I really love that show - for many reasons.
1. I've always liked superheroes. When I was eight, I could whistle the theme song from Superman. With this show no one is quite as good as Superman, but hey, they're human.
2. The villains in this show are so nasty! The mom of the two Petrelli boys is so evil. She scares me! And Syler is just in a category all his own.
3. I love the struggle the characters have with trying not to use their superpowers negatively. I think of all the good things we could do with those kinds of powers, but I don't think about how hard it would be not to use them for things I want.
4. This show drives Ben crazy! That is one of the main reasons I enjoy it so much. Sorry, Ben. Whenever Ben and I go to a movie or watch a TV show, he is always trying to figure out what will happen next. I don't think he does it on purpose, but it drives me crazy. We'll be watching and all of a sudden he'll say, "Oh," like he just figured everything out, which he usually did. But this show is so unpredictable that he can't figure out what is going on.
What shows are you looking forward to this season?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
I Have Issues
I think most of you already know that, but for those of you who don't know how obsessed I am with getting everything right (I hate to use the word perfectionist, but sometimes that's the best word for it) I'll tell you. I got 81 out of 100 on my Nutrition Exam and I'm trying (without much success) not to freak out and beat myself up about it. And I thought I got an A! I don't even want to think about what my History Exam score will be today! Help!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Decisions, decisions, decisions
You know how most people change their major a few times over the course of their college career? Well, I decided to change my major three times, all in the first month. Saves time, doesn't it?
I've always known that whatever I do, I need to be on the same schedule as my kids. I'm not planning on working once I graduate, (college is like my insurance policy), but if anything did ever happen to Ben I needed to support my kids and not be busy during the summers.
I first decided I wanted to major in Math Education. I thought I really wanted to show and help others who thought they weren't good at math, that they can be good at math. What I think I really wanted was to prove to myself I could do it - and I can. But I really wasn't sure about dealing with teenagers in secondary school. When I graduate I'll have teenagers of my own to deal with - I really didn't want to worry about anyone else's teenagers. I hope that's not too selfish.
Then I thought, well, maybe I could do Elementary Education with a K-8 Area of Specialization in Mathematics. That sounded good, and the class load wouldn't be as strenuous as majoring in Math. There would still be a lot of work, but busy work which is something I don't mind. But as I got thinking about it I realized I really have never wanted to teach. It's not something I'm opposed to doing, but unlike Ben who thrives on teaching, it would be a job for me - not more.
While I was deliberating over what to do, finally realizing that I didn't want to teach, I realized that there was something I am good at. Something I've always enjoyed, too. English. I definitely shied away from it because I didn't want to do a BA (all those foreign language courses) and all those papers to write! But majoring in English kept coming back to me.
So one night Ben and I talked about it. He made a good point that I need to make my degree as easy as I can. All those education classes were not doing that. He's been so supportive of what I want, I'm so incredibly lucky. Anyway, I mapped out my schedule for the next four years. I am such a mapper of schedules. I got it all planned out, and realized what a light work load it would be. Even with a minor, I have to pick up elective credits to get to full time.
The funny thing is, the day after I organized my schedule some classmates of mine were talking and one of them asked the other if she was going to the English Majors' meeting that afternoon. Me. 2X4. Bam. I made arrangements to go to the meeting and it was great. The faculty was all there and so was the Academic Advisor. Funny thing, she had change of major forms with her, and if we filled them out there she would hand them in for us. Again, me, 2X4, Bam!
I guess it's better that I did all this changing before I got into classes. Like I said, saves time, right?
This next part will make a certain French-speaking friend happy. Since I'm required to take 16 credits of foreign language, and because French was the most recent foreign language I've taken, and because I think French will be a better foreign language for me if I'm majoring in English (there's not a lot of Spanish and German writing studied at SUU) I will be enrolling in French 1010 next semester.
You realize, Julie, you've just signed yourself for tutoring, right? You started this whole business and now you really can't move away until I'm done with French. And even then you have to stay around. By the way, what the heck does Mes Bijoux mean? I've been meaning to ask that since I first started reading your blog.
You're probably asking yourself how majoring in English might ever support my family. Well, even though that is an important point in my mind, it's not the most important point. I need to love what I'm doing and feel comfortable in it. English enables me to do that. Who knows? Someday I might write a book about my experiences as a thirty-something college student with three kids, two cats, and a husband.
