Within the Week

Within the week, I will be headed home to Florida! Yay! I have two big presentations this week and then I'm finished. Woo hoo! I just know this week is going to drag by, because I want it to be over quickly, ha ha.

My schedule is as follows:
Tuesday - Presentation in International Economics class on the Harmonization of Education Standards in the European Union

Wednesday - Working my G.A. hours at the elementary school

Thursday - Presentation of my Review of Teaching Strategies for my Reading for the Secondary Content Teacher course

Friday - Working my G.A. hours at the elementary school; Girls' Night Out to celebrate the end of the semester

Saturday - Christmas party at the Millers'

Sunday - Flying HOME!!!!

After that, Matt & I will put up our tree, hang out with friends, maybe have some folks over...I plan to do some holiday baking with a friend. We'll just spend some quality time enjoying ourselves until it is time for us to go on our trip.

I think we leave on the 18th...I'm not sure, Matt has the whole thing planned. But, I do know that we're going to London, Rome, Venice, Vlock (I don't know if that's spelled correctly), Vienna, and Prague!

I have sooooo much to look forward to...I just hope that the next few days go by quickly. But, I'll be home within the week!

It Won't Be Long Now...

As I write this post, I should really be working on a couple of projects that I have yet to complete for school this semester. Alas, it is a Friday evening, and I am pretty worn out, and just need a couple of hours to recover from a busy (and very cold and somewhat snowy) day!

But, it was a good day, too! I taught a full class this morning (it was my first time) and it went really well! In fact, it was leaps and bounds better than the practice lesson I taught to my peers in one of my education classes earlier in the week, ha ha. I had been fairly stressed about making sure I did everything right this morning, but everything just kind of flowed really easily and I feel tons more comfortable teaching now. Yay!

So those projects I mentioned above...yeah, well, I really need to get them done this weekend. And I will. The fact is...I only have two weeks left of school, and one of them is a short holiday week! It hit me today:

It won't be long now until I get to go home and be with the Hubs! Woo hoo! Color me excited!

I Fought the Law...

...and I WON! This will be, like, the most brief post ever. But, I just had to gush over the fact that I triumphed over the Lords of Parking at ETSU! Woo hoo!

I had received a ticket for parking in a faculty lot yesterday. Today, I went to their little "Parking Court" and presented the facts:
1. Of the two entrances to the lot, only ONE has a sign advising students not to park there.
2. They have both blue and white painted on the curbs. I know blue represents faculty, but white (I thought) indicates open parking.
3. They have another lot across campus that has a white sign "Open Parking" and that lot has white paint on the curbs, just like the curbs in the faculty lot where I was ticketed.
4. There was another sign that advises that it is a faculty lot, but is not visible because of tree limbs.

I took showed them photos of all of these things, and respectfully requested that my ticket be dismissed. And they agreed! Yay!

So, it WAS just $20...but even small victories can make my day, ha ha!

Trial and Error

Every weekday morning now I am observing a high school economics class for my secondary methods course. I'm pleased to report that I am being given the opportunity to practice teaching various concepts to the students. They are my guinea pigs, ha ha.

And, believe me, the experimentation is ongoing! Over the last couple of weeks, I've tried out several different techniques to attempt to find the ways that work best for me. I've had minor successes, but today's activity was a colossal failure!

On Friday, I had given the students a worksheet to complete in order to provide them with additional practice on predicting shifts in supply and demand. I guess they were terrified that they might not get it finished and would have to do it as homework over the weekend, so they all rushed through it.

I don't think I've ever seen such sorry schoolwork. I was incredibly disappointed when I graded their work over the weekend. They had seemed to know it so well in class...

Anyway, this morning I went in with a plan. A number of seasoned veteran teachers had advised me to provide opportunities for students to teach one another. So, my plan was to pair up the students in such a way that each pair contained one student who answered the question on the worksheet correctly and one who did not. Then, I called each pair up to the board to graph their answer and explain it to the class. In my head, I envisioned having the student who answered correctly walk the one who didn't though the process, so that it would be a learning experience for both...

The problem is that I didn't specifically state who I wanted to actually DO the work on the board, because I didn't want to embarrass the students who didn't answer correctly. As a result, the students who answered correctly were the ones who graphed the solution AND explained it to the class, while the other students in each pair simply stood to the side, and probably learned nothing.

I felt like a moron, but at least I leaned from this. Next time, I will have ONE student at the board, and instruct the class to decide if they agree or disagree with their answer and state why or why not. Or, maybe I can have the students work in pairs at their desks, and that way I can privately speak to each pair and instruct the one who has the concept down pat to coach the other student...

The good news is that I get to go back every day and continue my process of trial and error...

See Ya Later!

Just wanted to do a quick post, as I am about to embark on a journey to the netherworld of unending schoolwork. Today, in one of my classes, I learned that an upcoming assignment that I thought was going to be pretty simple will, in fact, be an extensive undertaking. To top that, most of my classmates are working in groups on the assignment. Unfortunately, as the the only person who is studying to teach economics, I have no peers with whom I can collaborate. *sighs* Oh, well...I don't really like group work all that much, anyway. At least this way, I get to be completely in control. Just the way I like it, ha ha.

In addition to this project, I have a number of projects for other classes that I need to be working on, also. I will emphatically state that this mountain of work is not the result of procrastination on my part. Apparently, in one's last semester of coursework in this program, all of the professors assign most of the work to be completed in the second half of the semester.

I can handle it. I'll just have to abstain from social gatherings for a while. Except Halloween. I will surface long enough to don a costume and frolic with friends for that occasion. I'm considering going as Amy Winehouse...although after last night's debate, I'm thinking about conspiring with a friend to dress up as Joe Six Pack and Joe the Plumber...

Oh, and I almost forgot my great news! Guess who passed both of her Praxis II exams?! That's right. ME! Woo hoo!

Well, I've delayed my work too long now. I'll just have to see ya later.

Alone Again

I took Matt back to the airport a couple of hours ago. It was difficult to see him leave, of course. We did have a terrific time during his visit.

He was here for eleven wonderful days! We went to my classes, ate dinner at some of our favorite places, had dinner with friends, spent time with my family, attended a really fun wedding, and even managed to go to a haunted cave! We probably could have crammed in a lot more activities than we did, but it was just so nice to be able to relax together.

I'm attempting to bolster my spirits with the knowledge that Thanksgiving isn't all THAT far off, and I'll get my hubs fix again then. And I have plenty of stuff for school to keep me busy in the meantime...

It was a spectacular eleven days with my honey. And now, I'm alone again.

That feeling.

You know that feeling when you finally put to rest something that has bothered you for a long time? That thing that you did that makes you feel bad about yourself and ashamed of how you acted? When you finally make apologies and amends and everything is again right with the world?

Yeah, that feeling is quite nice.

I may not be a rocket scientist...

But at least I got to meet some! Rocket scientists, that is. It's a pretty neat opportunity that I'm getting, actually.

