Last book class

The last book class is over and I have to say that it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. They actually seemed excited with the end product. I do have to say I did some poor planning. I thought that I would be able to use Matthew's drill but we couldn't find the drill bits so that was a bit of a catch. I had to borrow a drill, but that was okay. During the class I assisted each student individually, I did all of the drilling and I helped them sew the book. I think they turned out pretty good. Part of me wonders if I thought the class was good because it was the last day. I thought we would finish early but we didn't which was okay. I have to say I am glad now that I taught the class. In some ways it has helped me to realize many things about what I am good at and what I am not good at. I don't always have patience so I'm not the best teacher when it comes to students who don't understand. However, I found it very rewarding to see the kids learn from their mistakes and then be able to do things correctly. If I were able to learn to be more understanding and patience I think that teaching would be really rewarding. I'm not that happy with the job I have right now. I am not intellectually stimulated and I find as a result I have less of an attention span and I just don't feel as motivated to do anything later. When I do use my brain I do feel better. Teaching the class helped me a lot because as the class went on I realized I was becoming more and more effective as a teacher. I guess what I'm considering is being a professor, I don't want to deal with young kids. I think I could deal with college age adults. Knowing me this will fade quickly and I will go back to my previous goal of working for an NGO that helps with development in countries struggling to provide for their population. I don't know that as a teacher I would be able to achieve what I want. I might teach another bookmaking class though.

Dahlias

My mom's garden is beautiful right now. But anytime this week we could get a frost and that will be the end of all of her flowers. Today I picked a bunch before I went back to Asheville so that I would have some.

Mom and Ruff in the Dahlias

Jonpaul was home this weekend so I got up early on Sunday morning and headed over to Bakersville. It was good to see Jonpaul. Ruff ran up from the basement, where mom and Jonpaul were when I got there, and whined a greeting to me. He has gained a little weight with the dog sitters while my parents have been in Florida. Poor boy is going to go on a diet again. He really hates them. He thinks love is food. Mom and Jonpaul were bringing in all of the plants from outside. My brothers have a jungle they have created, which in the winter moves into the basement.

Mom in the Dahlias

At lunch I went out and saw Midnight, my kitten. She's not a kitten, she is 10 or 11 but she still sounds like a kitten. She is not eating and we think maybe it is her teeth.

The Creek Walk Art Festival was going on so we went down there and checked it out. There was some good stuff but not all of it was great art. Ruff wasn't allowed in the Festival so while my parents and Jonpaul checked out the art work Ruff and I walked down to the Bakersville Fire Department. Along the creek there were some really good holes in the dirt and Ruff stuck his head in them and was sucking in air and puffing it out. It is pretty funny. I think that if I ever found a smell that made me want to do that I would there for hours. He makes the smell seem so wonderful. When I got back dad took Ruff to the car so we could all walk around some together. We all shared a Funnel Cake. Mom and Dad had never had Funnel cake before. I don't think they realize what they were missing. Mom's comment was "it's like a big doughnut." Well what can I say it is fried dough. But oh so good.

We had baked chicken for dinner at Jonpaul's request. It was good. I ate more than I should have.

Monday Carol, Earle, and Tom came over for lunch. It was a good lunch. It was very pleasant as communication between siblings was actually functioning. I had to leave to get back to Asheville for work. I almost didn't make it back in time to stop at home (the apartment) and drop off all of my stuff. The construction coming down the mountain is not only ugly but it is also slowing things way down so it takes much longer to get places.

The construction coming down the mountain on the drive from Bakersville to Asheville.

At work I closed for the night by myself. It was not the most pleasant thing. I was lonely. But I wasn't there that long so that was nice. I had an early night with time to do stuff after.

Computer Charger Dying

My computer charger is deteriorating and I've ordered a new one so that the wires I can see don't catch something on fire. It happened really fast too. I was not even aware that something was wrong with the charger until yesterday. The plastic/rubber coating seems to have broken and now the wires on the inside are falling apart. I thought that it would be okay, yesterday, if I was really careful, but now I can smell it every once in a while and it smells hot. Not good. I don't want to start a fire or anything. Also, I want to have a computer later on and my battery doesn't last all that long anymore when it is not plugged in. It is a real bummer as I would have liked to buy something else, I don't know what, food maybe, but now I have a new charger for my computer on the way. I just hope this one doesn't blow up before it gets here, otherwise I'm going to be one unhappy girl.

