From the life of Nicholas

I started massage school a couple weeks ago and I really like it. It is great to finally enjoy what I am learning about and doing. We have class every day for about 6 hours. The first three hours are used to learn about muscles, bones, joints, (anatomy and the way the body functions). During the second half of school we are given the opportunity to practice different massage techniques on each other. For the last two days, we have been learning how to stretch body in rather extreme ways. The coolest thing was that I would never have even attempted these extreme stretches with someone else’s body before, because I was scared of hurting them. However, now I am able to do them correctly. School is going well and I love it. I am looking forward to practicing on all of you as well as teaching anyone who wants to learn. You can follow this link to my massage school's website.

http://www.educatinghands.com/

Love you

Sheila here...

On Friday I met with my advisor Rasiel and I am so excited I could explode. Besides the standard fare that goes along with getting academic advise, I was given a tour of the studios and I was ableto see the work that FIRST YEARS were doing. It was mind blowing. Seeing the combination of landscape architecture, architecture, and interiors was eye opening. I am so glad I am getting into this. This is the story about it though:

I have been accepted into the Landscape Architecture Masters program at Florida International Univ. Yippee!

BUT

I didn't originally apply for the Landscape Architecture program. I applied to the Architecture program. Part of the application required a 10 piece porfolio displaying your creativity and it HAD to be on paper. As a web desiger that does several Flash projects, I was very disappointed to know that I would have to print out the websites and they wouldn't look great. Well I did my best and sent in my portfolio. I was expecting an answer by April 15th.

Well in the beginning of April, I got a letter saying that I had been placed on the waiting list and they'd let me know by the middle of May. I bawled my eyes out. I just leaned against my kithen wall and just bawled. This was going to be 7 LONG weeks of waiting. I tacked the letter up on my wall as a reminder to keep the faith and to KNOW that everything would work out. The second week of May I got anxious and called the grad advisor. He called back and spoke to Nick and told him that on May 10th they'd review the waiting list people and there'd be a decision at the lastest the beginning of June. He also told Nick that the waiting list was very short. So Nick and I were very positive. I put the issue of grad school aside and focused on the wedding. All through the honeymoon I was anxious about getting the mail when I returned to Miami though.

We returned from Vermont and there was no letter from FIU. I could just pass out. On Wednesday, June 8th, I called the grad advisor and he called back and spoke to Nick. He revealed to Nick that I had been rejected. Reason: my portfolio wasn't strong enough. (Side note: it is HIGHLY discriminatory to ask for creative people to apply to your program, but you make no effort to accomodate digital artists) Nick was determined to make me get into grad school. He then pressed the graduate advisor for some way I could get in (I would NEVER do this. I will fight someone to the death to get what I feel is RIGHTFULLY mine, but I am so wary of requesting that extra bit of something that someone would give if I'd just ask). The grad advisor told Nick that I could maybe get into the Landscape Architecture program. I'd have to talk to someone else.

Nick called and told me and why did I tell him I didn't want to call the lady. For one, I didn't know anything about Landscape Architecture really and I didn't want to ask anyone for anything I didn't think I'd get. Well I called Mimi and told her and she didn't press me to do it, but in her Mimi way, I knew she'd want me to at least explore the option. I spent a few hours on the internet finding out what landscape architecture was about and started gettign into the idea a bit.

I called the lady, she told me she'd see if they'd accept me. She called back and said she would, but I had already applied for architecture, so I'd have to get this other woman to hopefully change my application to landscape architecture. Mind you, we were about 4 months past the application deadline, so I am not hopeful at all. I emailed the lady and called the grad advisor really leaning on him for some info. On Tuesday I received both a rejection letter and an acceptance letter on the same day. If it wasn't for Nick I'd be just crying for not getting into any program and I am REALLY excited about this second option. Yay!

This is one of the reasons I married this man...for his HEART!

Tata!

From the life of Nicholas:

Today Sheila and I had a fun adventure. We went to get our bikes fixed after years of being bike less. First we had the excitement of trying to fit two bikes into the trunk of Hot Ginger (Sheila’s wonderful car), securing them with purple string and then, hardest making sure the trunk doesn’t bang on the wheel sticking out the trunk. Well we accomplished the first two but the third gave us a bit more trouble. After a bit of MacGyver-style handy work we got to the bike store. We had rescued a mountain bike with flat tires that had been thrown away and we were able to fix it up into a cool new mountain bike for Sheila and I to share for a very good price. We have been thinking of biking off road and it is cool that we were able to upgrade one of our bikes for a fraction of the original cost. From recycling we got a good bike and a small adventure in and out of the rain. Good karma to Sheila for buying a down and out man some food and good coffee and helping him smile in the rain. I love you and hope your life is going well and you are having fun adventures.

Sheila here...

Today I have an appointment to see my advisor for grad school. Just saying those words gives me such joy. Nicholas, thank you so much for being so supportive through this school process, AND of course for getting me into school in the first place, but that is a whole 'nother story. So I am going to see Raziel who claims he is "looking forward to putting a face to a name." You see, I have harrassed Raziel for the last six months about this program. It seemed like I was calling him every week with a new question. I just wanted to make sure I was doing every correctly (I wasn't) and that I was on time (I nearly wasn't). He'll give me an idea of what the program will entail, the necessary supplies, and what will be expected of me. It's good to have your advisor in your corner...they can go to bat for you as necessary. Too bad I learned that AFTER I had already severely antagonized my advisor at Howard...Sorry! I can look forward to 3 classes for a total of 12 credits. That's REALLY heavy. Thankfully I will be "working" at home doing web design at my own convenience rather than having to adhere to an inflexible work scehdule. I am trying to make A's this semester!

On another topic, it is so hot outside that I just might be melting everytime I step out of my door. By next week I'll have lost 2 full inches and be down to 5'0''! I swear last year the heat wasn't as oppressive. But then again I am also "sure" that it didn't rain as much last year, but I KNOW that's a crock because Florida was hit with 4 hurricanes last year. Short memory, eh? Once out of a bad situation we often gloss over the details and given enough time, the situation doesn't seem all that bad. I am convinced this is why women can survive more than one childbirth (provided it was a painful, marathon process). After the placenta is delivered, the amnesia starts to creep in. Then years down the road it doesn't seem that bad and having another child sounds like a walk in the park. Or at least this is was the Baby Channel tells me as I watch obsessively on days off - "Don't worry abotu the pain...you'll forget about it!" Riiiiiight. I am still holding on to hurts from childhood :P.

So speaking of the heat, Nick and I are thinking about the beach tomorrow or maybe even the water park! Woohoo...the water park! I LOVE the slides and the wave pool. Let me see about inviting friends. We'll make it a mini road trip (we have to go up to West Palm for the fun in the sun) and stay for the day. Yay!

Have a good weekend!

This past Saturday, Nicholas and I had our first joint meal with another party, namely Kay Pea. She brought over all of the ingredients for the SMASHED potatoes. She laced the potatoes with herbs and spices, as well as a good amount of tasty garlic! We added broiled salmon and broccoli to the mix. We laughed and talked and feasted until we couldn't sit straight. It was good to have a relaxing evening with dealing with the hustle and bustle of South Beach. Kay Pea and I had already done the town on Thusday night. Well...that boring party wasn't really doing the town, but we did run into some Alphas, so that put a smile on our faces.

Good times...