Holi Festival of Colors

This last Saturday I went to the Festival of Colors. Every year it takes place at the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork.

The festival celebrates the arrival of spring but also is a celebration of the death of Pootna, a mythological creature in the Hare Krishna religion.This year was my second year going. I went last year but got there late so I missed the throwing of the colors. I didn't get much color but it was still fun. This year we planned so we could get there in time to buy colors and be there when they threw them. We parked at the Spanish Fork fairgrounds and walked about 2 miles to the temple. We were there in time for the celebration at 4pm. It was a BLAST!!! I loved learning about the culture, singing and dancing, forgetting my worries and just having fun! Except when the guy body surfing fell on my head and I just about passed out.

If you click this link it will go to a You Tube video of the throwing that I was at. On the video, at 21 seconds, there is a place in the huge crowd that throws colors, I am in the middle of that color. You get pelted in the face, in the ears, eyes, mouth, EVERYWHERE! You definitely get paint in your mouth and it's not the best taste but it's all worth it.

Here are some pictures I took from BEFORE the big throwing

Triton, Garrett, Matt, Garrett's girlfriend (forgot her name), and Trevor

Triton

Garrett and Triton

My cousins Jessica and Erin and their friend Emily


Garrett


Erin and Emily


My cousin Jessica



This is AFTER the big throwing

From L-R: Me (my shirt was once white), Jackie, Alyssa, and one of there friends.


My cousin Hayley and her boyfriend Keate got there late so they just thew the color at each other. My good friend Alyssa in the background.

New Job

I started my new job almost a month ago and I absolutely LOVE it! I haven't had a job since October of last year. I applied to Carmen B. Pingree (school for children with Autism) three times within a years time and finally got it on the third try.

The first time, I applied and observed the kids and was told to call the next week to schedule an interview because the lead teacher wasn't there that week. When I called they told me that they had just put on a hiring freeze and to keep calling.

The second time, about three months ago, I had an interview set up and was hopeful. I had the last interview spot of the last day. As I was driving to the school what seems to happen? Car trouble! I was fifteen minutes late and the interviewing teacher was already gone. I was so bummed.

This last time, Wednesday, I got a call from someone I know that works there asking me if I was still looking for a job. She told me that they needed three assistant teachers in the classroom she works in and to call the school to set up an interview if I was interested. So of coarse I called and made an appointment for the next day. I went to the interview fairly confident and was told I would hear back from her the next day if I got the job. Not three hours later I received a call telling me I got the job if I was still interested. I started the following Monday and have been working there since.

I love my job, I love teaching, working and having fun with the kids. There are some kids in my class that don't talk and some that you can't even tell they have Autism. Most days I feel I am working at a preschool, not an Autism preschool. They are all just kids to me, they all have their own fun personality. Don't get me wrong, it's hard and stressful at times and there is a lot of multitasking, but it is all worth it. I LOVE it!

Update

I don't think anyone reads this but I'm going to write as if someone does. As I wrote before, I was in a rear end accident on Jan. 4th. Now about a week ago I went to the doctors to get checked out again because my back and neck were still hurting. The doctor prescribed me an anti inflammatory, a muscle relaxant and told me I need to go to physical therapy. The next day I called the insurance adjuster of the lady that rear ended us to let them know that they would be receiving a medical bill for my doctors visit and that I had to start physical therapy so they would be paying for that as well. But when I called and told them that, they said that they thought they had made it clear that it was only a one time settlement. They told me that they were upset that I didn't understand that and that I can send in the bills but that does not mean they will pay for them. That is when I decided to call an attorney that I know and find out what he thinks. He told me not to take the $500 and that he will be getting me more and is going to make sure they pay for all of my medical.

Now I am going to physical therapy 3 times a week. The physical therapist figured out that not only is my back and neck strained, I also have three ribs out of place. One is one my left side up by my collar bone, the other is on my left side by my collar bone and the last is one of my middle ribs on my left side. He has tried to put them back into place but they are to inflamed so we will just have to keep icing them and taking the medicine.

Say what?

So I was in an accident on the 4th of January. Triton and I were in his truck, a Ford Ranger, stopped at a stop sign in a parking lot when we were rear ended by a Subaru Outback. The lady had to be going at least 25-30 mph because we were pushed over 10 ft out. Triton was fine and the lady was fine but my neck and back hurt so the police said they could call an ambulance to take me to the hospital to get checked out or I could go my self but that I needed to go. So once the cop left my mom followed us to Triton's house and then took me to the ER. We got there at midnight and didn't get out till 2:30 am. They took 9 x-rays and determined that my back and neck are strained.

Now, 2 weeks later, I still have pain every-other day in my neck, and have pain in my back every day, dull aches with stabbing pain thrown in once in a while. The lady's insurance said they are going to pay for all my medical and sending me a $500 check for pain and suffering. I'm thinking "Great! I could use $500!" but most people I have been talking to are telling me that they are just trying to pay me off and that I should get a lawyer. They tell me I should get more money because I am still in pain and I could still be in pain for a while. On the other hand people are saying I don't need a lawyer because $500 is plenty. I am also being told I need to go to the doctor again to get checked out again before I get the checked cashed in case there is something that didn't show up at the ER, so I won't have to pay for it. Yes, I am going to go to the doctor.

What do you think about getting a lawyer?