Just a little plug...

So, my sister and brother in law are trying to adopt. They've always wanted an inordinate amount of children, but have had a little trouble getting there. They're hoping that word of mouth will help in the process, so feel free to read their blog, follow their progress, share their link, do whatever you think might help.

So much to do, so little time, so I'm procrastinating, as usual.

I'm supposed to be writing a final right now, but I just can't concentrate.

I've got all the notes done. I know what I need to be saying to answer the three essay questions that make up the final. I also know that I'm going into the final with a 99 in the class, which means as long as I score a 74 on the final, I'll have an A in the class. Not that I'm going to aim for the 74, but still...

Why am I so distracted, you ask? Well, the time has finally come, and I leave for Paris in just about 58 hours!! I am seriously so excited for this trip. But I also have a TON to do. Between the final, getting some work things ready for this trip (because yes, Paris is fun, but the only reason I'm going is because I have to go to Germany for work), doing the final, and going to actual work... guess what on that list I want to do the least.

So here I am, procrastinating on the final. Seriously, if I'm not going to do the final, I might as well get off my bum and get some of the other things I need to do done, right? One of those things is a trip up to Annapolis - gotta find a gift for the guy who's letting us stay in his apartment for free. Eek! Better get moving!!

(Oh, and for those of you who may have been wondering... (Ha. Sure you were.) Traveling on 9/11 was... interesting. There were a ton of police at the airport, but the airport was pretty quiet. A little extra security, but the lines moved and it wasn't crazy. Seems as though pretty much everyone just wanted to keep their heads down and get through the day. I'm also very proud of myself for not watching the news for about 3 days - I had my own way of memorializing the day, but the rehashing of the coverage of that day is not it.)

Is it just me?

As we come up on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, there's more and more recap, if you will, on the news, with specials, newly released photos, and, as I just saw on NBC Nightly News, new tapes of the air traffic controllers talking as they're realizing what's going on.

I don't know about the rest of you, but all of this still FREAKS ME OUT.

There was a "Children of 9/11" special on the other night. I watched about 10 or 15 minutes of it, and had nightmares that night about it happening again. I am fairly certain that the air traffic controller tapes may have the same effect on me tonight.

And NONE of this is helped by the fact that I have to fly on Sunday, the actual 10th anniversary. NOT excited about that.

Thing is, that day was one of the worst days of my, and probably many of your, life. It happened my senior year at the Naval Academy, and completely changed the world that I had signed up to defend.  I almost lost my father - he was supposed to be in a meeting in the section of the Pentagon that was hit. I went to a 9/11 funeral. And I've lost friends and acquaintances in the wars that have resulted from that day. Our world is an entirely different place than it was on the 9th of September 2001.

And there's a homeland security issue out now. NOT OK WITH THIS. Seriously.

Is anyone else as bothered by all this as I am? Please make me feel better...

UPDATE: Thankfully, looks like this homeland security issue is not related to flying. Phew.

And, as my good friend Krissie just said and I totally agree with, I DO NOT, by any means, let the terrorists dictate my life. They DO NOT WIN. But that doesn't mean I don't get the chills or get nervous over all this stuff!! :)