Yes, annual update

So it's Sunday, the day after Holly and Troy's 10th annual Halloween party. I went as a witch, shiny Thai wrap around pants, shiny black pajama top from Goodwill, shiny satin purple Victoria's Secret robe (Goodwill), black muck rubber boots, and a hat made of poster board and silver glitter glue. Also, my awesome makeup (accentuated wrinkles and shadows) completed. I bought the boots b/c figured I'd be needing them anyway this winter to take Brinker out on walks. Her autoimmune disease has been ripping her body apart; the ACL of left hind leg ruptured and surgery was two weeks ago. She needs to be leash-walked for at least 4 months b/c of the horrible condition of her tissues. Steroids seem to have halted the devastation. Now we wait to see if her body heals itself, then after a good period of time we take her off the steroids and see if her body has forgotten to attack itself.

Back to the party - Seth surprised me by getting in the car uncostumed, then saying he'd forgotten a skullcap, and returning dressed as an old-timey press corp member, complete with trench coat, fedora, and press pass tucked in the hat band. Holly was a scullery maid, Troy a samurai, Zeke an old-time western marshall. Holly sewed all the costumes. Weather was beautifully milder than most years; cold, but not frigid; 40's. Seth and I stayed late but did not in any way close out the party - there were a good 10, 12 people around the fire when we left. Neither of us had a watch or knew what time it was till we crawled into bed: 3 a.m.!!! We drank too much too. Seth lived on the couch today. I lived in the bed today: curled up first with a movie, then with schoolwork.

Schoolwork: I'm taking my second graduate class, Applied Behavior Analysis (though the name of the class is Positive Behavioral Interventions). Last semester was Introduction to Special Education. Both these classes are non-degree, but I'm applying to to the grad program right now. Both classes will transfer in. So the plan is to be a Special Education teacher in a few years. Dr. Ba's class was demanding and time consuming but this class, Dr. G-S's, is surprisingly easy, ummm, I could say slack. So perhaps I will be able to manage 2 classes a semester after all, if they are the right ones. Ashley, my classmate, told me that Dr. Bu is easier than G-S and that Dr. P is more intense than Ba. So I can use that as my guide. I absolutely love the textbook for this course. I can imagine being a behavioral consultant within the school system -this is dream world; I don't think such a position exists; but in dream world, plenty of resources and time to observe and then counsel teachers, perhaps implement sometimes if appropriate, helpful. So, how did this school thing come about? Well, Seth took me to an informational session at LC on a Saturday in January and I spur of the moment began a class that Tuesday. The lure? Two months off in summer, two weeks off at Christmas, and about 10K more in salary. Stress level will be much higher.

So, you might notice, this means no kids. Yep, kids are off the table for the time being. Seth did shots inconsistently and painfully (mentally and physically), then was quitting but geared self up to give it one more try but to do it right this time. Consistent shots for about 4 or 5 months before he couldn't take it anymore and we quit. And preganancy had not occurred. Dr. K had next steps to pursue but we didn't make it to that. So no kids. No children. Okay, yes, adoption is still on the table, but fostering looks more likely. Childlessness: Advantages: no responsibility for welfare of a child (what an enormous huge huge responsibility). All money for us, no responsibility for child. Disadvantages: no responsibility for a child... No child. No child. No child.

We are not building after all in the beautiful place with the big rocks and running water. It was north-facing and bedrock was very near the surface. So we're building across the road from Mom's. Survey turned out to be $5,800 (not $2,000). Seth just sent the check to the architect for the house plans - $2,800. Seth is the mover on this. I'm not much involved.

Alright, that's all for now.