Because of my G.A. position, I was offered the option to attend a workshop that was a joint project between ETSU's Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Education, the International Storytelling Center, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on integrating storytelling into science curriculum. Although I'm not actually planning to become a science teacher (economics is my specialty), I accepted the invitation to attend. And I am sooooo glad I did!

Today was the first day of the two-day workshop. It began with resident storyteller Donald Davis opening with a story about his fourth-grade teacher, who took his class on an unforgettable journey around the world. What a way to start the day!

We were soon meeting the NASA scientists who'd journeyed from California to share their stories and information about what they are doing to search for answers about our universe. They spoke about their ongoing project, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft. I'll freely admit that much of the scientific information was over my head, but that fact did not make it any less fascinating (or impressive). We participated in some activities, and were even given a small homework assignment to complete before tomorrow's session.

Definitely, the highlight of my day was eating lunch with a female scientist, Trina, whose passion is one of Saturn's moons, Titan. In addition to being absolutely brilliant, (Of course she is, she works for NASA!) she was a great conversationalist and incredibly friendly. During her portion of the presentation today, she talked about the women who are involved in the project, and something she said really stuck with me. I don't have it memorized word-for-word, but the general gist of it was, "Mediocre men succeed all of the time. We'll know that we've achieved complete equality when women who are mediocre succeed." Interesting thought, huh? I'm still chewing on that one.

Yay for being done with hard tests!

I am pleased to report that I completed my Praxis II tests on Saturday. They were really, really difficult...but I think I did fine. I suppose I'll just have to wait to receive the test scores in about a month to know for sure how well I knew my stuff.

After taking the tests Saturday, I relaxed for a bit at the house, and then drove back into town to attend a surprise birthday party for a friend. It was fun, and I was finally able to get my greedy little hands on the Mid City Grill's delicious garlic hummus and garlic and apricot sauce! Mmmmm! Heaven!

Afterward, I drove to my friend Laura C's place, where we drank mojito martinis and watched movies and just generally chatted and got caught up. It was terrific fun. When I woke up Sunday morning, I attributed my stuffy nose to an allergic reaction to her cat (I'm pretty sure the cat sleeps on the bed I slept in).

However, it would seem that I have actually caught a bit of a cold, since I'm still feeling pretty puny a day later. I'm at home today, just trying to rest and feel better. I HATE being sick. Apparently, I was not diligent enough in my use of antibacterial hand sanitizer....*sighs*

At least I didn't get sick until AFTER my Praxis tests. Thanks goodness!

Update: One Month Later

Yesterday was the one-month anniversary of the day Matt hopped on a plane back to Florida, leaving me here in Tennessee to work on my scholastic endeavors. I'm officially at the point where I want a visit. Me there or him here...I don't care which.

The unfortunate thing is, I have only nine days from today until I take my Praxis II tests. And they're kind of a big deal. As in, I don't get to do my student teaching until I've passed these tests. So, I can't really afford to set aside time for a hubs visit right now. *sighs* At least I'll soon have the Praxis out of my way, thank God!

In other school-related news, I have finally begun my graduate assistant work. Can you say, "thrilled"?! My duties are to assist a fifth-grade science teacher in her classroom at the best elementary school in our area! It's so cool! You see, one of the objectives of the Center for Excellence in Math & Science Education is to provide support for teachers in the community, so that they are better able to provide a thorough education for the students. So my role will be to do whatever the teacher needs me to do. That may include some busy work like organizing materials, distributing classwork or materials to the students, etc. However, it also will include direct interaction with the students, helping them with their work, answering questions, just kind of being the "assistant teacher" in the room! Yesterday, I spent the day with Mrs. Hull (the teacher to whom I've been assigned)and really learned so much! I couldn't ask for a more valuable and rewarding G.A. position than to get to spend 20 hours per week in a classroom, learning so many teaching and classroom management techniques. To say that I'm pleased is a vast understatement.

That's about it in the news department. Missing Matt. School's under way. Praxis II exams in 9 days.

Day Two: Soaked but Schooled

Apparently, what's left of Fay has made her way into our area here. Consequently, it rained all day long today. According to the forecast, I'll be toting an umbrella all week.

No worries, though. I attended three more classes today, and I'm pretty excited by all of the things I'll be learning this semester. So, I'll happily slosh my way from class to class.

At least today I was able to discover which shoes NOT to wear on a rainy day, ha ha. One would think that thong sandals might be a good rainy day choice during the summer, right? Oh no, once these particular shoes were wet, they became so slick that my feet were sliding around in them most uncomfortably. At one point, I was even walking barefoot! (By the way, I don't recommend that, either.)

So my plan for the rest of the week? Tennis shoes, baby, yeah!

Back to School

Today, I go back to school! Woo hoo! I'm really excited to go, and it feels like I've been back in Tennessee for ages now. In reality, it's been, like, three weeks. But, that's a long time to be just kind of waiting for a day to come, you know? Anyway, that day is finally here!

So, I have one class on Mondays and Wednesdays, and it isn't until 4pm. The bulk of my classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tomorrow, I have a meeting at the Center for Excellence in Math and Science Education to learn what my G.A. tasks, duties, and schedule will be. I have three professors total this semester. One was my high school economics teacher. I'd taken one of his classes my second semester in the M.A.T. program, and he was every bit as laid-back as he was when I was in high school, so I'm pretty stoked that he's the professor of three of my classes! The other two professors, I've never had. I've met one of them, and she seems pretty nice. I always get along with my teachers, so no worries there.

I have so much planned for myself this semester! Next month, I'll take the PLT and Praxis content area tests. I also plan to convert my portfolio to an electronic version. I see that as being a bit challenging, but will be a cool tool for me to secure a position once I graduate.

Wow, I'm just nerding right along, aren't I? I'm just so thrilled to FINALLY be getting to the reason that I'm living around 800 miles from my husband. Up until today, I didn't really HAVE to be here...although I most likely wouldn't have obtained my G.A. position via telephone from Florida.

I have managed to stay somewhat active while waiting for this day to come. I've been studying for those tests. Also, I've been camping twice. The first camping occasion was with my buds Robert and Leslie and some other folks. I made a couple of new friends on that camping trip, so cool! And, I just went camping the second time with Matt & Cora, from my church small-group. It was quite fun, too! We camped at Watauga Lake, and it was beautiful,albeit somewhat windy. I kicked booty at Yahtzee, ha ha! Then, on Saturday, I went to Robert & Leslie's house for a surprise party for their friend, Ian. It was quite fun, and I had the opportunity to play a Wii game called, "Rock Star." Oh, my gosh! That game is soooo addictive! We played it for HOURS. I find myself wanting a Wii, ha ha....But that would prolly not encourage my studies too much, so I'd better not!

The only other things that I haven't covered yet in this blog are some newsy bits that I've learned this week. Two of them are happy, one is not at all a happy report.

