Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Guys, for the first time in my life EVER I have the stomach flu. It came on very suddenly when I was about to leave work on Monday, and I spent a good 2-3 hours at the InstaCare yesterday receiving fluids via IV and having fun tests run.
On top of everything else (or maybe it's part of the stomach flu? I don't know!), I have a migraine.
I. Want. To. Die.
Good news is, my fever is mostly gone, I have not thrown up in 24 hours, and therefore water stays in my system now. I was also able to go in to work for a whopping two hours before becoming so exhausted that I could barely stand. My parents are also practically waiting on me hand and foot, and that's pretty nice for me (but slightly inconvenient for them). Also, I've been sleeping A LOT, so hopefully that means I am getting all caught up on my lost hours due to the Mother's Day Madness at the flower shop a couple weeks ago. More good news: I don't have to work tomorrow AT ALL because SCHOOL IS OVER UNTIL AUGUST (and I signed a contract to work at the same school this coming fall, and did I mention I'm going to be a full-time student again and that I'm learning Chinese for REALS this time?)
So, despite all the nasty, ghastliness in life, there are still some beautiful things about it. Never forget that.
Labels: health, School
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
I don't really have a lot to blog about lately. Mostly I work, come home, eat, work some more, come home, eat, and go to bed. There are also weekly Outings involved, but rarely does anything of Blog Material happen.
However, this one I just can't pass up.
So, actually I'm working at an elementary school here in town again, right? Due to privacy laws and all that kind of fun stuff, there's not a lot I feel safe blogging/talking about in public. Which is OK, and I don't mind. But today I had a student that I work with ask me, "Do you have a baby in your stomach?"
The answer, for those of you suddenly concerned, is, of course, a resounding NO. But still it was funny in an awkward sort of way.
(Also awkward is when you can't spell "awkward" and end up spelling it "awkard" instead.)
Meanwhile, now that the weather has turned more autumnal, if anyone has Out Doors suggestions for things to do in the surrounding area between the hours of, say, 4-9 on a weekday, please. Share.
Labels: children, School, Teaching, work
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Hey, guys! Good news! Guess who finally heard back about Taiwan?!
Alright, a little back-tracking first.
So, you may have noticed that I have been hanging out at my old elementary school lately (where I learned about what cud actually is from a second-grader). This has been awesome, and I have been glad to do it, but I probably never would have even
thought about volunteering at an elementary school if it hadn't have been for the fact that I was asked to do so for 10-15 hours before the school in Taiwan would really consider hiring me. So I did that last week, wrote up an essay on my experience at the school, and submitted a new teaching video. That made for a busy week as I had to do it all by Thursday so that I could hand everything in while I was up in Utah County on Friday (btw, that Carl Bloch exhibit at the MOA? Ah-mazing. I loved it. I wanted every single painting in there, but settled for the
Pool of Betheseda. Still need a frame for it...). I am probably going to keep volunteering at the school this week, foot allowing.
This past Tuesday I was watching a movie at a friend's house when I got a phone call from ILP, so I excused myself and darted out the door to answer it. The school was apparently impressed with my new submissions and just wanted to clarify a few things before they made any final decisions.
Then yesterday afternoon happened. As Mom, Sister, and I were in the store right outside the Grizzly River Rapids Ride in DCA (Disney California Adventure for all you that are not in the know of the Disney acronyms), I got another phone call from ILP. The school decided to accept me! I have just finished reading over the handbook and the contract; I expect to send the contract back up to ILP on Monday. Assuming everything continues to work out, I will be teaching at the Berhan Language Institute in Feng Yuan, Taichung.
This new step in my life means many thing, but the most pertinent to the is blog is that I will be purchasing more storage space for my account so that I may continue to upload pictures. Hooray!
Oh, yeah. Also, I am officially graduated with my AA (I pass all of my classes with A's this semester, even, and 100% on at least one of my finals). Finally. After approximately six years of continued education. Go me!
Meanwhile, I cannot even tell you how many blogs I have read now about other ex-pats in Taiwan. I am so excited to go!
Labels: School, Taiwan
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Today I learned about cud while having a second grader read a book to me about cows. I always knew that cows chewed cud, but what I didn't know (and maybe this is just me being naive or clueless or a little of both) is that cud is basically vomit that cows keep eating.
That's disgusting. Why is beef my favorite meat?
On that note, a bus-load of seven- and eight-year olds is probably the loudest experience I have ever had in my life, followed closely by 150 (ish, I'm totally guessing) seven- and eight-year olds at an indoor pool. I consider it a miracle that I have any sense of hearing left!
Also, I take my last final tomorrow. Have I studied for it much? Nope, not at all. Will I at some point tonight? Well, hopefully. But probably not until after NCIS. Got to keep my priorities straight here.
