New Semester

First day of classes was yesterday, but I was too exhausted to write. Hubby got assigned to do Hurricane Katrina duty down in Mississippi, so he was up at 4 a.m. to catch a train to the airport -- he took his camping gear cuz only God knows where he will be staying and what conditions will be like. He is excited. I am glad in a way that he's gone; then I don't expect help around the house from him when I don't see him. I'm glad for him to have this opportunity; the difficulty comes with me making arrangements for kids to catch a bus at 8:35 a.m. when I have an 8 a.m. class 4 days out of 5! Neighbors and friends are helping, and I should just be grateful, but I hate to think I owe anyone anything because of a kindness they've shown to me....

Met with a new advisor who will mentor me through a Th.M. (additional degree) next year (2006-2007). He is having me work A LOT right from the get-go -- I feel really pushed and stretched -- it feels like another course already this year, when I just wanted to line up something for next year -- but I'm excited about it too. He wants me to write a book -- never really on my list of things to do, at least, not from a theological/spiritual vantage point (pulp fiction, maybe!). This will be very interesting, and bad manager of time that I am, I will probably do more on this (which is not required ever, and certainly doesn't need to be finished this year) than on my current course work.

Must dash to a 1:30 class -- but speaking of my course work -- I like everything so far! Think this has the potential to be my best semester yet! Minister as Counselor, Social Ethics, New Testament Exegesis, Preaching Mark, Theological Interpretation (Empire Capital) -- and a Greek and Hebrew reading course. All good!