We'll start with the joyous new items. I learned last night, via a comment left on my myspace page, that my friend Tiffany is engaged! Yay for her! I don't know who this fella is, because Tiff and I don't regularly call or write one another, but I'm sure he's terrific! I'm excited for her, and since I'm only an hour from where she lives in Asheville, NC, I expect I'll get to meet him sometime relatively soon.

The other happy news is that my friend who was expecting has safely delivered her baby! Now, here's the funny part. I haven't heard this directly from her, and I didn't expect to, because this is a busy and hectic time for her. I certainly am not going to call, what with all of the upheaval of adjusting to life with a new baby. But, I really wanted to know that everything went well, so I clicked on her myspace friends (who I don't know, lol) and sure enough, a couple of them had listed her status as a new mom right in their status bars! So, I found out that I can stop worrying on her behalf. So, congrats to Crystal! I'm glad that little Evyn is here, and I can't wait to see pictures and hear all about it.

Now for the sad news. I learned this week that a friend has been diagnosed with cancer. He's a young guy, and I'm sure that he's going to be fine. I just hate that he is going to have to go through things like chemo. From what I've heard, he is approaching this situation with humor and optimism, which I think is the best possible way to handle it. I must say that I admire his ability to do that, and am not certain that I would be capable of doing the same myself. But, this isn't the first time that I've admired the great qualities this friend possesses. I don't know how much assistance I can provide to this friend, but I've pledged that he has my prayers and unwavering support until he has overcome this obstacle on his path to a bright, happy, and healthy future. I would ask that anyone reading this blog would also pray for my friend to have a speedy return to perfect health. Thanks.

I'm a worry-wart.

I've always been something of a worrier. It's strange, but I'm also an optimist. I find it very easy to encourage others to not have fear, but it occasionally overtakes me.

My hubs put a few gray hairs in my head last night. Not his fault, because he kept me pretty informed about where he was going, what he was doing. But my mind kept running through all of the worst scenarios.

He and his friend, Jason, met up at the beach yesterday. I knew about this and really didn't expect to be able to get in touch with Matt until a bit later. But, as it got dark, the worries about sharks or drowning started to set in. Now, I myself had gone for a moonlight swim with these fellas before I came back to Tennessee, so I really shouldn't have worried when I didn't get a call from Matt by midnight. But I did worry. When he finally called, I was so relieved!

He then told me that they were going to hang out in the downtown area for a while. I told him to be careful and call me when he was on his way home. By three a.m. I was petrified that he'd had a drink or three and gotten behind the wheel (even though I know Matt would NEVER do that), or had fallen asleep on his way home. My mind played out endless possibilities. At last he called! He and Jason had pretty much just hung out and talked. Such an overactive imagination I have!

Matt told me they were both pretty tired, and rather than drive home at such a late hour, they both decided to crash on the beach. I immediately championed that idea, because the visions of him falling alseep at the wheel had been broadcasting through my mind for the last couple of hours.

Of course, this morning, when I woke up, I immediately worried that someone might have harmed them while they were sleeping there out in the open on the beach. I mean, ANYONE could surprise you if you have your guard down. Once Matt called me this morning, I felt better.

But I'm troubled by my inability to avoid fretting. I have just realized that I fear that which I have no control over. And that's no way to live. I don't want to someday become a parent who refuses to let their child go outside to play for fear of them being hurt. I believe what I'll do the next time I feel fear taking the wheel is pray that God gives me peace and reminds me that He is the one in control.

Outdoor Fun!

I just returned home a few hours ago from a night spent camping among friends, old and new. It was terrific!

I hadn't been to this particular campsite before, and was really impressed. It was right on the river, and the ground was nice and sandy. I hate laying down to sleep in my tent only to discover a rock beneath my temporary abode! Luckily, that was not a problem for me.

You know what else wasn't a problem? Bugs. Yep, I was completely NOT consumed by mosquitoes; I was amazed. The closest thing I found to a bug problem was the chirping of the crickets, and I actually quite like that sound.

My friend Robert, who I have known since high school (when he used to copy my chemistry homework), is actually quite the good cook on the grill. Dinner and breakfast were yummilicious! I also discovered a new taste sensation: bacon-wrapped blackened marshmallows! Before you rule it out, try it. It sounds weird but it was such a tasty combination of sweet and savory.

Anyhoo, camping was a whole lot of fun! And to think, I've been invited to camp again next weekend (although it's with a different set of friends)!

Pretty Good

I've been buried deep in studying for the last couple of days. And the trend will continue, right on up until I take those tests on September 13. I'm feeling pretty good, though, and thinking that my preparation will pay off. I'm about one-third of the way through one of my three study guides, and I already have reviewed a lot of familiar information that I just needed to have brought to the front of my mind.

Despite all of my studiousness, I am making time for some leisure activities. Yesterday, I dropped in on some of my old pals at ERAC, and had a great time catching up. Even more exciting is the camping adventure scheduled for this weekend! Woo hoo! The only thing I have to figure out is what kinds of snack foods I want to take along...Hmmm.

I also reconnected with my small-group from church. They are still meeting on Tuesday nights, and are currently reading and discussing a book. I shall attend and somehow manage to find time to read along, as well. Additionally, they are planning a camping trip for next weekend! Wow, camping two weeks in a row! Does it get any better than this?!

Well, yes, it could be better....I still really miss Matt. But, I suppose that is just going to be a constant as long as I'm here and he's there. But, we do talk on the phone several times each day, and thank God for IM!

Everything is going pretty good.

So far this week...

Since my last post, I have obtained a position as a graduate assistant for the Center for Excellence in Math and Science Education! Woo hoo! That is a HUGE relief! No out-of-state tuition for me! I received that precious bit of news yesterday.

Today, I headed to my hairdresser for some much-needed TLC for my hair. Although there was a very nice lady in Arcadia that did my hair a couple of times, I much prefer Cheryl's handiwork. So, I treated myself in celebration of the tuition savings. I got some highlights (my beloved stripes) and a cut. My hair actually doesn't look vastly different than it did before. The color just has more dimension now and the cut shaped it up a bit. Matt had practically begged me before I went to not go short again. Hubs has a thing for long hair, I guess. Anyhoo, I feel quite glam now, ha ha. Here are some pics:














After I left Cheryl's, I stopped by my mom's office for a visit (and if I'm honest, to show off my newly improved 'do). I arrived just as they were doing a group lunch for my mom's birthday. I used to work there through part of college, so I visited with many familiar faces and it was nice to catch up.

Now, I'm back at the house, waiting for the timer to go off, indicating that it's time to remove the birthday cake from the oven. After it cools a bit, I'll make the icing for it. Some of you may be thinking, "I thought she couldn't cook!" Well, the fact is, I CAN cook, I just mostly choose not to. But, hey, you have to bake your mom a birthday cake, right!? And I just don't like the way store-bought icing tastes. I learned long ago that the best chocolate icing is easily made to taste with powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and baking cocoa. Mmmm! Mom will be lucky if I manage to actually ice the cake instead of the inside of my tummy, ha ha! I feel a distinct need for some chocolate today!

