Fire

Last night around 6:45, Dan and I were both sitting on the couch reading, when our lights started to flicker. Dan decided to tell me that the reason for the flickering was that the world was coming to an end, when all of a sudden we saw sparks outside. Next thing we know there's a police car coming with sirens and lights. We run outside into a very smoky backyard. OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE WAS ON FIRE!!!!

We just met our neighbor William three weeks ago. He lives in England but owns this house in Upland, and he was back in the States fixing up the house so his mom could move in. He left to go to his mom's yesterday afternoon, so fortunately he wasn't in the house.

Anyway, the whole town (or so it seemed) came out to watch the fire, but it was really more of a smoking than a fire. We didn't know the cause of the fire, although Dan heard something about a gas line, so we stayed out of our house for awhile, even though Sammie was still inside and I wanted to get him, but Dan said it wasn't worth it (I disagreed but decided risking my life might be foolish). It turned out that our house wasn't in danger, but we still don't know the cause of the fire.

Unfortunately, we don't think William knows yet about his house. We have know way of getting a hold of him, although we passed on the info to the people we're renting from with hopes they can contact him.

Dan will post pictures later. I never thought my neighbor's house would have a fire. Poor William.

Macgyver

Did any of you watch Macgyver when you were growing up? Both Dan and I did, and now we're watching it again. Yes, that's right, folks, Dan and I are spending some of our precious time together watching Season 1 of Macgyver. Last night while we were watching an episode called "Hellfire," I looked over at Dan - who was totally engrossed in the show - and I saw this big cheesy smile on his face during a reunion between Macgyver and his friend. I was about to make fun of how cheesy this was when I saw that smile and knew that Dan was LOVING every moment of Macgyver!

I now have such a greater understanding of my husband. Macgyver is - and has been- one of his greatest role models. I think Dan - who loves to created functional items out of junk and other seemingly worthless materials - secretly aspires to be Macgyver. Does anyone else agree with this analysis of Dan?

Fall Break (Already)

I have fall break today and tomorrow, even though I just started at my new school on Monday. I really don't feel like I need a break, but I'm not complaining. :)

Yesterday we taught the first period class (which consists of four 7th grade boys) how to play chess. We weren't sure how it was going to go over, since it was the day before fall break and they're usually overly hyper and easily distracted anyway, but it went really well. I monitored a game between Isaac and Paco, and it was really fun to see their minds working. They stayed focused the whole time, and they wanted to play again (even though they were convinced chess was for geeks - I tried to persuade them that it's an equal opportunity game). I think they will be fun - but challenging - to teach.

So far my observing in the ESL classroom has been SO different than at Blackford. Even though we have small classes, most of the kids need one-on-one help, and you never know what homework they will need help with. Most of their homework I understand, but sometimes I get stumped on the math. Oh well, what can you do? I'm just glad to be helping the classes and getting to know the kids.

Why is caffeine found in coffee beans?

Folks, that is the challenge question of the week? Any guess, if you happen to know for sure, please do not say, till the final answer is given. Creative ideas welcome.
Let the inquiry begin . . .


P.S The lettuce withstood the first frost of the year! It was a heavy one too!

Time for School Again

I set my alarm for 5:45 this morning in order to leave the house by 6:30. That is soooooo early for me. It's really hard for me to get out from under the warm duvet when's it dark, cold, and rainy outside. But I did it! And Dan even joined me after awhile; what a sweetie. :)

I liked my first day with the ESL students. It is so different from your regular high school English classroom. I didn't feel nervous at all today, and I was able to jump right in and help on my first day. Even though we have small classes (usually between 4 and 7 students), students need a lot of one-on-one help because they are at different levels. Most of the students are really friendly and open. One girl smiled at me and said I looked like her foster mom (I decided not to think about White Oleander and to just take that as a compliment because she seemed happy when she said it).

I think this is going to be a good student-teaching experience.

Our precious, Sambo the Rambo tree climber 

Dan building his fancy cold frame for winter yummies.  

A little lettuce all winter long now! Hopefully 

At J. Van Wyk studio, Sam and friends too 

Julie's stay with Phil and Ben on the way out to Iowa 

Back in Upland

After many hours alone in the car, I made it safely back to Upland this morning. I had a great time in Sioux Center, thanks to the many friends and my dear sister who showed me hospitality. Thanks for letting being my roomie for the past week, Lins, and thank you to all who invited me over for dinner and conversation. Good times and good food!

