Another one bites the dust

T5B: 1) (I got to talk to Jerod.) I have 20 teaching days left! 2) I got the second half of another worksheet done. That means only one more to make for Friday. 3) I got lots of Japanese study in today. 4) Mina offered to drive me (us) to Tokyo to pick up Jerod (if the roads aren't bad)! 5) Mina gave me some treats. :)

basal temp: 36.41

Morning:
- got up, got ready, (86%!), it was BITTERLY cold out
1st - prepped as quickly as I could for my classes (had some things to get together)
2nd - taught 1.3, went well
3rd - taught 2.6, went well (thank goodness)
4th - taught 1.2, went well

Notes: Now I know why they say February is the coldest month. It's not the thermometer, necessarily, it's just BITTERLY cold. Painfully cold.

Afternoon:
- lunch was good
5th - corrected a mountain of worksheets
6th-7th - Japanese lesson with Oikawa-sensei
- created the second half of that worksheet I half made yesterday
- messaged Jerod
- the bus was 15 minutes late and my hands were KILLING me (painful cold) - and that's through gloves!

Notes: The bus was warm, thank goodness!

Evening:
- messaged Jerod
- hightailed it home to eat something quickly (since the bus was slow)
- tutoring with Mina (where she made her offer and gave me treats)
- went home and ate
- watched some anime
- read a little

Notes: Hope you all pass the middle of the week well! :) Two more days then I have a full Saturday. I am working in the morning and then Limor is coming to town. :D Not sure our plans but I haven't seen her in forever so I'm excited!! :D Love you all! XOXO, A

blast from the past: Jerod reminded me of this yesterday - when I was a kid, I was in a church group of other small children called primary. That group includes kids 1.5-12 years old. We gave a musical program and my mom said that I tried to out-sing every other child there. I screeched these songs and kept putting my skirt over my head (showing my undies). You're welcome mom. (The mortification comes free with me!)

The treats Mina gave me :)

YOKATTA!

At 9 am this morning, I reached 7/8ths of a year here! (I even took time and noticed and marveled at school.) :D

T5B: 1) (I got to talk to Jerod today.) My lessons went well! 2) I made a worksheet and a half for Friday as well as some materials. 3) My first class was with me 100% and really made today fun and I NEEDED that! 4) I got my worksheets I made for tomorrow okayed (eep - two new lessons!). 5) I had a nice conversation with some boys from one of my tougher classes in the hall.

basal temp: 36.12

Morning:
- couldn't remember my dreams and felt exhausted when I awoke, BUT I got 87% :D
- lousy, lousy (SUPER PAINFUL) cramps
- got ready, took out my trash, got to the bus - same butt checker was prowling, lol
- the ride to school was excruciating (every seam in the road.. yikes)
1st-2nd - made copies, started blocking out plans for Friday's worksheets
3rd - taught 2.5, went AMAZING!
4th - corrected worksheets, planned

Notes: I don't remember this lesson going that well with the third graders and definitely not the other second grade class. It was AWESOME. They all participated and they had fun. It was so, so grand. It was exactly what I needed! God bless those students!

Afternoon:
- ate lunch and enjoyed that (I was starving-ish), cleaning time
5th - taught 2.4, went pretty well
6th - taught 1.6, went pretty well
7th - corrected worksheets, started making the worksheets I planned this morning
- messaged Jerod
- waited in the BITTER cold for my bus and mercifully it was only 7 or so minutes late!

