Kind acts

In a world full of news that is about the hate going on in America, I have decided to focus on the good. It is the only way to get through the day with out feeling depressed and disgusted by watching the news.
I want to share some good that I have come across lately. Now I am not talking about saving the world good, just small things that make my day and that shows that not everyone is evil.

The other day at work, I am helping the teacher put up these paintings that our students did. Forgetting that the day before a vacation, the class always does an art project, I wore a white vest. Now me and white is never very good, so that was a bad decision in the first place. It's a tricky thing to put up black paintings with out getting the paint all over you. But of course, being the person I am, somehow the paint got on my white vest and on my coat that was hanging on my chair.

At the end of the day, I go to the teacher and ask her if the paint comes out, she very kindly offers to take the vest home and get the paint out for me, since I was leaving the next day for Wisconsin.
This made my day, I can't completely explain why that made my day, but it just reminded me how good people can be.

Good thing number 2.
At the airport, waiting for my chicago flight to get to Wisconsin I had bought some cinnamon bites and an iced coffee. I put the iced coffee down my my feet and the guy next to me accedentally tips it over. He felt so bad, he started trying to clean it up then offered to buy me another one. I told him he didn't need to do that, but he insisted. I couldn't kept insisting for him to leave it, but the kindness of it just stunned me. Not many people offer to do that for a complete stranger. They just oppologize and maybe clean it up. I thanked him perfusely for being so kind and happily sipped my giant iced coffee. It was giant and I could not finish it. I felt bad because he had gone out of his way to replace my old one, but it's the thought that counts.
Definitely a kind act.

What got me the most out of this is that in a place where it is so very busy and people can be in a rush, crabby, and rude, this person was none of that. I wish people were more like that to strangers, it just takes a kind act as simple as that to really make someones crazy day a bit better.

Fall memories

It is finally fall and there is so much about fall I miss these days. Fall to me is wracking the leaves in our back yard and jumping in them 1000 times!!! Fall is going to the apple orchard and getting hot apple cider and picking the apples. Fall is going to the pumpkin patch and getting the best pumpkin in the patch.

Fall is getting ready for Halloween with my brothers and dad. Carving the pumpkins then roasting the pumpkin seeds to eat later. I think the pumpkin seeds are the best part about it, a little treat after all of that hard work! :-) I loved sticking my hand inside the pumpkin and taking out all of the gooey stuff! I was different than most girls, I didn't mind getting messy with pumpkin guts!! We had some pretty cool designs too!! My dad was always so creative with the pumpkins!!

Trick or Treating at our friends neighborhoods. Helping the Johnsons set up their scary Halloween exhibit. The different houses. The haunted house at the zoo, which always scared me! Halloween parties at school, even in college we had Halloween parties! The carmel apples, pumpkin pies, ect.

I still enjoy the different colors of the leaves and the crisp weather(when we have it). And it is fun watching the kids get excited about it, but they wont know what a class Halloween party is like. Dressing up, Halloween games and Halloween treats.

It used to be one of the best times of the year, but things have changed. No longer have Halloween parties at school, no longer trick or treating. I don't have time to go apple picking or pumpkin picking. But at least the memory remains the same.

Oh the joys of fall!!!

Looking at the future

It has been forever since I have written in here, so hello again world!!

Things are starting to happen, I am just trying to take it in and it one day at a time. It's pretty crazy. As of late, I am applying for grad school at CIIS(California Institute of Integral Studies), their drama therapy program. Its quite a process, the essay, goal statement, ect. But I have lots of time, so no worries so far.

A few questions go through my mind during this application period:

Will my essay ever get done?
Is it good enough?
Do I have enough experience:
Am I the right fit for the program?
Am I ready for this?

A lot of things will change once I get accepted, its exciting and yet scary at the same time! I am not big on change, never have been good with it. But have gradually gotten used to it as I make changes. Just need to take a deep breath and deal with it I guess.

First of all, I'd have to move from Davis. San Fransisco would be where I'll live, which is exciting and scary at the same time! Its expensive, but as I told my mom, I can't let that get to me. If money is the reason why I shouldn't apply, then I may never accomplish my goals. Just need to figure out how to make it. Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I am slowly preparing me for the amount of work, by taking a class this fall and one in the spring. Got to get myself back into the swing of things homework wise somehow. It has been a few years since I have looked at a textbook! haha.

The biggest change would be leaving my job. One I have had going on three years now! I am ready to say good bye to it, it has been a growing and learning experience for me, and away to figure out what I want to do next. But with that, there are so many people that will be sad to leave. As much as I hope my student will be okay with a new para, I still worry about it. I know my boss will find a good fit for her, yet she hasn't found someone new yet to give me a break, so I am not sure how that'll happen. It will be a huge change for her, and one I hope she can handle. She'll be in fourth grade then, and although she has matured and grown so much, any change is hard. The teacher told me this week that her family is so lucky to have me as their daughters aid, showing my loyalty. It made me think "is it disloyal for me to leave after this year?" But then again, I can't have this job tie me down. I can't let it stand in the way of what I want to pursue. I am not tied to this job all of my life, I have the option of leaving when I want, just like the other paras who have moved away. It's normal.

