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.

Flying Spaghetti Monster!

So, I don't know if many of you know about the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was created by a Science teacher in Kansas in response to the controversy over teaching creationism and evolution in schools. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is apparently what created Earth and all things in it. It caused an uproar, but was really just to show the ridiculousness of the fight. Anyways....
Today I saw a Flying Spaghetti Monster decal (like the fish decal for Christians and the Darwin decal) on the back of someone's car!!!! I about died from laughter/surprise. I knew most of Kansas knew about it, but wasn't sure how much the rest of the country knew. I just thought it was interesting.

Relays and Whatnot

So, Relays weekend is over. As much as I like Relays and think they're an awesome thing for Des Moines and the Drake community, I'm always a little happy when they're over. I really don't like having to fight for a parking space in my own parking lot or deal with drunken parties outside my window when I'm trying to go to sleep because I have to get up at 6 AM and go teach...

We did have fun this weekend. Friday night we went down to Court Avenue and listened to the bands and had some drinks with some friends. This was the first time I'd ever actually gone down to Court Avenue for Relays weekend. It was actually pretty fun. Makes me glad I'll be here next year! On Saturday I went to the stadium with a couple of my friends and watched the actual relays events for a few hours. We saw someone break the world record in the Women's 100 Meter Hurdles!!!! That was pretty awesome.

My uncle is now out of the hospital and living at my house in Wichita for a few more weeks. At least he's doing a lot better. This is my last week of student teaching! As much as I love teaching, I'm ready to be done, especially since I won't be doing much more this week because I'm supposed to be giving the class back to my teacher...

We had "Mystery Day" on Friday with the kids, which was basically a long scavenger hunt and they were outside for about 2 hours. It was pretty fun for them, and we had gorgeous weather! It's amazing to me - it was pouring 3 days ago, and now it's 80 degrees and sunny, not a cloud in the sky!

2 weeks until graduation. That's a scary thought.

Job!!!!!

I got a job!!!!! I will be teaching a 7th Grade Language Arts/Reading class at Waukee next year!!! I'm so excited! This was pretty much my ideal job, and I'm so glad that I got it! Granted, I will have to be cold for at least another couple of years, but I think I can deal with it.

Just a quick update! I should have more, but my brain's going too many different directions.

My uncle should be getting out of the hospital this weekend, which is good :)

I got my graduation announcements all done and will be mailing them tomorrow, probably.

2 weeks until graduation.