Home again, home again......

Me and my Grandson at In & Out Burger....

The first couple of days I spent hanging out with my eldest son and grandson.  He is autistic, or "on the spectrum".  He has grown so much, he is taller, but small for his age.  More importantly, he speaks much more, and doesn't have as many "melt downs", which is what my son calls them.  These occur when the environment frustrates him, or, like any child, when he doesn't get his way.   He takes care of himself more, like brushing his teeth.  He also seems to have grown out of staying up much of the night.  Other things haven't changed...he is so attached to the i-pad that he never goes anywhere without it, or a smart phone.  In many ways, it's like a security blanket.  I wish I lived close enough to have more time with him.  My son was a bit surprised that he felt so comfortable around me, but I think it's because I didn't focus on getting his attention all the time.  I'm the grandma, not a therapist.  It was great that he sat with me on the sofa and leaned into me while playing his game.  He does not seem to have the touch phobia many autistic children have, but he does want it on his terms.  It was a great visit except for the few hours we spent at Chuckie Cheese, where the decible levels of games and kids screaming (both in joy and in anger) nearly drove me insane.  I guess it is a treat that they do once a month.  I would do anything not to experience that again.  

My son's cat...cute and very vocal.  At 14 she still plays like a kitten.

I stayed at my sister's place...a small ranch.

Early one morning I woke to see this fog, and ran out to take a bunch of photos.

I wish the spide webs were more visible, which is what I was going for.

I particularly like this one.

I enjoyed the visit, and even more so now that I have more vacation time!  I was able to stay for a whole week, whereas in the past I only stayed for 4 to 5 days, which always included a weekend.  

My sis and I spent a whole day at the San Marcos outlet, mostly looking, but buying as well.  We found a birthday gift for Mom, a bonus!  She is so hard to buy for.

Me & sis with their dog, Buster.  

Well, I need to get busy catching up with class work.  I did pretty well on the first test, an 85.  Of course I would have loved an A, but ah, well.  

Have a great week, everyone!

Love, 365

Too much to do, not enough time to do it all.....

Yep...

It's week 5 in my Human Behavioral Ecology class, and although I only bought one book (less than $10 on Amazon) we have a great deal of pages to read each week that is posted on "Learn" ~ the format they use for online classes.  This has meant printing between 50 and 100 pages every week, that sadly, I have to read & comprehend.  

In the meantime, I decided in late December to take a trip home to visit family (Mum, Sis, older Son, Grandson) for a week, Sunday to Sunday.  I leave for the trip this Sunday.  About 2 weeks ago I realized that our first exam is this weekend.  Typically you have until Monday at midnight to complete your assignments, and the exam is no different.  But, not wanting to lug my computer and class notes with me, and realizing I probably wouldn't have free time to study/take exam after I'm already there, I decided that I really need to take the exam on Saturday ~ tomorrow.  I completed my assignment for the week on the 13th, printed up the 100 pages to read for this week.  (Truthfully a bit unsettled that he gave us 100 pages to read the week before an exam!)  So, every day this week I have schlepped to work, reading at my lunch hour, watching the video lecture then work on studying for the exam.  For the past 5 days, I have literally had only about 2 hours of "nothing to do" which includes getting ready for work in the morning and eating dinner & spending a few minutes with Romeo before retiring to the office to work and study.  

We finish the work day early on Friday, so I decided to treat myself to a pedicure and ended up with a manicure too, which was a nice break, right?  I was reading while she was doing the pedicure, but started feeling anxious during the manicure, when all I could do was sit there thinking that I should be reading or studying.

I have done nothing but put a few clothes on the sofa in our bedroom for the trip.  Usually I get the suitcase out a week before and gradually add stuff to it ~ you know, so that I won't forget anything.  

Hmmmmm.  I foresee forgetting something in my near future.  Lol.

Of course I am nervous about the exam, as it is the first one of the semester, with a new professor and no idea of what to expect.  Although I anticipate "short answers" for part of it ~ writing.  I hope I at least do decently on it.

Co-workers notice this increased activity of course, and say things like "I really admire you for doing this!", when what I believe they are thinking is "You're crazy!".  They could be right.  

Love, 365

Blow it out.....

Today's forecast.....wind gusts up to 50 mph

There is no sleeping in when it's windy in Albuquerque.  As I sit here in my office the entire house shuddered from the force of it.  Everything creaks, rattles, and groans.  Ugh.  I really hate when it's windy.

IN THE NEWS

Is it just me or does this sound like a really bad idea?

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Just goes to show that Trump isn't the only one...

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We've had news stories about nabbing the #1 spot for car theft.  Many of these are because Albuquerqueians tend to "warm up" their car in the driveway without locking it.  

Studpidity abounds.

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Ha ha ha ha ha.....

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Love, 365

It's either time for a break, or time to knuckle under.

As in....nope I don't have a clue.

My class this semester, which is online (super convenient) is not an easy one, although it is very interesting...basically studying the adaptations that we humans have experienced since the Pleistocene (12 thousand years ago, give or take a few thousand).  In case you're interested, lactose tolerance is one.  But since this isn't a paper I'm writing for class or a test, I'll let you do your own research if you want to know, ha ha.

