Ms. Bryant and High School Algebra II 2.0

Have I ever told you the story of Ms. Bryant, my high school algebra teacher? Well, my "senior" year of high school I took advanced algebra II. Math was my thing. There were a lot of things I didn't get as a teenager, but algebra wasn't one of them. In fact, I was so good I often had to tutor half the class before and after class and teach them how to do the homework. I would take it step by step and show them exactly how to do it.

Well, somehow, I was always the lowest scorer in the class as well. Someone I taught how to do the work would get a 90 and I would get a 60. In fact, the only time I ever got less than an 88 in high school was my senior year. For the two 6 week periods that made up a semester I got a 77 and a 66 in my advanced algebra II class. Ms. Bryant took me aside and suggested I drop the course. I was so frustrated. I knew I knew the material, and when I would ask her about the difference in grades with someone I helped with their homework she would point out a mistake I made and say, I know so and so knows what they are talking about even if they forget to close the parenthesis, I don't know that you do. She had me. I made little mistakes and while most people wouldn't care as long as the work and right answer was there, Ms. Bryant would mark my whole problem wrong. I knew she didn't like me but I had no clue why. I told Ms. Bryant I would NOT drop the class and I took my Christmas vacation annoyed, and not sure what exactly I would do. Over my break I called my sister Tina, who lived in Italy at the time, to vent and she was caught by surprise. "You have Ms. BRYANT?!?!?" she asked. " I hated her!" She continued on to tell me the horrible relationship she had with her. And then it came flooding back... the first day of school, as I am sure I was the tanner spitting image of Tina, Ms. Bryant asked me if I was related to TINA Carrio. I responded that yes, I was. Nothing else was ever spoken of the subject. As I recalled this event it all came flooding to me. I knew right then and there that I was being punished for my sister's horrible behavior towards Ms. Bryant, and her lack of skill in math. I was determined to start over and show her how I was not my sister, despite how much we may look alike. (something I always had to prove to my parents as well.)

The first day of the next semester I walked into Ms. Bryant's classroom with a new determination. I would make her love me, and I would never make another mistake that she could hold against me. I marched to the front of the classroom and picked the chair that was about 6 inches away from her face. While extremely obese Ms. Bryant hardly ever walked. She wheeled around the classroom. I would tell her how cool she was and ask her if she went clubbing over the weekend. I was sarcastic the whole time but she thought I was serious. I always made a point to "show an interest." I figured if she wanted to play a game, well none better to play with than me. I hate playing games, but if you force me to I will; and I will win. I will have you know I made two 100's that next semester. I think I even made a friend in Ms. Bryant. She even exempted me from taking the final because she knew I knew my stuff.

Well folks... it is 8 years later that I find someone challenging my knowledge and yet I give them mistakes, minute as they may be, to use against me. This is just version 2.0. I felt overwhelmed at first. But the question is will I sink or swim? Fight or flight? I thought I was going to drown. I thought I should just give up because this battle was too big to fight. As I started to close my eyes and let the current take me under a sudden wave came over me and I knew what I had to do...

SWIM! FIGHT!

I am not giving up just because you think you are stronger or more powerful. I refuse to let someone try and get rid of me just because they don't like me. I didn't let it happen then and I won't let it happen now. It isn't going to be easy, and it is going to take a LOT of time to read a LOT of material. I am going to have to double and triple and quadruple check everything I do from now on...but that's OK.

TAWANDA!

"Buddy"

Why is it that guys like to use the word "buddy"? It drives me absolutely NUTTY. I loathe being called buddy. Today one of my coworkers in Cleveland said, "hey, what's your buddy's name that works here in Cleveland too?" It was like nails on a chalk board to me. Actually, nails on a chalk board don't bother me.... the noise a box makes when you are folding or unfolding it does. It is the most awful noise ever.

shudder.

welp,

welp, i said i was going to do it and i did it... i don't know for how long...but this blog is currently PRIVATE. SOO....you should feel super special if you are reading this right now....it means i trust you to know what is going on in my life. anyway....today has been horrible... don't want to post about negative things. happy blogs to follow.

September 11

Last night while "babysitting" a recently turned 13 year old and her 14 year old brother I was lounging on the couch of thier home and staring into space. As the 14 year old boy channel surfed I heard screaming coming from the TV. I glanced quickly to see that he had passed a program called 102 minutes that changed America. I asked him to go back and we watched the program for the next hour or so. I was glued to the TV and intrigued while he was antsy and it was apparent he wished to hear my command to change the channel. I ignored him. This program was comprised of the different videos that were taken by citizens of New York and the surrounding areas. It was raw, and in the moment... it made me sick to my stomach to watch but I wanted to see it all. 

