English 3440

Becoming a teacher has it ups and downs. One includes (which I'll let you decide which category it falls under) attending a week long workshop at Utah State; English 3440; Creative Non-Fiction Writing.


It began on Monday and ends on Friday. It is only Wednesday night and I'm not sure I can take two more days of this. Ok, it's really not THAT bad, but c'mon if you were stuck in a blistering hot classroom on the far end of campus, told that a B in the class is considered exceptional, and surrounded by grad students majoring in English, classical literature, or technical writing...you'd be glad it's half way over too :)


Let's just say we begin every day by meditating. Yes, meditating. (it is better than getting more assignments though). Followed by reading poetry and prose (which is also known as writing) and analyzing it to DEATH. There's always multiple hidden meanings and parallells; a reason for every word.




You see...one girl wrote a poem titled "Grasshopper." I read the poem and took it as information/details about a grasshopper (the title kind of gives that away). Come to find out this poem was really about the author's first fight with her new husband.


>Really?

There were no fighting words, examples, yelling, saying sorry, making up, etc. It described grasshoppers and apparently, they are much like a first fight. (Wow, those of you who are married can you please, please enlighten me?)

I wrote a poem about Lake Powell and guess what? It's about Lake Powell.

So the week goes. It really is interesting and I'm learning something new everyday.

I've been working on something this entire time while in class and as soon as it's finished I'll be posting.

Little Lost Boy

My day at work today went as follows:


Little Lost Boy: Mom! sobbing. Dad! sobbing.

Me: Are you lost buddy?

Little Lost Boy: sobbing. No. I can't find my mom or dad.

Me: Oh, ok. Well don't worry. Let's wait right here for a little bit and see if they come find you.

about 5 minutes pass which included me asking him a bunch of questions about who he was and his family, what he had done that day, if he was excited for school, and basically anything that kept his little mind occuppied. He thought it was cool that he was going into kindergarten and that I would be teaching in a kindergarten class for awhile.

Me: Ok. Let's go up front and see if the guys in the red vests can help us find them ok?

Little Lost Boy: not sobbing anymore. Ok. Will they use one of the walkie-talkies?

Me: They just might. Let's go find out.

And sure enough they did! This little guy hung out with me for awhile in the office until a man (who proved he was his father by his ID) came to get him.

Little Boy's lost experience lasted almost 20-25 minutes. I think that's a pretty long time to feel lost, and be without your young child in a HUGE warehouse with tons of people. So I thought the "reunion" between father and son would've been a little more happy. However, Dad was not pleased and just asked him what happened.

And sweet Little Lost Boy replied: There's too many people here. I just got lost.

I chuckled to myself thinking the exact same thing, only wishing they'd ALL get lost and leave Costco so I could close the Deli and be done with work!

*-*-*-*

I kept thinking of Little Lost Boy all day at work today. Not only did he spare me from scewering another load of chickens in the Deli, but he made me remember why I was there: to earn money so that I can finish college and get my degree. He also reminded me how excited I am to be a teacher and help kids out everyday. :)

Never in all my Years...

Never in all my years have I received something such as this! I'd like to thank Wendy for my very first blogging award (and the encouragement to update my blog)!

There are rules to this award.

1. Post the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 7 other people for this award and add links to their blog.

4. Leave a message for the people that you nominated!

Since there are "rules" to this award, I'm going to do my best to follow them (not that easy though as I am new to the blogging world)--- The people whom I have chosen to pass this award along to are.... (yes, hold your breath cuz here it comes)....

#1 Kim @ happyvalley. Kim is someone I've known since I was little. She coached our ward basketball team for years (um...this would define her being a SAINT since we never won a game--wait..maybe 1) and has a cute blog that could also use an update (hint hint).



#2 Tifany @ The Wright Place. She just recently received a very important Great View award, but since I check her blog out almost everyday I feel like she deserves this award as well. Not to mention her blogpage is darling. I've really enjoyed getting to know a bit more about you through your blog Tif :).



#3 Wendi @ Because Wendi Said So . So this lady doesn't even know who I am but I'm giving her this award because 1) her blog is hilarious and I check it everyday and 2) i love to read the comments she leaves on Wendy's blog. Hmm..I wonder how she'll feel receiving this award from a stranger?


*and last but not least (yes, 4 is the new 7) *


#4 Wendy @ View from the Grove. Yeah, yeah, I know she was the one who GAVE me the award. But no where in the rules does it say you can't give back! (not that I've really even followed the rules.) Even though she's already received it, I couldn't think of anyone more deserving. Afterall, I LOVE her blog and get a kick out of her posts. Thanks for the award Wend, and for getting me started in the blogging world!

CONGRATS everyone and good luck following the rules... Please keep up the blogging so I can continue to be entertained!

(Wendy, I think this means you have to give them out again ;) ha ha j/k)!

Mosaic Mel

So I saw this on a friend of a friend's blog (thanks to both Wendy and Wendi) and I wanted to give it a try. She said it would be fun and it toally was! I just answered some questions about myself and chose from the various photos that showed up as results to my answers.

So this is me as a Mosaic.

These are the questions:

1. What is your first name? --- I've never enjoyed Melanie as much as this photo!
2. What is your favorite food? ---
3. What high school did you attend? ---Train Track High (coolest photo for PG)
4. What is your favorite color? ---
5. Who is your celebrity crush? --- apparently Rubber Ducky and Brad Pitt are related
6. What is your favorite drink? ---
7. Where would you go on your dream vacation? ---
8. What is your favorite dessert? ---
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? --- a teacher (great photo huh?)
10. What do you love most in life? ---happy children :)
11. One word that descrbes you? --- I chose "blessed" and an American flag showed up. So fitting.
12. Your Flickr name? --- No, it's not dishes. I'm melmac.

Good Times... If you wanna give it a try CLICK HERE.

If you don't... you should click there anyway to see how cute Wendi's is!

Free to Choose

On the 4th of July, I learned a little more about freedom. I spent the whole day at Lagoon (an entire day at Lagoon really takes it out of you) with a friend of mine from college. (thanks for going with me Jeanette)

From the experiences I had there I learned a little more about how grateful I am for the choices I get to make.

For example, I chose to go on the Samurai very first--I chose to think I was feeling better enough to go on the Rocket, and then the Re-entry. (first one blasts you off, second drops you). I then chose a garabage can (with a lid) to throw-up in. Which, by the way, is a lot harder to throw up into then one without, but when you can't hold it in any longer--a garbage with a lid works.


Really. How lucky am I? What if I had been forced to throw-up somewhere else. I am so glad I got to choose that garbage can.

Here's some of the other choices I made throughout the day:

• Walk across the park or take the Sky-Ride: definitely Sky Ride
• Should we wait in line for Wicked: YES
• Should Jeanette and I, plus an older woman in line choose to wear the same shoes that day: YES--go white tennish shoes :)
• Should we take a break and just go sit on the grass for a while: yes, and take a nap
• Ride the train: YES..and see my brother and his cute little family :)
• Should we stay in our picnic spot even though there was an awful stinch every now and then from the people next to us: YES... I'm not sure why we chose this one actually.
  

So you see. Choices, all day. Who knows.... had I not chosen to throw up--I might have felt sick longer and wouldn't have gotten to make those other choices. (f.y.i. I felt better and was good to go immediately following the incident).

I really am so glad I live in a country where I am free to choose.