What a Day!

It rained today! Twice! Granted, each time was only about 30 seconds, and I wouldn't exactly call it rain-drizzle yes, rain no. But percipitation fell from the sky! I was so excited! I opened the sun roof on the drive home just to experience all that I possibly could. I love the rain.



Today was also a great day because I acquired something I've been secretly wanting for years now. Here is the story. When I was in the ninth grade I was the band president. It was more of a title than an office. Being president just meant that I led the band when Mr. Decker wasn't there, and since he had lukemia he wasn't there very often. Most substitutes just sat in Mr. Decker's office and stared at the wall. It was up to me to make sure the band knew how to play the numbers we would perform for our concerts. (By the way, all of my eighth grade year I wanted to be a band director when I grew up.) I loved being president because I could also delegate my responsibilities of leading the band. Lucky for me, I had a secretary who loved leading the band. I would warm the band up with scales and then the secretary would lead for the rest of the class. I took advantage of the time Mr. Decker was sick. Since I played the drums, I would learn my part in each piece and then trade instruments with other students. Everyone always wanted to play the drums, so I literally had my choice of instruments. I attempted the flute, the clarinet, the french horn, the trumpet, the trombone, the tuba, but my favorite was the alto saxophone. Playing the sax came very naturally to me. I could play the Sesame Street theme song by the end of my first day on the sax. I also learned "Stand By Me" fairly quickly.


Since my days as band president I have often looked at saxophones online just to see how much they go for. I've never found 'the one' that was the right price at the right time. Well, last week as I was doing my visiting teaching, one of the girls I visit was discussing her musical talent and mentioned that she played the sax. I shared my experiences on the sax with her and she told me that she had an alto sax that she hasn't used in years and that she wanted to give it to me! Wow. I was so excited! She brought it to FHE tonight and now all I need are reeds! I can't wait to wail.


Moral of the story (I don't know why, but I kind of like defining morals): do your visiting teaching and you too could get a saxophone! Or other blessings. (:

I want one too!

This week has been an exciting motorcycle siting week. There are so many Harleys! I saw (no lie) around 100 motorcycles on my three mile drive home from school yesterday. There is a certain energy in the air! Every year in Reno they hold an annual meeting of the motorcycles called Street Vibrations. Motorcyclists from around the nation literally swarm to this area to hang out with each other. I imagine it's somewhat like the Sturgis Rally in the Blackhills of South Dakota, but a little more civilized.

Seeing all of these motorcycles makes my desire to have one even greater. I have always wanted a motorcycle! I almost convinced my mom to let me buy one right before I went on my mission, but that didn't quite work out. One day I'll have one. Until then, I'm just going to envy every bike I see.

Which Princess Are You?

I recently took this survey and found out that I am most like Belle. It makes sense to me because we both love reading and the outdoors. Now if only I can find my Beast...

Which Disney Princess are you?

A Few of My Favorite Things...

I decided to follow after Julie Andrews and proclaim a few of my favorite things. They are as follows, in no special order:

1. Cloudy days. I would say that rainy days are one of my favorite things, but it hasn't rained since I got here. Today was only the fourth cloudy day I've seen since moving to Carson City. Don't get me wrong, I love the sun and the fact that it is warmer here than it is in Utah, but I miss the clouds and the rain.

2. Cub Scouts. They are just so cute walking down the street in their shirts and kerchiefs. When they came fund-raising at my front door I just couldn't resist.

3. Exploring the Sierra Nevadas. Last weekend my principal (Steve Knight) and my landlord (Patty Knight) decided to take me on an amazing day-long jeep ride. [Yes, Steve and Patty are married-works out well for me.] They took me down highway 88 and then down highway 4. They set me to salivating-there are so many gorgeous places to hike, backpack, fish, picnic, canoe, snowshoe, cross-country ski and camp around here. I was going to make a quick trip to Yosemite this weekend, but because of other things I will only be able to blink and then come home. I decided to camp near Tahoe instead so I can enjoy my stay and still keep my commitments. Yosemite will have to wait until Spring with the Meiks.

4. Bear bait. I don't know how they did it, but these two large lads made it into this bear-proof box. Funny what some people do when they have nothing to do.
5. Mowing my lawn. It took me seven minutes-total. That is front and back. I also love the smell of fresh-cut grass mixed with the smell of gasoline. Weird, I know.

6. My back yard. I love to read, grade papers and nap in my hammock. I haven't tried out the chubby-midget barbeque yet. Maybe next week.

