Thanks

Thank you again to everyone who has given me kudos on my layout. Like I said, I just don't put stuff out there often. I nearly didn't submit that one, but I bought a few things for it "special" and I went ahead and made it. Elissa probably would have kicked me in the butt if I didn't submit it and she was within butt kicking distance. I am glad I went through with it and took a risk. I've been trying to take more "risks", I think that goes with the territory of trying to live life more intentionally, more purposefully. I am trying!

I am ENJOYING my little siesta before classes start back up around the 14th. I got an A- in my Saturday class. Apparently, I got an 82.5% on the final. I am wondering if the whole class got an A-........ I will find out. My grade for Tuesday night isn't in yet. Anyway, right now, I have a crummy 3.93 instead of my 4.0.

Anyway, today was my first day at work full time, but since classes still aren't in session, we are still leaving at 4 pm. Nice way to start out. Shorter day and ease into it. I am HATIN' the drive now. It's more like and hour and fifteen minutes in the morning by the time I get Hannah past the interstate, drop her at TKD and then head back to where I came from and on to the college. It was an even hour from the college, to pick her up, etc. and back to my house when I left at 4:15 to get her. Mornings just stink though. Traffic heading towards TKD is just jammed up and slow going.

We had a lunch with the new postgrad assistants and RD's. Lunch was pork chops, fried okra, black eyed peas, mac & cheese, and greens. I think I'm living in the South, lol. I never took to eating Southern cuisine in Florida. The only item I added to my diet was grits, preferrably cheese grits. Something about okra scares me. Why hadn't I heard of this vegetable prior to working at Piccadilly in 1989? It looks like a chili pepper, green bean, squash? What the heck is it and why is it fried?

Okay, I think I just "dated" myself with that. I can't believe I lived in Florida almost as long as I lived in New York. I've been missing New York since our trip to DC. I wonder what I would have turned out like if I had a career in "the City" as opposed to starting my career in Polk County, Florida. I'd probably be flat broke and over taxed. Still, I do miss it and I am sad that Hannah won't be exposed to the same culture I was when I was growing up. I am feeling a little disjointed now because I have to explain that I'm from Florida, but I wasn't a Floridian growing up, so I won't eat that okra or catfish, thankyouverymuch... oh, and I dropped the accent about 10 years ago after marrying a "good old boy from Haines City". I don't say the "F" word in 50% of my sentences now either, lol. That was completely the norm though.

Well, anyway, aside from the menu at lunch (I had some mac & cheese and a salad), I made it through the day. I kept busy trying to set up my calendar for the academic year since I couldn't do that from home for the past two months. I had to add in all of my class dates, Hannah's school schedule, and then all of the events for the office and the department. That took most of my morning.

Hannah and I went to the pool after grabbing dinner. Stayed until it got dark. Now I need to get to bed and repeat the cycle again tomorrow. I know, that's what most people do, I was spoiled before. I'm glad Hannah is enjoying TKD because that makes leaving her for an extended period a lot easier.

Keith has been gone since I got home on Sun. We went to a late lunch together in separate cars then he drove off to the airport. We haven't seen each other since last Tuesday. I'm a little lonely. I think that has me thinking of NY too. I just had all of my family with me in Atlanta for CKU, now I'm reminded that I'm isolated here in Charlotte. It's lonely.

Okay, now I'm heading off. Have a nice day tomorrow!