Lafayette, Louisiana, April 17, 2012, 7:06 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Ronee' here.  I am taking a break from studying and doing homework.  I am so sick of homework I can just spit nails!  Seems that's all I've ever done since coming back from Tennessee, where I visited my family.

Had a marvelous time; it was good not to worry about different assignments and class schedules.  Now I'm back in the thick of things and I am about ready to pull my hair out!  The Current Events class is really getting to me; I hate hearing about Obama over and over again!  UGH!!

I am trying to keep the peace, but I can't stand Obama and it is everything I can do to keep from biting my tongue!  It is hard, though!  And a lot of my classmates seem to like him, so that puts me at an even greater disadvantage!

Work is going good: still working at the campus bookstore; love dealing with the customers and helping them.  I have a very nice boss and she never belittles me or tells me I can't do anything; she lets me try my best (and I usually succeed).  When I am flaring or sick, she is always glad to find a replacement for me so I can stay home and rest.  She knows of my issues so I respect her for that.

I am in my spring quarter now of my second year.  I'm a sophomore now and am trying to hang in there, but as I said earlier, the homework is getting old, and I am ready for vacation!  I'm going to the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival in May, and in September, we are going to Louisville, Kentrucky (I think; not so sure) for the National Quartet Convention.  This is my first time going and I am extremely excited about it.

This summer will be the first time I will have missed the CMA Music Fan Fest (formerly Fan Fair) in years.  It will be strange not going to it.  Maman decided not to go to it any more 'cause it will no longer feature Christian artists and that made her mad.  Don't blame her.  And it's not so much about the music anyway, at least not the legends.

Speaking of legends, I am gong to see Loretta Lynn and George Jones at her ranch in Hurricane Mills on May 28, 2012.  We are all going; we are going to make a weekend of it.  I love both of them so much and have met them on numerous occasions; I am proud to call them among my many friends.  

I see Loretta Lynn several times a year.  She has been my absolute favorite singer since I was really small.  I've also sung with her, opening for her, more than once and whenever I see her, it's almost like a family reunion.  She has always been so supportive of me and has never put me down once!  She believes in newer talent and if she likes 'em, she will tell y'all so right to your face, which is a big honor!

I got her new book at the library here in Lafayette on Saturday and have already read the whole thing.  It's about her life and features many of her songs in the book.  It's loaded with pictures and it is really, really good!!  I will hate to return it when the book is due!

The weather here in Lafayette is beautiful: sunny and warm, with pleasant temps.  I have already spent some time swimming, but not this weekend, as I have been bogged down with homework..  Maybe I will knock it off for tonight and go swimming.  Might help my mood somewhat.  Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.  Or maybe putting on one of my Loretta Lynn CD's and just start wailing away, at the top of my lungs.  Yeah, that sounds great, too! :)

Well, I'm gonna get my swimming suit on and go for a dip in the pool.  Mike is cooking barbequed chicken out on the grill and it smells heavenly!  YUM!!  Then after my swim, we'll eat and maybe swim some more once an hour's passed.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Ronee' Le-Anne Reaux saying I'm outta here!  Bye and God bless!

~Love, your friend in Louisiana, Ronee' Le-Anne.  :D