Yesterday was my second day waking up at 5 am and let me tell you it is not something which I want to be doing again anytime soon. It was not fun at all and I couldn't seem to take a nap when I got back home. I lay in bed for a while but I couldn't sleep. I just kind of drifted close to sleep but not sleeping. I did realize that I don't want to be a waiter and I would really like to do something else with my time. I'm still thinking about what that might be. I do know I want to use my brain more and that is not something I am doing right now.

Two 5 o'clocks

This morning I had to get up at 5 to get into work on time. I was a bundle of joy after that let me tell you. To begin with I don't like waking up in the morning when it is not light out. It was dark. Very dark. I also like waking up slowly at my own pace not up and at em right away. Just not my thing. I like time to think and plan my day when I get up. This was not the case. I did not even eat breakfast before I ran out the door. Lucky for me I did get breakfast at work. Humm Yummy bacon, eggs, potatoes, and fruit. The fruit was really good and the bacon while not the best was well bacon and it was good.

Work was slow today. That is until right about the time I was thinking they were going to let me go. I was thinking I'll get some more sleep. I'm going to go home and crawl back in bed. But no then a group added a lunch so I got to stay longer. I need the hours but I am not a 6 in the morning girl. And I get to do it all over again tomorrow.

Today is one of the first sunny days. It has rained and rained for the past week. After I got off work I had my violin lesson. It was a good lesson but I need to practice more as my fingers were hurting at the end. I think it is from helping out in the dish pit at work. I think I will try and avoid further contact with chemical soaps.

Well it is time for dinner and then bed as tomorrow is going to be an early morning.

Glue, Scissors, Cereal boxes, and Paper

This weeks installment of the bookmaking class went much better. They actually got something done. It was impressive. They had a new assistant teacher and he really laid down the law and the students followed it. There was one new student and a student who had left so the new student got the old students incomplete book. It looks like next week will be the last week I have to go in to teach the class. I'm pretty happy about that. I also think that the students are more invested in what they are doing and as a result they want to participate. I am actually enjoying the class now instead of dreading it. The class is still difficult to teach but now that the students are interested in what is happening and are invested in the process it is much easier to communicate and have them follow instruction.

This week was the last day of cover making so we glued them and they are drying for next week when we will sew them.

On Monday mom was flying back from Florida. I was supposed to pick her up at the airport in Asheville at 3 and take her back to Bakersville. Monday morning I woke up to more rain and it looked like it was going to rain all day. I called mom and dad in Florida and told them to check the flight before she left. It was on time. In Orlando mom called me and told me she was leaving late. She missed her flight from Atlanta to Asheville as a result. Once she got to Atlanta she played musical flights. I gave up on a set time for picking her up at the airport. Matthew and I went for a walk in the rain just to get outside. It was about the time one of moms flights was supposed to come in but I figured that it was safe to go walking because she had not gotten on a flight yet. It wasn't until 9:30pm that she finally got in. She ended up spending the night with me in Asheville. Today was actually sunny for the first time in a couple days too, so Mom and I went for a walk.

Kids Who Don't Do Well in Public Schools

I now know why the kids at Eliada are there and why it is an alternative school for kids who don't do well in public schools. Yes, today teaching book making was an absolute joy. They added two kids to the class and I didn't have enough supplies. One of the kids they added was the exception to the rule of "no question is a dumb question". Everything that came out of her mouth was a question. It seemed to me that she didn't think before she spoke. Not only that but she really irritated me. I tried to be patient but soon I couldn't have defined the word if my life I depended on it. As a result of the disturbance we didn't even finish the covers. I don't know what I'm going to do if this class drags on and on. I want it to end. I also need more work so I'd really like it to end so that I can get more hours. As of right now it looks like I have two to three more weeks of teaching. I really wish it was less. After I left Eliada I was really hoping that Crispy Cream would have warm doughnuts but they did not. I'm going to go to get a doughnut as soon as I unload stuff at my apartment and regain some energy.

