It's Finally Over!

I have been home for about an hour and completed my last final this morning. It was a three hour chemistry test and my brain feels like a bowl of Jello-o or perhaps a pile of mush. I have determined that three hours is about two hours too long to be looking at chemistry. I had confidence on the first portion of the test which was the National 70 multiple choice question assessment, until I realized I had only mere moments to finish and was only 3/4 of the way complete. I had to guess on the last 1/4. I suppose I learned an important lesson, don't do each one in order and work them out completely...go through the test first, answer the obvious ones, and than go back and work on the hard ones. I tend to believe, however, that the creators of the test make it so that to complete the test accurately is close to impossible.

The last portion of the test was my teacher's version of the final which was supposed to be easy but after looking at two hours of multiple choice questions, I began to second guess myself and forgot formulas. In addition, formulas and equations that we didn't have to memorize throughout the semester suddenly were supposed to be memorized BUT we didn't know that. Let's just say that test didn't go well. My teacher said not to worry, so for once, I am not going to. I worked my tushie off in that class and it will be the hardest earned 'B' I ever got. If she decides to grade on a curve than I may have a chance at an 'A'...I should know in a couple days.

My other finals were less eventful, thank goodness!

I received all 'B's on my tests in Trig and my final was a take home which I am hoping was an 'A'...that would mean that with my homework and quizzes I might have pulled an 'A' in that class after all. I take it back, that was the hardest earned grade so far....so many hours of studying at home, getting help from the tutors, and asking Matt questions. I can only hope that I am prepared for Calculus next semester.

Sociology was a breeze. I already know that I got an 'A' in that class. I am glad it is over but I also am realistic enough to know that it was probably my last easy 'A'.

I also know that I got an 'A' in my Literature class. My final paper (which I will either put here on the website or email to you directly) was an 'A'.

So this is how this semester appears to be wrapping up:

Sociology A
Trigonometry B
Chemistry B
Literature A

Next semester will be:

Astronomy 101
Calculus I
Chemistry 152
STU 210 (transfer course for the U of A)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Matt and I are looking to move again. We have decided (again) to put off purchasing a house until I am done at the U of A. Instead of buying we intend to rent again but somewhere close to the University. After discussing it for weeks we decided that to live close to the U was much more cost effective than buying a house elsewhere and having to pay for gas and a parking permit (every year). Plus the expense that we incur every day with Matt driving 65 miles a day is getting to be too much. If we move close to the U, and I mean close enough to ride my bike to, than I won't need to drive, I won't need a parking permit (because I will bike to school), and Matt will be that much closer to work. It is a win/win situation for both of us, except that we will be paying rent instead of earning equity in a house, but who can afford a house near the U?
Amazing how a little thing like gasoline can change your entire life. Our next door neighbor sold his truck and bought a car because he can't afford gas anymore and Matt and I have traded vehicles (he drives the Hyundai and I drive the truck) because the car gets better gas mileage. I wonder how much longer it will be before we will just have to sell the truck all together because we cannot afford $4.00 a gallon?

With the potential move to the University side of town also means that I will be switching Pima campuses my final semester. I will still have to attend the Desert Vista campus for chemistry since they don't offer it at Downtown, the campus nearest the U. I was kind of bummed at first until I found out my friend Brittney (that I met at East campus) got a job at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind and will be moving to their dorms and attending Downtown campus too. Kind of weird how that all worked out...we might be able to even get a couple of our classes together. So, the month of December will be busy for Matt and I as we try to work out all the fine details of the move.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

As for additional plans over the holiday break, I am happy to say I have nothing huge planned. I want to clean my house, organize the garage, scrapbook a little, play lots of video games, catch up on my soap opera, visit my friends, and watch a lot of Stargate.

I cannot wait to sleep in tomorrow!

I hope you are enjoying your day and that you are doing well. We will see you soon!

