I should have known...
I received an email from my dad today giving me the name of my mystery plant. It is a schefflera, aka umbrella plant. Apparently they grow to be giant trees. In the Amazon their bark is used to paint on, like paper or birch bark.
The crazy thing is I bought mine for $15 at Target and now that I'm looking online they range from $33 - $ 200.
MADNESS!
Think I'll swing by our Home Depot and see if they have any :)
Went to K&C last night to watch E, M's son. M's husband, who works in the records office, told me he just completed the last of my paperwork - it's official - I am graduated. I have graduated from college. I am a college graduate. My diploma is on the way.
!!!!!!!!!!!!
We got there at 9 and the guys started playing around 9:30. It was great for the first hour, then the place started filling up. E & his friends play a wide variety of music and I've heard some songs from him that I love! but had never heard previously. Once the place started filling up it was hard to hear the music and somebody was bugging me for most of the night. M & her friends helped out though... funny story.
Anywho... I had a good time, left around midnight and came back to watch X2 with a couple English guys :)
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Friday, February 25, 2005
Any horticulturists out there?
I'm desperate to find out what kind of plant this is:
I left my plant with... well with someone who tried desperately to take good care of it, but unfortunately they were unable to keep it alive while I was in NZ.
I left my plant with... well with someone who tried desperately to take good care of it, but unfortunately they were unable to keep it alive while I was in NZ.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Tic Tac Who
Ok... don't ask me why... just go with it.
If you look to the lower right side of my blog you will see two new links, both to Tic Tac Toe games. One you play with NZ against Aus and the other you play with Aus against NZ. I adapted a Scooby Doo Tic Tac Toe game for my own purposes... just playing around :)
And yes, the games are slightly prejudiced.
I can't imagine why.
If you look to the lower right side of my blog you will see two new links, both to Tic Tac Toe games. One you play with NZ against Aus and the other you play with Aus against NZ. I adapted a Scooby Doo Tic Tac Toe game for my own purposes... just playing around :)
And yes, the games are slightly prejudiced.
I can't imagine why.
Reminders...
I need to put a new link on my blog: Scooby Tic Tac Toe
Follow up with S about letters and summer RA.
Follow up with M about letter.
Friday night - K&C
Tetris is evil.
Follow up with S about letters and summer RA.
Follow up with M about letter.
Friday night - K&C
Tetris is evil.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
What's the word I'm looking for...
I'm homesick, but not for “home,” because I AM home. Texas stopped being home at some point in the past year. Now, MN really feels like home to me. I have so many friends here. My school, my work, my life is here. (Granted, my family is spread from Alabama to Nevada...) Aya's family kind of adopted me, so I have a surrogate family here.
When I say I'm feeling homesick, it's because I don't have any other word for it.
I miss New Zealand. I miss the people, the NEW-ness, the EXCITEment, the learning, the sights, the adventures, the freedom. I miss who I got to be in New Zealand; relaxed, open, free.
I was just FREE.
My mom is right. Renee is right. G is right. I have changed.
I still fit in here, but I'm a different piece of the puzzle.
I feel like I'm repeating the same sentiment over and over again. Maybe I hope if I keep rewording it I will find the key or everything will just suddenly make sense.
What a feeling... I am happy here. I love being back with my friends. I am glad to be back in school and have my old routines back. There are new people as well, shaking things up a bit, keeping it interesting. I wasn't really ready to leave this part of my life, because I had finally found my niche, I finally felt like I belonged. At the same time, I was terribly excited to be going to NZ and looking forward to my big adventure. Now the adventure is over... maybe it's that I don't have some big exciting adventure, the giant carrot, dangling in front of me. hmmmmm... There's a thought.
When I say I'm feeling homesick, it's because I don't have any other word for it.
I miss New Zealand. I miss the people, the NEW-ness, the EXCITEment, the learning, the sights, the adventures, the freedom. I miss who I got to be in New Zealand; relaxed, open, free.
I was just FREE.
My mom is right. Renee is right. G is right. I have changed.
I still fit in here, but I'm a different piece of the puzzle.
I feel like I'm repeating the same sentiment over and over again. Maybe I hope if I keep rewording it I will find the key or everything will just suddenly make sense.
