Farewell to February

It's wonderful to be on semester break! This past week I got more done around the house and online than I had in at least a month. I also got to spend time with a good friend -- unrushed, blissfully indulgent time! We got pedicures and then lamented not being able to show them off. Today, though, it was at least 70 degrees so I wore capris and sandals and the world saw my flashy pink, OPI Chicago toenails! Freedom!

I was astonished yesterday to receive a magazine in an envelope with a "Thank you for your submission, here's your free copy" letter in it. It turned out to be a recipe that I submitted to another magazine (long, long ago...) and I guess they shared. It had a little blurb in it that sounded like me, though, so it was legit. Nice.

I need to cut myself off from eBay this week. Too many temptations, though my own selling is going well.

I'm going to work on two projects that my writing teacher encouraged me to finish, and that will likely be the bulk of my writing this month unless something unforseeable happens.

Farewell, February. You were quite a month.

Blissful Break

I'm beginning to relax and enjoy not having homework hanging over my head. Today, I got my grade on the not-so-short story I wrote as my final. I was exceedingly pleased. Except, the teacher said she thought it was more like an excerpt from a longer piece (which was also permitted) and that was perplexing as it was supposed to be complete in itself. Hm.

I have a loooooong list of projects I've been putting off and am beginning to chip away at them, with glee.

Truce

If this is possible, there's hope for the Middle East, as well!

Semester Ended At Last!

I turned in my last two assignments last night! Now I have an entire month free!

I would be ecstatic if I wasn't so itchy! Apparently, after several days of relief, my allergy is back and making me miserable. It's Sunday but I've called the weekend clinic to ask for an Rx. If they haven't called back by the time I've finished breakfast, I'm just going to go get something over the counter.

My son's waited patiently for me to be done with school so he can challenge me at his latest favorite Gamecube game. I'll be spending the whole day with him doing stuff like that.

Be Careful What You Wish For

I awoke to sunshine and a blanket of snow. It looks so inviting, especially after a couple of days of sheer ice and damp chill, but looks can be deceiving. My trusty Weather Bug tells me it's -13 degrees, and that's without the windchill. So, we'll have to save those snow angels until it warms up, if it does.

The other day I was trying to find us a cabin in Breckenridge for a ski vacation next month. Try as I might, I just couldn't stay away from the links for Mexico and the Caribbean. There are some great deals which would cost about as much as the skiing, I told my husband over lunch the other day (Mexican food, hint, hint, honey). He was into it. So I'm seriously considering five nights in Cabo. Ahhhhh. It sounds so good right now!

I'm in the semester home stretch: two assignments due Monday. My goal is to get them sent off on Sunday afternoon. 'Better go get started.

A Bit of Advice

My advice for Cheney-haters is to stop trying to make something from nothing and write funny cartoons about the mishap instead. These days they seem to be far more effective.

I shouldn't watch the evening news -- especially not during a full moon!

Two Down, Three to Go

Interestingly, when I got up this morning and looked over what I'd written of that paper last night, it all made perfect sense. It was easy to re-arrange a couple of paragraphs and work with what seemed irreparable last night, and I finished it in a couple of hours. Then turned off the computer and forced my son and I out into the sunshine for an hour before we had to go get ready to put on the scout event.

After that four hour project, which was actually quite enjoyable and included cake, I came home, did the "works cited" page to finish the assignment, and sent it off. Whew.

Did a bit of housework and prep for the work week and now I'm going to try to get ahead start on the next assignment if I'm real lucky and don't fall asleep trying. May even get to say two words to my husband!

Oh, and my good deed for the day was to bid up a beautiful crazy quilt on eBay for a newbie who had it underpriced. I would've been happy to own it but was still relieved when I lost it by $4.

I Surrender

Okay, okay, I admit it. I can't write this paper to save my life. Can't concentrate. Don't care. I'm going to give up. I'm going to eat chocolate and watch a trashy movie on DVD, and try again tomorrow.

Damn full moon.

By the way, it amazes me that I don't hear more about Ariel Sharon's health, or, lack thereof. He's not going to make it, and I feel terrible whenever I think that he's been lying there in that hospital bed for so many weeks now, just because of who he is and what he does for a living. He's suffering from the same thing my mother did, and she was gone in just five days. But then, we didn't put her in a medically-induced coma. It's so very sad.

Slow Snow

It's been in the single digits overnight and early mornings here, and freezing to the 40's otherwise, but still not much snow.

Oddly enough, I find myself craving a large snowstorm. I can't wait until it really snows, for a few days in a row, and we get several feet piled up!

Homework as Therapy

I have finally decided upon a topic for my paper, one I can get passionate about: being underemployed, which is what we've been dealing with ever since our move. (Granted, I'm underemployed by choice, but my husband's situation is a real struggle.) I have a thesis and a few points to argue, so I think writing this paper will come easy and be cathartic -- what more could you ask?

