My Life

This past Monday, March 30th, is the most meaningful day of my life. I am most thankful for my friend, Debra, that helped save me from a tragic ending. I won't go into details, but hang onto your friends. You just never know when you might need one. Friends are the ones that love us through the good and bad and stick it out til the end. I can honestly say I have two friends like that. Most people tell me that if you have one friend, you are lucky. I just think God knows who really needs them.
I am sad that this is our last blog for the semester. I am glad that some of my classmates became as comfortable as I have at expressing thoughts. Thanks to Matt, Brandon, and Mary for helping me to shape my papers into something worth reading.

Rain & Traveling

My husband, mother, and son started out Thursday night around 9pm to leave for Georgia for my brother's wedding. We drove through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and finally Georgia. From the east side of Monroe, it was rain, more rain, and stormy thunderstorms all the way to Nashville, Ga. I have never in my life seen so much rain. I didn't know if I was going to get to go because my husband's job could not let him know if he could be off Friday because they have to have confirmation of the loads they have if it is a blackout period. I have had to scramble here trying to get my paper done to submit by last night. There was problems doing that too! My son and his wife have two computers with Word Perfect and so I had to download trial version of Word 2007. After reworking my paper and then having to scan my email for the interview, the document would not pull up right after I submitted to Ms. Smith. Anyways, I watched my brother get married I hope for the last time. It is only his "sixth" wedding. He says this is it. I sure hope so. I do not get attached to his wives because as in the past they are in passing. I wished them good luck. Hope you guys are not getting any more rain. I sure do not want to drive home in it again.

Spring Break

I am so thankful for a break from school. I have not neglected any assignments. I bought myself a new Vizio television today and cabinet. I cannot wait to set it up. I have also done taxes today. That's something I do on the side for extra money. I try to keep up-to-date on tax laws too; they change every year. And guys, the weather, it's been gorgious days and temps are nice too! Hope you all have had a good week and you too, Ms. Smith.

Happiness

I have recently discovered that what I thought happiness was, isn't. I don't know if it was my idea or pressures of the age we live in that pushed me to a higher level of selfishness. It really sucks when you discover that you left a part of yourself somewhere, and you try so hard to find it. Myths or truth? You tell me. I have lived a life that is full of triumphant and devestating experiences, some I caused and others by circumstances. I am about to be a grandmother, and I guess that has forced me to evaluate things with more scrutiny. I disciplined myself to be a good mother and wife. I have had more success with motherhood, than the other. I admit I have been married to this husband almost as long as I spent at home with my folks. Somewhere, I am not sure, I became selfish, only thinking of my future, not our future. Anyway, they say "older is wiser." It's true!

Deana

Today my husband, mother, and I went to watch my daughter, Deana, graduate from La Tech. I could not wait to hear them call her name to come get her degree. I can remember the first time I put Deana up on the counter to play with my adding machine and how fascinated she was with all the big buttons. I remember her watching her favorite cartoon character on television sitting in my lap. Next, it was kindergarten, then middle-school, and then high school. I remember taking her to countless ROTC meetings, rearranging my afternoons to accommodate for those "last minute" engagements, and then watching in her senior year take "Wing Commander" and pass it on to the next cadet. Finally, the thought of her graduating high school and moving away to live on campus at La Tech just about killed me. I didn't want to let go. I looked at her today and she's all grown up and graduating college. I have learned I have to let go. She still insists on living in Ruston.

Graduation

My daughter, Deana, just finished up her classes yesterday at LA TECH. She calls and says I am done with all my classes and then she lays the big one on me, she has fines to pay to school before she can get her degree on Saturday. I am proud of her and her accomplishments, but I am sure glad the "money tree" will get a rest now that I paid her fines. I now have to focus on paying my student loans back starting in 2010 if I can manage to graduate this fall. All you fellow students that have earned scholarships use them wisely and those that are not so fortunate spend your loan money wisely. Before you know it, you are in debt to Uncle Sam or some financial institution. If you can pay on them while going to school do it. No debt when you leave to find that wonderful job and the money you earn goes for the important stuff you want. Good luck to all you graduating seniors!

Saturdays

I love Saturday. No alarm to set for 6am and I can relax. Sure, I have homework and I strive to do it first so I can enjoy the rest of the day. It's time for spending time with my husband, doing something with my mother we enjoy (spending money), or just going to the Boardwalk to catch a movie. Sometimes, if my son Billy and wife, Jenna are not busy, I go to visit them. I will spend my next Saturday watching my daughter, Deana, get her CIS BS from LA TECH and then the next Saturday I will be giving my first baby shower. My daughter is due end of May. So, on Saturdays I give myself up willingly to do whatever I need or want to do. Saturday is sure nice if the weather cooperates too. Enjoy your Saturday.

