Black Widow

I was talking on the phone when a spider started falling down on a thread from the window sill in our bedroom. At first I grabbed a shoe to smash it, but then I noticed how black it was, so I yelled at Jen to get a container. Further analysis revealed that it was a black widow spider. This is only the second time I've seen one in real life. It's pretty big, about as big as any hobo spiders I've come across. I'm not very happy about it.

I tried to get a picture of the red hourglass on the belly, but the pictures are all too blurry, so here's a some side views. Sorry the photos are blurry, but this is the best I could get.

Just keep swimming

Well, now that Mike has joined, it seems we both have the disease...Not posting. But, it just seems that things have been busy and I rarely have a minute to sit down and even think about what has happened. (Which is really not much--I just keep telling myself to "just keep swimming".)

Now three weeks have passed since I started teaching and they have flown by. I still like it, but there are some definite challenges. My goodness! I gave my first test, to both classes, and some did VERY well. Unfortunately, some did not and brought the average quite low. My cooperating teacher, conveniently, was gone on a tennis tournament so we haven't discussed how it went and what we'll do about it. (I thought the test was easy...) The other challenge is one of my classes before lunch. The attitude that exudes from these particular students is very irritating and difficult to be patient with. I am anxious to try new disciplinary tactics with them, but fear they won't take me and my tactics seriously. I wish I could just place duct tape over their mouths... Regardless, I have a couple ideas. I hope it doesn't get to the point where I have to allow my cooperating teacher to take over. We'll see.

On another note, I finished my grandpa's book. It was FASCINATING! My favorite part was reading about the time they spent in Boston and all the liberal people (members) they met and the different attitude they had regarding church doctrine. My grandpa pointed out that he was asked to teach there because of his staunch conservatism and the hope that it would rub off on the members and the institute students. And boy, did he meet opposition! (For example, my grandma went to Relief Society and it was like a counseling session--anti-priesthood and "here's how we can push our feminist ideas in the church.") Of course, not every one had a passive attitude, but my grandparents often felt that they had to stand up for what was right even during church meetings.

Another aspect of the book that I found very interesting was all the people he's met and influenced. While having his different callings and jobs, he had the opportunity to meet many people that were, or would be, very famous or well-known people--inside and outside the church. While in Boston, his Stake President was Mitt Romney. He was able to meet one of the prophets while in Korea. He had many meetings with men who would eventually become general authorities. After all these people he's met, and the hundreds (maybe up into the thousands) of students he taught, he often asked the question if he made a difference. He would wonder, while writing, if he influenced anyone. How could he not know what a difference he did make? Just by the example he set, and the stories of lives he changed in his book and from those who knew him, I know he made a difference. He touched lives and spirits. He was an example to those with the gospel, and without. Even though he didn't serve a mission when he was 19, his whole life was a mission and he taught more gospel lessons than anyone I know. I'm sure that now he's been able to meet some of those who's lives he's touched, he knows he made a difference.

Two Birds With One Car

It's been a few months since I've written, so this will be a quick overview of my summer.

After moving back to Utah I enrolled in three classes for the second summer block, plus an online class I was already in. I told myself I never wanted to take three classes in one block ever again after I did that last summer, and now I found myself with four classes. It was pretty intense, but I got out with good grades and the knowledge that I never have to take summer classes again.

I went camping at Rigby Lake in Idaho with some friends. I think this was the first time we haven't gone on a midnight swim. This was partly because only one of us remembered to bring a towel and I didn't want to freeze, and partly because I'm a wuss now.

I also managed to kill two birds with my car this summer. They both happened in almost the exact same spot just down the street from our apartment. The first death occurred one day when Jen and I were almost home around sundown, so it was starting to get dark. There was a robin standing in the road, just minding its own business, but it blended in really well to the pavement, so I didn't see it till the last second. The only reason why I did see it is because it moved it's head. I tried to swerve the car, but still heard a light *thump thump*.

It was kind of funny that I ran over a bird, but it was really funny when I noticed a kid standing on the sidewalk just up the road. He had apparently watched the whole thing because he had a look like this on his face:
That look alone made the situation go from slightly strange to entirely awesome. I bet he told everyone he knows. It's not everyday you get to see something like that.

The second birdicide happened about a week later. Again, it was in about the same spot as last incident, but this time I was just leaving the apartment. A small sparrow or something was in the road, and I saw it with plenty of time to spare. Just like the last bird, it decided my car wasn't a threat and it just stood there. I straddled it perfectly with my tires, but as I was over the bird I heard a *thump*, not from my tires, but from the bottom of my car. The stupid bird had taken off and hit the bottom of my car. I can't confirm I actually killed it, but I looked for it flying away in my rear view mirror and I didn't see anything. Now that I think about it, it might be stuck underneath my car. I should probably go check that.

So that's about it. School, Rigby Lake, and mowing down birds with my car.

1 Down, 13 To Go

I finished my first week of student teaching and I survived!

Each one of the classes has an interesting dynamic and their own (talking) problems that I have to work out. I will say that I wish students could eat during class so the students before lunch aren't so agitated, anxious, and talkative. My classes right before lunch, both A and B days, are the most difficult to keep on task.
Planning was fun. I worry about if I have enough material to fill an entire period, but I haven't had a problem yet. One day, I even gave the US course too much reading that we only got about half way through my plans. I had to adjust the schedule for the following day so I could stay on track for the test. (And the test will be interesting. I have to create the questions and make sure they are easy enough for the students to answer, but are adequate for showing what the students have learned...)

My cooperating teacher and I talked about the week on Friday and he says I'm doing a pretty good job. He's not in the classroom all the time, but he's seen enough to know I'm giving the students enough material and expecting them to perform at the right level. YEA!

It's smooth sailing from here, right?