Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Holidays cont...

After dealing with another round of head lice and getting No. 1 Son's hair cut extra short, I spent a lovely relaxing Friday night at Mum's quiet sanctuary. We had dinner together at a bistro and saw a show (in French) and afterwards sat in our pj's and watched 'Long Way Round' with lovely Ewan and Charlie in Africa. I think I may have to escape to Mum's (or Africa) more often! I'm always amazed at how quiet and clean her apartment is but then again, she does live on her own after raising four children...I'm pretty sure she deserves it! She even tucked me in which made me feel quite special!!! Once a Mum, always a Mum.

I've finally done away with Brideshead Revisited (Evelyn Waugh), a book I've always wanted to read.  We all went to the library on Sunday and I returned with four new books - one of which I have just finished ('The Spare Room - Helen Garner).  I thought my usual need to ravage a book a week had disappeared due to the copious amounts of reading involved at uni but it seems my disinterest was because of the book I had chosen!  Evelyn will have to wait until I'm in the right mood I guess.  For now, I've moved on to an author I haven't heard of before - Sophie Hannah, 'The Wrong Mother'.  Actually, this one's a book my husband found for me about a mother/wife who goes away on a business trip and has an affair (ooh, sounds juicy!).  I usually go more for the classics, perhaps my tastes are changing in my old age.

I still haven't received any results from last semester and have resolved to put it out of mind for the rest of the week; I haven't done any running but have done a lot of walking; it turns out my thyroid levels are actually okay but my vitamin D is pitiful; and my herb garden is still waiting to be created.  I guess on holidays, as in life, some things don't always turn out the way we plan!!!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Are you feeling fatigued? Only all the time!

I had to go back to the doctor's this morning just to get the results of my mammoth blood test I had the other day, which was part of my yearly check up.  My cholesterol was the one I was most worried about.  Now, it seems that is the least of my problems.

The first thing she said was, "You must be feeling very fatigued" to which I replied, "Well, I have three children, so who wouldn't be?".  It seems my thyroid levels are down - I had a thyroidectomy about two years ago and am now on medication, so my levels will always have to be checked, so this is no biggy.  My cholesterol is a "little bit" high and I have a vitamin D deficiency.  Now, six months ago I had a low grade melanoma removed from my right thigh, I live in Queensland where we have the highest rate of melanoma in the world, and I've just been told I don't get enough sun!!!  Can anyone else see the irony in this?

Now I have to up my thyroid medication, do more exercise and take a vitamin D tablet every day for the rest of my life.  At this point, I kind of feel as if I'm falling apart!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Sunday, Sunday


This weekend was one of those rare weekends when we had no sport to participate in.  It felt quite strange slowly waking up on Saturday and Sunday morning, not having to race around preparing breakfast, locating shorts, shirts and socks and rousing my 10 year old out of bed for a big game.  It felt so strange, we were kind of at a loss as to what to do.  So we packed the car up on Saturday morning and drove to the country - about two hours out of the city. 

It was such a glorious winter's day - not a cloud in the sky and there were no fights in the back!!  With TD No. 1 at Nanny's house, the other two sat in the back with their ipod thingys on the whole time.  It wasn't until we stopped and unpacked the picnic, they started at each other, by which time I was able to just walk away and enjoy the peace and serenity of the country.

The rest of my week was taken up with doctor's visits, blood tests, mole scans, a mammogram and dental check ups - not exactly what I had planned for my mid year break, but things that I never usually have time to do.  I did manage to catch up with a friend and we did go shopping (No. 1 on my 'Things I want to do over the holidays' list) but I didn't buy a single thing for myself.  It was all for the kids.  Anyway, I've told myself if I get the uni results I want and have worked so hard for, I will go out and buy myself a you-bute, top of the line hair straightner.  I've been trying not to think of my results but had a quick look today, heart pounding, fingers slightly shaking - but no results as of yet.

No. 2 on my list was 'read, read, read' of which I have been doing.  I'm trying to get into 'Brideshead Revisited', which I must admit is hard going at the moment but I have read losts of trashy magazines - does that count?

I still have four weeks to go for the 'walking on the beach, catching up with friends and growing a herb garden' and that just leaves...running...hmmm...  I'll have to get back to you on that one.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The nit nurse

After posting my list of relaxing activities I wanted to pursue over the semester break, I was confronted with a slight side track last night - head lice.  Anyone who's ever had the delight of being introduced to these irritating little blood-sucking creatures will feel my pain. 

After weeks of No. 1 Son complaining that his head was itchy and searching and searching through his hair on many, many occasions and finding absolutely nothing, I came to the conclusion that he had some sort of determatological condition of the scalp - so I bought him the appropriate Neutrogena shampoo.  This seemed to stop the itching for a day or two and then it was back on.  I thought maybe it was because he does a lot of sport, so every time he had training, I told him to wash his hair.  Then last night TD No. 1 came to me begging me to check her hair because she too was itchy.  After searching and searching through her hair, I thought I saw a little egg.  I dashed down to the chemist which was just about to close, just to be sure it wasn't what I thought it was. 

