The Aftermath

So Thanksgiving went OK. The food turned out really well especially the baked pineapple and cream cheesy pumpkin pie. Steven and I went to Wal Mart @ 3AM to stand in the toy line. It was actually fun. People were crazy and ridiculous but most of them were nice. We had a good time and got Ava a VSmile, Thomas Tank Train Set and a Cabbage Patch doll. She is quite spoiled this year. Between Xmas and her birthday she is getting so much stuff. Plus she is having her big party. We also put up our Christmas tree, outside lights and other decorations. We are truly festive this year and Ava is just amazed by it all.

In other news, school sucks. I just have no motivation this year. Part of my problem is that there are 50 million group projects. I hate group projects especially when you cannot pick your group. For example, in one group two of the members cannot write well at all. I am not a perfect writer but I know when to combine a sentence and not to use "also" SEVEN times in one paragraph. Do I tell these people what I really think or do I just say it looks good and take a poor grade? I will probably do the latter because I hate to hurt people's feelings and I don't want any extra stress. I really hope this master's degree is worth all this time and effort.

Yeah Thanksgiving! My husband and I love Thanksgiving because we have claimed it as our holiday...meaning we stay home and cook. Anyone who wants to see us has to come to dinner. We spend so much time driving on the holidays to visit family. It stresses us out and makes our time off seem so much shorter. This year we are having turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, homemade rolls, baked pineapple, brown sugar carrots, baby sweet corn, mixed salad with apple dressing and creamcheese pumpkin pie. It is a bit of an undertaking but I am excited. Steven's Mom and Cousin Jane will be coming which which should be interesting.
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! Eat until your pants pop open!

Happy Feet and Sesame Street

Last night was the Happy Feet pre-premiere charity event for The United Way. I was unable to attend because I had class but of course I made Steven go. Ava actually did OK and didn't get fidgety until half way through. This is a miracle for her. Steven came home a bit emotional. Alot of the kids attending did not buy their own tickets and were sponsored by businesses, etc. He was upset about the state of many of the children and families that attended. He reported some as being a bit dirty and smelly while others just didn't have clothes that fit them, etc. I think it is easy to forget that there is poverty in our country. I think it is alot harder for some people to admit that poverty even exists and often people want to blame the poverty stricken for their situations. I can attest that for most people, at least the one's that I have worked with, it is rarely their fault. They are out there and they are often invisible to us. The gap between the "have"" and the have nots" is getting bigger and buying a toy off the angel tree at WalMart may make you feel good but it is not enough. When is this country going to take this seriously?

In lighter news, Ava's 3rd birthday is approaching. We are having a Sesame Street kid party for her. I have invited 7 kids from her daycare. I must say I am a bit terrified of the whole thing. Strange children and parents...and I am in charge of the fun. We have hired a clown for the entertainment, then cake, the pinata and presents. I think it is a good schedule and the party is only for 2 hours. It should be fun. I am hoping for no puking, peeing, pooping or bleeding.

Board of Directors Baffoons?

OK so this year I am realizing the crazy baffoons that serve on nonprofit boards are nonproductive. For example, I was asked to attend Ava's daycare's board meeting to talk about grant writing opportunities for them and also to review grants they write and give suggestions. It was eye opening, sad and a waste of my time. I kept wanting to scream NO! What are you thinking? They spent 47 minutes deciding who would be employee of the month and get a $20 gift card to WalMart. No discussion on fundraising, program development or staff training. Not to mention their board consisted of 5 members. Ok so there is an example of an informal amateur board. The board members for the United Way I intern at are crappy in a different way. Alright they are not completely crappy, most of them have their heart in the right place. But they are so full of themselves and their connecctions/status in the community, it is really sickening. To be fair, there have been boards I have sat in on and they have been productive and positive. I hate being reminded of how jack asses there are in this world. Soon I will be governed by jack asses in every aspect of my life. Sometimes I think I am meant to fly solo. I get so annoyed so easily and maybe I have control issues. Maybe I would be better off living in Montana living off the land and selling my knick knacks for spending money.

November

Good Lord! I can't believe I haven't posted in 7 months! I am now offcially married. As predicted, it doesn't feel much different but I guess when you live with someone and have a 2 year old together there is not too much change. The wedding went well so I am told. Of course there were things that went wrong that bothered me but I don't think many people realized except my poor bridesmaids who got to deal with my mini breakdown in the AM. I had the most wonderful bridesmaids ever and my whole family commented on what "wonderful ladies" they were. Ava had a good time. She just ran around like a maniac raiding the cookie buffet and dancing. We went to AC for a short honeymoon because I couldn't take any more time off of school. I know many of you have eaten at PF Chang's but out here in the woods we don't have those kind of luxuries. We ate at one in AC and can I just tell you that Chinese food has not been the same since.

Grad school has taken over my life. I am currently sifting through 63 articles for my competency paper policy analysis. Although the work isn't extremely difficult, there is just too much of it, plus these people love group projects. LOVE THEM! I just remind myself that there is only 7 more months left. I have no classes with the nervous breakdown sexual harasser this semester so that is a plus. I must say that I do like my internship at The United Way. Everyone is nice and I am learning alot about funding and administration. Yee Haw!