Happenings as of Late

So as it turns out I am not dead, I just haven't felt like blogging. Since my return from Hawaii, things have been busy (probably not busier than anybody else actually) and when I have time to myself, blogging is at the bottom of the list of things I want to get done. Since I find myself not crossing things off my list, maybe I better start at the bottom and work my way up...

Highlights from the last few weeks...

Hawaii was a lot of fun. It rained off and on so the sun didn't shine constantly, much to my dismay. We spent some time standing in the mist and watching the surfers on Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline.

Don't get excited. You can't see any surfers in these pictures

We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which I thought was a lot of fun. I bought an overpriced dress, enjoyed the food, and learned a little bit about the Maori culture in New Zealand.

Presenting the Maori word for New Zealand

The last couple of days we were there we experienced some sun and so we spent a couple of mornings on the beach.

Chillin' in the sun while Clark braved the water

My happy parents being wonderful grandparents

We picnicked in the courtyard one evening

On our last day, we spent time driving around the island. We went to the house where Magnum P.I was filmed, shopped in Honolulu, and went to Sea Life Park (which is where Adam Sandler works in "50 First Dates".

Waiting for the show to start



Julie with all of the Dobies



We rediscovered my favorite part of Oahu. The picture doesn't even begin to express the beauty of this place. If I had more time and other people weren't waiting on me, I probably would have been a little more adventurous. Someday...

Pearl Harbor was my favorite part of the trip. I am not even going to try to write about my experience that day.

To say the least, it was completely sobering.

Thanks for the trip Grandma and Grandpa!

The first weekend after the semester began, I went up to Island Park with the mow crew to go snow mobiling. The sun didn't shine, but the snow was powdery and perfect. The downside was that I forgot my contacts so I had to wear my glasses all day. My face got pretty cold because my glasses fogged up if I left the visor down too long. It wasn't miserable. Once my face went numb it didn't matter anymore and since I was in the lead I didn't have to worry about anything flying up at my face.

Checkin' out the fish at Big Springs

We sledded a little bit

And played in the meadows a little bit

The snow mobiling was a good time, and lucky for me I get to do it again with my roommates next weekend!

Student Teaching officially began last Monday but it was a pretty uneventful, boring week. I haven't really done anything yet. I observed the teacher all day Monday and Tuesday. I printed off grades on Wednesday and observed Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday evening. There wasn't any school on Thursday or Friday and my teacher said I didn't need to come back until Tuesday. Fine by me. Tomorrow it really begins; I am taking over four of her five classes. Lesson plans are prepared, my stomach isn't in knots...yet...and there's only four days of school this week.

Now Jalayne's list of things to do looks like this...
-write a resume
-write a cover letter
-lesson plans
-grocery shopping
-put music on iPod
-blog DONE