Voices

I love the 80's.

I was watching the new Knight Rider where they killed off all the big actors and they introduced the character/ robot/ not-sure- what-you-call-it K.A.R.R. And I thought hmmm, that sounds amazingly like Optimus Prime, from Transformers. Well, it didn't bother me enough to look it up, but today I was bored and I randomly came across it. Yes, it is the same voice. It is Peter Cullen. Peter also did the voice of K.A.R.R. in the original Knight Rider. He was in Smurfs, GI Joe, My Little Ponies, Murky in the Rainbow Brite series, DuckTales, Gummi Bears, Monterey Jack in Chip 'N Dale's Rescue Rangers and Eeyore in all the new Winnie the Pooh stuff.
I've been hearing this guy's voice since I was 5!!!!

Just a random little tidbit for your day.

Weird English Words

In the English language, it is so hard to know how to pronounce a word because English takes words from everywhere. So there are no hard set rules.

Today's example, segue. What an odd little word. It comes from the Italian seguire, meaning to follow. And most of the definitions have to do with music and musical directions, indicating a smooth transition from one piece/theme/part to another, without a break.

Utah. Again.

After taking a hard look at my life lately, I've come to a conclusion. I have been more stressed over the last five months than any time I can remember. First I was stressed about getting a job, then my hard drive crashed, then I finally got a job, worked an assignment that made me lose sleep and don't have time for my homework, which school is added stress as well. I have had more cold sores in the last six months than I have had in the last six years. And last night I was so tired, I forgot to take out my contacts. In the ten years I've had them, I've forgotten, like, twice.
And considering my classes are mostly online, and I would only have to come back twice a quarter, I started to ask myself, why am I here? (we are not even going to talk about the dating scene) So I've decided to move back to Utah. California is warm, and it has been good to experience something different, but I am so ready to be back in Utah. So as soon as my contract is out and I take a few more classes, I am moving back.

Emotionally Drained

As I've been studying for the last two hours and then taking a break to read blogs, I have been brought to tears about every fifteen minutes. I was starting to think that I was emotionally disturbed and seriously needed some help until I realized what has happened in the past week.

To start, I just completed a red-taped induction into substitute teaching, but until Monday was not registered in the system, which caused some amount of stress. Then, after sleeping in Tuesday morning (they are supposed to start calling at 5 am and since I didn't get a call, I thought I wouldn't get one), I was awoken at 8:15 to work a job that started at 7:20. And continued to work it all week. The first day they were a little crazy, the second day they were better, but today, they were crazy. So I've been trying to come up with ways to help them be more engaged. Plus, the last two nights, I have gone to bed early, but not been able to fall asleep for an hour or two (because I'm not on that regular sleeping schedule). The worst part is that I wake up several times a night for no apparent reason. On top of this, I have my school work, of which I have to read a 200 pg book that is not easy reading, plus an assignment I haven't even gotten to because of my other school work, plus more reading so that I can write a response. So I'm stressed about school, about subbing and about sleep. On top of that, I volunteered to help count the homeless tonight, which goes from 9pm to 1am. Like I need to be up at 1am. I shouldn't have volunteered, but no one else was. I'm such a push over. This is why I ended up in teaching. I like to help people.

So needless to say, I am on the verge of tears again. I really need some good sleep. I am SO looking forward to Sunday, a day of rest.
Pray that I'll make it.

What is it with the young ones?

I don't know what it is, but somehow, I manage to attract boys around 19 or 20 who are getting ready to go on missions. I promise I don't try, but somehow they find me.

Here's the latest story.

There is a very nice boy in the ward, we'll call him Mr. T, for no specific reason than he needs a name. Anyway, last Sunday (a week ago) he gave a talk in church, and he is going to go into the MTC on Feb 4. Now on Friday, I went to the afternoon institute class. We were all hanging around after the lesson and after eating and as I was getting ready to leave, I said, "Hey, I've got some cookies at home, anyone want to come have some?" Little did I know this was a HUGE mistake. Mr. T takes me up on it. Not a big deal. So he rides with me, (he is the only one who came) and I let him in and bring out the cookies. Well, what do you do after you have cookies? I have homework, but it seemed a little rude to send him away when he'd just gotten there. So we decided to watch a movie. In the middle of the day. With my roommate around.

