Happy Holidays

Our Christmas-New Year visits with family have been good.  The nephews and nieces are lots of fun.  And it was good to spend time with Grandma, parents, and siblings.

I don't have a lot more to report right now.  I've checked out grammar teaching books from Inter-Library Loan and am planning for next semester. And as most people do this time of year, I'm thinking about how to make 2011 better than 2010 was.  I feel totally unoriginal that weight loss and organization are high on my list of things to work on, but maybe I'll come up with creative and successful solutions this time.

Completely Exhausted but Looking Good and Feeling Thankful

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.

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.

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.

Columbus Discovered Sales and Coupons

It had been more than a month since we last went to Elizabethtown, so we went this afternoon.  I had some really good coupons for Big Lots, Michael's, and Bed Bath & Beyond.  Matt bought comic books while I bought a few gifts.  Christmas is coming, and nieces and nephews are visiting soon.  I've been buying a few things to prepare for having company at Thanksgiving.  I bought glasses and looked at silverware because we don't have enough of either for lots of company.  This week I need to buy a sheet for our crib mattress.  The crib mattress on the floor seems like a good sleeping place for the "2-3 year old set," as I've been calling Audrey and Drew when discussing preparations for their visits.  It would also apply to our friends' son Eliot, so it's a useful phrase.  We've got some cleaning and some preschooler proofing to do around here, but we're pretty excited.

We also went to Aldi as we always do when we go to Elizabethtown.  We bought some chicken strips because they seem kid-friendly.  We also bought potstickers (steamed Chinese meat and veggie ravioli) and would be thrilled if they were a hit with the 2-3 year old set, but we love them and will eat them anyway.  I also bought (with a coupon) a pumpkin cookie cutter that came with some smaller cutters that can cut out eyes, nose and mouth to make it a jack-o-lantern cookie.  I also bought (with a coupon) a couple sterno cans to use with the fondue pot we got from Aunt Sandra.  Dipping things in cheese sauce seems kid-friendly.  We haven't had Beth, Mitch and Eliot over yet, so I'd like to have them over for fondue sometime.  I also got a squirt bottle so that I can try making pancakes in fun shapes.  I loved it when Grandma Natta did for me growing up.  We've got toys and books, and I'm looking into activities.  I don't know what the adults will do, but the kids will have fun.

Oh So Productive

Though I didn't get any grading done today, I washed all the dishes, which was was significant because we had NO MORE clean dishes.  And I cleaned the bathroom.  Matt mowed the lawn.  Then we watched TV, ordered a pizza, and played Family Feud online.  It wasn't a trip to Louisville, but it was a good day.

She Works Hard for the Money

I got my first check from my teaching job a week or two ago and was surprised at how little I'm making.  Because of all the time I'm putting into writing quizzes, assignments, informational handouts, and worksheets, I'm making less per hour teaching than I'm making as a part-time church secretary.  Matt pointed out that the first semester of teaching is always time consuming.  I'll have my materials already written for next semester and should make the same money for less work.  Sounds good to me!  :)  I'm already committed to teach the same class again next semester.  There will be some things I'll change, but a lot of what I've put together is really good, and I'll use it again.

At least I think it's good, and other teachers who have heard about it think it's good.  Somehow the department chair got one of my worksheets and liked it enough to have it copied it for his classes. However, I totally agree with Matt's answer when people ask him how the teaching is going: "The teaching's great, but I'm not sure about the learning."  Actually, I know a bit about the learning.  A month into the semester, my students still have trouble finding subjects and verbs in sentences.  I'm taking one more stab--my third--at teaching it on Thursday.  They have to be able to find subject and verbs to know if they have complete sentences and to be able to make subjects and verbs agree.  There were many fragments and run-ons in their first paper, and they're struggling with subject-verb agreement.  At first, I thought that they were just struggling with or ignoring the rules for making subjects and verbs agree.  I've wondered if they're just picking what sounds right instead of trying to apply rules.  From the way they talk, I know that they absolutely should not just go with what sounds right to them.  But I'm not sure that they're not trying to make verbs agree with words that aren't the subject because they can't find it.

I'm pretty excited about the project we're working on in class.  I'm assigning a paragraph at a time of what will be a review of a children's picture book by the end of the semester.  On Thursday, they're turning in a plot summary, essentially a one-paragraph book report.  They'll eventually write paragraphs about what they like/dislike about the books they've chosen, whether they think children would like the book, whether adults will like it enough to buy it for children, and probably a "close reading" basic literary analysis.  I don't know if they'll get into the analysis, but I'm really looking forward to it.  The book I'm writing about is The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.  It's a kind of hippie retelling of the three little pigs where the bad guy turns good when he sniffs a house made of flowers.

Other than teaching and working at the church in the mornings, I've mostly taken it easy.  I've been really tired since my cold a few weeks ago and have taken many naps.  The house gets messier and messier, but I haven't had the energy to do anything about it or actually feel guilty about it.  When I have no energy for guilt, you know I've been worn out. :)  I cleaned out the fridge on Sunday, so I think I'm gaining strength.  Matt is doing well, enjoying teaching his fantasy literature class and reveling in the new football season.  We're considering a daytrip to Louisville this Saturday.  There are many used bookstores that we haven't visited since February.  And we really need some ethnic food, definitely some Ethiopian and maybe a Filipino lunch buffet.  Sounds like a good time to me.

A Room of My Own

Our guest room is now my room when we don't have guests.  Matt and I share the bedroom, and the study and the living room feel like they're Matt's because his books and movies are in those rooms.  I always seem to have stuff cluttering other rooms because my stuff didn't have a place.  Now it does.  Matt calls it my junk room.  I prefer to call it my play room.  I plan for it to be a place for me to set up my keyboard and my bicycle trainer.  I can also work on craft projects there.  Right now it looks more like a junk room.  I've got stuff from other rooms piled in there waiting to be sorted and put away.  As far as I know, we don't plan to have guests until Thanksgiving, so I've got time to get everything tidied up.  I'd like to get something to sit on (a daybed would work), a table for projects and to set my sewing machine up, and a small bookshelf for my computer books.  Should we need the room as a nursery, I'll probably have to move everything upstairs, but I'd have less time for the projects anyway.