I've always known that whatever I do, I need to be on the same schedule as my kids. I'm not planning on working once I graduate, (college is like my insurance policy), but if anything did ever happen to Ben I needed to support my kids and not be busy during the summers.
I first decided I wanted to major in Math Education. I thought I really wanted to show and help others who thought they weren't good at math, that they can be good at math. What I think I really wanted was to prove to myself I could do it - and I can. But I really wasn't sure about dealing with teenagers in secondary school. When I graduate I'll have teenagers of my own to deal with - I really didn't want to worry about anyone else's teenagers. I hope that's not too selfish.
Then I thought, well, maybe I could do Elementary Education with a K-8 Area of Specialization in Mathematics. That sounded good, and the class load wouldn't be as strenuous as majoring in Math. There would still be a lot of work, but busy work which is something I don't mind. But as I got thinking about it I realized I really have never wanted to teach. It's not something I'm opposed to doing, but unlike Ben who thrives on teaching, it would be a job for me - not more.
While I was deliberating over what to do, finally realizing that I didn't want to teach, I realized that there was something I am good at. Something I've always enjoyed, too. English. I definitely shied away from it because I didn't want to do a BA (all those foreign language courses) and all those papers to write! But majoring in English kept coming back to me.
So one night Ben and I talked about it. He made a good point that I need to make my degree as easy as I can. All those education classes were not doing that. He's been so supportive of what I want, I'm so incredibly lucky. Anyway, I mapped out my schedule for the next four years. I am such a mapper of schedules. I got it all planned out, and realized what a light work load it would be. Even with a minor, I have to pick up elective credits to get to full time.
The funny thing is, the day after I organized my schedule some classmates of mine were talking and one of them asked the other if she was going to the English Majors' meeting that afternoon. Me. 2X4. Bam. I made arrangements to go to the meeting and it was great. The faculty was all there and so was the Academic Advisor. Funny thing, she had change of major forms with her, and if we filled them out there she would hand them in for us. Again, me, 2X4, Bam!
I guess it's better that I did all this changing before I got into classes. Like I said, saves time, right?
This next part will make a certain French-speaking friend happy. Since I'm required to take 16 credits of foreign language, and because French was the most recent foreign language I've taken, and because I think French will be a better foreign language for me if I'm majoring in English (there's not a lot of Spanish and German writing studied at SUU) I will be enrolling in French 1010 next semester.
You realize, Julie, you've just signed yourself for tutoring, right? You started this whole business and now you really can't move away until I'm done with French. And even then you have to stay around. By the way, what the heck does Mes Bijoux mean? I've been meaning to ask that since I first started reading your blog.
You're probably asking yourself how majoring in English might ever support my family. Well, even though that is an important point in my mind, it's not the most important point. I need to love what I'm doing and feel comfortable in it. English enables me to do that. Who knows? Someday I might write a book about my experiences as a thirty-something college student with three kids, two cats, and a husband.
Friday, September 12, 2008
My First Tag
20 Years Ago...
1. I was 10.
2. My fifth grade teacher was Mr. Greenhalgh, who made spelling fun.
3. I was a tomboy.
10 Years Ago...
1. I had been married for a little over two years to my high school sweetheart.
2. I had a beautiful one-year-old daughter, who was utterly and completely bald.
3. My husband, daughter, and I moved to Vancouver, WA.
5 Years Ago...
1. My middle child was one year old.
2. I was serving as the Enrichment Leader in my ward. (Too many decisions)
3. I was living in Sunset Ridge with a bunch of other people who had a lot of things in common with me. It was great.
3 Years Ago...
1. Ben got a job in Panguitch teaching 7-12 grade sciences.
2. Our family moved to Panguitch.
3. I had Riley. (These three things happened within two weeks. Oy!)
1 Year ago..
1. I Moved home to Cedar City. Hallelujah!
2. Ben stayed in Panguitch during the week. Stinky. (Not Ben, the situation)
3. I felt like a single parent.
So far This year...
1. We moved for the 11th time since we've been married, and Ben got a job here in Cedar.
2. We bought our first home.
3. I went back to SUU to get a Bachelor's Degree.
Yesterday I...
1. Got a haircut. It's a bit too short.
2. Had a good time talking with my daughter, Melanie, about her day and her life.
3. Went to bed at 9:30 with a sore throat.
Today I...
1. Did well on my math review. I have a test on Monday.
2. Made Riley giggle by carrying him upside potato-sack style.
3. Felt like sometimes I spend too much time in my car.
In the Next Year...
