Week of Craziness

This week has been such a crazy week.

Monday, we went with some people from the ward (our Family Home Evening group) to the Georgetown basketball game vs. no. 7 Louisville. Georgetown lost...but it was a really fun game. It did make me miss BYU basketball though! It was incredible to be in such a large arena, yet the energy just wasn't the same. Oh, my computer completely crashed too. Ugh.

Amber and Carolyn on the Metro

Meggie, Colleen, Kristen, and Amber Georgetown Basketball

Tuesday, we went to institute and Wednesday we attended the Denyce Graves concert at the Kennedy Center. She is an alum of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and offered free tickets to the teachers. Meggie, Kristen, and I were each given an extra ticket for a date, so naturally, we took our roommates. It was really fun. The highlight of the evening was to see our students' show choir perform. They were INCREDIBLE. Seriously. I wish we could have taken pictures. I felt like a little parent watching my kids perform. They are so talented.

Friday night, we went to a Spanish restaurant and then to an 80s dance party. The dance party was totally decked out in all these 80s movie and band posters. There were mullets, leggings (which unfortunately seem to be here to stay), and holy clothing. Goo. Afterwards, Carolyn, Kristen, Ryan and I sat in the car and had a really good conversation. It was exactly what I needed. Then we watched an episode of The Office at Tori's and ate ice cream. 80s dance party, ice cream, the office, good friends...what more does one need in life?

Kristen, Ryan, Meggie, Amber, Wendy, Carolyn, Evan, and all of our friends in the background

Saturday morning, way too early, we ventured to the Capitol. I organized a tour and reserved tickets so my students could come. We have just started studying the Legislative Branch and the process a bill goes through to become law. Don't worry, I even showed "I'm Just a Bill" for all you School House Rock fans. Last class period we studied the process a bill must take from the congress people, to the committees, to the Senate or House, to the President (with all the presidents options of veto, pocket veto, or signing into legislation). I then assigned them to sides and made them debate whether or not Washington DC should receive full representation in the House. For those of you who are not aware, Washington, DC, does not have representation in the House or Senate. They have a nonvoting representative in the House. Eleanor Homes Norton is able to vote in committees (to pick which bills can come to the floor) but she is not able to vote. It wasn't until the 23rd Amendment that Washingtonians were able to vote. The 23rd Amendment increased the number of electors in the Electoral College to 538 allowing 3 to represent the District (100 (Senate)+ 435 (House)+ 3(DC)). With this said, they can vote for president, but they don't have any representation in the Senate (because they aren't a state) and in the House (voting anyways). Well that is what we have been debating in class. It's been fun to have the students actually reference their Constitution. They are pretty heated in their debates. Referencing that representatives only represent states and even debating that a person is a person no matter where they lived (even comparing the lack of representation as demeaning and comparing it to slavery...). I wish everyone could sit in my class for a day. It is so entertaining.

A few of my students

Anyways, back to the subject. Though my students are from DC, most haven't been to many of the sites. I reserved tickets and told the students that I would love to have them join me to tour the Capitol, while also recognizing that many of them have prior engagements (practices, auditions, tryouts, etc.) Probably 75% offered interest but they were all so disappointed that they had so many things going on. I expected 3 or so to show up...but 13 did. It was great! So, together with my roommates, we toured the Capitol. When I asked them what they learned, they said that they had already learned most of the stuff already in class--which of course made my day. They listened!!! I felt like a proud parent. They are such good kids. And beautiful too. Take a look.

The Capitol

This is where George Washington was to be buried, but his will stated he wanted to be buried with Martha at Mt. Vernon. It is also the center of DC.The first location of the Supreme Court in the CapitolOur dear friend, Brigham YoungToday, after church, we went to the Holocaust Museum. I had been there as a 7th grade student, but I didn't remember it too well. I can't believe people question the existence of the Holocaust taking place. There is so much tangible evidence.

Outside the Holocaust Museum

The Great 8

8 FAVORITE TV SHOWS
1 Saved by the Bell
2. College Football
3. CNN News
4. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
5. American Idol
6. MLB (thank you Dad and Sheldon)
7. Glenn Beck
8. (I don't watch TV at all!!! I haven't watched any of these in months...)

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY
1. At 12 AM I spoke to a Dell Tech person for 2 hours. My computer has crashed. I was able to get my documents backed up but I have NO pictures or music. Any pictures are greatly appreciated...amber_lenora@hotmail.com. It's really sad. (thank you Coralie for the Reeses Pieces. They got me through my time of need).
2. Woke up at 6:30, after snoozing 5 times. At the Metro station I got trapped in the closing dividers that keep people from entering the Metro Station without a farecard. They HURT!
3. I taught on the process a bill takes to become law. Naturally, we began the class by watching School House Rock's I'm Just a Bill. Classic.
4. I sang the quadratic formula song to impress an algebra teacher at lunch. "Negative B, Negative B, plus or minus square root, plus or minus square root, b squared minus four A C, b squared minus four A C, over two A, over two A." Thank you, Ms. Davis. Eight years later, it is still remembered. Oh the power of a teacher. Just think, I could have that effect ;)
_________________________________________________________________
I started this a few days ago...and I don't remember what I did that day. So, in the past 24 hours...
5. I attended a dance at the Naval Academy with six of my roommates. We almost died on the way (we usually do with the person who drove us...)
6. I went to the Eastern Market.
7. Brushed my teeth 7 times. I have an addiction.
8. Ate Ben & Jerry's in honor of my dad.