What a feeling... I am happy here. I love being back with my friends. I am glad to be back in school and have my old routines back. There are new people as well, shaking things up a bit, keeping it interesting. I wasn't really ready to leave this part of my life, because I had finally found my niche, I finally felt like I belonged. At the same time, I was terribly excited to be going to NZ and looking forward to my big adventure. Now the adventure is over... maybe it's that I don't have some big exciting adventure, the giant carrot, dangling in front of me. hmmmmm... There's a thought.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
I haven't made a list in HOW long?!
1. DONE
2. DONE
3. DONE
4. CANCELLED
5. Call parking and give them my new license number
6. Register to take last part of Praxis 2
7. DONE
8. DONE
9. Turn in applications for GA positions
2. DONE
3. DONE
4. CANCELLED
5. Call parking and give them my new license number
6. Register to take last part of Praxis 2
7. DONE
8. DONE
9. Turn in applications for GA positions
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
If life were a musical...
How much fun would that be?!
I've heard we feel differently when we hear things in the form of music.
Music touches us in a way words cannot.
Granted I don't want people to burst into flame from prolonged singing and dancing, but how much fun would it be if we just occasionally busted out with a little ditty?
Besides... If life were a musical I wouldn't feel so odd when I whip out lines from songs. I'll say something like, "I was blinded by the light..." then I feel compelled to continue with, "Revved up like a duece another runner in the night..." or when someone says, "Different strokes for different folks..." I wait for them to finish with, "And so on and so on and Scooby Dooby Doo..."
And music can reflect occurances in our lives (some may need a bit of tweaking) but for example:
"He was born in the summer of his 27th year
coming home to a place he'd never been before
he left yesterday behind him
you might say he was born again
you might say he found a key for every door ...
now he walks in quiet solitude
with the forests and the streams
seeking grace in every step he takes ...
now his life is full of wonder
but his heart still knows some fear
of a simple thing he cannot comprehend ..."
If my life were a musical I'd want John Denver to write all my songs.
I've heard we feel differently when we hear things in the form of music.
Music touches us in a way words cannot.
Granted I don't want people to burst into flame from prolonged singing and dancing, but how much fun would it be if we just occasionally busted out with a little ditty?
Besides... If life were a musical I wouldn't feel so odd when I whip out lines from songs. I'll say something like, "I was blinded by the light..." then I feel compelled to continue with, "Revved up like a duece another runner in the night..." or when someone says, "Different strokes for different folks..." I wait for them to finish with, "And so on and so on and Scooby Dooby Doo..."
And music can reflect occurances in our lives (some may need a bit of tweaking) but for example:
"He was born in the summer of his 27th year
coming home to a place he'd never been before
he left yesterday behind him
you might say he was born again
you might say he found a key for every door ...
now he walks in quiet solitude
with the forests and the streams
seeking grace in every step he takes ...
now his life is full of wonder
but his heart still knows some fear
of a simple thing he cannot comprehend ..."
If my life were a musical I'd want John Denver to write all my songs.
Two sticks, two skis, one hill and me...
And the hill won.
I went skiing for the first time last Friday.
Yeah....
Owie is the first word that comes to mind. I put my skis on and was headed for the lift when I fell the first time. I got on the lift and made it off the lift and forward about 6 feet before I feel the second time. I fell at least three more times on the way down the hill. Let me also mention this was not the bunny hill - I've never had a lesson - I'm a giant klutz. At one point I went end over end, flying down the hill and I remember hearing something in my neck pop (thus the excruciating pain all weekend) and then, on that same fall, I skid down on my bare back - resulting in a red, scratched, scraped, sore back.
The sad thing is the skiing part was fun, but as soon as I lost control and went careening down the hill, knowing I was going to fall - all fun was replaced by a massive sense of terror and fear of breaking every bone in my body.
Miraculously, I didn't break anything - physically, though my pride will never be the same.
I'm still quite sore, but I can move without cringing now, which is a big improvement.
It took me almost an hour to get down the hill. Every time I fell I would have to take off both skis, usually one had fallen off, in order to get back up and then put my skis back on, without sliding down the hill or falling over.
I must say, Aya and D and his friend were all quite patient with me. I really was just going to watch my first time… but Aya talked me into trying it. Ugh… Owie… Sigh… It would have been fun if I could have not fallen so much or been in so much pain after that third fall.
To make matters worse, after I had removed my skis, picked up what dignity I had left, and was walking back to my car I fell and busted my left knee in the parking lot.
/SIGH
Oh, it gets better.
