today to keep on going.

For some reason, every time I touch my ipod when its plugged into the speakers it shocks me and turns off. I'm guessing that that's not very good for it. And it hurts.

Supposedly this week is going to be the coldest that we've had all winter. I pulled out my winter-winter jacket (that's one step above my winter jacket, which is of course only slightly warmer than my Oregon-winter jacket). But all I can seem to think about is that my parents are spending the weekend in Florida.

Also I am seriously getting bored with my education classes. As in, I realize that a lot of what we're going over is important, but I am paying A LOT for this. And I'm definitely not feeling like I have to work hard, or there is much challenge. Shouldn't teachers be forced to think? I mean, I'm pretty sure that they play an important part out there. So I think I'm going to maybe do an independent study. Mostly just for fun (which is completely crazy), but also mostly just so I have something that I have to work at.

Ok so that's all the complaining I'm going to do. Mostly because, I've had a really great day, probably one of the best in the 6 months (woah, I mean 2 1/2 weeks) that I've been back this term. And even though its very possible that I'll lose a finger or two from frostbite this week, for the moment, I'm going to sit and dwell in happiness (without the Y : for heather).

a short week.

My third monday here in the arctic feels like at least my 23rd. Its snowing yet again and I have to continue to remind myself that it hasn't been several months since I've been home. Fortunately the last very long two weeks are finally over and now I'm able to start out on a new week which will hopefully go by much faster and more enjoyably.
I'm surviving most of my classes, with a few more or less boring than others. I haven't been given a placement for my field experience yet, though, so that means at least one more morning to sleep in. I originally was assigned to an eighth grade Language Arts classroom about a half hour away, but since I don't have a car, I had to rely on another student who was working in the same middle school. However, this other student seems to have come up with a problem, so now I have to wait for a completely new assignment.
I do get to finally meet the second grader who I will soon begin mentoring from the local elementary school, so I am looking forward to that on Thursday, even though that will include a very cold, long walk through the possibly negative temperatures. (....you know, that could definitely qualify as at least the second hint in a row for a large purchase back at home....dad? and I don't mean a cell phone)
So overall, this week is looking hopeful, with routine beginning to settle in and at least a few of the stresses of a new semester being wrinkled out. Although I would like to request at least a few prayers for my education advisor who has begun a struggle with breast cancer.

the new neighbors to consider sleeping in a little tomorrow.

I have officially spent an entire day back at school, after a very early morning and an uneventful plane trip. (Except that is for the last leg, when an entire, very tall, college basketball team was shoved into a very small plane with numerous other passengers so that by the time we took off, the flight attendant was no longer able to walk down the aisle and had to pass drinks, napkins, etc, down the rows one by one).
When I made it to my dorm, I felt like crashing immediately, but since it was only 3:30 in the afternoon and my roommate wasn't coming till at least 10:30, I was forced to unpack and waste time in various other ways so that when my roommate finally came, we could stay up way too late detailing every moment of our vacations.
Unfortunately, Iowa has not greeted me quite as warmly as my roommate. Although I was really excited that there's lots of snow, the arctic temperatures weren't exactly what I was hoping for.
Good news, though: after my class this afternoon, I was standing outside talking and I realized that it seemed a whole lot warmer than when I was out earlier in the day. When I got back to my computer and checked, I saw that I was right. It had warmed up from -10 to a full 3 degrees positive. Now standing outside and chatting is possible and no longer painful.
One last thing that I noticed this afternoon during my first class: During break I have completely lost all ability to sit through a 75 min. class (that is, if I have ever even had that ability). I only had one class today, but I could hardly stay awake, much less pay attention and I checked the clock at least once every 5 min. Oh how excited I am for this great new math class.

a few more days to waste before homework sets in.

Its seems that I can never go straight from my dorm to my house (not counting the airports I mean). But instead, there is always some small period of in-between for me to just sit and wait. For example, a month ago I spent two days with my roommate's family since my flight had to be re-scheduled. And today I'm hanging out at one of my friend's dorms for the second time before I catch my flight tomorrow. Apparently no one wanted to drive me up to the airport at 3:30 tomorrow morning. And I thought that I meant something to them. Here I am traveling halfway across the country just so I can spend a little extra time with them for Christmas, and they won't even endure an early morning for me.
But no, I do really know how much my family loves me, afterall, they did manage to get me home before Christmas, which was definitely not easy. And next year, when my brother has his driver's liscence (scary thought), I'll force him to wake up early and drive me in.
For now, I'm spending the day with Sarah and taking a last look at the mountains before I finally head back to the real cold.

lots more rain.

I am sure that there are so many of you that have been anxiously checking my blog for new posts about my amazing adventures of Christmas break....ha! right.
Anyways, for those of you who have accidentally wandered onto my blog during break, expecting to find my normal complaints: I'm sorry. There hasn't been anything to complain about. And that's definitely saying something, since I'm rarely at a loss for things to complain about.
During break I've either been painting, (most of the time), or enjoying the beautiful valley rain and using my charm to get just about anything I want from all those who have missed me (which includes a yummy pizza on its way right now). So I definitely won't bore you with pictures of me painting white trim another shade of white or watching the always-needed chick-flick with my friends. But you can take comfort in the fact that my break has been wonderful and best yet: its not over for another week! Have fun in school this week all my friends! I'll be sleeping in (kinda) and basically doing whatever I want (although that does include working a few more hours).
Oh and of course I have to go and take a picture of the adorable pig down the road. Yes...its the way pigs were meant to live. In a little pasture with a horse right next door. Just wait till I show my hog-farmer uncle how we do things out here in the West.