Hiatus

I took a bit of a hiatus from blogging, and I'll be taking a bit more of one while I'm in the thick of my first year teaching, but I forgot that I never added a picture of the awesome graduation present my mom made for me. It is a quilt of all my favorite t-shirts representing my life since elementary school. There is a Brookwood t-shirt, Brighton High, USU, BYU, BYU Jerusalem, U of Phoenix, 5k's including the Willie Walk, half marathon, travel shirts from when I went to Ghana), concert shirts, and more. She did a very thorough job, and I love my gift. My mom is so talented. It really is beautiful... as beautiful as the meaning and time that went into it. What a meaningful treasure, and since it acts as my bedspread now I get to enjoy it every day.

And pretty much all I spend my time doing now is teaching and prep for teaching. But as part of our prep week in going back to school the staff went rappelling at Camp Williams (not a bad way to be paid). And a very attractive picture (does anyone look good in a harness?) was taken of me, as shown below.

Renaissance

renaissance n. A rebirth or revival

July 8th I got the welcome call/offer to work at Renaissance Academy. I'm going to be a 5th grade teacher (my #1 pick for grade) at what feels like a fantastic charter school about 20 minutes/13 miles from my house, so not too bad. I'm very excited, and a bit nervous as well. I'll likely be spending the next month doing little besides preparation and school. Here's my classroom, complete with zebra print desk.

By the way, I finish my master's degree August 11th... also highly exciting.

TdU continues... in Logan

Bluebird +

Tour de Utah continued Saturday with a trip to Logan during which, for the first time, I hiked the USU famous Wind Caves hike and went to the Bluebird Restaurant and Candy Shop. Most who have lived in Logan would find it pretty surprising that I had never been to the Bluebird most of all. Including me... But I loved it! The building was awesome. It has the perfect, old-time classy feel, like you stepped back in time to a restaurant where they were going to open it up for ballroom dancing after the meal. There is an office upstairs that overlooks the restaurant to the west, and has a great view of the outside via the large windows to the east. Prime office location. The food was great for the rather low prices they charge ($7 for a large, complete meal that would feed most with leftovers for the next meal... I had leftovers and I even split my meal with Connie). I don't know why it took me so long to make it there.

The hike was also very cool. It was about 3.5 miles roundtrip, and not too strenuous. We saw a couple snakes due to the tall grasses being an inviting place for snakes and also making enough noise when animals and reptiles moved that it made them easier to spot. Here is one that came out into a more conspicuous spot so it could get its picture taken.

The wind caves are a lot less cave, and a lot less made from wind, and more they are arches made from water erosion. (Who named them???) Though not caves, it was still quite a destination with an amazing view. The main sound I heard: cows. Yeah, mooing incessantly from over the top of the mountain. We couldn't see them, but they were not hiding their voices in the least. Below are a few pictures from the hike.

Finito

It's done... I have a new roof. I haven't completely cleaned up yet due to the fact that not everything fits in my garbage can, but everything up top is done except some gutter clean out, so it's definitely at project end. Below are the before, during and after pictures. I know, I know... It looks the same. Humor me. Tell me it's the best looking roof you've ever seen. I deserve it. I've worked hard. :) It was actually cool to learn how it's all done. I've learned so much that I never really wanted to know, but it's a good thing. And I am hoping, wishing, and crossing my fingers that this is the last big repair or high cost item I'll need for my house for a very, VERY,... (did I say very?) long time. Like, never again in this house would be perfect.

BEFORE (This one was actually taken before I even moved in... so 5 years ago, before a couple trees that did a great job of masking the ugly chimney died)

DURING

AFTER
YES! I have time back for things besides roofing. All is well.

