How to get straight As!

It's easy. Go to the college where my husband works. They dish 'em out like candy. I'm so annoyed.

I try not to vent a lot and turn my blog into a stomping ground of things that frustrate me, but seriously, this university "policy" is on my nerves. They don't really have a "policy" its more of a "the way things are" type of thing. Unwritten, non verbalized way of how it works.

And this is how I understand that it works: The University has an excellent graduate program for excellent students who excel in everything they do. Excellent!

Except that excellence is just code for "we give them all As". Key word: Give.

My husband teaches students who already have been through middle school, high school, junior college, university undergrad school; they have Bachelor's degrees, job experience and proved themselves worthy of being admitted to the Master's program. Impressive, eh? Yeah, I thought so too. Until... I saw some of their work. And I saw my husband making squishy faces while reading their papers they turned in to him. And I realized that their written academic presentations were not much better than the essays he brings home from his middle school. These people are in the masters program? How did they get there? Shoot, how did they get out of the 8th grade?

The end of this term, my husband sat with a huge stack of final projects in front of him and he was scowling. He looked over and said to me, "these are all crap!" All but two got an A. I don't get it. I don't know how or why, but it happens that way. It just irritates me so much. I worked so hard for my grades and they weren't As all the time.

Not all students come out of class with an A. Some get an A-. OOooooOOOOooo, poor students! Apparently, A- is cause for academic review or something, and a B is just insultingly bad, and I'm sure the university doesn't want to waste a lot of time with those "bad" students. Just nudge them over the line. I wish I knew how they decide that everyone gets an A and how an A- is cause for review. I know if the teacher gives out too many "bad grades" he gets his ass chewed. Then his boss does.

Now that I know all this, I know where I'm going to get my master's degree. Yes, to the excellent school for excellent students who do nothing but excel in every excellent class. Then they go on to get excellent jobs with excellent salaries because they are so excellently excellent and win the job with that excellent transcript. And if I don't get a masters at this excellent school, I might end up working for one of these jerks who just purchased their degree. So, that's what I'll do. Can't beat 'em, join 'em! Buy a degree! Who has time to earn one?

Boy, I'm gonna catch hell for writing this, but I'm gonna hit publish post anyway.

Turned my tassel today!

Today I Graduated! It was awesome! I'm so glad I went through the ceremony, even this morning I was wondering why I was bothering with it, and I'm so glad I did. It felt great!

Had to be there to check in between 8am - 8:45... Graduation started promptly at 9am. It was at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which is about 55 miles away. We left at 7:30... half an hour behind the time we wanted to leave, but we really aren't morning people. Keith drove like a madman and traffic wasn't too bad, we got to the exit lane at 8:20... plenty of time!

Not! It would be plenty of time, except.... this is California!

From the time we got in line for the exit to the time we got parked (about 2 miles) it took over an hour and a half. Got to the venue at 10am!!! :shock: By then of course, I had given up hope of being able to walk across the dais, but Keith said we'd watch the last half and take a few pics afterward. So he said to bring my cap and gown in anyway for after. I tossed it on the stroller and was pretty bummed.

We walked a long long long ways to the entrance and when we walked past the empty table where the grads checked in, I jokingly said to the guy there, haha, I'm a graduate, am I very late? He joked, haha, yeah, about an hour an a half! It's now 10:30. Then he said, they just started calling the grads across the stage, you can make it, I'll escort you. Seriously?? OMG! Yippee! So I put on my cap and gown real quick and got my name card and the guy escorted me to the seating area and another guy took me from there to the back row of grads. Slick as snot!

There were about 1000 grads and they don't rapid fire the names off like the high school does, so it took a long time before my row got up. I saw the escort bring two or three more graduates in after me and he stuck them in the row behind me. Wow, I wasn't the only one late! I figured the mile of cars behind us was all audience, but there were a few stragglers even after me. In fact, I sat there for so long that I had time to get to know the guy next to me. He was a Sociology grad who took a job as an elementary school custodian. The economy is bad, we agreed we need a masters to get hired in our fields. Till then, the stay-at-home-mom and the janitor made pleasant conversation about the morning fog and the crazy noisy crowd and we tried to spot who had on the highest heels.

All this time, Keith and Libby were up in the grandstands having a good time. Well, I assume they had a good time, but really I can only speculate. Keith said he bounced her on his knee and when he'd stop she'd kick for more, by the end, his leg was really tired.

I shook a whole bunch of hands as I walked across the platform, no idea who they were. College Prez, Dept Heads, etc. As I came off the platform and walked past the teachers, several of them hopped up and shook hands or hugged me. Swine flu, Ha! So much for that precautionary email saying there would be NO shaking of hands at graduation due to the swine flu. They did have big squirty jugs of germ killing gel right as you went up the stairs to the germ-infested handshakers.

Anyway, I loved that the teachers were there and they were so excited to see their students walk by. My Sacred Texts teacher (I also took British Lit and Shakespeare from her) hugged me and said "Congratulations and I want one more paper from you!" She wasn't kidding, I have to write a paper this weekend. The head librarian jumped out of her seat and hugged me. Said she'd miss me. Yeah, I know, she'll miss my overdue library fines. I think I've paid for a new wing of the library all by myself. Which reminds me, I have four library books sitting here that need to go back, with accompanying fee of course.

Congratulated and hugged my friends. It was great to see them so happy and excited! I usually see them stressed and overloaded with books and deadlines. What a difference a free spirited smile makes!

I now have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature and Writing from California State University San Marcos. (tosses cap in the air)

Keith and I stopped for a celebratory lunch before coming home. We ate at El Torrito, kind of appropriate since he says I took college by the horns. More excitement at lunch! We gave Libby a taste of refried beans and she didn't hate them! She wasn't thrilled, but she did eat some and kept opening her mouth for more! We didn't see the horrified ick face and she didn't gag and hurl from licking the spoon! Score! The waitress said she must have some Mexican blood. We agree! Our little refried bean! We're very excited that she ate, even if it was just a few licks. Good girl, Libby!

So, that was my graduation day. Late, foggy, and awesome!

The Countdown

7 days to the end...

4 Chapters of Psychology to read

One Book to read

Finish my reading journal
(have to read first)

Two research papers

One critical essay

One Take Home Exam

One In-Class Exam

Thursday is the final day of Finals, then it's Party Time! Iron the Gown! Find bobby pins for the cap! Graduate!!!

Graduation follows on Saturday the 16th. 8am at Del Mar Fairgrounds, you are all invited. ;)

History: It's all about who is telling the story

I just finished writing an extra credit paper today for my Sacred Texts class. Luckily, I could earn extra credit (15 lousy points) for visiting a museum or religious site and writing a paper about it. My mom and I just took the little girls to San Juan Capistrano - what a deal! So, I dug up some historical information online and grabbed a couple of books from the library... and what do I find? Very different accounts of how the mission was built. Stories from the mission's past depend on the source, just like any other story in history I suppose.

History, what is it really? It's just stories. Tales of what happened, told by one perspective usually. This reminds of the the day we were at the zoo and we came upon some chaos at the monkey exhibit. Asking "What happened?" got you five different stories and we had to piece them together to get a complete account of what went on. That's how history works, you get different stories depending on who is telling it.

