Back to School

It should come as no surprise to my regular readers that I'm at my best when I'm busy. REALLY busy. Just in case life as a full-time mom to two small children and a small business owner wasn't challenging enough, I decided to add something else to the mix. Because I'm CRAZY like that.

Back story... My University days were tumultuous. I didn't have a lot of structure growing up so I was a little unaccustomed to the notion of study habits and setting realistic goals. Predictably, as I was fumbling my way through post-secondary life with no idea what I was doing, the results were pretty far from spectacular.

However, the fact that I have allowed that failure to bother me for nearly 20 years (holy shit!) is all on me. I can continue to feel like a failure, OR I can do something constructive to address the problem. Thus far ignoring my feelings on the matter hasn't been working out for me, so I guess I'll have to give the latter a shot. 

Today, my first class as a distance learning student at a very prestigious University is officially under way. Because I am only able to manage a very small course load until Z starts school, it's probably going to take me five years to upgrade my degree to something that gives me a sense of pride rather than one of shame and defeat. And that's fine, because when something is worth the reward, it's worth the work. 

I'm asking your for your help, my dear readers. If I haven't given any updates on the state of school in a while, I need you to give me a little nudge, OK? Thanks!

Goals are good

If you found this post as part of a search for self-help type info, I'm afraid you're going to be very disappointed. I'd apologize, but I wouldn't mean it and really, insincerity harms us all. Better luck next time? Like most Type A people, I make a lot of lists and I set a lot of goals. One might think I relax this mindset when it comes to my kid. That would indicate one does not know me very well at all...

While at the zoo one day when The Parasite was very small, I noticed that the fish tank held her attention better than the mammals could ever hope to. I attempted to test this theory with a trip to Seaworld when she was a little older and was very disappointed to learn that the "aquarium" they speak of on the website was really a couple of large fish tanks in a gift shop. I'm sure the whale show is fascinating, but the wait was too long.

No matter, I had another opportunity a year later in the Bahamas. The fish-fascination held and an idea was born. A quick Google showed there are about 50 aquariums in North America. I resolve to take The Parasite to most, if not all, of them before she leaves for University. We're going to do a lot of traveling anyway because we love to, so seeing some fishies while we're at it seems as good a reason for a trip as any.

Last summer's road trip took us to the Aquarium of New England. A trip to Southern California one day will cross about eight off the list, and we'll hit the others as it strikes our fancy. Like the one we'll see tomorrow on our Easter mini getaway. Will the fascination with the fishies hold for long enough to see all 50? Only time will tell!