SNOW!!

I took these at home a few days after we got a little bit of snow in Illinois. The weather was great and I decided to go out and use my camera... these were three of my favorite.

matt's action shots

I was trying to be creative in taking pictures around the house... and this is what happens instead...

OH HEY MATT!!!

I am SO SURE that my mother will be so please when she sees these pictures!! hahaha ;) 

Christmas Decor!!

Merry Christmas Eve

PHEW! What a month it has been! :)

Dan and Erik have developed a new Bro-mance. 

My seeester came to see me!!

Kevin and Aimee tied the knot 

in the biggest snow storm of 2010! 

 And Erik and I celebrated it all in style!! 

I'd say we look pretty good! 

I guess I didn't have as much "free" time as I would have liked. I did, however, spend a lot of time on the blanket I have been knitting Erik for Christmas. As of now, it is as wide as a full bed and about a few inches taller than my 5'5" hight. I'm on the last skein of yarn but I just can't finish it. 

I have been prepping for student teaching by reading every single handbook given to me by my University and the high school that I will be student teaching at. I have started to read Night by Ellie Weisel so that I can teach it to the 11th graders. And I was given a folder full of "beginners research material" that I need to update before teaching the 3 sections of 9th grade classes how to write a research paper. 

With all honesty, I am so nervous and it doesn't help that I keep having dreams where I am the worst teacher EVER!!! In my dream last night, I had a 3 minutes to give a lesson that none of my students listened to. It seemed a lot worse in the dream. 

Anyways... my plane is waiting for me! 

this face...

Drake

When this is the face looking at you all weekend...

 you would find it 

EXTREMELY

difficult to do homework too. 

This is unreal!

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players

- Shakespeare (As You Like It) 

 So, on a complete whim last week, I tried out for my Universities 2011 performance of the Vagina Monologues. One of my goals when I arrived on campus was to try out for a performance. That goal had been shoved to the back of my mind as each semester had ensued and had been back there for 4 and 1/2 years. I finally unpacked that goal and dusted off it's hope when I saw in my inbox that there were going to be casting calls for the Vagina Monologues. I thought about it on and off all day. 


After convincing myself that this would be a good idea (based on my oral interpretation class, the fact that I will be teaching a theatre class at a high school, and that being in a college performance would give me credibility in speech classes I would teach in the future) AND some encouragement from my mom... 


I went to audition. 


I knew that if I didn't go right away, I would chicken out and kick myself for not going. So I grabbed my backpack and half ran to campus. I was the first one there and I asked some questions regarding if I would actually have the time if I get a part... all seemed well.


As women came in to try out, I noticed a few friendly faces who came and sat with me from Love Song, a play from last fall. I helped with the costumes for Love Song as well as managed to fracture my big toe in 3 places during strike. 


You wouldn't think that performances were in the cards for me anymore after that incident! However, my new toenail and I decided to give it a whirl. 


With encouragement from the girls from Love Song, and some of their friends, I finally got up to read the monologue I had selected (mind you I waited about an hour and a half to get the courage to even stand up). I used all of my knowledge from my oral interpretation class and


I read "I Was There in the Room"


After I had read it and calmed down a little, I left the auditions. Just trying out was a major accomplishment in my book. Friday night I got an email saying that the cast list would be out before the weekend and when it did, I kept looking for my name. The entire time hoping, that maybe, JUST MAYBE.... and then, there it was!


I MADE IT!!! :)


I got the monologue I had performed during auditions. How EXCITING!! 

I AM IN A COLLGE PERFORMANCE!!! 

GOAL (check!)

At that very moment I grabbed my phone and called all of the numbers I could possibly reach my mother on, but she didn't answer. Erik was hunting so I couldn't call him. So I called Kelsey and her whole family applauded for me in the background. :) I eventually informed both my mom and Erik! 

I am soooo excited for the first meeting in January! 

Our Christmas Tree!

Erik and I decorated our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree tonight!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

Too excited not to share!

As I bundle up for my last walk to an actual class as an undergrad, I cant really contain my excitement! I printed off study guides, a reflection and the 6 page research paper on second language acquisition at the library and walked on over to the lovely Minne Hall. As I was in the library and walking to class, I heard the "mutterances" of people around me. From things like "I'm barely looking at my sources" to "shit!"
I just couldn't help but smile to myself.

