You may have read the title with shock, thinking “why WOULD anyone poison themselves?” Or, you may think that I’m now going to launch into a diatribe about the evils of meth and other illegal drugs.
Nope. Neither. Little by little, I am loosening the grip of the 21st century on my body. I celebrate my 50th birthday in a few weeks, and I am in better health than I was 10 or 20 years ago.
Americans are infamous for our awful diets. Some of us eat out three meals a day, seven days a week. Then we wonder why we get sick a lot and why we can’t lose weight. But that’s not what I’m talking about either.
I was as guilty as many other American, with respect to my diet. I have a sweet tooth like a 3-year old. I loved chocolate bars, especially those with caramel. I was not as guilty as some; I’ve never smoked or used any illegal drugs. Never. I used to imbibe alcoholic drinks, and no longer do. It’s not that they are bad; they were just bad for me. But these are not what I’m talking about either.
No, I’ve decided to quit poisoning myself with artificial sweeteners.
This started about a year ago when I enlisted in a fat-burning challenge at work. One of the suggestions for diet improvement was to quit using artificial sweeteners. The person running the challenge actually said that full-sugar pop was not as bad as diet pop! At first, I thought she was nuts, then I tried it. I went without my beloved Diet Coke for a few days. Instead, I drank tea sweetened with Sweet N’ Low. What I found was that I no longer craved candy. I was better in control of what I ate at meals. As a bonus, I also noticed that I no longer got that tired, sleepy feeling in the afternoon. So, instead of having my ritual “Diet Coke and candy bar” in the afternoon, I had a cup of fresh brewed tea, and was very satisfied.
So, I bagged the NutraSweet. Over time, I noticed that my headaches were less frequent. That meant that, not only was I not poisoning myself with the NutraSweet, I was using far less over-the-counter pain relievers. Once in a great while I fell “off the wagon” and had a Diet Coke. It tasted good, but later I paid for it with feeling fatigued and ragged. But, I was still using Sweet N Low, which contains saccharine.
As I’ve gotten further down the road from my 40th birthday, I was noticing that the aches and pains of getting up in the morning were getting worse and worse. Daily exercise helped a lot, but I’ve found an even better helper. A couple of months ago, I started sweetening my morning cup o’ tea with organic sugar, not Sweet N Low. I didn’t notice it, but the aches and pains slowly diminished and disappeared. I didn’t notice they were gone until one day, I decided to use Sweet N Low again, and the next day the aches and pains were back in force. IN ONE DAY. I quit using the pink stuff, and within a few days the aches and pains were just a memory. I decided to donate the rest of the box of Sweet N Low in the cupboard to my local church.
Now, I very rarely need to resort to any of the bottles of pain killers that are in my medicine chest. I don’t need to worry about what they are doing to my stomach or kidneys. I am free from pain, and I’m no longer poisoning myself.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A good friend sent me a New York Times article that attempted to explain away the anger exhibited by the Tea Party. Using a lot of high-falutin' language, this professor and author basically said the Tea Party is mad because they can't count on the government to be their generous Uncle Sam any more.
This is my response.
I don't buy it. The anger in the Tea Party comes from a couple of sources: the very name reveals one source: Taxed Enough Already. Our government, from the local to the federal, has become a bloated beast that has accumulated more debt than can ever be paid. The only way to pay this debt (which apparently they don't plan to do) is to tax us all at 100 percent, but that would completely destroy the economy. The only way out of this is to default on the debt and start over with a new currency. Tea Party Members see this coming, and they are mourning the loss of the greatest nation the world has ever seen.
Another source of anger is, it didn't have to happen. If the Federal Reserve and our corrupt government officials had maintained the sound fiscal policies (money backed with gold and silver, not fiat currency) set up by our founding fathers, this would not have been possible.
And, it isn't just the destruction of our currency. The government at all levels has gone from being the protector of our rights to the theif of them. Property owners no longer own their property: eminent domain has been used all over the country to strip owners of their rights and take their land, often to give it to insiders for private development. The EPA has been used to strip property owners of their rights to use their land as they see fit. Most Tea Party members know people who have lost land or the use of it to one government level or another.
And, it's not just land and property. We don't have the authority to raise our children as we see fit anymore. The "nanny state" knows that we should not own guns, we should vaccinate our children with whatever big pharma says we should, we can't spank our children or discipline them when they need it. The "nanny state" knows best, and parents who disagree lose their children. Yet still, with all the abuses of the nanny state, children die from accidents or abuse at the hands of caregivers every year. These stories are magnified all over the news to give the nanny state more credence and authority.
So, the extreme anger exhibited by the Tea Party is not that of a jilted lover. It is that of a populace who has seen their freedom, autonomy and authority gradually stripped away year after year, and they are saying "ENOUGH." Most of us would like to see 95% of our federal government eradicated, and taken back down to the limits imposed in the Constitution. Would this be painful? YES. But the direction we are headed in is far worse.
This is my response.
I don't buy it. The anger in the Tea Party comes from a couple of sources: the very name reveals one source: Taxed Enough Already. Our government, from the local to the federal, has become a bloated beast that has accumulated more debt than can ever be paid. The only way to pay this debt (which apparently they don't plan to do) is to tax us all at 100 percent, but that would completely destroy the economy. The only way out of this is to default on the debt and start over with a new currency. Tea Party Members see this coming, and they are mourning the loss of the greatest nation the world has ever seen.