Once again, I am wondering if, after over 6 years of part time college, if I need a break from classes, writing papers, taking tests.  Perhaps it would renew my enthusiasm.  My biggest worry is that I will never go back and finish.  And I desperately want to finish what I've started.  So, I suppose that the answer is already there, and I should continue on and finish.  Even if I break for the summer, it will probably mean I won't graduate until December 2018.  Ugh.  I suppose what I need is a peer that works and goes to school like I do.  I do know someone who is close to my age, but he doesn't work, so it's a bit difficult to relate.  

I'm also a little irritated that I haven't heard yet from the professor if I can delay a paper that is due the Monday after I return from a week visiting my family in Texas.  I could take my computer with me and try to find some time to study, but the truth is, I'd rather not.  I've done that before, and it wasn't very productive.  Normally I would work ahead, but we have our first test on the Satuday before I leave, so I don't see that as a viable option.  Hmph.

Otherwise, we have been having wonderful weather, warmer than average, and for the most part, sunny.  But apparently the bottom will drop out tomorrow or Monday with a chance of snow and rain, with normal temps in the 30's and 40's.  I guess we'll have to wait for spring a bit longer.  Just as the stupid little rodent groundhog predicted.  

Love, 365

Let's talk about flossing......

At my current workplace ~ a dental office in case you haven't read much of my blog ~ we have morning meetings.  Basically they are designed to review the schedule, decide if there are any issues we need to be aware of (like if the patient is chronically late, or is terrified of the dentist, or requires premedications because they have a joint replacement).  In late August, it was a little different due to this story:

Go here to read the story about how you don't need to floss anymore.....

Those of us who hadn't read the story literally gasped!....gasped!  The hygienists were outraged.  The doctors were incredulous.  How could anyone have the audacity to write this!  Sacriledge!  The world is coming to an end!

Ok, I sort of overemphasized their reactions.....except the hygienists.  They truly were outraged.  The horror.

So, about a month ago, one of our hygienists devised a plan to show all of us just how important flossing is, by using disclosing drops and then giving us a varied number of options to remove the plaque between our teeth.  Have you ever used disclosing solution?  Here's what it looks like:

I used to use the tablets on my kids when they were little, just to point out the places they missed during their nightly before bed brush-a-thon.  I don't think the tablets are as widely available these days, although I think you can still order it on Amazon, or directly from Gum products online.  

It was a nightmare, because I was wearing a white shirt that I've only had a month and I was terrified that I would get some of that crap on it.  Luckily, it didn't happen.  But it does point out just how difficult it is to remove plaque between your teeth.  I ended up with a woven floss that worked very well.  But there are tons of products out there to try.   

Anyway, the point of all of this is that ~ yeah, you really should still floss.  If not every day, then at least 4 times a week.  Some patients refuse to do it.  I think they drive the hygienists crazy.  If you have a chance to test yourself, do it...it's an eye opener.

Love, 365

Where's the common sense?

When I was growing up, one of the things my Mom used to say (& sometimes yell, ha ha) "Don't you have any common sense?"  Preceeding that statement was her discovery that I had done something bone-headed, like lie that I hadn't snuck out the night before only to discover I had forgotten to get up early to put the screen back on the window.  That was my signature way to get out after bedtime....I knew lots of teens that did the same.

Unfortunately, sometime in the last 30 years, common sense doesn't seem to be something that parents strive for or pass on to their kids.  In fact, most people seem to have taken all of their common sense and packed it away, put it in the attic, and forgot that it was there.

Just look at the cartoon above.  You would think that most people understand that not everything on the internet is true.  Yet, in the workplace everyday, co-workers have conversations about all kinds of things they read or saw on their computers.  Diets are one example.  At my office the current claim is that apple cider vinegar and garcenia, taken every day, will "melt off the pounds" without making any other changes in exercise or calorie counts ~ it supposedly increases your metabolism.  Well, if weight loss were that easy, wouldn't everyone do it?  Yep.

Mostly I notice people don't have any common sense when dealing with John Q Public.  They rudely push past you to get ahead of you in line.  They cut you off when your driving to work.  They make rude remarks if they believe they've been slighted in some way, even though all you were trying to do was pick out the right ingredient for dinner, they think you're deliberately stopped in the way to prevent them from getting what they need.  

They talk on the phone in public about their colonoscopies, without regard to everyone around them.  Of course now that we have cell phones, no one uses them at home, they talk while at the dentist, the bank, the movies.  You simply can't get away from a wife loudly describing to her husband the fight their child got into over something stupid at school.  

Everyone is in such a hurry.  I see that everyday going to work and going home....a few days ago I witnessed the aftermath of a rear end collision that was most likely the result of tail gating ~ something I experience every day.  Somehow people think that getting really close to your back bumper will make you speed up.  Of course, this presumes the other person will look in thier rear view mirror.  

I don't even want to discuss politics or polititians.  I'm not sure they've ever had any common sense.  Otherwise, why would you even want to be one?  It seems that any "honest" polititian remains so for so short a time as to not even be measurable.  

Cynical much?  Yeah.  I don't like it when my cynical side comes out, but every now and then, you just have to tell it like it is.  A purge, so to speak.  Then move on.......

Love, 365