Seismic Twitch

Those spam people are really clever in their random, multiple lettered stuff telling me that my entry/essay whatever is the best they’ve ever seen and look forward to more information coming from the tips of my pudgy fingers. It makes me glad that there are spam filters running on my comments thingie.

I’m doing better. I took two days off work and cried a whole lot. I know now that part of it is because my thyroid is failing more because I received word that my test results show wonky cholesterol levels and problems with hormone levels. The thyroid puts out hormones that affect metabolism as well as mood. Since it was under functioning it’s possible that I might not need to increase the antidepressant once I get the right dose of hormone into me. Certainly the cholesterol levels will fix themselves. That’s one thing about having hypothyroidism, it does affect cholesterol to the point that it can cause severe heart problems Such a simple fix too.

I was going to go in tomorrow and talk to the locum but my own doctor is coming back on Monday. I’ll find out which day next week that he’ll be working in the evening and go and see him. I just started to work with him. I don’t want to try and deal with a locum right now.

There’s word at work of things coming down the pipeline. I can’t say anything here right now as it’s not official (as in I haven’t been told anything, but have heard that someone was told by the boss). When it does become official and it’s in the bag (if it’s going to happen) I’ll let you know. If it’s going to happen it is good news. One bit of news I can share is that the work health plan cards have come through. Saskatchewan has great health care coverage for people. I get to go to a doctor for any reason at no cost out of pocket. All my hospital care is free of charge including any prescription drugs given in hospital. But those prescription drugs aren’t covered covered by the province all the time once out of hospital. This makes supplementary health insurance is a good thing.

The work plan will prescriptions up to $2000/year, basic dental care and some other types of dental care like dentures (though there’s some foggy bits here) as well as eye exams and some toward the purchase of glasses. With the prescriptions, we can apply to get extended benefits if our income is low enough. Because Bran is taking a whole lot more medications and my income is low, we should get partial coverage by the province and the supplementary coverage through the work plan will take care of the rest, except for dispensing fees. That might ensure that Bran doesn’t go over the yearly cap. Lower drug costs are a good thing.

As I said before, I’m not part of the life insurance plan offered through work because I’m depressed and fat (go figure) so I have to get private life insurance. I’m also going to look into disability insurance for me as I’m the primary wage earner of the family. That’s down the road though as we couldn’t afford that right now.

I finally got my wire today. I’ve already made a nice bracelet using chrysoprase stones (they’re May’s semi-precious stone, I can’t afford emeralds). They’re expensive little buggers those stones. I’m not sure I like the bracelet as it is right now, but it’s a start. I’ll take a picture of it and post it here and you can let me know what you think. I also repaired and shorted the chain on Bran’s medic-alert bracelet. I did up a few earring chandeliers as well. So far working with stainless steel is a bit of a challenge as it’s more stiff than the copper wire I was working with, but it makes stronger jewelry.

I took my library books into the university library, turn in the keys to the grad students’ office and to my locker and gave my form of withdrawal to the secretary for sociology grad students. I did that yesterday after a delicious sushi lunch. I was offered some treats from Tim Horton’s but I was too full. I would’ve needed a ram rod to eat anything more at that time. I haven’t heard from the woman who was my supervisor since I told her I would be withdrawing from the grad studies program. I think she’s mad at me. Oh well. This isn’t about her, it’s about me. I had a lovely chat with another of the profs who encouraged me to the program and wrote me a letter supporting me when I applied. She understands that I need to leave even if she doesn’t know the reasons. I’m doing this for me. I already feel an enormous sense of relief with that burden gone.

Last night, as I was working away at my desk, Michelle brought by a large piece of very rich, very fragrant chocolate cake. I commented when we were out for sushi earlier in the day that the chocolate cake they had there just wasn’t up to meeting the requirements of the craving that was created by the cook at work making chocolate cake the previous Friday. Since the cook was making “finger foods” for supper (an entire meal of appetizers) I didn’t want to spoil what little appetite I had left after the large sushi lunch by eating the cake. Instead I sniffed it…several times through the evening. I also knew that it was large and rich and I probably wouldn’t be able to eat the entire thing. So I shared it with Bran. He also had a chocolate cake craving since Friday. He shared his bit with Boy who didn’t crave chocolate cake but is always up for a treat. I did eat the majority of the piece though, probably a little over 2/3 of it. It was glorious! It was rich! It was the perfect chocolate cake. Thank you, Michelle!