My big project is still getting well.  My cold is lingering: nose blowing and coughing.  Another fever blister appeared yesterday.  I have also been awakened with an upset stomach a few nights this week.  Wednesday night, I vomited and then spilled the puke bag contents on my lap, the floor, and the bath mat.  Last night I was up for at least 3 hours with what turned out to be incredibly bad gas that felt like heartburn that threatened to make me vomit again.  Early morning gastrointestinal difficulties do not help me rest and recover from my cold.  I've considered that it's a new twist on irritable bowel, so I'm going to try the pro-biotic yogurt again.

My second big project is preparing for my class.  I've got tons of handouts, practice sheets, assignments sheets, homework worksheets, and quizzes to write.  I've never been the primary teacher for this level of student, so I'm starting from scratch with most of what I'm doing.  It's exciting but a lot of work.  Once I have a semester's worth of material, I can tweak it for future semesters as long as it works this first time.

That's enough big projects for now.  I've got many small projects that I want to work on, but healing, teaching and cleaning are a good start.

Getting in the Groove

My cold rewrote my plans for the semester.  I am teaching only one section, and I'm not taking any classes.  I didn't feel well enough to get everything done to sign up for classes.  I ran around campus several times blowing my nose and coughing, and I just eventually gave up.  I think I'm going to enjoy the new schedule.  I'll work every morning at the church.  I'll teach and go to water aerobics on Tuesday and Thursday.  The other afternoons I'll have free to cook, clean, and do things I want to do.  I may finally learn PHP and have time to work on craft projects and practice the piano.

I met with my class for the first time yesterday.  I'm halfway through reading the paragraphs they wrote in class, and I'm pleasantly surprised.  For the most part they're doing a good job of putting ideas together in a logical order.  They need some grammar, diction, and punctuation help, but they're doing well.  I've got some more grading and preparation to do for tomorrow.

My cold is almost well.  I'm still blowing my nose a bit and coughing some, but I'm at 95% now.  By next week I should be completely well.

A Little Help from my Friends

I've had a rough couple of days.  Tuesday evening I started sniffing, and by bedtime I was blowing large quantities of green snot.  I stopped by McDonalds on the way to work for some orange juice and a frozen coffee beverage and worked almost 4 hours.  By that evening I wanted soup and an Icee.  My friend Beth offered homemade tomato soup, but I didn't get the message until after coming home from the grocery store.  The offer was nice.

Last night the cold moved to my chest (its natural progression in my body), so I sounded really bad today and felt almost as bad as I sounded.  Matt had an early meeting at the university, and after he left I realized that I had accidentally locked my keys in the car last night.  Considering that I was fired the last time that happened to me, I stayed remarkably calm.  I tore the house apart (which didn't leave it looking much worse than normal) looking for our spare key and after a while started to feel panicky.  So I called my friend Susie and asked if she could take me to work.  I think I woke her up, but she said she come.  I kept looking for the key and stumbled across things like the bag I had packed for the hospital.  It's empty now, but I suddenly remembered how it felt to hurriedly unpack and repack that bag so that we could take Neil to Springfield to be buried.  And I cried.  I was sick.  I was tired.  I was panicky. And I couldn't hold it together anymore.  And then I found the spare key and called Susie to let her know.  I got to work and got busy with the things that absolutely had to be done.  After a while I heard someone else in the building.  Susie showed up at my office door with a huge chocolate muffin and some hot tea.  I felt loved.

A little later I emailed the pastor to see if he and his wife would be willing to fold bulletins this week as they had been doing before I was hired.  He called and told me to go home as soon as possible and that he would take care of it.  My boss and his wife are so nice.  I have worked for several pastors who wouldn't have helped out like that.

I like the church job.  The people I've met have been nice, and someone in the church left me home-grown cucumbers last week.  I like making the office more efficient: I'd forgotten how good it feels to be the office oracle.  And they've got some creative work for me coming up.  I mostly work by myself, so I don't have co-worker issues.  I see the pastor about once a week and communicate with everyone by email most of the time.  I tend to keep the door locked, so there's no foot traffic to deal with.  And the phone doesn't ring too often.  It's way different from my time at LM.  And I like the difference. I miss some of the LM people, but the less stressful work environment is healthier.

Today was new student orientation at the university, but I didn't feel up to going.  Matt was on campus so I went in to meet him and thought I'd ask about registering for classes while I was there.  I went to student records and the nice lady told me to go home and get well and register on Monday.  I figure I'll stop by admissions before or after the video production class.  If I have trouble, I'll appeal to the VP of admissions: he's the pastor of the church I work at.

I was waiting to schedule classes until after I knew for sure when I'm teaching.  I got a phone call on Tuesday that they needed me to teach another section of Basic English.  I told them I'd do it if both my classes were on the same days so that I could use identical syllabi.  The department chair said he'd check with the dean and get back to me.  I didn't hear anything until we went to a faculty reception last night and the dean told me I was teaching at 2 p.m. Monday-Friday.  I was surprised and my snot-covered brain had trouble processing.  I talked it over with Matt, and he agreed that different class lengths add prep work and that I don't need that much extra work.  My morning meltdown further confirmed it.  Then this morning Susie told me that she was at advising to register for classes and that my name was on the course schedule given to all freshman.  So I immediately called the dean and department chair to tell them I couldn't teach both classes.  I sounded so sick on the phone that they were understanding.

So this weekend my job is to get healthy and finish my syllabus.  Monday I'll register for classes and attend a couple.  Tuesday I'll teach a class.  And sometime that week I need to get the house clean enough for Matt's fantasy class to come over to watch the Lord of the Rings movies on Saturday.

I feel like I'm at the starting line waiting for the pistol to go off and send me sprinting toward Christmas.  It's good to know I have people I can count on if I get winded along the way.

Farewell to fat shorts!

A couple of months ago I happened upon a big sale at JC Penneys and was excited to buy a pair of shorts that fit because almost all of the shorts I owned were too tight.  I have now shrunk out of those shorts.  I am comfortably wearing a pair of shorts that was getting snug last summer before I got pregnant.  Hurray!  Maybe I should try on more of my clothes and see what fits.  The other day Mom asked if I was going to need new clothes now that I've got a job (or two), and I said I had clothes from working at Luther Memorial.  Fortunately, I wore sizes 14-18 while working there, so I'll have work clothes even if I lose more weight.  I've also been known to buy a cute piece of clothing on clearance even if it doesn't quite fit, so as I shrink I'll have new clothes as well as well-worn favorites.  Something to look forward to.