Although I am not quite done with all the projects I have due next week, but the fact that this week has come to an end is pretty freaking exciting!

AHHHH!!! I MADE IT!
:)

On to finals!!

A December Proclamation!

I don't think that my posts for December are going to be super extravagant, but I have come up with an idea for my December posts. Upon request from my grandmother, I asked to not be scheduled for work to mentally wind down from a hectic semester and prepare myself for student teaching in the spring, which means I will have a little bit of free time to mess around with my camera (and of course read and knit).

So, I have decided that for December I will do photo updates. I might throw some other things up here, but who knows.  :) 

Also, I am not sure when the first photo posts will show up because as of right now, I have a whole bunch to do still before I can say that my semester is done. 

So, keep checking back. And hopefully I will have some pictures soon! :) 

November 30: THIS MONTH'S BLOG!!!

HAHA!! SUCCESS!!! 

I DID IT! 

Today, I am thankful that I completed my goal for November's daily "Thanks" blog postings!! This may not seem like much, but to me, it is a pretty successful moment. :) I'm nothing like Julie in the movie Julie and Julia... I don't have THAT much time on my hands, but I did manage to find someone or something to be thankful for each day and to tell why I was thankful for it. Some days were skipped or missed, but I made up for them and it counts in my book.

THANKS THIS MONTHS BLOG!!!!

AND EVERYONE WHO READ IT!!!!

Now, on to December!!! 

A month of "Christmas cheer and singing loud for all to hear!" (Elf)  I'm not sure what my posts in December will bring, but I have a feeling it will be festive.  :) 

any December suggestions??? 

November 29: Last week of classes!

Today, I am thankful that I have made it all the way to my last week of classes this semester. This last week also marks my last week of actual classes as an undergraduate. ...I won't be going back to get my masters right away, but sooner or later I will.

This semester has been absolutely ridiculous. Cramming twenety credits, getting into the high school and being loaded with papers and reading assignments....PHEW!! Although I am not there yet, and I have a few more decently weighted assignments left, I am so unbelievably happy that I made it this far.
So, today I begin my drudge trhough all the work I have left, which will consist of:

-12 page paper on Critical Theory with an annotated bibliography
-6 page research paper on Language Acquisition
-Thematic Unit Plan
-Education Portfolio
-12 (ish?) page Ethics paper
-National Parks final exam
-Critical Theory final exam

I feel like this list should be longer... because it definitely does NOT show how long I will be in the library.
This is going to be a bittersweet week but I am still very happy about it.

THANKS LAST WEEK OF CLASSES!!!!

November 28: Stress Free Drive

Today, I am thankful that I had a stress free drive back to Minnesota.

I had completed my project due Monday morning on Saturday night and was able to have a nice breakfast with my family before I left. The drive was great, hardly any traffic! AND as an added bonus... I had a working radio this time!! I am also thankful that I got to spend time with Erik before my LAST WEEK OF CLASSES AS AN UNDERGRAD.

THANKS STRESS FREE DRIVE!!!

November 27: Health

Today, I am thankful for my health.
As I finish some book reviews for an assignment, I have stumbled across a lot of realistic fiction that describes characters difficulties with health and living situations. After thinking about it for a little while, I am honestly so unbelievably lucky to be healthy and to have a healthy family. I get the meals I need and have a roof over my head. I have people who are willing to and able to care for me if I need it. I am covered... as of right now, under my dad's medical plan which is something to be thankful for in and of itself. What more could a person ask for? I am taken care of.
So, for however cliché this post may seem...

THANKS... to my HEALTH!!!!

November 26: Gentle Reminders and my Grandparents.

AHHH! ok, ok, ok... so I missed the 26th. But, here it is.
I got an email this morning from my loving grandfather, telling me that I had missed a day on my "thanks" blog. And I had breakfast the other morning with my grandma. So, this post will be for them.

Today, I am thankful for my Grandpa Russ
I call him "Beemps." It stemmed from "Beempa" which came somewhere from my childhood.. and that is as much as I can explain. Everyone in my family now uses some form of "beemps" for him and it has just kind of stuck. I am thankful that my Beemps has been so interested, supportive and involved in mine and my family's lives even though he and Kathy split their time between Arizona and Wisconsin. I am thankful that he has a place in Wisconsin, because it has served as a meeting spot between Minnesota and Illinois and has been a stop for me on drives home. I am lucky to have my Beemps in my life.   ... and I feel that I am even more lucky that he is electronically savvy enough to be keeping up with this blog enough to tell me that I need to keep up. (Who says you can't teach an old fart new tricks!!! hehehe)  I really think that his new Mac was the best investment he has made besides the Wisconsin house because nothing is better than being able to be with family.

