Diversity Day!!

A clip from my favorite episode of The Office thus far...... :D Enjoy!

Tricia is hot...

...too bad she's engaged now! :D



"We Live" by Superchic[k]

Sanctitatis

Vere Sanctus es,
Domine Fons omnis sanctitatis,
Domine

By Future of Forestry

Week 1 of Holidays

Just got home from a house warming party for Bo with some old friends. It was amazing. Just had a blast with some of our conversations and I'm amazed as I look back at how far we've gotten after all of these years. Congrats Bo on your place again and Happy Birthday dude!

I can't believe a week has gone by with no work. I feel like time is flying by. I had a dream last night that it was September and my new students came into my class. It was hectic and I was yelling at the kids and they weren't sure what to make of me because they didn't know my expectations. I can't believe that I'm already thinking about work....I am not when I'm awake...just in my sleep? LOL. Maybe subconciously I am itching to get back but I doubt it...I love it right now!! :) Thank you Jesus for the summer break!

A few more weeks 'til Comic Con....Can't wait!!! Still not sure if I'm going to camp. 50/50 right now but seems like Bo wants to go in 3rd week of August which might be the most convinient time....see what happens. I do want to see the cousins in Vancouver and Regina though. I love travelling. The main times I wish I were rich are when I desire to travel and realize I don't have the finances to cover them. Oh the places we could go.... oh well, for now, I can just dream and picture what may come to pass one day :)

Complete

Sweet, new Kutless and Superchic[k] CDs due out this Tuesday. Here's the first single from the new Kutless CD called "Complete." Hope they're good! :)

Mmhmm....

It's been a few years, but I still love this song....



"The One I'm Waiting For"
By Relient K

The way that girl can break a heart
It’s like a work of art
And this is the worst part
She knows it

And she’s so confident
That she’s what everybody wants
But nobody wants
Her to know that

So fall back on all of your premonitions
And just learn to listen
To those that have more wisdom than you
And just stop
Putting so much stock
In all of this stuff
Live your life for those you love

And I’m still waiting for
You to be the one I’m waiting for

The way that girl can turn a head
Well she is such a threat
But don’t ever forget
She knows it

And she’s got it all
All figured out
And she won’t let you doubt
She knows it

I’m still waiting for
You to be the one I’m waiting for

Something tells me that this is going to make sense
Something tells me it’s going to take patience
Something tells me that this will all work out in the end

This Just in....

According to IGN.com, Guitar Hero is following in the steps of Rock Band!! And what--8 players!?!? Read on for all the info:

Guitar Hero World Tour Made Official
Activision spreads the word on the next installment.
by Ryan Geddes

May 22, 2008 - Activision made the details of the next full Guitar Hero game official in a news release today, confirming the info about the game revealed last week in Game Informer.

Guitar Hero World Tour will feature a set of instruments, including guitar, drums and microphone, and will allow players to compose, record, edit and share their own creations via an in-game studio tool.

"Guitar Hero has set the standard for music-based gaming and with Guitar Hero World Tour and the game's groundbreaking Music Studio, we are once again delivering unprecedented innovation that has the potential to revolutionize consumer generated music, much in the same way that video sharing hubs have driven user generated video," said Dusty Welch, Head of Publishing for RedOctane. "With the introduction of our advanced high-quality new wireless instruments, in-depth customization options and advanced online functionality, the game enables music fans and gamers globally to share in the most social and expressive music experience ever."

The Activision release re-iterates the details revealed last week and adds that the Guitar Hero World Tour will include Battle of the Bands mode which allows eight players to join online and challenge each other band-to-band.

World Tour will also offer downloadable content for the Wii, making it the first Guitar Hero game to do so.

it's here..this is it!!

It hasn't hit me yet that it's the long weekend. I just got out of the shower and it wasn't until a few minutes prior that did I realize that we get Monday off. :D

It also wasn't until that moment that I realized how self absorbed I can be. I look at the prayer requests and friends from around the globe...pretty URGENT ones and then I forget to pray about them? I forget even to pray for those closest to me about really big things which I know that even though they didn't ask, I could definitely pray for. I'm so forgetful. What's with me?