Another source of anger is, it didn't have to happen. If the Federal Reserve and our corrupt government officials had maintained the sound fiscal policies (money backed with gold and silver, not fiat currency) set up by our founding fathers, this would not have been possible.
And, it isn't just the destruction of our currency. The government at all levels has gone from being the protector of our rights to the theif of them. Property owners no longer own their property: eminent domain has been used all over the country to strip owners of their rights and take their land, often to give it to insiders for private development. The EPA has been used to strip property owners of their rights to use their land as they see fit. Most Tea Party members know people who have lost land or the use of it to one government level or another.
And, it's not just land and property. We don't have the authority to raise our children as we see fit anymore. The "nanny state" knows that we should not own guns, we should vaccinate our children with whatever big pharma says we should, we can't spank our children or discipline them when they need it. The "nanny state" knows best, and parents who disagree lose their children. Yet still, with all the abuses of the nanny state, children die from accidents or abuse at the hands of caregivers every year. These stories are magnified all over the news to give the nanny state more credence and authority.
So, the extreme anger exhibited by the Tea Party is not that of a jilted lover. It is that of a populace who has seen their freedom, autonomy and authority gradually stripped away year after year, and they are saying "ENOUGH." Most of us would like to see 95% of our federal government eradicated, and taken back down to the limits imposed in the Constitution. Would this be painful? YES. But the direction we are headed in is far worse.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Fiber Fun Day
I had the good fortune yesterday of having a homeschooling family over to my house to learn about making yarn. (Although I took pictures, I don't post pictures of other people's children without their express permission.) I believe the oldest was about fourteen, and the youngest was about eight years old.
When my son was younger, I homeschooled him, so my family has a lot in common with this family. Her four children, like my son, were amazingly well behaved and polite. When they were awaiting their turns at the spinning wheel, they didn't quarrel or tear around my house. So nice.
We started with an overview of the process, and getting to know each other's names. Then we
* washed some raw sheep wool
* carded washed wool with hand cards
* carded washed wool with a drum carder
* spun yarn with drop spindles
* spun yarn with a spinning wheel
* dyed yarn with food colors
All of the children got to do every activity, and we did it all in a single day. Wow.
The best spinner was the youngest, a boy about eight years old. Within a minute he was spinning a perfect, beautiful, fine single yarn. His eldest sister, on the other hand, struggled to make yarn as much as I did when I learned ten years ago. All four of them were genuinely interested in the fiber arts, and genuinely grateful and thankful for the opportunity to learn.
Wow.
When my son was younger, I homeschooled him, so my family has a lot in common with this family. Her four children, like my son, were amazingly well behaved and polite. When they were awaiting their turns at the spinning wheel, they didn't quarrel or tear around my house. So nice.
We started with an overview of the process, and getting to know each other's names. Then we
* washed some raw sheep wool
* carded washed wool with hand cards
* carded washed wool with a drum carder
* spun yarn with drop spindles
* spun yarn with a spinning wheel
* dyed yarn with food colors
All of the children got to do every activity, and we did it all in a single day. Wow.
The best spinner was the youngest, a boy about eight years old. Within a minute he was spinning a perfect, beautiful, fine single yarn. His eldest sister, on the other hand, struggled to make yarn as much as I did when I learned ten years ago. All four of them were genuinely interested in the fiber arts, and genuinely grateful and thankful for the opportunity to learn.
Wow.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Finished my yarn room!
I have a room for my yarn and fiber arts projects. Yes, a whole room. For the past three years I have struggled to keep it tidy and somewhat organized. Since I've been unemployed the past four months, I have finally succeeded.
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the famous Yarn Harlot, has commented frequently that a stash like mine cannot be believed by the non-knitting public. Those who don't knit or crochet will simply not believe that anyone would want to own this much yarn.
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the famous Yarn Harlot, has commented frequently that a stash like mine cannot be believed by the non-knitting public. Those who don't knit or crochet will simply not believe that anyone would want to own this much yarn.
I've been putting the stuff into bins over the years, and stacking them in the closet of my yarn room. I'm not sure how long I've had a yarn room, but it's been at least 5 years. It helps somewhat; I still have project bags all over the house, but at least I had a place to throw them when company came over.
In the picture below, you see the North wall of my yarn room. Well, you see most of it. You can't see the bottom shelf of the racks. There is another row of these big bins below what you can see here. Each bin is labeled with masking tape (easy to change) and the contents. Contents are general, like "Sock Yarns" or "Wool/Alpaca Blend Yarns"
In the next picture, you can see the NE corner of the room. The black rack contains more bins, but it also contains my prized tools. I have a good collection of knitting needles, crochet hooks, drop spindles, and spinning paraphenalia.
In the picture at the top of the blog, I've placed the sock yarn bin on the table. It contains enough yarn for me to knit nothing but socks for about five years. And it's just ONE of the bins on these shelves.
I have:
one small bin of variegated sock yarns
one big bin of solid color sock yarns
two large bins full of superwash worsted wool yarns
two large bins of alpaca/wool blend yarns
two large bins full of alpaca yarns
two large bins of wool/mohair blend yarns
two large bins of cotton and cotton blend yarns
one small bin of silk blend yarns
ten large bins of spinnable fiber: wool, superwash wool, alpaca, mohair, and angora.
