PALADIN

You are the Paladin, the ultimate warrior for God. The Paladin represents all that is good in the world. Paladins fight evil at all costs. They do not care for material pleasures of this world. They have sworn their lives away to protecting the innocent, avenging the victims of cruel murders, and chasing after those who deserve their punishments. The Paladin will do anything to fulfill their duties. They will even sacrifice themselves to save another.

Color: White
Animal: Dove
Gem: Diamond
Symbol: Sword

Image: http://www.deviantart.com/view/14400235/
http://quizilla.com/users/LadyTigerEyes/quizzes/Who%20would%20you%20be%20if%20you%20were%20a%20character%20in%20an%20epic%20fantasy%3F%20(beautiful%20pictures)/

Steven got to play goalie this afternoon. I warned him that he shouldn't play so well, or they will stick him with it all of the time.  He only let in one goal, and that was from this huge kick from way back at midfield. That one would have been very difficult for anyone to stop.

Came home, we had pizza , and I baked some chocolate chip cookies. I am still doing more laundry, too!

Bill took his ACT test this morning, and he feels pretty good about how he did. So I think he did pretty well, other than any possible "silly mistakes" he might have made. Going by his practice exams, it sounds as if he scored in the high twenties or low thirties. I took him out to lunch to celebrate. We went to the Olive Garden, and had soup, salad, and breadsticks. It really hit the spot.  Especially the soup.

I decided not to plant more flowers today. Yesterday was glorious and sunny -- the perfect fall day, in fact. Today is cold and cloudy, and it looks like it might start raining at any moment. So I have been working on housework all morning, especially laundry.  That needs to be done, as well. I got so far behind in the laundry when I stripped all of the beds at once, and have gotten even further behind from going out of town last weekend. So I am probably doing more loads (due to having a septic tank) than I should today to try to catch up a little bit.

Steven is off in Ann Arbor today with his best friend. They are playing in a Nintendo tournament at the library. This is the second time they have done that, and they have a lot of fun. When he gets home, it will be time for him to go play soccer. That is going to be cold, and I hope the rain stays away until the game is over!

I am about to go digging in my closet and get out some of my Halloween decorations! YAY!! I love Halloween!

I came in for a few minutes to warm up my fingers. I'm planting lots of flowers and ferns this afternoon, and its chilly outside.  I love the fall, though -- while all of the seasons are very beautiful, each in its own way -- the autumn is just gorgeous with the leaves turning color, the geese migrating, and the crisp smelling air.

The kitties are watching me through the windows, and the dog is following me around the yard. I brought him in with me, and he's napping now, my sweet old gray pup.  Poor old guy pees like a girl dog now, as he's too old and stiff to lift his leg most of the time. But he is still loving and waggy and happy.

Should be another busy weekend. I will be busy planting flowers today and tomorrow (though it might rain tomorrow) and Steven will have soccer games on Saturday and Sunday, and Bill will be taking his college boards (ACT) on Saturday morning. And I want to put up some Halloween decorations this year. I have some cute candle holders and stuff like that. I was still too upset with my father's death last fall to even feel like doing that. This year I do feel like it, which I take to be a good sign.

Back at work for two days now. Would have rather been at home with the kids. This afternoon was Bill's last home soccer game of the regular season. They specially introduced him and the other seniors. How I wish I could have been there!

He did get his application off to Ball State University in the mail today. And the one for the University of Michigan will be done and mailed very soon. So things are moving on.

Ah well. One more night at work, and I can be with my children again. And this weekend I will hopefully have time to finish planting all of my flower bulbs.

Tomorrow one of the pharmacists I work with will be on her way to Waco, Texas for two weeks for disaster deployment. I have yet to get any shots or paperwork, or hear anything...

Little Things That Make Me Happy  

My teenaged son, who is a wonderful, responsible, sweet human being. Likewise his friends. These kids give me hope for the future. As an example, when the kids were in France last summer, there was a huge rain storm while they were in Paris. It was the strongest storm anyone in Paris could remember. The store that the kids ran into to get out of the downpour had a roof leak. They helped the shopkeeper move all of his merchandise out from under the leak -- and they were happy to do it, according to their teachers. The kids felt it was a little way they could repay all of the kindness that had been shown them by the people they had met in France.

As far as that goes, my younger son as well. He's my little sweetheart. He rececently asked me if we could afford to give some extra money to our monthly donation to the local food bank, to help any hurricane victims who made it up here and might need help getting food.

The sheer loveliness and beauty of the colors of the autumn -- the leaves like living jewels in the sunshine, the bright orange pumpkins in the fields.

The look in my old doggy's eyes when he looks up at me. Talk about the purity of love.

The simple kindness and friendliness of nearly everyone I know, and everyone I meet. People are just so cool.

The fire and passion of live instrumental jazz.

The first flowers of spring (usually snow crocuses) popping up through the snow.

I love looking at pictures of my children, too. On a bad day, it helps remind me of what's really important in this world.

I turned 41 years old today. I feel every day of those years, and quite a few extra besides.

Dan wanted to take me out to lunch, but I just didn't feel up to it. so I stayed home and just hung out alone while the kids were at school. I did drive out to Chelsea to watch Bill play soccer in the afternoon, though. It was cold and raining and there was a parking place where I could see the field out the Jeep window, and so I did not even get out of my warm and dry vehicle.

Dan did take me out for dinner tonight, though I wasn't particularly hungry. We went to the Cracker Barrel where I got a vegetable plate.

When I got home, the kids sang birthday songs to me. They are everything sweet and good in the entire world to me. I feel a bit down right now, and a lot exhausted, and I want nothing more at this moment than to go to bed...