Summer Fun

Well, I have been a bit of a lazy blogger this summer. In fact, I have been a bit lazy in a lot of areas of my life. So, to catch up any one that reads my blog I have filmed myself doing an interpretive dance of my summer. So, get the popcorn, get comfortable, and ready, set, ACTION.

Well, the interpretive dance didn't turn out so well so I will just write about my exciting life. School ended May 20. So, I am officially a retired school teacher without the retirement benefits. To start off my retirement I headed to Seattle and spent 12 days with my niece, Greta, and nephew, Evan. Occasionally, I would make time for their parents too. When I got back to Colorado/Wyoming I started working for my dad in his pediatric dentistry practice. I am...a professional scanner now. My dad's office is going paperless but before that happens I get the exciting and thrilling opportunity to scan the documents into the computer. It is monotonous but I am glad I have a job that gives me a little extra money.

Now, some of you may be wondering why I retired so young. No, I didn't not win the lottery or rob a bank. I started University of Wyoming Grad school on June 15. In the fall I will be going full time. So, this summer I was required to take 2 courses. The first was Ethics and the second one, which I am finishing up, is Theories of Counseling and Pyschodyanmics. I have really enjoy being the student instead of the teacher. My goal is to have my masters in the spring of 2011. I am also playing on a soccer team in Ft. Collins and so far we are 4-1. My brother, Owen, and I also found time to bike a 20 mile loop that was beautiful but a killer workout. Just like Lance Armstrong we are going to attempt it again. Maybe not 8 times but twice, which is quite an accomplishment for us. Then in two weeks I will be crossing the Zion Curtain and going to Snowbird for a family reunion. Overall, it has not been an exciting summer of fighting Ninja and traveling to various spots of the earth, but it has been a nice summer that has allowed me to relax in a different way.

My Colon cleansing adventure

About a month ago, I was saw an infomercial about a colon cleansing. The doctor selling the product claimed that we have waste throughout our bodies and that the colon cleanser would totally clean out your whole body. Even though I was interested in the product I was not interested in spending my money. Some of my aunts and uncles use "Isogenics" to help with their weight. A few years back my parents bought some of the product from my uncle. So, I thought I would investigate to see if my parents had any colon cleanser from Isogenics. Just my luck they had some bottles but the expiration date had expired. Since I am a Leonard and it was in a sealed bottle I thought I would try it anyway.

My sister thought I would have the runs if I tried it but I thought it would be worth it for a day because I was convinced that afterwards I would feel like a new woman. The directions said to mix 4oz with 80z of water and do this four times in a day. I chose the berry flavored cleanser to be the first to make it ways into my body. I opened the bottle and instantly caught a whiff of the stuff...I shiver just thinking about it. The liquid was a dark brown. I wasn't sure if this was because it had expired or this was it's normal color. My parents weren't home so I decided I would go for it and hope for the best (Alexis, you think I would learn).

I started to drink and thought this isn't so bad. I was half way done with the glass and took a pause in drinking and that's when it hit me...the after taste. Drive heaves followed. But I was determined to finish so I did and then made my way next to the toilet expecting to throw up. Once I got my gag reflex under control, I drank 32 oz of water. Rather than just stopping with one glass, I forced myself to complete the other three glasses throughout the day. It was torture. It was so disgusting. I decided that I was not going to do it another day even though the directions said to do it two days in a row. After four glasses of that #%*& I had had enough. And to top it all off I found out it was not a colon cleanser but a diuretic. Good thing it is Fast Sunday soon.

My family's response to my experiment.

• Water and apple juice will clean out your colon
• That is why we have fast Sunday
• Although they did not verbalize this I am sure they thought I was CRAZY
  

Graduating from Highland High School at the age of 84

On Sunday, May 17, my high school held graduation. Part of the ceremony was awarding Lupe Vigil, an 84 yr. WWII Vet, his honorary High School Diploma. Fox News was there and the story was broadcasted in New York and Spokane along with Colorado. It was really neat to witness this historic event for Lupe. Click on his name to see the news clip. LUPE

Wedgie = Extra Credit

At our last track meet one of my athletes was laying down in the grass. Like many boys, he had his pants down low and his underwear showing. After trying to convince a couple of girls, I finally got a boy to agree to my devious plan. I said "Robert, I will give you extra credit if you give James a Wedgie." Robert agreed, gave James a wedgie, and took off running. It was so funny.