Today, I am also equally thankful for my Grandma Barb
My Grandma also has a nickname... I call her "Bubbles" and/or "Bubs" for short. This nickname came from a  trip my family took Bubs on. When I first went to California for a summer job, my family took me out there and we toured around San Francisco, Yosemite National Park and finally Monterey. My mom had gotten my Grandma a little Ipod shuffle for the plane ride and long car rides. (My grandparents are so tech-savvy!!) Grandma loves to talk and tell us stories which we all love to hear and listen to. One day, in Monterey, Grandma was telling us stories about Golfing and the last time she was in Monterey and she was so excited she was able to make it back a second time. Anyways, we were going to get out of the car to look at the scenic drive and I just called her "Bubbles." Pretty soon, she became Bubbles for the rest of the trip and it just kinda stuck. Bubbles used to live in Florida, but has more recently move back home. I love that she is so close and that when I come home I can go for breakfast with her or just stop over whenever.

I am so happy that I am able to still have one set of my grandparents still so involved in my life. I am thankful that they are both still looking out for me.

Although my Nonna passed away when I was seven, she is the one I talk to when I am having a difficult time, and I know that she is in heaven helping me in her own way... as well as always gently reminding me to wear my socks. (I know this because with not having told Erik that "wearing my socks" was the one thing that was so important to my Nonna, he is constantly telling me I need to take care of my feet- strange how things work out.)

THANKS BEEMPS, BUBBLES, AND NONNA!!!!

I LOVE YOU!!! 

November 25: THANKSGIVING!!!

Well, Happy Thanksgiving!!! I am so happy that I have given "thanks" all month and I am so proud of myself to stick to something this long. I know I still have 5 more days for November "thanks," but this has been a pretty awesome accomplishment thus far.

I am thankful today for everything... Everything in my life that has come to shape me into who I am today.

I am thankful for the people in my life- the ones I once met, the ones I know, and the ones that I am still waiting to meet.

During my transition from High School to college, I decided to see if Art school was the right thing for me. With the help of my mom, I enrolled in a month-long class at the American Academy of Art. It didn't take me long to meet a friend, she was a Polish immigrant with a thick accent. She soon became my lunch buddy, my commuter companion, and someone to share my charcoal pencils with. Even though our friendship ended at the same time as that class, I will never forget the time we gave a homeless man her cucumber and cream-cheese sandwich only to turn around and watch him throw it away. We laughed the entire way back to class.   

I am thankful for all the places that I have traveled to and all the cultures I have experienced.

I have had some of the most amazing opportunities to see the world. I have been to Florida countless times, worked in California for two amazing summers, volunteered in North Virginia, traveled to mulitple towns in Italy, and seen some of Greek's best islands. But this list barley scathes the surface of everything I have done and seen and the people I have met along the way. One of my favorite stories is about a generous man in Syros, Greece.

I am thankful for all the opportunities that I have been given including my education and my parents who worked hard to get me to my last year of college.

It seems like it was just last week that I was sitting in Tia's Senior art class telling her what exactly jello shots were, or in Senora Meyer's spanish class trying to conjugate verbs, or reciting a monologue from "Best in Show" for Miss Brady's theatre class. However, I am well past that point of my education and and on my way to graduate with my B.S. in Communication Arts and Literature Teaching.

 (Don't worry, I won't be sharing that jello shot recipe with my students... EVER)

So......

Thanks!!! 

To everyone, every place, and everything that made it possible for me to be me.

November 24: Just "Being"

Today I am thankful to just be.
I took today to go to a few doctors appointments but mostly took some cat naps and just hung out. After a stressful semester with one week of school and then finals left, I think it was time to really just "be" for one day.  I was absolutely unproductive and I have no remorse. I didn't open a book... I didn't even open my backpack. And to be frank, I didn't even care! I am so glad to be home. Just being here and taking in everything familiar... smells, noises, and my bed... makes me feel like the biggest mountain of stress has broken off my shoulders.

THANKS... TO JUST "BEING"!!

