Thursday, January 30, 2014

Without Twitter, what am I to do? Blog more?

To anyone who knows me at all, knows that I am constantly on Twitter. I used to hate Twitter, despise it actually. I got on my Freshmen year of college because my freshmen roommate had it. It looked cool but when I got my own account, I realized that it just wasn't for me...or so I thought? I deleted my account and went on with my life. I used Facebook and Skype to contact with people from back home and left Twitter in the dust. As sophomore year started I decided to give Twitter another try. It became huge over the Summer, and lots of my friends were joining. On September 20th, 2011 I jumped back on Twitter and decided to give it another try. I became obsessed. I started following celebrities, athletes, and friends. I tweeted whatever came to my mind and it was nice that I could even learn about things around the CSBSJU community, through Twitter. My favorite part about Twitter is that everyone can use it how they want. Some people follow 0 accounts and just tweet. Others follow a handful of accounts and only have a handful of followers. Others follow like 1200 accounts so their timeline is always full of information.

For me? I follow around 600 accounts and have about 400 followers. I follow mostly celebrities, athletes in MN Sports, and friends. I also follow beat writers and other journalists of sports teams and national media. It is a blast. The other great thing about Twitter is starting to know people based on what they tweet AND meeting some people that I never would have met if it wasn't for Twitter.

Two great examples of this are as follows: The first one is Dan Long (@DanLong1298). Anyone who follows me, knows who this name because I RT (Retweet) him all the time. His tweets are majority of sports and most of them are hilarious. So how do I know Dan? The answer is that I know him best through Twitter. I have hung out with him a handful of times but the majority of our interaction and friendship comes through Twitter. We agree and disagree about various sport topics but I honestly would know nothing about him if it wasn't for Twitter and now I am going to his wedding this summer when he marries his beautiful new wife, Katelyn.

The other example stems from a unique friendship. His name is @Kotasek and chances are that if you follow me, you know this name as well. We like to make fun of Andrew and talk about sports. DK loves golf and other sports as well. He has a fascination about Nebraska football and North Carolina basketball (gross). So how do I know Kotasek? The answer is that I don't. I have never met DK in my life even though we share a passion for golf and both of us attend Canterbury Park for the races over the Summer. Mr. Kotasek is my roommates high school Golf Coach. Think about that. I know my roommates golf coach and talk to him routinely (okay daily) through Twitter. We also share a passion for teaching, which is a huge reason why he and Dan are my two favorite people to follow.

There are many other examples of people on Twitter who I talk to and interact with on Twitter and no where else but there are occasions where Twitter interactions lead to hanging out outside of the cyber world. Last year I had a beer with someone I had never met, and went golf with someone I hadn't talked to since High School.

So why am I telling you this? Who cares about my experience with Twitter?

I am writing this blog because a couple days ago, my Twitter account was suspended. Why you might ask? I honestly have no idea. I don't abuse people on there and I don't know what other reason they might have to suspend me, but regardless that is what has happened. Now you are probably all thinking the same thing; This kid is so lost without Twitter that he is out it without 2 days and he is going crazy.

You are absolutely RIGHT. When I have a thought in my head I tweet it. When I need to know something quickly, I search for it, When I need to know who is winning the game, I jump on my Timeline and there it is. Taking away Twitter is like taking away my newspaper not allowing me to know what others are thinking. For someone who uses it as much as I do (28,000 Tweets and counting), it sucks not being able to continue to use it. I can't tweet things that I have been writing down, just to get them out of my mind. Twitter is like my journal that I allow everyone to read. Here is a few examples of tweets from the past two days that I couldn't tweet but would have liked to.

1) OVERTIME! Gosh Ohio State is TERRIBLE lol
2) Oh, and Wisco lost, these MN Wins are becoming less and less meaningful every day.
3) I just drove on 94 for 15 miles without seeing another car.. #Weird
4) I don't know where I was studying in middle school but I know it wasn't caribou. Just saw 10 middle school kids in there with coffee (or maybe hot chocolate) #dedicated
5) Pinterest literally has everything, like no matter what you want, you can find it.
6) Teacher just bought me coffee again. She gives me dark roast and is slowly becoming my new favorite.
7) Crossword Puzzles are the absolute worst. Once you start you can't stop because or else you feel like an idiot.
8) New Mexico basketball is just fun to watch. Totally dominating this Utah squad.
9) Peyton wins the SuperBowl and people are going to call him the greatest of all time? Brady has 3 rings and 5 SB appearances. #GOAT
10) My Mom just started my car for me because I am her favorite :)

There are just 10 of probably 100 tweets that I would have tweeted in the past two days if Twitter would allow me back on. Until they do I guess I will have to communicate with all of you this way. If you haven't gotten a Twitter account yet, do yourself a favor and try it out. If you have any questions, ask me. It is honestly the best Social Media site and I don't even think it is close.

