I know, as usual, I'm a freakin' slacker...What can I say? You know this about me by now, yet you keep coming back. It must be my riveting prose or my so-dang-exciting life (or perhaps your lack of one...?).

I guess it's time I let everyone know officially that Lance & I aren't together anymore. It wasn't a big, ugly breakup & nothing really "happened." I just missed my old, simple life and thought I'd try to get it back. I'm still not really sure about why I made that decision or if it was the right one to make, but I figure that I should try to make the best of it, since what's done is done.

I wrote three articles for the college newspaper, which will be printed on Monday or Tuesday. I'm pretty stoked about that, and my writing professor and Byline advisor has been calling me his "star reporter." I've already learned from this experience that journalism is a whole lot different from essay writing. No one wants to go on record and sources must be sited in nearly every sentence, so it can be difficult to have a story with substance.

I still love my Sociology and PE classes. Although my Soc professor is a tough grader, I think I'm getting an A. I have to do some sweet-talking and perhaps some make-up classes to get an A in PE, since I've missed a few classes from being sick or tired (or sick and tired). As usual, I'm struggling with Math, but I think if I really focus for the rest of the term, I should be okay. There were a couple of sections that I really, REALLY didn't understand AT ALL, but I'm past those. I just need to review all the other chapters and study hard to get a good grade on the cumulative final in a few weeks. Biology is really tough. I have a professor who doesn't like to give questions from the text, because he wants to "discourage memorization and promote scientific reasoning." In theory, that's great, but in reality, I'm not much of a scientific thinker. There are a couple of guys in my class who've become my study buddies, which has helped. Part of the problem with Bio is that they only offer it in the evenings, so I don't get home until 7:30 on Mondays & 9:30 on Wednesdays.

I registered for next term & had to take the same schedule for Bio II, which is part of three science requirements. I also signed up for the next level of Math and Intro to Music, which will be 1 of 3 music classes in the series needed for my transfer degree. I took the advice of one of my college friends & signed up for a telecourse. It's a Sociology class dealing with the elderly and life changes, offered by my Psych 202 professor, who is also my advisor. The syllabus says the course will consist of ten 55 minute videos. I think I can handle that! I'm on the fence about Core & Cardio next term, because I really want to stay active and continue to lose weight, but the time it's offered has really been inconvenient for me & I'm trying to mellow out my schedule a little next term, while still staying on track with my requirements.

Anyway, that's school in a nutshell. Other than that, I've just been trying to get my house in order & spend more time with Tyson. He's been playing 7th grade varsity basketball for his school & is disappointed because his team hasn't won a single game yet (of like 6 games). We've signed him up for AAU (city ball), which will start as soon as school ball gets out. Ever since we got cleared after finding out his knee wasn't shot, he's been playing a lot more & dropping some of the weight he'd inadvertently put on with inactivity. He's also back to wanting a healthier diet. I have his parent/teacher conference this upcoming week. He got all A's, except for one C that was an 89.9%. I'm really proud of him, though, because he had to work really hard to bring his grades up & he pulled it off! He has all next week off of school for Thanksgiving Break & conferences. I foresee a lot of sleepovers (at my place, of course!), basketball, and video games.

I've agreed to mentor Lisa's step-daughter (from her last marriage) for her senior project. She's going to do photography & do senior pics for some friends. I made up with my friend Samantha, with the understanding that we both could've handled the situation better when she moved out. We haven't hung out, but it's nice to be on speaking terms again. My friend Ganey (whom I met through Lance & now go to school with) called me to see if she can crash with me for a couple of days next week. I told her I'd love to help her out, but it can only be for a couple of days.

I was considering fixing up the car I'm thinking about buying from my brother for the trip to Eureka for Thanksgiving, but I think I've run out of time. It's still something I might do when time & money permits, though. Thank goodness gas prices have gone down. That'll help with the cost of the trip, itself. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone!