Filed under: School, life... | Tags: awesome, coming home, nerd, robots, university
A few days ago I had the pleasure of meeting a family from church for the first time. My dad, brother, and I went to their home and ate dinner. It was my chance to define myself as something other than the far-away first daughter… that one punk from the pictures… or, as their oldest put it, “That tiny girl next to Angela (my sister).” I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I suppose that’s what happens when you hit that weird transitory stage where home stops being home because you’ve got all your socks in a dresser that is 750 miles away… and then you come back.
During dinner, I sat at the kids table, where I was the oldest by about 4 1/2 years. Most of the time eating was simultaneously spent answering questions about college and de-mystifying the weirdness of BYU. They were completely enthralled by my firsthand accounts of the university life. How cute is that? Yeah, I was one cool kid at that table…
Then, dessert came around and I decided to sit with the adults and put in my two cents about Google and dry parent conversation favorites. The conversation dwindled and they were ready to learn about what then heck I’ve done with myself for the past 4 years. The second Technology and Engineering Education slipped out of my mouth, a very glorious aha moment occurred as two colleagues in “the field” were realized. The dad then spouted forth a very enthusiastic and copious knowledge of robotics in education. The mom was clearly entertained as I’m guessing it had been a while since she’d seen her husband in his “zone” in front of houseguests. Admittedly, robotics is not my forte, but I might know a thing or two (let’s be honest, a half of a thing) about them. The kids filed in to see what the ruckus was, and noticed that the cool kid was talking nerd with their stepdad. The conversation was way over most of the group’s head, and of course, I became a subject of friendly mocking because I was in the know.
It was then that they and I realized the odd contradiction here. Designer jeans. Skateboard. Fine taste in music. Cool girl. Talking with dad about robots?!?! Solenoids… What??!!? Welding!?!? Full-on NERD. “Does not compute,” their puzzled faces said.
I was able to redeem myself by telling their oldest that my major was awesome because I don’t know of many other majors where you can light your classroom on fire doing something you shouldn’t be doing… and not get in trouble… and still get an A on the project. Break it, paint it, steal it now…. ask forgiveness when the A is in the book. In addition I tacked on that when it’s all said and done, I’m an artist. I learned the nerdy stuff because I had to. I also happen to like it, and I’m OK with being a nerd. I was cool again.
[RACHEL]
On Monday I was supposed to go to the dentist, but my sister decided she wanted my appointment instead. So, we traded appointments.
On Tuesday I went to the dentist, only to find that my appointment had been given to someone else. A small misunderstanding.
On Wednesday I went to the dentist, and it was for reals. I had a laughing good time, and was complimented over and over for my impeccable brushing and flossing skills. On my way out, the receptionist was like, oh yeah… you need another appointment. You have a cavity. And I was like huh?? OK.
On Thursday I took a rest from the dentist.
On Friday I went to the dentist, and they went straight to work on a tiny spot of decay. Bubblegum flavored topical anesthetic is not too bad… except for the part where it turns as bitter as a jealous ex-boyfriend. They proceeded with the real stuff, and I sat there, comfortably numb and waiting for the deed to be done. Dr. gets drilling and finds a “treasure chest of cavities” that was mysteriously invisible in the x-rays from Wednesday. So, he goes on and drills what feels like the grand canyon into the side of my tooth. I can’t feel a thing, save some pressure here and there, and my vision is scrambled and shaky from the vibrations of the drill. Weird. Did I mention that it tasted horrible? Anyways, he fills it all up, then we have a good laugh about my feet and how I should get a Hoveround so that I don’t have to be a posterchild for celebrating the golden-oldie years in my twenties… not that keeping a garden, reading, knitting, and sewing are geriatric lady activities or anything…
People always talk about how they hate going to the dentist’s office. I say it’s not so bad…
And now, for your viewing pleasure I present a Hoveround commercial. I know, it’s two minutes long, but you only need to watch the first few seconds to get a kick out of it!
What do you think? Should I get a Hoveround??!?!?!
[RACHEL]
ps. the countdown to New Hampshire has now entered the single digits… I love it!!