I went home, took a shower, changed, felt human again (despite the sore backside), picked up Aya's cousin, H, and was taking her to Aya's dorm… I stepped out of my car and made it (almost) one step onto the sidewalk when BAM, next thing I know I was laying, yes LAYING, on my backside, on the sidewalk, laughing hysterically. H was laughing as well, trying to pull me up and asking if I was alright - laughing… laughing… laughing…
Insult to injury.
Seriously... Friday was a new record, even for me.
I went skiing for the first time last Friday.
Yeah....
Owie is the first word that comes to mind. I put my skis on and was headed for the lift when I fell the first time. I got on the lift and made it off the lift and forward about 6 feet before I feel the second time. I fell at least three more times on the way down the hill. Let me also mention this was not the bunny hill - I've never had a lesson - I'm a giant klutz. At one point I went end over end, flying down the hill and I remember hearing something in my neck pop (thus the excruciating pain all weekend) and then, on that same fall, I skid down on my bare back - resulting in a red, scratched, scraped, sore back.
The sad thing is the skiing part was fun, but as soon as I lost control and went careening down the hill, knowing I was going to fall - all fun was replaced by a massive sense of terror and fear of breaking every bone in my body.
Miraculously, I didn't break anything - physically, though my pride will never be the same.
I'm still quite sore, but I can move without cringing now, which is a big improvement.
It took me almost an hour to get down the hill. Every time I fell I would have to take off both skis, usually one had fallen off, in order to get back up and then put my skis back on, without sliding down the hill or falling over.
I must say, Aya and D and his friend were all quite patient with me. I really was just going to watch my first time… but Aya talked me into trying it. Ugh… Owie… Sigh… It would have been fun if I could have not fallen so much or been in so much pain after that third fall.
To make matters worse, after I had removed my skis, picked up what dignity I had left, and was walking back to my car I fell and busted my left knee in the parking lot.
/SIGH
Oh, it gets better.
I went home, took a shower, changed, felt human again (despite the sore backside), picked up Aya's cousin, H, and was taking her to Aya's dorm… I stepped out of my car and made it (almost) one step onto the sidewalk when BAM, next thing I know I was laying, yes LAYING, on my backside, on the sidewalk, laughing hysterically. H was laughing as well, trying to pull me up and asking if I was alright - laughing… laughing… laughing…
Insult to injury.
Seriously... Friday was a new record, even for me.
Monday, February 07, 2005
February already?
Seriously... that means I've been back in the US for almost 2 months and that's just mind-boggling.
I am having a traumatic experience at the moment - I finally figured out why my plant has been puking dirt onto my counter every-other-day. Indeed, my plant is innocent. Rather the culprit is of the four-legged, furry kind. Cute when you have it as a pet, but rather creepy when it's running around free in your little box-of-a-room. Yes... a mouse... Hopefully, just ONE mouse. I spoke to my Hall Director/boss about it just now and he said they have the sticky traps at the front desk that I could use. I find those cruel and he agreed. He said if I wanted to invest in a snapper-death-trap that he would come and get the little mouse and dispose of it when uhm.. yeah when the time comes. hehehe He's a good man. I don't think I could do it myself. I'll probably cry when I see it dead anyway. But honestly, I simply cannot live with a mouse. *shivers running up and down my spine at the thought*
I guess I've done well to live in the dorms for 3 full years without any signs of mice before.
On a happier note.... Need a Smile?
I am having a traumatic experience at the moment - I finally figured out why my plant has been puking dirt onto my counter every-other-day. Indeed, my plant is innocent. Rather the culprit is of the four-legged, furry kind. Cute when you have it as a pet, but rather creepy when it's running around free in your little box-of-a-room. Yes... a mouse... Hopefully, just ONE mouse. I spoke to my Hall Director/boss about it just now and he said they have the sticky traps at the front desk that I could use. I find those cruel and he agreed. He said if I wanted to invest in a snapper-death-trap that he would come and get the little mouse and dispose of it when uhm.. yeah when the time comes. hehehe He's a good man. I don't think I could do it myself. I'll probably cry when I see it dead anyway. But honestly, I simply cannot live with a mouse. *shivers running up and down my spine at the thought*
I guess I've done well to live in the dorms for 3 full years without any signs of mice before.
On a happier note.... Need a Smile?
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
Tumbleweeds
Lots of things rolling through my head these days.
*The loss of both of my grandfathers last year.
*Missing New Zealand, especially when I look at my pictures.
