Oh So Fun Beginning to Summer!

It seems that my family can't really do anything the easy way. My cousin was supposed to have surgery yesterday on his leg, but then many more complications arose. He had a torn artery in his leg, causing him to bleed more than he should have, and then he ended up with a fat embolism in his pulmonary artery, resulting in fluid in his lungs. He was on a ventilator last night. Apparently, he's doing much better this morning, and they think they'll pull him off the vent this afternoon/tonight, so that's good. It's times like these that I think that taking the job in Iowa wasn't the best idea because I won't be close enough to go to the hospital and see them and offer them and the rest of the family support. However, it's also extremely draining to have to be there dealing with all of it. I am only 6 hours away, so I can be home if I need to be. I guess I have mixed feelings about it. It's hard when you're close to your family like I am. It'll all be fine. I'll probably be either Andrew-sitting or driving a wheat truck in a couple of weeks!

So far, 5 people are coming to my friend's bridal shower this weekend. That should be fun. I hope more people show up and they just forgot to RSVP, otherwise, I'm going to feel really bad. Either way, we're going to Vegas in a couple of weeks, so that's going to be a blast, regardless of what happens this weekend! I still need to go get some more food, but I'm not going to get too much - cake will be plenty right after lunch! I got our car reserved in Vegas for Thursday, so that's one less thing to worry about!

I really need to start organizing stuff so I can get back into my room. I just really have no motivation to do anything of the sort!

Memorial Day!

We went camping this weekend. It was really fun, though I was kind of disappointed because I didn't get to play in the water because it was cloudy and cool all weekend. Fortunately, it didn't rain on us! The family reunion wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - mostly just my gigantic family and older aunts and uncles that I could easily avoid. Some people had a community cookout on Monday in Nashville, KS. That was kind of neat. Of course, I knew about 5 people, but my parents knew more. The one good thing about looking like my mom is that people know who I am, at least know who I belong to...

So last night after we got home we got a phone call. My cousin had been jumping off a ramp with the four wheeler and realized that if he would land, he would probably roll the four wheeler - so, he jumped off. In the process, he broke his tibia and his fibula in his right leg, with the bone sticking out! So, they had to take him into surgery and put pins in his leg... So, I may be baby-sitting my cousin now as well, or I may actually end up working out there this summer if my uncles really need help. That should all be extremely interesting!

I have a bunch of errands to run today and phone calls to make. I'm kind of glad I'm not working at the snowcone stand!

There's a Last Time for Everything

I went to see my teachers from high school today. Fortunately, they had inservice today so they were there, even though school was out. I usually try to go back during breaks and see them, because I've always just liked talking to my teachers - like they're real people! It's interesting though. I used to go back and see a lot of them, at least 5 or 6. Now, I'm down to 2, and one of them is retiring this year. I was glad they were there though, because this is my last chance to stop by and see them, because from now on, I will be teaching when they are! I always think it's interesting to walk down the halls of my high school, and not feel apprehensive that some administrator is going to yell at me because I don't have a pass, and not being afraid to walk down certain hallways. It's also interesting to see the changes and the teachers that are no longer there, and the ones that have been there forever. Maybe it's just the sentimental almost teacher side of me that feels this way...

I went bowling with my best friend last night. I bowled a 122 and a 109 - I broke 100 both times, and that's generally my goal!!! Then we went back to her house and talked. We ended up talking till like 3 in the morning - I had some things I needed to tell someone and it all just kind of spilled out last night. There is something I need to do sooner than later, but I'm a little apprehensive about it. Things happen for a reason, and I just need to trust that God has a plan, because otherwise I'm completely lost.

We're going camping this weekend for Memorial Day. It's a family tradition. I just hope it doesn't rain all weekend. If it rains for the family reunion, I won't really be too upset... those things are boring anyways!

My contract should be coming soon!!!!

At the Farm!

I've been spending the past few days at the farm "watching" my uncle - just to make sure everything is ok while my aunt is at work. On Sunday, I came out with my dad and we went down to the camp ground to mow. I just took a walk around. It's been awhile since I've done that, and I'm still amazed at how beautiful it all is! I am really one of the luckiest people alive - to be able to say I own that land and can go to it whenever I want!

Yesterday my uncle put me to work. We had to mulch the garden and the flower beds. That involved taking bales of hay and spreading them around. It wasn't too bad, but I was kind of tired when all was said and done. Then we went to the shed and looked at the farm equipment. My mom had mentioned that my uncle could teach me how to drive a stick-shift, so we had some preliminary lessons on how to drive the wheat truck. Just going over the clutch and the shifting and all of that. I don't know if we'll actually get around to driving it this week though, since it's cloudy outside now and is supposed to rain the next few days.

I'm excited for this weekend. We always go camping over Memorial Day. I love camping!