Also, two of the shelves are covered with Works In Progress (WIP) and I have a HUGE bin of Un Finished Objects (UFO) in the closet. The closet also contains my go-box for teaching spinning and dyeing classes, and a big pile of bins containing washed fleeces and more spinning fibers.
Obsessed? Maybe.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Big Boy
My son Gregory is a big guy. To look at him, you'd never know he's just 16.
A week ago, we needed to order football gear for upcoming camps and tryouts. (I have a secret hope that he will get a full football scholarship.) None of the local sporting goods stores have ANY football equipment yet! They said they will start getting it in August. Not too helpful when Greg has football camps in June and July. So, my intrepid husband did some online shopping. He found Football America and we ordered the stuff.
It arrived Thursday night, and the picture shows him trying on the pads. I am so happy it all fits him.
Well, football gear needs to fit the person. I have complained a lot to Greg's school that they need to order stuff big enough for him. They assured me they would, but I had to tailor his practice jersey so he could wear it without it choking him! We were a little leery about ordering stuff online without him trying it on. Fortunately, this site had sizing charts and measurement information. So, I dug out the trusty measuring tape and learned:
Head size: 23 3/4 inches. (Yes, he DOES need an XL helmet.)
Chest size: 51 1/2 inches. XXXL jersey.
Waist: 43 1/2 inches. (At least, where he wears his jeans. His true waist is probably smaller.)
Hips: 47 inches.
Now, lest you think he's a candidate for "The Biggest Loser," let me add: he's 6'4" tall and weighs 290 pounds. Think "meat wall" not "Pillsbury doughboy."
When my husband and I got a new bed recently, we gave our old King size bed to our son. He fills it up all by himself. If he gets any taller he will need a California King. Sheesh.
Oh, and if you are wondering, he wears a size 15 EEEE shoe. He's worn that size over a year now, so we are hoping he won't grow any more. It's hard enough to find shoes and clothes to fit him now.
I still introduce him as "my little boy." He seems to get a kick out of that. I'm 5'2" so he towers over me. As you can see in the picture.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Dawdling
As a parent and a teacher, one of the things that grieves me the most is dawdling. When I assign a task, and then see the child take forever to do it, I become greived and irritated. If the child would just buckle down and DO it, they'd be done and we could both move on to something more fun. But they dawdle and whine. Usually, the task gets done eventually, but at what cost of time and energy!
My mother was a master of negative motivation. Back in the days when it was legal to spank, she wielded that power with authority. But I recall a lesson on dawdling that really struck home.
We had finished a large dinner (I believe it was Christmas or Thanksgiving) and it was my turn to do the dishes. I think I was about eight years old, perhaps ten. I thought with all that mess, I would be given the assistance of one of my sisters. (Not Mother. She didn't do dishes. That's what she had girls for.) No. It was my turn; I would do it alone. I remember standing in the kitchen which seemed full of dirty dishes. Every dish, pot and pan in the house was used and dirty. I wailed "This will take three hours!" My mother said, "I'll give you forty-five minutes. If you aren't done by then, you'll get a whipping."
Now, THAT is motivation.
I don't remember the details, but I do remember moving as fast as my little hands and feet would go. I organized, washed, dried, and put up all those dishes. I think it took a bit over 45 minutes, and I was afraid I would be whipped for overshooting the time. But I was proud of what I'd done. I really hadn't thought it possible to do it all by myself, but there was the proof.
Now, if I could figure out a way to get students to actually DO their assignments when they have class time to do it... is there a Nobel prize for education?
My mother was a master of negative motivation. Back in the days when it was legal to spank, she wielded that power with authority. But I recall a lesson on dawdling that really struck home.
We had finished a large dinner (I believe it was Christmas or Thanksgiving) and it was my turn to do the dishes. I think I was about eight years old, perhaps ten. I thought with all that mess, I would be given the assistance of one of my sisters. (Not Mother. She didn't do dishes. That's what she had girls for.) No. It was my turn; I would do it alone. I remember standing in the kitchen which seemed full of dirty dishes. Every dish, pot and pan in the house was used and dirty. I wailed "This will take three hours!" My mother said, "I'll give you forty-five minutes. If you aren't done by then, you'll get a whipping."
Now, THAT is motivation.
I don't remember the details, but I do remember moving as fast as my little hands and feet would go. I organized, washed, dried, and put up all those dishes. I think it took a bit over 45 minutes, and I was afraid I would be whipped for overshooting the time. But I was proud of what I'd done. I really hadn't thought it possible to do it all by myself, but there was the proof.
Now, if I could figure out a way to get students to actually DO their assignments when they have class time to do it... is there a Nobel prize for education?
Saturday, March 13, 2010
I taught spinning today
I had the privilege of teaching four ladies how to spin yarn today.
Yes, there are people in the 21st Century who choose to spin yarn from wool. I'm not sure what causes this type of insanity, but it's more prevalent than you might imagine.
The scene was a nice yarn and fiber shop inside a beautiful home in Elbert County. I had wanted to visit there previously, but "never got around to it." The home is located on an alpaca farm (or you could say there is an alpaca farm co-located with the yarn shop) and specializes in alpaca yarns and fibers.
