Teaching and other kickass stuff

I looked at my Elcho school pictures recently and it’s no mystery that I miss teaching like crazy and all I want out of school is to be in the classroom again. (Well, besides drinking coffee, but I already do that and if I can do that and teach at the same time that would just be insane.)

So needless to say, with my 9th day in at Eau Claire, I started my teaching courses and I am STOKED. I got placed in a middle school English classroom, and now I get to visit them three times a week. Part of the course is making lesson plans and teaching lessons in the classroom I’m placed, so that just makes my life here. I miss being at the board.

This is nice, because it’s been kind of lonely so far. You’ll have that, though, when you transfer. So my plans include joining College Republicans (again) and getting involved in the community after being on hiatus for awhile, you always meet interesting people that way. I’m DONE with campaigning though, for the love of John McCain, no more. I get that 2010 is a prime election year – and God knows it will be insane to watch – but I’m confident that Republicans can win seats without much help. It’s about the time a majority party has to lose a bit of power, that’s just how the system cycles. So anyway, it will be pretty exciting. Most of all, even though it’s a partisan organization, I met more intelligent people from all parties when I was in College Republicans because all the political groups seem to interact eventually. And I like that diversity of people and ideas.

Either way, Russ comes to visit this weekend and that is AMAZING. I’ve been going to classes and learning and doing the good student thing, but in the back of my mind I’ve been very excited for tomorrow. I miss him. True story.

Speaking of missing people, I need to get back in touch with, like, everyone. I’m really good at getting caught up in life and not calling people like I should. Definitely a priority for me this semester.

And in other news….TACO BELL. On my food plan. Kickass, right?

Le Eau Claire.

This is the sixth time I’ve moved into a dorm room. I have a system of packing now; it’s kind of an art, not gonna lie. I think it only took three trips to and from the car to get my stuff in, and I packed a little more than usual this time around. Mostly because of the not-having-a-car-this-semester. I bought ahead. I think I have enough hygiene products to last me for ten years. In other words, for six more move-ins.

So now I’m in UW-Eau Claire! And I’m graduating here! It stands! I don’t care what happens, you can’t take me out of here without a bachelor’s degree. I’m kind of sick of transferring. haha.

Beautiful thing: textbook rental. I still had to buy some of them, but hey – TEXTBOOK. RENTAL. Take note, every other university in this country. A little piece of me died inside when I learned I had one more math class to do. I was all, what, I thought I was done, what. More of me died when I read the title of my textbook: The Heart of Mathematics. I can tell you right now that math does not have a heart. It is very heartless. It looks at you there, struggling, sweating, and it laughs, “Ha ha! You puny English-minded human! I think I’ll go pretend to be useful in real life now.”

2009 for Rachel

I lived another year. This is a bonus! I also didn’t blog much, which is neither good nor bad, it just means that I used my time for lots of other things. Here are those things, in summary, if you’re interested. Kind of like a late-Christmas card.

I fell off the face of the earth and started spending a lot less time on the internet when I took up a job as a teacher’s aide in late January. I helped with 4th and 5th grade students, drank a lot of coffee, decorated my own classroom, and bought a betta fish, Demetri. I became really attached to the kids really fast. The majority of them came from rough backgrounds and I learned a lot about teaching and a lot about kids. At the same time, I was taking night courses in Wausau. My commute lasted an hour and a half one way, every day, except on the weekends, when I crashed and made lesson plans for the following week, along with homework.

Then I decided to drink more coffee and go to school for the summer. I took a terrible women’s studies course in which I learned nothing, and a speech class in which I learned even less. Both of the classes helped me get my associate’s degree in the fall, but this degree in arts and sciences is about as helpful as a moose with diarrhea. I mean, that’s just not helpful at all. Try and take a moose with diarrhea to a job interview, and the interviewer might laugh at you, or tell you to go away, or wonder how the hell you even got a hold of such a thing. Sometimes I ask myself this very question.

But the summer was amazing, because in the summer I met Russ, we started dating, and I love him. It’s easy to say you love something, or someone, but it wasn’t easy for me to open up and actually have fun with my life outside of school. Russ helped teach me, and he was very patient. We went on lots of amazing adventures, including going to the top of a parking garage, and it was so much fun we try to go back whenever we can.

I decided to stay in Wausau for school in order to finish cheap(er) credits and begin the process of transferring. It was a crazy semester, and I was able to enjoy many varied life experiences, including taking three English classes at once, working retail, and having roommates who were either clinically depressed or overdosing on prescription painkillers. Through it all, I spent a lot of good times with Russ and that made it totally worth it. We shared lots of coffee and tea, contemplating the world, and possibly the rest of our lives.  See the common theme of coffee here? It was meant to be!

I successfully transferred to UW-Eau Claire, where I will be going now until I graduate. I know, university-jumping seems to be my sport, and believe me, if it were in the Olympics, I would SO win a gold medal, but I’m ready to graduate there. Leaving Wausau on the last day was one of the hardest things to do, though, because I know I’ll be away from Russ and it’s not going to be fun. But, we’re still planning amazing adventures, and therefore…

I can’t wait to see what 2010 will bring.