Sooo employed

Wednesday night, I got the call that the church had approved hiring me, so I went in on Thursday morning to start training.  Wow!  This job is different.  I'll mostly be working by myself because everyone else on staff has a day job, so there shouldn't be many co-worker conflicts. :)  They get very few phone calls: only two in the four hours I was in the office.  They keep the doors locked, so there's no foot traffic.  The bulletin is on a single sheet of paper.  And other than routing mail and financial papers, picking up bank bags on Monday morning, sending a few letters, doing the one-page bulletin and answering a phone that doesn't ring, almost everything else I do is self-motivated.  This job will not add 50 pounds. Hurray!

This afternoon I walked to the academic office on campus to get some forms and sample syllabi for the class I'm teaching.  I also picked up a textbook at the bookstore.  Syllabi prep now begins in earnest.  My friend Shawn says it's the best part of teaching, and I have to admit it's pretty exciting before students get involved and expose all the flaws in the teaching plan and before the grading begins.  Some of the forms I picked up are for signing up for classes.  I hope to get that done by early next week at the latest.  My friend Anne works in the music department and recommended that I take Piano 2 since I've had six years of lessons, but it meets while I'm teaching so I'll have to figure out how to work that out. I now have so many friends I've become a name dropper.  :)

I went to water aerobics again this evening.  I started realizing that the rest of the people who attend water aerobics see us as a group.  I don't even know their names, and they probably don't know mine.  I'm probably just the girl in the blue and black swimsuit who grins really big while she spins in circles when we do the tilted bicycle exercise (everyone else stays pretty stationary). It's my favorite.  I'll have to try learning who the rest of the exercisers are.  From their conversations I assume several are public school teachers/employees.  Word is that the sixth graders are really rowdy this year.

It's been a good busy day, and I'm pretty tired.  If I go to bed earlier, Matt gets to bed earlier, so my job may be good for both of us.

Ch-ch-changes

A stuttering theme for all the new things starting in August.  This evening while I was at water aerobics, the chair of the English department called to offer me up to 3 sections of classes to teach.  I'm supposed to call him tomorrow to find out more about class content and times.  The times are important because of my (probable) new part-time job as church secretary at Lowell Avenue Baptist Church.  The office is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so I'll need to work my teaching schedule around that.  The final decision about hiring me at the church will be made at a business meeting on Wednesday evening, but everyone involved seems to think it's a formality.  I was also reminded recently that I can now take classes for free at Campbellsville University.  I'm looking into a Monday evening Self Defense/Tai Chi class, twice-a-week class piano lessons, and a 3-credit video production class.  If Matt needs me to take his Fantasy class to boost enrollment numbers, I could take that, too.  Matt pointed out that he would have to give me a grade, and I reminded him I'm sleeping with the professor. :)  But since it conflicts with water aerobics, I probably won't take it.  The classes I take will depend on my teaching schedule.  So my fall seems like it will be busy.

While I was at open swim last Thursday, I decided I was ready to really start trying to lose weight.  I've been coasting for almost 4 months and am at pre-pregnancy weight, but pre-pregnancy weight was 30 pounds more than I'm comfortable with.  My job at the church in Madison was pretty stressful for several years, and it added almost 50 pounds.  I'd really like to get back to a comfortable weight.  I've lost a pound since I decided last week to lose weight. Hurray for me!  This morning I did a Bollywood dance program from the fitness channel and was reminded how uncoordinated I am.  It really energized me, though, and I danced and fidgeted around the house all day.  And then I went to water aerobics tonight and stayed an extra hour after class at free swim.  I'm trying to teach myself proper swimming and breathing techniques so that I can swim laps efficiently.  Sometimes I do pretty well, and sometimes I inhale water and stand up sputtering.  My friend Beth used to teach swimming lessons and has offered to help me.  If I can't get the hang of it, I'll take her up on the offer.

I'm also following a fascinating new blog: http://adashofsouthernsass.blogspot.com/.  Ashley started it two days ago.  Ashley keeps me in touch with coolness, has a great sense of humor and sense of style, and tends to get into crazy situations and meet crazy people.  I look forward to reading her blog.  And when I logged on to post this evening, I found out there are all sorts of new features from blogger, so I redecorated my blog.  Even my blog is changing.

A Busy July So Far

It's been a busy two weeks since I last posted.  We went on vacation to Missouri and spent time with family.  We especially enjoyed time with the nieces and nephews.

When we got back, Matt's parents stayed with us a few days.  On Wednesday, we went to Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, which is about half an hour away.  We also went to the Lincoln museum in Hodginville.  I learned that Mary Todd Lincoln, who was from Lexington, had siblings who fought for the Confederacy.  I plan to look for books to learn more about this.  Her home in Lexington can be toured, and Jefferson Davis's birthplace is also in Kentucky.  If we check out those sites and the nearby Civil War battlefield, we could put together a historic tour for visiting family.  Grandma would love it.

Matt's parents left early this morning, and this evening I had a job interview at a church that needs a part-time secretary.  As soon as I got home, I changed into my swimming suit and went to water aerobics.  A few minutes after I left, they called to (essentially) offer me the job.  They're going to recommend me at a business meeting in early August.  As long as things go as expected, I'll be employed in August.  I'm still waiting to hear about adjunct teaching at the university.

Now I'm ready for bed.

July Garden Update

My garden is still doing well.  At the end of June, I had a couple small green peas.  After photographing this one, I ate it. Yum!

The other day I checked on my garden after vacation and found a nice harvest of purple hull peas.  I cooked them, and they were delicious.  I need to take a spade to the garden to dig up some green onions.  I also had tons of basil.  And I've got a little tomato growing.  Squash and zucchini are growing like crazy, including in my front yard garden.

Late June Garden Pictures

Green Beans to pick

One day's harvest of basil and green beans

My squash is blossoming

Our front yard garden and walkway

The basil I transplanted to the front garden is hanging in there.

The squash I transplanted from thinning my vegetable garden is blossoming.

The lettuce and herbs that have sprouted in the planter that got knocked over.

The vines and flowers growing on the side porch.

Bees (like the one in the center blossom) love our flowers.

The DIY Life for Me!

Gardening has led to a renewed interest in all my crafty hobbies.  I've been cooking things with my produce and am looking for more recipes to use the bounty of green beans and squash that has already begun.  I made green bean fries in the oven.  Other than being a little salty because of the extra garlic salt I added, they were really good.  And yesterday I made a potato squash gratin that I wouldn't mind eating every day.  I made watermelon granita with the half a melon Aunt Donna and Uncle Johnny sent home with us from vacation.  And I made peach sorbet (in a couple of Ziploc bags) with the peaches that were more soft than I care for.  I like my peaches firm enough to pull cleanly away from the pit.  Anything softer used to sit in the fridge until it was shriveled and moldy, but now it can become peach sorbet.

