Gradumation!

I just accomplished something pretty big and am feeling a bit frazzled so I am blogging for a bit. What did I do? Today I finished ALL GRADES dinosaur museum field trip curriculum, including individual student booklets AND letters to teachers telling them how each activity ties to the Core. Basically, this is what I have been working toward since starting here. So, yeah, it may not sound it, but it's pretty major. Next step in the project is probably to make some pre and post trip activities for the teachers in their classrooms, but with summer and day camps coming, I may be focusing more on 4-H, Scouts, Robotics Camp (I am SOOOOO EXCITED FOR THAT!!!!), and developing the youth volunteer program with the day camps because, yeah, more pressing need.

Anyway, Granola Girl went and tagged me for this...

I am Kipluck.

I am BethAnn.

I am a girl.

I am a sister.

I am a daughter.

I am a girlfriend.

I am a good friend.

I am a Sugar Mama... it's not what you think.

I am a border-line vegetarian.

I am a Diabetic.

I am trying to be like Jesus, too.

I am happier when I am not thinking too much.

I am mentally ill.

I am a voracious learner.

I am a return missionary for the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I sometimes struggle with that.

I am quiet and shy.

I am loud and over-confident.

I am funny. Sometimes.

I am an Aries (Greek/Roman? Whatever the "normal" zodiac is...) AND Year of the Ram (Chinese). Baaaa!

I am a bibliophile.

I am antsy in silence and usually have music on at all times.

I am moody.

I am dramatic.

I am impatient.

I am tired.

I am compulsive and sometimes scare myself.

I am idealistic and romantic... but not really in the roses and mushy stories way.

I am girthy. (and btw, I am totally loving the Fat Wonder Woman Blog)

I sometimes swear, drink caffeine, and am lazy.

I am good with animals and kids.

I am not so good with babies, human ones anyway.

I am creative.

I am a fairly good writer, but with terrible handwriting and spelling (but I use my spell checker all the time.)

I can spend hours just staring at my sugar gliders playing. They are, like, magical to me.

I am addicted to popcorn.

I am going to do clock back in. Peace out!

Oh... and I tag... you.*


*As I have been met with much objection when I have tagged in the past, YOU is, umm, whoever decides to be tagged.

Bleeding from the outside in would be... like... a Transfusion, wouldn't it?

Wow, the clouds are so pretty right now. They are BRILLIANT pink. I haven probably had a TV overload. I am watching the season finale of 24 right now. Before that the (tapes of) Scrubs, The Office, and Gilmore Girls.

At least I overloaded on GOOD TV. Hee hee! But, well, BAD TV has it's happy place, too. I am watching TV and an ad for some silly Made-for-TV suspense movie called Pandemic comes on. This guys gets sick and the doctor person says "It's like he bled from the inside out!" Ummm, people, we ALWAYS bleed from the inside out. You can't bleed from the outside in!

But then, I have recently been deciding the world is just full of bad writing. Case in point, margarine at Smith's grocery. HA!

I'm sorry but does that slogan sound a little weird to anyone else?! Like, "I don't know what it IS, but Butter it's NOT..."

Anyway, today was really really frustrating. I am trying to not bawl any more, though, so here goes the sunshine edited version...

First I met with my Psych and ended up crying a ton, because, that's what I DO when I have to talk about Depression stuff. However, he gave me a TON of assignments for the insomnia and said that 15 of 15 people who actually DID the assignments got into normal sleep in 8 weeks. The other 2 in his study didn't do the assignments.

So I have full intentions of being insomnia free by mid-July. And I will never again even take "how early does it start?" into consideration in career exploration! See how positive I am being?
He also told me I needed to go to regular appointments with another psychologist, like therapy and stuff. I haven't CALLED Dr. Apparently yet, but I will tomorrow. Because, well, THIS is not working. Whatever we want to call this.

So I will get an appointment with him soon. I hope he can help.

But I will tell you what I am pretty sure is NOT going to help... this OTHER counselor, a career counselor lady at Voc Rehab which was ALSO today. I only even WENT there because the Psych referred me to try out their program. I didn't want to go anyway. So FINE. Whatever. I don't care if she DOES ever get back to me. I left crying my head off and stayed crying much of the rest of the day.