By the way, I'm having a ball using the college library online. It's so convenient and fun to be a student in 2006, let me tell you, I'm almost glad I waited this long! And the stuff you can find when you search the academic databases! They'll write articles on anything -- it's like one gigantic New Yorker!

a bit better, but not much

Today I went to the doctor and got some drugs for my hand situation, which had gotten much, much worse. I'm 4 doses into the 6 scheduled for day 1, and it's already helped immensely, giving me the first relief I've had all week. We still don't know what was actually happening, but at this point I don't care. It's like I've been at war with my body and finally it's waving the white flag.

Would you believe I'm still crying over this scout thing? I think it's bringing up other feelings unrelated to the situation at hand. (No pun intended.)

I hadn't been able to stay awake long enough to do any writing the last few days, but the dr. also gave me some non-drowsy Zyrtec to replace the sleep-inducing Benadryl so maybe I can get started tonight!

It's getting ready to snow outside. (Great, just when I'm ready for Spring, Winter hits.)

**Mumble**Gripe**Grouse**(Repeat)

So, I've turned in two assignments this week and need to get started on a third, which is an essay/argument on anything we'd like to write about. That's just a little too broad a writing prompt for me. I also continue to be unsure of what my short story will be. Tick tick tick. (That's the sound of the clock ticking while I waffle.)

Additionally, the day I was off work sick a couple of weeks ago, I was volunteered for a newsletter article on something that is of no interest whatsoever to me. In fact, they want me to write about Mother's Day. Now, must I point out that this is not a particularly sensitive move on their part? ("Let's ask the woman who just LOST HER MOTHER to write about mothers! La la la...")

Yesterday I had to stop at Walgreens and buy some Benadryl as I'm having one heck of an allergic reaction to...something. I think it may be the herbal supplement I began taking a couple of weeks ago. I'm itching, getting rashes, and my hand are swelling up and burning. The Benadryl seems to help but it makes me very sleepy. Naturally I stopped taking the herbs about 12 hours ago so I'm wondering how long it will take to get it all out of my system, and also hoping that was, in fact, the problem. Tick tick tick. (That's the sound of the clock ticking while I wait to stop itching.)

I'm very disillusioned right now after having a negative experience while volunteering for my son's scout pack. There's this core of parents who run it, and they're always complaining that no one else wants to help. Well, I signed up to help (because, you know, I have all this extra time on my hands). But despite my efforts, they just went ahead and did what they wanted to do.

Maybe they're just used to having to do everything themselves. I realize it is easier to do things that way. You just get it done, don't have to communicate, and, best of all, do it your own way. But it really doesn't do much for the whole 'community effort' theory. And still they'll complain 'no one wants to help.' It was very off-putting, and I shed some tears over it yesterday...but I'm better now.

Weekend Update

Even though Coloradans officially didn't care who won the Superbowl, I was rooting for Seattle. Pittsburgh was the better team, though, so they did deserve to win. We didn't host our annual party but were lucky enough to score an invite to one with great food, drink, and really nice people who also didn't care much who won. A quite relaxing afternoon/evening.

Earlier in the day I'd been to church and then out shopping for my husband's Valentine's Day gift. He'd had a special request and I was finally able to secure the elusive item. (I'll leave you in suspense.) The son was along and I actually managed to get him to try on some clothes. He's having another growth spurt and most of the clothes I bought him in September are already too short, including some of his favorite outfits. The only thing harder than getting him to try on clothes is getting him to try on shoes, so this was quite an unexpected pleasure.

It was actually a banner weekend: we finished our taxes Friday and got back way more money than we expected to, almost obscenely so. I have very mixed feelings about it but I'm sure I'll get over it. I mean, come on, the only thing worse than taking money you don't feel you deserve is giving it to the government, right?

Then we went out with some friends to celebrate a 40th birthday, and splurged on a limousine so no one had to be the designated driver. It was notably easier to spend the money after the tax news, let me tell you. The love of money is not one of my hang ups, but I could really get used to that kind of comfort and convenience.

Saturday we relaxed and I actually managed to finish 1-1/2 homework assignments. This leaves 2-1/2 and a short story, with 11 days to go. (Can she do it?) Regarding my earlier assignments: the teacher liked my poems! I was thrilled. She liked my journal, too. If I don't blow this short story, I will likely ace the class. 'Pressure's on.

Pikes Peak Perks, Number Four

Things just move slowly out here. I think that one of the reasons folks greet you on the street and wave at you around your neighborhood is that we all just have more time to notice each other. Neighbors introduce themselves, lend and borrow, have cookouts, and just, in general, hang out. People don't work the crazy long hours like on the coasts, and a half hour commute is considered a burden.

Don't get me started about the pace of the workplace.

Before we moved here we took a second honeymoon to Kauai. By the second or third day my body had so adjusted to the pace that I was having a lot of trouble moving more quickly than a steady shuffle. It felt great. When we got back to CA and drove home from the airport, I had culture shock in a big way. From then on, I was looking for a change of scenery to a place that would slow us down several notches. This is the place!