So that’s about it. Thank you to all who commented with such wonderful support. It’s been a really hard few months. Having support, both from my family here and from all you and work as well has made the difficult times easier to cope with. I appreciate your words and intent more than you could possibly know.

Geez Louise! It’s nearly 3 am. Then again, I’ve only been home for 3 hours. That’s like 8 pm for people on regular hours.

Ta-Ra

Bran figured out what the problem was. It had something to do with he and I sharing the same static IP number or something like that. My laptop was giving some kind of warning window that helped him figure out what the issue was. Now we have separate IP numbers and everything is hunky dory again. At least it’s not that we need a new router.

Everything else is going ok. I spent much of this weekend sleeping. I know, that’s not any news but it’s what I did. I’d get up in the morning, have a little something to eat (this morning it was two zipper skin oranges and some peanuts) and then it’s back to bed for another four to five hours then up again. Now I want to go to bed again. I’m going to try and stay awake though I do have to be awake to call the doctor’s office and find out when my physical is. I had it in my calendar for today. Since today was a stat holiday and their office wasn’t open, I’m going to assume that I wrote it in wrong.

Another reason I want to be up is to take a couple of texts in to school to sell. I went through my bin (mostly) and packed up the school related stuff. Before I closed up the boxes I input the text authors to find out which texts can be resold. Inconveniently enough, only 2 (maybe a third) can be bought back by the book store. Sucks, but that’s the way of school. The rest of the stuff in the bin is office supply stuff and extraneous other things that will find their way into drawers. The books that weren’t texts but were of general interest reading are on a book shelf waiting for me to get around to reading them. I’ve already read Hunting Humans and Stolen Life but there is also Just Another Indian and Thunder in My Soul that I want to read. I also have to return a couple of books to the library. Those ones were at home. With luck, they’ll be the only library books I have out. I’ll check when I return them.

I’m using my old laptop. It’s somewhat noisy (compared to the quiet of most other laptops as the fan needs to be replaced) but it has a much larger screen and that makes me happy. It also has a touch pad that actually turns off (what a concept!) and a keyboard that’s a more standard size. I’m still getting used to it again. I’ll be downloading my address book and old emails from the net book, backing up all the information there and letting Bran do what he wants with it. I suppose it could be sold for a few dollars after everything is wiped off of it. I will miss the matte screen.

I picked a good week to have a physical. My IBS is acting up. Nothing like having something actually wrong to make the check up worth while, right?

That’s about it.

There’s been both nothing to write and so much change in the past while since my last posting. After being moved to the cardiac ward above ground, Bran has improved dramatically. His spirits lifted with the ability to go for a walk. He now has a little bag that holds a monitor which transmits his heart information over air waves. He goes for short walks, generally 2-3 troops around the ward. This has helped his blood sugar control, his blood pressure, not to mention his morale.

He hasn’t had the second stent put in yet. They planned it for today and had him fasting in the morning, but something (probably an emergency procedure) pushed him off the schedule. We’re hoping for tomorrow. He was feeling somewhat low tonight so I texted him offering him a sugar free cake with a file baked in it. At any rate, hopefully tomorrow will be the magic stent insertion. That would mean if all went well, he’d be coming home on Saturday.

They’re still trying to poison Bran. Night before last, for supper, they gave him (a diabetic) sweet and sour chicken on white rice. Yeah. The nurse hunted down a meal that Bran could eat without sending him into a diabetic coma. He got cream of wheat again as well. What is wrong with these people?! They’re supposed to know what the fuck they’re doing and yet they make such frequent mistakes I have to wonder who’s running the show. A friend of ours is in another hospital in town. She has a severe wheat allergy. She got cream of wheat too. I guess it’s their way of cleaning out patients. Kill them.

