Spanking in Public Schools

I came across this article in the New York Times this morning about how disabled students are spanked more.

I wouldn't necessarily consider myself disabled, but I had an incident as a first grader where my teacher spanked me for no good reason. As a result of my JRA, it is harder for me to sit criss-cross-applesauce as was customary to do in our class. My teachers had been informed on what was going on with my body. Unfortunately, one of my teachers either didn't understand or didn't care.

We came in from recess one day and I was exhausted. Instead of coming in and sitting the customary way on the floor mat, I had my legs to the side of my body, which I could usually get away with in my other class if we sat on the floor. This even hurt, so I laid down on my side on the floor. A classmate tried to warn me to sit the right way, but I told her how much it hurt and that I just couldn't do it. Then the teacher came in. She was a middle-aged woman from Japan who had happily moved to the northwest in order to teach at this Japanese-immersion school. She was very upset that I was not following the rules. I tried to explain to her how painful it was to sit the normal way and how tired and achy my poor little body was. All she seemed to care about was that I was breaking the rules and then being argumentative about it. So she lifted me up by one arm and preceded to spank me in front of my classmates.

She put me down and told me to sit the right way. I was crying so hard between the embarrassment and the pain in my bottom and my knees as I bent them to match the other kids.

For kids who can't follow the rules because of physical limitations or for those who don't quite understand the directions, spanking is a terrifying experience. I was in terrible pain to begin with, but to have to go through being spanked and humiliated in front of my friends as well as having to bend my knees - the thing I was trying to avoid because of the pain - was not only annoying but ridiculous as well. Any sort of physical punishment should be outlawed in our schools. Teachers are people too - people who lose their temper or misunderstand situations. We should be able to put a certain amount of trust in them, but trusting them to physically punish our children correctly is a mistake and one that can scar someone for life.

I Promise!

I'm posting stuff after class today. I have a test in a few minutes here that I'm cramming for. Come back and check around 3 for more fun bloggings!

<3

Thank G-d

I don't have anything else to lug up the five flights of stairs to my dorm room.

Yesterday was move-in day. Theron and I were able to get everything upstairs in a relatively good amount of time. We got most of it done early, so maybe that's why it was easier. It seems like most people waited until a little later to show up and start moving.

I got everything done yesterday that I needed to, which is so nice. We had a floor meeting last night and I guess most of the girls on my floor are freshmen, so it was a little awkward because no one wanted to talk, but they seemed nice.

My bed is extremely comfortable. I actually woke up at a regular time because I didn't feel as though I slept poorly. Theron gave me a whole bunch of his posters, so it doesn't feel naked in here... and his cow ottoman - it's so cute!

I know that the biggest thing I will have trouble with is being more outgoing. I tend to isolate myself when there are people I don't know very well unless I'm at work (don't ask, I don't get it either). Hopefully when I get home from work one night, I'll be able to branch out a little more and be a little less anti-social.

Carroll University?

Well, it's official - Carroll College becomes Carroll University on July 1st, 2008.

I have mixed feelings about this.

I like it because it'll be easier for people to discern our school from the one in Montana or wherever it is.

But I dislike it for a multitude of reasons.

Theron just graduated from Carroll COLLEGE. Despite going to the same school, I will not graduate from Carroll College but Carroll university. Sure, he can get a diploma printed with "University" on it, but I doubt he'll want to. I would rather graduate with "College" on my diploma. I wonder if they'd do that for those of us who dislike the name change. I doubt it, but oh well.

On top of that, I own tons of Carroll College stuff - shorts, sweatshirts, lanyards, etc. I'm sure someday they'll become some sort of collector's item and it'll be nice to still wear them and remember the "good old days." But alas, I'd feel weird wearing all that to school now. So what, I'm gonna have to buy new copies of everything? Poo on that.

I just sent the following to Carroll via the feedback form. If anyone else has the same feeling about the school, please feel free to copy and paste, but alter to match your situation:

"I think that for those of us currently enrolled in the college, it'd be nice to have the option to choose whether our diploma will say college or university. Incoming freshman should be the last class for whom that'll be an option. Theron just graduated along with a whole mess of my friends, and I still have two years left. My grandpa graduated from Carroll College too. It saddens me to think that I won't be graduating with the same name on my diploma. So, in addition to allowing the alumni to get "university" printed on their diplomas, it'd be nice to let us have the option to choose. I know that I would be far less upset about the name change if that was the case."

