past due update

We are definitely past due for an update so I'll try and hit some highlights !

When we got back and settled from an amazing Christmas break, things hit high gear VERY quickly. You see, one of Mikel's favorite qualities of mine is my penchant for procrastination. I always seem to get things done but have (on occasion) provided myself with a less than ideal amount of time in which to complete important tasks. This, in turn, creates a general panic inside of me that makes me a real gem to be around while I am rushing to finish tasks. Is this something I should do something about? Absolutely. Is Mikel holding his breath that it's going to change tomorrow? Absolutely not.

Because of the previously mentioned penchant for procrastination, I discovered that, in my class entitled Biomechanics, I was actually going to have to cover a good deal of anatomy. I did get an A in my anatomical foundations class in undergrad and have since utilized that knowledge in subsequent biomechanics, exercise physiology, and growth and motor development classes but I have NEVER claimed to be an expert in it nor have I ever been required to teach anatomy. I had the blissful opportunity to teach classes under the assumption that my students had previously taken and passed an anatomy class (regardless of how much they actually retained). You can imagine the panic when I discovered this gem on Saturday or Sunday night before class started on Monday.

Now, keep in mind that the University of Montana Western uses a block schedule system called Experience One. This means that our students only take one class at a time for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week and each class is over in 18 days. It is a fantastic system that serves as a great recruiting tool for me and definitely preserves the quality of life for our student-athletes. It provides a great learning environment on campus and provides for much more experiential, hands-on learning for out students. It's also great because over half of the year, I don't have to worry about teaching anything. What is does mean is that when the teaching begins it is GAME ON and you do not want to be behind. Nevertheless, I started behind.

The good news is, I survived the anatomy and settled in to the math and research portions a little more calmly. It has still been a lot of work but it's so much more comfortable teaching things that I think are interesting, 100% understand, and am not afraid of students asking questions about.

Besides that small inconvenience, teaching at Montana Western has been great. I love the class, the students are pretty great, and I am impressed by how hard they work and how little they complain! The class ends tomorrow and I CAN'T WAIT. It's been great but, because the winter is such a busy recruiting time for me, I am ready to be able to focus a little more on volleyball and not have to split time with teaching.

As for volleyball, it has been going great and we are hopefully getting close to signing our first recruits for next year. The team is probably working harder, top to bottom, than any college team I have been around and are so hungry to get better and have a fantastic season next year.

As for Mikel, he has had the opportunity to do a lot of fishing recently and he obviously loves that but that may change a little next week. Although it is my turn to take a block off and not teach next time, Mikel will be teaching a Foundations of Health and Human Performance class. Luckily for him and me, Mikel does not quite procrastinate like I do and will probably have things a little more under control than I managed!

fishy fishy fishy

Any day of fishing is a good day!

This weekend Mikel got the opportunity to go fishing (again) with our friends Ben and Melissa somewhere near Ben's hometown of Deer Lodge.

I had a recruit in town so I was stuck in Dillon but they had a great time!

the ice was covered in snow but I guess that makes for better traction

Mikel and Ben with their catches (and Mikel's in his new Christmas jacket)

Some of the day's catch. The small one is some sort of salmon and the bigger one is a trout (I think).

fishing derby

This past weekend there was the annual fishing derby on Clark Canyon Reservoir. Apparently the derby is as much about hanging out and socializing as it is about actual fishing (which is against everything in Mikel's fishing blood but he had fun. 

One of our friends has an ice house that he took out and set up. There were a ton of people out there socializing, drinking beer, and having fun fishing. 

The fishing wasn't so good but the company made up for it!

these were the ling that were in the running at the end of the derby

 and these were the trout

only in Dillon

This is another "only in Dillon" although it happened a little bit outside our raging metropolis. 

Mikel was on his way to get our car looked at a shop in a different town and he had to wait a LONG time to let a ton of cows cross the road. As always (to amuse me) he took pictures!

only in Dillon

not a good start

It's never a good start to the day when it's 2 degrees outside. It makes it even worse when the low for the day is supposed to be 20! 

I guess it's going to be a little colder than expected...

ice fishing

This past weekend Mikel had the chance to go ice fishing with some friends at Browning Lake. He had a great time. He caught the most fish during the afternoon and then a smaller group went out at night again. 

beautiful Montana 

Ben with the biggest catch of the day

walking Mt Rubidoux

While we were in Riverside after Christmas, Mikel and I walked up Mt Rubidoux with my parents. It's about 4 miles round trip and has some great views of Riverside. The weather was AMAZING, even for California Christmas standards.

on our way up

the parentals

on the way up

the cross on the top (with people standing below)

people climbing in the sun

It was a warm and wonderful day in Riverside!

a day at the beach

It was nice to spend sometime walking on the beach in sunny San Clemente! It wasn't super hot but nothing beats the feel of sun on your face!

cool designs in the sand from the water coming in and out

Beautiful day, beautiful beach, beautiful sunset! Another good day at the beach!

another cake pop adventure

Well, since they were such a hit at Thanksgiving, we decided to make cake pops again for Christmas!

Mikel was lucky enough to be part of the adventure this time!

this was obviously a no makeup project

a cake pop Christmas tree

Sugar highs for all!!

La Brea Tar Pits

While we were in California, Mikel and I visited the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Neither of us had ever been and so vacation was the perfect time to check it out!

The tar pits are right in the middle of LA and are natural tar pits that contain tons of fossils. Apparently, the tar was sometimes covered in water, disguising the pits and luring animals in to drink. After an animal would get stuck then other predators may come to feed and then get stuck themselves. Basically there are gagillions of fossils that have been removed from the site and excavation is still going on today.

The Page Museum is by the tar pits to house some fossils and research relating to the tar pits.

Mikel and a cool fossil from the tar pits

400 dire wolf skulls (the most common animal found)

The Fishbowl. This soundproof wall divides museum patrons from researchers working on fossils.

a tar pit outside

the Page Museum

Hancock Park

Project 23 (an active excavation project)

these little fences surround small areas of tar in the ground

couldn't pass up a picture opportunity!

why not?

so cute

a cone covered in tar

The traffic coming in and out of LA was the only negative to the trip. It makes us grateful to know we can go home to Dillon!