I want to do this. I want to fix me. I want to stay happy awhile for a change.

I want...
to wake up at a normal time and go to SLEEP when I get in bed.
to be able to have a full-time job with benefits that I like as much as my part-time, $7/hour/ no benefits on at TGP that will, after all, be pretty much phased out once field trip season is over. I mean I can get hours here and there, but yeah, BLEH.
to be happy when things are happy and be able to HANDLE having a good relationship.
to control my blood sugar and not be diabetic!
to lose around 105 pounds, ideally.
to curb these constant headaches and just "get a headache" like a normal person!
to get all normal in my, uhh, SOUTHERN region and the hormonal crap that goes along with that junk.
to gain more flexibilty in my calves so I don't get Charlie Horses so much.
to be on meds that do more HELP than HARM! Grrr!
to be more financially independent... yeah, that's a LITTLE off-topic, but not much because all that makes a significant difference in how difficult THAT particular goal is to accomplish.

ANYWAY, as for the whole insomnia thing, one of those assignments besides a journal thingy to fill out is a very strict bedtime regardless of whether I SLEEP during it. SIGH. Not as hard as the OTHER end though... waking up at 7 am.

So, to that end, I am off to feed the babies and go to bed. :O/

Steph Infection?

I got in the car and honestly didn't even feel nauseous, but right as I was pulling up to Thanksgiving Point I went to swallow my meds and that was the straw that broke the camel's gag reflex and for no reason I just vomited all over inside my car. We are talking projectile all over the dash with no warning, like one of those scary demon babies. SO GROSS. So... ummm... apparently I am ill? Anyway, NOW I feel like crap. I called Rinny from the parking lot and am, at present, waiting for my clothes to wash at the Padres'. BLEH. VERY bad. So, ummm... survey?

1. Do you still talk to the person you LAST kissed?
Heck yes. (Because it's Fresno, after all.)

2. Have you ever seen your best friend cry?
Yes.

4. What is the last thing you ate?
Water. Tums.

5. Did you get any compliments today?
Well, I read an email that said I was awesome and adorable (See question #1) but none in person today.

6. Have you ever gone to court?
Yes, but just as a *witness* because my Jeep and identity got stolen.

7. Are you friends with your neighbors?
Some of them. I like The Nerds. They are a cool couple that fence and quote Monty Python and stuff. But the rest are basically elderly ladies who think The Roomie and I are either witches or lesbians. But even they are entertaining.

8. What languages does your mom speak?
Just English and Guilt.

9. Where have you lived throughout your life?


create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide


10. What's the last piercings you got?
My... ummm... gall... bladder.

Yeah, okay, I have no REAL piercings, but I poke myself a lot with a stupid insulin pen?

11. When was the last time you drove more than 15 minutes?
Work this morning. Then right back again. What a waste of very expensive gas. SIGH.

13. Have you ever thrown up/passed out from drinking?
Nope.

14. Do you still have feelings for your ex?
Loathing is a feeling, isn't it? (Just kidding, "Ex" is a little hard to define anyway.)

15. Have you ever toilet papered someones house?
Yes, but I *also* helped clean it up later.

16. Have you ever had a crush on your sister's/brother's friend?
My sybs have HORRIBLE taste in friends. So, no definitely not.

17. Have you ever gone to a beach?
Well, YEAH. I *heart* the beach!

18. Have you ever had a stalker?
Well, I had this guy tell me that I was not listening to the SPIRIT if I didn't get rid of my gliders, quit my job at MyFamily.com and move to Ogden to date him. Then he wouldn't stop writing or calling. So, maybe not, like, dangerous stalker, but highly ANNOYING stalker.

19. Do you remember your music teacher's names?
I really really suck at names. If I heard the names I'd recognize them. I never took a lot of music. There was some intro to music with some man teacher I had a crush on in 7th grade, some poor lady choir teacher who ended up having a nervous breakdown when I was in 9th(?), and then nothing until Music for Elementary School Teachers in college with that professor who wrote the text book and therefore thought she was god's gift to education.

