later when we were having our recap of the day, my camper told me that it was her favorite part of the day.

Wow, that took a long time. Perhaps I will save the other story for another day. I will give you a teaser. “Once upon a time, I took three seven year old boys to the Zoo, and I will never look at the exhibits the same.”

3 Weeks O' Work

It has been three weeks since I started my job at PV this summer. I have enjoyed it. Training was so much less of a boar since I missed the first 2 days of it, and since only five of the people who are working haven’t been here before. It made things run easier. I enjoy the people who I am working with this year. It is a closer group because we are smaller in numbers. The first week of camp was relatively uneventful, but not last week. Last week there were four therapeutic holds. (These are restraints of the patients for less than 30 minutes.) I was involved in one on Wednesday. I had a nine year old boy take off. Two other staff and I chased him for a block and a half then took him down in a front yard. Someone had arms, the other had feet, and I held his head. The little guy got me with his fingernails on my arm. He was mad, but calmed down in less than five minutes. He had a great day for the rest of the day. I didn’t know how emotionally exhausted it would make me, but I was beet. The rest of camp went well for me, but Lindsey didn’t have such a good go of Thursday. One of her girls is a little too flirtatious and wound up making out in the pool. Grrrr. I do not want teenaged daughters EVER!
On a lighter note, I have the day off and am going to spend it running around town getting things done. I will probably stop in and see sister at her place of work.

If anyone reads this, which I have not yet established, think of my Grandmother. She is in the Hospital with diabetic complications. My mom may be going to Indiana to stay with her soon. We are not sure what is going on but pray for a fast full recovery.
Thanks.