Category Archives: Personal Issues

7 Quick Takes: Antiquated Office Machine Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

10-key calculators. I had my first 10-Key class on Wednesday and my instructor started by saying that she knows we’re probably wondering why we’re learning such “antiquated” pieces of office machinery. Apparently, the employers and business owners on the advisory board for the OFTEC department keep saying “yes” when asked if they still want us to learn how to use them because “touch addition” on the 10-key pad of a keyboard is still something they want us to know how to do. So… all of us got to check an electronic calculator out of the library before class on Wednesday and rolls of papers were distributed at the beginning of class.

— 2 —

#squadgoals This might be a happy thing to show to your engineer and nerd friends.

— 3 —

Yep. This article talks about the tragedy of dumbing down Christianity. The things that the author describes are why I am positively ecstatic that Rachel Held Evans has a book on the Bible coming out this year.

— 4 —

Balancing school and training for the Olympics. NPR did a lovely piece on balancing college and the training needed for the Olympics. I’m looking forward to seeing how two of the athletes do in the Games!

— 5 —

Escape games. My mom got me addicted to escape games on my e-reader and it has been fabulous for keeping my mind sharp while sitting and waiting at doctor’s offices or other places. The two makers I’ve found to be the best are MobiGrow and Mobest Media.

— 6 —

Fernando Ortega. He released a new album with music and readings related to the Crucifixion this past year. (The album itself is called “The Crucifixion of Jesus”.) I recommend it highly.

— 7 —

Lenten devotional update. I sent a survey to the people who told me of their interest in helping put together a Lenten devotional for church a few days ago. On the question about possible themes, there were a bunch of checkboxes and I put two somewhat snarky statements in there:

“I like checking boxes!”

“I’m checking this box to troll Jen!”

I thought my priest would tell me to take them out… but she was one of the people who checked both of them and she had me include some more silly answers in the version of the survey sent to the wider parish!

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

The Simple Woman’ Daybook: January 1, 2018

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For Today… January 1, 2018

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny and cold with temps in the 30’s.

I am thinking… about the parish Lenten Devotional which I offered to coordinate.

I am thankful… for my church being such a welcoming place to Daniel. Advent IV was hard but they were fine with him there. When I was there yesterday, many people were asking about him. 🙂

One of my favorite things… pretty much everything involved in putting the devotional together. 🙂

I am wearing… my Old Navy flag shirt and black jeans.

I am creating… a survey for people in my parish to find out their wishes for the devotional.

I am listening to… my Youtube Christmas playlist. (It’s still the season of Christmas, y’all!)

I am hoping… my bloodwork doesn’t come out too horribly.

I am learning… how to make surveys in SurveyMonkey and Google Forms.

In my kitchen… plotting it currently. If Dad isn’t making anything special, I’ll probably put together a salad at Haggen or something.

In the school room… Daniel goes back tomorrow! He’s been asking about it *EVERY* day of Christmas vacation so he’ll be happy.

Shared Quote… “Creating fantasy is real work, important work. It’s a hard, cold world we live in, and sometimes we need to escape. Sometimes we need that more than food or water or a roof over our heads.” — G.A. McKevett

Closing Notes:

Word for the Year: “overcome”
Saint for the Year: St. Gemma Galgani

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Resolutions for 2018

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7 Quick Takes

Kelly is back from her Advent blog break so the Quick Takes resume! Here are my resolutions for 2018.

— 1 —

Make healthier choices. I stunk at this one in 2017 despite having TWO PE classes for school. I’ve had two consults with a nutritionist this fall and have the tools, so it’s just a matter of using them.

— 2 —

Sort out my medical stuff. Right now, I’m looking at two possible surgeries over Spring Break and once I’m done with school for the year. My BTL got postponed because my OB/GYN was on vacation for the month of December and honestly, I’d rather see someone else in her office because I really didn’t click with her. (Yes, I’m “getting my tubes tied”. We’ve seen that pregnancy is deadly for me and my OB/GYN doesn’t want to do a hysterectomy because I’m young. It’s quite hard to be “open to life” when doing so could kill you.)

When I saw the ENT and he did the nasal telescope, we discovered that my septoplasty in 2008 was just the lower parts and not the upper parts… which is problematic because the upper parts need to be done. Sooo… I’ll probably be doing that over Spring Break because I know from experience that it will mean a week without sleep because of the stuffiness.

Then there’s my back…

— 3 —

Not eat any blue paint. This is in honor of my friend Rick who passed away almost 5 years ago. He’d make a resolution like this every year so I do now as well in my attempt to live like Rick.

— 4 —

Finish crocheting projects. I finally got my mom’s socks done. I have other projects on my hooks.

— 5 —

Take Daniel to church with me at least monthly. I took him on Sunday morning for Advent IV and he chattered through the service and needed to walk the aisles and to the fellowship hall a few times. He did NOT want his tablet and finally settled when I handed him a bag of Cheerios. This all triggered a panic attack… but I survived and didn’t get any nasty looks. My church rallied around and supported me. While one of the Mary’s Guild was holding me and letting me cry, another person took Daniel for a walk. People thanked me for bringing him, which is a MASSIVE change from Jon’s church in Galt where people claimed to want him in church but gave me nasty looks if he made a sound, or relegated me to the nursery where I could listen (in theory — it didn’t work in practice) but was cut off from everyone.

In short, I have a tribe and I need to start taking Daniel to be with them.

