It’s over. I think I’m a little dazed and going into shock. Three and a half years of my life have been dedicated to obtaining my Bachelors degree. I’ve taken my last final, turned in all the reports and papers, and I’m done. *blinks* It’s really over. I mean, I knew it would end someday, but it still feels unreal.
In December of 2005, I had a new apartment I couldn’t afford, a temporary job that didn’t pay the bills, and a truck out for repossession. I had no presents for Christmas and no idea where I’d get the money to make the two trips I was required to make from Virginia to Tennessee. With everything falling apart, I somehow made the decision to go back to college. I decided to sign up for online classes when I didn’t even own a computer.
The difference from then until now is astronomical. A change in mindset, in lifestyle, in circumstances. A change in direction, in friendships, in goals. I feel accomplished and lucky, liberated and rejuvenated, happy and perplexed. What do I do now? Luckily, I have an answer. I’m going to write a book. Hopefully, it won’t take three and a half years.
I think this is the first time in my life I’ve felt like I accomplished something real. Okay, it’s not exactly the same as giving birth, but that feels more like a biological magic trick for which I was just along for the ride. Either way, I have my greatest treasure to thank for both. She made both experiences better for having played a part.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Softball Update and an Introduction
I know if I say we lost our last game 18-0 you probably wouldn’t expect me to follow that up by saying we’re getting better. But we are. My pitcher has been taking lessons and is much better than she was when we started the season. So good that the other team is now getting pitches to hit. Not so good because my players have never actually had to field a ball before and run around the field like drunk keystone cops, but at least the other team is earning their runs and we’re not walking them all in.
Now, to the new man in my life. He’s everything I wanted. Affectionate, loving, devoted. He has beautiful green eyes, is adorably playful, and totally healthy except for a few ear mites which we’re working on. Yes, that’s right, I’m in love with a kitten.
May I introduce, Bumblebee.
Is he not the cutest thing you ever did see? He’s nine weeks old, weighs just over two pounds, and really is everything I say above. He sleeps all night, curled up in my bed, wakes me at exactly six every morning for breakfast, and sits in the windowsill waiting for us to come home every afternoon. We’ve been together for one week and I already can’t imagine life without him.
Kiddo is as much in love as I am so it’s going to be hard when she has to head half way across the country in a month to spend the summer with her dad. Someone asked if she was taking him with her and my instant response was “NO!”
Anyone else have any recent additions to the family they want to brag about? Any kitty or puppy stories? Hope everyone is having a good Memorial Day weekend!
Now, to the new man in my life. He’s everything I wanted. Affectionate, loving, devoted. He has beautiful green eyes, is adorably playful, and totally healthy except for a few ear mites which we’re working on. Yes, that’s right, I’m in love with a kitten.
May I introduce, Bumblebee.
Is he not the cutest thing you ever did see? He’s nine weeks old, weighs just over two pounds, and really is everything I say above. He sleeps all night, curled up in my bed, wakes me at exactly six every morning for breakfast, and sits in the windowsill waiting for us to come home every afternoon. We’ve been together for one week and I already can’t imagine life without him.
Kiddo is as much in love as I am so it’s going to be hard when she has to head half way across the country in a month to spend the summer with her dad. Someone asked if she was taking him with her and my instant response was “NO!”
Anyone else have any recent additions to the family they want to brag about? Any kitty or puppy stories? Hope everyone is having a good Memorial Day weekend!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Getaway
I’ve been sitting here trying to think of something really creative and witty to put up here, since I’ve been so remiss about updating, but I got nothing. Not that I have nothing to talk about, just that I can’t think of an interesting way to talk about it. So I’ll sum up then post some pictures.
Senior Seminar is tough but gets easier every week and once I narrow in on a topic for the final paper (and write the thing), I’ll be home free. The Sociology class is interesting if a bit depressing. Reading about some of the horrific things humans do to each other is not the happiest way to spend your evenings.
The writing is still on hold, but I can almost feel my characters getting anxious. They know as well as I do I’ll have loads of writing time come July. Let’s just hope they’ll continue to be patient just a little while longer.