I don't think that's too much to ask, right? They apparently read every comment sent, so please leave feedback.

If you have any questions about the name change, click here and go to the FAQs site.

School's Out for Summer

So nice! Although I know that I'll miss it a bunch over the summer.

I spent this whole past week with Theron, soaking up the sun, playing catch, and playing this super awesome game.It was really nice to have off of work too. Needless to say though, I really haven't been on the computer since Saturday. It was really weird to drive to Carroll tonight and see how very empty it was. I'm sure it felt emptier knowing that Theron was home. Oh well, it'll be busy this weekend at least.

I've been debating what to holler when Theron is up getting his diploma on Sunday, but all I can think of is "Whoo!" It's lame, I know, but I'll be next to his parents, so I have to keep it a little closer to PG-13 than I'd like. Maybe "I love you!"? I dunno, that seems a little weird. Hmph.

Even though I asked Susan for this weekend off A MONTH AGO, she scheduled me. I talked to the store manager about it today though and she understands how important it is for me to be there for Theron. She's not super happy about it, but at least she is okay with me not being there and still having a job next week.

I'm a little upset that the Brewers keep losing. I'm sure that they'll be able to work themselves out of the slump at some point, but I'm really hoping that being back at home tomorrow helps. The schedule they've been on lately is pretty tough, so it's a little understandable.

I'll post more next week, but in the meantime, be sure to check out the fun links I have on my site. The comics are especially silly and enjoyable.

It is a really weird feeling to be home without Theron here after having him around for like five days. *sigh* Now to see how well I will sleep...

Sports

It occurred to me that I didn't ever talk about how much I enjoyed my weekend chock full o' sports!

The Brewers game was amazing! We lost, but only after holding off the Marlins, forcing extra innings. Our defense was pretty good earlier in the game, but the offense was lacking. I'm guessing it had something to do with a lack of a day off. Theron and I sat fairly close, which was really nice. We were just out of foul ball range, so we didn't have to worry about getting hit in the head too much... But we were close enough that we could see everything that was happening.

I got to eat up in the Press Box, and Theron's dad gave us a little tour. I got to see all sorts of famous people, most notably Bob Uecker. I'm in the middle of reading his book, Catcher in the Wry, so it was really cool to see him. I had to try really, really hard to not go talk to him. It was all pretty fancy, and I loved it. I felt a little out of place at first, just because it seemed like Theron was used to it, and David totally was, this being his job. Hopefully I didn't embarrass myself too much.

Like I said, we lost 0-3. We did give it our best college try though. Ryan Braun held off the end of the game as long as he could, being the final batter. With 2 strikes and 3 balls, he hit two foul balls before finally striking out, thus ending the game. I don't know why every thinks J.J. Hardy is such a cutie, because Braun is much better. Oh well.

The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Championship game was pretty fun. I've never really been to a soccer game, much less an indoor soccer game, so it was pretty interesting. At one point, the ball came over the guard and almost got Kelsey right in the face. Luckily it bounced off the chair next to her and only hit her leg.

The Baltimore Blast won the game, but I thought that La Raza gave a noble try, especially with it being their first year in the league. That alone was impressive, but to see their players in action was awesome. Both the teams have some great players on them, and I was really impressed by the low number of fouls compared to other sports. Then again, this is a game where you pretty much have to kick your opponent. To read more about the game, click here.

Sunday, I spent engaged in the sport of quick paper writing. I was able to finish my REL316 paper pretty easily, because I love that class, and it's easy to write about visiting a Serbian Orthodox Cathedral. But I did have a 2-part term paper for my MUS158 class due too. Both parts were album reviews, one of The Doors' self-titled debut album - which was super easy and fun to write about - and the other about Randy Newman's Good Old Boys. It's a good album, but was definitely difficult to write about. I finished that one right at two, then ran over to my class one building over.

Today was the last day of classes before finals. My finals shouldn't be too bad though. In MUS158, it's just another test. And I'm doing well in both my religion classes, and I've done well on the tests, so I should do pretty good.

