Claire’s been spending a lot of time at Eli’s house lately. Like last week she was there two evenings in a row, and I have some really cute pictures of the two of them in the tub. Eli’s parents have a huge, beautiful backyard and the kids play hard. I had a crappy meeting at work today at 5pm, so I took her over there to play. Afterward I went to pick her up and they were so busy playing that I just hung out. I figured if we went home, we’d just be in the way of Donna’s homework. They were so funny together. Around Halloween and Thanksgiving, Claire was so unsure of herself climbing the rock wall to Eli’s tree house, but today she practically ran up and down it over and over (it’s 7 feet high!). Everything Eli (who is almost 5) did, Claire had to do. When I told her it was time to go home, Eli told her that he’d make her a sandwhich for dinner. I was a little curious, so I let them go. Well they found soybutter (like peanut butter, but  … different) and whole wheat hotdog buns. They were thicker than thieves trying to open the soybutter, and finally we did for them. Angelika helped make them both soybutter hotdog sandwhiches, and Claire gobble half of hers before saying goodbye. He told he’d miss her and to come back soon, before we headed home for a well-needed bath! Ah… young love.

A couple days recently Claire and I have gone Christmas shopping after work before Donna came home. Donna knows I’m picking up a couple things for her, and Claire is easy to buy for while she’s there. Yesterday Claire and I had plans and Donna called before 4pm and said she was on her way home. She was surprising us by coming home early so we had more time to spend together. I shrugged and drove home. I figured I’d go today to pick up the items I needed. So Claire and I drove into Tempe to the store, but she’s also been on super duper laxatives lately.

At the beginning of our journey in the store she was flipping out because she likes to push the cart. Today was the same for awhile, and then suddenly she got very quiet and began shaking her hands like she does when she poops. I checked her diaper and there was definitely poop. I walked her back to the bathroom. When I changed her, we did it standing up. First mistake. Newton was right, gravity sucks. I took off her diaper and stuff dripped down her legs and onto her pants. Ugh.

It took twice as long to clean her up, and then I forced her to sit in the cart and play quietly wrapped only in her diaper, shirt, and big biker boots! How comical all of this, and it’s times like this I am glad we’re in the desert where it doesn’t get too cold in November.

Over the past two years my relationship with ASU has been going downhill. I blame my advisor. I should not lambaste anyone or any system here, and I won’t burn bridges, but I didn’t get any support. I won’t say none, Angelika and Karen were vital in my survival at ASU. Rob is another one who pushed me out through unprofessionalism. Eric was good to me.

I received a letter earlier this school year that said due to "inactivity" I said until this May to "progress" or they’d kick me out. I think the following email, which I’ve pasted in it’s entirety below shows what Arizona State University really thinks about their students who spent years trying to get a good degree and paying a crapload of money.

Enjoy:

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 15:57:51

You  have  been  removed  from  the  CANDIPHD  list  (C&I  Ph.D.  Student
Announcements) by Michelle *****<michelle.*****@ASU.EDU>.

Our  records indicate  that you  are no  longer a  student in  a doctoral
program  in   Curriculum  and   Instruction.  Therefore  you   have  been
unsubscribed from the listserv.

If  you believe  you  have  been unsubscribed  in  error, please  contact Michelle ***** by email at  Michelle.*****@asu.edu or by phone  at (480) 965-****.

Thank you.

No Michelle, thank you. You and your office.

Things will never be the same again.  Not that they ever could be, but I am occasionally a dreamer.  Especially when I’m being lazy and it is easier to dream about something than to actually do it.

But to imitate Devon, I digress.  Last week, Devon and I returned from a wonderful two week vacation in Pennsylvania.  It was relaxing and joyful.  The weather was wonderful.  Only two humid days and one day of rain.  (Athough Devon would have loved the weather even if it had rained each day).

Mini-trips to Conneaut and Warren were made to visit relatives.  Philly relatives made the trek to PGH at the latter part of our vacation.  We packed the time between trips by getting a mani/pedi (me and mom), attending my 11 year high school reunion, seeing Pirates of the Carribean 2 AT THE THEATER, visiting the zoo, going to the mall, celebrating Meghan’s 25th birthday, taking a Ducky Tour of the city and doing a few other random things.  Claire had a great time with her peeps and learned to speak a few new words – all of which are acceptable at daycare, so no damage has been done – yet!

We returned Sunday afternoon after a day of travel to 94 degree temperatures.  No, not outside (it is over 100 in AZ right now).  The AC at our house broke while on vaca and we had to vacate and stay with Ryan, Laura and Emma.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for your hospitality!!  Devon and Claire battled it out in the heat temporarily on Monday while the AC guy replaced the transformer and wiring.  Good news – it didn’t cost too much.  Better news – AC is now working.  Woo-hoo!

While Devon and Claire were home, I spent my first day back at work.  Now considering that my job is the same, it shouldn’t be too different, right?  Wrong.  Gail is gone!  ….  (I literally cried about this many times since she announced her retirement in May).  Now Jim is in.  OK, Jim is a nice guy, but he is not Gail and I quickly note MANY differences.  It has been a rough week back at work and I am now crossing my fingers, legs and arms that I’ll make it through the year.  Same job, different boss actually makes the job very different when your title is Administrative Assistant.  Your job is to assist the boss, so the actual person in the position has a HUGE effect on your job.  Well, I guess I’ll survive.  If you want more details, you’ll have to ask me in person because I don’t want to pull a dooce.