Dancing

On Friday night, my roommates and I had the bright idea of going dancing in Salt Lake City.  After getting ready (which featured me as the guest makeup artist) we took pictures.  My roommates decided that we needed a "roommate picture".  The above picture was taken after I (very carefully) positioned the camera, pressed the button, and ran into place.  I think I did a nice job!

Once we got to the club, we saw that the line was down the street and around the corner.  We decided to give it a whirl anyway and found parking quite a distance from the club.  After walking a bit in the cold (we all know how I love the cold!) I decided that I would go back.  I didn't want to stay until 1 a.m. like they did and I didn't want to walk to my car alone (I had left my very strong boyfriend home for the evening).

In classic Diana fashion, I got lost trying to make it back to the freeway.  30 minutes later and a panicked phone call to a friend, I found the freeway and made it home.  Thus ended my weekend dancing excursion.  Maybe someday I will go back.  This time I will bring a warmer coat and a strong guy to walk me back to my car.

P.S.  Here is a list of my current "whys".  Why do I have to work when there are more entertaining things to be done?  Why does Friday come so long after Sunday?  Why can't my boxes unpack themselves? and Why do guys wear dress socks with their shorts?

Commitment

Commitment is a big word and even hard for some to spell (thank heavens for spell-check!).  One of the things my Mom was kind enough to bring with her from California was my Lizard Tank.  In the past, I have had a lizard in my classroom.  This is a big responsibility for someone who routinely kills plants (lack of water - a.k.a. resilience-training).

This weekend I decided to take the plunge.  He, Lenny the Lizard, will be going with me to school tomorrow if I can fit the tank in my car.  My students are going to flip out!  I will post a picture just as soon as I am able to find my camera again.  I am afraid to think of all the places it might be.

Tomorrow I think I will get a plant.

Almost There

Some guys in my roommates ward were nice enough to come and help me unload the moving truck tonight.  I think everyone was surprised at how much stuff I have. I tried to warn them, but they didn't believe me.

The last couple of hours have been spent moving things around so that it will be livable here until I can get everything unpacked.  I feel really bad that my roommates have to wait a couple of days until everything is just so.  I hope they can be patient with me!

To make things worse, I woke up this morning so sick I thought I would die!  I was in and out of sleep (that weird sick kind) all day.  I finally got up about 10 minutes before everyone was supposed to be here to move me in.  It all worked out though.

And now I'll finish this very boring post with pictures of my overwhelming task called unpacking!

Twister

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to go to Institute.  My roommate, Sarah, and I went this week.  It was great, but interesting at the same time.  There were two announcements that elicited a raise of the eyebrows.  The first was a social group called "Single Again".  I know that we (those that are single) are aspiring to join the crowd of those that are married.  However (and that's a big however), I don't know that I would want to be affiliated with a group called "Single Again".  That just doesn't sound fun to me.

The other announcement just stuck me as funny!  Everyone was invited to play a giant game of Twister after the lesson.  Twister? To me, that just seems like an excuse to fall on someone of the opposite sex.  No thank you!  Needless to say, Sarah and I left promptly after the lesson.  Even though I rock at twister, I wasn't in the mood for some random guy to land on top of me due to a misplaced hand or foot.  Maybe this is evidence of a deeper issue - not being able to play the dating game effectively.  No, probably not!

Crayons

I teach at a Title 1 school.  That means my students come from low-income homes.  I am always amazed at how they take nothing for granted.  I could go on and on about stories of how getting the simplest things (like a pencil to take home) is treated like Christmas.

I sent home a paper doll today for them to decorate as themselves in preparation for the upcoming Diversity Week at school.  One of my boys (that is always observing me with eyes that don't know if they can trust) raised his hand and asked if he could take his crayons home because he didn't have any.  In my haste, that comes with the end of the day, I told him to go home and see what he had and if he needed crayons I would have some for him tomorrow.  There were a few other students that echoed his request because they didn't have crayons either.

Thinking about it now makes me want to go back and not only let him take the crayons right then but to find anything else that he is lacking for a "normal" childhood and give it to him.  I don't ever remember not having crayons to color with - even when times were very lean.  Moments like that give me a glimpse into a side of life that I have never experienced.  How blessed I am and how I take things for granted!

Tomorrow I will have a box of crayons, a new pencil, and eraser for each of my students to take home.  I'm sure it will be like Christmas has come again to my classroom.

All Things New

The transition to my new apartment as been fairly painless so far.  With me, anything new brings a certain sense of anxiety.  I am happy to report that this is minimal at present.

This weekend, I went to my new ward.  Or at least I tried to.  As fate would have it, the old time was still posted on the Church's website.  Bummer.  I did, however, manage to go to the Singles ward (despite my inner-voice's attempts to sabotage my efforts).   So, I was sitting in Fast and Testimony Meeting and got that feeling.  It wouldn't go away and it became difficult to breath. 

The only thing to do in that situation is to get up (never-mind the fact I was sitting halfway through the cultural hall).  I had just made it to the back of the Chapel when someone else started to speak.  My immediate reaction (now that I was out of the trance) was to turn around and sit back down.  Unfortunately for me, it was too late and almost everyone had seen me begin the long walk to the front.  Let me just say that there were TONS of people there.  I finally made it to the pulpit, bumbled through my testimony, and returned to my seat.  Walking back was reminiscent of walking through the Cougar Eat before it was remodeled.  Those of you that remember can attest to the fact that it was much like walking on the runway with everyone watching.  Needless to say, I quickly left after Sacrament Meeting. 

Maybe they won't remember me when I go back next week!

The Big City

Moving is one of those things in life that really stinks!  I am still in the process of moving to "The Big City" (aka Midvale - a suburb of Salt Lake).  Thankfully, the process is fast coming to a close.  I owe a debt of gratitude (and my first born) to my Mom for being willing to drive up the moving van with all of my crap from the storage unit.  Here are a few pictures of my new apartment...

The living room with my roommates on the ground.  A different chick-flick is on the program each night (apparently their favorite genre).

Kitchen Area

My Bedroom - sacks for organizations (awesome!)

Thanks to Grandma Packard for letting me borrow the foam pads and bedding and Grandpa Olsen for one of Grandma's warm blankets.

My Bathroom

Doesn't that shower curtain scream - GIRL!

So that is my apartment in it's current state.  I think that I will enjoy living here. The location is good, my roommates seem nice, and there is a mid-singles ward that I can join.  All in all, not a bad plan according to me.