The Eyes Have It

I got a flyer in the mail from the local Medical Center announcing free Stroke Screening.  Something made me give it some thought and then I called and set up my appt.  Not sure I need it but at my age, it won't hurt.  My father and my older sister both have high blood pressure and my father has blood clot problems.  I have always had good cholesterol levels and my mother's low-end-of -the-spectrum blood pressure but it never hurts to be checked.

I went to the Retinal Specialist this morning to check on getting my eye surgery.  He said that things are worse from when he first examined me and it is good that I am going for the eye surgery now because it is pulling my retina from my eye and if I wait much longer, the surgery will have little chance of helping my eye sight.  As it is now, it is an 85% chance of helping my eye sight.  But I have made up my mind that God is going to make sure I am in that 85%.  Prayer will help.

I came out of there being angry at the ex.  If he had been a REAL man...if he had been that guy that considered me worth anything...I would not be doing this on my own and having to borrow money from my parents to pay for this.  I do not know, yet, what it is going to cost me but I am pretty sure I can't afford my part once the hospitalization is done.

But, my anger is done.  What is over is over.  I will get through this.  And I will move on.  It is what it is.

My older neighbor, Phyllis the Piano Lady, died the beginning of this week.  Her cancer came back and within 2 months, it was over.  She had a crappy first marriage...stayed with it until her sons were out of school. Then she was alone for many years.  Found her current husband Dave and was married to him for the last 4 years. She told him that these last 4 years were the happiest of her life.  I am happy she had him there with her so that she did not have to endure it alone.

I have hope that God will bring me someone, not too far down the road, so that I can have some of the happiest years of my life.  Although, really...raising my kids and spending my days with them, was pretty happy and wonderful.

Planting the Flowers, Bushes and My Feet

So I heard back from my instructor.  Seems she got my point and changed my grade to an 'A'.  She could see that I did fulfill the points on the rubric.  Her rubric is what I challenged.  And since she had not actually made any distinction as to WHAT constituted points or loss of points, and since I followed the instructions, she couldn't actually deduct points.

I have to see the Retina Specialist next Friday morning and see what it will entail to get the scar tissue removed from the back of my eye.  I would like to see clearly again.  I hope it will not incur a long healing period.  If my medical and vision insurance will cover most of the cost, I will schedule it for right after my school year (job) is done mid June. That will give me 6 weeks until I have to start again.  I still have classes to take.  The college is thinking of offering the Phonics class I still need to take the test for my IS license this summer.  If they don't, I will have to wait until next Spring.  Then I will need to take 2 tests to get my license instead of one because the parameters will change in September.

I am getting rather tired of fixing things.  I not only have to replace my garbage disposal, my fridge is leaking from underneath.  It is still under warranty so I got a service appointment but I have to wait a week.  The service person told me it could be a clogged water filter and advised I remove it and see if that takes care of my issues.  So, I have done that and we shall see.  I hope that is all it is.  I did order a new one 3 weeks ago and have not seen it.  I have to call Amazon now and see if I can find out what the issue is.

Still working on the yard.  I am not going at it as aggressively as I had intended.

I AM losing weight still.  I stalled for a bit but now I am down almost 10 pounds.  The doctor expects me to lose one pound per day.  I am not seeing that happen unless I get out and take a walk every day OR put some time in on my gazelle.

Well...time to be more productive.  I have weeds to pull, homeowork to finish, screens to put new screening into...sunroom to clean...garbage disposal to replace...and no, I will not do it all in one day.  Just by Monday...I hope.

How to be an Arrogant Prick

I got a 'C' on my last project.  C!!!  The rubric said to interview a high school student that has been on an IEP for quite a few years and had to go through the transition plans.  Then to share it in any manner we choose with our classmates in a professional manner and 'reflect' on the interview and answers.  That is ALL it said.

My course instructor told me that since the 'reflection' was 1/3 of the grade she expected that it would be more and she was disappointed that my Power Point (how I chose to share) was all of 5 slides long.

As you can imagine...this did NOT sit well with me.

This is an instructor with a DOCTORATE that is presenting a class on learning disabilities and how to reach students with different learning styles.  There is an irony here.