Every once in a while I find myself standing still. This isn’t like I’m playing statues or something. It’s more of a really weird internal standstill that has to do with my ability to express things creatively through design and the written word. I’ve got all sorts of feelings that are dying to be painted out, sketched out, or written out, but I have no idea where to even begin. This is not a bad thing by any means. On the one hand, I am enjoying having these tender impressions all to myself, to rewind and play at my mind’s leisure; but the other part of my mind is dying to create something to capture the beauty of what I feel… it just doesn’t even know what awesome thing to start with, and perhaps even fears an incapability of paying proper tribute to the passions of my heart.
It’s quiet, and all I hear is the dishwasher. The tired-out puppy lets out an occasional sigh from where she lies on the kitchen floor. The air outside is perfect, and the sun is nearly set. Truly, it is a crime to sit and take in an evening like this without the company of the one you love. That being said, I am the greatest of all criminals. Patience. A few weeks more… It’s not far off… My heart treasures this reminder.
[RACHEL]
Filed under: life... | Tags: design, feet, haglund's deformity, physical therapy, summer
Yep, that’s what my PT told me… may I take offense? There is not a single weak thing about my hips… I think they’re great! Weak hips, seriously…
That, in addition to weak calves and heel cords… plus that nasty lump of bone on my heels… plus bad shoes… plus standing for hours on end in the wood shop, got me to where I am today. Basically, the Haglund’s deformity caused tendonitis in both Achilles, which weakened my heels and calves, and as a result, weakened my hips. How do they come up with these things?? I mean, it makes perfect sense… I guess it is their job after all. I’ll just stick to choosing fonts, color schemes, and closely inspecting my design projects for perfect alignment. I wonder if people ever wonder how I come up with the designs that I make… I know I do 
Life is still quiet, I think I am getting used to it though. I’ve got a nice little garden going, and a full summer reading list that I hope will keep my brain entertained, so that school isn’t too much of a shock or strain come September. That, and I’m anxiously counting the days to a blessed reunion with my Handsome Man!
[RACHEL]
Filed under: Music, life... | Tags: david bowie, feet, haglund's deformity, innovation, major tom, mri, space oddity, summer, technology
This machine saved my summer…
The whole experience reminded me of David Bowie’s song “Space Oddity.” Here I am, sitting in a tin can…. and there’s nothing I can do. It’s dark, cold, and there are all sorts of weird noises broken by an occasional “how’s it going” or “don’t move” from a speaker in the ceiling- the techs on the other side of the wall. Ground control, if you will. Ok, so I was bored, and the experience was odd enough that I couldn’t just lie there and think about nothing.
But, this baby is the reason why I’m not having surgery… and also the reason why I’m not freaking out about being diseased. Bottom line: inflammation treatable by physical therapy. I like the way that sounds. In between thinking about Major Tom and David Bowie and my Handsome Man, I did also think a little about whoever invented that incredible machine and how they did it… an innovation seminar introduced me to new ways of brainstorming through questioning and associative thinking… and I am convinced that there is no way an MRI machine could exist without either, along with some freakin smart people. I love physics. I love magnetic flux. I don’t really understand them at the level that those brilliant inventors do, but I still love that crazy stuff. I love technology… and that’s why I want to be a teacher. So that some kid will invent the next amazing life saving thing, inspired by an awesome way of fearless brainstorming that their high school tech teacher taught them back in the day.
I also love that I’ve got my summer back. Maybe I’ll be able to have a job… still not sure at this point, but this stands as truth- my summer fun quotient just shot up by a hundred or so. I can make that much anticipated trip eastward earlier than expected. I like that. I can go to the beach. I don’t have to be hopped up on pain killers. I don’t have to have sponge baths (ew). Life is rad.
Oh yeah, and I was also reminded of the time when I had that amazing Bowie-esque (1980s) haircut… how I miss it!
And, for your viewing pleasure, I present:
Don’t worry, it wasn’t this Bowie haircut.
[RACHEL]
says it all.
Well. Quiet is right. Probably a little too quiet! It is really strange to not have school or work or companionship…
On the bright side, I’ve become a backyard ornithologist, and am pro at identifying all the birds that land on the fence, and I’m loving skype and cell phones… they’re keeping me smiling and in contact with my Handsome Man! And, despite my quiet present, the future is looking awesome.
