It's hard to believe that it has been a year since my mom died. I still don't feel like it is real. I thought that by now I would have come to terms with it, but I guess I'm just not quite ready yet. It was so weird to have Thanksgiving and Christmas without her. She loved the holidays so much. She loved that the family came together for the celebration, buying gifts for her kids and grand kids, and making candy for hours every day. They were definitely her favorite months of the year, and it is hard to know that they are going to continue on, and she won't be able to enjoy them ever again. It breaks my heart.
My family didn't even have a Christmas party this year.
Things just aren't the same without her around.
December 31, 2009
December 25, 2009
December 19, 2009
Why can't all teachers be good ones?
I understand that college is supposed to be more difficult than high school, but I think that some teachers take it way too far. Brett's art history teacher is one of them.
He had his final for the class this morning, and to prepare for it, he has been studying his ass off. Yesterday alone, the two of us spent around eight hours cramming to try and make sense of it all. I think that she enjoys torturing her students. It's not like she gives them a review with an idea of what is going to be on the test and tells them to study it. No, instead she gives them a study guide a million miles long, and then only puts a fraction of it on the exam. So instead of being able to know that you are walking into the classroom ready, and confident in knowing what is coming your way, he ends up walking into the classroom having memorized as much as he possibly can about all of the items in the study guide, and doesn't have a clue until grades are posted whether he did good or not.
I think that my main problem with this particular style of teaching, is that he hasn't actually learned anything about any of the art that they have been going over. Instead, he memorizes as many small, useless details as possible, just to hold him over until the next test where he has to do it all again.
Aren't you supposed to come out of a class feeling like you have learned something on the subject?
It's pointless.
Update: Brett ended up with a B for his final grade in this class. Hallelujah!
He had his final for the class this morning, and to prepare for it, he has been studying his ass off. Yesterday alone, the two of us spent around eight hours cramming to try and make sense of it all. I think that she enjoys torturing her students. It's not like she gives them a review with an idea of what is going to be on the test and tells them to study it. No, instead she gives them a study guide a million miles long, and then only puts a fraction of it on the exam. So instead of being able to know that you are walking into the classroom ready, and confident in knowing what is coming your way, he ends up walking into the classroom having memorized as much as he possibly can about all of the items in the study guide, and doesn't have a clue until grades are posted whether he did good or not.
I think that my main problem with this particular style of teaching, is that he hasn't actually learned anything about any of the art that they have been going over. Instead, he memorizes as many small, useless details as possible, just to hold him over until the next test where he has to do it all again.
Aren't you supposed to come out of a class feeling like you have learned something on the subject?
It's pointless.
Update: Brett ended up with a B for his final grade in this class. Hallelujah!
December 10, 2009
December 7, 2009
I've missed you
I don't know why, but I just don't feel like I have anything to write about lately. Maybe it's because all I have been doing for the last three weeks is trying to find a job. I don't think that you guys would be interested in hearing about how many jobs I am applying for on a daily basis. Trust me, it's not interesting.
I do have something that I'm excited to talk about though. I have decided that while I am looking for a job, and I have some extra time in my day, I am going to devote a good chunk of my time to working on my book. I think that I'd like to look at being laid off as a new opportunity, rather than seeing it as a tragedy.
Feeling sorry for myself won't help the situation at all, and when I did have a job it didn't seem like I could ever find time to sit down and write. Today, that's all going to change!
Here's to new opportunities. Wish me luck!!
I do have something that I'm excited to talk about though. I have decided that while I am looking for a job, and I have some extra time in my day, I am going to devote a good chunk of my time to working on my book. I think that I'd like to look at being laid off as a new opportunity, rather than seeing it as a tragedy.
Feeling sorry for myself won't help the situation at all, and when I did have a job it didn't seem like I could ever find time to sit down and write. Today, that's all going to change!
Here's to new opportunities. Wish me luck!!
November 17, 2009
Wherein one of my fears is justified
As I stood there that morning looking into my closet, trying to determine what I should wear, I was sure that it was going to be just another ordinary day. I had no reason to think that it wouldn't be. For just over three years now my weekly routine has been the same, and Friday was always the day of the week that I looked forward to most. It was, after all, the gateway to the weekend.
