Don't be jealous

This is how I spent my Saturday - temple, homework, 30 minute nap, homework, lunch, homeowrk, workout, homework, study group for stats, homework, dinner, and finally at 10:05 I finished my stats test and homework. Yep that was a very productive day!! But I was so excited when I was finished because for the first time in over a month I don't have to do homework today, on the sabbath. Just knowing that has made my Sunday so much better.

Thanksgiving was great and I have so much to be thankful for. I am so blessed and I really do appreciate all of the blessings in my life. To sum up my Thansgiving holiday I would say: STATISTICS. That is why I did not go home because I knew I would have a ton to do, and I did but I only have two more weeks and then I will have another blessing in that class being over:) I still really do enjoy the class but it is quite difficult.

VICTORY!!!

Lakeridge girls basketball won their first game of the season. I was really excited. The team we played was not very good but it is always good to get a win after you have been making them work so hard at practice for two and a half weeks. But this post is not about the win, it is about how nervous I was.

There are certain times when I get really nervous. For example the first time I gave a presentation in my English class in college. I was so nervous. As a result I was sweating bullets the entire time and I sweat right through my shirt. Yea that is disgusting, but more than it being disgusting it is also very embarrassing. Katie and I had many good laughs about that along with other times that I would sweat due to nervousness.

Yesterday was one of those days where I sweat a ton because I was so nervous. I don't know why I was so nervous. I wanted to win but it isn't like when you are a player and you can actually change the game. But the moral of the story is I was sweating machine and after the game I felt like I had played an entire game. I was sweaty and exhausted. Thank goodness it is Thanksgiving break I am going to try not to sweat so much in the next game.

I need a stats tutor

I have reached the point in the stats class that I cannot do the homework anymore. It is way over my head. The only thing I can do is put the info into the computer but I can't even analyze it once it comes out. There is only one month left and I have to pass this class. I am really worried. I have been working on my homework a ton this week and to no avail. What ever happened to those text books that have the answers explained in the back of the books, you know that walk you through step by step. I want one of those. I just need someone to walk me through step by step and explain to me what every single symbol means. Is that asking to much?

The Good Ole Days

Since last week was Katie's b-day and it is not going down in the books as the best day ever, I thought I would post some pictures from the past that always put me in a good mood. No, I still have not sent her the awesome bday card I got I think I left it at the store because I can't seem to find it (however I did pay for it) and thanks to Dan for scanning the pictures. I would also like to add that I was extremely nice in my picture selection. I have a lot worse of the both of us.

The first picture has always been referred to as the death trip. Katie, Mikila, Carrie, and I traveled from Rexburg to Jackson Hole for a Saturday of fun. None of us had ever been there. We didn't check the weather before hand and who knew there was a huge mountain pass? We had tons of laughs in the car and even some screaming from the backseat. We only almost died a few times, just enough to scare you and make you realize maybe you should not have gone on that day in those conditions.


The next picture is one of Katie and I exercising at home. Katie, Mikila, and I were the stairmaster queens at Ricks. Sometimes it was just to cold to go outside and walk to campus to work-out so we made up dance/aerobic routines in the living room. Our favorite song to dance to at the time was Bye-bye-bye, you know the backstreet boys.



Then there was the day that Katie's foot started to hurt. I was like did you fall? We could not figure out why it hurt (except for that it started hurting after we went running) and finally she made an appointment to get it looked out. On her way out the door to the doctors office I exclaimed, "I hope you come back with crutches!" Seemed funny at the time. When she came home she had a big ole boot on but no crutches. Oh and did I mention the death look she gave me. I was not very empathetic, I am still not great at it. We laughed about the boot a ton.


The best way to describe the next picture is California girls welcome to Idaho. None of us had ever owned a real coat so we went and bought one before we came to school. As you can tell from the picture the three of us showed up with the biggest coats known to man. We laughed about them all freshman year (Ericas was not nearly as bad). For some reason our sophmore year Katie and I had new coats.


And last but not least poof that once in a while we did our hair and attempted to look normal.


I miss the good ole days when it seemed like there were no worries. We did not really worry about anything we just hung out and had fun. Now there are health issues, political issues, teaching issues, and school issues. I guess that comes with adulthood.

Katie has been a great friend to me. It always makes me laugh when I think about how different we are but I think that is what makes our friendship work. Thanks for always listening to me and always being good to me.

