Us
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Friday, August 07, 2009
Student Teaching
In my time at BYU-I, I have never EVER gotten any help from student employees. They don't know what they're talking about, and when you question their authority and ask to speak to someone who does know what they're talking about, they get really defensive, and keep assuring you that they can help you. No. No you can't. I've been talking to you for 15 minutes, and it is obvious to me that I am not going to get what I need from you.
Obviously, there is something to spur this blog rant.
I applied for student teaching about a month ago. I had all my paperwork, I checked with the advising office twice (with different people) to make sure there wouldn't be a problem with my student teaching. I also talked to someone in the education office. Everyone told me I was good to graduate. I asked - Is there anything else? No - you're all set. Great!
The student teaching will not even bother to look at your information if they think there is something missing/wrong.
So, sometime in these next couple of days we're supposed to find out our general placements for student teaching - local, Arizona, Utah, Las Vegas. I got an e-mail from one of the student teaching people and opened it with much anticipation...
This is what it said:
Megan.
Congratulation on being so close to completing your degree. After an initial check I noticed that some courses in your Music Education Composite are not showing up as complete. I know you have been working closely with the advising center of visual and performing arts. I would recommend that you contact them and make sure everything is complete with this major and fill out any necessary substitutions now to prevent problems in the future with student teaching placement.
(signed)
What the crap?!
So, I respond with an e-mail asking where the problem is, because this e-mail is vague, and I've already been told by 3 people that I can graduate.
This was on... Wednesday and I haven't gotten anything back. But the student teaching people get really worked up if you contact them, because they are simply TOO BUSY to even try to answer all student e-mails, and as a result, they ignore them. They have sent out e-mails that tell us this. Basically - don't even try. But I did anyway. You can't send me an e-mail like that, and then not expect a question or two.
I contact the Music Advising Office, and ask if Sister Jones (the full-time adult employee who works there who is the only one who knows what she's doing) and the full-time adult secretary tells me, yes, she is in from 10-2.
I go to the Music Advising Office yesterday, and see a student sitting at Sister Jones' desk.
"...Uh, is Sister Jones in today?"
"No."
"Do you know if she'll be in later?"
"No. She doesn't come in during the 7-week break. She might stop in during the day, but I don't know."
"Oh. Can I make an appointment to see her? "
We set up an appointment for today at noon with the understanding that if Sister Jones knew there was an appointment, she would come in for it.
I get an e-mail yesterday saying she won't be in at all, but I can come in and meet with the student who will be working there. The student also tells me that after looking at my grad report, I am missing a class. The student also tells me that there are substitutions that need to be made in my courses.
I refuse to go meet with a student employee, of the same breed who told me in the first place that I could graduate, which information appears to be wrong.
So I send an e-mail to the above mentioned student.
I tell him I am waiting for the professor to add me to the class (I have been waiting for about 2 months now). You would think that the people and secretaries in charge of registration might be able to add me to the class anyway if I have professor permission, but so far I haven't gotten anywhere with that. And now that the professors are on break, who knows when I might get added to it. As far as I know, the student teaching people will ignore my application for student teaching until I am added to this class. I also ask about the substitution that needs to be made.
I get an e-mail back that says "we usually make the substitutions when you apply for graduation". Oh- cuz I thought when I said "So, I'm good to graduate" and you said "Yes" that meant that the necessary paperwork had been completed.
No, I would be wrong.
I am waiting for an e-mail back.
I'm really annoyed! It's not like I haphazardly threw together my student teaching application and didn't bother to make sure I had all of my classes complete - I actually met with three different people who ALL told me I could student teach and graduate. I had assumed that meant I could student teach and graduate! Not that there would be extra paperwork that had to be filed before I could student teach and graduate. Which aparently THEY have to file!!! Gr. The information I have gotten from student employees is NEVER correct. EVER. And when I ask to speak with the full-time adult employee that supervises them, they get all offended and keep talking to me like I'M the one that doesn't know anything.
*sigh*
I did get an e-mail just as I was typing this that says I will be placed locally, but I won't find out exactly where until mid to late November. For those of you who don't know, "local" to the student teaching office means anywhere from Island Park to Pocatello - basically 1 hour (+) in any direction.
Why does everything with this school have to be so COMPLICATED?!!! I will be so glad to finally graduate!
Obviously, there is something to spur this blog rant.
I applied for student teaching about a month ago. I had all my paperwork, I checked with the advising office twice (with different people) to make sure there wouldn't be a problem with my student teaching. I also talked to someone in the education office. Everyone told me I was good to graduate. I asked - Is there anything else? No - you're all set. Great!
The student teaching will not even bother to look at your information if they think there is something missing/wrong.
So, sometime in these next couple of days we're supposed to find out our general placements for student teaching - local, Arizona, Utah, Las Vegas. I got an e-mail from one of the student teaching people and opened it with much anticipation...
This is what it said:
Megan.
Congratulation on being so close to completing your degree. After an initial check I noticed that some courses in your Music Education Composite are not showing up as complete. I know you have been working closely with the advising center of visual and performing arts. I would recommend that you contact them and make sure everything is complete with this major and fill out any necessary substitutions now to prevent problems in the future with student teaching placement.
(signed)
What the crap?!
So, I respond with an e-mail asking where the problem is, because this e-mail is vague, and I've already been told by 3 people that I can graduate.
