Insomniac's blog

Wow. It has been a full ten days since my last spout here. I've been busy again. I had several fun, and some not-so-fun, things to do. So here goes...

On Tuesday last, I had an honor society induction ceremony that I was asked to give a speech at. I did and the ceremony was really quite nice. My favorite prof ever got an award by the students for being the most inspirational prof in the department. I was very happy for him. He definitely deserved it. I also had another run-in with Prof Sometimes-A-Jerk at the ceremony. I accidently brushed against his arm and his spilled a bit of his drink. I apologized right away and since I didn't have a napkin, I said, "I'm sorry. I don't have anything to sponge it up with. Let me get something." Prof SAJ then turned on his heel and stomped off, just like the jerk he is. I try to avoid him as much as possible but this was one of those moments where we had to be in the same room together.

On another note, I went to a conference last weekend...hence my waywardness with posting. It was an English teachers' conference. It was okay. I learned a few valuable and insightful things that I will be able to use when I start my teaching career. There was one hell of a hot guy there though. Whew...let me tell you ladies out there, he was enough to make my head spin around. Mmmmmmhmmmm. Just like that.

My classes are getting increasingly more busy. I am in the final stretch now and I have one pedagogy project (basically a 10 day lesson plan) to do, one Shakespeare research paper, and one antebellum United States culture history paper to write. Plus a little more work for my special history class. Whew!

I got accepted into the School of Ed at GVSU which means that in the fall of this year I will begin my teaching internships. Very nice. However, I am a little depressed about it all. I have done really well at GVSU and I don't know what will happen when I graduate next year. I would like to go straight on to grad school but grad school is looking more and more like a pipe dream. So, I don't know what in the hell to think.

In a few more weeks I will turn 31. Gawd...that really seems old in some ways. I wish I could go back to being 19 and tell myself to go to college right away, finish, and then on to grad school. I would have been in my last year of a PhD program right now if I had. Oh well, no sense in dwelling on what might have been...

On a much more positive note, I have seen a lot of FOM (Friend of Mine) lately. With both of our schedules being so busy I really didn't expect to see much of him but alas, we seem to be around the ole GVSU at the same time and both of us seem to need coffee at the same time! As a matter of fact, I was at GVSU working on my pedagogy project today and I decided to give him a ring to see if he was around. Well, he was and we met up for some coffee. We sat around and did nothing productive for about an hour and a half. I really enjoy our conversations. FOM and I think a lot alike and it is nice to know that I am not the only strange one out there. FOM had a lot to unload about today...mostly personal frustrations. I wish I could have offered up some amazing insight and advice, but about the best I could do was listen.

Anyhow, that is about it for now...

Tonight was a great night! I attended Last Lecture at GVSU. Basically, Last Lecture is a chance for some selected professors to tell students what they think they should know. It is an open forum and anything is allowed to be said. Last Lecture is supposed to be like the last lecture these profs will ever give, even though it isn't. I went to hear one of my mentors, Dr. Steeve Buckridge. Dr. Buckridge, or as I call him...The Big Buck, was phenomenal! He gave a power speech about how people perceive others. Included in his lecture was his stand on feminism, his denouncement of the United States' government and foreign policy, as well as his usual witty remarks on life in general. The other two speakers were very good also. Micheal Ott, a professor in the sociology department, gave a fantastic lecture on hope, anger, and how it drives people into action. Diane Maodush-Pitzer, from the Liberal Studies department, delivered a lecture on the importance of following your dreams. Overall, the lectures were fantabulous. The Big Buck's lecture was particularly touching because he shared some of his personal history, something which he rarely does. It was a great event.

FOM (Friend of Mine) came with me to the lectures. We had a good time even though it was obvious that he was overly tired. I felt badly though, because my blood sugar got quite low while we were on our way to get some dinner. When my blood sugar gets low I tend to be really bitchy and short with people. I don't know why and I can't seem to control it. I apologized later and FOM was kind enough to let it slide. Sometimes juvenile diabetes really sucks. In a way I should be grateful that it is diabetes that I have instead of some cancer or some other more debilitating disease. It is horrible when my blood sugars get low because I start to get this strange quaking feeling inside...from like the core of my body. Then, I get the cold sweats...and believe me, the sweating is bad. Sort of similar to when you have been running for awhile...when the sweat beads up on your forehead. FOM was nice enough to tell me that I needed to napkin my forehead. Even though my blood sugar got low, we still had a good time.