So, mom's birthday celebration will consist of our family going out to eat together tonight. Which will be cool, because I haven't seen my aunt and uncle since I got back into town. Anyway, I'll prolly post some pictures of the dinner tomorrow.

When you get what you want...

Am I the most ungrateful person on the planet? Sometimes I think so...

So, I wanted to go back to finish my master's degree. Poof! Here I am in Tennessee, waiting for classes to start. And all I can think about is how lonely I feel without Matt here. I knew it would be hard, so I've got to power through this. I'm just feeling particularly gloomy today, and on top of that I feel guilty for feeling gloomy about something that I wanted. Sheesh!

Here's another thing I thought I would enjoy but don't: not working. Who'd have thought?! I used to think longingly about watching Regis and Kelly and all of those home improvement shows on HGTV during the day, instead of working. Now, maybe it's because I'm at my mom's house, and therefore can't really work on any projects that I might in my own home, but I have been not working for less than a week, and I am bored out of my mind! I'm speeding through books and spending countless hours on the internet in the effort to occupy my time and mind. Because, if I don't keep my brain busy with something, I'm going to continue to dwell on the fact that I really miss Matt.

Please don't feel sorry for me. I think I feel sorry enough for myself. I am, in fact, ashamed of how self-indulgent I'm being right now. I resolve to find something constructive to do, starting tomorrow, and to cease being melancholy.

Feeling a bit childish...

Ok, well it's confession time right now. I just did something of which I'm not too proud...

Anyone who knows me knows that I ADORE myspace, right? I like going to my friends' pages. I like leaving and receiving comments. I pretty much read everyone's bulletins (unless you post them, like, every ten minutes of EVERY day...THEN I might skip over yours).

So I have (or did have) this friend on myspace who was not (unlike most of my myspace friends) someone I actually know in "real life." She seemed like a nice gal, new to Florida, and looking for female friends. To be honest, if the town that she lived in hadn't been so far away from where I lived, I would most likely have met her in person for drinks and built up a friendship with her. As it was, the driving distance was too great, and so our friendship online was very limited. She left me the occasional comment and vice versa.

She apparently has gotten hooked on the myspace apps, like "feed my pet" or "I own you" or God knows what else. Anyway, it seemed like every bulletin on my board was from her about some application or quiz she wants all of her friends to try. Anyway, I just clicked on one too many of those nonsense bulletins and decided to delete her.

I'm feeling a bit guilty now, like I should have said something to let her know she was annoying the everliving crap out of me. But, then, I barely know the girl. Maybe she won't even notice that I deleted her....

So, was that as childish an action as it feels????

Settling In

The transition from life in the sleepy Florida town to the slightly less sleepy Tennessee town of my birth is complete. Matt and I made the arduous drive last week, and just yesterday he boarded a plane to return back without me. *sigh*

Before he left, we did manage to do a couple of fun things, like visit my sister at her lake house, go to the zoo, and take a bike ride. Here are some photos of our adventures:

















I'm glad we got to play a bit more before going through this separation. I am feeling a bit listless without my hubs, but I've plenty to keep me busy right now. Today, I ran a few errands that made me feel quite productive.

I dropped off some forms at E.T.S.U. and even found another G.A. position to pursue. I also managed to secure a wireless router, so that I can blog and read dlisted and feed my growing myspace and twitter addictions from the comfort of my bedroom. The installation was seamless and I'm very pleased.

I've unpacked and even organized my closet by clothing type! Having just read what I wrote makes me wonder if I might have a touch of the OCD...

I'm mostly anxious about obtaining a G.A. position. I've done all I can for now to acquire one, and I'm simply periodically checking in with the different departments where I've applied. I'll just have to pray for favor and wait.

I do have some exciting news to report...At least, I'M excited! Instead of the two semesters of coursework I thought I'd need to complete before student-teaching, I only have this one semester before being eligible! Of course, eligibility is partially determined by having passed the Praxis PLT and the Content Knowledge tests. I learned that I'll have to take those probably next month....So, I'm going to acquire the study guides and start NOW!!!

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And the tunnel isn't nearly as long as I had thought it was. Thank God, because this first day without seeing Matt has been rough!

A Wonderful Saturday

Since I'll be heading to Tennessee in just a bit over a week, Matt and I decided that we had to have fun beachy times over in Sarasota yesterday. It was terrific, and I wouldn't change a thing about how we spent one of our last Saturdays together for a while.

We dawdled around the house until a bit after lunchtime. That's one of the things that I love about living with Matt. How we spend our time is loosely organized. It is completely ok for him if we have a leisurely morning and get around to the rest of our day whenever it suits us.

So, we drove over to St. Armand's Key and had a delicious lunch at The Columbia Restaurant. We enjoyed a pitcher of sangria made with champagne instead of red wine. So yummy! Matt had one of their signature salads, thoughtfully transferring the olives to me for consumption. I ordered, and shared, a Mediterranean paella. It was very good, but a lot more salty than I expected. I finished over half of my dinner before turning it over to Matt to complete. I had to save room for dessert, of course! Our waitress, who provided excellent service, also was very obliging when Matt snapped photos of her caramelizing the top of my creme brulee dessert. When we left, I was so full, I thought I might burst.

We popped into a couple of shops nearby, and I spied the cutest little baby outfit, so we purchased it for a gift. I was pleased that we came across that store, because we had planned to drive across town to the Babies 'R' Us store to purchase a shower gift later in the day. Yay for saving gas and time!

Next we headed to our fave beach, Siesta Key! I love it there for several reasons. First, the sand is so soft and white, it feels a little luxurious to stroll across it barefoot. Second, the water is always so pretty and clean. And last, but not least by any means, is the fact that Matt and I got married on that very beach! Suffice it to say, there will never be another beach that can compare with Siesta Key for us.

On our way to the beach, Matt decided to call his buddy, Jason. We haven't seen him in quite some time, because Jason keeps a social schedule (and work schedule, for that matter) that is ever-changing and unpredictable. Matt talked him into meeting us at the beach for an early-evening swim. Jason arrived just after the sunset, and the three of us enjoyed some beers and conversation, just before the bugs started devouring us alive. It had gotten dark, and against my better judgement, we all decided to go swimming in the ocean. I was a bit apprehensive, as visibility is obviously poorer at night. However, a few minutes into our moonlight swim, I made an incredible discovery.

Have you ever heard about stuff that can be in the ocean that is luminous in the dark? I had heard vague descriptions of it before, but never paid any attention. I was startled to notice as I was swimming around that the movements of my hands produced a sparkling effect. Any disturbance of the water resulted in this shimmering light that seemed magical. I pointed it out to the boys, and the three of us spent the next hour or so in rapturous enjoyment of this phenomenon. It was like I was Tinkerbell with fairy dust, ha ha! I don't know if it is some type of algae or what. All I know is that it was incredibly beautiful, and I'm so thankful that we did decide to have that moonlight dip in the Gulf.