This was on... Wednesday and I haven't gotten anything back. But the student teaching people get really worked up if you contact them, because they are simply TOO BUSY to even try to answer all student e-mails, and as a result, they ignore them. They have sent out e-mails that tell us this. Basically - don't even try. But I did anyway. You can't send me an e-mail like that, and then not expect a question or two.
I contact the Music Advising Office, and ask if Sister Jones (the full-time adult employee who works there who is the only one who knows what she's doing) and the full-time adult secretary tells me, yes, she is in from 10-2.
I go to the Music Advising Office yesterday, and see a student sitting at Sister Jones' desk.
"...Uh, is Sister Jones in today?"
"No."
"Do you know if she'll be in later?"
"No. She doesn't come in during the 7-week break. She might stop in during the day, but I don't know."
"Oh. Can I make an appointment to see her? "
We set up an appointment for today at noon with the understanding that if Sister Jones knew there was an appointment, she would come in for it.
I get an e-mail yesterday saying she won't be in at all, but I can come in and meet with the student who will be working there. The student also tells me that after looking at my grad report, I am missing a class. The student also tells me that there are substitutions that need to be made in my courses.
I refuse to go meet with a student employee, of the same breed who told me in the first place that I could graduate, which information appears to be wrong.
So I send an e-mail to the above mentioned student.
I tell him I am waiting for the professor to add me to the class (I have been waiting for about 2 months now). You would think that the people and secretaries in charge of registration might be able to add me to the class anyway if I have professor permission, but so far I haven't gotten anywhere with that. And now that the professors are on break, who knows when I might get added to it. As far as I know, the student teaching people will ignore my application for student teaching until I am added to this class. I also ask about the substitution that needs to be made.
I get an e-mail back that says "we usually make the substitutions when you apply for graduation". Oh- cuz I thought when I said "So, I'm good to graduate" and you said "Yes" that meant that the necessary paperwork had been completed.
No, I would be wrong.
I am waiting for an e-mail back.
I'm really annoyed! It's not like I haphazardly threw together my student teaching application and didn't bother to make sure I had all of my classes complete - I actually met with three different people who ALL told me I could student teach and graduate. I had assumed that meant I could student teach and graduate! Not that there would be extra paperwork that had to be filed before I could student teach and graduate. Which aparently THEY have to file!!! Gr. The information I have gotten from student employees is NEVER correct. EVER. And when I ask to speak with the full-time adult employee that supervises them, they get all offended and keep talking to me like I'M the one that doesn't know anything.
*sigh*
I did get an e-mail just as I was typing this that says I will be placed locally, but I won't find out exactly where until mid to late November. For those of you who don't know, "local" to the student teaching office means anywhere from Island Park to Pocatello - basically 1 hour (+) in any direction.
Why does everything with this school have to be so COMPLICATED?!!! I will be so glad to finally graduate!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Summer Vacation: Day 12
Yesterday was another day of the Folk Dance Festival. I went to the Junior High (the dancer's dressing rooms were there) from 3-5 to watch the door. There was a street festival set up on Main Street from 5:30-ish (?). We walked around and looked at all the booths, got free water, lollipops, cotton candy, and popcorn. The parade started at 6:30. Each country came through and did a dance. The parade lasted 30-40 minutes. After that, we were hungry, and not wanting to pay street festival prices for street festival quality food, we went to Jack in the Box.
We got back from Jack in the Box and bought tickets to see UP at the cheap theaters at 9:00. The fun center (just opened) across the street from our apartment was giving out free hot dogs, so we went and ate hot dogs, even though we were really full from Jack in the Box. But they were free! If only there had been free funnel cakes... The closest we got were free samples of little fried donuts. Yum.
While we waited for the movie, we walked around Main Street some more and helped clean up a little bit. It had been pretty stormy looking all evening. There were dark clouds and lots of wind, and around 8:00, it finally started raining. But it never really rained, just a sprinkling here and there. But around 8:00, it rained again, and then, sure enough, it hailed! Apparently in Rexburg you are never free from the threat of hail.
We went to the movie (which was as sentimental as Melissa said it was) and when that got out, they were still having their street dance (It went to 11:00). We walked around the street dance, and then walked down to the sno cone shack and bought a small sno cone for $1.00. We made our way back to our apartment and sat on our front step and ate our sno cone before we went inside and called it a day.
Sorry no pictures. It was one of those perfectly pleasant summer nights - just thought I'd share - so you want to come visit us sometime because you're reading all about how fun Rexburg really is. (ha!)
Today is free taco day at Jack in the Box - you can print out a coupon for 2 free tacos. ($1.00 value)
Anyways, the end.
We got back from Jack in the Box and bought tickets to see UP at the cheap theaters at 9:00. The fun center (just opened) across the street from our apartment was giving out free hot dogs, so we went and ate hot dogs, even though we were really full from Jack in the Box. But they were free! If only there had been free funnel cakes... The closest we got were free samples of little fried donuts. Yum.
While we waited for the movie, we walked around Main Street some more and helped clean up a little bit. It had been pretty stormy looking all evening. There were dark clouds and lots of wind, and around 8:00, it finally started raining. But it never really rained, just a sprinkling here and there. But around 8:00, it rained again, and then, sure enough, it hailed! Apparently in Rexburg you are never free from the threat of hail.
We went to the movie (which was as sentimental as Melissa said it was) and when that got out, they were still having their street dance (It went to 11:00). We walked around the street dance, and then walked down to the sno cone shack and bought a small sno cone for $1.00. We made our way back to our apartment and sat on our front step and ate our sno cone before we went inside and called it a day.