XXOO

Final Literature Paper

Literature 261

4 December 2007

The Lost Generation and the City of Light

The introduction of political, social, and technological changes during the turn of the century ushered in a new era called Modernism. Modernism was expressed in art, music, and especially literature. Few had as much impact on Modern literature as the expatriate writers of the 1920s, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sylvia Beach, and Gertrude Stein. Their self imposed alienation from their home country and their common destination of Paris, France altered the confines of literature and helped to shape Modern literature as we know it today.

“The Lost Generation” of writers, as they would later be known, were born and raised during the first two decades of the 20^th century with the rigid discipline of Victorian morals (Curnutt 12). These morals and values included a deep seeded belief in the Protestant work ethic that hard work and deferred gratification would lead to security and peace (Thompson 435). By 1918 the future expatriates’ sense of society and self had been shattered by trench warfare and World War I. Many of the expatriates either lived through or witnessed first hand the devastation of World War I and its many casualties (Badertscher). One such writer was F. Scott Fitzgerald who in his first novel, This Side of Paradise, summed up his despondency stating “a new generation…grown up to find all Gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in man shaken” (Fitzgerald 213). This devastation led to a tremendous feeling of loss, disruption, and disillusionment. American society was in constant transition and upheaval and the expatriates no longer believed that the Protestant work ethic was valid. Furthermore, the expatriates had lost faith in their elders, believing the older generation had transformed society without having given the younger generation any viable substitute (Curnutt 20). John F. Carter stated:

The older generation pretty well ruined this world before passing it onto us. My generation is disillusioned and, I think, brutalized, by the cataclysm which their complacent folly engendered…And now they are surprised that a great many of us, because they have taken away our apple-cheeked ideals, are seriously considering whether or not their game be worth our candle (Curnutt 20).

In addition to the feelings of loss and disruption, expatriate writers had an overall dissatisfaction with American literature. Before Modernism, literature was controlled by structure and organization. As the world around them changed, the expatriates desperately sought to create literature that reflected the turmoil they saw around them. Some of the literary styles that spawned from this were fragmentation, juxtaposition, and stream of consciousness (Curnutt 11). The increase in foreign travel from the United States to Europe during the 1920s also had a momentous affect on American literature. As more travelers began visiting abroad, a common consensus that American literature was not as traditional or diverse as other countries became commonplace (Curnutt 68). This belief was strongly endorsed by many expatriate writers. Additionally, expatriate writers also viewed the landscape of the United States as stagnant and lacking character therefore making it more difficult for them to create appealing works of literature (Curnutt 69). Finally, they believed with all sincerity that their written work was underappreciated and that the American public and literary scholars were “indifferent to their contributions to American culture” (Curnutt 71). The expatriates saw all of these factors as signs that they no longer belonged within the confines of the United States. These disillusionments quickly led to the voluntary migration and alienation of expatriate writers from the United States to Paris, France.

Paris, France, also known as the City of Light, was well known by travelers and writers alike as a welcoming and accepting city. Paris was known for its embracement of developing new ideas, producing new values, investigating unconventional behaviors and the undertaking of radical experimentation. Writers from all over the world converged on the Left Bank of the Seine which quickly became the central hub of creativity (“Geniuses”). One very influential author named Gertrude Stein hosted gatherings, also known as salons, in which artists and writers would congregate to discuss art and inspiration (Lovelady). The neighborhood, Montparnasse, was lined with cafes and bookstores, allowing expatriate writers to communicate and exchange ideas freely and easily (“Geniuses”). Some of these bookstores became paramount in the development of Modern literature. One of the most famous bookstores, “Shakespeare and Company”, was owned and run by expatriate writer Sylvia Beach. “Shakespeare and Company” was not simply a place of commerce, but in addition served as a lending library to other expatriate writers and was often used as a forwarding address for those leaving the United States (“Geniuses”). “Shakespeare and Company” would later gain more fame when Beach agreed to publish works of literature that were unable to be published any other way (“Geniuses”). With the increased presence of expatriate writers came an increase in alternative presses. This was one of Paris’ defining contributions to Modern literature. Small and alternative presses enabled expatriates to distribute their sometimes controversial and progressive novels, stories, and poetry to the general public. Paris had yet another endearing quality during this period of time, the money exchange rate. The cost of living was far more affordable in Paris than in the United States, allowing writers to live Bohemian, yet comfortable lifestyles without much sacrifice (Mills). This, too, afforded the alienated writers to focus on their writing and creativity and not worry about the day to day restrictions of the American work ethic.

