Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Oh My

So I honestly thought that I would be able to handle a few months or at least a couple off of school. Um, I think I was wrong. Although lately the nightmares have been kicking my ass and sleep has been little and far between. Eh, you know, I am thinking it does not matter all that much anymore.

I am constantly tired anyway, so nothing new there. I am missing living on the water right about now. I miss the amazing sunsets you get as the sun sinks down below the horizon almost like it is slowly sliding into the water.

Hopefully I will sleep tonight. Never know though. LOL. Well, this is short and I am out of things to say, so Ciao!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

I Must Have Been

You know, lately I have not been sleeping really well and having all kinds of nightmares again. Last night I went to bed or should I say this morning and slept until about 3pm. I guess I finally got to the point that I was so tired that no dream would wake me up. Sadly, it is happening a lot lately again. Sigh.

So, I have been really tired all the time. Nothing new really, because I have been having these nightmares since I was 16. So, nothing new but still really annoying though. Other than that I am okay I guess.

Last night I had Chinese for dinner and it was really good! I had not had Chinese in a while and it hit the spot. I love the beef and broccoli at the place I go. Yum! I think I am going to have my bruschetta pizza today for lunch, it really is very good for a frozen pizza.

I sure could use a massage right now. My back and neck are both hurting really badly. Well, I am going to run.. Ciao!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Life, In Spite of Me

When I chose this book, it was not because I actually wanted to read it, it was because it was the only one left on the site for me to choose. I honestly thought that it would turn out like another book I had tried to read and ended up failing to finish. In fact, quite the opposite happened.

I got my book a couple of days ago and set it aside, thinking I would start it the next day and well, life happened. I picked it up again last night because I needed something to read while I sat in the tub trying to relax. As it turns out, I read pretty much the whole dang book last night in the tub within an hour and a half. A totally unexpected occurrence, let me tell you!

 

 

As I read Kristen’s real life story, I could not put this book down. As a woman who suffered some depression in high school, I could totally relate to what Kristen was talking about. Although, I did not suffer as much loss as she did in such a short period of time, I too lost a grandparent while I was in high school. I never had the courage to actually try to commit suicide though.

As I read Kristen’s story I was moved to tears and I wanted to cheer for her as she learned some valuable lessons, which came at a heavy price. You see, I have a friend who talks about suicide a lot and I interrupted him as he was writing a suicide note (email). I am passing along Kristen’s book in hopes of showing him that there really is a way to come back from this and hopefully give him the courage to live.

Kristen writes the reader little notes between the chapters and talks about how she wished she knew some things then that she knows now. This is such an inspiring book, I am finding myself wanting everyone I know to read it. Kristen is  an amazing woman and so inspiring! I find myself wishing I was half as strong as she is. I recommend this book to everyone, because it has something for everyone in it.

Life, in Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson (Chapter 1)

I got this book for free from the Blogging for Books program from Walter Brook Multnomah.

Friday, June 24, 2011

All This Time…

You know, the hardest thing about being done with school until October is that now I have all this flippin’ time to deal with!! What to do, what to do?!?! I have already had a request for oatmeal raisin cookies and since I am on vacation as it were, I can’t exactly say no. LOL. So, cookies it is. I was thinking also of maybe working on my pizza recipe. It was good the first time I made it, but I think it can be better.

I know that my Netflix account will get a work out for sure!! Other than that, I am not sure what I will be doing for a few months. Although the people I have mentioned this vacation to have all said the same things, at least I know what is going on with school and I can actually relax during this time and enjoy the time off and recharge my batteries. Barring like a week or two off, I have been going to school non stop for something like 3 1/2 years. So, yes, having thought about this, I do deserve this time off.

People are starting to ask what I want for my birthday already. Um, I have no clue aside from my new NCIS season and some other shows I collect. Even as a kid, I never really asked for much because I always knew we did not have much money. That is who just who I am. I still don’t ask for stuff. It takes a lot for me to ask for ANYTHING. Like under the penalty of death or I don’t have any other choice.

So, as for my birthday, I don’t know yet. I don’t really make lists for that kind of stuff. LOL. Well, I am going to run, got Netflix to watch!! Ciao!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Some Disappointing News, but I Understand

I was supposed to start school June 28th, but because some of my financial aid has been used for Ashford, for my first term there, I am in a overlapping loan period, basically that means that if I went back to school now, I would not have enough to cover my first term and I would have to pay out of pocket. Since I can not afford that, I have to wait now until September when the new loan period starts. So, the first start date at school will be October 11th. So, that is when I will be returning to school.

