Call it... Hibernation

That's what it was a year ago anyway: Hibernating from my social life in general. It felt as though my entire focus was on teaching... Wait, it didn't "feel" like that, it WAS like that. It's almost embarrassing to admit how many hours I worked, especially the first half of the school year my first year teaching. I calculated it a time or two, then compared my salary to the lawyers I was competing in hours with, and I realized I must not be in my profession entirely for the bulging paycheck.

People kept telling me that it was important to take breaks and not immerse myself so completely into teaching, that it would cause burnout and would be worse for me and my students in the long run. My only reaction to that was, "How?" How on earth could I do less when I felt like I was only doing what was necessary and still gasping for air. Now... the burnout part: check. That came quickly. But I didn't have time to think about it, so I guess in a way burnout didn't happen. Exhaustion ensued. Emotional, mental, you name it. And where I never watched television much before except "So You Think You Can Dance", suddenly I found myself watching every Jazz and BYU basketball game on television, and listening to the games that weren't. These became my respites. Of course, even that I did while grading papers or planning lessons 90% of the time (The other 10% I watched while exercising). I know, real relaxing, right? But it worked. It still felt like a break. The only break I felt comfortable taking at times. I certainly wasn't willing to make plans with others on weekdays... there was no time for that, but I could grade while watching a game.

Even when things started getting a little more under control, others said I was doing too much. It was mainly teachers giving me this insight because they were the ones who saw me... my car often the last in the parking lot. Even the principal suggested that I take days off (is that a bad sign?). Yet I literally couldn't fathom how I could possibly spend less time than I was putting in because it meant things wouldn't get done which, in my perception, HAD to get done. It wasn't in my persona to wing a lesson I had never taught, nor to let grading pile up, nor to skip planning out the next day (and I never was more than a day ahead of schedule). In my mind, I had to stay on top of things or I literally would get buried. It was what it was. I eventually surrendered to the idea that I'd put in the hours now and live with it; that by my second year the hours would go down a little, by the third year a little more, and maybe by my fourth year I'd be at a normal work-week. I just had to make it through a day at a time.

Well... I'm a year and a half into teaching now, and good news!: My second year has been so much better. SO MUCH BETTER. (Did I mention it has been a good deal better this year?) I have another amazing class. Both years I have genuinely loved the students in my class. Each class has had a different personality and different challenges and has been worth every minute of the time I put into teaching. I wouldn't trade them for any other. I've been blessed... not sure why, but not asking questions. And hoping that this doesn't mean that the "third time's a charm" idea works in reverse as well. Just because I have such a teachable and enjoyable class this year and had such a fun class last year, doesn't mean that next year I will have the antithesis, right? I'm crossing my fingers for another good year next year while basking in the goodness of my class this year.

AND... Hibernation is over. I have been on play mode for a while now. I got my life back. I still enjoy teaching, and the best part: I feel I am a better teacher this year even though I don't put in lawyer-like hours. Sure, I'm still over 40 a week (and probably always will be on average), but I'm at a level that I can live with the rest of my teaching career already. That's good news for me, and for my students. I am able to teach more effectively because of my experience with the curriculum and school procedures and policies, and I am happier at school because I have opportunities to be away from it physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Brigham Young once said "Life is best enjoyed when time periods are evenly divided between labor, sleep, and recreation... all people should spend 1/3 of their time in recreation which is rebuilding, voluntary activity, never idleness." It's about balance. I have that this year.

I watched my first BYU basketball game of the year a week or two ago. I loved it, and I would like to watch more, but I don't have as much time... not because I'm grading or planning (I'd just do those during the games anyway), but because I have been making time to follow other worthwhile pursuits. I have time to spend with people now, time for exercise, time for reading, time to attend the temple each week, time for writing in here if I start taking it, time to do my taxes (why do I love that so much?). While last year I wouldn't make plans with people for a weekday, this year I fill my time up with a variety of evening activities throughout the week AND weekend. So, welcome figurative springtime, I'm waking and living and loving life. I can't believe how blessed I've been this school year, in and out of school itself, and I'm hoping to continue counting those blessing and not ever take them for granted.

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...