introducción

Hello all! This blog is for our FLAN 4023 class, and the title I chose comes from the Spanish equivalent of the nursery rhyme, "Hey Diddle, Diddle." For those who don't know, it means "the cow jumped over the moon." There's really no significance to that, other than being one of my favorite rhymes as a kiddo, and also my daughter was watching a Baby Einstein Language Nursey DVD, and this rhyme was on there in both English and Spanish. I thought it was pretty neat. :)

Anyway, my name is Monica Smith, and I'm a senior here at the U of A. I'm graduating this semester (Cum Laude! Yeah!!) with a degree in Spanish/Latin American Studies, and, although I have lots of big plans for the future, for now I hope to find a teaching position somewhere here in NWA. Fingers crossed! I've been with my boyfriend Jacob for 6 years now, and we just welcomed our little girl, Penelope Layne, into the world last November. It's been a more fun than I ever could have imagined. We also have a dog, Frankie, and two cerebral palsy kitties, Nell and Arnie (named after the films "Nell" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape"). They're perfectly smart and healthy, but they have zero equilibrium so they wobble and walk kind of like they're drunk. Here are some pictures of my cute little family:

Jacob and I at one of my brother's football games

Our hyperactive Boston Terrier, Frankie (aka "Frank the Tank")

Arnie, one of our "special" kitties

Nellie, our other "special" kitty

And finally, this is our pride and joy, Penelope Layne (aka, "Peepers").


Other than that, my interests are pretty varied. I enjoy art, literature, water sports, hiking, traveling, trying new foods, cooking, drinking coffee, live music, and spending time with my friends and family. :)