8 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO
1. Going back to Provo/Rexburg for summer
2. Seeing my family in April
3. Graduation!!!
4. Finding a REAL job
5.

8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS
1 Applebee's (I know, no one likes it but I LOVE the Oriental Chicken Salad so so much)
2. Zupa's
3. Red Robin
4. Outback
5. Madox
6. Costa Vida
7. Wendy's
8. Grandma Anderson's house

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST
1. Get a passport
2. Use my passport
3. Have a family
4. Pay off my car
5. Laugh every day...A lot. (this will probably be the easiest for me to achieve)
6. Adopt
7. Get my Master's Degree
8. Endure to the End and BE HAPPY :)

My Students at Ellington School of the Arts...

Let me welcome you to the Senior Fashion show at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. It was incredible to see the production. I know the students basically did everything, including purchasing clothing from their own pockets. Let's be honest, some were a bit risque (see above picture of the males without shirts on) and I really didn't want to see lots of my students with so little clothing on, but It was a really fun production.

Catwalk time...

Don't forget the dancing...

The gentleman in the left corner is completely on toe.

Inauguration, Take Two.

The quote says, "The Mall after Obama's followers listened to him talk about the new era of personal responsibility." My mom sent me this. I think it's hilarious. It looked like this all over the city. It was sick. I want to show this to my students in class. Every day, I give 3 extra credit points to students who are on-time and analyze a political cartoon which I have projected (we have a major problem with people being on time). I've got to throw in some anti-conservative political cartoons in soon or they are going to think I am biased--which might or might not be true.

New York, New York!

This weekend we took an adventure to NYC. Seven of my roommates traveled and five of us planned to stay at my roommate, Kristen's Manhattan apartment. We were so excited to get to NYC early, travel to the apartment, order take-out, watch a movie, and rest up for a big day ahead. Well, that didn't work. Instead, we caught the China bus in Chinatown, got a flat tire, waited for our non-English speaking bus driver to arrange for the tire to be changed, and just waited...and waited. It was freezing outside. Apparently, it is an unwritten rule that you need to BYOTP (bring your own toilet paper) on the sketchy China bus...so it was interesting to see the males file off the bus one by one in search of the woods. We were pulled over for about three hours on the side of the road somewhere in Maryland. We got out and had races. We were so bored and needed to move around (Carolyn, Wendy, Colleen, and possibly Susie and subsequently now sick). Have you ever played tag on the side of the interstate in Maryland? Didn't think so. Boy are we fortunate.
We finally made it to New York, traversed the scary subway (I have never been so grateful for the DC Metro in my life. There aren't as many sketchy people...or rats...in DC), and made it to the apartment. It is the most beautiful apartment! It is so cute and felt much more like a real home than our monstrous apartment, laden with laptops and high school text books. This apartment was really just beautifully decorated and look at this view! Imagine it at night. It is in Manhattan on Columbus and a numbered street that I can't remember, but we were so close we were able to walk to Times Square, Broadway, and 5th Avenue. It was so perfect and generous of the Clark's to allow us to stay.
We woke up the next morning and walked to Broadway to see if we could get any tickets. Kristen told us we had to see Mary Poppins. It was at the same theater I saw The Lion King at when I was in 8th grade. We got tickets for $30!!! What a deal!

Broadway

TIffany's--Any girl's dream. We explored. It was great.

We also got characatures made from a road side "artist." We might or might not all look exactly the same. Same eyes, same nose, same skimpy outfits he so graciously added. Haha--all this made possible for a small $2 fee :)

We are, we are...Teachers. Thank you for this discovery, Meggie.

And we couldn't pass up on the street vendor's pretzels and hot dogs.

I took this picture of Fox headquarters for my dad. He's terrified that I'm turning liberal. It all started when I started watching CNN instead of Fox. He thinks I'm a lost cause. Here's to you, dad.

Rockefeller Center
We wanted to ice skate...instead, we all decided we will return to ice skate when we are in love. Sigh.

The New York experience. New York paraphernalia, post cards, scarfs, and Starbucks cocoa. Thanks for burning my tongue, Wendy.

Carnaige Hall

Kristen's parents treated us to an amazing, fancy restraunt. Again, they were so generous.

Red Eye Grill, NYC
The Creme Brule Cheesecake was the best thing I've ever tasted in my entire mortal existence.

Times Square

Mary Poppins! She flys! and he dances on the ceiling!

Mary Poppins

Ground Zero, World Trade Center
Last time I was here, I was able to walk through the towers. Construction is still taking place. It is hard to imagine a plane dipping down through the skyline into the towers. It was hallowed ground to think of the many firefighters and police officers who gave their lives to protect innocent civilians. The American flag continues to stand, symbolic of a united nation.

Berlin Wall
We were so shocked to run into this on our early walk. We woke up early to see Ground Zero, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island before church. It was really great to walk around and contemplate the meaning behind these symbolic places. Our nation has a rich history.

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Wendy and I thought the island to the right (not pictured) was really Ellis Island. (I swear it was on Hitch). We asked the tour guides--we were wrong. This is Ellis Island.

New York Sky Line
Wendy, Kristen, and Me

We smelt pine as we walked down the road. Naturally, we decided to take a picture with it's source.

WTC Statue
THis statue was not ocmpletely ruined in the 9-11 attacks. It was in the lobby of the WTC and continues to stand as a symbol of the stable country in which we live.

Wall Street and Broadway

Manhattan Temple
The perfect way to end the perfect trip. We attended church upstairs in a building (across the street from Juliard) which also has the LDS temple on another floor. It was perfect.

After church, we returned to Kristen's apartment, tidied up, watched High School Musical 2 and prepared for our China Bus ride home.

Oh and don't worry...we got a flat tire on the way home too. Goo.

Play at Ford's Theater

Last week was quite eventful. We went to a play Thursday night at Ford's Theater. Abraham Lincoln was shot while watching the play Our American Cousin. We saw a play called "The Heavens are Hung in Black" about the drafting of the Emancipation Proclamation. It really showed his life and the thought process behind the creation of the Emancipation Proclamation.

My roommates and I attended the play. Kristen, Meggie, Wendy, Susie, Colleen, and Carolyn. Behind is where President Lincoln was shot.
There was really something special about being in Ford's Theater. Knowing that President Lincoln had actually been there was a hard concept to grasp. I tend to idolize him as having done so much for our nation, and here I was where he had been years before. It was really great to sit, enjoy a play (those it was THREE hours long), and experience history.
I've been blogging about all these great trips we have been taking and I haven't mentioned the simple things we have done at home. My roommates and I threw a party. Naturally, it was named, "Feb's Eve," taking place January 31. We had lots of food and dancing. The only ones who danced were the Barlow Center people (BYU interns), Utah State interns, and student teachers. You see, there is a problem called the people in our ward are old and don't like to dance. We're working on that...

Trip to Philadelphia

Independence Hall
Location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution

Liberty Bell
My whole life I have viewed this bell as a symbol of freedom and liberty. However, thanks to my pessimistic roommate, Wendy, I realized that the bell doesn't have as much symbolic meaning as I always thought. It wasn't cracked due to some great ringing which announced victory or oncoming troops, instead, it just cracked. To fix it, they cracked it more...and never were able to repair it. Now that my opinion of the Liberty Bell is tarnished...sigh. Wendy was in the weirdest mood and came up with the quote, "history halts progression" and jokingly argued that we were worshiping icons (which does have a semblance of truth to it). Take comfort that she might be teaching your children...

Constitutional Convention
Where the Constitution and Declaration were signed.

First meeting place of the House of Representatives.

Philly Cheese Steaks
Need I say more?

Philadelphia worships Ben Franklin. If I knew about more of his great quotes like this, I might love him more myself. "Fish and visitors stink in 3 days." Words of wisdom if I've ever heard any.

Christ's Church--George Washington's Pew
An Episcopalian church included in the charter to William Penn when his colony was created. King George III owed him money so he deeded him land, which wasn't hard for him to do since he claimed the east coast of North America. Penn wasn't too impressed but when a Church was included in the deal he consented. Pennsylvania was settled by Quakers, but eventually the church was made of good use. Here we are sitting in George Washington's pew.

Meggie falls asleep during anything spiritual. Exhibit A--sleeping on the Presidential Pew at Christ's Church. She is currently sleeping on the couch across from me (scriptures on her lap--get it...she sleeps during spiritual things).

Christ's Church

Replica of Benjamin Franklin's Printing Shop

And a Ben Franklin Museum
With these phones, you called a number on the wall and heard a quote about Benjamin Franklin from great philosophers and political figures.

Kristen and I wanted to kiss a bust of George Washington at Mt. Vernon but they were encased in glass. We held out. Kristen is much taller than I am. The table seemed like a good leverage piece.

The National Constitution Museum

I really think this might be my absolute favorite museum I have ever seen. I loved it. There was a very powerful video recording of individuals taking the oath to become US Citizens. So great. So great. One of my goals is to teach a naturalization class one day.

That sums up our trip to Philadelphia!