Eye-Glasses Deadline

We have some money left in our medical spending account that we'll lose if we don't use it by 12/31/2008. If anyone still on my medical benefits needs glasses please contact me because we need to get it done before the end of the year.

A Message From Uncle Sid and Aunt Boonya

Aunt Boonya and Uncle Sid would like the pleasure of your company the Sunday after Thanksgiving at 10:30 am for breakfast.

Rumored to be on the menu:
Blueberry pancakes
Apple Quiche
Hash brown Casserole
Ginger Muffins
Coffee/Tea/OJ

WIB Week of 2008-23-Nov

Billy, Michelle and Barack

(That's my cousin Bill!)

WIB Week of 2008-11-16

I'm going to Bloomington, MN. There's a Caribou Coffee right in the building.



Bloomington is famous for The Mall of America.



Here's my itinerary:

Air Travel:
Sunday 16-Nov-2008
DL 4400
Departs Atlanta (ATL) 4:05 PM EST.
Arrives Minneapolis (MSP) 5:45 PM CST.

Friday 21-Nov-2008
DL 4477
Departs Minneapolis (MSP) 6:15 PM CST
Arrives Atlanta (ATL) 9:51 PM EST

Hotel:
Sheraton Bloomington
7800 NORMANDALE BLVD
BLOOMINGTON MN 55439
952-835-7800


With some luck I'll be home for the next 3 weeks when I get back. Definitely home Thanksgiving and the week after that.

I will miss you all!

It's about time I made a post informing everyone that come January, you will see me even less than you do now...I will be in the Southern Hemisphere.

I am participating in the Pacific Study Abroad program with 40 students and a handful of teachers from Tech!

The trip involves 6 weeks in Wellington, New Zealand, 3 weeks in Sydney, Australia, and 3 weeks in Brisbane, Australia.

I am keeping a blog about the trip (starting now with the planning, but later with photos and info on what we are up to) HERE. I won't be able to talk on the phone much AND I'll have to pay per minute for my internet use, so I hope everyone appreciates the blog when I am gone!

We fly out of Los Angeles on January 8th.
I am taking 4 classes and get 13 credit hours toward my degree.
I will try not to miss you all too much!

WIB Week of 2008-11-9

Sunday ATL to San Diego CA.
Flight: Delta 1043
Departs 2:55 PM EST.
Arrives 4:36 PM PST.

Hotel: Marriott Residence Inn (858) 552 9100
Check-In Sunday
Check-Out Wednesday.


Teaching Monday and Tuesday in San Diego.



Wed San Diego to Omaha NE.
Flight: US Airways 0351
Departs San Diego 9:50 AM PST.
Arrives Phoenix AZ 12:08 PM MST.
Flight: US Airways 2980
Departs Phoenix AZ 1:09 PM MST.
Arrives Omaha NE 4:40 PM CST.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza (402) 496-0850
Check-In Wednesday.
Check-Out Friday.

Teaching Thursday and Friday.




Return home early Saturday morning.

Flight: United 0640
Departs Omaha 6:47 PM CST.
Arrives Chicago 8:22 PM CST.

Flight: United 7552
Departs Chicago 9:15 CST.
Arrives Atlanta 12:07 AM EST (Saturday morning.)

Not a fun week ahead, though I have to say San Diego is one of my favorite places on the planet.

WIB Week of 3-Nov-2008

Home Sweet Home and off from work. Mom will be leaving for a conference in Miami Monday morning and returning Wednesday night. We'll have her on speaker phone to watch the election returns on Tuesday night. She's pretty upset that when she originally agreed to go on this trip she didn't know it meant she wouldn't be home for election day.

My friend Jimmy will be here until Wednesday afternoon. We've been friends since about 1973 and played in bands together in high school and college. Here's a picture from (I think) 1975. He's the one on the right.



This is how he looks today.



If anyone wants to come over to watch the election returns with us let me know!

WIB Week of 2008-10-27

This week I'm working in the Altanta office. I'm teaching an accelerated class which means long days (8:00 - 6:00 PM.)

At least I'll be home every night.

Choose eight homes

Hi guys. So, this is kinda like a chain letter, but it's more of a thought experiment, I thought it would be cool for us to do:

You choose eight places for eight imaginary homes...like the McCains have....and write about them here.

Isn't it nice to dream?

Here is my list:
1. Portland: My roommate at induction was from there and it just seemed SO FREAKIN SWEEET.

2. New Mexico:

3. South Dakota: both 2 and 3 have the same reason–I’d like to live on two different American Indian reservations.

4. Somewhere in Florida, near the gulf: um beaches. HELLO

5. New York, New York: the orginal birthing place of Ms. Versaci

6. Denver

7.Boston

8: Providence: I am very attracted to such a small state

YOUR TURN!!

Twila's B-Day

Just a head's up for family in the area: My birthday is Friday.

Saturday, Mum and Mike are taking me out to Ippolitos! Yum! Along with Korey, anyone else who wants to come is definitely invited. =) I wanted to let everyone know I don't mind if you come along. I think Emma might be going too.