I've bought a storage tub to use for my own compost heap.  It's first use will be as a trash can until we can buy the style we like from Walmart.  Someone stole out old garbage can while we were on vacation.  And I've begun to suspect Walmart since the garbage cans were in stock on Monday but not on Wednesday.  I think they've been going around stealing cans to increase demand for garbage cans.  Ingenious!  :)  The $4 storage bin has a lid to keep critters out, so it will give us an OK place to put the trash.  And it doesn't matter if it gets stinky because I'm just going to fill it with newspaper, grass clippings, and vegetable rubbish for my compost heap.

I've started my ABC quilt made from the fabric from Matt's holey plaid boxers.  I think I'm going to try altering a cheap Walmart t-shirt into a shirt with more shape and style.  I've found a pattern for an easy blanket to crochet.  My friend Beth knits and is teaching our friend Susie.  We could start a knitting club.  They are both thrifty, crafty people, so we have a lot in common.  And their garden plots border mine.  Susie asked me the other day if I'd like to go to a one-day class on canning.  Sure!

I've been cleaning and organizing the house.  I've still got a long way to go, but I'm making progress.  I've also been reading a lot of blogs about thriftiness, crafting and green living.  I'm not passionate about saving the planet (I care, but I'm not passionate), but green sites have great ideas for reusing things you already own, which is thrifty.  I'm working up to a big de-cluttering.  I like the idea of streamlining my life by owning less stuff, but I'm a hoarder.  We'll see how it goes.

The other day I told Matt that I keep getting distracted from organizing because of all of the blogs about organization that I've found.  :)  He said that would be in his top 10 quotes that describe me.  Oh how well he knows me!  

An Emotionally Tough Weekend Survived

Most of the time I'm OK, but it's really sad to be reminded that Neil was going to be here and isn't.  While on vacation, I remembered that I had planned to take Neil swimming for the first time while in Tennessee and that I was going to take advantage of the many outlet malls to buy clothes for him.  Then my family went to the Wilmoth family reunion without me.  I had planned to take Neil to meet his extended family, and I couldn't stand to go without him this year.  The reunion began on the day Neil would have been two months old.  I had realized while reading child development books several months ago that he would be two months old by the time we started travelling and that he might have gotten to the "social smile" stage by then.  I was hoping he'd smile at everyone and make a good impression.  Then Sunday was Father's Day.  I had been looking forward to Father's Day more than Mother's Day.  I started thinking about presents for Matt in March.  And when we got home on Sunday, there was a message that Kaitlyn had been born.  I was very happy that she had arrived safely, but it was sad to be reminded that Neil was supposed to have cousins two months older and two months younger than him.  Now the cousins are here, and he isn't.

None of our other travel plans are related to Neil, so I don't expect anything to be quite as tough as this weekend was.  Our July 4th trip to Missouri will be a little tough--going back to where Neil is buried and spending time with Aiden and Kaitlyn--but having one tough trip under my belt will give me confidence that I'll survive again.  The next emotional hurdles I foresee are not having to worry about coordinating Matt's and my fall schedules around a baby, October when he would have been six months old and would have worn the cute lion outfit I got on clearance after last Halloween (and my annual pelvic exam at the OBs office is then), probably Christmas and New Year's because that's when he started moving and I started getting to know him last year, and definitely next April.

I'm up way too late right now after a pretty productive day, including blogging a much happier post about my vacation.  Plenty of rest and consistent medication are necessary for my emotional and physical well-being.  So off to bed.

A Busy Week for Me and My Garden

Last week we were on vacation in Sevierville, Tennessee.  We have no pictures of our trip to Dollywood because the camera would have been a pain to keep up with, but we do have photos of a few other activities.

On Tuesday, we went to an educational activity center called Wonder Works.  Some of the most fun activities--dancing for two different camera systems that alter the images--weren't photographed, but the bubble lab gave us some great photos.  And we like the picture of me in the space suit.  More photos are on my Picasa site.

On Friday night Matt and I went to dinner with Ashley.  Sevierville is the hometown of Dolly Parton; a statue of her is in front of the courthouse.  Ashley is a big fan of Dolly Parton, so we went to the courthouse to have our pictures taken with Dolly.  Then we ate at an Asian buffet with sushi and hibachi.  Then we went to the world's largest "as seen on TV" store.  I think they figure "largest" by store size and not number of "as seen on TV" items.  We didn't buy any TV items (I counted at least 11 that I already own), but we got an octopus and a hedgehog for our unusual stuffed animal collection.  After we got back to the condo, Ashley, Grandma and I put on face masks.  It was hard to keep from smiling and making the mask slide down our faces.

On Saturday afternoon, we went to Knoxville to shop at used bookstores.  The best was McKay, which is a used book, movie and music superstore.  We thought we were in the wrong parking lot when we arrived because it was so busy.  We've never seen a bookstore so big or popular.  We also went to a used music and movie store that had fun refrigerator magnets and toys.  Matt got a set of four literary finger puppets, including Virginia Woolf and Charles Dickens.  He uses such things to decorate his office at school and as show and tell for his classes.

We stopped at Carpe Librum (love the name!) and didn't buy anything, but they had a big piece of paper in the bathroom on which people had written favorite restaurants.  We asked the people working at the store about the restaurants and chose King Tut's.  They had told us the food is delicious and it's an experience.  They weren't joking.  We arrived at the tiny Egyptian restaurant after parking in an empty lot and discovered it was almost full because of an engagement party being held there.  We were seated by Moe, the owner.  He took our drink orders and filled two vases with Matt's Dr Pepper and my water.  He handed us menus, saying "I highly recommend the Greek salad and an Egyptian sampler to share."  We browsed the menu anyway and saw that by the Greek salad it says something like "Moe highly recommends it." :)  So we followed his recommendations and had a super meal.  I think we'd eat there every day if we could.  The Greek salad was covered with feta cheese and herbs.  The hummus and grape leaves and falafel and all the things I didn't recognize were yummy.  Moe took a music request from the groom-to-be and blared reggae-style Christmas music, which everyone sang along to even if they, like Moe, only knew the fa-la-las of Deck the Halls.  The groom was also allowed to wear the pharaoh headdress while slow dancing to the Christmas music with his fiancee.  Matt wore the headdress later, and I took his picture.  The walls are covered with bumper stickers, colorful lights and a stoplight.  Moe offered to do a magic trick if all three of the guys next to us ordered dessert, but one guy was too full.  I almost bought him dessert just so I could see the magic trick.  We got baklava for dessert, and left happy.