7. Salad. One day I just made up this salad. Try it out. Fresh baby spinach, chunked mozzarella, chopped up tomatoes, shredded deli turkey, and use cottage cheese for the dressing. Mmmmm. I love it. I've also tried it with grapes-not bad.
8. Redbox. Need I say more?

9. Visitors. At the beginning of this week my Aunt Delcia and Uncle Allan came for a visit. They were spending some time in Tahoe and decided I was worth the trip to Carson. We went to the Bower Mansion in Washoe Valley (which happened to be closed), and then they took me out for dinner and a movie! Thanks again Allan and Delcia! By the way, loved Ghost Town.

10. Sleeping in. I've become adept at getting ready in forty-five minutes.

11. Students who respond. I make it a point to try to respond to my students' work on an individual level. I love it when I get a little glimmer of response back from them-it almost makes me feel guilty for getting paid to teach. Almost...

12. Phone calls. I got the best phone call the other day. It was about 2:30 in the afternoon. I get out of school at 3:00, but I spend the last half hour or so in my office doing stuff. Last week I got a call from my mom who was trying to stifle a laugh. She informed me that she had just seen a mullet on her lunch break and her first instinct was to do the 'mullet call.' She couldn't do it because she couldn't remember how it went. So she called me. Unfortunately for both of us I was still inside. I called her on the way home and did a little "woo-ya" for her. The moral of the story is: practice your mullet call because you never know when you'll need to shout it out.

One Time at BRANCH Camp...

This weekend the single's branch went camping! I love camping! For some reason camping is the perfect setting to get to know people really well. Think back to the Scout Camps, Girl's Camps, and Family Reunions that you've participated in-it's true.

The same held true for Branch Camp this weekend. I feel more and more at ease with the people in my branch. It's cool that there are no cliques to deal with because the branch is so small-we're mostly one big happy family!

We went to this lake called Indian Creek. There were some HUGE lake trout, but I don't have a license to fish in CA-disappointing. The lake was low, so there was a nice rocky beach to play football on-we really only tossed the football. The one time the ball was tossed TOWARDS the lake it went in. We spent an hour throwing rocks behind it to get it back, but to no avail. (I've done the same with a Frisbee at First Dam in Logan, and we got it back-it took two hours, but we got it back.)

Anyhow, now for my story about what happened at Branch Camp:

One of the guys brought up his telescope. I was really excited to use it because I have been nothing but impressed with the celestial display since I got to Carson-by the way, Genoa is THE best place to star gaze in this valley. We were looking at Jupiter and its moons when out of nowhere this girl Heather walks up to me and asks if I lift weights. I was sort of taken back by her question because we've only ever spoken twice. I stumbled through my reply and then she followed up by asking if she could feel my arm. Too funny! I was almost rolling on the dirt because I was laughing so hard. Talk about random! The people that were also star gazing were a little puzzled at her queries as well, but it ended up being a great ice-breaker. After I got myself under control, Heather and I proceeded to discuss the fact that she is into being fit lately-she is just beginning her core classes as a Nutrition major.

It's funny. There are times when you wonder what other people think about you (especially when you've just moved far away from anyone you know), and sometimes you get shocked by the results. I guess I kind of set myself up for what Heather, and perhaps others, thinks about me. The first FHE I attended we played Human Foosball and the next one we went bowling. I'm not great at either, but I seemed to be having two good Mondays in a row, and ended up dominating in both of the activities. It didn't help that last Monday was a marshmallow gun war, and I happened to have my own gun... :) I have the branch thinking that I am really competitive and in shape. Little do they know....

It is too bad I have a horrendous cold and couldn't spend the night with the branch, I really wanted to, but I can't afford to get any more sick than I already am. Plus, today is the day that I get through the stack of five paragraph essays for 165 students. I need all the time I can get for that!

Tahoe City!

Zach and Seth's parents have a friend who gave them a week at their cabin in Tahoe City. What a cool little place! We drove up after I got off work one day and went swimming in the fffffffreezing water. FYI: don't swim in the shade-ever. It took me the rest of the night to warm up. Picture l-r: Jessica, Kelsey, Zach, Seth.

How pretty is this? It almost, not really but almost, reminds me of Alaska, except that there are lots of people here and roads and cars and...... Okay, so just the huge fish and the water remind me of Alaska, but I still ached for it just the same. I don't think I could have chosen a better place to live!

