Class Weekend...

Well, we have started another class weekend. It is a strange class weekend for me, being that I am not actually enrolled in any classes. I am awaiting word on financial support for my courses but everything is very slow. Luckily, my instructors have not let a little thing like not being enrolled interfere in their constant quest for homework from me. My gratitude is turning tarnished with every new article to read or paper to write. But I will suck it up, I guess... after all, I did sign on for the hard road with the great rewards!

Happy Birthday Amanda!!

Today is Amanda's 16th birthday and Diane and I hope that it was everything she wanted it to be. I know we enjoyed the party at Amanda's house and hope she and her fiends had a good time. I know that is something that takes a few years perspective, but I hope she can appreciate all of the love and support that was there in that room today (many of which were in the room 16 years ago when she was born!) and know that support is there all the year for her.

We love you Amanda. Happy birthday sweetheart!

What a day!

Yesterday was quite a day! I couldn't even blog about it! It was a class weekend and a Karate testing weekend (which happens every 4 months or so). So I was in a pickle: was I going to go to my doctoral class with the Mighty Yoel or was I going to go test for my red belt? Problem solved! The Mighty Yoel gave me the time off of class to test.

I was a little nervous and unsure whether I wanted to go as I had a time limit to return class (needn't have worried, the other presenter talked so long, no one knew I was gone!). But when I got to the studio my whole outlook changed. Someone, who I will call the Greatest Teacher in the World, had come to the studio ONLY TO SEE ME TEST! I was almost in tears. She left her family on a Saturday to come to the school for me. I was walking on a cloud when I entered the school.

Well, in all modesty, I nailed it. I had a wonderful partner (Thank you Mr. McL!) who didn't mind being thumped by a green belt. I did slow down on my forms and thought I was going to hit the mat. Mr. Mac did not ask me to do the last set and I thought I blew it. But he would just like to see me do them on Monday when I might not pass out, thank you very much.

All in all, a wonderful day!

End of Day.. End of the holiday weekend... sigh

Well, it is nearly the end of the day for me. I took a little time to practice my karate forms, for testing for my red belt soon. I spent some time on the farm with my best girl, Amanda. I wish I could spend more time there... it would make a great, if really low paying, job. I love the horses and only found one dead rat today.. which I did not make Amanda bury as I usually would.

I spent a little time today working on Prob and Stats with a student which is always fun!

I found an interesting article in the More Magazine (I know,I know.. it is so not just for older chicks!) about their marathon. They do a 1/2 or full marathon in NYC Central Park on April 26th. I asked the better and much prettier half about it and got a tentative agreement. It looks like a go! I was able to register for a plan to get into shape for the marathon on their site; www.more.com/marathon.

Check it out!
Have a great night!

Going to the Farm

Today I am headed to the farm. I have a hard time reconciling the time off I take from work and school for this volunteer activity but it really calls to me. It is the one place in my life where I feel as though I make a real difference.

I love that I go to the farm with my niece, Amanda, and sometimes my niece, Brynn. Amanda is so self confident at the farm, different than she is in any other setting. I relax around her there because she seems more self confident. I worry less about her. I wish she could transfer that self confidence to other parts of her life and use it rather than that fake teen cockiness that drives me nuts.

Here I go again: off to the farm, with a school book in the car to remind me of my guilt over postponing school work for this activity. It is only 4 hours but I feel the pull to get back to work every second.

My First Post

I began this blog as a place to reflect on the process of writing my dissertation for my PhD in Community Economic Development. Since that portion of my life is so intertwined in my personal and employment lives it is likely that they will bleed into every byte of this blog as well.

I hope to post resources here that will aid me in my task and invite all who have comments or suggestions to speak up! I can use all the help I can get!