happy LEAP day

Days like today only come around every four years. So I was thinking I should make a time capsule to open on the next leap day. If I could, I might include:

• Something from outside. I wish I could save one of the mammoth icicles hanging just outside my window. I've been searching for a poem called "Icicles" that I read in high school; it gives images like "beards of light" that expertly describe the way the icicles look midday when the sun comes out. I guess I could just put the poem in, rather than the icicle itself.
  
• Something from my room. Maybe those crazy sunglasses that I took from Alison's car. Every time I see them I laugh. Or maybe one of the pictures from my wall. Or maybe one of those textbooks from last semester that I couldn't sell back.
  
• Something from a trip. Sometimes I miss London so much I can't even breathe, but it is primarily the people that I miss and the being there- which would be hard to include in a time capsule. I've been on some other excellent trips, though. Maybe I'll include something from New York, like a postcard from the Guggenheim. I still have my boarding passes from my most recent trip to Arizona, so those could be a possibility. There are many things in my travel journal from various places that would also be good candidates. Plus, there is always the option of including something from dear old Rexburg (because living in this place sometimes feels like a trip).
  
• Something from Hebgen. My cabin on Hebgen Lake in Montana is my favorite place on this earth, quite possibly.
  
• Something from my roommates. I think I would want to remember this part of my life in four years, and there are three specific people who are a very big part of it right now.
  
• Something from home. This category provides so many options. I wish I could take a recording of Bailey and put it in there, because she is fuuuunny. Or something crafty from my mom. Or one of my dad's guitar songs.
  
• Something from school. I don't think I have ever before been so into school. I think including an assignment or some other school-ish thing will be necessary. I like it (usually).
  

That would be a pretty good representation of my life this leap year. And every year. But especially leap year.

funny thing, that sunshine

For the most part, I like winter. I like how the night looks when it is snowing. I like wearing mittens. I like the feeling of swooshing down the mountain on a pair of skis. Yes, I like wintry things.

Even so, I just cannot get enough of that golden goodness that is the SUN. When it is a sunshiny day (like today), I feel like everyone is in a good mood, the daylight lasts longer, the icicles drip drip drip creating beautiful designs as they lengthen, and I forget about things that probably should be on my mind. Sunshine makes me want to eat Nutella sandwiches, go on hikes, fly kites, take the long way to class, and put off doing homework. During the day I think about pleasure reading and free time and writing the letters I've been composing in my mind for weeks.

It reminds me of that Beatles song: Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting. Little darling, it seems like years since its been clear. Here comes the sun, here comes the sun. It's alright.

Sun. Sun. Sun.
Here it comes.

a song I like

the repetitious patterns and smooth melody of this song are soothing on a stressful day.

February Love List:

• sleeping in
• Student Ambassadors
• dedicated teachers
• mini spooners
• talking to Bailey, who makes me laugh
• good hair days
• snow flurries
  
• fruit leather
• making plans
• wisdom from my dad
• snail mail
• long conversations with old friends
• laughing until my cheeks hurt
• good poetry
• long johns
• the "sailor boy" poster Sarah and I stole from the Snow building
• Tuesdays at the testing center, where there are many interesting people
  
• the word tuesday
  
• teaching ideas from my mom
• daydreaming of Hebgen
• remembering London
• cold water
• satisfying music; new mixes from friends
• free time
• BYU-Idaho
• European yogurt
• things worth looking forward to
• sweaters and blouses
• e-mail updates from friends and family
• Burt's Bee's chapstick
• clocks
• the library at night-- it's so quiet
• obscure holidays
• postcards

to be continued...

ENGL 313: Advanced Writing for Elementary Education Majors

One of the greatest things about being an "El Ed" Major is that many of my general education classes are specific to the program and have titles that broadcast that fact: Physical Science for Elementary Education Majors, Geography for Elementary Education Majors, Mathematical Reasoning for Elementary Education Majors, and of course, Advanced Writing for Elementary Education Majors.

I have had advanced writing classes before. Difficult writing classes that emphasize deep ideas, flawless rhetoric, beautiful presentation, and organized, well written thoughts. My first two weeks in Advanced Writing for Elementary Education Majors I expected critical thinking writing assignments, but instead we have:

a. Written a "letter of introduction" to our professor, and;

b. Talked about different types of journals.

Not that I am complaining! I have more than enough on my plate to keep me busy and have discovered how to burn the candle at both ends. Which leads me to my main point. The assignment was to begin a new type of journal, something you have never done before. I have kept a personal journal, a scripture journal, a gratitude journal, a travel journal--but I have never before kept an "e-journal." So, let me be the first to welcome you to this little spot of cyber-space ground. Cheers.