Sorry no pictures. It was one of those perfectly pleasant summer nights - just thought I'd share - so you want to come visit us sometime because you're reading all about how fun Rexburg really is. (ha!)
Today is free taco day at Jack in the Box - you can print out a coupon for 2 free tacos. ($1.00 value)
Anyways, the end.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Summer Vacation: Day 11
I told you I would post pictures of the giant cupcake we made for our friends who just moved into a new apartment. We bought the cupcake pan at Porter's and this was our first attempt to make it. It was really hot that day, and our frosting was thin to begin with so you can see that it kind of melted. Not the best thing we've ever made, but here it is.
The roof - Chad's work. With Necco wafer chimney.
We put our friends on the cake in frosting - Mom, Dad and little unknown-gender baby (except we recently found out they're having a girl!)
The back of the house.
In other news - we rented a tandem kayak this last weekend since Chad got Saturday off. (YAY!) It was $15 for the day, but since it was Saturday, we had it until Monday. We packed some sandwiches and took it out to Rigby Lake (which now costs $5 to get into - $6.50 if you don't have cash and have to pay with a credit/debit card.... boooooo....).
We pass this lake frequently since it's on the way to Idaho Falls - it always looks so nice and cool on a hot day. So we went finally. Unfortunately, you can see the whole lake from one place, so it wasn't too exciting. We took the kayak out for 20 minutes (tops) before we got bored. We dipped our feet in the lake, tried to swim, but only got in to our waists because the water was SOOOO cold.
Rigby Lake.
Hehehe... he's white.
Getting ready to go out
Yummy lunch.
On Sunday after church, we headed up to Island Park. It was a long way to go for about an hour on the water, but it reaffirmed our thought that it would be more fun up there. We went out on the reservoir created by the Island Park Dam. The lake is HUGE AND IT'S FREE! We got to explore a little bit, but the most wildlife we saw were (was?) some chipmunks. The only thing was the fear of powerboats coming zipping by and tipping us over. We never saw one even close to where we were, but we may not be that lucky next time. But we have decided that should we rent a kayak again, we should skip Rigby Lake, and go straight to Island Park. (They rent kayaks up there, but only single ones for $12.50 - so for both of us, it would be $25.00 - and we're not sure they let you take them anywhere besides floating the river their business is on.)
Saturday night we went to the opening ceremonies for the Idaho International Folk Dance Festival which (mostly) Rexburg hosts every year.
Countries were: Chinese Taipei, Japan, Russia, Lithuania, U.S., Mexico, Germany, South Korea, and one other that I can't think of right now.
The opening ceremonies were in the stadium at BYU-I - all the countries marched in, then one by one presented a gift to the Governor's office, received a gift from the Governor's office, and then presented a dance. Afterwards, there was a laser show (in lieu of fireworks) that ended up being pretty lame. Which is too bad because in talking to our friends who were in charge of getting volunteers for the week, we found out that the guy in charge of the laser show has been working on it since November. We decided it could have been really cool indoors with theater haze for the lasers to shine through, but as it was outside, all of the haze just blew away, and it was pretty lame.
Group dance.
Us.
Laser Show - There were two screens, but they only used one of them for unknown reasons.
The roof - Chad's work. With Necco wafer chimney.
We put our friends on the cake in frosting - Mom, Dad and little unknown-gender baby (except we recently found out they're having a girl!)
The back of the house.
In other news - we rented a tandem kayak this last weekend since Chad got Saturday off. (YAY!) It was $15 for the day, but since it was Saturday, we had it until Monday. We packed some sandwiches and took it out to Rigby Lake (which now costs $5 to get into - $6.50 if you don't have cash and have to pay with a credit/debit card.... boooooo....).
We pass this lake frequently since it's on the way to Idaho Falls - it always looks so nice and cool on a hot day. So we went finally. Unfortunately, you can see the whole lake from one place, so it wasn't too exciting. We took the kayak out for 20 minutes (tops) before we got bored. We dipped our feet in the lake, tried to swim, but only got in to our waists because the water was SOOOO cold.
Rigby Lake.
Hehehe... he's white.
Getting ready to go out
Yummy lunch.
On Sunday after church, we headed up to Island Park. It was a long way to go for about an hour on the water, but it reaffirmed our thought that it would be more fun up there. We went out on the reservoir created by the Island Park Dam. The lake is HUGE AND IT'S FREE! We got to explore a little bit, but the most wildlife we saw were (was?) some chipmunks. The only thing was the fear of powerboats coming zipping by and tipping us over. We never saw one even close to where we were, but we may not be that lucky next time. But we have decided that should we rent a kayak again, we should skip Rigby Lake, and go straight to Island Park. (They rent kayaks up there, but only single ones for $12.50 - so for both of us, it would be $25.00 - and we're not sure they let you take them anywhere besides floating the river their business is on.)
Saturday night we went to the opening ceremonies for the Idaho International Folk Dance Festival which (mostly) Rexburg hosts every year.
Countries were: Chinese Taipei, Japan, Russia, Lithuania, U.S., Mexico, Germany, South Korea, and one other that I can't think of right now.
The opening ceremonies were in the stadium at BYU-I - all the countries marched in, then one by one presented a gift to the Governor's office, received a gift from the Governor's office, and then presented a dance. Afterwards, there was a laser show (in lieu of fireworks) that ended up being pretty lame. Which is too bad because in talking to our friends who were in charge of getting volunteers for the week, we found out that the guy in charge of the laser show has been working on it since November. We decided it could have been really cool indoors with theater haze for the lasers to shine through, but as it was outside, all of the haze just blew away, and it was pretty lame.