My memory is slowly getting worse. I forgot to remind my kids to study for their spelling test today. The surprise is that they did better corporately than they ever have!! :P

Speaking of which, my students have been getting on my nerves lately. I've become more sarcastic with them and mean. I don't mind being stern but that balance between stern and bully can be a fine line. I still love my kids though. :)

I got nominated by my coworkers to act as a liason between my school and union. I am on the subcommittee of handling grievances. I know me?! What the heck?! It was either that or collective agreement bargaining and I think I got the easy one!! :)

Found out what my raise is next year. I can't wait. Well--that is--if I get rehired. I think I find out before June 30th..go figure...last day of my probationary contract! :P

How does this candy survive?

I'm talking about Mike and Ike. I don't know anyone who buys this candy that often. I've never been out to buy junk food and seen a single person come out with a box of these. I've never known a person to say they have craved these. I can't say I've seen anyone standing in line at a convenience store and added this candy to their purchase as an add on. I'm not saying I don't like Mike and Ike. They're tasty.....but seriously, when's the last time you can say you bought them? :)

That's the Bottom Line

Some facts of life I've learnt as of late:

- they weren't lying--perspective actually does play a big part in how much you enjoy life

- having a sink in your classroom is one of the best blessings God can give

- God does provide caring and wonderful people in life, but we have to place ultimate satisfaction in Him instead of placing all these demands on others

- I can actually enjoy my job

- getting older means more hardships...it really doesn't get any easier

- God is GOOD!! He Never Lets Go of Me!! YES, even I needed the reminders...... :) PTL!!!

Meet me at the Crossroads, Crossroads, Crossroads....

Seems like no matter what I do, things don't get any less complicated. It's one crossroad after another and I find that God keeps calling me back to Him in prayer. I have been told by many people what to do at every fork in the road I've come across. I know I love asking for advice but accepting it is another story. I guess it's good in a way becuase I take into account what others say but ultimately I don't let others dictate what course of action I should take. Does it make things any easier? No. At least my decision won't have to be made for another few weeks. Decisions, decisions. Oh Lord God show me Your will.....

Hmmmm.....

My bro has told me that I think too much about things. I think that's true becuase any opportunity I have to relax, I ponder things and begin to worry. And when I overthink, I start to regret.

I also have the nature of being impulsive. I know this to be true because I have made decisions that make no sense. I follow my gut and then when I get a chance to ponder, I regret the rash decisions too.

So if I am screwed for overthinking and am screwed when I'm impulsive, what do I do? And an even bigger question: what the heck is wrong with me!?



This song really helps when I overthink about overthinking.... :(

LET'S GET IT ON!!!

It's almost here. It's been delay after delay after delay.....but we are almost at the end of the waiting period! :P Super Smash Bros. Brawl comes out this Sunday, March 9th, 2008!!!! The full roster of characters has been released from the already release Japanese version. I'm excited to play Pitt (aka Kid Icarus), Sonic the Hedeghog and yes, Pokemon Trainer (secret shame)!! :P I wonder if I should take some days off this next week!?!? :P :P :P

What else am I excited for? Hmmm...how about Marvel's next crossover event Secret Invasion? That starts in April but everything that has been happening with the comic company has built up to this moment. The Marvel Universe has been madness these past few years. First with Scarlet Witch going nuts and killing her teammates on the Avengers. Then she reconstructed reality in The House of M. Then Civil War takes place pitting hero v.s. hero. This leads to Iron Man becoming the head of SHIELD and Captain America's demise. The theory is that skrulls have secretly infiltrated our planet and have shape shifted into and replaced our lovable heroes. This leads the question, who is a skrull and what of the heroes who have been replaced? And are they the reason why the Marvel Universe has turned in chaos? I guess April's first issue of eight. Another big event...here we go again.....

