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Week in Review

This week was pretty busy for the both of us. I feel like we got a lot done! Here is a quick recap:

Monday: Well... ok maybe not so much Monday...

Tuesday: I... *gasp*... subbed for a 7th grade math class. It was... exhausting. I really have to hand it to those who can and want to teach middle school. I felt like I never got a break! You can't let your guard down for a second, and they were AWFUL to each other. The school I was subbing at was lower income but I was still absolutely shocked by their language and attitude and view of the world around them. One girl said to another girl, "if you don't shut up, I'm gonna cut you!" Another boy threatened to stab a girl in the neck with his pencil. When I asked the students to stand up and tell me their names and something about themselves, something that sets them apart, three girls told me that the only thing interesting about them was that they are Black! I tried to prompt an additional response but they had nothing else to say. I just wish that these kids could see past their race even just a little. I don't believe that that is how we should define ourselves. There was so much anger and hurt in these kids. It was really quite sad. I won't even get into all of the horrible sexual references they made to each other. Throughout the day at least three kids were sent to the front office, two girls had to be separated, and 7 students were written up for misbehaving, and the thing is... this was a GOOD day - or so I was told by one of my students and a science teacher down the hall. He actually requested that I sub for him this following week! - I'm going to be out of town. When I came home at the end of the day I wanted to go straight to bed. I don't think you could pay me enough to teach middle school again. Cliff was busy too. This whole week he has had flight after flight with classes, tests, and simulators mixed in too.

Wednesday - Cliff's 26th birthday! A much better day with the exception that Cliff had to to go to work around 4:00pm and didn't get home until 2:00am the next morning. Because Cliff had to fly that night, we decided to celebrate by going out to lunch. We went to a funky little blues bar and bbq pit called "Mojo Kitchen." The music was great and the food was even better! I can't believe we didn't discover this place sooner. I know the food in Japan will be great but there is definitely something to be said for southern cookin' and barbecue done right! Cliff got the 2nd and 3rd season of "Arrested Development" from my parents, a book from his parents with talks and essays by President Monson, and I got his commissioning certificate framed for him. After lunch we went home and changed and then drove over to the base to use the gym before Cliff went to work. I had my art class at 6:30 and I got a lot done on my painting this week. I will have to put some picture up soon.

Thursday - We both slept in until about ...7:30, (not sleeping in for me so much,) and then Cliff went to work around 9:00 and I left to go to the zoo with a friend from church and her daughter. I know you are all probably sick of hearing about the zoo and must think that I go almost everyday, but the truth is that I never get tired of it. It was so much fun to go with a tw0-year old too, because the zoo is viewed completely differently through the eyes of a child. I guess it's just that every time I go I am reminded of just how incredible this world is that Christ under our Heavenly Father's direction created for us. It truly blows my mind. And it was wonderful to see Teya's (the little girl's) fascination with everything from the poison dart frogs to the sleeping "teddy bears" to the lady bug on a leaf. I can't wait to take my own children to a zoo one day.

Later that evening I went visiting teaching with my new partner and really enjoyed myself. I'm grateful that we finally had the opportunity to go even though we were unsuccessful in meeting up with one of the girls, I really got to know my vt companion and she is super nice. I also killed a big spider in my car that was right by the passenger window. You might laugh, but this was a great feat for me.

Friday - I subbed again! This time 5th grade and it was GREAT. It was probably the easiest working day I have ever had in my life. It was a co-teaching situation and the other teacher was there, so I basically just monitored the class and made sure everyone stayed in their seats and on task. Such a relief after the nightmare that was Tuesday.

When Cliff got home that evening he had some great news! The HSL-51 guys, (that's the squadron he will be in in Japan,) were in town and wanted to meet up to talk about the move/transition from American life to Japanese living. We met them at a sports bar and got to talk to them for more than two hours! We got to meet the Skipper (the commander of the squadron and Cliff's future boss,) and we also got a sponsor!! A sponsor is a person that helps you move and adjust to living in Japan. They are there to help you every step of the way. They will answer any questions we have and will even pick us up from the airport when we arrive! Most people don't actually meet their sponsor until they land in Japan. They usually get to know each other through e-mail so this was really cool. Cliff was so excited last night, he was jumping around the house like a kid. I love my goofy husband. We are going to have the time of our lives over there :)

Cars and Driving

So I just wanted to add really quickly that Cliff has been teaching me to drive his car (it's a manual.) I haven't had that many lessons because I get frustrated really easily but I drove to church today and I only stalled once! We are going to be selling our cars pretty soon and mine is going to be the first to go. Cliff has been getting on my case to learn to drive his car since we won't have mine much longer. I'm really proud of myself that I did it today. I hate it when I can't get something right the first time so I didn't want to try again when I didn't "get it" the first time I tried. I have the most trouble starting uphill but Cliff said that that is the hardest thing for everyone. Hopefully I will feel confident enough to drive his car in a week when I drive up to Atlanta because that would save us a lot of money in gas. There is definitely something to be said for fuel efficient compact cars when gas is $3.45 per gallon!

