My Crazy 8's

Today's Meme is brought to you by the number 8! It's pretty simple. If you wanna play along, just copy and paste to your own blog, changing the answers to reflect you, and viola!

8 Shows I like to watch:
It is really hard to limit it to just 8
1- The Office
2- Fringe
3- Supernatural
4- The Middle
5- Corner Gas
6- Flight of the Conchords
7- The Closer
8- Psych
(additional shows, 24, House, Lie to Me, Big Bang Theory, Community, The Soup, dog shows, most cooking shows on the Food Network)

8 Favorite Places I like to eat and drink:
1- Dalton's
2- El Gayo Giro
3- Mekong Cafe
4- Thai Kitchen
5- Fazolis
6- Gandolfo's
7- Tucanos
8- Gloria's Little Italy

8 Things I look forward to:
1- A Day Off
2- Pay day
3- Vacations
4- Road Trips
5- Parties
6- Date nights
7- Snack time in class
8- Graduation

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1- Worked out at Curves
2- Wrote a lesson plan
3- Had lunch with hubby
4- Got sick and vomited
5- Emailed instructor saying I wouldn't be in class
6- Worked on Humanities paper
7- Caught up on TV shows
8- Played on the internet

8 things I love about winter:
1- Hot cocoa
2- Get to wear my favorite sweaters
3- Christmas time!
4- New Year Celebrations
5- Sleeping in during Christmas Break
6- Building snowmen
7- Beautiful snow scenes
8- Sledding

8 things on my wish list:
1-A bigger house
2- A dog
3- Weight loss
4- New wardrobe
5- A cruise
6- Master the instruments I sort of play (flute, violin, piano, guitar)
7- Become fluent in the languages I kind of know (German, ASL, Spanish)
8- A piano

8 things I am passionate about:
1- My hubby
2- My kids
3- My schooling
4- Reading
5- TV
6- Cooking
7- Music
8- Candy

8 words/ phrases I use most often:
1- what
2- mm, mm-hmm, huh, uh, uh-huh
3- whatever
4- probably
5- woo-hoo
6- yes
7- knock it off
8- anyway...

8 things I learned from the past:
1- Follow your instinct
2- Listen to your mother
3- Choose your friends wisely
4- Get God's answer before you give yours.
5- Get an education, especially when you are young
6- I am a daughter of God
7- It is better to question and ask for clarification than to end up doing it wrong
8- Communication is key

8 places I would like to visit:
1- Germany
2- Chile
3- Disneyland or Disney World
4- Ireland
5- Alaska
6- Regina, Saskatchewan
7- The Caribbean
8- LDS Church History tour

8 things I want/need:
1- teaching degree
2- great teaching job
3- better body
4- better house
5- a dog
6- a romantic cruise with my hubby
7- chocolate
8- and chocolate **wink, wink**

Special Education

Yesterday I went with my cohorts (Special Ed. program classmates) to a post-high school.  The students here are 18-22.  They learn academics, functional skills, life skills, leisure skills, and trade skills.  They have a job coach and go to different sites working on a volunteer basis to learn skills they can use to find a job later.   This school also has its own greenhouse and woodworking shop that the students work in and can earn money.  They get a paycheck that they need to go cash/deposit and they learn about balancing a check book, budgeting, etc.  It was an awesome school.

My class carpooled.  I drove seven of us up, but six of us back.  On the drive back we were talking about being in the Special Education program.  The others commented that when they are at an activity on campus where you meet people and get asked the typical questions; what's your name, where are you from, what's your major, that they get many different reactions to their response of the last question.

Some people might tease them about being Special Ed.  Some people say, "Aw, you are so sweet for working with those kinds of kids" or they comment on how it takes a special kind of person to work with those kids, or they say how they could never do that job.  Some may even comment that those with disabilities or those who are retarded scare them a bit because they don't know how to work with them or handle them.