On Saturday, we checked out of the condo and stopped in Knoxville again on the way home.  We ate Indian food and went to two Big Lots (a.k.a. The Happiest Place on Earth).  After we had gotten home and unpacked a little, Matt took me to the garden.  It had grown wildly.  I no longer have rows to walk down because of how big the plants were.  My green peas were twice as tall and blossoming.  My green bean plants were growing at least one tiny bean (below and slightly to the right of the flower).  The green onions are almost big enough to use.  I picked enough basil to make pesto sauce for supper.  I've got to go to the garden again tomorrow to pick more for my pasta salad.  We're having friends over tomorrow for a supper of pasta salad with chicken, tomato, basil and feta and some watermelon granita for dessert.

The Herbs of My Labors

While Grandma was staying with us on Saturday night, we made a trip out to the garden to show her.  It had made major progress since last Sunday.  Most notably, the green beans are flowering, the green peas have doubled in height, and the basil was big enough for me to pick some.  I've got some fresh mozzarella.  All I need is tomatoes.  By the time I get a chance to go to the garden again I may have some green beans, green onions, parsley and more basil--all less than 2 months after planting!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Very well, thank you.  And I have pictures!

My garden plot on June 6

Purple hull peas in front of green beans












Squash and zucchini

Tomatoes

Watermelon above, green peas at right.  I planted these less than two weeks ago.












I still haven't thinned the garden yet.  The squash and zucchini are growing like crazy and need some room on their little hills.  I may wait a little longer on the green beans and peas.  They're just so lovely, and they don't seem too crowded yet.  By the time I get back from vacation, they and the tomatoes will probably need to be thinned.  The area I hoped to clear to transplant what I thin out is just too overgrown for me to clear.  Maybe I'll bring them home and put them in front of the house if the seeds I've planted in the front garden haven't sprouted yet.  The plants I'm growing indoors are coming with me on vacation.  I don't want them to die, and I don't feel right about asking someone to come into my house every morning to water my plants.  I'll probably ask someone to stop by to water the front garden a few times.

I'm already excited about next year's garden.  I've been thinking about starting seeds next March or April to transplant into the garden.  I'll get produce faster if the garden starts from plants rather than seeds.  And today I saw something online about starting plants in toilet paper tubes that have been cut in half instead of buying special cups to start the seeds.  The tubes can be planted with the seedlings.  The cardboard is biodegradable and the tube supposedly hinders pests.  I've already got soil and some left-over seeds to use next year, and I'm sure I can save up plenty of toilet paper tubes, so I'll just have to buy a few more seeds.  Next year's garden will be super cheap.  I may try out toilet paper tubes with herbs after I get back from vacation.  The seeds I've planted in the front yard garden haven't sprouted yet.  If they haven't come up by the time we get back, they probably aren't going to sprout.  I'm not sure most of the herbs I transplanted to the front garden are going to survive because their root systems weren't developed well enough.  The tube would take care of that problem, too.

I've been finding a lot of nifty information and free stuff online that I may share a bit of on my blog.  One nifty thing I saw at the church potluck yesterday was a portable picnic table that folds into the size of a guitar case. Very cool!  I may put that on my Amazon wish list.

Free Lemon, Lime, Orange Samples

I found a free sample online for the lime powder I bought today at the salvage grocery store: http://truelemon.com/products/free-samples.html.  I didn't know that they also make orange powder, but now I'll get to try it.  I love free stuff.  I've been signing up for samples so that I get fun mail and not just bills and junk mail.  It's like getting presents.

And now that I'm past my 6-week check up I shouldn't get any more formula samples that I signed up for in April.  I should ask Kristin if she wants some of the formula for Aiden or if the Gibbs want it for Julie and Maddie.  But I'm keeping the Juicy Juice sippy cup.

Newness and Renewal: A Saturday Adventure

I woke up early today and decided to try new things and go on an adventure.  So after watering my plants and starting a load of laundry, I went to the farmer's market.  There were only three sellers when I was there, but I may have been a little early.  I bought some lettuce, strawberries, snow peas, green onions, and broccoli.  I've tasted all but the green onions now and only regret the broccoli, which is a little bitter and spicy.

My next destination was a salvage grocery store called Dents & Dings.  On the way I stopped at Walmart to return the over-the-counter medications I had bought for Neil even though the pediatrician's nurse said I could/should wait to see what we needed.  I think the meds are the last of the returns.  I was only a little sad and only started crying about an hour later when I was leaving Kroger.  I was thinking about how I bought the drugs ahead of time even though Walmart is close by because I didn't like the thought of him being in pain or discomfort any longer than necessary.  I had apologized to him several times about planning to circumcise him because it would hurt.  I'm pretty sure he never experienced pain, which brings a tiny bit of comfort.  Even though it's a little selfish, I'd much rather be comforting him than comforting myself right now.  I find I cry a little every day recently.  A few weeks ago, I used to save up for a few days for a big painful cry.  I think I'm making progress.

There were no tears at Dents & Dings.  I found out about the store from a coupon in the weekly paper mailed to people who don't subscribe to the local newspaper.  I found some nifty things there.  They had two cans of the discontinued soup that Matt likes.  I also found packets of lime powder (real lime juice that's dehydrated).  I had lemon packets of the same brand.  I've got some of the lime in my water right now and am enjoying it thoroughly. And I got four packages of raspberry almond M&Ms.  I got some on clearance at Target at few weeks ago and am hooked.  Matt likes them, too.  These packages were only $0.95!  Hurray!    The store was good enough that I'll probably go back every few months to see what new stuff they get in.

I then went to Kroger to buy some of the things they've got on sale.  I also got a quarter of a watermelon and two peaches.  I love summer produce.  On the way home I stopped at Jeff's Food Mart, which we pass regularly but have never entered.  There's not much there, but they have deli meats and make sandwiches and a few other breakfast and lunch foods.  I bought a little turkey meat, mostly because I was the only person in the tiny store and the owner was watching me expectantly.  I just had a sandwich, and the turkey is good.  It reminds me of the meat we used to get at "The Store" when we lived in Ellsinore.

