My Archives: January 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Today I met with Jake, who is my "tentative Damon" for the film. He lives out in the middle of nowhere, and not only is the road where he lives perfect for filming, but his actual house is too. I'm really excited! On the way there, I went past a cemetery, which is where we could do one of the scenes. Jake also said he knew of a cemetery in Bellefonte that we could probably go to and not get yelled at. (=
Right now I am babysitting. The two kids are fast asleep. They are pretty good kids. I really like this family. I hope I'll get to come back and see them all again soon. Which reminds me, Heather sent me a check in the mail from the last time I was over along with a letter and a very nice photograph of the whole family. Brenden and Mara are the cutest kids!!!! I love Ryan and Ella (the kids I'm with tonight) but Heather's kids are very special to me. I miss 'em!!!!!
Posted by Katie @ 09:28 PM EST [Link]
Friday, January 30, 2009
I'm officially done with JCP. Next week begins my first full week at ABC. Yay! =D
Tomorrow I have a meeting with that guy for my film (it was supposed to be tonight, but he couldn't get here because of that random half hour snow blizzard that hit us and cost me a shift at ABC). Anyway, I'm really excited. Tomorrow is going to be the meeting with him as well as a homework day, which I don't mind now that my classes are interesting and relevant. :) So anyway...looking forward to a good weekend and a great next week.
Posted by Katie @ 06:41 PM EST [Link]
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I've been doing really well. I am an official employee at ABC. Today I'm turning in my TB form and my W-4. All that's left are my three clearance forms, which will hopefully arrive in the next few days. Without them, I can't keep the kids after Shelley leaves, and therefore I can't do lessons, so I have to keep bringing them to Francine's room. That gets very boring very quickly, as watching the kids playing makes time go a lot more slowly than actually engaging in activities and lessons with them (in my opinion). But at least I get to see them again. =)
I'm caught up on my homework and the film project isn't underway yet, but we're getting there. The only main characters that are left to be filled are John and Michael. Other than that, we only have a few minor parts that need to be filled, but I'm not too worried about it. Tomorrow night I'm meeting with Jake, our "tentative Damon", at 8 at the Hub, and I'm really excited. Damon is the main male role, so it's going to be awesome meeting him to see what he is like. Also, my friend Gina has expressed an interested in trying Sophie's part. I'm not sure how serious she is or how dedicated she is going to be, but I'm willing to give everyone a fair shot at it.
I am in class now (bad Katie), and then I am going to work from 2:30 to 5:30. After that, it's pretty much just a homework night. I have to work on my art sketchbook, reading diary, and music stuff. But unlike last semester, I don't dread homework nights, because it's all education major related. =)
Posted by Katie @ 01:16 PM EST [Link]
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
So I talked to Amy and Shelley at work today. And they were both totally fine with letting me do my mini lesson as well as any other lesson I wanted to do. Shelley even said, "Once I leave at 4, they're yours until their parents come." I was like..."yay!" I just have to make sure I come up with a lesson plan that's challenging and interesting but not too difficult. I think that's going to be the toughest part.
In other news, my night class was canceled tonight. It is supposed to snow all...night...long. I'm kinda mad because that means I have to take the bus tomorrow. No way are we going anywhere in that Mustang. >__>
ALSO...I think I found another actor for the film. Let me rephrase that: I MAY have found an actor for the MAIN part of my film, which is awesome because we can't do too much without him. I'm going to meet up with him on Friday evening at the Hub. I already talked to him on Facebook and he seems really intent on it, so he'll probably be real motivated to go through with it. Yay! ^___^
Posted by Katie @ 09:50 PM EST [Link]
So today I met with another guy who's interested in helping out with my film. We figured out which part he's going to do and I talked with my director, who said we're probably going to start shooting next week or so, provided we find just a few more people.
