My friend Naomi, whom I traveled to Vietnam with, is now living in Bella Bella. I could try to explain to you exactly where Bella Bella is, but I would get it wrong. Basically, the point of me saying all this is so that I can direct you to her very funny blog. Lots of insights on teaching, the wildlife in British Columbia, and the antics of a severely suicidal cat. Read it, you won't be sorry. http://lavidabellabellabc.blogspot.ca
As for me... Well... I've been extremely busy which is partially why I have been the most negligent blogger in the whole world. Bad Blogger, bad bad. I've been working quite a bit at three different private schools as well as figuring out my job situation for the summer and starting in September.
I HAVE A JOB! I will be working as an intern at a private school starting in September. This includes room and board, WITH THREE MEALS A DAY! We all know I love to eat, so that is very helpful to my wellbeing. I also had an interview at ANOTHER private school for a one day a week position, the interview went quite while so we will see what happens. Long story short, it is looking like I'm going to be very busy next year. This is a very, very good thing.
The other day I subbed for a grade 2 PE class. The kids were very misbehaved and I had to tattle on them to their teacher. I don't like doing this, because ultimately I feel like I could have done something differently however in this instance there was really no alternative. Their teacher made them write apology letters to me, which was actually so cute. I taught them Computer Technology later in the day and they insisted to read them out to me. I got to keep them after, as well. There was a lot of "We should not behave bad when we have a substitute because she is new and we should help her" and "we shouldn't call out or talk when it isn't our turn because then we won't get to play games." It is hard to stay annoyed at kids when they say things like that.
I went to Alberta! I met James' family, including his 91 year old Grandma. This was really nice for me because I was super close to my Nana who passed at 96. We also went to the TELUS SCIENCE CENTRE. I learned much about the solar system, the human body and the making of MONSTERS in film and tv.
I'm happy to be home. Alberta has pretty skies, but not enough trees. Or mountains.
Sunday, 26 May 2013
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Glorious Saturday
The cleanse is finished, done, complete, OVER! I'm going to have cereal for breakfast!!! It is going to be so milky and sugary and DELICIOUS!
In all honesty the cleanse wasn't too horrible. I don't think I lost as much weight as James, but I'm really going to try to eat healthier and pay attention to the ingredients in my food.
My biggest goal is to not eat past my full point. I love food so much sometimes I just keep on eating even if my stomach says "We're DONE!"
Things I discovered on The Wild Rose Cleanse:
-Almond butter and apples. It is yummmmmmmmy.
-I clearly don't eat enough guacamole
-I have mad respect for those with dietary restrictions
-Even if I change my diet I still like naps
-James is a good cook no matter what his ingredients are
-I love sugar
-Many things have unnecessary ingredients in them that are not good for you.
Also, I was on the radio! Super fun. I was doing my best to drum up some interest for James' book "Crystal Promise". I'm hoping to get the stations permission to post the recording.
Ok, I gotta pee so I'm going to go now.
TOOTLES!
In all honesty the cleanse wasn't too horrible. I don't think I lost as much weight as James, but I'm really going to try to eat healthier and pay attention to the ingredients in my food.
My biggest goal is to not eat past my full point. I love food so much sometimes I just keep on eating even if my stomach says "We're DONE!"
Things I discovered on The Wild Rose Cleanse:
-Almond butter and apples. It is yummmmmmmmy.
-I clearly don't eat enough guacamole
-I have mad respect for those with dietary restrictions
-Even if I change my diet I still like naps
-James is a good cook no matter what his ingredients are
-I love sugar
-Many things have unnecessary ingredients in them that are not good for you.
Also, I was on the radio! Super fun. I was doing my best to drum up some interest for James' book "Crystal Promise". I'm hoping to get the stations permission to post the recording.
Ok, I gotta pee so I'm going to go now.
TOOTLES!
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Wild Rose Cleanse
I have wanted to do a cleanse for a long time, but I thought I would be better suited for something over the weekend rather than anything long term. Then, James suggested the "Wild Rose Cleanse" which is twelve days long. I told him how difficult that would be for me and I made sure he understood I may not be the easiest person the complete such an endeavor with.