1. Make it through my first year in college with at least a 3.8. I'd love another 4.0, though.
2. I want to take a small vacation with Ben and the kids. Nowhere far, maybe just to Salt Lake to visit my brother and the zoo. Although my brother should probably be in the zoo.
3. Let my hair grow out...again.
This was the first time I've been tagged. I don't know if people will want to participate, but I tag Melissa, Lori Froyd Clark (I had to put the whole name because I started typing Froyd first), and Julie Beth. Thanks for reading!
1. I was 10.
2. My fifth grade teacher was Mr. Greenhalgh, who made spelling fun.
3. I was a tomboy.
10 Years Ago...
1. I had been married for a little over two years to my high school sweetheart.
2. I had a beautiful one-year-old daughter, who was utterly and completely bald.
3. My husband, daughter, and I moved to Vancouver, WA.
5 Years Ago...
1. My middle child was one year old.
2. I was serving as the Enrichment Leader in my ward. (Too many decisions)
3. I was living in Sunset Ridge with a bunch of other people who had a lot of things in common with me. It was great.
3 Years Ago...
1. Ben got a job in Panguitch teaching 7-12 grade sciences.
2. Our family moved to Panguitch.
3. I had Riley. (These three things happened within two weeks. Oy!)
1 Year ago..
1. I Moved home to Cedar City. Hallelujah!
2. Ben stayed in Panguitch during the week. Stinky. (Not Ben, the situation)
3. I felt like a single parent.
So far This year...
1. We moved for the 11th time since we've been married, and Ben got a job here in Cedar.
2. We bought our first home.
3. I went back to SUU to get a Bachelor's Degree.
Yesterday I...
1. Got a haircut. It's a bit too short.
2. Had a good time talking with my daughter, Melanie, about her day and her life.
3. Went to bed at 9:30 with a sore throat.
Today I...
1. Did well on my math review. I have a test on Monday.
2. Made Riley giggle by carrying him upside potato-sack style.
3. Felt like sometimes I spend too much time in my car.
In the Next Year...
1. Make it through my first year in college with at least a 3.8. I'd love another 4.0, though.
2. I want to take a small vacation with Ben and the kids. Nowhere far, maybe just to Salt Lake to visit my brother and the zoo. Although my brother should probably be in the zoo.
3. Let my hair grow out...again.
This was the first time I've been tagged. I don't know if people will want to participate, but I tag Melissa, Lori Froyd Clark (I had to put the whole name because I started typing Froyd first), and Julie Beth. Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Young and Annoying
Do you remember that I posted about there being 1400 new freshmen attending SUU this fall? Well, there are. The crazy young things are everywhere.
A friend of mine wanted me to do a post telling about all the homework I have so she wouldn't feel so envious of me going to school. Sorry, Julie, no can do this semester - at least this far. My classes are the best thing. There are some behaviors from others that might eventually drive me to be institutionalized. Here they are, in no particular order:
1) I try to be polite and hold the door open for either a) the person behind me or b) the people exiting the place I am entering. It never fails - I get stuck holding the door for a ton of people, plenty of whom are guys who should know that when a girl is standing there holding the door the polite thing to do would be to take the door from her so that she can move on. I don't know, maybe I look really masculine to everybody.
2) The person in class who always needs to answer, even when the professor isn't really asking a question. There is a guy in my math class who has this tendency. My professor will be plugging along and as he is explaining the work, the guy (who, go figure, usually sits behind me) has to say the same things my professor is saying. Um, hello? I'm not paying you to teach me, so please hush up.
3) Texting. It is the bane of my existence among the crazy young people. It's like defensive driving for pedestrians. Everyone is busy texting, no one is watching where they are headed, and those of us who can handle walking 10 minutes between classes without using a cell phone are left to swerve around those who can't.
4) Some kids should have to take high school again just so they can take the time to mature. I say kids because I mean it - because they act like it. We have this Seminar Session of our University 1000 class. It's about social justice and it's a very thought-provoking class. I'm enjoying it, but since it's a class for freshmen, there are several kids in there who could take a year (or several) to mature a bit. There is one guy in there who gets really excited talking and asking questions about social justice. It really lights his fire, and I enjoy listening to the questions he poses. There are still kids in there snickering at him. Are you serious? Could you please take time out of your life to GROW UP?!
I'll take all the annoying things with the good things - it's worth it. But I seriously wonder where society is headed if I'm going to school with the future leaders of America and they can't even hold a door open for someone, say thank you, or stop laughing at other people.
