Oh dear! Where to start? Alot has happened since the last post.
Health
The biggest surprise: I started working out (actually taking two PE classes, more on that to come); my neck and shoulder instantly improved! I’m not completely back to how I was before I started blogging, but this is a big deal.
Feel free to comment on exercise. What keeps you from it? I honestly didn’t realize that I needed to be working my back and neck specifically. How about health care? Personally, I’d love to see docs be able to prescribe a gym, rather than just massage and physical therapy.
I haven’t figured out all the pieces yet, but I hope to never go back to where I was two months ago. 🙂
School
Somewhere recently I heard that if a student has a parent in school, that student may be eligible for more financial aid. While that may be true in some cases, I have it on reliable authority – the Whitworth University financial aid department – that a parent in school doesn’t count on the child’s fafsa.
But, before I heard that, I thought, “why not look into finishing my degree?”
Long story short, I am currently taking twelve credits, including the aforementioned two PE classes, English 102 (did you feel that groan?), and logic. And for the record, I am taking logic because I needed a humanities class, not to get out of taking math (I already have more than enough math). Writing for English, though, is keeping me from getting back to blogging.
Just for fun: my first paper – a rhetorical analysis of a Jimmy Choo magazine ad. (It earned me a 98.)
Adventures
During my absence, I have done two – I don’t really know what to call them collectively – video projects? Anyway, the first was a commercial in which I played a doctor (and the patient was actually played by the hero! lol) and the second was a training video in which I played a nurse manager, and actually had lines. See why this falls under the category adventure? It’s not all that exciting or glamorous, but if you happen to be in an area or occupation where you see one of those and think it looks like me …
My other notable adventure was being asked to present a workshop on making the most of your wardrobe at a ladies retreat with gratitude as its theme. My 45 minute talk was entitled A Closet Full of Enough. That was fun, and I am planning on saving my material, should the opportunity arise to give the talk again.
Painting
Yes, I’m still painting. Some days I take my stuff with me to school and just find a table somewhere to paint when I have a couple hours between classes. I love watercolor! It’s so clean. 🙂
Currently I am only doing portraits.
Future
Who knows? Definitely not blogging with the same regularity as in the past. But I still like it!
What’s new with you?
WELCOME BACK! Back to blogging, back to school, and soon back to full health!
My parents’ family doctor is known for writing prescriptions for exercise. (Sadly, my mother is equally well known for ignoring them.) As you know, I train 6 days a week, and as part of a 50th birthday celebration with 2 of my teammates (we all swim masters, and we were all turning 50 within the year) we swam a 5.85 mile race in the Hudson! What an adventure!
Exercise is great medicine! I find that swimming after a day at the office does wonders for my neck, shoulders, and back. It’s like a massage from the inside.
And I think the two of you have picked a good one: swimming. I’d love to have the guts to go to a club somewhere and get in the water with all those experts. 🙂 You never know …
Welcome back! It sounds like you’ve been busy and happy, and not missing blogging as much as we miss you blogging!
Take care,
Christine
Delighted to hear you have so many irons in the fire. Enjoyed your paper. You were writing about exactly what I’ve been thinking about. Followed up the article about 15 needs and see that need for attention may be hardwired. hmm. I’ve been trying to downplay this. Went to a small-time
baseball game with family last night. Was warm and I wore shorts – my only pair that I just bought for pragmatism’s sake! (admittedly a deep pink, though). I tried to pick out an outfit as an experiment. Wore a scoop neck black tee, black and white low cut chuck taylor sneakers – my first pair of sneakers in years – comfortable and snappy. But I was up against the conflict between not wanting to be seeking out attention and not wanting to be totally ignored. Had a thin white sweater with big rose/plum roses on it tied around my shoulders. This sweater has been a GoTo item lately for this purpose. Just enough contrast to be briefly eye-catching but not so much to give rise to Look at that idiot woman! thoughts.
Oh, no!! You got that from me … And I am now going to the gym 3 times a week. Tried Chiropractic and PT which didn’t work.
Vildy – I have black and white Chucks too! 🙂 Your outfit sounds fantastic, and I totally relate to your thought process on composing it. Makes me look forward to being able to get back to blogging more.
Mom – I’m glad working out is helping. What gym did you join? Do they have personal trainers?
It’s called South Campus Athletic Club and is located in the old BBCC South Campus gym 🙂 They have made it into 2 floors and have scads of equipment, child care, racketball courts, … You’ll have to go take a walk through when you’re here. Yes, they have group fitness and yoga classes (I’ll keep a monthly schedule for you to see); and those leaders are around for individual/personal questions. Friendly, helpful people and customers!
BTW, We BOTH go and it’s ALL paid by our Advantage Plan – not even a co-pay. This insurance co. (Sterling) realizes how important staying mobile is to good health. Your Dad still walks a couple of miles on the days we don’t go; and I meet him on his way back to get in a little walking, also.
How fun! “It’s like campus – but south …” I have lots of memories of that place.
That’s really smart! I’d love to see more insurance companies doing that. Btw, I met a guy who is a Sterling rep in ID.
Mom,so glad to hear you are going to the gym — that’s awesome! Kaiser’s Advantage plan has the same benefit, it is so important to stay active. xoxo
Beth, As I’ve said before, Kaiser has ALWAYS been the smartest insurance in the country. Sure wish we had one in ML, even a clinic with a hospital in Spokane.
I’m just really glad to see you back, and healthier!
Thank you Wendy! I’m doing much better, but I have to be careful to limit myself. 🙂