I am sure all of you are thrilled that I finally figured out how to put pictures on my blog. I am so challenged. Anyway, I am work right now and was trying to think about another thing I am passionate about and then it hit me. I love the U of U. I know all of you Westminster folks might not like this blog post. I am sorry ahead of time.

I had the best experience I think anyone could have in college. I got involved in the resident halls, had great roommates, lived in a sorority house and found leadership skills I did not know I had. I loved it more than anything. My great experience and love for the U really has impacted my life, my career and my passions.

I always loved the fall time because it meant back to school shopping, buying notebooks and day planners, I am such a school nerd. But seriously, this is what school meant to me when I was younger. In college it meant, football games, Greek recrutiment "rush" and spending time with friends. Once I took my last final at the U, I just walked off campus and felt a sadness that probably most people do not feel when they graduate college. I was a little empty without the University of Utah in my life. I bleed red and completely believe in my education from the University of Utah.

Now that I am back, I am happier than I have been since college. I drive to work smiling! I don't even need a latte or donut to get me smiling in the morning. I love being a part of the University of Utah community. I am looking forward to fall this year for watching students on campus and feeling so lucky that I get to work here that I am an alum.

Most of you know how much I love my dogs, Bailey and Milo.  I love all animals, especially dogs.  Many people do not know this fact, that when I was growing up my family had eight dogs, and yes, they all lived in the house.  I thought it was completely normal to live in a zoo!  I loved it growing up, and I would collect more dogs if I could, but Sean won't let me which I guess is a good thing.  The picture to the left is when Milo was a puppy, he was so cute.  The picture below is when he hid under a blanket.  I am like one of those annoying mothers that blogs about their babies and each little thing that they do right now.  I think I might be worse than that though because they are just dogs.  I do treat them like people though.  I am passionate about animals especially my puppies!

My Soulmate, Lillian Weir

Most people would think that their soulmate would be their partner or spouse. I know my soulmate is my Grandma. This totally shocked my husband, when I said that she was the love of my life and my soulmate. I completely believe that we were supposed be in eachother's lives. When I look in her eyes, I see myself and I know she sees a younger version of herself in me. I have her wrinkles above my nose, and her chicken legs. I have her blue eyes and thin feet.
I write silly poems and like to ryhme like her. I love projecting and crafting, although she is more creative than I am. We were both sick when we were little, many times with phenmonia. It is so hard to describe her, because she is the love of my life, my mentor and friend. I even have some of her negative attributes like worrying about everything, airplanes, illnesses, safety and rules. She was called, "worrywart weir" and I am teased for my constant anxiety about everything.

But even since I was little, she was my biggest fan and gaurdian angel. When I was sick as a baby she stayed with my parents to help care for me. When I had to have knee surgery she would put holy water on a picture she had of me to help me heal quicker. I think it worked. In her bible, she still has prayers that she wrote for me and I still have birthday cards where she wrote that I was her favorite.

I miss her more that I can express. My Grandma lives in Dallas in a nursing home and has severe dementia from Parkinsons disease. She is still alive but her soul is already gone. When I look into her eyes, I see an emptiness that breaks my heart. When I get to talk to her on the phone, she gets confused. I always pause and tell her I love her. I always, hear "I love you" back and then for a split second she is her old self. I miss my "old Grandma", the one who could not say I love you enough and knew everything about me. The one who was the kindest, most loving person, who put everyone else first. I used to wish for her to get well and for her personality and mind to return, but now my prayers have changes and I just pray that she finds peace soon, because I have mourned the loss of my soulmate.

Social Networking

I guess I am supposed to write about social networking, my feelings on it, where I have used it and what the implications are in academics. First of all, I was really negative about social networking, mainly because I did not know that much about it and that I am afraid of technology. This is because I am afraid of change, and technology is changing the world including academics. Social networking includes many ways of bring people and ideas together on the web. Whether is is blogging or wikis or podcasts or others ways in which people connect online. I have never had a blog until this class or knew what a wiki was. In the past I have read other people's blogs and like reading articles online as well as emailing, but that was far as I got. Now, withy my blog and my soon to be wiki, I can communicate with people from all over the world but mainly my friends that I want to connect with online that live far away.