One friend commented that she was at an airport recently.  She got talking to a family.  The mother happened to be a high school math teacher.  When my friend stated what her major at BYU is, the woman went off about working with retards.  She would not be able to work in that setting with a bunch of idiots.  She can't see how anyone would be able to work with such students.  Working with idiots just isn't a rewarding job.  The husband, who was really nice, kept apologizing for his wife.  My friend was just left speechless.  She said that she usually has a comeback for when people say that they would never be able to do what she is doing, but this lady left her dumbfounded.  I said, "You should have said that working with those with special needs is a rewarding job, but sitting around talking with people who are ignorant is what I can't stand.  Then get up and leave."

They all had a laugh at that, but we were all shocked that someone who is supposedly educated and working in the school system would have that reaction to special education.

Doppelgangers

On Facebook we are posting pictures of people we've been told that we look like.  So, I thought I'd post a few here to see if you agree.

I've been told that I look like Mary Mastrantonio.  She played Maid Marion in Robin Hood starring Kevin Costner.

I've also been told that I look like Andie MacDowell.  She is known for Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Groundhog Day.  Again, it may just be the hair.

I think I possibly look like Julianna Margulies.  She is well know for her role on ER.  And of course, I think it is the hair.

My sister Emma thought that I look like Scarlett Johansson.  I could only find one picture of her with dark hair in all the others she is blond.  Emma said that she was watching "He's Just Not That Into You" and she kept thinking, "where do I know that actress from?"  She just couldn't think.  Then Scarlett made a certain facial expression or had some mannerism and then it hit her, "that's my sister!"

So, what do you think? Do I look like these people?  I need to look for more pictures of me to scan.  I know that there are some that would be a better match.  Is there anybody else you think I look like?  Who have you been told that you look like?

Motivation

OK, I've been a member of Curves for about 3 years.  I like the workout.  I like the people who work and workout there.  I like the assortment of music to listen to while working out.  I have lost weight while being a member, but always seem to put it back on during the holidays.  I also let other things get in the way of working out.  Some days sleep is just a better option than getting up and going down to Curves.

When I workout, I put a butterfly sticker on the calendar.  This way I can visually see how many times I've been there this week.  I used to go walking in the evenings and would put on another sticker for that.  I thought that this would be motivating.  But is a sticker a reward enough to exercise?  Apparently not.

So now, Kyle and I are trying to decide what I can earn.  Like a token system.  I exercise to earn sticker, then maybe I can trade in the stickers for something.  Or maybe the reward isn't based on the number of workouts (stickers) but on the inches or pounds lost.  We haven't worked that out yet.

We've discussed purchasing a new wardrobe when the weight is lost, or a new wedding ring set, or a gift certificate or something.  Yesterday Kyle asked if a cruise would be motivating?  I had to think about that because I've never been on a cruise and lately it seems like everyone I know is going or has gone on one.  A mother and her daughter just got back from a cruise in Hawaii.  One family went on a cruise to Mexico for Christmas.  Another family went on a Caribbean cruise during Thanksgiving.  Kyle's parents are going on a cruise in April, I think to the Virgin Islands.  And just this morning while talking to a Curves member she is going on a cruise next month with some friends.

So, this morning as I was getting dressed to go exercise and Kyle was getting ready for work, I stated, "Well, I am going to workout so I can have a bathing suit body for a cruise."

If you've been on a cruise, do you have suggestions for us as far as a destination, specific cruise lines, etc?

Sweet Sassy Molassey

There is someone posting comments on my and my sisters' blogs.  They are under the name Sweet Sassy Molassey.  There is a mystery to find out who this person is.

I did a little research and googled the name hoping to gain some insight to the name.  This is what I found online.
Ray Romano on Saturday Night Live as a Sports Newscaster

I also tried to look at the picture and see if this person has a blog.  Their profile pic is just a classic Marilyn Monroe, and they do not have a blog themselves.

The mystery continues.  Perhaps this person could leave us some clues.

Marriages

So my sister recently posted that someone thought her marriage was in trouble, but that she's fine, really.  I know that she has asked our mother, "So, how's your marriage?"  It got me thinking about how we perceive other couples.

