Paranoid Much?

When did my life become the storyline for a bad "Made-for-Television Mini-Series?"

"A group of education students travel to a third world country where a mysterious pandemic breaks out. No one has the answer. No one has the cure."

What a Circus...

Last night was Britney's Circus concert and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself! It was a fantastic show. Britney looked amazing and the costumes, the stage, the dancers and the circus performers were all awesome to watch. My one gripe is that I wish Britney would put her whole heart into performing the way she used to. I was a little disappointed in her lack of enthusiasm while on stage, and wish she was her old self again. With that said she still did a great job! It was fun to see her perform again, and as always she is a wonderful entertainer. I loved the set list, and I really enjoyed a few spectacular moments throughout. One highlight was when Britney was lifted into the air and spun around while sitting on a human couch made of two buff dancers. I also loved her Marilyn Manson "Sweet Dreams" montage video. Classic Britney...looking very innocent while strutting around in underwear as a giant orgy of dancers bumps and grinds behind her. It was really hot!



Britney's Opening Outfit!



Britney Flying High Above The Stage!

The Stage From Our View!



My Favorite Outfit! Stripes, Fedora, Sparkles!

"Sweet Dreams" Montage

Britney In The Cage...

She Looks FANTASTIC!

Our seats were amazing also! We were kiddie corner to the stage on the front row of the first balcony. I am kicking myself today for not taking my camera with me because I would have gotten some amazing photos. I did have my cell phone, but with no zooming action it looks like we are way further away then we actually were. I loved the show though and I would see her again in a heart beat. Hopefully she will learn to love touring again and put her all into the next show!

An Engagement Story

I had decided that after dating Casey for six years this May it was time we moved to the next step. I did what any normal man would do and tricked Casey into a jewelry store to find out what kind of ring to buy and what the correct size would be. This was not an easy task, but with some help from my friend Melanie, and under the disguise of Pearl Necklace shopping, we got the deed done.

I bought the perfect ring for Casey and had been holding onto it for about 4 weeks. My plan was to pop the question on our six year anniversary in a big memorable fashion, but the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to do something extravagant. I really wanted to just catch Casey off guard and have it be that much more of a surprise. I decided on Friday that Sunday, March 29th would be the day I would ask.

Sunday morning I awoke with the intention of asking first thing. Usually on Sunday mornings Casey is on the couch snuggled up in his California Raisin blanket watching political shows like "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." My idea was to surprise him during this perfectly mundane routine. However, I woke with the worst sore throat of my life (thank you Graduate School Colleagues) and I was worried I would not be able to make my big surprise happen. I decided to go back to bed and do it at a later time.

Two hours later, my throat still sore but a lot less swollen, I got up and brushed my teeth (you can't have morning breath when you propose) put on clothes (you can't be naked either) and stuck the ring box in my pocket. I went to the couch where Casey had fallen back asleep watching his "shows," and nudged him awake.

"Hey, move over. I want to lay with you." I said sweetly.

"NO! Go to the other couch." Casey responded.

"No, c'mon, I want to lay with you?" I whined.

"NO! Leave me alone. Go over there!"

It is super funny when you hear this part of the story, but I knew this would happen. It was my plan all along actually. You see, Casey is a brat, and I knew there there would be no sharing of the "sweet spot."

I said, "Fine, I'm just going to lay on you then."

I lay down with the ring box positioned to dig into Casey's leg.

"Ow, ow ow! What the hell is in your pocket?" Casey cried out!

"What? Oh, this?" I responded, while pulling out the ring box.

Sitting up, Casey looked at the box nervously and then shoved me in the chest and shouted "Shut up!" just like Elaine on Seinfeld. Casey then asked, "What is that?"

"Open it." I replied.

"Are you serious?" Casey asks once the box is opened.

"Will you marry me?" I counter.

"Are you serious?" Casey questions again?

"Absolutely. Of course I am." I say.

"Yes." Casey says, as if the question didn't even need to be asked.

This was followed up by trying on the ring, a kiss, and then a few more "Are you serious-es?" and some "What does this mean-s?" and then another kiss.

SO...We're engaged. The surprise went perfectly. I am lucky to have someone who loves me unconditionally. The date is sometime May 2010.

Excitement is in the air...

Life is pretty fantastic right now! I woke up with a new spring in my step this morning and I wanted to share some reasons for it. There is a lot that I am excited about, and with excitement in the air I always feel a little warm and fuzzy inside. Here's a list of what I am excited for:

*My clean car, it has been months since the "mouse" has sparkled.

*Spring and warm weather, it is so nice outside right now. I love driving around at night with my windows down, it feels awesome!

*Britney's concert, I can't wait! It looks like so much fun!

*Student teaching applications, this means I'm almost done with my program.

*The Jonas Brother's song "Lovebug." I know it's totally lame, but I love that damn song!

*Casey's Kindle. Despite my complaining the thing is actually pretty cool.

*Lesson planning. I'm finally at the stage where I'm ready to teach in my first grade placement.

*Kelly Clarkson, her album comes out next Tuesday and I just bought concert tickets.

*New York in May.

*My 6 year anniversary. Wow!

*Wicked.

*Mexico...sort of. I'd be more excited if I knew a certain someone was going. Hint, hint!