*Do I really belong in grad school? (when I'm feeling pressured)
*Will I get a grad assistantship?
*Have the people changed so much or is it me and my perspective?
1. I took the loss of my first grandfather very hard - nightmares and big time grief. When I arrived home after my amazing journey to find my other grandfather had passed away I went into denial mode. It's nice in denial land. Unfortunately, you can only stay there so long. I have been making brief trips back to the real world lately - at odd times - and it sucks.
2. I had the most amazing experience of my life in NZ and I can actually say I wouldn't have done it any differently - there are a few things I would have liked to have done, time permitting, but overall I am very pleased with my experience.
3. Yes. I even had a teacher who reassured me at a stressful time. I have as much right to be here as any other grad student - even if I don't have any teaching experience outside of my student teaching. I will receive my diploma soon, complete the Praxis 2 test sometime in the next couple of months and apply for my licensure. Upon completing the requirements for my licensure I will be qualified to sub in the state of MN = more teaching experience.
4. As for my grad assistantship - I plan to apply in the Education Department, Library, and possibly the English Department. The English Department would rock because I could get actual teaching experience and the Ed Dept would rock because it's my department. The Library would give me an insiders view of how a university library works and I used to volunteer at the public library back in TX.
5. I think maybe it is a combination of people growing over 6 months and the experiences I had and the changes I underwent. I've had several people, including my mom :) tell me how grown up I am now. Apparently, I was in the process of becoming a full-fledged adult still when I left and now I am there. It makes me chuckle. I know I am an adult, have been for several years now. Fortunately, I don't feel like one. Don't get me wrong, I am perfectly capable of being mature and handling adult issues, but I love to laugh and have fun and hang out with my friends. Nothing too shocking there. I'm glad I'm not all serious because what fun would life be then? And what are we here for if we can't enjoy SOME aspects of our life?
I am happy here. I don't want you to think I'm not. MN certainly feels more like home than Texas did. I still miss my family and friends back in Texas, but it just isn't my home anymore. This was a hard and somewhat shocking revalation. It took 26 years of my life, 3 years away at college and 4.5 months in NZ to come to the point where TX wasn't home anymore. Must have been a strong bond :0)
*The loss of both of my grandfathers last year.
*Missing New Zealand, especially when I look at my pictures.
*Do I really belong in grad school? (when I'm feeling pressured)
*Will I get a grad assistantship?
*Have the people changed so much or is it me and my perspective?
1. I took the loss of my first grandfather very hard - nightmares and big time grief. When I arrived home after my amazing journey to find my other grandfather had passed away I went into denial mode. It's nice in denial land. Unfortunately, you can only stay there so long. I have been making brief trips back to the real world lately - at odd times - and it sucks.
2. I had the most amazing experience of my life in NZ and I can actually say I wouldn't have done it any differently - there are a few things I would have liked to have done, time permitting, but overall I am very pleased with my experience.
3. Yes. I even had a teacher who reassured me at a stressful time. I have as much right to be here as any other grad student - even if I don't have any teaching experience outside of my student teaching. I will receive my diploma soon, complete the Praxis 2 test sometime in the next couple of months and apply for my licensure. Upon completing the requirements for my licensure I will be qualified to sub in the state of MN = more teaching experience.
4. As for my grad assistantship - I plan to apply in the Education Department, Library, and possibly the English Department. The English Department would rock because I could get actual teaching experience and the Ed Dept would rock because it's my department. The Library would give me an insiders view of how a university library works and I used to volunteer at the public library back in TX.
5. I think maybe it is a combination of people growing over 6 months and the experiences I had and the changes I underwent. I've had several people, including my mom :) tell me how grown up I am now. Apparently, I was in the process of becoming a full-fledged adult still when I left and now I am there. It makes me chuckle. I know I am an adult, have been for several years now. Fortunately, I don't feel like one. Don't get me wrong, I am perfectly capable of being mature and handling adult issues, but I love to laugh and have fun and hang out with my friends. Nothing too shocking there. I'm glad I'm not all serious because what fun would life be then? And what are we here for if we can't enjoy SOME aspects of our life?
I am happy here. I don't want you to think I'm not. MN certainly feels more like home than Texas did. I still miss my family and friends back in Texas, but it just isn't my home anymore. This was a hard and somewhat shocking revalation. It took 26 years of my life, 3 years away at college and 4.5 months in NZ to come to the point where TX wasn't home anymore. Must have been a strong bond :0)
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