Just need to find out how...

I would love to live in Europe. How do I just move there? Is that all there is to it? Just pack up and get an airplane ticket and stay at Populous' house in Italy? Ojala!!

I love the biblioteca.

I love my library. I go there all the time now. It has a really great cd and dvd collection. I just got Maverick with Mel Gibson, this great movie called Designing Woman with Gregory Peck and How To Marry A Millionaire with Marilyn Monroe.
They carry cds like Low, the Brunettes, Harry and the Potters, !!!, and the Carpenters Christmas. Today I went to the library to check out Como El Grinch Robo La Navidad! I am going to read it to my kids next week. When I showed up in the kid's department I saw all my kindergarteners to second graders there on a field trip. They were all so excited to see me and show me all the books they were checking out.
They helped me find the Spanish section of the library. It was so fun to hear them all yelling "Hola! Senora Van" across the aisles. shhhhh kids. C'est une bibliotheque!

ma préférée

Right now I am in love with this song. You would love it even more if you knew what it was saying and you were me. There's just those moments when a song hits you where it counts...

I was laughing when I should have been studying...c'est la vie.

So a while ago I found out that my French professor was a showgirl. She teaches a couple of different classes at the university and I never expected that. One of the guys in my class used to be in the show with her and he told me she had been in that show for 12 years and is pretty much the icon. So, let me introduce you to my professor, at least you will find the exposed back side of her hanging on the billboard at the Tropicana.
Then today after googling her name we found out that she was also on survivor! It was too much. I was laughing so hard as I was watching youtube clips of my professor. CRAZY. Here she is:
I asked her about it. She was in Micronesia. She was really left on an island "exiled" with nothing but water and a machete. She told me she couldn't fish so she ate like 45 coconuts! She invited me over to her house to drink French wine and watch it on dvd with her. I am gonna hang out with a tv-survivor-superstar!! awesome!!

amazing...

This Thanksgiving was great! We went to my sister's house in Arizona. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and the company was the best. Plus I taught my 7 year old niece how to play sudoku. She is amazing. Check out a 2nd graders completed sudoku. Now that's impressive!

sad news turned glad news.

Just on Thursday night I was heading to my room. I turned off all the living room lights and was walking in the dark, feeling my way. I decided to slide open my phone to get a little light for the pathway and it slid right out of my hand. I looked around for it in the dark and saw lit up numbers. I wondered in my head why I could only see the numbers and not the screen that is usually right above the numbers. Quickly I turned on the light and to my dismay I saw my 4 month old phone in two pieces!!
I wanted to cry. Just earlier in the evening I sold a bike on craig's list and was feeling pretty rich but knew I would have to spend that cash on a new phone. bummer.
The next day I went to T-mobile and thought for a second about lying to the guy to try and get the warranty to pay for it. "I mean I just slid it up to text and it just kept sliding...." But then realized, A). there was no good alibi and B). I am bad at lying. Luckily I found just the right phone and I am so happy!!!

It is just a phone. None of this music player/phone/day planner/life runner gadget for me. I am happy that it is simple. Anyway. It turned out better than I thought it would and didn't make me feel any poorer. I was still rich enough to go to the new H&M here in town the next night. WOOT!

for some reason this reminds me of school pictures...

Here's my school picture. My first year as a teacher. Don't worry, some of you will be getting a signed one in the mail.

This kind of makes me want to read "Crime and Punishment"...but not really.

love love love by The Mountain Goats

"Somethings you'll do for money, and some you'll do for fun, but the things you do for love are gonna come back to you one by one."

I guess this means I can only have 5 kids...

I want a conference bike!!!


SOOOOOO awesome!

2nd date?