Bathroom Talk

Unfortunately at school we do not have a staff bathroom. As a result, I often hear a lot of juicy info when I am using the restroom. Occasionally, I will add to the conversations that are going on between girls without revealing that it is me. Today, I decided to have a little fun with two girls. I d0n't know what they were talking about but in the middle of their conversation I blurted out, "Could you keep it down, I am trying to concentrate here." Silence. Then one girl said with a little bit of attitude, "If you need to concentrate in there you got problems." Silence. She then continued, "Who is in there anyway?" Much to my delight I answered, "Ms. Leonard." I love the shock and the change in attitude that occurs instantly. It was pretty funny.

I had another funny and shocking experience but this did not occur in the bathroom. My geography classes are designing McDonalds in either a Latin American or European c0untry. Part of the project is developing a new menu with 10 items that are named after either a person, place, or event that is significant to the country they are researching. One girl was quite frustrated with this process because she had typed in Google, "Famous People in Italy" and it kept bringing up the name, Christopher Columbus. Finally, she called me over and said, "I keep getting this name, Christopher Columbus, who is he?" Shock instantly spread to my face and I said, "Remember the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Marie. Columbus sailed and 'discovered' the new world, the Americas." Without any look of recognition she simply said, "Oh, okay." Wow, are you kidding me. I know she has been taught about Christopher Columbus but I wonder why she was unable to retain that information.

What needs are met when you are married? Physical!

In my health class I am teaching about mental and emotional health. Part of the curriculum is Maslow's Hierarchy. For those that don't know what this is, it is certain needs that every human must meet in order to have a good mental and emotional health. So, the first need is physiological needs; food, water, sleep, etc. Then there are safety needs followed by the need to belong. After that there is the need for recognition. Finally, there is the need to reach one's own potential or self actualization. I was giving my students some real life scenarios and they would then identify which need was being met. One scenario was marriage. The answer is the need to belong or love that is being met. However, when I asked what need was being met one young man said, "Physical". Everyone started laughing but him. He sat there and pondered what he had just said and then quickly added, "You guys have dirty minds." It was pretty funny.

In bed by 8:40 pm

What is there to do on a Friday night...well, for me it was going to bed at 8:40. This has been a crazy week for me. Due to the weather, we had to make up a track meet this week. So, we had a track meet Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. I am also in the middle of a huge geography project that by the time I finish will have required 12 after school hours. Thankfully, I am on the tail end of the project and track. So, by the time Friday rolled around I was pretty tired. I ate dinner at a school function, came home, and went to bed.

Then I was up at 6:30 am to get ready for another track meet and to run a 5k. Some students from my school organized a 5k to raise money to help the family of Destin Towse, who passed away in December, with the medical bills. There were about 40 people there including Destin's family. I had four track kids run it with me, then we quickly changed and went to join the rest of the team at the track meet. We only have two meets left and then state. I worked about 65hrs. this week. I know to those who are parents this is nothing but to me it was tiring.

Here are some pictures of some of my athletes.

L to R: Kayla (who really does have arms), Chance, Alee, Molley, and Sam

High Jumper, Nathan Stone. I am the ninja in the red fleece!

Track Team (One of the coaches, Scott, just won the master mile at the Drake Relays with a time of 4:25. He also won nationals in March in the 1600m and 800m. None of our kids can keep up with him. I believe he is 45 and is amazing!)

Thrower, Michael Keever. He is one of the smallest but also one of the best.

April has been one busy month for me. On April 10th, I flew to Utah for a friend, Sandra's, birthday. I also did something that weekend that I have never done before...drugs. Just kidding, I played Rock Band. I learned that playing the guitar, drums and singing are not a hidden talent that I just need to develop. In fact, some would probably ask me not to develop those talents at all. I wasn't very good but it was fun. I also got to have lunch with my two other friends Nikki and Joni.

L to R: Joni, Nikki, Sandra, me

Also in April, I had my first every school closure due to rain. Our superintendent actually closed school because the forecast was 1 to 2ft. of snow, but all we got was rain. It was a much needed break!

I only have 16 more days of school. It is amazing how fast it is going. I am not sure I mentioned in my blog about my plans for next year. In Feb., I was accepted into the University of Wyoming Counselor Education program. So, starting in June I will be working on my masters to become a guidance counselor. I decided to go full time in the fall so this is my last year of teaching. I am really looking forward to this new adventure.