Three of the four ladies had planned to rent wheels to practice on. The fourth lady said she had a wheel. But when she arrived, the shop owner and I determined that she had an antique semi-functional wheel. Neither of us could spin on it, so we strongly recommended she rent a wheel with which she could learn.
During the three hour class, I helped each of them learn how to use their wheel, how to change the bobbins, and how to make yarn. One of the ladies decided that spinning was not her thing, and that was perfectly OK. (I recently made a similar discovery in a pottery throwing class.) She was much more interested in learning how to process the fiber. That's good, because a lot of us would much rather spin or knit than wash fleeces or card them.
All four students successfully spun a singles yarn. I sent them home with a bag full of different kinds of prepared fiber to spin. They need to practice a few minutes every day, or as close to it as practicable. A follow-up class about how to ply their yarn is offered in two weeks, but they have to spin some more singles to have something to ply.
The shop owner said something very nice about me. She said I was a very "gentle soul" when it came to teaching spinning. Aw, shucks...
Yes, there are people in the 21st Century who choose to spin yarn from wool. I'm not sure what causes this type of insanity, but it's more prevalent than you might imagine.
The scene was a nice yarn and fiber shop inside a beautiful home in Elbert County. I had wanted to visit there previously, but "never got around to it." The home is located on an alpaca farm (or you could say there is an alpaca farm co-located with the yarn shop) and specializes in alpaca yarns and fibers.
Three of the four ladies had planned to rent wheels to practice on. The fourth lady said she had a wheel. But when she arrived, the shop owner and I determined that she had an antique semi-functional wheel. Neither of us could spin on it, so we strongly recommended she rent a wheel with which she could learn.
During the three hour class, I helped each of them learn how to use their wheel, how to change the bobbins, and how to make yarn. One of the ladies decided that spinning was not her thing, and that was perfectly OK. (I recently made a similar discovery in a pottery throwing class.) She was much more interested in learning how to process the fiber. That's good, because a lot of us would much rather spin or knit than wash fleeces or card them.
All four students successfully spun a singles yarn. I sent them home with a bag full of different kinds of prepared fiber to spin. They need to practice a few minutes every day, or as close to it as practicable. A follow-up class about how to ply their yarn is offered in two weeks, but they have to spin some more singles to have something to ply.
The shop owner said something very nice about me. She said I was a very "gentle soul" when it came to teaching spinning. Aw, shucks...
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Writing
I have found a book that I want to recommend to the world. After I write this here blog, I'm going to pop over to Amazon.com and review it heartily.
It was available at my local public library and is entitled The National Writer's Association Guide to Writing for Beginners. It was written by Sandy Whelchel, the executive director of the National Writers Association. It's a small volume, just 94 pages plus a few appendices. I'm up to page 26, and I have already learned so much! Each chapter is short, easy to understand, and has one or two exercises that are actually fun to do.
I'm trying to write (or work on) something every day, and I'm trying to read more. I've been reading more of the magazines that litter my house. Wow, there's all kinds of cool stuff in those magazines. Maybe that's why we've been spending our hard-earned money on them.
Sandy claims that the techniques to improve fiction writing will also work for non-fiction. I don't read fiction much, so I will be writing mostly non-fiction.
One of the things Sandy discussess for improving fiction is the use of the four-way sentence to hook the reader. So, here are some four-way sentences I wrote as an exercise.
Mary watched breathlessly as her grandson Jeff tore open the brightly-wrapped birthday gift. "Cool!" he squealed, pulling on the hat and mittens she had knitted. "Thanks, Nana! These are awesome." (Lead-in for a book of knitting patterns designed for boys.)
Johnny slammed the book shut and threw it down on his desk, his handsome face a mask of disgust. "Another frickin' fifty bucks wasted. And this is supposed to be an advanced book? There's nothing in it!" (Lead-in for an article about technical manuals.)
Lynn sat up groggily in bed, blinking her dry blue eyes, barely able to think. I need some water... or Gatorade... and I've GOT to stop this diarrhea! (Lead-in to an article about gluten sensitivity.)
Jim grinned broadly as he shook hands with his new manager in the interview room. (Lead-in to an article about how computer people need to learn to market themselves.)
So, hey, it's a start. Maybe you'll see these words in articles in Reader's Digest some day!
It was available at my local public library and is entitled The National Writer's Association Guide to Writing for Beginners. It was written by Sandy Whelchel, the executive director of the National Writers Association. It's a small volume, just 94 pages plus a few appendices. I'm up to page 26, and I have already learned so much! Each chapter is short, easy to understand, and has one or two exercises that are actually fun to do.
I'm trying to write (or work on) something every day, and I'm trying to read more. I've been reading more of the magazines that litter my house. Wow, there's all kinds of cool stuff in those magazines. Maybe that's why we've been spending our hard-earned money on them.
Sandy claims that the techniques to improve fiction writing will also work for non-fiction. I don't read fiction much, so I will be writing mostly non-fiction.
One of the things Sandy discussess for improving fiction is the use of the four-way sentence to hook the reader. So, here are some four-way sentences I wrote as an exercise.
Mary watched breathlessly as her grandson Jeff tore open the brightly-wrapped birthday gift. "Cool!" he squealed, pulling on the hat and mittens she had knitted. "Thanks, Nana! These are awesome." (Lead-in for a book of knitting patterns designed for boys.)
