London Calling

  It's been almost a month since I've written in this blog, and a lot has happened. I started back to school for the 32nd year and for the last time in the US. I've gotten to know my class which is full of sweet kids that are making this last year start off as a really nice one. But like most school years there is one group of entities that have reared their ugly heads to destroy all of that tranquility: germs. I do usually get really sick in October/Novemeber of most school years. Whether its the flu or some kind of virus, I tend to get really sick during the first semester of the year. Unfortunately, this year it struck in September and it was the unwelcome wallop of Covid.  Covid has ruined my flow in many ways. When it first struck, it was against my mother who was too weak with dementia to fight it off. She died soon after contracting it. Then my sister and I both got it (we were living together at the time) in December of the same year. I was out of work for 3 weeks a...

  I find myself in an interesting part of my journey to life beyond June 30th. Although my first choice is still to move to London on a work visa to teach, I have put a lot of thought and research into coming up with a plan B. One thing that has always been important to me is my own education. I've been wanting to go back to school to pursue my studies in Literacy. But to be honest with you, I'm at a point now that if I do go back to school I want to study something different. Don't get me wrong, Literacy and all of its components still appeal to me. However, if teaching in London doesn't work out I want to go back to study in the field of English. English was my "concentration" area when I achieved my BS. It was kind of like a minor, and I have to say that I really excelled in my Literature classes. More than that, it was a throughly enjoyable time in my life.  I loved reading about Shakespeare and Irish Literature in particular. One professor urged me to for...

  Have you ever made a decision that you know was the right one but still broke your heart in two? Silly question, I know. We all have had to make sacrifices in order to either protect the ones we love or to improve our own lives. Well, I made a decision this weekend that may be hard for others to understand especially those of you who know how much I love my little dog, Kiki. When I first got Kiki, it was really a beautiful spot in an otherwise lonely phase of my life. Ever since I read up on the breed about 4 years ago, I have wanted to bring one home. When my beautiful dog, Jasper, passed away at age 13 (from Covid we believe), I made it a goal to bring one home. At first, I tried to find an adult dog and adopt him/her because I've never been great with housebreaking puppies. But when I discovered a great breeder who was local through a coworker, it seemed fated. I brought home a perfect beautiful little frenchie and became totally obsessed with her. To say she changed my life s...