I feel like vegetable soup.  I know.... strange analogy, huh?!  But, seriously.  Tonight, and for the last couple days, and for the next couple days, I am working on my final project for philosophy.  I have seventeen questions to answer based on my philosophies, ideologies, theories on life and education.  I'm on question number eight - page nine -2,514 words.... and I'm lost.  After trying to analyze my theories, ideologies, philosophies, I find that some of my views contradict each other (because I sit in the middle, really) and I'm really struggling to answer these questions.  I'm more mixed up than I was before, but now I can at least put a name to my mix-ups, I think. 

So, I decided... I feel like vegetable soup.  Sometimes, I feel like a carrot, or celery, or a lima bean... but all mixed together, is my view.  I wish I could just write that on my paper.  I don't think that sounds very graduate level... but it's my thoughts.  It's hard to analyze, synthesize, and match when my views don't quite match up.  Of course.... contrasting my views is fairly simple. 

That's that.  I feel like vegetable soup.

With love,

~ Natalie

I haven't seen many of these free moments lately.  In fact, I've seen very little.  I started grad school two weeks ago, and it's been slightly overwhelming.  Taking seventeen hours in one summer is a lot, but I'm learning to manage my time, take time for me (ie... go on walks, go shopping) and still get everything done!  Actually, I have all my work done for the week tonight and it isn't due until Sunday night.  I'm taking tomorrow off and Saturday, I'll get started again.  It doesn't hurt to work ahead.  I was a little worried about all the writing I'd have to do for my classes.  And there is a lot of it!  I had to do five papers this week.  And I'm pretty insecure about my writing.  I feel like I know the rules, but when it comes to the application, I just struggle.  I spend a lot of time constructing and  reconstructing sentences.  My mom says "just write."  But, that's a lot easier said than done.  But I found a method that works for me.  It takes more time, but it helps me center my thoughts and get them organized and focused.  Anyways, I got a perfect score on my philosophy test, and a perfect score on the first paper I wrote.  The rest haven't been graded, yet, but I'm feeling more confident.  And the writing is becoming eassier the more I do it.  The first week I spent 11 hours some days just doing school work.  But the past couple days I've only spent five or six hours and I'm still getting it done.  But, it's a lot.  I remind myself that I'll be done in 14 months, so it's worth it!!

Christy is coming next weekend!!! I can't wait!!  AND next weekend I'm also getting together with some friends from college that I haven't seen in a few years!!  I have a lot to look forward to next weekend... besides the 4th of July which is one of my favorite holidays.  I think it's one of my favorites because of the memories attached to it.  It used to be a big holiday when we were little.  We'd go to Gramma and Grandpa's in PA and spend the holiday with them.  My great grandma was still alive at the time, and all my mom's family would get together... some family members I never knew... like Gramma's cousins and stuff like that, but it was fun.  We'd always make red, white, and blue jello cups with Gramma.  And Gramma would make a fruit salad with a watermelon basket.  We'd take the food to my Great-Gramma's house, and spend the day there. There was always tons of food... most of it, I didn't like... like Great Gramma's cabbage rolls...(which I didn't like) but I remember one of the aunt's bringing them as well... and the little competition of who's got eaten.  And Great Gramma made pickles.  YUCK!  But mom made me try them 'cause she made them.  And Gramma and Grandpa always bought us sparklers and little fire works to set off.  So much fun!!  And there was the Ford City Festival that we'd walk to.  Grandpa would usually give us a dollar to spend on cotton candy or games or something fun like that. Andrew, Katie, and I, and our cousin Stephanie, would go down and explore the sites.  One year I remember Andrew trying as hard as he could to win a gold fish.  The thing is, I'm not sure how we would have gotten the gold fish back to Piqua, but we were little and didn't think about things like that. It's a good thing he didn't win!  I remember a parade, too, but I'm not totally certain that was on the 4th of July.  The thing is, I remember all this, and it's been years.  Grandpa died in 1990... I was only nine.  But, I think I just love the memory of it.  Of course, now we're older, and we don't have traditions.  But, I walk down to our own park and walk around the Piqua festival (which isn't all that exciting) and sit under the fireworks... and remember the memories!  I'm excited that Christy will be here... and we're having our own picnic at our house... and create new memories.

Oh... someone broke into my house in Z-ville, again.  This time, they stole the copper plumbing from the basement.  How nice. (sarcasm entered here if you didn't pick up on it.)  Home owners insurance will cover it, thankfully, but it's aggrivating.  One more thing to do. I'm waiting on the insurance company to get back with me. Please pray that my house will sell quickly.  I'm tired of dealing with this kinda stuff.  I was pretty upset Monday night.  But, I emailed my pastor and as always, he was very encouraging, and I'm very thankful for him.

I'm having an issue with my computer.  Anybody have any ideas?  When I close out a window, when I'm on the internet, it closes all my browser windows.  I'm sure it's a setting or something, but I dunno.  I've looked and I can't find anything.  I need help!!! And I don't know that much about computers. 

And I think that is all that is new (and old since I went down memory lane tonight) with my life.

With love,

~ Natalie

It's official!!! I have a job for next year!  I wasn't too worried, but it's nice having it taken care of.  I signed my contract with the school on Monday!  I'm already thinking of things for next year and other ideas.  Of course, I still need to get through the remainder of this school year.  And I still have at least three more programs to do.  But, it's been a good year.  This past Monday, my fourth graders put on a folk dancing program for their parents.  About half of them came... I think we had 48 fourth graders there on Monday night.  Unfortunately, during the spring time, I have to compete with baseball, but having about half of them there was great!  And they did a super job.  I got a lot of nice compliments of how much people enjoyed seeing it. I was really proud of one of my students who got himself ready and came to the program --- all by himself --- just because he wanted to be there.  Those are the moments that make me proud and make me very thankful to know my students.  Some of them have faced much more than I will ever face and they still do the right thing!   I'm glad that it's over though and can move on to some other things.

My computer is broken.   It's sad.  I've got a friend working on it now... but who knows if it can be fixed.  I really can't afford to buy a new one at this time, so it'll just have to wait.  But, one day it worked, the next it didn't.  And if it happens to start up... it locks up pretty quickly.   But most of the time, it doesn't even want to start up.  Fortunately, I can use mom and dad's computer from time to time.  I hope it gets fixed, but I'm not really counting on it.

I absolutely love the weather!  I love being outside... and pretty much take long walks everyday.  It's great!  I love it, Malachi loves it, and I get to spend some time with my Gramma... that's pretty cool, too.  I love that I can walk with her and talk to her and spend so much time with her.   She usually only walks about a mile with me and I usually do 4 or more, but it's nice to have some company for part of it.

That's all for now.

With love,

~ Natalie