I'll wait for a few more people before I start a check list. ;)
Posted by Katie @ 12:30 AM EST [Link]
Monday, January 26, 2009
I am being bad and updating right in the middle of class. Yesterday I spent an hour just thinking about what I wanted to do for my mini lesson in A ED, and how I really should try it out in the preschool class at ABC. I think the kids would absolutely love it. I was thinking about doing an alphabet theme and using Dr. Seuss's ABC book as part of it. Maybe I could read / sing them the book, and do something that relates to their letters (like the first letter of their name) in relation to the letters in the book. As far as an art project is concerned, I have a couple ideas, but I'm still really unsure. I'm so excited though. I hope this works out!
Today I have two classes and then a doctor's appointment at the student health center (for TB test and physical for work and practicum). Then I have a meeting with another person who is interested in being in my film! =D More to come.
Posted by Katie @ 10:34 AM EST [Link]
Saturday, January 24, 2009
When I went to ABC yesterday afternoon, I was in the baby room from 1:30 to 3. The babies were all asleep until closer to 2:15. When they started waking up, Susan would change them one by one and hand them to me and I would sit in the little play pen area and play with them. They are so funny! Some of them are very smiley. All you have to do is make a funny face at them and they will crack up. Others look like a permanent deer in headlights, but they are all good babies. I can't wait to go back and see them again!
At about 3, both Dorothy and Susan had their lunch breaks so I headed over to Shelly's preschool classroom. They were having snack, graham crackers and juice, and Shelly showed me around the room and gave me some ideas for what to do with them, since she had to leave at 4 and I wasn't done till 5:30. We ended up reading a book together and all the kids crowded around at the end to look at the pictures up close. For a group of four-year olds (one is turning 4 in a few weeks, so he is still only 3), they sit together very quietly. Especially compared to other preschools I've been to. Never underestimate children!!
After that, I did a coloring lesson with them. It was something Shelly said she didn't get done during the day so I decided to do it. They all sat at the tables with tubs full of crayons and I gave them each a picture of a snowman to color in. Then I sat at the head of the table and colored along with them as I said, "Everyone find the snowman's hat. Can you find it? Okay! I want you to color the hat black!" Everyone would scramble to find a black crayon. I expected them to fight over crayons, but they didn't. Sometimes one child would whine, "I don't have a black crayon Miss Katie!"and I would tell them that so-and-so had one, why don't they wait until she is done? And they would do it. I was really surprised. I'm used to being in "bad" preschool classrooms, so this was definitely a change. Gives me some confidence. :-)
Anyway, after Shelly left, I brought the kids to Francine's bigger classroom and my kids played with her kids. They didn't fight at all, just got a little wild. Three of the boys were dancing like crazy to an Alvin and the Chipmunks CD. It was hilarious. I got to meet some of the parents too, and I stayed till 5:30 when all my kids were gone.
It still feels like I dreamt the whole thing. It really was a wonderful experience. ^__^ I can't wait to go back on Tuesday!!!! :D
Posted by Katie @ 11:40 AM EST [Link]
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Today I had to get up eaarrrrrrly, like, before 7, so Matt and I could take the bus from the stadium to campus. I went to my art ed. class. Got my fingers messy with paper mache crap and it was SO nasty, but it's all good. My group is making a birthday party out of paper mache, complete with a birthday cake, stack of presents, and balloons. It's going to be awesome!
I then had to go get fingerprinted at the campus police station (I'm starting practicum next Friday and I need clearances in order to work with the kids). After doing that, I went to meet up with Matt and Gina for lunch. Now we're in the Corner Pocket and they're versing each other in one game of pool right after the other. I didn't even know Matt knew how to hold a cue, let alone play the game!
Posted by Katie @ 12:33 PM EST [Link]
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
I am excited about some upcoming stuff so I will post about those first.
1) Last night, I met up with this guy who was interested in directing my film. We sat down at Taco Bell (lol...since no other place was open) and made a to-do list. We have to find people to fill certain roles, we need to get certain props and work out some prospective problems. Tonight I actually have a meeting with someone who wants to fulfill the female role. We'll see how that goes. :-) Can't wait!