I feel bad. I didn't go to my 10am class these last two days because each time I went to get in my car, it wouldn't start. The security system is crap and keeps locking up on me for no reason. The only way to disarm it is to sit in the car for 10-15 minutes (until the security light goes off) with the key in the "on" position, then turn it off, remove the key, and restart it. Please, please, please don't buy an Alero.

Well, I'm off to soak up some snuggle time. With Theron going back home at the end of the week and the season of working starting, I know I'm gonna need it.

Reflections on 20

It's always interesting to me to have a birthday. No, it's not for the presents, but more about thinking ahead. Theron sent me an email yesterday about counting your blessings, along with his list of blessings. This year, it seems like I've grown up enough to look ahead into the next 20 years and see the blessings and accomplishments in my future.

In the last 20 years, I've been through so much. I graduated with honors, with two diplomas, and with my International Baccalaureate from high school. I entered college as a Sophomore, despite the fact that I'm staying for all four years in order to get a double major in Religious Studies and History. I found my niche at work, my group of friends there. I don't have a lot of friends otherwise, but a few fairly close people. I've had a mystery disease diagnosed and watched the number of people who have it and are diagnosed correctly skyrocket. It's gone from unbearable to manageable and normal for me. I've lost people I loved, most notably my great grandma Kay. I wonder what she would think of all the things that I've done, how proud she would be. I've moved cross-country, learned a whole new vocabulary, and figured out my political stance. I have a family who loves me. I not only have my family back home, my immediate family here, and dad's family, but I've gotten back in touch with my real dad (if only for one conversation), and gained a whole new family. I've been used, abused, taken for granted, blown off. I've fallen in "love" a few times. Now that I really know what love is, I can truly say that I'm in love for the first time.

I've managed to find someone who understands my insanity, quirkiness, dorkiness and ditziness, and who embraces me because of all that. Theron is all that I ever dreamed my Prince Charming could be, and then some. He puts up with my ranting, my occasional depression, and my unbelievable Belle-like quietness. And because of it all Theron loves me more?!?!? I am the luckiest girl in the entire world.

Looking ahead, I don't know when/where everything will happen. I'll graduate from Carroll and pursue Graduate school somewhere. I'll get my Masters maybe, or my Ph,d..I'll find a school, whether high school or college, to teach at where I can help to enlighten young minds and have an influence on the future. Maybe I'll write a dissertation and/or get a book published.
I know I'll get married and have kids, and that comes with a whole mess of things. I'll get a house, attend PTA meetings, scoot my kids off to piano lessons, baseball practice, dance lessons - all that good stuff. I'll take them on trips to visit my uncles and aunts and their cute kids. Watch them grow up and fall in love - hopefully not get married quite yet though.
I'll lose people that I love, people that I'm close to now. The thing that I hate the most about growing up is the change, even though that's what makes life fun. Learning new things, making new memories, meeting new people - that's what life is about. I just hate the thought of losing people.

As for the near future...

I feel like this year is going to be a good one for me. In the fall, I'll move onto campus and learn what it's like to take care of myself more. I'll be taking fun and challenging classes, learning more and more about the world around me and how it got to be this way.

In the next few weeks, I'll have finals and start the season of working my butt off, in every way. Theron will graduate, and I'll be so proud to see him make that walk. I hope he knows how amazing he is, and how very proud I am to be a part of his life.

As for today, the only gift I can ask for is peace. Not world peace - that won't be achieved in one day, and probably not even in my lifetime. I just want a nice peaceful day, which is already on it's way to ruins by now since no one can put other's needs in front of their pride. I want to talk to my family back home - most of whom I already talked to today - and know that they're alright. Most of all though, I just want my house to feel like a home, one where fighting doesn't happen, even just for 24 hours.

*Wish real hard*

Okay, Okay

Yeah, told ya I'd be working a lot. Sorry it's taken me a while.

Told Susan that I'd rather be at the service desk than in domestics. She was super happy because I'm nice enough to the customers that I can really excel up there. Had an Afghani guy hit on my today... It was the same one, this time accompanied by his friend, who had been a total ass to me last night. The customer behind him said last night said that he was afraid the guy was going to jump the counter and kick my ass... hehe

I'm so excited! Theron comes back from his house tomorrow for school. Knowing how he rolls, I probably won't see him until Monday, but at least he'll be around-ish. And now neither of us have super early classes, so that will be nice.

