The New Improved Ring!

Here it is -- the RING with a lower, much more beautiful setting. Not the best pic, but I'll try and improve it soon. I just love my ring, and I needed to post this for all of you who were disappointed at not seeing it at V's wedding. =)

Just waiting

So what do you when you have nothing to do and you're stuck in a place? I'm sitting here in the computer lab during my "office hours" with nothing pressing. I can't grade any assignments since I don't have the rubric, I've finished "Return to Me," and I've finished making changes to my poster pages that I'll print out at home (and then mount on cool paper!). I COULD read through my readings for this one class, but it's better to do that just before the test, which is a week and a half away. =) And oh, did I mention I even studied already for another exam today (also a week and a half away)? Not to mention I was also extremely silly earlier in wrapping and delivering a present for an important birthday? Well, ok, in all fairness, I wrapped it yesterday. I only delivered it today after teaching my favorite group of 8th graders.

So, can you say random? Guess it's a good day for that. It's fun to sometimes sit and enjoy even the seemingly empty moments. My mind actually feels strangely clear. Not blank, just clear. Kind of like your body feels after being sick and reaching convalescence. Weird analogy, sure, but it's honestly how it feels. Kind of like meditating while doing something else. Can you DO that? It feels like I've actually stepped outside myself and am just looking on, enjoying the good things in life. Kind of like Viktor Frankl talked about in his Holocaust experiences. I understood the concept of separating mind and body when I read about it before, but this is the first time I've really experienced it. And without even trying! Kind of a fun experience . . . now if I can just do this on purpose, I'll have a new way to deal with stress, lol! Wish me luck!

Or maybe this one . . .

So, after trying on dresses, I think that other dress just doesn't fit with me. This one is fun in that it flows and I've always loved the Oriental look. Hmmm . . . I think I need some people to go with to the actual store with me. Any takers? =)

Maybe

Ok, so here's the dress I'm thinking of for my wedding, if I can ever find it in real life and not just online (where, by the way, from the website stores, there are no options for ordering it, lol!). I was going to go today to the couple stores up here that are listed on the website as carrying their stuff, but it stared raining and snowing. AGAIN. Glad I've got time! Anyway, I just wanted a simple dress that may actually look good on me -- one that I can take wedding pictures in and still wear to the temple later. This one may be on the dressy side for that, but I think it will work. Just another reason (besides the fit) that I want to find one in person before committing myself to the dress. Besides, this gives people a chance to talk me out of it . . . or into it, as the case may be.

I still can't believe I only have four more lessons to teach before the semester's over. Aaagh! Well, okay, not about teaching (I have fun with my teenagers), but that means that finals are coming two weeks from today. Now THERE's the AAAAAAAGH! =)

My Castle

Ok, so really, this is the castle in the city I was born. Cool, huh? My kids in the class I teach at the Junior High thought so. Along with the fact that I have a brother who's an Air Force pilot, a sister who trains whales and dolphins at Sea World, another sister who's family is in Finland . . . I love what impresses teenage boys! Makes them a lot more willing to listen to lessons, let me tell you! Wonder what they'd do if I told them I have a sister who's a crack shot and my future mother-in-law packs?

Ahhh . . .

Scaring yourself back into life

Ok, I really should be working on homework, but I feel like chatting first. We had a bit of a scare today in class since one of my classmates had to be taken out by the paramedics. Lovely girl, really scary when she had problems. It's always ironic how it takes something like that (especially with my sister's illness on top of it) to shock the rest of us back into living and especially enjoying life. Because life IS good. Even if it's hard and you don't always know how to deal with money issues or family issues or whatever, it's always worth savoring what you can, you know?

I also have to laugh because while a bunch of us in the SPED department were sitting here not doing real work, we've had a blast swapping blog sites and convincing others to start their own. SO much fun. Just wait for the summer and see me really take off. Oh wait, the kids. Well, maybe we'll be nerds and have fun fixing up blogs and such together. Or just going out doing things that we can later post to our blog, lol! Baby Animal Days is next weekend gang! So everyone with kids who'll be out this way, Mom has coupons. =) Fun is good, but cheap is better!