Today I went on what probably will be my last run for a long while… so I could get my ankles all fatty for my MRI. It was a pathetic one. The running shoes are going to the closet and they will be staying. But, all is not lost! I am determined to become a swim junkie!!! So far, it’s been a success. There is always a solution! Bring on the buff arms and gorgeous tan!
MRIs are boring and loud. Thank goodness for ear plugs and imagination!
Oh yeah, and I guess I didn’t have surgery on the 7th.
[RACHEL]
So, one of my friends created a blog as sort of a commentary on life– Get outside the Bubble.
[It] is a blog created and maintained in an effort to help us recognize those around us. How often do we get stuck in our own little bubble? We forget that there are billions of people living their own lives, dealing with their own struggles, witnessing their own miracles.
Pretty cool… the blog asks writers to respond to five questions:
- What miracles have you seen in your life? Why are they miracles to you?
- What worries you day to day / what are you most worried about right now?
- What are you passionate about? Why?
- What is your vision for yourself and the future?
- If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
Here’s what I had to say:
1 – Miracles happen every day. After a semester where it seemed that everything that could possibly go wrong really did, I found myself unhappy. I was living too fast to enjoy life. The first miracle was that I realized that I was in a place I didn’t want to be. We are here to find and have joy, and I was definitely missing out. I was too much into school, and it gave me a very limited view of life. It was then that I set out with the goal of slowing down and changing. The second miracle was learning how to see and celebrate small victories and simple things. I realized that it was impossible to be perfect all at once. We don’t have all this time on earth for nothing. We wouldn’t need to stay here until we’re old and gray if we could be perfect all at once. It’s a matter of learning how to improve, and treasuring our successes, no matter how small. It’s also a matter of taking time to actually see the many things that Heavenly Father has blessed us with. These little moments are miracles in themselves.
Why are these miracles to me? Four months after my decision to slow down, I am a different person. I am happy. I have learned to live in a way that does not overlook the many blessings in front of me. These are miracles because of the joy they have brought into my life. They have brought me closer to my Savior.
2 - In all honesty, I just got done worrying about a whole bunch. I’m free and I love it. It’s all about perspective.
3 - I am passionate about creative expression. Everyone is creative, no matter how strongly they might deny it. Creativity doesn’t just mean art. It’s a mental process. Creativity is problem solving. Problems aren’t always bad things, for example: What’s for dinner? How do I get from point A to point B? How do I solve this equation? Creativity is inventing. Creativity is imagining the unheard of, and doing it. As a future educator, I want every student in my classroom to find their personal flavor of creativity, and get them excited about expressing it. Creativity keeps this world moving forward. That is why it’s my passion.
4 - For myself, I see a home that is full of life, light, love, and creativity, and a happy family along with it. I see a classroom that is a safe, innovative, and exciting place to learn and grow.
5 - I would want everyone to take it easy and go outside. There is too much good being passed up by people living life at a million miles per hour.
And that’s that.
[RACHEL]
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These guys are confused…
Today I went to the podiatrist’s office with the hopes of having some questions about surgery answered. I left with more questions… and funny thing, so did the doctor. Apparently, swelling and lingering pain are not regular symptoms of Haglund’s deformity. Who knew?
So, sometime, I will go in for an MRI and hopefully that will answer some of the new questions… namely, what is wrong with my feet? Still surgery on 7 May? Who knows. Until then, I won’t think too much about it, because I can’t logically come to any conclusions… and I don’t want my imagination at the wheel.
On a random note, today I also went to the beach for the first time this season. There was a lovely sunset, and a million seagulls. The original plan was to eat pizza and watch the sunset… but alas, we could not find the pizza place. So, we turned to plan two, Italian, only to find that the restaurant was too ritzy and we were dressed way down and would feel ridiculous walking in. So, we jay-walked four lanes of traffic to go to the sushi place across the street. I ordered and we had a lovely assortment of scary and delicious things, some of which were so heavy with wasabi that they cleared out respiratory passages I had no idea were congested. I am a brand new person for having experienced the unexpected. I also ate salad with chopsticks, which is more difficult than one might think. In the end, we still felt too dressed down—the guy at the next table had a nicer hoodie than my friend and I, but we weren’t too bent out of shape about that.
