Subbing

After reading Alisyn's blog latest blog entry, I decided to share my exciting adventures from the last two days.

I decided to substitute at my mother's school both Thursday and Friday for a second grade class. I arrived early Thursday morning prepared to take a beating, but was surprised to see a young woman already in the classroom. I stopped in my tracks, thinking that I had mistakenly entered the wrong room. It turns out, however, that she was the student teacher! No one had told me about this! So the deal was that I got to sit and do absolutely nothing the entire day while she taught and handled the class. AWKWARD! However, it turned out to be okay. She was very nice and told me to read a book or something and that I didn't need to worry about a thing. So I did what she said. I felt VERY guilty getting paid for a full day's work (2 days actually) when all I did was read. However, that's the way it goes. District rules.

The kids got used to me just sitting and reading but most were too shy to say anything to me, they just smiled and did a little wave. One child though came over to where I was to use the stapler.
"What are you doing?"
"Just reading"
"Are you really reading that?!" (the book is pretty big)
"Yup"
"Why?"
"Cause I wanted to"
"Huh..."
The child, with confused face and freshly stapled paper, then walked to his desk and sat down to ponder the wonders of the world and why someone would want to read a book that big.

The last half hour of Thursday the secretary "borrowed" me to go and teach the music class. It happened to be a sixth grade class and the lesson plan that day was to be an animator and while listening to Beethoven's 5th draw a picture of what the music reminded them of. When they had finished they got to watch and see what the animators of Fantasia had thought of for the same music. Cool idea. The kids were a riot! I had some of them share their ideas and pictures with the class. I hadn't told the kids the name of the piece of music beforehand, but one boy drew a picture of Beethoven pounding on the piano cause he said the music reminded him of Beethoven, even though he didn't know who composed the song. Another boy drew a picture of a unicorn whose droppings were rainbows. He said the music didn't remind him of unicorns but Fantasia did. I thought that the world would be a much better place if the cats and dogs of my neighborhood had droppings that were rainbows. At least my garden area would be colorful (lousy cats!!).

Today was just as delightful and I had fun spending time with my mom. I got to eat lunch with her and spend recess in her classroom! By the way, I think it's cool that if you are the teacher at an elementary school you get recess too! I definitely need a job that offers recess at least twice a day.

A Week's Worth of Ramblings

I'm going to tell the story backwords, starting with today and going back.

I think I am getting sick. Actually, I know it and I also know that my body is totally fighting it. I absolutely hate colds, so I decided that I won't get them anymore. Saturday night I started getting a sore throat and I knew I was in for it. I always get a sore throat first and then the full-blown horridness of the sneezy, runny nose, headache, achy body miserableness. I have filled my body with all sorts of vitamins and liquids so I hope I will slide through this quickly. I have to do another internet radio show this weekend (did I tell you they made me a regular?) and I really don't want a stuffy nose to make my voice sound worse.

Conference is always wonderful. I love the spirit is brings into our home. I also love the excuse to sit home and rest.

My in-laws came up this weekend, they had tickets to 3 of the 5 sessions of conference and they wanted to see us. We went up to Bountiful last night and spent quite a bit of time chatting. I think things are going much better with them. At least I didn't spend the whole night hating them and they gave me orange juice for my throat (I think I drank a whole gallon).

I had a couple of consultations this week, and I actually got a contract signed. I need more than one though so I worked hard this week sending emails and posting ads around. I had a huge week in regards to hits to my website, apparently people keep looking but I am still waiting for them to call. I guess starting something new will always be harder than I expected it to be.

Bridal Fair #1

So I think we made it. We successfully survived the first bridal fair ordeal. Ordeal doesn't sound like the right word... how about baptism by fire, yes I think that's better.

And what a fire it was! I was totally burned out by the end. Perhaps I should start on Friday morning. After a long Thursday night of creating and fixing my marketing pieces I thought I could print them out on my computer and be done with it. By noon on Friday I was completely and utterly discouraged. Seven hours, several gallons of gas, and two nervous breakdowns later, I had accomplished very little beyond picking up a few supplies at Costco. Everything went wrong with my marketing pieces and I had to reformat them all. In the end with the help from my wonderful and supportive husband, I was able to figure it out.