When I got home, I discovered that in less than three hours I had soaked through my panties and girdle despite the tampon.  Obviously, regular absorbency wasn't enough.  So I treated the stains and threw my clothes in the washing machine and headed out again to Walmart to buy more absorbent ones.  I got a package with regular, super and super plus just in case.  It's good to know that my reproductive system is recovering from pregnancy.  I kind of wondered a few days ago if I was ovulating when I felt like one ovary was grinding and creaking.  I'm old and it's out of practice. :)

While I was out, I decided to get a hair cut.  The style is the same, but it's at least two inches shorter.  I think it looks good.  The shape is better than it has been in a long time.  The stylist used the thinning shears a little, too, to lighten it even more.  It feels good, shorn in a good way.   It was a little freaky when I ran my fingers through my hair and they were covered with long hair.  But after I shower and rewash it, I shouldn't keep shedding.  I may actually try styling it to see if less weight makes my hair less flat.

At the register, there was a coupon for 20% off at Maurice's clothing store, so I stopped by.  I didn't find anything, but while I was at the shopping center I thought I'd walk down to Cato.  I never made it.  I got sucked into a sale at JC Penney's.  Everything was 15% off, even sale prices and clearance.  So I used my birthday money to get shorts that fit well right now (I have some that are a little too tight) and a couple of shirts.  One of the shirts is grey and silver and makes me feel like a rock star, probably not a very glamorous rock star because it's just a t-shirt, but a rock star none the less.

As I sit here with a new haircut and new clothes, digesting the turkey sandwich and fresh produce I bought this morning and blogging about today's adventures, I feel pretty optimistic.  After a shower, I should feel even better and then I may clean a little before napping.  After a nap, I may feel exceptionally awesome while making quiche for supper and dessert for the church potluck tomorrow.  By bedtime, I may feel so terrifically satisfied with my day that I sleep soundly.  And who knows what tomorrow may bring.

Six Week Checkup: Check!

Today was my six-week postpartum check up.  My blood pressure was still high, but no body blamed me for feeling stressed.  It was actually more than a check-in than a check-up.  I think they didn't want me to have to stay there any longer than necessary, which is nice of them.  The doctor made sure we understood what happened with the umbilical cord.  We remembered and were able to tell him: check.  He made sure that my depression is being adequately treated and that I haven't had an urge to hurt myself or others.  Plenty of drugs and no self-mutilation: check.  I have since realized that he didn't actually check to see if my uterus had returned to normal size or that my tears had healed properly.  I think I'm fine, but he didn't ask.

He told me to keep taking vitamins, which I did before I was pregnant.  I still have prenatal vitamins, so I'll continue to take those.  He also told us that he recommends that we not try to get pregnant for at least a year.  He said he knew we wouldn't wait that long, so he urged us not to try for at least six months.  After realizing how much better my body feels and works when I'm pregnant, I had planned to get pregnant sooner.  But he told us that pregnancy takes a lot out of you and that if you don't allow yourself to get built back up, there are higher risks of pre-term labor and growth restriction.  I feel like I've been compared to depleted soil that needs to lie fallow for a season or two.  We'll wait longer than I've been planning to because it's better for the next baby.  But we can't afford to wait too long.  I'm 30.  And there's a point where the age of the mother causes more risks than not allowing the body to replenish.  I'm not yet at that age, but I feel like my egg supply is getting old.

Knowing that I've got six months or so before getting pregnant is affecting my outlook.  I've got time ahead to live a life not focused on babies.  I've got time to get healthy, lose weight, save money, and develop good habits. My friends Beth and Susie are putting great effort into frugal and healthy living, so I've got a support group.  I'll try to get Matt to help me plan for long-term success in accomplishing my goals and maintaining my progress.  I've been kind of a bum for the last month, but I've started cooking more and I'm ready to get the house clean before Grandma comes to stay with us on the way to vacation.

I had been dreading seeing the doctor again (even though he's really nice and hugged me again today), so I feel really relieved to have it behind me.  The relief alone is enough to make me look forward to the future.

Brief garden update

Last night we laid the last stone and mostly flattened out the walkway in our front yard.  When it rains again, I'll go out and stomp on the stones to settle them better and hopefully even the path out even more.  This morning I bought some Miracle-Gro soil to mix in with the dirt already in the herb/flower plot.  The dirt wasn't doing a great job of growing grass, and I hit clay about five inches down.  I think it could use a Miracle-Gro boost.  I'll transplant herbs and plant some seeds and a tulip bulb this weekend.  Matt will be glad to get the herb sprouts out of the study.  Of course, I like planting things so well that I may start something new in the pots as soon as they're empty.

Before buying soil, I went out to the vegetable garden to weed and plant.  I planted one hill of acorn squash, one hill of watermelon, and seven pea plant seeds.  The zucchini and squash I planted last Wednesday have sprouted and are growing well.  My tomato plants are now taller than the surrounding weeds.  Purple hull peas and green beans are still looking great.  In fact, I think I saw the beginning of beans on the green bean plants.  When I go back to the garden this weekend, I'll need to thin out my rows.  I hate the thought of getting rid of healthy plants.  I'll try to find someplace to transplant them.  I'll take photos again before I thin things out so that I have a record of how well things sprouted.

I have a website!

There's nothing on my website yet, but I have one: http://www.natalieroliver.com.  I got a domain name and a web host and am now a website owner!  I'm pretty excited.  A year ago, I never would have guessed that I'd have my own site.  When there's something interesting to see on the site, I'll post about it here on my blog.

It's an investment ($35 for one year) towards my career as a website designer.  I've worked on two websites, but I don't have anything reliable to show people who want to see samples of my work.  The synod got a new website, so none of my work is on their site.  I designed the Luther Memorial site, but someone else is now maintaining it, and the changes that have been made don't reflect my design aesthetic.  So I got my own site so that I can display my own designs without fear that it will be altered by someone else.

I also want to learn PHP, a programming language that makes websites interactive, and access to a server is necessary.  Now that I have my own website, I have access to a server and can work on learning more to make even better websites.  Also having my own site will give me a chance to learn more about the behind-the-scenes part of websites so that I will be able to help organizations that don't have a site at all to get things set up.

So now my days will be filled with gardening and my evenings with website design.

