Because sexism is fine as long as it's animated...

Dreamworks, what the hell?!?  Let me admit it first that I am not a fan of the Shrek series.  I don't think they're that witty, I can't stand Mike Myers, and potty humor really doesn't do much for me.

But, now, I really, really dislike the Shrek franchise.  Really. 

It seems that racism and sexism is completely acceptable as long as it's wrapped up in a "cute" animated film?!?  Before you click on "comment" and retort:  "But, it's just a cartoon.  You're being too sensitive.  You just need to enjoy the film."  Let me present my evidence:

1. Eddie "Paycheck" Murphy and Craig Robinson--the only two cast members of color in the film--provide the voice for the two of the most loud and obnoxious characters.  Donkey and Cookie (the gay ogre, too) sing, dance, have no sense of "personal space" or boundaries. 
2. The [French] Gingerbread Man is actually referred to as "Cracker."  As in, Shrek says, "Hey, look, Cracker."  I turned to Marc with my mouth agape as the audience roared.  Referring to another character as "Cracker" is funny?!?  So, can we refer to a fish in the film as a "wetback," too?!?  Would that not be equally offensive? 
3. The children of Donkey and Dragon (the supposed "interracial" couple in the film) are referred to as "mutants."  What cute little biracial Donkey-Dragon mutant babies!?!
4. Puss in Boots is just one long extended fat joke.  Oooh, look, he can't touch his toes.  Ooooh, look, he's lazy and likes to lay around.  Whatever.
5. But, Fiona's character.  Fiona's character is the single most offensive character in the complete film or franchise that I've seen in a while--well, Michael King managed to f*ck up Sex and the City 2 pretty good, too.  But, that's a different blog posting....

---------Out of consideration, let me issue a SPOILER ALERT right now.  SPOILER ALERT.  ----------

So, when we begin the film, Fiona--Shrek's wife--is a stay-at-home mom to 3 young ogres.  She's been rescued by Shrek--her knight in shining armor--and is happy and content raising raise her babies, changing diapers, and cleaning her tree house. 

But, Shrek throws it all away after a midlife "I want to be single, again" moment.  In this alternative universe that Shrek has found himself, Fiona is the warrior princess leading the rebellion to save Far, Far Away from the maniacal dictator, Rumpelstiltskin.  She has "rescued herself" from the dragon, raised an army, and protects ogres from--literal--witch hunts.  For Fiona, in this alternative universe, she is a take-charge, aggressive, commanding presence who is respected by her "troops" and doesn't need anyone to protect or take care of her.  She actually seems pretty happy as an independent woman.

However, Shrek's life will return back to normal if he can get Fiona to fall back in love with him (in 24 hours, mind you--because we women-folk are just THAT stupid) and kiss him.  And, it works!   Shrek manages to restore order to the universe and "right" these wrongs by kissing Fiona.  Fiona's consensual sex (albeit, in the form of a PG kiss) restores the universe back to how it should be:  Fiona is, yet again, a stay-at-home mom to three babies and has been rescued, yet again, by her prince charming, Shrek.  Life returns for Shrek to how it "ought to be"...as it "should be":  Shrek is the master of his domain and Fiona reduced back to her role as caregiving, nurturing subordinate. 

So, Dreamworks:  Shame on you.  Because somehow, sexism and racism is perfectly fine when it's in animated form.  The film ought to be called:  Shrek:  The Final Chapter, Thank God.

iMovie Reflections on Thailand

I'm working on developing my Comp II Honors course for next Spring and I am thinking of requiring a video/multimedia project as part of the course's research project using film, photography, and iMovie/Moviemaker.

So, I started playing around with iMovie--because that's the fun part of my job--and here's what I put together.  These are pics from my recent trip to Thailand.  The music is a bit too sentimental but I think I took some kick ass photographs.

Check it out here...

Protesters Against Health Care Reform...

...at a rally in D.C. on Saturday. This is coverage from the Columbus Dispatch of a protest rally for and against health care reform in Washington, D.C. today. 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multimedia/video/video.html?video=949486

To summarize, in the video, a man is sitting on the ground in front of protesters against the health care bill with a sign that states that he has Parkinson's and that he would be served by the health care bill.

Several protester tell the man that "this is America," that you have to work here in America to get what you want, and that there are no handouts here.  Then, another man walks up and throws a dollar at the man sitting on the ground and tells him, "Here.  Here's some money.  Have a dollar.  Want another one?  Here."