The expatriates did not begin the Modern literature era however they were the most influential part of it. The changes they experienced and witnessed in the United States and their vocalization of their disenchantment changed literature forever. Writers such as Sylvia Beach, Gertrude Stein, and F. Scott Fitzgerald never gave up their nationalism, but rather changed locations to better serve themselves and their art. In Paris they were able to find a camaraderie, acceptance, and diversity that were not possible in America. The establishment of alternative presses allowed for creative and expressive works that have withstood the test of time. Upon reflection the expatriate writers of the United States altered the boundaries of literature and shaped Modern literature to what it is today, while simultaneously giving readers a meaningful and accurate view of the Modern era.

A Moment of Sheer Panic

As I had stated before, the deadline for the scholarship was today...or at least that is what I thought. The deadline was actually yesterday. The good news is that my teacher and I realized this about 4 hours before it was due. So yesterday, after revisions had been made, I made a mad dash home, made the changes, and reprinted everything. It was turned in before the 5:00 deadline, but barely. I have talked to my teaches and they all believe that I have a very good chance of winning but I am keeping my expectations minimal. It is very likely that there are a number of stellar candidates for this scholarship and there are only two to give away. Hopefully at the end of the month I will have some good news!

Also in regards to Bruce and Christine's wedding -- all 1600 professional photos are now available online. I don't know if you have any desire to see 1600 pictures of people you don't know but many of them are absolutely beautiful.

http://bellapictures.com/photos

Enter this event code - V1026HUDSON

See You Soon!!

Trigonometry is the Devil's Math

So, I didn't get the pics of the wedding up yet...I suppose you already noticed that.

Well, I haven't been feeling well. I caught some sort of a head cold and somehow that was affecting my stomach and I have only eaten soup, rice, or bread for about five days. Today is the first day that I attempted anything more substancial, and so far so good.

School has been a nightmare. I still feel like I am catching up from the California trip...although I don't think I should be feeling that way by now. I have completed all the homework and labs I missed so I think my instructors are just cramming a lot more material into the end of the semester than I remember from my previous couple semesters. Usually by Halloween or Spring Break, depending on the semester, things are slowly winding down and the stress level decreases. Not this semester...boy o' boy! Over Veteran's Day weekend, on top of being sick, I worked from sun up until sun down (FOR FOUR DAYS) on nothing but homework. I don't remember seeing Matt or the dogs the entire weekend...it was pitiful.

Trig truly is the devil's math. I haven't a clue how I can study so hard, spend all my free time in the tutoring center getting help, complete all the homework and do all the quizzes and still fail the test. If you can explain this to me, please do!? Matt has tried to help, but let's be honest, I am not the best patient or student when I am frustrated, tired, and worn-out. On top of that, if I don't pass this class I don't get the scholarship (see below).

Ohh, that reminds me of an interesting story from today. The reason I felt that I failed that Trig test wasn't necessarily because I didn't know the material as much as it was that the test was timed. I don't do well with timed tests. They freak me out and I screw up more because I am constantly looking at my watch. I petitioned my teacher in class today to reconsider his rule that all tests should be timed. The tests are placed in the testing center so that students can take the test whenever is convenient for them. I brought up the point that it is my time being used, not school time, so I should get as much as I deem necessary. He disagreed stating that the test SHOULD only take 50 minutes and that he is being generous by allowing 120 minutes for it to be completed...he followed this up by stating that one of his other students was able to complete the test in 30-45 minutes, therefore my needing more than two hours is unreasonable. I was about to let it go and go home but thought better of it and headed over to my teacher's office to give it one more valiant effort. My final point was that "your test does not test if I know math, your test sees if I can do math in 2 hours. I am not a mathematician by nature and I am not pretending to be good at it, but what I am asking is to give me enough time and I will give you my best effort." He than said he may consider extending the test time another half hour. I thanked him for listening and for taking my thoughts into consideration...I only wish my argument hadn't seemingly fallen on deaf ears.