2) I just got an e-mail five minutes ago from the director of this child care center. I had applied there last semester and she e-mailed back saying their needs have changed and they are looking for someone to fill their afternoon spots from 1 or 2 to 5:30. I am really excited and hope I get this job because I need money and it would be a great chance for me to get even more experience. Yay!
3) Umm...all my classes are going well. I start practicum next Friday. Yay!!!!
Posted by Katie @ 02:37 PM EST [Link]
Monday, January 19, 2009
This morning I went to the gym with Kelly. :D We went on the bikes and ellipticals and lifted some weights. It was a lot of fun. I think I will drag Matt back there tomorrow night. He did, after all, buy sweat pants at Walmart tonight. (=
I also had a few meetings to go to and we went to Vairo Village in order to tour a prospective apartment as our home in August. I kind of liked it but Matt really didn't and he gave some good reasons why. It was mostly because everything, the fitness center, laundry, mail, pool, were all in one place, and if you were stuck in an apartment far away, then you were walking to get your mail every morning. Plus there are all these fees...ugh, and it's further from campus, right by the Walmart, which is almost two miles from campus. I mean they give you a bus pass, but still. The people there were nice, and it was a really nice place, but it just does't seem like it's for us. We're probably just going to stay at Lion's Gate and downgrade to an efficiency. It's what we can afford right now.
I'm so happy! I got a possible babysitting job set up! I have an interview on Wednesday at 5:30, and I'm really psyched. The girl is 9 months and the boy is almost 2 1/2. It's going to be a lot of fun and some extra cash too. =9
In other news, I have to send stuff in to get my clearances. Next Friday is when I'm supposed to be placed for practicum (at a preschool center on campus). I'll be doing a circle time lesson and something else, like a learning center or something. I'm kind of excited. Hopefully this will be a better experience than those I've been having lately. =)
Posted by Katie @ 10:02 PM EST [Link]
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Work was exhausting, as it always is. I worked from 1 to 6:30 in women's. Kim was with me until 4, and then I was by myself. It was manageable, slow in comparison to what it was like during the Christmas rush. It's kind of a relief for me that it slowed down. I am trying to pick up extra hours here and there. I'm probably going to work this Saturday from 4 to 9 for another girl who can't work. I'm really happy I can get extra hours that I wouldn't normally have. (=
Anyway, tomorrow is a busy day. There are no classes because it's MLK Day, so I'm going to the gym with Kelly at 9, even if I have to take the bus to campus. After that I have a meeting with a professor at 11. I'm going to come home for lunch and then head to this apartment complex that Matt and I are going to tour to see if we would want to live there next year. I hope it works out! It seems like a nice place. After that, I have to head back to the Hub on campus to meet with these two people from my A ED class about a reading discussion we have to do for class on Tuesday. So you see...busy day!!!!
I'm going to hang out a while, work on my reading, etc. Matt's playing a computer game and watching the Steeler's game. There's really nothing to do as we can't go anywhere (too much snow). =(
Posted by Katie @ 08:56 PM EST [Link]
I really wanted to go to the gym today, but even after getting dressed and heading outside...THERE WAS SNOW EVERYWHERE!!! And it was still coming down hard. I was like, nooooo. And I have to be at work at 1 somehow. I'm probably going to have to take the bus, which majorly sucks. I would call out, except I'm replacing someone and I really need the money.
Posted by Katie @ 10:35 AM EST [Link]
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Okay, so for the longest time I've wanted to lose weight, but it just wasn't happening. I'm in college, and let's face facts: when you're in college, you eat JUNK because JUNK is cheap! I used to eat ramen, pizza, and soda every day, and then I decided, hmmm, this is probably not a very good idea, I'm going to get fat! And then I tried to come up with ways to make weight loss easier. See, for me the problem is not the exercise. I used to go for random walks out of complete boredom, sometimes several times a day. The problem was that I also ate out of complete boredom, which of course is counterproductive; it cancels out all those walks. I figured I needed to do something or I was going to be 300 pounds and very unhappy. >___>
So I thought the first thing to do would be to make exercising more exhilarating and interesting. That way, I would be even more motivated to not eat junk food because junk food ruins all the exercising! Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. (=
Okay, so here were some simple things I tried to do to get the weight down. In no particular order:
1) I joined the Penn State gym. It was a lot cheaper than the YMCA, which, yeah is closer to my apartment, and isn't filled with stuck-up and rude college kids, but...it's cheaper!!! Now I have access to all sorts of equipment but I'm really into the cardio stuff right now. I'm not trying to bulk up, just get thin.
