Teaching my first Master's Course...

went great!!! I don't have a lot of time to write, it has been a very long and busy day, but I just wanted to let you all know that my first day teaching was wonderful. All I did was go over the syllabus and some assignments and answer any questions the students had, but it was still super. I had several students stay after class to ask me questions about the master's program, the phd program, hospital social work and program development. I felt like the expert on everything social work. :) anyway, all that to say, i think this teaching thing is definitely for me. Good times ahead.

By the way, the 5K this weekend was great. Michael actually placed 2nd in his age group for the 10K. That is so great for his first race. I placed like 30th in my age group, but at least i ran it. :) Anyway, I am out. Time for some relaxing.

We are back home...

Michael and I in Paris, Las Vegas :)

The men ready to hit the town

The Bellagio water fountain. It follows whatever song is playing and the jets shoot the water up way high. I could watch it all day. :)

Michael and I in Rome, Las Vegas.

mom and dad having WAY too much fun!!

No comment necessary

The bunch of us before dinner.

The ladies ready to hit the town.

Me and my dolphins at the Mirage.

So, our trip to Vegas was tons of fun. We had a great time hanging out with the family and celebrating Nadia's birthday. I played tons of slot machines and actually won $50. :) Some of my favorite things were the wonderful restaurants full of amazing food. I had the best crab legs I have ever had. They were so delicious. Also, I loved the Bellagio fountain. I think the Bellagio was my favorite hotel. It was so classy and chic. I also really loved La Reve. It was a fantastic show. Now, I have seen several Cirque du Soleil shows, but this was way better. It was all the same kind of acrobatics and such, but it was set over an aquatic stage, so half the show was done in the air and the rest in the water. it was truly amazing!! My favorite slot machines were Lobster Mania and Jackpot Party. Good times. It was really fun to spend time with my family. i also really enjoyed seeing all the hotels. Everything there is just so extraordinary. Michael and I spent more of our free time with my parents. We seem to have similar interests and bed times. :) my brother and his wife, and my sister spent more time together as they like to party and stay out late. It all worked out very well in that we all had someone to hang out with and spend time with. The major things I don't like about vegas are the constant smoke smell, the men on the street that flick the naked women cards at you, and just the crazy amount of drunk people everywhere. i don't think michael and I will go back to vegas unless we are in a group. I am sure we will not take a vacation there, just the two of us. Overall though, it was a fantastic vacation. we all really had a great time.

my week at work has been very busy, i had a bunch of overtime this week because there was so much to take care of when i returned from vacation. but, that is done and now i am in the middle of a great 3 day weekend. i did a ton of shopping yesterday and bought some new cross training shoes. they are amazing. i went running in them this morning and it made such a difference to have good shoes. i also got a new swim suit since my old ones don't fit at all anymore since i have lost all that weight. :) i also bought a few capri pants and some new tops. I feel like I am constantly buying new clothes now since none of my old stuff fits anymore. it is like starting my wardrobe completely over, but i guess it is worth it. :) so, for memorial day, michael and i signed up to run a race in arlington. I am running the 5K (3.18 miles) and michael is running the 10K (a little over 6 miles). Michael is training for a half marathon, so this is a stepping stone. It is early tomorrow morning, but i am really looking forward to it. i never thought i would be running a race. good times. we are also having a few people over tomorrow for some grilling and lounging in the pool.

Summer school starts this week. I am actually teaching the first day of the class I am doing my teaching practicum on since my teacher is going to be out of town for a conference. i am really looking forward to it. also, i am starting my 5 hours a week of research. it will be a lot of stuff, but it will all fall into place. anyway, i am off, have a great memorial day everyone.

As tough as writing is...