Back to the mission at San Juan Capistrano. Every sources agrees that the Spanish missionaries enlisted the help of the Native Americans to build the missions and converted them to Catholicism. I was reading a book published in 1922 by a priest, Father Zephyrin Englehardt. He describes the establishment of the mission like a big party. It was all rainbows and flowers. San Juan Capistrano had a very happy history according to Fr. Englehardt.

He says, "The Indians enthusiastically agreed to quarry the stones, haul them down to the mission [over six miles], and put them into the walls of the sacred edifice. The poor Indian women felt disconsolate and heavy at heart. They too wanted to have a share in the building of the House of God. Then one of the dark-eyed lively younger women conceived a brilliant idea which she at once communicated with the other women, who smiled happily. 'Father, will the Lord be pleased if we bring small stones from the quarry so that they may go into the crevices of the walls?' 'Indeed, He will be touched at such a proof of your affection' 'We shall all go up with our children too, all will bring stones in our aprons and little sacks. The men are not going to have all the glory'" (29). Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

And the next book I pick up is written by Joel Hyer, published in 2001. It's called "We Are Not Savages". Does that tell you anything about how this book is going to read? Hint: Englehardt and Hyer are looking at life from opposite ends.

In this book, Hyer says, "Descendants of those who lived at the missions offered compelling evidence that cruelty was the rule. Padres used Native Americans as beasts of burden. Luisenos and others chopped down large trees on Mount Palomar to construct the missions at San Diego, San Luis Rey, and San Juan Capistrano. They carried logs on their shoulders and they couldn't sit or drop the timbers on the ground until they reached the mission. Spaniards severely whipped and punished those who rested. Families were separated and forced to work without enough food. When they disobeyed the friars, soldiers threw native children off a nearby cliff. The native peoples of Southern California have passed down these stories for at least 150 years" (28).

See that? Same story, but not anywhere near the same tale. And who do you believe? Mr. Rosey Pants and his happy story or Mr. Depressed and his extreme tales of woe. The thing is, they are both writing down what was passed along verbally through generations and generations. Perspective has a lot to do with the differences the authors have, but also, I gotta wonder how much exaggeration went on in the passing along of the stories. Really, how enthused were those slaves?

I tend to believe Hyer before I believe Englehardt. Something about that enthusiasm to carry boulders six miles over a mountain pass just didn't seem quite right to me. Those were the days when people were brutal. I guess history is the story that we think is the right one. Pick your favorite version.

It's Paper-Writing Monday!

So why did my browser find its way to the blog? I don't know how that happens!

I have a couple of papers due tomorrow. Waiting till the last minute and writing under pressure, yup, that's me!

First paper I'm going to knock out is a short 3 page analysis of The Oval Portrait by Poe. There are 4 characters in it, and they are coupled up in these very strange relationships. Poe is pretty twisted. So, I'm comparing those relationships and trying to say how they each have struck a balance - as sick and twisted as they are, they are still balanced. First there is the narrator and his valet, I think they are gay. Gay servant boyfriend - well, hey it works for them. I think the servant part actually bugs me more than the gay part. And then there's the artist and his wife, seriously, I'd rather be a gay servant than this guy's wife! But she seems to think its a good enough life and she goes along with it.

I sound really intolerant. I'm not normally like that, I swear! Gay people don't bother me, except for the eccentric ones. For some reason, they make me feel kinda creepy. You know there are normal gay men and then there are the ones who exude gayness. I don't feel comfortable with that because I think there is more to a person than what you do behind closed doors. Please, close the doors! There's just more to a person than one aspect of life. I think some people need to branch out and add more to their identity. How about, occupation, hobbies, interests... there is an endless list of other identifiable things about a person. Ok, I admit it, I'm not 100% tolerant.

For my next paper, I'm writing about the woman's role in a pagen marriage in Old Norway. Those women were tough old broads. They did everything in the bitter cold while their Viking husbands were sailing off to Iceland in their giant rowboats. And the women were just property, bought and paid for. Do this, do that, woman! Life as an Old Norse wife, again, I think I'd rather be the gay servant in Poe's story.

It's another short paper, 3 or 4 pages is all. The short papers can be harder to write because you have to say something and back it up but you are so limited on space, it's hard to get it all out and keep it so short too. I always get teacher comments with things like "you should develop this further", really? where? on the back?

Anyway, that's the plan for today, write these little papers. Then I can do my homework too. I have to write a couple of paragraphs every Monday for my Theory class. Nothing major, but it takes some thinking to answer the questions and come up with something other than "huh?".

For example, Here is today's question, always in two parts we have to answer both:

1) Analyze the language of the text. To what extent do you see evidence of the Lacanian claim that subjects are SUBJECTED to language, and therefore language is always alienating and never quite allows someone to capture or represent their experiences in the Real via the Symbolic? Look for passages where the character or narrator expresses the difficult of achieving identity through language.

2) Analyze the functioning of the Lacanian concepts of "metonymy" and "metaphor" (i.e, metonymy--unconscious force constantly expanding from one idea to the next to the next to the next; metaphor--unconscious force constantly condensing more than one idea into one, creating a new idea by layering concepts on top of each other) To what extent do you see the operation of these 2 forces in the short story? In other words, where do you see metonymic connections happening? Where do you see metaphoric connections happening? How do those connections impact the meaning of the short story?

Yeah, I'm not intimidated or anything. I do hope I can say something more than "Huh?" or "This is gay!". But so far, that's all I've got!

I better get to it, the kids will be disrupting me since I'm the mom even on homework days. "Mom, will you check out this place for my wedding?"; "Mom, I need lunch money and can you find my French book from last year - the school wants it back now"; "Mommy, I did pee-pee on the floor, sowwy, I spill"; "Mommy! I need a boob!" (ok, that last one was translated). Can't forget, "Mommy, my dog food dish is empty and I need my pink pill wrapped up in cheese today" (another translation, although quite accurate). See, I am pretty tolerant.

The Daily Damage and other doo-dads

The Daily Damage of attending college, not counting tuition or books or overdue library fines, just attending is something I wish I didn't figure out. I shouldn't have done the math. But since I did, here's the breakdown: Jess, hold onto your hat, maybe you should sit down, this is more than you spend in a month to restock your entire house...

$35 for Gracie's child care
$35 for Libby's child care
$10 approximate cost of gas for the 45 mile trip to school and back
$10 for the second trip on Tuesdays because I go back and forth twice that day
$7 to park in an itty bitty space half a mile from my classroom
$5 for lunch. If I had time and another hand, I would pack my own. I try to.

This adds up to $90 - $100 just for me to show up at college! And I am getting a great deal on child care. My sitters are doing us huge favors by charging us so little!

And other tidbits, updates, and random thoughts:
College sucks. I have more classes than I have time for. The homework is impossible when I have a toddler who wants to color in my book too! And I can't write papers when I am constantly watching the kids with one eye and type a bit with only half (or less) on the laptop. Sure, I can type out random thoughts in my blog, but here I can also let my spelling and grammar slide and if it doesn't make sense, ah, that's fine too.

I won a Target gift card by commenting on Duck Duck Cow's blog. She was celebrating her blog's birthday. Thanks, Jessica! I think that's pretty nice that she remembers and celebrates her blog's birthday, shoot, I barely celebrated my oldest child's birthday! In fact all I did was say "Happy Birthday" and handed her some cash. Then she went to Disneyland with her best friend. I did bake some butterfly shaped cupcakes. I have a lot to learn about decorating though.