And as if that wasn't cool enough, we were surprised to see bats erratically swooping and fluttering around us in the night air! I would never have expected that; I suppose I've always bought into the notion that bats only hang out in caves. They were devouring the very bugs that were trying to eat us, so I have to say that I'm a big fan of bats. And it was extremely cool to watch them in action.

And our adventures don't end there. I had gone back to shore to dry off, as I found myself getting a bit chilly in the water. Matt and Jason remained out in the water, and I tried to be patient while they enjoyed themselves. I was really pretty ready to go home, as it was getting quite late. Anyway, I finally walked to the edge of the water and called them to come in. (I felt quite mom-ish doing that, FYI.) Matt came in first and asked me if I minded him going back out to swim a bit longer. I told him that was fine with me. (Feeling mom-ish again, might I add.) As he splashed back out to join Jason, I heard him say, "You lost your glasses?!"

Jason, like many of us, needs corrective lenses for his vision. Unlike most of us, he opted to wear his glasses into the ocean. Apparently, while they were out there swimming, Jason was telling Matt all about how he doesn't believe in Christianity, or even in God. A few minutes later, he lost his glasses into the ocean. They both came back to shore, and I grabbed my penlight and we all trudged back into the water to search for his spectacles. Now, I didn't think there was a snowball's chance that we'd find them. I mean, it was the ocean, and the high tide was working its way in. To the amazement of all of us, after ten minutes or so of searching, Jason reached out his hands to scour the moving sands of the ocean floor and gripped his glasses! If that's not a sign from God, I don't know what is!

As a side note, Matt also lost his glasses last night, although it was not in the ocean. Somewhere on the beach, some glasses that look like they belong to an independent film producer are abandoned. Ironic, isn't it, that glasses lost in the moving, surging ocean are recovered, but some that are carelessly left on the beach are gone forever?

After a lengthy search for Matt's glasses, we called it a night and headed back home. It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday.

Now I can Relax...

This might be the first day I've been relaxed in quite some time. Today's agenda holds nothing but fun. How often does a girl get to say that?

The whole prospect of moving back to Tennessee to finish school has been a little bit stressful. Sure, I'm psyched about getting back in classes and moving toward my goal. However, it's rough to think about leaving Matt here in Florida when I go. We'll be fine, but it's still nerve wracking.

And then, on Thursday, I received word that the local high school has posted a position for a marketing teacher for this upcoming school year. It gave me a bit of pause in considering my plans to go back to school. However, after giving it quite a bit of thought and consulting with several people whose opinions we value, Matt and I have decided to proceed with the Tennessee move.

Even though this job at the high school is what I would eventually want, it seems like a better move to go ahead and secure my degree, because then there is no question about my qualifications. Plus, I think I would be nervous to get up and try to teach for the first time without having had that valuable experience of student teaching and being critiqued and provided with helpful feedback and suggestions. Plus, I know that it's easier now to obtain my master's degree with no children and no full-time job than it would be going to school at night after work each day.

This decision was easy in some ways but hard in others. My first reaction was, "I don't want to change my plans to return to school." My second reaction was, "But this seems like too much of a sign for me to pass it up." Upon reflection of both of these reactions, I discovered that the first resonated within me. I am more calm in contemplating my future with more education and experience behind me than I am in thinking I could have a teaching job within a month but feel uncertain as to how well I would perform. Anyway, we've decided: It's back to school with me, no matter what!

So, today is the relaxing day after agonizing decision-making. I'm enjoying a cup of coffee, and I intend to give myself a mini-pedicure here in a bit. A bit later, we're headed into Sarasota to pick up a baby gift for a friend, catch a movie, and spend a little time at our favorite beach, Siesta Key.

Changes.

I don't have a ton of time to post, so I'll make the story nice and short.

My last post was about the out-of-state tuition dilemma, and I called today to try and get it worked out for me to get in-state tuition. Suffice it to say, I don't have a snowball's chance of that happening.

My only option to not have to pay almost $11,000 extra to attend school this year is to get a G.A. or T.S. position. And I haven't had much luck on that front, primarily, I think, because I've not been able to pursue it in person.

So, I turned in my two-week notice today at work. I was a little panicked at the thought of doing so. I'm a worrier, you know.

I'm just standing in faith that God will provide a way for this to work out. And my last day at the Y is next Friday. Shortly thereafter, I will be trekking to Tennessee to get everything squared away. More updates later.

STRESS!!!

I seem to have gotten myself into a bit of a pickle. I posted on here a short time ago that I am most likely going to return to Tennessee to finish the M.A.T. program I began about two years ago. There is a bit of a kink in the plans...

See, although I was familiar with the policy that I have six years total to complete my program of graduate studies, I didn't read the fine print that stated that if a student is inactive for a year, they must apply for re-admission. It has been about fourteen months since my last class...

As I am in Florida, it's not like I can just bop up to the admissions office and find out what paperwork I have to complete to do this. So, I looked online and although I didn't see an option to apply for re-admission, I did find where I could apply online for admission into grad school. Which I did. Anyway, $25 dollars later, I am unsure as to whether I filled out the correct forms online....

To make matters worse, because Matt and I filed our income taxes jointly, listing our home address here in Florida, when I filled out the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), I listed the same address as we had put on our taxes. It didn't even occur to me that that would cause ETSU to consider me an out-of-state student. But, according to my student account, their records indicate that my cost of attending grad school for the upcoming year will be over $33,000! Holy schmack! I've got to call them tomorrow and explain that although I've been out of state for the last year, I have always retained my Tennessee address and always had the intention of merely taking one year off from school...Lord, I hope that they are able to change my status back to in-state.

If not, the pressure will REALLY be on to get a G.A. position, so that I won't have to pony up the out-of-state tuition. That's another thing that is stressing me...I have left messages and sent emails to the lady that assigned me my position as a T.S. my first year of grad school, and can't get a response from her. If I were in Tennessee right now, I could go camp out at her office until she tells me a solid "yes" or "no." Obviously, being a thirteen hour drive away, I don't have that option.

I'm freaking out a little bit right now. Please say a prayer for me that this all gets worked out.

Business as Usual

After much fretting and assistance from friends, things are back to business as usual at La Casa del Hollomans.

We have a brand new hot water heater installed, and I have mopped the floors and put furniture back to its usual location. I even obeyed the urge to sort through the mountains of magazines and mail that we have allowed to accumulate.

Yesterday, while I was at the Home Depot, I picked up a suction plug for the bathtub. This is significant, because last week I was furious at my husband for not notifying me that the switch thingy on the bathtub drain didn't actually work to allow one to take a bath instead of a shower. I have been dreaming of luxuriating in a hot bath whilst enjoying a glass of wine....

