not dead, just busy

ok -- so again we are not dead or abducted my aliens or anything like that, just busy!!
short version
in may -- erin threw out her back at prom (protruding disk)
mike laid down his bike (in a parking lot, not much damage)
end of school year for erin
june -- surprise visit from erin's grandparents,
mike's friend got into a serious motorcycle accident (lifelighted to hospital, but she is ok)
mike finished required classes and moved onto harley's
erin started teaching summer school and taking summer school classes
celebrated 10 year wedding anniversary (happy late anniversary to Roger & Pam and Bryan & Dena)
end of june -- summer school teaching is over
mike switched back to the club for his part time job -- needed extra time during the week for school
other than that -- things are good, oh and I am still in physical therapy for the back, and Natalyn had her ACL replaced -- so we are going to physical therapy together.
now looking forward to not teaching for a month and just concentrating on my own school work. . . . no big plans for the 4th -- Mike has the day off of school, so who knows what we may do. . . . .
hope everyone is well, will try to update more often (at least the thought is there right?)
love to all!
erin and mike

the coolest fieldtrip EVER!

Ok, so i decided about a month and a half ago to take my honor's bio kids on a field trip. We talked about it and they were willing to come in on a sat to go (it is the only way my district will allow fieldtrips that are not sports or ethnic club related to happen -- wouldn't want them to miss educational opportunities in school!!) Anyway, we went to southwest wildlife (click on the name to see) it was too cool!! It is a rehab place in NE scottsdale. The animals we were able to see are ones that they can not reintroduce into the wild. They do have about a 70% reintroduction rate, which is huge! And, while we were there the wolves, coyotes and dogs started howling. The workers call it a "touchdown" because it sounds like you are at a football game for about 30 seconds. If you click on the link above and have your sound on, you can hear an example.
It was too cool!!
everything else is great! mike has moved onto a new clinic, i can't remember what it is right now, and I started my master's (only 7 more weeks of the current classes)
Mike also got another job. he is working at a pet store in PV mall. He has sold 5 dogs in 6 or 7 days. He was told last night that he just surpased their best salesman. He really likes the job and gets to play with puppies the whole time he is there. Odin I think is a bit jealous when he comes home, but that is ok too :)
well, better go -- love to all -- and hey roger, some of that vacation time could be used to come a bit further south :) They repainted Jordan's, you won't even recognize the inside!!

new information

well, so we don't have a whole lot of information. working, going to school, blah, blah :)
Mike is in electrical class now -- still has a 4.0 :) pretty exciting!!!
I am staring my master's program officially on 3/20!! Exciting!!
other than that, just getting through day by day. Been to Colorado, which was fun, and had visitors from Utah, fun too -- got to go to faire as a patron (weird but fun) sorry for all the fun and exciting, gave AIMS tests today, and I am a little brain fried!!
now, at PC, working til 7, but i only have a few weeks left for that
One exciting bit is that I am going to New Mexico over Spring break for NEA training on membership -- i am looking forward to that!
well, better go!
love to all :)
erin

update, update, update

ok, so we haven't died or gone into the witness protection program or anything, just been a bit busy. Mike is now in the tires section of school, and still getting A's (100% on his last test). I am working 2 jobs (pc and metro tech) so I am a bit tired when I get home and don't even really want to look at a computer. :)
So, since we are so busy, we are pretty boring really. Staying home to be able to see each other when we are home.
glad to see all is well with everyone else. (we check blogs even if we don't comment)
well, better go . . love to all
erin and mike

So I posted one

So school at mmi is doing well. Just finish theory it wasn't that bad thank to all the hour spent in the garage and in the truck hunting and fishing with gramps. So thank you for all the knowledge about engines I know it seemed at times I wasn't paying attention but it got in to my head some how. Well got a 95% in theory 1 and a 90% in theory 2 so guess that it a 4.0 which people never thought they would here that from me but I owe it all to gramps ( I loved every minute we spend together I always learned more form you than anywhere else).
the next three weeks are wheels and suspension where I get to learn how to change motorcycle tires and lace the spokewheel (I am excited) then the three weeks after that I go in to precision measuring (not excited).
otherwise we are fine money's a a little tight but we manage. We traded in the van for a hyundai elantra cheaper car payment a little tight fit for me but the only time I really am in the car is to take Odin to the dogpark most of the time I just take my bike(motorcycle).