November 23: Going Home

Today I am thankful that I am on my way home. As I sit in completely stopped traffic I keep thinking about seeing my dad, finally seeing my little brother, and of course seeing Mandy And Josie... only the greatest puppy pair ever!!!!!

November 22: The Future

Today, I am thankful for the future and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Up until ... well, let me start over....  I have never had a "plan." If you were to ask me, "Say, Lauren, where do you see yourself in x amount of time?" I could give you an answer and it probably would sound something like "I have absolutely no idea."

Of course, when I was asked my senior year of high school where I saw myself in 5 years, I gave an answer that I was sure of. I probably said "Graduated from college, with a job.. yada yada yada." Obviously, that plan didn't necessarily work out because its been 5 years.... and I'm still in school. If they added five more years on... well, the whole plan is messed up because I based it on graduating from college in 4 years and I would still have been wrong.

However, now, I seem to have a plan, or at least a layout for what is to come in the NEAR future. In three weeks, I will be done with my final semester of school, in December I will have a week with family in Florida and on January 3, 2011 I become a student teacher!! I will spend 16 weeks at a high school teaching 9th and 11th grades and a theatre course and then I graduate and become a "real person."

Ok, so maybe that isn't really a "plan," but this is what my life will be like until May. I am thankful for all the opportunities I have had and for the opportunities that are to come!

THANKS FUTURE!!!

November 19- November 21

AHH! I am thankful for such a great weekend, I am thankful for Dan and Julie and, again, I am so thankful for Erik!

Dan and Julie FINALLY came to visit me up in MN and Erik did a fantastic job of hosting all of us at his place and showing my brother a good time in LaX on Saturday night... Julie and I had too much fun earlier in the evening, so we had to go to bed a little early. I am so thankful that they came to visit and that everything worked out nicely for all of us.

THANKS GREAT WEEKENDS, DAN, JULIE, and ERIK!!!

NOTE- my weekend was so much fun, I didn't have time to post... I give myself leave from my thankful note everyday to spend time with the people I love instead of on my computer.  

Therefore, my challenge continues.

READ ON, READERS!

November 18: TLC

Today, I am thanking for TLC.
...No, regrettably I am not talking about that awesome band TLC from the 90's... however, now it seems that they just might be able to make it into a post sometime in November because I like where this is going.

BUT

I'm talking about "tender loving care," the care that you can only get from your mom. You know that overwhelming sense of comfort you get when you hug your mom after it has been a little while and you get to take in that familiar smell... like a mix of the perfume she wears, the laundry detergent used on the clothes, and... love? Yeah, thats it... that smell with that feeling is the type of TLC I am talking about. Just can't get that anywhere else.
I am so lucky to have a mother who, I know, has cared and does care greatly about me. I am thankful that I can go to my mom with my problems- big or small- and she will try her best to fix them or help me fix them. And tonight, I am thankful that she is right here by my side giving me some much needed TLC.

THANKS TLC

AND MOM!!!

November 17: Erik

Today, (and everyday... obviously) I am thankful for Erik.

I know that I have sprinkled his name throughout this entire blog and that he has already been in my first "thanks" post about family, the one about MN76, obviously these beautiful flowers were from him... and really like half these posts probably have his name or him in them. But I have yet to actually give him his own actual post completely dedicated just to him.

So, hunny, this is why I am thankful for you. 

(at least some of the reasons)

Trying to write a poem for the man I love,

My lobster... my best friend - is something much more

Easy... when it is said instead of being done.

There is much I could say about my one true love:

How much I care, respect, admire and adore...

But words can't express how I feel about you, hun.

Just come here... and let me shower you with kisses

Because when you hold me... you make me smile so big...

My heart flits... because it's overwhelmed with joy!

You lift my worries...and I'm the one... that misses

You most! I WIN! and I'll celebrate with a jig...

But words can't express how I feel about you, boy!

I'm thankful to know... that you'll always protect me

and in your arms... I'll feel most safe. Thanks to the skills...

I've seen in C.o.D: Black Ops... killin' zombie.

HUNNY! I'm thankful to know you'll always love me

I intended to be pensive... but rhymes needed fills...

And... words can't express... how I feel about you, baby!!

WHAT UP NOW, Emily Dickinson... 

your dashes are nothing compared to my ellipsis!