Anyway, i should not worry about that yet. I wont know anything for sure until April. Lots of time.

One step at a time, that is all I need to do.

food frenzys and summer moments

My food posts and other posts have been lacking lately. I have had some okay sucesses in the food making, but wouldn't try them again. The pan fried green beans were okay, the directions were very vague. I am enjoying this cooking, which I never thought I would. I think once I give myself time and slow down, I can do it. I just turn on some music, set out all of my ingredients and measuring tools and get a going. My chocolate chocolate chip cookies are always a hit and tonight was some of my rosemary mushrooms on top of pasta or ravioli is delicious, especially with red wine! It is turning out pretty well, and I am excited to create more dishes! Even better, I am excited to share this with Ryan, he loves to cook and to not feel like a complete moron as I do it will make it better! :-)

On another note: it is summer now, and has been a bit different than my past summers. I miss walking around Davis at night with frozen yogurt or hiking around Lafayette Resevoir like we did last year. But with every year, something new arrives. Ryan is getting a great experience in archeology, I am learning new cooking skills and seeing some friends I never get to see anymore. I am also discovering what I want to do with my life and what i need to do to get there. I know that I do not want to stay an paraeducator all of my life and that this will is going to be my last year. It has been a great experience and I feel I have made a difference, but it is not something for someone who wants to do more with their life(and make more too). It has lead to be learn what I want to do and I have grown from that.
I am now 26 years old, which is scary to think. It feels like just yesterday I was 23 years old and just starting my first job! Wow, that was 3 years ago! Time goes fast, and I am trying to enjoy it and hold onto it the best I can.

Happy Summer everyone!

dinner for three

I'm reading Julie and Julia and it has inspired me to keep a list of what I am cooking and to do more of it.

Today my dad made home made pasta and I made rosemary bacon mushrooms to put on top. I just had to cut up some mushrooms, garlic, rosemary, and baccon. Put it in a pan to cook until dry then add either red or white wine until that evaporates with some salt and pepper and its done in 20 minutes! Very delicious!!
Tomorrow is a tofu salad!

cooking begins

This summer I am going to work on cooking. I want to learn so I can do it on my own and eat healthy. My first two things have turned out great!

Day 1:
White chocolate chip-chocolate chip chocolate cookies.

Day 2:
quinoa with mixed veges.

Both were excellent!! the cookies aren't healthy, but definitely a tasty desert!

Next dish will be something with tofu i think.

few pennys for my thoughts

It's been awhile. When things flood your mind, you forget about the little things. Hopefully my mind unfolds soon(if that is even a word) so I can start remembering the little things, like writing down my thoughts.

Lately I have noticed that every time a celebrity dies, it gets on the news. I start to wonder what the big deal is. Yes, lets be shocked and sad over it, but the truth it, they are human just like us. It is not some strange wonder that they got sick or severely injured themselves or died, because it happens to everyone. Someone in some country dies every day, and yet that doesn't make the news. What's so important that a celebrity has to make the news for their deaths? Just because they are on TV does not mean that they are some non human thing that can never die or get sick. Now I know, its good to be kept up to date on these things and when the public finds out, there is always an out poor of sympathy(ie Micheal Jackson and the Different Strokes guy) and for the family members and friends related to these people, I am sure they appreciate it. But would any "normal" person want a death or illness to be spread all over the media? That is a pretty private thing, I know I wouldn't want the world to hear if I died or got sick or anyone I knew was that way. Someone dies every day in the world and that doesn't make the news. Someone gets divorced and some one has relationship/marriage trouble and it doesn't get the media. But as soon as a famous person has that happened, it's all over the news. I applaud Sandra Bullock for hiding during her break up with Jesse Jones and for hiding her newly adobpted baby boy, she knows how to keep her life private.

Onto other more pleasant things. Since I have moved here to California, I have come in contact with some pretty generous people. It is amazing how people can really reach out to you in time of need! I will never forget when the fires in the San Bernardino Mountains kicked me off and sent me searching for a place to stay for two weeks. I will never forget it because that is when I met one of the most generous people I know! How often is it when a person that you don't even know opens their home to you for that long of time? I stayed in a hotel for a few days until it got expensive, and with my dads amazing social networking skills, he found someone that was willing to open their home to me! For some people, it is a big step to let a stranger into your house, you don't know them, don't know what they are like, what they will do, how things will go, and you let them into your house at the risk that it could end up bad or that it could be totally great. On my end, it worked out extremely well and I became friends with the girl who let me into her house! Then there is my boss, who has taken me in like her own daughter. I moved out of my house at the beginning of June because I was done with my living situation, wasn't happy there and needed a place to crash before I go to Wisconsin. Some people are really private about their living space, but then there are some people who just open up their arms and let you in. I am very thankful for people like that who I have met in my past. Hospitality is a great asset to have!