I still haven't received my contract, that I know of. I guess I'll have to call the school/principal and figure out what's going on!

Party and Wedding!

Today was the joint graduation party for my little sister and I. I was actually surprised at how many people showed up. It was nice. I will admit though, I kind of got tired of explaining what I was doing and why I was going back to Iowa... Oh well. A lot of family and family friends showed up. It was nice.

One of my friends from Kindergarten got married tonight. She looked gorgeous and I'm glad she's so happy! It's weird to think about, but in another month, I'll be watching my best friend get married!

I'm going out to the farm tomorrow to "uncle sit" so my grandma can go home and rest. Should be entertaining.

Time for Summer... and taking care of everything else!

Graduation was Saturday. Everything went fine. I was the second one to graduate and I didn't trip when I was walking across the stage :) Two sets of aunt, uncles, and cousins came up to watch me walk, but only stayed until I walked with Education and I only saw one set because the other set left before I got back to the hotel. Not that I blame them since they have five kids under 12, but I still feel like they could've stayed around for at least a little bit. Since there were about 600 of us graduating, it was a bit difficult to find ANYBODY after graduation, and I didn't have my phone since robes and dresses don't generally have pockets, so therefore I don't have as many pictures with my friends as I would have liked. I'm a little disappointed, but I do have them with the people I care about and want to...

I don't know what it is, but graduation really just seems kind of anti-climactic for me. Same with high school. Maybe I should be sad, or at least feel different, but I don't. I'm still going to be around the people I really care about for the next few years because I'll still be in Des Moines. I have more friends that now have teaching jobs in Des Moines, so I guess to me, it's really not quite so much of an ending. I guess I see it kind of as a continuation, only with a real job instead of classes, and having to pay my own bills. I'm honestly kind of scared about it all, but I'm also really excited about what the future holds. Maybe that's why I'm not really that upset that I don't have that many pictures from graduation. I hardly have any from my high school graduation...maybe it's a theme.

Anyways, I got a call today from one of the apartment complexes I was looking at, and she told me I was approved and would definitely have an apartment in the fall!!! That makes me happy because I did like the apartment and I did like the people who run the complex, and I don' t have to worry about what I'm going to do about housing. Plus, it's like 2 minutes from the school, so that will be nice, esp. with rising gas prices and the fun winter weather in Iowa.

My friend came over today to work with my mom on songs for her wedding, and she brought the bridesmaid dress over. It actually doesn't look too bad, and the color is actually quite pretty. I think I had trouble really picturing "coral" and what that looked like... I'm excited though. I've also been trying to plan her bridal shower. I left it until after graduation because that seemed to be the best idea. I do have the date, time, place, games, and invitations figured out, so that's good. Now I just have to work on party favors and food!

I really need to start going through stuff and figuring out what I do and don't need when I move back to Iowa. That just really seems like a really daunting task right now.

Almost There!

Well, it's 3 days until graduation, and I have barely made a dent in my packing. I guess all of my books are now put away, but other than that... For some reason I just can't motivate myself to finish packing everything up and clean the apartment. Maybe it's that this is the last time I'm moving out just to move back in somewhere for a year. The next time I move stuff it will be pretty much permanent...at least for awhile. I'm excited about it, but really nervous all at the same time.

I've been apartment hunting. How I hate that! I did find a few I like. I went to visit one today and I really like it. It's close to my school I'm teaching at, and it's more space for cheaper than the one I looked at yesterday. Maybe I should look at more, but I just have no energy or ambition to do such a thing. I like not having too many choices - easier to make a decision that way.

I did go pick up the 7th Grade Language Arts and Reading curriculum today, so I'll have lots of reading and planning to do this summer!

Just one thing I find unfair. I just spent an entire semester student teaching, and the only thing that counts toward my GPA is my seminar class. One lousy hour out of 12 counts for GPA... bye bye Summa Cum Laude :( We did more work than some other people taking 12 hours, and yet only one of our hours really "counts." I think they need to rethink that.

No finals this week, just packing. Normally, I'd be home by now if I didn't have finals, but alas, graduation is Saturday. It's nice to not have finals, but not really so much when everyone else does, because they're all studying and can't go do fun things! At least when I was taking English classes and "didn't have finals," I was still working on things. Oh well, gives me more time to pack I guess!

I'm excited about this summer and next fall. I just hope everything works out the way I think it's going to!

Done!!!

I am officially done with student teaching, and therefore everything required for my undergraduate work at Drake University!!!!! I have a week to pack, apartment hunt, and take care of some other things, and then I graduate next Saturday! It's kind of a scary thought, but also kind of exciting. To know that I successfully made it through 4 years of college with 2 degrees and I have a job when I'm done! It's kind of scary though because then I have to be an adult and pay bills and take care of all of that as well, but I think it will be ok. We'll see!!!

