So I've been avoiding blogging since there always seems to be something I should be doing instead (homework/reading books). Also Brian left last week so I've been trying to hang out with him a lot before he took off for WI again.
So in no particular order (although I will try for chronological) lately I,
-attended a lovely Camp Fowler wedding for Darrick and Katherine. They looked super happy and put on a lovely wedding. I really liked seeing a wedding at camp since Brian and I are looking to do ours there in 2012.
-got the new Guster album: love it.
-visited Eric and Miriam again. Last time we went their place still had that moved-in-recently look too it. Now it looked like a real house where adults lived. Crazy! I really liked all their stuff on the walls and made a mental note to get some of that eventually.
-had a weekend trip to Boston w/ Brian where we: went to a museum, had lobster rolls, visited his cousin, and had the best soup ever! I never tried a lobster roll before and now I can cross that off my bucket list.
-took a midterm, presented two presentations, and turned in an 8 page paper all in the same week Brian left! It was intense.
-scheduled my last semester of grad school. Thank god all the classes I need are being offered, it was close.
-I've been training for the GRPS Turkey Trot 5k in Grand Rapids. I've never been an athlete so this is a lot for me. Surprisingly (to me) the training is going really well. My schedule makes it hard since I'm not home from about 8-10 a few days a week and the complex workout room is only open 9-9 (a joke). Running in the dark in the morning kinda sucks. But each Saturday, when I ramp up the distance I'm running, its the farthest I've ever run continuously in my whole life. I feel pretty good about that.
Anyway, fun times...
I can't believe I'm going to be done with graduate school come May. That really isn't that far off. I never really thought I could go to grad school, so I'm really happy I did and I'm really happy I found what I'm interested in and can make a career out of it. Recently at one of my field studies, a 5th grader asked me, "Ms. Stevens, in college do you get to study whatever you want?" I told him that after he took some general courses he could. I said that I liked libraries so I get to study libraries in my classes. The little boy and the girl next to him got so excited I didn't want to burst the bubble about endless gen eds. Man, he still has a lot of "general" schooling head of him. With his 5th grade class we introduced a site called Glogster for making online posters. They 5th graders love it and they also love the brightest colors imaginable.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
I Whip My Hair Back and Forth
Summer flew by somehow. I went to Camp Fowler again to rock out a cabin. I rocked it out alright. 13 former staff members were volunteering that week. It was great to see so many old friends and meet some new ones. The week meant a lot to me, as it always does. I was exhausted after it, but no matter what, I still love Camp Fowler.
Brian and I have been really busy doing things on the weekends this summer. Last weekend we both had Friday through Monday off. It kinda felt like last summer when we both didn't have jobs (not by choice), only this time we have some dinero so we can afford things. We (Brian) made a couple awesome meals and I bought running shoes. I want to do a 5k this fall so I can cross it off my bucket list. We also went on a couple bike rides along the Hudson. Brian has a nice new road bike. I have a hand-me-down bike from the 80s I got free from my boss called Jazz. Jazz is awful and I think it made its last ride with me this past weekend. Stupid Jazz kept squeaking and the wonky wheels kept holding me back. Needless to say Brian beat me every time on the bike rides.
Grad school started up again last week. This week is a Jewish holiday so I really only had one class. I hate starting school one week only to have no class the next. I want a week off like, right before finals so I can study and write all the papers I've put off.
I'm down to four classes instead of five, like I had last year, this semester. It kinda feels like I'm slacking.
Brian and I have been really busy doing things on the weekends this summer. Last weekend we both had Friday through Monday off. It kinda felt like last summer when we both didn't have jobs (not by choice), only this time we have some dinero so we can afford things. We (Brian) made a couple awesome meals and I bought running shoes. I want to do a 5k this fall so I can cross it off my bucket list. We also went on a couple bike rides along the Hudson. Brian has a nice new road bike. I have a hand-me-down bike from the 80s I got free from my boss called Jazz. Jazz is awful and I think it made its last ride with me this past weekend. Stupid Jazz kept squeaking and the wonky wheels kept holding me back. Needless to say Brian beat me every time on the bike rides.
Grad school started up again last week. This week is a Jewish holiday so I really only had one class. I hate starting school one week only to have no class the next. I want a week off like, right before finals so I can study and write all the papers I've put off.
I'm down to four classes instead of five, like I had last year, this semester. It kinda feels like I'm slacking.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
As of July 8th...