Labels: animals, children, School
Saturday, April 02, 2011
So, last week I went with the college's Art Department to the Los Angeles area to do artsy stuff. A lot of the pictures I have already posted on my other blog, so for the better looking ones, you should go there. Also, this is not exactly in chronological order. And I've run out of storage space (how did that not happen before now?), so a lot of things are being cut out, and I guess I'm not uploading any pictures onto my blog for a while? This will be remedied before I leave the country.
Thursday when we reached California, our first (real) stop was the
Huntington. Stephanie and I spent most of the time there in the botanical gardens, and a minimal amount of time in the art galleries. Because apparently I don't like art as much as I thought I did. Or I just prefer being outside with the flowers.
This was the Chinese garden. The Japanese one was mostly bonsai trees, which were cool, but... I was less inclined to photograph them.
The guy who chopped off Medusa's head. Sorry, I'm not well versed in my mythology and I have no idea what his name is, nor do I really feel the need to Google it right now.
Friday night we went to Disneyland! Kaiyo was a dear and signed Steph and me in. It was, of course, busy (being Friday and Spring Break season), but it was still fun.
Also awesome, when they roped off the castle (for the fireworks) and I was able to snap a couple of pictures without hordes of other people being in it! Bonus, it wasn't so dark that my camera felt like it needed a tripod yet.
I don't know how many times I've been past Pooh Corner or been on the ride, but this was the first time I noticed sign for Pooh Stix bridge. Steph was the one that pointed it out to me.
Earlier Friday we went to the Getty Villa. There was this fountain that had faces like that one
on Roman Holiday (you know, where Audry Hepburn puts her hand in the mouth?) So, of course, we felt like we had to do the same. Um. There's a picture of Steph, too, but it is either on her camera or my other camera, of which I have not yet downloaded any of the pictures. Not that that really matters at this point.
Even more earlier on Friday we stopped at Redondo Pier, which, in my opinion, is really lame. Especially since ALL THE STORES WERE CLOSED, the ocean was cold (and stinky), and the beach was not that clean. Anyway, this little figurine was in the window of one of the shops, and I thought it was kind of endearing (look at it! It's Titanic!). Not that I would have purchased it, but it was still cute in it's own gruesome way.
There were, however, these two pigeons that were kind of entertaining. The one on the left is missing a foot, and the one on the right was feeding it. And then decided to climb on the back of pigeon on the left for about 2 seconds before getting back down. That was...awkward, and we left them alone after that.
Then there was the small child that was feeding all the seagulls with his mom. Precious.
Also, homeless people sleeping under the pier in sleeping bags. That was a little eerie, and I did not altogether approve.
At the LACMA, there was a Japanese exhibit (among many others), and I fell in love with this screen. I want one!
They also had this exhibit on fashion. Look at this amazing dress.
Also, while we were looking at the fashion exhibit, we ran into this lady. She was very friendly and echoed my sentiments of the bustles and various other fashion implements: "torture implements."
This is the other dress I loved.
Saturday we went to the LA LDS Temple. Most of the group went to the Visitor's Center, but I favored walking around the grounds more. I know it is hard to see in this picture, but that big tree in the background? I loved it. I want one. It was gnarly (literally) and reminded me of a giant bonsai.
Sunday we stopped at Forest Lawn before heading back to Utah. Cameras aren't allowed in any of the buildings, so I only got a few pictures outside.
Labels: Art, cemeteries, Disney, Fashion, Photography, School, travel
Thursday, January 20, 2011
My Humanities professor can't spell worth beans, and it's kind of distracting when I'm trying to do the reading. Also, I feel like this class is useless, because so far all we've covered is the exact same material that we went over in my Intro to Art class last semester. Some GE classes should be done away with.
Labels: School
Thursday, December 02, 2010
It has been brought to my attention that it has been over a month since I last posted. Oops. Sorry. Kinda.
Ok, so actually, not much has been going on. I thought I was going to be able to quit my job and start a new one come January, but that didn't work out so well, so now we are sticking it out at Current Place of Employment for about 4 more months. Maybe 5, but I'm leaning more towards 4.
After major anxiety, Dad and Mom helped me get my video for Taiwan finished up, and I was able to ship that off yesterday. I believe now I am mostly just waiting for a contract to be offered. Need to double check with my Rep.
I have applied for graduation. Come the first part of 2011, then, I will owe the school yet even more money just so that they can kick me out with a piece of paper saying I've worked hard and done very well, and here's your little degree, be gone with you! There was a bit of panic when I thought I wasn't passing Geology very well, but we've since learned differently and have come to really, really adore that Geology professor, don't you know. Seriously. Heart.
I have one more paper to write for my English class. It is due on Tuesday. Um... It's coming. Sort of.
My two stupid classes I finished up before the Thanksgiving break. Like, finals taken and everything. It is nice to have them over with. Seriously, lame classes. Very very.