As if life couldn't get any more hectic I am trying out for a scholarship to the U of A which requires a boat load of work and recommendations and frankly, just more time than I have. I have been working on it for days and have my teachers working on it too but the deadline is on Friday and there is a sincere chance that we might not make it in time. Keep your fingers crossed. To not have to pay for college for two years would be a dream come true. I have worked so hard for this, getting good grades and sacrificing all my time, I just hope the board can see that.

Let's see...what else? Matt and I are actively looking for a house. Matt is working on getting the financial angle taken care of, and has been house hunting...so I guess you can say Matt is actively looking for a house. I guess I have been a little distracted lately. The market is much improved (for us) from this time last year but unfortunately everyone is in the same boat and all the affordable homes on the nice sides of town are being bought up before we even get a chance to look at them. We will be pulling Mrs. Smith in on this soon, hopefully with her help we can a leg up on everybody else.

Okay, it is time for me to wind down and get ready for bed...I have a big day of chemistry and literature tomorrow!

Take Care!

Trudy Loves Books

Little did I know that when we agreed to adopt an elderly, toothless dog that I would have to worry about my school books.

I hope she at least gets smarter!

This Side of Paradise

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

In addition to my self-imposed goal of reading all the literary classics, I am also taking a Literature class. My teacher assigned about a week ago for us to read "This Side of Paradise" by October 4th. I finished the book this morning and I am stunned.

What an amazing book!

Now, if you would have asked me how I liked it about half way through the book, I would have told you lousy! I had such a hard time getting started; I found it boring, slow, and pointless. Most books that I read I feel have a purpose from the beginning...there is an adventure, an adversary that needs eliminated, or a "Holy Grail" that needs to be found. This is probably because I mostly immerse myself in the science fiction genre.
This book was the exact opposite, from the beginning I had no idea why I was reading it or what the ultimate goal was. Once I finished the book I realized, that was the point.

Amory Blaine, the main character, is a privileged white boy who decides to go away to college because that is where all the upstanding, come-from-money, kids are going. The early half of the book revolves around Amory at Princeton, his friends, his women, his writing, and his ego. Amory Blaine believes he knows everything about everyone else and every subject but truly knows nothing of himself. He views people through his own egotistical lenses. He passes judgment and believes himself to be superior in almost every way. He works his way up in college society (and eventually down) and gains and loses friends along the way. He has numerous affairs of the heart, not caring for many of them, finally falling in love with a woman who ends up leaving him for a man of more wealth.

That brings up an interesting theme, wealth and money. The more money Amory has, the most disappointing and depressing his life becomes. The best times of his life, the most positive things that happen to him happen to him when he has little or no money. I think that speaks volumes!

Amory meets so many people during the course of this book it is hard to keep it all straight. When reading the book it is very difficult to understand why each of these characters are important and why they are even in the book in the first place. Some have small but pivotal roles while others have lengthy roles that appear to be pointless. The interactions that most influence Amory and the reader are his relationships with the women in his life.

His mother was an educated, Victorian, sickly worrier, who Amory viewed as weak and sad.

Isabelle was his first love affair, but a fake one at that. She was the promiscuous girl of the neighborhood who he simply spoke sweet platitudes to in order to kiss her. She used him in much the same way. In many ways they were very much the same which is why it did not work out. Each was too egotistical, shallow, and in love with themselves to care for the other.