We're having problems with Monsters. Those darn ugly monsters are scaring Gracie at night! Daddy has been calling the Monsters on his phone and telling them they cannot come over. Then he talks to them for a bit asks them if they took a bath and combed their fur because they are so cute when they are clean and fluffy. Asks them if they like to play ball. He's so funny! But it is really helping with Gracie's fear on Monsters. She says "Sponsters" cuz she is cute like that!

My sister wrote in her blog about how she didn't have her camera when she needed it. Boy, I know how that goes! Libby has been toying with me. She learned how to roll over but every time I try to catch her act with my camera, she won't do it. As soon as I put it away, over she goes! Arg! Here she is teasing me:



It is sure a good thing you folks only visit with me online. Really! Days like today I am thankful that I'm a hermit and don't get out much socially. You see, yesterday I couldn't decide if I wanted chili or bean and ham soup. I had both. Today we went out for Mexican. Let's just leave it at that.

Katie's boyfriend is almost done with boot camp! She's flying to Illinois to see him graduate next week! According to her it was a long wait for the end of boot camp, but I think it feels like he just left not that long ago. Perspectives.... interesting. He is doing really well and he earned two phone calls so far, one he used to call his parents (only after failing to get ahold of Katie), and the other phone call he got to call Katie. They've been writing letters back and forth and his are full of news about how he's doing well. He did some strength training and running before he went and that really served him well.

Katie has been super busy lately and her creative juices are flowing like a raging river. In the last 15 days, she wrote and recorded 10 songs. She even got her dad going on this songwriting and recording stuff. You can listen to her songs here.

Speaking of the hubby, he survived another round of budget cuts. 20% of the teachers in his district got "pink slips" and we sure thought he would be one of them. But, he managed to stay clear of it this time. That's twice this year that we've feared job loss and he is under contract and has tenure. Plus he was the district Teacher of the Year a couple of years ago. Nobody has job security. If he does lose his job, I guess we'll have to move in with my mother. I wonder if she realizes that she is our backup plan. Hey Mom, got room for a family of 6 and a dog? It's ok, Mom, you're safe for now.

Things are good for the girls with their jobs. They both got promoted. Katie went full time at David's Bridle and got a raise and Lexie is now the shift leader in the game room at Shakey's Pizza. No raise for her, but a little more responsibility and a leadership role. Can never go wrong being declared a leader! Well, ok, that might not be true, Custer didn't do so well as a leader...

Whats a good update without mentioning the dog? She's always got something exciting going on! Last week she chased a bunny rabbit! This week she found that one section of our wooden plank fence is falling apart. She's been nosing her way through the fence and getting out. Freeeeeeedom! Roaming the neighborhood unleashed and free spirited! Till the neighbors catch her and go around knocking on doors dragging her along saying "Is this your dog?". I drug a pallet over and leaned it on the fence over the loose section. That didn't work. I came home from running errands and saw my dumb dog (is she really?) a block away from our house! So, I pulled over and hit the remote sliding door - by the way, my van is so cool! - and she hopped in. Gave her a ride the rest of the way home. I moved our other pallet over to hide another section of fence.

Oh, and when I got home with the two littles, diaper bags, purse, groceries, and the dog... there was the letter carrier. I took the opportunity to talk to her about my annoying neighbor lady who wants our mailboxes moved a block away. And I told the carrier that I'm fine with my mail service just the way it is, I don't want it moved a block away because as you can see, my hands are full and if I have to go a block away to get my mail, I'll be inconvenienced. Why should I just because that one lady wants me to? The carrier said they are so tired of that lady at the post office, she comes in to complain all the time! They have a plan for her mail delivery that won't involve any of the rest of the people in our mailbox cluster. Yippee!

I have a lot of homework to do this weekend, the house is a mess because I've been doing homework instead of vacuuming and dishes and that sort of thing. Keith has to fix our fence! And the girls are probably working or doing who knows what. I think that's all the updating I have for now.

One more picture just for fun:

A Very Long Day - The Good, The Bad and The Cute

This is gonna be long cuz my day was as long as a busy week:

I got to sleep from midnight to 4am and then Libby decided it was playtime. She never does that! Anyway, got back to sleep at 6am to 7am, when really I should have gotten up at 6 so I wouldn't have to rush, but I went back to sleep when I had the chance.

Got up and showered and changed everyone and nursed and pumped, etc. Gracie was extra hungry this morning and ate 3 bowls of oatmeal! And I was really rushing her along, but that child does not have "hurry" in her vocabulary!

Finally got out the door at 8:45 with the two littles, their two diaper bags, my school bag, my purse and of course, my coffee!

I took Libby to her sitter first, then I took Gracie to her sitter and when I pulled up I just knew something was wrong. There were 3 vehicles out front, one was her husband's car and he should've been at work by now. I had a bad feeling. So I took Gracie to the door and the paternal grandparents and the girls all came to the door. The sitter's mother suddenly passed away yesterday, so things there were in the hands of the grandparents. Gracie likes them (they’ve met before) and they offered to keep her for the day even though they didn't know she was coming, but I felt like that might be asking a lot since they most likely just threw arrangements together within the past few hours... I don't know but I thought they had plenty to manage already. I got back in the van and called Libby's sitter and went right back there with Gracie.

It had been 15 mins since I dropped Libby off and returned with Gracie, in that time Libby was settled into the swing with her blanket all snuggled up around her and she was fast asleep. Awwww!

I got a tank of gas and cussed at the pump cuz gas keeps going up. grrrr. And I hopped on the freeway! It was 9:35, not bad considering my goal is to be on the freeway by 9:30. Just when I thought I could make up that 5 minutes in the fast lane, the whole freeway plugged up and became a mile long parking lot. I’m lucky it wasn’t further because those tend to become 5 mile jams in no time! I finally got past the source of the problem, a mangled up mess but no ambulance, so it must have been a non-injury accident. I like to tell myself that.

After I got past that, the road opened up and I flew to the college. I dropped it down to 80 in that spot where I always see a cop or two. I cranked up a Boston cd and drove fast in the far left lane. I never do that! Got to San Marcos in record time! Parked and hiked up the hill to class, got there on time!!! Wow! How’d I beat the clock!!! I did it!! I’m like Mario Andretti in a mini-van! It was now 10:30am. Long day already and I was just getting started.

You know how when you are hurrying and hurrying and then you get to your destination and you still feel like you should be going fast? I did that. I was all caffeinated and had been rushing around for over 2 hours trying to get to this class and I couldn’t shake that hurry feeling. I sat still and listened, tried to learn about Jacques Derrida and his literary theory of deconstructionism. When we broke into groups and analyzed a short story, I totally aced the little project and felt great being a valuable part of the group discussion. Not bad since I only read ¾ of the story that we needed to pick apart; I fell asleep before I got to the end last night.

After class, the student union had a table set up just outside our classroom and they were giving out pizza. Score! Free lunch and it was good too! I have an hour for lunch, and today I decided to use my hour hiking back to my van to swap out my books instead of carrying them all. The college campus is on the side of a hill, so when I say “hike” I really mean it! It’s a long walk on an incline, or decline, whichever way you are going.

During my walk, I met up with a nice gal that I’ve run into a couple of times before. It’s nice to meet good people. Today we exchanged phone numbers and she showed me a picture of her baby. She mentioned to me before that she has one baby the same age as Libby; today I learned that her baby is actually her third, but the first two did not survive. I spent the rest of my walking time counting my blessings.