School starts on Monday. I'm super excited. I got my books and all except one of Theron's, simply because it wasn't in yet. At least the government is good for something X-P

I totally overhauled my room last night and organized it quite a bit. Now I just have to work on organizing my closet and I'll be all set. I work 8-4 tomorrow at the service desk. I'm gonna try to get some totes and organize my closet.

Anyhow, I gotta run.

Almost done

So I just have my Calculus final in the morning and I'm done with the school year.

Sadly, it's the final I've been dreading... Ugh.

I've studied the whole book a few times over now as well as my notes. I'll do it a few more times tonight, but I think I'm ready... hehe.

After my final tomorrow, I'm going up to Theron's house for a few days. We're going sledding on Wednesday... it'll be my first time, and hopefully I won't break anything vital.

Needless to say, I won't be posting for a few days, and I don't necessarily have time to post that much today. But, I felt the need to at least write something... and delay my studying.

Any of you who haven't yet seen Rent need to. I don't care if it's the play or the movie, but you have to see it. I myself have only seen the movie, but I have the OBS too. It's kind of adult themed, so I'd say definitely PG-13 at least, depending on how you raise your kids. It deals with AIDS, homelessness, sexuality, friendship and betrayal, true love, and more. It's just all in very harsh conditions and more real life than most kids are used to and need to be exposed to.

Here's a great site for the lyrics to the songs, and if you wanna watch the song parts of the film or the 10th anniversary Broadway showing with the original cast, look Rent up on youtube.

My favorite songs are:
Today 4 U
I'll Cover You
La Vie Boheme (I & II)
One Song Glory
Santa Fe
Seasons of Love
Out Tonight
Tango: Maureen
Take Me or Leave Me
Your Eyes

Here is my favorite song, I'll Cover You:

ANGEL
Live In My House
I'll Be Your Shelter
Just Pay Me Back
With One Thousand Kisses
Be My Lover - I'll Cover You

COLLINS
Open Your Door
I'll Be Your Tenant
Don't Got Much Baggage
To Lay At Your Feet
But Sweet Kisses I've Got To Spare
I'll Be There - I'll Cover You

BOTH
I Think They Meant It
When They Said You Can't Buy Love
Now I Know You Can Rent It
A New Lease You Are, My Love,
On Life - Be My Light

Just Slip Me On
I'll Be Your Blanket
Wherever - Whatever - I'll Be Your Coat

ANGEL
You'll Be My King
And I'll Be Your Castle

COLLINS
No You'll Be My Queen
And I'll Be Your Moat

BOTH
I Think They Meant It
When They Said You Can't Buy Love
Now I Know You Can Rent It
A New Lease You Are, My Love
On Life

All My Life
I've Longed To Discover
Something As True As This Is

COLLINS
So With A Thousand
Sweet Kisses

(ANGEL
If You're Cold
You're Lonely)

And I'll Cover You
With A Thousand
Sweet Kisses

(ANGEL
You've got one
nickel only)

I'll Cover You

ANGEL
With A Thousand
Sweet Kisses

(COLLINS
When You're Worn
Out And Tired)

I'll Cover You
With A Thousand
Sweet Kisses

(COLLINS
When Your Heart
Has Expired)

I'll Cover You

BOTH
Oh Lover I'll Cover You
Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya-a-a-a
Oh Lover I'll Cover You

Work

What do I do?

At work I asked for my finals week off, which is merely Wednesday (so I can study) thru Tuesday (my Calc final). But, of course, I didn't get it.

I'm supposed to work on Thursday right after my final, and close on Saturday night (11pm now), and then, although the schedule isn't up for next week, I'm sure I'd have to be there before we open (6am as is my usual Sunday shift).

I know that I need this time off so that I can be free from the stresses of work and simply focus on school. I don't particularly need this job, especially with the managers always picking on me (Barb). They act like I never do enough. They want me to simply stay in my domestics department, and not help out anywhere else. However, if I did that, the store would run quite poorly and customers would complain even more than they do now and most would stop shopping there.

I'd hate to leave all my wonderful friends behind, but I can't put school as a second priority, or I'll end up like Grrr. :'(

I've heard advice that I should talk to both Barb and Susan together and try to work something out.