As many of you may know about a week and a half ago Brian proposed. It was a pretty intense moment for me. I felt really overwhelmed and honestly didn't know if I should believe what was happening. I kept asking if he was for real and if he was serious. I forgot to say yes right away and started bawling my eyes out. Needless to say, he got me pretty good. I had no idea it was coming and was shocked to say the least.
After the initial shock, we both got on the phone to call those close to us. It was great hearing everyone's happy reactions. It was also great to post on Facebook and hear from people I haven't heard from in years (freshman year RA?) that they were happy too.
The weekend after we went to Burlington, Vermont. It was a wonderful relaxing weekend which was made all the more relaxing knowing we were engaged. Brian and I didn't really do that much there other than drink some good beer, eat some great food and walk around looking at the beautiful views.
This past weekend I took my first teacher certification test. I had a really dumb moment and forgot my IDs in the car Brian dropped me off in. Thankfully they still let me start the test while he brought them over and everything was ok. The test went pretty well I think but its only the first of three. Those plus all the other things I need to fulfill to receive my teacher certification (to be a school librarian you need one) will probably end up setting me back around $1000. Pretty annoying, like grad school isn't expensive.
I also won tickets again from the same site that I won the DMB tickets from (I'm never this lucky something bad must be coming soon!). Brian and I were able to go see the NYC Ballet at SPAC on Saturday. We were both pleasantly surprised to really enjoy our first ballet. One of the principle dancers we saw was even from my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI.
After the initial shock, we both got on the phone to call those close to us. It was great hearing everyone's happy reactions. It was also great to post on Facebook and hear from people I haven't heard from in years (freshman year RA?) that they were happy too.
The weekend after we went to Burlington, Vermont. It was a wonderful relaxing weekend which was made all the more relaxing knowing we were engaged. Brian and I didn't really do that much there other than drink some good beer, eat some great food and walk around looking at the beautiful views.
This past weekend I took my first teacher certification test. I had a really dumb moment and forgot my IDs in the car Brian dropped me off in. Thankfully they still let me start the test while he brought them over and everything was ok. The test went pretty well I think but its only the first of three. Those plus all the other things I need to fulfill to receive my teacher certification (to be a school librarian you need one) will probably end up setting me back around $1000. Pretty annoying, like grad school isn't expensive.
I also won tickets again from the same site that I won the DMB tickets from (I'm never this lucky something bad must be coming soon!). Brian and I were able to go see the NYC Ballet at SPAC on Saturday. We were both pleasantly surprised to really enjoy our first ballet. One of the principle dancers we saw was even from my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Bucket (of chicken) List
Brian and I have been thinking about all the things we have always wanted to do this summer and then we have been trying to make them happen. I have always wanted to try some Popeye's chicken so we finally got some. It was really good and Brian was pretty surprised to enjoy the experience as much as I did. He actually liked the side of mashed potatoes and gravy more than me.
This past weekend we got to house/dog sit for a family friend of Brian's. Brian and I both like dogs, but I love dogs and I really like springer spaniels. Coincidentally Brian and my families both have springers as our family pets. Brian's dog Molly had puppies a long time ago and the dog we sat for was one of her puppies. The now 11 year-old the dog Jackson was the spitting image of his mom. Just like him mom he likes his front paw held and howls for attention. I took Jackson for walks and tried to get him out from under the bed when that fireworks started to go off (5 hours later he emerged). It was nice hanging out with a dog again all weekend and I found myself a little sad when I had to leave.
The heat wave going on here is no joke. If you know me well you know I hate to sweat so this isn't a good time for me. I had to break down and get an air conditioner since our second floor apartment is above 100 degrees even at night. My un-air conditioned car rides still are pretty brutal though.
With my Spanish finally over thought my schedule would feel a lot more open but the summer weekends are already filling up fast! Hopefully I get to do everything I want to during my last school break (as a student anyway).
This past weekend we got to house/dog sit for a family friend of Brian's. Brian and I both like dogs, but I love dogs and I really like springer spaniels. Coincidentally Brian and my families both have springers as our family pets. Brian's dog Molly had puppies a long time ago and the dog we sat for was one of her puppies. The now 11 year-old the dog Jackson was the spitting image of his mom. Just like him mom he likes his front paw held and howls for attention. I took Jackson for walks and tried to get him out from under the bed when that fireworks started to go off (5 hours later he emerged). It was nice hanging out with a dog again all weekend and I found myself a little sad when I had to leave.
The heat wave going on here is no joke. If you know me well you know I hate to sweat so this isn't a good time for me. I had to break down and get an air conditioner since our second floor apartment is above 100 degrees even at night. My un-air conditioned car rides still are pretty brutal though.
