Lately, I've had a bit of trouble keeping up here.  For sure, I'm way behind on reading.....

So, what's up with me?  Quite a bit actually...

At work, I've finally reached a point where it's not so frantic and is almost manageable. The first month and a half of the school year is done at a dead run and I'm glad to be past that point.

At home, the fall chores have been interrupted by SNOW!  We had about 5 inches here on our mountain and it does not bode well for getting the leaves raked this week.  Actually, my plan for the weekend was to rake, but while I will rake, I will NOT shovel leaves and right now they are soaked and heavy.  Ugh.

Sadness continues in the lives of many around here.  Two of my former students have committed suicide this month, an elderly neighbor has died and many of my acquaintances have lost family members.  This bout of grief does not seem to have an end...

Spiritually this is a good time of year.  The fall Bible study begins this week (Romans) and I'll soon be taking a couple of lay speaking classes.  Soon Advent will be upon us and I love Advent, the time of preparation.

I've managed to reconnect with quite a few friends from the past on Facebook but don't think I'm going to leave Xanga for Facebook.  FB is good for drive by posts, but Xanga lets me ruminate. 

Thoughts about things: 

I really dislike reality TV and this bizarre story about the Colorado family and their hoax about their son being loose in a ballon really makes it permanent.  Sorry, but if there is a camera present, it's not "reality" unless you certify that it's a camera present/tv driven/phony "reality".

Jon and Kate Gosslin and their brood need to be left off the tube and into serious therapy.  NOW.

Mr. Obama's Nobel Peace Prize win astonished me.  I'm still scratching my head over that one....

The swine flu is rearing it's ugly head.  Our attendance numbers of absentees is beginning to climb...makes me wonder if the vaccine will get here in time or not.

Speaking of vaccines, a couple of people here in PA have died from menningitis.  Having had a friend who in the course of her job contract it (nursing), I can tell you that it's a horrible disease and if you can take steps to prevent it, you should.

When it comes to goofball tv, I like a good grade B science fiction flick as much as the next person, but I cannot abide the SAW movies.  This isn't horror...it's torture...why show someone already on the edge how to do these things?  And from what frame of mind do these ideas spring?

It took the state of PA 101 days past July 1 to get a budget passed and in place.  I think maybe it's time for us to replace 101% of the legislature.  Or at least give them a scare....this was not ridiculous, it was criminal.

The ever earlier darkness in the evenings is depressing.  From now until the winter solstice, I'm going to growl at the sunsets and cheer the sunrises.

Well, that's the wrap up from my brain.  What's going on in yours?