Basketball Season Begins

It is that exciting time of year, basketball season!! I have been slightly hesitant this year because I am the head coach, because of my thesis, and because of my stats class, but it comes down to the fact that I love basketball and after a couple of weeks I love being the coach and working with the girls at our school. It is a great opportunity for me. I do hate making team cuts. It is always really hard and really sad. All the girls want to be on the team but we can not keep them all. That is the hardest thing about being the coach, and not being able to play everyone as much as they would like. So tomorrow at 6 am tryouts begin, I have class after school on Mondays so lucky for them once a week we have an early morning practice. This year we have some good athletes so I am anticipating a fun season and HOPING there will not be to much DRAMA. Drama coexists with 14 year olds so that hope most likely will not come true. To a new season!!!

Can you guess what I was for Hallowween?

So I really do not like Halloween but this was my costume this year. Do you know who I am? It was actually a really fun costume and it was free, minus the creativity which seems to cost a lot these days. I chose this costume so that I could quote, "There is no excuse for awesomeness or attractiveness," all night long. Yes, this is me eating, I am really good at that.

Happy Halloween

This is my least favorite holiday of the entire year. There are a number of reasons I dislike it.

1. Who came up with this Holiday???

2. Why do we have to give all the neighboor kids candy, as a physical educator this is difficult for me?

3. I absolutely hate dressing up.

4. On Halloween all of a sudden it becomes legal to dress like a skank and act really crazy.

5. I hate pumpkin carving, although I may be turning over a new leaf here because thanks to Ben and Jana I had a good pumpkin carving experience this year.

6. Is it really safe? There are so many horror stories.

7. I hate how people try to decorate their house and yard all creepy. I like the nice, cute decorations but the freaky stuff is a little overboard.

8. It always starts the time when I slowly gain weight until the spring, hoping to change that this winter.

9. Kids trick or treat way past the appropriate age, I believe junior high school is even stretching it,

10. The reason I most despise Halloween is that I hear all day long why do we have to dress down on a holiday, it is not fair and every other complaint you can imagine.

I almost took the day off this year just because I hate dealing with it. But then I though that would be mean to stick it to a substitute like that. For all of you that love the holiday have a great day. I will go to Michelle's party which I am sure will be amazing so that will be FUN!!

The Evolution of the School Picture

Some things in life are meant to be learned the hard way and that is what happened with me and school pictures. My first year teaching I did not even know when school pictures were and all of a sudden over the loud intercom I hear Ms. Brown please report to the auditorium immediately to have your picture taken. I am sorry WHAT? So to the auditorium I go and have this disgusting picture taken of me in an old Las Plumas t-shirt and a whistle around my neck. I knew it would go in the year book but I decided that I could deal with that. Well the picture was NASTY!!! Not only does it go in the year book but they also give you the biggest picture package for free because you are a teacher, unfortunately I threw those away the same day I got them. OOPs, that was before blogging it would be fun to post it on here now.

Anyways it turns out that your school picture is used for everything: yearbook, web page, slide shows, and teacher ID cards we are supposed to wear around our necks at all times. Needless to say that first year I never wore my ID card, threw that thing away. But I made a goal to take a better picture next year as to avoid the pain of seeing a sick picture of myself every time I turned around.

2006- my picture was much better. My hair was down, I wore mascara, and I was in normal clothes. Well when I got the picture package I thought what can I do with all of these pictures and so I decided to have a little fun. These pictures were not nearly as bad as the first year and so the fun began with my dinner group. I gave everyone in the dinner group a bottle of hand soup from bath and body works with a picture of myself on the hand wash. Even better than that was when I used the 5x7 and a cheap frame at my ward white elephant gift exchange. I am not good at picking out white elephant gifts but that one was the best one I have ever done. I also gave the 8x10 picture to my parents realizing they are the only ones on the face of the planet that would appreciate it.

2007- Normal pictures but I did not do anything crazy with it. I did give a copy to my parents.

2008- My 2008 picture turned out nice as well. I gave a copy to my Aunt Nancy with instructions to hang the picture in her office at the U in hopes of setting me up with some of the medical students. That seemed like a good idea and she wondered how she would know if they were married or not and I informed her to look at their hands or to ask.

So I still have an entire package of pictures left to get rid of. I could send you all one in a Christmas card but that is so boring so I am open to any ideas you might have of ways in which I could use this years school picture. The funnier the ideas the better!!