Mike & Erin

Happy new year and all that jazz

Happy New Year (as always I am running late!)
I know we haven't posted for a while, been really busy down here! Mike got a job as a bouncer at a dance club in Scottsdale, so this was the first new year's eve that we haven't been together at midnight :( oh, well, we both lived, so I guess all is well.
didn't hear from the Christmas 2 party, hope it was good, did you guys get the kringla??
I got a part time job working at Phoenix College in the cashiers office. I worked all this week, and when school starts back up next week, I will be here 3 nights a week. I am also starting my masters program (hopefully this spring, march maybe), I am getting it in Educational Technology. It is an on-line program through NAU and should take about a year, it should match up just about right with Mike's school :)
no, I am not trying to do too much, I am only going to have the part time job until I start school, or only through the end of this semester at the most.
Mike still really likes school, he has gotten A's on all of his tests so far. He has a big group project due next week, so I am sure this weekend, there will be people at the house working. After that he starts into the hands-on stuff. Should be good!!
Well, better go, love to all!!
erin and mike

what's new???

not a whole lot! Mike is still enjoying school, he got a 94% on his first test!! (and was upset when he got it back and realized that he misread the 2 questions he got wrong)
I am still just trying to get through until Winter Break!! Only 9 more school days :)
I had a college student come in today to observe my teaching skills. . . . we didn't have time to talk after, but she will be back tomorrow, so we shall see what she says!
I may have a student teacher next semester, so that should be interesting. . . . hopefully I will be more help to him/her than my cooperating teacher was to me!
Mike has a few jobs now. . . he is hanging flyers and get a certain amount for each one called on, and he is doing odds and ends for a contractor that we know. Apparently handyman-ness is in the Strong blood?? (i am not an english teacher!)
We are not sure about coming up for Christmas/New Year's yet. It really all depends on job situations. . . Mike only has the week between the holidays off, so he may need to rest and not travel. . . we shall see. I know it is only a few weeks away, but right now that is the best I can do!
so, that is about it. . . all is well here, enjoying the cooler weather (mid-60's)
hopefully we will see everyone soon!!
Love to all!

First days of school

Hello all!
ok, so Mike isn't one to post on the blogs, so I figured I would tell you what he has said about his first days of school . . .
He is doing great! He really likes it and is having a ball. He is having so much fun that right now he is asleep :)
He said they are doing basic team building stuff and yesterday they built a circuit and he pretty much put it together himself for his group!
Another really cool thing is that my cousin Zach is taking classes with him. We knew that he was starting school at the same time, but he wasn't at Mike's orientation, so we figured he was in the afternoon instead of morning classes, but he called on Sunday night and they are in the same class :) I am glad both for Mike and Zach; it is always nice to see a familiar face in the crowd of new faces at a new school!!
well, better go, hope everyone got home safe from Thanksgiving, and hopefully we will be able to see everyone over the holiday break!!
Love to all!
Erin

happy thanksgiving!!

Hope everyone is having a great day :) Wish we could see everybody! :(
I found this great page on the history channels website about thanksgiving. One video is actually the history, another a funny cartoon! Check it out here
Love to all!!
Erin and Mike

Stop wal-mart

There is a new movie out about the evils of wal-mart. I went to see it Monday and it is very well done. Please visit the website and find out if it is playing in your area. Go and see it -- it will open your eyes!!

Love,
erin

update on our boring lives

not a whole lot happening down this way, just trying to get through until Thanksgiving break!
I just finished my first class of the semester and am starting on #2 Saturday (all day long!!)
But it is really ok, as it will help me to teach my freshman science class and any help with that right now would be amazing!!
Mike is still job hunting, he has orientation next week (Monday I think) and then school starts the 28th :)
other than that, life really is pretty boring here!
Love to all!
erin

Frustrated teacher

Ok, so I may have finally reached my limit. I am continually amazed at how little students retain. Boy, that was a sweeping generalization! But for about 85% of the students it is the truth. The minute they think a topic is done, they forget it. And we just got our AIMS results (the test our seniors this year have to pass to graduate) and according to that data, only 35% or so of our seniors have passed the math. That is the seniors that have been with us for all 4 years. . . . How sad is that. It will be interesting to see what the state does in may of 2006 when so many students are not going to get a high school diploma. . . . . Interesting times to say the least!!

motorcycle school

ok, so mike is or rather will be on the 28th learning to be a motorcycle mechanic. the website for all interested is http://www.uticorp.com/go/schools/momi/
he will be in school for about 18 months. so, plan on making a trip down this way in feb of 2007. hey at least the weather will be cool then, and we could always plan on a trip out to faire to celebrate :)
love to all!
erin

pictures of odin as requested

ok, so here are a few newer pictures of the big dumb dog :)

motorcyle school :)

ok, so i finally thought that maybe we should also get in on this blog thing!
news on the phoenix strong front, mike is going to motorcycle school, we are all very excited!! and i am still teaching, and teaching and teaching! hopefully someday I will be caught up with grading and preparation and all that, and then i can retire :)
speaking of all that teacher stuff, must sign off and do that!
love to all!
erin