I've had a stuffy nose for the past couple days. I've been really worn out as a result. Yesterday Matthew and I went for a walk and when I got back I ended up taking a nap. On the walk I heard a squirrel fall out of a tree. I thought that it was just a walnut or branch but when I looked over there was a squirrel struggling to get up. It did manage to get up and climb the tree again. It took it awhile and it was resting in the tree when Matthew and I walked on. I wonder if squirrels can get rabies and if we should have been worried about it or not. It was a really pretty walk the leaves on some of the trees are starting to change. There are a few on the side walk and soon all the leaves will turn. I really like the leaves when they change it is so pretty.

Work

On Monday I had a headache most of the day because my neck was hurting. And I think it all got worse when I took out my paycheck from Dining Innovations and found that they had only paid me $7.25, minimum wage, for training. I checked with the other girls that were hired at the same time as me and we all agreed that they told us that we would be paid for training but that they had left out the $7.25 part of that. I thought that they would be paying me the $10 that I normally would make. I was expecting a much larger paycheck than I got so it was a little frustrating. Not only that I felt mislead, which is why I am now looking for another job. Not only did they tell us they would be paying us for training, when I was hired they told me I would be able to work between 30 and 40 hours a week. The most I have worked in a week is 28 hours. I am not going to be able to pay rent with this job. Last week I worked 11 hours total and this week I think I might be able to work 20 hours if I can stay late on Saturday. Last night I did get to work around 9 hours so that is a start on me being able to pay the rent but not enough.

I don't want to have to worry about whether or not I will be able to pay rent or not. So that I don't worry about it I'm working on getting another job. I would really like to work in a book store or for that matter a library would be great. I love books and it would be nice to be around them. Maybe I will see if the Library is hiring. I already applied at Barns and Nobel. I haven't heard from them. I tried to apply at Mr. K's Used Books but they had just filled the position. I'm not sure of the point in trying to apply at Malaprop's because they have had the same employees as long as I can remember. I also wouldn't mind working at a movie rental place, but they probably don't pay that well. Once again let the great search for work commence.

No Mandarin

Yesterday morning I got a call from AB Tech saying that due to low enrollment they were canceling the Mandarin for beginners class. It really made me upset as I was hoping that the teacher would be able to help Matthew and I find a good place to teach in Kunming. That won't be happening now. I did get on Craigslist and find a teacher in the area who gives lessons in Mandarin and I contacted him. So it looks like Matthew and I will still be able to take lessons before we go. I was just looking forward to the class. I guess I miss being in school and I wanted to have something similar to school. I will be going to grad school so I shouldn't get to upset over not having a class this year.

Last night was a late night at work. I was supposed to be working at 6 this morning but I ended up trading with a girl whose babysitter was not working out. As a result I got to sleep in. I'm really happy about that. I do have to work 2 to close today so it could be a long day but at least I will be getting hours which I haven't been getting enough of recently. I'm looking for another job as it is. I would really like to work at a movie place or a book store. The two things that I really like movies and books. Yesterday I ordered a book from Amazon, which will start my immersion into everything Chinese. It is called Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of a New China by John Pomfret. I think if nothing else it will be an introduction to Chinese culture. I'm looking forward to getting it.

Today it really feels like fall is starting. It is cool outside and the weather can't decide if it is going to be sunny or cloudy. I am really enjoying it.

Book Making Class

I volunteered to teach a book making class at Eliada Home for Children. They have a high school program for students who are not doing well in the public school system. I thought that it would be a good experience and that the kids would like it. I probably should have been weary because of the organizational skills of the principal, who never got back in touch with me. Instead she had the teacher sponsoring the class call me two weeks into the class and ask me if I could come in, that was two weeks ago. Since then I have gotten them a list of supplies and taught the first class.