Group dance.
Us.
Laser Show - There were two screens, but they only used one of them for unknown reasons.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Summer Vacation: Day 5
I have been trying to actually make dinner the last little while because we've been eating too much Little Caesar's 5 dollar pizzas and Jack in the Box 2/$1 tacos.
So last night I tried to make a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich Roll or something like that. It called for pre-made dough, but we couldn't find any at the store, so I had to make some.
After several calls to my mom and getting over my aversion to yeast (which I have never used before) I successfully made dough and this is what it turned into.
It was really good - but a TON of food. So we will have it for lunch for the next little while.
AND I made it ALL by myself!!! (again, with tech support)
A post about our house cupcake soon to follow - I'm off to the library since there are men working on the roof right outside my windows.
So last night I tried to make a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich Roll or something like that. It called for pre-made dough, but we couldn't find any at the store, so I had to make some.
After several calls to my mom and getting over my aversion to yeast (which I have never used before) I successfully made dough and this is what it turned into.
It was really good - but a TON of food. So we will have it for lunch for the next little while.
AND I made it ALL by myself!!! (again, with tech support)
A post about our house cupcake soon to follow - I'm off to the library since there are men working on the roof right outside my windows.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Pioneer Day
... Last week in Priesthood and Relief Society, we talked about trials or something. Apparently in Priesthood, they got into a conversation about what trials modern-day Saints have to endure. And apparently someone in the class said that "We have our own trials. They're different from the ones the pioneers endured, but they're more emotional" or some such nonsense.
No, no they're not.
I don't care who you are, walking until your feet literally fall off, burying your babies along the way, leaving your homes, watching your family members get beaten and tarred & feathered, having your stores and temples and homes destroyed... ?
That's a little more emotional than having protesters hold up signs and call you close-minded.
... Just sayin'.
No, no they're not.
I don't care who you are, walking until your feet literally fall off, burying your babies along the way, leaving your homes, watching your family members get beaten and tarred & feathered, having your stores and temples and homes destroyed... ?
That's a little more emotional than having protesters hold up signs and call you close-minded.
... Just sayin'.
Friday, July 24, 2009
FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
Yes, I may be behind the rest of you on this one, but today is officially my first day of summer!
SCHOOL IS OVER!!!! WAHOO!
SCHOOL IS OVER!!!! WAHOO!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Finals
I just have one thing to say about finals.
We had to turn in binders for our Jazz Methods class (see previous post). They were due on Tuesday, and as I was walking by my teacher's office with Brother Holman this afternoon, the teacher called me in to tell me the binder (and written final) were graded and I could pick mine up. He proceeded to tell me (and Brother Holman) that in all the time that he's taught this class and given this final, no one has been as thorough as I have been. He said that in the written directions, he always tells everyone to include as much information as you know about the subject of the question. It's open book and open note, so there is no excuse for incomplete answers. Mine was the first final he's ever gotten back that actually did that. He then says to Brother Holman "She is amazing" among other things.
Hey - I'm all for people thinking I'm amazing. But as I thought about it, they think I'm amazing because I actually did the assignment according to the directions, and no one has ever done that before. ... Shouldn't that be the standard, not the exception?
My teacher's think I'm such a good student because I actually do the assignments ....?
I think there's something wrong with that.
We had to turn in binders for our Jazz Methods class (see previous post). They were due on Tuesday, and as I was walking by my teacher's office with Brother Holman this afternoon, the teacher called me in to tell me the binder (and written final) were graded and I could pick mine up. He proceeded to tell me (and Brother Holman) that in all the time that he's taught this class and given this final, no one has been as thorough as I have been. He said that in the written directions, he always tells everyone to include as much information as you know about the subject of the question. It's open book and open note, so there is no excuse for incomplete answers. Mine was the first final he's ever gotten back that actually did that. He then says to Brother Holman "She is amazing" among other things.
Hey - I'm all for people thinking I'm amazing. But as I thought about it, they think I'm amazing because I actually did the assignment according to the directions, and no one has ever done that before. ... Shouldn't that be the standard, not the exception?
My teacher's think I'm such a good student because I actually do the assignments ....?
I think there's something wrong with that.
Daycation
Hello everyone!
As you know, Chad got Saturday off so we could go to Provo for Will & Sawyer's birthdays. However, after deciding that we didn't want to drive down, and then back up in less than 24 hours, we postponed our trip to later this summer and looked for something to do here instead.
We decided to go to Island Park and check out Johnny Sack's cabin, Big Springs, and Sawtelle. First, however, we remembered the WalMart ad that advertised $30 glasses. Since I haven't had new glasses in I don't know how long, we thought it might be a good chance to go get some cheap glasses. The closest WalMart with a Vision Center is in Idaho Falls, the opposite direction from Island Park. However, by the time we were headed out, I found out that my eye doctor was closed and I couldn't get my prescription anyway. I called WalMart to make sure they couldn't help me without my prescription and they said they couldn't. And then the guy so nicely tells me
"Well, that's for kid's 18 and under anyway."
"Oh, well it doesn't say that in the ad."
"Yeah...."
"Okay, bye."
Stupid WalMart. I sure am glad we didn't waste an hour driving to Idaho Falls to be told that their ad falsely advertised $30 glasses.