Than there was Clara, one step away from being the Virgin Mary. She was polite, kind, happy despite all the reasons she shouldn't be, and deeply in love with her two children. Amory, after spending many weekends with her, decides he is in love with her and wants to marry her. Clara, however, is much to smart to be fooled by his idealistic ways. In almost every way, Clara sees right through him and tells him so. She recognizes in Amory that which he hasn't recognized or refused to acknowledge in himself...he is in love with the idea of being in love. He created in his imagination a different reality with different circumstances, and it is that vision that he falls in love with, not the real thing.

Than of course was Rosalind, the self-described love of Amory Blaine's life. She is debutante much like Isabelle was, but less realistic in her obligations to herself and family. Amory and Rosalind quickly fall for one another and deeply. In all reality however, this union could never be as Amory's fortune is slowly dwindling and Rosalind is being pressured to marry rich. She eventually gives into reality and not idealism and breaks it off with Amory so that she may someday marry a rich man. This devastates Amory, who was never the same.

Lastly, there was Eleanor, who Amory would have had the best chance of being happy with but because of his past relationship miseries lets her slip away. They spend one summer together and during that time Eleanor proves to be his intellectual equal. In addition to that, she likes him for who he is, as she is so similar and like-minded. This proves to be fatal for their relationship, however, as they bicker and fight often. Eventually they split ways and the only correspondence afterwards are two beautifully written poems of which the caliber is far above anything Amory had written before.

The end of the story concludes with Amory acknowledging and understanding his weaknesses and embracing himself. The final sentence states “I know myself, but that is all”. It takes the final sentence to finally understand what the point of the entire book had been. Amory had gone from an egotistical youth with no concept of who he was to an adult man who finally knows who he is but has no idea about life. Unlike other books which set out the purpose and/or plot of the story within the first chapter, Fitzgerald held out and forced the reader to not be a bystander sitting on the sidelines observing the action but an active participant in the story. As Amory experienced life, so did I the reader and Amory’s discovery at the end was just as shocking to him as it was to me.

The purpose of this book was not to catch the villain or achieve an unrealistic goal; it was to follow one man on his journey in finding himself. What a breath of fresh air from a book written in 1920!!

Hey Gram, if this has piqued your curiosity, I bought the book and I would be more than willing to let you borrow it. I think you would like this story but for all I know, you already read it!! Let me know!! Love ya!!

OJ....OJ....OJ....

Anyone who knows me knows that I was obsessed with the OJ Simpson trial back in the day. Imagine my surprise when those cold, murderous eyes starred back at me from the television set once again. OJ, in trouble again? NO!!
I seriously lost faith in the criminal justice system the day OJ was acquitted of murder, but I have slowly tried to regain that faith over the years. If the jury/judge doesn't throw his butt in prison for the rest of his natural life over this crime I think I might have to move to France because it just proves that America has truly lost its mind!

Here is what I know: I know he killed Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown and whether he paid for it than or he pays for it now, I really don't care. I just want to know that he is safely behind bars where maybe he can continue to "search for the real killer". Jerk.

Anyway........................

School is going better now that Spanish is a distant memory. I have really been applying myself in Trig and have spent an average of 4-6 hours a week in the tutoring center getting help. I think I am slowly getting the hang of it, but my teacher isn't making it easy on me. His teaching style is to put some definitions on the board, draw a couple of unit circles, and than assign some homework, never once giving us an example. So, when we sit down to do the homework it is all brand new. That is where the tutors come in! Thank God for them.

Literature class has been killing me this week. I am the first one to present my Powerpoint presentation which is due in less than a week. I picked to cover World War I, which is the very beginning of our lesson, hence why I have to go first. I sure wish I would have picked something different and given myself some more time but I kind of got stuck with it without knowing the details. I guess the good news is that once I get my presentation out of the way, it should be smooth sailing after that.

Chemistry could go either way right now. I just finished my first exam on Tuesday and I have no idea how I did. It was so difficult to study for and it required so much memorization, it was ridiculous. I think I did okay, but depending on how harshly or leniently she grades, it could be a D or an A. Weird!