Because, the adventures won’t end with this past year. Not if I can help it. I hope, if you’re reading this (and I know you, I mean, that always helps), we’ll have lots of amazing adventures together too. Or at least I can make you a cup of coffee. You know that sounds just as good.

Being poor builds character…right?

You know it does.

Ergo, I have lots of character.

I get my paycheck tomorrow. WAIT, BACK IT UP

Okay, so, I got a job at the end of July…a nice little teddy-bear stuffing job. Indeed, that’s what’s I do. I work at a little toy store in the Wausau mall, and they stuff bears. It’s quite morbid. Actually, it’s really creepy. I don’t understand how watching taxidermy is good for kids. But at least it prepares them for the real world of embalming, should they want to pursue a career in funeral directing. By the way, I’m just saying words. Stuffing bears is totally cute and you should try it. Yeah.

But in the meantime, I’m wondering why the heck my car sucks up so much gas. Maybe it’s compensating for the fact that it makes TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISES. This has pretty much been going on for two months. I pray every time I get in the thing and drive. So it’s like a rosary. Only with what seems like 10 miles per gallon.

So…I think if I planned this out right, I’ll have just enough gas to drive to Wausau and secure my paycheck, fill up my car, and then drive back. This plan wouldn’t be any more brilliant if Barack Obama came up with it. You know I wasn’t typing that with a straight face.

It’s alright, besides all that, I’m loving life right now. It’s hard not to.

Even if there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about how desperately I want to be an English teacher with a salary and not having to worry about filling up my tank.

Pet conservative soapbox time!!!1!1

I’ve happily accepted my role as “pet conservative” on any college campus nationwide. You see, in any given classroom, you’ll have a roomful of liberal junkies – young people fed by propaganda. But me? Nah. I’m that stuffy, stiff, hard-nosed conservative that will disagree with, like, everything you say. Isn’t that fun?

So once that’s known, usually by the end of the first day (I like to get my dirty little secret out there), I’m always called upon, in 5 seconds or less, to give conservative opinions on everything so the class can be fair…and balanced. And that’s why I’m a pet…or token…conservative. Like a potted plant – except I water myself. You know that would be cool.

So now my 5 seconds or less.

*sighs are heard*

Look, people. Conservative or not, politics hasn’t taken a break after Obama got elected. Not by a long shot. I’m almost afraid the influx of superfuel regurgitated by the young vote has run dry. People! The political process does not end on November 4th. You can’t expect the guy and his cabinet to do a perfect job once elected, although he’d love it if you looked the other way. Then he can quickly pass extreme bits of legislation riding on the seat of his popularity. Heck, I would.

What do you really think about this healthcare bill? None of this, “Something needs to be done about it” crap. Everyone knows that, Sherlock. What do you really think about the changes that will be made to privatized insurance and how it will effect you? If you agree with government-run healthcare, okay. At least you thought about it, maybe in line to order a sandwich.

You may be young, fresh, and made of awesome – but you’ve also got intelligence in a government that doesn’t seek to suppress it. Work it! 2010 is around the corner…where even more beautiful people get elected…and your future depends on their decisions.

Darn, my 5 seconds is over?

Alright. But still. As much as it pains you, throw up your favorite news page and even just skim it. Adults take control of their own lives, and this aspect of it is no exception.

Coffee at night: for good or for awesome?!

For awesome, duh.

I’ve  never been SO AWAKE IN MY LIFE. Okay, here goes.

Things I should be doing: studying for a test tomorrow.

Things I’m actually doing: blogging, running around the dorm filling my coffee pot, listening to Wonderwall by Oasis (AMAZING), eating Sun Chips, watching random Bill O’Reilly clips, imitating Bill O’Reilly to myself, giggling at nothing.

It’s so totally awesome being a good mood, folks. I mean, we just had the voter’s meeting from hell up in this joint. I don’t know if we’re going to be living here next year. I should be pulling my freakin’ hair out.

But, yo, I’m not. Because God provides. Also, (which I typed as aslo, which I thought was the Jetson’s dog’s name, but it isn’t), I have a TON to be happy about. The cup overfloweth. The good Lord gives me WAY more than I deserve and certainly enough to be joyful about this side of heaven.

After next semester, I’m transferring (again. well, sorta). I’ll have my associates degree, and I can go to my university of choice and basically bypass every general education requirement there is, and jump right into teacher classes. Yay! Aslo…allso…ALSO…I’m going to be volunteering like crazy next semester at the humane society AND the Literacy Society here in Wausau for adults who can’t read. And I might be a writing tutor for monies. And I’m ecstatic.

Go ahead…ask me…am I okay?! Hell to the yeah I’m okay. My dad’s call may cause him to sacrifice everything for the parish we’re in right now, for the sake of doctrine. And that’s the nature of the call. We’ve moved enough, nothing’s really a shock anymore. And as a family, we’re at peace with that. God will provide for us anywhere we go…or anywhere I go. I may be in Colorado or Texas in a few for all I know. Bring it on. Life isn’t anything if it isn’t random.