I thought about this and it is not so bad. I have a nice chunk of time to relax and get some stuff taken care of. I am not worried about what will happen with school, so I can really enjoy my time off now. I am still enrolled in school, so my loans will not lapse into collections either. It is just one of those things. Now, I am not in a time crunch with the tax return either. So, maybe this is a blessing in disguise. 

Wow, Wednesday Already

For some reason this week is really just flying past me! Hopefully only 6 more days until I am back in class. I can not explain how much I am really looking forward to that! I am so excited and ready to go! Even if my first two classes are ‘beginners’ classes. In these classes, they are get acquainted with the interface and how things work classes. Basically I look at these classes as free A classes. That way I can prop up my GPA before the hard classes begin.

I am tired still. I did sleep well and I will probably take a nap later. Tonight is a night I am making dinner. We are having cheeseburgers and the green beans I have to use before they go bad. Not really sure what else we will have with this yet. I am enjoying the peace and quiet that I have right now. It is nice. Well, I am going to go. Ciao!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

An Update for the Earlier Post

I was up all night last night because I had slept like 15 hours yesterday. Now I am all tired and ready to go to freakin’ sleep now. As for the tax thing, I feel like a total idiot for not thinking about sending that to the desk top. I know I had it printed and I can not find that right now. With moving last September and packing, it honestly could be anywhere. Ugh.

So, now I am stuck  waiting for the IRS to help me. Joy. I got my book for blogging for books today and I will start reading it tomorrow. I have yet to hear if the tax thing will delay my start date or not now. Which is in like 7 days. I hope not. But you never can tell with these things really.

I might look later or tomorrow in a file container I have, maybe it might be in there. I am hoping so. It looks to be getting ready to storm here now. I have some fresh green beans that were bought on Sunday, so I have to use them tomorrow. I am making my garlic-butter bacon green beans for dinner tomorrow. I am looking forward to those though. I love them.

Just thinking about them is making my mouth water. Yum! Well, gonna run. Ciao!

A Day Full of Surprises

Most of  you know that I recently got a Microsoft Zune Mp3 player and I am still in love with the thing. I know it sounds strange for me to say that, but it is really cool and I love the touch screen. It is 32 GB and I could  honestly fill it maybe 3 or 4 times with music that I love. Yeah, I love a lot of music.

Speaking of my Zune, I lost the USB cable that came with it, but it is okay because it has wireless sync and that is a good thing! I found a replacement cord on Amazon for about $10. Most of the others were at least $20. So, I know I got a good deal on it.

It seems as though I was selected for verification for school. This is a process that the Department of Education springs on about every 3 students, randomly of course. It is not difficult, you have to fill out a verification worksheet and send in a signed copy of your tax return. No big deal. Unless you are me. Sigh. Yeah, they want a copy of my 2009 tax return and it was on my lap top, but because I had reset the factory defaults because it was locked solid, I lost it.

I did not think that was a big deal because I use Turbo Tax every year anyway. Well, because I use the Federal Free version, they don’t keep PDF files of my previous year’s tax returns on their servers. So, I had to request a copy from the IRS, which could take about 5-10 days they say. Normally, this would not be an issue, but I am due to start school in 8 days because remember I moved my start date up because of financial aid reasons. Sigh. I have sent my financial aid person an email explaining all of this. Hopefully they can do something about it. Well, I am leaving you with one of my favorite Jason Aldean videos

Monday, June 20, 2011

Changes In the Air… Again

So, my admissions advisor at my Plan B school talked me into starting school on June 28th instead of July 5th. Mainly for financial aid reasons and it all made sense to me when it was explained to me, so I agreed to start earlier than I had planned.

Today is 4 weeks since my appeal started and I still have not heard anything at all. So it seems that I got my answer. Plan B turned into Plan A and I am alright with that actually. I like the Plan B school a lot and the people I have dealt with so far have been great.

I am not  exactly sure of the instructors, but I do know that my Plan B school requires their teachers to go through training in distance learning and online teaching. Which is kind of cool. When I have attended other schools in the past, I would get people who were not so qualified to teach the classes they were teaching. Ugh. That was a total nightmare!

So only 8 more days until my new chapter starts and I am glad it is happening sooner than I had planned. As much as I liked Ashford there were a lot of things I did not like about that school. Now, I am at a school I like and we will see what happens. Ciao!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Some Stuff Goin’ On

Before I get into this entry, I want to wish all the dads out there a happy father’s day!! Hope it is a great day for you all!

A year ago today, Doug’s dad died. If you have followed my blog or are friends with me on Facebook, you might remember last year at this time we had no power as well. It was a horrible weekend all the way around. You can find those entries here, here,and here. Of course if you read them in order there are more entries after about the aftermath of all of that.