It has taken me awhile to write this entry, I'll start it then get interrupted and not get back to it until weeks later, so I am here finishing it. I don't want to dis's something that a lot of people like, but I feel the need to speak. I will get it out here right now, I don't get the hype with the show Glee? Hasn't there been enough singing/performing shows? First there's American Idol, then the whole High School Musical thing, the new version of the movie Fame, more talent shows, blah blah blah. I love music, but I find this a little much. I find this a little much, because it shows talent but no creativity. You take someone else's song and you turn it into your own. No one has created their own songs yet and that is what makes me sad. When I hear an original song, I want it to stay original, I don't want anyone to turn it into their own, it kind of takes away the glory of the original performer, the whole feel of when you first hear the song. Just a second ago, I heard the Glee cast sing the Lady Gaga song "Bad Romance", and it saddened me. Such a unique song was song by a chorus of people and it just took away the whole uniqueness of the song away. Maybe its just the age of the group, all young people who all have the same sound, belting out tunes. Sure they are good, but we have all heard it before, so there is nothing new about it.
I have to say, I have seen the show once, so I am sure there is more to it than the music, and maybe that is why they like it. But every time the show comes out, a CD comes out with its music and then there's the touring and so forth, same old act just like the other talent shows. I'd like to see a performance show that goes above and beyond what we have all seen before, then it would get my interest. But for now, I will continue to be saddened by our young peoples creativity and hope something new comes along.
Once again, i am sorry if I offending anyone who is a fan, maybe if the music wasn't played so much at Borders I'd be more interested.

Change of heart change of mind

I think I am getting a change of heart about getting my occupational therapy assistance license. The whole process seems to not be working, trying to get into classes, then waiting to see even if you do get into the program, and all of that work and money goes for what?
So, while figuring out my life in that way, I came across another school that was more of what I was thinking about before occupational therapy came to mind and more of my style. Drama therapy. I didn't think such a thing did exist. I knew that I wanted to help people and also incorporate theatre into it. This school(California Institute of Integral Studies) does just that. You learn how to use all forms of drama to help people in all sorts of different situations. It's combining my two passions together.
Seeing this and looking more into it, kind of changed my heart towards what I want to do. Although Occupational Therapy is something that also interests me, the process of getting in and the classes definitely look more interesting.
Not saying I am changing completely, but I think I am going to be taking another path.
Some day I will figure out what I want in life, some day.

Back to School

Back in the day, I applied for undergrad and then went to start my career as a theatre major at UW-Whitewater. Back in the day, applying was easy, you had so many choices and all you had to do was be a graduate of highschool and have good act or sat scores or if you were applying to bigger schools, you would have more to do.
Now, as I a look into grad schools and other programs, it is not as easy as it used to be when I was younger. Yes, it doesn't really help that I was a theatre major and now I am looking into occupational therapy, those two don't really relate when it comes to classes. When you have your heart set on something you do everything you can to get it. It's just not that easy anymore. Classes to take, volunteer experience required, letters of recomendation, ect. Economy is hard these days, so everyone wants to go back to school in hopes that when they graduate they will get a job.
Who knew that there would be such a supply of people wanting to attend school, when that was what we all wanted to get away from as fast as we could!

Did You Know?

At the races!

It is that time of year again! May 1st, Kentucky Derby! I unfortunately am going to miss it because I do not have tv and it airs three hours ahead of my time! One of these days I will catch it at its regular time!

It is my favorite sport, has been my favorite sport since I gained my love for horses. I am not much of a gambler, and its not the money that gets me excited about it, but the statistics, the excitement as you put all your hopes in just one horse, one jockey. The shouting and yelling and the people around really make the event worth watching! I love looking at the names of the horses, what races they have gotten 1st, 2nd or 3rd in and where they came from! It just makes the game all more exciting!!

When I was younger my dad used to take the family to the Arlington Race tracks in the summer, it was probably the main highlight of my summer! I'd get a program, study it like I was studying for a big test. Every single detail about every single horse, then I'd go to the gates and look at the horses, see which ones seem to be calm, which ones look in good shape, which ones don't. After an intensive study of everything, I'd get right in front my nerves would be racing as if I was the one racing! As soon as that bell went off, my heart would take off and I'd be clenching to the program with all of my might!

