Category Archives: Memes and Link-Ups

7 Quick Takes: The “Wow… I’m a Student Again” Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Duuuuuuude… The website for the local community college isn’t incredibly user-friendly so I didn’t know that I could have just walked in, filled out a non-degree seeking student application for classes, and been on my way. Instead, I did the community college application and found out that it would possibly take two weeks for them to review it. Then, I got an email from the college telling me that they got my application and it could take up to five days to review… and was notified 24 hours later that I was accepted.

I then had to jump through the enrollment hoops and had to go down in person and talk them into taking the block off my account so I could enroll in classes. (The block was on my account until I did the new student orientation stuff.) They made an exception for me this quarter but if I continue taking classes, I have to do the group advising session.

So… I start Monday.

— 2 —

My classes. I’m taking a class on Excel/Access and one on practical accounting. Both are areas where I know how to do some of it already but it’s been years since I’ve done things with it. I’m really hoping that a lot of it will come back to me pretty quickly. One of them is online so I’ll only be on campus 3 days a week and the campus isn’t far away.

— 3 —

My study/writing space. As I will be having to study and do homework while Daniel is in school and after he goes to bed, I have been making a nice spot for myself. I have my desk cleaned off, my pens/pencils sorted, a desk lamp, a cat bed, and a nice grey cat to occupy said cat bed. (Homer has volunteered to be my stress ball. He is so helpful. 🙂 )

— 4 —

I’m doing it and so should you. Even with taking the two classes, I’ll still be participating in Write 31 Days next month. Having to structure my schedule will be a good thing and I might be more efficient at writing daily if I have to plan around various things.

Come do Write 31 Days with me!

— 5 —

Useful infographic. Upworthy posted this infographic on Andrew Wakefield and the damage his falsified study has wrought. Feel free to share it and a tinfoil hat with your favorite anti-vaxxer.

— 6 —

I need this. Do you tap your fingers while waiting or do similar movements? Someone started a Kickstarter for a fidget toy with 6 different surfaces. They were hoping to raise $15,000 and have raised $4.3 million. I’m hoping the gross excess of funds means they can get it on the market faster!

— 7 —

Football funny. The calling of the run of the streaker at the game between the 49’ers and the LA Lambs was probably the best football thing I’ve seen all year. I think he also got more yardage than the Lambs did.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

{five favorites}: Miscellanea (LXXIV)

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#5Faves

One

Willamette Valley Fruit Company. Their “Berry Bananza” blend is my go-to for smoothies. I add some cranberry juice, Greek yogurt, the frozen fruit, and a handful or two of spinach and blend it all. It’s a lovely meal and a lovely way to use up overripened bananas and wilted spinach.

Two

Being the only one awake in the house right now. It’s peaceful and really what I need right now as I try to wind down before bed.

Three

“A Whisper and a Clamor” by Anberlin. I heard it on the the radio 6 years ago and fell in love with it. It usually has a place on mixed CD’s that I take on car trips.

Four

“Painting Pictures of Egypt” by Sara Groves. I heard this on my drive to San Jose in early October 2015 and it spoke to my heart and how I was feeling at that moment. It has been only recently that I’ve stopped feeling like I’m in such a liminal space.

Five

“It Is Well” by Bethel Music. It fits where I am emotionally and spiritually at the moment. One of the songs I used to sing to Daniel during his hospital stays was It Is Well With My Soul which seems to be the hymn that inspired this song.

Bonus

“Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective. The song just totally makes me smile and it’s a fun song to rock out to in the car… though other drivers probably think I’m having a seizure.

Go love up Bonnie, DeBalino, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 12, 2016

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For Today… September 12, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny and in the 70’s. It was cold enough in the house this morning that I had a hoodie on over my jammies while getting Daniel ready for school and on the bus!

I am thinking… about the classes I’m going to try and take this fall.

I am thankful… for a wonderful alto part in the anthem we sang for the offertory yesterday. It is so rare to find one this good in regular choral music.

One of my favorite things… my iced grande vanilla latté from $tarbux.

I am wearing… a green striped shirt and jeans. I’m barefoot as usual.

I am creating… various things with yarn.

I am listening to… one of the classical channels on Dish Network. (I think it’s Ensemble?)

I am hoping… to get all the application and registration stuff done in time for Fall Quarter.

