Dear Journal~

Mike Stinkowicz (aka "Stinko") here.  Hope this finds you well.  Sorry for not writing: college life has gotten me pretty much grounded.  Homework just about every night; wonder how much the goons will pile on us tonight??

Suddenly I wish I were back in high school again: it was a lot easier, for one thing!

I'm just glad Brittnee Rowlett and my girl, Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux, enjoy it; as for me, I could care less about it.  College is not what it is all cracked up to be and besides, once you graduate, there's no guarantee that you will even get a job in your field of study.

That's just lovely.  Get your Bachelors or Masters and wind up working at a movie theater or flipping burgs down at the local fast food joint for the rest of your life.

The weather is still bone dry here.  In fact, it is so bad there are burn bans in just about all over the state of Louisiana because of the severe drought condistions.  It's ridiculous.  Have had some rain, but not enough to really HELP.

Was so dry that there were no fireworks displays here.  NONE.  Zilch.  Zippo.  It was a real drag; the only way we could see fireworks is if we went on YouTube or watched them on television.

Ronee' was in the hospital for about two days last week: she got nailed by a yellowjacket.  She had an immediate reaction to it, so I shot her with her Epi-Pen and called the ambulance.  Paramedics got here fast and had her stabilized right away, but took her to the hospital as a precaution.

She was having problems breathing and her eyes/face swelled.  The paramedics thanked me for acting quickly; the Epi-Pen she has probably saved her life.  It scared the crap out of Britnee and myself!  She's now fine; wouldn't even known she had gotten stung!

Ronee' is highly allergic to all stinging insects.  This was the first allergy attack she's had in a VERY long time.  I'd forgotten about it until she got stung.  I was aware that she wore a necklace stating about her allergy around her neck!, but didn't think about it.  

Stupid me!

I'm just glad she's fine.  Don't want to go through that again.  Neither does SHE.

Britnee also had to visit the ER: she fell down the stairs going to one of her classes at the campus and sprung her foot.  She just got off the crutches the other day.  She was on them for about two weeks.  Britnee has always been something of a klutz!  LOL

Please, God.  No more surprises.  Don't need any more medical emergencies!

When I am not attending classes or doing homework, I am usually working at the campus bookstore for a few hours a week.  I work with Ronee'.

Britnee is looking for work but so far hasn't found anything.  She was working at Mulates in Breaux Bridge, but she got fired after getting into an argument about uniform policies with the boss. 

Whoops.

She didn't get anywhere but canned.  Lesson: never, EVER argue with the head of the company; you are guaranteed to land on your rearend quicker than quick!!  (((o.0)))

She was there only two weeks.  She would have probably still been there, but she never did get along with the boss; she says he is a real hard ass.

I am looking forward to October:  I am going back home to Tennessee to participate in Ronee' 's brother's wedding.  Johnathon is marrying his longtime girlfriend, Rebekka Cohen, in their home city of Nashville.  It will be an outdoors wedding, providing the weather co-operates.  If not, it will be held at their church.  They are expecting quite a large crowd: at least 400-600 people. 

No small wedding, that.  Johnny is well loved by the community; he's touched a lot of people's lives and continues to do so today.

It will be nice to see some fall foilage and feel cooler temperatures again!  :)  Tennessee is absolutely breathtaking in the fall!

In the wedding, I am one of Johnny's groomsmen.  He asked me to participate; I gladly accepted.  I love Johnathon so much; he is such an inspiring young man with such an incredible testimony to share with others!

I love Johnathon just like a brother.  I consider him to be the brother I always wanted (but never got to have).

It will also be nice to see Mother Louisiana and all the other children and Daddy Bill, whom I consider my "honorary family".  I miss them and think of them every day; I hope they are all doing great!!

Well, I gotta go and get to class; my first class is at noon today (short day today!!).  Will write soon.  Forgive the delay in writing in my journal; it's just that I have been so bogged down!  I hope you understand!  Take care and may God bless you always!

~Stinko. :)