Once I put the lotion on both their delightful little blonde heads, it became very, very clear they had nits!!!  I bet you're scratching your head now as you read this, aren't you?  Even as I was in the chemist talking to the pharmacy assistant about the best solution, we both started scratching our heads.  Anyway, long story short...I spent all night doing all our heads, and washing sheets, pillow cases and towels.  Thank goodness it was only the two of them that had an orgy of nits amongst their thick locks.

I remember when I was at school, we had a nit nurse that used to come around and check our heads regularly (usually during the spring months of September/October).  I also remember the shame on the faces of the little urchins that were sent home with head lice.  In those days, it was thought that only dirty people attracted head lice.  Nowadays, they say the little critters love clean hair.  Yes, that's it - my children have extra clean hair - hence the nits!!!  I'll take that.

I honestly don't know what sort of hair they like - all I know is that they're a pain in the butt to get rid of!  And a nice little start to my relaxing semester break!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Oh, what a feeling

I awoke this morning content in the knowledge that all my assignments are done!  What a feeling.  I stayed up till midnight last night putting in the finishing touches (yes, finishing touches even take me all night!) and now I have a whole day free before I have to hand it in on Tuesday.  My previous rant about possibly going back to work or doing something else, seems like a very distant memory and I'm sure in four weeks, when I'm due to return to uni, I'll be rearing to go.

Until then, my mind is abuzz with all the things I'm going to do in my break -

Go shopping!!!!
Read, read, read - all those books that have been collecting dust over the Semester
Walk on the beach (I'm going to the Sunshine Coast for a week with the kids)
Meet all those friends I've been ignoring
Write - for pleasure
See all the movies I've missed
Gardening - I want to start a herb garden
And finally...take up the running I've been threatening to do for ages...

Hopefully, all my hard work this Semester has been worth it.  Regardless, I think it's all worth it just to appreciate any leisure time I get.  Wow, I hope I can fit it all in!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Sounds of silence


TD No. 1 has gone to work, TD No. 2 has gone to Nanny's and No. 1 Son has gone to a friend's house, so I'm sitting here listing to.....silence!  The peace and quiet is deafening.  So what better opportunity to put the finishing touches on my last essay.  Although, to tell you the truth, I'd much rather be lying in the sun on the back deck.

I enrolled in next semester's classes on Wednesday - New Communication Technologies, World History and Creative Writing even though I'm seriously considering either going back to work or buying a book shop. I find myself continually questionning why I'm at Uni in the first place.  Anyway, I have a good 4 weeks to mull things over.

In the mean time, my essay on The Birds beckons.  The sooner it's done, the sooner I can hit the hammock!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Struggling

Like Sarah (see 'Rest day' comments), my rest day on Friday carried on through the weekend until this morning.  Also like Sarah, I've started a new blog to document the latest challenge I've given myself - to re-start my running regime and run in a 5km fun run.  This is just another sign of my flagging enthusiasm for essay writing of late.  The other sign is the change of template - always a sign of boredom!

This is my latest essay that I'm attempting to work on - a personal essay on 'Essay writing and its relationship to knowledge'.  My motivational factor at the moment is zero.  I feel as if I'm halfway through it and starting to go off on another tangent.  I thought the personal essay would suit my creative style of writing, however, once the thought processes start, it is quite easy to lose direction.  I take my hat off to all those people writing a thesis!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Rest day

After taking doggy for a walk on this beautiful winter's morning, my intention was to lock myself in my study and complete the last two assignments for the semester.  However, once I got home and assessed the state of the house and remembered that the out-laws (I really love them to bits but I just love the term!) were coming over for dinner, I decided to have a 'rest day' from the study and potter around the house.

I justified my thought process by agreeing that I have spent the last couple of days diligently writing one assignment or another and that my brain deserved a bit of a rest.  I had my last lecture yesterday and visions of five reading-movie watching-socialising-bludging, weeks holiday are dancing around in my head. These visions make it hard for me to even contemplate the subjects I will take next semester, which I have to enrol in next week.  I love the fact that I've made it through another semester, but the anxieties about assignments/exams doesn't seem to get any easier.  I also miss the social aspects of employment and am contemplating finding something part-time.  I just have to work out how I will also fit in the study, football training, band practice, drama lessons and soccer training at the same time (the kids' extra-curricular activities - not mine)!!!

As if that's not time consuming enough, TD No 2 has decided to extend her vegetarianism to veganism.  While I support her decision whole heartedly, it has been a bit challenging finding alternatives to milk, cheese and eggs.  Actually, I've rather enjoyed researching this choice of diet and have decided to join her.  Apart from the obvious reasons for boycotting animal products, it might actually be good for us.  It certainly makes for lively dinner table debate with the carnivores on the one side (No. 1 Son, SH. No. 1 and TD No.1) and the herbivores on the other (TD No. 2 and myself).

The down-side is, of course, making two different meals to please everyone! Maybe I deserve a rest day more often.

I've done it!!!

Well, I've finally done it!! Got accepted into Uni AND created a blog!!! After searching for insightful websites to help me tackle my journey into academia at my ripe old age and coming up with nil, I decided to start one of my own. I hope this blog will encourage anyone who has ever doubted their own abilities, to put one foot in front of the other and achieve their ambitions, desires, dreams...no matter what they are. If anyone has any inspiring stories to share, I would love to hear them. I love an inspiring story!!!