— 6 —

Pray more. My prayer life sucks right now. Must fix it.

— 7 —

Make 45’s life more difficult. Why yes, I do have plans to be a social justice warrior in the new year. How did you guess? 😀 Got my pussy hat, my special shirts, and my marching shoes!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly the unicorn at This Ain’t The Lyceum!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 17, 2017

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For Today… December 17, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was a beautiful rainy day.

I am thinking… about politics. I still need to write about Doug Jones’s victory on Tuesday but I’ve had things to do this weekend.

I am thankful… that my homeboys are having a better season than last year. The Browns still suck but they are known for that. (Their record this year is currently 0-14.)

One of my favorite things… gloating about my Niners winning to Seahawks fans (whose team was outscored 6-1).

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were a long-sleeved black shirt, black paisley skirt, black tights, and black flats. I switched out the skirt and tights for jeans.

I am creating… socks.

I am listening to… various things.

I am hoping… to start the decreases on sock #1 for Mom tomorrow.

I am learning… to just trust the crochet pattern.

In my kitchen… deciding on the menu for Christmas.

In the school room… Daniel has school for two days and then is off until the 2nd.

Post Script… this sounds like something from The Bloggess but without the taxidermy. (This is the Bloggess piece being compared.)

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

Conversations

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To the gentleman standing outside the post office with the “Abortion Is Satanic” sign:

You claim that God told you to stand outside a busy post office with that sign and I tend to doubt this. Why do I doubt this? Because the post office is not an abortion clinic and when I suggested to you nicely that you tone down your rhetoric, you attempted rudely to mansplain the issue to me.

Nope… I don’t have a pro-life story at all…

Me post-partum.

None at all…

Me with my squirt on Day 2 of his life.

Dude, I live the pro-life story on a daily basis with a kid who has been described by an ex-family member as “the Planned Parenthood poster child” (this person will be out of my life soon) and who was the deciding factor in me becoming pro-life. Yes, abortion is horrible and I pray for an end to it… but it isn’t as black and white as people on both sides make it out to be. I know people who have had them because it was their only option at the time, who were raped and become pregnant as a result, and have had conversations with them where they have shown me their very raw sadness because they know I will listen. When these women see signs like yours, their shame surfaces again and much of their healing is undone. Don’t do that to them.

Telling me that I am of Satan and that I need to read my Bible more does not indicate that you are right. It indicates that you are behaving like a rear sphincter opening and wouldn’t know the voice of God even if God was standing next to you screaming at you with a megaphone. God hates abortion, but God loves the woman who has one and yearns for their return to Him and to wholeness. Your actions undo all of that.

Hugs and kisses,

The pro-life “Satanist” who refused to abort her baby and who almost died carrying him

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 11, 2017

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For Today… December 11, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny. It’s in the 40’s but doesn’t really feel that bad out.

I am thinking… about things related to my divorce. I have various things to send to my attorney.

I am thankful… my allergy testing is over. My forearms and my left shoulder are covered with welts but those should go down soon. I’m also allowed to take all my meds again.

One of my favorite things… having the house to myself.

I am wearing… short-sleeved flag tee from Old Navy and black jeans. They needed access to my forearms and left shoulder today for the test so they asked me not to wear long sleeves.

I am creating… socks.

I am listening to… Loreena McKennitt.

I am hoping… to sleep better tonight.

I am learning… about various types of chronic pain.

In my kitchen… making lasagna, bread, and cookies to take to a friend tomorrow who just had a baby.

In the school room… Daniel is getting more and more verbal. His teachers are smitten with him.

Post Script… Regarding the war on Christmas.

Shared Quote…

Nice kitty...

A moment from my day… This was our gradual hymn yesterday. I could totally hear Loreena McKennitt recording it.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 3, 2017

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For Today… December 3, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny. We had some rain as church was ending but it looks like that has passed over us. I’m glad I had my coffee this morning because the weather change can be a migraine trigger and caffeine helps with it.

I am thinking… about my Comprehensive Problem quiz for my Sage class. When it submitted yesterday evening, it claimed that I got 10/50. Either my server burped and deleted answers or the computer scored it incorrectly. Unfortunately, I don’t know if my instructor is going to look at it before Friday. (It’s due at 11:55 p.m. on Thursday night.)

I am thankful… to pretty much be done with work for the quarter. I’m just waiting for a teammate to post her presentation so I can comment on it and then I will be done!

One of my favorite things… when my escape room game actually cooperates with me.

I am wearing… jammies. Church attire today was a charcoal-colored long-sleeved shirt, black slacks, and black flats. I traded my slacks for jeans later on.

I am creating… nothing.

I am listening to… Fernando Ortega’s music.

I am hoping… my Comprehensive Problem quiz gets corrected in my favor.

I am learning… how to solve puzzles in the escape room games.

In my kitchen… nothing. My grandmother had a fall so no family dinners for a few weeks. I made do with a quesadilla and salsa tonight.

In the school room… Daniel’s speech is exploding.

Post Script… Jimmy Kimmel invites Roy Moore to put up or shut up when it comes to his Christian faith.

Shared Quote… From a gentleman at my church:

An apology from a man.

It’s problematic for me because this gentleman has *ALWAYS* treated me with the utmost respect. He shouldn’t have to apologize on behalf of his gender. He was further saddened when he learned that I have a #MeToo story (actually more than one).

A moment from my day… A favorite setting of the Magnificat.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.