Hokie Sadness

This week something most horrible happened.  Something that could have happened anywhere at anytime to anyone.  It was very sad that this occurred on a campus that I love to be on.  A campus that my husband walked for five years while working his way through college to receive a bachelor degree in engineering.  Norris was the building where he took a lot of his classes and he lost a favorite professor, G.V. Loganathan, in Monday’s tragedy.

What have we learned from this?

That no matter how prepared you think you are – you really are not.

That no matter what difficult decisions administration must face, they will never make the right decisions fast enough to please the public.

That when you see that person who tends to be a loner, picking on them will only push them further into their own world.

Have you known anyone like Cho Seung-Hui?  Or maybe you knew an Eric Harris or a Dylan Klebold (Columbine shooters).  Maybe you were a bully.  Maybe you were their friend.  Would you ever think they were capable of this?

I had a friend from elementary school on through high school who these guys all remind me of.  He was a very odd human being to people who didn’t take enough time to get to know him.  Once you knew him, he was a friend you would never want to lose.  Looking back, reading some of the things he wrote in high school (I still have some of the binders of his writing), he was certainly capable of going over the edge and doing this.  Why he didn’t – I’m not sure.  I’d like to think that having a few friends kept him level enough.

I can’t find him now, though.  I’ve been looking for the last few years to figure out where he went to.  I’ve posted on alumni webpages and myspace trying to locate him and see what he is doing.  This makes me want to find him more and make sure he is okay.

One word of caution I will share.  My mom raised me to befriend the people others picked on.  I had plenty of weird friends growing up – people the stupid news media would call “outcasts”.  One of these outcasts took my friendship the wrong way and has never looked back.  After 15 years, I may have to get a Stalking Restraining Order.  Here is my word of caution – girls, befriend girls.  Boys, befriend those guys.

One of the reports about Cho Seung-Hui says that one of the things he did that put off other students was that he would walk up to female classmates and stare into their eyes – a little too close for comfort.  His explanation was because it was the only way for him to know “how they really felt about him”.  Guys, get off your high horse you YOU befriend the guys like him.  Really make an effort to know them and understand them.  Maybe we can prevent the next massacre that may be in the works.

Those of us entering the teaching field – read the account of Lucinda Roy, one of Cho Seung-Hui’s teachers.  A teacher who tried to get him help, though he denied accepting it.  When she felt that he was in real danger two years ago, she pulled him out of a normal classroom and began to teach him one-on-one.  I pray that I will have that spirit as a teacher – to do what it takes to help the students in my charge.

I contacted Grete, a friend of my brother’s who has become a friend.  She was at VT just last week to finalize her plans to begin a Ph.D. program there this fall.  I wanted to know how she was doing and how this may have affected her decision.  Read this: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=34137&print=1

We have all been touched in one way or another by this event.  We know someone on the campus – a student who is there now.  Or, we have been there on occasion – visiting with friends, cheering on the Hokies, and being carefree.

My prayers go out to all those affected by Monday’s events.  No college campus will be the same, for there were lessons learned.  May God grant those who lost a loved one that Peace the passes understanding find those who need it and give them strength to get through.

Sweetness…

So, I talked to my advisor today to confirm that I was signed up for the correct final two classes of my bachelors degree.  He asked me if I was walking and I said “Nope, I’m having a Pampered Chef party that day.”

Why am I not walking?  Because I’m just not feeling it.  I walked for my Associate degree because the staff in the Math/Science Department at JSRCC really wanted me to.  I just don’t have the connection with the staff at VCU.  And, I don’t know anyone else walking who would be walking with me.  I just don’t want to.  If I change my mind I can walk in December.

I do plan to go back to school for my Masters Degree and will walk for my hood, that’s for darn sure.  I want that hood!!!

So, what is up with you?  I’ll have more to post next week – promise.

GO VCU RAMS!