Spring is Coming

What I really enjoy at this point of the year is the fact that I'm not driving to work in complete darkness anymore. I love that just as I'm about to pull up to school, the Sun is poking its head out and it gives me lots of energy. Do you ever have those tired larthargic moments where you feel miserable and then just step into the sun for a few minutes and everything seems better? Man, that rocks!!! :)

So I'm thinking about where I want to go for some vacation time both this summer and for Easter break. Hmmmm....anyone want to go to San Diego at the end of July for some Comic Con action?!!? :)

Two more episodes of Lost until there is a break until the end of April.
Dang, that last episode was my favorite of this season.

Tonight is the season finale of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronichles. WAY too soon for a season to be over...I've really enjoyed this show thus far.

And as for American Idol, I have two favorites right now I'm cheering for. David Archuleta has an amazing voice for a 16-17 year kid. Best of the show. Brooke White doesn't have the most powerful voice, but she has her own style and has already figured that out so it's awesome watching her perform. Below are two vids. David sings Lennon's "Imagine" and Brooke sings "You're so Vain" by Carly Simon. I like how they're letting the singers play instruments this year. Nice!

A Sense of ....?!?!

Hmmm for some reason, my kids have been very rowdy lately. I don't know, maybe it's because my attitude is a lot more easy going with them now. I've had some struggles with balancing class management in my room. For the most part, I've actually been this firm teacher who has displayed very little personality with the students to maintain order.

The past month or two however, I've totally changed my ways. I'm more easy going with the students and you can tell that they find me more approachable. One kid who's "Mr. Bad Boy" has really had a turn around with me. He doesn't give me the scowl and doesn't refuse to answer when I talk to him now. He actually smiles at me. Don't get me wrong...he's still bad! He's a bit more receptive to me now though.

Another student was joking with me today when I took them out to build snowmen for Gym. She was talking about how her hands were cold and I told her to put her hands in her pockets to warm them up. She then proceed to tell me, "I can do the magic. I will get my gloves from tha classroom." She reached into her pocket and then "instantly" pulled out her gloves and made some "brrooom!!!" sound to show that it was some magic she performed. I thought that was hilarious. She is truly not a behavioural child but is in my class because she is ESL so her broken english was trying to tell me this story and yet I somehow managed to put together what she said.

I think I was told to start firm with them from the start and then work on being their friends towards the last half so I could really be rememembered as a teacher who cared for them LOL. He told me this? I don't know if it works. All I can do is teach myself. Hmmmm....there's a lot of pressure at school to keep classroom order so what is modelled to me by the upper management is what I'm expected to use. Despite all the advice I've been given and despite my upper management, I don't know if I can use those techniques unless they're comfortable to me.

And that snow experience was really fun. My class rolled huge snowballs and I picked them up and stacked them. The first head was wayyyy to small and then the last head we used was as big as the other two parts of the body. The whole thing fell over and we all laughed. Man, I kept thinking that whole time "how I wish I brought my camera".....my kids and I had a blast. I know I complain a lot about teaching but there is always good in the profession. I still have so much to complain about, but at least I can say I've been enjoying myself for the past few months. There are certain moments that we all hold close to us in life that we'll never forget. This was definitely one of them. Amazing!

My coworker told me not to think of the politics and battle them. She told me to focus and do what I got to do. I have to do it for the students or it won't be rewarding. Words of wisdom. I could almost sense God was telling me that truth through her. The words have impacted me and I still hold close to me since she spoke them to me. After all, who'd of thunk I would be enjoying myself? Man, that makes each day go by so much faster....:P

It was the Best of times; it was the Blurst of times?!

Today's been the perfect day and it's been awhile since I've had such bliss. Don't take it for granted; make each moment count. And that reminds me of a song. It's called "Like You'll Never See Me Again" by the ultra talented and lovely Miss Alicia Keys. Enjoy!! :)

Incontinent or Incompetant?

"Dear Baby,

Welcome to Dumpville. Population: You!" :)

Haha...above, is a Simpsons quote I was just thinking about. That just speaks as to how silly I am these days (even more so than usual). Don't know what's gotten over me. I am like that even at work. Smiling more with my kids and being a goof with them. And yet this is the most happy I've been as a teacher...well, ever!