A Lesson On Gambling

I am very anti to betting or gambling of any sort. I really do not like the idea of it and so I choose not to participate in these activities. Recently, well after the relief society broadcast to be exact, Mikila in a moment of wishful thinking bet me that she could hike to the Y. Not only did she bet me but she put Cafio Rio on the line. How could I turn that down? So I went against all logic and reasoning and agreed to the bet. Anyone who has hiked the Y knows that it is quite intense and very steep. I need not remind you of the last hiking experience I had with Mikila, she posted that story on her blog, we will just say that it did not end well for her. So below is a video of Mikila smiling before the hiking began. My cousin Katie, who is also our roomate, came along as well. She made sure Mikila did not push me off the trail in a moment of anger.

I won't tell you who won the bet, but remember I hate losing. Mikila can write her own version of how the hike went down. I will say that she almost bet me Cafe Rio again about a comment I left on Dan's blog, turns out she backed out just in time because I was right about that one too. So moral of the story is don't bet or gamble because most likely you are going to lose, especially if it is with me!!!! The good news is that I got some pretty pictures of the beautiful fall leaves. The very last picture is Mikila all tuckered out and again whishfully thinking that I would give up my bed to her because she exercised, I think not. All in all it was a fun evening and we all got a little exercise.

Tagged

I was tagged, not a huge fan of these things but here we go anyways......

Answer all the following two-word leads.

I am: hot, I wore to many layers for inside but just enough to stay warm outside

I think: about my mission at least once a day still. Is that weird?

I know: I am a child of God

I want: to get married

I have: a cute house

I dislike: dirty feet on clean things like my bed or couch

I fear: losing my job

I feel: lame because I have not done my stats homework yet this week

I hear: my fridge in my office at school

I smell: the outside because I have been out teaching all day

I crave: nothing I am still full from lunch

I cry: a lot actually but usually in my room and no one sees me and when I feel the spirit

I usually: exercise 5 days a week

I search: for ways to make people laugh

I wonder: if I really need to go get my brakes checked and how much new ones will cost

I regret: sometimes getting frustrated with my students, I always feel bad after I have to get on them, I hate that

I love: biking and hiking with friends

I care: about doing well in school (I care to much and it causes stress)

I always: chew gum

I worry: that the world is going to the crapper

I am not: good at showing empathy to my students

I remember: to many things I wish I could not remember

I believe: in the gospel of Jesus Christ and know that it brings true happiness

I dance: never, I stink and know that I stink

I sing: loud in my car to the radio

I don't always: tell people I love and care about them even though I do, it is hard for me to say

I argue: only when I really feel it is necessary because I really hate confrontation and those yucky feelings that go along with it

I write: in my journal more because of Elder Eyerings talk in conference a while ago

I win: whenever I can I hate losing

I lose: rarely (just kidding but I hate losing).

I wish: I lived closer to my parents

I listen: to country music and I love it

I don't understand: People outside of junior high girls who are mean to others on purpose

I can usually be found: at work, during the school year it feels like I am always here, especially when I am coaching sports

I am scared: not passing this stats class and having to take it over again

I need: to get off the internet and do my stats homework

I forget: To call people back if I don't do it right when I listen to the message

I am happy: most of the time except during the first hour I wake up in the morning, I always wake up GROUCHY

I don't feel like tagging anyone so take that

Not just one but two!!

I found a sweet bike ride in Vegas today. Whenever I come to visit Katie I am always on the look out for good rides. The one I found today was 20 miles long with only two stop signs and not a lot of traffic. The great thing was I chose to turn around but the road had no end in sight. That is awesome because I can do the ride again sometime when I am here and go longer if I choose to.

While biking I almot ran over the biggest spider I have ever seen. I, being slightly crazy, decided to chase it and get a picture because it was gigantic. However, my camera phone is lame and I could not get close enough to get a good shot. Bummer, I know. I will say that spider could move quickly and I was extremely nervous trying to get close but not too close.

Realization set in that I was not meant to get a picture and so I hopped on my bike and rode away, 10 minutes later I saw another huge spider crossing the road. These things were huge. I probably would have crashed my road bike if I ran them over. I decided I would look them up on the internet when I got back to Katie's. After all my research I determined that it was a male desert tarantula, not poisonous. And below is a picture of what they both looked like, but thwe ones I saw were bigger than this little guy. CREEPY!!