The Last Couple of Weeks...

So, I have officially been a teacher for two weeks, and in one word, they have been the crazybusiestexcitingchallengingintrospectivescaryfunnerve-racking two weeks of my life.  My alarm goes off at 5:05 everyday, I get to school between 6:00 and 6:15 and then the students start showing up at 7:15.  I have one 50-minute planning period and a 27 minute lunch, but other than that it is go-go-go until the students leave at 3:15.  I try to be home before 4:00, where I pretty much set up shop on the couch for the night.  From my couch command center, I keep planning and grading until about 10:00 when I finally get to bed.  I really enjoy the challenge and everyday I feel better about being in the classroom.

My most notable "Teacher Firsts" in the past two weeks were when I...

...finished a student's rap of "Forever" by Drake (my class was speechless).

...free-styled to one of my students about how he needed to quit making pen beats on his desk and get back to work (to the pen beat he was making at that time).

...gotten totally off track with my students, but in the good way (We were talking about the Articles of Confederation but ended up talking about the national debt, international economics, and why so much of what we buy is made in China.  The conversation we had made my week!).

Overall it has been a good experience and I am excited for where the year will go!

This is my classroom.

I am fortunate enough to have this sweet SmartBoard!

In other news...

This is the "Please pick up after your pet" sign at our apartment complex.  Megan and I are still confused about who is actually the one pooping in this picture.

After recommendations from multiple people, I finally took the bra off of my car with some help from my brother-in-law.  It's like getting a new car only cheaper.

Megan and I scored some free tickets to a Cardinals game through TFA.  It is a pretty sweet field, plus our team won (that is to say, the Cardinals lost)!

Megan was shocked to find a ranch dispenser next to the ketchup and mustard.  Who knew ranch was in high enough demand at a sporting event to necessitate its own dispenser.

What would a blog post from St. Louis be without a stereotypical picture with The Arch in the background?  You all know how I like to conform ;-).

Orientation

This past week I was at orientation for Law School. I had some fun and I learned a lot about my fellow classmates. This week classes begin.

In bigger news we finally got some Chipolte!

This is what we are doing here

I'm trying to figure out why anyone would root for this guy/animal/mystical creature. He wears a sweater but no pants, he has elf ears and a Jay Leno chin. I'll be learning more about him this week at orientation.

Luke is working, working, working. Luke is currently on a quest for teacher stardom. So when he returns from teaching each evening he, with Gizmo's help, prepares for teaching the next day.

Then he gym, tan, laundry then repeat.

This is Luke's first day of school outfit. Always take a first day picture.

I've been napping and hanging out, reading and riding my bike. Don't worry though because orientation began this evening and I'll be doing something productive or at least looking productive.

The Big Move

My pet humans, Luke and Megan, had this idea that we move somewhere else for a bit.  I said that it was okay.  We had a lot of stuff in our apartment in Fort Collins.

But, since I don't have thumbs, I didn't have to do anything and just got to play while they moved all the boxes.

We moved into an old factory that is now loft apartments.

 When we first got their, the bi-peds just took everything inside....

...and started unpacking

While they did that, I took a nap.  After all, being a puppy on the road is hard work.

After we got all unpacked, we went over to my cuppy (cousin puppy) Neila's house to play.

I had never met her before, so I was nervous.

But we ended up having tons of fun.

Plus, my Aunt Amanda made me a really nice new blanket.

Now let me show you around my new crennel (crib/kennel).

Plus I have this awesome back patio!

I am gracious enough to let the bi-peds sleep here.

 

This year looks to be a lot of fun, but I do miss everyone back in Colorado.

-Gizmo

*This was typed on my Apple iPooch.  It fits all sizes of paws*

Arch

One of the many cool fountains in the downtown area.

Today I rode over the the Arch to scope things out. On the way I saw two other cyclists, very encouraging, I hadn't seen any on the street before today.

The park around the Arch is very nice. It reminds me of the oval in Fort Collins, all the trees around the sidewalks.While is was walking around there were sound checks for various artist for this concert,http://explorestlouis.com/historyofmusic

There seem to be a fair number of free concerts and this sound check sounded pretty good so maybe I'll check this show out tomorrow.

We've arrived!

We have arrrived in St. Louis. So many different things to report, a brand new city in a brand new state.Today I ventured from the loft to visit the zoo. I left my beloved car behind in Colorado so its all bike and all fun out here.

At the zoo they have a prairie dog exhibit, I thought this was odd. People in Colorado want prairie dogs to go away and people in St. Louis stop and see them at the zoo.

This orangutan was sitting so on the glass, bummer these kids were taking up the view.

Another interesting exhibit at the zoo were these Bush Dogs. I like dogs so I stayed at this exhibit a while to watch.

Rockies

My summer roommate Becca moved out on Monday. Gizmo liked Becca way more than me.

Went to the Rockies game with mom, dad, and Josh. Josh used Facebook to find my cousin Emma and her family were also at the game. Facebook is bringing families together in the 21st century.

Nose bleed seats.