First official post

Okay, I must explain the title....Easton and I loooovveee "Midnight Cowboy" and after we rented it on Netflix would say this repeatedly to each other for no reason at all other than to amuse oursevles. Maybe I'll change it eventually, but that's all the creativity that enters my mind at this point in the late evening. We also get fixated on other things...for instance, the SNL skit with *can't remember her name right now for some odd reason* who is a 12 year old girl with her stepdad and constantly repeats, " RICK, RICK, RICK!" We love repeating that to each other for some odd reason.

On a more serious note, this week has been not as relaxing as I'd like despite the indulgences of homemade pina coldas (thanks, Mom) and yummy homecooked meals. One of my students died on Sunday. I found out in a horrible way. I had driven to Jax. Monday to see the parentals for the week. My publisher (of the student newspaper) and I had to discuss the printing of the latest (and not so greatest) issue, and told me that he was sorry to hear that two students from Northview had been killed. I don't know whether it was my sixth sense or not, but I immediately went to the AJC.com and checked and it was two juniors - one of them I've taught all year in my English class. A great kid - tried real hard, life wasn't easy - ironically, her mother was killed in the same way she would die a year and three days later, by crossing over another lane of traffic. Actually, a stupid hugeass Yukon crossed over and hit Becca, Jessica (the girls who went to my school) and Becca's sister, who was a doctoral student at UA, and was just chaperoning the girls on their Spring Break trip to Destin. No alcohol involved. I've been dealing with this all week. I just can't belive it. I kept contemplating what to do and after much thought decided to buy a journal for the kids to write memories if they choose and I'll eventually mail it to her father. The poor man - two daughters and an ex-wife all within a year of each other.

On a more positive note, it's great to see my Dad. This is the first time I've seen him since we found out about his remission from cancer on 3/17/05. Thank God! Please pray or meditate, or whatever you do, and send good thoughts my Dad's way so that the damn, evil, destroying cancer doesn't come back. My mom did such an excellent job taking care of him. I am truly and forever greatful.

So, must think about heading to bed. Getting up early in the a.m. to drive home to Atlanta. Have LOTS of grading to do - prob. about 30 lbs. of it, no joke. Have play to go to Sunday and dinner at Mary's (if I can make it).

More later.
Ciao.
Jen