good newses

i woke up today to big t-storms. there was hail and loud wind - a piece of hail almost hit me when i closed one of my windows! i haven't looked at my car yet to see if there's damage, but i doubt there is. the ground was really soft, i think we hadn't had much rain in a while.

but when i checked my email, i had one from tim who said he and raeanne are moving to the peoria area where tim will take a job at caterpillar! woo hoo! they've been living in the champaign area for the last few years and it'll be really good to have them back.

also in the email were the results to my comprehensive essays: i passed! i've thought all along that it would be ridiculous not to pass, but you never know and i didn't want to jinx myself.

my flight out of o'hare leaves in 7 days and 41 minutes.

it was four years ago that i heard of the england program from my advisor, and she said that i should try to go, and that they go every two years. well, at that time i was just starting the program; i took one class that may-june and then i stopped for a year and a half because i got pink-slipped. i didn't wanna take classes 1) that i would not be reimbursed for, 2) for a program i may not have been able to finish if i had to move away for a job 3) for a program that almost requires you to be teaching so that you can research in your classroom...

so dr. black told me to shoot for 2004 when i began, but it turns out i had to wait for 2006, and i think that may be better, i'm a slight bit more mature at least and also can afford the trip better now.