So we headed to Island Park instead. We made a stop at the Mack's Inn Dinner Theater so Chad could say hi to the people he used to work with up there. We ran into the manager who gave us free tickets for that night's show ($30 value).
After that, we drove up the road to Big Springs - you might think you would see water springing out of the ground, but you would be wrong. The water does, in fact, flow straight out of the mountainside, but it's overgrown with plants, so you can't actually see it. We stopped on the bridge to look at the fish and dip our feet in the water.
We walked up the trail to Johnny Sack's cabin. He was a 4'11" German immigrant who built his entire house by hand, and lived there for 25 years. He died in the 50's and the neighbors in the area saved his cabin from being destroyed, and in the 70's (I think) it was made into a national something-or-other. It was really interesting!
(Some cool steps along the side of the house up to the outhouse)
Dead mouse we saw on the steps.
View from across the river.
But they said the only place where he really built around his height was in his workshop in the basement, which of course, was closed to visitors. It would have been a fun place to visit. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't live there year round. They had pictures in a binder of the snow covering the front steps - probably 4 or 5 feet of snow.
After the cabin, we ate Subway, then drove over to Sawtelle, the big mountain in the area. We drove the dirt rode up to the top and took some pictures.
Sawtelle from the bottom.
Sawtelle from the top.
Weirdo soccer ball thing on the top of Sawtelle. Chad says it's a satellite that's built like that so it doesn't catch the show.
This one's for you mom. I could hear you in my head - Megan! Get away from there!
After Sawtelle, we stopped at the little restaurant where Chad, Christian, and John used to live/work. We bought a "kiddie" sized ice cream, and it was pretty good. But when we went to pay for it, the socially odd lady at the cash register said -
"Can I see how much they're putting in that? That's what I thought. That's way too much. We ran out of kiddie size cups, so they're putting way too much ice cream in those cups." Ohhkay. That's not awkward and tactless. Maybe we should give you some of it back? We went down to the river and put our feet in the water, and revisited the little place where we ate our fruit loops for breakfast the second day we were married.
Let's see, after that, Chad took us to the Island Park Reservoir, where we walked on the boat launch and hung our feet off the dock before it was time to get back to Mack's Inn for the show.
Our dog friend. He had a collar but no tag and he was running around in the parking lot/by the boat launch the whole time we were there. We hope he wasn't lost.
We saw [the] Less Miserables, a parody of Les Mis. The actors were good, but the show itself (written and produced in Utah) was not the best thing we'd ever seen. But it was free. We headed back to Rexburg after that, stopped at WalMart for I don't remember what, and then came home.
While we were sad to miss the birthday party, it was a fun day, and I think now we have officially done everything there is to do in Island Park.
As you know, Chad got Saturday off so we could go to Provo for Will & Sawyer's birthdays. However, after deciding that we didn't want to drive down, and then back up in less than 24 hours, we postponed our trip to later this summer and looked for something to do here instead.
We decided to go to Island Park and check out Johnny Sack's cabin, Big Springs, and Sawtelle. First, however, we remembered the WalMart ad that advertised $30 glasses. Since I haven't had new glasses in I don't know how long, we thought it might be a good chance to go get some cheap glasses. The closest WalMart with a Vision Center is in Idaho Falls, the opposite direction from Island Park. However, by the time we were headed out, I found out that my eye doctor was closed and I couldn't get my prescription anyway. I called WalMart to make sure they couldn't help me without my prescription and they said they couldn't. And then the guy so nicely tells me
"Well, that's for kid's 18 and under anyway."
"Oh, well it doesn't say that in the ad."
"Yeah...."
"Okay, bye."
Stupid WalMart. I sure am glad we didn't waste an hour driving to Idaho Falls to be told that their ad falsely advertised $30 glasses.
So we headed to Island Park instead. We made a stop at the Mack's Inn Dinner Theater so Chad could say hi to the people he used to work with up there. We ran into the manager who gave us free tickets for that night's show ($30 value).
After that, we drove up the road to Big Springs - you might think you would see water springing out of the ground, but you would be wrong. The water does, in fact, flow straight out of the mountainside, but it's overgrown with plants, so you can't actually see it. We stopped on the bridge to look at the fish and dip our feet in the water.
We walked up the trail to Johnny Sack's cabin. He was a 4'11" German immigrant who built his entire house by hand, and lived there for 25 years. He died in the 50's and the neighbors in the area saved his cabin from being destroyed, and in the 70's (I think) it was made into a national something-or-other. It was really interesting!
(Some cool steps along the side of the house up to the outhouse)
Dead mouse we saw on the steps.
View from across the river.
But they said the only place where he really built around his height was in his workshop in the basement, which of course, was closed to visitors. It would have been a fun place to visit. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't live there year round. They had pictures in a binder of the snow covering the front steps - probably 4 or 5 feet of snow.
After the cabin, we ate Subway, then drove over to Sawtelle, the big mountain in the area. We drove the dirt rode up to the top and took some pictures.
Sawtelle from the bottom.
Sawtelle from the top.
Weirdo soccer ball thing on the top of Sawtelle. Chad says it's a satellite that's built like that so it doesn't catch the show.
This one's for you mom. I could hear you in my head - Megan! Get away from there!