I also found out that she just moved to America last June and she only knew three words in English before she arrived here. I would have never guessed that she wasn’t a native to Southern California. There are some amazing scholars on campus, very intelligent people; I hope some of it rubs off on me. I am in awe of some of the students I meet. Sure, I can fake it a time or two, but there are students on that campus who amaze me.

Then I went to my Psychology class. Today’s lecture was all biology though. And I was totally lost. Genes, DNA, chromosomes, Mitosis, Meiosis, huh? Yeah. Wish me luck!

Now, at 2:15 pm I scurried on home and kept the driving to a reasonable speed. Kept the volume down too. No need to be Mario Andretti all the time. I saw three cops in “the cop spot”. They were all writing tickets too! I wanted to stop and do some birthday shopping for my daughter’s birthday tomorrow (just call me the last minute mommy) but since I started the day in a size C cup and I was now busting out of a DD, I decided shopping could wait until tomorrow. My boobs haven’t figured out how to handle school days yet.

When I went to pick up the Littles at Libby’s sitter, she invited me in for coffee. A mutual friend of ours and her baby were over visiting too. So I sat and fed stubborn little Libby (who only drank one ounce from her bottle all day) and visited with the mamas. It was great to get some caffeine in me again. Got my second wind!

When I got home, I carried Libby, two diaper bags, my school bag, my purse, hats and blankets. Gracie carried a rawhide bone as big as she is for Sandy. The sitter gave it to us for our dog; it was gag gift for her Chihuahua and she wanted to just get rid of it. I have a really happy dog! So we get in the house, and get all this stuff out of my arms while Sandy is wagging her tail like mad carrying a bone as big as Texas in her jaw smacking into everyone, and what is that on the table? A package? For me?

One of my internet friends sent me a package! I opened it and it was CHOCOLATE! A Big bar of chocolate, homemade brownies (more like fudge, mmmmm), princess snack cups for Gracie and a teething toy for Libby. A sweet card topped it! Too sweet! Thank you so much, Jen!

I decided it could be fend for yourself night for dinner. Gracie fell asleep, Libby wanted to be held, Keith finished off the leftovers from last night and Katie and Lexie were both working. Pretty easy to blow off cooking tonight!

I did put Libby down for a bit. She was happy and enjoying her exersaucer. And then, she started to fuss. So of course I scooped her up to see what the fuss was about and in doing so, I discovered what the fuss was about. Ewww! Poopies everywhere! In the exersaucer seat, on her blanket that I stuff around her in the seat because she isn’t really big enough for it, on her jeans, her shirt, and filled her onsie. It was even in her sleeve! She saved it all up for mommy! Gee, thanks, Libbers. I’ve got a very poopy load of laundry going right now. I might have to wash it twice. Not sure how she can get so much of that nasty stuff out of her little bitty baby body all at once. Amazing!

Katie eventually came home from work, she was pale and sniffing and clutching a bottle of orange juice. She said “I hab a code.” Poor girl. She went to change and she said she’d come back for some chicken noodle soup, but she didn’t come back out of her room. I think she fell asleep.

Gracie fell asleep too. I guess throwing a wrench in her day was exhausting. Glad she took it all in stride. And Libby is asleep. Otherwise I’d never be able to type this extremely long post (wordcount: 1,611). Lexie isn’t home, she’s busy working her fingers to the bone trying to make ends meet and pay her bills (car insurance, texting, and lost library books).

It’s 8:30 and time for a beer. Ok, half. I am breastfeeding, I can’t overdo it. Today was one long long long day! Seems like this morning was a week ago!

Skipping School

College has been in session for one week now, and I'm already playing hookie!

I first started skipping school back in the 70s. I was in kindergarten and recognized the opportunity to cut class. My mom drove me a few blocks to Kindergarten and dropped me off, then she drove a few more blocks to drop my 2nd grade sister off at the Catholic School before she went back home. I imagine she ran an errand or two if needed. By the time mom went full circle, I beat her home.

After a few spankings for coming home again - wasn't I the brilliant 5 yr old? Skip school and run straight home for a whooping. Anyway, after a few of those episodes, I learned how to skip school properly. I went to the park! Oh yeah, recess on my terms!

Now I'm in college and I'm still skipping school. Nobody spanks my hiney for it anymore which just makes it that much more enjoyable!

Gracie is sick so I am staying home to be her snuggle buddy. She has a fever that refuses to be conquered by Motrin or Tylenol. She's just a lump on the couch too, no energy. Not eating much, drinking juice a bit. Puking up the m&ms daddy gave her (without telling me which really freaked me out when she hurled all over me), and her diapers are not fun to deal with either. The fever is what's really bugging me though. She's very rarely sick, so this has been hard to see my little firecracker down and out.

Libby, the little scholar, and I are staying home to snuggle Gracie and give her Motrin every now and again. Libby likes to help Gracie take a bath and cool that fever with some fun bubbles. And while we wait for the icky germs to go away, we'll be watching Mama Mia for the billionth time.

As much as I love snuggling my girl, I sure wish I didn't have to skip school for her today. Wish she felt great instead! I'm just waiting for Libby to come down with it too. I expect her to be a little hot potato every time I touch her. So far, she's dodging the bullet, but I'm sure it'll hit her too. Hard to avoid.

*Edit and Update: My mother called to inform me that she never actually spanked me. She only had to threaten to spank me! She did make me go to bed after I beat her home. She also reminded me that I got caught skipping school in my high school years. Guess I just never learn! Both of the littles are sick now. Fevers, puking, snot, coughing, big sad eyes... so I'm skipping school again today! I'm also losing my mind.

Mommy is Back in School

Let the insanity begin! I started my very last semester this week. I have 15 weeks of classes, one week of final exams and then I am DONE! I decided to go ahead and participate in the whole cap and gown froohaha. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to, but I've had a lot of encouragement to walk with the graduates since I will be one of them.

The first week back was stressful and overwhelming.

I have three classes: History and Commentary of Literary Theory II, Sacred Texts, and Infant and Child Psychology. The two literature classes fill up the last two requirements of my literature degree and the psychology class completes an upper level general education requirement.

The Theory and Sacred Texts classes are both only offered once. So, I had to take them on the days and times offered, no choice. Theory is in the mornings and Sacred Texts is in the evening. Nothing like spreading them out!

To complete the general ed requirement, I could choose from a few classes. My choices were: Family & Marriage at 9am, Infant and Child Psychology at 1pm, or Youth & Society online. Online? Yeah! I want that one! But, it filled within the first hour of registration and I missed it.

I filled out a waitlist form back in November. No response. So, I filled out another one in December. No response. I emailed the instructor. No response. I emailed the secretary for the Sociology Department. No response. I emailed her again. She responded with "fill out a waitlist form and email the instructor". Rats! I did that already! I called. Nothing. I went to the Department offices, nobody there. I emailed the instructor again. Nothing. With all this unresponsiveness, I was starting to think I wouldn't be able to crash the online class.

I decided to try both the 9am and the 1pm classes and decide from there which one I would keep and which one I would drop.

My first day of class, I knew I had to get there early. Parking would be awful! It really was awful! I didn't get to the building until 9:40! Well, that decision was easy, I'll be dropping the 9am class. Traffic was a bear and parking was worse! With getting the kids to school and babysitters and fighting my way through the crawling parking lot they call "the freeway" I don't see me ever getting to a 9am class on time.