But, what do you think, my mass populous of friends and random people?
Leave a comment on this note, or write me a message, and tell me what you would do in this situation.

<3

Scheduling for next semester

I finished. And, just in case you wanted to know, here's my schedule.

REL106 Sec B Understanding Religion Prof Boykin -MT-RF- 10:00a-10:50a
REL316 Sec A Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Prof Boykin -MT-RF- 11:00a-11:50a
MUS158 Sec A Rock Music: Roots and History Prof Carpenter -M--R-- 02:00p-03:50p
HIS203 Online The American Civil War Prof Herdegen Online

The first two classes are gonna be fun, cos they're with my Asian Religions professor. Everyone knows I love rock music, so that'll be good too. Plus, it satisfies the only LSP I have yet to fulfill. AND Theron says the Civil War class is pretty easy and fun. So I'm stoked.

Now that I got that done and some of my other homework out of the way, I'm gonna get ahead on some other homeworks.

KK

Yikes!

So much to say after not writing for almost a whole week! Erk!

Registration is tomorrow for next semester. I really hope that I get into the classes that I need/want to take. Hopefully, Theron's schedule and my own don't mesh too badly.

Wednesday night, Theron wrote up this mock test for calculus, and we spent like four hours going through it. I had a test the next morning, and I'm feeling pretty good about it. Hopefully, I got a good grade. I've never been with anyone who wanted me to do well like this, and it's sooo cool. I hope he knows how very much I appreciate it.

Grrr was actually relatively nice to me on Thursday. Hopefully that means she's getting over her damn self. Nicki told me a fun lil story when I went to say goodbye to her on Saturday morning. Apparently Grrr might be going to a different store. *crosses fingers* I'm not going to look for a different job then, until I know if she's leaving or what's going on. Without her, that store is awesome, and everything runs well.

Friday was wonderful. I got to sleep in, because Dr. Feil was out of town at a conference, so he canceled class. I didn't have to work either, so that was nice. Theron's mom came down, and took us to lunch. The math tutors didn't get paid though, and it totally ruined the whole day. Stupid people not doing the right thing. Rawr.

Saturday was an awesome day! We went to the Milwaukee Public Museum with some people from History Club. It was tons of fun. I haven't really been in Milwaukee that much, or to a natural history museum, so it was definitely a fun first for me. I think that Theron had fun watching me be all amazed at all this stuff. It seemed like it anyways. There is so much to see there that I could spend literally three or four days in there. There's so much to read, so much to look at, to experience. I wish I could've been there all day. Four floors of all these different exhibits - ancient cultures, natural wonders, wars, dinosaurs, extinct animals, the rainforest, and more! I really liked it, can you tell?

After roaming around the museum for a few hours, we went and saw Dinosaurs Alive! at the IMAX theater. That was crazy cool! The screen was sooo big. I kinda had trouble focusing on a lot - so did other people though, because a lot of us almost or completely fell asleep. Might have had something to do with the reclined seats as well... sooo comfy...

We went out to lunch at Mo's Irish Pub. That was some good food. Very filing too. They have these garlic cheese fries that are to die for! I ate way too many of them though...

As a joke, some of us thought it'd be funny to go to the porn store. Haha, funny joke... Until we went. Some of those movie titles - yikes! A lot of the things in there are scary. It was the first time Theron had been in one, so it was kinda funny to watch him. Our group was probably one of the funnest to have in there though. We had Sam, the really shy guy who was a little scared, and Jenny, who is the hilarious lesbian who loves to make jokes about anything and everything, and then another girl - I feel bad, cos I forgot her name already... Ooops. She was cool, though. And then Theron and I... It was really funny. I love how they have pipes for "tobacco use." Yeah right, like anyone who buys those really uses them for that.

Sunday was okay, I guess. I worked later in the day (3-close), so it made it harder for me to do homework. I'd much rather work earlier. Maybe that's just me though. Grrr wasn't there, though, so my night was terribly pleasant.

I have to work tonight, Thursday afternoon, and Friday night, but I get Saturday off, which is sooo nice.

On a super happy note, I figured out that I can put my hair up! It's super cute.