After Sawtelle, we stopped at the little restaurant where Chad, Christian, and John used to live/work. We bought a "kiddie" sized ice cream, and it was pretty good. But when we went to pay for it, the socially odd lady at the cash register said -
"Can I see how much they're putting in that? That's what I thought. That's way too much. We ran out of kiddie size cups, so they're putting way too much ice cream in those cups." Ohhkay. That's not awkward and tactless. Maybe we should give you some of it back? We went down to the river and put our feet in the water, and revisited the little place where we ate our fruit loops for breakfast the second day we were married.
Let's see, after that, Chad took us to the Island Park Reservoir, where we walked on the boat launch and hung our feet off the dock before it was time to get back to Mack's Inn for the show.
Our dog friend. He had a collar but no tag and he was running around in the parking lot/by the boat launch the whole time we were there. We hope he wasn't lost.
We saw [the] Less Miserables, a parody of Les Mis. The actors were good, but the show itself (written and produced in Utah) was not the best thing we'd ever seen. But it was free. We headed back to Rexburg after that, stopped at WalMart for I don't remember what, and then came home.
While we were sad to miss the birthday party, it was a fun day, and I think now we have officially done everything there is to do in Island Park.
America, America....
So - it's been a long time since I actually wrote a post. But - school is over tomorrow!!! I only have one class today and two tomorrow, one of which is bowling. Finally my summer can begin! I know, I know, it's almost August, but I'll take what I can get.
Mollie came up for the 4th of July. She got here Thursday night. On Friday, we did Mollie's laundry (we know how to party) and then went to Idaho Falls. We went to a kitchen supply store where I bought myself a music note cookie cutter, and then to the mall. When we got back to Rexburg, we went to the Farmer's Market they started in the Tabernacle parking lot. There were lots of vendors, and we bought some kettle corn. Yum! Then we went to a movie at the (comparatively) cheap theaters. We saw 17 Again which actually wasn't terrible. But it did start with a basketball/dance number with Zac Efron, and for a minute there we were afraid it was going to be another High School Musical. We cleaned out Mollie's purse which conveniently converted into a Kettle Corn carrying case. After the movie, we went to Craigo's and got the buffet. We didn't get a cookie monster because we were stuffed. At some point during the evening, we got sno-cones from the little shack on Main Street.
The next morning was the Fourth of July! I had to be up and at the local high school by 8:30 so I could march in the town parade with the "community marching band".
(Long story - I'm taking a class called "Band Practicum" this semester. The point of the class is to get experience teaching a band. That didn't happen, (since public school is not in session and there was no band to teach) so we got to participate in the community marching band instead. Oh, wasn't it a ball to feel like a 14 year old all over again? No, no it wasn't. I got put in the Color Guard since I have marched in the band before. Anyways, so the final event for this part of the class was to march in the 4th of July parade. An event which 1/2 of the class (there are only 4 of us, but still) didn't feel like doing, and as far as we know were never marked down for. So - I marched in the parade.)
We were fourth in line for the parade, so by the time we finished the parade, we were able to go back and watch most of it. And, I found out later, they held the "Madison High School Marching Band" banner for the parade, so everyone who saw me wondered since when I was in the high school marching band. Oh well. It's over and I never have to do it again.
As I said, when I got done marching, I walked back to our apartment and found Mollie and Chad and watched the rest of the parade with them. A Cream O'Weber truck came by and gave everyone a free pint of chocolate milk! It was sooooooooo good!
We had to go back to the park where the parade ended so I could hold the American flag while the band played some patriotic songs.
After the parade, we went to a hot dog place near our apartment. We had heard they were selling $1 hot dogs. When we got there, we got 3 hot dogs, and two sides of coleslaw for $1.25. We went over to the parking lot to get the Subaru to go back to the high school and get the van, which I had parked there that morning. We found a coupon on the Subaru for a 99 cent smoothie (of sorts). We went and took a couple coupons off the other cars, and then went to the bagel place near our apartment to get our 99 cent smoothies. They came with "tapioca pearls" in the bottom of the cup, that felt very much like eating fish eggs through a straw. We ate our smoothies on the drive to Idaho Falls to scope out a spot for the fireworks.
We parked in a park on the other side of the freeway from the riverfront where they set off the fireworks. We took a nice walk along the river walk and found a rock chair and a giant dandelion thing.
But once we got to the highway overpass, the trail (a floating bridge-ish thing across the river itself) was closed because the water level was too high to connect it to the sidewalk on the other side, leaving about a 3 foot gap which I was too chicken to try to jump over. So, we had to find a way across the highway. We were just going to run across when no one was coming, but we chickened out of that idea too, and walked down to the onramp and used the sidewalk under the overpass. We scoped out a spot on the Snake River so we could see the fireworks they shoot off from the other side of the river. We laid down our blanket and took turns saving our spot. We got there about 3:00 and the fireworks didn't start until almost 10:00. First Chad and I took a walk about a mile down the river to where all the food vendors and carnival-ish things were. We bought some food and then walked it back the mile to Mollie. After that, Mollie and I walked down to the vendors, and bought sno-cones on the way back. Chad bought some homemade rootbeer which ended up being disgusting.
At some point, I walked away, and Chad almost introduced Mollie to someone as his wife (she had her back to him and was wearing my jacket) She goes - No! No I'm not!
We conveniently picked a plot right next to somebody Chad was in band with a few years ago. Therefore, she felt like her children could be all over our space and we wouldn't care, even though Chad and her were apparently only acquaintances. Not to mention, they had spray painted out their square (the police went around and pulled up any stakes which is how people usually pick their spots the night before) and that still wasn't enough room, and they invaded our space. So we put up with her two kids all afternoon because we had such a good spot!
