Long Weekend

It's just been a long weekend, and I feel like it's going to be an even longer week. Saturday I drove home because my uncle is in the hospital. Right outside of Osceola, I got out of my car to get a pop, and I locked my keys in my car! Of course, I had locked my phone in there as well. Thankfully, pay phones don't cost anything to call the State Trooper. So they had to connect me to a locksmith who came out and unlocked my door - bye bye $50 because I'm sure my mom will forget to send it in to insurance to get reimbursed... The rest of my trip was fairly uneventful. When I got home I went to see my uncle. It didn't even look like him. He had all sorts of tubes and bags and everything sticking out of him. My cousin kept reminding me that that was "good" compared to what he had looked like. Kind of a sad deal. He wasn't doing too well the majority of the weekend, but apparently today he was doing better, so that's good.

Sunday, my little cousin had her first communion, so we had to go to lunch for that, and then it was my grandma's 81st birthday, so everyone was up for that. It was kind of fun, and I got to eat real hamburgers!!! I miss being at all of the family events. I drove to Manhattan and stayed with one of my friends for the night. It was really nice to get to see her and talk to her again, since the last time I saw her was July!

This morning I got up and drove to Topeka to visit the school that offered me a job. I sat in on three classes. I liked the teachers I met, and the students are pretty much just normal high school students. I don't know what I had in my head, but the pictures kind of clashed. So, then I called the assistant superintendent that I have been working with, and told her I tentatively accepted the job. (After recent family events, I really feel that I need to be closer to home.) However, she had to call the principal that I had just left, and figure things out. The only thing I've heard back from them is that she still has to talk to them...therefore, I'm still going to my interview at Waukee tomorrow. Technically, as long as I don't have a contract in my hand, I can do whatever I want. I just feel like I need to keep my options open. I just assumed the principal knew she'd offered me a position and that if I accepted it, everything would be taken care of...apparently not.

I went straight to tutoring when I got into town, and then I went grocery shopping. I went to dance tonight. Some days I really like going, and others I just really don't. Tonight was kind of inbetween. I don't dance 7 days a week like some of the girls. I'm lucky to still be able to turn fairly well and at least look like I know what I'm doing! I did have some good turns tonight, it's been awhile since I've had those. I will definitely miss that studio if I do end up in Topeka. I really like that they still push me and correct me, even though I'm not ever going to be a ballerina...

Tomorrow it's back to the 6th graders and Mystery. It will be nice to see them again. Last week they were upset I wasn't going to be there today! Only 3 more weeks till I'm done student teaching, and 4 more till I graduate. It hardly seems like it should be here. This semester has really just flown by.

I really really need to start addressing graduation invitations.

Last Performance :(

Tonight was my last performance with the Drake Dance Team :( We performed at Relay for Life. It went pretty well I think, though when we finished there was a really awkward pause before people started clapping. I was later told it was because they weren't sure if there was more because there were a lot of pauses in the music... Oh well, I felt pretty good about it. I'm kind of sad it's done, but at the same time I'm kind of glad because I get to go to sleep before 11:30 on Mondays and Thursdays now.

On another note, I have booked our flights to Vegas!!!!! I'm really excited about it and I think it's going to be a lot of fun. I'd like to be able to take her to Hoover Dam and maybe the North rim of the Grand Canyon, but I still have to work on the whole renting a car thing since neither one of us is 25. I think that's so stupid. You can get a license at 16, are considered an adult at 18, can drink at 21, but can't rent a car until you're 25. Who came up with that baloney? It just makes things really difficult for those of us who are responsible and want to go on trips... Oh well. That's how it goes I guess. I think I may have found one or two places that won't charge and arm and a leg to rent a car, so that's always a possibility!!!

I'm exhausted. After we danced, I went and walked at Relay for Life for probably an hour and a half or so, but I couldn't do much more because my legs were jello and I've been up since 6. This is the first year I participated in Relay for Life. It's a really good cause.

I should really just go to bed, but since I don't have to really get up to do anything tomorrow, I feel like I can or should do something else - not school related of course. I'm sure I'll find something else to keep me occupied for at least a little longer :)

Halfway!

Yesterday was my last day of being with my 9th graders. It didn't really hit me until 5th hour was leaving and one of the students said, "Bye Miss Blasi, you're my favorite student teacher, I'm going to miss you." Then I about started crying. At lunch I about started crying, and after school as well. But, every teacher I've talked to says they feel the same way at the end of the school year... I guess this is one of my ends. They were really fun, and I actually enjoyed teaching Romeo and Juliet, despite my previous qualms about it.

I just spent the morning teaching ballet to Brownie Girl Scouts. It was a lot of fun. It was also kind of nice to have someone be impressed with my ballet skills, instead of me feeling like everyone is so much better than I am. They wanted me to do a dance for them, so I made one up on the spot, because I wasn't prepared for that!