The 1pm psych class seems like it will be pretty easy. But I'd rather take the online class to minimize the time Libby has to be at a sitter. So, I went back to the Sociolgy Department and asked again. This trip wasn't wasted! The secretary emailed the instructor and next thing you know I got an email with permission to join the class! I had to register with a super secret permission number and I was in!

First thing I did was check out the syllabus. Whoa! What is this? There is a required Community Service Project? Spend 40 hours tutoring in and after school program in a school that is an hour away from my house? 4 hours a week for 10 weeks done in 2 hour increments? That is called Being There Twice a Week! What kind of online class require a commute and 40 hours of actual being there? What part of ONLINE did I not understand? Well, all that begging and hassle to get in and it was for nothing!

I think I'd be better off staying on campus and taking the Psychology class where I don't have to add two more commutes to my week. I'm disappointed that the online class was not really online. I think I'll drop it and email the instructor and the head of the Sociology Department explaining that the term "Online" was extremely misleading. Not that a big email whine-fest will help, but it'll make me feel better. I'm glad I didn't drop the psych class before I looked at the syllabus for the online class! Then I would be stuck!

Libby came with me to my classes this week. She didn't care much for Sacred Texts. She was right, it was really boring. My pen and paper attended that class while Libby and I hung out outside. She did well in the other classes though. She won't be able to attend class very often because she'd much rather be the center of attention rather than the quiet baby in the desk in the back.

I will take her to the Theory and Psych classes again this week but she's going to have to stay home for the evening class. That will be a 5 hour stretch of time without mommy. I'm nervous! Even though Daddy has never spent more than half an hour with her, he seems to think he can handle it. I don't think I'll attend for the entire class session. Maybe half. Or maybe I'll set up the webcam and watch from my laptop in class. Libby should be able to start going to the babysitter in February. I guess I'll skip a class every day to make her time with the sitter as minimal as possible. I'm not sure how this is going to work. If she would take a bottle I would feel better about leaving her.

By the way, in the next 15 weeks I will be reading 13 books. None of them will be light or entertaining. But, I'll be so much smarter in a few months!

Shakin' at Shakey's!

No, I didn't forget about my blog. I've just been busy. 2009 is already whipping right along!

Yesterday was my little brother's 30th birthday! Happy Birthday, Little Bro. He doesn't know I have a blog, so he'll never read that, but I hope he had a good one.

The mom-taxi is now a full time job. Soon to become full time plus overtime. I have to drive Lexie to school. Pick her up. Drive her to work. Pick her up. All while dragging the littles along. You know how when you are getting ready to go somewhere with two littles someone has to poop their diaper? Imagine that four times a day! Welcome to my world.

College starts soon. The 20th. I'm taking three classes: Sacred Texts, History of Literary Commentary & Theory II, and the third class is still up in the air right now. I need an upper level DD general ed course, which I've already taken and aced. Sigh. The joys of transferring from 4 previous colleges in 3 other states plus California. I tried to get into an online course, but it filled within the first hour that registration opened and I missed out. So, I signed up for two other courses as possible substitutes for the online course, and I will decide which works best in my schedule. So far, I've decided neither works best. I filled out a waitlist form and I emailed the professor of the online course. I'm getting nowhere fast. In the meantime, I have to choose between the two classes that I am registered in and drop one.

My schedule stinks. I have one literature class at 10am - 11:45am and the other literature class from 5:30pm - 8:45pm. Nothing like spreading it out over one long day! Add the hour long commute, and it's a long day. I'm thinking of going twice, head to campus in the morning, attend my class or classes if I can't get in the online course, and then head home. Pick up the kids from their sitters, drop them at home. Then head back to campus. I'm not sure how else to do it. Two trips to San Marcos in one day?

Somehow I'm going to have to juggle my class schedule with my taxi schedule. Hmmmm...

I'm having babysitter issues. This just makes college much more fun! The sitter I have been taking Gracie to, where she recently got a snazzy new haircut, is so upset over the haircut incident that she might not watch Gracie anymore. I can't get ahold of her and she isn't returning my calls. Great. Now I need part-time temporary daycare for my not-potty-trained yet 2 yr old. I dare ya to find that!

For the baby, I arranged for her to go to my daughter's friend. This sitter just had a baby this week and she's 17 yrs old. But, she doesn't work, doesn't go to school, she's available! And she has all the baby stuff: Swing, bouncy seat, high chair, exersaucer, changing table, pack n play, etc. She's available and she's all set up. And she said she'd do it. Again, with the part time temporary stuff, add the word infant and no daycare will come near me. But, now that this girl has her own baby, she is feeling a little overwhelmed and not so sure about watching one more. Ay ay ay.

Neither sitter wants to watch both. I know, it's kinda crazy, but that's fine. Crazy I can deal with. But, lack of babysitters is something that is going to send me over the edge! Anyone out there need a nanny job? It's part-time and temporary! But they are soooooooo cute!

We had a 5.0 earthquake the other day, later downgraded to a 4.5. Not sure how an earthquake gets "downgraded" but there you have it. Even the earthquakes are suffering in this economy. There was a big jolt and then a shake and rumble. I got scared! I was holding Libby, so I leaned over her so nothing would fall on her; nothing fell, but that's what I did. The whole house shook and I looked up and swore it was swaying. Keith was teaching and he said he spread his arms out wide to keep his balance. He was only 5 miles from the epicenter and our house is 40 miles away. Katie said she didn't feel it. Lexie felt it! She was at work at Shakey's Pizza and just got her ten minute break, so she grabbed a soda and sat down and that's when it hit. Right when she sat, so she wasn't sure at first if she was just so tired from working that it felt like an earthquake or if she really felt one. She said people didn't seem to react. So she looked around and the hanging lights were swaying. Lexie said "We were shakin' at Shakey's!"

Not to be overlooked, my oldest is nursing a broken heart. Well, not really broken... what do you call it? Disconnected. Her boyfriend left on Monday for boot camp. Eight weeks of no cell phone, myspace, email, texts, or old fashioned getting together at Starbucks. She misses him terribly. It really hit me, look at this generation of kids. They are in constant connection with their peers. Constant! The girls sleep with their phones!

Boot camping boyfriend gave Katie a promise ring before he left. They are engaged to be engaged! Committed without the official commitment. Promised. Awwww, sweet!

Baby is teething, toddler is bouncing off the walls 24/7, teen #1 is a puddle of tears, teen #2 is busy doing a lot of nothing and yet... off she goes. And she needs a ride.

That's the down and dirty update, come back in a few hours and I'll finish the post when I don't have two kids and a doll in my lap!

I finished my post! Took me 2 full days! You can read it now...

What do you want?

For the last 20 yrs or so, I've asked the endless question "What do you want?". I ask continually because I am the Mom.

I've been asking ever since I first found myself talking to my pregnant belly. Do you want to be a girl or a boy? Do you want chocolate or steamed veggies? And I haven't stopped asking that same question. I ask "What do you want" when they cry, when I get that teenager eyeroll, when they look bored, sad, sick or excited. I ask when they don't even look like they want anything at all. I just ask.

I don't ask out loud. Can you imagine hearing me say that four thousand times a day? It's just my mental state of mind. Motherhood is endless servitude.