So we are watching the movie and he just stares at me! I am completely ignoring it because I do NOT want to get involved (already sent one guy on a mission, NOT doing that again). He'll pretend for a while that he's watching the movie, but it is so obvious he is not. He then asks if I want a backrub. Um, excuse me? Why would I want you to touch me?
I'm sitting cross legged on the couch, and I can tell he totally wants to put his hand on my knee. At the end, I have just about had enough of the crazy tension and finally move to the chair. From there, I cannot see when he stares at me. I dragged my roommate along to drop him off at home because I totally did not want any awkward goodbyes.

I don't think he has a clue as to how old I am. And I am so grateful for my roommate for coming with me to drop him off. That was one of the most awkward moments I have had in a long time. Blech!

Adventures in Online Dating

I've been talking to this guy I met online, solely through emails. The site I'm using posts the age of their members. A little while ago, I asked when his birthday was, but he never answered. A couple days ago, I noticed that his age had changed. I was a little disgruntled considering I had asked when it was so that I could make sure I wished him a Happy Birthday. So I wrote him an email that was meant to be teasing about not telling me when his birthday was. Well, I called him a slacker. And then went on to other things.

This brilliant boy only noticed one thing. This was his reply 'wow, thanks for calling me a slacker'

Dude, if I have to notice your birthday because your age changes online when we've been talking for three months and you neglected to tell me when your birthday is when I ASKED, you are a total slacker.

Well, I'm afraid I came right out and said it again. Ok, what I said was "I just call it like I see it" And then told him it wouldn't have happened (me calling him a slacker) if he had told me when I asked, but also said he could change my mind.

So pretty much, that relationship is over.

And I wonder why I'm not married.

What am I doing?

I ask myself this question on a regular basis.
My current thoughts are these:
My classes are mostly online, we meet twice a term on a Saturday and everything else is online. I do have one class this quarter that I have to work in the literacy center every week, but other than that, I don't even go to class. There are three classes (taken NOT concurrently) that are not offered through my department, so those are not necessarily online classes. Saturday, I got the syllabus for one of those classes. I picked the online section, and so I only have class the first week and the last two weeks. I realized I pretty much do NOT need to be in California.
Considering the fact that I have not been able to get a job, my thoughts have been to return to Utah. I never thought I would want to stay in Utah, but I so did not want to leave after Christmas.
Plus I keep thinking about all the benefits of living in Utah. Ok, maybe not benefits, but the things I like. And all the things I don't like about California.
So my decision has been to finish out this quarter, perhaps the next, and then come back to Utah. Or go back. I'm looking for a job for next year. I've already applied to one place, and am looking in all the districts around Salt Lake and Utah Valley. I am also looking at a couple places in Washington, just to keep my options open. My parents are happy to know I'm going back.

What Planet Should You Rule?

You Should Rule Jupiter

Huge and hot, Jupiter is a quickly turning planet with short days and intense gravity. You are perfect to rule Jupiter, because you are both dominant and kind. You have great strength and confidence, but you never abuse your power. You are always right. Even if you make mistakes, you compensate for them... before anyone knows it. Headstrong and ambitious, you always have a goal in mind. You are optimistic and believe thing things will always work out.

What Planet Should You Rule?

More Christmas pics

Little Monster and Marcus.


Cookie gnomes strike


Ninja boy and his ninja bear

Joy of Christmas food

A couple pics from my holiday season

Baby and pumpkin bread


Chocolates

My landlady makes the best chocolates. Seriously. This is the room of temptation. I generally succumb to the temptation several times a day!

Cure

Apparently the cure for . . .
A long day driving back to CA
Through traffic that increased the trip an hour and a half
Being depressed about going back to CA
And leaving UT and all my friends (ok not ALL, but many)
Coming home to an apartment that flooded while I was gone
And having to clean up
Coming terms with feelings I do not want to have

Is . . .
A good meal
Ice cream
And watching Clue and laughing. A lot.