Excerpt from my new writing journal

This summer I have decided to simply write as much as I can about whatever topic I think about. Here is the first entry.

"Even before I could get this notebook out the thunderstorm that would have been the subject ended. I love the rain, specifically downpours. I guess I have to put some qualifications on that declaration. I love rain when I am inside a room with windows where I can watch the water hit the ground in rhythm with the sound meeting my ears or the droplets drop down the criss-crossed patchwork of the screen surrounding our pour.

"I would have to say that a lot of that love centers on the sound. I feel that sentence leading down a rabbit trail so I'll bring myself back to the point. In most other situations I feel ambivalent about or annoyed at the rain.

"When I'm in my car anything short of a light rainfall causes great annoyance due to my odd windshield wipers. I actually don't like any kind of rain when I'm in the car. Driving in the rain is not a lot of fun for me.

"When I'm outside rain isn't always convenient but I love running through the rain. It makes me want to be a kid again.

"I don't like drizzle, the anticipation of more rain that never comes."

This first entry isn't much or the next great American masterpiece but hopefully a step in the right direction.

Vacation Balanacing Act

As of Friday I completed all assignments for my masters degree program. I find it quite incredible that I have completed a degree like this in only 11 months. (I won't get into my thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of the program. That would be too much like complaining. :D)

As has been a habit of mine in the past I put off things like cleaning my room or putting in new shelves on my bookshelf off until vacation. Now that vacation is here all I want to do is relax and sit around or cross things off my list. Of course, one of the things that I put off doing is updating my to do lists.

Instead of letting the above situation persist as soon as I finish this entry I will move to updating my to do list and putting every thing I can possibly think of on there. lol Of course I will be flexible with that as well. I do not want to become too rigid and have time for nothing else. :D

Bring on the vacation

While I technically have one more assignment/presentation left to give before I officially finish my master's degree I turned in the last "real" assignment this morning. It felt so good yesterday to finish typing that paper and e-mail it off to be printed.

God has been so good. Not only did he help me get through the boringness that was class this morning but he also kept me to one slice of pizza during the "celebration" lunch that the professor sprang for today.

He also helped me through finishing the BIggest Loser strength training DVD. I always feel like I want to skip it. I'll end up being okay. (That's what I tell myself at least.) I know though that I need to push through. Afterwards my body feels fantastic and I am so thankful that God helped me through.

As vacation approaches and I write more journal entries I hope to create more focused entries to hone my writing skills. (After all, that is ostensibly the purpose of this blog. :D)

Fresh start!

The summer is nearly here. Only one little paper aka final reflection stands between me and the end of an 11 month long journey to become a teacher.

I want to look back on this day as the start to a brilliant summer full of writing and reading.

Here's to hoping!

On getting things done

I wish I had had more time yesterday. I know that I needed to go to that conference yesterday and it was a great conference too but I still would rather have that time back. I need to let it go though and focus on getting everything else done.

heh...on to the other things on my to do list

On rolling with the punches

Every experience that I have in the classroom should be a learning experience. My title says student teacher and I really am learning as I go.

I don't have the best teacher... or the kind of teacher I would like but I like any other student learn from any teacher no matter what the proficiency is.

Some punches came my way today (I won't go into detail) and one specifically threw me for a loop. I'm still processing it and trying to figure out how to work in that "constructive criticism" into my daily behavior.

I also had to deal with students ready to be out for the weekend... cooped up and full of energy. I realized later that I made quite a few empty threats and that is probably one of the reasons that the kids (especially 7th period) started to "misbehave" in the way they did was because I wasn't following through. I need to especially next week since that is the only other week where I will have responsibility for all of the periods.

I am definitely praying that God will help me through the remaining seven weeks (six weeks of classes) because it is only with His help that I will be able to do this.

On finally feeling better

This morning I don't think I would have been able to type that heading.

I felt really awesome when I jumped out of bed this morning. I thanked God that I was feeling better and kept moving right along. Molasses started to drift in though and I started to move slower and slower and feel crummier and crummier.

Part of that I attributed to something other than the sickness but I still didn't feel well enough to stay the entire day. I made plans to leave at noon... that way it wouldn't count as an absence.

Then right before I left I started to feel better, probably attributed to the ibuprofen I took before I had my devotions, and I called Mom to ask her if it would be alright to still plan on coming home at noon. She said definitely yes. I'm glad I made that plan.

As the morning wore on I felt progressively worse and made it through the morning as well as my errands (library and latte).

Once I got home though I started to feel better. I've thought that I've been feeling better over the past couple of days but turned out to be wrong. I think that I'm right this time because I'm actually hungry again. I wasn't this morning but now I am. Well... not hungry but not stuffed after a bite.

My mood is better now too. I thank God for that.

Eleven days to go.