We are on Day 6 now and I am sure he has realized the truth in my warning. The first three days I was a bit of a jerk. Even though he was cooking the majority I complained about how there was "nothing good to eat". Which of course, was a lie because everything he cooked was delicious. I'm much better now that we are halfway through and I've apologized for my petulant behaviour.
The cool things about this cleanse:
1) You can eat as much of the "allowed" foods as you want (you are supposed to leave proteins for 20% of your diet but really, who is to say how much that is?)
2) It seems to work in terms of weight loss-- though what I really care about is energy levels. I'll keep you posted on that, as I just woke up from a nap so nothing has changed. Though I think it isn't supposed to until the end.
3) it forces you to be creative food wise. Yesterday I went to the grocery store and I found salsa, guacamole and CORN CHIPS we can eat. The discovery of chips has made my life so much better.
The not-so-awesome parts of the cleanse:
1) food takes time. So it is tough on the go.
2) NO SAUCE! I love sauce. Like ketchup.
3) No bread, which is another of my personal favourites.
4) the pills are laxatives which I'm sure you can understand why that would be a downside. Though if you have nothing to do and you are just hanging around the home for a couple days, it isn't so big a deal. It gets less as times goes on, as well.
Anyways, I cannot tell you how much weight I've lost as I do not own a scale, but James will tell me I'm sure, at the end. Toughest moment will be for me tomorrow as my Aunt is cooking a turnkey dinner. Stuffing is my absolute favourite thing in the whole world and I cannot have it, or gravy. But I have resolved to take a container and freeze it so I can enjoy it after next Friday. I can have most of the rest of the dinner, thankfully.
We are on Day 6 now and I am sure he has realized the truth in my warning. The first three days I was a bit of a jerk. Even though he was cooking the majority I complained about how there was "nothing good to eat". Which of course, was a lie because everything he cooked was delicious. I'm much better now that we are halfway through and I've apologized for my petulant behaviour.
The cool things about this cleanse:
1) You can eat as much of the "allowed" foods as you want (you are supposed to leave proteins for 20% of your diet but really, who is to say how much that is?)
2) It seems to work in terms of weight loss-- though what I really care about is energy levels. I'll keep you posted on that, as I just woke up from a nap so nothing has changed. Though I think it isn't supposed to until the end.
3) it forces you to be creative food wise. Yesterday I went to the grocery store and I found salsa, guacamole and CORN CHIPS we can eat. The discovery of chips has made my life so much better.
The not-so-awesome parts of the cleanse:
1) food takes time. So it is tough on the go.
2) NO SAUCE! I love sauce. Like ketchup.
3) No bread, which is another of my personal favourites.
4) the pills are laxatives which I'm sure you can understand why that would be a downside. Though if you have nothing to do and you are just hanging around the home for a couple days, it isn't so big a deal. It gets less as times goes on, as well.
Anyways, I cannot tell you how much weight I've lost as I do not own a scale, but James will tell me I'm sure, at the end. Toughest moment will be for me tomorrow as my Aunt is cooking a turnkey dinner. Stuffing is my absolute favourite thing in the whole world and I cannot have it, or gravy. But I have resolved to take a container and freeze it so I can enjoy it after next Friday. I can have most of the rest of the dinner, thankfully.
Saturday, 23 March 2013
March Madness
As I wait for James to finish whatever he is doing so we can watch Indiana Jones, I have decided to write a post regaling you all of the ups and downs of March 2013.
I shall recount my tale in a way that goes positive, negative and then positive again. We learned this "sandwich" technique in school to use when talking to parents about naughty children, though most of the time I have no problem talking to parents so I haven't really utilized it too often. Anyways, here goes.
I have a job interview for an internship position starting in September. I really hope I get it because I would be much happier living where I am currently living. I have strong connections here and James is now working at a book store. I can't just drag him away from a job that benefits me in such a wonderful way. He gets discounts and he can set good books aside for me before shelving them. This is a very serious perk, and cannot be taken lightly.
The internship position is for the dorms, so my hope is that I will be able to teach and be a dorm mom at the same time.
I had to put my 20 year old dog down. This was one of the most difficult things I have done, as I had had her for 17 years. Having something constantly underfoot for that long means when it goes away, you are still tripping over something that isn't there. She was a wonderful dog, and she will be missed every day.
A week before putting Chippy down, I ran over a dog. It was very dark, and the dog was a black puppy. There was no way I could even swerve. This was clearly very traumatic for a dog lover such as myself. Luckily, the dog lived. However it may have to lose some of its toes. The owner is setting up a Facebook page for donations so I will be posting that soon. March was not a good month for me and my four legged friends. BUT in the process I found out James is secretly a superhero. My car is a Volkswagen beetle and when I pulled over on the side of the road the poor dog was still underneath the car because it is so low. James lifted the car off the dog and saved the day! He was also the most supportive when I was doing the ugly cry about Chippy. Which lasted roughly three days.
James has returned into the room and we shall start Indiana now, however I promised one more positive thing so I will say that I got to be a camp leader for a FULL WEEK! This means lots of funny stories to share, and also MONEY. Money for my credit card because it is very sad and needs some attention.
I shall recount my tale in a way that goes positive, negative and then positive again. We learned this "sandwich" technique in school to use when talking to parents about naughty children, though most of the time I have no problem talking to parents so I haven't really utilized it too often. Anyways, here goes.
I have a job interview for an internship position starting in September. I really hope I get it because I would be much happier living where I am currently living. I have strong connections here and James is now working at a book store. I can't just drag him away from a job that benefits me in such a wonderful way. He gets discounts and he can set good books aside for me before shelving them. This is a very serious perk, and cannot be taken lightly.
The internship position is for the dorms, so my hope is that I will be able to teach and be a dorm mom at the same time.
I had to put my 20 year old dog down. This was one of the most difficult things I have done, as I had had her for 17 years. Having something constantly underfoot for that long means when it goes away, you are still tripping over something that isn't there. She was a wonderful dog, and she will be missed every day.
A week before putting Chippy down, I ran over a dog. It was very dark, and the dog was a black puppy. There was no way I could even swerve. This was clearly very traumatic for a dog lover such as myself. Luckily, the dog lived. However it may have to lose some of its toes. The owner is setting up a Facebook page for donations so I will be posting that soon. March was not a good month for me and my four legged friends. BUT in the process I found out James is secretly a superhero. My car is a Volkswagen beetle and when I pulled over on the side of the road the poor dog was still underneath the car because it is so low. James lifted the car off the dog and saved the day! He was also the most supportive when I was doing the ugly cry about Chippy. Which lasted roughly three days.
James has returned into the room and we shall start Indiana now, however I promised one more positive thing so I will say that I got to be a camp leader for a FULL WEEK! This means lots of funny stories to share, and also MONEY. Money for my credit card because it is very sad and needs some attention.
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Teaching is Fun
I've been leading a drama club at the private school I did my final practicum at. We are doing the Lorax and it is going super well. The kids are all really talented, not to mention hilarious.
On Monday a grade four girl said "Kim, your boots are ATTRACTIVE". I then wasted a good two minutes just laughing and telling her how awesome she is.
I have an interview/work experience day at another private school next week! James and I went to a fundraiser for the independent school and I spoke to the principal. Networking certainly helps when it comes to working with private schools. I have been productive as well and am applying all over Canada AND THE WORLD!
And contests. I began entering them again. Which is actually what started this blog! Perhaps I will win another trip and I will regale you all with tales of my adventure. There is a Viking Longboat Cruise that I am really hoping for.
One of my friends may be going to work in China. I am sure she will have a blog, as we had one together when we went on our trip to Vietnam. Which was entirely too long ago.
I suppose that is all I have to say, for now.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Blog Feature
I belong to a really wicked promotional team on etsy. Today I was featured in the teams blog! I did a little interview, and a bunch of my work is shown!