I have a bit of a full day tomorrow. I have to pick up a package from the post depot. Then I have to get a script filled and request the pharmacist fill one of Bran’s. Then it’s off to the university to have the department head sign my withdrawal letter. Then off to visit Bran…unless he’s downstairs having the stent put in. If he is then I might just go home, leaving Boy there, and get more sleep.

I’ve not mentioned Boy much in all this. He’s been exceptional. Not that it’s unusual for him to be so, but even more than the usual exceptional-ness. He’s gone to visit his Dad on his own, is cooking for himself because I’m not home to do so, and is generally helping out a whole lot which reduces my stress levels considerably. He’s been the joy of joys of my life. He’s also helped me hold myself together. It distresses him to see me distressed and he does his level best to ease things for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better son.

Today I went to training at the CSC training centre. It was presented by two police officers (one from Saskatoon, one from RCMP in Regina) and one CSC analyst. It was all about organized crime and street gangs in Saskatchewan. It was an extremely interesting presentation by three very intelligent and savvy men. Saskatchewan has it’s share of the well known gangs like Hell’s Angels, but vastly outnumbering them in membership is the Aboriginal gangs like Native Syndicate, Indian Posse, former Crips now Cash Boyz, and Terror Squad. Some of the gang members, some rather high ranking members, have come through the centre for urinalysis or as part of their reporting requirements. We’ve never had trouble with them, but the potential issues are rather scary. We never house known and active gang members at the house…thank goodness, but we don’t have control over who comes on for extra reporting requirements.

Anyway, after that it was my regular shift. Thank goodness everyone was in a good mood. One guy is going to find out the hard way next time I’m on evenings that doing his laundry in the evening means getting it done before 11, not ignoring it and then “remembering” that it needs to be dried for the next day. It’s all about responsibility. He’s always trying to get away with short cuts and special exemptions. Tonight I was just too tired to care. I won’t be so forgiving next time.

In a few weeks I’ll be going to a “Creating Choices” thing at Wanaskewin. This one will be focusing on women prisoners somehow. If you google Creating Choices you’ll encounter a document created by CSC (Correctional Services of Canada) in response to the scathing Arbour Commission Report (that you can also google) about “certain incidents” at Prison for Women at Kingston Penitentiary (aka P4W). Of course, being a large bureaucracy they’re very adept at making it look like they’re making progress in terms of positive change without actually doing anything. Canada went from having a central prison for women to having 5 prisons for women as well as healing lodges (low security prisons for Aboriginal female prisoners that should be focusing on Aboriginal traditions and healing). The healing lodges are all on reserves.

Anyway, I hope it’s as interesting as today’s stuff was.

I’ve decided, after talking it over with Bran, and much thought and consideration (redundancy can be fun too), to withdraw from the graduate studies program. After Dad died it became somewhat pointless and now with Bran becoming sick it’s just one more pressure on me to try and deal with.

I was going to take a year off to consider my options, but the requirements to get that year off are far too intrusive on my privacy to even consider. As someone who’s been on welfare and had that department’s nose in my life, I have no wish to have another bureaucrat decide things for me. So I’m going to print up the withdrawal letter tonight, get the department head to sign it and turn it into the grad studies people and be done with it. Maybe I’ll regret it and try again at a later date, but somehow I doubt I’ll want to.

Now I’m home after 16 hours of work. I’m trying to wind down but it’s not working very well. I guess I’m over stimulated or something. I’d love to have a cup of coffee right now but that would screw with my sleep and it’s stupid enough right now.

I’ve sunk down a lot with my feelings about Dad dying. I’ve preferred quiet to talking. Boy and Bran went out to Shell Lake to be with friends today. I opted to stay at home. I didn’t feel up to being with people and welcomed the time in solitude.

I got most of my order from Panda Hall. They left out one of the spacer bead orders though. I contacted them that day, and of course, made a typo in the email. It should be straightened out soon, I hope. I didn’t pay much for them, but I’m missing out 2000 pieces of stuff I paid for.