Life at home has been pretty quiet. There’s this concept of 8+ hours of sleep in ONE night (not two or dare I say, three?) that I have been exploring. The lines under my eyes that I’ve had since high school are gone. Life changing? I think so. I’ve been kind of wandering around keeping myself occupied by taking up art projects, using the telephone, reading, making quesadillas, polishing wooden elephants, and brushing the dog. I have further ambitions to sew up a storm later on, as well as to find the perfect pair of jeans and to do some much-needed traveling (we’re talking East Coast). Almost paradise. The only thing that would make it a paradise complete is the addition of my Handsome Man… rest assured, that makes the to-do list as well.
[RACHEL]
Filed under: life...
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watch out for these guys…
Right now, I am taking a break from writing a 10-page paper about classroom management philosophies so I can tell you about the time my handsome man and I almost got eaten by a goose. It all started when we went on a birding adventure at Utah Lake. We blazed trails through bushes and peered at squirrels and sticks through binoculars (or at least I did, finding birds in binoculars is not my talent), and even managed to sight a few birds. The sun was sinking low, and the mosquitoes were after our sweet, sweet legs. I’ve got the bites to prove it. The evening was nice and quiet, the sky was golden, and life was full of that late-afternoon energy that usually doesn’t manifest itself until the middle of summer. We came upon a big flock of coots and decided to scare them away, so we took off running and successfully scattered the crowd. In our frenzy we (I) decided that it would also be fun to chase after two geese standing casually next to a tire swing. I speedily approached the goose closest to me, and began to inwardly freak out as it began hissing at me. I continued to move forward, fueled by curiosity. The goose then charged after me, its neck out completely straight and parallel to the ground. It was screaming and so was I. I began to outwardly freak out. My man stood and watched as hilarity ensued. I was yelling and running, a look of sheer terror in my eyes. I outran the stupid bird, as visions of orange beaks sinking into my sweet, sweet legs terrorized me. I was ready to chuck my Birding field guide at it, but then I realized that I had escaped. Then my Handsome Man and I laughed our guts out. Yes, friends… I almost died.
The semester is over! It went by so fast, I can’t believe it. There has been so much happiness, so many good memories. I think that’s why time passed so quickly. I’m not really ready to turn the page on this part of life, but I know that between the surgeries, couch confinement, and time spent at home, there will be a blessed reunion or two to keep things spicy. I have so much to be grateful for, I decided. Life is rad because I am learning so much here at school. Life is rad because I have a family that loves me. Life is rad because I am getting surgery so I can be on my way to running, dancing, and playing once again. Life is rad because I’ve got my handsome man. These are good times.
[RACHEL]
Filed under: Learning to Love You More | Tags: LTLYM, picnic, play dough, sculpture, steve
This one was pretty fun. Assignment #21 was to sculpt a bust of this dude named Steve. Here’s his story:
Let's party.
Recently while working on a project in Hartford, CT I took a taxi and met Steve the taxi driver. I was headed to Real Art Ways the art center where I’m doing the project. Steve asked me where I was going and then concluded that I must be an artist. He told me that I should sculpt a bust of him. He gave me a picture of himself and told me he wanted it done that day, and then we would “party” that night. I said that I might have trouble getting it done so quickly, and then asked him how he would feel about various other people doing the bust instead of me. He said that would be fine.
The next time I went back to Hartford about a month later I took a train from NYC and missed my stop in Hartford. I got off at the next stop in a little town outside of Hartford. It was late at night and there was no one at the station. I called a local taxi company and they told me it would be about an hour before someone could pick me up. I sat down and read a book and waited. Eventually a cab pulled up and the driver got out to help me with my bags. It was Steve. He immediately recognized me and asked me about the project. I was amazed. It wasn’t even his taxi company that I had called. He drove me to the place I was staying at in Hartford and along the way he told me about being a single parent. He told me that his philosophy on child rearing is to only love the child, never discipline them. He said his children were all perfect. I thought that was really nice.
My Handsome Man and I decided that we were up to the challenge… and sculpted Steve with awesome neon play dough after picnicking in the park. This was a couple weeks ago, when it was still pretty cold… We started to freeze shortly after sunset, so we hurried indoors. Somewhere along the way his moustache got lost, so we had to build a new one by stealing dough from the back of his head. Then, we partied.
we also forgot his shoulders in the car.
Here he is! Steve the taxi driver, at last.
[RACHEL]