(PS - I don't know what that is in the picture, but I think that's what I'm gonna order!!!)

WIB Week of 2008-10-20

I'm going to try to do this every weekend. "WIB" = "Where I'll Be."

Monday - Fly to Chicago DL 788 Arrives Chicago O'Hare 4:33 PM CDT
Embassy Suites Downtown Chicago (312)-943-3800
Tuesday - Teaching in Chicago
Wednesday - Fly home DL 791 Arrives Atlanta 2:39 PM.
Thursday - Teaching in Altanta Office
Friday - Teaching in Atlanta Office.

Surprise!

Hey everyone! As you may know, Korey and I are now engaged! =) Unfortunately for you, there is no really romantic story to go along with it, but we have been talking about it for a while, and I went with him to pick it out, so I would've felt strange had he sprung it on me as if were a surprise.
I'm posting pictures of the ring here, for those who are to far away to see it.
It'll have a wrap around it like mum's when we get married. (Don't worry, we'll graduate first! I'm in NO hurry to plan a wedding. O_O!)


From the side, you can't see how pretty it is in this picture, though. It is really very sparkle-y! The prongs here are white gold although the rest are yellow. I really absolutely love it!
(And of course, the man who gave it to me, heehee!)
I hope everyone else is doing well as well!

18.5 Years Ago Or So

Virus Reminder

I just wanted to remind everyone to be careful before you click a link in an email. I got a virus email today claiming that someone sent me an e-card and it looked like it came from Hallmark. There were some clues that it was a virus. One was that in the "to" address it said "undisclosed recipients." When I hovered the mouse over the link it revealed a different address than Hallmark.com.

Here's an example, though it is harmless:

http://www.amazon.com

The link looks like "Amazon" but it doesn't take you there. If you move your mouse over the link and look at the bottom of the screen you'll see it the actual address.

More pics!

I grabbed Mike's camera and shot these today, especially for you out-of-towners. I'm not a great photographer, but you get the idea... Also, sorry they are so big and might take a long time to load. I don't have a photo editor on my pc.

Meet Gracie!

Well, that's her working name for now at least, but it may well stick.

Don't laugh too hard when you see her! She looks an awful lot like Choppy, except shrunken down and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d...

PS - I haven't heard her bark yet...

UPDATE:  Her new "working name" is Trudy...  That's a Mike pick and it seems to suit her, but I do want him to meet her before we make a final decision.

She is very silly and she likes to throw things.  I gave her a treat and she tossed it up in the air twice before eating it!  I guess she hasn't met Choppy's imaginary "other dog" yet!

My Life as a Teacher

Well, in case you haven't heard, my new job is next to impossible.

I truly think I am the most ineffective teacher in the history of the world. My kids run wild, I am trying to teach 16-year-old how to add 1 digit numbers, some of my kids can barely write their own name, and all of my boys are in "love" with me and write me inappropriate love letters. I go to bed at 9 every night, and I eat sad meals that I cook for me and my roommate, and the most exciting spot in town is Wal-mart. I miss my boyfriend, my friends, and my freedom.

I actually did a dance in the hallway today out of happiness when I found out my WORST BEHAVED STUDENT who is in TWO of my classes got suspended for 10 days. That's 10 days of teaching. I am really stoked. Of course, he got suspended for jumping another child in the hall.

Teaching is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I truly think it takes a special person to get up every morning and fight this battle, and I don't think I can be that person for more than 2 years. Ughh.

I did it!

Today, after meeting with a professor, walking up and down two flights of stairs four times, and writing a check for $40.00, I have officially petitioned to graduate.
What does that mean? Essentially nothing other than that they know I want to graduate. (Especially since I have all kinds of issues including course number changes and course request changes to have done for me - and I don't get my hope up with SPSU's communication record too much on something like that.)
However, it does feel a lot more real now that I will be graduating in another semester.
Plus, on the upside, I did discover that I only have to take four classes next semester instead of the five I thought I did. Which means I technically didn't have to take six now, but it also means I've lightened the load on myself for Portfolio.

In other news, I'm going to go back to my internship for a while and maybe they'll just keep me on...? Because they're moving offices, they need someone to help go through things who is really thorough. Well, as mum likely knows, I have plenty of experience as a pack rat. =)
I don't know that I would want to work there full time upon graduation, but the extra cash right now is nice especially seeing as I'm going to have to buy a new computer in the next few months if I want my student discounts. ($250 for InDesign, PhotoShop, Dreamweaver, and Illustrator? How can you turn that down?!)

In news beyond other news, the living situation is going well. =) I'm learning how to cook better despite my belgian waffle disaster this morning. And Korey has tried almost everything I've made. Yay! I think I'm going to bake a pie tonight.... yum!

Where Am I?

I'm in Versailles (apparently pronounced 'ver-SAILS'!) Ohio, at The Inn At Versailles. There are no Starbucks and no fast food restaurants. The town seems to be smaller than Chimney Springs.

The restaurant at the hotel, however is great! The butler is a decent sort, though he doesn't say much.



I'm only here for two days and I'm looking forward to coming home on Thursday night.