Graduation

I had a great day yesterday. I completed a five year haul...some great times, some good times and a few rough patches...but you know what. I finished and I couldn't have done it without a few people along the way.

I owe the most to my husband, who worked long hours to provide the ability for me to attend school. I thank him for all the times dinner wasn't made, the house was filthy, laundry piled up and the office covered in paper. He never complained, only encouraged and always had this to say "I said if you start it, you need to finish it." It was his way of saying "it is ok...do what you need to do."

I also couldn't have done it without my three amazing babysitters. The first, Lynell - took care of Janis when she was just a baby - at a time, when Janis only wanted to be held and was demanding because I was gone. There were nights Janis would cry non-stop and Lynell just stuck it out. She stayed with me until she married and moved away. Then I was blessed with the opportunity to meet Lindsey - a young woman full of confidence and attitude. My kids loved her and she made sure she was always on time and never missed a night. Then, it was time for her to move away and go to college. Leaving me with my final sitter, Kaitlyn. Amazing and steady, reliable and sure. My kids adore her as well - and her adventure is about to begin as she heads to college as well. I couldn't have done it without three wonderful, confident, reliable and responsible young woman.


I also couldn't have done it without the inspiration of instructors and classmates. We truly have the ability to change the world and it feels good. What I loved most about the coursework was the ability to discuss advocacy, organizations and leadership. We had a great program and I learned so much.

I'm glad I'm finally done but I wouldn't take back the process of learning and the indiviudals I met along the way. I had a great time and enjoyed every minute of it...we'll most of my minutes....until next time. Go Lakers!

Life with the airlines...

I've decided the once romantic time of boarding a flight, enjoying the ride and being treated like royalty is over. It is merely a way of mass transit where the airline can cite weather as an excuse to really mess up plans. This year has been the worst in regards to airlines, lost luggage, canceled flights and nasty employees.

I suppose we get to experience the joys of flying more than most as my husband's job demands he fly nearly every two weeks and tonights flight was the icing on the cake. As I type he is crawling into a rental car in order to make it home on time to watch me graduate.

He left Saskatoon Canada this morning on an Air Canda flight to Toronto - flight went as planned and all was well. The flight from Toronto to Chicago O'Hare was a bit different. Originally he was to leave Toronto at 5:25 pm - they boarded the plane and sat. Sat and sat some more. Needless to say the flight that was supposed to arrive in Chicago at 6:12 pm arrived at 11:05 pm. The connecting flight from O'Hare rescheduled to go out at 1:32 am - for a 3:15 arrival - canceled. My husband was rebooked on a flight out of Chicago at 7:40 am - to arrive in Grand Rapids at 9:30 - for arrival at my graduation by, let's say 10:30. Hummm...

I get fed up. I get fed up the airlines can jack up the prices, stop giving you food, make you pay $2.00 for a short can of Pringles, and limit your luggage. I get fed up we have to out of pocket come up with another $150.00 to get my husband home - something I thought the airlines had a contracted obligation to do....which...because it is raining, they can't.

The best airline story comes from this past spring when my husband's flight was canceled because it was reported Grand Rapids had two inches of ice and slush on the runway. It was sunny and not a cloud in the sky...and no slush either. Yet, because it was "reported" it was weather related, no compensation could be given.

It is a crime and in most cases, when you have bad service you can make a choice - yet, we are actually held captive here because we cannot make the choices about which airlines the company decides to book. We do not have a choice of which airlines fly what routes at what times and where they can fly into (Southwest...why can't you fly out of and into GRR). We are just cattle, being driven from one gate to another...waiting and hoping...to arrive to our destination on time.

I could live with the fact my husband may not make my graduation. I really could - but what if I were getting married or what if I were having major surgery? There are so many reasons people travel and try to get where they are going...what happens when the airline messes up the plans? Why do we have to put up with it and just say oh well?

I'm not sure what the answers are. Maybe we have come to expect too much - maybe we are a society that demands instant gratification and we demand to be able to get from point A to point B in a reasonable amount of time. Yet, if the airlines can't deliver, they shouldn't operate on false pretenses.

So - with the pouring rain and a full size rental truck, I've turned the porch lights on and expect my husband - who has been traveling since 7:00 am this morning to arrive about in about 6 hours....24 hours after his journey started. Funny thing, I could've driven to Toronto and back by now.....

Harbor lights...they are shining bright....make it home safe my dear.

Family Dynamics

What is it with families? Some are close, others are not. Some enjoy being together all the time, others never talk. Some families take vacations together, others can't even be in the same room. I think mine is somewhere in the middle.

My mother believes she can say what ever she feels, regardless of how it will be received. Yet, when the favor is returned, she gets upset. It has been revealed I hold more respect for my friends than I do my own family. Yet, I have never had friends tell me I'm fat, that I'm a low life in need of attention or that they don't like my husband.