Now, since we have a new plug for the tub and the hot water is functioning again, I was able to live out that fantasy...

Since the repairs and cleaning have been finished, it's back to business as usual here....enjoying each other's company.

Courting Disaster...

Well, actually, disaster appears to be courting me. Right now, I'm at home waiting for some help with heavy lifting.

What am I needing lifted, you ask? The water heater that blew yesterday evening and sent gallons of water all over our laundry room, kitchen, dining, and living rooms. Suffice it to say that I was not thrilled to arrive home to have to rescue our new furniture from the destructive water. We had to use bricks to elevate the sofas, tables, and chairs above the flood. If I weren't so upset about this event, I would have laughed at how our belongings are up on blocks, reminiscent of abandoned cars in a redneck's yard.

Luckily, we have some friends who knew what needed to be done and called them straightaway. They lent us their expertise, labor, and shop vac to get the water out of our house, and even assisted with taking out the old water heater. Thank the Lord for them, or we wouldn't have known where to start!

Unfortunately, this disaster has caused me to have to call in to work today. I feel pretty guilty about it, but we wouldn't be able to have hot water until this gets resolved. The positive thing about this is that the water heater is under warranty, and when I called GE, they advised us to take it back to Home Depot, where we will be issued a new one. A small victory. So, soon I will have help loading it into Matt's parents' truck, drive over to Port Charlotte, and exchange the faulty tank for a functioning one. Then, we will be able to have it installed, and I hope to be able to take a shower by 5pm....although it may be postponed a bit longer than that.

There is a great deal of cleaning to do, and moving items back to their original places. (We had moved everything that wasn't too big/heavy out of the water destruction zone.) I would start moving things back now and cleaning, but I'm not sure if the installation of the new water heater might result in more water leaks...Hey, I'm a rooky at this, and simply don't want to have to clean the same thing twice.

Oh, and I almost forgot about the battle with the ants this morning! As Matt was leaving for work, I heard a thumping noise from outside. I checked to see what was the source of this noise, and it was Matt, angrily stamping ants on our porch. They seemed poised to sneak inside the house through any opening or crack they might find. There were a lot of them, so I grabbed some shoes and began to help. A short while later, I checked to see if they were all gone, and there were more, lots more. I promptly grabbed my keys and drove to Winn Dixie, where I purchased the biggest can of ant spray I could find. By the time I arrived back at the house, there were even more of them! As in thousands! This is war, I grimly decided and began to spray everything that moved. It was a mass genocide of ants. About ten minutes later, my front porch was littered with the bodies of my enemies, so I grabbed a broom and sent them to a mass grave in the yard. A warning to my insect foes: Do not try to come into my house. I may not have hot water, but I do have bug spray.

I hope that the bugs stay away and that we have hot water and a clean house before the day is out.

What all the "Kool Kids" are Doing

So I attended a meeting today. Blah blah blah. I was jolted out of my dreamy, trance-like state when I heard a much-admired savvy co-worker state during a discussion of communication and marketing trends that myspace is on the way out. Out!?

Holy Schmack! I'd just gotten used to being "in."

Apparently, the kool kids are doing "social bookmarking" on del.icio.us.com and going on photo scavenger hunts on flickr and following and being followed on twitter...

Of course, I don't want to be an outsider or behind in the times, so I spent the better part of this evening checking out all of these sites.

And I've gotta say it: I still like myspace the best, followed closely by dlisted, blogger, and my plain old antiquated yahoo email.

But, I'm gonna give twitter a try....

And if I get no followers, I'll be really sad and bitter, ha ha.

Rain, rain go AWAY!

It never fails. I always get rained on.

My boss told me last week to switch my schedule back to eight to five. "Sure," I replied and immediately altered my schedule to come in to work earlier. The problem is, I NEVER manage to leave at five. Because five is the hour that EVERY single parent who has a kid in our child care wants to pay. And it's the time I have a new staff person coming in, and I usually have to take a few minutes to get her settled and give instructions and answer questions.

And, of course, by the time I manage to leave, it's freaking pouring. Like it does EVERY evening in Florida. Sometime right after five.

Yes, I know we've had a drought. Yes, I know that we need the rain. All I'm saying is, couldn't it wait? Just until I get home?

I don't enjoy having my cute shoes get soggy. There is nothing fun about wiping raindrops off of my nerd glasses. This evening, I had an errand to run on the way home. "Oh, good," I thought as I pulled into the CVS pharmacy parking lot, "it has stopped raining."

Oh, no. I came out, and voila! It rains again, just to improve my dash to the car.

Rain, rain, go AWAY!

The Secret is Out.

Matt and I had been keeping this to ourselves and just a few others, but today someone decided to spill the beans. I know what you're thinking. No, we're not expecting.

I am probably returning to Tennessee in August to finish my education. Matt will remain here, as he has a good job that he doesn't want to leave and it's not a good time to try to sell a home. Plus, I like it here. Once I have my degree, I totally look forward to returning permanently...Or at least until we move to France, ha ha.

It's not finalized yet, because there are a number of details to work out. Matt and I have discussed this very thoroughly, and we both feel that the time is best now for me to go and do this. It's better if I obtain my master's degree before we start a family, and my goal of becoming a teacher hasn't changed. Admittedly, I am excited to continue my education.

The difficult part will be the separation from Matt. *sigh* I'm trying not to dwell on it, though. I'll have plenty of time to cry and be miserable later. Instead, I'm choosing to focus on how this will position us for a better future.

There is a small part of me that is worried that people will gossip about our marriage and speculate that we must be having trouble to be willing to endure a separation of 800+ miles. But, I can't spend too much time thinking about that, because those who are close enough to matter already know how strong our relationship is.

Anyway, like I said, nothing is set in stone at this point. I had given my boss a heads-up about what we're considering, because I felt that was the fair thing to do. She was very understanding and supportive, and asked that I keep her up-to-date on this decision. Then, today in a meeting, she announced the possibility to my coworkers. That was unexpected, to say the least. So, I can only surmise that it no longer matters who knows about this potential move. The secret is out.

Powerless to Help...

The last couple of weeks at work have been challenging, and a bit disheartening. Not because of any conflicts with co-workers or anything. Everything is pretty calm on that front. We've all been getting on quite well with one another.

Sadly, the problem is that the economy is severely limiting our ability to help everyone who needs it. We've been so proud of our policy of providing scholarships so that no one is turned away for an inability to pay. Unfortunately, the demand for financial assistance has been so great this year, there are not funds left. We've awarded more than EVER, and still people are coming in, asking for scholarships.

It's beginning to get to me. I'm not handling it well when I have to inform these families that all of the financial assistance for summer camp has been awarded. The next step is to reach out into the community to see if there are individuals or organizations that wish to sponsor a kid for child care. Somehow, we have to find a way to help these families.

Please pray that the Lord provides a way.

Adventures of a Tiling Queen (and other recent events)

I have not posted on here in a little while, so I thought I might highlight a few recent events.