We played Phase 10 and as soon as we got out the cards, we hear the boy ask "Mom- can I play with them?"
We all just look at each other.
The mom says "well, you have to ask them".
NO! That is not the answer! The answer is no, let them play their own game! GRR!
The 5-6 year old boy came over and kept saying "Can I play now?" Can I play now?"
... No - it's a long game.
Apparently Chad pulled out the cards while Mollie and I were gone, and the boy came over and helped himself to the game. Anyways.
He started touching our cards and stuff while his mom paid no attention.
Finally she looks over and goes "Hey _____ come back here" as she laughs.
We all just sit there playing our game. She says "Hey guys, is he okay there?"
None of us says anything. You think that might be your cue.
"No really - is he okay there?"
Still nobody says anything. What do you want us to say? "No! Your kid's being a brat - it's not our job to babysit him".
We fended off Mexicans and children, and wind, and rain, other little children, teenagers, and later in the evening, cold, so we could have our perfect view of the fireworks. It was finally getting dark, and we were getting excited! They put on a concert across the river, outside at the hotel that hosted the fireworks. We kept watching to see when they would stop, turn out their lights, and start the fireworks.
The lights went out!
The fireworks were about to begin!
We heard the first sound of the fireworks and craned our necks to see where they were.
BEHIND A BIG BUSH!!!
Are you kidding me?!!! We sat here for 6+ hours only to find out that the fireworks are BEHIND A BIG BUSH?! We moved down right on the river bank to see if that improved our view, and then over a few feet, but no, we were not anywhere close to seeing the fireworks. We grabbed up our stuff, and ran down the street, closer to where they were setting off the fireworks. We ended up sitting in the middle of the street that they closed off around 6:00pm. But we had a good enough spot and we got to see most of the fireworks. It was fun. After that, we began the great exodus back to Rexburg. We got back around midnight (?). We went out on the sidewalks and lit some sparklers, and then went to bed. The next morning, we made breakfast, and then Mollie left for Provo.
At some point in our boredom during the 7 hours we spent on the riverbank, we took some pictures.
We also took these pictures trying to re-create a picture Mollie has from when we were babies. (She'll have to post the original)
We also took some pictures of the fireworks.
Mollie came up for the 4th of July. She got here Thursday night. On Friday, we did Mollie's laundry (we know how to party) and then went to Idaho Falls. We went to a kitchen supply store where I bought myself a music note cookie cutter, and then to the mall. When we got back to Rexburg, we went to the Farmer's Market they started in the Tabernacle parking lot. There were lots of vendors, and we bought some kettle corn. Yum! Then we went to a movie at the (comparatively) cheap theaters. We saw 17 Again which actually wasn't terrible. But it did start with a basketball/dance number with Zac Efron, and for a minute there we were afraid it was going to be another High School Musical. We cleaned out Mollie's purse which conveniently converted into a Kettle Corn carrying case. After the movie, we went to Craigo's and got the buffet. We didn't get a cookie monster because we were stuffed. At some point during the evening, we got sno-cones from the little shack on Main Street.
The next morning was the Fourth of July! I had to be up and at the local high school by 8:30 so I could march in the town parade with the "community marching band".
(Long story - I'm taking a class called "Band Practicum" this semester. The point of the class is to get experience teaching a band. That didn't happen, (since public school is not in session and there was no band to teach) so we got to participate in the community marching band instead. Oh, wasn't it a ball to feel like a 14 year old all over again? No, no it wasn't. I got put in the Color Guard since I have marched in the band before. Anyways, so the final event for this part of the class was to march in the 4th of July parade. An event which 1/2 of the class (there are only 4 of us, but still) didn't feel like doing, and as far as we know were never marked down for. So - I marched in the parade.)
We were fourth in line for the parade, so by the time we finished the parade, we were able to go back and watch most of it. And, I found out later, they held the "Madison High School Marching Band" banner for the parade, so everyone who saw me wondered since when I was in the high school marching band. Oh well. It's over and I never have to do it again.
As I said, when I got done marching, I walked back to our apartment and found Mollie and Chad and watched the rest of the parade with them. A Cream O'Weber truck came by and gave everyone a free pint of chocolate milk! It was sooooooooo good!
We had to go back to the park where the parade ended so I could hold the American flag while the band played some patriotic songs.
After the parade, we went to a hot dog place near our apartment. We had heard they were selling $1 hot dogs. When we got there, we got 3 hot dogs, and two sides of coleslaw for $1.25. We went over to the parking lot to get the Subaru to go back to the high school and get the van, which I had parked there that morning. We found a coupon on the Subaru for a 99 cent smoothie (of sorts). We went and took a couple coupons off the other cars, and then went to the bagel place near our apartment to get our 99 cent smoothies. They came with "tapioca pearls" in the bottom of the cup, that felt very much like eating fish eggs through a straw. We ate our smoothies on the drive to Idaho Falls to scope out a spot for the fireworks.
We parked in a park on the other side of the freeway from the riverfront where they set off the fireworks. We took a nice walk along the river walk and found a rock chair and a giant dandelion thing.
