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

I almost forgot!

I didn't relay the news about my weekend debate trip to ATL. Ohhhhhh my God ... the word "clusterf--k" comes to mind when considering how disorganized the conference was the entire weekend. When we arrived they told me they didn't have our paperwork so we would have to leave. I kept my cool ... and called our program's administrative assistant and she worked everything out. So ... we got our rooms - 3 rooms: Lester and his wife in one, Danny and Zarko in one, and me, Tasha, Naama, and Sarah in the other. Now ... important note here ... Lester and his wife drove up to ATL separately, so all of the other people I mentioned drove with me in one of the college's vans. I was driving, of course. So ... anyone who's driven from T-town to ATL knows it's only about a 4 hour drive. It took us SEVEN hours. Why? Because we stopped at every whim. On one of those particular "whims," we found a community thrift shop. The guy who worked there was mentally challenged and we ran into him at the store next to the thrift shop. He invited us to come and browse ... and so we did. The picture depicts what I bought. We affectionately call her "Goldie." She became our good luck charm ... our talisman, if you will. I wish I had a video of when she was carried through the lobby of the hotel ... into the glass elevator ...and into the guy's room.

I can't post ALL of the pictures we took of her. I was with college students after all ... so some of the pics are X-rated. Suffice to say ... alcohol didn't help stop Danny and Zarko from performing lewd acts for the camera. I put them on my facebook ... go there to see more.

Ohhhh, and Goldie didn't prove to be that much of a good luck charm. We didn't make it to finals, but I am so proud of our debate team. They were critical thinkers ... and I couldn't have asked for more professionalism than they showed that day.

We stayed in both nights - the first night we practiced. The second night ... we drank and played spades in the hotel lobby bar. We had sooooooo much fun ... a weekend I won't soon forget. Not only because we had so much fun, but because Tasha snored so loudly that we had to buy a box fan (for the noise) and ear plugs on Saturday just to get some sleep.

All in all ... I haven't had that much fun since New York this past summer ... and THAT was really fun.

J

Thanksgiving

Well, we had our first Thanksgiving in our new house. We moved in last year a week before Christmas, so this was the first Thanksgiving. I, of course, cooked for an army even though it was just me, Ron, and the kids. I did have a method to my madness, which was that I didn't have to cook again for FOUR days. Can you say ... leftovers?
Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without some killing, right? The picture says it all ... this was one of Ron's "kills" this past holiday weekend. Some people at this time of year smell burning leaves, fireplaces lit, turkeys in the oven ... I smelled a dead deer in the rut. Peeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuwwwwww.
Thankfully I only have two more weeks of classes. All I have left to do is three lesson plans, a Powerpoint on action research, finish my research proposal, and write roughly 6 book summaries (have to equal 3500 pages). That's all ...
Not too much else going on right now ... oh, other than my phone call to the Chief of Police (a former student of mine) yesterday complaining about the traffic situation in front of the high school. When I dropped Hannah off this morning there was TWO officers out on the road directing traffic ... when my sister-in-law picked up Hannah this afternoon she called to tell me there was FOUR officers out on the road giving tickets! The next step is writing an e-mail to the superintendent (and copying the school board members) about the rudeness of the principal at the high school. When I called him yesterday to ask what he could do about the unruliness exhibited in the school parking lot, he copped an attitude with me on the phone. Um ... 'scuse me???? Is this how it's going to be? Oh, okay ... no problemo ...

So ... I'm outta here for now to begin formulating my e-mail to the superintendent ...

H-O-T-L-A-N-T-A

Me and 6 college students are headed to Atlanta this weekend for a debate competition. We've been practicing for a month (learning the Parliamentary method of debate, no less ... "boo hiss"), so I hope they're ready. It'll be easy for me ... just watching :)

Normally I'd be psyched to head to Hotlanta ... of course, normally I'd be headed to watch my Braves play .... but nooooooooooooooo, the damn season had to end :(

Anyway, when I return I'll post some pics of the competition. Joy, right Will?

At least the hotel will be nice ... can you say, Heavenly Bed?

