Wired

I'm not sure how I stumbled on this article (see below), but as I was reading it, I came to this statement:

“Facebook is amazing because it feels like you’re doing something and you’re not doing anything. It’s the absence of doing something, but you feel gratified anyway.”

As I read the article (and that sentence specifically), I felt a sense of concern. A big one. 27,000 texts a month. Really? Who does that. 6 hours of video games? What a waste. Not a big deal? Um, I don't think so,


It also made me think of Elder Bednar's talk "Things as They Really Are". Sometimes I wish I didn't ever have to use a computer. Never have to check email. Never have to rely on FB to tell me what time the activity I'm going to is at. Never have the temptation of the internet to distract me from really doing something. Never have to do anything with it. Don't get me wrong-Technology is awesome. And a great blessing. AND you really can do so much and be very productive with it's help. But I just wish my life were so simple I didn't have to ever use it. Especially the internet. I've wasted more time/procrasted more on the internet doing absolutely nothing than I could probably even imagine. I'm not proud of it. How much more sleep I could have got, more books I could have read, etc. Even this blog is a somewhat sore spot in my life.


But, it's almost like you can't function in this society without all this stuff. Thoughts?


Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/technology/21brain.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a2&pagewanted=all

Elder Bednar:
http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,538-1-4830-1,00.html

The Last 3 Months

So, I looked at my blog and realized that the last time I said anything (or rather typed anything) was in August. That was a long time ago.

So, what have I been doing?

1) Teaching.
It's going well - better than last semester. But, at the same time, it always takes me a while to adjust to what I'm doing (it seems like in EVERYTHING...) - even in college I always felt better about life in general in my spring semester. So, I'm anticipating next semester to be even better.  The beginning of the year is always stressful and keeps me busy, but it's settling down and now I'm starting to be able to be social and not feel bad choosing that over staying home and working.

I like most of my schools. I really like my students - the majority of them are such fun, nice kids. The rest I just have to be a little more patient with.

Oh yeah, and then Saturdays are spent teaching lessons at gma and pas. So, my life almost revolves around teaching. sigh.... I try not to think about it too much. It gets me a little bummed about the non-excitement my life may seem to contain.


2) Personal Trainer
Yes, you read that right. And I love it. Two times a week, since the middle of September, at the gym in front of my complex. It feels so good to exercise and be strong(er) and use my muscles. Hooray.


3) Performed in a Musical at the Mesa Arts Center - October
And got paid for it. "The Last Five Years" - the music is challenging, but I really liked it - especially that I had a reason to practice and something to practice.


4) Institute / FHE / Attempting to be social
I'm getting better at it. I like being social, and especially since I'm either by myself or surrounded by 11-year-olds, it's nice to be around people closer to my age.


5) Mae Concert
One of my favorite bands (VERY near the top of my list) is currently on a "goodbye tour". So, of course I went to their concert in Mesa on Tuesday. It was excellent. I only wish my sister (who came with me) knew more of the words. I was singing along the whole time (minus 1 or 2 songs), and I think it would have been a little more fun (for her and me) to have someone else to sing along with.


6) I'm excited for the upcoming breaks from School/Work.
Which prompts me - I sometimes struggle with knowing whether to refer to my employment, when talking with others, as "School" or "Work". Because the fact that I work at a school (well, 4 of them) gives a lot of context to my place of work. Thoughts?


So, I think that is pretty much it. Now if / when you see / talk to me next, you know what you can ask me about. Or, I guess you could choose to be silent and not talk to me because you read my blog and now know what's been going on in my world. Hopefully you choose the first option :-)

Caio!

Results and Whatnots

Just so you know, the bread turned out VERY yummy. AND, I cut it just fine at my apartment without a bread knife. I gave one loaf to my family and the other to gma and pa (who were kind enough to share). I cut some slices, took them with me over to my friends' home with who (whom?) I was riding to Utah, and we made sandwiches for our lunches. Very good idea.

School starts soon. Do I have everything ready? No. Am I a little like "JESSICA!!!!!! what were you doing this ENTIRE summer???" Yes, a little bit. But, at the same time, it was a good summer. I am so glad that I got to relax and do what I did. And knowing me, I'll still get everything done. Somehow it always works out.

Tip of the day: Don't be like me and end your sentences with prepositions.

