Hope

Just got back from Conference weekend. The talk that impacted me the most was Pres. Uchtdorf's talk on Hope. That I need to have patience perseverance. Hope that things with happen. Hope for the future, that my life will fulfill its many purposes. Hope for now, that I'm doing right things. Still, it's a lot to absorb and think about.

I have a lot of random things to share from the last few weeks, so bare with me. First off, I have some great friends. I am so glad I have Lucki and Stephen. Stephen and I went bike riding last week and I got a flat tire (on my bike!). So then we went on a 3 mile jog. Go us! Lucki never works out (and stays skinnier than a stick). I am staying pretty fit and thin. Not that I eat like a health nut, but I'm trying. Aubrey and I have spent a lot of time together, too. We went to Space Center Houston before we had to go back to school, we've had a couple sleepovers and whatnot. It's interesting to see how my friends have changed since I got here. When I moved here in January I had my roommate and then all the "friendswood" church people. Now I'm not really good friends with many of them. Only one came to my bday party. Now all my friends are in the singles ward. Granted, they live at least 30 minutes from me, but I also have Lucki and Stephen who live only 5 minutes from me. And Matt my physics teacher friend who lives in my building.

Just fyi, Jessica and I are best friends! We talk every day. I love the pictures she sends me over the phone. We have become super close. For her bday present from her boyfriend, Zach, she asked me to get her a coach purse from the Coach Outlet here in Houston. So I did and I just sent it too her. How funny. :) I can't wait to go home for Christmas! Mike is going to come visit me up there, too. I'm done with my Christmas shopping- jealous? :) Gail just had her birthday, too. She enjoyed the socks and earrings I got her (hey, that's what she asked for!).

Mac has a girlfriend now. Just kidding. But my friend Celeste has a pretty orange girl cat named Chanel. Mac and Chanel are both makeup brands! So we're saying that Mac is about to propose...and then they can have pretty kitties named Dolce & Gabbana. lol. (they are both spayed/neutered). Mac is currently sporting a bandana that is black with orange BOO words all over it. He has a ghost one, too. :) And I found the cutest welcome sign that says "Black Cat Crossing" all orange and black and semi-sparkly. Other changes to my apartment are cute flower arrangements. Dee says I could be an interior designer. That'd be fun! :)

So speaking of my real job. We didn't go back until Sept 26th. Then the kids came back that last Monday. We've been busy. But I feel on top of the world when it comes to school. I am done with grades, have called more than enough parents of kids with bad grades, have my lesson plans done for the next 3 weeks, am challenging my AP class... I am actually feeling like an awesome teacher. Don't worry, I will be humbled soon I'm sure. But I feel like I'm doing what I should. One of my kids from last year dropped out and I'm trying to help get him back. He was one of those chem-chommers (the class of 5 that drove me crazy). But I was his favorite teacher. I mean, he didn't skip my class and would skip other classes just to say hi. And now he's not in school. I want so badly to help him. So I've been talking with his AP and the attendance officer. I am also earning extra bucks doing TAKS tutorials. And the Australian NASA events have been quiet lately but starting next week I have like 3 a week!

Tomorrow I shall get my hair cut, bring my new beta fish to school, replace my left brake light, try to act smart for my AP kids, and who knows what else. I like riding my bike to school, too (but not with my fish).

Mac says hello. or meow. Here's a link for pictures.
The last Couple weeks in photos

I am a quarter of a century old!

Well, I had a fabulous 25th birthday! First, Lucki and I went shopping and I got a new fossil watch (from my parents!).

Then Lucki, Stephen, Matt, Lisa, Manny, Aubrey, Julie, Andrew, Sondra, Lisa, Rachelle all came out for dinner. We were going to go to the Olive Garden but the wait was so long so we went to a Thai place. It was sooooooooooo yummy!

Then Lucki, Stephen, Matt, Lisa, Manny, Aubrey, and Julie all came over to my place and we played this awesome game - Pop 5- it's from Cranium and much like it but way cooler and 80s/90s based. SO fun!

Then Courtney, Manny, AJ, Steve, Alina, Taylor, and Kristin joined our party and we had cake (which I made) and ice cream. Half of them were allergic to Mac, unfortunately. So they didn't stay too long.

Then that crew left and the original 8 got back to our hard core game playing. :) They discovered I have a weird super human trick- I can hold my nostrils together (without hands)----as I was acting out "Cabbage patch dolls" haha. they have funny scrunched nose! And people sure got a kick out of the dynamic Lucki and I have! We are so much alike and we are SO funny together.

The whole night was a blast!!!!

Lucki got me a Vanilla Cupcake Yankee Candle, a cute purse mirror, a cute manicure set, and a GlamGirl frame. :) Matt and Lisa got me the cutest pink cake holder (you know, the stand type!). And Aubrey got me a cute vase with flowers. Courtney got me a pretty scarf from Lous (uhm not sure how to spell it). My folks got me iWork and the fossil watch. Call me spoiled. :)


Here's Manny and Mac- the stare down! :)











Birthday Photos.... click here
More Ike Photos....click here

Tweeny Bopper

Andrew said I must use that as my next Blog title because I like the Jonas Brothers. So sue me.

Yesterday was fun- Aubrey and I did damage at Costco and had fun with some friends. Today I organized and re-organized everything in my apartment. Goodness gracious it's clean and organized.

I'm not looking forward to my birthday. It should be a cool one- I mean- I am turning 25. But I just feel like it's going to be dull.

Tomorrow I must work on AP Physics stuff. I've been avoiding it.