My kids from Scholar's Academy

Here in big 'ol Thomasville, we have a special school (which is an extension of a local middle and high school) called the Scholar's Academy. As the title implies, students attending are academically gifted (hence: scholar). I tend to believe it borders on elitism, but that's another blog posting in the future ;) ... anyway, I teach there 2 days a week. The 12 kids in the pictures are earning their Associates of Arts degree WHILE they're earning their high school diploma. They are all 10th graders now, so when they graduate in 2010 (gosh that sounds so far away ... like we'll finally be driving hover craft) with their high school diploma, they'll also graduate with their associates degree. Cool, right?

Anyhoooo ... the institution created some shirts for the kids (you can't see on the shirts, but they have embroidered "The AA List" on the front left pocket area) ... and I gave them to the kids today. We all walked across the street to MacIntyre Park to take a quick shot, and this is one where they are being silly.

I really like this group ... they're smart, funny, and very energetic. Oh, and they're VERY VERY COMPETITIVE. I have to mention weekly that GRADES DO NOT DEFINE YOU ... but I'm wondering if that is sinking in ...

I'll keep ya posted ...

SPAIN

Well, it looks like Hannah and 3 K's are headed to Spain this summer! She's been asked by her spanish teacher to go on a summer 08' trip to Spain with her high school. They get to spend 3 days in Madrid, 1 day in Toledo, 2 days in Seville, 2 days in Granada, and 1 day on the Costa del Sol. Hannah is sooooooooo excited about it. I still have to talk with her teacher and get many more details, but I checked out the website the teacher provided and learned more about the company in which the tour is handled. Oh, and there is also the issue of the 3K's ... I mean, I think the money isn't the deciding factor ... it's not as if it is 30K ... that would be completely impossible ... but Hannah has only stayed overnight somewhere without me or Ron TWO TIMES in her life! We'll have to keep discussing this thought ...

But ... I sure hope it works out for Hannah. Parents are encouraged to go, but that's another 3K's ... and I couldn't leave Eli for that long. I'll keep everyone posted ...

J

MySpace.com: Read Bulletin

MySpace.com:Read Bulletin

This is for Will ...

Long time no see

OMG. Did everyone think I fell in the toilet? Lately I feel as if that were true ... BUSY, BUSY, BUSY.

Too much has happened since I last posted, so there is NO way I'll remember everything. Let's see ... hmmm, well, I think the biggest news is that Hannah is now 16 years old. Yep ... my baby is SIXTEEN. Ugh. I mean, I'm happy for her ... I am ... really. I am . Funny thing is that she isn't in a hurry to BE sixteen. For example, she is in NO rush to learn to drive. Can you believe it? I mean, geez ... when I was 16 I had my mother rush me to DMV to get my license ON MY BIRTHDAY. It's a rite of passage, man ... but Hannah is in no rush ... which is cool, too. There is one thing about Hannah ... she marches to her own drummer ... the admiration I have for her because of this fact ... is huge. She's completely cool. Oh, and this past weekend she made a change to her look - SHE HAS CONTACTS now! Now we can all see her GORGEOUS brown eyes. Her eyes are the color of ... of ... well, I'm not sure. Just think of the prettiest, deepest color of brown ... and that's it. Amazing eyes.

The reason I've been tied up and unable to post is mainly for two reasons: baseball post-season and my research class. Baseball season just ended (congrats to the Red Sox AND congrats to the Rockies for getting there), but my research class is heating up. I have a draft of my research proposal due in 3 days (ouch), and I'm not EVEN through with it. Gotta love grad school, right? (Will - this sh*t is gettin' tough) I found out last week that I actually passed my midterm exam (I was praying for a C). When Dr. Graham returned our exams, I was shocked to see a 91/A written at the top of my paper. I immediately asked, "did you curve the exams 20 points?" I mean, she used a red pen on the first 3 pages of objective questions and it resembled an autopsy - I missed a bunch! And yet ... I can still see a 91. I was puzzled, so I inquired. Turns out ... my essay impressed her so much she slid me an extra ten points. KUMBAYA. I explained to my professor that in two years of grad school @ UGA we never took exams. WE WROTE PAPERS. Will can attest to this ... all we did was write. Thank goodness it paid off, because I suck at tests. Of course, those who read my blog wouldn't know that I actually possess strong writing skills by the drivel I post here ... it certainly isn't ultra cerebral or scholarly ... but it is better than my test taking abilities.