Then on the drive to work I realized that it was yet another Friday the 13th. The third one this year. I have been pretty open about the fact that a lot of things scare the shit out of me, and Friday the 13th just happens to be one of them. Until last week, I never had a reason to associate Friday the 13th with anything negative.
Friday I was laid off.
My routine is totally different now, and it's weird. I liked my old routine. I liked my job, though I could have done without the shitty commute for three years, and I am really going to miss it. I enjoyed working with most of the people there, and the atmosphere of the office was always fun. It was a great job, and I can only hope that my next job is half as good.
Then on the drive to work I realized that it was yet another Friday the 13th. The third one this year. I have been pretty open about the fact that a lot of things scare the shit out of me, and Friday the 13th just happens to be one of them. Until last week, I never had a reason to associate Friday the 13th with anything negative.
Friday I was laid off.
My routine is totally different now, and it's weird. I liked my old routine. I liked my job, though I could have done without the shitty commute for three years, and I am really going to miss it. I enjoyed working with most of the people there, and the atmosphere of the office was always fun. It was a great job, and I can only hope that my next job is half as good.
November 13, 2009
Didn't see this one coming
I never really expected anything to come of it, but I did it anyway. That's the kind of person I have become, I guess. Just try it out. If it works, great! If not, move on. I was driving in the car on my way to work one morning when I heard the DJ of the local morning show that I listen to call out to the listeners. "If you've got an idea for a topic we can use on the show, send us an email."
So I did. I sent him an email that told a brief version of this story. I was pretty sure that once the DJ read the email it would be passed over, and quickly forgotten. Surely there were more interesting topics out there. But at least I gave it a shot.
Turns out that wasn't the case at all. Yesterday I was driving to work and I heard that same DJ bring up my topic on the air. I hadn't emailed him back yet, and he was going to read the email on the air in five minutes or so. Two quick phone calls later, and there I was live on the radio talking about one of the most monumental things to ever happen in my life.
I was so nervous. I could fell my hands shaking as I tried to hold the phone steady to my ear. But I kept it together and answered all of the questions that were fired in my direction.
After the phone call was over, I couldn't believe it. I think that having the conversation live on the radio, and putting my story out there for everyone to hear helped make it so much more real for me. I couldn't help but wonder, what if he listens to their show, and he just heard everything that I said. What if he recognized my name, and now he's trying to figure out how to contact me? What if this was the step that leads to me actually finding him?
I think that this was a step in the right direction.
So I did. I sent him an email that told a brief version of this story. I was pretty sure that once the DJ read the email it would be passed over, and quickly forgotten. Surely there were more interesting topics out there. But at least I gave it a shot.
Turns out that wasn't the case at all. Yesterday I was driving to work and I heard that same DJ bring up my topic on the air. I hadn't emailed him back yet, and he was going to read the email on the air in five minutes or so. Two quick phone calls later, and there I was live on the radio talking about one of the most monumental things to ever happen in my life.
I was so nervous. I could fell my hands shaking as I tried to hold the phone steady to my ear. But I kept it together and answered all of the questions that were fired in my direction.
After the phone call was over, I couldn't believe it. I think that having the conversation live on the radio, and putting my story out there for everyone to hear helped make it so much more real for me. I couldn't help but wonder, what if he listens to their show, and he just heard everything that I said. What if he recognized my name, and now he's trying to figure out how to contact me? What if this was the step that leads to me actually finding him?
I think that this was a step in the right direction.
November 10, 2009
Creepy
Last week Brett and I rented the movie Orphan from our local redbox. I had really been anxious to see it for a while. We had seen the preview for it in the theater, and on T.V. a lot over the last few months, and it looked good. I am one to love a good scary movie, so naturally I was intrigued by how creepy the previews made this movie look.
A few days before Halloween I noticed that it was being advertised at the redbox, and stopped to grab a copy. After scrolling through the titles, and realizing that it wasn't in stock I informed Brett that we had to keep our eyes peeled! I was dying to see it.
About four days later Brett sent me a text saying that he had finally snagged it! Success.
Later that night we cuddled up on the couch to start watching it, and almost instantly you could tell it was going to be as scary as the previews made it look.
