I have recently finished reading/listening to Persuasion by Jane Austen. I was extremely impressed with the plot line in this novel, just as I was impressed with Sense and Sensibility. I have never been a big Austen fan until The Finer Things Book Club pushed me in the right direction. I am in debt to Cristy’s selection of Sense and Sensibility because without a little push I doubt I would have read anything by Austen until I was teaching it in a class. I’ve read Pride and Prejudice in the past but thought it was just okay. Perhaps at the time I wasn’t intrigued by the idea of romance, but now I have a thorough enjoyment of it. I thought Persuasion had a very heartening ending that made me want to kiss Chris a thousand times… I was on the road to Utah so that was a no go. Come this weekend you better believe I will be setting up a date night with Chris. Who knows it might happen on my lunch break from Wal-mart. Modern day romance here I come :)

Exciting News... well for us :)

For the past year or so Chris and I have been playing with the idea of moving to Houston, TX for my student teaching. The district in Houston works with USU and brings students to their district which is an inner city, lower income school district. I thought it sounded like a good idea from the start because I'd get the experience of working in an inner city school while still graduating from USU. We really started considering it when Chris did a little research into their local culinary art schools; paired with my somewhat lack of confidence in getting hired in the state of Utah while graduating at the age of 23 (basically I think I don't have as much life experience needed to be a successful teacher) we decided to meet with the representative and get some more information. Well after talking with the representative through email and in person, and emailing a USU graduate who stayed in Houston, we have really decided to go for it. I am excited for this move unlike our Idaho move because we will both be able to work on our careers and hopefully set up home in Houston. I think the change to a bigger city will be refreshing and a possible job in my future will be motivationally exciting. I really can't wait for this semester to pass me so that I can start really attempting to be a teacher. We will sadly be moving farther away from our families, but they will be able to come out and visit us and enjoy some new scenery. I'll admit I really want my mom to consider moving to Texas when I start having kids because I want her to be able to enjoy being a grandmother. However, that is her choice to make. I'm nervous as all hell to be student teaching in that environment and if I don't end up getting a job with the district. I'm aiming to stay positive, and in case that situation becomes reality, I'll just have to keep telling myself "I'm much more marketable as a teacher now that I have that experience on my resume." Wish us luck as we bid adieu to Idaho Falls and the friends we've made and start a move to Houston--this won’t be until December/January of course.

Class

I'm in class with a checked out laptop from the library and it amazes me just how many times people offer so much personal information in classroom comments. I know it makes me a bad human, but I don't care to listen half the time. I can tell I'm overdue to graduate because college life is not really for me anymore. Students are really self-centered and when I'm a teacher my attitude will change completely, but for now I'll enjoy my cynicism. I don't care who just got married and who works at Macey's as a cashier... she's a douche :)

Alone Time

So as some of you may know I am commuting to Logan on Tuesdays for my last semester before I student teach. I get the opportunity to stay in Logan until Thursday when I head up promptly after my class. I only have 7 credits and therefore my time in Logan isn't dedicated to school alone. I haven't had to entertain myself so much in the recent past and I'm a bit out of practice. Luckily the school has a wonderfully large library with lots of computers and of course the big life saver... the Internet. Without which I would be stuck to reading every ounce of homework and being prepared 110% rather than a good 100%. If only I could have attempted a semester like this when I was doing 18 credits and working 30-40 hours a week with two jobs. My GPA is very good...well respectable, but boy I would have learned a lot more if I could devout 6 hours straight in the library. You live and learn I guess. Oh and this lovely image isn't me... google's images are fantastic.

Random Nazi Gorilla in Idaho Falls

This was the crazy looking gorilla at a Sew & Vac store in Idaho Falls. It is just creepy when you first see it and its arm motion is similar to a "hail Hitler" motion. I thought I would let you all see... sorry its sideways.

A visit from my mom

Well my mom came up to visit for the weekend since I had so much time off of work. At first I stressed about only getting 8 hours this week, but after being humiliated by the idiotic douche bag of a manager I work with and having Chris remind me that no work is a blessing, I was grateful for the extra time. I've been lazy... staying in bed and reading. I cut my hair (how I'll style it is shown in these pictures) and did some school shopping. Today was a fun day because we were able to take Brody (the adorable Lakeland Terrier below) to the farmers' market in town and also enjoy some tasty corn.

It was a mouthful to say the least. It was roasted with Parmesan cheese and had a lime pepper flake seasoning on top.

Brody got to enjoy some when we were finished. He's a cute dog that my mom bought for me during my high school years, but since moving away to college he has settled in with my mom. He was so hyperactive as a puppy that I still view him as such. Last time he came up with my mom he got away from us while we walked him around the neighborhood next door. It was a frantic race to stop the bugger and ultimately he ended up in some stranger's back yard. I knocked politely but no one answered. My mom asked a young Latino boy to help me trick him out of the yard because we couldn't open in from the outside. In the end he slowly stuck his head out of the hole and after realizing we were on the other side waiting to ambush him he made a run for it. I caught his collar by the tip of my right pointer finger. It was the save of the day. When he visited me in Logan (while my mom was in China) he had a similar number. The little douche got away from me but wouldn't let me out of his sight because he was unfamiliar with the area. So after realizing he was just a tease I started walking back to my apartment and Brody followed at a distance. The thing that ruined my genius plan was a house full of college boys who left their front door open. I couldn't believe it when Brody just walked right in... I followed murmuring my apologies and went straight for their kitchen. For about 30 seconds I was in their (might I remind you they were complete strangers) kitchen calling out Brody's name before one of the guys came in and helped me. That lovely Logan visit ended with my landlord finding out I was harboring a dog in my room and gave me a lecture. Landlord Patty was never a very pretty woman besides always wearing pearls.

After the farmers' market we went and saw Julie & Julia which was a great show. I think why I liked it so much was because of its universality and how approachable the plot line was. The protagonist is turning 30 and realizing her life kind of sucks so she chooses a project that is doable while still offering a challenge. The sense of humor appeals to everyone...the theater was full of young couples, families, and a lot of older women. For the men out their I say face your masculinity and see this chick flick. Why else did God give men their masculinity if not to challenge it once in awhile?

New Hair Cut

So I got up with the task of getting my hair cut today. I've been putting it off for so long that when my hair dries my curly bangs would fall in my eyes and I hate that shiznick. With my curly hair I get a dry cut because it makes me feel better... I can see the straightened end version in the Salon rather than walking home without knowing what hair cut I just received. Today however my flat iron that has lasted me 6+ years died :( So I had to either commit money for a new flat iron and ultimately get a hair cut that would warrant its use, or go and get a repeat mom's hair cut that I've been wearing for about a year (curly of course). After coming home for Sally's I felt energized and decided to get a short cut... this is were image #1 comes into play. Kristen cut this hairdo for me when she was in Logan and I loved it. I put it on my phone with the mission to get this cut.



This is the before picture of my straight hair. It grows like a weed, and I never realize it until I straighten it.










This is what I left the salon with. It isn't bad but my hair can't really handle the style that the hairdo supports. I'm sure if I put forth the work of showering, and blowdrying a proper part into my hair it would do wonders. But until then this is what the world will see. (I'll probably shower in the morning for all those who thought I would take weeks...:)