Baby you can drive my car

I have been spending a lot of time in my car, driving back and forth between school and work/school, home and play. Since the parking fees at UCSC are astronomical, many of my classmates don't drive to school. Being a non-driver for so long myself, I sympathize with the plight of the walkers and often volunteer to take people home. Given the traffic issues in Santa Cruz, we spend quite some time in the car together.

On those drives, I have gotten into some pretty deep and serious topics. It's great to get to know people better and something about the close quarters of the car makes me feel totally comfortable spilling my guts. I think the same can pretty much be said for my passengers as well. In a time where I feel like I am running around all over with no spare time for fun, at least I get to feel connected to other human beings.

One of the best things about going back to school, is the group of people I have met. I have great friends, but they live all over and sometimes it is hard for us to get together with everything we have going on. With these school friends, it's easy to grab food together during breaks or get together after class to get a drink. I really appreciate the opportunity to get to know such amazing people. Having the support of friends, classmates and family is invaluable. I have always known that, but I think I can see it explicitly now more than ever.

Also, spending time in my placement has reassured me that I have made the right career choice. I love being with the kids. I even love grading papers! And my cooperating teacher is amazing. She really cares about all of the kids and wants them to have the best experience in school that they can. I want that for the kids as well. I am really excited to get my own classroom, but also nervous about having so much responsibility. I guess I feel about teaching the way I did about learning to drive. I felt like I wasn't ready until one day I was (or my mom forced me to be). I think teaching is the same way. I will never feel 100% prepared, but I can do my best to learn and absorb everything around me.

We shall see where the next year takes me (besides class)!

Pig out

Hi. I am still alive. Just really busy with school. :)

I got home from school/work today to meet the newest member of my family. Gordon, a pink little pot-bellied pig now lives in my backyard. Annie's ducks died about a month ago and I guess she suckered my mom into fostering this pig for Kennolyn. I have to admit, the guy is pretty damn cute. He's all snorty and happy in his coup/pen. Plus, our house is already like a farm, why not throw in a few more animals. :)

He looks something like this..
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Hot Damn!

I finished my papers at 4:30AM and have now handed them in. My first quarter of grad school is officially done. Complete. Woo hoo. I have the day off and then tomorrow I am back to the grind. Nice break, huh?

This weekend I did get to have some fun. Friday evening a few of my fellow students and I decided to meet up at the brewery for some drinks. It turns out that everyone in our program suffers from major slacker syndrome and Shannon and I were the only ones to come out unscathed. We made the most of her boyfriend's generous offer to be DD and let ourselves get nice and saucy. It turns out that grad school can make you a pretty cheap drunk.

Saturday morning I headed for Shira's bachelorette in Monterey. We spent the day wine tasting and being entertained by TOM. TOM must be in caps because he is that loud/big/drunk/hilarious of a guy. He made the wine trolley infinitely more amusing. Who needs a stripper when a big teddy bear of a guy will moon you and the rest of Carmel Valley for free?! Plus he and his group of friends were very generous with our ladies. and he made sure that we knew that, "all you ladies are HOT. I mean it!"

The rest of the weekend was also a blast, spent eating, swimming and laying in the sun. Alas I had to head home and finish my 2 epic papers.

I can't wait for the wedding in October. It will be great to meet up again with all of the fabulous ladies I met this weekend. Plus I know Shira will make a gorgeous bride. Josh is one lucky dude.