Smokies

I am done with my classes this semester! I took my last final and wrote my last paper as of yesterday. I am so glad it is over!

In order to celebrate, the resqteam has decided to take a vacay in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, home of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The cabin we rented is here: http://rental.cabinsofthesmokymountains.com/gatlinburg-cabin-rental/Memory_Maker.html

The kids are most excited about the queen bunk bed set, which they get to sleep in. I didn't even know such a thing existed!

I also didn't know Gatlinburg was home to Ripley's Believe It or Not attractions. They have like 8 things you can go to, which I am excited about because I love weird things.

We will also be ziplining across the smoky mountains. (When I think about Ziplining I think of my dear FIL Rog, who was too scared to zipline the full length of the line at the Spears home! :) )

Anyway, just wanted to let you know we're all alive and well and looking forward to partying in the Smokies!

Mid-term update

So far here are my midterm grades:

Stats: A

Quantitative methods: B

Comm Theory: ? (But I assume a B or better.)

So far so good for this non-traditional student.

A student again

It has been a dozen years since I attended school. I can't believe I'm back! I'm totally legit: backpack, laptop, signatory Starbucks in hand, look of sleep on my face as I walk in late to class.

This week I've been in training for the Writing, Rhetoric and Digital media class I'm 'teaching' at UK. (I found out I will really just be a glorified paper grader.)

So not to brag or anything, but here are a couple cool things about my program. (Okay, I'm going to brag. It's been so long, people...)

I am getting my Masters of Communication with an emphasis in health. There are 8 people in my program. 150 applied, so I feel lucky I'm one of the few that made it. (I seriously think they had a spot for an old, frumpy mother that they had to fill so they put me in! :))

I have been given a full scholarship as well as a teaching assistantship, so basically I will be paid to go to school. Rock on!

My program is ranked 6th in the nation for reputation, has a Carnegie ranking of top %6, is the #1 funded program in the nation. (So it's no slouch, Ryan! We can't all be M.I.T.ers)

I don't know if I'm the oldest in my program, but I'm one of the only one with kids. I think a PhD comm student in my program has a baby, but that's it.

Fun fact: my comm dean looks like dad. Seriously. It's frightening/disturbing! ;)

I am still working for UK HealthCare part time, about 15 hours a week. I produce their weekly internal newsletter which goes out every Wed. I don't know how long I can keep this up but so far so good.

I've met everyone in my program, both Masters students and PhDs, and they are incredibly nice. The niceness factor in this program is amazing. I know they'll have my back in the years to come.

To end, the advantage I have of going back to school now which I didn't back when I was young, is that I know better what matters and what doesn't. I can better allocate my time to the stuff that will enhance the bottom line.

So that's all. I probably won't update this for another few months, but at least you know I'm still alive!

Community - in or out?

I've been thinking that Kentucky has been good for me in many ways.

Being here, not knowing a soul and having no (superclose) friends and family around has allowed me to discover things about myself that I didn't know. Here we are not part of a preset "community." We have been able to do what we want, when we want, and how we want. There is no one to approve or disapprove. We have no fear in trying new things.

I had no idea Ryan was a talented piano player.

I suspected Maddie was a star pupil, but she has come to really shine here.

Left to his own devices, Ethan is the biggest rule follower I know.

Me, I didn't know how kick-ass I was at communications. I absolutely love my job and am thriving in it. I touch projects that, if they don't change the world, at least improve lives here in Kentucky.

There is no one to impress, no one to disappoint. We exist almost in a vacuum, leading lives as close to authenticity as possible.

But - and this is a big thing - not being an intimate part of the community does have its drawbacks.

I was reminded of this yesterday when we went to a birthday party for one of our friends' sons. From the moment I walked into the house I was accepted into their community. I couldn't be my completely authentic self (i.e. I couldn't walk around and fart and pick my nose and I couldn't say everything that came to mind) but I felt loved. I couldn't sit in comfortable silence in this small community, but I found that when I forced myself to talk to people, I gained richer relationships and understanding. It felt good to commune. I left there with more friends than I had before and I like to think a little bit smarter.