I am learning… what my stomach will and will not allow me to eat. IBS stinks!

In my kitchen… my mom made beef burgundy yesterday and we ate it over some squash that my aunt brought. Dessert was plum clafouti and ice cream.

In the school room… Daniel continues to enjoy school.

Post Script… I am totally *NOT* surprised that vaccine critic Dr. Robert Sears is being charged with gross negligence and about to lose his license to practice medicine. Seriously, why would you trust a doctor that does not do his due diligence and do something as simple as REQUEST THE FREAKING RECORDS for a kid he is about to exempt from vaccines, endangering the life of this kid (for whom there is no proof that he actually had the problematic reaction in question) and the rest of us?

Seriously, I cannot understand the complete stupidity of some people.

Shared Quote… This isn’t a quote but an observation. My parish has two congregations sharing a building and we’ve been worshiping together for most of the summer, which means that worship is in both English and Spanish. Yesterday, our first hymn was “Amazing Grace” which is “Sublime Gracia” in Spanish. I find the idea of grace being “sublime” to be an interesting thought. 🙂

A moment from my day… One of my favorite classical pieces — the Bach: Concerto for Two Pianos in C major BWV 1061 (Vivace). I will never have advanced enough piano skills to play even one of the parts but I love the piece. It showcases the intricacy of Bach’s music and why he is the composer whose music I go to mentally when I need a happy place.

Closing Notes: I came across this on Facebook and I recommend checking it out as the pictures of the athletes in their native dress are stunning.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: My Somewhat Boring Life Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Write 31 Days. I’ve decided to participate in Write 31 Days again this year. I tried to make all 31 days last year but had to quit at Day 17 due to Daniel and I being forced to move up to San Jose.

My topic this year will probably be special needs parenting.

— 2 —

For girls who aren’t afraid to make some noise! A friend of mine told me about Kazoo Magazine and I wanted to share the link with y’all in case you have daughters. It’s a magazine for girls that isn’t based around the beauty paradigm and it has interesting things to do like building rafts and cracking codes. I think it’s something that would have been awesome to have when I was growing up!

— 3 —

The way the cookie crumbles. For those of you studying piano or music in general, you might be interested in what music theory looks like using Oreos. 🙂

— 4 —

The faces of some of the men who fought for independence from Britain. There exists a handful of photos of soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. All of the men were ~100 years old when these pictures were taken. I’m greatly amused by the Rev. Levi Hayes who settled in Granville, Ohio because my grandfather’s family were some of the founders of the town and I lived next door in Newark for about a year and a half!

— 5 —

Prerequisite politics take. I really feel like this is the worst election I’ve voted in thus far. Considering that my first presidential election as a voter was the 2000 election that George Bush and the Supreme Court stole, that says something. It surprises me that I’m honestly offended by Trump stickers on cars. To be fair, I’m sure that there are voters that dislike Hillary stickers on cars.

November can’t come fast enough.

— 6 —

Back to school? I’m looking at taking a couple classes online at the local community college this fall to make me more marketable when I start job-hunting again. One is on Excel and Access and the other one is practical accounting. Both are things I’ve learned on the job but it would probably be good to actually take the classes so I have something to put on my resumé. It’s been 14 years since I was in school so this should be fun.

— 7 —

125 years. My church celebrates its quasquicentennial anniversary on Sunday. It’s the second time I’ve been attending a church when this particular anniversary has rolled around so I’m pretty excited! I’m also hopefully going to be singing with the choir for it as well.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

{five favourites}: Miscellanea (LXXIII)

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#5Faves

One

Fresh Express Pear Gorgonzola salad kit. This has become my favorite salad. We’ve found it to be even better with fresh sliced pears, blueberries, and extra gorgonzola cheese.

Two

My regular latté order. After a week and a half of having to avoid my beloved daily iced vanilla whole milk latté because of the milk content messing with my poor lungs and throat, I can handle it again! *angels sing from heaven*

Three

The sound of rain beating against my window and the roof. It was a calming thing last night when I was trying to the kiddo back to sleep. I’m sure rain is boring to most lifelong Washingtonians but this native northern Californian loves it!

Four

This idea for a “reverse Advent calendar”. Someone shared it on Facebook and I thought it was cool!