Kind of cool, yeah?
http://etsytreasuryteam.blogspot.ca/2013/02/tapadhleibhcards-travel-and-nature-art.html
Sunday, 17 February 2013
French And Gym
I've been called in three times (so far) to teach at the private school I am employed at. Once, to teach grade 4 French. Which I do not speak. James is bilingual, and therefore would make a wonderful teacher as there is a great need for french immersion educators. But as it turns out I didn't need to speak any French. I was prepared to teach a French lesson. If you have never listened to "Je Suis Une Pizza", do yourself a favour and avoid it. It gets stuck in your head as soon as you hear the song title. Sometimes, I sing it when I eat pizza. Regardless, it made a good lesson. Theoretically of course, because I didn't end up having to teach anything french related. But damnit, I was ready. I even had little pizza print outs for kids to draw their favourite toppings on.
Basically I planned a lesson where I didn't have to speak a lick of French. Thank goodness for modern technology.
The other two shifts I have had have been for physical education. I am not necessarily the most physically active soul in the world, but I think I pulled it off. No serious injuries, and only a few tears. And the kids did alright too.
HAH! Oh, being a certified teacher means I get to have lame teacher humour, which is ever so fun.
I have been getting a lot more experience with the primary grades. Teaching kindergarden is both different, and oddly similar to teaching the intermediate grades. I also have subbed for the After School Care Program at the rec centre I work for during the summers.
One thing I've noticed about the younger children, is that they are hilarious without knowing it. Call me Cosby, but kids really do say the darndest things. I was playing with one particularly cute little gal and we were doing one of those puzzles that you dump all the shapes out and then put them in the appropriate places. This particular puzzle was vegetable themed and under each of the shapes was the name of the corresponding vegetable. Because Canada is bilingual, the vegetable name was in both english and french. I did my best to read out the french (as we established earlier, not my strongest form of communication) and we finished the puzzle.
The second puzzle was of the same variety, however it did not have the names of the food written underneath the pieces. Now, the young lady I was completing the puzzle with decided this time she would read me out the french and I would find the puzzle pieces. I thought this was interesting and was impressed that this five year old knew french.
She did not. But she sure acted like she did. "Kim, pass me the le sundaeee" which clearly meant sundae.
"Kim, pass me the applelooloo".
I tried my best to keep a straight face through this process. I do have to say, that I wish she was speaking real french, as it would have been one of the first times I understood a french conversation in its entirety.
Basically I planned a lesson where I didn't have to speak a lick of French. Thank goodness for modern technology.
The other two shifts I have had have been for physical education. I am not necessarily the most physically active soul in the world, but I think I pulled it off. No serious injuries, and only a few tears. And the kids did alright too.
HAH! Oh, being a certified teacher means I get to have lame teacher humour, which is ever so fun.
I have been getting a lot more experience with the primary grades. Teaching kindergarden is both different, and oddly similar to teaching the intermediate grades. I also have subbed for the After School Care Program at the rec centre I work for during the summers.
One thing I've noticed about the younger children, is that they are hilarious without knowing it. Call me Cosby, but kids really do say the darndest things. I was playing with one particularly cute little gal and we were doing one of those puzzles that you dump all the shapes out and then put them in the appropriate places. This particular puzzle was vegetable themed and under each of the shapes was the name of the corresponding vegetable. Because Canada is bilingual, the vegetable name was in both english and french. I did my best to read out the french (as we established earlier, not my strongest form of communication) and we finished the puzzle.
The second puzzle was of the same variety, however it did not have the names of the food written underneath the pieces. Now, the young lady I was completing the puzzle with decided this time she would read me out the french and I would find the puzzle pieces. I thought this was interesting and was impressed that this five year old knew french.
She did not. But she sure acted like she did. "Kim, pass me the le sundaeee" which clearly meant sundae.
"Kim, pass me the applelooloo".
I tried my best to keep a straight face through this process. I do have to say, that I wish she was speaking real french, as it would have been one of the first times I understood a french conversation in its entirety.
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