Notes: I'm SO grateful today went well. I was so thoroughly taxed and so thoroughly blessed! -- So my funny story: Kanamori-s and I were getting back to the teacher's room after 6th period and ran into some boys from 2.6. They called out hello loudly, so I greeted them in return. I stopped and asked, "How are you?" "Fine! Kanamori-sensei!! How old are you!?" LOL She made that nervous laugh she's always making, and waved her arms at them to shoo them away and then I said to them, "Ask me!" "How old are you?" "I'm thirty! But the week after next, saraishuu, is my birthday! Tanjoubi! I will be thirty-one!" *blank faces* "I will be san-juu issai!" "Eeeh!? Hontou! Minai!" (Whaa!? Really!? You don't look it!) I replied, "Aww thank you!" But yay for a positive and funny interaction. -- One more funny note from today, people talk about Asian fashion sense. I've already posted what people in Morioka think is fashion. Eep. Today a teacher was wearing a black shirt with orange polka dots covered by a tan sweather with white stripes. She had on a navy blue skirt with olive green tights and black maryjanes. I just... I couldn't stop staring. She's SUPER nice and I love her... I just ... wow. :)

Evening:
- ate, cooked rice for my lunches, messaged Jerod, printed my worksheets
- read a little

Notes: Today went so much better than I expected and I'm so happy about that. Hope you all have a grand Tuesday as well! XOXO, A

blast from the past: As promised my other "I talk A LOT" story. On my second or third date with Jerod we were talking in my car. Finally he said to me, "Are you nervous?" "No, why?" "You're talking SO MUCH!" I laughed and kept talking. A few minutes later he says, "Can we have some quiet time?" LOL And so we observed 5 minutes of silence. (Yes, it was hard!)

Another busy week takes off

T5B: 1) I got to talk to Jerod today. 2) A guy cracked me up this morning at the bus stop. 3) I made two more new worksheets (for Wednesday). 4) My lessons went well. 5) I finished that dang book! - Oh! I finally got my SLP for this Friday. It's rough so I'm glad I have some time to work on it!

basal temp: 36.22

Morning:
- laid awake a long time, woke up early, had horrific nightmares all night BUT got 85% :D
- got ready for work
- guy made me laugh at the bus stop
1st-4th - made two new worksheets, started working on a powerpoint for after the exam (that starts next Thursday and goes through the following Tuesday [Feb 18])

Notes: Ok this guy at the bus stop. He's muttering and dressed a little strangely (I'm assuming he was mentally other-abled). In any case, he walks around me and I think, "That was strange," but I hadn't watched him closely. I then start to observe him and see him walking around all the women at the bus stop STARING at their bums. LOL He wasn't very sly about it... at all. It was hilarious for me to watch. Thanks random man, you made me crack up at the bus stop this morning!

Afternoon:
- lunch was good
5th - taught 2.3, went really well
6th - had a Japanese lesson
7th - taught 1.4, went well
- corrected as many worksheets as I could before I left (like 55 of them)

Notes: There were opportunities to get upset in both classes but I just couldn't summon the will to care. I did my best to float and ignore my cramps. Hope they students didn't feel cheated. I did my best.

Evening:
- had a rough evening at home between pain and stress about my worst classes tomorrow
- finished my book (daaaaah it was a struggle, lol, but I finished it!)
- wrote this (a big accomplishment for me as I spent a lot of time crying because of pain!)

Notes: Sheesh I'm so glad I only have a couple periods left here. Hopefully I can figure out something in the US to get health insurance fast and get REAL pain relief! In any case, I made it past Monday! Huzzah! :D Hope you all do too! XOXO, A

blast from the past: Just a short story for tonight. I talk A LOT (and I'll tell another story about this tomorrow) but one night I was talking to my dad and at the end I asked him his opinion. He looked surprised, "Was I supposed to be listening!?" LOL PAPA! That was like 20 minutes of speaking wasted! LOL

HUR BLAH! (I wish!)

Did you hear? My mom is the talk of BYU campus... :D

T5B: 1) I didn't have to teach today. 2) I got to direct the choir. 3) I got a ride. 4) I have an huge amount of awesome music. 5) I only have 22 days of teaching left! :D

basal temp: 36.28

A cool note about music: When I first arrived here and I got my iPhone, I wasn't sure what music I should load. I was inordinately worried about using up too much data and only put some 50 songs on it at first. Among those songs was an entire album by James Taylor because he was soothing and reminded me of home. When it came time for me to make the hour walk to church (my first time), I plugged in headphone and found out I had no church music! It was too late too put some one at that point. I looked for my most "reverent" music and settled on James Taylor. By next Sunday I had forgotten again to put hymns on my phone and so listened to James Taylor again. Later I eventually remembered to put more music. Now I have a Sunday playlist with James Taylor, Mozart, Jazz, Brahms, and Bach. Because I have listened to James Taylor nearly every Sunday I have been here, now when I hear his music I immediately feel more peaceful and reverent. It's been a cool experience. :) He still reminds me of home: specifically my parents, but it's been a joy to connect to that music in a different way.

