A Humble Request

We are now within a month of my favorite day of the year - my birthday. For me, my birthday, November 20, is the only day of the year when I get to be special. Other people get anniversaries, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Grandparents' Day, bosses' day, secretaries day, etc. Since there is no Teachers' Day or Singletons' Day, my birthday is the only shot I get to be special. This year, I am in desperate need of relaxation for my big day, so if you are one of the few, the proud, the gift-giving, my choice for a birthday gift is a gift certificate from the Lake Austin Spa's day spa. I really hope to be able to get a river rock massage and a river rock pedicure. With my work situation, I REALLY need a day to unwind. Thank you in advance for your overwhelming generosity. :)

I'm Gandalf, Who are you?

The Winds of Change

Well, once again I have decided that teaching is not the career for me. Last year was really bad, and this year is shaping up to be even worse. It's time for me to step out of what I know and try something new - something that is rewarding, and challenging, and decently-paid where no one yells in my ear or sneezes on me. So, knowing that looking for a job can take months, I am already putting out applications, mainly in conference planning and communications type jobs. I'm also planning on taking the foreign service exam this spring. So far, the avenues I'm most excited about pursuing are foreign service, Missions work, and communications at a university. I would like to stay in the Austin area, but for a good job I'll go anywhere. (Except, maybe, someplace like Saudi or Qatar.) I am open to any suggestions and/or job offers you feel like sending my way.

Biological and Adopted Kids

I read a story yesterday on CNN that announced that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are expecting a baby. Since I am not a fan of either, I just skimmed the article. One sentence grabbed my attention and really angered me.

"The child would be Cruise's first biological child. He adopted two children with actress Nicole Kidman before their marriage ended in divorce in 2001."

I have seen this before, but it never ceases to anger me when the media treats adopted children as though they don't count as much as biological children. What does the fact that Cruise's kids are adopted have to do with anything? His kids are his kids. The article should have read something like "This will be Holmes' first child and Cruise's third." I am not adopted, but I plan on adopting my own daughter from China in a few years. Does CNN think that my daughter won't be just as loved or as legitimate as any children I might give birth to?

When you let a child into your heart, they're yours. Forever. My daughter will be my daughter from day one, and I'll be the only Mommy she ever knows. I intend to love the stuffin' out of her and no one, not even CNN, will be able to weaken our bond.