As many of you know, my brother Justin, is suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was diagnosed in February of this year. Things moved quickly along with his doctors. And he is now currently undergoing chemo treatments. He is doing rather well so far. And things seem to be working for the best. He recently started loosing all of his hair so instead we just cut it off! He is still working as much as he can and is still active.

Because of him, my friend Heather and I are training to participate in the Nike Women's Marathon in October. So I am raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a participant in their Team In Training program and I'm asking you to help by making a donation to my fundraising campaign. Anything helps, big or small!

Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

[link]

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 712,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support.

On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.

P.S. I would appreciate it if you would forward this email to as many people as you can to encourage them to donate as well. Thanks again.

Thank you sooooo much!!

So school is down to the final quarter, thank god. I'm so finished! I just want to walk out and be done. But I can't. I have a whole quarter to go without killing anyone. I really can't kill anyone. That would be super bad.

The high school is pretty cool. Things seem to be getting more into a logical flow. Rather than me just standing in the back of the room with the kids wondering who I am. I've actually got a name and a place now. So thats good. They know I know photoshop, so they ask alot of questions about that. And well they just know I'm not "old" like the rest of the teachers and they seem to enjoy that. Its not so bad.

So we were planning to go to Colombia again in June for my grandmothers memorial. Well it seems that won't be happening now. There are many reasons for it, and all very valid reasons on that. My brother will only be about 3 months into his chemo. I'll have to miss school. And well it costs alot when things with my brother are more important. Everyone in Colombia truely understands. And like we all agreed, we'll just go when everything has settled down.

On the school front. So graduation is June 15. And well I think that I've decided that I'm going to continue on and do my masters. I'm crazy I know. But its better this way. I mean its more money, 1. And its the ability to teach in a JC or CC, 2. So thats a plus especially when budgets are being cut. And arts are the first things to go. And it seems that all the art teachers never retire! Omg my middle school art teacher is still teaching. Like.. wtf. Shes got to be almost 70. I swear.

As for my brother and all that. He has cancer, hodgkins lymphoma. He is going to be starting chemo treatments on April 1st. I don't know what is going to happen with all of that. Hopefully it doesn't hit him too roughly. But I don't really know. I'm sure he'll loose his hair. And well thats ok, he has alot of hair anyway! But its still like.. wow. Who knows. I guess we take it one day at a time. And I'll just have to see what goes on.

And for the final note.. I leave for hawaii on Monday! Yay. I'll be there for 8 days. And I hope to take millions (or close to it) of photos. So I'll share when I get back! Enjoy your spring break. Feliz Pasqua. Frohe Ostern. Happy Easter. All that jazz.

My brother has been diagnosed with cancer.

Hodgkin's lymphoma [link]

.. i don't know what happens now. i just don't know.

So I thought it was time that I write something new. Happy New Year everyone! Only a month and a half late. Oh well. Thought that counts right?

Besides the new year coming upon us. So much has changed. I've finished my first placement at OG. I loved it there. And I really wish that I could go back and just stay there through the end of the year. I thought I had an awesome placement with YV, but that sucked. Then I was like.. yah Concord!, but that too seems to be sucking. I've been waiting 3 weeks for this placement to come through. I finally decided to say screw it and take things into my own hands. So thats what I did. I contacted CP, and they seem encouraging. So we'll see what happens on Tuesday.

Besides that side of school, Uni sucks. Still. It just seems to be redundant work that has no point in my classroom. I mean when am I going to force the kids to read and write papers? Hello art class is about making art, about being creative, right? Not reading and writing. Thats what all those other subjects are about. Well they seem to disagree, or well they just don't have something for my subject specifically and so instead I'm forced to sit through it all.

Currently I'm supposed to be finding a struggling reader, and then have them take some written tests and stuff. Yeah any volenteers? I don't think so. If someone is struggling in school, who in their right mind thinks they will WILLINGLY sign up to take a test. Everyone says 'bribe them'. With what?? I think its just busy work and a waste of time. Once again I think I'm going to make it up.

On the grade front, I got all A's and a random B+ which I totally disagree with. My first major project still has yet to be graded, technology doesn't make life any faster regarding grading. This quarter is about 1/2 way done, thankfully!

About a month until Hawaii! I can't wait. I totally need the break to find my brain again. I've been running in circles.

Anyway. I hope everyone is good. And by the way, Happy Crappy Valentine's Day. Blah.

I hope your Christmas sucks.

You busted out my window, for what? You got some $50 in childrens toys. Did you really want that Cabbage Patch doll? Or those stuffed animals? Is that something you really needed?

Not only did you take those toys. You took those toys that were for needy children. So not only did you ruin my Christmas you took toys from needy children. What does that make you?

Now $270 later I have a new window and no money for gifts for my family. I hope your family has crappy holiday too.

Jerks. Santa hates jerks.