I'm so disgusted.  Some days, it's hard to believe that "this" is my America.

Testing, testing, testing...

MRI, EEG, psychological evaluation, TAKS... Tobey's been one assessed young man as of late.

Why all the tests?  Tobey has been having some "Tourette's like ticks" for the past year and his neurologist wants to see whether there might be something else going on with Tobey.   Is there something else going on?  I don't know...  After all, it doesn't really change anything.  Tobey is still Tobey, regardless of the label they put on him.  His needs remain the same.

And, this year, I've come to terms with the realization that his needs are going to be significant.  He's been moved into the self-contained classroom and he's officially one of the kids on the "short bus."  Gawd, how I hate that joke, and I cringe a bit when I hear it used as an insult.

Still, I'm reminded of a passage from Roy Grinker's book Unstrange Minds when he is putting his daughter to bed and he realizes that he will be doing this for the rest of his life.  That he has the privilege of doing this for the rest of his life.   When other parents worry about their children going out on dates, moving away to college, flunking out of college, Grinker will have his daughter at home with him.

And, I will have Tobey.  He may live in an independent living facility; he may not.  But, I will always have him with me in some capacity.

And, that is okay.

I've been saying for years...

...that Jenny McCarthy's son wasn't really autistic.

Now, she finally admits it in an interview in Time magazine this week.  How many children have been harmed by parents who were afraid to vaccinate their children?  And, how much money has McCarthy made by exploiting these parents' fears?

Shame on you, McCarthy.  And, I feel sorry for those parents who trusted the "expertise" of a Playboy Bunny before the educated, medical experts.

A Letter to High School English Teachers...

As my students start writing their first paper in my Comp I course, I have had many conversations w/ students this week on the differences between the writing they have done in high school and the writing I expect from them in college.  Some students seem to embrace the freedom that comes with using "I," "you," more than 5 paragraphs, and "In this paper, I will discuss..." in their papers.   Others seem indifferent and have just rolled w/ it.  And, one student stormed out angry yesterday.

My conversations w/ students is much like the conversation happening online on the WPA list serv.  I found this exchange between a high school teacher and college department chair to be especially interesting.  In the interest of furthering the conversation about student writing, student needs, and professional development, I'm posting it here, too.


http://illinois.edu/db/view/25/22040?count=1&ACTION=DIALOG

Recent News on Autism, Wakefield, and the MMR Fraud

Looks like Andrew Wakefield will probably lose his license--as he should.  I feel nothing but contempt for the man for the pain and suffering that he has put autistic individuals through because of his quackery.

And, now, The Lancet has finally retracted Wakefield's 1998 article that made the supposed connections between autism and the MMR vaccine.  Again, 'bout time.

If you're interested in sound, scholarly research that discredits any connection between autism spectrum disorders and MMR vaccinations or mercury, check out Paul Offit's book, Autism's False Prophets.  As a rhetorician, Offit's book is such an excellent example of logical analysis that I can't recommend it enough.

Emanuel, Palin, and the "R" Word

What is just as offensive as Rahm Emanuel's use of the word "retarded" to describe Conservative ads against health care reform?  Sarah Palin exploiting the situation to get herself back in the spotlight by insisting that he should resign. 

Emanuel reminds me of the student who says something off the cuff without malice intent.  Palin, on the other hand, is completely exploiting the "I have a child w/ special needs" to further her own political celebrity.  [Groan]

Back to Blogging...

I have neglected this blog.

I'm a terrible owner because--after what could only be described as 9 months of a dissertation writing frenzy--I have had quite a bit of writer's block. My desire to write has been strictly limited to updating my Facebook status, which--like Chris--I do much too often. I'm sure my friends have just been dying to know that I am on my 6th cup of coffee, that I need to run to the post office, or that I really, REALLY hate Glenn Beck. And, yet, they all do.

Still, during my dissertation defense, my chair and two readers suggested that I return to my blog and present a public discursive presence. They encouraged me to continue posting on disability and rhetoric in the public culture. Too often, academics get "locked into" their own offices writing for the 3-4 people who will be at their conference presentation. But, it's important that academics contribute to the public discourse--even if it's from our tiny, little speck of the Interwebs. So, now that the dissertation is done and I'm Ph[inishe]D, I am returning to my blog to use my powers for good.

And, scene...