Thanks for letting me vent, while also telling some of my Twitter stories. I hope that you all have a wonderful Thursday!

-J-

ADDED: As of January 30th @ 3:03 I am back and not suspended anymore! You could say I am pretty happy! Let the SuperBowl tweets begin!

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Spring is just around the corner...right?

Weight Loss Update: I have hit the 50 pound mark of my weight loss update! I am tooting my own horn but I am extremely proud of my accomplishments and what I have done to better myself! Thank you for believing in me and supporting me. You guys are the best!

Student teaching update: Today is now my 4th day of staying home from student teaching, due to the weather. Last Friday I got to teach the lecture as the teacher was gone and it was a blast. Many of the students asked questions about Cassidy and if she was my wife. At the end of the day on Friday they got to ask questions about her as long as they were school appropriate. One student even asked for her number! I couldn't do anything except for laugh. Tomorrow my supervisor is coming to see me teach as well. I am excited to have him observe me as well as continuing to move forward in getting my teaching license! 

Today's blog is about looking forward to the Spring. There are many things about the Spring that I love. The ending of Winter brings the annual Ski Trip with my family. We stay at the same hotel every year and go skiing at Giants Ridge. We play games and enjoy family time together. 

After ski weekend I really look forward to the Spring time. There is something about the Spring months that really gets me excited. March is my favorite month of the year. Spring Training for the Twins, and March Madness as well! Once April starts the Twins start playing their regular season games and it is nice that almost every single day we can turn on the TV and watch baseball. This year I am also looking forward to the horse racing season beginning. Last year I started watching the horses and really had fun learning about the sport of horse racing. This year I am looking forward to learning more about my new hobby and meeting new people in the sport. 


Finally this Spring brings graduation from SJU, which is one of the things on my bucket list. Graduating from college is something else that I can truly feel accomplished by and I look forward to celebrating with Johnnies and Bennies in May. 

Thanks for reading my blog as always. I appreciate all the kind words about my weight loss and my blog. 

-J- 

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Student Teaching At Its Finest!

Weigh loss update: Yesterday afternoon I weighed in and I was 2 pounds lighter! This puts me right around the 50 pound mark and next week on my 16th week in the program I should hit 50 pounds :)

Today I am going to focus my blog on Student Teaching because I have received a lot of questions about it. I am glad to see how many of you actually care about what I am doing and take the time to ask me about it. I am going to post some common questions and then I will give the answer to them afterward.

Q: Where are you student teaching? What grade are you teaching? What Subject are you teaching?

A: Currently I am on week 3 at Monticello Middle School. I teach 7th grade U.S. History and in a couple of days I am taking over the classroom and teaching students about the Civil War.

Q: How many hours a week do you student teach? Do you take any classes while you student teach?

A: Essentially, student teaching is a full time job. I am there from 7:15-3:30 every day. I don't take any other classes but I do try to work at Broadway a couple days a week for some money.

Q: They don't pay you for student teaching right?

A: No. Essentially I am paying a full tuition at Saint John's and so technically I am paying to student teach. (Thanks Grandpa!) I work at Broadway (usually on weekends) because I am not so tired from working all day. Also, naps have been added to my life. I never used to take naps but since I have trouble falling asleep at night, I am usually tired by 4 when I get home.

Q: 7th grade? That has to be a tough age level right?

A: The students at Monticello are really great! Obviously some students behave better than others but they respect me as a person and so I respect them as well. I haven't had to deal with any huge discipline issues, but if they do arise I believe the students will be able to handle them respectfully. Just like we were in middle school, Monticello has "The Attention Getter" "The Troublemaker" "The Smart Kids" "I'm too cool to care about my grades" and every other student that any other middle school has. The challenge is to try to focus your teaching to every personality so that all of them have the resources to be successful.

Q: How many weeks do you student teach? 

A: I spend 8 weeks at the Middle School and then I move over to Monticello High School. Once I am there, I will teach 8 more weeks in 9th grade Civics and Government.

Q: What is your favorite part about student teaching? 

A: Since I can remember I have wanted to be a teacher and so the fact that I am essentially doing that right now is amazing. The staff at Monticello Middle School is also incredible to work with. They have already helped me become a better educator. Also, Monticello Middle School has 20 minutes devoted to reading every single day and I love being able to get nose deep into a book every day. It really benefits the students as well. I am currently reading "Killing Kennedy" and think that it is absolutely amazing.

Q: After you are done student teaching, do you automatically have your license? 

A: This question is kind of tough. I have 2 tests to take through MTLE, which is through the state. I have to pass both of those and complete all of my students teaching assignments as well. There seems like a never ending lists of things that I have to do but slowly and surely I am taking them down one-by-one. Once I get my license and receive a job I will go back to school to obtain a Master's Degree (Bucket list item).