Johnny slammed the book shut and threw it down on his desk, his handsome face a mask of disgust. "Another frickin' fifty bucks wasted. And this is supposed to be an advanced book? There's nothing in it!" (Lead-in for an article about technical manuals.)
Lynn sat up groggily in bed, blinking her dry blue eyes, barely able to think. I need some water... or Gatorade... and I've GOT to stop this diarrhea! (Lead-in to an article about gluten sensitivity.)
Jim grinned broadly as he shook hands with his new manager in the interview room. (Lead-in to an article about how computer people need to learn to market themselves.)
So, hey, it's a start. Maybe you'll see these words in articles in Reader's Digest some day!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Maybe I'll write...
I've been considering changing careers to writer instead of teacher. Say, why not both? I've spoken with some folks at CTU about returning to teaching part-time for them. But I've also been thinking about doing some real research and writing.
Here's what's brewing:
1) For many, many years, I've thought of writing up a book of knitting patterns for boys that boys will actually want to wear. Most patterns I've seen were so "cute" that the boys I have known would not have been caught wearing them past the age of 3.
2) I've noticed that the open requisitions I've seen for software engineers require skills that I don't have, and I know CTU does not cover. Perhaps no college does. I'm going to look into that. At the very least, I should let CTU know they are not preparing their computer science students for the real world. But perhaps other colleges or Wired magazine would be interested as well.
3) My husband thinks I should write technical books that explore certain technical subjects. He thinks if I write The Joy of Oracle or The Joy of Solaris they would be big hits in the system administrator segment of the population. (Yes, we are nerds. Why do you ask?) The only problem with this option is... sigh... those would be a LOT of work, and likely require major investments in hardware and software. Besides, the way Oracle has behaved since taking over Sun, there may not be a market for Solaris books in the future.
But, I have noticed that I have not gotten around to checking out with the Colorado Department of Education how to go about becoming a teacher. So I'm not sure I really want to do it. Besides, we have learned this week that our county (Douglas County Colorado) is facing a tremendous budget shortfall in education, and may lay off many experienced teachers. What a great time to try to enter the industry!
Here's what's brewing:
1) For many, many years, I've thought of writing up a book of knitting patterns for boys that boys will actually want to wear. Most patterns I've seen were so "cute" that the boys I have known would not have been caught wearing them past the age of 3.
2) I've noticed that the open requisitions I've seen for software engineers require skills that I don't have, and I know CTU does not cover. Perhaps no college does. I'm going to look into that. At the very least, I should let CTU know they are not preparing their computer science students for the real world. But perhaps other colleges or Wired magazine would be interested as well.
3) My husband thinks I should write technical books that explore certain technical subjects. He thinks if I write The Joy of Oracle or The Joy of Solaris they would be big hits in the system administrator segment of the population. (Yes, we are nerds. Why do you ask?) The only problem with this option is... sigh... those would be a LOT of work, and likely require major investments in hardware and software. Besides, the way Oracle has behaved since taking over Sun, there may not be a market for Solaris books in the future.
But, I have noticed that I have not gotten around to checking out with the Colorado Department of Education how to go about becoming a teacher. So I'm not sure I really want to do it. Besides, we have learned this week that our county (Douglas County Colorado) is facing a tremendous budget shortfall in education, and may lay off many experienced teachers. What a great time to try to enter the industry!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
PMS
To all my sisters, biological and otherwise, who have struggled with PMS for years... I'm sorry. I thought I understood and sympathized. I didn't. Now I do.
While I've always had a bad time with the actual "period" I never really had a hard time with the pre-days. Until the last year or so.
It's so sneaky! You just get the period in the rearview mirror a week or so, it seems, and suddenly molehills turn into mountains. Chocolate is not a nice little treat, it is a necessity. AUGH! You start doubting your sanity. What the heck is going on? Why do I feel this way? OH... waitaminnit... how long has it been.... oh, damn! Now I have THAT to look forward to later in the week.
Oh well. I have also noticed one good thing about it. The last day "before" I usually have a huge surge of energy and can clean the house in one day. Helps make up for losing most of the day #2 of the cycle... Don't ask, you don't wanna know. Just don't expect to see me then.
While I've always had a bad time with the actual "period" I never really had a hard time with the pre-days. Until the last year or so.
It's so sneaky! You just get the period in the rearview mirror a week or so, it seems, and suddenly molehills turn into mountains. Chocolate is not a nice little treat, it is a necessity. AUGH! You start doubting your sanity. What the heck is going on? Why do I feel this way? OH... waitaminnit... how long has it been.... oh, damn! Now I have THAT to look forward to later in the week.
Oh well. I have also noticed one good thing about it. The last day "before" I usually have a huge surge of energy and can clean the house in one day. Helps make up for losing most of the day #2 of the cycle... Don't ask, you don't wanna know. Just don't expect to see me then.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
My son is sixteen
My son turned sixteen today. He's a junior in high school. Since I'm not working, I had the fabulous opportunity to take a birthday cake to his school for his lunch with his friends. I took the cake, plates and forks, and a gallon of milk with cups to wash it down. His friends sang "happy birthday" to him and devoured the cake. It seemed to be appreciated by all.
