just drowning in homework and school. At the end of this quarter I will officially no longer be a freshman in college. Not that I really give a crap about that sort of thing but evidentially the people who like to put me further into debt in order to finance me seem to care enough to put me ever so slightly deeper in debt once I am no longer a first year student. More money is always good, except i have to pay it all back but that is what I am going to school for.

Chemistry is driving me crazy which probably makes it a good thing I am in psychology also lol. I think I have just enough balance to keep me from completely flippin my lid lol. 

Next term hubby and I will be coordinating our schedules. This double duty school thing (I am there for his classes and mine which just so happen to be on completely different days and times) so by the time I get home I am to tired to really be of any use to anyone or to read anything. Especially exciting reads like Intro to Chem lol. Drooling on textbooks decreases their sell back value afterall lol. 

I am also considering taking an easy term of classes next time. but know me as I do I probably won't.

Anyway just thought you should kno I am still here.

Kiddo is doing ok but struggling in school. Paying attention and bringing home her homework would probably help. 

Hubby is back in fulltime and after a long uphill battle finally got his financial aid reinstated and the majority of it (he already got a small amt) will be in next week. Just in time to pay some bills lol.

Rudy is still a riot. He is now to big for a medium harness and apparently (unless the harness is defective somehow as it keeps loosening up on him) to small for a large. We have now leash trained him at night to sleep in the kitchen, he can not reach the carpet but has full roam of the kitchen, laundry room, and dining room. I am not against crates but I just feel less guilty this way. He loves sleeping next to the dryer too.  He is a good boy. 

Well that is about it, I have a ton of homework to get done this weekend and I plan to be done by Sunday so I can worry about other stuff on monday like my upcoming chem test.

Nina also has a minor surgery coming up but the exact date is not set in stone yet. I just know it will be before November!

Good night and I hope all is well on your side of the screen!

Sam

Today marks many things for hubby and myself. To name just a couple today marks three full years since we woke up and decided we were sick and tired of feeling like crap and struggling for every breath. Not to mention throwing perfectly good money down the drain. Every time we lit up we hated the hold that little 2 inch stick of cancer to go had over us. We quit smoking three years ago today. We actually almost forgot all about it. To me that is a sign that we have really beaten that demon. At the one year mark we thought about the fact that we had been smoke free probably as much as if it had been only a few days. At the two year mark we made mention of it and probably toasted it with a wine cooler or some such thing. But this year is different. Mainly because we have not only been smoke free but we have not drank any alcohol in probably a year or more. The drinking had never been big with me, I was your once a year.. go get shit-faced... kind of drinker. My hubby on the other hand, while I never considered him an alcoholic by any means, always seemed to have a six pack in the fridge. He even used to drink the six packs. I would say we probably at one point bought a case or so a week. We are not for sure how long we have been alcohol free because it was not something we actually said we would quit, like with smoking... But over time we just stopped. We noticed one day when we were trying to think of ways to entertain our rare nights off from parental duties, that it just didn't sound good. It sounded gross and to be honest it did not even sound fun. Maybe it is because we have gotten older and more conscience of our health. 

I am in no hurry to die from liver failure or who knows what else.

Today also marked hubby's dad's birthday. He passed away the August before we quit smoking. Maybe his death was why hubby was so successful. He died from complications due to diabetes, the fact that his wife refused to open a window or go outside when she smoked (and still refuses to do so) did not help matters either. We had both tried to quit before but had failed. Failure as I have since learned is one step in success. Everyone fails, there is no way around it... but if you keep trying then you are not really a failure. I think hubby saw what his life could be like if he didn't take action. 

We miss you dad! Happy birthday where ever you are!!!

Activia...

So I am taking the Activia challenge. Over the years I have tried every med known to man to correct my digestive problems. Out of desperation I have decided to try the activia challenge. After all if Lori Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is willing to chase complete strangers in a park to get them to taste it, it must be good right?  I am on day two and believe it or not.. so far it seems to be helping. One tiny yogurt a day! I should point out that I HATE most yogurts.. I usually have to really be in the mood for it... So I have decided to be in the mood for it each morning for breakfast accompanies by toast or a muffin it isn't so bad. Will have to keep ya posted on how it all works out because I know you are just dying to know lol.