Q: Where do you plan on teaching once you get your license? 

A: Honestly, anywhere around the Rogers/Elk River/Monticello/Buffalo/Saint Michael area would be great! I want to live in Rogers or surrounding area for the rest of my life and it would be nice to not have to commute so far every day. The ISD 728 Elk River District was amazing to me growing up so it would be nice to give back to students there. Also, I do love this district I am in right now but essentially I am going to have to see what positions open up and apply everywhere that I can. Hopefully someone will give me an opportunity and allow me to show them what I have to offer as an educator.

Q: If you don't get a job right out of college what are you going to do? 

A: I honestly feel like I have so many options if I can't teach right out of college. I can substitute and hope to impress administration that way. I also could work with my Dad and do things in the office and help with weddings. I also could go back to school and try to get a different degree. If I was going to go back to school, I would go to the U of M for Journalism. I have always wanted to be a writer (hence why I am writing this). Essentially having my own classroom right out of college is my ultimate goal.


Like I said, I don't mind answering these questions over and over because it shows that people care about what I am doing. This blog was a way to show people who don't see me what I am up to and how much I truly love this experience so far. Thanks to everyone who continues to support me every single day. I honestly could never show all of you how much it means to me.

Until next time,

-J-


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Student Teaching

Weight Loss Update: I am not able to give an update since I haven't weighted in yet today. I have been staying around the same weight for the last week or so and although I started Insanity, I am having a hard time staying dedicated to it. I still think a program that intense is too much for me right now so I might do it from time to time, I am still going to work on trying to build myself up to being able to do it regularly.

I also found out in the past 24 hours that a member of my family has passed away. Becky was an amazing women who could light a room up with her smile. Although most of you don't know them, please say a prayer today for Sam, Luke & Bob, as they could really use them during this difficult time.

My blog today is going to be about student teaching. I have been placed in the Monticello School District and have almost been there for a week now. I can say with absolute certainty that teaching is my calling. I don't even feel like I am working when I am there, it feels like I am just having fun. The staff is amazing, the kids are hilarious and respectful for the most part, and although there is lots to learn, I can't wait to take over the classroom when we start Civil War next week. My cooperating teacher is amazing and has taught me so much in just 6 days and I can't wait to get back every morning to learn more. Many people have been really supportive and continue to ask me about it regularly and to be honest I love talking about it. Waking up early stinks, but when I get my caffeine IV hooked up and drink my black coffee every morning, I am ready to roll (after a breath mint of course). In future blogs I will post some of the funny things the kids say, but for privacy I will obviously have to keep names private. It is great to watch middle school boys try to flirt with girls and vice-versa. 7th grade drama is hilarious and I think by the end of my 8 weeks there I might be able to write a book about how many things these kids try.

The upcoming week is super busy. Thursday I am going to Benihana with my "future in-laws" and celebrating birthdays. Friday I will be at Broadway serving pizza if you want to come say hi. Saturday I am taking Cassidy out for her birthday because on her actually birthday (January 20th, don't forget) I have a teacher workshop. Sunday will be spent watching football like I've been doing every Sunday since September.

I am forever thankful for all the recent compliments I have been getting on my weight. I say it all the time but no one really knows how much it means to me. I still have work to do, but it makes it easier to say no to certain foods when I keep your compliments in the back of my head.

I hope you all have an amazing rest of your week. Remember that if you want something, go get it. If you don't like your job, quit. Do what you love, and love what you do. We all know how fast live goes, why not live it to the absolute fullest? I know that is what I am doing.

-J-

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Getting to know more about me-Top 5

Today I don't have a weight loss update because my meeting isn't until after this blog is posted! 

Today my blog is simple, I am going to list some categories and then list my top 5 in that category. The list will include songs, foods, restaurants, sports, and things like that. This is just so people who read this blog and don't know a lot about me learn a little bit more. Enjoy!

Top 5 Foods:

1) Cheeseburgers 
2) Pizza (who would have guessed right)
3) Meatballs 
4) Potato Dumplings 
5) Spaghetti (usually with meatballs of course) 

Top 5 Movies: (Anyone who knows me knows that I never ever watch movies)

1) Harry Potter Series
2) Tommy Boy
3) Happy Gilmore
4) Matilda 
5) Miracle

Top 5 Sports (to play): 

1) Golf
2) Volleyball
3) Baseball
4) Basketball
5) Tennis/Football 

Top 5 Sports (to watch):

1) Football
2) Basketball
3) Baseball
4) Horse Racing
5) Golf 

Top 5 Restaurants (Fast Food, even though I rarely go to these on my diet, if ever).