When the horses start off, you can't get your hopes up too much, you kind of have to quietly cheer them on, since they have a ways to go. But as soon as they get half way, that is when I start getting really excited! They are all bunched together, the good ones out in front, the ones who started off at a steady speed and increasing their speeds were right next to them, then there were the ones who were way in the back, but still held up hope to make a big finish. You think that you're cheering and shouting would actually help the horses in the race, never quite sure if that is true or not. I sometimes like to think that the jockeys can hear people cheering for them, so it keeps them going. Or maybe they are so well focused on the task at hand that they just tune everyone out. But its the thought that maybe they do hear you and that is why your horse is doing so well! Unless its just not a good day for the horse, then your cheering and shouting doesn't do anything!
Just a few seconds left until finish line and those seconds seem to take the longest! Every single penny that every person has bet on depends on these last few seconds! Every single statistic that you look at about the horse is bet on is completely depends on those last few seconds. That is when you cheer the most, or for me, I am jumping up and down and yelling my heart out! Yes, to some that could be an embarrassment, but at that moment, i really don't care. :-)
Once they hit that finish line, a sense of relief and release is let out. Either happy relief that your horse at least came in 3rd or 2nd, if not 1st. Tons of joy and excitement and even though its not a lot of money, unless it was a horse that had low odds, it is still worth it! Or it's the sense of sad relief, that at least the race is over but your horse did not do so well. But the great thing about these races, if you didn't make it the first time, you have a chance the next time!
I am a careful better at these races, if I not having any luck, I stop right there and take home what I won. Even if its a great day, I know I can end on a good note and go home happy.
Even though you don't always do well each race and maybe it wasn't a lucky day, I still feel a sense of happiness for attending one of my favorite sports, being part of that excitement.

Some people have basketball, or other sports, I have horse racing!

Your Lifes Puzzle

I like to talk about the meaning of home a lot, because there are a lot of different meanings for everyone. Home can mean the temporary place you are staying at, place you grew up or a newer permanent place of residence. But home for me is also being with the one you love, the one that when you look into their eyes or when you are beside their side, you feel that you are home.
When a few moments pass when you think you are going to lose that one person you feel you are "home" with, it is like no feeling you have ever felt before.
Think of it as a big part of you that would go missing. Something or someone who makes up of who you are, or who you have become. It is hard to believe to lose something like that, someone or something that you learn so much from or have shared so much of your life with.
It doesn't really have to be a significant other, it could also be a close friend or a relative or even a job. As long as they make up a good part of your life and you feel a certain calmness with them, then you know you are "home."
California may not be where I am from, and I have only been in this state for almost two years, but there certain parts of it that have made me feel like home and certain parts of it that don't make me feel like home. Having a routine with someone you share most of your days with, that is home, that is a good feeling. Or having one place where you get your food, get your hair cut, a library to go to and knowing the right places to go for the right prices. When you become familiar with your surroundings and your schedule of life, that is home.
But if a part of that is missing, a piece of the puzzle of your life, it can't be complete. That is what goes through your mind in those few moments when you think you will lose that piece of the puzzle.
For some people, starting a new "puzzle" after awhile is okay, but some who have worked on this for a long time can't move on until they know it will be okay.
Cherish the people, places, and moments you have that make up the whole "puzzle". Because you don't fully appreciate it until its gone, and when it is gone, it is too late.

*This does not mean that i have lost anyone or anything. Just are thoughts after encountering some scary moments. I don't mean to be morbid.*

college days

It has been awhile. Sometimes those creative writing juices need a rest, so much thinking in one day and its hard to keep it going after the day is done.
But I felt inspired, especailly after reading my lovely mothers blog. I always get ideas or inspired in the weirdest places and at the wrong times. The other day, I was brushing my teeth before going to work and I got a idea, but no time to write, so I lost it. Who knew brushing your teeth could get your head thinking for awhile? Sometimes these ideas just come out of nowhere, and sometimes they are well thought out.

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about college lately. It has been 3 years since I have been out of college, out of the best 4 years of my life. As much as I love being a working professional at times, I do miss those years. Everything seemed so much easier then, all I had to worry about was when a paper was due or when my next test was. Didn't worry about if a day at work was going to go well or not, when my next rent payment is or what I need to make for dinner. All of my friends were a dorm, apartment, or hall way away!