So tomorrow I have to go in to see The Big Buck. He told me today that he wants me to pop in on him tomorrow. I think he wants to know if he did okay for the Last Lecture. Hey...everybody needs a cheerleader once in awhile, ya'know. Plus he is so easy to cheerlead for. Anyhow, that's it for now.

I've been sitting here wondering what the hell is wrong with me? I mean, things are as good as they can get and yet I just feel frumpy and a little down. I don't know why...

Darling has decided to start going to school. I know...I was shocked too. He wants to get some sort of a degree in computer programming or networking or some crazy crap like that. Don't get me wrong...I'm happy that he wants to pursue something like this. But, in a way, it does piss me off. I have one year left of my undergrad then I was planning on going to grad school. Darling gave me the thumbs up for grad school but if he decides to go to school then I will have to postpone grad school and...breathe deeply...get a job! I want to work but I don't want to get caught in a job I hate. I'm trying to be supportive for Darling but I am a little upset by it all. Then I feel guilty because he has worked hard and long so I could go to school. Am I ingrateful? Probably.

School is going well. So far I'm all A's and maybe a B+ in one class but I am losing my inertia. This last week was Spring Break and I got lazy. I was supposed to write three papers and work on some of my lesson plans. Instead I wrote one paper, read a book that wasn't for a class but I wanted to read, and hung-out with my kids. They needed my attention this week since Darling went back to work. They were so used to having him around all the time that they were a little lost on Monday and Tuesday.

I don't know what is wrong. Perhaps I need a vacation. Actually that doesn't sound too bad. I would really love to go to Venice. Or perhaps New Zealand. Of course, Ireland would be good too. I don't foresee any of those places in my near future though. Perhaps I will just buy some exotic foods and flowers and pretend to be on vacation.

Anyhow, I'm in a poopy mood...

I know...I know. I haven't updated in awhile. I won't go into the details of why, but I thought I should say that I probably won't be blogging much anymore. What can I say? Life has slowed me down in some ways and sped me up in others. So here's my little life as of now...

Darling Husband is recovering from his broken leg and surgeries. He is walking around without the use of crutches. I took him to the doctor's last week and the doc said that he thinks Darling may have a condition known as RSD. Basically RSD is when the nerves get all screwed up and wierd things happen---like extra hair growth by the injury and discoloration and peeling skin and acute pain. The only way to stop the symptoms of RSD is to do some sort of spinal block thing. So far Darling isn't having too much pain, but the other symptoms are there. This whole fiasco with his leg is horrible. I'm glad he's finally able to walk a bit. Although, when he does walk he looks like Frankenstein because his foot won't flex because of the RSD. Great...

Kiddies are doing well. Myah has been behaving herself and doing fairly well in school. Princess is preparing herself for kidnergarten. She doesn't start until September but the girl is so excited! She'll be a hit in school. Princess is extremely outgoing and smart. Her one big downfall is that she is very impatient...just like her mother. Plus, she likes to do things for herself...just like her mother. Ahhhh well. The Boy is just about completely potty-trained now. He does fantastic during the day but has a difficult time getting up in the middle of the night to use the toilet. So basically I have to wash his bedding every morning. He'll get it though.

OH...almost forgot! I got some fantabulous news on Friday! I applied for a summer scholars grant with a prof at my school awhile back. We found out on Friday that we got the grant! I was geeked (and still am) to have gotten this grant. I will get a total of $3000 for my summer research and the prof gets $2500 for being my mentor and advisor for the project. Plus, we can get up to $500 back for expenses. In total the grant is for up to $6000! That is one huge ass grant! I will work for it though. I have just about three months to do my paper research, oral history interviews, secondary reading on the subject, and write a 25-40 page publishable article on my findings and analysis. Plus I still have to take two courses for school that I can't put off. What a fantabulous opportunity though!

So, because of the ongoing saga of the broken leg and because of the upcoming hectic summer schedule, I won't be posting much. I hope the three people who read this epic of Nita's life will understand...