Personal Essay

I have submitted my personal essay as of last night. I submitted the one I initially wrote, but I seem to think now that the second one I wrote yesterday evening would be a better example for this assignment. I mentioned in one of my posts to another student about the Z's blues and this really relates to the issue. What was so funny at the time became unsettling within me after absorbing it for a couple of days. I don't know how many students in our class suffer from sleep deprivation, but I guarantee it is no fun. It affects everything from the time you wake up with the alarm to the time you take the meds at night, waiting and waiting to drift off to "Z" land. Ms. Smith, if you read my post I left two different essays of which both are true. The latter one is the best. As for all my fellow members in the class, I hope you never have this issue. It takes control of you and finding control of it is a struggle.

Valentine's Day

My only thoughts are today of taking the time to make sure your valentine knows how you feel about them. If it is your husband, cook him his favorite meal, or just take him to dinner. I find doing the reverse sometimes earns more attention from him on the next special occasion. On the other hand, if it is your girlfriend or wife, take them some flowers or candy. Dinner to their favorite place is always a winner.

Last night my husband and I shared a nice Valentine's dinner with my mother, who is a widow, and my youngest son without a steady girlfriend. It made both of their nights I believe. Although, my husband and I would have liked dinner alone, we enjoyed making someone else's day special.

So everyone that reads my blog I hope you all have a great Valentine's Day!

My Tuesday

Well, my car buying venture kind of got shot down today. The dealer and I do not agree on the value of my trade nor do I agree with the notes they want to give me. So, I guess buying a new or better car will wait a while until I am in a better situation. Anyways, I am a little disappointed, but I tend to look at the brighter side of things, at least I have a car and a stable job to keep making payments. Enough of that for now. Other topics of interest have taken over for the time being such as my Reading Journal for class and critiquing my first draft of which I hope my fellow group members find interesting to read and offer great advice to improve it. I guess that is all for now. I have duties of a wife to fulfill as in cooking. What's for dinner I ask? A mystery at this point. Let you know how it turns out.

Decisions

I finally decided on a topic to write about. It is hopefully everything a memoir should be. Scene, summary, and reflection. I think I definitely wrote enough. Three and a half should be plenty. As for the car buying I talked of in my last post it is yet to be decided. I looked on line and then thought about my finances and decided I better stick with the true American automakers and buy a cobalt sport edition. I am just waiting now to hear from the finance folks. I will update you later. You know how long they can drag this process out and if you do not have "perfect" credit it can take longer. Wish me lots of luck! Later guys.

Car Shopping

Today I have decided it is time to trade in my car for some new wheels. What to buy and from where? Everybody has a sale these days. You cannot drive up in a car lot unless you are feeling like a fresh piece of meat to some vulture. It is crazy. The economy, may be the problem. From my own personal experience most sales people are out to get a sale and then they do not follow up with the sale no matter what the economy is. I have a 2006 Grand Prix right now and since I have had it, the steering shaft has gone out six times. Now, I call that a lemon. The dealership graciously replaces it each time because they stand behind GM parts and that is wonderful, but sometimes they tell you that you need an alignment and a set of new tires. The alignment and the set of tires could not be done until I replaced the tie end rod. That is what I get for buying a certified pre-owned vehicle. Anyways, I think I will buy a Nissan or a Honda vehicle this time. I hear that they carry a higher re-sale value and are very dependable. I will let you guys know how this saga turns out.

Troubled

I started out today oversleeping my alarm and made me late for work. I worked until I breaked for lunch and then tried to finish reading before English class today. I left class and headed back to work until about 3:30 and then I had to leave to get an echiocardigram done because my doctors cannot figure out what is causing my blood pressure to go up and I have headaches. I have made many visits to my regular physician, visited the ER room twice, seen by ENT specialists, today the heart test, GYN doctor tomorrow, and finally on Wednesday I see a neurologist. I think I have covered my bases. Somebody needs to figure out why I am having these issues now at 43 when I have raised all my children and have always been healthy as can be and now? On top of all this today, my son asked if his girlfriend and two little ones can stay the night when I have so much homework to do. God help me is all I can say. Today, Ms. Smith says that you need that quiet time when no one will bother you and I have come to the conclusion I need a place close by where I can go for an hour or two or just go to Noel Library. It's quiet there. I am open to suggestions.

Breath of Fresh Air

Sometimes, do you just feel like you should just pack a bag and just drive somewhere away from it all? Well, I do and I think it is good for the soul and mind, to just release yourself from whatever responsibilities you have even for a short hour or two. Workouts used to do it for me, but as I become older I feel more and more confined to a routine and just need a breath of fresh air so to speak and release myself for a while. No husband, children, family, just yourself and wherever your car stops. Try it once. It is great. I do not get to do it often because of work and responsibilities, but I long to do it as often as time permits.

Setting up this blog

It is kind of neat that you can go somewhere and create a blog and just post your thoughts and someone else can and will read it. Cool!