After swimming we had a great meal in this cozy little cabin. We started a fire-it was so nice. Some of the smells of this cabin reminded me of my family's cabin. (They even had the exact same vacuum cleaner!) After dinner we played games for a few hours. Picture l-r: Jessica, Seth, Zach, Mariah, Kim, Kelsey.

As we were driving home from Tahoe City, I saw one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. For any of you that haven't seen the sun on the horizon of a body of water, it creates this highway of light that leads from the sun to where you are. As we were driving back from Tahoe City I saw the moon on the horizon of a body of water, creating a similar but more dreamlike image. The light was much more muted and serene. Probably one of the most romantic things I've ever witnessed! (FYI: I'm an HR-Hopeless Romantic.) I tried to catch a snapshot of this image but, wouldn't you know it, my camera batteries were dying. The photos I did get were poor mimics of God's grandeur. If you ever get the chance, try to see what I saw with your own eyes-you'll SEE what I mean. (Anyone who picks up the reference to a John Mayer song in this paragraph gets a gold star!)

UT-Quick Trip

Last weekend I made a quick trip out to Utah for my niece Brynleigh's baptism. It was great to be there with her and her family as she made this big step. Brynleigh's mind has always amazed me-just the way that she views the world-and she seemed to be well-aware of what she was doing by being baptized. I'm so happy for you Brynners!

These are three of the cutest girls I have ever known. We have so much fun together! I miss you guys! Don't forget all the songs we made up when we were camping this summer!

The Rosier clan doing what they do best-having fun!

It seems like this little man is bound to grow up tomorrow. He has changed so much since I saw him last. Since moving to NV, I have been afraid that my young nephews will forget me. At Brynleigh's baptism, Ander came and shared some of his toys with me, and then sat on the floor in the aisle next to me. He sure is a big boy!Ember has changed since I saw her last too. She started kindergarten and everything! I swear that she has grown a few inches or something. She is suddenly a little lady.

This is my gorgeous, photogentic, gorgeous sister-in-law Jessica. She's always busy working at school and working at work. She is so much fun to talk with! Did I mention that she is gorgeous? Love you Jess!

This is Bradey Wayne at his best! He is so MOBILE now! We had tons of fun playing at his house with his big brother! Bradey has changed the most since I've moved-growing up way too fast.

Jaders and I. I sure love this kid. He is such a sweet and tender little boy! So curious about the world and why things are the way they are. He just started pre-school! He is excited for his new baby brother and his new house!

Officially Official

It wasn't the signing of my first teaching contract that made my life here in Nevada official, nor was it the sound of money as my first paycheck was deposited today. It was the act of getting a library card that made me feel like an official resident of Carson City.

I really don't know how to explain it, but ever since the first time I moved out when I was 18, there was a sense of home when I knew that I could go get any book I wanted from the local literary lounge.

I was actually persuaded by one of my students to get a library card this week. Last week this student came in to meet with me and told me that the online curriculum was not challenging enough for him; he wanted to do more. Golden! We discussed options for ramping up his workload and settled on him writing one essay a week, as well as reading a book of his choosing with me. He decided that we are reading Back to the Future, which I honestly didn't know was a book. I had to not only get a library card, but get the book reserved from another neighboring library! Who knew?

Silver State High School is seriously one of the best educational institutions I have ever come across (yes, in my short career of 3 weeks).

I enjoy the school for the following reasons:

1. It is conveniently located between Big 5, one of my favorite outdoor equipment stores, and Port of Subs, a local sandwich shop whose baking aromas permeate the registrar's office. Yes, the school is a store-front. The back half of the school used to be some animal hotel, and the front half used to be a Blockbuster.

2. There are only 10 regular education teachers at the school, so it really feels like a tight-knit family. I have felt nothing but support from my colleagues. They all recently had to go through the process of figuring out how to teach at an online high school, so they remember what it feels like.

3. Most of my day is spent one-on-one with the students. The school is set up so that ALL students get the teacher time they need. This is the epitome of what I think education ought to be.

4. The students are amazing! I am so impressed with the different backgrounds of my students. For some, this is their last chance of getting a high school diploma. Others simply didn't fit the mold at the traditional high school. No matter the case, it is amazing to see how they all come together and help one another through. I love it!

I think my list could go on and on, but I don't want to bore anyone. I just thought I should write a little because one of my friends told me that I don't write much on my blog. This one's for you!