The real news is out trip to the Outer Banks. Happy Mother’s Day to me! I have this habit of buying my own presents these days since no one else does. Not that my daughter wouldn’t happily buy me presents, but if you have to give her the money and then take her to the store, you might as well pick out what you want. J
So I picked the Outer Banks, recruited Hellion to tag along, packed up the trunk and hit the Bypass. Ninety minutes later we were cruising down the middle of the barrier reef islands with the Atlantic Ocean to our left and Roanoke Sound to our right.
A two bedroom cabin less than 30 yards from the ocean served as home base. Sand castles were built, sea shells collected, crab legs eaten, and historical sites thoroughly explored. From the spot where the English first set foot on American soil (that’s right, BEFORE Jamestown) to the spot where man first took flight, the Outer Banks has it all.
I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
Anyone else taken a little trip lately? Have you planned your summer vacation? Ever been to the Outer Banks? (Tune in next week for an exciting announcement about a new edition to the family.)
Senior Seminar is tough but gets easier every week and once I narrow in on a topic for the final paper (and write the thing), I’ll be home free. The Sociology class is interesting if a bit depressing. Reading about some of the horrific things humans do to each other is not the happiest way to spend your evenings.
The writing is still on hold, but I can almost feel my characters getting anxious. They know as well as I do I’ll have loads of writing time come July. Let’s just hope they’ll continue to be patient just a little while longer.
The real news is out trip to the Outer Banks. Happy Mother’s Day to me! I have this habit of buying my own presents these days since no one else does. Not that my daughter wouldn’t happily buy me presents, but if you have to give her the money and then take her to the store, you might as well pick out what you want. J
So I picked the Outer Banks, recruited Hellion to tag along, packed up the trunk and hit the Bypass. Ninety minutes later we were cruising down the middle of the barrier reef islands with the Atlantic Ocean to our left and Roanoke Sound to our right.
A two bedroom cabin less than 30 yards from the ocean served as home base. Sand castles were built, sea shells collected, crab legs eaten, and historical sites thoroughly explored. From the spot where the English first set foot on American soil (that’s right, BEFORE Jamestown) to the spot where man first took flight, the Outer Banks has it all.
I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
Anyone else taken a little trip lately? Have you planned your summer vacation? Ever been to the Outer Banks? (Tune in next week for an exciting announcement about a new edition to the family.)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Reflection on the first game…
Well, I'm not going to lie, it could have been better. But, it also could have been worse. Unfortunately, the team we played had something we don't have, a pitcher. I adore my little girls and bless their hearts they tried, however, we just haven't found our pitcher yet.
There's a six run rule which means at the point a team scores six runs in an inning, that half of the inning is over and the other team gets a turn. There's also a rule that no game should exceed 90 minutes, but for some reason that rule wasn’t followed. Lovely.
Anywho, it took two hours to complete three innings (yes, that's as painful as it sounds) and all done in nearly 100 degree heat. I kid you not, it was a mostly unpleasant experience. And I have the sunburn to show for it. (Yes, I took sun block. No, I did not put it on. *sigh*) But once the parents saw there's was more than little old me could handle alone, they hopped off those bleachers and did a great job to help me out. I really appreciated that.
So the final score was 18 to 15. We came up three runs short due to a couple of girls I couldn’t convince to stop swinging at bad pitches. But I appreciate how much they wanted to hit the ball. And the ones who did hit the ball did a terrific job. It's nice to know that the majority of our runs came from hitting and not walks or beamed batters. The beamed batters thing is a whole other subject.
We have two practices before our next game and if I'm correct, the team we play Saturday is a group smaller and with less experience than us, so it's going to be another long (in time) short (in innings) game. It'll be pitching, pitching, pitching all week. Maybe my kiddo will have some luck. If nothing else I know she'll be able to get it across the plate. Now, getting it over without killing anyone is another question…
Anyone else spending time at the ball field these days? Anyone else have an extremely uneven and splotchy tan like I do? I suggest buying stock in anyone producing aloe as I'm pretty much keeping them in business.