Outside

I wasn't expecting it as one of my "firsts" in the new things experienced this summer, but my 23 year old roof is at the end of its life. RIP dear roof. So, my friend Tim who's a general contractor is putting a new one on for me, and I am helping. Oh the fun things you can do when you're a homeowner. My first time roofing, and I wouldn't be sad if it was my last. It's hard work... at least, the tearing off of the shingles can get you a good workout. I haven't exactly stayed clean through the process (note picture below). After a few days of toil and labor, and several sore muscles that I'm fairly certain had never been worked out in my body before, we're onto the easier part of putting the shingles on... and hopefully Thursday it will be complete. I'll add updated photos once it is done. Then again, it's a roof... who pays attention to what roofs look like?

Though most of my week last week was spent roofing, I did find time to go on a hike with my roommates and to go to a Bees game. I have a few pictures from hiking as shown below. These are from a hike on the Rocky Mouth Trail -- only a few miles from my house. It's a whopping 0.4 mile hike each way... fantastic destination, and only disappointing because you don't get much of a workout with it being so short. 1 or 2 miles and it would be perfect.

Last, here are a few pictures from a hike Connie and I did a week ago at the S curve in Big Cottonwood... a hike called Broads Fork.

A new favorite lunch spot of mine... the bridge a mile up the trail.

The good summer of 2010 continues... The good part being the getting things done and enjoying life. The job search... not so successful. So, I don't write much about that. Unemployment would be far more relaxing if I was a millionaire.

Tour de Utah begins

I was born and raised in Utah... still here, and still have never done most of the touristy experiences around. For instance, I had never hiked to Mt. Timp Cave National Monument (or Mt Timp for that matter... later this summer on that one) until a couple weeks ago. I had also never been to the infamous "clothing optional" hot springs at Diamond Fork until last night (no show that night though). And there are so many other not-yet-completed adventures within a couple hours' drive of the place I've lived most of my life, and it's high time I get out and do them. So my touring Utah summer has kicked off and I can now add a few adventures to the list of "checked" items, with hopes of many more to be checked off soon.

Memorial Day weekend was when it began. After canceling a trip to Yellowstone due to bad weather, my roommates and I made up for it by packing in the local adventures. This is when we hiked to Mt. Timp cave (which I had never done), went to a Real Salt Lake game (which Connie and Cherissa had never done... at Rio Tinto Stadium anyway), enjoyed an hour and a half at a massage and oxygen bar (which none of us had done), and ate at our favorite thai and indian restaurants (which I was all too excited to do again). All-in-all it was an immensely enjoyable backup to Yellowstone. A few pics from Memorial Day weekend follow.

The next weekend Connie and I continued a tradition with the 2nd annual "Make Adam give up a perfectly nice Saturday morning to take us to Carl's Cafe and fishing on free fishing day." It was a success... except we didn't catch any fish. Or was it 20 fish that we caught? We kept mixing up our answers when different people asked. Ok, the correct answer was "zero". Maybe it had something to do with how the lake was FROZEN!? We were not expecting that. But there was a little melted area by the dock so we at least pretended there was a point to throwing in our lines. Adam's a great sport to take us fishing two years in a row. And we had a great time, even though the fishing itself was unsuccessful.

Finally, this weekend we continued Tour de Utah with my first time going to Fifth Water Hot Springs. It's a 2.5 mile hike (easy at that!) to a water fall and 5 varying-temperature hot spring pools. It was amazing... and I will be back! This adventure was headed up by our friend Joseph. I've wanted to go there since I was a student at BYU, so I was grateful for the invitation. Another long-time goal fulfilled.

The next picture of me was of me trying out a new style of brainfreeze.... sticking my head through a waterfall. Each of our group did this... a kind of initiation rite I believe.

Tour de Utah is off to a great start. Hopefully the coming weeks and months will bring more new and exciting experiences. Stay tuned...

One giant, happy but sad leap forward...