1) Taco Bell
2) Wendy's
3) Chipotle
4) McDonalds
5) Jimmy John's

Top 5 Video Games:

1) Mario Games of any kind
2) NHL
3) Madden
4) Guitar Hero
5) Dance Dance Revolution 

Top 5 Songs of 2013

1) Counting Stars: One Republic 
2) Same Love: Macklemore 
3) Mirrors: Justin Timberlake
4) Headlights: Eminem
5) I Got You: Jack Johnson

Top 5 Songs of All Time (Extremely Hard List)

1) Wonderful: Everclear
2) Austin: Blake Shelton 
3) Lose Yourself- Eminem
4) Any Song by the Beatles 
5) Beautiful Day: U2

Top 5 Artists/Bands

1) Beatles
2) Eminem
3) U2
4) RHCP
5) Michael Jackson 

Top 5 Sports Teams

1) Vikings
2) Twins
3) Gophers
4) Blue Devils
5) New England Patriots/Wild/Timberwolves 

Top 5 US Destinations

1) Boston
2) San Francisco
3) New York City
4) Washington D.C
5) Orlando 

Sorry if you either know me too well that you already knew all of this or if you were bored reading this. Hopefully next week I will be able to have some fun stories from my first week of Student Teaching. I was supposed to start yesterday but school was cancelled yesterday and today so I officially start tomorrow! Can't wait. 

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day. Take time to say a prayer for the homeless who have no where to go during this winter tundra we are experiencing and continue to pray for Becky and the whole family as they really need your prayers right now. As always I will be praying for you and your families! 

-J- 


 


Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014: The End Of One Year and The Beginning Of Another

Weight Loss Update: Yesterday marked week 12 of my weight loss challenge. When I stepped on the scale, I was 44.4 pounds lighter than when I started the program. The weight loss isn't as rapid during the holiday months and they said that is normal. Any weigh loss is good weight loss at this time. Now that I start student teaching on Monday, I am going to be able to work back into a routine that includes a daily workout. I am excited to add working out to my schedule, even though I don't always have the motivation to workout. I am going to push myself to do it for a few months and hopefully I will become addicted to working out.

Today's blog is about the end of 2013 and looking forward to what is ahead in 2014. 2013 was a great year. I finished Junior year at Saint John's and began Senior year. Junior year with friends up at school was an absolute blast. I learned a lot both in school and in life and believed that throughout the year I really bettered myself as a person. I also learned to love the library as used a whole bunch of the resources that CSBSJU had to help myself succeed.

In sports I attended many events as well as watched a ton on TV. If you follow me on twitter you know that I am almost always watching a sporting event or following one via twitter. I got to attend opening day at Target Field and it was the coldest I have ever been watching a baseball game. I have decided to make an effort to attend every opening day for the Twins because it is one of my favorite days of the year. Everything is perfect when baseball is on TV. My favorite sporting event of 2013 was when the Johnnies beat the Tommies in football. Storming the field with all the fans and meeting the players in the middle to congratulate them was one of the best feelings ever. We all went back that night to celebrate and overall that weekend was just amazing.

One thing people don't know is that in 2013 I also became closer to my spiritual side and to God. I have always prayed at night but have been praying 2-5 times daily and I love it. I tried to make it to church every Sunday and I always just made sure to open myself up to the Lord. I bought a WWJD bracelet and wear it everyday as a reminder to what I should do when I am faced with a tough decision. I also wear a cross around my neck every single day.

So what is going to happen in 2014? I plan to try to take each day slowly and not look ahead too far. I want to try to cross some things off the bucket list that I wrote a few weeks back. I know that I am going to be a sponsor for Cody's confirmation and I will also be attending at least 2 weddings for important people in my life. I plan on attending many sporting events and I also am going to look to strengthen my relationship with Cassidy even more than I already do. I want to continue to build a relationship with God as well. I know that I will be spending the summer on the golf course and at the race track with the horses :). Hopefully this summer will bring about a teaching job so that I can begin my career. From there, many changes will come about and I am looking forward at sharing this year with all of you.

One thing that made me sad yesterday is when they talked about how 2013 sucked. If you are reading this, make sure that you make 2014 better. Leave the bad things in the past and only bring the good into 2014. Better yourself and make 2014 great. Spent time with friends and actually listen to what they have to say. Don't always be on your phone when you could be enjoying company that is right in front of you.

As we move into 2014, I want to have continued prayers for anyone who is dealing with hardships of any kind. I hope that you all enjoyed bringing in the new year and that you continue to make yourself better everyday. Can't wait to see what a new year brings for all of us. If you have a resolution, stick to it. Mine is to try to make someone's day better every single day. Hopefully I can do that.

As always thanks for taking time out of your busy life to read what I have to say. I hope you didn't think it was a waste of time. I truly love being able to write something and have people tell me that they like it.

-J-