Facelift

I’ve decided that the blog needed to undergo a facelift since I’m no longer just me, I’m part of a we.  The new title of this blog is “Two to Tango” for the following reasons: First of all, Soren and I love to dance and the Tango is one of the most difficult and complex.  Both partners have to work together in perfect synchronization to complete even the most basic steps. The second reason is that since getting married I’ve come to realize that married life works a lot like a Tango—you have to work together if you’re going to succeed. None of the moves work if only one partner is doing them.  We’ll still trip and fall and make mistakes, but we’ll be there for each other.

So, as Soren and I dance into a new world of adventure and excitement, we hope you’ll glide along with us, because even though it takes two to Tango, there’s plenty of room on the dance floor!

Step #43-- Perspective (or first world problems)

The other night I put up a big stink because we ended up going to Wendy's for dinner instead of Chuck o Rama.  Now in my defense, I was promised Chuck o Rama, and I'd been looking forward to it all evening...but it was still kind of a dumb thing to make a big deal about.  After all, I got a spicy chicken sandwich and a frosty.

I'm amazed by the kind of mindset I get into living here in the states.  It's sort of a "I can, so I should."  But shouldn't it be a "just because I can, doesn't mean I should"? I have so many things at my fingertips here and I should just be grateful for whatever I get.  After all, in a few weeks I'll be back in China where I may or may not have hot water to shower with.

Sometimes I catch myself complaining about "first world problems."  Things like: running out of room on my ipod, the phone charger being out of arm's reach, or thinking there's nothing to eat in the house (when really there's a fully stocked fridge and food storage in the basement).  As I prepare to go back to China soon, I'm trying to change my perspective on these things.  In China I won't have a fridge, or food storage.  I won't even have a mattress.  So I think it's time to be grateful that I have an ipod, a phone, and wonderful parents who are willing to take me out to eat.

So thanks, Dad, for taking us out to Wendy's.  One of these days Soren and I will take you and mom to Chuck o Rama--our treat.

Student Teaching

It's about time I finally got around to this blog post.

This past semester has been a crazy ride.  Not two days after getting home from my honeymoon, I embarked on my student teaching journey.  The course of all courses, the true test, the fate decider.  From the moment I truly became an education major, I couldn't wait for student teaching.  Talking about teaching only does so much good.  Only through teaching do you know whether or not you can really be a teacher. With that in mind, my first day I walked with baited breath through the doors of Brockbank Jr. High.  Would I be successful?  Would I fail? Would I be mauled by ninth graders? I had no idea.

The first week was all preparation and it flew by.  Before I knew it I was standing in front of a group of students, lecturing them on classroom procedures.  As it turns out, Jr. High kids aren't so scary, not when they know who's in charge (and that was me).  I grew to love my classes.  I taught English, Theatre, and Improv.  I was also privileged to assistant direct Brockbank's production of High School Musical Jr.  That, in and of itself, was a rewarding experience.  I never thought in a million years that I'd be choreographing an entire musical...but I didn't do half bad.  In fact, I think the kids looked pretty darn good up there.

I loved my student teaching and I passed all evaluations with flying colors.  The worst thing about the whole situation is how much I miss my students.

Not only was I blessed to have amazing students, I also had amazing cooperating teachers.  I worked with Diana Parker (yes, Parker and Barker--it got very confusing) on Theatre, Improv, and the musical and I worked with Traci England (who I'm actually related to) on English.  The picture below is of me and Diana after the musical.

The next step:  get a real teaching job (Eek!)

Ah-hem....

Well...ah-hem...there are a few things that have happened since I last posted.  A few little things like, I don't know... graduating from college, starting student teaching, and maybe getting married.  Yeah...life's a roller coaster.

On August 3, 2012, I married Soren Joseph Barker for time and all eternity in the Bountiful, Utah temple.  It was a beautiful day full of tears, laughter, and a little bit of upset stomach (I spent about 45 minutes at the end of the reception with an unhappy tummy).  The reception was beautiful and I loved seeing all the wonderful people who came to support our union.  Here are some pictures:

Step #42-- Reach for the Stars

About a year ago, I began working on a ten-minute play project for a class. In that class, my professor told me that if I wanted to write a full-length play, now was the time to do it. Feeling somewhat ambitious, I decided to go for it, and began adapting my ten-minute play into a full-length version. Four revisions and seven months later, I assembled a group of actors and an audience for a staged reading of the script. To my delight, the work was well received and I was encouraged to push for production. I handed my fifth revision to my good friend Katie Ludlow, and wrote up a proposal for the chair of the theatre department. With the theatre department's approval, Katie took on the director's role and we began to assemble a team of designers. Now, with many talented people involved (both cast and crew), my dream is becoming a reality and we're producing my play. Many times in my life I've reached for the stars and fallen flat on my back, but this time I actually succeed. I got a star; plucked it right out of the heavens and put it in my pocket.

The play is called "A Half Stick of Gum," and it is to be performed on June 21, 22, and 23. For those of you who may be interested, here is a brief synopsis:

Samantha and Jack are two workers at Gregors, a small town grocery store. While Sam has just come out of a dysfunctional relationship, Jack has just started one. As the two of them struggle with the store's manager, Steve, to save the failing grocery store, they also struggle with the feelings they may have for each other. Could pursuing a relationship save their friendship, or ruin it?

Engaged!

Even though pretty much everyone has heard by now, let me take another chance to say I'M GETTING MARRIED! His name is Soren Barker and I am madly in love with him. Let me introduce him to you now:

Soren is tall, dark, handsome, and is from Boothbay, Maine. He loves Theatre, food, music, and snuggling on the couch. If you thought my jokes were bad, his are worse. If given two options, he'll always choose the unexpected one. He is a movie-quoting fiend and often bursts into song. For me, he's perfect. Need I say more?

Step #41-- Try Substitutions

Lately I've been getting in touch with my inner Chef by trying all kinds of fun, crazy recipes. Soren and I have cooked just about everything from an Italian sausage souffle to a roast with baked potatoes. But, as college students, we don't always have the necessary ingredients on hand. So today, instead of ham fried rice, we had chicken fried rice with left over green beans--not too bad. A couple weeks ago I wanted to make my mom's tuna casserole, but instead of cream of mushroom soup, I had to use cream of chicken soup; instead of canned tuna, I had to use shredded chicken; and instead of corn flakes on top, I grabbed some Cheerios. Let me tell you something: THAT was a fantastic meal.

I'm discovering that, in life, things don't always go as planned--in fact, they hardly ever do. But the ingredients along the way don't matter as much as the end result. So if you have to improvise a little along the way, it's okay. Sometimes your substitutions lead to something new and exciting. The key is flexibility. Whenever I'm open to the possibilities that a new ingredient can bring to a recipe, I usually end up with a treasure.

Although, occasionally I learn that you really can add too much Cayenne Pepper.