Reverse Advent Calendar

Five

Homer. Someone is being a very needy grey kitty and is following me around the house.

Go love up Bonnie, DeBalino, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 4, 2016

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For Today…

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… partly cloudy and in the 60’s. An absolutely gorgeous day.

I am thinking… about this prayer someone posted in one of my Facebook groups and how it describes a couple people with whom I no longer have a relationship.

A Narcissist's Prayer

I am thankful… that the Decadron from last week is finally out of my body — lots of BAAAAAD side effects though they were almost worth it to not end up in the ER again from asthma issues.

One of my favorite things… soft grey kitties like the one in my window. 🙂

I am wearing… an indigo v-neck shirt and jeans.

I am creating… this entry and trying to motivate myself to work on various crocheting projects.

I am reading… Just Desserts by G.A. McKevett and Arriving at Amen by Leah Libresco.

I am hoping… my throat heals soon and this cough goes away. I’ve had it for the last month and it is miserable!
,
I am learning… not to try to eat past when I’m full. Holy serious stomach aches, Batman!

In my kitchen… my uncle is bringing Grandma for dinner tonight so my mom has made lasagna from scratch, sourdough bread, a pear-gorgonzola salad, and a fresh apple pie for dessert.

In the school room… the kidlet had a good first week of school and we seem to have worked out all the transportation issues.

Post Script… This is the fruit of all the helicopter parents and participation trophies — kids get to college and can’t deal with failure of any kind.

Shared Quote… This fits the election this year!

My thoughts on the 2016 election.

A moment from my day… Because it’s all about the short-necked Peruvian mongooses!

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Coming Off the Steroids Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Prayer request. The ER doc put me on a 5-day course of Decadron to help heal my lungs from my virus after I ended up in the ER last week with asthma exacerbation. It *did* help heal the inflammation in my lungs and has helped with my throat… but it’s also making me feel really manic and wired even though I finished the last dose 48 hours ago. Monday and Tuesday were hard days for functioning because the Decadron was taking me out of my head and I had to function as an adult. Yesterday, I slept most of the time Daniel was in school because of the weird dreams and insomnia from the steroids. Last night, I ended up using the mania to get through a huge pile of paperwork and then hunkered down in my room in as calm an environment as I could make to try and deal with my body having the shakes.

I’m still dealing with the shakes and feeling really wired so if y’all could please pray that my body could regulate again, I’d appreciate it greatly. Thanks!

— 2 —

Yearly explanation of WHY Daniel is in his program. Every year, I have at least one person ask if I’ve considered homeschooling Daniel. The answer has not changed in four years: OH. HELL. NO. Homeschooling has never and will never be something I ever want to do with Daniel and I honestly can’t understand why anyone would suggest it. I have the personality of a drill seargeant, no training in elementary or early childhood education or special education, and I hate being a housewife and stay-at-home-mom. (I stay home with Daniel because I have no choice, not because I want to.) We’ve always had options for public school for Daniel that have included an autism program and I’d much rather have him in a classroom with a teacher trained to work with him, kids his own age, and therapists who can help get him caught up on developmental things.

There are families for whom homeschooling works but we’re not one of them.

— 3 —

Regarding Colin Kaepernick… Rachel has a point.

Rachel Held Evans on Colin Kaepernick.

— 4 —

Facebook. So does anyone else hate the way Facebook has changed the trending topics so that there’s really no context? Just wondering.

— 5 —

Happy Jen. Last night, we had some real WEATHER going over us so I decided to just shut off the TV news, open the windows, and listen to the rain pounding on the roof outside my window as well as the thunder and lightning. It was glorious and it helped to keep me calm as I was dealing with the steroid shakes.

— 6 —

Prerequisite politics take. #NeverTrump was in my state on Tuesday night and I am so thankful that he’s gone. My mom managed to find a way back up from Seattle that avoided I-5 — a good thing because I have a feeling traffic would have been worse than usual going through Everett because of his presence. I’m still hoping for a meteor to hit the earth before the election so that I don’t have to deal with the possibility of someone as horrible as Trump winning.

— 7 —

Wow… I realized today that for the first time in years, I’m not dreading the fact that Daniel has a four day weekend. We’ll find things to do outside the house if we have to, but I’m not having to worry about finding ways to get out of the house or keep Daniel quiet like I did when I was living with my former in-laws.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.