So we made it pretty far, huh?  Just had to get that in.  I’m so proud of my team, though I haven’t been a supportive fan all season.  I did purchase a CAA champion shirt, but it is WAY too big (and it’s a small), so I think I’ll return it and get a kids one.  Oh well.

I have registered for my final two classes at VCU.  It is a little bittersweet.  I am almost a college graduate.  Do you know how long I’ve been working on this?  Since fall of 1996!  This won’t be the end of my career as a student, though.  This fall I will take two Praxis II tests and the VCLA in hopes of getting accepted into the VCCS Career Switcher Program for January 2008.  This is an alternative licensure program.

That means that next fall – 2008 – I could potentially be in a middle school math class as the TEACHER!  That is actually a little scary.  I still plan on getting a Masters degree, but I haven’t nailed down exactly what yet.  I’m strongly leaning toward VCU’s program for Special Education.  It is huge draw.

Then, after getting my Masters degree, I will begin work on a Doctorate.  Granted, at my rate of speed as a student I may be 80 when I become Dr. Cronin, but I will become Evelyn L. Cronin, Ed.D.  I just don’t see it any other way.  I want to go into administration and I want to do it right.

Oh well, that is all for now.  Soon, I’ll be able to put a VCU alum sticker in the back window of my car.  I actually looked at the stuffed rams in the bookstore this week.  I think I’ll get one.  Everyone else gets to be all proud of being a college graduate – so should I.

On a side note – please pray for Sarah from camp.  She ran the canteen & pool with BJ this past summer.  She has applied for an internship in GA this summer.  She also has a prayer request on her xanga site (http://www.xanga.com/SkimboardGirl) for her cousin.  The internship in Savannah will be a great opportunity.

Thanks, Sarah, for reading my blog.  It was good to see you last week at RBC!

Okay, So This Might Qualify As My Favorite Gift Not From My Husband

Seriously, I just got one of the best gifts ever – from my little brother & my new younger sister.

One – two coffee cups with saucers from Starbucks (purple with hearts)

Two – Wooden Cross with a beautiful quote about “Sister”

Three – a cute hot pink leather gift card holder with a Starbucks giftcard!

Four – a cute hot pink leather keychain that opens up to reveal two photos – one of me and Jeff from their wedding and one with me, Warren & Rachel from the wedding.

I was so excited opening this gift piece by piece – the cups and saucers were each wrapped separately.

I have the BEST family!

Thank you, Warren & Rachel!!

So, A Funny Thing Happened Yesterday…

I was in my freshman-level math course (yes, freshman level – that is its own story) taking a “team” quiz.  I hate team quizzes.  Just let me take the stupid quiz and leave.  No, a team quiz is where you have a partner and regardless, you aren’t supposed to turn in your quiz until the time limit is up – even if you finish 20 minutes early.

Anyway, so I’m paired up with a girl named Shea.  She’s cute.  We talked to the TA, Matt, before the quiz started so I knew that she was from upstate New York, but had been in the Richmond area since elementary school.  So, we take our quiz.  As we start our quiz she says how much she hates team quizzes – right on!  We agree.  So we both do the work and just check our work against each other – that’s the same thing, right?

We finish early and so we’re sitting there talking quietly.  She heard that I was graduating this summer and wanted to know what my degree would be in.  When I said math she inquired as to why I, a senior, am in a freshman math class.  After that story she asked if I had been at VCU the whole time.  No, I went to Sarge (a community college) for 8 years prior – yes, it took me 8 years to get a 2-year degree.

Then she asks, “How old are you?”  I tell her that I’m 29.  “Wow!”  She says, “You don’t look 29.”  I tell her I have good genes and that I am thankful for them.  Then she says, “People don’t think that I’m as old as I am either.”  So I say, “Well, how old are you?”

Here it is, folks…the kicker…

“I’m 19”. 

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!  I’m a full TEN YEARS older than my math quiz partner!

Now, if you know me you know that I am not freaked out by aging, getting older, being a year from 30, etc, etc, etc…but in this one moment the panic of aging set in – just for a moment.  Then, it became hysterical.