I am excited that I have mastered the cutting board. Well not to say I was an idiot about it before but in the past, I used to cut my papers in all the wrong sizes when all I wanted was two equal parts. Well wait, maybe I was an idiot back then hah :)

I think I'm like that. Always rushing to get things done.....even with art I was like that as a child. And thus, this leads to imperfections. Alas, those days are now history! :P ....well at least with the cutting board..other things, maybe I'm still like that haha!

My coworkers have been complimenting me about how clean my room is lately. Even before interviews, they said this and it wasn't like I did anything differently. They just noticed that I'm clean now and we're already halfway done with the school year? :P

Looking forward to tomorrow--it is our Valentine's party and there is an assembly with MAD Science!! :) After that, it's no teaching for 5 days!! YES!!!!! :) Teachers, hope to see ya'll at Convention on Thursday! :) Payce!! :)

Settling down

Yup, things are winding down again as I just finished with printing report cards. Not as much urgency in work again which is kind of nice. I guess I have all this time to read up on how to update my teaching practices but I am so exhausted from everything. I am getting used to it a bit more....the feeling of being exhausted. Well, at least I'm not as pissed about it haha. Today was a good day but you all know as well as I do that it's such a daily struggle.

And how everything is a battle it seems. I am trying to tell myself not to overplan because that makes me struggle. More in the moment I try to tell myself but even changing mentalities to make things easier is a struggle in itself! :P

What a great episode of Lost it was this week. I want more. Strike be over. Done with. Can't believe that it will only ben 7 more episodes 'til Lost is over again for another season! :(

Other shows I'm diggin' right now: Prison Break, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and The Simpsons. Still watching American Idol and will be watching Survivor when it comes back on...but even these shows are losing their lustre! :P

Been thinking about vacations as of late. Where to go this summer....thinking somewhere in the States or maybe south of the States!! :)

I Now Declare This Day....

...SNOW DAY!!! Whoo-hoo, I got to skip work today because it closed down due to the cold weather. Well, I had prepared for a sub and written a sub plan and everything too so what a waste of effort! :P

Yesterday I went to the Lulu sale at the Big 4 but I came out with nothing. Nadda. Zilch. Also tried the new Calgary Court by T & T and that was pretty good....pretty much the same thing as downtown...just smaller selection. :P

Today I had to get a lot of stuff done with the family but I took the afternoon to play some Donkey Kong Country 3! Woot woot!! It's not as fun as the 2nd one, but I do enjoy it and it brings back good memories of my childhood haha.

Dim Sum was awesome today. Even notice that you never get ALL the dishes you want? We all have our favorites but I've noticed that it's impossible to get every single one of the favorite dishes. Today, we were missing Egg Tarts (becuase we got there too early.... 10:50am!!). Too bad because I love the Egg Tarts at Central Grande. Always nice and hot and they need to be specially ordered!! :P Everything else was there today though. Won missed the Eggplants though. Haha Too bad!!!

Oh how my paycheck disappears. Life how your harsh realities try to choke me of my happiness......sigh....no more over spending!!! :P

Under the Sea

Boy I hate my job today. :) I remember a coworker from MRC College Kids told me how my attitude is. She used her finger and went up and down quite rigidly and said I was like this rollercoaster. Haha...maybe I'm just a boom/bust cycle to those of you who are Economists or in Business! :P In any case, I just take it one day at a time. Today was not a great day, but I survived. :)

I've been eating tons of seaweed as of late. Maybe 5 different ways of eating it in the past weekend. There's the soup and the sushi of course but then there's the packaged stuff that is indiviually wrapped that people eat as a snack. Also, I ate the deep fried kind with all of the salt and MSG. Crystal let me try the tempura chips with seaweed too. And then BJ told me to buy the Korean kind that is roasted and mixed with sesame oil. MMMMMM....I can't stop eating seaweed and I've only started liking it after hating throughout childhood! :P

And thanks again to everyone who has supported me with talk and prayers about my spiritual attack. Last night, was a better night. I kept waking up...but nothing out of the ordainary happened! :)