Ten on Wednesday

1. I have had a good last week. As of last week, it is official that I will be getting a new job starting in July! Although I have had a good run in the tutoring lab, I will be moving on. One of the math teachers, who I consider to be a personal mentor, here on campus was in need of a new student assistant, and apparently I was one of the first people to come to mind. After discussing it and getting everything cleared with my current boss, I am lined up to start my new position on July 2nd. My new boss will be teaching a Concepts of Algebra class during July, so, as her assistant, I will get to sit in on her class. My main duties during the summer session are helping her when she lets the class do group work to facilitate and give assistance to those who need it so that she isn't spread so thin. Also, I will get to grade her quizzes while she teaches, thus eliminating the bulk of her work. My duties will change slightly when the new semester begins, but they will probably fall along the same line. I won't be getting a raise, but I will be working more hours, so it evens out.

2. Another thing about my new job is that I am excited to get to actually observe her classes, because, although I was gung-ho about engineering four months ago, I have come to realize that I don't really care about how something works or streamlining or being stuck in an office all day. I like people, and I keep hearing how good I am at helping others (especially in math) and I am thinking that I just might go back to that, and reconsider teaching. However, I am taking a new perspective, because I am thinking about getting a Master's so that I can (hopefully) by-pass teaching at the secondary level and teach at a junior college or something along those lines. Also, I don't like Calculus that much that I would be willing to actually apply it on a daily basis. With the proper training, I could probably teach it, but using it would be a bit of a stretch for me, or so I say now...

3. You know what I love? Well, I love lots of things, but one thing I really love is learning. It is always said that you should never stop learning, and I have really come to believe that in the last couple of weeks. My latest example comes to you courtesy of my 7.5-year-old nephew, Cody. Cody is a pretty profound kid, and he has quite the knowledge base, and, once again, he taught me something that I, as a 19-year-old college kid didn't know: Giraffes can run and kick at the same time. Perhaps you already knew that, but I didn't, and my mind was blown when I learned that! Because I just wanted to see it, I found a video on YouTube that showed me just that, and you can see it too below. Wow! (I should mention that the video includes a giraffe killing a lion, just so you are aware. It's the circle of life.)

4. After learning that fact, I looked up loads of other facts about giraffes, and I now consider them to be amazing, majestic animals that are more of a threat than I ever realized. For example, they are able to survive on about thirty minutes of sleep per day, and most of that is done in five minute segments. Also, they rarely drink water because they are very vulnerable to predation when bending down to drink. Most of their water comes from the acacia leaves that they so often eat. Another fact, they give birth standing up, and giraffe calves are able to walk in no more than an hour after birth, because of their vulnerability to predation. A single giraffe kick is also able to decapitate a lion, which is its main predator. Wow! Thanks to Cody, I now have a deep knowledge of giraffes!

5. I can't believe that it's already Holy Week. Wow, where has Lent gone?

6. Speaking of Holy Week, last night, my mom and I went down to OKC to the Cathedral for the Chrism Mass. This is the Mass in which the holy oils used for sacraments are blessed and the priests all renew their priestly vows. My parents and I went about two years ago, and we enjoyed it, as was the same for this year (except my dad was busy donating blood yesterday). It was last minute deal on my mom's and my part, but I was so glad that we were able to go. In a happy twist, I was able to see my youth leader from YAB, Nancy. (Some of you are familiar with her.) Nancy was surprised and overjoyed to see me there, of all places, and we had a lovely conversation. Also, one of my fellow YAB'ers who I met last year read one of the readings. She did a wonderful job, even if she was nervous beyond all measure. (You couldn't even tell she was nervous when she read, by the way. It was beautiful!) After Mass, my mom and I went to Olive Garden and had a great supper. We finally made it back to our house by 11, at which point I decided that I was staying there for the night. I had been driving for the better part of the afternoon/evening (yes, I drove us) and I couldn't bear to be on the road for yet another thirty minutes, especially when my bed was right there calling me! It was a great evening for me, indeed.

7. Calc is getting overpowering again. I am almost caught up on my homework with the exception of one section that I really just need to get some help on before progressing anymore and causing myself any more undue stress/frustration. This section isn't bad, because it is a continuation of the integration that we learned in our last chapter, but then again, that could be what is the worst part about it, if you see it that way. Today, two people dropped the class, and there is talk that two more might. It is disheartening because I have grown to enjoy having them around in class, but it is better because only the people with dedication remain. Only the strong survive, I suppose.

8. On Monday, I tried something that I have heard of doing, but haven't ever really done: I cooked bacon in the oven. I have to say, that is really the way to cook bacon, especially if you don't like constantly watching a skillet and getting popped with scalding hot grease. All you have to do is line a baking sheet (preferably one with sides) with tin foil, set the bacon on it in a single layer, and put it into a cold oven that you then turn on to 400 degreees. After about 17-20 minutes, it is just about perfect, unless you like it to be crispier, then you use your own judgement. Yes, my room still somewhat smells of bacon, but I now have them ready in my fridge to heat up for breakfast!

9. I have really been thinking about where I will be going to college after next year. I know that the next year is going to come much sooner than I want it to, and I still don't know where I'm going. Yikes! Well, I think I might end up at UCO, but that will entail a lot of work on my part in getting logistics worked out. There are also a lot of theoretical scenarios that I have also been thinking about as of late; I won't go into great detail, but I'm sure you could venture to guess what that is all about. I keep saying that time will tell, and I will get an answer to my problems when I need to have one, but I also like being able to plan and have a general idea of where my life is going. (Type A personality, much?) I suppose all I can do right now is lift it up to God and hope for the best, so here goes!

10. I am excited about Saturday, because it is my church's Easter service. I really wish that we could do it on Sunday morning, like we used to, but I don't have the authority to make that decision. Although the Easter service is literally two hours long, I still love it because of the Creation Story that the children will be doing. Because of the chaos that was better known as last year's production (if you were there, again, you know what I'm talking about), it has been decided that there WILL be a practice this year, unlike last year. I could say more, but I won't. Anyway, I am *hoping* that I won't have to serve on that day, because I would really just like to sit with my family for once on a holiday. I never minded being an altar server, but I think that my time in that role has mostly passed, and I should move on to other roles. Anyway, I'm sure that it will be a wonderful celebration, nonetheless.

Happy Easter to all of you, and I hope that you have a great celebration!