All is well with the world again :)

People have an intrinsic way of defining themselves that even they themselves are not always fully aware of. That is, until the label gets ripped away like a bandaid, leaving you exposed and naked-feeling, wishing you could have that label back. I've had this feeling many times since leaving high school. Then, I defined myself as a Christian girl, a musician, a lover of sailing and all things ocean-related, smart, and a future marine biologist, among other things. With the exception of the first label, most of these labels were ripped away all at once during my freshman year of college, when I stopped playing my instruments, didn't join the sailing team, and failed/dropped out of Bio 101.

Somehow, even though my entire life has been dominated by school, I never consciously gave myself the label of "student." Until I no longer was one. After I graduated last year and couldn't find a job, I started going stir-crazy. I didn't know what to do with myself in this big house by the sea all by my lonesome. I read books. I watched a lot of tv. I knit and quilt like there's no tomorrow. I worked. But I was missing something. I missed learning. I missed the uncomfortable feeling of your brain expanding to the bursting point with useless information.

Ah yes. I am a nerd. (That label never changed.)

But now the world feels right again! I started my Anatomy and Physiology I class last week, and I'm loving being back in a classroom. Strangely enough, even though I've always loved school, I've always hated the first day of classes. I hate how the professors always want to go around the room and "learn a bit about you." Or even worse, ask you to turn to your neighbor, learn a bit about them, and then report that to the rest of the class. It's silly, but knowing that's coming produces anxiety and dread similar to a woman tied to the railroad tracks, watching her demise chug towards her at high speed. This time around, I was so grateful to be back in the comforting environment of a classroom that I felt nothing but excitement that first day. And bonus--- the professor didn't expect anything more than a raised hand when he took attendance!

Life is good.

(And just in case you were wondering, yes I have already reverted to my slacker ways: I have a quiz tomorrow and a major test on Thursday and instead of hauling my lazy bum early to the open lab to study I'm sitting here cooking chicken and posting on my blog. What can I say? I work better under pressure. And now thanks to this upcoming test, I'll be able to tell you the name of all my skull bones as they explode from trying to cram too much information in my brain!)

Oh Max.

I thought I'd share two funny Max stories this week.

Yesterday, when I arrived at his house, he was sitting at the patio table with his mom, who was reading a news article on her computer about Bin Laden's death. She pointed to Osama's picture and said to Max, "what happened to this man?" Max's answer: "He got a time out."

Yes, Max. Yes he did.


Today, Max was watching me from his high chair while I ran around the kitchen getting a snack for him, where out of nowhere he goes, "I like your be-boos."

Um.

A two-year-old likes my boobs. Awk.Ward.

Yeah....just another day in my life.