The whole time I heard negative comments coming from this 14 year old boy. It is apparent he thinks he knows it all anyway which is frustrating in itself, but to hear the negative comments that came out of his mouth...it took a lot of me to stay calm and to tell him in a civilized way why it was so important. 

"those people are so stupid! why didn't they just ...."

"why don't people just get over this already?! who really cares about september 11th?"

"look! that is soooo cool! look how that plane hit the tower!"

"man...when is the second tower going to drop already?!?!? this is so boring. i hope it just collapses soon."

I then got pretty short with him and asked me how he felt about September 11th. He was 6 when it happened. He said he remembered his mom crying all day. That's about it. He said he wished people would just "get over" September 11th. It was 8 years ago and we need to move on with our lives.

What a contrast. Being a senior in high school I remember the day vividly. I was scared, I was confused... I was seeing live footage on the news at school but I couldn't comprehend that it was real life, and not a movie. I could see faces of people waving white shirts as flags out of the office building windows, and I remember seeing chairs, and then human bodies being flung out of these buildings. All air travel was grounded for days, and friends who had family members in NYC and especially the twin towers wept throughout the day worried for the life of their loved ones. It was such a traumatic event for so many people.... and though 8 years seems like a long time, I feel like it was a few short months ago that I stood in E building of Clear Creek High School walking into my speech class and freezing in the doorway as my teacher was shaking and shoving popcorn in her mouth at the same time (eating popcorn in the morning was her daily routine) eyes glued on the TV and exclaiming to me that I wouldn't believe what was going on..  The nation came together and vowed to unite and "never forget." And now, 8 short years later.... that's all the upcoming generation wants us to do. Forget about it, move on...who cares.... wow.....if only they truly understood.  I understand now how my grandparents must feel when I talk about Pearl Harbour or any sort of war. I wasn't there... I didn't understand. 

And still, most of me hopes he never understands. He never worries that his country will be attacked and bombed and that his safety is in jeopardy. No one wants to feel their safety is violated. No one.

As If My Life Wasn't Crazy Enough

The news said I was 26!!! EWWW!! I am totally 24!! hahahaha. Welp, I've always wanted  a news article written about me...but not for something bad. Oh Well... for your reading pleasure. Click the link.

Siblings!!

I am a really lucky girl. Even though I live across the country from my family I have seen 3 of my 4 siblings in the past 3 weeks. Irene flew up at the end of July.

Then we drove to Idaho to see Marie, and we all went to Jackson Hole.
I was so excited... can you tell?!?!
But shh... mostly I was excited to see my brother Stephen, my favorite person in the world... he was here when I got back from San Diego. 
I'm sorry... you probably have great siblings but mine are the best. No battle. 

The Beach and Sea World

Beach Hair!! Something I haven't had for 3 years! It's horrible... but I kind of miss it! 
Not many things better than laying out on the beach.
I heart California.
this cute seal was posing for me. I wanted to hug it.
An amazing sunset at sea world!

Chargers Game and Balboa Park

While I was in town I got to attend the first Chargers game!!! It has been SO LONG since I've been to an NFL game. I still maintain the Utes are just as good...if not better! ;-) This was only a preseason game but they played the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle Won. It didn't matter because the game was so much fun to attend... except for the cranky lady behind us who threatened to call security when we jumped to our feet at an exciting play and stood for a good minute. Apparently she thought you weren't allowed to stand at games. I wonder how much she had had to drink?

At Balboa Park. The museum of man is an anthropology museum. I really enjoyed it but they could have turned on the a/c. I thought I was going to pass out at times.

Botanical Gardens at Balboa Park. 

Still at Balboa Park.

Desert Gardens.... he stepped on cactus I suppose.
Rose Garden.

USS Midway

Ever since I dated a boy who attended the United States Naval Academy I developed an affinity for all things Navy. I ended the relationship, not because of him, but because long distance just didn't work for me. So, naturally while in San Diego I had to go visit the USS Midway, a retired aircraft carrier. What I thought would be a 2 hour tour turned into 5 hours and I only left because my body was begging to be nourished. Please enjoy a few of my favorite pictures.  

