I’m curious by nature so of course I opened the letter. And it said I won the scholarship. And the scholarship is for twice as much as I thought - $6000! Holy shit. I was completely stunned. I read the letter multiple times to be sure I had read it right.

I have always treated my education with great seriousness. I work hard to secure grants, fabulous grades and scholarships. This is not my first scholarship by a stretch. It is, however, the most substantial! I opened the letter at around 10am this morning and the shock didn’t wear off until just a few hours ago. The joy has finally set in!

I made my appointment on time (actually, I was there early!) and the advisor and I spent an hour and a half pouring over my transcripts, prerequisites and required courses, she edited my proposal and we squared away my curriculum for the remainder of my undergraduate career. She advised me to call the Doctor before the day’s end to make my appointment with him to get approval for my degree proposal before the end of May. I didn’t have anywhere to go or anything much to do, so I found a spot in the sun on campus and tweaked my proposal until Husband called. I needed to call the Doctor before I headed home because I’d just forget about it once I got there. I pulled up my Google calendar and dialed him. He asked if I was busy now, to which I responded, “Let’s do this!” Less than an hour and a handshake later, the Doctor welcomed my to Liberal Studies and congratulated me for being the first ever U of L student to major in Forensic Science! w00t!!!

I spent the rest of the afternoon feeling very overwhelmed and humble. But I still played lotto!

Today, I met with a scholarship committee. I’ve never done anything like that before. It was a bit awkward. I’m never sure what it is these people want to hear. Why can’t my stellar record speak for itself? With all the budget cuts in education, I was told the state had exhausted its funds; that I won’t be receiving state aid. And I received a “thanks, but sorry” letter from another scholarship I applied for. I guess they are getting extra-selective since there is such a crunch for cash. I was myself: honest and humble. I should know by next week.

Meanwhile, I finished all my classes this week. I haven’t been so thrilled about impending summer since I was a high-schooler! So far, I’ve received a B for my (first ever senior-level class) Forensic Anthropology class and two As for Criminology and Justice Admin. I fully expect an A for American Sign Language, as well. While it isn’t my best work, it is certainly worth being proud of – and I am.

Next week, I meet with Advising to plan my curriculum. My areas of concentration are going to be Justice Admin, Biology and Forensic Anthropology. Since they are thisclose to implementing the Interpreter program, I’m strongly considering adding that to my degree plan. I was informed that it may be possible to double major, too. I’m nervous and excited to be creating long-term goals.

In the meantime, I am very happy for the time off. I intend to take the kids to the zoo a lot, read for leisure, do some more knitting (I haven’t touched the needles since at least January!) and go on vacation with my amazing husband. I want to go hiking. I want to meditate regularly. I want to go to a concert, volunteer somewhere, really get to know my camera…

Oh, and have backyard barbecues… starting Sunday. Stay tuned for pictures!

You were created to love and be loved. In support of Depression Awareness, we wrote love on our arms.

Tomorrow, I dissect pig feet to extract bullets and evaluate the sequence of the wounds caused by the projectiles.

I’m oddly not disturbed by the prospect. In fact, at the beginning of the semester when the professor told us it would occur at some point, I was almost excited. I’ll admit that I’m a bit concerned about the smell. I’ve been more and more sensitive to smells since my last pregnancy. I am also nervous about what it’s like to handle soft tissue. I have managed really well with the bones in Human Osteology and Skeletal Forensics, but this will be my first time with soft tissue.

If things go well tomorrow, I’ll only have to decide between a focus in Chemistry and Biology (and of course, finish college). I meet with an advisor Thursday. 

I pulled through with straight A’s last semester, although only barely in one class. I really enjoyed my first semester back. Now, in the middle of my second semester, things are moving along. I still have no idea what I want to be when I grow up and that is the biggest, most painful thorn in my side, but otherwise it’s okay. I have hit a few kinks earlier in the year, but I think we’re all smoothed out now. I hope!

Last October, my mom fell and broke 3 ribs. During the x-rays, they found she had pneumonia. She stayed in the hospital for almost a week. Then, just after Christmas, she suffered a stroke. They released her after only a few days. Her sister, my aunt, came up from Florida and spent a month helping her out. Meanwhile, I had another major falling out with Big Rob. Once again, we are not on speaking terms and of course, this only increases the tension between me and mom. In any event, I did nothing wrong and I’m trying to distance myself from the drama as best I can. And mom is doing really well.

Joy’s dad got himself into some trouble, as well. He has been on probation for a little less than a year and had a little less than another year to go, but he violated and then avoided going back to his PO. The police finally caught up to him in early February and last week he was sentenced to 13 months in the state penitentiary. Husband and I have been discussing adoption with Joy and she is very enthusiastic. She’s already told a few of her friends that she’s changing her last name to Husband’s.

Between the family drama, school stresses and the lousy weather, the past few months have been a bit tough on me with regards to mental health. However, the sunshine and taste of warmth we were blessed with this week was invigorating!

Just yesterday, P and I went for new tattoos! I’m terribly thrilled with them. They represent my beautiful kids. The yellow/orange one with the Libra glyph is Joy and the green/blue one with the Pisces glyph is Buddha.

Speaking of Buddha, he celebrated his 3rd birthday last week. Can you believe he’s 3 already?! Remember his 1st birthday?! How about his 2nd birthday? Crazy. I was taking it really well until the end of the day when I was adding the new videos I took of him into the computer with all of the old videos. Of course I had to watch the old videos and see just how much my baby has grown! Oy. I don’t think I cried, but I certainly could have. Nothing like becoming a parent to make a person feel old! Anyhow, I don’t like 3 so far. He’s whiny and prone to tantrums in recent weeks and I have little patience for it. Sigh.

