school and memory lane + some random fall pics of russell

Hey everyone!

This is the first time I've logged onto blogger since my last post...and it makes me sad. School is SUCH a zoo right now. I barely have time to read my textbooks, let alone other blogger's posts.

One thing I think is really awesome about my major is that I oftentimes feel like I'm reliving my childhood. For example, in my Creating Meaning Through Literature and Arts class, my professor read us the first few pages of Little House in the Big Woods, and it reminded me of when Mom read Bailey and I that book. We were still living in the trailer house and we sat on either side of her on the old navy-checked loveseat.

Bailey was probably covering her nose with her blankie and sucking her thumb.

Also, we were avid watchers of the TV show then.

Who am I kidding, we still are now.

Or during my Foundations of Education class, we discussed the topic of taking a behaviorist approach to teaching, in which the teacher uses reinforcement to get his or her students to basically do whatever they want. For example, in first grade, Miss Larson always gave the kids that got 100% on the weekly spelling test a piece of candy. Specifically, I remember there being Laffy Taffys and Warheads. Anyways, one day, Marcella and I (and I think maybe Lindsey) were in the classroom by ourselves, and we STOLE a piece of candy from the jar!

I STILL FEEL GUILTY, PEOPLE.

Also, Miss Larson, if you're reading this, I'm so so so so so so so so so so sorry.

But it's not like I didn't get 100% on every spelling test, right? :)

Ahh.

Anyways.

I've been spending a lot of time observing in actual classrooms, which I love. It reminds me of why I'm going through all the projects and lectures and lack of sleep and emotional eating and everything else involved with my major. Seriously, don't go into education thinking it's going to be easy. It's a LOT of flippin' work.

But, I love it, and the more time goes on, the more I'm sure I'm in the right major.

I wish I had some photos pertaining to this post to share with you, but these photos from last weekend of my dog running around the yard with a cornstalk he found will have to do.

:)

Love,

Kalli

wake me up when September ends...

Sorry I haven't posted in a coon's age. Yes, I'm still alive. School has definitely overtaken my life.

I can't say that I don't love it.

I hope you were sitting down when you read that last sentence.

Classes are going well. I love the hands-on ones; the boring, "informative" ones, mmm...not so much. Oh well. They're required, so it's not like I have a choice. One in particular has been a real struggle: Parenting.

I know nothing about being a parent, so how do you suppose my first exam in that class went?

Actually it wasn't that bad, but still.

September, all and all, was a pretty fabulous month, as it usually is. Here's my favorite goings-on:

1) I spent Labor Day Weekend with Granny and Papa Ray at the lake. We only got one day of fishing in as the weather wasn't being overly cooperative, but it was still pretty successful. This is the 40 inch Northern I landed...

He was a beaut.

2) I went home one weekend this month (hope you were sitting down when you read that one, too) and Gus, Dad, and I picked all of the potatoes out of the garden. Then Dad pulled this monster of a carrot out of the ground. I was so disappointed that I didn't have it together and get it over to Lancaster for the Fall Fest big vegetable contest...

3) Haley, Anna, and I went to this thing called outdoor skills day; it was fun! We got to shoot bow and they shot guns (I hate big guns, big no-no for me), and practiced fly fishing.

4) I went to Itasca with some friends for the day one weekend. In the morning, we went to the headwaters and checked out the trails and gift shop. After buying a bunch of food to grill, we realized we forgot charcoal, so we had to eat at this crappy, over-priced restaurant.

Yeah yeah, go ahead and make a joke about how women plan things, I don't care.

In the afternoon, we did *water sports* and went to the museum. It was a flipping blast, the weather was gorgeous, and we didn't tip the canoe.

CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI HEADWATERS.

YEAH I KNOW. TOMMY BOYING IT.

5) My beautiful mother celebrated her 42nd birthday this month.

6) And, instead of celebrating with her, Anna and I went down to the cities to watch the Vikings lose to the Browns.

Haha.

It's what you'd call the fork in the family tree.

7) It was reinforced in my life one night that it really does pay off to be pleasant to people. I was out at a bar and got hungry, so I went to order a pizza. The woman behind the counter asked me how I was and I said good, and I asked her how she was, and then I asked if it was too late to get a pizza. She said, "Yes, we close at 10. Sorry." So I told her that that was just fine and that I would get one next time. 20 minutes later she comes walking up to my table with a pizza and she said, "You were so friendly that I wanted to give you this." Obviously I was in shock because things like this never happen to me, so I gave her a big hug and argued with her about paying for it.

Seriously. A free pizza. After hours.

So, lesson learned, be nice to people, because it works to your advantage.

8) I went to this self-defense seminar. It was so fun! Now I can kick your rear end. So back off, creepy guys hiding in the bushes.

9) These were made on Saturday:

Salted caramel brownie bites and chocolate chip pumpkin cookies.

They're just terrible.

10) My best friend is up for Homecoming Queen here at UMC this week. And she's no stranger to the crown.

Good luck, Hales :)

Love,

Kalli