Welcome Aboard!
I love Navy!
The top portion of the aircraft carrier.
WOW!! I can't even imagine what all those buttons do! There were about 10 x's more than what is pictured.
Boss and Mini... it seemed fitting to take a picture.
Well... I will always text and drive... even if it is an aircraft carrier!

Welcome To San Diego

I flew to San Diego to spend a long weekend with these two men, with the same name. 

While there, my camera died several times. I think I came back with 500+ pictures.  This was taken with an iphone so the quality isn't that great....but still really decent for a phone. That's why I love Apple. 

we went back later to take more pictures but the gates were closed. We couldn't walk around. These are from the gate.

If you ever want to know where my love of motorcycles comes from... this picture should tell you from who and for what. He took me on a ride on his R1. Amazing.

San Diego sky line.

It's Been A While

Hello All!!! It's been a while! I am currently sipping on herbal tea here at starbucks and using the internet. I have to tell you.... I am proud of my decision to go internetless for a while. This is the second time I've been on the internet since July 30th. (well... if you don't count checking email and google reader from my phone)  Do you know how much you can get done or how early you can go to sleep if you are not wasting your time on the internet? Also, I paid $5 and I can get 2 hours of free internet a day for a month as opposed to paying $40 for internet service at home. Sweet. 

Welp,  I suppose I should do a bit of catching up. Thank you all who have been praying for me and my health. I haven't been to the hospital in almost two weeks now and I think that is a great accomplishment! I know everyone wants to know what the Dr's said but we could be here for a while if I started to list everything. Long story short I think I have a shelf life of 25 years because everything started to break down at once. I take more medicine everyday than your grandmother more than likely...or at least as much. The good news is that I should be able to stop in a few months. There is one lingering problem.... but it isn't a problem yet. It just has the potential to be really bad...so... if you can remember to say a prayer for me every once in a while still... I would appreciate it. 

Also, I went on vacation last weekend!!! It came just in time too!!! I had been planning on going to San Diego Aug 13- 19th but wasn't sure if I would be able to with all the illness going on and random hospital visits. Well... my last Dr's visit was the afternoon of the 13th and then I headed straight to the airport. I had a few pains here and there right after I landed in Southern California but nothing pain killers didn't take care of. I think being on vacation, the beach, and with my best friend has healing powers beyond those of a Dr.  I was really sad to leave and welled up with tears when Matthias dropped me off at the airport. Thank goodness my brother came to my rescue! He happened to be in Utah when I got back and I drove straight from the airport to Provo to pick him up. I literally ran to him and jumped in his arms when I saw him.  There are three men in my life who all other men will always be judged against because no one is as wonderful as they are: My father, Matthias, and my brother. What a wonderful blessing to have spent 8 straight days with 2 of those men! 

Well, I think that's about it. I am sure there is much more going on but that's what I will leave you with for now. To keep this post shorter I will post pictures separately.

It Might Be A While

Well, I just wanted to write a blog because it might be a while. I am packing up all my stuff right now. Tomorrow is moving day, and I won't have the internet for a while. I need to figure something out...but I am NOT paying $60/mo for the internet by myself. I will still have access to email from my phone so that will just have to do for now I suppose. 

Also, if you believe in a higher power please keep me in your prayers tonight. I am having RADIOACTIVE fluid injected into my body tomorrow. Then I have to stay completely still so that they can get accurate pictures for the next hour or two. I am not going to lie... I am a little freaked out. I know everything will be OK though.  I just am praying that they find out WHY I am in so much pain. 

Anyway... back to packing. If you don't hear from me for a while, then that's why.

Today's Schedule

4:15am Awake in great pain, and feeling sick to my stomach. Walk to the bathroom because I feel my stomach/throat/mouth may need to use the toilet. I walk 2 ft, knees buckle, and I pass out.

4:17 am. pee.

4:20 sit up/sleep in bed

4:25 get a strong conviction to go to the Dr./ER because I have appendicitis. My stomach has been hurting for the past 2 days but not this bad. That thought is the only thing that convinced me to go to the Dr. I mean who wants to sit in an ER? 

4:30 find phone and call dr's office to find out they don't open until 8:30am. Make plans to be there promptly at 8am.

4:30-6:30. Wait to call people because I don't want to wake them up. 

6:30am call mother. no answer. 

6:45am call Sister who had appendicitis, no answer

7am call mother again. no answer. call house phone. no answer. call house phone AGAIN. no answer.

