I have been running on fumes for several weeks preparing for Thanksgiving and the quickly approaching end of the semester. Once the Thanksgiving meal was done, I felt more free to nap, and so I did at length. I've been sleeping at least 8 hours a night and napping for about two hours a day. I'm not quite perky yet. I'm not typically a high energy person, but I've been dragging more slowly than usual. In another week my students take their final, and after finishing grading, I'm done for the semester. That's sounding really nice. The next semester doesn't start for another 6 weeks, so even though I'll still be working my morning secretary job, I'll have some extra time to do what I want and need.
I was so tired that I didn't really do much "Black Friday" shopping. I had thought about going to Elizabethtown, but after seeing the sale papers and judging my energy level, I decided to just go to Walmart in Campbellsville sometime on Friday. Their sale started at 5 a.m. I got there about 8:30, and they still had tons of stuff. The only things I didn't see were the small kitchen appliances for less than $3. I picked up a $69 Blu-Ray player, a couple $5 Blu-Ray disks, and a couple $5 long sleeve Spiderman t-shirts for Matt. The Blu-Ray player turned out not to be able to do what it was advertised to do, so we took it back and complained that we didn't get what was advertised. Apparently from what I've seen elsewhere online, many other people had the same problem. Our Walmart refunded the price of the Blu-Ray player and gave us an extra $25 gift card for our inconvenience. It turned out that we were able to buy one that could do what we wanted for $94, which is exactly $25 more than the $69 I originally spent. So we got a Blu-Ray player that can stream Netflix movies and Youtube clips for the price of one that could do neither, a good deal. Matt seems pleased, which is equivalent to excitement in other people. Now I just have to do all the Christmas shopping.
I have a tendency to be unable to hide how I'm feeling, so I looked pretty rough when I went to church last Wednesday. In addition to fatigue, I was suffering from intestinal difficulties caused by supper. This is the second time that the tandoori chicken has made me sick, so this recipe is being retired. It tastes good, but not good enough to get sick for. Baskin-Robbins ice cream is occasionally good enough to get sick for; that tandoori chicken is not. Apparently, my post-Thanksgiving naps were having an effect because I got several compliments on how I looked Sunday, mostly from people who saw me Wednesday night. I have very kind church friends for whom I'm very thankful.
And as I have been for the last 10 Thanksgivings, I am thankful for Matt. Saying that he is my best friend sounds trite, but "best friend" is the right term for the person you want to be with for serious conversations, silliness, affection, new adventures, and trying times. We have had all of these in the last year, and I have had conscious moments of thankfulness for him many times throughout this year.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Standard Time is Nice
In addition to gaining an hour by turning clocks back last Saturday night, I took long naps on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. I was so perky today! I took dirty dishes to work with me because after at least three months, our dishwasher still has not been fixed. The church has two dishwashers, and they don't mind my using one occasionally. A load of dishes is heavy, and I had to be careful not to break mugs and glasses when I set the basket down in the parking lot while I unlocked the car. But I came home with clean dishes. That made the rest of the kitchen look much more manageable. Right now I'm waiting for Matt to wash a sink-full of dishes. I got a dishwasher's load done at work and did another sink-full when I got home. I decided it's his turn to wash some. I told you I was feeling perky. :)
After work I went to Big Lots (a.k.a. the happiest place on earth) to buy enough matching silverware for Thanksgiving dinner. The set I bought cost only $20, which is just enough for a qualifying purchase toward my next 20% off coupon. I've been thinking that I need to start planning Thanksgiving dinner. I'm considering a turkey breast and a ham. People who love dark meat might be a little disappointed, but as long as I make really moist turkey breast, they shouldn't mind too much. Of course, there will be yeast rolls, stuffing, and sweet potato casserole. Mashed potatoes are probably expected, but scalloped potatoes are great with ham. Oooh! Twice-baked potatoes! I could make extra potatoes and serve baked potato soup for one meal. I'll probably make the tandoori chicken for another meal. The chicken and wild rice soup is always good and would work with leftover turkey. I like planning.
I've done a lot of planning for my class tomorrow. I still have some worksheets to grade tonight and a few homework questions to write, but I've got this week's classes planned. I get another batch of paragraphs to grade tomorrow. We're in the home stretch. Their final paper is due the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The next week is finals week, and then grades are due. I've been reviewing (free!) textbooks, researching electronic grading, and making plans for next semester. I'm looking forward to a fresh start to see if my new plans work any better than the old ones.
I took a break from class prep to clean the kitchen a bit more. I listened to my MP3 player, danced around, and put away dishes and food. I'm pretty excited about the new shelf I built in the kitchen. I think it's really going to help keep me organized. If nothing else, it will give me another flat surface to clutter and perhaps relieve a section of counter space.
I've still got a few things on my to-do list for tonight, but I'm getting sleepy. Maybe Monday Night Football is tranquilizing me. The game has been exciting so far (blocked punt!), but I sleep really well during televised football games. I think I'll take worksheets to bed and grade until I fall asleep. If I don't get them all graded, I'll put them under my pillow and hope the Grading Fairy visits. He probably won't do any grading, but I'd settle for waking up to an empty kitchen sink and a pile of clean dishes.
