Botanical Gardens

Last weekend I went to the Orchid Show at the Botanical Gardens with my dear friend, Madeline. It happened to be a beautiful day, and the Orchid Show was unlike any other I'd ever seen. Well, I'd never actually BEEN to a flower show, and I happened to know that Madeline LOVES Orchids. When I saw an ad for it, I knew she'd ABSOLUTELY love to see it! Now, anyone who knows me could attest to my adoration for flowers. Their scent, beauty, the delicateness of each one simply brings a smile to my face. After seeing the Orchids, I think I may have found a close second (the first being the Calla Lilly)favorite flower. Orchids have so much detail, and there are so many different kinds! I truly was in awe of every one that I saw! Madeline was, as well, and just watching her expression and hearing her excitement brought me SO much joy. It was quite an enjoyable day!

Grad School Stress

I remember working hard in Grad School the first time around, but maybe it's the extended absence since obtaining my first Master's Degree that has me so overwhelmed. I'm not sure WHAT the problem is. What I do know is that this degree is going to kill me AND make me gain weight. I partially laugh at the latter, but not really. ha! While my Hunter friends are pretty much as stressed out as I am, I feel the most overwhelmed. I am glad to have spoken with them over the course of the week, still, I'm exhausted. We each have to write a paper on Securing Educational Services for our Exceptional Child. My hypothetical 5 year-old child has been classified as having a Traumatic Brain Injury, and my paper is about WHY I'm not happy with the school he is to attend in September, and WHERE I'd like him to be, and HOW, I plan on getting him there. Did you parents out there know how many rights you really have for your child's education? It's SO overwhelming, but at the same time, very interesting.

Tonight, I have eaten EVERYTHING in my apt...well, just an abundance of food, along with a liter of Diet Pepsi...somehow a liter of diet anything just doesn't seem right. Ha! Caffeine~very necessary. I thought of coffee, but am not up for brewing any. As I returned from the last food binge, somehow I sat incorrectly on my chair and FELL, slow motion right onto my left butt cheek. Oh my goodness.....the PAIN. No joke. Tomorrow it's going to hurt something awful...guess I'll be standing most of the day...for now, I sit leaning on the right cheek, and am going back to work mode...at 12:33 a.m....

Dad's Birthday Dinner

Last night, we celebrated my Dad's 57th birthday. I think Marisel was in shock @ the realization of his age, but she doesn't know ANY of our ages, so her shock is no surprise to me. lol.
Marisel, Jusytyn, Natalie, Grandma, Dad and I went to Charlie Brown's for dinner. Although it wasn't my #1 choice of dinner venues, Dad wanted to go there, so we did. The night was filled with many laughs and zero drama! My kind of night! I have to say that my father has always been a FATHER. If you have an idea of what a parent should be, my dad is THAT person. He's always been involved in as much of our lives as he could while we were growing up. Even now he tries to be aware of, and advise us on, the events of our lives. I don't have one childhood memory without him, and although he didn't live with us, there wasn't a day he didn't come to see us. I think we're definitely blessed to have my dad as our father. He's taught us a lot. I hope that if I'm blessed w/ children, their father will be as good to them as my dad has been to us.