2) I don't work myself into a bloody pulp. That is to say, I make it fun and invigorating, not painful (though I am a firm believer in the "no pain no gain" policy, there is a line you shouldn't cross). I don't do more than 20 minutes on the stationary bikes because it hurts my butt like you would not believe so that when I'm finally done, I have to stand in one place for a minute and let the blood circulate. XD XD I also don't go over 40 minutes on the treadmill (yeah, the rec hall has a 20 minute time limit, no one follows that) unless I want to drown in my own sweat. I do about 10 on the ellipticals but I stay clear of the stair climbers. They're evil! Just do what you're most comfortable doing. Don't force it because you see a cute guy / girl on the machine next to you tearing it up. Chances are they've been doing it for a long time.
3) I don't go everyday. You only need 3 days a week of cardiovascular exercise routines that are 30 minutes each. Why make it a chore? Go when you feel like it or have time. Fit it into your schedule. Example: I went to the gym four times this week, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I did not go today because I worked all day. I will probably go tomorrow morning before I go into work again.
4) That being said, I ALWAYS make sure I am TOTALLY out of breath and exhausted at the end. Like I said, I'm a firm believer in "No Pain No Gain". I like to work up a good sweat but I don't like being in excruciating pain. Figure out what works.
5) I always make sure I eat about an hour before I go to the gym (not right before or my stomach might hurt a little) and right after I come home. I also chug water. Once I forgot my water bottle and was DYING by the end of the night, so I went home that night and drank the entire thing in about fifteen minutes. Your body needs food. Feed it. Take care of it =)
6) I make it fun. When you're going to a gym and staring at the control panel of your treadmill for half an hour (maybe if your gym is cool like Penn State and has TVs where you can watch sports, it's not so bad, but I'm not sure if all gyms do), things get dull. If I EVER went to the gym without my iPod, I would...probably have to drive back home to get it. I put new playlists together constantly. My absolute favorite workout artist is Eric Prydz and his tunes, "Fading Like A Flower" and "Call On Me (Filterheadz Remix)". He has tons of stuff on iTunes and playlist.com. I also like finding songs where I can move to the beat. That actually ends up happening a lot. La Bouche has some good stuff, Ian Van Dahl, and, oh yeah, Angerfist (if you hang out at raves a lot :D).
7) I try to get my friends involved. I went with Gina and Monday night and will probably be going with Matt at some point next week when he finally joins. =) You're much more likely to want to go if someone goes with you. These past three times I've gone alone and that's fine, but it's just easier to get motivated when others are pushing you.
I wouldn't be offering these tips if I didn't know for a fact that they worked (at least on me, very well). Believe me, I have yo-yo-ed my weight enough these past two years to know what works and what doesn't. If you're at Penn State and need a work-out buddy, you know who I am! =)
"CALL ON ME!" ~ Eric Prydz
Katie <3
Posted by Katie @ 10:57 PM EST [Link]
Friday, January 16, 2009
I weighed myself this morning only to find that I am now down four pounds from last week or so. Yay! It may only be water weight so far, but at least I know now that what I'm doing is working!!!!
Posted by Katie @ 02:19 PM EST [Link]
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Who knew Turk and Carla from Scrubs knew how to sing!!??
Posted by Katie @ 07:55 PM EST [Link]
Monday, January 12, 2009
We are on break in LL ED 400, the first class of the spring semester. I like it and I think it's going to be good times. (= I do think this semester is going to go well. Then again, I did think that about last semester too...