Without ruining anything for you, just in case you plan to see it, the main plot of the story is about a couple with two young children who recently had a pregnancy that resulted in a stillbirth. After a little while they decide that they are ready to have another child, but in fear of what happened to their last baby, they decide to adopt. They find a nine year old girl living in an orphanage, and decide to bring her home. Shortly after they get her home, funny things begin to happen. The mother knows that there is just something about Esther that isn't right, but no one believes her.
Let me just say this first, I am not normally bothered too badly by scary movies. Sometimes they make me jump or flinch a little, but after the movie is over I am fine. The spook doesn't normally linger. With this movie though, I was so disturbed that I didn't want to go to bed. It was that scary. Not in the traditional blood and gore kind of way, but more in the how could someone be that messed up? kind of way.
It was twisted. So twisted that I didn't see the ending coming. I was completely shocked by the way the story played out.
I can tell you one thing, I have no desire to ever adopt a child after seeing that movie.
A few days before Halloween I noticed that it was being advertised at the redbox, and stopped to grab a copy. After scrolling through the titles, and realizing that it wasn't in stock I informed Brett that we had to keep our eyes peeled! I was dying to see it.
About four days later Brett sent me a text saying that he had finally snagged it! Success.
Later that night we cuddled up on the couch to start watching it, and almost instantly you could tell it was going to be as scary as the previews made it look.
Without ruining anything for you, just in case you plan to see it, the main plot of the story is about a couple with two young children who recently had a pregnancy that resulted in a stillbirth. After a little while they decide that they are ready to have another child, but in fear of what happened to their last baby, they decide to adopt. They find a nine year old girl living in an orphanage, and decide to bring her home. Shortly after they get her home, funny things begin to happen. The mother knows that there is just something about Esther that isn't right, but no one believes her.
Let me just say this first, I am not normally bothered too badly by scary movies. Sometimes they make me jump or flinch a little, but after the movie is over I am fine. The spook doesn't normally linger. With this movie though, I was so disturbed that I didn't want to go to bed. It was that scary. Not in the traditional blood and gore kind of way, but more in the how could someone be that messed up? kind of way.
It was twisted. So twisted that I didn't see the ending coming. I was completely shocked by the way the story played out.
I can tell you one thing, I have no desire to ever adopt a child after seeing that movie.
November 7, 2009
You could save 15% or more on car insurace
One of the reasons that Brett is my hero is because he is always thinking of other people, and putting their needs before his own. Since our Halloween party this year was actually the day before Halloween he offered to work on Halloween night so that other employees that had kids could have the night off to spend the holiday with their families, and take their kids trick or treating.
Since he was going to be working on Halloween he decided that he wanted to dress up to go to work, but he didn't want to wear his Sweeney Todd costume again because it takes a while to pull it all together, and he just didn't want to deal with it. So we spent some time online looking at all of the hilarious costumes that are available, and finally settled on this:
Since he was going to be working on Halloween he decided that he wanted to dress up to go to work, but he didn't want to wear his Sweeney Todd costume again because it takes a while to pull it all together, and he just didn't want to deal with it. So we spent some time online looking at all of the hilarious costumes that are available, and finally settled on this:
November 6, 2009
Two Hundred
When I first started this blog I had no idea that it would end up being such a big part of my life. I just figured that it would be a good way to keep family and friends that didn't see us very often updated from time to time on what we were up to. Now I find myself compiling posts in my head during the commute home, or when I'm grocery shopping. I am always thinking about what stories I want to tell next, and trying to find the best words to express how I'm feeling at the moment. I have fallen in love with having a place to come and share my words.
Not only have I been able to reconnect with some old friends, but I have found some really great new friends through blogging. I feel like most of you {the ones that I know of anyway} are people that I would get along with well in real life, too.
I never would have thought that I would still be here 200 posts later, but I sure am glad it turned out that way.
Not only have I been able to reconnect with some old friends, but I have found some really great new friends through blogging. I feel like most of you {the ones that I know of anyway} are people that I would get along with well in real life, too.
I never would have thought that I would still be here 200 posts later, but I sure am glad it turned out that way.
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