Since the order arrival, and after I checked it, I started to experiment with what I could create. I’ve made several bracelets and some earrings. I’d make more earrings but I don’t have many earring backs (I use rubber backs) left. Getting more will have to wait for a bit. For the time being I’ve deleted my Esty inventory. I’ll let you know when I put anything up for sale there again.

One of the bracelets I made uses up some of the sandalwood beads from a necklace that Boy finally gave me. I love the scent of sandalwood and having a bracelet made of it pleases me no end. I’ll have to get a picture of it for you to see. I’ve not made another like it thus far.

The best part of the items I ordered is that they’re nickel free. Nickel is usually what people react to in metals. There’s no (or little) nickel in surgical steel and that’s what the earring hooks are made of. The eyepins, chain, bead caps and spacer beads I bought are all nickel free. That can be a selling point of my product. I haven’t found any nickel free wire though. I want some half-hard silver wire that is nickel free, but can’t find any.

Because I’m doing something with my hands, my mind needs to be occupied with other things. I’ve always found it difficult to do only one thing at a time, except for reading. I still prefer to have no noise or distraction when I’m reading. But I bead, do crosswords, crochet, knit, etc. to the television. This means that I’ve been watching movies again. Not new ones, that would be far to radical of me. I’d been watching Scooby Doo DVDs (8 of them), Scooby Doo the movie (the first one), The Avengers, Emperor’s New Groove, Kill Bill (Part 1 and Part 2), and now the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tomorrow I’ll be watching more movies, I don’t know which ones, but I’ll be watching more.

One thing about LOTR I’ve been wondering about. The narrator says at the beginning that the elves are immortal folk. If this is the case, why is it that Arwen’s father is middle aged? Shouldn’t he appear to be in his 20s? I mean, sure, he doesn’t look like suffering from old age, but still, he has wrinkles and looks to be of about the right age to have a daughter the age Arwen is.

Dutchess hunted tonight. There was a rather large moth flying about the living room and she was in very close attendance to it. Alas, being an inside cat has caused her hunting skills to rust and she lost track of the prey as it flew toward my light. More to the point, it was my getting up to get out of the moth’s way (vicious things they are!) that caused her to lose the trail. Hopefully the moth won’t creep up and pounce on me when I’m least expecting it.

I got an email from my thesis supervisor yesterday. She wants to see what I’ve done. Of course, I’ve not done a damned thing since I saw her last. I asked her if I could take a year off the program. By the time a year is up I should be able to get back into doing stuff as I should. By that time Dad will probably have died and things will have settled out emotionally speaking. Either that or I’ll need to step away and not get my Masters degree. Regardless, I can’t do anything right now. It stretches my abilities to deal just going from one day to the next. Working is going to further stress that. It’s hard fighting the inertia I’m feeling. Adding stress to that isn’t going to help me any.

That’s about it for now.

It’s been uneventful and yet busy all the same time, this past while.

Tonight was a fundraising dinner for my co-worker whose husband is in an Edmonton hospital trying to survive a surgery (three surgeries now). Since his heart surgery he’s had his stomach removed because of heavy bleeding as well as another to close up more bleeds in his chest. He’s been there nearly a month, in critical care in ICU. He’s still on life support though they’re weaning him slowly off of it. He now has a trach because the tubes down his throat were making him bleed more. He’s greatly distressed at the amount of time he’s been in hospital.

So tonight a fundraiser was held in his name to raise funds to help pay bills, pay for his wife’s (my co-worker) transportation to and from Edmonton (at $1.07 a litre for gas that’s not cheap) and her accommodations and meals there. At the last count, before I left to come home, we raised over $500 from the 50/50 draw and the dessert auction.

The dessert auction was funny and awesome all at the same time. The most popular desserts were a turtle cluster cheese cake and a deluxe chocolate layer cake. The former sold for $65 (or there abouts) and the latter for $75. It was lively and hilarious bidding.

The earrings and necklace/bracelet and earring set I donated to the sale raised around $80 or so. Anyway, I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out what the final tally will be as the silent auction hadn’t been added into my total, nor had the share from the dinner (about $7.50 per person going to the kitty).

