Classy

In case you all missed it - I'm in grad school. 

I know, you had no idea, right? Right. 

Anyway, this semester I'm taking PR Features Writing for the Web. The class just started two weeks ago and we discovered that (ready for it) - we have to write ... on the web. 

That's right folks, our entire class will be leading discussion on the web, right over here at our handy-dandy Wordpress site. There we'll be discussing all of the earth-shattering, mind-blowing topics you can handle, from the perspectives of about 10-15 different people.

At the very least, everyone will be showing up to hone our writing skills at the mercy of the Interwebs. 

(You're the Interwebs. Please show us mercy.)

Anyway, join us, won't you? I would LOVE it if you'd travel over there and give us all some open and honest feedback, both about our subject matter and our writing styles. In fact, it's part of the assignment to get visitors to the blog, so if you could just hop on over, that'd be great!

You're not going to make me beg, are you?

It really does happen!

For all of you who thought using "the dog ate my homework" as an excuse was too cliché, rest assured - it does happen!

Found this little gem this morning when I was just about to hop on the treadmill. I heard a very distinct crunching noise coming from the living room and, alas! There it was! My dog, trying to eat my homework!

If I would have thought of it in the moment, I could have snapped a photo of the little guy at work, but let's face it - 6 a.m. comes awfully early for just about all of us, right?

Good job, Lambeau. In my state of half-awakeness, I failed to document you in the act. So for now, I suppose it's my word against yours. 

Good thing I'm the one that makes the rules around here.

Resolutions.

If you belong to a gym, then you may think you know me. 

I would be the girl that shows up around January 2nd ready & raring to go. I've got a New Year's Resolution and I'm bound and determined to keep it. 

For most, that story ends sometime around, oh, January 11th. Hey look at that - today's the 11th. 

But for me, this resolution has a lot more sticking power. And you'll be happy to know it has nothing to do with showing up at your gym and making you wait for a treadmill. (Don't get me wrong - I'm definitely trying to get more fit - but this time I'm doing it in the comfort of my own home because the husband and I bought a treadmill. So no worries.)

What really makes my resolution different, though, is that I'm focusing a lot more on my overall health and wellbeing, not just a number on a scale or clothes tag. And since I have this forum to help keep me accountable, I'm going to lay out those goals so you can all mock me when I don't keep them up. So here goes ...

In 2012, I resolve to:

• Be a healthier person, in both mind and body
• Take better control of my free time
• Stop complaining about things I'm able to fix
• Be a better wife
• Write more!

That's it - not too much, right?

2012 has the potential for being one hell of a year and I'm resolving to make it one. 

So, how many of you are still keeping your resolutions?

TGIF

Surely at some point, everyone who writes anything has written those four letters. 

TGIF. Thank God It's Friday. 

I'm definitely feeling that today - the idea of having a weekend ahead of me with no plans outside of getting homework done sounds so supremely satisfying that I could not wait for it to be here. 

So yes, TGIF. And TGIS tomorrow with another TGIS after that. 

After all, it's been a tough week. Work has been hectic and school is really starting to get the best of me. But I heard a song today that reminds me of all the wonderful things that I am completely lucky to have. And just hearing those words - or the words of many other songs with the same effect - really helps put things in perspective. 

(If you're wondering, it's Lucky Man, by Montgomery Gentry - very country but makes a very good point; plus, there's a Bengals reference!)

So in light of seeing how lucky I am, I'm very thankful it's Friday and that I have an entire weekend to enjoy the lucky life I live. 

I hope you'll all do the same.

These nights are gonna be tough.

Hi friends. 

I had class tonight, and was therefore out of my house for about 15 hours today. So you'll forgive this being a complete and total cop-out post, right?

Right. 

(Hey, I promised I'd write every day, not that there'd be total gems everyday). 

Goodnight, folks - I'll strive for excellence tomorrow. 

Nobody Said it was Easy

Actually, wait - someone did. Someone was wrong.

Caution. Blog post contains serious whining and self-pity. Eye rollers beware. 

This semester has been...

Overwhelming. Defeating. Insufferable. Gosh darn it, just downright mean. 

And of course, it's only the beginning of November; which, unfortunately, means the semester is just starting to heat up. 

God help me. 

A word to the wise: when someone tells you that two graduate classes plus a full-time job is feasible ... laugh. And then have them committed, because that person has lost their mind. 

Two classes is hard. Two classes is ridiculously hard - and it's kept me from being available here. Which sucks. And it's kept me from visiting my new FANTASTIC nephew, Lincoln. 

Yup. That's double-suck. Maybe even quadruple-suck, because Lincoln is just that freakin' awesome. He was born October 20th and so far, Auntie-hood is awesome. 

Did I mention he's awesome?

Yup. Awesome. 

(I had to end on a good note, right? Right.)

Ghetto NaNoWriMo

You may or may not know this, but November is National Novel Writing Month, or, as the cool kids call it, NaNoWriMo. While I have no intentions of writing - or even beginning - a novel this month given my current schedule, it is definitely something I've considered doing more than once. 

That said, I think NaNoWriMo can serve a purpose, albeit a somewhat twisted one, here. So rather than following in the tradition, I fully intend to exploit the enthusiasm for NaNoWriMo and convince myself to write something - anything - every day in November. 

I promise no gems, I promise no epiphanies, but I do promise that I will be here, every day, for the next thirty days. So will you be here to hold me accountable?

Good. Glad to hear it. 

So here goes - surely this counts as the first day's post, right? 

Or maybe I should say, write. 

Either way, see you tomorrow!