Mario Kart and Love Analogy

I thought up this analogy yesterday after playing Mario Kart on my DS. Hope it makes you laugh.

Mario Kart is like relationships. I was always bad at this game because I would hold down the A button ALL the time and whenever a corner came up I usually ran into the wall. I just couldn't get how other people had such good control and could speed right past me. They turned the corner without flinching. I usually had to turn around or I fell in the water and something had to pull me out. Not to mention it was frustrating.

Yesterday as I was improving my gaming skills I thought about how we really take corners in a real car- we actually have to lift up the acceleration for a bit to turn correctly. So I tried doing that with the A button I had come to rely on. In letting go, I really was able to make the corners. Now I can actually be competition for Stephen and Lucki!

So in bed last night I thought about how I totally play the game of Love and Relationships just like Mario Kart. I hold down the A button and just let things happen too fast and then end up crashing and end up without something good. I never get to enjoy what's around the corner because I 'die' before then. Lately, I've been really trying hard to ease up and let the 'corner' come naturally...and I think that is the key. And I think it's working. Or at least it will work when it's meant to. When I worry less and enjoy the courting process maybe I will make it around the corner to a solid relationship. Let up on the A button of love.

That's what I get for being bad at games. :)

centripetal motion

Today we were talking about centripetal acceleration and forces and this gal mentioned the song, "This Kiss" by Faith Hill that says "centripetal motion" in the chorus. lol. happy.

Last week was probably the roughest week teaching I've had. The kids were just out of control and it was such a stressful week. Super hard material, unmotivated students, etc. I called 12 parents this morning to fix behavior issues in 2 classes. Luckily my B-day block classes behave better (I've worked hard with them) so maybe my A-day ones will get better now that I've called home. I had some of the rudest kids last week, too! Attitude! It sure didn't make me want to have teenagers. Arguments over cell phones, at that. Gosh. Ridiculous. Don't argue with the teacher, please. Also, my AP Physics class has some intense material these days. It's pretty crazy. I feel sorta inadequate, yet I know I'm still doing a good job. Well, I could always do a better job. I think that is so frustrating about teaching. I often reflect upon each day and know how to do better next time I teach it. Heck, even the next class I change things to teach them better.

That frustration has been wearing on me emotionally and physically. I have been so tired! All last week I came home and took a nap. That's all I felt like doing. And I've been going 'off' my diet coke and that's been another physical handicap. My students motivate me, though. They're sweet. Today I was reminded that I do have some awesome students who do love me. That makes up for the mean ones who don't. I needed that. "Hey Ms. Daniel, you're my favorite teacher!" awww. shucks. My students also just motivated me to get a gym membership at LA Fitness. I got a really good deal and it'll totally get me up and moving. I can lose my Christmas pounds and up my stamina of working out. My workout today rocked. And I can't wait for cycling classes! :)

I also bumped into a car last night. I scratched it with my license plate. my bad. I am mad at myself for a lot of stupid things lately.

Despite being overly-analytical and slightly crazy, I hope this is a start to a turn around. I gotta get out of this centripetal motion!

Physics is hott.

This fella was telling his grad school friends he was going to go to Space Center with this girl from church that teaches there...and he said that girl is a high school physics teacher, too. The response of the guys- "That's hott!"

I may not be the hottest teacher according to the kiddos but I guess I am something! :)

f-a-i-t-h

I went to dinner with a great fella this evening. We talked for like 2 1/2 hours at dinner! Mainly about religion. I learn so much by sharing with others and learning from them. I admire the faith of others (though he doesn't think he has faith, I think he does). Plus it gets my gears rolling (the more scientific side of me) to think about why I believe not just that I believe. Like I want to study more to better say what I mean to say. Like what a missionary does. Like what I did as a missionary.

Gosh I need to talk about religion more, period. It's so great!

John 15:13

I am a banana

student- "Miss Daniel you bruise so much, you must be a banana."

I love Sundays

Gosh, I am never amazed at how wonderful Sundays can be! I loved the speakers today- lessons on joy, charity, and being Christlike. Then we had a sunday school lesson on Joseph Smith's first vision. Then I taught RS- the lesson being on Elijah and restoring the sealing power. I learned SO much while preparing. It was a great lesson to teach. I got all 'teacher-mode' on a few questions and made the girls laugh. lol. I learn so much from the girls and their comments.

I am doing something right and I feel the spirit confirming that. What a great feeling.

sevice saturday

Today was fabulous! I got to do Habitat for Humanity early this morning with church people. It was great to get my hands dirty! I learned a lot, too. I need to get a more heavy-duty hammer, not the 'wimpy' one I have. :) We used soffits, J-hooks (maybe that's the wrong name), clippers, siding...all sorts of good stuff. Suzanne and I helped put up the framework on the inside and 'ceiling' of the porch and then put the siding up. It was cool to see what we accomplished! Plus, Suzanne and I bonded a lot! :) A group of us also had lunch at quite possibly the most ghetto chinese restaurant in Houston. lol.

I also went to the temple (easy travel made possible by my new EZ-Tag). It was great to go to a session. I have a lot on my mind so it was good to feel like I'm doing something right. I saw Aubrey's aunt there. Small world.

Gosh, so that was my crazy, service-filled Saturday!

why miss daniel shouldn't snowboard

My face got attacked by something. Some disease. It's sensitive, ya know. I went to my derm yesterday and got a new cream....hopefully it'll clear up this week. It was weird being in front of my kids with my windburnt/red stupid face. Oh well. I think I got it from snowboarding in the freezing rain.

We were telling Winter Break stories on Monday and they asked what I did- so I told them about snowboarding and falling down a lot- this kid (somewhat of a smart-aleck) said "Miss Daniel, you can't even walk. What makes you think you could snowboard?" LOL. That was pretty funny. He got me there.

is this jenn speaking?

So I didn't really make official new years resolutions....but here are a few things I am changing!

-Giving up Diet Coke. Yup. I'm feeling the headaches today. But I have none in my fridge. No temptations. Yesterday I had one and didn't even like the taste of it!

-Working out more. Sorta successful.

-Being sick of shopping! I know, right! I haven't told Lucki yet- she'll faint. But I am genuinely sick of shopping. Weird, huh. I do not want anything. I am loving what I got!

-However I am grocery shopping more! I have tons of healthier options and budget-wise the money I save from not shopping and not eating fast food as much will all go in my favor. :) I have made my lunches this week- no frozen meals!

Go me. Hope I can keep to it.

Preemptive Measures

My mother died on June 25, 2002 of a type of lung disease called "interstitial pneumonia." She developed pneumonia and then it got in between her lungs and got worse. It is incurable. Her sister, Margaret, died of it in 1983 (the year I was born). My mom went to a specialist in Seattle even. We had four oxygen machines in our house that June. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. My parents knew she wasn't going to make it but never disclosed that to my sister (who is five years younger than me) or me. In fact, my dad never speaks of her passing. I had a long talk with Gail (my step-mom) during break about what really happened. It was hard to hear. A few years ago I got a lung x-ray as an example of my normal lungs. I just ordered a copy of them so I have them on record to show my doctors. And I have to be very very careful when I get sick to make sure I don't let it get to my lungs. Sigh.

I miss my mother.