We went to Provo High School at 8pm to set up for the bridal fair and with my strong brothers (and sister) we got the whole thing done fairly quickly. I will post pics below. After the set up was finished around 10:00, we ran a few more errands: Walmart, my storage unit, my parents, Wendy's (we hadn't eaten since lunch), and finally Kinkos (my third visit that day). We spent the glorious hours of 12:30-2:00am printing and cutting fliers. It was great! I think it was actually the most productive part of my day aside from setting up. I finally was able to lay my head down on my pillow at 3:30am, only to wake at 7:30am to rush and get ready.

At the bridal fair my savior, Alisyn, came to the rescue and we rushed to finish setting up. 15 minutes before the show started we were told that we could take up the space next to us because the people hadn't showed up. So in the end we had a huge space! Al and I rushed to recenter the backdrop, but boy was it worth it!

Because of Anna and Al's beautiful daisy balls that were hanging from the backdrop we got tons of girls stopping to look at our booth. We were the only bright colors on our row so people were drawn to us like flies. All in all, I think it went very well. My website hits have been fairly high since the bridal fair, so that's great. At least people are looking. I have been looking too. I checked out all my competition and from what I can tell I have the most variety and the most visually interesting backdrops. I also have the lowest prices, so cross your fingers that the phone starts ringing.

Ketchup

Have you ever felt kinda empty inside but you don't know why? It's sort of like a hollow sadness. I have been feeling that way today, like if one more little thing were to go wrong, I might just sit down and cry. The funny thing is, not too much has gone wrong today, so I don't know why I feel this way.

So the bridal fair is this week and I have been crazy trying to get my act in gear. A couple of weeks ago I ordered a vinyl sign from online and I have been waiting to get it for the past week. I had already sent them an email last week and made 3 unanswered phone calls, so today I sent them an email saying that if I didn't hear from them by tomorrow I would take legal action against them. Apparently that scared them as I got both an email and a phone call in which I was told that the store had closed and they were issuing a full refund. Yeah right. Whatever. It was only $30.

I made ketchup today. My Great Grandmother, Grandma Ellen, to whom I was very close, used to make this homemade ketchup that I grew up loving. I was 12 when she died and I had a very difficult time adjusting to eating food without that wonderful condiment. I have a special fondness for eating it with the traditional breakfast Grandma Ellen used to make when I slept over (which was nearly every weekend for 2 years). We would eat fried eggs, toast, bacon, oatmeal with raisins, and orange juice and we always had ketchup with it. When I got married I decided enough was enough and I found the recipe and started bottling it. I was amazed when it tasted exactly how I remembered it. This is the 3rd time I have made it (cause I keep running out!) and all day long the house smells like spices and it brings the sweetest memories of my childhood. Someday I will also learn how to bottle her version of dill pickles and green beans (not together), but for now this is good.

Reflections of Faith

My religion is very personal to me, and although I know I should share my feelings on the subject more often, I usually shy away from opening the innermost chambers of my soul. However, I have been reflecting on my religion today as I went visiting teaching this morning. My companion asked me to type up my testimony of the Savior to give to those we visit teach, so obediently and hesitatingly, I did so. I now feel compelled to share it with you as it seems appropriate at this special Easter season.

I know that Christ is my personal Savior and Redeemer. The experiences I have had throughout my life have manifested this to me in a thousand different ways. Each morning as I gaze at the newly risen sun, I am reminded of another Son who also rose to light the world with hope, love, and the promise of eternal life. It is impossible to look at the magnificent creations around us and doubt that the Lord loves us, each individually. It is such a blessing to me that I know that my Savior lives, that he suffered for our sins, and that through Him all mankind may be saved. It is a message that touches the innermost emotions of the heart. As I strive through each day trying to do all that must be done, this message breaks in through the suffering and I know that I am not alone in a crowd, but that I am His, I was bought with each tear and drop of blood that was shed for me. That love and compassion can make the hardest days bearable and lifts my weary shoulders. As President Hinckley has said, “In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us.” I testify this is true and that His love will forever be with us.

-Annalee B. Strub


"He Lives" by Simon Dewey

Should've Read the Warning

I don't feel so good.

I'm not technically sick, but I am nauseated from motion sickness. Yesterday Alexander finally got the game he has been waiting for: Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Oh yeah! So as Wii games go, this one rocks. However, it makes me feel very sick to play it. And then, once I play it, I am sick the entire rest of the day. After feeling awful for a couple hours today, we looked on the game's box and found a warning that read; "Playing video games can cause motion sickness in some players. If you or your child feels dizzy or nauseous when playing video games, stop playing and rest. Do not drive or engage in other demanding activity until you feel better." Hmmm... at least I'm not having seizures which the game also warns about. Needless to say Alexander has been begging me to play with him all day, and now I am sick. Blech!

