The Good Life

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Tony Hall

Tony is awake and coherent. They know now that it is a brain tumor. They aren't going to do a biopsy yet because of the risk of memory loss. They will remove it in the near future. I'll try to keep updates coming...

Graduate School

Call me crazy, but I absolutely LOVE putting on my backpack, leaving a school full of small children, and going to a classroom where I can be the one that is akin to a "sponge" for once. Though there may be some periodic dry patches in the class lectures that I am hearing, for the most part I fell like I am retrieving some of the scholarly attributes I have sacrificed for the greater good of people who are "knee high to a grasshopper" over the past several years. The older I get and/or the more I learn, the more it dawns on me that I want to experience so much more than I ever had the desire to early on in life. Not only do I want to be an L.P.C. now, but I also want to be an educational researcher. Not that I actually want to be an educational researcher in reality, mind you, but when I'm sitting in class listening to the research lectures I think to myself, "Self, you could do that. You should do that at least once before you die." Here is a list of other things I (in theory) want to do or habits I want to form before I die (these are in order of their importance to me for the most part at this particular moment):

1. Backpack through New Zealand
2. Gallivant around Europe (for at least three weeks)
3. Spend my summers in PNG (once I've done 1 & 2)
4. Invent something that other people think, "Man! Why didn't I come up with that?" and that will make me an instant millionaire
5. Be a mother
6. Finish my Master's Degree in a year and a half
7. Finish my L.P.C. in just as an unrealistic amount of time as my master's
8. Actually incorporate my dictionary.com word of the day in conversation EVERY day
9. Do my Core Secrets workout 4-5 times a week
10. Become good at soccer
11. Write my autobiography and/or a hilarious screenplay

By the way, my mom and I realized last night that IF I pass my boards, get my masters, and get my L.P.C. I will be:
Joy Rainey N.B.C.T., M. Ed., L.P.C.
You better believe that I will insist upon you referring to me with that title for at least a month after I've completed all three!!!! :)

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

the new man in my life

As of 4:50 in the a.m. this 23rd day of August, I have a new man in my life. He weighs 8 lbs 5 oz and is 21 inches long. His name is Luke (hopefully Rainey, but probably Ryan) Odle. He can never replace the first man in my life with a noble stature of just a pinch over three feet. However, I will love him just as much, simply in a different way. With extremely long fingers, a laid back disposition, and the infamous "Rainey nose," there will never be another like him. Maybe he will even call me Aunt Joy early on (as opposed to Aunt "Der"). Regardless of what is to come, I am thrilled and ecstatic about this new bundle of aunt Joy's.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

soccer time!!!!!

Although I have been enjoying playing for the Mem. Rd. singles group soccer team; I have to say I am more than thrilled at the reprisal of the infamous Rescorers. I was already aware of that fact but became even more so when the ISA front desk guy with the crazy long curly mad scientist hair and funny sock wearing habits torted, "You guys are finally coming back, huh?" when I turned in our registration fees. Ours is a team that will go down in the annals of ISA history I do believe. If you are as excited as me, come on out and support us Saturday night (tentatively at 9:30).

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Potter Vs. Copperfield

Strictly adhering to the promise I have made to both Maddux and Blakewell, I have now embarked upon reading one of the Harry Potter books (simultaneously with the DaVinci Code and Black Students Middle Class Teachers of course). I have chosen to begin with the fourth one so that I can be sure and have the time to finish it before the much-anticipated fourth movie comes out.

In my last post, Maddux and Crazy Legs bantered in the comments section about who was better: Harry Potter or David Copperfield. In contemplating this - however prematurely it may be to do this since I am only in the second chapter in The Goblet of Fire - I find that you cannot choose between an apple and an orange. I have to admit that a lot of my comparisons (in this post) are and will be based on what I know of Harry Potter from the first three movies. When I indeed finish the book, I will most likely need to reanalyze my position.

The Goblet of Fire is thrilling and suspenseful. David Copperfield, on the other hand, truly does have some of the best character development of all times while simultaneously having its own share of thrill and suspense - merely in a different way. Both sagas are filled with gripping mystery. Each of the heroes is an underdog, in his own and similarly tragic right. You are drawn to pull for them to be victorious over the villainous creatures around them with every fiber of your being. You can't help but fall in love with them both. While Harry Potter certainly has no Agnes, I cannot think of a single character that Harry Potter has who doesn't have an equal or superior rival in David Copperfield (and I have truly given it much thought).
Here are a few of the parallels I have made:

