The BIG Apple

In less than two months, I will be traveling back to NYC to see my friend, Karli. This time I won't be going alone. Karli's mom, Linda, and her brother, Danny, will also be going. Oh yeah, and Karli's uncles Micky and Lavaughn will be headed there, too. Um ... two more are going, too. Natasha and Kristin will be headed to NY also. I can't even imagine how much fun we're going to have. we're all flying out on the same flight ... it leaves on a Thursday morning at 6:45 a.m. We're all trying to decide what kind of hats we'll be wearing on the plane.

Yeah ... hats. We are an entourage, so we must do something to let everyone know we're all together. Also, the motivation of seeing Karli's face when she meets us at JFK is pushing this idea. She'll be mortified ... we will have succeeded.

Karli is graduating from Marymount College in Manhattan. I believe her degree is international business ... I can't really remember. She's going to stay in Manhattan for a few years and work before she heads to graduate school. Scary thought --> she called me and asked for advice as to what to do after graduation. Yikes. The pressure. She works for some big law firm in Manhattan and they, of course, love her. She's doing everything a paralegal does, so she can either stay at the law firm where she is now, or go to another one who's offered her a job and become a certified paralegal. Either way, she'll make enough to live in the city and work for a year or two. She needs to have fun and sew some oats before she begins grad school. Life is over then (cough) ...

While in NYC we'll go and see "Wicked" on Broadway, and go to the Yankees/Mets game. Oh yeah, and I'll spend an entire day in Chinatown - CAN'T WAIT !!!

Four days of fun, fun, fun .... I'll need it after this semester. I've wanted to quit twice already ....

... sometimes I hate being an overachiever ... it can really suck.

NYC here I come ...

My latest project

Meet Jason. He's my latest project at work. He is attending college at my institution ... well, NOW he is. He's from England ... came here on a soccer scholarship ... and soon after arriving decided not to go to class. Oh, with that decision came the idea that none of his assignments had to be completed as well. He failed his first semester flat. He didn't even have a GPA. It was 0.

But now ... he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. He goes to class ... he writes his papers ... he completes his assignments ... earns grades that reflect his continued efforts ... and continues to drive the soccer coach insane (which, in my mind, is pretty awesome).

This pic is Jason holding my UGA cup ... a slight at his girlfriend's college (she's a Gator, poor girl). I like this picture of him because it reminds me why I get up every morning and leave my family ... it's to work with kids like Jason. He, like everyone in the world, has enormous potential.

He says he "fancies me."

I fancy him, too. Keep it up, Jason.

Kite flying

Do you remember when you first flew a kite as a child? I don't remember my first experience ... I wish I could. I wish so I could compare it to how much fun it was watching Eli fly a kite for the first time. We tried a few years ago, but E-man would have none of it.

This past weekend Hannah had her friend, Caroline (in one of the pics), over for the weekend. That meant 3 kites ... and lots and lots of trees ...

THE lawnmower

I had intentions of giving a title of RON'S NEW TOY ... but I soon realized I've actually used that title before. It is apparent that Ron really likes his toys ...

Allow me to introduce everyone to THE lawnmower. I've been told that it "will last over 20 years" and our three acres can be mowed "in only 45 minutes."

Oh yeah, and one other tidbit about the greatest lawnmower ever sold ...

It costs $6000.

Yeah.

I know.

Yeah.

Me, too.

Yeah, it mows grass.

Um ... yeah.

A bad day

No, not today ... today was pretty normal. LAST WEEK ... I had a bad day. It's not important why ... I'm not attempting to have my friends feel sorry for me. Unlike others, I prefer to draw people to me for my positive outlook, not pity me.

Anywho ... I wanted to post the picture of the flowers my friend Karli sent me. She spoke with me the morning I was sad ... and four hours later, my friend Kristen is delivering flowers for Karli. The card read, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall."

A lovely thought from a lovely friend ... and apologies to Karli for such a fuzzy photo. Even if the photo was clearer, a photo will not do justice to the beauty of these flowers.

Thanks Karli ... I'll always be there for you, too.

J

Insurance companies

Grrrr. I had a fender bender yesterday. At first, the policeman told me it was my fault ... and after it was over I called one of my former students (who happens to be the assistant chief of police) to investigate. He did ... and lo and behold ... I wasn't at fault. The woman driving the car I hit was crossing a double yellow line to make a u-turn. There was no way I could have seen her ... so the re-written police report reflects that it was not my fault.

Well ... the woman's insurance company is going to fight me about it. What does that mean? You know, besides taking precious time out of my life to deal with this crap? It means I'll have to pay my $1000 deductible to get my vehicle fixed, and then wait for court so I can get my money back. I give everyone my solemn promise here ... if the other insurance company wants to fight, they're going to have to pay a WHOLE bunch more than what it costs to get it fixed.

Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap!!

Oh. My. God.

How long has it been? 4 months? Are all of you wondering where the hell I've been? Missing me, right? Awww, come on Will ... you've missed me. Admit it.

Well, I've just been too busy with other crap in my life to detail all the crap here. I'm sure you all understand. There has been waaaaaay too much that has happened in the last 4 months to go back and fill in the blanks ... so I won't attempt to do that. I also can't promise I will be as good as I'd like to be in keeping up with this blog. This semester I am working (of course) with the addition of teaching two classes and taking two classes (Research Methods & Models II and Advanced Grammar & Syntax). My brain is mush ... Will may argue it has ALWAYS been mush, but it is really, really mush now.

Family is doing well. No change there.

Ahh, but tomorrow is D.D.'s birthday ... I must document in print this historic occasion! What is it ... 50th yet? Hmmm, I must give a quick call to mi madre ... I wouldn't want to give her any more of any less years in my posting.

Be on the lookout ...

J