When the engine stalls and it won't stop rainin'

Three weeks in, and I think I'm finally getting the hang of my Intercultural Communication class. The test? I got a 'B' (a mid-range one but, given the circumstances, I think I'm happy to have gotten that) and even though we've got another one coming up in a week, at least this time I'll have perspective on what to expect as far as content (and we've got a study-slash-beer session planned at a classmate's apartment). The lecture I can deal with. The content is interesting and the professor ("Dr. Spydaddy," as I've taken to calling him) was cool enough to admit that the online timed test format was really ballsed up, and he is taking steps to make sure that those kind of technical SNAFUs don't happen again. I'm optimistic. Again, I think I've gotten off pretty light as far as class difficulty has been concerned, and there was bound to be one subject I'd have to sweat over. I'm really looking forward to second session, when I'll be taking a class on the modern American presidency. It's not required for my degree, but I needed to pad out my schedule to be eligible for the financial aid award I wanted, and that class just seemed a natural fit.

Regarding all things personal-life related, the relationship between Todd and me has taken a turn for the better. I am profoundly grateful for the wealth of positive feedback I received on my last post. You guys are fantastic. Telling our parents about the change in our relationship status was, in a word, interesting, but they were overwhelmingly supportive of our decision. Christmas with the extended family, well, that'll be interesting, too. Nothing stays a secret for very long, especially in my family, and I am sure that Todd and I will have to do our fair bit of explaining. But, in the end, this was a decision that we made together, for the future of our relationship, and I will not back down from my position.

We -- Todd, my mom, my dad, my brother and I -- are going to a White Sox game in Chicago tomorrow night. "Fireworks set to popular music" have been promised. (Is it wrong to want them to set those little zingy sparkler things to "Poker Face"?)