I guess I am not that bad at it. So, for some reason this week has been a bit tougher than usual. It should be the opposite since I am going on vacation tomorrow, but I guess I am just feeling overwhelmed with getting ready for school in the Fall for Michael and I and finishing up this semester and starting summer school while also trying to plan 2 vacations. Anyway, all that to say, it has been a tough week, but all that is about to change since we are going to Vegas tomorrow. All i have left to do is pack. YEAH!!

Anyway, about the title of my post, when I turned in my final paper for my policy class, I gave my professor a self addressed stamped manila envelope to mail it back to me when she graded it. Well, I got the paper in the mail today (perfect timing since i wasn't feeling so great) and I got an A +, which means I got an A in the course. But, the best part is that my professor wrote at the end of my paper "this is a great paper - one of the best I have ever had for this class! Could I have a copy to keep as an example?" How great is that? It is always so nice to get positive feedback, but that is some really good praise. There are few times during these past 2 semesters where I have felt very overwhelmed and thought it may be too much for me to get my Phd while working full time, but then I get feedback like this and it reminds me that I can really do this. Every one has talents and I am slowly realizing that I am a very good writer. I enjoy doing it, especially in relation to topics that interest me. Anyway, enough self praise for one post. I just wanted to let you all in on my good news.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to getting out of town and having a great time in sin city with my family. Good times ahead.

Yeah for the internet...

Just wanted to let you all know that I just got an A in one of my courses for this semester. I know I shouldn't know that yet, since class just finished this past Monday, but thanks to webct where our professor can email us and post our grades, i already know my final grade. YEAH!! have a great day everyone. today is hump day, the middle of the week.

Another semester down

Well, yesterday was my last class day for this semester. YEAH!! here's to 3 weeks of freedom. Today, I am leaving work and going straight home (after I stop by the tailor to pick up my new pants :). I am not going to a 3 hour class after working an 8 hour day. that sounds so nice. I am going to go home, play on my computer, possibly go for a jog, maybe even take a nap. good times ahead.

I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks. there is a party, a wedding, my sister's 21st birthday, mother's day, and a trip to Vegas. that's a lot to do in 2 weeks, but i am ready to hit the ground running.

well, my classes this semester went well. The PhD program has been harder than i imagined it would be, but I just keep telling myself to take it one paper at a time. :) my professors this semester gave me a lot of information about what it is like to be a professor. It seems like you are always working towards something, which is ok with me. I like to have a goal or direction for my work. basically after you get your PhD and are hired as a tenure track professor somewhere, you have 6 years to work towards getting tenure. most universities require quite a bit in order to get tenure (which means they cant fire you). it sounds like you have to work pretty darn hard during those first 6 years to get tenure and then if you get tenure, you spend the next 6 or so years working towards becoming a senior professor. it sounds like academia is very flexible as far as the whole 9-5 thing goes, but it also seems like you have to have a lot of personal discipline to continue researching and writing in order to get things published because no one is looking over your shoulder and setting deadlines for you. Some of what they said made me feel a bit overwhelmed, but I will just keep chugging along and see what I decide to do with my PhD when i finally do get it.

I am looking forward to my summer courses. i am actually teaching the third class during my summer course. the course is human behavior and diverse populations and i am teaching the class on religious diversity. I think it will be a fun class to teach. I am thinking i might get a guest speaker. I will see.

other than that, i am still doing pretty good on the weight loss. I have lost a total of about 35 pounds now. I am learning all kinds of new weight watchers recipes. also, we are trying to eat more fish, so i am eating this crusted tillapia from costco and it is not too bad.

other fun news, michael, gabe and i had a battlestar gallactica marathon this weekend. i know it sounds crazy, but michael and i started watching it in morocco because we ran out of other stuff to watch. well, we missed the third season and now they are into the fourth, so we wanted to catch up. we watched it all weekend and now have a few more episodes left. good times. it reminds me of the lord of the rings marathon from morocco times.

well, that is all i can think of right now. keep sending us ideas about where to vacation. we are not looking to spend a lot of money, but we want to have some r and r. Let me know if you have any ideas.