Wow.

I just reread my post from Jan. 22 about algebra, and can't believe I had that much trouble over such a simple equation. I guess doing 50 of them a night makes them get easier. I even have to say that although the homework load in the math department is a bit cumbersome, I am beginning to actually LIKE math, because unlike the stuff I've done in various colleges and universities up until now, it's black and white. Either I get it wrong, or I get it right, and there's no waffling. With English, if I could convince my professor I was right, then I was. There's something to be said for that, but this getting-the-actual-universally-right-answer thing is pretty cool.

So some more nice news--after the summer, I'm pretty much done with my first year of Vet Tech training (and it only took me 2 years!) I'll still have a semester-long practicum to do, but that'll be my only class, and it can be done wherever I might be working. The downside is that the course load for the summer will be relatively intense, but only for about 8 weeks. I'll go to school each evening Tuesday through Friday, and also Friday morning. I'll be taking Nutrition and the big, scary Surgery and Anesthesia. I have thus far kept an A average, but this semester crushed that for me. I'm getting an A in Pharmacology, but most likely a B or even a C in Clinical Pathology, which I find SOOO fun, but Jesus, the tests are ridiculous! When all that is done, I'll most likely enroll at San Juan College, in New Mexico, for their distance-learning program that they run in affiliation with Austin Community College. I'll be able to do my second "year" there, and then qualify to take the Texas state licensing board exams. IF I pass those, I'd be an RVT, which is basically the RN of Dog World. Neato.

Oh, and I know most of you know this, because I couldn't stop myself running to the phone to spew the news everywhere, but for those few who have been waiting with bated breath, yes, Zoe did get into Kindergarten at ACE. Her IQ score on the testing was 145, but the woman who gave her the test said that since she scored as high as the test would go in some areas, it was pretty likely that her score is higher, but the test didn't accommodate it. 145, baybee! Yeah, I knew the kid was a genius the second she came squirting out. . . okay, no. In those early days, I was pretty convinced she was a scourge sent from God for my transgressions, but I've since changed my mind.

And more Brag-fest! I think you all know this, too. Zoe has been invited to join her studio's dance team, which is the team that represents the studio at shows and competitions. So instead of her usual 1-hour a week lesson, she'll also have an additional half-hour rehearsal session a week, plus do three more performances a year than usual. We'll also have to buy her a personalized white satin Dance Discovery jacket with her name on it, and a personalized garment bag for the costumes. Oh, and did I mention that ACE costs money, too? Who does this girl think she is, anyway, to keep expecting us to throw money at her? (Heh, if she's anything like me, she'll get away with that far longer than she should. Sorry, Dad!) Plus--and never, NEVER let her know I've said this--I REALLY like making sure she has the things she wants. Like dancing lessons, and private school and piano lessons and gym class. And lots of shoes and cute little shorts from Old Navy. And sparkles to spray in her hair. And books. And other stuff.

Hey, guess what? I cleaned yesterday. It hurt, but now our living room is pristine. I even painted a wall. Yeah, go figure. Sometimes I do the stuff I'm supposed to.