Oh, am I okay because of the coffee intake thing? Psssh yeah. Sleep? Whatever.

Life moves quickly

Here’s a picture of Wausau at night – where I’m taking classes for one more semester.

Aspects of my life have really changed quickly since I started at Wausau last semester, working a full-time job and then night courses. I finally started to feel as though I was accomplishing something good, that my efforts were worth it, and that I was worth it too. Plus, I met Russ, who has been incredible to me, and together I think we have something worth it.

It feels absolutely amazing to be moving quickly, on track, towards my future career as a teacher. I don’t know what will happen or where I’ll be after Wausau, but for right now – I’m simply enjoying the ride.

I find it special that, in this pinnacle of my life, I’m spending it here. Over 8 years ago we moved to Wisconsin to be near Wausau and my grandma before she died. This city has deep-rooted memories for me as certain buildings and streets trigger thoughts of how a large slice of my childhood was spent there. Phlox road, the ice cream shop, Emma Crumbies, Rib Mountain – for once, it’s like I actually feel tied to a spot on the globe. We moved too much to make it seem as though I had a real hometown, but we always came back to Wausau.

So now, I came back to Wausau. And as I drove down past my grandma’s house, wondering who’s living there and how they use each room, I can’t help but smile – because now, new memories are quickly being made.

Word.

At the moment, I get to chill out at my dad’s aunt’s house while watching her two Maine Coons. You’ve never seen a cat until you’ve seen these, folks. They’re about the size of a small beagle.

School is going as well as could be expected when the two courses are Women’s Studies and Speech. The Women’s Studies professor is actually quite tolerant of me being a conservative. I got the class to stop ragging on Sarah Palin – because that’s a little anti-feminist to do, if you think about it.  I had mixed feelings when she announced her resignation today, but I eventually came to the same conclusion she did. Where she goes, the media barrage goes – and she’ll be able to take the media away from Alaska and let the Lieutenant Governor do his job.

I don’t understand, though, why people feel the need to come out of the closet/graphically reveal their childhood rape in a Women’s Studies course, because it’s been happening, like, every day. Really, people…is that necessary? Sure, we talk about tolerance and all that jazz, but people are a little too eager to admit their demons.

I’ve noticed this in a dorm environment, too. You meet a person, talk for awhile, but give it a couple hours – and suddenly you might know their childhood issues, sexual history, and emotional instability. Or maybe people just tell me everything.

Word.

Either way, I’m still up in the air as how to spend my Independence Day. Or Thanksgiving, if you’re in Europe. So, yeah. I’ll probably grab some ground beef and my RA and I will grill some burgers. And of course, there’s always fireworks in the city. And 49 cent cones at McDonald’s.

I love America, but isn’t it a bittersweet day? Men gave their lives years and years ago for an ideal that’s being challenged in Washington under the current administration…and people are becoming less and less independent with each bill passed.

Nap at 7 PM: BAD PLAN.

You might as well just keep sleeping at that point.

So yeah, here I am…it’s almost 2 in the morning. I’m noticing fairly quickly that you feel kind of grungy at this hour. You also think shockingly deep thoughts. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, I’m thinking,

“Confucius had it all wrong. Forget injuries, but never forget kindnesses? Confucius, man, what if your leg is cut off. You can’t really forget that.”

And then…

“I really want ice cream.”

Anyway, story of my life. I’m in dorm once more for summer courses. It’s a bizarre dorm situation. On the first floor, where I am, there’s me, the RA, and like two other people I never see. On the second and third floors, there are all these Asian high school students earning college credit. Rock on. Except that they’re always misplacing the kitchen key right when I want pasta. Shame.

Pretty sure I’ll look back at this and laugh (probably)

If anything could go wrong on a college move-in experience, it did, doggonit.

Here’s how the scheiße hit the fan, in sequence.

1. When I got to the dorm building, I could not get into my room. Apparently the use of a “key” never really occured to these people, who built the doors with passcodes. Okay, so that’s fine, a problem easily fixable by a janitor.

2. But no janitor’s on duty on Sunday afternoons, obviously. Plan B: check ALL the doors’ passcodes to see if one works.

3. One does work, hot dog! But it’s on the guy’s wing. I meet my neighbor for the first time while he’s in a towel.

4. I pack up like I’m going to Grandma’s house – toothbrush, pajamas, smelly dude repellant.

5. I use my computer for a bit, shut it down, and then it won’t start again. Not even for safe mode.

6. In absolute boredom, I drive to Shopko. On the way there, I hit a curb, because to get to the Wausau Shopko, you have to go through a maze. Also a series of challenges, such as manuvering over concrete. And slaying a dragon.

So there you have it…how to make a frustrating day in 6 easy steps!

As of now, I have no working computer and literally nowhere to live. So I’m kind of chilling at the library right now, hoping maybe the homeless guy under the bridge will scoot over and let me take up residence.

I hear that housing market has an astoundingly low interest rate.