20. How good is your eyesight?
BAD. 20/400 in one eye, a little worse in the other (astigmatism). Legally blind.

21. Have you ever gone to a party?
Is it just me? That really seems incomplete. I mean, umm, YES, obviously I have BEEN TO A PARTY. Shouldn't this be like "Have you ever gone to a party on a cruise ship?" or "Have you ever gone to a party you weren't invited to?"

"My name is Trevor. I am a vampire and"

22. Would you ever swim with the sharks?
Yes! You know, properly protected and such. But I really REALLY want to swim with dolphins. "Glovey!"

23. What would you say if I told you I was in love with your brother?
I would say "figures." and hope you were 1. cool enough and 2. close to his age.

24. Have you ever been out of your country?
Just Mexico. And Texas sometimes felt like it. But SOMEDAY, dang it all, I WILL!!!

25. Have you seen your best friend naked?
My Meggers and I are cousins and grew up like sisters, including *blush* baths. So in her case, yeah.

26. What's the best wedding you've been to?
I dunno. I loved Megan's wedding to St. Jake because I can't imagine her marrying a more awesome guy. OH NO, okay the BEST was still Parker's because we are in the TEMPLE and it was STILL so very very HIM he was ARGUING with the sealer. "when you look into the mirrors, what do you see?" "Millions and millions... OF CHANDELIERS." And also it was amusing to see to what depths Parker's mom, MommyDearest hatred reached for me. Awww... FRINGE!

27. Would your parents be mad if you got suspended for fighting?
HA! Yes. Unless I really did have justification, I think they might understand. They have seen my side (well, MOM has, anyway) before on that (I DID get sent to the principal's office for it a couple times, but never really suspended, by the way)

28. Where are your siblings right now?
My sister is at Thanksgiving Point (where I should be) teaching a Boy Scout class on Citizenship in the World. My brother is in Cuneo, Italy teaching the *Gospel* TO the World.

29. What's the last dream you can remember?
Last night's was yucky, weird, and STUPID and involved my friend Gilch turning anti-Mormon and selling church materials he had marked with arguments on eBay and Mali randomly trashing the Roomie's garden and BoyKid was in Mexico getting an operation? It is sort of funny and silly now, but this morning it just felt... ugh.

30. Who was the last person that called you?
Mom. Texted-wise was CC.

31. What time did you wake up this morning?
7:30 am *dies*

32. What are you doing this weekend?
Apparently throwing up. :O( HOPEFULLY, *also* talking to Fresno...
going through some boxes (keep/FreeCycle/eBay)...
taking a nice girly bath...
AND watching the (recorded) season finale of The Office and *SNIFF* the SERIES finale of Gilmore Girls.

33. What does the 4th text message on your phone say and who?
4th from top or 4th from bottom?
From the bottom it is "Can we have it next week? Sorry my life has been crazy lately :) " - Sally, RS chick in charge of a meeting we were supposed to have about Compassionate service. From the top it is "Yeah but [TheBoy] got sick after I saw HIM. Wacky." - CC, who apparently *carries* deadly diseases but does not CATCH them.

34. When was the last time you were really sick and where?
3 freaking hours ago in my Jeep. :OP

35. Who's the last celebrity you touched?
I don't know if they are really CELEBRITIES. I shake hands with a lot of people in plays.

36. What's in your back pocket?
Probably lint?

37. Do you wear colored contacts?
I don't even wear clear ones!

38. What were you doing at 4am this morning?
trying to sleep so I could wake up.

39. What do you usually do first in the morning?
look at the clock and panic.

40. What are you going to do after this?
Sort some boxes while I am at the Padres, but at least I may watch some recorded Offices and Gilmore Girls(es?)... while doing so.

Cat Empire and Gerbil Torture

FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY!