Ok, I really had intended my poem to be a "serious love poem" but I guess that this poem, in a way, reflects who we are. We can be serious, but its more fun to be silly... and that is what I love about Erik. That he plays the stupid games I make up to satisfy my competitive nature. 

And, honestly, there is so much that I can write about why I am thankful for Erik, but then I'd be telling everyone all the things that make my relationship special...  and I don't wanna do that. 

But I'm obviously thankful for him because he is the greatest boyfriend EVER

... and he's all MINE!

THANK YOU ERIK...

... for being you, 

I would have no one else.

I LOVE YOU!

November 16: Finally Registered for my FINAL semester

Today, I am thankful for finally being registered for my final semester in which I will be student teaching!

HERE IT IS!

Woot woot! There is a light at the end of this educational tunnel and I cannot wait to get there. And all I want to say after 41/2 years is:

FINALLY!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!

November 15: Music (and Dancing)!

Today and everyday, I am thankful for music.

From John Legend to Shakira, from Eminem to India Arie, I listen to it all. The reason I picked music and dancing for today is because I am SO unbelievably exhausted but once I plug in my headphones and get any beat going, I am recharged somehow. Right now, I am sitting at Mugby Junction, a coffee shop, and I am tapping my foot and bobbing my head to each of these songs. AND for the past month I have been trying to make a new playlist of songs that I feel are "good for the soul"... or at least, good for my soul.

 This is the screen shot of what I came up with for my playlist. 

Video by India Arie makes me take a deep breath and start bobbin my head. But the song Stuck Like Glue by the country band, Sugarland will not let me feet stay still; this song comes on and I want to get up and dance around my room like a fool and just smile. And Glee's version of Keep Holding On is just reassuring, that other people could be struggling with their positive outlook on life and that we will all make it through. Finally, although this song isn't on my playlist YET, this is the song that my friend played for me when I came to her in tears (Here's why). It is a collaboration between Jason Mraz and James Morrison and it's called Details in the Fabric and its just what I need.  (Thanks Kels)

Music, like poetry, is something that everyone can listen to and interpret in their own way and I have interpreted all these songs as reaching out to me in someway or another. I have grown up with music playing throughout the house while the family cleaned or was just hanging out... and although I have really no idea what this song means (nor do I want to know... because it might ruin the memory)  La Bamba always makes me think of the home I grew up in.

THANK YOU MUSIC (and Dancing)!!!

November 14: Learning the hard way... but, nonetheless, still learning

Something happened this semester to really make me think. It made me think about how I am and will be as a person, as well as how I will be as a teacher.


A few weeks back, I challenged one of my professors. It was a complete accident, but I just went with it. I have had this professor before in another class two years ago and I thought he was great; he was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and genuinely cared about each students' success in the class. Last year, he went on sabbatical and came back this semester. When the semester began, I was thrilled to be having another class with this professor but as the semester progressed, I have found myself wanting to skip his class. The first week was great, we learned so much about how and what to teach in middle and secondary English classes, everyone was excited to be there and each student hung on the words of the wise stories this professor had to share.


Then, slowly, and unknowingly, I began to become detached from this excitement. The stories that our professor was sharing with us continued to be repeated and he had started to sprinkle them with complaints about being at school again, saying he had "a sabbatical hangover", and that he was "doing all the work for the department", and that he is "tired of being the only one who is organized" in our particular program (these may not all be exact quotes... but pretty close).


The middle of the semester hit and this class, with a few others became so repetitive, I started having trouble getting enough motivation to even go to class. I stomp around my apartment saying "I hate school",  or "guess who is sick of school right now?!".


It became my mantra.


Which is why I didn't see that what I did was wrong. As my classmates and I waited to pick our second teaching opportunity dates, there was a lull in the room, and I said it. I repeated my mantra and challenged my professor,


"I am so sick of school" ... my professor looked up and directly at me as if I had said something completely and utterly disturbing... and I responded with "Well, it's true."


I guess in my mind, I thought because my professor gave himself free range to complain about being back at school and having his "sabbatical hangover", that our classroom was now a sanctuary for complaints and that I too could complain and not receive any repercussions to my actions.


I guess I was wrong.


We turned in the next assignment about a week later.  And a week or two after that got them back. I had received an 89% on a 90, 80, 70 scale, which meant that I was 1% point away from an "A" on the assignment and had received no comments about what was wrong with the paper.