I have blisters between my big and next toes. Why, you ask? Well, today I was wearing a pair of fuchsia thongs. No, they’re not “flip-flops” they’re thongs, damn it! I bought them at Michaels for around $3 or so. I got that colour because it’s to start out my Halloween costume as a ninja school drop-out. I’ll have my ninja outfit all in pink with my pink thongs (the foot wear! Get your minds out of the gutter!). I want to get a pink hilted plastic katana sword too. That way I’ll be able to have epic, pitched battles against my boss, whose planning on coming as a pirate.

Anyway, back to the blisters. They hurt. They’re between my toes just at the sole of my foot. This means that the thongs won’t be worn for the next few days as the blisters get resorbed and some callusing is created. I won’t be wearing them much at work though. I discovered that they’re too soft and squishy for any amount of walking and that’s hard on my back and legs.

I’ll be going to Edmonton in June. I don’t know for how long, probably just for an overnight trip. That’s when the Half-Way House Association AGM is being held. It should be interesting if last year’s AGM is any indication. I got some excellent information at that one.

I ordered some beading supplies from Panda Hall. They are wholesale beading supply sellers and I got around $60 worth of materials with around $33 in shipping. I ordered 200 metres (yes, metres – a metre is about 39 inches) of nickel free iron chain, two different sizes of eyepins (500 grams each – a pound weighs about 554 grams), some spacer beads (around 2000 each) and bead caps (around 2000 each). It’s all nickel free so I should be able to sell to those people who are sensitive to most metals other than gold. I’ll be getting them in a couple of months as I requested surface mail delivery. I can’t afford anything else and at those weights it would’ve cost me more than the total price of the items I bought to ship it here. I love that the Canadian dollar is so competitive with the American dollar. It’s saving me a bundle.

Did I say I was thinking of taking a year off of school? I’m not sure that the Master’s degree is something I want anymore. I just don’t know.

I need to go to bed. I didn’t get much sleep last night as is usual for the Sunday before I work days. I’m desperately tired.

Ta-Ra

It wasn’t intentional but it was needed. I went to the Sociology Grad students’ seminar thing and found that it was quite interesting. I did a faux pas though. I fell asleep during one presentation. I didn’t snore but apparently I did snort once. I was so tired.

It was at this seminar that I realized how burnt out I have been the past year. I’ve been trying so hard to get work done but have been stymied by my own lack of oomph. So on the advise of another grad student and a couple of profs I took some time to myself and read for actual pleasure. I read the entire Harry Potter series, Devil’s Panties Volume 1, and am now going through Foxtrot treasuries that we have. It’s like allowing my brain to go on holidays. I’ll go back to work on the thesis proposal soon, but for now my brain is being happy.

Work is going ok. I got fired twice last week, but when I said “Cool, I can go home” my boss changed his mind. Dang.

This week I’m working evenings, which means that I’m going to be going in for my workouts in the mornings this week. So come Wednesday and Friday I’ll be at the PAC (Physical Activities Centre) at the university working my rather ample tush off on the elliptical machine and on the weight machines. It’s all turning out well. I’m getting back into clothes that I couldn’t fit into last summer and am beginning to get the start of muscle definition showing though the layers of fat.

One thing about working out at a gym where there are varsity sports teams and where kinesiology students learning you get some really awesome machines for weights. The weight machines are very specific in the muscles they work.

That’s really been about all going in my life. I’ve not been on the computer except to check my email every few days. I’ve not read blogs nor read comics since the last Friday of March. I think that’s the longest I’ve not been on the computer since 1995 when I started logging onto Bulletin Boards.

I found around 12 or more spam messages when I logged into my account today. Most of them were loan services. I realized that one of the spam filter things isn’t active and I have to get it going. I haven’t been this afflicted with spam since the old days on Blogger and leaving the word confirmation off. Hopefully doing the akismet thing will work.

Ta-RA

That’s what I’m doing right now. I just finished a building check and am just on the mode of making sure that people aren’t up to naughty things, especially the new people who are inundated with rules and regulations and things to remember. So far they’re a good bunch though.