I am TEN YEARS older than my quiz partner – man, I’m getting old.

Well, My Birthday was WONDERFUL!!!

We left on Friday afternoon and went to Jay & Mo’s to meet up with them.  After dropping Ronnie off at the Richmond Airport, we hit the road – one car for Jay & Jeff and one car for Mo & me.  We had dinner in Newport News at Don Pablo’s – one of Melissa’s favorite restaurants which has quickly climbed to the top of my list.  If you know me – you know I love my mexican food!

We got to my Granny & Aunt Evie’s around 8:30, settled in, and played cards with them.  We played Shang-Hi Rummy until about 12:30 or so.  The four of us were beat!  Apparently, Granny & Aunt Evie stayed up even later.

Saturday started with a hearty breakfast of french toast, cinnamon rolls, sausage, and bacon!  Yum!  Carla came over to give my my birthday present since it was for me to use on Saturday – two tickets to the Virginia Living Museum!  After we’d all gotten ready to go, we headed over to the museum and had a great time!  I’ll have a few pictures eventually, but I forgot our digital camera, so I have to get them developed and put onto c.d.  Ugh!  They had the coolest thing – a turtle shell (with legs) that you could crawl into and become a turtle.  Well, you know I was all up in that!  It was a tight fit, but so cool.  The outdoor nature loop, complete with animals, was freezing, but we did it anyway and really enjoyed all the animals – including two ducks “walking on the water” a la Jesus.  (yes, we know they were on ice!)

After the museum, we went over to the Peninsula SPCA to see the big cats and petting zoo.  Most of the big cats were in their houses – again, it was cold – but we saw the bob cats, one of the leopards, and plenty of sheep, goats, and chickens to play with.  I even petted a llama!  It was fun & for a good cause – there is a small fee that goes to support the SPCA.  After a short trip into the cat room (the lady said they’d gotten kittens and Jeff decided it was time to go), we headed to lunch at Fazoli’s.  Now, let me clarify.  I told the lady we had four cats at home and we would not be taking anyone home with us today.  Jeff, upon hearing the word “kittens” said, “We gotta get out of here.”  He’s a sucker for babies!!

After lunch it was back to Granny & Aunt Evie’s for naps, reading, watching t.v., and for me – looking through old photo albums.  They never get old to look at.  Mo joined me after a bit and had fun seeing mom & Carla as kids as well as all my goofy Halloween costumes as a kid.  It was good fun.  Then, it was time to play some cards again.  Mo, Granny, Carla sat down to play.  At about 4:00, the doorbell rang.  Carla said she’d get it since it was probably Mike.  NOPE!  It was My MOM and DAD!  They’d come to surprise me for dinner!  After a heaping helping of Aunt Evie’s Chicken ‘n’ Dumplins, we moved onto birthday cards, songs, and cake for me and daddy.

Mom, Dad, Jay & Melissa all left after dinner (boo hoo) and Jeff and I settled in for a quiet evening.  Acutally, he watched t.v. with my cousin, Hailey, and I sat in the kitchen and talked to Granny and Carla.  After Carla and Hay went home, Jeff, Granny, Evie, and me sat around the table and played three more rounds of Shang-Hi Rummy.  It was good fun.

Sunday morning we got up and got ready for church.  We attended the early service with Granny & Aunt Evie at Northside Christian Church.  It was really nice with a nice surprise.  An old family friend was there to do special music!  It was wonderful to hear him sing again!  After church we headed home to recoup and prepare for yet another busy week.

*Monday brought me flowers from the Amos’ and cookies from Ginny!  My birthday just keeps going…

This friday wraps up my birthday/Valentines with a trip to see Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus!!!  Jeff got me AWESOME seats.  You can be sure you’ll be seeing pictures from that!!!

Thanks for all of my birthday wishes!  It was a great weekend!

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me!

I can’t believe I’m one year away from

30!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!