Let's see ... what else?

Ron is in the throes of hunting season. As of this evening, he has killed 2 (mmmm, can you say "deer sausage?"). He has to put up with baseball season, so I give him as much freedom as he needs to fill his need of hunting. He and his friends, Tim and Keith, have kept him busy ... I like to see him happy ... and he is happy in his camo :)

The other man in my life is doing ... better. We've had some issues with Eli's teachers, but I think we're all getting on the same page now. It's two days away from Halloween, and the excitement is building. Not so much for the trick or treating, but he gets to wear his Marine uniform! He wants to wear it to school, but I'm not sure he can. I have an e-mail in to his teacher and I'm waiting for a reply. If it happens, I'll make sure to get plenty of pictures.

Well, it's nearing 11:00 pm and I have to get some rest. Tomorrow is Terrible Tuesday - I work from 8:00 am - 11:00 pm, so I need to get some rest.

I'll try to post more often ... oh, and I have a myspace page that takes some time, too. Check it out if you have a myspace page: www.myspace.com/jenlindquist

J

Shang Dynasty

I am soooooooooooo tired. We (Hannah and I) have been working the last few days on her project. I, unfortunately, know more about the Shang Dynasty than I really ever wanted to know. On top of all of this we've also been trying to catch her up on her Geometry and Advanced Biology. My wonderful tutors at work have pitched in and have helped ... Courtney is a jewel sent from the gods.

If all of this weren't enough, my hands (and brain) have been wrangling with Eli's teachers ... he's not having a good year even though it is his second year of inclusion ... so I've been working with his teachers to understand what they're doing (and NOT doing). It's been a rough week.

And when it rains it pours ... I'm taking two classes of my own. One will transfer to a doctoral program I'm considering (Research Methods and Models - don't ya love stats?), and the other (Enhancing Literacy through Literature) won't transfer, but I can use the information on reading strategies for working with non-trads. Of course I had two article critiques due this week, a quiz ... all on Thursday ... and I didn't get a chance to study, read, or write until Wednesday evening. Ugh.

I'm am sooooooooooooooooo sleeping late tomorrow ...

My b-law

Allow me to introduce my favorite brother-in-law, Jerry. I've known him since I was 19 ... ever since D.D. fell in love with the guy. He is a quick wit, and LOVES to try and embarrass me. He used to when I was younger, but I think he may have a hard time now! D.D. and Jerry have been, and will be, married forever. Together they have produced two incredible kids ... and I've been thankful to have had a sister I can look up to and learn from ... and her sense of commitment has certainly rubbed off on me.

Here are two pictures from their latest vacation at High Island. This island holds great memories for me, too. When Amanda (their 21 year old daughter) was about a year old, I went with Jerry and Amanda camping to High Island ... even without D.D.!! My sister and I have always been very close ... and to be that close requires trust ... so she trusted me to go out of town with her husband. Heck, I think MY husband would like to go out of town with D.D.! Ron loves my sister!

As one can see from the photos ... HE IS THE GREAT WHITE (Polish) FISHERMAN. As long as I've known him he's been an expert fisherman ... he must be good - he caught D.D.

J

Hannah's self portrait

Beeeeeeeeeeeuuutiful! For most, that's enough ... but she's funny, intelligent, compassionate, and creative. Oh, and she has lips I'd have to pay for ...

That's my kid ...

Proof that I'm old

So I was looking for something in my office upstairs and I stumbled upon the box of photos. I stopped in my tracks when I saw this one. Why? Well, this picture is of my nephew Tyler, my daughter Hannah, and my niece Amanda sitting on my mom's couch in 1992. Now Tyler is almost 20, Hannah is almost 16, and Amanda is now 21.

If that's true ... that makes me ... how old?

For D.D.

So ... D.D. requests a photo our wedding ... here it is. 19 years ago ... I had a tan, I was thinner, and it was definitely B.K. (before kids). Ron still looks the same. Well, maybe not completely ... his waist is not a size 30 anymore ... it's a 32 ... and he is becoming a Mr. Muscle Man. Other than that, he looks the same.

