Filed under: School, life... | Tags: dust, engineering, final exams, seabiscuit, utah
This weekend brought a whole new experience into my life– dust clouds so thick that the mountains are completely hidden. It was completely unreal!! I had no idea that something like that could happen outside of Seabiscuit…. I had to cancel my run due to the fact that my eyes were filled with dirt after being outside for five minutes, no way was I going to exercise in that. I am not a fan of coughing up mud. The funny thing was that earlier in the day, maybe 2 hours before, the skies were perfectly clear.
Today I finished up all of my exams, after being coaxed out of procrastination by a good friend. It’s funny how the right people can kick one out of laziness or bad habits. So, now I’m completely free until 29 April when school starts again. The semester ended well, and in the end, I’ve got a communications unit plan, a functioning arcade game, and a horror flick to show for it. Not bad, eh?
So, here’s the game in it’s full glory. One thing I learned– when things don’t quite work and you’re completely burnt out and lacking the necessary inspiration, JUST CHANGE THE RULES!!! Works like a charm 
[RACHEL]
Filed under: life... | Tags: graphic design, mailbox, missionaries, teaching
Here’s a post I forgot was in my drafts…
9 April 2008
So, yesterday was a wonderful day! It started off early with a visit to a middle school in Provo. In my teaching practicum class, I had the opportunity to teach a seventh grade class for a week. My classmates and I taught a small unit about communications and design. We taught the kids the keys to effective communication, and yesterday I taught them about nine of the elements and principles of design.
Anyway, today we supervised as the kids put in action the things we taught them previously. They were a little shy because we each sat with one of the groups to guide their brainstorming as they created a logo. My little group was pretty ambivalent about everything. The only student with an opinion was Maria, a Hispanic girl in the ESL program. She wanted to create a logo for a rap singer. I panicked a little inside, because I was playing the role of client and I don’t even know the first thing about rap. So, there I was pretending to be with it and hip… and floundering. The kids thought it was pretty funny. At least I was entertaining, right?? the kids got a good start on their designing, though. They make me so proud…
I digress. Back to yesterday. When I got back from the adventures of the day, I found two ominous letters sitting on the kitchen table, addressed to me. The first one was from the ETS group, and the second one was from my ex-boyfriend, the missionary serving in Ohio I had to Dear John about a year ago. I was a little nervous, as I didn’t know what to expect from either envelope. After I picked those up, my roommates went ballistic and told me that there was a really exciting package waiting for me on my desk… so, I took off running for my room.
When I got there, I found a lumpy package sitting on my desk. I opened it and found a nice note and some chocolates from a far away friend. What a way to make me smile!
The other letters were just business as usual, the guy still doesn’t get it… and ETS informed me that I can still retake the test I missed out of idiocy, and almost rescheduled too late.
Life is rad.
[RACHEL]
I recently took up running here in Provo, as a way to save my heart and my sanity. Ironically, I have survived many potentially injurious or deadly situations while at it.
Note: I’ve previously been spoiled by the luxury of running through deserted, shaded avocado groves.
Here is what I have learned so far:
- Stop signs don’t actually mean stop. They’re more like slow down for a second signs.
- Drivers don’t look where they’re driving.
- The blue walk guy isn’t a guarantee of safety from a near-hit by a car.
- Sometimes drivers don’t stop before turning right on a red.
- If they do, they don’t look.
- Designated turn lanes don’t mean anything.
- Bus drivers hate runners who use crosswalks unprotected by signal lights.
- Spitting when it’s windy is tricky.
- One of these days the thought “omg I’m going to puke” will actually result in me vomiting.
- Dehydration comes too quickly.
- There are a lot of broken sidewalks around here.
- Don’t drink milk or soda before running.
- I really love running.
[RACHEL]