Family...

Nina started middle school on the 1st. She is doing extremely well so far. Thank you to the loved ones (you know who you are) for sending Nina some clothes etc for school. Without these wonderful people in our life Nina would have had to wait until I started school to get things she needed. I had a few things for her but money is always tight this time of year. Thank you and I love you all dearly...

Hubby & I are still enjoying our break from school. I am missing it more than I think he is but then again we are still fighting the financial aid battle for him. It's rather ridiculous. We won't know anything until probably the end of next week. We are thinking of him going only part time for fall but aren't sure yet.

My mother is still not speaking to me. However she has no problem sneaking around to speak with Nina. I am not saying that I would ban Nina from talking to her, but she could make it less obvious that she is avoiding me. Her birthday is September 9th.. I will send her an e-card and I am in the same place with the same numbers I am always at. I will not beg her to give a shit anymore.. I am no longer 11 or 12 hoping she would come home from where ever she was...

Anyway I am enjoying my 3 day weekend with my kiddo and hubby.... School is back on for her tomorrow and I have 15 days until I get to say the same... 

Be well my freinds,

Sam

The end of the quarter is here! Please stay tuned for status update on final grades and what not.
I am gonna go crawl in my hole of a bed and sleep for a week.
As you were! lol

I think I may in fact blow my gasket tomorrow at school. My English instructor gave me a C- on the last paper you read, the one on my communication style. I can handle that, however, he gave me a frigging F (40%) on the rough draft of essay 2 (i did not send it to you it's a much longer emotionally draining story) but since it was a rough draft supposedly not to graded on content, grammar etc, he just wanted to see ideas on paper. Then he made the final due tonight. After it was due I recieved feedback on why the rough draft sucked. Not sure if you have been following but we have all (students) been tryin to get this teacher to send us feedback and reply to emails and basically have been left on our own. He can't even keep his due dates and assignments right. He has completely forgotten to give us like 4 assignments (worth like 250 pts of our final grade) and now he is trying to make up for it in the last 7 days of class. I have never EVER failed English. I am not saying I am an expert but  I love and have always loved to write. It always came easier for me. Now I am beginning to wonder if other teachers felt sorry for me. When he does comment he is cruel about it. I am going to the Dean tomorrow. But reporting him is not going to change that just since I have been sitting here my grade went from a wonderful 77% (c-) to a 74%. I wrote him saying that I was concerned because he was not posting grades and that I felt I was getting very little guidance. I was really nice about it in my email. I never got a reply back but now here it is midnight and my grade is falling. I want to cry. I know I am at least a better writer than a friggin C-. If it drops below a 70% I will have a D and he will automatically fail me. I have not missed one single assignment! I am not screwing around.I hate the idea of dropping the class because I do not want to give up but I do not want it to screw up my GPA either. I just don't know what to do, I am sorry this is so long but I needed to vent. If i sleep tonight at least I will have gotten it off my chest. I also apologize for the many grammatical flaws etc. I am pretty upset and just don't give a fuck.Huggles and thanks for "listening"

Sam

Keep in mind the first 3 wks this instructor gave little to nothing to even do. Now at week 7 (of 8) he is just now getting around to entering grades and realizing he missed the 4+ assignments has now tripled our workload for the week of final exams. 

I will talk to the Dean tomorrow but I am certain that nothing will actually change. 

Is it really giving up? Am I acting rashly? Or am I just insane? I have never gotten an F in anything in English... ever.

I am going to bed.