Work is about the same as it has been for a while. I was the chairperson for our golf tournament fundraiser, and we were able to net almost double what we brought in last year. Yay me! Apparently, the anxiety I blogged about in the last post was all related to that event, because ever since the day of the tournament, I've felt fine. Again, YAY!

My boss announced last month that she would be stepping down as the executive director, and I had reason to believe that I might be considered to be her successor. But, alas, she has informed us that she has reconsidered her decision, so my ambitions for climbling the ladder have been thwarted. *sigh*

My mom came for a visit over Mothers' Day weekend. It was the first time she'd been to my house here in Florida, and she liked it. It was fun to get her ideas for home improvements. She even purchased a birthday gift for me: a china cabinet that was an EXTREMELY great deal in one of the antique stores downtown! We took her to the beach and out to eat, we played cards with some of our friends, and we also had Matt's parents over on Sunday for a family meal together. I really enjoyed my mom's visit, and think she did, as well.

The bathroom is pretty much finished, THANK GOD! I feel like such a conqueror to have tiled the tub and have it come out looking pretty decent, if I do say so myself. I even feel like a pro when it comes to using the wet saw. There's just something about power tools that makes me grin...The only things left to do in the bathroom are to mount the baseboards and door trim pieces, as well as touch up the paint in a few spots. As soon as these last little nit-picky items are done (and I'm not really in a hurry to do them right away), I will post photos of my handiwork.

Matt & I went to Lowe's and Home Depot this weekend to price different flooring options for the rest of the house. We looked at laminate, as a friend had mentioned that it might not be a bad idea. But, when I looked at it, I just wasn't all about it. If I have a floor that resembles wood, I really want it to BE wood. And the hardwood was kinda pricey...But, we selected one type of tile for the main areas of the house, like the living room, dining area, and kitchen, and another type for the two bedrooms and the studio. Being the self-appointed Tiling Queen of the house, I am quite looking forward to August, when we are going to begin the next phase of home improvements!

Well, I think that about covers the recent events unfolding in the world of All Things Dana...

Recapturing my Joy

By nature, I've always been cheerful and optimistic. I've usually been able to overcome adversity fairly easily. But, for the last few days, I've been plagued by anxiety attacks. I have been getting a tight, constricted feeling in my chest and an overwhelming sense of doom. It's been pretty scary. I've tried to pinpoint the source of my fear, worrying that I may have a chemical imbalance of some sort. I told my mother about it, and she's urged me to make an appointment with a doctor. I was reluctant to do so, because I don't want to have to take an antidepressant and become dependent upon a pill. So I've prayed.

This morning, I used the concordance in my Bible to find passages about fear. I flipped to Psalms 34:8-19.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Fear the Lord, you his godly people,
for those who fear him will have all they need.
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Come, my children, and listen to me,
and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
Does anyone want to live a life
that is long and prosperous?
Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;
his ears are open to their cries for help.
But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil;
he will erase their memory from the earth.
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

I found much comfort in this passage, and I also feel the weight of conviction. I have faith that the Lord will release me from the bonds of this fear. While I'm not a believer that God's intent is to punish me for my wrongs, I do feel that I've stepped outside of His will, and that left me vulnerable to these attacks.

You see, I've had a great deal of frustration about certain things lately. Instead of being a peacemaker, I've allowed myself to become involved in complaining and criticizing others. I haven't kept my "tongue from speaking evil." And, I haven't "searched for peace."

If I haven't felt particularly blessed this week, it's because I have not been trying to keep the peace in my life. In Matthew 5:9, it states:

God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.

I've prayed for God's forgiveness, and I know I have it. I've asked Him to restore the joy to my heart, and I know He will. And I'm going to stop complaining and criticizing, and instead I will search for the good in others. And I feel that the peace of God will return to me.

Home Improvement: Part Two

Trial and error.

I at least have the second part down pat, ha ha.

As it turns out, you should not use a sponge that you just rinsed to apply wall texture. It makes it a bit soupy.

I had to scrape down my first attempt and start over.

But, it looks better now than it did the first time. I think this project will progress nicely, now that I know what not to do.

More to come later on.

Home Improvement

I am pretty excited...Matt & I are getting ready to tackle the walls in our bathroom. You know, the bathroom that has been undergoing cosmetic improvements for the last year....

Here's hoping that the process of applying "knock-down" texture to the walls is as easy as the how-to websites make it look.

I will keep you posted as to whether it turns out to be a genius masterpiece or a colossal failure.

At any rate, I'd better get back to it!

Catching Up

It's been a while since I've blogged. I'd love to say that I've been terribly busy, but that's just not true. I just haven't had a great deal that's news-worthy. But, for the sake of playing catch-up, I will elaborate a bit on the goings-on in my life.

Matt's aunt and uncle were in town for a couple of weeks, so we took advantage of the opportunity to spend time with them whenever our schedules permitted. I really enjoyed getting to know them better, and consider them my family, as well. We went over to Siesta Key and had dinner with them one evening, and it was terrific fun. I really love winter in Florida. With the exception of the last two days, it's constantly warm. It makes me happy.

Something making me not-so-happy is my work schedule. Well, that's not entirely true. I do like the mornings that I get to stay at home, but I hadn't factored in the fact that I would miss one of my favorite TV shows when I volunteered to work nights. Oh, well.

My job is about the same as it has been. Except I have no staff in my department now. Stinking recession and budget cuts. Nothing to do, except grin and bear it, I suppose.

I've been doing some preparation lately. Those who are close to me know how important this Saturday is. I will elaborate more later, but for now am keeping this private. I will simply cryptically state that I am hoping things will be different for me in the near future.

My marriage is the same as ever. Fantastic. In fact, in less than a week, Matt and I will celebrate one year of marriage. Yay! It's actually almost unbelievable that an entire year has passed. I'm every bit as crazy for him as I was the day we met. BTW, does anyone know how long a frozen wedding cake top needs to defrost before it is consumed? I'm really hoping it tastes ok. Well, even if it doesn't, we'll manage to choke it down, I'm sure. We are planning on our anniversary to spend the day at the beach where we said our vows. And then, next weekend, we're going to bop on over to Orlando and use our Disney passes that are about to expire. I'm really looking forward to it! I love going places with Matt, he's the perfect travel companion, especially on weekend jaunts!

I suppose I have now brought my blog pretty much up to date. Hopefully, I will have additional news to share in the near future.

Back Home...

I went back home to attend my grandpa's funeral. Matt & I elected to drive, as we were unable to find flights that were affordable and worked out with our timeline. It was a seriously long drive, but at least I had terrific company.

When we arrived in Tennessee, we visited with my family for a few hours before heading to my friend's house to spend the night. After that first night, we stayed with my mom, per her request. My sister and my husband finally met, and they both seemed to like each other. Yay!