With my Spanish finally over thought my schedule would feel a lot more open but the summer weekends are already filling up fast! Hopefully I get to do everything I want to during my last school break (as a student anyway).
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Why are you screaming?
Brian and I attended two Phish shows this weekend. While my first SPAC Phish show experience last summer left me un-enthused for more (I was body slammed multiple times and stepped on), I was ready to give it a second shot.
After picking Brian up from his corporate jet ride Saturday (true story) we headed off to try and score some tickets since Brian didn't have any for Saturday. As we were pulling in for parking, we were able to buy some from a couple nice guys about our age, for really cheap. As we pulled away we realized that we only gave them half the money we should have. I quickly got out of the car and ran over to them. The guys were so excited I was offered shots of Wild Turkey. Total mistake. I felt gross for a good 20 mins after that. The show was much more enjoyable than I expected. I didn't get body slammed, so that made the night a success. After the intermission a man in front of us stayed sitting as everyone stood up to watch (lawn seats). His head was between his legs so it wasn't until he got up and was dragged away by his girl friend that we realized he had gotten sick and puked right on the ground. Brian spent much of the rest of the evening yelling, "Thrown up! Look out!" at all the people trying to walk around it.
The next day we got there earlier and took a stroll down to the water. As we reached the stream a guy walked over to us and told there was a naked guy being arrested in the water. Sure enough, we could just make out the lower half of his body being held down on the bank further upstream by police. Another dude near us exclaimed, "That must be the same naked guy we saw running in the parking lot!". Well duh, there probably isn't multiple naked guys running around here. The poor crazy naked man had apparently run down to the water and was splashing around happily until the cops came. They came on foot, on horses, on 4-wheelers, and by car all for one naked guy. We were told to clear off, but not before I saw his little legs kicking in the water. The craziness of the night did not stop there. During Phish songs fans are known to throw glow sticks into the air. Hundreds go up at high points in songs which is one of my favorite things about these shows. During one of these glow stick wars someone held up a large cylinder with something lit up at the top like fire. Unlike other New Yorker's I knew immediately what it was. Illegal in New York, but not in Michigan, this guy was ready to shoot off a huge firework straight out of his hand. The thing went off and shot up right over the huge lawn crowd. I was freaking out since that is one of the most dangerous stupid things you can do with fireworks. Luckily it went off correctly and didn't kill this idiot of hurt anyone in the crowd. Obv I need to go to more of these shows just for the weird things that happen.
After picking Brian up from his corporate jet ride Saturday (true story) we headed off to try and score some tickets since Brian didn't have any for Saturday. As we were pulling in for parking, we were able to buy some from a couple nice guys about our age, for really cheap. As we pulled away we realized that we only gave them half the money we should have. I quickly got out of the car and ran over to them. The guys were so excited I was offered shots of Wild Turkey. Total mistake. I felt gross for a good 20 mins after that. The show was much more enjoyable than I expected. I didn't get body slammed, so that made the night a success. After the intermission a man in front of us stayed sitting as everyone stood up to watch (lawn seats). His head was between his legs so it wasn't until he got up and was dragged away by his girl friend that we realized he had gotten sick and puked right on the ground. Brian spent much of the rest of the evening yelling, "Thrown up! Look out!" at all the people trying to walk around it.
The next day we got there earlier and took a stroll down to the water. As we reached the stream a guy walked over to us and told there was a naked guy being arrested in the water. Sure enough, we could just make out the lower half of his body being held down on the bank further upstream by police. Another dude near us exclaimed, "That must be the same naked guy we saw running in the parking lot!". Well duh, there probably isn't multiple naked guys running around here. The poor crazy naked man had apparently run down to the water and was splashing around happily until the cops came. They came on foot, on horses, on 4-wheelers, and by car all for one naked guy. We were told to clear off, but not before I saw his little legs kicking in the water. The craziness of the night did not stop there. During Phish songs fans are known to throw glow sticks into the air. Hundreds go up at high points in songs which is one of my favorite things about these shows. During one of these glow stick wars someone held up a large cylinder with something lit up at the top like fire. Unlike other New Yorker's I knew immediately what it was. Illegal in New York, but not in Michigan, this guy was ready to shoot off a huge firework straight out of his hand. The thing went off and shot up right over the huge lawn crowd. I was freaking out since that is one of the most dangerous stupid things you can do with fireworks. Luckily it went off correctly and didn't kill this idiot of hurt anyone in the crowd. Obv I need to go to more of these shows just for the weird things that happen.
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