After work I went to Big Lots (a.k.a. the happiest place on earth) to buy enough matching silverware for Thanksgiving dinner. The set I bought cost only $20, which is just enough for a qualifying purchase toward my next 20% off coupon. I've been thinking that I need to start planning Thanksgiving dinner. I'm considering a turkey breast and a ham. People who love dark meat might be a little disappointed, but as long as I make really moist turkey breast, they shouldn't mind too much. Of course, there will be yeast rolls, stuffing, and sweet potato casserole. Mashed potatoes are probably expected, but scalloped potatoes are great with ham. Oooh! Twice-baked potatoes! I could make extra potatoes and serve baked potato soup for one meal. I'll probably make the tandoori chicken for another meal. The chicken and wild rice soup is always good and would work with leftover turkey. I like planning.
I've done a lot of planning for my class tomorrow. I still have some worksheets to grade tonight and a few homework questions to write, but I've got this week's classes planned. I get another batch of paragraphs to grade tomorrow. We're in the home stretch. Their final paper is due the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The next week is finals week, and then grades are due. I've been reviewing (free!) textbooks, researching electronic grading, and making plans for next semester. I'm looking forward to a fresh start to see if my new plans work any better than the old ones.
I took a break from class prep to clean the kitchen a bit more. I listened to my MP3 player, danced around, and put away dishes and food. I'm pretty excited about the new shelf I built in the kitchen. I think it's really going to help keep me organized. If nothing else, it will give me another flat surface to clutter and perhaps relieve a section of counter space.
I've still got a few things on my to-do list for tonight, but I'm getting sleepy. Maybe Monday Night Football is tranquilizing me. The game has been exciting so far (blocked punt!), but I sleep really well during televised football games. I think I'll take worksheets to bed and grade until I fall asleep. If I don't get them all graded, I'll put them under my pillow and hope the Grading Fairy visits. He probably won't do any grading, but I'd settle for waking up to an empty kitchen sink and a pile of clean dishes.
Monday, November 1, 2010
For all the saints who from their labors rest...
Today is All Saints' Day. I grew to appreciate All Saints' while working at Luther Memorial. It is a day to remember not only canonized saints but saints in the more general sense of all Christians. It is a reflective day and often a bit sad. In January, I sent out a New Year's letter because of all the new beginnings we anticipated in 2010. I have considered sending an All Saints' letter since I'm not sure I'll be up to Christmas cards or another New Year's letter.
It's been a rough year. Losing Grandpa was tough even though his health had been declining for some time. I realized several years ago that he was the most consistent source of unconditional love in my life. His absence still leaves a hole in our family. Losing Neil was devastating. Though I wasn't initially thrilled about being pregnant, I became more and more excited about meeting him as I got to know him. He was intelligent and resourceful and opinionated and aware of the world he hadn't yet seen. As he approached full term, he even played with me. I was happy and hopeful, which is rare for a person with chronic depression. I knew he was remarkable and a gift from God. Unfortunately, I didn't get to keep my gift, and the hope and happiness evaporated, leaving a gaping void in my life. I have found new activities to fill my time, but I find I still miss him daily. The extended family also recently experienced loss with the death of Aunt Wanda died. And though it seems petty in comparison to the other losses, even beloved family pets, Dante and Rascal, have died since last All Saints'. It's been a rough year.
The title of this post is from a hymn that in later verses says, "And yet there breaks a still more glorious dawn." Most days the hope of seeing loved ones again does not outweigh the feelings of loss I have now in the darkness of my grief. But there is hope. And in my powerlessness to change what is and was, all I can do is hope for what will be.
I sometimes get responses to my posts and typically welcome them, but I think I'd prefer not to hear from anyone about this post. Most words of "comfort," no matter how true or well-meant, irritate me. Please be caring enough not to add irritation to my grief.
It's been a rough year. Losing Grandpa was tough even though his health had been declining for some time. I realized several years ago that he was the most consistent source of unconditional love in my life. His absence still leaves a hole in our family. Losing Neil was devastating. Though I wasn't initially thrilled about being pregnant, I became more and more excited about meeting him as I got to know him. He was intelligent and resourceful and opinionated and aware of the world he hadn't yet seen. As he approached full term, he even played with me. I was happy and hopeful, which is rare for a person with chronic depression. I knew he was remarkable and a gift from God. Unfortunately, I didn't get to keep my gift, and the hope and happiness evaporated, leaving a gaping void in my life. I have found new activities to fill my time, but I find I still miss him daily. The extended family also recently experienced loss with the death of Aunt Wanda died. And though it seems petty in comparison to the other losses, even beloved family pets, Dante and Rascal, have died since last All Saints'. It's been a rough year.
The title of this post is from a hymn that in later verses says, "And yet there breaks a still more glorious dawn." Most days the hope of seeing loved ones again does not outweigh the feelings of loss I have now in the darkness of my grief. But there is hope. And in my powerlessness to change what is and was, all I can do is hope for what will be.
I sometimes get responses to my posts and typically welcome them, but I think I'd prefer not to hear from anyone about this post. Most words of "comfort," no matter how true or well-meant, irritate me. Please be caring enough not to add irritation to my grief.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)