So let me boil it down for you: for me, being out of the community helps me find myself. But being in it brings me greater connection to humanity. Can I do both? I don't know.

Res-Q teaM 2.0

That's the official name and quest of 2011.

So I thought I'd take a moment to report on how we four are doing in our quest of self care and self-improvement.

Ryan:

More than any of us, Ryan has put the time in to practice his piano skills. As a result, emotionally moving songs such as "The Entertainer" waft through our home. Ryan is indeed an inspiration on the ivories.

Steph:

I started off strong on guitar, then bombed out after it broke. Now I'm back to the basics and working my way through it. I just got a brand new guitar--it actually looks like a baby guitar, it's so small and cute!

I just bought a huge stretched canvas and some oil paints. Somewhere a voice inside me is saying, Paint, crazy bitch, paint! And I must obey. Watch for some post-modern painting brilliance to be coming soon.

I also have adopted a more ambulatory lifestyle. If I feel need for a snack coming on and I have to go to the store to get it, I have to walk. We have two stores within a few blocks of us, and one of my favorites about 2.5 miles away. I have been doing a lot more walking to keep to voices down!

Maddie:

Maddie has become my book fiend--she will start a book and refuse to put it down, usually finishing a book within a few hours. Her piano playing: a little rough right now, but Dad's supposed to be helping her get back on track.

Ethan:

Plugging away at soccer. Plugging away on guitar. Plugging away on Wii. He's starting think he's smarter than his mom now; and you can rest assured that I remind him he's got a long way to go before he's accumulated the vast wisdome of this brain! Ha ha!

Heroes & villains

Disneyworld style

Heroes
1. Goat cheese. (Time and time again this lovely item kept making a scrumptious appearance.)
2. Lindsay & Erin. (Hotel managers who gave us 8 Fast Passes and 50 bucks to get the crazy lady to go away.)
3. Kevin & Andy. (Kevin welcomed us to Disney and Andy let the magic rain down.)
4. The Disney Dining Plan. (Superb deal; I highly recommend.)
5. Tusker House in Animal Kingdom. (Basil orzo salad to die and go to heaven for.)
6. Maddie's call out. (Maddie called out her crazy mother in a moment of calm strength when I got mad at the stupid lady in the Tomorrowland cafe.)
7. The People Mover. (Most underrated ride at Disney. This thing is the bom dot com.)
8. It's a small world. (Rode it four times in four days.)
9. Toy Story Mania. (There is a reason why the lines are 90 minutes long.)
10. Pin trading. (Disney's most lucrative business. One pin can feed several starving third world families.)
11. Steven Tyler. (I could really feel how much he cared for me during the beginning segment of Rockin' Roller Coaster. Love you Steve!)
12. Churros. (No comment necessary.)
Villains
1. Epcot day.
2. The stupid lady in the Tomorrowland cafe.
3. Raquel.
4. 1/2 marathoners.
5. Lilo & Stitch ride.
6. Belle.
7. Epcot again.

More on villains at a later date.

Rant #3: The Illusion of Imperfection

How's everyone doing out there?

Good, good.

Here is my next rant on the year: people that use the following phrases on their blogs:

"Not to pat myself on the back, but . . . " Translation: Congrats, you just did. Need a ribbon to go with that?

" . . . white shirts are recommended because they add to the dignity of the ordinance. However, they should not be required . . ." Translation: if you don't wear a white shirt while blessing the sacrament you're a lazy disrepectful slob. Only poor people who can't afford white shirts should be wearing colors. How about saying, "There is no dress code for blessing the sacrament, except for a humble spirit."

"I'm just not working hard enough! I made roast chicken, homemade rolls, three vegetable dishes, and a cheesecake. Next time I'll have to do even more . . ." Translation: Look what an amazing person I am!!! I have my life together in ways you can never dream of!

"Everyone says it's hard, but it's not hard for me!" Translation: You suck; I rule.

"I have no debt and tons of equity in my house." Translation: You suck even harder; I am super cool and better than you. I am untouchable in my awesomeness.

"I have my faults, and here they are . . . ", while proceeding to list stupid things that no one gives a crap about. Translation: I am about to be translated, so keep away from me.