A glimpse at Jenn's life

20 years ago....
~I was about to turn 5
~I was starting kindergarten
~I had a new baby sister, Jessica

10 years ago....
~I was a bassoon player
~I was not LDS
~I was big on school dances and dates
~I was a big nerd (math, science, 4.0)

5 years ago....
~I was in my second year at the University of Washington
~I was planning on a mission in a year- I spent so much time with the missionaries!
~I loved being an RA in the dorms

3 years ago....
~I was walking in the cold, rainy streets of Chile! Yeah!
~I was struggling with insomnia (and still am)
~I was about to have my first birthday on the mission

This year....
~I student taught in DC then graduated from BYU
~I moved to Houston to start teaching Chemistry....then they changed me over to Physics and AP Physics C
~I started working part time for NASA Space Center Houston
~I got a cat, Mac
~I have my own awesome apartment
~I have had way too many boyfriends...nothing ever works out
~I have read dozens of books
~I am closer with my sister than ever before
~I survived Hurricane Ike!

Yesterday....
~I was happy to see my cat after the hurricane
~I got power back in my apartment
~I hung out with Lucki and Stephen
~I caught up with a bunch of friends

Today....
~I rode my bike and worked out
~I worked on lesson plans
~I just relaxed...Jenn-time

Tomorrow....
~I have no clue

In the next year....
~I will pay off all of my student loans and credit cards
~I will maybe find someone to date...or marry...
~I will be the best teacher I can be
~I will try to understand better what Heavenly Father's plan for me is and have faith

All is well

I came home today to my apartment. Mac greeted me, glad to be home. He seemed a little freaked out, but it did run to me before telling me he was out of food... He probably isn't happy I'm back because I gave him a bath today!

I got power back just an hour or so after I got home. Hooray! And the only damage to my apt is a few spots of water on the ceiling. Some, just a little, hit my sofa. Gross. But it's a slip cover...and that couch will one day be a 'basement couch'.... So they're going to check out the damage soon- I called my apt complex.

Lucki has power, too, so we'll get together. No school for the week. I'm going to see if they're cleanup stuff I can help out with tomorrow.

All is well.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/09/the_short_but_eventful_life_of.html

Funny Hurricane News Reporter Comments

They were talking about what there is left in the grocery stores....and someone said that there were many people with cases of beer in their carts. The news reporters said "Every one is getting beer and alcohol! Folks, you don't want to be intoxicated/out of it during a disaster!"

Another lady reporter said that lots of people were asking if this is the worst it's going to get (the storm is like 150 miles away) and she frankly said "Guys, it's still 150 miles away, of course it's going to get worse!

On the radio they asked that we limit water use and thus limit shower usage...and I quote "get used to your own aromatic essence."

Top Ten Reasons Hurricane Season Is Like Christmas

#10: Decorating the house (with plywood)
#9: Dragging out boxes that haven't been used since last season
#8: Last minute shopping in crowded stores
#7: Regular TV shows pre-empted for 'Specials'
#6: Family coming to stay with you
#5: Family and friends from out of state calling you
#4: Buying food you don't normally buy and in LARGE quantities
#3: Days off from work (YIPPEE)
#2: Candles (this could be romantic lol)

And the Number One reason Hurricane Season is like Christmas: At some
point you're probably going to have a tree in your house!

Gail's email

Subject: jennifer has evacuated from her apartment, and is staying with friends' family north of Houston

Message:
To all,

Just in case anybody is wondering how close Jennifer is to hurricane Ike, her place is right in the path, and right on a bay of the Gulf of Mexico. She evacuated last night, and is staying with her friends family in a town called Spring, north of Houston. Her school has been shut down.

Love, gail

Don't Trip.

So we've gotten through two weeks of school. And now it's the end of the third week. We just had school canceled Thursday and Friday for Hurricane Ike. So just FYI...it's going to be over Saturday and I am up north with my best bud Aubrey at her Aunt's house. I did leave Mac alone (partially because the aunt can't handle cats, second because he'll really be fine). Anyways, it's going to all be okay.

School. so far so good. yesterday's AP class was CRAZY. I think I scared them to death. First, I handed back lab reports and I think they were disappointed. I graded hard (which I didn't think I did). Then I gave them a quiz- open note/book- just a problem from the book and over half of them got like 3/15 right (we graded it like an AP free response question). So they were probably upset by that. And then I tried teaching them about how the integral of velocity is displacement----and so I tried teaching them HOW to do integrals...and they haven't 'learned it ' yet in Calculus...so I tried and easy approach...and some got it. So I think I stressed them out big time. BUT they got some comic relief, unintentionally. This was my finest teaching moment....you ready....brace yourself...I tripped over this kid's backpack and then fell on top of a pile of meter sticks. Yup. I pile of meter sticks. I fell. completely. It took me a few minutes to regain composure.

We had a fun lab this week- rolly ball lab- trying to take the velocity of different balls in the hallway.

I've had a lot of fun lately with Aubrey, Lucki, Matt (my teacher friend who keeps me sane), Derek, Andrew, and everyone. Life is pretty dang good. (Granted that the hurricane doesn't destroy my stuff and kill my cat. I pray that won't happen.) Well, on that note I'm going to go....

A New Start

This was the first week of school. I love my classes. They're already at different paces- some classes are way more smart than others. And my AP kids do not intimidate me! I AM smarter than them. I was scared of that. But I have total control- it's a good feeling. I can challenge them! And I had a really neat lab for them this week on relativity. I feel really good about what I'm doing. And I'm very grateful for my friend Matt, the other Physics teacher. He is such a good friend and we keep each other sane. On the flipside, there's always meetings, messed up schedules, and other annoyances that get in the way of teaching. Eh. Matt helps me get through it.

Don't worry- the hurricane is now a Category 2 and doesn't seem to be coming our way anymore. :)

Mac says hello. He's still the same spaz as last week.

I'll write more later, okay!