St. Augustine and Universal

This past week was a busy one. My parents and my brother came to visit us and although Cliff had to work and my dad had to go home one wed. for a meeting, my mom and brother and I had a blast! We had tour of central and northeastern Florida. We went to St. Augustine on Tuesday before my dad had to go back and even though it was a little chilly we really enjoyed ourselves. We went to the Alligator farm, (which is always awesome,) and we explored the city and it's shopping. We stepped into an art gallery and ended up staying inside for about an hour! The artists that they showcased were AMAZING. Even my little brother and my dad were impressed! We got to see the work of the sculptor known as TUAN. The White House just commissioned him to do a piece for them. Click here and ... --> Check out some of his work!
After my dad left on wed. morning my mom and brother and I drove to Orlando. We got two park annual passes to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I hadn't ridden a roller coaster since returning from Spain and I have to say - I was missing out! I know that theme parks aren't for everyone but I'm a fan. Especially when you don't have to wait in line very long! The three of us discovered the "single rider" line a few years ago and we all swear by it. The longest line we waited in was about 20 min. but most of the time we would walk right onto the ride. As long as you don't mind splitting up your party, (which who talks on roller coasters anyway?) it's truly the best way to go. We road some rides three or four times in a row! I can't wait until Cliff can can get some time off work and come with me! I think we are going to try and go at the beginning of May and make a Temple trip out of it too.
In other exciting..... sorta.... news - I am teaching this Tuesday. It's rather ironic actually. I always said that I would NEVER teach middle school and that I would NEVER teach math. So what am I teaching this week? 7th grade math. Fun! Wish me luck. I remember what I was like in middle school and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy... Having said that I also have to say that I am very grateful to be working as this substitute teaching thing has been a lot slower than I ever expected. It will be good to be out of the house and working.

Zoo Take Two

My family is in town visiting for the week and I got to go to the zoo AGAIN - this time with Mick and Mama G. I have to say that I have learned in my few zoo experiences that the best time to go is when the weather is just a little chilly and the sky is overcast. ALL of the animals were wide awake and moving around today. It was awesome. I wish Cliff could have come with us too! The cheetahs were moving around, the apes were moving around, and the lion was roaring/barking?! It was so cool! Usually the lions at the zoo are always sleeping so it was a lot of fun to see one making so much noise! I have to post these pictures my mom took because they were just stunning.

In non-zoo news... It was my parents' 29th anniversary today so we all went out to dinner after Cliff got home. We went to the Ragtime Tavern on the beach and enjoyed some delicious cajun stlye seafood and then went back to our place for a rather competetive boys v. girls game of cranium. We finished the evening with Dancing with the Stars and then I came back to the condo that my parents are staying in this week so that Cliff could get some sleep. Poor guy has a 5:30am brief tomorrow. My parents and Mick and I are going to go to the Alligator Farm in St. Agustine while Cliff is flying and we will meet him for dinner tomorrow evening. I wish he could come with us tomorrow but he has an incredibly busy schedule this week. They even having him flying on Saturday this week! I figured since I'm not subbing right now I might as well go out and do something with myself. I just wish Cliff could come too.

The Zoo!

Cliff didn't have to go in to work today until 3:00 so we went to the ZOO! I just bought us membership passes because we only live about 20 min. away from the zoo and they were a great bargain. I got a "friend pass" in my name which allows me to bring a "guest." This was less expensive than buying two individual passes and I can bring whoever I want whenever I want. I thought I might start painting animals so this pass is going to be great :)
Anyway, so we got to the zoo around 10:00 am and it was already packed from spring breakers and I guess just locals... but one of the things I really like about the Jacksonville Zoo is that it is also a botanical garden so even if the place is crowded and you can't squeeze in to see the animal you want - you can just enjoy the surroundings! It's beautiful! We really had a good time. They have a new South American exhibit with jaguars and capybaras and sloths and poison dart frogs and an anaconda and swimming lizards, and... and... can you tell I had fun??
Another nice thing about the membership pass is that you don't feel obligated to stay for the whole day. It got really hot after a while so we decided to go home and get some lunch! We can go back anytime!

In other news.... Leonard died :( He crawled under the oven and we didn't see him for a few days. We didn't think much about it because that had happened before, but I had a feeling he was dead and I didn't want a lizard body to attract any... well... unwelcome house guests - so we began a search and ended up finding him under the oven. I think we fried him actually. We used the oven a day after he crawled under there. Oh well.... on the bright side we found his body and Linus is still alive! He has relocated to the guest bedroom and seems to be doing well!

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