4 WEEKS UNTIL SPRING BREAK

What's with the picture and what does this have to do with Spring Break? Well, I was going through the photo archives when I came across this picture of me on my very first Spring Break. I was attending Olivet Nazarene University and took my first AMTRAK train ride to Springfield, MO with my friend, Sarah. You know, you gotta love that 80's "big hair"!!!

Anyway we are just four weeks away until our Spring Break. This time I will venture by plane, with my family in tow, to Phoenix, AZ to see John's sis and family. Although I sport a crooked nose, some wrinkles and a few gray hairs, the same excitement of adventure and a break from school is still there!

School is getting more intense. In my BIO lab we have managed to memorize the entire skeletal, muscular, tissue and visceral systems...not just on humans, but cats and frogs as well. The purpose of studying all three is to show the evolution and the differences between mammals and other species. Aside from a few different muscles, the main differences occur because of the opening in the pelvis area called the os coxa. This area, coupled with the alignment of our vertebral column and hard pallete, allows abductor and adductor muscles to pass through the os coxa and thus allows us to stand, walk upright, squat, sit, and give live birth. This is quite a contrast to a frog's alignment which is right at 180 degrees and is thus responsible for his vertical, hopping movement. Who knew that two little holes and a few degrees could make such a difference in mobility!

I had my first two tests of the new semester last week and got a 94 and a 99, so we're off to another good start! This week we started a new unit in genetics. We are now leaving Mendelian genetics and heading to Evolutionary Genetics which includes: Incomplete Dominance, Polygenesis and Pleitrophy. Creation is so AMAZING!!!!

Algebra is a breeze and is kind of like a Sudoku puzzle for me; it's fun! I try to arrange my schedule where there is an easy class mixed in with the more intense ones so this has been a good fit.

After 11 years, I am now done cleaning the fire stations for Foothills and I will clean one last time this Thursday for Dr. Miller. It will be nice to tone down the pace. With 79 hours given to Whitley's school, 30 hours a semester of community service for my Honors courses, remodeling projects, motherhood, and full course load at school....running a full fledged business was just too much; there are only 24 hours in a day. I should know fairly soon if I will be awarded 2 merit scholarships, which will help offset the income loss, but give me much needed hours to study!

Today has been a great day; I finished my taxes!!! I even have the first quarter for 08 in ship-shape!!! That is always such a good feeling and even better when everything comes out to the penny..., no missing receipts,etc. I got the dog immunized and made a reservation for her to be boarded while we go on break. I placed some calls for a cleaning sub (Town Centre and 1 residential client left), while I'm away. The last thing on my list is to start my running routine back up as Spring is just around the corner!

Well, that's the scoop. 28 days and counting...
until SPRING BREAK!