Because I don't know what else to do with this

The end of a long day, and I find myself wanting to clean out my inbox, yet not knowing where to send this gem.

You, dear friends, will be my recipients as a whole, I guess. I dedicate this to my literature-loving friends.

I hope you enjoy this, and much thanks to Katie for sending it my way.

Life at Breakneck speed

I had great intentions of posting more pictures of Quincy, since he is the new great diversion in our lives. He has really settled down with us in the last two weeks, and while I was kind of lamenting the fact, early on, that he wasn't a lap cat, he is developing some of those traits.

When I am up reading late at night (more on that later), he will sit on my feet or touching my leg and pass out. He is so very cute when he sleeps. Last night, as Kyle and I huddled around the computer to catch up on Lost, he jumped into my lap and fell asleep in a very strange position, but obviously he felt comfortable enough. He is so very fluffy, and loves to stretch out his arms and legs completely and lay on his back, exposing his very white and fluffy belly. We love having him here and just yesterday I realized that I was over the cat hair on my work clothes. We're still working on Kyle.

Last Tuesday (11th), I began a three-year journey. No, it's not as significant as Leslie's 6 month hike, but this journey is exciting for me nonetheless. Grad school has come upon me once again. And this time, I'm pursuing a degree which brings me great joy, in addition to educating me. I'm hoping to get a Master's in English Literature from the University of Indianapolis in May 2013. That's a long time from now, but I know it will fly past, as I'm still working full-time and taking classes part-time. My first class, of course as I've described it before, is about Jane Austen, and while that puts many people off, I'm loving it. As of today (1 week into this intensive course), I've watched 2 films (1996-Emma, and 2010-BBC, Emma mini-series), read the novel (Emma), and read several chapters in a book about film and literature, as well as several other essays. I've also written two essays. By the end of this week, I will have consumed another film (Clueless--which is an Emma adaptation--I did not know this), written another essay, and digested about four more articles. It's a hairy pace. But I'm coping (barely) and Kyle has been very generous and understanding. I'm looking forward to my summer of no work and only class. That will be fun!

In the midst of my start of classes last week, I also had a couple of vet runs with the cat, an all-day conference at Purdue, an evening out with friends to celebrate an anniversary, and Bible study. Also, we had to give up one car for a few days while it's in the shop, meaning I'm begging rides off of all my obliging friends here in U-town. Rides to work, rides home for lunch, rides back to work, rides to workout and then home from there. It's humbling to have to ask for help, and enlightening to see how quickly and easily people want to help. This week my tune says: I LOVE PEOPLE! Now that's something different, isn't it?

If you don't hear from me much this month, my advance apologies. I'm trying to keep my head above water until the first of June. But, so far, I'm enjoying my new life: one with a cat at home and literature in my everyday diet!

Pish posh

I don't know how you do it, Google, you sneaky bastard!

I was very skeptical, and in fact, I resisted for months after learning that you had a browser on the market. I didn't want to jump on the bandwagon, to give my Firefox loyalties over to some new young buck.

But I'll be darned if you didn't convince me with your speed. I tried it out, just to see if the home page for work would load faster, and it did. And so did everything else. But I eased in. I continued to mainly use another, until I realized that everything was simply faster with you. And we want fast. We want instant.

And here I am, hooked because you sync my bookmarks on any computer that I log into Google.

I'm finding that now, I don't find Firefox as pleasing to the eye; I could even say its ugly. Your smooth lines and soft colors have changed my point of view in less than two weeks. I can't even believe it.

Also, I'm starting to love Google Docs. Access to what I'm working on whenever and wherever I need it.

I wish you weren't so good, Google. But you are. And how can I deny that?!

Welcome, Quincy!

Here he is in all his adorable, hairy glory!

Quincy!

Look at that tail!

Our friend, Leslie, said the tail is like Quincy #2--a whole separate being.

We're only now discovering how very true that is.

Naughty or nice? You decide.

Just hanging out.

When life gets awesomer

We knew last week would be a good one because at the end of it, we'd be adopting a cat from a dear friend. But half-way through the week, I also got my syllabus for my first ever literature grad course that begins on the 11th of this month. I've been very nervous about this class, mostly because intensive summer courses overlapping with my time working here leaves me wondering how and when I will be able to complete the work for every class, let alone do my normal home and work functions.

In the end, God is always looking out for me and sometimes he hands you gifts at random times, not birthdays or Christmas or even Easter. Nope, this was a random late-April gift. And here it is.

The course is called "Austen and Adaptations" within which we will read Emma and Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen, and then we'll watch 4 to 5 movie versions of these, as well as The Jane Austen Book Club. We will also read Sense & Sensibility & Seamonsters, one of those strange modern adaptations that adds some of the Gothic drama that Austen left out of her novels, but was popular at the time it was written.

We will have to write 5 very short essays and one research paper, as well as serve on a panel to present our papers (like a literature conference would require) to the class.

Oh, and the brilliancy doesn't stop there. During the month of May, when I was particularly concerned about work time overlapping with school time, we will have "virtual class", meaning I won't be driving the 1.5 hours each way to class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. June 1st, which begins my first week off of work for the summer, is when actual sit-in-class-in-Indy begins.

You've got to be kidding me. But I'm not. That's how I know God is good and looking out for me, and giving me gifts that I don't deserve. Content I am very comfortable with (Jane Austen), comparing film and literature (fun!), and practically no work-school driving conflicts.

The weekend rolled around, and I was beaming with excitement about my classes. I was able to see a couple of friends, and finally, we brought Quincy into our home. He wasn't sure about us, even though he's visited us before (and was not skittish that time). He stayed hidden for hours, but after the group left, he began to venture out and slink around to explore every room. By nightfall, he was no longer slinking. By morning, he was playful and wouldn't let me sleep. Last night and today, we've seen the extent of his insanity. He's still very much kitten in his attitude, even though this month makes him 1-year-old.

Oh, and get this. The day I ordered my school texts online, I got a call from my credit card company to say they had suspicious activity on it from the previous night and they had put a hold on the account. Despite a few hours of panic, in changing auto-bill-pay for some things and changing payment for the books I'd just ordered...everything worked out. They closed the account, are setting up a new one for me, and nothing is lost.

Spring Break pictures: Easter

The pictures resume.

I had several pictures of Easter, but so did Em, and then we exchanged pictures and now I don't remember which are mine and which are hers. And she posted some on the GOFR. So, I'll just post a few from that day. It was awesome. We shared a feast (that seemed relatively easy to prepare).

The happy couple. We were SO enjoying ourselves!

Cute sisters.

What Jackson actually looked like ALL of Easter Sunday (post-church, thank you).

A happy momma with her screaming baby.

You can see his head is read from yelling.

Finally, look at how TALL she is?

I don't even know what to DO with that.

Spring Break pictures: Sedona to Flagstaff and Back

We made a quick trip through Sedona to Flagstaff to the Formans' favorite Mexican restaurant. Mmm, good. And also, beautiful drive. I took my Dramamine so that I wouldn't get car sick, but let me tell you, I still did. Franz was gracious enough to tone down the fiesty switchbacks as we neared Flag, otherwise, I might have lost my delicious Toffee shake from Wendy's.

We were in a convertible, which made the Sedona mountains even BETTER than when I'd seen them before. It was insane! Kyle got some great shots because of it. Maddie and I froze in the back seat because of it. But I'd say it was worth it.

The driver.

The tween and me.

She had her iPod and was into her music most of the trip.

It was too loud and windy to converse.

But I was so glad to share the back seat with her!

Coming up on Sedona.

First glimpse.

Sedona.

The mountains of Flagstaff!