Mr. Murdstone - Mr. Dursley
Miss Murdstone - Mrs. Dursley
James Steerforth - Draco Malfoy
Uriah Heep and Mr. Littimer - Crabbe and Doyle (though not a tenth as sinister)
Miss Betsey Trotwood - NOBODY! (as there is no one like her in the past, present or future to be sure)
Peggoty - Professor McGonagall or Mrs. Weasley (either of which is surely a stretch)
Mr. Peggoty - Dumbledore (though intellect be on the side of Albus)
Mr. Dick - Hagrid
Agnes - NOBODY!
death - him who's name should not be spoken
Tommy Traddles (younger) - Neville Longbottom
Tommy Traddles (older) - Ron Weasley
Sophy - Hermoine (for she's no Agnus)

Dora, Ham, Emily, Mr. Barkis - nobody

I am obviously leaning towards Trot and the gang which I am biased towards seeing as how I just finished it today. I cannot wait to reevaluate my position upon completion of the next 700 or so pages of what is sure to be a good read. I will let you know what the verdict is.

J.R.

Monday, August 08, 2005

let us have no meandering

I was recently inspired by a dear friend to pick up and read the classic novel David Copperfield. Today as I spent some time waiting in Books-a-Million (what an American name!) while my oil was being changed across Penn at Wal Mart, I decided it was the right occasion.

As I sat down in the Joe Muggs coffee shop and eagerly began what is sure to be a great ride, I was forced to relocate to the back of the store due to a Yu-Gi-Oh card battle between several diverse men of all ethnicities and ages. After the bewilderment from the bizarre aforementioned scene, I dove in, overcome with anticipation.

The first chapter was great. I felt myself assuming the pain of those around Miss Betsey, but not without several intermittent bursts of giggling. My personal favorite was when Miss Betsey insisted, "Let us have no meandering." That was when I made up my mind not to like her (while still, let me make this clear, enjoying the entertainment she provided).

Chapter 2 was even better, as the giggling graduated to laughter. I could hardly bring myself to put it down so I could retrieve my car. Were it not for VBS this evening, I think I should have abandoned my Aztek for quite a lengthy period of time to find out what kind of a weasel Mr. Murdstone actually is.

I am eagerly awaiting the adventures and mischief that are sure to unfold from this celebrated work. I could not have imagined admiring another one of Dickens' works as I do Great Expectations, but as it stands, it could be a tight race. I will surely keep you informed!

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Date of Birth

I recently celebrated the third anniversary of my 24th birthday. Over the past decade, birthdays have come and gone with little or no activities taking place to commemorate the auspicious occasion. This day was clearly an exception to the rule. After a good two months of planning with a soon-to-be second grader from school, a party for the two of us was about to take place since our births occurred on the same day exactly twenty years apart.

As I picked up Kimberly and Ashley, her older sister, from the African Food Store/Hair Weave Shop that their parents own, I was greeted with a screaming hug from their mother who had been in Africa since June. She had purchased an African wall-hanging while on her trip to see some of her other children still living there which she presented me for my birthday (as she had been apprised of the outing the girls and I were to have one day after her return). What an impact it had on me to know that she thought of me while in Africa!

Once we arrived at Incredible Pizza (which lives up to its name and more I might add) the fun began. I had snuck in a red velvet birthday cake to surprise Kimberly with and as she went back to the food bar to get a refill on her Sprite, I quickly stuck in and lit the seven candles. What a wonderful feeling to see the look on young Kim's face as she gazed upon a cake she had never before tasted (when later asked what her favorite kind of cake was she responded without hesitation that it was red velvet).

After food and cake, we went on to bumper cars which cannot be described in words because of the immeasurable amount of fun they produced. Next was go karts where the teenage boy running the track stopped the boy's car in front of us so that Kim and I would win. I guess he was struck by her "birthday girl" ribbon. :)

When the fun was over at Incredible Pizza, it was on to tour the Lighthouse medical clinic. Kimberly and Ashley are both hoping to go into the medical profession someday, so I thought it would be fun for them to see the clinic. As luck would have it, the young children's class at Lighthouse that day was having a party. So after picking up D.J., LaeLae, and Meicia, we headed back to Lighthouse for class where they all received Happy Meals and watched a portion of "Fraggle Rock." Today's generation just doesn't appreciate that classic, I am sorry to report.

Upon completion of our class party it was on to watch Miss Rainey, Joy, or "Auntie" play soccer depending on who you were talking to. I hope someday you can know the feeling of complete fulfillment you have when five neighborhood kids are yelling your name nonstop for fifty minutes at a sporting event for which they know nothing about. I have never experienced anything like that in all my 24 + 3 years. It was the most gratifying birthday moment I've ever had and probably ever will have.

All in all this was a birthday that I will never forget. Maybe next time I can expound on the Doctor's visit with D.J. that night at the medical clinic. For now, I'm out.

Friday, August 05, 2005

blog's up

I have given in to the peer pressure and finally set up a blog.