Thanks again for listening to me whine!

let you know I have not forgotten about my blog. I have just been swamped. Getting new furniture tomorrow and 42" television (on payments unfortunately). Pretty excited I have never owned new furniture. Or a huge tv in fact. I bet the Wii will be AWESOME on it. Not that we ever have time to play lol. Quarter is moving very quickly. I have 2 chapters of math homework to do this weekend. I am also working on an essay, unsure of exact due date yet as it has not been posted, and peer reviews for English as well. I am unable to say whether I am doing well yet. I have not really had much time to think about it to be honest. As if I did not have enough stress in my life, I have a third class starting up next week in the evenings. I believe I may have been off my rocker the day I made this schedule. Well more off my rocker than normal! My mother is supposedly coming for a visit, i believe it is pending funds not exactly sure. I am also unsure of her ETA either. Hubby's best friend and of course a friend of myself as well, will be here in 8 or 9 days and he and hubby are like brothers, they have been friends for about 25yrs! I have not known anyone in my life (that is not related to me directly ie sisters mom) including most relatives for that long! My longest friend is probably a cousin and not sure if that counts as they are related to me! My longest nonrelated friend is probably my friend Bonnie, and i have not seen her in about 2 to 3 years. My hubby is my closest friend, that i have known the longest. I am proud of this and find it pathetic all at the same time... shows I need a hobby LOL. 

So anyway I did not want you to think I had killed off or something exciting. I am considering getting a small digital camera just for random snapshots. Like of furniture or puppy or kids!

I am gonna take advantage to the fact i have a bit of a break!

Huggles to all!

Sam

Well Summer Quarter started today. So far so good. I am already ahead in math and English. 

I need some supplies but I do not get paid until Friday. I can make do with what I do have so I am not terribly concerned. Back to being constantly busy. Luckily one class is online.

It is my very first online course so this should prove interesting everyone tells me that online classes are harder however I have gotten an easy A in both my English classes previously and I have also always loved English.

More to come, hope all of you are well!

Sam

The quarter that is. 

My standings so far are:

Math  92

A- (90%)

English 100

A- (91%)

Soc 101 

to be determined. NOT confident. Took the final today and drew a lot of blanks.

