Help a friend out

Ok friends I need your help.

The school where I worked in Chicago, Bannockburn, is one of the top five finalists in a video contest on www.schooltube.com. The school with the winning video gets a 60 minute music lesson from Danny Gokey. So cool right?

Here's how you can help. Click here first. Then click on CLICK HERE TO VOTE. The writing is small and comes right after the large bold letters in the heading. Then watch the video Bannockburn School I Don't Want to Miss 2010. That's it. Just watch the video and it counts as a vote. If you REALLY want to help, repeat this process once everyday. If you want to go above and beyond, which would be awesome, spread the word to YOUR friends and get them to vote.

It won't take long and you would be helping out A LOT. Please people. My friends at Bannockburn were like a second family to me while I was living there! Help a friend out!

A couple of weekends ago one of my most favorite people in the world came to visit us from Chicago! Lauren is one of my dearest friends. She's one of the reasons why I loved living in Chicago so much. We taught at the same school together and became running partners and great friends. We loved having her in town for a visit. Please come back soon. Charlotte misses you so much already!

I'm so happy....

I'm in the middle of watching this....

and I am thoroughly enjoying it!  

Little shout out to my Bannockburn American Idol posse:

I miss you!  

Idol won't be the same without you! 

In 48 hours or less you can.....

In 48 hours or less you can....

Fly to Chicago. Meet your favorite friends and go to dinner.

Stay at one of your dearest friend's house, stay up late talking, then go out to breakfast at a place called the Cubby Hole. You can only imagine how good the food was. NO JOKE.
You can then drive 3 1/2 hours away to the middle of Illinois to a small town called Peoria, making a few very important pit stops on your way, such as....getting lunch at a 50's drive in called The Polk-a-Dot Drive In.
You can enjoy the sculptures of the classics such as Marilyn Monroe found at the Drive In. Mike especially enjoyed this one. 
You can then make another pit stop to the annual Punkin Chunkin festival which is literally in the middle of nowhere.  
You can revel in the excellent company of the festival and the pleasure that comes from pumpkins being shot out of cannons and catapults. 
You can then finish your drive to Peoria, IL, change your clothes in a Taco Bell, attend a banquet honoring teachers of Illinois, catch up with old colleagues, and eat delicious food. 

You can leave a banquet, drive 3 1/2 hours back to Chicago, sleep for 4 hours, catch a flight and be back in Salt Lake City, all in 48 hours or less.

It's slightly exhausting, but a fabulous way to spend 48 hours. I'm glad Mike had the time off to partake in this excellent adventure. We had a blast seeing old friends, and look forward to when we can go back,  but hopefully it will be for a little bit longer than 48 hours. 

Cicada Hunting

Today Laura and I went Cicada hunting. I was driving between hospitals earlier this week and found a forest preserve filled with the unusual bugs. Since we have been more than disappointed with the showing of the "17-year phenomenon" around our house we went to find some Cicadas. We got some good pictures that we thought would be nice to share. Enjoy

This is a picture of the holes left behind after their emergence from under ground.

This is a picture of what they look like just after leaving the ground (right side) and just after they break out of the nymph stage shell (left side)

There were so many shells from the nymph stage stuck all over the leaves. They were everywhere!

Laura was worried that one would fly down her shirt so she had to put on the hood for protection.

We were gone for a long time and sometimes you need a snack

Like a kid with candy

Last night was the eight grade graduation for the students who attend the school where I teach. (The school is a k-8 school) Some of you know Jasmine Jordan (Michael Jordan's daughter) goes to my school. It just so happens she was in eigth grade this year, which meant she was graduating. I went to graduation last night for the sole purpose to see Michael Jordan. I know, I'm so lame, but I just wanted to see him!!! I was sitting in my seat when one of my friends whispered to me, "Here he comes." In walks Michael Jordan himself!!! He is huge, and very attractive. I had butterflies in my stomach I was so excited. I was trying not to stare, but I must say it was neat to see him in real life. At the end of graduation our principal asked that all the staff members attending graduation line up in the center isle to shake hands with all the graduates. All the teachers get up and start lining up in the isle, guess who stood 2 feet away from Michael Jordan? ME!!! I literally could have reached out and touched him. Of course I didn't talk to him, but I did get a good look at him, and he is quite good looking and still looks quite young. PS he still chomps on his gum like he did when he was playing basketball. I know this is all so silly of me to be so excited about this. I was like a kid with candy, I was so giddy and excited to see him.

They're BACK!!!!

So, every 17 years a certain species of cicadas make a special appearance in Chicago! These nasty little buggers are all over my school, literally ALL OVER! The kids at school are going wild over these bugs! I think they are so disgusting! They have black bodies, and bright red eyes! This is a picture of one on the front doors of the school where I teach. The science teacher thought it would be funny to come into my classroom and put some cicadas on my arm. Not funny. Needless to say I had to take a picture of this momentous occasion. I have three on my arm around my watch, such a creepy feeling!

Although I think these cicadas are ugly, I must say it's so cool to be in Chicago while these creatures are out, you only get to see these bugs every 17 years! Their entire life cycle is 17 years, most of which is spent underground! Once they hatch out of their eggs, they mate, lay their eggs and die. What a life. If you would like to read more about them check out this website: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/news/news.cfm?NewsID=5588

Our ghetto fabulous townhouse

This is a picture of our ghetto fabulous townhouse. Please don't mind the large, oversize dead plant infront of our place. When we first moved in last July, that plant was very small; we thought nothing of it. But the plant has continued to grow and has become quite a beast. We think it adds character to the place.