My close friends on the other hand call me up and want to go for a walk...to Rocky's for ice cream. I have friends who send cute cards and offer words of kindness - how friendship with me is valuable. My friends embrace my husband and we enjoy the times we all go out together. Why is it I can be me with them and not with my family?

I should expect that my folks embrace me for who and what I am. Apparently I'm seen as selfish, uncaring, ungiving, negative, and judgemental ...then again...this coming from the f0lks who call me fat and a low life.

So it puts me in a place where I really don't want to be. I don't want to spend time with the family because I do not appreciate how I feel when I'm with them. I would rather spend time with those who see me and accept me for who I am.

I don't want this post to be about dirty laundry. I do want this post to be like a buoy...a reminder that there are objects ahead...that when approaching, use caution, take the time, make the right moves....

While I've decided to put on my life jacket in case of a wreck - others in this world may want to move with caution as they navigate the rough "family" waters. For me, I'm tired of always sitting down when I'm told. This time I gonna stand up when the boat rocks and try to make sure I don't get sea sick.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Why can't they sleep?

My kids I love them - but I think they have so much going on in their brains at bed time they cannot sleep. My son has been downstairs several times now - just wants to talk but he has nothing to say...I believe his brain is running at high speeds and he has a difficult time just closing his eyes and letting his dreams take him away.

I, on the other hand, do not have that trouble - why if my eyes are even the remote bit heavy, I can head to the other room, lay down and fall fast asleep. I love the opportunity to rest - it means I've had a full day. I initially sat down tonight to find articles for a paper I need to work on for an upcoming conference. Papers should be attempted by May 15th....working with a few other folks so we'll see how fast we can crank something out. I'm excited about the topic - dealing with creativity in the classroom....something I think is lacking on all levels.

So - I ended up getting sidetracked. Started looking for articles then found myself drifting to job hunting. I have a ton of skills, I just need to learn how to market my skills better. I made an appointment for tomorrow morning to see if I can have someone else help me figure out my life. That is another thing...I can sleep and also admit when I need guidance! Harbor Lights! See - all I have to do is turn and face the lighthouse! So, what I'm thinking, is I need to take a career assessment test and then figure what my strengths and weaknesses are...

Keeping focused might be one...I also printed out a job posting for a University position nearby and I think it would be a perfect opportunity to blend my new experience with a familiar University so I am going to dust off the social network book and see who I might know that can help me establish the correct connections....

All is going well - the weekend went so fast. Last night was amazingly fun as I headed out on the town with a few new and old friends. I haven't been to a club in years - last night was an eye opener for me - as I've been so far removed from that "scene" for a while now - glad too! It was like a big pond with sharks and bottom feeders...each had their place in the pond and really made for the enjoyment of the evening. I enjoyed watching all my "single" friends navigate the room as well and delighted in the fact I didn't care either way what was going on....I was having fun.

So - I should actually get back to what I'm "supposed" to be doing....which is not really anything but I feel better having a purpose and a task. Gotta get a job, so I don't have to take those undergrad classes in the fall....

Which Way?

Do you ever get the feeling there are people in this world that know exactly where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing? How on earth do they know?
I have an idea of where I'm supposed to be and I have an idea of how I'm supposed to get there but I'm not sure I'm ready to accept the long road and dedication it would take to get there. Thing is, I want to make exactly sure it is what I'm destined to do....before I actually begin the journey.

I think back to when I was a child. When I was five I drew a picture and wrote "I'm going to be a nurse when I grow up." Then I found a book I received when I was eight and I indicated I was going to be a bus driver. I am convinced I chose those professions based upon the fact they wore hats. Yet, just the other day I was on the bus and the driver was not wearing a hat. Nurses...well nurses don't either.

Come to think of it, what professions do wear hats? I'm talking hats here...not helmets!

I'm thinking...and I'm thinking hard....seems I can only come up with professional baseball players, professional cowboys and fast food workers...

None of those options strikes me as being a winning option....and while the world needs each and every person that performs those tasks I would not fit in and I would quickly be looking for somewhere else to hang my hat.

So. What is a recent graduate to do? I have options....and the one I particularly like is the one that has me embracing the very moments if life as if they are my last. There is much I want to do and much I want to accomplish...I just have to know if I spend time enjoying life, if life will pass by - the life in which I'm destined to lead.

I called this blog harbor lights for a reason...I have faith in a higher being, faith I will not be led astray...but I also am one that does not have such a solid foundation in faith that I believe ther is no chance I'll run aground. It isn't the fear of hitting rocks and rough patches along the way...I'm afraid of sinking...