Planting Addiction

I thought I'd show how my herbs are doing now since I shared a photo when my basil first sprouted.  The basil is at the top of the picture.  The chives are at the bottom.  The parsley I planted about a week ago is in the middle and is just sprouting.  The tiny pots on the left are marigolds that I planted a few days ago.  Everything is doing really well, I think.  They aren't big enough to use or transplant yet, but I think the basil and chives will be transplantable by this weekend.

This morning I had coffee with Beth and then came home and planted some more seeds in pots.  I planted the tomatoes and strawberries that I will transplant to hanging planters on our back deck.  I also planted two kinds of attractive lettuces, some mint, and more parsley in a rectangular planter I bought at Dollar Tree.  I plan to transplant these to the herb/flower garden.  I saved a corner of the planter for cilantro seeds, which I plan to buy today.  We need to get another walkway stone, and I want to get one bag of potting soil to enrich the front garden soil.  And I'll look for tulips and daffodils on clearance to keep Neil's tulip company.

I also have some more seeds to plant in the vegetable garden.  I got some pea seeds so that I can eat the raw pods and some acorn squash for soup this fall.  I've also got more summer squash, zucchini, and lettuce seeds that I can plant.  If I get up early tomorrow, I may try to get the rest of the veggies planted before it gets too hot outside.

So far I've probably spent about $25 on seeds and growing kits and another $20 on a shovel, other gardening implements, and a pair of gardening gloves.  $25 for the walkway and probably another $20 on another stone, some tulips and some good soil.  It would be a moderately expensive hobby if it were just something to keep me busy. (Golfing would be way more expensive.)  But we could easily save $100 this summer on produce if even half of what I've planted is usable.  Zucchini and herbs are crazy expensive, and I eat a lot of them in the summer.  And next year all we'll need are some seeds.  I think it's a good investment.

Fine Bean Plants

On Wednesday, we went to the garden and discovered I've got some good looking green bean and purple hull pea plants.  Everything I planted has sprouted, but the beans look especially healthy.  While we were there, I weeded all my rows and planted a hill of zucchini and one of yellow summer squash.  I think I'm going to plant a little more.  I bought some seeds for acorn squash, some lettuces, and peas.  A fellow gardener needs to thin some carrots and beets, so I want to prepare space to transplant the plants they want to get rid of.

On Thursday morning, I got the rest of the front flower/herb garden dug up.  In a few days, some weeds will probably have sprouted.  Once I've cleaned them out, I think we can plant.  Some of the lettuce seeds I bought are for a reddish-pink lettuce that is pretty enough to plant in a front yard garden.  Lettuce and herbs around some tulip bulbs sounds attractive and convenient.  While we're waiting to plant, we'll get the walkway leveled out and finished.  We still need one more stone.  I'll take pictures when we get the front garden closer to finished.

Sprouts!

Several weeks ago I bought some herb growing kits at Dollar Tree that contained a pot, soil, and seeds.  I planted the seeds in the pots toward the end of last week and put them in front of the big window in the study.  This morning I checked on them and found I have sprouts.  I'm so excited!  I've got three pots of basil sprouting and a few hours later I checked again and had three pots of chives barely poking out of the dirt.  I plan to transplant the herbs to the front flower garden.  By the time we have the garden patch prepared, the herbs should be mature enough to move.

I want to buy more herb kits.  They were really fun because the soil came in a hard puck that expanded to more soil than could fit in the pot.  It was like those dollar store toys that "grow" when you put water on them.

Now that I've seen something I planted sprout, I want to check on my vegetable to see how they're doing.  Because I've been sick, it's been over a week since I was at the garden.  It will probably be a few more days before the storms are completely past, and then the garden may need to dry out a little.  Maybe by Monday or Tuesday, I'll be able to check on my veggies.

Gardening is super!  Maybe I'll buy some big pots for the porch or the deck.  I could grow more herbs and strawberries and maybe tomatoes.  Oooh!  I could try one of those hanging tomato growers on the deck.  A summer of fresh tomato and basil!  Pasta and caprese salad and margherita pizza!  Oh my!  Now I just need a cow so that I can make my own fresh mozzarella.  Perhaps I should successfully grow mature plants before attempting to care for livestock.

Super!

I woke up feeling significantly better today.  I got about six hours of sleep last night, and I slept soundly.  I could tell that any fever I had had had broken overnight.  (I thought about rewriting that sentence, but using the same word three times in a row in a sentence that makes sense made me happy.  It's an English major thing, like Etymology in the Morning)  I went without coughing for at least half an hour after I got up.  I felt human.  I was no longer a virus-infested zombie.  My cough is productive, so the chest congestion is improving.  And I've continued to blow my nose all day.

A few minutes ago, I cleared my right sinus by blowing out a "super booger"!  It's my fourth or fifth super booger of my life, so I was able to contain my excitement when it happened.  I wanted to burst in on Matt in the bathroom to tell him about it, but I was able to restrain myself.  I'm never met someone else who has had a super booger experience, but I found at least one person online.  My super booger was during a semester-end cold after my first year at Evangel.  I had been really sick for several days and had been blowing my nose constantly when one blow felt semi-solid and still attached to something in my sinus.  So I blew again and more came out but it was still attached to something in my sinus.  So I blew again and again and again.  I started to get scared.  Suddenly, a final blow went plop in my Kleenex.  The wad of snot in my Kleenex was huge!  It filled the palm of my hand.  As soon as it was out, I could breath through that side of my nose again.  I had another one the next summer while I was in Normandy.  I didn't even have a cold but felt the need to blow my nose.  A gush of salt water poured from my nose when the booger finally plopped out.  It was really weird.  I've had at least one other one.  I remember being excited that I could show Matt.  He was impressed.  This latest one wasn't the biggest, but it was still exhilarating and it cleared one side of my nose.

I've still taken it easy today.  I sometimes over-exert during recovery.  I was able to make a few phone calls that were on my to-do list.  I may try to work a little more on getting my wardrobe switched out.  And I could probably get enough dishes in the dishwasher to run it.  And I've got some papers to file.  I'd like to make a little more progress on the flower garden before thunderstorms arrive, but I'd need Matt to do most of the work.  That sounds like plenty for today.

