Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Long Time, No Anything.


Hey folks. I know it has been a long time but I don't have much going on. Now that school is finished (even though I still have dreams I am in school) and summer left me without a classroom full of funny kids, I have been mainly chilling. I did spend the summer with the kids next door... If you know them, then you know that they are smarter than all of us put together. Basically, I learned a lot this summer.


Many of you have asked about my job situation. I still don't have a classroom but I am substitute teaching, babysitting, and doing curriculum development for an educational technology company.


That really is all that is going on at the moment. Oh, the picture is a pumpkin flower from my garden. It has suffered greatly due to deer and global warming. I only have one pumpking this season :( But on the plus side, I have a pumpkin that will be carveable.
Love you all.


Friday, June 12, 2009

I'm a MASTER!


Saturday, May 23, 2009

Briefer Update

Robin said the last one sounded depressing. Whatever. Here is the chipper version:

1) I am happily enjoying my singlehood. Girl Power!
2) I am IN LOVE with first grade. I dream it, I eat it, I sleep it.
3)There may not be any jobs for teachers right now, but that means I have the world wide open to me.
4) I graduate at the top of my class at SPU with my Masters in Teaching. You can call Master Amanda now.
5) That is all for the time being, but I hope all of you have a wonderful, puppy-filled-rainbow lovin' day.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Shout out to Cousin Kris

Hi Kris! Hope this brightens your day. Come for dinner soon. Love your guts.

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Rules: Time-tested Secrets from the Best Home Teachers


Well, I am back in the B8 saddle again. When I determined that my income during student teaching would be -$1,000,000,000 I decided living at home would help in that department. As a result I am back in the Bellevue 8th Ward boundaries and as such transferred my records and jumped back in. Strangely enough, I am glad to be back. To keep the good times rolling I am once again the Gospel Doctrine teacher and even better...I got my old home teachers back: the Cahoons. The Cahoons are the ward clerks and the happiest, nicest people with the best lessons ever.

Prime example? My first lesson with them a few years ago was around Valentines. Sister Cahoon gave the lesson which involved giving me the NY Times Bestseller "The Rules" on how to find a husband, as well as a practical lesson on "the hair flip." Apparently the hair flip attracts boys. There is only one person I know who can successfully complete this move: Meredith Clifford. She rocks it completely. I tried the hair flip once but found that since my hair is a mass of curls it resembles more of a flying poodle than a "come hither" motion. Plus I usually end up hitting someone in the face. As for "The Rules," well I took it to a temp job once thinking it might provide some good laughs but secretly hoping for divine guidance. The result: the book is a great comedy although you might feel nauseous. I did. I don't know if that goes away because I only got through six pages.

This month's lesson was quick because they are going out of town. It involved a card with a message inside (an actual message because Brother Cahoon was in charge of the lesson) and a small basket filled with candy. Oh, did I mention the basket is made of chocolate? Yeah, REALLY good home teachers.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Zoom! Zoom!

It has been a long while since I wrote but really, nothing has happened. So why babble?

Anyway, ever since I dated a certain guy with a motorcycle a few years ago I have had a hankering. Not for the boy, mind you, but for the bike. I figured if I could learn to ride and get my own bike then I wouldn't have to find a guy with a bike. My dad thinks bikes are trouble; I think boys with bikes are trouble. Therefore, last spring I signed up for the Evergreen Safety Council Motorcycle Endorsement course. Originally my mum and I were going to do it together but she just didn't have the time. Hence, week before last I completed the two-day endorsement class. It was the most fun I have had in a while.

My instructor put me on a little 250 bike while the rest of my class of big towering men were on bigger bikes. I pretty much looked like a toy. However, when maneuvering through a figure eight in rectangle 10X20, the little girl on her toy bike did pretty dang well! After two days of riding, I passed my course and added another random skill to my repertoire of hobbies labeled: "Fascinating-but-what-are-you-going-to-do-with-that-expensive-hobby?"

On another random note, my instructor was impressed with my mad two-wheel skillz, he asked if I would be interested in teaching courses. Hey, why not teach another skill I barely know but can explain?

Monday, July 7, 2008

...And it only gets worse!

My music/sci-fi geekiness continues to plumb the depths of unknown territory. Bear McCreary, composer of the music for Battlactica, released soundtracks for each season. Now, many of you know, music is a driving force in my life so it should come as no surprise that the TV show I love most has coveted musical talent behind it.

Well, I ordered the CD's that had the best music on there and for the last weekend have been engulfed in McCreary. A-maz-ing! Sound-wise it is heavy on percussion and strings. He also favors two flavors: Celtic and Indian (as in India). The music was SO good I looked up McCreary to find out what else he has composed. As I perused his info I found an email link and my nerdness took over.

I emailed that son-of-a-named-for-an-animal-with-claws-gun (seriously, my name is Bear?) and in a brief, rather ABBA way said, "Thanks for all the music." I also mentioned that if he ever needs a harpist in the Pacific NW to let me know. Well get this, Bear ('cause we're buddies now) emailed me back personally! Know how? Know how? Know how I know? A) my email was personalized with my first name and B) he said he loves the Pacific NW because he is from Bellingham. I felt pretty special. Even if the guy kind of looks like his name and is from a place that sounds like a breakfast food. (I would like eggs Benedict and a slice of your Bellingham. Oh, and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice on the side. Thank you.)

Anyway, if you enjoy instrumental music that isn't hours on end long, lemme know and I will hook you up with some stuff from my friend Bear.