A friend of mine wanted me to do a post telling about all the homework I have so she wouldn't feel so envious of me going to school. Sorry, Julie, no can do this semester - at least this far. My classes are the best thing. There are some behaviors from others that might eventually drive me to be institutionalized. Here they are, in no particular order:
1) I try to be polite and hold the door open for either a) the person behind me or b) the people exiting the place I am entering. It never fails - I get stuck holding the door for a ton of people, plenty of whom are guys who should know that when a girl is standing there holding the door the polite thing to do would be to take the door from her so that she can move on. I don't know, maybe I look really masculine to everybody.
2) The person in class who always needs to answer, even when the professor isn't really asking a question. There is a guy in my math class who has this tendency. My professor will be plugging along and as he is explaining the work, the guy (who, go figure, usually sits behind me) has to say the same things my professor is saying. Um, hello? I'm not paying you to teach me, so please hush up.
3) Texting. It is the bane of my existence among the crazy young people. It's like defensive driving for pedestrians. Everyone is busy texting, no one is watching where they are headed, and those of us who can handle walking 10 minutes between classes without using a cell phone are left to swerve around those who can't.
4) Some kids should have to take high school again just so they can take the time to mature. I say kids because I mean it - because they act like it. We have this Seminar Session of our University 1000 class. It's about social justice and it's a very thought-provoking class. I'm enjoying it, but since it's a class for freshmen, there are several kids in there who could take a year (or several) to mature a bit. There is one guy in there who gets really excited talking and asking questions about social justice. It really lights his fire, and I enjoy listening to the questions he poses. There are still kids in there snickering at him. Are you serious? Could you please take time out of your life to GROW UP?!
I'll take all the annoying things with the good things - it's worth it. But I seriously wonder where society is headed if I'm going to school with the future leaders of America and they can't even hold a door open for someone, say thank you, or stop laughing at other people.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Professor Profiles
I'm quite pleased with my professors and teachers thus far - with the exception of one.
My Nutrition teacher is great. She is an adjunct professor and is filling in for the professor who is out getting her clinical dietitian's license or something like that. She is patient, not easily disturbed by freshmen behavior, and she is very knowledgeable and seems to genuinely enjoy her profession. That makes such a huge difference.
My History professor is great! He is from San Antonio, TX and has been teaching at SUU for about three years. He sounds like my brother did when he came home from his mission in Texas. He also really loves history. You can see it in his body language and hear it in his voice as he lectures . He's trying to make his class as easy on us as possible. He only has three exams, all scan tron, no essays. The final is the same and it is not cumulative. How nice, huh?
My Math professor is also wonderful. He has his Masters in Math Ed, and he is really good at teaching math, and showing different ways of doing problems. He is very patient with all the questions asked, even if they seem like they should know it already. He doesn't require us to turn in homework every day, we just have problem sets every week or so. Kind of like the Echte McCoys in German with Herr Corry.
My UNIV 1000 class has two teachers. One is great. She facilitates the small session where we come prepared each week to talk with our classmates about an assigned topic. That class is fine and it's fun getting to know people. I like that more than I thought.
The other UNIV 100 teacher.....that, my friends, is a post for another day.
My Nutrition teacher is great. She is an adjunct professor and is filling in for the professor who is out getting her clinical dietitian's license or something like that. She is patient, not easily disturbed by freshmen behavior, and she is very knowledgeable and seems to genuinely enjoy her profession. That makes such a huge difference.
My History professor is great! He is from San Antonio, TX and has been teaching at SUU for about three years. He sounds like my brother did when he came home from his mission in Texas. He also really loves history. You can see it in his body language and hear it in his voice as he lectures . He's trying to make his class as easy on us as possible. He only has three exams, all scan tron, no essays. The final is the same and it is not cumulative. How nice, huh?
My Math professor is also wonderful. He has his Masters in Math Ed, and he is really good at teaching math, and showing different ways of doing problems. He is very patient with all the questions asked, even if they seem like they should know it already. He doesn't require us to turn in homework every day, we just have problem sets every week or so. Kind of like the Echte McCoys in German with Herr Corry.
My UNIV 1000 class has two teachers. One is great. She facilitates the small session where we come prepared each week to talk with our classmates about an assigned topic. That class is fine and it's fun getting to know people. I like that more than I thought.
The other UNIV 100 teacher.....that, my friends, is a post for another day.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
My First Day and Carter's First Day
I'm afraid if I blog about everything about my first day it truly will be a novel, so I'll try to keep it short and sweet.
