This is probably the best crafting blog ever! Jessica Jones' blog not only features her textile designs and creative genius, but the creative genius of others! Just about every day she posts something new--a cool website, links to tutorials, or her own creations. If you are interested in sewing, crafting, making cool pictures, or just wasting time on the web-How About Orange is the place to do it! It's my newest obsession.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Embarrassing Fact #1
Embarrassing Fact #1:
I love cartoons. Disney, Nickelodeon (The Last Avitar, for example), Cartoon Network...Even anime. Yes, it's true: I am secretly a nerd.
And proud of it! :D
P.S. Maybe it's not such a surprise that I'm a nerd.
I love cartoons. Disney, Nickelodeon (The Last Avitar, for example), Cartoon Network...Even anime. Yes, it's true: I am secretly a nerd.
And proud of it! :D
P.S. Maybe it's not such a surprise that I'm a nerd.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Today....sucks
Well, today was..... frustrating.
I have a cold, I had to watch my younger siblings (whom I love dearly, but keep barging into my room without knocking), I have a cold, I haven't seen my boyfriend in months, I have a cold, and I haven't managed to actually get anything done.
Did I mention that I have a cold? :-P
I also declared today a computer-free day...but obviously, that didn't happen. Oh well.
I have a cold, I had to watch my younger siblings (whom I love dearly, but keep barging into my room without knocking), I have a cold, I haven't seen my boyfriend in months, I have a cold, and I haven't managed to actually get anything done.
Did I mention that I have a cold? :-P
I also declared today a computer-free day...but obviously, that didn't happen. Oh well.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Worst News EVER: The Conversation
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY, STOP NOW! READ The Worst News EVER BEFORE YOU CHECK THIS ONE OUT.
Now that you've read the previous blog entry, here's the version of the text conversation we had earlier this afternoon.
Key:
A=Me, Alycia
G=Girl who is going to make my family's life hard
G: Hey hon...It's me...
A: Hey there, what's up?
G: Can you keep a secret?
A: Totally, what's up?
G:Your uncle and i are done...
A: Done, as in not together?
G: Well i have to let him know my decision in a few days...And just the way im feeling... I dont think its going to get better... I just dont want you and the whole rest of the family to hate me cause it didn't work out between us... I dont know what he is going to say about me..
A: Ok. Well, if you are sure about it then I guess thats what you have to do. You've thought about it for a while, right?
G: Yes i have... I think we have grown apart and we both want different things right now...
A: Ok. Well, I wish you the best then.
G: I do feel really bad cause i know im going to hurt him... Especially after everything he has gone through :(
G: Do you hate me? I dont want the family to hate me.
A: I don't hate you, I'm just worried for him.
A: But I guess what you are doing is the lesser of two evils. Its better to do it now than 5 years down the road.
G: I am too! This wasn't a very easy decision...
G: I still feel bad... He has already been comparing me to his ex wife lately... I dont need him to do anything drastic.
A: We'll keep an eye on him. Just make sure you wont change your mind later. That would make it worse for everybody.
G: Yeah...
So if you want, tell me what you think by leaving a comment. Who do you think the "bad guy" is here? Am I overreacting? Should I tell someone back home? I feel like I should, just so they can be there for my uncle. Please help me make sense of all this!
Now that you've read the previous blog entry, here's the version of the text conversation we had earlier this afternoon.
Key:
A=Me, Alycia
G=Girl who is going to make my family's life hard
G: Hey hon...It's me...
A: Hey there, what's up?
G: Can you keep a secret?
A: Totally, what's up?
G:Your uncle and i are done...
A: Done, as in not together?
G: Well i have to let him know my decision in a few days...And just the way im feeling... I dont think its going to get better... I just dont want you and the whole rest of the family to hate me cause it didn't work out between us... I dont know what he is going to say about me..
A: Ok. Well, if you are sure about it then I guess thats what you have to do. You've thought about it for a while, right?
G: Yes i have... I think we have grown apart and we both want different things right now...
A: Ok. Well, I wish you the best then.
G: I do feel really bad cause i know im going to hurt him... Especially after everything he has gone through :(
G: Do you hate me? I dont want the family to hate me.
A: I don't hate you, I'm just worried for him.
A: But I guess what you are doing is the lesser of two evils. Its better to do it now than 5 years down the road.
G: I am too! This wasn't a very easy decision...
G: I still feel bad... He has already been comparing me to his ex wife lately... I dont need him to do anything drastic.
A: We'll keep an eye on him. Just make sure you wont change your mind later. That would make it worse for everybody.
G: Yeah...
So if you want, tell me what you think by leaving a comment. Who do you think the "bad guy" is here? Am I overreacting? Should I tell someone back home? I feel like I should, just so they can be there for my uncle. Please help me make sense of all this!
The Worst News EVER
I can't believe what she just told me! And the worst part is I am sworn to secrecy. So where do I go to vent? My blog, of course.
Background Story:
This past summer my uncle got engaged to a girl. She's about 25 years old and he's in the lower thirties. I thought they were almost perfect for each other; they both love snowmobiles and they are both really into agriculture. They got along great.
