a.castle

Job

2008-05-30T13:11:00.000-07:00

I am now done with school and am in the process of getting a Canadian work visa. Due to some unforeseen immigration medical exams this process is taking much longer than I expected. I am going back to Alaska to work for a few weeks while the work visa is processing. I will be teaching in Langley on call next year and I hope to get a full time position at a school.

Aaron.

Hoaxes

2008-05-29T23:59:00.000-07:00

I once heard there is a tribe in Africa that does not have a word for a lie. The concept of saying anything but the truth is completely foreign to them. I wonder if they have a word for imagination? Our culture does lie and sometimes a lie diminishes appeal, like this hoax about the largest drawing in the world. When I first heard about this I was blown away by the brilliance of this piece of work, but then it turned out to be fake. The concept is still brilliant, but it is only fictional and loses some appeal. Thankfully this is not a hoax that has affected many people.

Other hoaxes that Have affected many people.

1. Y2K
-A family in my church back in Alaska actually sold their home and moved to the wilderness because they thought the world was coming to an end. I think they still live there.

2. Scarlett Johansson's Music Going Platinum
-self explanatory

3. Aliens
-Alcohol+missing eye contacts+loneliness+weather balloons+rain with a flash+natural ability for story telling= a universal conspiracy.

4. Diets
-Respect the earth, your body, others and your mind, and you should be gold.

5. Antioxidants
-They make great drinking glasses and usually do taste delicious, yet after ______,000 years our bodies are still really good at healing themselves.

6. Unrated Movie Editions
-Male ages 17-24 marketing at its finest. These editions are not edgier or any better than their PG-13 twins.

Aaron.

Say Hello

2008-05-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Rosie Thomas - Say Hello (feat. Sufjan Stevens)

Prayer.

2008-04-05T13:16:00.001-07:00

When my feet are slow and the labor of my hands inconsistent, may I find consistency as I fight to restore the wounding gaze that is everywhere around me. May I help to create a picture of healing and restoration for all to see. Enough of the world is plagued by fear, loneliness, sadness, and hopelessness. Though my nature is always longing for more, may I find self control and satisfaction in the simple things of life. May my thoughts, actions and words help to paint a picture of who you are for all to see.

Fragments.

2008-04-04T22:27:00.000-07:00

Is the name of the show. This is the first time these grade 1 students have had their work exhibited in a gallery space. Below is my grade 2 class and some pictures from the show.

This show will be on for another week at Langley Fine Arts School.

I turned in my application for employment with the Langley School District today. I have an interview on the 12th of April.

Aaron.

So many.

2008-03-30T23:28:00.000-07:00

Books that I want for my classroom library. This is one book that Amy picked up at Powell's last weekend when we were in Portland.

Today was the last day of spring break. I had my hair cut. I don't know why hair style has anything to do with job interviews. I would assume that as long as your shirt and tie are pressed and sharp, then your hair is only a symbol of your personality.

Some things to do in the next four weeks (in this order):
1. Get hired
2. Get a work visa
3. Get certified to be a teacher
4. Say goodbye to my first class
5. Move into a new apartment
6. Start getting paid for teaching

Aaron.

Resume. Application. Portfolio.

2008-03-29T20:09:00.000-07:00

This past week I have been working on a variety of teaching job related activities.

In the midst of arranging my teaching portfolio I came across these images from my grade 2 art show. The first three images are done by my grade 2 visual art students. The cut paper collages are done by grade 10 students.

Aaron.

Easter Weekend.

2008-03-28T02:44:00.000-07:00

Was a mix of seeing old friends and trying to not be sick.

Amy and I went down to Portland and the Oregon Coast.

Some highlights were

1. Holgaing
2. Children's books at Powell's
3. Rock Bottom Brewery Pretzel Beef Dip
4. Lauri's home cooking
5. Driving on a sandy beach
6. Almost getting stuck on a sandy beach
7. Napping
8. 1 year Anniversary
9. Finding the perfect restaurant
10. Don Pedro's Mexican

I am going to be developing a lot of 120mm film soon.

Aaron.

Today.

2008-03-20T08:42:00.001-07:00

Is my first day of Spring Break!

I have many things to do including:

1. job applications
2. tuning my car
3. sleeping
4. going to Cannon Beach, OR
5. creating furniture

As it turns out, the watch I have been looking at for a long time and found at the Nixon sample sale for 80% off is actually a girls watch. I let Amy wear it and it looks beautiful on her. It reminded me of my friend Jonny who shares skinnys with his wife.

Tonight some rugged American guys will battle some more rugged Canadian girls in a game of hockey. Zach, don't let your nation down.

Aaron.

The sample sale and 'the girl'.

2008-03-16T22:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Nixon. Volcom. Sample Sale,

Thank you for attracting such a frantic crowd. You made boxing day seem like tea time. It appeared that you had this ability to turn normal people into wide eyed, non blinking, non talking zombies. You had a lot to offer and came in the sizes of 32 and medium. Despite the craziness, I was happy that you saved that watch to the side for me. It was the one I have been looking at for a long time. It was really nice of you. We will have a lot of intimate times together in the future. Thank you for allowing me to now know when to send my kids out to recess when we are doing P.E in the gym and for saving me 80% off the retail price.

You are great,
Aaron

Why do you need to own a gun and spend hours in the woods when you can just use the other natural alternative to antlers.

Amy has rediscovered her love for snowboarding and that makes me so happy.

Today I found the song 'The Girl' by city and colour and it made me think of Amy.

Aaron.

Sauna Theology.

2008-03-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Is heavy hitting and good for your lungs.

I was reminded tonight about stereotypes that are sometimes true.
I was happy that I got to say a few words.

Thanks Zach for the swim party.

I was reminded that
"sometimes you have to watch someone
love something before you can love it yourself,
it is as though they are showing you the way"

I have a lot of life ahead of me.

I would like to love more things.

p.s. Tomorrow is my last day of full time teaching. I am ready for spring break.

8 pm naps.

2008-03-13T00:17:00.000-07:00

Are not a good idea. Especially when you have a life.

I decided today that I am too nice.

I am going to continue being nice, just not as nice as I have been before.

I wish I had one of these right now.

Three reasons why I am going to be nice, but less nice:
1. People won't eat you
2. You can take vacations
3. You have time to make things like this, this, or this.

aaron.

Things to do when you are sick.

2008-03-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

I went home from school early today because I am sick. There were seven kids away because of some little devil that is going around. My breaking point today was when my voice cracked while I was describing the difference between strawberry seeds and orange seeds. My adolescent charm returned to me when my voice hit such a high note that even my seven year old students were laughing.

These are things that are good to do when you are sick:

1. Drink pomegranate juice
2. Update delicious
3. Sleep
4. Watch the Sigur Ros video Heima
5. Make a to do list
6. Get excited about Hogla-ing
7. Get inspired to create things
8. Make things like this

p.s. Amy is the most wick-sick person in the world.

Cruise ships and Canadian History.

2007-08-23T00:13:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day of work at Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska. The last four months have been a blur of working hours that would make anyone go crazy, pretending that I am hangin out with Amy, and learning about the short 140 year history of Canada. I am taking this course not out of my desire to understand the connection between British imperialism and Canadian passivity, but instead to ensure my admission into the TWU professional teaching program.

Today I get on the ferry for Skagway, Alaska and from there I will drive 1,500 miles through the Yukon and British Columbia. On Sunday I am taking the final exam for my history course, so I recored myself reading the text and put it on cd so I can study for 36 hours.

5 things I am excited about

1. Amy
2. Teaching 2nd grade
3. Surfing
4. Roommates
5. Sushi

a.