6th Gradisms

In my 6th Grade class we have a “Special Person” each week, where the special person brings pictures and then the class tells them why they are special. I have been Special Person in all three of my classes, and here are what the kids had to say… including misspellings. (I know you probably don’t want to read through all of them, but oh well! ;) I think they're precious!

• Miss Blasi, you are very special because you are a very good teacher, you make learning fun, you have a kind smile, and a sence of humor.
• Miss Blasi you’re a special person because you want to be a teacher to help kids and I think you’ll be a good teacher. Good Luck!
• Miss Blazi you are special because you are a good teacher and a nice person. When you become a teacher I hope I’m in your class.
• Mis. Blasi you are special because you are soft spoken, kind harted, on the husky team, and so many other things.
• Miss Blasi, you is special because you are smart kind, and soft hearted and nice to everybody.
• Miss Blazi, You are special because you are nice, kind, an awesome teacher, and you have a good heart. I have enjoyed you being here. You are a wonderful person.
• Miss. Blasi you are special because you’re fun to have around, nice & smart.
• Miss. Blasi you are special because you are smashing
• Miss. Blasi you are special because you are a nice teacher and you make reading exciting and you are a plane out good teacher good luck at your school that you are teaching at
• Miss. Blasi you are special because you are nice your a good reader and your a nice teacher.
• Miss Blasi you are special because you are cute, funny and you always teach us about poems, and stories.
• Ms Blasi you are special because you are nice and will make a good teacher
• Dear Miss Blasi, You are special because I have never met a student teacher like you and you make learning fun.
• Ms. Blasi you are special because you go to CCDC too!!! (And she drew me a picture!)
• Mrs. Blasie because you went to Drake
• Mrs. Blasi you are special because you read fast.
• Mrs. Blasi, You are special because you got to be with our class.
• Ms. Blazi your special because your an AWESOME STUDENT TEACHER!
• Mrs. Blasy you are spical because you make me want to come to class
• Ms. Blasi your special because your are teacher
• Mrs. Blasy u r special because ur name is Erin.
• Ms. Blasi your special because your brought pictures and your nice
• Ms. Blaise you are special because you have the same name as me – Erin
• Ms. Blasi, You are special because you are really nice & you are so fun.
• Ms. Blasi, Your special because your really nice Your funny & youll be a great teacher I’m going to miss u soooo much Your a great person I’m going 2 miss you soooo much U make learning fun UR A Great teacher P.S. Your Real Pretty 2
• Mrs. Blasi you are special because you are a good student teacher. You dressed up like an old western person and you brought 8 pictures.
• Mrs. Blasi you are special because you have pretty hair, you are a great student teacher, and a bright smile
• Mrs. Blasi, You’re special because you visited our school & your nice & I always have a good time when your in the class room.
• Ms. Blasi you are special because you make reading sound fun
• Mrs. Blasi, your speical because you have lots of reatives (relatives) and you have a bright personality
• You are special because you are going to be a teacher.
• Mrs. Blasi – you are special because you are the oldest student in here and I saw you in a grocery store
• Ms. Blasi you’re special because youre one of the nicest teachers in Meredith and youre of my favorite teachers! Youre special in your own way. And I like your outfit.
• Ms. Blasi you are special because you are a good teacher and you are nice
• Ms. Blasi, you are special, ‘cause you are a nice teacher
• Your special because in homeroom you let me have a pencil.
• Mrs. Blasi, you are special because you are a nice teacher and because you are fun to be with! You Rock
• Ms. Blasi you are special cause you wear earrings
• Ms. Blasi you are special because you are not easy to get away with like other teachers that are in training & you are serious when people goof around & you told me once to stop having an atitude.
• Miss Blasi, your special because your nice, and I have to classes with you.
• Blasi you are speical because you are funny.
• Mrs. Blasi, you are special because you got a job at a school.
• Ms. Blasi, your special because you go to Drake and your nice
• Ms. Blasi you r special cause u helped me learn the parts of speech, & u r nice, & u helped me with my dialogue. And like [another student] said you would make a great teacher
• Mrs. Blazy you are special because you like kids
• Ms. Blasi you’re special because you’re nice
• Mrs. B. You are special cause you are a nice teacher and we appreciate you being here.
• Mrs. Blasi you are speacial because you are nice to us (sometimes) and because you are our student teacher.
• Ms. Blasi, you are special because your age in on [a student’s] folder and you’re a fun teacher and you’re nice.
• Mrs. Blasi you are spicial because you get to teacher or class.
• Mrs. blasi your special because you’re realy nice you have glasses.
• Ms. Blasi you are special because, you are nice. I think you will make a great teacher.