Mulling It Over

As many of you may know, I live in Arkansas. There are certain things that I have come to value during my time here. One of those things, is that people can smoke in restaurants. In the north, this pretty much doesn't happen anymore. People are barely aloud to smoke in bars there, much less a restaurant. Now, let me make it very clear. I am not a smoker. Also, I do not condone smoking. However, I do believe in personal freedom. I think that people should be allowed to make their own decisions. I should be able to chose, if I so wish, to light up in a restaurant. I understand the idea of family restaurant, if the owner chooses to make it non-smoking that's fine. But it should be the owners choice. Life is about choices. What prompts this discussion you may ask?
Well last night, after work, my husband and I decided to go to one of our favorite little restaurants here in town: Waffle House. There are certain things I expect when I walk into a Waffle House one of these thigns is to be greeted by the smell of grease and smoke. Last night, when I walked in I thought, "my it smells odd in here." It smelled almost clean. I though this was extreemly weird. The restaurant was very empty. Being only one of three places open after 10 this too was strange. I sat down and ordered my coffee. And then I saw the sign. Black with blazing red letters. NO SMOKING. How could this be? My Waffle House had been infiltrated. I asked my waitress with her died hair the color of wet black top, "Are you guys really no smoking?" She replied, "Yes, and between that and IHOP things are horrible." I fear for my little Waffle House. It deserves better.
My food didn't taste the same. The coffee was good, but not like what I've come to expect.

I cry freedom.

So here's the scoop.

We are most likely (90% sure) moving to New Hampshire. Jeremy will be attending The University of New Hampshire. The town is really pretty; it's about an hour by car or train from Boston. It's about 6 -7 hours from home.
Why, you may ask, are you no longer going to Philadelphia/Drexel?
Well Drexel has done a horrible job of getting any information to Jeremy. They still haven't offered him a Teaching Assistantship and we have no way of knowing if they will. UNH is not only offering him full tuition but a large stipend. There are several job openings for me around the town, so hopefully, I will find a job quickly.

We were at first dissapointed about not going to Philadelphia, but now this is looking like the better thing to do. Students and teachers from UNH have emailed Jeremy asking him to come, and I think it will just be a better fit for him.

If, Drexel offered a TA spot we would consider it but not necessarily go.
Anyway, That's what's going on.

Let it be forthwith known that I am an English Major. Above all other titles that I may hold such as graduate assistant, Teacher, education major blah blah; I am an English major. I became an English major for several reasons one of the highest on the list is my love of reading. This is not an uncommon quality of a lover of English to love reading. But here's the catch. I, honestly, only like reading that which I think is good and worthy of my time. This leaves the door open to much reading. I love to read Time I devour it each week upon its arrival. I love to read YA books they take me a happier place. I adore Faulkner and numerous other classics. I enjoy non-fiction not often, but I do. And I even like reading books that are purely didactic in nature. However, when I don’t like reading a book I feel like a 10 year old with ADHD. I throw fits, I scream and I am I’m sure utterly miserable to live with or be in near. (Prepositions at the ends of sentences are ok sometimes) I am currently reading the book the Language Police. Needless to say, I hate it. It makes me want to scream. I have thrown the book across the room at least twice. I don’t mind reading works that I disagree with; I think that reading what you disagree with is one of the best ways to learn. However, I believe in an equal presentation. The best way to win someone over is to make concessions. The author of this book with all of her degrees and prominence obviously missed the debate team somewhere along the way. My point is even the biggest lover of knowledge, books, and expression sometimes hates to do her homework, hates required reading, and hates books written by conservative jerks.