I have a music class at 12:20 and then I'm done. I just have to eat lunch, pick Matt up, have dinner, and go to the gym whenever Gina's done doing her stuff because we're going together.
Okay, almost time to get back. Later!
Posted by Katie @ 10:41 AM EST [Link]
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tomorrow I have the following schedule:
9:05 - 12:05; LL ED 400
12:20 - 1:10; MUSICThat's it for classes. Then I have a work-out at the gym with Gina, but I don't know what time that is. Probably later in the evening. It'll be a good day. I look forward to it. ^_^
In other news, I need to figure out what's going on with work. I hope I can continue to get hours. )= I don't want to fall further behind on my rent. It's not fair for Matt to have to constantly be picking up the slack for me. I'm going to call tomorrow about it. I really hope Diane is in and that she can help me!
I laid out my clothing for tomorrow so that I can be ready to go quickly. I'll have to eat breakfast, probably a banana and some OJ, and then lunch when I get back. It's going to be a long, tiresome, but good morning. =)
Posted by Katie @ 10:43 PM EST [Link]
It's great to be back at my home-away-from-home! I had an awesome Christmas: gave and received a lot of great gifts, thanks everyone! I brought everything back with me. (= Also gave Chan a new kitty, Miss Jasper, who needed a new home, and a permanent one. I know she will be loved and well taken care of there!
I miss our animals already, especially little Rocky Dexter. He is the sweetest and funniest cat! I will probably not be home until March again for spring break. Kinda sad. I wish we could just skip winter and get right to April, don't you? It's so depressing!
So tomorrow is the first day of classes. I'm really nervous. I hope this semester goes well. My classes look hard judging from the online syllabi. I guess we'll just have to see.
Posted by Katie @ 04:11 PM EST [Link]
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
I applied to Kohl's. I also called JCP and asked to talk to Diane, my scheduling manager, about getting more hours, but she doesn't come in until 3:30. I like my job there; I like the people I work with and the fact that I'm familiar with the routines and rules, and merchandise. I don't want to have to quit and learn things for a NEW job, but the bills won't pay themselves. I've always hated new jobs because I don't know anything when I go in. It usually takes me between one and a half to two months before I really know what I'm doing.
So anyway, I'm hoping to have a set schedule with this job. In all the jobs I've worked, I've NEVER had a set schedule. It was usually done bi-weekly, which majorly sucked if I needed to make plans for babysitting or other things, because I never knew what my availability was going to be. Also, more than that, I'm hoping to get a minimum of 15 hours a week. I really need that to get by with paying rent, cell phone, electric, and credit card. When you think about it, that's a lot of bills for someone who makes barely any money. Welcome to college I guess! ^_^;;
In other news, I have been chugging water for the past few days and monitoring everything I eat by putting it into my iPod and also writing it in a notebook. I've also been power walking and jogging on the treadmill in the basement. Although I know I'll be bored of it by Sunday when it's time to go back to State College, it's good because I can listen to music, let my mind wander, and work up a major sweat. =D I've also found that a good way to get metabolism up is to keep moving (though I know I'm not doing that now as I type, I need a break sometimes). So I go out to get the paper and mail, go for random walks throughout the day, meander through the house, etc. I'm trying desperately not to take a nap.
Speaking of which, I'm exhausted because I went grocery shopping at 5:30 this morning. I know it sounds crazy, but it's pretty logical when you think about it. NO LINES! The biggest problem you have is the occasional employee stocking shelves, but even that was nothing. I figured I'd take advantage since the Genuardi's opens at 5 AM. =) I got breakfast items, lunch meat, snacks and frozen dinners, plus yogurt for my mom (I think she already ate one) and some soap. Random other stuff. It was much needed. *nod*
I was supposed to go visit Lottie and Amelia today, but Lottie is sick. =( I really miss them. Then I wanted to go to Matt's, but neither of us has enough money to pay for gas and it wasn't worth it. So he's coming to visit tomorrow morning and we're leaving after my babysitting interview. Meanwhile, I have the house to myself for another hour until my sister comes home from school! Yayee! ^__^