*Summer. Swimming, shorts and flip flops, tan, lounging, vacations, no school, Sugarhouse Park, walks @ night, hot days, warm nights, fun parties, bbq's!

*A change of wardrobe. I get sick of wearing sweaters.

*Gossip Girl, when oh when is it coming back?

*Camping! I am determined to get Casey camping in the woods this summer. None of this KOA nonsense!

*MY CAR IS PAID OFF IN APRIL!

*Having my nights free again. I can't wait for May when I no longer have night classes.

A Blog By Nate

So lately my cousin has been sending me lists of "Things that Must Go," via text message. I decided I would put one of his items on my blog because I thought it was funny...

"Things that need to go part two...I'm driving down the road and I see a license plate that said "2kwl4u," basically saying, "Too cool for you." I could understand this on a Bentley, but on a KIA with cheap decals of flames on the side and a tribal skull license plate cover that was purchased at an Auto Zone. C'mon, people! I see this all the time...personalized plates on piece of crap cars. LOL. I don't know though, maybe it shouldn't go because it makes me laugh every time. I saw an El Camino once with a license plate that said "paid4" on it. I was surprised at this because I never thought anyone paid for those. I always looked at them as more or less a curse that somebody had given to you as a last resort so you wouldn't need to ride the bus. Hmmmm...anyway...things that need to go." -By Nathan

Happy Lent

I am aware that I am not Catholic, but that doesn't mean that I can't participate in a little tradition now and then. I am talking about the Season of Lent. Lent is a forty-day period of fast, prayer, reflection and sacrifice before Easter. Traditionally you skip Sundays when you count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection, so technically Lent begins on the 25th of February, Ash Wednesday, and ends on 11 April 2009, which is the day before Easter. In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on 9 April (Holy Thursday), with the beginning of the mass of the Lord’s Supper. I honestly don't know all the details about this holiday, but it doesn't keep me from participating. I think it is good to sacrifice something now and then, so that you are aware of going without. Even though in the past I have given up silly things (like french fries, or eating at Arbys) I have also made some pretty big commitments, like the year I did absolutely no shopping unless it was a necessity. This was really difficult for me. I couldn't buy cd's, or i-tunes songs, or clothes, or anything that didn't involve food and shelter items.

This year Casey and I decided we are giving up eating out for Lent. No breakfast, no lunch, no brunch, no dinners, no nothing for 40 days. Just home cooked meals. I am determined to make it the for the entire long haul, but I think it is going to be difficult, but isn't that the point.

I want to be a 1st grader again!

Today was my second experience at first grade and I must say that it went much better this time around. I am now known as Mr. Chen to my students. Don't ask me why? They just thought it was hysterical when a student called me Mr. Chen, instead of Mr. C, by mistake. It was actually the Asian boy in the class that pointed it out, saying, "ha ha ha Mr. Chen, that is so funny!" The students continued to call me Mr. Chen no matter how much I protested. I am hoping by next week they will no longer remember this new nick name, but I highly doubt it.

This class is a lot of fun I must admit, but I am still having severe classroom management malfunction. They all seem to have the attention span of a nat, and cannot stay quiet for longer than 30 seconds of instruction. They are intelligent kids and seem to understand what I am teaching, even with the surrounding chaos, but they make me nervous and seem really unruly in my eyes. I guess they are all used to it and I am the one who will need to adjust to the way they do things.

These kids crack me up! They do and say some outrageous things. Today, during their bag pipe lesson (yes, these kids learn about bag pipes), the guest speaker was explaining kilts to the students and he said, "Now the most important thing to remember is that this is not a dress." One of the boys from my class (who is slowly becoming my new favorite) shouted out, "But it's a man skirt!" The entire first grade (all three classrooms) erupted into an uncontrollable fit of laughter! I couldn't even keep a straight face after hearing this zinger and busted out laughing myself.

The school that I am at is amazing. Today I was shown my classes's science fair project and it is the same work I spent last semester teaching to fourth graders at a completely opposite school. My school is so far from Title One I was shocked walking into it's prestigious surroundings. It is strange how blatantly obvious it is that funding effects education so dramatically. The fourth graders I worked with had nothing, and the science project we did with them was completely over most of their heads. My first graders are reading and writing at a higher level already and we aren't even half-way through the school year yet. Their classroom is full of manipulatives, they have constant parent volunteers and support, there are tons of books for them to choose from, and that type of accessibility to learning in our school systems really pays off.

The reason I say that I want to go back to first grade is because I experienced a Friday in the life of my students. They came to school at 8:30 and spent the first 15-20 minutes learning about their art project for the day...then it was another 20 minutes of free reading and being read to...next was singing practice for their big program, followed by centers (where they actually had to work on some math), recess, bag pipe lessons, brunch (not lunch, BRUNCH, because today was their early out day), another recess, probably more art (I'm not sure as I had to leave for class) and then they get to go home at 12:45 OR they get to load up on a bus and hit the ski slopes for their school provided lessons.

Oh what a life. I guess if I can't be a first grader again I will just have to try to get a job teaching in a school with this sweet of a set up!

Fingers Crossed!

I think I'm starting to like first grade afterall. I still have a lot of work to get done though, so we'll see how it goes.