Do be like me and go make something good to smell. My just-out-of-the-oven zucchini bread smells de - lic - ous. *

*Note- you can do whatever you like. I don't mean to be commanding - just encouraging - and maybe jealousy-inducing. And yes, I do other things with my life than cook/bake. I promise.

Baking Adventures

Look at this deliciousness:

  

I’ve NEVER made homemade cinnamon rolls before. That is, before Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Mmmm, they were good.

So today, while packing and getting ready for my Utah trip, I decided to make some bread. Why? Well, to use up some of my milk of course! (If that is a silly reason, I’m sorry- but it’s true) And, to make bread. And, because apparently I was feeling like all that I already need to do today wasn’t enough. No worries, I think I’ll get it all done in time. I hope so…

The bread got done a lot faster than the recipe stated to let it bake, (but the top sounded hollow when I tapped it- - - ) so I took it out. Now I’m a little worried that it isn’t done all the way :-(

And, the worst part is I don’t have a bread knife!!! So, I can’t tell you if its good or not until I run to the store.

Pray for my bread. (Please oh please oh PLEASE be yummy)

To be continued, sometime.

Tuesday’s Adventure: Breakfast and Baby Gifts

Hello again! Back so soon? I know.

Well, this morning, in efforts to rid my fridge of sliced strawberries (that I cut up for an ice cream party I ended up not going to) and to use up a perfectly ripe bananas on my counter, I decided to make… well, what do you think:

 

CREPES!!!!

(The last time I made crepes was in Jr. High - That was a long time ago.)

Final product:

Mmm, they were yummy. Strawberries, bananas, and a little vanilla yogurt in the middle worked out just fine.

I apologize for the lack-luster picture. I am by no means a food blogger, nor do I pretend to be one, nor do I play one on television. If you want to make crepes and take better pictures, go right ahead – we can still be friends.

Oh, and I have a friend that is having a baby, and therefore a baby shower, soon. I really want to make something, so I’ve spent the better part of my afternoon on the internet looking up handmade (specifically crocheted) baby gift ideas. I found some good ones, so I’m excited to get started.

Two thoughts for you: 1) The internet is HUGE! gigantic, enormous, full of information (some relevant and good, some not so much). Wow. (2) Can you imagine if someone had to edit the internet? Like, “Hmm, this bear is pretty ugly, I think we should just, you know, DELETE it, (push delete button) out of existence.” That would have saved me a lot of time, and unfortunate sightings of really ugly crocheted bears.

Well, thanks for stopping by!

Monday’s Adventure: Dyeing Clothes

So, a couple of weeks ago I pulled some whites out of the washer only to find that my white tank-top-undershirts and another BRAND new white shirt were all brown and dingy (it must have been the first wash for a new, colored clothing item). I tried washing them again- no luck with getting out the stains. I tried to bleach them in the washing machine- Nothing. I tried bleaching them in the sink- Nothing. I purchased some “dye-out”, thought it would work (there was some serious foaming/bubbling action in the washing machine that I was sure would get the job done), pulled them out – Nothing. I realized my only option left was to dye them.

Today I went and got the dye (teal and fuchsia) and I was excited though the last time I dyed something was probably the tie-dye shirts we did at girls camp my first year, so I was by no means a pro earlier this afternoon. Well, now I might qualify as a dyeing beginner 2.0. By no means an expert, even and intermediate, but it worked. And, my apartment (and clothing) made it through without any damage done, thank goodness. Except for the 2 tiny bleach spots I got on the shirt I was wearing as I was cleaning up some dye that got on the counter. Oh well; I guess you have to be grateful it is just two tiny spots on an old shirt and not that my carpet is now purple.

Oh, and what made it even more enjoyable was that my friend Alyson  came over to dye some clothes with me! She dyed a dress and a tank top, both of which turned out really good. However, she took her stuff before I took the final picture, so you don’t get to see them (sad, I know). We made a really yummy salad for lunch then spent the rest of the afternoon workin’ on our clothes. Part of me wished that I had more stuff to dye, but at the same time, it took long enough just doing what we did. Needless to say, it was fun, but I don’t think I’ll be doing it again any time soon.

Here’s some pictures:

Stirring the clothes on the floor in my kitchen.

Rinsing them in the sink.

Like my “plastic gloves”? (Aka, grocery bags)

Alyson wanted to “easter egg” some socks. So, she did.

My final products: Hopefully the color lasts a long time.

Well, have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipient of Kindness

"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever."

