Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The House is Minus One Boy this Week

He's visiting Papaw for this shortened holiday week, and the house is too empty without him. Even with Destiny here, his presence is sorely missed. Luckily, work is insane busy, so I have plenty of extended work hours to keep me occupied. *Oh, goody!*

So, by the time I get off work and get home, I don't even want to think about computers, much less sit and type on one. Add to that the fact that school starts next week, and you'll see why I say not to be too surprised if I'm a bit scarce on the blogs this week.

Love you all, but I'm taking a hiatus for a bit. I'm sure I'll go into blogger withdrawal eventually and just *have* to stop by the blogs to leave a comment or two, but for now, Adios!

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Soul Searching and Prayer

Lest you all think my life is wrapped up in the frivolous, such as movies, music, chick-lit, etc., I'll reveal something I've been pondering for a while, and - more recently - fervently praying over: What direction will/should my life take after I get my undergrad in a year?

This is something I've idly touched upon before, but having to file my graduation plan at Texas Woman's University here recently made it hit home more, I guess. For so long, I've been focused on just wrapping up my undergrad degree, get it done, then you can focus on the rest of your life. But seeing all the credits I've already taken, plus what I'm planning to take this summer, fall and next spring to complete all the requirements for my degree written down on paper has really made me think. And I'm thinking: "Okay, now what?!?" I'll have my bachelor's degree. Great! I'll be the first person in my immediate family to get a bachelor's degree! But what do I do with it? Where am I supposed to go from here?

I've been praying a lot, asking for enlightenment, asking to at least have an inkling of the direction I'm supposed to take, where I'm needed, how best I can put my skills to use for the Lord and to help others. Am I supposed to stay in Texas? Can I (please!) move again? What's best for Jamie? Should I enter grad school right away, or take a break for a year or two?

And speaking of grad school, I'm no longer at all certain what Master's Degree to pursue, or when to pursue it. Library science still appeals to me, but I'm thinking of trying for a double masters in Education and Library Science, then getting certified and becoming a school librarian. Or, I've also done really well in my pre-law classes for the Government component of my undergrad. Perhaps I could do a combo in law and library science, and work as a librarian in a law library. I don't know.

Then there's my personal life, or lack of one, in this case. Is this all there is to be for me? I want to be a partner, a help-mate, to work together according to God's plan for us. I want more children some day. I want Jamie to know a father's love, as well as The Father's love.
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Gen. 2:18

Does it then follow that woman is not meant to be alone, either? Or is it too late for me? Am I meant to be married, or have I already completely wrecked the plan God had for me?

These are some of the things I've been praying over and thinking about a lot here lately. In fact, now that I'm thirty, I guess you could call this my mini-midlife crisis. Comments, suggestions and prayers on this subject are welcomed and appreciated.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

THREE DAYS!!!!!!!!!

In only three days, Jamie and I are going to go see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Woo hoo! We're taking his friend Remo with us (pronounced Ray-mo, not like Nemo). Then, Remo is spending the night with us and I'll take him home sometime Saturday. We're going to pick up the advanced tickets tonight. We're using the free passes given to us by the movie theater when they goofed up on Spiderman 3.

I cannot WAIT to see this movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Huh? Wha'?

Okay, so I understand the underlying message Greenpeace is trying to send by building a giant replica of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat. I really do.

BUT...

Does anybody else see the irony here?

"Like, I'm sooo bummed that global warming isn't, like, a high enough priority with governments around the world and junk. So, like, I'm going to cut down all these trees, and build a big wooden boat, so like, maybe, these gnarly countries will do something about global warming, and ozone, and smog and junk. Yeah, like, that's how to fight global warming. Cut DOWN a bunch of TREES!"

Friday, May 11, 2007

Mememememeeeeeee ABC's

Thanks for the tag, Animal. Well, without further ado, here's my opportunity to give you all TMI about me...

A- Available or Single: Available... (Makes me sound like a car rental or something. Yes, reservations may be made up to one year in advance by logging on to...)

B- Best Friend: I don't have any. All I have are friends whom I've adopted (or have adopted me) Now I think of them as family. Much MUCH better!

C- Cake or Pie: Cake. Cheese cake, to be exact.

D- Drink of Choice: Margarita, extra salt.

E- Essential Items: Glasses (so I have depth perception), an interesting book to read, a matchbox car or two in the bottom of my purse to keep any kidlings entertained, and some pencils/pens and I'm good to go.

F- Favorite Color: any shade or derivative of blue.

G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Brachs Gummi Bears (with real fruit juice!)

H- Hometown: Ummm... well, my first memories are of a tiny little town in Oklahoma that sounds like there's No Water there, and my longest running memories are of a small but growing town in Kentucky which shares the first part of its name with the first name of our first president.

I- Indulgence: Books. I've been known to spend my last $10 on a book I want.

J- January or February: January, 'cause that's the month my brother, my son and my favorite uncle on my mom's side were all born in.

K- Kids: One and three-quarters. Jamie's mine, I guess Ziggy counts as half a kid, and I consider Destiny maybe a quarter of my kid (after counting her mom, her dad, and her grandparents, I figure that should leave me about a quarter to claim)

L- Life is incomplete without: People to love and who love you in return

M- Marriage Date: Sometime in the future? (At least, I'd like to think so...)

