Buggin'

So, the university has decided to change the program I'm working through. The upshot is: they have added another semester to my load!@)$(&!_@$!_)*!!!! Apparently, the capstone class is a two semester ordeal that has to be taken Fall and then Winter before you can graduate. The email came around today, way after the add/drop deadline, which has left a boatload of us high and dry until NEXT FALL! A WHOLE YEAR FROM NOW! They also removed the ridiculous history of the middle east classes that I've been killing myself in. So, I've taken classes that now are not necessary and I have to take more classes that I can't even get into until a year from now. I feel so ripped off! Nothing I can do. Stick it out, graduate a year after I was supposed to, which means I have to fill the semesters up with nonesense filler classes now, or the other option is to drop out and bag the whole thing. Like I said before, if it doesn't suck, it blows.

I'm buggin'.

Disneyland weekend

Aren't they cute?

Wish I could have gone with them.

I miss 'em.

When they called Friday night to tell me about their motel room I worried....but I gave the instructions to barricade the door with a chair and to not leave the room til morning. What, me worried? ABSOLUTELY! Ghetto motel in L.A. does that to a mom.

Discerning

It is 2:30 a.m. and I'm online trying to put thoughts into words. Not my forte'.

Remember I said I made some cash on eBay? Now I'm dealing with a couple of crazies who are trying to get me to refund money for items they have received. One says she didn't care for the item and wants a refund but she won't return it first. Another wants a refund and says a book didn't ever arrive but the tracking from USPS says it was delivered. Another thinks the shipping she paid for a boat-load of books was too high and she says I ought to be ashamed of myself... Like I said, crazies. But it is nastiness and I don't do nastiness very well. All I can do is let them post their ugly feedback and watch them try to get eBay to demand their refunds from me. It's all such a crock. I had such a great experience with 99% of the buyers, but now I have to deal with the "few" who want to rip me off. I don't want to live eternity in this kingdom, I've decided.

CC asked me AGAIN why we can't just sell this house and move. I know I've explained this to her at least a zillion times before but she either can't accept the answer or won't. I know we live in a crappy house in a crappy area. I know. I'm sorry.

Guess what I learned from Elder Bednar yesterday? Discernment is predicated on quick obedience. Discernment then comes to discern the bad in others and in myself as well as the good in others and in myself. I get it. My PBlessing says I have this gift. I get it.

The kids head out to Disneyland on Friday afternoon next. They are excited. It is the only way they will ever get to go. They are going with friends and I am hoping to come up with the money for their share. The Lord always comes through on these needs. And all needs. We live on the fumes of faith. (Or should I call it the bounty of faith?)

Speaking of con-artists: Chance is playing every one of us in the house! He gets his daily dose of moist catfood from one of us and then plays whomever comes into the kitchen for another. He's got those beautiful blue eyes that just get into your soul and he asks so nicely... We are on to his game. Such a player.

I walked down the sidewalk to see a friend and as I passed a car parked at the curb I noticed my neighbor sitting in the passenger side reading a book under the cab light. When I came back around, the neighbor had slunk down in the seat hoping not to be noticed. I thought of all of the reasons I would sit in my car to read and how I would want to be left alone too. I smiled to myself.

Better go to bed. It all starts again in a few hours. Right?

P.S. I miss my family.

Big DEAL!

Compare the Islamic Umma and its ideal with the early LDS concept and practice of Zion. DUE TUESDAY.

I'm thinking FAMILIES, CONVERTS, PERSECUTION, COMMUNITY, CHOICES ABOUT DOING GOOD...

Two pages.

Dry classes this semester. Economic Geography just isn't thrilling, is it. Statistics is sleeping pill in a paperback. Middle East History up to 1450AD is looking to be a much better experience than the last one of its kind. Remote Sensing is a lot of calculations again. Not one of my strengths. The guy teaching this class is in Stone's ward, I think.

School is such a great place for me to be. If I relax and just let it be what it is then I enjoy it more. The workload can get heavy. That along with working to keep the mortgage paid is very heavy. Plus trying to be some shadow of a parent to teens, making time t

o be with them, getting them outfitted and delivered, listening. I'm always on the brink of collapse it seems.

I was telling LL the other day that I'm just not pioneer woman stock. I get tired and I'm not feeling effective at anything I do in a day.

HERE'S MY MIRACLE STORY :

Yesterday I got the registration renewal notice for the car. Each year this is a time of fear because I convince myself that the car will never pass the inspections.

Well, I got the car straight into the mechanic and waited anxiously for the call. Brakes? Fuel pump? Mirrors busted off? When the shop called with the "all ready for you",

I walked over. CC went too. I was taking deep breaths trying to steady my nerves for what

was to come and CC said I was being crazy. What was the big deal, she was saying. It's just an inspection. WHAT WAS THE BIG DEAL?!!?!??!!!!?!?!! Yeah, it really wasn't a big deal on her planet but to me it was the potential for one more major problem that would require major cash that I major NEVER have. In the end, the car passed and I felt like I got away with something! As I walked through the lot to take the car away, I told CC I felt like I would cry. She, of course, thought I was a lunatic. I, on the other hand, was telling Heaven

ly Father thanks again and again and again for this mighty miracle in my silly little life.