I maintained my composure about Grandpa's death throughout this entire time, until some of the songs he used to sing were played at his funeral. All of a sudden, the floodgates opened. It didn't matter that I knew he was back home, in heaven. I just felt so sorry for myself, that I would never hear him sing again in this life. I realized how very much he will be missed. However, that Grandpa is reunited with Grandma now is very comforting.

Grandpa had a military burial by the VFW Honor Guard, and my family was so intensely proud and touched. I even have a shell from one of the 21 rounds fired to salute him.

After the burial and a great deal of visiting with my family, Matt and I began our drive back to Florida.

Now we're back home.

It happened.

I got the call at 3:15am. My grandpa has passed away. I'm intensely sad but calm. I keep waiting for the feeling of shattering inside, but so far it hasn't come. We have a long drive ahead of us, and I think I will most likely hold it together until we arrive. Please pray that Matt and I arrive safely in Tennessee. Please pray for my family, especially my mom and sister. I feel so numb, that I really don't have much to say. I don't think I'm in shock, necessarily, because I was expecting this. I don't know how to describe myself, other than in need of prayer.

Tales of a Mean Boss

So, I feel a bit like a hag today. Yesterday evening, I had to become very direct and short with one of my employees. What I said to her needed to be said, but I hate feeling like a mean person. I will elaborate...

There have been some budget cuts that have made it necessary to reduce our expenditure in wages. In other words, some people have been laid-off and we've had to get creative with scheduling to ensure that we are operating efficiently. This essentially means that all of the full-time employees are wearing several hats.

This week, by the time Friday arrived, most of us had put in some 10+ hour days. So when the teenager that works the front desk on Saturdays called me and told me that she wouldn't be able to be there because her cousin was in the hospital, I was trying to scramble for a solution that didn't involve a full-time person working seven days this week (some of us are going in on Sunday to do some computer training). I couldn't come up with any ideas for who could cover her shift, so I called her back. Here's the part where I feel like a meanie...

I told her that I didn't have anyone who was trained well enough to cover her shift, and that she needed to visit her cousin either Friday night or Saturday after work. I know she thinks I'm a troll. I could hear it in her voice. I hate it when I have to be the enforcer. But, I'm like: why should her cousin being in the hospital keep her from being at work? Is she going in to donate a kidney or something? I realize when family is in the hospital, you want to be there to support them. God, I wish I could be back in Tennessee to help my mom take care of my grandpa! My mom gets up early every morning, feeds Grandpa, changes him, changes his bed, gives him his medicine, waits for hospice care to arrive, gets ready for work, goes and works a full 8-10 hour day, comes home, changes Grandpa, changes his bed, makes dinner, feeds Grandpa, eats herself, cleans the kitchen, does work that she's brought home with her, maybe watches a half-hour of television, goes to bed. The next day, it's exactly the same routine. I'm sure that my mom would much rather be able to spend her days making sure that Grandpa is comfortable and happy, rather than go to work. But, when you have a job, you go to that job.

The only reasons for NOT going to work, in my opinion, are being so very ill that you cannot do your job and/or being contagious, or an immediate family member dying or being so ill that you are NEEDED to be at their side. Maybe I set my standards for work-ethics too high because I have such a strong mother. But, I just don't see why her visit to her cousin HAD to fall into the 5-hour window that I needed her to do her job. And I said as much. Therefore, I will probably always be a bad-guy in her eyes. It's unfortunate. Was I wrong???

In the months to come...

So, I've spent a big portion of my time talking and writing about how great everything is. And it is. My marriage is fantastic, and we enjoyed the holidays immensely. And my albatross of a car payment is gone. And I'm going to start working evenings, so I can sleep in every day. All of these things are wonderful.

However, my joy in life is tinged with a bit of sadness. My ninety-year-old grandfather is approaching his final days. Over the last month, he has been in and out of the hospital, and is now home under the care of hospice and my devoted mother. We don't know if he has weeks or months left. I do know that he wants to die at home, so hopefully, my mom can continue to care for him until his last day. In the time to come, I want to enjoy all of the wonderful memories I have of Grandpa. Pray with me that he is able to be comfortable in these final days, and that my family is able to let him go with peace. Pray that we feel comfort in knowing that each day draws him nearer to God and the company of Grandma, from whom he has been separated since her death over a year and a half ago. I spent time with Grandpa when Matt and I went to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, and I'm so glad I had that opportunity to tell him that I love him. I hope to make it back to see him one more time, but I'm not certain if it will be possible.

Please keep my family in your prayers.

Catching Up!

It has been a while since I've posted on my blog...So much has happened! Matt and I went to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, along with Matt's dad. It was great to see my family, although I really missed my absent sister. It stuns me to think that it's been over a year since I last saw her. If that is surprising, it is even more so (to me) to think that Lori and Matt have never met! Unreal. Anyway, Thanksgiving was great.

Two days after we returned from Tennessee, Matt & I jaunted off to Europe! It was our belated honeymoon and it was fabulous! We visited London, Paris, and Prague. I loved all three cities, but Paris was my favorite. Sure, it smelled every bit as bad as I had been told, but I loved the language, and was even able to learn a few phrases. And people there were FRIENDLY! I'd heard that the French hate Americans, but it's just not true. The Louvre was spectacular, and we didn't even see but just a tiny bit of it. It probably didn't help that we were incredibly hung-over. (The first night in Paris was terribly fun, but I don't remember much after 9pm. Thank you, alcoholic memory loss.) I did see some photos of that night, and am somewhat embarrassed. Oh well, I can't beat myself up over it. It was fun. We met our friends, Claudia and Brian, in Paris. They were every bit as great as we'd expected.

We saw a couple of theater productions in London. To elaborate a bit, we had front-row tickets to both Wicked and Mary Poppins! They were both phenomenal, and I am loving reliving every moment listening to the soundtracks! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Prague, of course, is Matt's favorite city, and I loved it also. It was the prettiest of the places we've visited. Shopping there is also great, due to the fortuitous exchange rate! We purchased hand-crafted Christmas ornaments, gifts for our friends and family, and also a set of the bohemian crystal for which the Czech Republic is renowned. We were fortunate to have friends in this city, also. We met up with Sisina & Angela, both friends of Matt from online. We also made a couple of new friends, Neysa & McKenzie, who were recent Prague imports from America.

We made a lot of fantastic memories on our trip. Some are stories that can only be told aloud, not committed to paper, in my opinion. Ask me about the hotel manager in London and the peep show. Or about my antics at Dany's in Paris. Or about my lovely hat, R.I.P. I'll gladly tell the tales.

In the meantime, it's now January. We've long since returned from our trip. We celebrated Christmas, making new traditions in our new marriage. We rang in the New Year, perhaps retiring some old traditions...We'll see what this next year brings. I will endeavor to keep this blog somewhat up-to-date. I feel as though I am glossing over so many important details, but, alas, if I were to elaborate any further, I would be so caught up in talking about my life that I wouldn't be free to live it. And it is a fantastic life.