Why do we hate failure? At the beginning of the semester I asked my students what sort of social activities would they like to do. They answered resoundingly, "Kickball." Our last semester ended with a great kickball game and the enthusiasm obviously poured over to this year. So, plan a kickball game I did. I dubbed it the "Biggest Kickball Game Ever." We invited another group on campus to join us. There will be pizza. I had been announcing it for three weeks. I've even joked about bringing others to offset my insecurities about planning a party and no-one showing...

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After a long battle, over three months in the hospital, several strokes and a heart attack, cancer, and more, Aimee's grandmother died last Friday. She was in her late 80's, had lost her own husband years before and had her wit till the end. It was a long but good weekend. The funeral took place in Greenwood, Ms. in the heart of the Mississippi Delta where she and her husband of almost 50 years farmed just miles from the graveyard. Death has a sting. There is no way around it. Someone you love is gone. Their life on this earth...

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Recently a student I met asked me if I owned a grill. I said I did and explained how fond of grilling I was. I asked why he wanted to know. He said his student organization, BMW (Black Men of Western) was having a cook-out and they needed a grill. I said I'd be happy if they used my grill. Then I asked if they needed a cook. Rashad (the student) replied, "Yes, we sure do." I signed up for the job. After enlisting Brian to help we showed up with grill, cooler, tent and assorted items in the back...

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Tilley thinks she can hide. She likes to hide. She runs from you if she thinks you want to get near her. Only on occassions does she really like to snuggle. Usually she tears off and scoots under the bed which had become her favorite hiding place. Sometimes you can find her under a chair or table, we've even found her under a dresser! When Newton comes home he immediately does reconnaissance for the cat. Then, search and "rescue." He combs the downstairs, under beds, then heads upstairs where she is often found sunning in the girls bedroom window. A...

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We have a cat named Tilley.  My youngest daughter Chloe stayed on us for months. One night after eating at our favorite, cheap Mexican restaurant the kids went next door to a pet store. This particular store was the final stop for Shelter animals. If they didn't find an owner then the next step was the needle. By the time Aimee and I walked in the store Chole had focused in on one particular cat about 6 months old. She was a beautiful, buff color and stood out from the rest. She was not oversized or overhairy. I was attrated,...

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