Nowadays, I have no friends who live a dorm room away from me, or an apartment away from me. (though, my boyfriend lives 1 minute from me, so that is a plus!) Life is definitely different after college, but I do know that your college friends are the ones you keep the longest. I always knew that my college friends were important to me(some of them were even before college and just stayed with me once i entered college.) But I did not realize what a void is created when they are not around until this weekend.
This weekend I got the pleasure to kind take a peek inside what college was like for my boyfriend. Meeting his friends from college made me realize even how much more I miss college sometimes. Everyone has different experiences in college but they are all memorable, and have been documented in different ways. Maybe some people take pictures, or maybe the write about it every day, but whatever the way the document it, it is always fun to look back!
I have seen many of my boyfriends college pictures and he has a story for each one of them, either a story of what the picture is about or the person in the picture.
I look back at mine, and I can tell you when it was taken and what we were doing. I smile as I look back at these, remembering these simple times and wonderful memories. It really shows that a picture is worth a thousand words!
I know I have made the decision to move thousands away from my friends, but I am also one to never lose touch, hence why I love technology these days! Being far away, makes coming back to visit all the more worth it too, and its never different! Its just like picking back up where we once left off years ago.
I think that is the best part about reuniting with old friends. I discovered this a few years ago when I was in a musical back in Wisconsin, one of my moms old friends from when she was in theatre, was working on the musical and that reunion between both of them was just like picking back up where they left off! Amazing!!! Sure there are things to share with everyone, stories of what is going on with your lives, but its the stories that we come back to that make that reunion the best!
I don't know how many times my friends and I would bring out a story about a party or just a lazy day in the apartment or dorms. We could tell those stories a million times and we would never get sick of it!
Now I know that life must go on after college, and that we can still create different memories, which I have done. That year after college, working in the mountains, is full of memories!! Moving to this part of California is definitely full of memories! But I truely believe that college makes us who we are in the real world. Whether it is a lesson learned from a friend, owning your first apartment, dealing with room mate issues or turning in a large assignment, in some small way or big way, these have all made us who we are in the real world. There is also some learning and growing to do when you are out of college, the whole paying bills, working at a job, living in your own house or apartment, but it grows on your experiences in college.
So to close, I want to thank my friends from the 4 years of college I have made. Thank you UW-Whitewater for giving me the experiences that I will never forget.
Live it to the fullest, you only get to go to college once!

ch ch changes

Maybe I am having my quarter century crisis or my mid-life crisis early, but there are some changes I need to happen.

I have been with my job almost 2 years, been out of school for almost 3 years and I am ready to go back to school. Don't get me wrong, I like my job, but I have realized this year that it is not something I want to stay with for too long. I like to be in some control of things, and with my job, there is only so much control you can have. I am starting to look into going back to school to become either an Occupational Therapy Assistant or an Occupational Therapist. It is a job that has a lot of options for careers, you can work in hospitals, nursing homes or schools. Since i have had the experience to work both in a nursing home and school, it looks like a path I could take.I am hoping with the amount of research I have done about this, that the school i want to attend will work for me. I hope it allows to me stay at my job for at least one more year and let me gain some financial assistance if it doesn't.

I am not one for change, I never liked it. When my mom switched grades to teach, I freaked out. When my mom retired, I freaked out. When we moved to a different house, I almost couldn't take it! But then, I make changes and I am okay with it. Maybe it helps me to make changes, it helps me accept change in my life if I make the changes. I am in control of them, so if it doesn't work out, i can have a plan of what to do.
Isn't that life is all about? Changing for the better, hopefully not for the worse.

deja vu

I am not sure how common deja vu is, but often I feel that I am experiencing it. It is the weirdest thing, you could be reading a note someone wrote(like I was just doing before i wrote this) and it will occur to you. I was reading a note a friend wrote and I had to stop because I could of sworn that i read it before, but it wasn't written before then. It was just that short little time, that little paragraph when I thought to myself "haven't I read this before? It seems so familiar." but then I read on and that thought passed.

I wonder how many people get these moments of memory where they think they have been in a certain situation before. It is interesting and I wonder more and more about this phenomenon called deja vu.

On another note: don't trust craigslist. You get weird people emailing you for reasons that aren't even about what you posted about. If you are smart, you stay away. If you are not, then I guess you'll find out what happens.

Things of all sorts

It has been awhile, so I am back for random thoughts.

The rain has returned but I don't think it is here to stay. By late April it should be completely gone and we should be wishing for it when it is 105 degrees out with dry heat! I'll welcome the heat though right now! :-)

For some reason, I have that old 1960's song Leader of the Pack in my head. Does anyone remember it? It was a one hit wonder I think, I used to love that song! Haven't heard it in AGES, then all of the sudden, it just popped in my head. How does a song just pop in your head? It's a weird thing. Sometimes I just wake up in the morning and a song that must of been part of a dream is stuck in my head all day. Maybe I just listen to music too much.
Speaking of things that get stuck in your head, have you ever had a scene from a movie or show in your head that has had a big impact on you?
When I was little, I remember seeing a Sesame Street episode where a kid is running the faucet as they are brushing their teeth and a little fish saying that it is draining his home! Weird, but it has stuck in my mind since then! Every time I brush my teeth, that little picture is in my head! Thank you Sesame Street for making a big impact in my life!