I was supposed to have a wedding consultation this morning at 10:00, but my client called and canceled at 9:30, approximately way too late! I was up until 3:00am making sure I had all the papers ready and all the appropriate room designs drawn up and that my house was spotless, and then she called and acted like it was no big deal! I was infuriated! Plus, she was rather rude on the phone, so I think I will take her wedding off my calender. She can try to find someone else to decorate her wedding this late in the game (good luck with that).

To make up for the frustrating morning, I got a phone call this afternoon that made my day. This woman was the mother of the groom and was in charge of the luncheon, but had no idea what to do or how to get started. My experience at C&W finally paid off as I BS'd my way through one of the best business calls I have ever had. I recommended a caterer, gave her design ideas, gave her an estimate, practically read her mind (so she said), told her what she needed to ask when reserving a park for the luncheon, etc. It was totally awesome! She told me she had a list of phone numbers in front of her and no one had she had talked to had been nearly as informational as me. After talking for about 15 min she asked me to call her in 2 days to make sure she hadn't lost her mind yet and to discuss more details. I am pretty sure I have this one in the bag (plus this woman is hilarious!)! The best part though was that I asked her how she got the number (so that I would know what marketing was working) and she said she found it on the internet! Boo-Yah! It's working, it's working, it's working!!!

Anyway, if you can't tell I am pretty psyched. Plus, I found out today that I am for sure a vendor at the upcoming Bridal Fair at Provo High on March 29! Awesome marketing opportunity! If I get even one wedding booked from it, it will make up for the cost of the show. Overall I would say that things are going pretty well for my little business.

Well, my nausea has mostly gone away so I think it's time for bed.

Toadally Psychotic

Once upon a time there was a young, 21 year old, college student named (affectionately) Foolish Anna. Foolish Anna lived a very normal life full of school, work, and dating. There was one boy in particular whom Foolish Anna especially liked, but he drove her crazy. This boy was called (unaffectionately) McDorkle. Foolish Anna met McDorkle during the summer while he was home from college and when she had time to play. They dated all summer, but then he had to go back to school in Oregon.

To ease the pain of being apart, McDorkle called Foolish Anna almost every night, and almost every night they grew closer together, except for the times when McDorkle would unexpectedly (okay, the first time was unexpected, but after that it became a pattern) decide he didn't like Foolish Anna anymore and would, in effect, dump her. Foolish Anna didn't care. She was too busy being important at school. A few weeks would go by and then McDorkle would call or send an email begging Foolish Anna to be his again. Foolish Anna would relent and all would be well. McDorkle visited Foolish Anna many times during the school year. He was her diversion and she was his rock, standing by his side when his father died, when he did badly on exams, and when he was so lonely he cried. Foolish Anna even took a road trip with her bestest pal to visit McDorkle in his beautiful world of Oregon (this trip still tops the charts as BEST ROAD TRIP EVER! and it wasn't because of McDorkle).

Eventually McDorkle proclaimed his undying love for Foolish Anna and asked her to marry him despite the fact that he: thought she was too young; didn't like when she dyed her hair; treated her like a child; never took her to a fancy restaurant; stifled her humor; told her she was fat; didn't believe or support her dreams; and finally, made her cry nearly every time she saw him. Foolish Anna prayed and then said yes (much to her own surprise)because she remembered all the happy times, the ice cream, the laughter, the trip along the Oregon coast. A couple weeks into the engagement he dumped her again and she told him to never bother her ever again and she really meant it. She went home and cried and felt better about it the next day. That's when Anna stopped being foolish.

Exactly one week later, the new and improved Anna met the man of her dreams and they lived happily ever after. ;) However, nearly 3 years after ending it with McDorkle (who consequently emailed me 3 weeks after our breakup to tell me he was engaged to someone else) I was filled with a morbid curiosity as to his current situation. I spent some time on the internet and using my professional skills as a researcher, I was able to find a surprising amount of information about him. The most exciting for me was his current picture. HE LOOKS LIKE A TOAD! REALLY! I'M NOT EXAGGERATING! I thought I would die with laughter.

Ya know, it's the little things in life that make every day worthwhile, and that picture toadally made my day. ;)

Just so you all know that I don't harbor any bad feelings for McDorkle (the name was given to him by Alexander), I have posted my favorite memories of the happy times we had because even though we were a really crappy couple, we were really good friends.

In front of the Portland Temple (I can post this one cause we aren't touching) ;)


My sanity and road trip partner :)