I'm pretty disappointed with the kids in the class's enthusiasm for anything. I don't think there is much that the kids are happy doing when it comes to school. It seemed to me like they were unhappy about most things. We made paste paper and they didn't want to get their hands dirty. It was really unorganized and the class wasn't that much fun to teach. The two staff members were the only ones who were interested in the class and seemed to be having fun.

I had much more fun making paste paper when I got back home and made my own paper. I made two pieces at Eliada and that will hopefully make a book for me. I even got Matthew to come and play with me in the paint. It was fun and I didn't even have to clean up a big mess someone else made.

Mom's Potluck

I went home this weekend to see Jonpaul who was home from Science and Math for the first time since he went off to school. When I got home it seemed like there was no one there. As it turns out they were still getting up. Jonpaul didn't arrive down in the studio until much later when I was stuck up to my elbows in alginate. My parents are on the panic for a show at Blue Spiral Gallery in Asheville and SOFA (Sculptural Objects Functional Art) Chicago because they are thinking they may end up spending more time in Florida with my Grandparents.

Just about the time I was starting to think that it would be a good time to take a nap my mom started preparing to go to a potluck. This potluck she tells me is very important for me because of receiving the Rotary Scholarship. This means that I have to meet and talk with many people who are just thrilled that I am going to have a Rotary Scholarship. What they don't really care about is the fact that I'm going to Grad school which is what I'm really excited about. I know that the other part of the scholarship is really important and will help me set up contacts who will be able to set me up with jobs later, but that can only happen if I do well in Grad school. I did meet someone who had also received the scholarship and it was good to talk with her and see what she had to say about her experiences. She said that the scholarship did not cover as much of her time abroad as she would have thought. I had already expected that the scholarship would not cover as much of my trip as I would have liked.

Jonpaul was not happy about being at the potluck for as long as we were. He slept in a chair, we brought for dad, most of the time we were there. He was trying to catch up on sleep he didn't get at Science and Math. When we got back, dad charged the furnace (means added batch, the dry mixture which when heated creates glass, to the furnace, which melts the glass and keeps it hot enough to be hot worked and blown). We watched I Capture the Castle which I really liked. It was funny and sad at the same time. I thought it was really well done. It was about a family that moves into a castle because the father, a writer, thinks that he will be inspired by the castle. He isn't, and the family falls into poverty as a result of the lack of income.

Douglas Falls

Today I went hiking with Matthew and my parents. We ended up going to Douglas Falls which was only about 1/2 mile hike but then there was a trail which went all the way up to the parkway. We didn't hike all of it but we hiked up to a second waterfall called Cascade Falls which made the hike about 4 miles total. Near the beginning of the trail there was a fallen tree. The roots were still holding on to rocks and dirt. Some plants had sprouted in the dirt but they were still very small. The roots made a really pretty pattern. I thought I had never been to Douglas Falls before but when we got to the falls I realized that not only had I been there but it was the background I use on my phone. I was there with Mallory about 3 years ago. It is a small waterfall but it is really pretty.

(Right) Me under Douglas Falls (Left) Douglas Falls

It took us a while to find the trail up from the falls. In the process mom got stung by stinging nettle. First it hurts and then it itches for a while but luckily it doesn't last very long. There was lots and lots of stinging nettle on the trail. Sometimes it grew over the trail so that we had to push it out of the way to get through. That is when I got stung. It got me in the butt because my pants were thin and couldn't keep the needles out. Up above the falls there are these rocks one of which looks a little like the front of a ship. That is the comparison my dad made anyway. The rock plowed through the earth sending up billows of dirt until it came to rest. There was a tree growing up from the other rock. It was really cool to see the tree perched on the edge of the rock. We took our time hiking which was nice. We stopped along the trail and ate lunch. Hummus, cheese spread, bread, cookies, and carrots. It was not a special lunch but it was good. I was pretty hungry by the time we finally stopped. We crossed many creeks and mom tried to take me swimming with her in one of the creeks. Luckily it wasn't Cascade Falls because it would have hurt to fall down. It wasn't a complete drop off but it did go down pretty steep and it was rock the entire way. It was really cool in the woods, so we didn't get sweaty which was nice. There were clouds most of the day, but it didn't rain on us.