The dissertation defense is complete. I am officially, Dr. Rochelle Gregory, PhD. I had some great feedback during my defense from my committee members, all of whom commented on my blogging over the past five years. So, I'm thinking of pursuing what Dr. Greer referred to as a "professional intellectual" more seriously. He suggested blogging about disability and rhetoric since I have the expertise, interest, and education. So, that's what I've been thinking about in more detail over the past couple days. That, and other things. Now, I just need to get the revisions made and turn in this bad boy.... Hahh, the sound of a done dissertation is wonderful...

The end is near...

Yes, the dissertation is turned in. And, a defense date has been announced. August 26th at 1:00 on the 9th floor conference room.

I'm going to gather some resources so that I feel the confidence that I hope to project.

Now, what to do about this blog... I'm thinking of changing the name and moving forward with it. Blogging on FYC theory, disability theory, new book ideas, etc. Because I've got several.

Graduation: December 17th. (I'm so random this morning)

June Expense Report

Okay. I've got 10 minutes to type up the blog before I have to get back to cleaning the house. My mother, father, sister, her boyfriend, her twins, my aunt, and my grandfather will be here with me, my boys, and Marc in about 2 hours. It's going to be a looooooong day.

But, here's my June expense report. Some areas were a great improvement. Others could use some more work.

• Groceries $589.42 (Huge improvement from last month--$400 less than last month)
  
• Healthcare/Medical 562.21 (This will probably be a bit high for a while.)
  
• Education 476.60 (This is high b/c I had to buy a buttload of books for next fall and for my dissertation. This should go down a lot next month.)
  
• Mom 300.00
  
• Car Payment 300.00
  
• Utilities 290.00
  
• Gasoline 259.48
• Restaurant 202.83 (A huge improvement from the $400 we spent last month.)
  
• Travel 190.00
• Home Improvement 159.35 (This was a bit higher b/c I did some home improvements in the yard. Dirt therapy.)
  
• Insurance 150.00
• Entertainment 128.43
• Telephone 111.55
• Cable 100.00
• Hobbies 93.39 (This went down b/c I dropped Tobey from karate.)
  
• Service Fees 77.00 (Okay, this is seriously all my fault and way too much--six $10 overdraft fees to move money from savings to checking when I don't pay attention and have insufficient funds in my checking. I have GOT to do better here.)
  
• General Merch. 62.28
• Auto 57.69 (Yearly inspection and oil change.)
  
• Clothing 39.40
  
• Other 40.00

Total Expenses for June 1st - June 27th: $3910. (Not really an improvement from last month. However, my income did go up this month since I'm finally getting child support for the first time in almost a year. Still, I've got some work to do here.)

Overall, medical went way up, but that was to be expected between my minor medical procedure and Tobey's medication. It will probably go down some in the next couple months, but not by much. However, I was able to compensate for the increase in medical expenses with less grocery expenses.

Education was way up, but that was including a Sallie Mae payment and some much needed resources for the fall and my dissertation. That will go down dramatically next month. But, I need to start thinking about the student loan payments that'll be there in the next couple months.

Still, the winner for this month were the groceries and restaurant expenses, which went waaaay down. Last month was almost $1100. This month, $800. That was a huge improvement for us, especially considering that this is the summer when the boys are home and doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and swimming.

Interesting Quote for the Day...

While reading Michael Shermer's Why People Believe Weird Things, I came across this quote from The Satanism Scare by James Richardson, Joel Best, and David Bromley about the witchcraft/devil worshipping scares of the fifteenth, eighteenth, and twentieth centuries, and I immediately thought about the recent "Obama is a socialist" craze that's been filtering through the media here lately. (I even saw a bumper sticker at Wal-Mart yesterday that featured the Obama trademarked sunrise with the statement underneath: "Socialism. Poverty Trickling Up")

So, Richardson, Best, and Bromley describe a moral panic as "a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media; the moral barricades are manned by editors, politicians and other right-thinking people; socially accredited experts pronounce their diagnoses and solutions; ways of coping are evlauted or resorted to; the condition then disappears, submerges or deteriorates.' Such events are used as weapons 'for various political groups in their campaigns' when someone stands to gain and someone stands to lose by the focus on such events and their outcome" (qtd in Shermer 106).

Therefore, question: Who needs the moral panic that Obama is a socialist?!? Answer: FoxNews. "Talk-show hosts, book publishers, anti-cult groups, fundamentalists, and certain religious groups" all thrive on such claims (Shermer 107).

One has to wonder whether the exec's at FoxNews didn't high five each other the night Obama was elected. I mean, would 4 years of a McCain love-in really help their ratings? The whole Obama is a socialist ploy is the gift that keeps on giving FoxNews.

