If you thought Speech-Language Pathology was for the weak or faint hearted, I'd like you to (without using a dictionary, thesaurus, or any other academic tool, and in your own words) define "word" and "meaning" for me. Go ahead. Give it a try. What did you come up with?

That is what my Valentine's Day was like. A string of those moments. I awoke at 4:00am with awful nightmares about car crashes and ravaged wild animals, including, but not limited to baby elephants. I spent a lot of time making a bunch of Valentine therapy materials for my therapy session last night. I had a lesson plan in place already, but I wanted to make a Valentine themed therapy session. At around 7:00am, I turned on the news, and noticed that Radford City Schools were closed. Bummer--no clinic after all that work.

After that, I took that exam. Did some work for a couple of hours, then had another class. After my 11:00am class, I didn't have any other commitments until 4:00pm, because Dr. Waldron cancelled her class, and Mrs. Rossi did not show up for her meetings.

Dr. Cox's class was boring, and he pushed going over the test back another class period! That really pissed me off. It's going to end up like that Neuro exam we could never get back.

I arrived back at my apartment, and saw a box at the door. "Great," I thought, "another reason to make me feel crappy about myself. My roommate gets a big Valentine's gift delivered to her, and I get nothing because my boyfriend is so scatterbrained that he can't even bring my Valentine's gift to me." But I looked down at the box, and it had my name on it! It was a Valentine's Day gift to me from my parents. I opened the box (which took a little while because they used that stringy tape, and taped it over like, 3 times), and there was a bunch of bubble wrap! I love bubble wrap! Below the bubble wrap was a sweetly wrapped package and a card. I read the Precious Moments card and took off the wrapping paper. It was a baby waffle iron! Waffles are so yummy, and now, I can make my own! It's so cute, too.

My Valentine's Day ended up filled with goodness. I just had to be patient.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Part of highway closed in Ohio after suspicious device found

CINCINNATI (CNN) -- Two miles of Interstate 71 going through metropolitan Cincinnati were closed Wednesday and hundreds of people were evacuated after a suspicious device was found near a bridge on that road, police said.

Sgt. Thomas Stein of the Norwood Police Department said the device -- which consisted of a liquid, a clock attached to a 9-volt battery and a fuse -- was found by a worker with the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Another Norwood police official told reporters the device -- which authorities confirmed was an incendiary device -- was safely detonated around 12:30 p.m.

CNN's Mike Brooks said a source working at the scene reported that the device appeared to have been at the site for some time, possibly since the summer, because the battery was dead and the clock was not working. (Posted 1:39 p.m.)

I am excited for Christmas this year! I'm getting great gifts from my mom . We went shopping on Saturday. The trouble is. I have no idea for whom I should buy gifts. I really only have a couple of friends who should get gifts. I guess I'll just get those few, and save my money for SCM's gifts. I found a really great sweater for him. He'd like it, and I  him in sweaters. I know what I'm getting him for his birthday... I think. I've been planning it for a while, but I'm not sure if it will work out. We'll see.

I had a great time with Joe this weekend. I go home tomorrow for T-giving break. Man, that is so exciting!

Did it ever occur to anyone that I might need a friend?!