Social netwokring online is great in society and for businesses. It does scare me a little with education because of the change it will bring into the classroom. The positive implications are that students can communicate with eachother, the teacher, other students from different parts of the country and their parents through class portals, online filing cabinets, E-portfolios and other ways in which they can connect. Podcasts can help teachers with lectures and review for class tests and missing class. And class wikis and blogs can help them connect for time convenience and other reasons. However, some of the negative implications are that if everyone is online people may not have a reason to go to class if they can get the podcast online for example. There are many colleges that have classes completely online, which I find unfortunate because students will miss working with eachother or knowing eachother in person. You can miss so much if you are just watching a video or listening to somone talk online. The class dynmics are part of learning and without that, I fear some of the learning will decrease.

I especially am concerned about online classes and online colleges or universities because my passion and future I hope will be in student involvement. Without classes on campuses students will have no reason to come to campus and therefore my job and future will not be needed. So much of education is on campus and involvement and without they will be missing something even though they will have the degree.

This weekend made me feel like I was in college again. I am the oldest 24 year old I know! I feel like an old woman. This weekend I had an actual sleep over with one my best friends and stayed up until 1am. This is huge since I am usually asleep by 10pm. We went out to dinner, talked and ate Wendy’s frostys at midnight. I also went to Sex and the City with my pledge class from my sorority. I always dread seeing certain people because we are all so different and seem to not have the much in common anymore after college. But it was actually refreshing to see people that I have cared about at different times in my life all in the same room drinking cosmos and talking girl talk. I have missed so many of them.

I of course finished off my great “college like” weekend wit homework and it really did feel like I was 18 again. It made me realize that I need to spend more time with my friends and enjoy life more. It is not just about work and school.

Darren...another movie that I loved was Sex and the City, I know you will never see that one either, but seriously trust me on the Sliding Doors movie(even you will like it, it is not too girly)

I got into a conversation with a co-worker about life, and things that are meant to be. If any of you have not seen Sliding Doors, it is the best movie! You have to rent it.

I completely believe in destiny. There is a reason why I did not make the green light, or that the flight is delayed, or why I went to Starbucks that day. Anyway, you never know why things happen. I think it is so important to slow down and not speed through life or on the road. You never know why things happen, but I am sure it is meant to be. My other favorite movie is Serendipity. Obviously I love chick flicks! But, it is another movie about love and meeting when they are supposed to. I do not think that you can leave everything in your life up to destiny, you have some control. But my point is, relax if you are running late, relax if you do not have the perfect job. Things can take time, and maybe you are in a certain place in your life for a certain reason. It is just a stepping stone that you need until you can move on.

Maybe this is a little deep and even more boring than deep. But, I truly believe there is a reason for everything and something special meant for everyone. We just have to take our time until we meet our destiny and enjoy the stepping stones along the way.

Long weekend

I cannot believe my long weekend went by so fast. It was so nice to sleep in a little and spend time with my family. The rain was a little bit of bummer but other than that I had a nice quiet weekend with a lot of shopping, good food and relaxation.
Now, I am back to work and looking foward to next weekend and the opening of the Sex and the City movie! I can't wait.

My long lost friend, Nicole!

I really miss one my closest and oldest friends, Nicoleee. She asked me a long time ago to make a blog and I laughed and said, "yeah, right" Well... here you go Nicole, you better write me!!! Love ya.

Poor David Archuleta!

Yay! I am so happy this morning. I can get into my blog and they fixed the bugs yesterday. Now, I have to think about what I want to say. First of all, I am really disappointed about little David Archuleta losing American Idol but when he makes a CD, I totally buy it. I am looking forward to tonight, I am actually going to hang out with an old friend who I have not seen for a really long time, and our dogs are going to have a play date.

I am so sick of this awful weather, I cannot wait for the summer. I think I am going to go get a hot chocolate or some sort of comfort food, like a donut!

Welcome to my blog

My name is Heather. I love education and want to do something in that field. I love helping others and listening to people. I enjoy nature and animals, especially my two dogs.