Tuachan

This week I drove my grandparent down to St. George to see Annie and Footloose at the outdoor Tuachan Amphitheater.   The setting down there is gourgeous.  The back of the stage is the red rock of southern Utah.  It's fun to see the plays under the stars. 

We attended the first performance of both.  Annie was pretty good.  I have to admit though that I was more impressed with Molly than Annie.   She was just a lot more animated and stayed in character the whole time.  Footloose was also good.  The dancing was great.  It's funny how much they change the movies when they make them into musicals.  I guess I can understand because they cannot do all the same things on stage that they can in a movie.  Even with the changes, they were good.   Overall, the trip down there to see the plays is worth it.  I miss being able to see things like that in Barrow.

Empty Room

I have to admit that I hate the last few days of school.  I love the first day of 

summer break and the rest of it.  But those last few days are awful.  I had my room completely  cleaned yesterday by the time I left.  I have all day today and will spend all day tomorrow with nothing to do.  I guess I can't say nothing.  I did manage to get a bit of my homework done.  It's just depressing to have an empty room.  There's nothing to show for all the work through out the year.   I have to say, it does seem to be a waste of time to put everything away just to put it back up again.  It's just all so empty and boring.  Oh well, two more months and I get to put everything back together. 

FHE & Marshmallows

Last night we had a branch family home evening.  About twenty people showed up for it.  The primary president and I were in charge of it.  She did the lesson and I got the fun part, the activity.  The topic was David and Goliath.  So, I brought my sling shot (why I have it up here I don't know) and had the kids (and adults) practice hurling marshmallows at each other.  Some of them are actually good shots with it.  Some weren't.  I think we will be finding marshmallows all over the chapel/multi-purpose room for months to come.  That is, the ones that the little kids didn't pick up off the floor and eat.  Too bad I forgot to take any actions shots.  It was pretty funny.

Chug

As a teacher you think I would be a good role model and encourage my students to do appropriate things.  That is unless you actually know me.  Last week, my students received a pizza party as a result of a state survey that they completed.    We had a lot of pop left over and I happened to suggest to the boys that they have a contest to see who could chug a can of pop the quickest.  Well, the record was 5.6 seconds, set by the boy you can see drinking.  The one in the background did 5.9.  I have to admit that even though I encouraged it, watching it made me a little sick.  I guess I haven't changed that much.  It's a good thing I don't have to be responsible all the time to be a teacher.   

Ok, so maybe it wasn't the best idea.  At least I got my entertainment for the day.

Flowers

Thursday I received a call that I needed to go pick up a package in the office.  As I walked down there I was trying to figure out what could possibly be in the office.  One of the aids I passed me asked me if I was going to the office and that I needed to make sure I went.  I walk into the office and all the secretaries are standing around the front desk watching me walk in.  It turns out the package was a dozen roses from mom and dad.  They were beautiful.  It was nice to have a bit of spring up here in the snowing winter.  Thanks!

I left them at school for the rest of the week and the students loved them too.  They commented that they couldn't believe how red the roses were.  They said they were the prettiest flowers they had ever seen.  I don't think they get to see too many up here. 

  Now I just have to convince the students that they really were from my parents. There were quite a few good rumors started as I walked to my room with the flowers.

Cowboy Night

Things get a little boring up here, so we at times we make our own entertainment.  A couple of weeks ago, a few of us teachers were talking about movies.  To the horror of me and Korey Packer, another teacher, we had two teachers who had never seen a John Wayne movie.  One didn't even know who John Wayne was.  Korey and I decided they had to be educated.  So, Saturday we had a John Wayne night.  We all put on something cowboy and watched "The Cowboys".  (Thanks for the bandanas and vest Dad and Mom.)  I have to say it was sad to hear people asking as the movie was going on which one was John Wayne.  There are somethings that every American should know.  However, it was a hit and we now plan on having a western night at least once a semester.  The things we do up here to amuse ourselves.

By the way, since the close up of the sign isn't showing up, it says, "Snow Machine Parking Only."

Odd

Sometimes, when I least expect it, I am struck by how odd this place is where I choose to live.  I see things everyday that I would never expect to see anywhere else and the worst part is, I don't even realize how weird they are most of the time.  Today as I was walking through the school parking lot, I saw this sign.  I don't think there is anywhere else in the world where you would find this in a school parking lot.  

Here's a close up of the sign if you can't read it in the picture.  

This definitely is a weird place.