My husband and I are unabashedly proud of him. He is a year younger than his classmates, but he has a 3.9 average in advanced classes. He recently took the ACT and scored a composite of 30 (which is really, very good). He's just a fine young man and I'm proud to be his mother.
It almost didn't happen. When I was married before, I thought for years that I was infertile. But the Good Lord was keeping me from having a child by the man I was married to. Not until I met my current husband (the love of my life) did God see fit to allow me to become pregnant. Actually, once Johnny and I got married, I was pregnant within four months. It destroyed my goal of becoming an Air Force Officer, but - hey - I was going to be a MOTHER! And then, the dear Air Force doctors didn't believe me when I told them I had an unusually large head and a small pelvis, and I was worried about being able to deliver if my baby had a large head. So, without any gory details, let's just say my concern was justified. Thank God, my husband was with me throughout my labor, and he told the doctors that I'd been allowed to suffer long enough, my baby was in distress and it was time to intervene. They checked the records, found he was right (duh) and told me I needed a C-section. Well, I had told the earlier shift five hours earlier that I needed a C-section. But I was just the dumb woman in labor, I didn't know anything. The C-section went smoothly, and saved my baby's life and mine.
So, sixteen years later, I still adore my husband, and we have a strapping son who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, is loved and respected at his school, and makes his teachers and family proud.
My husband and I are unabashedly proud of him. He is a year younger than his classmates, but he has a 3.9 average in advanced classes. He recently took the ACT and scored a composite of 30 (which is really, very good). He's just a fine young man and I'm proud to be his mother.
It almost didn't happen. When I was married before, I thought for years that I was infertile. But the Good Lord was keeping me from having a child by the man I was married to. Not until I met my current husband (the love of my life) did God see fit to allow me to become pregnant. Actually, once Johnny and I got married, I was pregnant within four months. It destroyed my goal of becoming an Air Force Officer, but - hey - I was going to be a MOTHER! And then, the dear Air Force doctors didn't believe me when I told them I had an unusually large head and a small pelvis, and I was worried about being able to deliver if my baby had a large head. So, without any gory details, let's just say my concern was justified. Thank God, my husband was with me throughout my labor, and he told the doctors that I'd been allowed to suffer long enough, my baby was in distress and it was time to intervene. They checked the records, found he was right (duh) and told me I needed a C-section. Well, I had told the earlier shift five hours earlier that I needed a C-section. But I was just the dumb woman in labor, I didn't know anything. The C-section went smoothly, and saved my baby's life and mine.
So, sixteen years later, I still adore my husband, and we have a strapping son who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, is loved and respected at his school, and makes his teachers and family proud.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Failure IS an option
I've been listening to a radio show (www.allamericangold.com) about how our economy is going in the long run. Yesterday and today, Joe Jaiquin was talking about coaching his basketball team and the importance of failure. It is not just an option, it is CRITICAL that our kids be allowed to fail, to learn that they must get up and try again.
Well, I'm taking this in a different direction. Sometimes instead of trying again, we need to learn to try something else. Have you climbed on that horse 100 times, only to be bucked off each time? Maybe you need a different horse, or maybe you need to ride a bicycle. Heck, even Walt Disney and Donald Trump declared bankruptcy and started over!
I've known since I became a computer programmer in 1981 (yes, I'm that old) that it wasn't the best possible job for me. It's a job, that I was able to do, that most people cannot. But it was never my passion. I worked with many people over the years who would slave at their computers all day long, only to go home and play on a home computer all night. Not me! I could not wait to get away from the computer. So why on earth did I get two degrees in computer science? Because I never wanted to admit that I made a mistake in 1980 picking the career. I never wanted to admit (drum roll please) that I am a FAILURE as a software engineer.
OK, that's done. Now what?
Well, the best. "funnest" most satisfying job I ever had was as an instructional designer for Lockheed Martin. Once that job went to just doing the scheduling and teaching, I got bored and hired my replacement. I need a teaching position where I will be constantly stretched to design and solve problems.
Whoa, that is WEIRD. I just got a robo call from Jefferson County offering me a job as a teacher in Thorton. Well, it's not a job offer, but it's notification that a position exists which the computer thinks I may qualify for. You must admit, the timing is remarkable.
I think I'll be a teacher when I grow up. =sigh= Time to go back to college.
Well, I'm taking this in a different direction. Sometimes instead of trying again, we need to learn to try something else. Have you climbed on that horse 100 times, only to be bucked off each time? Maybe you need a different horse, or maybe you need to ride a bicycle. Heck, even Walt Disney and Donald Trump declared bankruptcy and started over!
I've known since I became a computer programmer in 1981 (yes, I'm that old) that it wasn't the best possible job for me. It's a job, that I was able to do, that most people cannot. But it was never my passion. I worked with many people over the years who would slave at their computers all day long, only to go home and play on a home computer all night. Not me! I could not wait to get away from the computer. So why on earth did I get two degrees in computer science? Because I never wanted to admit that I made a mistake in 1980 picking the career. I never wanted to admit (drum roll please) that I am a FAILURE as a software engineer.
OK, that's done. Now what?
Well, the best. "funnest" most satisfying job I ever had was as an instructional designer for Lockheed Martin. Once that job went to just doing the scheduling and teaching, I got bored and hired my replacement. I need a teaching position where I will be constantly stretched to design and solve problems.