Cascade Falls

When we got back to the car we had a snack. At the trail head there was a pile of burnt parts to either a car or a camper. It would have been a real drag to have your vehicle burn all the way out there. We had to drive 20 minutes on a gravel road to get to the trail head which was the end of the road. We couldn't decide what it was from what was left. On the drive back we stopped at one of the waterfalls on the road it was almost as nice as Douglas falls. It didn't fall as far but it was multiple cascades. When we got back to the main road I noticed that there were squash fields. I had never seen a place where they farm yellow squash.

(Left) Waterfall by the road. (Right) Roots from fallen tree near the beginning of the trail.

When Matthew and I got back to our apartment it really started raining and I was making quiche. I didn't have any cream, though, so we got our umbrellas and walked to the little corner store. It was nice walking in the rain. Most of the time I don't like getting wet but it was refreshing. As I had never made a quiche before I was surprised at how good it was. Matthew and I watched In the Mood for Love. It is a Cantonese film. I liked it but I feel like I missed a lot of the subtext. I think to really understand it I would have to understand Cantonese and watch it more than once.

Between Seasons

It is the beginning of weather that feels like fall but is still hot like summer. I guess what I'm saying is that it is between seasons. It isn't really summer anymore because it is cooler longer but it isn't fall yet because it isn't dark enough out yet. The days are getting shorter but it still seems like summer. The pool at the JCC is still open so it can't be fall yet. At least not according to those going to the pool.

Last night at game night we played Ticket to Ride. It was a fun game but there was not much interaction between players. It would have been nice to talk a little more.

Today mom and dad were in Asheville and we went to eat at Nine Mile a Caribbean restaurant. It was good but not great. They did have a really good chocolate cake with cracked black pepper, lemon, and cayenne pepper. I would recommend going for dessert.

Flowers

Sunday I went home to see my parents. They had just gotten back from California helping Erik move into the dorm and get situated. Their garden is quite something. Mom's dahlias are really pretty. I picked a lot and brought them back with me. On Sunday we went to Swiss Pine Lake and walked around the lake with Ruff. Ruff normally gets car sick so it is rare that we take him places with us. However, we are now thinking that if he rides in the car more he will get used to it and won't get sick anymore. Matthew heard on Car Talk that driving dogs around if they get car sick will help them get over it. Ruff really likes getting in the car and going with us, so that isn't a problem. He didn't get sick and he got really excited about the walk. We tied him while we went swimming and he was not so fond of that he wanted to be with us but he doesn't like water. When he gets his paw in the water he shivers and jerks it out really fast. We can't let him off the leash either because he runs away.

That night Tom, my uncle, came over for dinner and brought us some really good pie. The conversation after dinner was centered around my dad's parents and their quickly deteriorating condition. My grandmother has cancer and was just told, a month or so ago, that there was nothing else they can do to treat the cancer. As a result she is going through liver failure as the cancer grows. She wanted to come back to North Carolina from Florida but now she can't anymore. My grandfather has sever memory loss and he has been acting like he is old for as long as I can remember. My dad's siblings are always trying to figure out who is going to be in Florida and when and for how long. For those of us who care but would rather not be hearing the little arguments about Florida, it gets tedious to be at meals with family members.

On Monday mom and dad took an alginate of my hands for a piece they are making. After wards I smelled like the dentists office or the studio. It is interesting how certain smells remind us of childhood. Alginate reminds me of when I was little and my parents let me come down to the studio and watch them work.

After that I went to see Melissa's new apartment. Well not that new she has been there for over a month I think, but I hadn't seen it yet. She let me barrow Twilight which I thought I was going to hate. I really wanted to dislike it. She thought I would like it. There were parts of the movie that I didn't like but over all I did like the movie. I feel silly for liking it.

Today I had a violin lesson. It was a good lesson we played new songs that I had played on piano. Tonight I am going to game night at a game store in Asheville. Apparently it is board game night so we will see what we end up playing.