There's a six run rule which means at the point a team scores six runs in an inning, that half of the inning is over and the other team gets a turn. There's also a rule that no game should exceed 90 minutes, but for some reason that rule wasn’t followed. Lovely.
Anywho, it took two hours to complete three innings (yes, that's as painful as it sounds) and all done in nearly 100 degree heat. I kid you not, it was a mostly unpleasant experience. And I have the sunburn to show for it. (Yes, I took sun block. No, I did not put it on. *sigh*) But once the parents saw there's was more than little old me could handle alone, they hopped off those bleachers and did a great job to help me out. I really appreciated that.
So the final score was 18 to 15. We came up three runs short due to a couple of girls I couldn’t convince to stop swinging at bad pitches. But I appreciate how much they wanted to hit the ball. And the ones who did hit the ball did a terrific job. It's nice to know that the majority of our runs came from hitting and not walks or beamed batters. The beamed batters thing is a whole other subject.
We have two practices before our next game and if I'm correct, the team we play Saturday is a group smaller and with less experience than us, so it's going to be another long (in time) short (in innings) game. It'll be pitching, pitching, pitching all week. Maybe my kiddo will have some luck. If nothing else I know she'll be able to get it across the plate. Now, getting it over without killing anyone is another question…
Anyone else spending time at the ball field these days? Anyone else have an extremely uneven and splotchy tan like I do? I suggest buying stock in anyone producing aloe as I'm pretty much keeping them in business.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Faith Renewed
I don’t always have a positive outlook on people in general. Let’s face it, this world can be a pretty messed up place. But thankfully, things happen often enough to renew my faith in human-kind. One of those things happened this weekend.
I live in a large military area and while living here, you get used to seeing soldiers everywhere. Men and women in uniform blanket this area, so to say patriotism is an everyday thing is an understatement.
This weekend I flew my daughter half way across the country, then turned around and flew home a little over 12 hours later. By the time I got on my last flight back to Norfolk, I had been traveling for about 28 hours and just wanted to get home. I flew Southwest and if you haven’t taken that airline lately, there are no assigned seats. You get a letter and number and that combination tells when you can get on the plane. Once on, you sit wherever you can find a seat. The early boarding combinations are highly desired if you don’t want to be in the last row…in a middle seat.
Saturday afternoon, in the Baltimore airport, before anyone else boarded, the Southwest rep came on the intercom and asked if there were any military personnel in uniform on this flight. He offered that they pre-board first. One soldier walked to the door, and the rest of us applauded. My faith was once again renewed. Maybe we human beings aren’t so messed up after all.
Here’s a video of a performance from the Academy of Country Music awards held recently in Las Vegas. It’s Trace Adkins performing with the West Point Glee Club on a song called ‘Til the Last Shot’s Fired. The video and song are available at CBS.com or iTunes and the proceeds benefit the Wounded Warriors organization. It’s less than $3 and it’ll make you feel better about human-kind.
Enjoy.
I live in a large military area and while living here, you get used to seeing soldiers everywhere. Men and women in uniform blanket this area, so to say patriotism is an everyday thing is an understatement.
This weekend I flew my daughter half way across the country, then turned around and flew home a little over 12 hours later. By the time I got on my last flight back to Norfolk, I had been traveling for about 28 hours and just wanted to get home. I flew Southwest and if you haven’t taken that airline lately, there are no assigned seats. You get a letter and number and that combination tells when you can get on the plane. Once on, you sit wherever you can find a seat. The early boarding combinations are highly desired if you don’t want to be in the last row…in a middle seat.
Saturday afternoon, in the Baltimore airport, before anyone else boarded, the Southwest rep came on the intercom and asked if there were any military personnel in uniform on this flight. He offered that they pre-board first. One soldier walked to the door, and the rest of us applauded. My faith was once again renewed. Maybe we human beings aren’t so messed up after all.
Here’s a video of a performance from the Academy of Country Music awards held recently in Las Vegas. It’s Trace Adkins performing with the West Point Glee Club on a song called ‘Til the Last Shot’s Fired. The video and song are available at CBS.com or iTunes and the proceeds benefit the Wounded Warriors organization. It’s less than $3 and it’ll make you feel better about human-kind.
Enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