Things have improved since my twitter about having strep (it can’t have been anything else) that spread to my ears. I’m still somewhat deaf in my left ear which is making work interesting. I have to ask people to repeat themselves. Sadly, it’s the ear that I put the phone to so I have to listen extra carefully. If I use my other ear then I’m nigh on totally shut out of the world. This is a place where sensory multitasking is necessary.

It’s going to be a short week. I’m glad of that. I don’t much enjoy evenings. There’s always so much more to do and I lack administrative support for 4 hours. One would think that I was used to that having worked all those weekend shifts. However, I do have company for parts of my shift so I”ll live with it.

My wages have been confirmed so now I can call up the student loans people and let them know. That way I don’t get over paid for things. I probably will already have an overpayment, because of having gotten the federal payment. They may want part of that back. I hope not.

I have to go into the school tomorrow and pay for Bran’s health insurance coverage. Considering what his meds cost, it’s a very necessary thing. We were going to do it today, but I wimped out and stayed in bed instead of doing what I should’ve.

That’s really about all that’s been going on in my life. I’ve been doing nothing. Well, I did some note-taking yesterday. I should bee doing more, but I’m wasting my time instead. Oy! If I keep doing this I’m going to end up adding another year to my degree. That’s it. Tomorrow I’ll start doing actual research and get working on my proposal. I’ll do daily blogs reminding myself that wasting time is not in my best interests. (Which won’t waste any time at all, right?)

Two comments got lost in my spam bin. Why does WordPress do that? I mean, they were just plain comments. There was no links or stuff in them. There was no “get sex now” or “extend your penis length” or even “got bad credit?” Anyway, it finally let me know that they were there (they didn’t show up earlier) and I approved them, so Christine and Janice, your comments are where they should be.

I think it’s time for a snack.

I found this on The Customer Is Not Always Right as an object lesson about never shopping while you can’t see. It applies to shopping while drunk as well.

Confusing Crosses With Crossbones
Retail | Tampa, FL, USA

(An older customer comes out of the fitting room wearing a black and red striped shirt with designs that look like piles of skulls.)

Customer: “I just think that this is so cute. What do you think?”

Me: “That’s a really interesting choice for a blouse.”

Customer: “Oh, I know. I just think these little flower designs are so pretty!”

Me: “Ma’am, those are actually skulls.”

(The customer looks a bit closer at the shirt before finally realizing what she is wearing.)

Customer: “Oh my Lord, I was planning on wearing this to church!”

It’s coffee night tonight. I was contemplating going out, but I’m grossly underslept (didn’t get to until after 1 and got up at 6). I’m trying ot turn my days around so I’m ready to work the day shift this weekend. Bran is picking up sushi for me for supper. I should have something to eat though. I’ve not eaten for some time and I think my blood sugar is crashed. Boy made himself a stir fry (he discovered the joys of my electric wok and premade jarred curry sauces) with ramen noodles. He’s happily chowing down right now.

I think Dad phoned, at least it was a call coming from his number. It rang 3 times and just as i picked up he (either Dad or the brother I don’t allow in my house) hung up. If it was Dad wanting to come visit this weekend he’s SOL. I work 12 hour shifts and won’t be around to visit. Anyway, he’s not called back and I’m not going to call him. Colour me stubborn, but it’s up to him and my brother to figure out what my brother is going to do while Dad visits us.

Bran and I went for groceries early today. We picked up my paycheck and headed out to CostCo to pick up some necessaries like kitty litter, tomatoes, bread and hummus. Of course we walked out after accumulating over $100 of groceries that didn’t seem to fill up the bags. It’s amazing how quickly things add up.

I’ve been looking at bento lunch boxes. I’ve got a wish list of bento stuff that I’ll buy eventually. If you click on the link, remember that I’m not asking you to buy me anything at all, just showing you what I’m going to get as money allows. Ok? The first thing I’m going to get is down the list a bit, FK386 – Square Totoro 2-Tier Bento Box — Leaves, Acorn and Mushroom. I’ll also be getting some spoons, silicone cups, and the book of bento recipes. Interestingly, I realized today that I sort of bento my lunches already because I use a plastic container that is shaped similarly to to a bento container. However, it doesn’t have dividers and cute little containers for condiments. I’m going to have to figure out how to do that for my lunches so that I can bento before I have bento boxes. Hmm… I wonder if our Asian markets will have bento boxes here. It’ll be worth checking out when the student loan money finally comes in. If it’s not in my account tomorrow I’m going to call them. It should be in our account by now.

