Yup

A friend posted this on Facebook today, and it seemed fitting for me right now.  Plus who doesn't love a hotsy totsy picture of NPH?  I do! 

Its more like I'm "trying" to get more awesome, though.  Sometimes I feel like I am and sometimes, like today, I don't.  Maybe its because its a rainy weekend, and I am still getting over this yucky sickness I have had for 2 weeks, but I'm just not feelin' it at the moment.  Right now I feel kind of forlorn, when I really want to feel like I'm getting awesome! 

Any suggestions? I tried washing my car and cleaning my apt, but now I just feel clean and forlorn.  I'm sure church tomorrow will help me feel better, it always does.  I need perspective! 

(Or maybe I need more pictures of NPH.)

Yep...ok... thats a good one.

 Mmm hmm, his eyes clearly tell me I'm pretty awesome.  This is helpful.  I'm glad we talked it out.

'Different Technology Nicaction'

This video made me laugh until I cried.  Maybe because I am in one of those moods where I cry at anything, but I think its pretty hilarious none the less. (Plus I love Rhett and Link.)

As an interpreter at an educational setting, often I have had an instructor show a youtube clip of something and, in the interest of trying to be "helpful," they turn on the "CC" (closed captioning) option that is on youtube now, but its less than effective because it just. doesn't. work.   So I just keep interpreting.  NBD.

This takes it to the next level, and I love it:



You should also watch the first caption fail they did. Also amazing.

A couple things...

First, I got my new Toms in the mail this weekend, and I am in love.

Second, I crafted my brains out this weekend, and had so much fun listening to conference, while feeling all domestic.  I love my apartment, and I am loving it even more now that I am doing some fun stuff with it.  I was gonna write a SUPER long post with bunches of pictures but I ran out of steam, so I will do more next time. For now, here's a couple pics of what I did this weekend:

 

^ This is above my couch. Its made with toilet paper rolls and love.  (Which I hear is the same recipe for most marriages, right?) 

Inspiration from here.  But don't go there because you will like it better than mine.

Most of what's on the wall is made/painted/re-purposed by me! 

It was great fun, I had about 14 projects in my mind to do, and narrowed it down quite a bit.  You see, I am an all or nothing kinda gal.  I get super amp'd for something and I go all crazy, and then it gets kicked to the wayside as soon as I see something else that is shiny and pretty and get all crazy about that.  So when I have a moment of lasting enthusiasm for one thing, I am quite happy when I finish it.  I think I have a version of ADD that distracts me, and makes me loose all motivation to do anything productive.  

I give you exhibit A:

(I was trying to figure out what would look good in the frame.  At least I ruled out "lion face.")

Aaaanyway, I will post more pictures in the next couple of days of my actual apartment, and show my other projects, cause I know you are just dying to hear every detail.

What? You're not?

Well, again, at least my Mom is.  Hi Mom!

ps. Wasn't Conference off the hook?  Er, I mean spiritually uplifting?  I for one came out of it with a resolve to spend less time on Facebook/Twitter/Blogger and more time really living/being productive/serving/reading.   How about you? 

I want, I want!

No...I need, I need.

Occasionally, very occasionally, I go to the Anthropology site, and peruse all the fun things I want. 
Sometimes this is fun, and sometimes its just painful because I can't afford all that I want. 

Here is my latest temptation:

Its Moroccan inspired and its just so pretty. It would go so well in my new apartment!!

Now how to justify spending the money.

{ Did I mention I moved to my very own apartment about 2 months ago?  Its just so fun, and I am sans roommates.  While I have had some good (and a few great) roommates, overall I have missed ever having my own place. At one point in my life I thought living alone would be depressing, but I can not tell you how happy I am to have my very OWN space. I can do what I want with decorating, I can cook and make a mess, and then clean and it stays clean!  I also love the fact that I don't have to feel awkward in my own home, depending on who is there, what is happening, etc.  After 10 years of not feeling comfortable in my own home (off and on), its a lovely relief!  I seriously smile every time I walk in the door, I LOVE it.  (And its such a cute apartment, super new, and all white cabinets, and marble counter tops, and great community.)  LOVE IT! }

Portraits

The end of April/beggining of June I was up in Utah really briefly to see some friends in a Concert (more on that later).  I am blessed to have especially beautiful friends, and so as it works out, thier kids tend to take after their likeness, so I did a couple of impromptu photo shoots. I don't get to be around them much anymore which is not ok. Here are a few of my favorites, sorry if there are a lot!

btw:

(Boy are kids squirmy, I haven't had much practice with photographing kids, but trust me, I had more blurry ones than usable.) ;)

{click to enlarge}

Garrett knows a bunch of signs now thanks to "Signing time"  (he's signing "mom" here)

 Look at that adoreable face!

 Here is the Fam!!  They are the cutest, and Emily was around 30 weeks here, and they just had their preicious little girl, Chloe last week!  She is gonna be my next target! 

I cant wait to meet her! 

Parker- What a goof. ;)

These next photos are of my dear friend McCall's son, Colin - the furrowed brow cutie.  He is so fun to be around, and he is growing so fast!  I'm so sad I am not around them either!  

{click to enlarge}

Here is McCall and the little guy.  Love them... and miss them!  (And there is a brother or sister on the way for Colin! So exciting!)

And speaking of portraits, here is one of my Mom I took a few months back when she came to Az for a visit. Isn't she absolutely lovely! 

Ok, well thats about enough of the picture overload!  Have a good week-end! I have a 4 day weekend, and I plan to enjoy it!  

xo

Teacher?

(^ Thats my name up there! Weird.)

I have been teaching for 2 weeks now, and it's quickly becoming the highlight of my week.  I have taught informally, and done mentoring and enjoyed that, but this I love! I am teaching an ASL 1 class of 25 students. It's 3.5 hours long, and we use every minute of it.  Actually we have had a lot of fun, so as far as I can tell, no one wants to kill me yet.  The students are already petitioning for me to teach their ASL 2 class. I reminded them that I am the only ASL teacher they have had, so they will be pleasantly surprised to know that others can do the job too.  However, I think it helps that I love what I am teaching, and had some amazing teachers that helped me do understand the best ways to teach. I am also lucky that this type of class is hands on, and most students want to be there, and they tend to get the ASL bug so they are motivated and excited about class.

So often in my life, I feel like a fake.  When I became an interpreter, I waited for someone to call me out. When I interviewed for a job as staff here and there was a big 20 person interview, I thought they'd figure out I'm a fake.  Now that I am teaching I keep thinking all of a sudden I wont have anything left to teach and they'll get a real professional to do the job. For some reason I have a hard time realizing I am an adult and have an adult life.  I guess that goes for being a professional in Sign Language as well. When will I ever feel "Legit?"  Probably never.  But I enjoy it anyway.

"Thinkers think and doers do;  but until the doers think and the thinkers do, progress will be just another word in the already overburdened vocabulary of talkers who talk."

 

-E. Jacob Tailor

Ive been thinking a lot about blogging, but haven't actually done it.  Now that I have internet, I will.  Soon. ;)