Update on the finances...

So, my goals were to cut my grocery bills in 1/2 and to not eat out this entire month of June.

Update: While I have eaten out this month on several occasions, I have cut my restaurant spending in half, which is good. Whereas I might spend $5-10 per meal for myself, this month, so far, I've spent no more than $3 for myself by eating off the a la carte menus.

I've also cut my grocery bills in 1/2. Whereas I usually spend $200 every 7-10 days for groceries, I have spent this month only $200 on groceries for the first two weeks of June.

Ten more days until payday and when I need to reassess my spending this month.

Rhetoric of Autism Speaks

I wrote this blog entry several years ago on the rhetoric of "tragedy" in an Autism Speaks online video and I recently revisited it for my dissertation. So, I thought I would repost it here in case some of my colleagues might be interested.
_________________

On May 13, 2006, Katherine McCarron, a three year-old autistic girl, was allegedly murdered by her mother, Dr. Karen McCarron, by suffocation. In the months that have followed, however, autism advocates and disability rights organizations have been outraged with the sympathy Dr. McCarron has received in the media for having the "burden" of raising an autistic child. Not Dead Yet argues, "Recent media coverage of mothers being charged with killing or attempting to kill their disabled daughters solicits sympathy and understanding for the heinous acts." In fact, Autism Speaks, a national organization dedicated to "funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder," has even produced and published Autism Everyday, a video available online that attempts to show the everyday struggles parents of autistic children face daily.

However, Autism Everyday has came under intense scrutiny in the past couple months for its negative and fatalistic portrayal of autistic children and the struggles parents face when raising autistic children. Critics have charged that this video portrays autistic children as economic and emotional burdens on their families. One alarming part of the documentary shows a mother discussing (in front of her autistic child) how she's contemplated driving herself and her autistic daughter off of the George Washington Bridge. This mother admits that the only reason she hasn't done so already is because of the needs of her "normal" child. I, too, found this video disturbing when I first watched it in late May following my own son's autism diagnosis. I remember too vividly thinking that for these women, "autism" was a death sentence. The tragedy that defined their lives.

A rhetorical analysis based on Kenneth Burke's theory of cluster criticism of the short documentary (it runs approximately 14 minutes long) would supports such criticisms. Specifically, the directors predominately show throughout the movie the burdens and heartbreak associated with raising a child with autism. The mothers interviewed in the documentary make statements that

• they've had to "give up" their entire lives to autism,
• "people have no idea" as to "how difficult life is on a day-to-day basis" for families with autistic children,
• the condition is "heartbreaking,"
• these autistic children are violent, disruptive, and take the joy out of everyday life,
• other siblings suffer due to one child's autism,
• these parents of autistic children are left "angry," "helpless," and "disappointed,"
• these parents have had their children "taken away from them" by autism, and
• these parents "cannot accept that we have to throw away this generation of children" to autism.
  

Likewise, supporters of the movie argue that it "was the most realistic portrayal of the struggles and heartbreaks of autism [...] ever seen. It was realistic, did not just show the 'success' stories, and did not glorify autism" and that the video "really hits home [...in regard to] children suffering from different forms of the disorder. The pain and frustration that families of autistic children go through was powerfully conveyed" (Autism Everyday).

Again, such descriptors as "heartbreaking," "angry," "helpless," and "suffering" illustrate the common ideological and rhetorical thread throughout the movie that autistic children are emotional and financial burdens on their families. In fact, the mothers only mention the words "loving" and "hope" in the final minute of the movie and there is no discussion in regard to the children's accomplishments, potentials, or capabilities. The autistic children throughout the movie are portrayed overwhelmingly negative and tragically.

What might be the purpose of funding and distributing a documentary that portrays autism so negatively, especially considering Autism Speaks' mission of "funding global biomedical research [...]; raising public awareness about autism [...]; and to bring hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder"? I believe that the rhetoric within the movie answers this question. If we're to accept that producers Lauren Thierry, Jim Watkins, and Eric Solomon selectively choose the footage that was to be used in the final cut, such words as "cure" and "prevention" further the organization's mission--finding a "cure" and "preventing" autism. This movie, then, helps support the Autism Speaks' cause of raising money for autism research aimed at "curing" and "preventing" autism.