-Margaret Cho
 
There are MANY people that have positively affected my life by the small little things they have said or done: family, friends, leaders, strangers, acquaintances. It is from this latter category of the generosity and kindness of an acquaintance being potentially life-changing that I wish to share a story with you today.
 
In February I went to a national string teacher conference in California. While I was there I met many people from across the country and caught up with previous teachers of my own. On one occasion, I ran into a previous teacher who was talking to another woman (we'll call her "M") and began talking to the both of them. I found out that this other woman was also from the Valley, was soon to be retiring from teaching, and was looking for other private teachers around her area to pass students along to. She asked for my information, which I gave to her, and that was it. I went one way, they went another. I didn't think much of it- if I got a few more students, awesome. If not, oh well.
 
Well, starting in March I began receiving emails from parents inquiring about me giving lessons to their children. These parents had been given my information by this same teacher I met in California. Already, 3 families have expressed interest. So, just by this fact, I was indebted to M, this woman that I had talked to for five minutes for actually passing along my information.
 
Then, in the middle of April, M emailed me. She hoped that I remembered her, and briefly reminded me about her retiring, etc. Then she told me that she was moving to a smaller residence and (due to a lack of storage) had a bunch of teaching stuff that she would like to GIVE to me if I was interested.
 
I felt an overwhelming rush of gratitude as I read this.
 
I replied to her email and we were able to set up a time for me to come over to her house this last Saturday. There she showed me all of these amazing materials- books, music, posters, games, awards, worksheets, flashcards, brightly colored batons- and it was all for me. Well, some of it she is looking to sell, but the other 8 boxes-literally, 8 boxes-were for me. To take. For free.
 
While she showed it to me, I asked her her story- where had she taught, etc. It was very interesting to hear all that she had done, and all that she was planning to do now that she was retired. As I looked at all of these materials, I again was overwhelmed. Why had this woman chosen me to GIVE this stuff to? This was easily worth hundreds of dollars. I asked if there was anything I could give her for this. Her reply? A hug.
 
So we piled it all into my car, filling my trunk and backseat. I asked her if I could stay in touch with her, and she said she would like that.
 
So, this woman, who I BARELY KNOW, has inspired me beyond belief. I feel like everything I do regarding teaching should be to honor her kindness and generosity to me. I don't know how to express my gratitude. I mean, I'm talking about some of the most influential books regarding music education that I have been wait-listing are now sitting in my front room. A WEALTH of knowledge and resources, 10 steps away from me. I really wish there were something I could do that would adequately show her my thanks.
 
So, I hope this story of someone's generosity and kindness has influenced and inspired you today. I know this experience has made me reflect on generosity and kindness, and how I receive it. You don't expect something like this from a stranger, so maybe that is why it has touched me so deeply. Maybe I wrongfully take generosity and kindness for granted when it comes from my family, because they are supposed to give it to me, right?- but wait, they don't have to either. Their generosity, kindness, and love is just as amazing and in need of gratitude. I hope to be able to realize all of the great love and kindness that people show to me, no matter who they are or how our paths have crossed, and show my appreciation and gratitude for who they are and how they have affected my life. I hope to also be the kind of person that chooses to positively affect as many lives as I come in contact with as well.
 
Have a great day!

Rank #116

I just saw this.

According to a study by careercast.com (As seen here) which ranked the best jobs in the U.S. based on environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress...


"teacher" is ranked #116...


Just under "office machine repairer" and just above "sewage plant operator". 


:-)

My Life in Paradise (Valley)

Hello all!

Oh goodness, things have been BUSY recently. There is so much to say and not much time to say it. So, you'll have to deal with the condensed soup version.

I got a job teaching in Paradise Valley at 3 elementary schools and 1 middle school. So far so good. It definitely keeps me busy.
I just moved into an apartment 2 weeks ago. It's nice being so close to where I work. Plus, it's a pretty nice place.
*Shout out to Melanie and Will for the couch- thanks again. And, of course to my mom, dad, and siblings for ALL of their WONDERFUL help in getting me moved. I don't know what I would do without you.
I went to California with Jen for the American String Teacher Association Conference. It was a long drive (Phoenix to Santa Clara, CA), and the conference was long (I went to sessions from 8-5 Thursday-Saturday). I'm so glad that Jen came with me. She is such a wonderful sister.