Passover is great! One of the best parts about being Jewish, sitting listening to my dads stories of Jewish history and the history of Passover then eating really good food and tons of laughs! Its not one of those where you sit around and just listen to one person talk, its very interactive and I think that is why people who come to our house like it so much! It's either that or they love the food! Like every year past, I lose at finding the afikoman but win at eating lots of gefilte fish and matzo ball soup! I think over the years I have become more proud to be Jewish. I have always been proud of my religion, but you really grow to appreciate it in your later years. We are not strict Jews(we had an Easter egg hunt on Sunday! And used to have big Christmases with family, now we just have some presents and listen to Christmas songs.) but we stick to it every year.
As I grew older, I also met many other people who were Jewish as well and it is always fascinating what each person does to practice their religion. I guess the world is an amazing place, so many different people, different religions, different beliefs and yet we are still learning more and more each day! :-)

Spring break time! Doesn't look spring like outside, but hope that changes!

Oh Brothers

Happy Birthday to my little brother!!! He's turning the big 22 years old today! 22 years ago today, he was just this little thing being born into this world and I would drive toy cars over him(was going to write cars, but that would sound like I drove real cars, evil!! lol) We had our fights back in the day, but would make up afterwards and play like nothing happened. And now, 22 years after he is born, we are great buddies and enjoy our sister-brother bonding time when we get it!
I'm a pretty proud sister of a really cool little brother! He has accomplished so much and has done so much with his life! I want to say I am proud, because I believe he has been following in my footsteps in a way! It is cool to see him do that, means that I have made some sort of impact on him!
You know, when I was little, I used to complain how I hated having brothers and always wanted sisters! But now, I look back at it, and I am thankful to have brothers, not just one awesome brother, but two!!! I have learned so much from them in all of my years. I have learned how to try to appreciate a good sport(I try, i really do!) I have learned how to be the tough one(though, i am the one not affraid of rats or spiders out of all of us). I have learned how to appreciate classic rock(once again, try to appreciate it. Not sure if I'll ever like the yelling of System of a Down. ) I have learned what one must to do see a big sporting event and how to be apart of sporting event polls. I have learned what a touchdown is and why Brett Favre is the best! But most of all, I have learned that even though you are not "one of them" you are still their favorite and only sister! I may never understand football or really enjoy it. I may never dress in crazy gear for a basketball game. I may never have an actual favorite football team or basketball team, was never a big sports fan. But I will understand a little of it more and more and I will try to root for the teams which my brothers root for. I will still participate in sport pools and cheer on the Seattle Sounders with my older brother(getting into that sport at least). I will do all of this because this is what I raised to do by my brothers. Just like, they have gone to my many musical performances, horse shows, have seen me dress up for Homecomings, Proms, other school dances, friends sleepovers, and listened to my trivia on Friends, because we are siblings and that is what we do.
There are some things you can not change from them, like the toenail clippings on the sink or the millions of friends they have over and stay up late playing video games, but they wouldn't be my brothers if they didn't have any of these traits.
All brothers and sisters have their differences of course. They like hard rock and I like country. They like action movies, and I like romantic comedies.
But we are still the same. We all share the same funny dad stories every time we get together.
We still like family vacations and have all been involved with 4-H fairs.
My younger brother and I share the love for theatre, but my older brother was the one I would go to if I needed help with something. He was the one who we had the same friends when we were little. Point is, when you get us all together, we are one crazy bunch of kids who have seemed to never grow up yet!
I always asked for a sister for Christmas or my birthday, but instead I got something even better, I got a sister-in-law! Two awesome brothers and one sister-in-law, really can't ask for anything better!
So, in honor of my awesome fun little brother on his birthday and all brothers who are the best, or in that matter, siblings in general, tell them how much you appreciate them and how much you love them. They are what creates the bond which you will look back when you are older and remember the good, the bad, and the ugly!