Plus, it's 57 degrees out right now, so I get to wear flippity-floppitys! Yay!

Adios! Hasta luego!


----------------
Now playing: Dave Matthews Band - When The World Ends
via FoxyTunes

I should...

not be multitasking while doing homework, but oh well.

I really like my Asian Religions class, and my decision to switch over to Religious Studies as a major. I think I finally found my niche.

I halfway told Grrr off yesterday, and Latanya totally did. I hope that she isn't going to get fired. Grrr tried to make some joke to me about me not having a doctor's note for my OCD/Perfectionism, and it totally offended me. So I said no right? And she says, "Well it must not be THAT bad then." So, I got all up in her face about it. "No, Grrr, that just means I don't have insurance or enough money to get you a doctor's note." Ha! She ignored my comment.

I stopped by Tallinger's last night to get an application, filled it out, and hopefully the other girl she hired isn't going to work out (I'm a horrible, horrible person!). I can't wait to get away from Kmart, even if that means less money. Ugh.

Theron left me the cutest messages when I was at work the other day. It was super cute even! I really like writing about him on here, because I'm bragging about him, but he gets to see it too. It's kinda fun, cos I think mayhaps he gets embarrassed about it... Then again maybe not.

Well, since I've not multitasked my homework at all, I'm gonna go finish the reading for class in a half hour...

Toodles

Halloween

So the rest of my Halloween went well.

Theron and I went trick or treating with my friend Nicki and her kids. Well, we didn't actually trick or treat, but we went around with them in any case. Her kids are really fun to be around.

I didn't wear any extra clothes last night whilst trick or treating though... When I finally got home, I was frozen right down to the bone. Brrr! Before Theron headed home, he piled 6 or 7 blankets on me - all the spare ones we could find... I still am a little cold, but mostly better.

I'm supposed to work tonight from 130-6. I think I'm gonna call in though, because I don't feel that good, like I could give 100%ish, and if Grrr's there tonight, she'll chew my ass out for being slow and not moving at her pace. Nicki said she was in a terrible mood yesterday, and I doubt that'll change anytime soon. Nonetheless, I'm gonna call in after my class.

I found out that if I eat a snacky breakfast in Calc, it's impossible for me to fall asleep. I think maybe I should do that from now on. And maybe my homework would be good too. I gots a lot of catching up to do before our test next Thursday.

On a much brighter note,

I had my advising meeting today. Found out that the school gave me SPA201 and 202, so I don't have to take a language. Also, they gave me HIS105 and 106, so I've fulfilled that for a history minor. Just four more classes and I'll have it! Yay!

You HAVE to read the comment on the blog that I posted yesterday. Theron made up a new version to the Bubbly song which is pretty cute. Click here to see it.

Gah!

It's cold. It wouldn't really bother me except that my metabolism is all low because I haven't eaten yet today, and my sweater - which looked so warm when I bought it - is crap! I should just take it back later...

My body is aching so bad. Not sure whether it's the cold or the fact that I walked so much yesterday... Or that I'm hungry and cranky, and maybe trying to find things to complain about to a whole new audience!

I don't have to work again until Friday night. Hopefully my boss won't be there. Grrr is my manager at Kmart (for safety's sake - thanks Theron). Outside of work, she's an awesome lady - relatively easy to get along with. But when I'm at work... it's a totally different story. It feels like she doesn't think I'm capable of things. I am! I work my butt off everyday that I'm there. I'm the soft home team lead (basically, I manage towels, sheets, pillows, curtains, and other domestical items). I am the only one that does anything in that department. I used to have someone in charge of me, but now I report directly to the managers. They're not hiring anyone else to be my boss either, so I'll be alone there forever! It's extremely hard to take care of all of that and go to school full time. I have a minimum of 20 hours that I have to work in that department, and on top of that I end up doing a million other things. I know how to do everything in that store, so everyone asks me to cover their breaks and such. It's not my fault that there's no one on the floor - let alone anyone who knows how to do hunting licenses or has override numbers or knows where everything is in jewelry! I make more than people that have been there for years - which really actually makes me feel really bad - but it doesn't seem like I'm appreciated by Grrr otherwise. I bake cookies and buy pizza to share with everyone so they're happy, because she's brought down the morale so much that it only takes small things like that... All the best people have started to leave or are looking to, because they can't stand her and the way she manages the place. The store keeps getting worse and worse, because no one cares about having their job anymore - no one cares if they do well, because they hate everything that store is now. I do too, but I at least try to work a little bit. I guess I just feel stretched thin, and being unappreciated isn't helping it.

