Oh, Hey, New Blog Layout!

Change is good.

At least that's what they tell me.

So I like this layout, but I may change my mind and be playing around with it and changing it in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

In other news......I almost hit a fish while riding my bike yesterday. Yes, I'm sure there are many questions circling through your head right now. Let me explain.

So my dad and I decided to go for a bike ride on the trails. It has rained quite a bit so the river has flooded in many areas. One particular area was by Spencer Park (aka the dog park). The river was over the trail quite a ways, but we weren't really sure how deep it was. We decided to take a gamble and keeping going. We're really dedicated bikers. As we were heading through, I saw little fins and scales at the top of the water! Yep, fish were swimming right next to me as I rode. And these weren't just little minnows or something. They were like big carp! There was one spot later on in the ride where it literally looked like we were riding down the middle of the river. The water even came up to my handlebars! Insane? Yes.

River biking! It's a new sport that is going to catch on! Remember, you heard it here first!

Currently....

So guess who's awesome and updating her blog all the time. Yep, you guessed it. Not me.

Here is a little update on my life. We'll start with right now and work our way backwards, just to make it interesting.

I am currently watching a French film with subtitles called The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It's actually a little dificult to pay attention to what's happening in the movie while writing a blog entry at the same time. Imagine that.

I am doing this while sitting in the home of my best friend's brother. House-sitting and puppy-sitting. It's nice to feel like I have my own place. At least for a little while. And also nice to get away from my parents for awhile. Hi, Mom!

You know how taking care of other people's kids can be like a form of birth control? Well, doing this is kind of like birth control for puppies. I don't want one. They are smelly. They poop a lot. They aren't very smart. They bite EVERYTHING. Oh, and they bark every morning at 5:15. I'm ok with dogs. Just not puppies.

I went to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this past weekend for a wedding. The highlight of the weekend (besides the wedding, of course) was definitely the Milwaukee Burger Company. Just take a look at the menu! Ironically, it's the only Milwaukee Burger Company, and it's found in Eau Claire, not Milwaukee. But the food is insane! If you look under the appetizers, you will find a basket of bacon. Yes, I said it, but, no, I did not order it. But still! Just the fact that you can order bacon as an appetizer definitely makes this restaurant a stand out! I ordered, in true Wisconsin fashion, the Cheese Curd Cheeseburger. Yep, a cheeseburger with cheese curds on it. I could go on and on, but I'll just let you peruse the menu if you so wish, and you can just sit there and be jealous.

Side note: I really should write food reviews.

Book Nerd

Summer also means time to read! For enjoyment! My roadtrip gave me the opportunity to get a bunch of reading done. It was like finally getting water after spending months in the desert. I'm just going to give a short little review about each book I read. So if you don't care about reading or books, just click the little red X in your top right hand corner. And if you have a Mac......then do whatever it is you do to exit the page. Yeah.

The New York Regional Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker

I'd like to thank Laurissa for introducing me to this book and opening the door to memoirs! It's all about a single Mormon girl living in New York while trying to maintain her Mormon religion and morals. Hilarious! Everything from kissing a 12-year-old perv on a trampoline to traveling to Zambia to visit her atheist lover.

Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers

This book was quite the change from the previous one. Francine Rivers has always been one of my favorite authors, and this is her newest addition to the bookshelf. She takes what she knows about her mother's and grandmother's history and turns it into her own story. A second book is on its way!

Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper

Obviously an adolescent lit selection, but a really neat, modern-day version of the Romeo and Juliet story. This version takes a couple - one African American and one Mexican American - and follows their love story as they deal with the hatred of the gang in their school. It was really interesting to compare it to Shakespeare's work. Although, this book's ending isn't as morbid as the original.

The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca Lia Block

If you happen to ever see this book, turn and run! I love reading warped and changed fairy tales, but this book was not what I was expecting at all. I am so, so, so glad that this didn't end up in my classroom without a read-through first! This book takes every fairy tale you've ever heard and basically ruins it. Snow White is kissed, not by a prince, but by the gardener that is dating her evil mother. Little Red Riding Hood has been sexually abused since she was a child. Sleeping Beauty was not pricked by a needle on a spinning machine, but has experienced a drug needle, which has taken her on a journey to earn the name "Sleeping" Beauty for sleeping around. Incredibly dark and disturbing.



The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Ok, put this on your "must read" list right now. This is officially my new favorite book. It's a story about a German girl living near Munich during World War II. The story is narrated by war's best friend, Death, so that definitely gives an interesting perspective to the story. I can't even put into words how good this story is and how amazing the writing is. Zusak says he likes to put a "little gem" on each page. I could quote line after line that struck me, made me think, made me cry, and made me laugh. Just do yourself a favor and go read it. Please, and thank you.

Three Reasons I Became a Teacher: June, July, August

It's official. It's summer! And summer means roadtrips! Two days after school let out, my sister, her friend, and I hit the open road, and began our journey to Virginia Beach. They went to see her friend's family, and I went to visit Geron. Beach, shopping, and history were the main things on the agenda.

First day at the beach. It was wonderful. Also, I dyed my hair.



Colonial Williamsburg: Governor's Mansion. Thomas Jefferson lived there.

Geron and I in the stocks at Colonial Williamsburg.

The "Lone Soldier" - He wasn't so lonely after he met me though.

The water is so blue in Virginia!

Another sunny day at the beach.


What's a trip to Virginia with out a new pair of shoes?!?

Or maybe two.

Money was spent. Tanlines were developed. Memories were made. And it was only the first week of summer. I think I could get used to this.