The World According to Leslie

Most days, there are just not enough hours to finish the "to do list" I have. There just isn't enough time to do all the things I want to do. I really don't even know where to start with my "to do list" most days. However, I'm learning quickly that there simply isn't enough time to do all I need to do with the Princess. In just a couple weeks (34 days), she is going to be finished with 8th grade. We've already enrolled her in high school for next year. But, what scares me the most (in a good way) is that tomorrow morning, we are going to do our FIRST (of many, I'm sure) college tour!  We are going to be touring Appalachian State University. (I went to school there my first year of college, so I wouldn't be opposed to her being there!! Plus... we could get season passes to Tweetsie so when we go visit!!)  It's crazy to think that there are only 4 short years before she is graduating from high school and going to college. ...

Ever get a quote stuck in your head? Ever memorize a quote the first time you heard it? Ever keep the quote in your memory so much that you can still quote it 20 years later? I have. The funny thing is, I still remember the place where I first heard the quote that plays over in my head frequently. "If going through life and you find yourself lost, go back to the last place you knew who you were and what you were doing and start there." (Carol Stack) As a 19 year old, I sat in the lecture hall at Appalachian State University for a required lecture. (We had so many we had to attend per semester for different classes. We had to scan our name badges in so that they would know we attended.) Anyways, this was a required lecture for my Social Studies class. I was sitting the lecture hall about 1/2 way between the front row and the back. I was also sitting in the middle of the row.  So I was almost "dead center" of the lecture hall. The man who did the intro...

I've known for a long time (you know, forever) that my daughter wouldn't stay little forever. In fact, she's 13 now! It's crazy! She's in 8th grade. She's so smart. She's so pretty. She's becoming so independent. She's taking high school classes, while still in middle school. In short, she's growing up too fast, and she's AMAZING!! Last night, however, she proved that she's even more amazing than I could have imagined. We went to the College Fair sponsored by the local school district. There were about 200 schools there. She grabbed this list/map and decided on the schools she wanted to visit. She already has a chosen major. She walked up to the reps and introduced herself and asked about the program she wants. After talking to the reps for a few minutes, they all offered for her to give information and "be sure you apply early." So, the Princess says, "How early can I apply? I'm in 8th grade." Out of the...

I spent four years as an Undergraduate student.  I attended three different 4-year universities.  I also attended a community college.  I spent 4 1/2 years as a Graduate student.  As you can probably guess, I have more Student Loan debt than I care to admit!  However, I won't try to get someone else to pay it (unless one of you just wants to write me a check to cover it!)!!  I won't try to get out of paying it.  I will pay my debt.  One day, when I have finished paying it off, I will be so excited!  Unfortunately, I think I might pay off my house and my student loans around the same year! :(  Was it worth it?  Yes....every penny!  Would I do it again?!  Yes...every second of it! Would I do anything differently?  Maybe.... but I think my life is pretty good, okie dokie, okay right now! :)  I'll just keep making my little payments until I can make BIG payments to get a chunk out of the loans! :)...

If you want to catch up on this tale, read Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3 .    We have arrived to Labor Day.  September!!!   We did not have any softball games that weekend.  We rented a small SUV and drove to Boone, NC.  That is one of my most favorite places….EVER!  It has Appalachian State University and Tweetsie Railroad !   I attended App State as a Freshman in college.  Music major.  Totally different post.   For the past two years, Chasity has earned “Cookie Points” for selling Girl Scout cookies.  With those points, she can get tickets to places and Gift Certificates to places.    The first year (2011) she got a bowling party, $25 card to Build-a-Bear , and 2 tix to Tweetsie.  Last year (2012) she got $25 card to Applebee’s , $25 card to Build-a-Bear, and 2 tix to Tweetsie.  Who knows how many points she will get this year (2013) and what she will get for them!?    So...

I'm trying to find what my life is centered around. From the time I was 5 until the time I was 18, my life was centered around school.  (Obviously!)  I spent all day at school.  Once I started 7th grade, I spent afternoons (and sometimes much later) in the Band Room at my school and the high school.  Friday nights were Football games.  Saturdays, Band Competitions.  After graduation, I went straight to college.  Appalachian State, Music Education Major.  A year later I returned home to go to RCCC.  During this time I met my husband.  Still, all the while, my time was dedicated to school (and working).  January 2000---transfer to UNCC.  Hated it!  August 2000.  Transfer to UNCG.  LOVED IT!  Graduated in 2003.  By this time, I was married (for two years) and 6.5 months pregnant with our Princess!  I was working full time as an Interpreter.  August 2003--Life became centered around our Pr...

WARNING: This post is LONG and personal! It's probably more real than I have been in a while! "If going through life and you find yourself lost, go back to the last place you knew who you were and what you were doing, and start there."--Carol Stack I really wish I could find a website to link you to her, but there are a few Carol Stacks. I don't know for sure which one she is. She came to Appalachian State University in 1996/97 and gave a lecture. If I could find my notes, I could probably tell you the name of the lecture. I could almost tell you exactly where I was sitting in the lecture. Anyways... I digress. This was the first thing she said in the lecture. I wrote it down, but I never had to look at it. I memorized it just from hearing it the first time. It has been my favorite quote for 15 years! I said that to tell you this: Have you ever had a time that you just felt that everything was going wrong? You take a drive and come home more confu...