All About Lucy

I'm sitting here on a Saturday night without a thing to do so I decided to blog. If it wasn't for work tomorrow morning, I would be indulging in a getaway to Mobile, AL tonight. Between school and work, I could sure use a fun night out with my posses. It's been far too long since I've had that opportunity. I know patience is a virtue and I'll get that opportunity sooner than later. Since, I haven't blogged in a few days, let me catch you up.

This week has been one for the books. Sometimes in life you find out people are not who you think they are. This past Monday I came home to an apartment complex full of sheriff cars, only to find out my neighbor was being arrested for a shooting incident with her husband. Wild doesn't even explain this week. Besides that, work has been extremely busy. We had the Dance Teachers United at the convention center this weekend. All I can say is thank you Mom and Dad for not ever making us do that! Haha It was a crazy day to say the least. As far as school goes, I'm really enjoying my classes. I must say, my teachers seem tough but I know it will all be worth it in the end. I was telling a friend I'd rather have them tough and good then easy and not. I want to feel prepared when I leave school and start my career and I know these teachers will make sure of that.

As it is obvious in the this post, not much has been going on in my life besides school and work. Therefore, Lucy wanted me to use this space to tell about her life. There is no other explanation for Lucy, other than she was made just for me. The dog loves bananas, yogurt, and watching Pit Bulls and Parolees, all things I enjoy! Haha She has her fourth birthday coming up on February 25th. I'm not sure where the time has gone?! I remember the day I got her. She was handed to me and all I could see was her belly; she was quite a chunk. Obviously, not much has changed since then. Lucy considers herself as one of the boys because she enjoys hiking her leg to potty. She loves to give sugars and beg for belly rubs. She loves getting up 5 minutes before my alarm goes off every morning and whining for her breakfast, leaving me with no other choice but to get up and feed her. She has a bigger circle of "friends" than I do. She'd be lost without her brother, Louis and best friend Riley. She's learning how to endure a snapping turtle, that just so happens to be a true life Boston Terrior named Lola (Lucy's cousin). She also enjoys "fertilizing" her grandpa's flawless yard every chance she gets. She has earned the nickname Pig, and just so happens to love bacon strips. Ironic, I know. Haha On a serious not though, Lucy sees no race, gender, orientation, religion, etc. She loves unconditionally. Even though she may be just a dog, she could sure teach all us humans a thing or two about peace, love and treats. The dog has taught me more about life and love than any human could have ever taught me.

Lucy and Louis

Can't you just see the love?

That's Riley on the left and Louis on the right; Lucy's partners in crime

And this is cousin Lola aka Snappin' Turtle

Hope you all enjoyed this read. Until next time, it's just the two of us...

One Semester Closer to Finishing!

School has gotten back into the swing of things so that means more time on my computer and more blogs. I'm pretty excited about this semester because as with each of them, I'm one step closer to finishing. For those who know me, or have read my previous blogs, know I've been in school for some time now. When graduation day finally approaches, everyone better make sure an ambulance is on hand for my parents! Haha. In all seriousness though, this semester seems like it will be tough but it will all be worth it in the end.

On another note, I was lucky enough to have some time off work before school started to visit my sister. It was a fun, relaxing weekend, with the exception of the Saints loss. Lucy was pretty bummed as well; she's quite the Breesus fan! However, she sure enjoyed that LONG car ride. I've been blessed with a great traveling companion. She's real simple to please: just put a rawhide in front of her and she's good to go. She was just as excited to see Lola as I was to see Marci. The weekend never feels long enough, though. Soon it was back to Hattiesburg and work.

Most trips usually exhaust me but work came early the next morning and little did I know it would be a long one. I ended up working an eleven hour day. Lucy was home alone with all the bad weather going on. I couldn't help but worry about her but when I got home and found her in the same spot she was in when I left that morning, I knew the princess was just fine. My little rascal has been in such a playful mood this past week. As she ages, she gets lazier. Anytime she's in the mood to play fetch, it always brightens my day! Hopeful the playful Lucy will stick around more! 

Every year we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., but I never really appreciated the importance of such an icon as I have this year. I guess the saying is true: "With age, brings wisdom." When we look back, our country has come a long ways but we still have a long ways to go. I'm beyond thankful to live in a country where I have the freedom to decide my own life path.Though many may not agree with some of my life choices, they are my own and they have all led me to this point in my life. I'm proud of the person I am at this point and look forward to the person I will become in the future. In order to make others proud, we have to first be proud of ourselves. Life is not easy by no means, but if you stick with it, it is all worth it. I was once told: "If it was easy, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great." This is a motto I live by, especially being a special education major. When people ask me what I'm majoring in and I reply with special education, they usually have some kind of joke or laugh. Truth is, though, these kids may have disabilities but have you ever stopped to think about how hard it is to teach someone with a disability? Probably not. So, next time you laugh about something involving a child with special needs, think about if it was you with the disability. Would you be laughing then?

Well that's all for tonight. Until next time, it's just the two of us...

New Year, New Start

As I sit here tonight watching the Saints game and reading a new book called Growing Up on the Spectrum, I decided to write this blog and catch everyone up on me and Lucy's lives. I looked forward to this break from school so I could do more writing but then I noticed I haven't written a single blog since I got out of school. Needless to say, we have been busy these past 3 weeks.

First, I'll start with Christmas. It was the first time in three years I was able to spend 5 days at home with family and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lucy and I were the only ones home this year but we had a blast. I received much more than I ever expected, and Lucy's eyes were about to pop out of her head at the amount of treats she received as well. Now that this Christmas has come and gone, I looked forward even more to next year's Christmas with the entire family.

Secondly, I was able to ring in the New Year with my sister for the first time since our Northeast days. I had a tremendous amount of fun with Marci, Landon and their friends. The dogs even enjoyed each other's company and Lola was able to get Lucy outside to exercise. We all know that's a tough task for a dog nicknamed Pig for apparent reasons. Ha. After enjoying that quick getaway, it was back to reality and work.

Since ringing in the new year, I'm looking to make a new start. During Christmas, I went to mass for the first time since last Christmas Eve. That is one thing I look forward to changing. I've been in Hattiesburg going on two years in July. It is time I find a church and get settled. I have no excuse now because majority of the time I either get Saturday or Sunday off work, sometimes even both. Also, I didn't have to worry about a gym membership because at my previous apartment it was included with the amenities. However, at the new place we don't have that luxury so I joined a gym. I look forward to losing some weight but more importantly getting healthy.

Lastly, I look forward to starting school back on the 18th. I know this will be the toughest semester thus far, but I can't wait to embrace the challenge. People ask me all the time "Why Special Education?" Truth is, I can't pinpoint one reason. All I know is I was called to make a difference and this is the most fulfilling way I know how. I have a passion for helping others and I feel children with special needs are the most misunderstood "breed". I want to help change the way others view them. For those who have seen the movie "We Bought A Zoo", Kelly asks Benjamin "Why did you buy this place? and he replies with "Why not?" Well, that's how I feel about becoming a teacher. I haven't been this passionate about something since softball. Tonight, I find myself reading a book on Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder for leisure. I haven't done that since college when I would study the game of softball in my spare time. However, these are the times we, or at least I, learn the most. I'm 30 pages into the book and I've learned more about Autism and ASD in those 30 pages then I have all the years of school.

Hopefully, the next blog won't be 3 weeks away. I have a feeling they will probably be weekly, if not sooner, from now on. However, for tonight, it's back to reading my book and cuddling with my little piglet. Until next time, it's just the two of us..