Whoa, that is WEIRD. I just got a robo call from Jefferson County offering me a job as a teacher in Thorton. Well, it's not a job offer, but it's notification that a position exists which the computer thinks I may qualify for. You must admit, the timing is remarkable.
I think I'll be a teacher when I grow up. =sigh= Time to go back to college.
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Importance of Friends
I have been a loner most of my life. I've made a few close friends, but when time or space has separated us, we've just drifted apart. No hard feelings, just too much going on to bother.
For the past two years, (perhaps as I've neared a BIG birthday ending in a "0") I've realized how much friends add to life. It's not just fun to swap stories about who-did-what-at-work or gee-I-have-an-odd-neighbor, it's a part of our psyche. Having a group of people you relate to helps you stay grounded and sane.
It's become even more important to me now that I'm unemployed. Within a few months, I have lost my job, discovered I have to make a big change to my diet, and undergone some uncomfortable medical therapy. That's a lot of change in a short amount of time. I have a wonderful, supportive husband and an understanding son, but....
It's been so good to go to my Friday night knit group, and find that life goes on as usual with my friends. One friend is talking about her husband's foibles, and upcoming vacation plans. Another is talking about her husband's new business, and a bimbo at her office that makes us all look smart and professional. Everyone is knitting, and showing off new yarns and projects. It is comforting, relaxing, and -somehow- centering.
Thanks, guys.
For the past two years, (perhaps as I've neared a BIG birthday ending in a "0") I've realized how much friends add to life. It's not just fun to swap stories about who-did-what-at-work or gee-I-have-an-odd-neighbor, it's a part of our psyche. Having a group of people you relate to helps you stay grounded and sane.
It's become even more important to me now that I'm unemployed. Within a few months, I have lost my job, discovered I have to make a big change to my diet, and undergone some uncomfortable medical therapy. That's a lot of change in a short amount of time. I have a wonderful, supportive husband and an understanding son, but....
It's been so good to go to my Friday night knit group, and find that life goes on as usual with my friends. One friend is talking about her husband's foibles, and upcoming vacation plans. Another is talking about her husband's new business, and a bimbo at her office that makes us all look smart and professional. Everyone is knitting, and showing off new yarns and projects. It is comforting, relaxing, and -somehow- centering.
Thanks, guys.
Monday, February 1, 2010
We have a joke in our family. "If there's a bone in the meat, Mom'll find it." No, this is not supposed to have any hidden dirty message. I have a bad habit of finding bits of bone in sausage or other meat, and hurting a tooth. I really hit one Saturday night. My wonderful husband had cooked up some beautiful "boneless" ribeye steak. I had cut off a bit and chomped into it. Well, there was a small bone chip in that bite of beef, and my front tooth hit it hard.
Now, this is the same tooth that 40-plus years ago, hit my sister's head in an unfortunate jumping-on-the-bed accident. It got a nice chip off of one corner back then, but was otherwise functional. I lived with it just fine that way for decades. Then about 12 years ago, my dentist asked me if I didn't want that fixed. I told him I didn't know it was fixable. I'd been in the Air Force 14 years, and those wonderful, ambitious dentists there never mentioned it. So, my dentist told me about the wonder of veneers, and talked me into having it done. After a good bit of discomfort and hundreds of dollars out of pocket, my tooth looked a lot better.
Until Saturday night.
That little chip of bone knocked out a bigger hunk of the veneer than my sister's skull had knocked out of my original tooth. I can't say the impact was painful, but it got my attention! The hole in my tooth felt as big as the Grand Canyon. It was rough, with sharp edges. I was afraid the sharp edges would cut my tongue, or the hole would make my tooth sensitive to temperature. Fortunately that wasn't the case. It just felt really weird, and made concentrating on anything else difficult.
So, I went to my dentist's office first thing this morning. I apologized, saying I didn't have an appointment. Then I showed the receptionist the hole in my front tooth, and she told me to come back in an hour, when the doctor had some available time. Whew!!! My new dentist patched up that awful hole with nicety and dispatch; it looked almost as good as new. We made a plan for a permanent replacement, and I got on with my day.
Now, this is the same tooth that 40-plus years ago, hit my sister's head in an unfortunate jumping-on-the-bed accident. It got a nice chip off of one corner back then, but was otherwise functional. I lived with it just fine that way for decades. Then about 12 years ago, my dentist asked me if I didn't want that fixed. I told him I didn't know it was fixable. I'd been in the Air Force 14 years, and those wonderful, ambitious dentists there never mentioned it. So, my dentist told me about the wonder of veneers, and talked me into having it done. After a good bit of discomfort and hundreds of dollars out of pocket, my tooth looked a lot better.
Until Saturday night.
That little chip of bone knocked out a bigger hunk of the veneer than my sister's skull had knocked out of my original tooth. I can't say the impact was painful, but it got my attention! The hole in my tooth felt as big as the Grand Canyon. It was rough, with sharp edges. I was afraid the sharp edges would cut my tongue, or the hole would make my tooth sensitive to temperature. Fortunately that wasn't the case. It just felt really weird, and made concentrating on anything else difficult.