I went on the worst first date ever last night. He asked me at FHE on Monday to go to this dinner that our Bishop was hosting for first dates. So I gave him a chance even though he creeped me out from the beginning. I made my friends find dates so I wouldn't have to be alone with him and then met him there to protect myself further.
All I have to say is I have never been out with a guy that was sooooo far from what I actually like before. If he asked me out again he would probably be considered medically insane because we have nothing in common and I tried to make it obvious that I was not interested, without being rude. I hate caves and have no celebrity crushes. We obviously wouldn't make it very far, just save your money creepy red-haired dude.

He introduced me to her...ironic

Saturday night I told my Latin lover that it would be better if he just didn't ever call me again. Before when we broke up we kept calling and so it didn't last...but this time I think it is for real. It was so sad when he just kept saying, "uhhh, ok, ok." And he was kind of surprised when I said we should just see each other in class. But it was inevitable. Breaking up is hard to do.

one new heart, coming right up...

YUM: I think I need a new heart by The Magnetic Fields

Time stands still
All I can feel is the time standing still

as you put down the keys
and say don't call me please
while the radio plays

"I Think I Need a New Heart" ohhh

"I Think I Need a New Heart" ohhh

You've lied too
but it's a sin that I
can't tell the truth
cause it all comes out wrong
unless I put it in a song
so the radio plays
"I Think I Need a New Heart"
just for you
"I Think I Need a New Heart"

cause I always say I love you
whenI mean turn out the light
and I say let's run away
when I just mean stay the night
but the words you want to hear
you will never hear from me

I'll never say "happy anniversary"
never stay to say "happy anniversary"

so I think I need a new heart ohhh
I think I need a new heart ohhh
I think I need a new heart ohhh
I think I need a new heart ohhh
Give me time

Cultural Presentations

My junior high kids did their cultural presentations today. They were so great! I was thoroughly impressed and loved the fact that I didn't have to write any lesson plans. Some of them studied a Spanish-speaking country and brought in memorabilia, some studied Spanish artists or historical figures, others brought in some food and told the history behind it. We ate salsa (who knew that it dates back to the Mayans?), gazpacho from Spain, flan and Mexican wedding cookies. Yum. What a great day! Being a Spanish teacher is so much fun!

I never really listened to the words before and wow.

Well I guess it would be nice
If I could touch your body
I know not everybody
Has got a body like you

But I've got to think twice
Before I give my heart away
And I know all the games you play
Because I play them too

Oh but I
Need some time off from that emotion
Time to pick my heart up off the floor
And when that love comes down
Without devotion
Well it takes a strong man baby
But I'm showing you the door

'Cause I gotta have faith...

Baby
I know you're asking me to stay
Say please, please, please, don't go away
You say I'm giving you the blues
Maybe
You mean every word you say
Can't help but think of yesterday
And another who tied me down to loverboy rules

Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby I reconsider
My foolish notion
Well I need someone to hold me
But I'll wait for something more

Yes I've gotta have faith...


I really like their cover of the 'Faith'

I went to Mexico last weekend...

You try doing the hand jive and jumping double dutch at the same time! sooooo fun. I had such a wonderful time playing with orphans and speaking Spanish. I wanted to bring one back with me. Then I remembered that I already have my very own Mexican to call my beau. He's just a little older and taller and he spoils me rotten. I love Mexico!

Finally, what I've been waiting for...

I had to edit this. just in case.

Friends, Romans, countrymen

Lend me your ears/eyes. This is the future and it looks bright. At least I'm into it! Click here to read an enlightening article!
Thanks Mike!

On my way home...

Roque and I played word games. I love those. First, we named all the words we could think of that ended with the letter 'f'. Then all the words that ended with 'tion'. Then we named all the words we could think of that were actually French words that we use frequently in English. Such as: rendezvous, fiance, ballet, chaise lounge, chalet, foyer, armoire, etc.
But we forgot one of my favorites. I didn't even realize it until I arrived home and used my bidet. I love bidets. Thank you France.

Truth: I love boring bands

These are my most recent favorites: Seabear
and Horse Feathers soooooooo good.

WOWZERS!

Being a teacher feels like this:
CRAZY!!!