Flashback, 2003

Flashback, 1987?

Ok, someone stop me!  Expect to see many flashback pictures in the next few months because I am working on scanning all of my family's old print photos.  I'm coming across some classics in the process, like the one below, and can't resist posting them.

***

I think this one was taken in 1987 because I look 3 and Ivy looks like 4 yrs old.  I have very vague memories of this photo shoot.  I remember Ivy that day more than anything else.

Flashback, 2002

This was taken on the evening of my graduation from high school in 2002.  I love this photo.  It was a happy time in life, I believe for everyone.  Carter was 18 mo. then (with Bema that night), Ivy was in college at LCCC, my mom and Ben were loving their family, and I was about to have one of the best summers ever.

Self Quiz: Am I Addicted to Academia?

You know those quizzes in the girly magazines about love, relationships, and personal style?  Well, I've taken a few of them in the past for fun and thought I would tailor my own to "verify" whether I'm addicted to academia because I can't stop going back!

1. Are you constantly interested in learning?  Yes

2. Do you feel you could use more knowledge to strengthen your career?  Yes

3. Are you in debt from student loans?  YES

4.  Do you want to defer current student loans?  Yes

5. Do you already hold higher education degrees?  Yes

6. How many?  2

7. Are you waiting for the lender of said loans to realize you will keep going back to school until you are elderly and near death, so they should just forgive each and every penny?  YES!!!!  I've been telling them that for years...

8. Are you content in your current position?  Sort of

9.  Do you feel a need to be in control of your life?  Yes

10. Can you maintain non-enrollment status for longer than 2 years?  No

Yep, it appears you are addicted!

                                      ************************************

I'm going back to school for a graduate degreen in education.  Once I'm finished, which should be in 2012, I'll have a master's in education with certification to teach.  This will help expand my career options and increase my qualifications as a librarian.  I'm excited to begin the program next month and be in an intellectual environment again.

Needless to say, I'll be enjoying the next two weeks before I have to buckle down and think like a student again.  The biggest diffence between this program and the last graduate program I was in is that this one is on-campus.  It was nice to go home, get comfortable and log online to do course work, but I'll be going straight to class from work and won't be able to get away with listening to music in the background or making rediculous expressions when my fellow classmates make off-the-wall comments or when the professor has something insane on the sillabus.  Yes, those online-learning days are over.  Now it's time to look presentable and pay attention!

New Banner, Flashback 2007

Check out the new banner!  I'm having a little too much fun with the collage editing feature I discovered on my Photobucket account.  The pictures are of my little bro, Carter, back in 2007!  I'll never forget that day for as long as I live.  It was a beautiful day and he was at an age when everything was fun and nothing was worth a second thought.  Just being a pure little boy.  We went sailing at Lake Nockamixon that day and I, of course, was equipped with my camera photographing the georgous day and the wonderful people in the boat.  A lovely memory now :)

Around the Fire Pit

Yesterday we had a braai with our friends in Fairmount Park and then headed over to their place for some drinks around their fire pit.  It was a great time and I loved the fire pit.  It was warm, inviting, and a great place to relax and talk.  

The Goad Girls

These are some pictures from my visit with my friend, Dana, and her family.  Her oldest daughter had an excellent time being photographed while playing and made me play countless rounds of hide and seek.

City Pics, Philadelphia

Pictures from commuting last week and Friday evening in the city.

  

10 Years Ago Today...

my mother and stepfather told Ivy and I they were expecting Carter.  How do I remember this?  I have an exceptionally good memory when it comes to numbers and, specifically, dates.  I could not forget this date if I tried, not that I would want to.  So I thought I would share.  I could make a blog about my unusual memory... it would definitely be an interesting outlet for all of the randomness that's stuck in my head.  Hmmm....

A Beautiful Weekend in Canada

Thomas and I packed our bags and headed north to Canada!  We spent two nights in Niagara Falls.  Our original plan was to go even farther north to explore Toronto, but we were having such a good time walking around the Falls area in beautiful weather that we decided not to bother.  We're saving Toronto for another time.

Our time in Niagara was lovely.  We had the best weather over the weekend, which made walking everywhere so enjoyable.   The botanical gardens at the end of the Falls had a special Easter feature with live bunnies throughout the gardens and an awesome turtle pond.  We did our best to find little, more intimate restaurants to dine at since Niagara Falls is very touristy and caters to families.  We enjoyed the meals we had at the restaurants, but the best meal came from the local grocery store we found about 5-10 miles outside the touristy portion of Niagara Falls.  Thomas had so much fun finding his favorite chocolate sweets, cereals, washing powders, and baked goods.  It was entertaining to watch him search for the items he has missed so much from home.  We bought homemade hot crossed buns, milk custard, and sandwiches.  We had our delicious food back at the Falls and even saw a rainbow!!