Semester-End Cold Ends Fun and Productivity

Last week I was very busy and social.  This weekend my to-do list was untouched, and my social calendar was cleared by a cold.  I used to get a cold at the end of every semester in college because I'd wear myself down doing final projects and taking exams, but it seems I don't have to be a student to catch the semester-end cold.  I had wanted to take a little trip to Cincinnati over the weekend to get away during Mother's Day, but Matt had too much grading to do.  So instead I got a cold, which effectively kept me away from Mother's Day.  The cold started with a sore throat on Saturday morning and has now progressed through sinus congestion, coughing and--new today--chest congestion.  Hurray for progress!  I'm drinking a lot of tea and water and making trips to the bathroom as if I were still pregnant.  I bathe in baby vapor bath and slather Vapor Rub cream on myself. I've blown my nose so much already that I'm getting occasional nose bleeds.  And although I lounge on the couch all day, I'm not sleeping well at night.  I got less than 4 hours last night, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to nap today.  Even with all that ickiness, this cold isn't as bad as the one last fall.

I'm hoping to be well enough by Thursday to have coffee with Beth in the morning while her 23-month-old son Elliot is at "school" (a.k.a. Mother's Day Out).  And on Thursday or Friday we should go to Elizabethtown for our car's 50,000 mile check up and oil change.  But I'm not going to push myself if I'm not healthy yet.  I need to get completely well so that I can work in the garden(s) and clean the house and exercise and have fun.

Yesterday I worked for a little while on switching out my wardrobe from winter maternity to regular summer clothes.  I think all of the maternity clothes and pregnancy books are in boxes and ready to go to the attic.  While we were at Walmart last night buying cold medicines, we bought another storage tub and I put the 3-6 month and larger baby clothes in it.  That can go to the attic, too, to free up some space in the nursery so that it can be used as a guest room.  The newborn and 0-3 month clothes are in the plastic chest of drawers, so I'm just going to leave them there.  We haven't set up the crib, so it can be taken to the attic with most of the baby gear.  I like the arrangement of things on the changing table and it's a pain to assemble, so I plan to just cover it so it doesn't get dusty.  We will probably move the rocker/recliner to the study and leave the little bookcase and books where they are.  I'm looking for a daybed/trundle at a reasonably price so guests have somewhere to sleep.  It could be moved to the study as a couch when we need a nursery again.  We probably won't actually move the baby stuff until we have something else to put in the room.  I find it helpful to work to make the room useful, since it can't be used as a nursery until next spring at the very soonest.  I put a lot of energy into making it a nursery, so I'm redirecting that energy to make it a guest room.  For a while, I was having trouble getting interested in shopping or eating because Neil had been my motivation for those things for several months.  Now I'm making a list of things we need to buy for our house (several number buttons on our microwave no longer work), and I'm back to my pre-pregnancy state of having strong food cravings.  While I'm trying to focus my energies forward, it's kind of weird to realize that my due date was exactly one month ago.

Staying Busy

It's been about a week since I last posted.  We've been staying busy.  This is finals week at Campbellsville University, so Matt has lots of grading to do.  Graduation is at 9 a.m. Saturday, and grades are due by 10 a.m. Monday.  I've been doing some projects.  I reorganized the bathroom shelves a couple days ago.  Yesterday I tried to work at the vegetable garden, but it was still too wet after last weekend's flood.  So I dug up a bit of the front yard right in front of our big window for a small flower and herb garden.  I dug about half of it--the difficult half--so that we could put a little walkway in front of the flowers leading to our front porch.  We need one more stone to complete the walkway.  I think we're also going to get a few stepping stones to put between the walkway and the driveway so that people will use our front door, which opens into our study.  The side door opens into a tiny space between the basement stairs and the kitchen, not a great place to greet visitors.  We're going to plant the tulips that the church sent to Neil's funeral.  We'll also probably get some other perennials and some parsley, lots of basil and maybe one cilantro plant.  Lowe's has lots of plants on clearance, and there are a few nurseries around.  I'll take and share pictures when the front flower garden is done.

We've also been socializing quite a bit.  Last Friday, we had hors d'oeuvres with Annie, Shawn, Susie and Thomas at Annie's farm after we worked in the community vegetable garden.  Then we went to Shawn and Susie's house for pizza and Scrabble.  Shawn is a new political science professor at the university.  Susie has a background in art.  We've had dinner with them several times and always have a lot of fun.  After church on Sunday, we ate pizza at The Snappy Tomato with the pastor's family--Mitch, Beth and Elliot--and Shawn and Susie and John, who owns the farm with his wife Annie.  Last night we went to a Cinco de Mayo party at Shawn and Susie's house.  They are from Texas, so they know how to throw a fiesta.  About half the church--it's a small church--was there.  Tonight we're going to the garden again.  It should be dry enough to finally plant some seeds.  Beth, Susie, and Thomas (another CU employee) have plots at the garden, too, so Annie has invited us all to stick around for a potluck after gardening.

From all the activity, you could probably guess that I'm feeling OK.  My stamina isn't great yet, but I haven't gotten dizzy for several days, so I'm making progress.  My nurse practitioner upped my anti-depressants and recommended some counselors.  Her top recommendation works for student counseling services at the university, which is free to us.  I'm going to call to get an appointment for us, hopefully for next week.  My gastro-intestinal woes are a bit better but linger.  I've been having problems with heartburn, and discomfort after eating isn't uncommon.  My stomach may have shrunk while I was pregnant, but I don't think I'm over-eating now.  But most of the time I'm OK.

Tomorrow the movie Iron Man 2 comes out, so Matt and I are going to see it at the theater here in town.  I wanted to go out of town for Mother's Day weekend, but Matt has to grade.  So we're planning a mini-trip to Cincinnati for some other time this summer, maybe later this month.  Tanner family vacation in Sevierville, Tennessee, is mid-June.  Since it's after my 6-week check up with the OB, I'm hoping I'll be allowed to swim again.  I'm not sure what else we have planned this summer.  There's always plenty of cleaning to do around here.  I'd like to learn proper swimming technique so that I can swim laps.  I need to get my bicycle tires aired up.  If we got a bike for Matt, we could bike to church together.  The tennis court is also across the street.

And I've applied for a few jobs.  There's a Baptist church that needs a part-time secretary.  I've also applied to be an adjunct professor at the university.  If I'm going to teach this fall, I'll want to prepare a syllabus and some worksheets/assignments over the summer.  I'm considering getting my own website so that I can continue practicing web design and can learn PHP (a programming language that makes pages more interactive).  It's not expensive and will give me a place to show my skills to potential employers.  I had planned to contact area churches last fall to try to get some web design/maintenance clients, but I never got around to it.  I guess I could do that this summer when I know what other employment I've got lined up.  I don't want to over-commit.

My summer will not be what I had been planning for, but it should be fun and productive.