Some Random Thoughts

I am old
So I had always said that when my first group of ninth graders were old enough to come to the singles branch, I would leave and start attending a family ward. Well, my first group of drama boys, who are now graduated seniors, started showing up at church a few weeks ago. Yikes.
My two days as a cub scout day camp leader earlier in the month made it painfully obvious that I am in no way ready to attend a family ward, so I decided to stick it out in my cute little branch. I'm glad I decided to stay but can I just freak out for one minute about how weird is it is to look out at the Sunday school class I am teaching and see the faces of my former kid-lets staring back at me? I mean, its a SINGLES WARD! They are my STUDENTS! I feel like Nancy Grace is going to bust down the door and start yelling at me any minute.

Service Time
Our last branch enrichment was a project for the church humanitarian aid program. We were supposed to tie 17 quilts to send to disaster victims. Because there is a chance these quilts could get sent to undeveloped nations where people wash laundry on rocks, the quilts have to be tied in a particular way so the strings on on the inside. Between our lack of numbers, lack of quilt-tieing talent, and overabundance of chatting, we only got four of the quilts done that day. I volunteered to take some of the quilts home to to work on them since, A) I am a teacher on summer vacation and have a little bit of free time and B) I needed an excuse to put off cleaning my apartment. So I borrowed Lacie's cool quilting thingy and spent Friday morning tieing this quilt.
I it only took me 3 1/2 NCIS episodes to finish the quilt, and I didn't make any big mistakes that would have required cutting, restitching, or cussing, so I guess it was a success.
Mail!!!
When I got home from our branch temple trip to IF yesterday, I found a package waiting for me on my front stoop. It was the cool new cook book/nutrition guide/fun read that I had ordered from Amazon last week.

The Little Black Apron: A Single Girl's Guide to cooking with Style and Grace. From what I have read so far, I think this book may become one of my new favorite things. I'll keep you posted.
Harry Potter

Speaking of favorite things, you can read the really short Harry Potter "prequel" J.K. wrote for a charity fundraiser online here in her own handwriting, and here typed out so it is easier to read. My favorite character, Sirius Black, is prominently featured, so I highly recommend it.

When We Left Earth

The newest part of my new favorite TV experience airs tonight!

My New Favorite Thing

So, I have a new favorite thing courtesy of the Discovery Channel:
The NASA Missions: When we left Earth


I DVRed the first two parts (about the Mercury and Gemini missions) on Sunday and was completely hooked in less than 10 minutes. If you thought the movie "Apollo 13" was intense, you have to see this documentary mini series that shows the actual footage from the first space missions and tells the freakin' awesome stories behind them. The next part (the Apollo missions) will air this Sunday night. I HIGHLY recommend it.


Hummm....now that I think about it, the Discovery Channel also introduced me to one of my other favorite things "Grizzly Man"

"Nothing short of extraordinary."
Variety

"One of the best nature films ever made."
Hollywood Reporter

Journey deep into the Alaskan wilderness with the amateur grizzly bear expert who lost his life in pursuit of his passion. In this acclaimed film, director Werner Herzog explores the life and death of wildlife preservationist Timothy Treadwell. Treadwell lived unarmed among the bears for thirteen summers, and filmed his adventures in the wild during his final five seasons. In October 2003, Treadwell's remains, along with those of his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were discovered near their campsite in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Reserve – mauled and devoured by a grizzly.

Dude, the bear totally ate him!

The Discovery Channel Rocks!