Much News!!

So, first, there is only two more weeks of the semester left. 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finals are coming up, but I only have one test (although I still have to show up for my other final periods). I have been a writing fool though for the last couple of weeks. I have a memoir of 25 pages due Wednesday, a 7 page research paper (the nontraditional student and how I fit that role) and a 20 page writing tutor project on Thursday, and for next week, a 7 page paper on the disappearance of frogs for my science writing class and a 7 page paper on the dirt roads of Nevada for an eco/desert nonfiction writing class. 66 pages due starting this week. I do have to do a public reading for three of my classes, but I have been doing them all semester long, so I feel ready.

My last day of the semester is Monday 9th of May. Another change, my last day of work is the 6th of May. I gave my notice last Friday. I know, I know. People are trying to get jobs, not get rid of them, but I was going to have to take a leave of absence anyway for summer school. The last two classes I needed are 4 days a week, 4 hours a day, and so I could not have been working. Also, things are up in the air about if we are moving or staying here, and I just want to be ready, what ever happens. If we are moving, I will need the rest of the summer to pack up the house (since I will probably be the only one doing it).

Andrew and I are hoping to be able to take a vacation this summer, too. It has been two years since he has had one, and he really needs it. We have been looking at western Caribbean cruises. There is one that leaves from Galveston, and hits Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel before returning to Galveston. It is seven days and gives us three days at sea. We did a seven day cruise of the Eastern Caribbean a few years ago, but we hit a new island everyday, so we felt like we were run ragged. This way we will have time to relax on ship.

So really, the only hard fact that I have are about school and my last day of work. The rest of my life is up in the air, and I am ready for the adventure.

But, I don't want a minor

I am sooooooo excited!!!!!

I met with a counselor at school last week, and was told that I would have to take another 18 credits for a minor (I don’t want a effing minor), to get my degree. I was all bummed because I just want to be done with school and only have one job. I was looking through the course catalog trying to fit all of the classes into one semester, but of course they were not all available next semester. I really didn’t want to take two more semesters of school. Depression set in and I haven’t really slept very well in the last week.

So, I called the General Studies counseling center yesterday to have them go over my transcripts. We went through all of my classes (there are tons), and the verdict………

I only have to take two more classes for a degree in General Studies!!!!!! I have registered for them and now I will be done by July 7^th! I was kinda iffy about “General Studies,” but then I thought about it. It just means that I am well rounded (in my education, not my figure thankyouverymuch). So one more science class (astronomy), and one more sociology class (violence and gender), and I. AM. DONE!

I don’t know what I will do with all my free time. I will have a ton with only working and the family. No more late nights because I have to do homework. No more missing out on the family stuff because I am at school all evening. I may even clean my house. Nah, probably not.

I can’t wait!

Plea For Love and Good Energy

One of my professors has had a very difficult three weeks. His daughter, whom we all knew was ill, has been being kept on life support due to a brain injury and it seems that they need to make the decision of either keeping her on, or letting her go. Although none of the students have all of the information, we have been told that the department does not know when he will return.

This has thrown the students into chaos with not knowing how our semester is going to end, but even through the uncertainty, our thoughts go out to this teacher. Our class has had two different subs, and there is confusion on what we need to do. Mark is an excellent teacher, and has specific requirements that we are to work in, but the two subs either do not agree with his guidelines and expectations, or have other ideas that they would like us to follow. But, our confusion and feelings of loss and displacement cannot come close to Mark’s.

Loosing a child is one of the hardest things to bear, according to those that have been through it, and so, even if we are lost, we must remember that our troubles are small.

Please send healing thoughts to Mark and his family. Push all the good energy towards them to help them through this difficult time.

Help! I Need a New Book!

I am an unapologetic reader. I will read just about anything. Any genre. Any format. Almost any writer (I can even be persuaded to try one I don't like again). There are very few books that I have started and not finished (Lord of the Flies was one, but that was in high school, so maybe I will try it again, and then there was that stupid on that was made into a movie that I tried to read on my own and then was assigned in my Brit Lit class). But I digress.

I know it is early for summer reading lists, and I hope to actually write this summer, but I need some ideas. I have read every book in my home library, and even as a full time English student, I still try to read at least one book for pleasure each week (sometimes I can get two or three a week). I am running out of titles. So I am giving tit for tat. I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

My recommendations:

1. Anything by Christopher Moore Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Bite Me, You Suck, Dirty Job, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, and all the others (I have read them all)
2. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
3. Anything by Gregory McGuire Wicked, Son of a Witch, Confessions of an Ugly Step-Sister, etc. (Again, I have read all of them)
4. Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
5. Confessions of a counterfeit Farm Girl by Susan McCorkindale

There are sooooooo many I want to list, but not enough room.

I showed you mine, your turn!

p.s. I caught the mouse. It is now living happily outside (until someone makes it dinner).