It's our first Halloween here in Wilmington and boy do they sure go all out!!

All the stores are decked in their ghoulish decorations and all the store clerks greet everyone with a cheery "Happy Halloween!" I had no idea it was such a big deal. Since my kids have grown up, I'm the one in the neighborhood that turned off the lights but longingly missed seeing all the cute costumes and wished I still had my kids' stash of leftover candy to sneak into.

All that changes tonight. We are going downtown and check out all the many sordid and creative costumes and do a lot of people watching. It should be interesting to say the least.

Just another reason I'm glad I moved here. Now I won't have to sit at home in the dark missing out on all the fun!

This is going to be a big week school-wise. I have 3 mid-term tests and I hope I am ready. I have been studying all weekend but I still feel like I have many hours more to do!!

It is hard to believe it is almost November. Arielle and I went to the local mall and looked for beach-themed Christmas ornaments!! I am definitely having a non-traditional tree this year! I've already gotten the Christmas cards taken care of now it's on to the tree.

The weather is beautiful and it is hard to think about winter which is ok by me. It was in the low 80s last week. The nights are in the 40s but feel so crisp.

Lisa is coming this weekend which should be fun. It will be nice to have some fun. Hopefully, after a successful week of good testing, I can relax and treat myself.

I had a wonderful evening last night up at Topsail Beach with my cousin Robert and his wife Rocky. They and their two friends from 'up North a ways' had come for a week for their annual fall beach trip.

It was so nice to see family and unwind. Their beautiful beachfront home made me realize how lucky I was that the ocean is just a few minutes down the road! I told them I was living a dream come true. My vaca is every day, even though I am in the middle of exams and don't get to look at the ocean every day. I know it is just down the road.

When we were first looking for a place to live in the early spring months, we saw a billboard that said "a million miles away is just down the road". Living at the beach seemed a million miles away at one time in my life. The possibility was, well, an impossibility.

But now, it's just down the road.

Don't give up on your dream. You never know. It just might be right down the road!

It has been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks! This job I have in the Financial Aid office is probably more than I can handle! The time it is taking out of my studying time is crucial and I am really running in circles trying to keep up.

I went last night to advising for next semester's schedule. It looks like I'll be taking 18 semester hours so that definitely will rule out me working. The good news is it will be all in Creative Writing. No more Biology or German!

We have had a couple of chilly evenings here and everyone around is saying it usually don't get this cold until December. I hope it will warm back up because I'm really not wanting it to be cold just yet! I need to go see the ocean again. It has almost been 2 weeks! My mind is in a muddle. I need to clear it out and the ocean is the perfect place to do that.

For now, I must get back to my homeowork. Mid-terms in two classes are coming up and poems to read. Not to mention a very lengthy story by a German writer that is very difficult to follow.

I need to get new glasses...

I knew at some point the semester would get crazy and my posting time would falter. Well, that time is here!

I started my work-study position in the financial aid office this week along with classes really piling on the work. Running on empty, I'm glad it is finally Friday!!

Have a big German test today. I don't know if I am ready or not. I have studied but we shall see. Her tests are very trying. They are not typical. She stands in front of the class and reads of each question, in German, with not much time in between. Inevitably, we all end up asking her to repeat the questions, which makes her angry but she speaks so fast it is impossible to catch it all!!

Oh, well. I will survive.

More importantly, I have my first essay due next Friday on a German writer from the 1800s named Heinrich Kleist. I'm a little nervous about my first paper. This teacher is pretty liberal about format so that won't be a problem. The last time I did a paper was on a typewriter so this will be a big change for me.

I will be getting the place cleaned up for my Writer's Salon on Monday night. I hope I get some folks to come. These young kids are so non-committal it is funny. I believe it will be a fun night so will see what happens. I know I will enjoy being their host.

And the weather is beautiful so I def will get down to the ocean for some relaxation. I can't let a week go by without seeing it. It nourishes me and energizes me and I believe I will need it after this week!

Beautiful sunrise again this morning and I know this will be another beautiful carolina coastal day!!

Today I will hear what my colleagues (?) think of my poem. I am anxious to hear their comments and criticisms. I value their opinions even though they are looking at it through much younger eyes. I still think they all have something valid to add.

Good news to report. I just was hired as a work study in the financial aid office. That means that I will work 10 hours a week until the budgeted amount runs out. This program is run by the Federal Government. I qualified for $634 a semester -- woo-hoo!! -- and once I use up those funds, I have to stop working. They also have been approved for funds for the summer as long as I apply for summer school which I already had planned to do. My secret plan is that I will be such a good little worker bee, that they just cannot do without me and will find more funds to keep me!! I knew all those baked goodies I had been bringing over to my financial aid angel would pay off.

The lady that 'interviewed' me almost apologetically said some of the work is menial. I said 'are you kidding?' I am just so glad to be contributing. I will be working with students and their parents eventually. I have always wanted to work on a college campus. Just another dream coming to fruition.

Hannah and James are coming for a visit this weekend. Maybe we will be looking at bridal gowns?? Just having them here and doing nothing would be fine by me. I really miss my oldest. It will be nice having her for a couple of days.

German quiz today. Hope I fare better than last week. I am a bit more prepared. Our break is on Monday and Tuesday but I start work those days so no class but work instead. No worries. I have had many days off in the past few years. It is time to get busy with something new!!

Guten Tag!