Even though I had a great time in Sioux Center, I am very glad to be back. I didn't realize how much I'd missed Dan until I saw him again and he leaned down to kiss me and some snot from his nose fell on me. I'm not even joking. But I didn't even care because I was so happy to see him again!!!

Monday I start at Anderson teaching ESL. I need to be re-energized before then.

Peace.

The results are in . . . I am hilarious

Yup, I think I might be the funniest person in the world. So I am starting to talk in my presentation and low and behold I huge Dan burp comes rumbling from the depths of my lungs and out it comes . . . . ya . akward silence . . right in front of 25 students . . . and then utter laughter.
Ok, so I made the story up, but it made me laugh just telling it. I had fun giving the talk and Dr. Rotrock said it was good and really allowed the students to connect to the other agriculture going on in the US. I asked how many were from farms and only 4 raised there hands and that was because there grandparents farmed! Wow, that far removed. So basically, I was talking to a bunch of upper class (Taylor tuition for under grad say around 29,000) who have been sheltered and pampered their whole lives. Ok, I am exaggerating, but not by much. They asked good questions, but I had to define compost (wow, I didn't even think that would be required)which represent how far removed most of them really are from the food production system. Anyways, I enjoyed myself and hope to give some talks in ecology now too. WEll, lunch break over.
Had dinner with William our neighbor and Jeff M at Paines a great sandwich shop last night. Going to Jason and Shelly K for dinner tonight. So all is well.
Sammie has fleas and they are starting to get me . . . nooooooooooooooooooo.....

Back in Sioux Center

This morning Sandi Altena spoke in chapel, and Bekah, Linsay, and I sang a couple songs. It was so fun! I wish I could sing with them everyday.

I've been quite busy since I've been back here, but it's been a good busy, mostly because I get to see so many people that I haven't seen for awhile! I also have student teaching seminar Mon-Thurs. for 3 hours each afternoon, but I am enjoying that so far as well. I like hearing stories from other student teachers - I am not alone in my joys and frustrations! Unfortunately, I also have to write a couple papers, and I'm a bit out of practice. What can you do . . .

This morning I had to go the police dept. and get fingerprinted. Yep, I've been a bad girl back here in Sioux Center . . . okay, not really. The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners requires a criminal check, so I sent them my fingerprints, some other info, and $52. The things you have to do to become a certified teacher.

Sustainable Agriculture Presentation

Well folks, I give a 20 min talk in an Intro to Environmental Science class in about 20 min. I am excited yet nervous as well. It is a topic I love and just want to communicate clearly on the issue. I am trying to get better at public speaking and I thought this would be a good way to start, simply by doing it.
I am evolving the talk around my farm experiences and relating that in contrast to industrial agriculture. I have a powerpoint with a bunch of pictures so I just have to talk through the pictures which will make it easier. Got to go and I will let you know how it went.
Dan P

BBC radio rocks my world

I just listened to 2 hours of BBC radio and it rules . . reggae, folk, indie, hip, classical, all I could ever want while learning ArcView. Celtic is sweet
Check it out
BBC Radio Sites

What are you favorite internet radio stations?

Dan hasn't posted in a while . . .

I have been quite busy the last two weeks and have neglected to post myself, although be certain that I have continued to read fellow blogger sites. High five for all the guy bloggers out there, GUYS RULE, GIRLS DREWL!

I had my first test of my graduate career and I think it went well. I wrote for almost three hours. A bunch of short answer and several essay that turned into not so short answer.
On Tuesday, we drilled a 50 foot well behind the Randall Center in preparation for my Well-drilling trip to Guatemala in Jan. It took all day and was a s-well time. Lots of mud and fun.
Today and Friday and I feel somewhat like a loser. With Julie gone I don't have anyone to hangout with this evening. Jason K is gone this weekend and everyone else has families and the like, maybe when I get home I will have a phone call inviting me over to someones house???? If not I will get some movies from the library, read a book, play guitat and simply be for the evening. Sounds kinda appealing actually.
While Julie is gone I plan on getting lots of long term work done: finalize my thesis proposal (a full time job in itself, review 25 lit sources!!) learn ArcGIS as much as possible (but it is so nice outside right now), hangout with kitty, and other fun stuff. Maybe I will clean the house too . . .. maybe . . . .
Dan

A Journey to Iowa

I'm leaving for my parents house in about 5 minutes, where my mom and I (and possibly Grandma) are going shopping, then having dinner with Pops. Tomorrow I'm driving halfway to Sioux Center, stopping in Iowa City to see Phil, and then continuing to Sioux Center Friday morning.

