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I think it is time to let you guys know that I have been self-diagnosed with a very severe case of Senioritis. The symptoms include:

Lack of focus on school work
A complete lack of desire to do anything related to my education
Slight laziness
Frustration at the future ie: not having a job
and Annoyance that I have not yet graduated

It is not clear in research whether or not this illness is contagious but oddly enough and hence the name it appears only to affect graduating seniors. If anyone has any suggestions for treatment, as none are listed, that would be greatly appreciated.

Daddy Fell Into the Pond

This is a poem in one of Elinore's poetry books. She absolutely loves it. We read it over and over. I always want to laugh because it reminds me of the time the canoe flipped over and threw Dad (and Mom?) into the lake. We all wanted to laugh, but we were afraid we would get in trouble. I remember someone's arm held above the water holding the camera!
Anyway, here it is:

Everyone grumbled. The sky was gray.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And there seemed to be nothing beyond,
THEN
Daddy fell into the pond!

And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight,
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out of the duckweed." Click!

Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft
And it sounded as if the old drake laughed.

O, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
WHEN
Daddy fell into the pond!

by Alfred Noyes

We took advantage of a 48* day last week to ride our bikes over to Window on the Waterfront. We took along Elinore's rain boots in hopes of their being puddles. We found a good one and Elinore had a blast splashing away. Then we walked over to the boardwalk and she threw sticks into the marshes. We saw some red-winged blackbirds (which my field guide claims mean spring is definitely here).

Thought I would share something funny with you. At a playgroup a few days ago, another mom asked me, "Does your daughter like to pretend a lot?" I told her yes. She said, "Because she just told me her name was Susan, and her nametag says Elinore."

It's Official

I'm looking for a new job.

It's actually been official since the beginning of November, but I am recently at liberty to declare it publicly. I am committed to my current job through the end of the semester, which will most likely be the beginning of June, but beyond that, who knows?

I've been working with my life advisors (aka: Mom and Dad) to articulate my personal mission statement, and thus propel me into a successful career change. As I have it:

To kindle in Americans an appreciation and enthusiasm for the world's cultures using the arts as a medium.

I love nature, the arts, and world cultures. Does anyone have any ideas about how to combine those things? I'm open to suggestion.