It has been a rough year in some ways for us. Although it has been kind of good in others too. I still miss his dad terribly on some days and I think about him often. Doug is spending time with  his sister today and I am at home just chilling out.(although there is a story behind that too, but since there are lurkers I can not put it here)

Sometimes it feels like a life time ago that his dad died. Other times it feels like only a few days. Today is difficult for me because his dad and I got to be close and I miss him. So, I am going to go now. RIP David, we miss you.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Saturday. Oh Saturday

I am thinking about what I will make for dinner later today. Maybe fried chicken or chicken fried steak. It depends on how I feel later. I love to cook, so these days are fun for me. I am hoping that I get some sleep later or guess what? I won’t be making anything! LOL

I am so relived now that I have this school thing taken care of. It had been bothering me for a while and I was worried. But since I will be going to my Plan B school, I am not worried anymore and I am feeling a lot better now.

I spent a lot of time talking to an old friend. Someone from high school and someone who knows me well. It was nice to catch up and find out what has been happening in this person’s life lately. I had some wonderful laughs and some really great memories. It was nice to chat and I am hoping that we can do it again soon!

Right now, I am so tired so I am thinking I might nap a bit before Doug comes home. I am tired and starting to get a headache a little. Last night we went to Del Taco for dinner. I love Del Taco it is so much better than Taco Bell in my opinion. I had a pretty good chicken burrito.

Well, I think I am ready for a nap, so I am outta here. Ciao!!!

Friday, June 17, 2011

More Good News Indeed.

Today I got an offer of admissions from my Plan B school and I am going to take it. I feel like I have given the other school more than enough time to get back to me about my appeal and even the person who was supposed to look into it and call me back by Wednesday, did not call. So, honestly I am looking at it like there is my answer right there.

I like the Plan B school anyway and everyone there seems really nice and capable of doing their jobs, which is important to me. I have moved up my start date to June 28th for financial aid reasons. I am looking forward to getting back in class now. The depression has lifted since I became proactive with the issue with school. Makes me feel better to know that I have a plan and I am moving forward now and not just sitting in one place waiting for something to happen.

On Sunday, it would have been a year since Doug’s dad died. I am left wondering where the year went. It seems only yesterday that we were dealing with that whole mess. So, on Sunday he is spending time with his sister. Sometimes, to me it seems so much longer than a year though. Other times, it seems like days ago. So, thoughts and prayers would be appreciated.

I am going to go now. Ciao!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Good News Keeps Coming..

It would seem that I am climbing back to the top where I once was. I got a call today from my Plan B school and the financial aid is coming along nicely, I should be hearing from someone tomorrow and if not from my guy on Monday. I also talked to the academic person who I will be working with at Plan B school today. She and I have a lot in common, down to she is looking for a Masters program in forensic psychology as well. So, it will be nice to talk to someone who has walked my path for once.

The Tigers won today and are now in first place in the A.L Central. I watched part of the game and they seem to really be playing well as a team. In the past they played as individuals on a team and there is a big difference in those two things. It is nice to see them doing so well again. Go Tigers!

I am ready to get back to work in school. It was kind of nice to have the time off and reevaluate what I wanted to do. I miss school. So, I am doing what I can to get back to that. I really like Plan B school and they have so many different tools to help the adult online learner. Which is nice to see. I am looking forward to getting back into class and stretching my mind some more. Well, I think this is it for now. Ciao!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Good News..

Hopefully this turns into  great news! I found a school that has Master’s programs in both forensic and sports psychology. I am excited about this find because most schools have one or the other, not both. I am still waiting to hear about my appeal but have a Plan B in the works and honestly if Plan B comes before my appeal, well, I am going with Plan B then. That is just how I am I guess.

The last few weeks have been bad depression wise. I am a fighter and I am fighting my way out of it again. The issue to school was a huge blow to me and even though I honestly should have seen it coming, I did not. So I got blindsided by it. Not good.

These days I am looking up and things are going well for me again. It was difficult in the couple of weeks I spent in the blackness of depression. I hate falling back into that hole again, but it is good news that I could get myself out of that hole as well.

Michigan has been nice weather wise in the 70’s cool enough to have the windows open again with a nice breeze. Later this week it will be back into the 90’s again, so the A/C will come back on and the windows will close, maybe for the remainder of summer. Yeah, I know I am lucky to be able to have the windows open this late in June and summer. It is definitely been a strange summer so far. Not that I am complaining mind you.