Sociology is my easiest and by far the class I enjoy the most...I can't complain.

Lets see........................what else?

I have my dress and shoes and Matt got fitted for his tux for Bruce and Christine's wedding. The pictures should be up shortly.
My dress has arrived for Melissa's wedding and my first fitting will be sometime next month. I am still looking for shoes.
The invitations for Melissa's bachelorette and bridal shower went out today.

Lily and Trudy are doing well. Trudy is really starting to adjust and is getting more and more comfortable all the time.
Piper is still the worst cat anyone could ever have. She has been peeing on the tile in the bathroom for a couple months now, and Mom finally suggested that I put down some of those puppy-pee-pads so at least it would be easy to clean up. That worked for awhile, except now Piper has decided to pee in the bathroom sink. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? I was shocked when I caught her. I told Matt that we should keep the toilet seat up and see if she will just use the toilet, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! I took the lid off of her litter box today and so far she is using her box again instead of the floor, or the sink, or the tub, or whatever she thinks of next. If she isn't careful Matthew is going to feed her to the coyotes.

HHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMM......

Oh, I decided that since my public education completely stunk that as an adult I was going to try to read all those books that you were supposed to read in school but for some reason I didn't. So, I just finished "Catcher in the Rye" which I really enjoyed and was a pretty quick read. I have started "1984" now but will have to put it on the back burner for now because my Lit teacher assigned us to read "This Side of Paradise" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I found a website that lists 1001 books to read before you die...so I am now a couple books closer to that end.

Okay, I have been putting off my Sociology assignment and should really get back to it....

Take Care!!!

College is Full of Ups and Downs

As you already know I was taking quite a heavy course load this semester, 18 credits. These include:

Sociology 101
Spanish 101
Trigonometry 182
Chemistry 151 &
Literature 261

Today I made the decision to drop Spanish. There is so much to this story, I cannot even begin to recount the process but it was after working on (or more accurately, not working on) Trig homework last night that I realized I was stretched too thin. I couldn't handle all the homework, time, and dedication it takes to ace five classes. So instead, I will now work on acing four classes. I lost my money and spent $160 on a book that with my luck won't be used by the next time I take Spanish, but for my sanity, for my pets, and most of all for my husband, who has been watching me struggle and cry for three weeks, something had to give....and that something was Spanish.

With any luck, my website will get updated a little more often now that I have time to sleep and eat again!

Until Next Time!!

LEGAL IMMIGRATION COMMANDMENTS

JERRY DOYLE'S LEGAL IMMIGRATION 10 COMMANDMENTS
http://www.jerrydoyle.com/

1. IF YOU ENTER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ILLEGALLY OR OVERSTAY YOUR VISA, YOU WILL NEVER BE ELIGIBLE TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE US. NO EXCEPTIONS.

2. IF YOU HIRE SOMEONE WHO IS ILLEGAL, YOU AND / OR YOUR BUSINESS WILL BE FINED $50,000.00 PER EMPLOYEE. “STRICT LIABILITY” WILL BE THE LEGAL STANDARD.

3. THE POLICY OF “ANCHOR BABIES” IS NO LONGER THE LAW. YOU ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES IF YOU ARE BORN “OF” A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

4. “SANCTUARY CITIES AND / OR STATES” WILL RECEIVE NO FEDERAL TAX DOLLAR REVENUE SHARING OR MATCHING. FEDERAL HIGHWAY SPEED LIMIT STANDARDS WILL BE THE TEMPLATE.

5. “SANCTUARY HOUSES OF WORSHIP”, IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF US LAW, WILL LOSE THEIR TAX EXEMPT STATUS.

6. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, DOING BUSINESS IN THE UNITED STATES, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM OFFERING AND PROVIDING ANY INCENTIVE PROGRAM(S), ANY DISCOUNT LOAN(S), SUBSIDIZED CHECKING AND / OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT(S) OR ANY “SPECIAL” OFFER(S) TO ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

7. PUBLIC EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES, HOUSING, SOCIAL SERVICES, FOOD STAMPS, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, SSDI AND ANY OTHER US GOVERNMENT PROGRAM WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES ONLY.

8. ANY PERSON(S), CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION(S), OR BUSINESS ENTITY THAT HARBORS ANY ILLEGAL ALIEN(S) WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY BE CHARGED WITH A FEDERAL OFFENSE AND LOSE THEIR CITIZENSHIP.

9. GUEST WORKER VISAS WILL BE ISSUED ON A 5 YEAR TRAILING AVERAGE OF THE AGGREAGATE NUMBER OF VISAS ISSUED WITH ADJUSTMENTS FOR PROJECTED GDP GROWTH AND / OR CONTRACTION.

10. ENGLISH WILL BE THE ONLY LANGUAGE USED IN THE PUBLIC WORKPLACE, PUBLIC EDUCATION, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND FACILITIES, HOSPITALS AND RELATED MEDICAL FACILITIES AND THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM. ALL VOTING FOR FEDERAL OFFICES WILL BE DONE IN ENGLISH ONLY.

New Member of the Phillips' Household...

This blog was originally on Myspace and was posted on June 10, 2007.

For almost the past year, Matthew and I have been searching for a playmate for Lily. Working/schooling for long hours and not having a lot of time to play with her, it made sense to us to find a companion and friend who she could wile away the lonely days with. We had searched pet store after pet store but never really fell in love with any of the puppies. My good friend Melissa had recently recommended that we take a look at the Humane Society. We had previously searched the pound and Humane Society and always came home depressed and crying (me).

I decided to take a look at the Humane Society website on Saturday June 2nd, thinking that it would be easier to view pictures than to actually tour the facility. I originally was looking for puppies but ran across someone all together different. On the very last page of the "adult" dog section I found Trudy. A female miniature schnauzer. I gave the Humane Society a call on the morning of Sunday June 3rd and found out she was 6 years old. Matthew and I headed down to their facility and were introduced to Trudy. She was a skinny, sickly looking pup who desperately needed a bath. I loved her instantly. Matt and I took her into the provided yard and played with her. She was sweet, scared, and in desperate need of some love. We talked about it and decided we would like to adopt her.

Of course there were many hoops to jump through, an introduction with Lily, and what felt like a lot of waiting but finally the following day after work we were able to bring her home.

Almost one week later I don't regret our decision to adopt her but only fear for her overall health.

Trudy:
has very few teeth
has Valley Fever
has Kennel Cough
and is very skinny

Who knows where this road will lead...all I do know is that there is a very good chance that Matthew and I saved her from being euthanized. Even if she has 5 days, 5 months, or 5 years to live, we will give her a life filled with love, kisses, and lots of snuggling.

An interesting footnote: Trudy doesn't know how to play. Lily desperately drops toys at her feet or pushes toys in her face, but she simply has no idea how to play. So much for our playmate idea.

Welcome to my Little Corner of the Internet!

I have slowly begun to realize that not everyone has Myspace. As a simple solution I have decided to create my own web page. It is my hope that this web site will grant me more freedom and personalization than before. As this website continues to grow it is my desire to rid myself of my Myspace account altogether. From now on my "blogs", personal messages, and photos will be updated here and not on Myspace.

Reasons for getting rid of Myspace:
1. I'm too old
2. Only the people I don't like want to keep in touch with me are keeping in touch with me.

You will already notice that I have uploaded pictures of my "kids". If you know me than you know my "kids" are my life. I will periodically update with pictures or stories about them as there are hundreds of each.

Mostly, this web site is for my grandparents who, God bless their hearts, take an interest in my daily life and love to be updated on my current whereabouts and stories. This web page will give me an opportunity to communicate with them (and anyone else who drops by) in a much easier and faster format. Grandma and Pop-o..........I love you guys!