Portraying autism as the tragedy that defines one's life is an emotional appeal that plays on the heartstrings (and wallets) of viewers. Would it have been as effective to discuss the biological or behavioral factors that contribute to the frustrations associated with autism? No, probably not. Seeing frustrated and frazzled, white, divorced, middle-aged women is more effective at garnering a "sympathy" response from audiences than seeing women who deal with autism day-in and day-out but live a relatively "normal" life--a life that isn't fatalistically defined by autism. Who would contribute money for a cause that isn't "terrible," "heartbreaking," and "devastating" in every possible way?

Important to note, though, is that it's sentiments like these, that autism is a heartbreaking disorder that leaves parents shattered and children suffering and struggling, that seem to reinforce the ideology that it's okay to murder one's autistic child. These children, it would seem, bring nothing but misery and hopelessness onto their families. This ideological stance argues that murdering the disabled is probably the best thing for the children, their families, and society-at-large. And, it's for this reason that it's important to identify the rhetorical clusters that construct the ideologies of autism.

However, this ideological stance is not indicative of the entire autism communities' approach to autism research, funding, and support. In fact, groups like the Autism Assembly "share the common goal of seeking acceptance for those on the autistic spectrum, who aim to educate about autism, and who are not seeking a cure for autism. This is part of the global autism rights movement." Therefore, if the movie were produced for a different organization, one that supports acceptance and does not support a "cure" for autism, the rhetorical "clusters" might've been completely different.

June Mini-Resolution

I'm coming to a close with my PhD (sooner rather than later), and I tend to need "goals" in my life to work for and toward. I guess it's just part of my personality. So, I think I'm going to start making mini-resolutions each month. And, my first one is going to be related to my finances. After going through my expenses for the month of May, I've made a mini-resolution for the month of June:

• No dining out in restaurants for the entire month of June.

If I spent almost $400 last month eating out, let's see how much better I can do. It'll take some planning and foresight on my part, especially with the boys, but let's see how well I/we can do.

(And, for the record, since paying off my credit cards in February, I have not charged on them sense. Debit card, all the way. Not too bad, I'd say.)

Today and Tomorrow...

Okay. Today, finish up Methodology chapter. Tomorrow, start on Conclusion. Finish Conclusion by beginning of next week.

I keep hoping that if I write it down over and over--my to-do list--it'll sink in some how and get done.

Ohhhh, I so want this to be done.

May Expense Report

I've decided to start a monthly addition to my little blog on my money. I did this a while back ago when I paid off all of my credit card debt (which was ultimately in the $18,000 range), but I'm going to continue this sort of disclosure here each month.

Since I'm quite sure that nobody is reading my blog (hi, Alison and Chris), I'm not really concerned that I'm "spreading all the business." Rather, I want to start making myself more accountable for the money that I make and the money that I spend. I'm a big girl, so I need to pull up my big girl panties and start being more honest with myself about my spending habits. The goal: Nothing earth shattering, I just want to be spend my money well. I want to be a responsible adult who can keep her shit together. That's all.

So, BoA's online banking service has a nifty little feature that lets you "see" where all of your money is going by dividing your expenses into categories, adding up those categories, and giving a percentage of those expenses in relation to one's monthly income. I've listed my May expenses according to percentage of income and I've also included my justifications/rationales/freak out thoughts for my or your amusement.

My May Expense Report [gulp] from April 25th -May 25th:

Expenses:

• Groceries: $900 [What the hell?!? I spent $900 on groceries last month!?!]
• Utilities: $405 [This includes electricity, water, telephone, and internet. Yes, internet is a utility that we can't live without. Facebook is a necessity.]
  
• Restaurants: $371 [OMG! I spent more than $1200 last month just on FOOD!?! Okay, I have two growing boys and a Marc but still $1200 on FOOD?!?]
• Healthcare/Medical: $369 [Okay, this isn't entirely accurate/fair. There are several visits to the pediatric neurologist and psychiatrist in here for Tobey, which are not regular expenses. But, this is also my trips to Wal-Greens, which would include my (abso-freakin-lutely) necessary sunblock, make-up, Slim-Fast shakes, and hair color. Still, that's a lot of sunblock and make-up.]
• Car Payment: $300
  
• Hobbies: $284 [This includes the boys' karate and my dirt therapy. This is a bit inflated because I went a bit crazy in my dissertation-depression and bought a crapload of plants last month.]
• Gas: $269 [Not too bad.]
• Insurance: $186 [This is car and life for me and the boys. Gotta have it.]
  