I copied her project instructions and inserted them in an email where I pointed out that she had not elaborated on any expectations.  I let her know that because of MY learning style and the way I process information, I took her instructions at face value.  If there was to be more specific instruction, it needed to be included. Given her pan of my Student Interview, I would be reworking  my Parent Interview before I submit it.

And I did.  I gave her a lovely introduction and a very long, indepth reflection including a reminder of student learning styles and that it does not change for adults.

I do not know what grade she will give me for that but...it is what it is.  I am disgusted with people that say one thing and do another.  Especially those with a 'Dr.' in front of their name.

I am not an idiot.  I do my job very well.  I am an extremely empathetic person and I get different learning styles and I can work with it...and I do.  Take that doctorate and stuff it up your butt lady.

On another subject... I want someone to say 'I love you' to and hear him say it back...and mean it.

The Great Outdoors

I look out the window, put the window up, breathe in the outdoors...and I never get there.
There is so much indoor stuff to do.

I am excited over my spring break from my job.  I will get to go into the outside.

I have lawn to mow, sidewalks to edge, mulch to spread, weeds to pull, and bushes and pansies to plant.  

Pansies look so happy!

On a happy note...I have hit my first weight loss goal.  It wasn't a big goal, the first one.  But all of my goals will be 10 pounds at a time.

Never Had One Lesson

I started the Shape diet.  I am worried because the doctor took the urine sample and told me that it showed I was already in Ketosis.  So he said it is my hormones...out of balance.  He gave me the drops, sent me home with my diet and the first week worked pretty well.  I lost 1 1/2 pounds to 1 pound a day. THEN  a couple of things happened...2 days later I was notified by my boss that someone messed up on the test sites and it had to be changed last minute (Ohio State EOY testing).  And in changing sites they were going to need more help and she was reaching out to the 3 of us that were the closest.  They got extra help for the last 2 weeks but the first 2 weeks they needed someone.  I told her if they sprung for a hotel room near the test site I would go down the first week.  They jumped on it.  REALLY?  Okay...so it was really only 3 days there.  I asked for the hotel room because it was an hour and half drive from my place to the test site WITHOUT traffic.

Then, because they were struggling with getting someone for the second week, I asked my son if they would be able to set the bed up in the guest room and let me stay 3 nights with them.  They decided they could do that.  So I notified my boss I could do the second week.  So...yay.

I ended up not following the diet exactly...went off it a little.  Came home and I had gained back a few pounds.  So, now, this morning I am back to where I was last weekend...before the first week helping with testing.  Since I am staying with my son and DIL, I am going to be able to stick to it better.

Also, in that first week of diet, my daughter got her two bottom wisdom teeth out.  That was a Thursday evening and when I left Sunday night, she was doing okay.  BUT she went to work at her new job Monday all day and was in a lot of pain...turns out she had dry socket.  She couldn't get in to see the dentist until Tuesday morning and her new employer gave her that day off.  Once the dentist cleaned it and packed it she was fine.  It is still healing but it is almost all closed.

The garbage disposal broke.  I ordered a new one and was hoping to put it in this weekend but it has not worked out that way.  It has to wait until next weekend.  I have too much to do to be ready to leave tomorrow, again, for the week.    I have to mow the lawn. The weather was not cooperative yestereday.  I also have a homework assignment to finish and laundry to do.

I am finishing week 4 of my class and beginning week 5.  Week 7 of my class runs through our school spring break.  Since week 6 and 7 are lighter with homework, I am going to try and do it all at once so that I have my spring break week.  I have yardwork to do then I am going to visit with my parents for a few days.

I will tell you, though, through all of this...my kids are my heroes.
My son has shown me how to really show someone you love them and adore them even when there is conflict.  My daughter has overcome her anxieties and learned to stand up for herself and go after new goals...even in pain.  They are both so much more together than I was at their age...maybe even at my age.

One thing I have had to give up to do this diet that just about kills me...is my nightly drink.  One drink, most nights (5 out of 7).  It was my one little thing I did for myself.  It might have been a mojito, a glass of wine, or some other mixed drink.  But...nope.  None.

Oh...and because of the test thing being thrown into my life, I had to miss my second Writers Group meeting.   I WILL not miss the 3rd one.  This is something else I am doing for myself.

Anyway...life moves too fast.