I love school.
I feel old there.
There were 1400 incoming freshmen this year.
That equals 1400 perky 18-year-old people all over.
I'm more confident so I feel more comfortable striking up a conversation with the person sitting next to me.
I feel like a nerd because I'm enjoying it way too much.
I've met at least two people in every class except for math.
Their names are Stephanie, Toni, Amy, Nicole, Megan, Samantha, Paige, Jo, Amy, Natalie, Heather, and Carly.
Toni is the only male I've officially met.
I'm thankful I'm good with names.
My professors and teachers seem very nice.
I'm taking a Nutrition class, History 1700, Math 1010, and UNIV 1000 and LM 1010.
The UNIV 1000 isn't as dumb as I thought it would be.
I'm tired.
My backpack is heavy.
I'm getting up at 5:30 a.m.
I'm fine with that.
I get a lot accomplished during the day.
I need to go to bed.
OK, Carter's first day of Kindergarten was today! I was a space case mom and forgot to snap a photo. I swore I was not going to be one of those parents who takes a million pictures of their first kid and by the time they get to their last there are none. I have one photo of myself at six months and nothing else until 1st grade.
Carter was a little nervous to go, but mostly excited. The funny thing was Melanie was more nervous than both of us. She kept saying, "Mom, I'm nervous for Carter." You could just see it in her body language how she was mother henning him. It was cute and funny.
He said the bus ride was the best, once he got over being nervous. They have a big dinosaur slide at recess, and he said he was the best behaved student in class. Uh-huh. To fib or not to fib?
This week has been so busy for our family. Ben started his new job yesterday, too. He loves teaching but finds it difficult when he is:
a) teaching P.E. with no indoor phys. ed. facilities and only basketball hoops outside
b) has no student edition of the textbooks, only teacher editions where all the answers are
c) has to go to a different building across town to make copies
d) doesn't have a computer yet
These are just kinks that will eventually be worked out. I'm just glad he truly loves teaching or he would be crazy. Or crazier.
Riley's funnies for the week are as follows: When Ben and I told him no about something this morning he said, "That's not fair, big people!" When he found a coin on Grandma Jeanne's driveway he picked it up and said, "It's my lucky day."
I love school.
I feel old there.
There were 1400 incoming freshmen this year.
That equals 1400 perky 18-year-old people all over.
I'm more confident so I feel more comfortable striking up a conversation with the person sitting next to me.
I feel like a nerd because I'm enjoying it way too much.
I've met at least two people in every class except for math.
Their names are Stephanie, Toni, Amy, Nicole, Megan, Samantha, Paige, Jo, Amy, Natalie, Heather, and Carly.
Toni is the only male I've officially met.
I'm thankful I'm good with names.
My professors and teachers seem very nice.
I'm taking a Nutrition class, History 1700, Math 1010, and UNIV 1000 and LM 1010.
The UNIV 1000 isn't as dumb as I thought it would be.
I'm tired.
My backpack is heavy.
I'm getting up at 5:30 a.m.
I'm fine with that.
I get a lot accomplished during the day.
I need to go to bed.
OK, Carter's first day of Kindergarten was today! I was a space case mom and forgot to snap a photo. I swore I was not going to be one of those parents who takes a million pictures of their first kid and by the time they get to their last there are none. I have one photo of myself at six months and nothing else until 1st grade.
Carter was a little nervous to go, but mostly excited. The funny thing was Melanie was more nervous than both of us. She kept saying, "Mom, I'm nervous for Carter." You could just see it in her body language how she was mother henning him. It was cute and funny.
He said the bus ride was the best, once he got over being nervous. They have a big dinosaur slide at recess, and he said he was the best behaved student in class. Uh-huh. To fib or not to fib?
This week has been so busy for our family. Ben started his new job yesterday, too. He loves teaching but finds it difficult when he is:
a) teaching P.E. with no indoor phys. ed. facilities and only basketball hoops outside
b) has no student edition of the textbooks, only teacher editions where all the answers are
c) has to go to a different building across town to make copies
d) doesn't have a computer yet
These are just kinks that will eventually be worked out. I'm just glad he truly loves teaching or he would be crazy. Or crazier.
Riley's funnies for the week are as follows: When Ben and I told him no about something this morning he said, "That's not fair, big people!" When he found a coin on Grandma Jeanne's driveway he picked it up and said, "It's my lucky day."
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