Before I was a mom, I didn't ask "What do you want?" except when I was talking to myself! Now, I have a hard time answering that question for myself. I think that's why I've had such a hard time with college.

Going back to college is for me. But the mom in me feels the need to make everything I do a response to "What do you want?" and so I find it difficult to study, go to class when my kiddo has a headache or cries when I drop her off at the sitter, or forgot her lunch money for school. Feels strange to do something for myself.

Libby and I were having some playtime the other day. And I looked at her and said "What do you want?" She smiled and cooed. I wonder what she wants out of life. She is two months old now. I wonder what her aspirations are? I wonder what I can do to make her the person she wants to be? I wonder what she wants.

Gracie is easier to figure out. She jumps around in front of the tv and says "I want that! I want that! I want that!" My turn to give the eyeroll.

Libby's Last Day of College

Today was my last class for this semester. The only thing left is the final exam. Libby was excused from the exam so she won't be tagging along when I go take that on Tuesday.

Libby started college at 3 weeks old. Now that she's 9 weeks old, she finished! Her education is off to a great start. She listened to the lectures, watched a film, and participated in class discussions. She not only filled her brain with knowledge, she filled her diapers in class too!

Ever heard of the "Freshman Fifteen"? Libby didn't miss out on that experience either. She is now 15 pounds! That six weeks of academia filled her out like a whole year of beer and pizza to a first year dorm resident.

Today the professor told her that she gets an A!

Now, if mommy can just pull a C or better.... that'd be great.

Weird Tuesday

Yesterday was so bizarre. As if the earthquakes on Monday weren't enough, Tuesday came along.

When I dropped Gracie off at the babysitter, I said "Bye, Gracie, I love you!" Her response: "Te quiero, mama!" Then she looks at the other little girl and says "Venga!" and off they ran. Weird, my daughter suddenly speaks Spanish.

Lexie gets out of school at noon, and I often forget to pick her up. Noon just rolls around too fast! Because of that, she usually calls me to see if I'm on my way or if she has to sit on the curb in the blazing hot sun waiting for me. Yesterday, I remembered! And this is what happened:

I was driving along, I'm 3 blocks from the school coming up to the stop sign on the corner with the big giant bushes, so you kind of have to sneak up past the stop sign to see around the corner. That's where my phone rang, it's Lexie. Like a dummy, I pick up my phone and say "Hello, yup I am on my way, almost there, ok bye" And that's when I stopped for the stop sign. And I look around the big giant bush and there he was... motorcycle cop.

He flipped on his lights at pointed at me. I couldn't believe it! I got a ticket for talking on my cell phone while driving! Arg! And the dumb part is that my bluetooth was right there in my cupholder and I didn't use it!

Later in the afternoon when I arrived at the university parking lot, I pulled up to the parking pass machine to let it rob me again and give me my dashboard ticket so I can park for a couple of hours. Stupid machine wouldn't work! I drove over to the other machine on the other side of the parking lot. It wasn't working either! But, there was the parking lot cop writing out tickets, bet she was busy!

I'll be danged if I am getting two tickets in one day! So I got her attention and yelled to her to come over to me. I explained that neither machine was working and I need to park, she said she didn't do that, she couldn't help me, it wasn't her job, yadda yadda. I asked her to write me a guest pass for the day. Oh no, she can't do that, again, not her job and all that jazz, she'd have to call a police officer and ... Ok! I"ll wait! Call the officer!

He finally shows up and checks out the machine, it doesn't work. I ask for a guest pass, he actually has a handful of them. Good boy, he came prepared. I got one and avoided a $50 ticket! And a couple of other people who came up to the machine after I did got free parking passes too. Including the lady who was red faced and crying cuz she already got a ticket.

While waiting for class to begin, another scholar/student comes up to me and starts chatting away. She was jabbering on and on about something rather lame, and then the unthinkable happened. She must have had an itch. She just plunged a hand into her pants. Right there in front of me! And she kept right on talking! Another bizarre moment in my day.

On my way home from class, I noticed at least 6 people driving with cell phones up to their face.

Got home and I was so full of milk I thought I was going to explode! I sat down with my pump and unhooked one cup of my bra, and ewwwww! A spider! A little creepy crawly spider! In my bra! The bra I am wearing!!! Yes, there was a bit of screaming and I did a little spider in my bra dance which consisted of some jerking movements, possibly some jumping around, I'm sure it wasn't graceful by any stretch of the imagination.

As my day in bizzaro-world winds down, I was relaxing in front of the tv with the littles. I watched Biggest Loser and Libby played under her ADHD invoking canopy of bright colored toys and Gracie read books to her Barbies. Ahhhh.... But no relaxing, because on the Biggest Loser, Amy voted for Coleen! What! How! What on earth is happening! No Way! Why didn't she vote Vicky off! I am deeply disturbed.

I'm so glad its Wednesday now. It's a new day! Fresh start! Yesterday was just too strange.

Irony and Porn

I watched a movie yesterday afternoon. It's an older one that everyone else has seen twenty times by now and I finally got around to catching it. I watched Mona Lisa Smile. I really enjoyed it. I love those feminist empowerment movies! Lets be more than subservient housewives! Girl Power!

When the movie was over I got up and did the dishes, cooked dinner, swept the floor, fed and diapered the baby. How ironic.

Late last night, I dove into a new book. Getting Mother's Body by Suzanne-Lori Parks. It is a relatively new book, just published five years ago. It's an assigned novel for my class that I'm taking. I opened it up to the first page of the first chapter and Whoa! This is pornography! Graphic description. My eyes stung.

I kept reading.

Beach Ball Belly

I've been very busy following my beach ball belly around.

First day of College was good. I actually got a decent parking space. Didn't have to walk too terribly far. I stopped in a the parking services office and asked for a temporary disabled permit so I can get a close spot while I'm pg. They gave me a form to have the doctor sign, which I forgot to take to the doc and the permit is only good for 2 weeks. But, 2 weeks just might be enough, you never can tell.

I walked halfway across campus, cuz my classroom is in the building right in the middle not near any parking, ugh. And I saw people I know and got hugs as I walked. Nobody groped my belly, just hugs. (I hate belly gropers!) It was nice! A couple of people I saw didn't know I was pg. Yup! I am! I didn't see my buddy, Jenn, we usually have class together. My instructor scared a couple people out of the class when she explained the syllabus. 10 books, 2 huge-ass tests, and a 25 pg research paper. She said she was glad I was there, and I made an appt to go talk to her to set up when I take the midterm and get my paper topic approved and stuff. She is modifying the syllabus and due dates for me. Nice!

I took Gracie to her sitter. She hasn't been there for 3 weeks! She was thrilled to be there! And I mean thrilled! We got in the door and all three little girls were hugging each other - so cute!!! The sitter has 2 daughters: age 5 and age 18 mths. I took the sitter a carseat and a double stroller. Gave her the side by side Peg Perego stroller which she fell in love with immediately. The three girls played hard till I picked Gracie up at 5:00. The little ones rode in the stroller when they walked kindergarten (2.5 blocks away) and when they went to pick up too. The littles didn't want to get out of the stroller and they held hands while they rode along. Gracie was disappointed when I came to get her and ended her fun.

The sitter said that when she had to use the bathroom, The Littles wanted to follow her in, no big deal. That's fine. But Gracie said "spank!" So the sitter was worried that I spank Gracie for not going potty or something. I reassured her that I would never spank for potty training! I'm sure that would hinder more than help. And then I realized what Gracie said! Gracie must have said "Stink!" She says that if you toot. So I told her that Gracie says Stink, that's what we say at our house. And she said, ohhh, we say Caca. Ok, figured that out. We are becoming bi-lingual: Toddler Talk as a second language!

When I got home Keith took me out to dinner. We went to Claim Jumper. Yum! I haven't used my oven all summer cuz the heat leaks out and it's fricking hot enough! So I ordered the Roasted Turkey Dinner and Keith had the Meatloaf Dinner. Yummy!!! I was so stuffed I wasn't sure if I could walk outa there! While I'm wondering if I'm too full to waddle, they bring me a birthday Mocha cheesecake. Super yummy! And huge! It was freaking amazing!!! It even had candles!

So I guess I'm another year older. Oh well, that won't happen again for 364 more days! Ha!

Then the best surprise - I read my sister's blog. She left a birthday message for me on her blog - wow, it is so nice! We're not mushy people, but we know what is in our hearts. Loved the post though and being all pregnant and sentimental, I was moved to tears. My normal ice cold heart of stone has totally turned to steamy mush!

Just to aliviate confusion, I wasn't all giddy and happy over her latest blog post about her memorable weekend, oh my goodness no! Scroll down to Aug 26.

In baby news... I had a doc appt yesterday and another ultrasound tomorrow. I know, I put in way too much time at the doc's office. I did put up a mini-protest about being monitored for an hour at a time, twice a week, for 12 weeks.... so I'm not at the doc as often as they'd like. But, honestly, I don't want to live there if it isn't necessary.

Anyway, Number Four is growing nicely. She's still head down, which is fabulous news! (she just flipped in the right direction not too long ago). I've gained a lot of weight between appointments this time, whooops, too much Claim Jumper maybe? Ah, it was worth it! And.. my doc will be on vacation the entire week I am due. So, some strange dude in scrubs will just waltz in the delivery room and announce "I am the Doctor" and catch the baby. I'm not thrilled at all about that. I'm leary of strange docs, you never know which one is the goober! I might as well give birth at Walmart, or in my college class, or at Claim Jumper.... I am really hoping to go overdue by a few days.

We are still house hunting. My husband didn't get that new job he applied for, which he decided was a blessing in disguise since we have plenty of other things going on. My girls started school and we are getting back into a routine.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yay, it's my birthday! Someone tell my mother because she thinks my birthday is tomorrow. All my life, it's been the 26th, then one year she changed her mind and decided it was the 27th. So, now I have two birthdays I guess.

Actually, this year, I had an early birthday. My husband took me to see Wicked as my gift for turning another year older. It was great! Then I had another early birthday on Sunday because we were at the grocery store and it is not likely that we'd go today. So, we picked up a cake and my daughters found two books in the store that I've had on my wish list. Awesome! Tossed them in the cart with the cake! Score! We finished off the cake but I haven't cracked open my new books yet. Soon!

Today, I am blogging while watching Sesame Street. Then taking my toddler to the babysitter. Then it's off to my first day of college for this semester.

I have three classes left to graduate. Three! I'm taking one class this semester, and two next semester. I also have to finish an incomplete and petition for another class to transfer in. I hope I can jump through those hoops or I'll be taking 4 classes next semester. Yikes! I've been taking 4 classes per semester these past few semesters, but I have also been struggling to keep up with a full load. Now that I'll have four princesses, it'll be that much more of a race to the finish. If I can keep my attendance down to part time and still graduate, that would rock!

Luckily, I have a scholarship so I can afford to go part time. CSU offers two ways to pay: Part time or Full Time. Six credits and under is part time, seven or more is full time. So, if I take a one credit PE class or two 3 credit literature classes, the tuition is the same. Or if I take 7 credits it costs the same as taking 20 credits. This makes my one class pretty expensive! Thankfully my scholarship offsets the cost which really helps. I got the scholarship from the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children in Spokane. Nice, huh!

The class I'm taking is called Lit 450 Multicultural American Literature. There are ten books for this one class! Plus a 25 page research paper due at the end. No problem! I'll have plenty of time to study 10 books and spend time in the research library in between giving birth and potty training and getting my daughter ready to graduate from high school and my other ordinary mom things that I do. The books look pretty good though, and I've actually read six of them already. Hopefully, I can still squeeze in my birthday books!

My biggest worry about starting college today is parking. Parking is less than ideal at CSUSM. In fact, it just sucks. The college is built on the side of a steep hill. People jokingly refer to it as Stair-Master University, its a long long walk from the parking lot to the classroom, uphill. They did dig out a flat spot and made a parking lot at the top of the hill, I'll try my best to get a spot there. The walking distance to the classroom will be the same. I hope all that walking doesn't make the baby fall out.

My baby ticker croaked and I forgot how to reload it. Preggo Brain! I can't for the life of me figure it out. But, there are 30 days now till baby's due date. I'm huge and uncomfortable, but doing well. I have been having a very healthy pregnancy and the end is near! Or, the beginning... I'm really looking forward to baby's birthday!

I rocked the CBest!

Oh yeah!!! I rocked the CBest! That California Basic Educational Skills Test is a 4 hour long reading, writing and math skills exam required for getting into the teaching credential program. All teachers in California have to take it and pass it before stepping into the classroom. I took it this morning.

Had to drive an hour to get to the test site. Found it! I was there with ten or fifteen minutes to spare, so I had time to find a ladies room! Score! My test admission ticket said to be there and ready by 8am. It's Saturday, getting there by 8am was awfully early, but hey, there I was. The registration and instruction process lasted way too long. *yawn*

Testing finally began at 8:40. People! Why'd I have to bust my butt getting here by 8am? Do you not understand that it is Saturday?!?!! AKA Sleep in Day?!?!?! And I left my house at 6:30!!! No, they don't really care.

The test itself was a piece of cake. It was just never-ending. Very lengthy! It took me the entire 4 hrs to finish it up. I was impressed with the anti-cheating measures the proctors took. Wowza.

Well, one more thing I can mark off my college to-do list! The CBest is done! El Fin!

Freedom! My Classes are Done!!!

I finished my college semester! Yay! Freedom sure feels GREAT! I slept like a rock last night and woke up happy and stress free! Whoopppppeeeeeee!

This semester I took Medieval Literature Theory and Criticism, Studies in Shakespeare, British Literature II, and United States Literature II. I wrote at least a hundred pages of papers (I'm not exaggerating, this week alone I wrote over 40 pages). Between these 4 classes, I had 24 books and I read them all! Plus a pile of poetry.

I'm not taking any summer classes, although I do have a long list hoops to jump through for the university's three ring circus they call "administration".

While I was busy studying for final exams, reading that last novel and writing my final research papers, my family kept me busy too.

My husband had to work a little harder. Some kids at his school got caught doing stupid things, which always ties him up and makes his workdays a little longer. Nothing like red tape! So he was either working or exhausted from working. He works at a middle school teaching, and he's the computer tech support guy on campus too. Of course, there were technology issues this past week too. He also is a university professor a couple evenings a week, and he has two large classes this go-round so he had to modify his instruction. Yeah, that means more prep time and more time to grade essays and such. We haven't seen much of him lately.