In the technology world

I am sitting here listening to my Itunes, have Facebook as one of my windows and also typing on my blog and I think to myself "what has the world come to these days? so many people are multitasking on the computer!" I remember the talk that one of the guest speakers gave at my college graduation about how he would see his daughter(a fellow classmate of mine) on the computer writing a paper, IMing, texting on the phone with the Itunes on. How can we do so many things with technology? You would think we'd get confused and IM something you meant to text someone on the computer something you were going to type in a paper. But I guess the best of us can do that kind of multitasking!
But what did we do with out technology? I grew up in the 80's with record players, then tape recorders and CD players. We had VHS's where you actually had to rewind to get to a part you want to watch again and deal with it getting stuck in the VCR. We had big phones too in the 80's and 90's! No cell phones, if you needed to get a hold of someone, you called them at their house and left a message if they weren't there. I also remember the car phone, a fad that didn't last too long.
Now what do we have? Cell phones that play music, text, talk, look up directions, take pictures, ect. On every news show or talk show, they advertise Facebook or Twitter to get the latest news. I remember last year, i was at the airport and on the TV they had the latest news about the Iraq election. One of the reporters talked about how Iraqis would write on Facebook about hating the new President which caused chaos and there they were saying to get the latest breaking news on the election, go to their Facebook page. To get latest breaking news about something as important on an Iraqi election, you had to go to Facebook! Once a social networking tool for college students, where you can find old friends, keep in contact with all of your friends and keep updated on their lives. Now this is a site where politicians, celebrities and important figures across the world can go on. Once something so small is now bigger than we have imagined!
But I guess with how our world is today, to be considered "in", you have to know what these things are.
Now, i am not saying its a bad thing and I don't go on it. I am on Facebook a lot, and I enjoy it. I enjoy seeing what my old friends are up to, my family are up to, and keeping up with the world, since I don't have TV. But sometimes I think it has taken over the world, kind of like how Wal-Mart seems to take over the world. It adds more and more things which brings its costumers in, such as the applications and always changing to "be better". But has anyone noticed that hackers have taken advantage of our innocence in the world wide web and has spread bad links by doing this? Latest one I have found was the "who's looking at your profile" application. Once one person clicks on the link, everyone will click on it and what does it do? It adds all of this unwanted "crap" onto your page, just by clicking on one simple link. Hackers are good at this because they KNOW we will fall for anything. If it looks good, you'll buy it, kind of thing.
Just like when you go to a store. What are you most likely to buy, something that doesn't really stick out to you or something that sticks out to you with all of its fancy advertising and packaging? Or when you get spam mail, of course you will be tempted to clink on a link that says "YOU WON A MILLION DOLLARS, CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE!" Who wouldn't want to click on something that appealing? But that is why hackers seem to win these wars all of the time, we keep falling for these traps.
Hopefully, by now though, the majority of us have figured out that its all a scam. Don't click on something that you don't know what it is.(sounds similar to, don't talk to strangers or don't eat something you don't want know. funny how these things are tie into each other) But we are curious creatures and curiosity has often killed the cat, but sometimes it has lead to bigger and better things. It's all in the luck of the draw or maybe just common sense plays right along with it.
Not sure what I am trying to say with this. It just amazes me though, how technology can often play with our minds and make us believe something that isn't real, trick us almost.
People living with out the many wonderful things technology has given us, have survived so far, so if they can, maybe we can?
We should all try it sometime, go a day or two or even a week with out a computer, cell phone, Iphone or Ipod and see what happens? Might be kind of cool!
PS. as i did spell check on this, it is telling me that "texting" is not a word. point proven.

things that make me smile and frown

The best thing about working with kids, is that most of them really like you! I walked into my classroom today and one of the girls, said "Hi Ms.G!" She is a sweetheart!! She's not very talkative, but she always likes getting my help! One day as we were having our outside free time, she asked me if I was married and I told her that it was personal information, but no I am not. But, I can tell how she can get that, there is a difference between calling someone Mrs. and Ms and that I should be called Ms. After talking some time about what other kids call me and what my student calls me(my student calls me Ms.Maggie or Maggie.) the little girl said "you are nice and very cool! So much better than the last helper 'student' had!" Just made my day that day! Love kids sometimes!!!

What I don't love are my little cockroach friends. I don't mean to be mean to them, since I know they want to be my friend by crawling all around my room, but this is not the place for them. Don't they know what dangers lie ahead of them when they walk into my room? There are feet which will stomp on them, poisonous traps which attract them and a sticky thing which they will get stuck on. Not a safe environment for little creepy crawlers. They belong outside in the wild with other little creatures not inside.
Now for a poem for the roaches:
You crawl in my room with your little legs and hard shells
Move those antennas to smell the smells you want to smell
You crawl up and down and all around
But I do not want to see you on my ground!
So, move your little bodies to another place
And your self a nice safe space
For this room is not a good spot for you
That is all I need to say to you.


Its beautiful out, thank you spring for finally peeping your head out of the covers! We needed to see you, so please stay around for awhile!

Life is a song, so sing it!

Today is a day of good weather, music with books and orange juice. (don't ask how i came up with orange juice, I am drinking it right now and enjoying it!)
Spring is on its way, just around the corner and everyone is getting excited about it. The sun is out, the weather is warm and flowers are blooming. A beautiful picture indeed! For someone who works in a school that requires you to be outside to get to one classroom to another, it is great to be able to walk outside to get where I need to be with out being too cold or too wet from rain. I can sit outside during my breaks and just soak up the sun which I missed so much during the winter! The kids at work love it because they can play outside, no one likes an indoor recess!! It is so great to see everyone in such good moods, makes me wish every day was like this. This has made me think about how weather can affect our moods so much. When its raining and cold, we all get grumpy and down in the dumps. But when the sun is shinning, its like a whole new day out there! Growing up in the cold Midwest, I have come to realize that as long as the sun is out, then its a good day. I never liked the snow, so even if the sun was out, as long as it was cold outside, it wasn't a good day for me. Some people like it though, the sun shinning on the snow and walking around bundled up in a million layers. Guess it all depends on the person. For me, as long as its warm and sunny, I am happy. Falls are great because the fall colors and around here in California, it is the perfect temperature. With all of these weather changes, it just makes me want to write to Mother Nature and tell her to take it a little bit easier on us, when shes in a bad mood, it affects us all.