It’s my birthday so I can post whatever I want, right?

Hope all is well with everyone who actually reads this thing (like Gilley).

For those of you younger – there is nothing wrong with 29.  I’m going to have a great weekend away at my grandmothers with Jeff and a couple of friends.  We’re going to the Virginia Living Museum (http://www.thevlm.org/) and the Peninsula SPCA(http://www.peninsulaspca.com/contact.html), which happens to have a small zoo and petting farm.  My granddad took Warren and I to this SPCA when we were little to see the big cats and pet the farm animals.  It was one of my favorite places in the world.  Right before Warren’s wedding, I figured out where in Newport News it is so I’m dragging my hubby and friends there with me.

Look out 30, here I come!!!

You have to check this out:

This is my favorite airplane landing I’ve ever taken.  Granted, this is not video we took ourselves, but we’ve experienced this just the same – maybe on a bigger plane.  This landing means that you’ve made it to St.Thomas.  You’re going to step out of the plane directly into the sunshine.  You walk down the steps, go through security, find a taxi, ride to the ferry, and continue across the beautiful water to St. John.  Beautiful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_BIV4DcdSw

At the moment I’m posting this, it is 81 degrees and sunny in Cruz Bay, St. John. 

I’m ready to go…

http://www.gotostjohn.com/live/index.htm

 It took until right before I graduate, but

I officially have a MySpace page!

http://www.myspace.com/elcronin

Check it out!

In other news…

My hair is long enough to cut & donate to Locks of Love.  I’ll be going through with this feat near the end of February in honor of Charlotte Rich’s birthday.  Shh…it is a secret from Charlotte!!

Check it out (ignore the reflection of the flash off the tile):

So, School Has Started…

School at VCU started this week and I am really enjoying my classes so far.  It looks like I’m going to graduate in August – finally.  Hopefully I’ll be able to get my last two classes in around my work schedule this summer.  It may be REALLY hard!  I may be pulling my work hours at night and on the weekends.  My boss is going to L-O-V-E that!

So, I am retaking TEDU 562, “Reading to Learn in the Content Areas”.  Last semester was lethal with a teacher who does not like having math majors in her class.  I’m a math major.  Around Thanksgiving, I realized I wasn’t going to get out alive.  I had two options: Take an incomplete and resubmit every assignment that hadn’t lived up to her literary background, or take fail and take it again.  Against all better advise, I took my second option.  Because it is a 500-level course it will stay on my record.  Hopefully getting a better grade this semester will help support my “bad semester” theory.

Jeff and I will be married 8 months on Saturday.  Pretty cool, eh?  I think so.  I really enjoy being married to him.  He makes me laugh so hard at the oddest things and times.  And about things that no one else will find funny.  He’s really my best friend.  That’s so nice!

Speaking of best friends…Jay, Mo, Jeff, Me & Ronnie went to IKEA this past Saturday to buy big house stuff.  We’re gonna do it again when we’re both ready to do our kitchens.  It was a trip.  Ronnie is really blending happily into our “group”.  On the way up, we were listening and singing to the radio.  Apparently, Ronnie and Mo dance in the car all the time.  Since Jay was driving and Jeff had shot-gun, I got to participate.  It was a blast.  We were grooving away behind the “men”.  Not that Ronnie isn’t a man, but he really blends well with Mo and I.  We can be really silly and goofy and he plays right along.

For those of you who don’t know…Ronnie is a friend of Jay & Mo’s from Cincinnati.  He was hit by a car nearly two years(?) ago – run over actually – right after Jay & Mo moved here.  He has been like Mo’s “family” for quite a while, so they really stepped up to care for him.  Eventually it was decided that Ronnie needed a break from life in Cincinnati and where better to take that break than with Jay & Mo here in Richmond.  None of us knew Ronnie, but we’d all be praying for him since his accident.  I joke often that we couldn’t remember life without Jay & Mo.  I now feel that way about Ronnie.

Friends rock.  I have good ones.  How about you?