My oldest princess just got a new job in a Bridal Shop. A princess selling dresses! Who could imagine! She is in heaven with this job and she's doing quite well; they love her! But, her manager was teaching her how to do something on the cash register and Princess Katie had one of her spells. She fainted, came to without a seizure, but fainted again. During her moments of unconsciousness, the manager called 911 and the paramedics arrived. They took her blood pressure, which was Zero/Zero. Dead people are more active! So they loaded her in the ambulance and off to the ER she went. They got a reading of 85/0 in the ER. Gave her a bag of IV fluid, and EKG test, did some bloodwork and checked her sugar level too. Guess what, after hours of fun in the ER, they decided nothing was wrong with her and she needs further evaluation with a cardiologist. So, I spent 5 hours of Mother's Day in the ER standing next to my daughter's gurney wishing someone would offer a chair to a pregnant woman. Didn't happen. Finally I decided to walk around and peek in all the curtains and find a stupid chair. I did. Hey, it was better than claiming the gurney next to her, which really was tempting.

Middle Princess also gave me a run in the great Mom-a-thon that I call life. She got hit right in the eye with a card. Yeah, right, who still plays cards? Bored kids in algebra class, that's who. What's wrong with kids these days, they can't shuffle a deck of cards? So, Lexie takes one right in the eye. Her eye was totally bloodshot, looked like it had a purplish bruise on the white part and maybe has a little cut in the cornea. Great. But I decided to see how it looked in the morning before rushing her off to urgent care or anything. Hey, I had papers to write! Next day at school, with her bloodshot eye, she gets caught walking to the far corner of the school campus to meet her friend for their lunchbreak. The picnic table she was headed for is near one of the gates and the security guard took one look at her and thought he caught a kid trying to ditch to go smoke pot. Obviously, she's going to her car to smoke pot cuz she's got that look of a drug-crazed teenager. So, to the office she goes. They searched her purse and she was found guilty of being in possession of DRUGS! Oh yeah, she had Advil and Claritin in her possession! Dang teenagers, carrying around over the counter medications! They did a pretty thorough search, cleaned out her entire purse while asking her where she hides her pot. They sniffed everything and checked all her makeup and things. They found all kinds of suspicious things to sniff and examine, such as the Advil, Claritin, a hot sauce packet, some tampons, eye liner, and pencil shavings. They searched her binder looking for who knows what, made her empty her pockets and then decided to hand down the sentencing. After the hour long interrogation, and their success in finding a kid with OTC drugs, she was deemed unworthy of attending school for 3 days. Suspended!

By the way, her eye is much better now. And yes, I had her with me in the ER and totally forgot to ask them to look at her eye. Thanks, Preggo-brain. Oh well, she didn't say anything so I'm blaming that oversight on her.

Little princess, not to be left out of vying for mommy's attention even though I declared that I will be neglecting everyone (they never listen), she has been pooping like a goose. Talk about STINK! This kid has had the nastiest diapers! I've started to use a mask over my nose and mouth to change her diapers. She thinks it's pretty cool, so she wears one too now. We're quite a pair! My husband had some disposable breathing masks in the garage for when he was cutting tile, they work great for nasty diapers! Her butt is fire-engine red and I cannot for the life of me figure out what the problem is on that end of the toddler. I figured it was all the junk food and crap I stocked up on so my family could just graze and I wouldn't have to cook. Or maybe its all the apples she's been eating. I bought a bunch of convenience foods for grazing cuz I had finals and whatnot, I wasn't gonna be cooking anything! I ended up making a meal or two, but I didn't do the dishes.

Oh, my laptop died too. Yup, in the middle of all my studying and writing papers on it, and all that jazz. I was depending on it too! Got a new one on Monday. I ordered a Dell Inspiron 1525, Blossom Pink. The experts at Dell sent me a purple one. Barney Purple. They say it's Blossom Pink. What do I know? The laptop itself is very very nice! Aside from being a far cry from Pink.

In order to finish up my semester, I neglected the house, the kids, the husband, the dog, I tried my best to neglect everything and everyone. I moved Mother's Day to this coming Sunday since Cal State decided to ruin it for me by scheduling finals right around it. Friggin idiots. Oh well, I'm the mom and I can move holidays - the power of being the mommy is pretty great like that!

It's been such a busy couple of weeks lately, that left me with no time to spare. Today is my first day of FREEDOM! No more school till .... well... till I feel like tackling that summer list of things to do.

Busy Busy Busy

I've been so busy lately!

Writing papers mostly. Actually, thinking about writing papers and wondering what to write. Not actually getting much done though.

I have a research paper to write comparing the rhetoric of Geoffrey de Vinsoff to Geoffrey Chaucer. Nothing like some medieval literature comparison! I have to write a paper comparing two novels: Atonement and Pride & Prejudice. I have a two week lesson plan on how to teach 9th graders Romeo and Juliet (as if I know anything about that!), perform with some of my classmates a scene from King Richard III, and write a paper about that, sew a replica of a 17th century quilt and write up a little paper on that, and take an exam over the history plays of Shakespeare. oh, what else... oh yes, research paper on an American author Nella Larson. And I have one more novel to read.

There are two weeks left of the semester to squeeze all this into! And then final exams.

And then I'm FRREEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

This summer I have some administrative hoops to jump through, but that's a list of crap for later. Then next fall, I think I'll take one class on campus and one online.

The class I want to take on campus isn't always offered and it is one I want to take. It qualifies as a requirement for me too - one of the three literature classes I need to get my BA! I'm so close! Anyway I got the booklist from the professor for that class. There are 8 books, one is an anthology of poetry and short stories, the other 7 are novels. I own the anthology and 4 of the novels already. In fact, I've read three of them and one is by Nella Larsen who I am currently writing a paper on. So, I'm half done with the reading for that class as it is! I talked to the professor and asked her if she thought I could succeed in the class if I miss three or four weeks when I have the baby. She said "Congrats, and yes you could easily pass the course with several absences". Cool!

I wish I could take a semester off, but that isn't possible. So lets just hope my water doesn't break in class!

I am totally doing the countdown to the end of the semester! And hopefully I'll get all my projects done without stressing out too badly before then. Keep your fingers crossed for my sanity!

Ah-Choo!

o. m. g. I am sick again! 2008 must be the year of the germ or something.

Last weekend my little bitty princess was sick. She ran a fever for three days and she was nothing but snot. She wouldn't eat, but she did drink plenty of juice. She was sneezing and coughing and stuck to me like glue. She loves me very much and she would get right up in my face and then sneeze. Now how am I gonna dodge those bullets?

She is fine now, but I'm more miserable than I have been in ages. This one hit me hard. I have missed a lot of school this week - which I totally cannot afford to do. I tried to go yesterday but ended up walking out of class and then I just went home.

Today I'm hurling too. Yup. That just adds joy to my stuffy and runny nose, totally congested sinuses, headache, burning eyes, pale, feverish and a sore throat. Being all lovely preggo... I can't take anything that actually works for this congestion. And I can't hear you. I think my ears are full of snot too.

Don't you think pregnant women should get to take double doses of the good drugs? What is this lame "sudafed and tylenol only" bs. And "try half a dose". My ass. I am eating for two why can't I take drugs for two? Makes sense to me!

One of these days, I'm going to write a happy blog post. I'm determined! I will be healthy and happy one day in 2008! And I will mark that day on my calendar, celebrate and write about it in my blog!!!