7:10am call Jade. SURPRISE! NO ANSWER! 

7:11am wonder if I live in a twilight zone and if everyone is dead rendering them unable to answer their phones. 

7:12-7:45 pretend to be interested about whatever is on TV while I am in unbearable pain.

7:45 decide it is early enough to head to dr's

8am go to dr's office, pee in a cup, be tested for h-pylori, and wait a lot. am given STAT orders to go get bloodwork done and have two types of CT scans done.

10am head to get the CT scans done.  Am told that I have free floating fluid on the right side of my body which is probably causing the pain. Two different types of ultrasounds are ordered.

11:20 head across the street to st. marks only to find out that they don't accept united health care.

11:40 am. head to imc hospital, who DOES accept united.

11:50 get a call from dr. saying that imc's ultrasound machine is broken and i have to still get my bloodwork done but i will have to go somewhere else for a ct scan.

11:55 arrive at the wrong building and am redirected to the right building

12:05 arrive at lab. someone else checks me in because of my incredible pain, i spaze out in seizures while being checked in but assure the lady im fine. (it feels like someone stabbed me 12 times in the stomach when i freaked out)

12:20 have bloodwork drawn. nurse refuses to let me walk out and wheels me out and has someone else wheel me out to my car.

12:45 arrive as TOSH to have the ultrasound done.

1pm meet sonographer

1pm-3:00pm have three different ultrasounds done. I will spare you the details... the good news... im not pregnant. well gee... I coulda told you that. The bad news? Confirmed that I have lots of fluid in my stomach but we still don't know why. 

sacrificial lamb?

do you ever feel your trials are supposed to be blessings to other people?  you know... like bad things happen to you so that good things can happen to other people?

it sure has felt like that the past....5 years or so. don't get me wrong. my life doesn't suck by  ANY means or stretch of the imagination.... 

i just feel like i am here to help other people....

when is someone going to be here to help me?

So, remember that one time

when I blogged about this deliciously handsome young man that kept appearing in my dreams but had never seen or met!?!?! Well... the deliciously handsome young man keeps appearing at my doorstep. Out of this world! But... I like it.

Because she asked for it.

Jade asked where the "fun posts" were; referencing my blog about her arrival home. Well, public, the truth of the matter is that I have discovered most of our fun is not meant to be shared. Mostly because it would cause great embarrassment to either herself, or ME. There are lots of pictures taken with the promise they will never end up on facebook. But, here is a fun video. She was basically selling this peanut butter to me trying to convince me I needed to try it. In her defense, I tried it, and it was the best peanut butter I have ever had. It was much more sweet than American peanut butter. Please enjoy.

Decisions Decisions

What are you supposed to do when your heart continually aches for something your mind knows will bring nothing but hurt.

It is out of my control.

Despite my most valiant efforts... there is nothing I can do.

I Think It's That Time

For me to go private. If you are a blog stalker that's more than OK. I just would rather know who is potentially reading my blog. If you would like to continue reading please email me.

efymandi{at}yahoo{dot}com

She's BACK!!

  SHE'S BACK!

Jade is back!!

I know I haven't updated in a while and I'm sorry. I have been so consumed with myself, work, and the homecoming of my long lost love, Jade Ozawa, and her arrival and return from Taiwan where she has resided for the past 18 months.

She arrived back home on Monday and I have been with her ever since. I will upload pictures and videos later. I just wanted to let you know I am alive... but I have been in Vegas since Sunday and I will be here for another week. 

Look forward to fun posts!

Surprise visits!

Ben Spies. The Texan Terror rider of Superbike.

This weekend I went to the Superbike World Championships at Miller Motorsports Park here in Salt Lake. ( Tooele to be exact). I got to be in the middle of all the hoopla. I was down in the pits for the start of the second race. How awesome!  And It was all thanks to this guy.
Oh how I love him! I know I recently blogged about him (see here) but I don't think I can describe enough how happy this man makes me.
How cute is that face? For the past ten years we have stayed friends. I have confided more in him than I probably have anyone else. 
I am so grateful to have such a wonderful friend in him.  He is such an amazing person and he really cares a ton about me. It was such a nice surprise for him to fly in last minute to Salt Lake, even if half the reason was to go to the Superbike Championships, he got me passes too and I know the other half of the reason was to see me. So I can live with 50/50.
What a fabulous weekend!