The Problem:
His girl (soon to be EX-girl) just text me that she and my uncle have been talking about calling it off. She's going to tell him in a few days that they're done. DONE!
My uncle-he's my favorite uncle-has already been through one terrible marriage. (Turns out his then-wife was cheating on him with one of their friends from work. She then left him to live with said "friend" and had "friend's" baby 7 months later. They proceeded through the ugliest divorce known to man in which he had to give her a lot of stuff. One of the things she got was his red hot-rod.) He was really depressed after that. Once he tried to quit smoking, but he gave up on quitting after realizing one of the only things that was keeping him from committing suicide was the nicotine.
But then he met her and things seemed to be better. He seemed happy! But she turned into that jerk who doesn't want our family to hate her because "they want different things now."
Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic, but that is NOT how it is supposed to end. They were going to get married, have their own little farm and raise some kids. Now he's going to end up with a broken heart and end up moving back with my grandparents.
This Sucks:
Why did she have to tell me? Probably because she can trust me to keep a secret, we were kind of close, and I'm two hours away from home, so I can't do anything.
I don't even have the guts to call her names for potentially breaking my uncle's heart and putting him in that depressive state again. She says it was a difficult decision for her to make, but she still lead him on. I don't know what to do.
I just pray that he'll be ok.
Alycia
P.S. Why do I have to be so damn nice all the time?
Background Story:
This past summer my uncle got engaged to a girl. She's about 25 years old and he's in the lower thirties. I thought they were almost perfect for each other; they both love snowmobiles and they are both really into agriculture. They got along great.
The Problem:
His girl (soon to be EX-girl) just text me that she and my uncle have been talking about calling it off. She's going to tell him in a few days that they're done. DONE!
My uncle-he's my favorite uncle-has already been through one terrible marriage. (Turns out his then-wife was cheating on him with one of their friends from work. She then left him to live with said "friend" and had "friend's" baby 7 months later. They proceeded through the ugliest divorce known to man in which he had to give her a lot of stuff. One of the things she got was his red hot-rod.) He was really depressed after that. Once he tried to quit smoking, but he gave up on quitting after realizing one of the only things that was keeping him from committing suicide was the nicotine.
But then he met her and things seemed to be better. He seemed happy! But she turned into that jerk who doesn't want our family to hate her because "they want different things now."
Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic, but that is NOT how it is supposed to end. They were going to get married, have their own little farm and raise some kids. Now he's going to end up with a broken heart and end up moving back with my grandparents.
This Sucks:
Why did she have to tell me? Probably because she can trust me to keep a secret, we were kind of close, and I'm two hours away from home, so I can't do anything.
I don't even have the guts to call her names for potentially breaking my uncle's heart and putting him in that depressive state again. She says it was a difficult decision for her to make, but she still lead him on. I don't know what to do.
I just pray that he'll be ok.
Alycia
P.S. Why do I have to be so damn nice all the time?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Saturday!
That's right, everybody! It's SATURDAY! One of the best days of the week. The only problem with Saturday is that right now I want to make pancakes. Now, at first glance making pancakes does not seem like much of a delema. I have the mix, I have water, and I have a pan and spattula. No problem!
Wrong. Someone else is using the kitchen! I share the Yon's dorm kitchen with everybody else in Yon's. Sadly, there are homo sapiens making food. And dang does it smell good. But I can't crash their food-making fest. So I'll just keep waiting until they leave. Sigh. I feel like a hyena waiting for the lions to leave the carcass.
Loves and Hugs,
Hyena
Wrong. Someone else is using the kitchen! I share the Yon's dorm kitchen with everybody else in Yon's. Sadly, there are homo sapiens making food. And dang does it smell good. But I can't crash their food-making fest. So I'll just keep waiting until they leave. Sigh. I feel like a hyena waiting for the lions to leave the carcass.
Loves and Hugs,
Hyena
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
What Is Expected
Now that statement/question holds a lot of weight. In this case, it pertains to education. Because I am in school to become a teacher, I am taking a course called School and Society. One of the issues that we are addressing now is the idea of students who differ from you. If you are a teacher, how do you address students who do not come from the same cultural, economic, and social background you do?
That is a big question. Instead of answering that question first, I'd like to tell you a story about my class today. In class, I sat next to a boy named Matt. Matt is a college sophomore as well (all the students taking School and Society are). He attended a private Catholic grade school and upon entering 9th grade he was placed in the public school. This is important. Remember that.
Now, today we were told to work with the person sitting next to us (in my case, Matt) and discuss the following question: "What should you, as teachers, expect from your students?" I told Matt that I would expect students to listen during class, pay attention to what is happening in class, and complete their assignments and try their best. Immediately Matt told me that would not work. He said that in public school many students simply sit in class. Nothing more. And that there was no way I could expect those things from all of my students. He said the only way I could expect all of those things in a classroom was if I was teaching at a small private school. Even then, he said, that would be pushing the limit.