I am so excited to see everyone at Dordt! For my Dordt people, I'll be staying at Linsay Carlson's, phone 6943. Call me! I'll call you too!

I wish Dan could come with me, but obviously that wouldn't work. I'll be gone for about 10 days total, and that would be too much class to miss. Just in case you're wondering, my main purpose in going to Sioux Center is that I have student teaching seminar Mon-Thurs. The bonus is I get to see my sister and friends!

Sammie's Big Day

I just dropped Sammie off at the vet. When I pick him this evening between 3-6 pm, he will have lost his manhood, poor thing. Yes, today Sammie is getting his little balls chopped off. But we're not getting him declawed; instead we're going to clip his little nails. We've already tried this and he doesn't seem to mind at all. It was kind of hard to leave him at the vet, especially since he was super cuddly because he heard dogs barking. I honestly never thought I could get so attached to a pet. I apologize to everyone I've made fun of for their attachments to their pets.

Reading

I finally finished Middlemarch this week. I started it in June and finished it in October. I guess I had some other things to do besides read over those few months, but still. Anyway, I loved the book, especially the last two hundred pages which I read over two days since I was finished with student teaching and I actually had time to read. The book is excellent. I feel like I learned a lot about life - or had many things confirmed which I believe to be true about life - by reading the it. So I definitely recommend it!

It seems strange to blog about my finishing a book considering the major earthquake that happened in Pakistan this weekend and the devastation it brought. It's so easy to be disconnected from the rest of the world when you don't have problems in your own part of the world. I don't like that. I don't want to be disconnected from the suffering of Pakistanis, or anyone else for that matter, and sometimes I feel that sending money is just another way of justifying connectedness when I'm not really connected in my heart anymore than if I hadn't sent money. Not that sending money isn't good and necessary, but that it is just not enough. Any ideas?

Guests

This morning at 4 am Sam, Lo, Kevin Z., and Andrew C. left after spending two exciting nights at our place in Upland, Indiana! We had a lot of fun playing pit and the bag game (that is, the bag game with a slight alteration to make it even more difficult - haha!), making and eating chili and cornbread, walking listlessly around Upland in search for 7-up to go with the whiskey, and, of course, getting ice cream at Ivanhoe's. Thanks for visiting us! Please come again soon!

Oh yeah, and someone forgot their Chacos (did I spell that right?). I'm guessing it's either Sam or Kevin, since Andrew didn't have any and they were WAY to big for Lo's feet. I am so good at deduction! Anyway, I'll bring them to Iowa when I come next week.

Finished

I finished with my first session of student teaching on Tuesday, and I was happy to be done but sad to leave the students and teachers I had got to know. I spent most of Tuesday grading character analyses, and I taught my last class of Creative Writing. Then we had parent teacher conferences and an open house for parents, so it was really nice to meet some parents of my students.

Some highlights of my last two days at Blackford:

• One of my female CW students, who had originally been quite snotty towards me and hated the class, ended up buying me a gift, giving me a hug, and telling me she'd miss me.
• My CW class asked me to try to come back and get a job at Blackford.
• One of my male sophomore honors students told me Monday morning that he was starting a petition that would keep me from leaving Blackford.
• Several of my students from different classes gave me hugs and said they'd miss me and that I'd be a good teacher.
• One of my male CW students (who wants to be a cartoonist) wrote a short story that I suggested he make into a comic book. This is a student who, according to my cooperating teacher, has had some academic trouble in the past. Anyway, Tuesday after class he showed me the first part of the comic book he had started. That night, he, his dad, and brother came to the open house and we said goodbye.
• This last one isn't so much of a highlight. I had to say goodbye to Linda, my cooperating teacher, who has been an AMAZING mentor to me. I will genuinely miss teaching with her. Thankfully, we live in the same town, so we'll get to see each other every now and then.

I have the next week off. Right now we have guests staying with us (Sam, Lo, Kevin, Andrew Cruz), so that's lots of fun! Next Thursday I leave for Iowa, then I start student teaching at Anderson on October 24.

Final thoughts on my first session: I do want to be a high school (perhaps middle school) English teacher, at least for a time. I learned that my ATTITUDE has so much impact on how I teach, and that I must have an attitude of WORSHIP and JOY (from the Lord) in order to love my students and teach well. Thank you all for your prayers and support during my student teaching!