should find out tomorrow.

~~~~UPDATE 6/18/2010 2AM~~~~

hey all, finally got my final grade for Soc 101. I got a C+.. (a point away from a B) that gives me 2 A's and a C which puts my GPA this quarter at about a 3.33

Which is a B AVerage and I do believe dean's list (was on president's list last quarter)

Since I know I busted my ass I am over all a happy camper! 

My last essay got a B+, which i was totally happy with!

I was shocked that he got the essay graded and back to me so quickly. In fact he got it back to me so quickly that it was in my campus email by the time I got home!

Now other news...

I have surgery tomorrow. The doc will be attempting to upgrade my trach. He is hoping that doing so will in fact recure my sleep apnea, that has not ever really gotten cured by the trach. It will be an out patient procedure. I may not update to quickly on here but I will try, it may be as short as "im ok, it was successful" or considerably longer if it doesn't happen for some reason lol.

am feeling better today but the numb stuff obviously wore off so I am sore but should be better in a few days!

I would be lying if i said I wasn't nervous, the hospital in town is not exactly popular... often referred to a death trap. so I have that lingering in my head as I go to sleep tonight.

But anyway, I am gonna go to bed. I am officially NPO (no food/drink) as of midnight. I do get to take my meds in the AM though so I will get a sip or two of water *yay!*

Surgery was successful now time to rest

This is my final "exam" essay. It is an argumentation essay. I currently hold an A in this class. Sadly I do not believe I will maintain it when I turn this in. I am however advocating the right to allow the Makah Indians to hunt the gray whales (as they have done for 2000 years). It is a right given to them by our government when we forced them off their land. The only reason I am agreeable to allowing it is because of their treaty/legal right. Ordinarily I do not advocate the murder of the beautiful whales. But alas I had to pick a side. Sometimes we have to chose to fight for things because they are the right thing to do. PLEASE as always lemme know how it sounds. I am not to be insulting to the opposing veiwpoint (those against the Makah Whaling). This is hard for me because I am generally not an argumentative person (despite what my mother may tell you lol). This paper bothers me because I am not fond of the topic and despite the fact that I know I am a good writer I can not seem to meld it together. I have read it aloud a couple times and it doesn't flow. It is also my first experience with a research paper of sorts so I am nervous about the citations/works cited page.

PS I promise to write something nice for you all here soon. I was thinking about writing about Mr. Rudey. I am also thinking about getting a little creative/ fantasy.

The Makah's Right to Whaling

The controversy over whether or not the Makah Indians should have the right to hunt whales has been going on for many years. The fact that it is a right given to them in writing seems to be beside the point. The Makah Indians should be allowed to hunt whales because it is a right given to them in article 4 of the Treaty of Neah Bay, it is a deeply cultural experience and brings the tribe much needed food and resources.(Whaling Tradition p2)

The Makah Indians were given the right to hunt whales in the Treaty of 1855 that they entered into with the United States. According to article four of the treaty, they retained their rights to the taking of fish which included whaling and sealing. That is as long as they did not take shellfish from the beds of any citizens. Some people may argue that the Treaty is old and out dated. However, the Constitution is also old but we still abide by it. The age of the Constitution and the Treaty of Neah bay should not be considered when deciding whether or not it should be followed or upheld.

Some people may disagree with the whale hunts because the Makah's voluntarily abandoned the hunts for more than 70 years in the 1920's due to decreased population of the gray whales caused by the commercial whaling industry.(Recent Whaling p2) In May of 1999 the Makah were permitted to once again to hunt the gray whale. The Makah used both a traditional harpooner and a rifleman so that the animal would suffer as little as possible. (Recent Whaling p2) On May 17, 1999 the Makah's first hunt in over 70 years was successful. The whale was then celebrated and prayed over to give thanks to the whale for giving its life to nourish the life of the Makah. The food from the whale was distributed and some was passed around for the people to sample. (Recent Whaling p2)

Whaling was not just a source of food for the Makah people. It was also a very cultural experience for the hunters. Weeks and months went into the preparing for a whale hunt while hunters prayed, fasted, and bathed ceremoniously. A group of eight men in a canoe would wait until weather was favorable and depart on their hunt. They used harpoons that were intended to slow the animal until a special lancing tool could be used to finish the animal off. (Whaling Tradition p2) Eventually they towed the whale home singing songs that praised the powers that made the hunt possible. Whaling for the Makah is no different than that of hunting moose or elk today. Most people would think nothing of going elk or even moose hunting. The argument could be that those animals are no less important to protect and therefore should be also banned. I would think that there is a compromise that could be reached where both sides could win. One suggestion would be to perhaps limit the Makah to one whale per year. They could then practice their ceremonious hunts, get needed food for their tribe and keep tradition alive as their ancestors did for more than 2,000 years. (Whaling Tradition p3)

Some people may argue that whaling is not the only source of food for the Makah. However, whales brought more than food, they also brought oils, bone, sinew, and storage containers made from the gut of the whale. (Whaling Tradition p2) The Makah hunt of the gray whale stirred up controversy that is continued even today. Their lives have been interrupted by protestors and media frenzies. All of this because they want to continue a tradition practiced by their ancestors before them. According to the article called After the Hunt, Bitter Protest and Salty Blubber, the Makah said that they would not use the whale killed for any commercial purposes. They plan to use the whale they killed and any future whales for tribal use only or share with other Indian groups. For the Makah people it is not about the money, it is about tradition according to Theron Parker. (Verhovek, New York Time, p2)

The Makah have hunted whales for thousands of years. It is part of a deep seeded tradition that they were given a legal right to in the Treaty of Neah Bay. While there should be certain limitations made they should be allowed to hunt the whales as their ancestors did. In a tribe that would benefit from the food and other resources the whale can bring to the tribe they should be allowed to continue their hunts with little interaction from the outside world.

WORKS CITED PAGE BELOW

he's big boned!!!

she's not a baby anymore!

but even though she puked in front of the whole school she still walked with her class 

        i am very proud