So, I went to my dentist's office first thing this morning. I apologized, saying I didn't have an appointment. Then I showed the receptionist the hole in my front tooth, and she told me to come back in an hour, when the doctor had some available time. Whew!!! My new dentist patched up that awful hole with nicety and dispatch; it looked almost as good as new. We made a plan for a permanent replacement, and I got on with my day.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The doctor is your friend...
Kids, take care of your skin!
I went to the dermatologist today. (The doctor is your friend.) I had some red spots on my face and hands that I wanted to get checked. See, my mother and father both had skin cancer, and so I figure I have a good chance of getting it. I've been through this drill before, so I thought it would be no big deal. Ha! When will I learn? Liquid nitrogen applied to your skin is NOT FUN!
I had had it done to my hands before, so, no big deal. Well, when the spots in the Doc's target zone are on your FACE, it's another matter. (The doctor is your friend.) The one by my eye wasn't too bad, but ... the ones on my upper lip? There are nerve endings there! Lots of 'em!
Yes, I'm whining. Yes, I am glad I can get some little patches zapped this way quickly, rather than let the stuff grow until it requires real surgery. The doctor is my friend. OW! Dang it, I am TRYING to be still! Hey, can I take a few deep breaths before we go on...? Like a hundred?
I went to the dermatologist today. (The doctor is your friend.) I had some red spots on my face and hands that I wanted to get checked. See, my mother and father both had skin cancer, and so I figure I have a good chance of getting it. I've been through this drill before, so I thought it would be no big deal. Ha! When will I learn? Liquid nitrogen applied to your skin is NOT FUN!
I had had it done to my hands before, so, no big deal. Well, when the spots in the Doc's target zone are on your FACE, it's another matter. (The doctor is your friend.) The one by my eye wasn't too bad, but ... the ones on my upper lip? There are nerve endings there! Lots of 'em!
Yes, I'm whining. Yes, I am glad I can get some little patches zapped this way quickly, rather than let the stuff grow until it requires real surgery. The doctor is my friend. OW! Dang it, I am TRYING to be still! Hey, can I take a few deep breaths before we go on...? Like a hundred?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A new beginning
OK, I am being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century. Now I have a blog. I don't know if anyone will ever read it, but I have a blog.
I was laid off last week from a job I didn't really like, but it paid really well. Now I am facing somewhat of an identity crisis. The best job I ever had was as an instructional designer. That is what I will try to pursue now. I really want to keep the moniker "ProfessorJoy" so I need to be teaching something, eh?
One thing that has become painfully obvious is, the software engineering field has left me behind. As I look at job requisitions for software engineers, programmers, or other IT positions, many of the skills and experiences they want, I don't even recognize. I earned my Master's degree ten years ago. It is worthless today. REALLY? Yes, really. Well, okay, so what now? Do I go back to college to learn OOD, SAP, XML, Java, MySQL, and other acronyms, or is it time to face the fact that I don't really enjoy the computer science industry?
I'm not sure going back to school would help anyway. All the requisitions I have seen want 5 or more years of experience with everything. I pity anyone graduating from college this decade. I have seen several "entry level" positions in the past two weeks, and they all wanted 3 or more years of experience! What kind of "entry level" is that?
So, I'm back in the same boat I was in 1980. I'm bright, I learn quickly, but I don't have the credentials or experience that managers want. In spite of the fact that I have a Master's degree, over 25 years experience in the computer industry, and over 20 years experience training, I'm almost unemployable. God help us.
So what am I going to do?
Well, I am going to keep praying for guidance. I am going to continue applying for jobs that I may not be perfectly qualified for. I am going to apply for a substitute teacher position at my son's high school. I am going to consider starting a home-based business (an Etsy store selling my fiber arts). I am going to maintain my belief that God is in charge, and He has a plan for me.
I was laid off last week from a job I didn't really like, but it paid really well. Now I am facing somewhat of an identity crisis. The best job I ever had was as an instructional designer. That is what I will try to pursue now. I really want to keep the moniker "ProfessorJoy" so I need to be teaching something, eh?
One thing that has become painfully obvious is, the software engineering field has left me behind. As I look at job requisitions for software engineers, programmers, or other IT positions, many of the skills and experiences they want, I don't even recognize. I earned my Master's degree ten years ago. It is worthless today. REALLY? Yes, really. Well, okay, so what now? Do I go back to college to learn OOD, SAP, XML, Java, MySQL, and other acronyms, or is it time to face the fact that I don't really enjoy the computer science industry?
I'm not sure going back to school would help anyway. All the requisitions I have seen want 5 or more years of experience with everything. I pity anyone graduating from college this decade. I have seen several "entry level" positions in the past two weeks, and they all wanted 3 or more years of experience! What kind of "entry level" is that?
So, I'm back in the same boat I was in 1980. I'm bright, I learn quickly, but I don't have the credentials or experience that managers want. In spite of the fact that I have a Master's degree, over 25 years experience in the computer industry, and over 20 years experience training, I'm almost unemployable. God help us.
So what am I going to do?
Well, I am going to keep praying for guidance. I am going to continue applying for jobs that I may not be perfectly qualified for. I am going to apply for a substitute teacher position at my son's high school. I am going to consider starting a home-based business (an Etsy store selling my fiber arts). I am going to maintain my belief that God is in charge, and He has a plan for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