We went to see 300 last night and we ended up sitting in the very front row because we got there late. I didn't really think it was too gory, though some heads did roll... Maybe I'm just jaded from all of the other war movies I'm forced to watch...

It's finally starting to warm up. Our giant icicle died the other day. Here is a picture of what it looked like before it died. I'm excited about it possibly being 60 on Monday and Tuesday, and even more excited that I get to go south for Spring Break where it might be even warmer!!! My mom told me yesterday I might have to help burn CRP fields when I'm home... should be a blast.

I officially have my interview for Topeka over Spring Break. I'm a little nervous about it but excited all at the same time. I hope it goes well.

We're performing at SE Polk tomorrow for Drake Dance Club. It should be pretty fun.

Snow, Romeo and Juliet, Dance, and Summer

So, we got 5 inches of snow the other day and are expecting another inch or so this weekend. I like the snow, but I’m definitely ready for it to start warming up. I guess it’s supposed to warm up next week, which is way exciting!

Student teaching is going well. I can’t believe I only have 3 more weeks until I’m done with my first placement! I’ll miss the kids, but I’m also really excited about going to work with the 6th graders. I’m also really excited about Spring Break coming up! They’re going to get their final project assignments tomorrow, so we’ll see how much of an explosion of complaints I get tomorrow. I think they’ll be fine. I’d much rather do a project than a final test, but many of them don’t see it that way. They have a lot of choices for their projects, so they have plenty of opportunities to make it their own.

We performed Friday night for the Women’s basketball halftime, and last night we performed at a convention for quarry/mining people. It’s been fun, but I’m glad things are going to be less hectic for a little bit. My body is tired! It’s kind of sad because I only have one or two performances left because I’m graduating in May… L

Two of my friends are getting married this summer, and I’m in both of the weddings. Apparently, pastel is in for bridesmaid dresses. One dress is coral, and now I have to find a sage green dress… Yay. It’s a good thing that I tan fairly easily, otherwise I would be really washed out with these dresses. The things we do for our friends! Whatever makes them happy! We’re going to Vegas for my friend’s bachelorette party! I’m so excited!

I’m thinking about applying for jobs soon. That should be fun. I need recommendation letters first, and then it’s time to apply! Kind of scary…

Dance!

We performed tonight at the Women's Basketball game. It went pretty well, considering we just learned the dance two weeks ago and have been drilling hardcore since. It was kind of a sad thing for me since it's my last performance at a basketball game at Drake :( We are performing on Valentine's Day for something or someone with a small group, which should be fun. That will officially be my last performance unless we dance for Relay for Life in April. Ah, the lasts of college. It's kind of a weird thought.

This week seemed kind of long with the students, but I think we're all starting to get used to each other finally. I get to spend my weekend grading and making up study guides and assignment sheets, and I'm getting evaluate on Wednesday again, but I think it will all be fine. I'm looking forward to sleeping this weekend though - it's been a long week.

It's starting to warm up, which is exciting. And, I love that the sun is up now when I'm driving to school. It definitely starts my day off better. :)

Here Today, Gone...Saturday

Ah! My hand hurts after writing for an hour and a half straight, but I am done with my finals! I turned my literacy narrative and FYS reflection in yesterday, took two finals this morning, and am just waiting for my Critical Theory professor to post the assignment on Blackboard so I can submit that paper and be finished. Tomorrow, I’m going to go observe the classroom that I’m going to be student teaching in next semester. I’m kind of excited about it, but not so excited about the school starting at 7:30 am part. C’est la vie. One more step till I actually have to be an adult and part of the real world…

On another note, Drake Dance Team is in the Times Delphic today! This is the first campus publicity we’ve had. The pictures are pretty good, though the one on the website is different from the one in the paper. Check it out here….
http://www.timesdelphic.com/media/storage/paper1086/news/2006/12/14/News/Dressed.In.Blue.Dance.Team.Wishes.Crowd.Good.Luck-2551754.shtml?norewrite200612141447&sourcedomain=www.timesdelphic.com

I need to start packing, though at the moment that seems like a really daunting task…

Drake Dance Team Baby!!!

We just performed at the Drake Men’s Basketball game! It went really well, although it was kind of hard to get into it since the alumni/people there weren’t really into the whole dance thing… It was still really fun though. Our premiere performance at a Drake basketball game! On top of that, Drake won!!! So, it was an exciting night all around. I can’t wait until we perform again February 9th at the Women’s game… we’re starting to learn our new dance this week and will have to learn it quickly when we get back from break so we can perform, but it should be fun. Back to studying for finals – I get to take mine Thursday.