There are some couples that I look at and think, "More power to you.  I could never be married to him/her."  Then there are couples that I hear are getting divorced and I think, "Wow, I didn't even know they were having problems."  And of course there are the couples that I hear are having problems or hear they are getting divorced and I think, "Yeah I coulda told you it wouldn't last" or "It was only a matter of time" or "No surprise here."

I wonder what other people think about my marriage to Kyle.  Are they thinking that they couldn't have married either of us, do they think we are having problems?

I know that there are things that we need to improve on.  We need to communicate better, we need to make time for just the two of us, and we need to get to the temple together more often.  Now, I have never been that diligent in the house cleaning department.  I am kind of a slacker and kinda lazy.  Lately I've been able to use the excuse that I work and go to school, so Kyle has picked up the slack, but I know that he's getting burned out since he too works all day.  Kyle has also been picking up some overtime-hours at night.  So he comes home by 5pm.  I get home around 7pm or later.  He'll go back to work at about 8pm for a couple of hours.

We are kind of in a transition phase since I am going to school.  My classes are in the evening so I don't see the family very much.  I spend my mornings doing homework and studying, but I try to include a little housekeeping too.  I have one more year and then I graduate.  Then as I start making the big bucks things will hopefully settle down and we can get into a routine.  I feel like my family is haphazard in housecleaning, family prayer, family home evening, family scripture reading, and date nights.

Books

For my Special Education Teaching Program I have a class called Teaching Reading and Language Arts: Students with Disabilities.  After the teacher introduced herself, she wanted us to state our name and our favorite book.  The very first girl she asked stated that she in not big into reading.  She has a hard time sticking with a book because she has a very short attention span and that reading is not very enjoyable.  She tried to remember the last book that she read and all she could come up with is a book that she remembers her mother reading to her as a child that she really liked. 

As we went around the room, I was kind of surprised at how many people were not really readers.  They really had to think hard of either the last book they read, or what their favorite was.  There were a few people who enjoyed reading and it was hard for them to narrow it down to a book, so they stated a favorite author.

When it came to me, I stated that I love to read.  I love books.  In fact, there was one summer (I was 14 or 15) that I read a book a day.  I would go across the street to the library and get a book. Then I would go over to the gas station and get a candy bar or a drink.  Then go home and spend 3-5 hours reading.  The next day I would do the same thing.  The last few years I would pick an author and try to read everything they've written: Orson Scott Card, Mary Higgins Clark, Gary Paulsen, and Jan Karon.  I stated that one of my favorites was A Wrinkle in Time.  I remember reading it in 5th grade for class.  We were assigned so many chapters a day.  I read ahead and finished the book because I enjoyed it so much and couldn't wait to see how it ended.

Then later, the teacher asked if any of us have specific experiences with books, like a book that changed our lives, or how reading has impacted our life, etc.  I made the comment that I can remember my dad lying on the couch reading a book  I also remember that my mother read to us a lot.  One time my uncle came over to visit, I got out a book and said, "Uncle Jim let me read to you" and proceeded to read aloud to him.  He was amazed because I wasn't even in Kindergarten yet, and here I was reading to him.  My mother told him that I had the book memorized and even knew when to turn the pages.

The sad thing is that I haven't read much lately, other than text books, and I haven't been very good to read books or stories to my children.  So, that is another area of improvement for a New  Year's resolution.

The teacher gave us a assignment that for this semester we need to read 10 childrens books and 3 chapter books.  I began thinking of books that I have, books/authors that I want to read, and books I would recommend.

Here are some of my all time favorites that I would recommend.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I am the Cheese by Robert Cormier
Stranger with my Face by Lois Duncan
The Third Eye by Lois Duncan
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Alvin Maker series by Orson Scott Card
anything by Jack Weyland
anything by Lane Smith & John Scieszka
Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
Encyclopedia Brown mysteries by Donald J. Sobol
Trixie Belden mystery series by Julie Campbell Tatham
The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner 

Do you like to read, do you have a favorite book, series, author, or genre?