Now, I have never fought a grade in my life. I have always just assumed that what I got was based on my work and I accepted it and moved on. However, this time, I didn't think that was the case. So, I got up enough courage to go into my professors office and ask him to help me see where that 1% point went.  Why I didn't get it. He told me that I didn't include a section that referred to grammar, I told him that I did and pointed out the third paragraph of the entire paper and another one on pages 7 and 8 of my paper. I read it to him, he  looked at it and then said that I didn't provide specific examples. (In these paragraphs, I basically summarized 3 lectures worth of what he said on how to use grammar in a classroom... so, I have a feeling that he agreed with what was written. Also, in the 3 pages that describe what he wanted in the paper... specific examples weren't there.)


At this point, he hands the paper back to me and says, "I just didn't feel that it was an "A" paper."


He had just judged the student and not the work.


Although I am still deeply upset about the situation, I am glad that I have had this opportunity to learn and grow. I know now that:
1. I will never complain to my students about being at school
2. Always make my lessons exciting- instead of dull and repetitious
3. I will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS judge the students work and NEVER judge the student.
4. AND if the student works up enough courage to challenge the grade given and it is only that 1% point, I will get off my high horse, and give that student the point... because if anything, he or she deserves it for showing that they care about their grade, and showing their courage to challenge the grade.


Because no matter what, I want my students to be excited to come to school and learn, I want them to feel comfortable in my classroom, and I want them to know that I am excited to be teaching.

So, Thank You,

To my professor,

for allowing me to learn how I want to be as a teacher the hard way. 


And, if he needs it, 
I am truly sorry for what I said.

....and now I am dreading his class in the morning. 

November 13: MY WORK

Today, I am thankful for all my coworkers and my boss! They did a great job helping me with the window for November!!

THANKS MUGBY JUNCTION!!

November 12: The Little Things

Today I am thankf little things....

Like waking up and getting a kiss before I even open my eyes, 

Or really enjoying every sip of my latte (not chuggin it down because I need the caffeine).

Hearing the rain tapping on the bedroom window while looking at a clean room and smelling my ROSES! 

It's the little things like a phone call from a friend or text sayin, "I love you" that make my heart smile and makes all the difference.

THANKS LITTLE THINGS!

November 11: Days Off

Today I am thankful for Days Off.

I have less than 3 weeks of classes left and I everything is piling up: homework, stress, dirty laundry. (Yikes!) So, being that today is Veterans Day, Winona State gave us a day off from classes. Although I had originally intended to do homework all day... I decided that I needed to take care of my stress level first. So, I am thankful that I got a day to "veg", as my mom calls it.

yea... i drew this... hehe (in class too!)

THANKS DAYS OFF!!

November 10: My friend, Kelsey

Today I am thankful for my friend and classmate Kelsey because I don't think I would be able to survive this last semester of school without her! So, I wrote a poem for her!!

Without a judgment e'er to be
She'll listen to my raves and rants
And sometimes tell me bout her great, new pants!
Tuesday nights with wine and Glee,
That our professor dislikes me, she'd agree.

In morning, afternoon and evening classes,
The stories of being an aunt, she always passes.
Brady and Baby Brooke should be so happy
That they have Kelsey for an Auntie!
She is always ready to give good solid advice
But don't you dare ask her to hold any mice!

:)  Thanks Kels!!

for everything! 

LOOK WHAT I GOT!!!!

I am thankful for my wonderful boyfriend for bringing me these beautiful roses!!!

I love him! 

:)

November 9: My friends who Blog!

Today, I am thankful for my friends who blog!!!

I am thankful for them because not only do I know that they "follow me" and read my blog every once in a while. They give me something to read too! And sometimes, reading their blogs is the only "free" reading time I get. Usually I'm reading for class and the assignment is something like.... "read chapters 18 and 19 from M&M. It's the weekend so 150 pages of the most boring material that repeats itself at least seven times should be no problem. But remember, you are going to want to put it down, walk away, and then come back to it after you have chewed it over." (yea... sure.)

So I attempted my school reading but I would much much MUCH rather read about how home was for Kelsey or about how Kaitlin is loving her single life as the Holiday's approach, or read Erin's blog with cute pictures and most recently coming up with a list similar to my own. 

I am constantly checking to see if they have posted so I can see what else is going on in this world besides lesson plans, portfolios, and lectures. So, for them and their blogging, I am thankful!!

