Sound of Music

So my co-worker (another tutor) said today when I walked in today, "Oh I'm sure you're excited to get home and watch the 'Sound of Music' on Opera today." She thought she was joking when she said that. She was surprised when I responded, "I know, I saw that on a commercial and can't wait to see it since it's favorite all time movie!" (I should have showed her my iphone with a special folder for the Sound of Music's soundtrack.) Yes, I actually saw a commercial for it last night and i even wrote myself a note so I would NOT forget! Thankfully, the kids I had at the end of the day, were not there, so I got home just in time to watch Opera. (For the record, it's probably the first time I've watched a full episode of Opera in about 10 years.)

As for the new job, I've learned I am not made to be a full time grade school teacher or middle school teacher! I'm glad I'm only part time and getting paid for it. Germs, dirty hands, little kids that can't sit still, teenagers that don't care, yada yada is not my cup of tea. On the bright side, the kids in the middle, 5th graders, seem to be eager sponges that want to learn. And it's amazing the power that a simple sticker has over 2nd graders!

Tidbits by Thomas: To connect those to paragraphs - "Climb every mountain, Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, Till you find your dream."

Thomas? Working? What?

I apologize for my hiatus…There wasn’t much to report on…but the rumor mill has started up again…

Yes, the rumors are true! Thomas is again officially part time employed! I will be a contracted tutor at an inner city parochial grade school in Minneapolis. I will be tutoring kid ranging from 2^nd grade to 8^th grade in reading and math. Though it’s only four hours a day in the afternoon, I will be making enough to pay my bills and still have enough for food and gas at the end of the month. I was offered the job at the end of last week and started today. Today I had mainly middle school kids; the interesting part will be the 2nd graders and other grade school kids later in the week (groups have anywhere from 1-5 kid(s); and are either 30 mins to an hour long). While I’m used to teenager, I’ve never really worked with younger kids. Thankfully the company has good resources and pre-made lesson plans.

I’ll still be active at the high school though. I’ll still be on the tutoring list there for morning jobs, and still plan on attending sporting events, theater events, and campus ministry events to keep involved at the community there and keep supporting the kids there. I told them they won’t be able to get rid of me that easily.

Minnesota has been experiencing abnormally high temperatures the past few weeks; we are on track from the second warmest October on record. Just a couple weeks ago, we were in the mid-80s! (Last year at the same time, we had already had a few inches of snow!) Saw the forecast for the next week on the news, and looks like we will be around 60 here for highs. But at nights we can definitely notice cooler temperatures…Yes, I’m dreading what is to come….

So here are some more MN state fair pictures from last month…

Minnesota version of Hot-Dog-On-A-Stick is "Ponto Pup." I think had one of those on each of my three visits to the Fair.

I think I posted a picture of this two years ago...Oodles of Noodles. "Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner On a Stick" and "S'mores on a Stick." (No, I didnt get to try it.)

Yes, the one on the left center says "Teriyaki Ostrich"

One aisle of the PACKED food building!

My friend Chris, who took theology classes at St. Thomas with me. St. Thomas has a booth in the education building. They hand out bags each year, that are coveted and so only handed out at certain times.

Chris and I with the Spam guy. (You can see my coveted purple St. Thomas bag in my hand.)(Yes, I picked up international Spam again for musubi)

You can even find Snoopy and Woodstock at the fair!

The mascot of the MN Fair. (The equivalent of the golden bear mascot for the CA fair)

Corn on the cob is a VERY popular food at the fair. There's a booth that sells ONLY corn on the cob. It comes slightly buttered; throw on on salt and pepper and it taste wonderful.

Do giant stuffed pigs make giant stuffed piglets?

We stayed for the fireworks that night.

On the way out, how could I not take a picture of the train shop? I thought that was dad driving the train, but apparently it wasnt...