One of My Instructors

Tuesday, I was sitting in my first class of Teachings of the Living Prophets, Religion 333.  In walks my instructor, Lloyd D. Newell. I thought, "Man, he looks familiar."  At first I thought he looked similar to one of the Special Education professors.  Then as he began to talk and explain the syllabus and how the class will go, I thought, "Man, he looks and sounds like the guy who does the Music and the Spoken Word and narrates the televised General Conference sessions."  But, I could not think of what that guy's name was.  So, after class, I was talking with a few classmates and I said, "Is it just me, or does he look like the guy who does Music and the Spoken Word?  The told me that it is him.  I feel like, "Wow, my instructor is a celebrity", well, maybe in Mormon Culture.

Lloyd D. Newell

New Year's resolutions

I have been thinking about, and discussing with my classmates about New Year's Resolutions.  Each year my resolution is to exercise more and to lose weight.  I start off pretty good for a few weeks, but for some reason taper off.  I think because it takes almost 6 weeks to really see the results that I get discouraged after 2-3 weeks.  I just don't stick it out long enough to see the fruits of my labors.

I've been thinking of what other things I want to start or stop.  One of my sisters mentioned that she doesn't make resolutions, she thinks of expectations.  I like that.  What are my expectations for this year?

1.  I expect that I will exercise at least 4 times during the week.  I expect that I will have more energy and will lose weight by exercising.
2.  I expect that I will not procrastinate my homework.
3.  I expect to get A's and maybe some B's this year.
4.  I expect that I will start an internship this Fall.
5.  I expect to be able to help out more in the house work.  My husband has picked up a lot of slack because I have been focused on school work.
6.  I expect to pay off debts to become financially solvent.
7.  I expect to fulfill my callings better.  Sometimes I feel like I just do enough to get by.  But this year I want to not just get by, but to do my best.
8.  I expect that I will be able to use my tax return to put on a new roof this summer and do other needed renovations to the house.  I am hoping to be able to sell the house.  We need a bigger house because we are just busting at the seams.
9.  I expect that my family will be able to work well together and earn lots of money with our BBQ booth this summer.
10.  I expect that I will be able to travel and visit family members this summer.

Here we go again

I've had a nice Christmas Break.  I've slept in almost every morning, just hung around the house, and got to play with friends.  But now it is time to get back to the real world.  I tell ya, I had a hard time getting out of bed this morning.  My bed was cozy and warm, and I was having a nice dream.  But the alarm went off, I got to get kids off to school.

I start another semester of school today.  I did well last semester, all A's and B's.  This semester I have five classes which total 14 credit hours.  I have Humanities, Living Prophets (these two classes are some generals that I need to finish), Secondary Curriculum & Practicum, Social and Behavioral Strategies, Teaching Reading for Special Ed. (these three are for my Special Ed. major).

While I got A's and B's, some of those B's were very close to being C's and some of those A's were close to being B's.  This semester I plan to be more organized and not procrastinate (as much).  You may remember  previous posts about a run to Walmart at 1:00am for supplies for a project due that day, or pulling an all-nighter studying or putting together a project.  I plan to be on top of things this semester, hopefully I will be able to avoid unnecessary stress.

Happy New Year

We all went the the LeFevre home.  We have a standing invitation to party with them every year for the New Year. 

The evening started around 8pm. There were many snacks: deviled eggs, little smokies, cheese ball, shrimp salad dip, crackers, chips, cheesy bean dip, chocolates, puppychow, pecan tartlets, soda pop, egg nog and sparkling juices.

There were many games: One Word, Mumbo Jumbo, Apples to Apples, Catchphrase, and Mormon Mouthful (which is like Mad Gab but phrases and words are specific to the Latter-day Saint culture).

At Midnight everyone had a sparkling juice, we clinked glasses, toasted and gave our honey a first kiss of the year.  Then there were fireworks outside at the curb.  They looked beautiful reflecting off of the snow.  We had poppers/snappers and confetti.

Some of the couples left soon after that.  But a few of us kept on with the games.  We got home before 3am.  A good time was had by all.