THANKS FRIENDS WHO BLOG!!!!

November 8: My Classmates

Today I am thankful for my classmates

(specifically 402 classmates) 

As I taught a ninth grade lesson to the other CALT (communication arts and literature teaching) majors in my class who are mostly all 22(ish) and well past a 9th grade literature lesson, I realized how important it is to have people who share my similar passion.
Who else would sit through 40 minutes of re-learning the basic ideas of theme, plot, motifs, and textual evidence while putting them all into a Venn Diagram? Other students past the age of 22 would think this to be boring and monotonous work... and it is, but my classmates are willing to listen and participate in my lesson. Just as I will listen and participate for theirs.

THANKS CLASSMATES!!

November 7: Dreams

Today I am thankful for my dreams.

I am talking about both the dreams that I have at night and my dreams for the future. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have the most vivid and realistic dreams. I've even woken up laughing once. This morning's dream wasn't so great, but in a way it was a little humorous: I was murdered, or at least put in a comatose state by a mobster starfish by his stabbing me in the neck with a tentacle, which sent me into convulsions (at this point out of the dream, I was having side cramps).
....Tell me what that means, and I will pay you.

I am also thankful though for day dreams. I am thankful because these are things that can get me through the day. I'm a romantic, so I bet you can guess what my dreams are about. I like to envision the perfect moments. Wether I am envisioning how teaching will go the next day (which I am doing), envisioning how a conversation should go or should have gone, or envisioning the "what ifs." It's always the perfect moments. These are the dreams that I can control the variables and the outcomes... and although they are not realistic, I know that. I accept that. and I can move on. My day dreams are my situational thoughts about my life how it has happened, how it could be, and how it is. They are my little wishes.

But the dreams I am most thankful for are my dreams for the future. I know that nothing is ever set in stone, and that, I think, is one of the greatest blessings of dreams... I CAN CHANGE THEM!!! These dreams are similar to "long term goals"... but worded differently to allow for my non-type-A personality. I can have future dreams from up to 1 month away to 75 years away. The dream I have that is 75 years away is that I have lived my life to the fullest. I have no idea what that means right now... but I'm working on it. :)

So for my dreams, THANK YOU...

THANK YOU DREAMS!!!

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

copyright of this photo of my puppies belongs to my father! 

(http://vincenti.smugmug.com )

November 6: Weekends

Today, I am thankful for weekends. After the week I had, I am thankful to finally be able to kick back and relax a little. I am thankful that I can do my homework slowly throughout the day and still save the evening for some time with friends. AND I GET TWO WHOLE DAYS OF THAT!!!! :) YAY!!!

THANKS WEEKENDS!!!

November 5: Mama Goose

Today I am thankful for Mama Goose, Erik's mom. Being that it is her birthday today, I felt it appropriate to say thank you to her and for her.

I am thankful because she is my mother away from home... 

Just as my mom would tell me to clean up my room when I lived at home,

Mama Goose tells me I need to clean out my car. 

Just as my mom is not there to serve me my every meal and snack, 

Mama Goose just tells me "you know where it is." 

Just as my mom is worried about my well being, 

Mama Goose is too, especially when I smash my finger in a door and feel like I will pass out.

THANKS MAMA GOOSE!!!!

I know... but

I know that I am doing things that I am thankful for... but I couldn't miss this opportunity. As I was trying to figure out the pricing on a restaurant, I stumbled upon reviews.... and then I saw this!!!! 

There are so many things in this review right now that I could talk about. If I was a stand-up comedian that used props or had a projector like Demetri Martin, I am pretty sure this would make it into my act somehow.
I just really don't know where to start with this...

November 4: My Dollar.

Today I am thankful for finding a dollar in my pocket... because it is always a really great feeling to reach in your pocket and pull out a dollar bill.



The Dollar I Found

This Morning I found you
As I reached in my pocket
I let out an "oo-oo!"
And put you in my docket

You paid for my latte
Made with love and espresso
You have brightened my day
But I have now let you go.

For you I will say "Thanks!"
You were such a surprise!
Now you'll travel to banks,
As always, a great prize!

THANKS DOLLAR BILL!!!

November 3: MN 76

Today I am thankful for Minnesota State Highway 76

Aside from the pot-holes and the treacherous turns, I am thankful for this road. Not only is this the road that brings me to Erik and him to me, but it is a road that allows me to do my best thinking.