Not really, I don’t mind the life I have right now. I’m fed (or will be soon – fish fried in butter, mashed potatoes and steamed cauliflower), I have a place to live (despite it being ugly expensive), I have a job, I have a family that loves me (hey, I’m not cooking the supper I specially requested) and I’m able to go to school and learn new stuff. I sleep as much as I want and need, except when I have to be at work. In many ways I’m kind of a human cat.

I picked up a bunch of books from school today. I haven’t been doing any school work at all and it’s time I get back into the swing of actually doing my reading and research. So I now have books and will be reading and making notes for my research proposal. Of course, since it’s murder and mayhem night, the reading will resume tomorrow sometime.

I’ve been having school dreams again. That’s part of why I’ve gotten the books. Night before I dreamt that I had a bunch of classes to take (I’m done with them) including Chinese. Chinese!!! Grade 7 Chinese!! Added to that was that they wanted to teach a class. Yeah, nothing like a little extra crap added on. Thank goodness I can wake up from dreams like that and say, “”Yay! I don’t have to do that!”

The weather has been more appropriate to a prairie summer. It’s hot and the air conditioner is running. I have not one but two fans blowing on me in bed to keep me adequately cool to sleep. I hate this kind of weather and look forward to the end of the week when cooler temperatures and rain are predicted.

I’m finding that though I sometimes miss Coke Zero I’m rather enjoying being soda pop free. I could choose other kinds of pop that I enjoy, like Canada Dry ginger ale or Schwepps (2nd choice) but drinking my mildly flavoured water has won out each time. I have thought of changing to Pepsi (they have a very good diversity policy in employment practises), but it’s just best that I leave that in the store and contribute less to the recycling needs of the planet.

That’s about it. I’ll be eating soon. Bran is cooking a marvellous meal for me and I’m watching murder and mayhem. Life is good.

I haven’t been able to post an entry, but I wonder if it’s only the specific entry that I can’t do for some reason.

I don’t want to do a type up a huge entry only to have it eaten. Ok, so far so good, this has been saved as a draft entry. I couldn’t do that before.

That’s a good start. It just automatically saved my typing as a draft. It wasn’t doing that the other day either.

I’ve not been doing a whole lot lately. Just working. I got my student loan all done, including faxing off the authorization and medical forms. Then on Thursday I got a letter saying that they needed one form that I knew was attached. I bitched a lot, phoned them and bitched at them. The woman I spoke to was quite pleasant and I faxed the “unsent” form directly to her. I got the stuff today to take the university and get told that they can’t process them until Aug. 5 for the fall term. Colour me unhappy. At any rate, thanks to that one very helpful woman at Student Loans in Regina, I’ve got my forms all ready and all before mid-September. That in itself is a miracle.

I should get back to my reading for my research proposal. I think first, I’ll pick up my books and do notes for it. I think that I should do that because I can’t remember a lot of what I’ve read.

In a short while I will begin working full time. One of my co-workers is going away to school, an out-of-town school, and I’m taking his place. That will mean more money (less monthly payout of student loan – if i get any) weekends off, and I’ll be having them bank my holiday pay instead of paying me out each payday. I’ll still be able to work on my thesis because I can do it at work. The only issue is making sure that seeing my supervisor or committee will have to be booked on weeks that I work evenings.

I have eaten some meat. I decided that when I have a craving to go with it. That’s the only way I can make sure that things are ok mentally. Anyway, I craved some KFC hot wings. So I had some. It had an unfortunate effect upon my digestive tract including a UN banned war tactic. I’ve since done vegetarian only and things are back to what they should be. Yay for things back to what they should be! Of course, this means that I’ll not be caving into my meat cravings very often, if at all.

Well, I should see if this will publish for me.