But once we got to the highway overpass, the trail (a floating bridge-ish thing across the river itself) was closed because the water level was too high to connect it to the sidewalk on the other side, leaving about a 3 foot gap which I was too chicken to try to jump over. So, we had to find a way across the highway. We were just going to run across when no one was coming, but we chickened out of that idea too, and walked down to the onramp and used the sidewalk under the overpass. We scoped out a spot on the Snake River so we could see the fireworks they shoot off from the other side of the river. We laid down our blanket and took turns saving our spot. We got there about 3:00 and the fireworks didn't start until almost 10:00. First Chad and I took a walk about a mile down the river to where all the food vendors and carnival-ish things were. We bought some food and then walked it back the mile to Mollie. After that, Mollie and I walked down to the vendors, and bought sno-cones on the way back. Chad bought some homemade rootbeer which ended up being disgusting.
At some point, I walked away, and Chad almost introduced Mollie to someone as his wife (she had her back to him and was wearing my jacket) She goes - No! No I'm not!
We conveniently picked a plot right next to somebody Chad was in band with a few years ago. Therefore, she felt like her children could be all over our space and we wouldn't care, even though Chad and her were apparently only acquaintances. Not to mention, they had spray painted out their square (the police went around and pulled up any stakes which is how people usually pick their spots the night before) and that still wasn't enough room, and they invaded our space. So we put up with her two kids all afternoon because we had such a good spot!
We played Phase 10 and as soon as we got out the cards, we hear the boy ask "Mom- can I play with them?"
We all just look at each other.
The mom says "well, you have to ask them".
NO! That is not the answer! The answer is no, let them play their own game! GRR!
The 5-6 year old boy came over and kept saying "Can I play now?" Can I play now?"
... No - it's a long game.
Apparently Chad pulled out the cards while Mollie and I were gone, and the boy came over and helped himself to the game. Anyways.
He started touching our cards and stuff while his mom paid no attention.
Finally she looks over and goes "Hey _____ come back here" as she laughs.
We all just sit there playing our game. She says "Hey guys, is he okay there?"
None of us says anything. You think that might be your cue.
"No really - is he okay there?"
Still nobody says anything. What do you want us to say? "No! Your kid's being a brat - it's not our job to babysit him".
We fended off Mexicans and children, and wind, and rain, other little children, teenagers, and later in the evening, cold, so we could have our perfect view of the fireworks. It was finally getting dark, and we were getting excited! They put on a concert across the river, outside at the hotel that hosted the fireworks. We kept watching to see when they would stop, turn out their lights, and start the fireworks.
The lights went out!
The fireworks were about to begin!
We heard the first sound of the fireworks and craned our necks to see where they were.
BEHIND A BIG BUSH!!!
Are you kidding me?!!! We sat here for 6+ hours only to find out that the fireworks are BEHIND A BIG BUSH?! We moved down right on the river bank to see if that improved our view, and then over a few feet, but no, we were not anywhere close to seeing the fireworks. We grabbed up our stuff, and ran down the street, closer to where they were setting off the fireworks. We ended up sitting in the middle of the street that they closed off around 6:00pm. But we had a good enough spot and we got to see most of the fireworks. It was fun. After that, we began the great exodus back to Rexburg. We got back around midnight (?). We went out on the sidewalks and lit some sparklers, and then went to bed. The next morning, we made breakfast, and then Mollie left for Provo.
At some point in our boredom during the 7 hours we spent on the riverbank, we took some pictures.
We also took these pictures trying to re-create a picture Mollie has from when we were babies. (She'll have to post the original)
We also took some pictures of the fireworks.
Friday, July 17, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! CHA CHA CHA
Well, Chad and I were going to head to Provo this weekend for Will and Sawyer's Birthday Extravaganza. After debating over it all week, we decided we probably shouldn't go. We'd get to Provo really late, get to grandma's where Uncle Gary is staying, have to blow up an air mattress, and then be at Erin's for Saturday before leaving again Saturday evening to get back for Sunday. (lame) Plus Chad has been feeling under the weather lately, and was afraid he'd be too tired to drive. So we decided to postpone our trip until Mom is out here next month so we can spend more time there. Also, we want to be the center of attention. Just kidding.
So we'll be down to visit in a few more weeks. But we wanted to post this to our favorite nephews (since they don't read).
So we'll be down to visit in a few more weeks. But we wanted to post this to our favorite nephews (since they don't read).
Thursday, June 25, 2009
1 Down, Many More To Come
Well, just as we were flying out to celebrate Kyle and Jess's wedding, Chad and I were celebrating our own. On Thursday June 18th, we were up early to head to the airport, but took a moment to eat our cake first. We have been toting it around with us since we got married. It went from Pocatello to Rexburg for the wedding, to Provo, to Orem, to Rexburg (30 College Ave. to 23 College Ave.). So, by golly, we were going to eat it! (I have a video I have to have Chad put up later)
Anyways, we ate our cake and headed off to Salt Lake. Here we are on the parking shuttle, beginning our trip. But the trip is a post for another time.
Anyways. Can you believe it's been a year since we got married?! Crazy, huh!? It was fun to go to another wedding to remember our own.
happy anniversary Chad!
They say the first year is the hardest, and if that's the case, I'm really looking forward to the rest of our lives being a cakewalk!
Anyways, we ate our cake and headed off to Salt Lake. Here we are on the parking shuttle, beginning our trip. But the trip is a post for another time.
Anyways. Can you believe it's been a year since we got married?! Crazy, huh!? It was fun to go to another wedding to remember our own.
happy anniversary Chad!
They say the first year is the hardest, and if that's the case, I'm really looking forward to the rest of our lives being a cakewalk!
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