So, Fridays aren't usually as exciting when you not only work Saturdays, but work an extra long day... in the sun... teaching wild and crazy boy scouts. But it WAS rather Friday-ish. For one thing, even though I was writing 8th grade curriculum (ugh... WAY too close to my own skill level to be fun or effective!) most of the day we kept giggling at the pageant ladies next door and quoting Miss Congeniality all day. ALSO because Rinny needed to leave early to a meeting with some chocolate guy we met at this Show to try and get us some cocoa beans and plants and such for our field trips, *I* got to leave early, too! So I was driving home when CC called to play! YAY!

She drove to my house and brought me my birthday present! She gave me Trivial Pursuit: Totally 80s AND a card game called Big Fish Little Fish. And if you are thinking SHE is late, well, consider I gave her her CHRISTMAS present, what, a week ago? hee hee hee!

Anyway, we drove around, went bead shopping (including some that I intend to make into a very awesome necklace that look like... uhh... PEACH PITS(?)... hee hee hee!), laughed at people who try to shop at Target after closing, and had diet Limeades at Sonic while listening to CC's fantastically eclectic tunes. (Hey, and CC, don't forget to give me Cupcake's rejects!)

OH, and we saw SUCH a cool car! Seriously, new cars... MEH. I *HEART* OLD STUFF. Especially with their eyes closed. Yes, I over anthropomorphize cars. Hee hee hee hee hee!

Then we came back to the house and played with (ie: mildly traumatized) my gerbil, Boo for awhile. Don't worry. She'll get over it. Hee hee!

It was a good night. THANKS, CC!

The one bad thing is I realized I missed a call from Fresno and I am sure he is asleep and he sounded pretty bummed because we haven't really talked in so long, like almost a whole week. So I will email him before heading to bed and try to cheer him up with firmed up travel plans and... umm... pictures of me in pimp hats? Hee hee?

"My parents don't like anything ostentatious. And they really don't like fire. "

So, it sort of sounds like there is a stampede outside the office. Not that I have HEARD a stampede, but what I imagine one sounds like. And, being as we are technically on a farm, I guess that IS possible. But it would just be Daisy, Oreo, the Jersey twins (Jake and T-Bone) and the Holstein twins... can 6 cattle really BE a stampede? But either way, the reason for the tumult is actually a wicked sounding DUST STORM! And any minute Rinny and I are going OUT in it to get ready for the insect class "What's Bugging You?" Yay?

I have to say one thing about working at Thanksgiving Point... it is rarely BORING. Guess what is going on in the barn? (where our office is) MISS SENIOR UTAH (as in the running for THIS? (and also, maybe Mrs. United States?) That is right, Grandmas are in there wearing CROWNS. And if you know ANYTHING about my little sister you know that crowns and princess (of ANY age, apparently) are big to her. So when she SAW this lady walking around near the water tower with, yes, a tiara, looking lost my starstruck little sister raced to her aid.

And the princess yelled at her!

"Where the hell is the red barn?!" and went on and on. IT WAS AWESOME. It was pretty much like Snow White or Cinderella screaming at her, because that is how Rinny saw her. She seriously looked crestfallen. I am evil, but it is was SO FREAKING FUNNY.

Anyway, I will write later. I am off to teach butterflies with macaroni.

SO, several pasta and pimp hats later, the bug class is over. *grins*

I once was asked by a student "Why are you big?" Assuming, naturally,l that they meant FAT, but in a better mood than the time when the kid asked me if I had a baby in my tummy and I told her not unless I ate it *guilt* I started to cheerfully say that some people were bigger than others and blah blah blah when he stopped me and said "no, how come you are big and you are COLORING?"

Yeah. Sometimes I take liberties with my right to make "examples" during class because dang it all, I WANT TO PLAY, TOO. The kids are not quite sure if I am really a teacher or just a really weird classmate. ANYWAY, I say that because this was so one of those days. The Roomie better have room on the fridge because *we* colored.
AND made squirt-paint-on-one-side-and-fold-in-half-butterflies. Very Rorschach, no? Hee hee!

