Dear Journal~

It's me, Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux.  I am settled in my new digs; it's not bad, but it's not home.  I have only been here for about a week and a half now, but I miss my family so much!  Mama has called me at least four times already, asking me if I needed anything.  (I told her I didn't just yet.)

I start my classes tomorrow.  I am taking Music Theory, Music Appreciation, Voice, Creative Writing, Introduction To College Math, English, Science, History, and Computer/Graphic Design.  Basically, I have a full load. 

Not worried about the main majority of my classes, but math has never really been my strong point.  I do well enough in it, but it's harder for me; always has been.  

I hope I have some good professors.  (Gonna have to start getting used to calling my teachers "professors".)  I also hope I have some good classmates; I know I have my friend, Britnee Rowlett, but she's probably got her own load to worry about.  Not much in the way of going out unless we don't have any homework (as we probably will:  a whole buttload of it!).  

Now Britnee is a character.  She is from up north (New Jersey, or "Joisey", as she says!), and she has all sorts of personal problems.  She wanted to go where it was warm; she is sick and tired of the cold and snow. 

We hit it off perfectly the second we met.  She's my height, but heavier, has purple, spiked hair, green eyes, and a killer laugh.  She's always laughing, especially since she is away from her family.  (She doesn't get along with her family AT all.  She hasn't really gone into much detail about her family, but from what I gather, it must have been bad.)

Her and mama got along famously.  She even told her, "Miss Lou, I wish I had you for my mom."  She then hugged her as if she would never let her go.  It made tears come to my eyes. 

What's cool about Britnee is this: she loves Cajun and country music!  From looking at her, you'd think she'd be a punk or heavy metal rocker (and she does enjoy both forms of music), but she really digs Cajun and country music!  She's not into gospel so much (which is fine; it's her choice).  She's Wiccan.  That's fine, too.  At least she believes in SOMETHING.  :)  

And she's Republican.  She can't stand the current administration.  Now how in the world can a Wiccan be a Republican??  That really cracks me up! LOL

Britnee wants me to teach her how to play the accordion.  She saw my accordion, and she thinks it's really neat.  I then played several Cajun tunes for her, and she was amazed.  She said, "Girl! How in the world did you learn to play that??  You're KILLER on that!!"  (I told her I'd been playing since I was small; I took lessons, and I picked a lot of it up by myself, which I did.)  I told her maybe on a day where we're not bogged down with homework, I'd give her free lessons on how to play the Cajun accordion.  We shook on it, so I guess we have a deal! :D

One last thing about Britnee:  she is planning on majoring in meteorology.  She is going to take as many of the mathematics and science classes as she can; if she does well on that, she wants to go to Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma.  She's always loved weather: the wilder, the better.  She absolutely howled when I told her that I am stormphobic.  Well, I AM!!  I can't help it, but I hate storms!!

Anyway, back to what I was gonna write about originally.  I had an awesome Christmas.  The Cantata on Christmas Eve went very well.  I was all over my crud, so I was able to sing "O, Holy Night".  No problem.  I sang it as though I had never been sick: I hit each note perfectly, which was a relief.  I really enjoyed myself, but lots of tears were shed because we were leaving in just four days, December 26.  I hated to say goodbye to my church family, but I promised them that when I was back in town, I'd come visit.  They prayed for me for a safe journey, and that made me feel really good.

For Christmas, I got money from family and relatives, pots/pans, kitchen ware, sheets and stuff for my dorm, clothes, some books, journals, perfume, bath soap and body wash, and much more.  What made me cry was Britnee didn't get a single thing for Christmas from her family.  Nada.  Not even a card or a phone call.

I shared some of my sheets and stuff with her; that way, she wouldn't feel so left out.  I really felt bad for her.  I can't imagine that some people have to live like this or have family members who just don't give a rip about them! That must be horrible!!  That made her feel a little better, to know that someone cared for her, and it made me feel good to know that I was being a blessing to somebody else.

I hated to leave the snow/cold behind; I knew that I would not be seeing much of that in Louisiana (unless a freak snow storm came calling ...  LOL); I took lots of video and pictures of the snow back home, so I can have something to watch if I am missing my family or the snow/cold.  Right now, Louisiana is cold and very rainy, but nothing much is expected to happen.

I just hope that Britnee can handle the brutal humidity and the heat down here: Louisiana summers are not nice.  They don't bother me, but Britnee has never been down south, so this is gonna be an entirely new experience for her!

Well, Britnee and I are going to go out to Mulate's, which is only fifteen minutes away.  I gotta show her some true Cajun hospitality.  I won't dance so much, but I still can enjoy the music.  I may even get in a waltz or two if a cute Cajun guy asks me to dance.  LOL

Oh, oh, oh!! Another thing:  my boyfriend, Stinko, is coming in next week!   He's gonna attend the University of Louisiana-Lafayette!!  We'll be classmates!!  Or at least see each other on campus!!  We can eat lunch together or maybe have a study date, or even hang out together!!  I am so looking forward to seeing his good old face!  I love Michael so much!!

Don't know what he's gonna major in, but he wants to get his feet wet by taking a few basic courses, to see how he does.  It's gonna be cool!!

Well, Britnee looks like she wants to head out, so I will run along.  I will write in here again soon; just keep me in your prayers, and pray I do well in my studies!  I would greatly appreciate any prayers you can send up to Heaven!  Thanks in advance!  God bless you and talk to you again soon!  Take care!

~Love, your friend, Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux (College-Girl!!).  :D