Last week when it was in the 90’s for a couple of days, the heat gave me a horrible migraine for a couple of days. Ugh. I hate that and it happens sometimes. I am waiting for my next Blogging for Books, book to review. I am really loving this program and it is totally free. The only catch is that it is ‘Christian’ books.

Well, I am going to run. Ciao!!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Dining Room Update

Well it would seem that I was mistaken about the dining room table being put together the other weekend. It still resides in it’s box against the wall where it has been since February when we bought it. This is frustrating for me. In so many ways.

The heat here has really been messing with my migraines. I have had horrible headaches lately and it has almost made me crazy. My sleep patterns have been pretty messed up as well because it has been so hot that I can  not sleep. Ugh.

I am not eating a lot right now either because of the heat. We are currently looking for no cook meals other than take out. In our apartment, it is so small, that when you turn on the oven, it gets super hot in here. During the winter, it was not an issue as you might understand. But now, it is hot outside and when we cook, it is hot inside.

I am not sure if no cook meals are the way to go totally. Maybe a few cook less meals too. Or some things to throw into the crock pot or something to not cook in the oven. Even using the stove top is sometimes a bother. I know if we went to all salads and sandwiches, it maybe would last a week. LOL. Although, I did have an idea about getting a bag of skinless, boneless chicken breasts and making a bunch and keeping them in the fridge for salads or quick sandwiches. But also as a meat component that is already cooked and just has to be reheated.

I got my hair trimmed on last Saturday. Which I needed because it has been since last August when I got my hair cut last. So finally it is all back to one length and now I am working on growing it out long again. I know, I cut it short because I was sick of long hair, but about 2 weeks later I missed it. Go figure. Well, I am off to shower and finish some paperwork for something I am doing. Ciao!!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Untamed- A Book review

Untamed: How the Wild Side of Jesus Frees Us to Live and Love with Abandon is one of those books that if you look at it you would never know what a true gem it really is. When I chose this book, I honestly did not think that I would be able to read the whole thing. I was wrong.

Lisa Harper has such an entertaining writing style, it is very much like sitting down with a good friend and talking to her. I read five whole chapters in one sitting and was amazed at how easily this book is read. I love this book and will be reading it again and again.

 

Untamed is about how really wild Jesus is. Lisa goes into what certain scriptures mean and how they pertain to the modern world. She also uses easily understood examples and writes so you can really understand what she is saying. I recommend this book for the new Christian and the Christian who has been walking with God for a long time. I think that everyone can get something out of it.

Reading this book made me laugh and think at the same time. You will love her style of writing and understand what she is saying instantly. It really is like having a conversation with your best friend. I am looking forward to her other books as well.

 

Untamed by Lisa Harper (Chapter 1)

I received this book for free for the purpose of this review from WalterBrook Multnomah as a part of their Blogging for Books program.

Friday, June 10, 2011

This Morning or Rather Finally Not Melting In My Own Clothes

The heat here in Michigan has been horrible for the last few days, finally got a break yesterday. As of right now at 5:41am it is 54 degrees, which I am happy with. The windows are back open and the air conditioning off again. Yes, I know it is June, yes, I know it is supposed to be hot, however, when it gets to be Florida hot here we have an issue. I have felt like I was melting in my own clothes, I suppose that is opposed to melting in someone else’s clothes. I am happy to have this break in the heat.

So because I have had a lot of extra time on my hands lately, I have been watching a lot of Netflix on the Wii. I have found a few TV shows that I did not watch while they were on TV. I watched Saving Grace, which was on TNT. I think I had seen maybe a part of an episode when it was on and I am sorry that I missed that show. It was amazing. I got to watch the whole thing with no commercials. Which I totally LOVE. I started watching Ally McBeal and it is funny but depressing too. I guess I see some of myself in Ally. I am hooked on the music from the show though. Vonda Shepard is amazing and I love her voice. I wish she had put out more music than the music from the show.

I have been reading as well. I wrote yesterday about how I was sleeping a lot. I have always had issues with insomnia and sometimes I wish that I did not. I do and there is not much I can do about it but roll with it. I have read so many articles and tips on how to battle it, but you know what? They don’t really work for me, so I am just rolling with it for now. Tonight going to dinner, which I am looking forward to it. Well, I think I am off to watch either Waking the Dead or finish Pain Killer Jane on Netflix. Ciao!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Today

It has been two weeks since the issue with school has started and I could have another two weeks to wait to hear what is going to happen. I have been really depressed lately and not really feeling like doing anything.

Today is better. I am feeling more like myself again. I have not written because I basically had nothing to say. I had to switch back to my blogspot address from before because I let my domain registration run out. Sigh. Oh well. I will get it back when I have the money to do so.

So, I think I am done here for now. Ciao!