Morning:
- woke up early (my bones and cramps were hurting me)
- got up, took a shower, asked for a ride
- got a ride to church (hallelujah)
- understood bits and pieces of the testimonies
- RS was good although I was distracted and feeling gross :<

Notes: I feel bad for my inability to pay attention today. I was going to skip church but the choir is singing next week. :/ In any case, I'm glad I was able to read the RS lesson during the week so I still had an opportunity to hear the message.

Afternoon:
- had choir practice (SUCH a great number - I'll record it for you! :D)
- was able to skype my parents
- sat on the floor near the heater hoping it would ease my back pain
- left the church
- got a ride home, broke my fast (for dinner)

Notes: The number is awesome! It's Come, Come Ye Saints and the fourth verse is half in minor! It's a cool arrangement! :D It was really nice to talk to my parents. Just connecting with home when more and more time passes since I've been there is great! :>

Evening:
- ate my hot dogs and mac (mac is becoming my sunday meal :D)
- read a little
- got to talk to Jerod (that was really nice :D)
- got to sit on the heating pad (no offense Jerod, but that was ALSO very nice)
- tried to relax and stop freaking out (I slept pretty well last night! 88%! So I was able to do it last night... ganbare for tonight!)

Notes: Well I ate my mac a bit soon and my tongue is burned. :/ LOL I'm still figuring out how to "Fast Sunday." Hope you all have a wonderful Sabbath - wish me luck for this week with my cramps. It feels overwhelming. Still, my love to you all! XOXO, A

blast from the past: I was known, growing up, for not sleeping. All my sleepovers would end up with me awake last and first. I just historically had a hard time sleeping. In any case, one sleepover, I was EXHAUSTED. I asked my friend if I could nap during the movie we were watching, and she said yes. Come to find out later, my dad happened across us and exclaimed to my friend, "YOU WON!" LOL

Today when I stepped out my door...

On the way to church...

There's the pond! It's completely frozen! There were geese walking on it, lol. I found out that in the 30s it was used as the site for a national ice skating competition. Pretty cool! :D Ice skating, I also heard, is not no longer allowed there. Hmm, wonder what changed.

Saturdee

T5B: 1) I got one of my worksheets done today. 2) I finished Free! and enjoyed it. 3) I didn't have anything pressing to do today. 4) I got to talk to Jerod. 5) I made myself a delicious burger for lunch. :)

basal temp: 35.96

Today:
- read
- watched anime
- talked to Jerod
- lots of pain (.)
- made a worksheet
- cooked meals
- listened to music
- folded and put away my laundry

Notes: Happy weekend to you! XOXO, A

blast from the past (from 2012): (ambien texts)

April 4 to Jerod:
A: Do yoi want a see thrigyh thibg on your phon! nybe has ibe!
(May 3) A: Squishy word wormies
A: Butt skush nugget
(May 21) A: Begerk the dinosaurs abd dee what ppl say then! ha!
A: Naked carrot dancers lol
(Sept 10) A: You have bubbbles? un hugbry!
A: For bubbled! tjhe ring? wthat thibs?

Sept 19 to Nod:
A: I wanna take out my contatcs butwhat if i miss the hdancing books?
N: lol just sleep
A: Nod it's like a ganeshow
N: glad it kicked in.
A: Kicked in the clown! nods nake then loeave!
N: uh...
A: Get in out/
N: ok. where do i get it?
A: He's alwsy jubde a  ed or in s closet 8of ib a chair waitikbg to grav y86
N: kick his face in. problem solved!
A: Thereh besch boy nisic
N: nice