One small step for me, one giant leap towards my masters degree. One class to go this summer and I'll be done. I just got home from my last day student teaching, and after 10 weeks I'm kind of used to it and might even miss it. I know I'll miss the students. They kept me laughing. I genuinely liked and loved them. And the teachers I worked with were top notch as well. So, today I had a few of those moments where you say, "Ahhh, this is totally worth it. I like teaching and am finally doing something that's fulfilling, AND... fun (though not always)." So, that's the sad part about leaving. But don't worry, I am excited about the bright side: I have time to look for teaching positions, to exercise and do all that stuff I put off "until I'm done student teaching." (the test now is if it will get done or if I'll find some other pawn as a procrastination tool).

My cooperating teacher (she was fantastic), had all the students write on a paper a few of their favorite things and a note to me. I love these notes. The teacher bound them and gave them to me, and it's a definite treasure. First, they each told me their favorite food. By many of their answers you'll know the socioeconomic level in which they reside. Answers follow, and I'm leaving their spelling as is:

* crapes with berries and powdered sugar

* hot dog

* shrimp

* garlic lemon chicken

* eggs benedict

* snow crab

* sushi

* sushi

* sushi

* pizza

* hamburger

* oranges and grapefruit

* steak

* tuna sandwich.

So, there are some "normal" answers, but I was just staring and thinking, "wow, at that age I wouldn't go near or understand half that stuff."

Some of the fun comments in their notes:

* You were way better than my last student teacher.

* You never let me down and your a awesome incourager.

* Thanks for not getting to mad when me and zac threw crayons. (apparently I should have gotten a little more upset!)

* You have been educating us and we wanted to say thank you!

* You are cool and nice But you lick BYU thit is god. I lack byu to.

* You mack hore lafe. (I think he was saying I make the other teacher laugh, but it came out a little rushed and... well, don't interpret the misspellings or it's a little sketchy).

* I will miss you so

* I wish you could be my teacher in 6th grade. [I really really really hope]

* You wear cool clothes (only a 5th grader would say that :)

* I hope you will live a long and happy life!

They're the best! I really am going to miss them. Fifth graders are cool... especially these ones. And if you don't believe me, go visit their class. They're the best!

Since Christmas...

While it is probably true that I haven't done MUCH since christmas, I've at least done a few fun things. So, for the benefit of those who read this blog and are not on facebook to see the pictures I've posted, I'll include some pictures of a few of the latest adventures.

I went on my annual yurting trip with Lisa Smith, and fortunately this time she invited me to bring some additional friends along, so Connie, Cherissa, Christian, and Jen joined us for the event. Connie and I were sure to tell everyone just how difficult yurting is: cross country skiing on incredibly rough terrain (Or... nearly level, but that's no fun to say), telling them about the intense hill that they surely would not make it down without injury (that one really is kind of scary and usually leads to a few falls in the group, though no injuries that I'm aware of have occurred yet), and reminding them often that we would be in bear country and that they were to be extremely cautious at all times (we did see a weasel as far as wildlife goes). Really, yurting is a pretty simple activity. You backpack in, or you can bring your things in a sled pulled with a rope attached around your waste. There's a wood burning stove, so it generally remains warm, and often a little too warm for me. The first time we went we cooked tempura, though the cuisine has been a little less gourmet since those days. Still, you can cook whatever you so desire on the camp stoves that are there. We played a little guitar and chatted and had a great time. Here are some pics:

That excursion was followed by fondue night, another annual event, this one with Marinda & Mike, Dave & Jen, and Connie, me, and our dates. I have to diet for two weeks straight to make up for this night (or... I should anyway). We had swiss cheese fondue (Melting Pot recipe), and Marinda's Chocolate coconut fondue. What could be better than that?

Finally, it was Cherissa's birthday on the 13th of February, and the birthday of Pete and John-Paul were within a week each direction, so we had a little get together at our house.

Connie, JP (watch the hands, mr! :), me, and Scott

Christian and Justin

The birthday boys and girl: Pete, Cherissa, and John-Paul

Adam and me

Connie, Cherissa, me, Pete, and Jen