It allows me to meditate and pray on things in my life. MN-76 gives me a sense of joy... there have been times, when driving alone, that I am in such a deep happy thought, I burst out laughing. I am always so excited to be taking 76 south because I know that upon arrival, I will be welcomed, hugged, kissed, loved and cared for. Sometimes on this drive, I ask myself a lot of questions- some serious ones and some completely silly and arbitrary. I am happy to be able to drive through some of the most gorgeous landscape on my way to see my best friend!

...And I am thankful that upon arrival tonight I will be fed!! 

(Erik made dinner! YUM!!!)

THANKS MN-76! 

(And Erik!)

November 2: My Co-Worker, Jessie

Today I am thankful for my co-worker, Jessie S because whenever she comes into work, she is always in a good mood! Jessie is a great listener and a hard worker. She has a smile that is contagious and always puts me in a good mood.

So... I decided to write her a poem:

An Ode to my Co-Worker

There once was a girl named Jessie

Who's hair would never be messy.

At my stories she laughed

When she joined the staff.

I think her cow's name is Bessie?

THANKS JESSIE S!!! 

Happy November!!!

Because November is a month of "thanks" and because school is winding down and my stress level is rising, I want to make a challenge for myself. I want to be able to say that I am thankful for one thing everyday and why. I am hoping that finding one thing to be happy about everyday will relieve a bit of stress and remind me when I am so frustrated, that things are good.

I already missed the first day, but I will put that in this post and then continue with one THANKS! everyday until the end of the month.

November 1: Family
The one thing I am and will  always be thankful for is my family, Erik and his family... These are the people that I know I can turn to no matter what. They are always there and will always be there to share my joy, as well as my sorrow and I love them.

THANKS FAMILY!!!

Almost There....

22 days of classes until finals week!!!!
Everyone said college was going to be a marathon- not a sprint. That it would be a life changing journey... But I'm on my last few "miles" and it feels like the longest part of the entire course. Of course my college career won't be over at the end of this semester, but next semester I will be student teaching. It will be, for the sake of this metaphor, a triathlon relay. I will get a change of pace and someone to encourage me and help me get to that finish line, graduation. 
5 weeks can't go fast enough!

...Oh yea,

 Happy Halloween!

The truth.

"If you felt as though you were in a perpetual cycle of "been there, done that," you probably were-no diversity or challenge, thus no purpose, no motivation."

Maxwell and Meiser. " Teaching English in Middle and Secondary Schools" 2005. 

YUM YUM YUM!!!!!

Soup to warm the soul and Root Beer... well, just for fun!! :) 

The Half-Wag...

This is one of the many many many reasons I love dogs!!!

When Drake is sitting down and wags his tail... 
its only a little wag....

Countdowns...

***SIX WEEKS LEFT OF THE SEMESTER***

***FIVE WEEKS LEFT UNTIL FAMILY THANKSGIVING***

***FOUR WEEKS UNTIL DAN & JULIE COME TO VISIT***

go fasterrr!!!

ONLY 8 MORE WEEKS OF THE SEMESTER!!!!!

Sunset on the Farm

Charging COWS!

Every time I make the drive to Erik's house, I feel that I should have my camera with me. The drive is beautiful and I keep picking out new places that would make great pictures. One of these spots is at a turn where cows are always grazing. I pass them and think... "that would make a pretty cool picture."

So, on Monday, I FINALLY brought my camera. I got the courage to stop at a few different places before I stopped to take pictures of these cows. When I reached the turn, I crossed my fingers that these cows were out there... and they were! YAY! I parked my car on the shoulder and got out. I was amazed at the sunset in the background and started taking pictures.

As I was taking pictures, people kept slowing down to look at me. I'm sure they were probably wondering "what the heck is this chick doing taking pictures of cows". After I took about 5 pictures, I noticed a cow running at me full speed. I got really nervous until I realized there was a fence between me and him.
I kept taking pictures...
More people kept slowing down...
and more cows kept running at me...

Here is the series of pictures:

You can see that first cow looking at me... he was the first to run...

Now they ALL see me...

Making their way over....

:/

Pretty soon all these cows were lined up at the fence...

 just lookin at me. 

Okay... time to go. 

The Tree...

First Picture...taken July 25 (above)

Second Picture... taken September 27 (below)