• Service Charges/Fees: $153 [Okay, in my defense most of this is to the TWU library for overdue books, which I had to have for my dissertation, and the overdraft fees ($10) from savings to checking. We'll just think of the TWU library part as a "donation."]
• General Merchandise: $133 [Stuff from Wal-Mart odd and ends]
• Satellite: $100
• Other Expenses: $242 [This includes my monthly charitable donation, entertainment, dry cleaning, home improvement--odds and ends "stuff."]

Total Expenses: $3750ish

Yikes. Because, let's just be honest here. We all know that I don't bring home $4000 a month. The worst part of the whole thing, the part that makes me shake my head--I spent $100 last month just at Sonic. Only Sonic. That means, I spent almost $100 on Diet Dr. Pepper's with Vanilla. Ho-ly Crap. The worst part is that this doesn't include sending my mother any money, which I need to be doing like I promised her.

So, what is going to be different next month. Let's start with the restaurants. We are going to cut waaaaay back on the restaurant expenses. I'm thinking in the $150 range next month. I'm also going on a Sonic haitus. Cold-turkey. I've got to do better about running to Sonic for a drink when I'm at home bored.

I'm also going to start looking for ways to cut back on my grocery expenses. I recognize that Alex and Tobey are growing boys but seriously, $900!!! That's just outrageous. I probably need to own up to my newfound love of all things salty, which means frequent, unnecessary trips to Earl's for chips, dip, beer. That's gotta go, too.

So, my resolution for May 25th - June 25th: Stay home. Don't spend money. Eat what's in the house.

What I need to do in the next couple days/weeks...

Between now and end of May:

• Finish up the methodology chapter.
• Start writing (and finish) the conclusion.

June 1st and July 1st:

• Finish up odds and ends in all the chapters.

Holy crap. This thing might actually get done. Now, if I could just quit stalling on Blogger and Facebook long enough to actually write something.

Summer Resolutions

So, it's May 2009 and time for my annual summer resolutions. I'm going to teach Summer II, but in the meantime, I've got 2 months to work on these resolutions. Tobey is going to summer school, Alex is going to karate-camps, and here's what I'm going to do:

• Finish up my dissertation. Whether I graduate in August or December, I will have the dissertation done and defended at the end of the summer. I've got about 20-30 pages left to generate and then I'll work on the revisions... Nothing too extreme though. T is pleased with what I've done so far so I'm not too worried about accomplishing this goal this summer.
  
• Work out 5x week on the treadmill or elliptical.
• Live healthier lifestyle. I'm going to do a raw-food, vegan detox diet for a couple weeks to get back into a healthier lifestyle. Hopefully, much of it will "stick" after summer is over. I think I'm going to juice and experiment with new recipes for veggie and fruit juices and smoothies, and I'm really kinda excited about this. I need some balance, figuratively.
  
• Practice yoga. I need more balance, literally.
• Practice meditation.
  
• Clean my house from top-to-bottom. Garage, closets, bookshelves. Again, balance.
• Take the boys to the movies.
  
• Take the boys to the pool.
  
• Take a roadtrip with mom and the boys to Colorado to visit Donna.
• Go to the club with Marc.
• Take a roadtrip with Marc somewhere. Anywhere. Maybe Houston. Maybe Kansas.
  
• Reconnect with Marc. I have a great boyfriend. We just haven't seen much of each other lately.
  
• Take the boys to Six Flags.
• Start learning Italian. I'm going to Italy in January, after all.
  
• Stop drinking. Not that I drink a lot. But, again, it's going to be the summer of healthy living.
• Apply to University of Hawaii's disability certificate program. I'm thinking of working on an online certificate from the University of Hawaii in Disability and Diversity Studies. I would wouldn't really be like school...mostly just interesting opportunities to read and think about Disability Studies. (And, I can stall paying on my student loans until I pay off my car.)
  
• Work on my custom textbook for Comp I and II at NCTC. I'm excited about this.
  
• Work on WPA-stuff--adjunct training, research workshops, stuff like that...
• Work on course-prep on ANGEL for Fall 2009. This is probably going to be much more fun because I have a lot more time to get my stuff together.
• Read all the books I've bought but haven't gotten around to: Revolutionary Road, No Country for Old Men, Love in the Time of Cholera, Everything is Illuminated...
• Clean and organize my office. I finally feel like I'm not going to get fired any day, so it's probably time to "make" it more my own. See if Keith and Chris would be okay with painting it. Putting up a couple of posters. Getting some plants. Organizing it. Did I mention that I needed balance?
  

That's the plan so far. I'm excited and ready to get to feeling more like myself.