So, after an early afternoon nap and a trek out to the mailbox, I had a brief "eureka!" moment and realized that I could check out my grades online to see what I got on my grad. project and to know, for sure, if I will actually be getting my diploma- be an actual graduate with a Master's Degree. I GOT AN A!!!! It's so wicked awesome! So, it is official, I have graduated with a Master's of Science in Elementary Education! Now, it feels good. Last Saturday was really fun, but I couldn't get excited. Now, I actually am. I suspect that it will begin to feel real once the diploma actually arrives in the mail. Then, I get to apply for my teaching certifiication and actually be an elementary school teacher as well. The only thing still hanging over me, asides from student loans, is my project for the one class that I took an incomplete in. Once that's finished, then I'll REALLY be done! That is, until I decide to go and get a second Master's.

It usually happens that I have my best ideas when I first get up in the morning. I've written some of my best papers that way. And, usually, I'm devoid of ideas at night, go to sleep, and when I wake up, to quote Sean Connery as Dr. Jones, Sr., "The solution presents itself!" Does this happen to anyone else?

Speaking of Dr. Jones, I am so Freaking excited for the next Indiana Jones on Thursday! The question is, will it actually live up to the hype?

I have finally joined the new millenium- technology-wise- well, sort of. My fantastic uncle, God love him, bought me a blue ipod nano for my graduation! I'm a tiny bit afraid of it as I am prone to be a little brutal with my things plus I have a tendency to lose things. Although, my brother bought me an mp3 player for my 30th and I haven't broken or lost that one yet and it's been nearly two whole months! For me, that's some wicked progress! So now, as I write I am downloading the iTunes set up thing which will take approximately 10,000 years on my slow ass internet connection. How vexing! I swear free wifi is almost my whole reason for hanging out at Spot Coffee on Delaware as of late. It helped immensely the last few weeks of grad. school.

Are there others who actually leave their houses in order to get things accomplished? I was finding that in order to stop getting distracted, that I had to leave in order to get things done for school. For some reason, I could concentrate better sitting in a damn coffee shop downtown. Don't know why, but it worked. Anyway... that's old news.

Have I mentioned that I'm a campaign to bring back "wicked" like it's 1982 again? I especially am fond of "wicked awesome!" Oakey- Doakey. Night all!

That would be the media trend started during the whole Jennifer Lopez/ Ben Afflek sham relationship of Benifer. Now there's TomKat, Brangelina, and the one that just set me off- Gyllenspoon! Give me a fucking break already! Do these nimrod "reporters" actually think it's witty?

I just noticed that my blogs totally died off right when I went back to grad. school! I know that seems like a totally stupid and obvious thing but I never actually paid attention to the direct correlation!

Oh yeah, and I look a little different now. I've lost some weight and my hair is auburny-brown. I'm hoping to keep the weight off- that was a fantastic side-effect of student teaching! I even actually joined the BAC. Madness I tell you! Perhaps, I may actually start going out again! What a concept! I don't think I'll know what to do with myself with all of this time that isn't dedicated to school, but I'm sure I'll figure it out! :)

My fingers don't want to work today! I keep hit "enter" when I mean to hit "tab." Anyway...

So yes, an era is ending and as one ends a new one begins. How does the saying go- Better the Devil you know, than the Devil you don't? So, I've finished typing grad. project. I finished fixing some things and adding my appendices last night/ this morning and have printed up copy one. One more to go and then to Kinko's for binding. Keep your finger crossed, E-peepers that I get a good grade!

I'm still not excited about graduation. It's weird. I'm looking forward to it, but not excited. I don't think I'm going to feel right about this whole end of school thing until my Diploma actually arrives in the mail. I am, however, pretty psyched about going out with friends after the graduation! There's even a rumour that Mrs. Trisha is going to come up! I think I'm more excited about that than anything else!

Enjoy your day, e-strip.

• Sigh* Three years of work is nearing an end. I graduate with my Masters on Saturday. And yet, I'm still afraid to say that "I'm graduating" lest I jinx myself. I still have to assemble my grad. project and get graded for it. Plus, I will have one class hanging over me as an incomplete but I don't need it to graduate. I need to get an extension in my teaching certification. It's important but not the end of the world if I take a couple of extra months getting it done. Now, the truly terrifying part begins. I'm finishing school and now, I need to work towards that rather elusive goal of finding a great elementary teaching job in Western New York because, frankly, I don't want to leave good ol' B-Lo. I love my hometown. Have become rather attached to it, to be truthful. And lately, I find myself wracked with insecurities about my worth and abilities. I know that it's just stress. (as if the word "just" should ever come before the word "stress!!) I'm making myself mad as I try to fight an ever looming depression- my second this year and I hardly ever get depressed- and hold on to the knowledge that I am a damn good teacher!! ARGH!!!!!

Audeo! It's my new mantra. I want to get it tatooed on my body. I'm just not sure where. Audeo. I just have to remember that and keep my chin up, secure in the knowledge that whatever happens, I am a damn good teacher.

What is so very great about E-strip is that it's always there, even when I'm not. Thanks, E-strip!