Meanwhile, that's about all what has been going on over here. I mean, I got my tree up (and Drawly is afraid of it, which is the BEST because it means he won't try to climb it and knock it over and thus break it like he did last year), all my lights are finally up, and all the little Christmassy decorations that I've got are also out. Except I've got one more Nativity that I need to find a home for. I think it shall probably live on my end-table thinger in the living room.
So, happy Holiday shopping, and please be nice to all the sales people you see, and please put things away properly or give them to a sales people if you decide that you don't want them any more.
Labels: Christmas, Holiday, Housing, School, Taiwan, updates
Thursday, May 13, 2010
I keep thinking about blogging again, but then I don't. Usually because the internet dies just as I get to the blogger dashboard. IT HASN'T DIED YET TODAY, THOUGH, SO KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED! We may get this post out, yet. (Also, it promises to be very picture heavy. Sorry. Sort of.)
So once upon a time I said something about how I reallyreallyreally want to go to Taiwan next year and teach the English to small chiddlers. Well, there are currently two itty bitty glitches to this plan. 1) I don't have a college degree, despite the fact that I did attend BYU for 4.5 years (don't ask. I don't want to talk about it). and 2) I don't have a passport. I am happy to say that, $35 later, I am doing something about point number uno. Today (actually, more like 5 minutes ago) I applied as a transfer student to the college here in town. I have every intention of getting my AA in 2 semesters (I may hate myself while I'm doing it and want to die, but I don't feel like Town College can be THAT hard. They accept everybody. Seriously.) (also, hello, did you know that I can get an AA in PHOTOGRAPHY?? I did not know this. We'll see if I actually stick to that or just go with the AA in Arts (it might be easier/faster)). I also have found a buddy to hold my hand and take me down to the post office to get my passport picture taken and help me out with the application process. (Hey, Jess, you're still down with this, right? RIGHT? It will make us even, Right?) I am also occasionally looking into other options to get myself to Taiwan, but I mostly really do want to teach the English, and I feel like this is what I'm supposed to be focusing on right now.
Second line of blogging, We went to Florida a few weeks ago! We being my family and me. Stayed on the beach at Fort Meyers and it was pretty awesome. The water was a little cold, but nothing like that Pacific Ocean. It didn't take long to get used to it and it actually felt pretty good after the initial shock. And guess who braved the ocean and ACTUALLY got in it? Past her knees?
Miracle.
We also had this fun time where people at the beach kept talking to us. Which is cool, I guess, but I am not a chatty person. Dad and Sister took over that category for us. We had this preacher dood named Patrick (I think?) start talking to us, though, and he was awesome. He is a priest of a Spanish congregation and has a dog that seriously KNOWS the word "fish" and what it means. He'd say, "Is that a FISH?" and she'd go darting into the ocean to try to find it.
This is Tequila, the Preacher's Chocolate Lab. Love her.
On one of our strolls down the beach, we found this thing. It was squishy and seemingly alive. Found out it was a Sea Slug?! Then Dad threw it into the ocean and it INKED and I thought it was bleeding and dying and was so sad. But it was just ink. And then it came back to shore with the waves and I touched it and tried to make it feel better. I doubt I succeeded, but
I felt better for trying to comfort it from it's flying trauma.
I know it doesn't look like much, but it really was pretty cool. Clicking
HERE will take you to a picture of a Sea Slug in the Ocean instead of on the Beach. Also, Googling "Sea Slug" brings up some really cool images. You should try it! They come in many awesome colors.
Other forms of wildlife we saw on the beach include:
a Sand Dollar (alive!) (OK, admittedly, we found this IN THE OCEAN, but we brought it to the beach to show the Parents, then took it back to approximately where we found it)
Snails (We found many) (This was all in an attempt to find the most awesome sea shells. All the good ones, unfortunately, were taken. Those snails. So "shelfish." Jerks.)
Starfishies (This one was huge and bigger than my head, I am pretty sure.)
And also hermit crabs, but I didn't get any good pictures of them. I do have a video or two, but am not loading that to the internet at this time.
Dad and I took a trip out to Naples to go on a Manatee Boat Tour (No See, No Pay! Thank you
Barry's Boat Tours! We saw, we payed, and it was worth EVERY PENNY, if only because I got to see...
A mommy and baby! They are so cute. I kind of love them a lot. Someday I would like to feed one and be in the water with one. You would not have wanted to be in the water with these ones, though, if only because of this guy and his many friends:
Other things we saw and did include going to a botanical garden
To the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford estates
(And if you follow me on Twitter, then you have probably already seen this picture of the Partially Eaten Dead Fish)
And we also went to the Shell Factory (no pictures of that) where I got many dollars worth of sea shells that I have no idea what to do with, but they are cool and therefore worth the money.
So that's been my life lately! Now it is back to working and the real world.
Labels: animals, Car, Celebrities, Family, goals, Life, Photography, plants, School, travel