We talked about bees, mostly, though, because we have a hive in the classroom (never could find the queen though.). I LOVE that classroom, though. I wish we were at the Children's discovery Garden more often instead of the Farm. I mean, hello, look at those clouds with jewel rain that I must someday use to decorate my ceiling at home?! Plus, I discovered a box of dress ups. NOT bug related (especially as, to ME, they appear to all be PIMP hats, but STILL, it meant time to take a few photos of myself for your entertainment! Ha!)*Maybe I'm my own Silver Living?*

Anyway, back to the actual CLASS (because I did all that goofing around BEFORE class) when we were bug-hunting I found the coolest thing! Granted the kids were looking in the grass, but I admit I was drawn to the pond... and found the weirdest little underwater critter and I still don't know what he is. I took it home and would love to learn more.

Expecto Depressio!

Some days are better than others.

This week has not had those so far.

I am having major medicine issues.
And idiot doctors.
And lost my tax check and can't get help.
And am going to be starting stupid vocational rehabilitation.
And just in general CAN'T HANDLE much of ANYTHING right now.

It has has better MOMENTS though, when I am NOT crying.

Like when Sarah came with her kiddlet's preschool class Monday! It was so fun to see her and she is awesome and she is going to be famous, I am telling you. (More famous than she is. hee hee!) I love when people I know come to my work!
And today's Harry Potter-themed class, Owls, Potions, and Spells was very funny.

But other than that, I am sort of not stable so I won't write right now.

REALLY tired of crying.

PG-13... so now you know!

Your Life is Rated PG-13

Your life isn't totally scandalous, but you definitely don't shy away from adult themes!

What is Your Life Rated?

Your brain: 60% interpersonal, 160% visual, 160% verbal, and 20% mathematical!

Congratulations on being 400% smart! Actually, on my test, everyone is. The above score breaks down what kind of thinking you most enjoy doing. A score above 100% means you use that kind of thinking more than average, and a score below 100% means you use it less. It says nothing about how good you are at any one, just how interested you are in each, relatively. A substantial difference in scores between two people means, conclusively, that they are different kinds of thinkers.

Matching Summary: Each of us has different tastes. Still, I offer the following advice, which I think is obvious:

1. Don't date someone if your interpersonal percentages differ by more than 80%.
   
2. Don't be friends with someone if your verbal percentages differ by more than 100%.
   
3. Don't have sex with someone if their math percentage is over 200%

Link: The 4-Variable IQ Test written by chriscoyne on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

The Priss Deliberate Brutal Love Dreamer (DBLD) Mature. Responsible. Aristocratic. Excuse me. The Priss. Prisses are the smartest of all female types. You're highly perceptive, and confident in your judgements. You'd take brutal honesty over superficiality any time--your friends always know where they stand with you. You're completely unfake. Don't tell me that's not a word. You're also excellent at redirecting internal negative energy. These facts indicate people are often intimidated by you. They also fall for you, hard. You have a distant, composed allure that many find irresistible. If only more of them lived up to your standards. Your exact female opposite: The Playstation Random Gentle Sex Master You were probably the last among your friends to have sex. And the first to pretend that you're pregnant. LOL. Though you're inclined to use sex as weapon, at least it's not as one of mass destruction. You're choosier than most about your partners. A supportive relationship is what you're really after. Whether you know it or not, you need something steady & long-term. And soothing. ALWAYS AVOID: The Playboy (RGSM), The Loverboy (RGLM) CONSIDER: The Manchild (RBLD) Link: The Online Dating Persona Test @ OkCupid - free online dating. My profile name: : Kipluck77

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

>Spider-Man 90% Green Lantern 85% Hulk 80% Superman 80% Robin 65% Catwoman 65% Supergirl 63% Wonder Woman 58% The Flash 50% Iron Man 45% Batman 40%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/
Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

You Are 7 Up

Understated and subtle, people warm up to you slowly. But once they're hooked, they can't imagine going back to anyone else! Your best soda match: Diet Coke Stay away from: Mountain Dew

What Kind of Soda Are You?

You Are a Tulip

You have a wild, experimental side that craves change. You often switch jobs and lovers, always looking for something better. But deep down, you're also very well grounded and content. And you will come to know that the life you live is already ideal.

What Flower Are You?