School is great. I love being in college, and so close to my goal of teaching. I just wish I had figured out that's what I wanted last year, so that I didn't have to stay here longer. My Calc 1 class hasn't been going so well, but hopefully since I'm doing the homework now, and I understand more, I'll be able to do better on the test tomorrow. Crap! I gotta catch up on that fast!

Theron is so cute. I'm sure he's gonna be all, "Why are you bragging about me? Now the people on my baseball blog will think I'm all crazy...ier..." But he really is. He's perfect for me, and it's awesome. I really feel like I have a center now, and whether or not he is it or helped me find it, I'm super grateful.

I got all these Buddhist books the other day, and I'm slowly working on them. It really is mostly what I've believe my whole life. I don't necessarily believe everything, but most of it. Reincarnation? Sure. No soul attached to the reincarnation thing? Not so much. Otherwise, you wouldn't really remember it, right? Not that you do anyway, but when you achieve Nirvana I mean.

For now, I'm going to go get some hot chocolate... or some coffee... maybe Theron won't notice that I had some with my coffee breath... I doubt it though.

Enjoy this fascinating tidbit on JRA:

Many famous people have suffered from RA. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the 19th-century painter, developed RA in mid-life. His hands became so crippled that his paint brush had to be wedged between his fingers. However, he kept his sense of humour. He joked that he never finished a nude painting until he thought he could pinch it!

Comedy queen Lucille Ball of "I Love Lucy" fame had rheumatoid arthritis when she was 17 but that didn’t stop her from pursuing her dreams. Her first attack came while she was working as a model for Hattie Carnegie’s famous dress shop. She felt excruciating pain in her legs and the doctor who saw her said she would probably end up in a wheelchair as a result of the disease. Lucy was later referred to an orthopedic clinic near Columbia University where she was given experimental "horse serum" shots for several weeks that drained her money but didn’t stop the pain. Frightened and discouraged, she returned to her parent’s home in Jamestown, New York. "Gradually the pain subsided and finally one day with the support of her father and doctor, Lucy stood up, feeling wobbly and unsteady. Her left leg was now somewhat shorter than her right leg and it pulled sideways. To correct this, she began wearing a 20 - pound weight in one of her black orthopedic shoes. Though Lucy had residual pain she was able to take a part offered her with the Jamestown Players and she later returned to New York City in search of her dreams," said Carol and Richard Eustice - the people behind About.com’s Arthritis Guide who both have rheumatoid arthritis as well.

Hollywood star Kathleen Turner was so bothered by the pain of rheumatoid arthritis that she had suicidal thoughts.Rosalind Russell, star of the silver screen, had severe RA and did much to garner support for the advancement of research into this disease.

Aida Turturro- Aida Turturro plays Tony Soprano's conniving sister, Janice, on the HBO series "The Sopranos" , AND has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since she was a child.

Camryn Manheim- "I went to several doctors before visiting a rheumatologist who finally diagnosed the painful swelling and stiffness in my joints as rheumatoid arthritis," says Camryn. "It took close to eight months for me to get properly diagnosed and treated. I lost valuable time, and the joint damage I sustained is irreversible. I'm sharing my story with the hope that it will inspire others to take control of their rheumatoid arthritis by learning more about the disease and working with a rheumatologist to manage it." Camryn first noticed the pain and stiffness in her fingers while she was practicing sign language, a passion of hers for more than 20 years. Initially, Camryn was told the pain was due to aging, but because of the severity of her symptoms, Camryn knew it was something more. It wasn't until Camryn conducted her own research and consulted with a rheumatologist that she received a proper diagnosis and found a treatment regimen that worked for her. Now, Camryn's symptoms are under control and she again has the energy to enjoy her normal daily activities, like teaching sign language and playing with her four-year-old son. Camryn's rheumatologist also is managing her treatment process closely to ensure she does not endure additional joint destruction.

-I got this from Michelle's Myspace page on Fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis - check it out on my JRA links list.