what is it with April?

Seriously. I am saddened now after logging on to Facebook and reading a friend's status message. It said something about a shooting that happened yesterday at Radford University, only about two hundred miles from where I live. I hadn't heard about it, but didn't watch the news last night, and hadn't heard a thing during the day.

Isn't this the time of year where people should be coming alive with happiness since it's Spring? Instead they're coming alive with morbidity.

Radford University April 2, 2009

Virginia Tech Aprl 16, 2007

University of Washington April 2, 2007

Roosevelt High School April 5, 2006

Those are just of the recent school shootings. Here's a timeline for school shootings occuring since 1966. I'm not usually a big fan of Wiki-anything, after having it beaten out of me by numerous professors, but it does offer good timelines for events such as these.

One I will never forget is Columbine High School.

We were stationed at Langley AFB, Hampton, VA, at the time. We happened to be outside enjoying a warm Spring day. One of my friends came running up to me and asked if I'd heard about the shooting that had just happened in a high school in Littleton, Colorado. She knew that two of my cousins attended high school in Colorado, in Littleton. Panic set in. I had no idea what high school they went to so I immediately got on the phone. My fear was assuaged upon hearing that they went to a different school. They had friends attending Columbine though. My cousins knew people affected by this tragedy.

I can thoroughly understand the pent up frustration felt by this time of the school year. I know the feeling all too well. I just don't understand how people can resort to such horrible, drastic measures as taking another's life. There's no excuse.

Sad, very sad.

Now I really must get to workon my studies.

oh patriotic one am I

Not that I had time for it, but I attended my first American Legion meeting last night. Yes, you read that right. I am the newest, and proud to say, only female member of our local post. I thought I might be the youngest member, and may still be as far as active members go, but there was an active-duty marine present. His father is the post chaplain. He's not an extemely young marine, but I would bet I have a few years on him.

Admittedly it wasn't something I was looking forward to since I have so much studying to do. Do you ever end up enjoying yourself at something you completely dreaded attending? It occured to me that it would not only be nice to be a part of something meaningful, but who else can say she has multiple dads and grandpas? The meeting only lasted about 45 minutes and it was actually an awesome experience.

As official meetings go they had to discuss old and new business. They're an endearing bunch of old guys, and it was hilarious at times to watch them mull over their/our current goings on. They're planning on having someone come in and clean the post, and of course it took a motion and acceptance, and it's a done deal. They have a bunch of other things in the works. Two items of interest that I'll be directly involved in are the baseball team, since my son plays on it, and the upcoming yard sale.

So yes, to my post listing several of my own current goings on we may add this yard sale. It's actually a bit of a necessity though, since there are a bunch of things in the house that need to go. What better way to get rid of them? Whatever doesn't sell will be donated to the local Goodwill. None of the junk will return to the casa, that's for sure!

Have I mentioned I've also not had the time to go grocery shopping? It's part scheduling and part avoidance. I really don't want to go all the way to Quantico. Quite frankly there just hasn't been time to go lately. I'm thinking of shopping more locally at least until after the semester's over. Normally I'd go to Quantico on a day like today, when there's no class or clinicals taking up the better part of the day. Since I have my interview to look forward to this afternoon it's a no go, literally.

Is it May yet? Seriously. May 6th is the day I have determined to be my own personal Mayday! Finals will be over, as will my second semester of nursing school! It won't come soon enough!

back. to. the. books...