So, it's 2013. That shocks me for a lot of reasons. I remember a writing prompt given to me in fifth grade, years ago. We were supposed to write about what life would be like in the year 2000. I was certain we'd have flying cars and humanoid robots doing our household chores, a la Rosey from the Jetsons. Here we are 13 years after that supposed reality and I'm still doing all the dishes and laundry I can't pass off to the kids. I do not have a flying car. Suzy the stupendous Subaru is car enough for me but I can't deny that a flying Suzy would be awesome.
Anyway, it's 2013. I'm starting another college semester in about 2 weeks. This time I'm taking some kind of lower level algebra. I guess it's pre-algebra for college. I'm also taking a philosophy class. I took introduction to ethics, which falls under the umbrella of philosophy, last summer. It was a fun class with interesting lectures. This time my philosophy class is logic, persuasion and argument or some such business. I'm looking forward to it.
I read some reviews of my philosophy professor on this site. He has pretty good ratings. There is one bad one but the reason this person rated him badly is because he goes off on tangents and tells stories during his lectures. I think that's awesome, so I'm not counting it against him. I don't know who my algebra professor is yet so I can't look them up.
I finished last semester with good grades in both biology and its lab and my last English composition class. I loved those biology courses. I learned so much and was able to apply a lot of the knowledge I already have to learning the information in that course. The English course was annoying in that it was a freshman composition class that I've somehow avoided when taking other English classes. It was pretty basic. I did have to write a rather lengthy thesis that counted as a third of my grade, but I'm proud of it.
Works is busy. Good grief, it's busy. This is a really bad sick season. There is lots of flu, gastroenteritis, strep, pneumonia, and garden variety upper respiratory viruses. I'm so tired of hearing the same old symptoms -- which no one can cure -- that I'm having a difficult time not rolling my eyes and telling everyone to just go home, stay hydrated and ride it out with OTC medications. They expect a doctor to fix them with some kind of magic. I'm sorry, but when viral symptoms start, it's going to be a few days before you feel better. Coming to see the doctor doesn't mean you are fixed. Please do not call us when you're not better tomorrow. And for Pete's sake, do not come back to the office; you're just going to expose yourself and your kid to whatever else has mutated overnight and is hanging about now.
The kids are doing well. Miriam is flourishing in middle school. I'm relieved. I was nervous about her starting there this year but she's doing just fine. Solomon is struggling some. We are trying to cope with ADHD and all the stuff that goes with that. Solomon is so smart and a hard worker, though. I know he'll be successful in the end. Samuel is doing well. I think we finally have the right combination of therapies at school, medication from the doctor, and IEP accommodations to suit him.
What really pleases me is the broadening of the kids' horizons. They're offered so many opportunities by living in this area. They're friends with a wonderful array of kids and they're learning so much about people; they don't even realize it, but I can see it. We're taking advantage of music and art opportunities that only a city like this can offer. I recently bought tickets to a ballet performance for the four of us. I cannot wait and the kids seem pretty excited, too.
Things with Paul are pretty great. I have the best time with him and I'm so grateful for him. We've gone to some fantastic events in the last year together -- lots of theater shows, some concerts, a couple of ballets, and we're going to the symphony and to see David Sedaris in the next two weeks. I'm so excited to experience these things with someone who enjoys them as much as I do.
We've had our share of sad and disturbing things happen. I'm still bothered by a lot of them on a regular basis. They cause me anxiety sometimes. I wish I could change them but the reality is, I can't. No one can. It's the bad thing about being in this world. All of those don't cancel out the wonder that is the rest of our lives.