N- Number of Siblings: biological: 3 (1 living - Joel. He doesn't blog and lives in Brooklyn, NY). "Adopted": A few, all of whom are very very very special people whom I love dearly

O- Oranges or Apples: I like both, although I generally buy apples because 1) they're cheaper; and 2) they're less messy and it doesn't take as long to get them ready to eat

P- Phobias/Fears: The dark (because I'm practically night-blind) and confined spaces (I can't stand not having the ability to move freely).

Q- Favorite Quote:
Will: "How did he escape the island?"
Pirate: "He made a raft out of sea turtles"
Will: "What did he tie them together with?"
Captain Jack Sparrow: "Human hair... from my back"

R- Reasons to smile: Jamie

S- Season: Fall, in any location where the leaves actually turn color

T- Tag Three: Becca, Julez, Tara

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I talk so much about myself, I doubt there's much about me you guys DON'T know... Ummm...Okay... Oh, wait, I think I've already told you guys that I have every line and song from "Labyrinth" memorized. Oh, I remember almost every line of every role I've ever played (and that's a lot, plus I haven't acted since Jamie was a baby)

V– Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: I'm an equal opportunity oppressor of flora and fauna

W- Worst Habits: Finishing peoples' sentences when they're talking really slow, correcting others' grammar and spelling, being very sarcastic at almost all times

X– X-rays or Ultrasounds: In what context? I mean, if you're talking superhero powers, then X-ray vision is much cooler than ultrasound vision. I mean, what kind of superhero symbol would a person with Ultrasound vision have? Considering what an ultrasound is typically used for, I can only imagine what symbol would best portray THAT superpower. Other than that, I'd rather have neither, thank you.

Y- Your Favorite Foods: chocolate, cheese cake, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach, pizza

Z- Zodiac: Libra, on the cusp of whatever the one is that comes after it. Don't pay much attention to that stuff anymore, other than to remember that I do have characteristics of both Libras and whatever that sign is after Libra.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Picture Page!



Jamie and I saw "Meet the Robinsons" in 3-D Friday night. The advert for the new Simpsons movie was lifesized. Jamie hopped up there so I could take a quick picture.



Jamie's end-of-season soccer party was at a place called Incredible's Pizza. It's about 10 times bigger (and better) than Gattitown. As you can see, it had indoor formula 1 race cars to ride. Destiny and I shared one in the next race.


Last but not least, here are some pictures of the kids I snapped in the backyard the other day. Destiny is showing off for the camera, of course.





Thursday, May 03, 2007

Great Headline

Being the former newsperson that I am, I pay close attention to headlines. I groan at bad ones, wonder what the editor was thinking when I read confusing ones, and get tickled by the really creative ones. But the one I saw today takes the cake. It's great. But to understand why it's so great, you have to read the article.

The headline?

"Skywalkers in Korea Cross Han Solo"

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

3-3-1

That's Jamie's soccer team's record right now - three wins, three losses, one tie. His last game is this Saturday, an event he is looking forward to yet dreading at the same time. He's excited because it's a game to play; he's dreading it because it's the last of the season. I'm going to try to scrounge up the funds for him to attend three soccer camps this summer - one basic skills camp, one advanced skills and ballhandling camp, and one goalkeeper's camp. He's really excited at the prospect of attending these three camps. The kid eats, breathes and lives soccer. He's a phenomenal goalie - but his stamina when he's out actually running around on the field needs work. Hopefully, the camps will help in myriad ways.

In my school news, I took a final last night for sociology and got an A. That means my final grade for the semester in this class is also an A. I'm fairly certain I have an A in my criminal law class, as well. So far, I have an A in Earth Science, but I won't know my final grade until I take the final exam next week. I have a D in math right now (ugh!), only because my teacher dropped my abysmally low exam 2 grade (25/100!). I have to bust my butt trying to get at least an 80 on the final exam (please, Lord, help me figure this math out!) in order to get a final grade of C. If I do manage to squeak out a C, I'll be allowed to take the math class I need for my major. Have I mentioned lately how much I hate math?

As for Jamie's school, he's only got about 3 weeks left. Right now, he has A's and B's in everything except social studies. He has a D in that one. I told him I except (read: demand) that it be much higher when report cards come out! Other than that, things are going really well for him. He's not getting in trouble very often, is polite and attentive in class, and is slowly starting to learn to control his emotions when he gets upset with his peers at school. I'm very proud of my boy!

Now that the end of my collegiate career is within sight, I'm wondering how I can put a BGS degree to good use. I know I want to go to grad school, but when? Where? Where do I want to go from here? Where am I wanted/needed? Where does God want me to go and what does He want me to do? Where is best for Jamie to be? These are questions for which I do not have the answers.

At work, things are going okay. This is the last week for R.T. to be here, supposedly. I got tickled yesterday because we had a "going away" luncheon for him. He had the nerve to send out an email request to everyone telling us what he wanted as a going away present! Can you image the gall? Then at lunch, he said he almost bought us all presents to show how much he appreciated us, then decided he wasn't going to. My main boss piped up and said "That's okay, the fact that you're leaving is present enough!" I about choked on my lunch I was laughing so hard!

Guess I better get back to work now. I'm going to try to leave the office early today so I can go on an office supply run. It's been so long since I've had time to go that we're dreadfully low on many things!