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.

I'm a MASTER!

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.

Shout out to Cousin Kris

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

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.

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?

...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.