I attended a private grade school (K and 1st grade), was homeschooling for four years, and then attended a private school for grades seven through twelve. I was expected to do many things. I was expected to do my homework. I was expected to attend class. I was expected to raise my hand to answer or ask questions. I was expected to participate in activities. I was expected to try, and to try my hardest. The idea that some students not trying was revolutionary.
I never thought of someone not wanting to be in school. Yes, I understand that going to school is mandatory in the U.S. But I never really considered that someone could just slide under the radar. I immediately felt hopeless. If I cannot expect a few things, that I think are essential, from students what can I expect? At the time it seemed like the answer was nothing.
I left class feeling down and out. I started to ask myself why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place. My first instinct was to call my boyfriend, Matt. (Not the same kid as the one in my education class...I know a great many Matt's.) I told him how I felt and then asked his opinion. Matt told me that yes, in high school many students do not try. He used his brother as an example. He did not try in class or always complete his assignments. He said too, that when he is teaching Physics in the future and a student is not doing well he would try to work with the student. Matt thinks that completing homework is important. At the same time, he understands that not all students are good at homework, like some students are not good at tests.
That got me to thinking. If my students are not trying, or simply not doing well, then what can I do to make the situation better and help them? I have since come to the conclusion that a teacher should expect something from students. In addition, I have also concluded that the students should have expectations for the teacher as well.
Also, if a student is not contributing, well, that is the way it is. But I can change that. I can help students. I need to hold expectations for my students. And if the expectations are not met, I can try my hardest to help. If even then the expectations are not met, so be it. Maybe it would do a student good to fail a class rather than slide under the radar. Isn't that what teachers are really here for? To teach? I will not be a teacher if all that is expected of me is to give students high grades. That is not the point of teaching.
The point is to convey information, ideas, and questions to students in a way that makes sense to their current condition. The point is to engage students in the hunger for learning: to make students think and most importantly, I believe, ask.
I hoped this made sense. But if it did not, so be it. If you want clarification, ask. Asking questions brings greater thoughts into the mind of students. And we are all students, are we not?
May you always learn through the grace of God,
Alycia
That is a big question. Instead of answering that question first, I'd like to tell you a story about my class today. In class, I sat next to a boy named Matt. Matt is a college sophomore as well (all the students taking School and Society are). He attended a private Catholic grade school and upon entering 9th grade he was placed in the public school. This is important. Remember that.
Now, today we were told to work with the person sitting next to us (in my case, Matt) and discuss the following question: "What should you, as teachers, expect from your students?" I told Matt that I would expect students to listen during class, pay attention to what is happening in class, and complete their assignments and try their best. Immediately Matt told me that would not work. He said that in public school many students simply sit in class. Nothing more. And that there was no way I could expect those things from all of my students. He said the only way I could expect all of those things in a classroom was if I was teaching at a small private school. Even then, he said, that would be pushing the limit.
I attended a private grade school (K and 1st grade), was homeschooling for four years, and then attended a private school for grades seven through twelve. I was expected to do many things. I was expected to do my homework. I was expected to attend class. I was expected to raise my hand to answer or ask questions. I was expected to participate in activities. I was expected to try, and to try my hardest. The idea that some students not trying was revolutionary.
 |
| First day of Kindergarten |
 |
| First Day of Second Grade |
 |
| First Day of Seventh Grade |
 |
| High School Graduation |
I never thought of someone not wanting to be in school. Yes, I understand that going to school is mandatory in the U.S. But I never really considered that someone could just slide under the radar. I immediately felt hopeless. If I cannot expect a few things, that I think are essential, from students what can I expect? At the time it seemed like the answer was nothing.
I left class feeling down and out. I started to ask myself why I wanted to be a teacher in the first place. My first instinct was to call my boyfriend, Matt. (Not the same kid as the one in my education class...I know a great many Matt's.) I told him how I felt and then asked his opinion. Matt told me that yes, in high school many students do not try. He used his brother as an example. He did not try in class or always complete his assignments. He said too, that when he is teaching Physics in the future and a student is not doing well he would try to work with the student. Matt thinks that completing homework is important. At the same time, he understands that not all students are good at homework, like some students are not good at tests.
That got me to thinking. If my students are not trying, or simply not doing well, then what can I do to make the situation better and help them? I have since come to the conclusion that a teacher should expect something from students. In addition, I have also concluded that the students should have expectations for the teacher as well.
Also, if a student is not contributing, well, that is the way it is. But I can change that. I can help students. I need to hold expectations for my students. And if the expectations are not met, I can try my hardest to help. If even then the expectations are not met, so be it. Maybe it would do a student good to fail a class rather than slide under the radar. Isn't that what teachers are really here for? To teach? I will not be a teacher if all that is expected of me is to give students high grades. That is not the point of teaching.
The point is to convey information, ideas, and questions to students in a way that makes sense to their current condition. The point is to engage students in the hunger for learning: to make students think and most importantly, I believe, ask.
I hoped this made sense. But if it did not, so be it. If you want clarification, ask. Asking questions brings greater thoughts into the mind of students. And we are all students, are we not?
May you always learn through the grace of God,
Alycia
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