So, I'm just trying to transition into being a real "adult", trying to be brave, and venturing out into the real world. I'll just say that I've got a lot to learn about myself and about life. But, in the words of my wise sister Janae "It will hurt, but you are brave". Did any one else ever get to this point (out of college, first real job, out on your own) and think, "I don't want to be a grown up"?. I hope I'm not the only one. Well, I have thought that many times (and thought about many other things as well) and have realized that no matter how much I think I may want to, I can't freeze time or go back in time. I have to grow up, so I better just step it up and do it. At the same time, when I really think about it, I don't want to have to stay unable to progress or go back and experience things I've already made it through. Yeah, it may "hurt" and be scary, new, and unknown, but I hope that there are good things ahead. I just have to remember that I can do all of this "grown up stuff" and it will all be okay. I hope, at least...

"Be not weary in well-doing", right?

Thanks for your friendship and love. Hope everyone is well.

The Past Happenings

Goodness, everything has been busy and exciting. Here is a little about what has been going on (Warning: This post contains enough material for 4 posts, at least. I as the author am in no way responsible for your eye soreness or any physical or mental tiredness that may result from reading all of this in one sitting):

I graduated!!!- Yes, on December 17th I graduated from ASU. It was definitely a filled day. Before we even left for the commencement at 9am, I grabbed the wrong end of the curling iron (on my last curl, too…) and burned my right hand pretty badly. We sprayed it with burn spray and it kept getting better throughout the day. Commencement was pretty nice. The whole time I had no idea where my parents and grandma were, but they said they found me because of my shriveled, little burned hand laying in my lap (so, I guess burning my hand was a good thing?). My favorite part was getting to stand up when they called our honors ranking. After we all “graduated”, I went outside and was surprised to find that I found my family right away. In our haste, mom and I had forgot to say where to meet at the end (and I hadn’t taken in my phone), so I just went to where I last left mom, and there they were. That worked out nicely.

We went over the Grandpa and Grandma Brooksby’s for a little bit, then Mom, Dad, and Grandma Hopkins and I went to “My Big Fat Greek Restaurant” for lunch. It was SOOOO good. Yum…
Afterwards we went BACK over to gma and pa’s and chilled there for a while. Jenny, Brandon, and Nae met us there and we all headed off for Convocation (where they call your name and you walk across the stage). I had to be there at 3 to line up but it didn’t start until 4. Again, I almost didn’t find my family while we were in the arena, but this time I was smart and had my phone, so I was able to text my dad and find out where they were. I met up with everyone afterwards, where gma and pa gave me a lei (it was so pretty) and we took a few more pictures.

But wait, there’s more!!!

So, then we headed straight over to the Jr. High I was student teaching at because I had a concert to conduct and play the piano in. I was really proud of the students and all that they accomplished this semester. I thought they did really well on my pieces.
Afterwards, we finally got to go home and, no…wait-  we went to Serrano’s and got dinner. There was a man playing the guitar and singing songs, and he sang quite a few to/with us. Grandma H knows quite a few songs in Spanish/Portuguese, so she was singing along to a couple of them. Then all of us started singing the Christmas songs he was playing. It was a lot of fun.

For my graduation gift, I got an iPod touch. I really like it. It will be good for so many things. Right now I am really enjoying the audiobook subscription I purchased as well as the games- a favorite= Boggle. You actually shake the iPod to shake up the letters. One of the big reasons I decided this would be most useful is its internet capabilities and recording abilities. I bought a nice microphone (the MityMic) that plugs right into the earphone jack (is that what it is called?), so now I can record my students and other good things  (keep reading).

Christmas- it was really good- Good gift giving and getting, cause that’s what it’s all about, right? :-) Grandma H stayed for the whole week, so that was nice that she was here. Gma and Pa came over for dinner too- it was just a great day. We got quite a few really awesome games, so we were thoroughly enjoying playing them: Quiddler, Would You Rather…, and (added later by myself) Xactica. Check them out.

For gma and pa B, I presented them with what I am calling “The Story Project”- I will be recording them telling stories, reading poems, etc. with my iPod and mic, and then sharing it with everyone else in our family. I am really excited. Today I got some good stuff from both of them. Now I just need to figure out how to put the audio up on their blog.

So, What Now?- Well, I am in the process of seeking employment- I’ll let you know how it goes. Oh, and I learned how to knit last Wednesday !! (wo hoo!) I’m working on a scarf right now. Maybe I will put some pictures up of the process.