Jacquelyn's Space

We did it, we adopted a dog. We have had him since Sunday. He is a pretty good dog but he has a lot to learn…needs some training. He is a lab, possibly Great Dane mix. The people we adopted him from think he is around 2 years old but my husband and I think he is a little younger. He is a bit needier than we anticipated.

My husband and stepson were excited to get him. I, of course, was just anxious. I feel better now and I am glad we got the dog but he reminds me somewhat of our old dog Wally but not quite because Wally knew our ways. I find myself missing Wally because I am rememebering all the funny things he used to do, all the words he knew, how smart he was. It is unfair to compare Ryder to Wally because he hasn’t had time to adjust and he is still young. I am not consciously comparing but because Ryder reminds me of Wally, I find myself thinking, “Remember when Wally used to do this?” Ryder is a smart dog too but we just need to work with him so he can learn our people ways.

Yay! Even though there is no school today my Advanced Research and Writing in Psychology professor, Dr. Broadbent (whom I love), is hard at work getting grades out.

Yesterday my group had to present a research article to the class. We each got a portion of article, which was on college drinking, pre-gaming to be more specific. Pre-gaming is drinking before an main event; it has origins in tailgating. We had to make a PowerPoint and go over our portion and then take questions from the audience after.

I had the introduction and I rocked it. I made sure to introduce my group, tried to go over all pertinent information (like what is pre-gaming?) so my audience knew what we were talking about, I made some jokes to liven it up and keep my audiences attention, and I made sure to include some campus resources in case someone has some problems with drinking. I received a few compliments from my classmates after. I felt good and I am happy to be improving my presenting skills.

Today I received my grade for it from Dr. Broadbent, an A, woohoo! I was only knocked down 1 point because I was a little unsure about an audience member’s (her’s actually) question. I could have been better prepared but overall I am pretty happy with my performance and it gives me something to work on for next time – we have to do 2 or 3 more presentations.

Wahoo! Due to the promised blizzard I get to cut out of school early today (no last class – biopsych) and school is cancelled tomorrow. I get to stay home and goof off …oh the possibilities!

It is weird to cancel school before the snow hits – it is entirely possible the whole thing will go pass us by, perhaps go just south of us. I haven’t looked at the weather map lately but stuff like that has happened before – all kinds of snow predicted and nothing hits us. We will see.

It seems that the majority of the people think that the sky is falling. My husband and I went to the grocery store yesterday afternoon around 5pm to pick up a few things (not to get ready for the blizzard) and I couldn’t even find a parking spot. The store was packed with people stockpiling, getting ready for the big blizzard. I hear the stores are even worse today. Craziness!

“Lackadaisical and Nonchalant”

I just love that – my boss at the Census had such a way with words. “What kind of lackadaisical and nonchalant parenting is that?” That is what that old boss, a very intelligent, wise, active woman of some years and mother of a large family, exclaimed one June day after I told her the story of a kid. This kid had failed a class (not his first either), and needed to take summer school which his mom was supposed to sign him up for and arrange payment. Apparently the mom forgot to sign him up even after being reminded by both the kid and his father, her ex-husband. Not to mention, the kid was still allowed to drive his car around and get a job before he had proven he could handle the responsibility of school, i.e. passing classes, consistently making grades of C or better.

“What of consequences?” different people (including a counselor I talk to) asked when told of the situation. ‘How would the kid learn from his mistakes? ‘How would he learn about priorities and consequences?’ I didn’t really know what to say but ‘I don’t know, not from his mom I guess.’

“Lackadaisical and Nonchalant”

Those words from June stayed with me – they ring in my head when I hear  of  parenting situations where a parent has failed their kid, such as excuses of “Mom forgot” or any other excuses for that matter. This same kid had another problem (and failed another class) almost 2 months ago now, in which he did finally feel consequences of his actions though I feel this all could have been prevented had mom not been “lackadaisical and nonchalant” in many other ways previously. I suppose that is a blog for another day. What is of interest is this kid surprisingly asked to go to counseling.

So it has been almost 2 months. He has yet to go to the doctor because of forgetfulness and poor planning on his mother’s part. I am not certain if the kid has reminded his mom that he wants to go, but I do know the kid’s father has reminded her and been pretty much blown off like ex-husbands often are. I believe the kid is beginning to realize that it might not be that important to his mom, that he might not be that important to his mom, which is sad. I assume the mom doesn’t really want the kid to go to counseling at all, but of course that is my opinion. Or perhaps this kid’s needs are not her top priority, not even close. It does make a person wonder.

What I do know is if it were my kid, my biological kid, I would have had him to a counselor within the first week of his asking – at least before a month had passed. I could have too.

Last night was Movie Night for UM-Flint students at the local movie house. I got a free movie ticket (YAY!) so me, my husband and stepson went and saw The Rite.

We all liked the movie, it was pretty good. It was about a young man who signed on to become a Catholic priest to get away from his father and the family business as well as for a ‘free’ college education. Once his initial undergrad degree is completed and he is ready to move on with his life without becoming a priest, he is coerced into going to Rome to learn the rite of exorcism. In Rome he meets a rather unorthodox priest who is an expert at the rite.

Spooky but not as scary as I thought it would be. Supposedly the movie is based on a true story. Interesting – makes me want to do more research.

The movie does make you think about evil and belief in demons and the devil. A long time ago I decided not to believe in demons and the devil but this movie sort of made me question that belief, ha.

Then I got to thinking about my own ‘demons’ I need to exorcise. I have some, that and so old haunts hanging around that I need to get rid of. Me being me the only way I feel I can do that is to write about them. Get them out into physical form, perhaps put them to use for the good of others, or if not toss them away, out of me, into the trash where they belong.

I am excited. I just spoke with a reporter from USA Today (through StepMom Magazine) about money issues and step-families so I may be quoted in an article in that publication. I gave him a  lot of good information so I hope he uses it. It got me all fired up – now I wanna’ write about it now….I feel an essay or an article coming on.

The reporter actually wanted to get a picture of me, my husband, and my stepson but I had to decline – first of all because I look like crap, second because I am sure my husband would have gotten mucho negative feedback from a certain quarter.