All else is going well. I have very little time for leisure, so I haven’t knit or read (for fun) in too damn long. Heartbreaking! Between going to school full-time and Husband working and going to school, as well, it’s hectic. I’ll try very hard to be more consistent in posting! I miss you!

The crowd this year was much bigger!

The Cincinnati Dancing Pigs

Just today, they erected this memorial for Earl McDonald, a Jug Band Pioneer. His lovely granddaughter gave a short speech of thanks at tonight’s performance.

These fellows are a Japanese Jugband and this was their first American appearance. They were very fun, extremely entertaining and, of course, amazingly talented. They are the Old Southern Jug Blowers. 

And of course, I had the opportunity to play with my new camera!

It’s me!

Joy was particularly photogenic today.

Buddha made a new friend (with a VERY fancy camera). 

Louisville by day and by night….

Husband and I took our extra school cash and moved last weekend. We paid our deposit and three months rent in a first floor apartment that is more than double the size of our last apartment. It’s so nice and roomy. There’s an enormous front porch, a basement, a little yard and it’s within walking distance to the Black Loop (where I catch the bus to school). The family is really enjoying it. I enjoy all the extra space, the boy loves having his own room and the girl is digging her monster-sized closet. Husband is giddy over the basement and garage. Whether or not he wants to admit it, I believe he is enjoying the challenges of living in a house that’s nearly a hundred years old.

Moving has been a huge stressor this week. We have managed to get 95% of our stuff out of the old apartment as well as the stuff we’d been storing at my mom’s (my books are home!!!) over the long weekend, but a lot of it is still packed in boxes throughout the house. I took Tuesday off from work in order to take care of getting the utilities switched over and the last big load moved but had to get back to school and work and the usual grind come Wednesday, so getting the new place in order is pretty much at a standstill. The most awesome part is that even with all of our stuff here, there is still so much room. Once I get everything out of boxes and into it’s rightful place, I can finally invite people over to have dinner, to watch football games, to entertain and not feel claustrophobic!

The new camera arrived on my birthday and it’s farkin’ fabulous. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed playing with it and I haven’t even begun to understand all the amazing things it can do. I will take some time in the (relatively near) future and read through the field guide that came with it so I can maximize it’s potential. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this one. Be well!

My beautiful kids, 8/31/2009

Coupled with my new job at the school’s Department of Neurology is exciting. I’ve been working for the Chair and his secretary. I’m in absolute reverence of the Chair - he is a brilliant man that has had more publications than any other faculty member at the school. If I had to guess, it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of two to three hundred. The rest of the staff is really great, too. My boss is really cool and laid back. And I’m encouraged to study in my down time! Awesomeness.

Husband has had a little difficulty adjusting to me being gone a lot. But he’s been a good sport about it all. On Thursday, when I was gone all day working, I came home to a clean house and hot dinner. He’s so sweet. I’m lucky to have such an amazing support system with him.

The hardest part for me is finding time to study. Because I’ve had to tweak my sleeping schedule, I’m pretty tired by the time the kids are in bed and am falling asleep on my books! But I feel pretty good that I’ll figure it all out.

I haven’t enjoyed a weekend so much in a long time! I spent a good portion of yesterday crocheting myself a sleeve for my new HP Mini netbook. I also finished another pair of fingerless gloves and have another one ready to start. Busy, busy!

Tomorrow is my 32nd birthday. Besides the netbook, going back to college, Husband bought a camera for me! I expect it to arrive in the next day or two. I’m really excited about it, but it is a much nicer camera than I have ever used and I hope I can find the time to learn a little bit about it!

Until next time… hopefully it won’t be too long from now, but I’m obviously going to very busy!

It’s just as well. We both would really love to move and that’s going to cost us a pretty penny. I’d like to get one of those really spacious apartments down by the University. Unfortunately, most are only 2 bedroom apartments, but they are similarly priced as our current apartment and have a ton more square footage. Another good aspect is that I’d be much closer to school and we’d overcome the parking issue altogether. That sounds really good.

I’ve also gotten a part-time job through Federal Work Study. I was hired by the Department of Neurology at the school. They are extremely supportive of my school schedule and the work is right up my alley. I start school on Monday the 24th and my job on Thursday the 27th.

It’s going to be a challenge going from full-time mom for the past two and a half years to being a full-time student with a part-time job and still have the demands of a mom and wife. I’d like to think I’m ready for it. Only time will tell.

Car Seat by Blind Melon
Written by Shannon Hoon
Recorded February 11, 1995

Tongue tied, nerves as big as boulders
Why Mom, I thought I was your soldier
My brother sits by me
Buckled into the car seat

Feel the thirst, it’s time for pulling over
Into the truckstop on my daddy’s shoulder
Out back where they plant all the trees
ten feet away my daddy buries me…

God’s Presents

by Blanche Bridge on February 11, 1884

If my path be smooth or rugged
If with thorns or roses strewn
Where I go the Father seeith
And He will leave me not alone

And ever more my eyes beholds me
And all my ways to Him are known
And His loving arms enfolds me
He will leave me not alone

The first part of the song was inspired by the deaths of 3-year-old Michael Daniel Smith and 14-month-old Alexander Tyler Smith, the sons of Susan Smith. Her children were buckled into their car seats when she steered her vehicle into John D. Long Lake and watched as the car sank. The tragedy moved Shannon.

Blanche Bridge was Shannon Hoon’s (Blind Melon front man) great great grandmother. He so loved the poem, he it tattooed to his left forearm.

I miss him today.