Speaking of things that affect our moods, one things that affects my moods is music. I listen to music all the time, its a big part of my life, and what i listen to affects my mood or helps it in some way. There is music the music that I listen to that relaxes me, or if I am down in the dumps, and just want to sulk. Or there's the music that lifts you up and inspires you. Some of my favorite music to listen to is something that kind of adds a soundtrack to what I am reading. Since I go to Borders a lot, I hear their music all the time. For some reason, it seems to fit perfectly to what I am reading at that moment. Every time I read the book I am reading, no matter where I am, that "soundtrack" is playing in my mind. Or when I hear that music, even when I am not reading, the book then comes to my mind. Just recently, I finished reading an amazing book, Someone Knows My Name, as I am reading,the musical artist Sade comes on the cafe radio and it strikes as the soundtrack to the book. Maybe it takes a certain imagintive mind to place a "soundtrack" to a book, but I seem to have that ability a lot. But then I think that maybe that's how soundtracks to a movie are created. You take a scene, feel for the mood it brings, the story that's in it, then you place a song with it that matches it. It could be possible that finding a sountrack to a movie starts with matching a song or album to the book first. I think it would be a cool job to have, creating a sountrack for a movie or book.

Now just a few words on orange juice. It is very good and good for you! I don't think anyone could get sick of orange juice, it has that sweet and tangy taste and is always refreshing! Its like medicine that you could have every day! Whenever I feel like I am coming down with something, I skip the milk, soda, and alcoholic beverages and go right for the OJ. It's also a good subsitute for something to drink when you run out of things to drink. Nothing looks better than a nice big glass of OJ on a table next to a healthy meal. Plus, no one ever said breakfast for dinner is a bad thing, so OJ should be a main staple at dinner I think. But if you are going to give me orange juice, don't dress it all up and say its real OJ if its only 1% juice. I want to feel like I am drinking a whole orange tree, not some sugary lolly pop. It has to have a good percentage of real OJ in it(somewhere around 80%-100% is pretty good) to be good enough for my taste buds.
I am now going to go finish my tangy wonderful orange juice as I read a book that could become the next big blockbuster hit, or not.

People watching

Today is the first day of which I will write in here. I have seen others write blogs to share, and although I don't want to share my whole life in here, I want to share my thoughts.

One of the most peaceful things to do in life is people watch. Not people stare, but watch people as they walk by. I remember being with my grandpa in England and we would sit in a McDonald's, taking a break from walking, and watch the people walk by. It's like watching a picture show go by you every second, each person who walks by has their own story. As to what that is, we don't know, but there are so many possibilities as to what theirs are. Maybe a mother with two children walking by is taking them to the store to by new shoes, because their old shoes got too dirty and worn from playing soccer in the park every Saturday. Or you could see an old man walk by with his cane, all dressed up, looking like he has some place to go. Maybe he is meeting his daughter for the first time in 5 years and wants to look good for her, because he wants her to be proud of her. Or maybe he has a date with an older woman, first date since his wife died 6 years ago. Or he could just be looking good because he thinks its important to look good wherever you go. There might be that couple you see getting off of the airplane at the airport who just had their honeymoon or first trip as a couple. Or a brother and sister going grocery shopping for their parents because this is the first meal as a family together after the kids have went away to college.
I have seen so many people in my life, and have always wondered, what is their story. Not only by watching people walk, but by sitting in a bookstore reading or coffee shop. You get all sorts of people who come to coffee shops and bookstores. You have the students, the families, parents, friends getting together and my most favorite group, the horse club group! I sometimes wish I could just sit in with this group and hear them talk. I overhear some pretty great horse stories,but most of all, it is great to see a group of people come together and share something that they love! They may not have everything in common, such as favorite movie or food, but they share the love for horses, and that alone can keep a group together!
There are always the few who meet for the first time over a book that they are both reading. They may not know each other at all, but by the end of the day, they will know someones life story, just because they shared the similar interest of a book they both enjoyed.
Doing all of this people watching always makes me wonder what others think when they see me for the first time walking by. Are they coming up with their own story about me? I wonder what that would be. Whatever it is, I bet it is something exciting, or maybe its just an every day story. I'll be happy with whatever is made up, just as long as I am still alive at the end.
We are all busy with our lives, all the things we have to do every day. But take some time out of a day and just sit and watch people walk by or glance at a group talking at a cafe or restaurant. See what you can come up with for their stories. You may surprise yourself with how we imagine life for others.