end of summer?...

Well, I finally did it - completed my BA in Psychology. I start the Master's program in October and I am super excited. I have hit two deer on two seperate occasions in the past two months and I am once again taking it in to the body shop since they did a poor job this time. I just hope to get it back before I have a surgery in two weeks - I'm having my thyroid removed.

I haven't been on here in forever but lots of stuff is going on...my little man started kindergarten and I have been actively seeking a transfer with my company back to Ohio. As much as I like it here in Arkansas, there's still no place like home I guess. We went there on vacation and we had a great time...looking forward to moving forward!

That's it for a short and sweet update...

Check out this great article, it is the first I have found that expresses my beliefs as a Taoist and a libertarian...I even commented on it and I never do that. Enjoy!

www.informationliberation.com/?id=29941

Peace...

stillness

I have been trying so very hard to find my center lately...I work too much with school and my job right now for much 'me' time. Not to mention how very little time I have for my other half (sorry Shawn). I have been going to school since 2005 with very few breaks but the end is near - and stillness lies ahead...I hope to reach my goal of staying home full time and building my career from home. I want to write and teach online college courses. I still have to tackle at least my Master's first but I intend to do this all within the next two years if not sooner. It would seem the chaos followed me here from Ohio but is of another variety for sure (in the best way possible). Shawn is hard at work improving our home, taking care of me and my son, the dogs, the cleaning, the laundry, the cooking, the yard work, etc and I'm hard at work at the hospital or doing schoolwork and my free time I spend with my son so Shawn can get things done that he can't do when I am not here and helping him get caught up with the housework - he has a tough job. We are both tired and a bit overwhelmed but we both see the light at the end of that tunnel...stillness and freedom. Cannot wait to work from home...

spring has sprung

Here we are at last, no more frigid

weather and the leaves are starting to come in...

This view is a small part of our property as seen from the back of

the house...I really love it here.

From Jan 23rd...

Here we are - a new year, a new start (seemingly). It hasn't been particularly good yet because I wrecked my car but I think things may look better after I get another one. I hate being without my own car. It is literally an extension of me - I drive a lot here because everything is so far from where I live. I bought that Chrysler in June of 2006 and it was mint for an old car and had unbelievably low mileage (21,000 on a 1997). It was my favorite color, purple and it was big enough to be quite comfortable and yet still got pretty good gas mileage. I simply cannot wrap my head around the fact that it's gone. I knew I liked my car and I was planning on keeping it at least a couple of more years but in an instant, it was gone.

The road conditions when it snows here are very differnet than Ohio. Back home I would hardly notice less thank an inch of snow but here it is ice on the road so when I put the brakes on (a little too firmly) - I lost control and wound up in a ditch after hitting a big drainage pipe and smashing up the front end, etc. Unfortunately due to the age of the car, it is worth less than the cost to repair it. Bummer.

Ok. Enough about the car, just had to get it off my chest. Oh yeah, I also re-fractured my left hip and strained my back so I have been in a lovely mood since the accident on Friday. On top of it all I have to drive my husband's car which I hate. It's a stick which is fine but 6 gears? Really? I'm too lazy to drive a standard anymore - I like to daydream when I drive not think about shifting...

And here's a pic (above) of our new family member, another Jack Russell Terrier named Tink.

All ready for the little one to wake up and tear into! Happy Holidays!

christmas

It's nearly Christmas and for once I am both ready and excited though we may have gone a bit overboard...that's what it's all about! What is special this year is the fact that we have been here in Arkansas for a year now and we could not be happier. So much has changed (for the better)from when we were still in Ohio. We love the house and the property, we have 2 more dogs than we came here with that are part of the family, Luke is in school and doing great and I found this awesome job that I wasn't even looking for. It has been a good year!

I have also recently got into facebook and found all of my old friends from back in the day - though it makes me a little homesick, it also makes me feel connected, almost whole again since I have no friends or extended family here. Though I have been meeting some great people at work here, I find it hard to make any real connections (outside of my 3 immediate co-workers who are great).

Last night, Luke had his first school program and e videotaped the whole thing. It was adorable - all those pre-schoolers singing Christmas songs...too cute (and hysterical). As soon as I find the patience I will sit down and figure out how to get the footage transferred to my computer. This was the first time we really used the camcorder, I like to take pictures. Anyway, when I do I will post them so my family can see back home. I love new technology!