The other picture is of D.D.'s wedding day. This is me and D.D. clearly posing for the camera. We're pretending to discuss her bouquet ... fooled ya, huh? Yeah, not so much ...

There ya go, D.D. ... and there ya go, Will. This is my sister D.D. ... she looks the same, too (ahem ... I'll be expecting that check soon, sis ;-)

J

Shea Stadium and the INCREDIBLE game

Well, here are a few pictures. We (Karli and I) took quite a few, but I didn't want to share ALL of them. Although it's been 3 weeks since I returned from New York, I remember every microsecond of my trip to Shea. Karli and I acted like a couple of schoolgirls ... we dressed in our Braves red and blue, made posters while we waited for the game to start, and took pictures of the players warming up. At one point, when all of the players were in their respective dugouts, we held up our "ALL THE WAY FROM CAIRO, GEORGIA TO SEE WILLIE PLAY" sign. Yunel Escobar, the amazing substitute shortstop while Renteria heals, saw our sign and summoned Willie to the top steps. Once Willie read our sign he actually waved at us!!! Karli and I acted like those girls on the Ed Sullivan show seeing Elvis shake his hips! Well, we didn't cry, but we were silly. It was so cool ... surreal even.

There were a few times we felt a bit scared. Met fans are not the friendliest group of people, especially if you're wearing the jersey of the team that is beating them. We yelled and cheered for our Braves ... and we jeered the Mets when they made a good play (which, on that day, wasn't many times). There was a woman behind us and to the left that clearly lived for the Mets. She was sooooooooo pissed at us. And of course, if none of you heard about "the catch," allow me to educate you. Even though we were ahead going into the 9th inning, there was a point when there were two outs, two men on, and a Braves killer at the plate (Carlos Delgado). We were ahead by 3 points, and if Delgado hit a jack ... well, it wouldn't have been pretty. Met fans would have killed me and Karli just by trampling on us. So ... anyway ... Delgado is at the plate ... the count was 1 and 2 ... 1 out ... and BOOOOOOYAAAAHHHH ... he hits a slammer! Well, he hit it, but little Willie Harris was NOT gonna let it leave the park. He jumped up ... all 160# of him ... and leapt into air seemingly 5 feet ... and TOOK THE JACK AWAY FROM DELGADO! You could have heard an ant fart in Shea it was so quiet ... well, all except for the noise coming from me and Karli!!! The looks on the faces ... P-R-I-C-E-L-E-S-S.

After the game Karli and I followed the enormous herd onto the train. Of course, here we were ... surrounded by a sea of orange shirts ... all alone on a train with absolutely no escape once it leaves the station. It was a rough ride ... but the funniest part was when we got to our stop. We are departing the train and someone says, "Let's go Mets!" ... so as Karli is stepping off the train, she turns around yells, "Let's go BRAVES!!" It was an incredible moment ... and I'll never forget that moment.

Back to "the catch" ... the day after the game I left to come home (short trip, I know). I had so many people say to me, "did you see that catch?" The bus driver who was driving as I traveled to the airport, the Delta ticket counter chick, the bus boy in the airport bar ... more than that, but that gives you an idea. My plane was delayed (of course), so I found the airport bar where there were games on the televisions. As I sat there ... drinking a very tart glass of vino ... watching the Yankees lose ... the busboy came up and started talking to me (I've been cursed with this all my life ... not only do I not know a stranger ... but I must send some kind of vibe that signals EVERYONE to talk to me). When we started talking about "the catch," two guys sitting by the door got their beers and came and sat down with me. They were Braves fans, too! They were just kids ... early to mid twenties ... but it was cool to have a chat about baseball and have these two completely forgot they were talking to a 43 year old, married mother of two. We exchanged e-mail addresses so we could keep in touch ... you know, to discuss how badly the Braves are blowing it and will most likely not make it into the postseason. I have yet to write either of them ... they both live in Atlanta so I promised to let them know if I could get a hold of some tickets. Two different people have told me that they could get me some free tickets, and I'm so busy this semester that I know I won't make it to any more games. If by chance I can get some, those two kids will go. The only stipulation for free tickets is that they write and let me know all about it. Fair trade, right?