Simple Woman's Daybook

 

I haven't participated in this meme for awhile. Thanks to Rachel for inspiring me to join in today.

FOR TODAY...Monday 7th January, 2013

Outside my window...the sky is grey and overcast and wet!

I am thinking...that tonight is the start of my new language class at the university. I really don't want to leave the house due to inclement weather and a bad leg but I will. I'll be "testing" the leg this week and see how it goes.

I am thankful...that even though my leg is not yet 100% and is more sore than yesterday, I can walk better than I did a few days ago.

In the kitchen...Nothing is happening today. I had cold cereal for breakfast and will have some cold chicken and hot soup for lunch.

I am wearing...pajamas. I'm feeling lazy today but I really do need to get dressed.

I am creating...nothing at the moment but am very excited as I have a new sewing machine to work with soon. More about that later.

I am going...to eat, have my shower, fold laundry and get going to the university.

I am wondering...when I will complete all the registration requirements for my new class. I am already a bit behind schedule with the process through no fault of my own. Everything is much different since I last attended university!

I am reading...university websites and trying to register on line. I need technical help but not for the obvious reasons. I've looked for their phone number (hard to find) and sent them an email instead. My alma mater is geared to doing everything on line these days. So far no response but I'm sure (hope) it will be sorted out this week.

I am hoping...My leg holds up to a lot of walking this week. I was also hoping to get some financial assistance with the class but found out this afternoon that won't happen.  I still want to take the class :-)

I am looking forward to...some deliveries in the mail which will help me with acting on two of my longer term goals for the year.  More about this in future posts.

I am learning...to relax, take it easy and more or less "go with the flow".

Around the house...the rooms are relatively clean or "liveable".  The kitchen floor is in need of a wash after the delivery and installation of new appliances, the pots and pans need hand washing and laundry needs folding. I'm listening to old Ed Sullivan shows and old music on KCTS 9. One of my favourite bands, Creedence Clearwater Revival just finished singing "Proud Mary". It's so funny to see the old "hip" clothing they and other groups like The Fifth Dimension are wearing.

I am pondering...my new class and how much home work I might have. Perhaps I should say I am excited about taking my new class but I'm more anxious than excited. I want to do well and at least retain a lot of what I'm taught. Of course everyone would like to do that and the older one gets the harder to retain things.

One of my favourite things...reaching goals and feeling like I'm making progress.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  catching up on my new book "Where White Men Fear to Tread: The Autobiography of Russell Means", finishing my old book "East of Eden" and continuing with my Bible readings; completing the administrative requirements for my course, going to the eye doctor and making my appointments for the rest of the month.

The autobiography of Russell Means is a long book (573 pages in hardcover).  Amazon describes it as "
An autobiography of epic scope--the riveting life story of Russell Means, the most revolutionary Indian leader of our century, who burst onto the national scene when he led a 71-day armed takeover of Wounded Knee in 1973. Means brilliantly recounts the tragic quest of Indians to maintain cultural identity in the face of unremitting white assimilation."  Personally the style of writing doesn't fully engage me but I think this is a very important book to read.  It covers important aspects of American history and race relations with Native Americans.  Mr. Means died on October 22, 2012 and  I'm glad he had a chance to write his autobiography before his passing. May he rest in peace.

A peek into my day...getting organized for the week and learning to be a student again.

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A Sunday Afternoon

It was a Sunday afternoon, wet and cheerless; and a duller spectacle this earth of ours has not to show than a rainy Sunday in London.

Thomas De Quincey

When I read this quote I thought it was made just for my city on a cold, wet afternoon. It is often like this in winter on a weekend when one would like to get out and see something.  A lot of people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (depression from lack of sunlight over the dark, winter months) as a result and it is easy to see why. I find it helps to get out when you can despite the weather and to also have things that you look forward to doing, whether it be inside or outside (having my list of annual goals really helps me with ensuring I have useful things to do and things I want to do).

However I've been indoors a lot since I returned home from my Christmas visit.  I am nursing my left leg which gave out before Christmas (another knee problem in my good leg). It has been too painful to walk and I'm trying to get well before my new class starts on Monday night (that's tomorrow already!).

I've been praying for myself, getting others to pray for me, putting a heating pad on the knee for hours at a time, rubbing some  liniment on it, doing some light stretching, taking fish oils and generally staying off the leg as much as I can.  Just the other day I added Curamin to my regimen.  I am happy to report that late yesterday and again today I can feel an improvement and I'm cautiously optimistic that if if things continue to improve I will be able to make it to my first class tomorrow night. I plan to study and learn the Cree language, one of the largest of the First Nations languages of Canada.  It doesn't seem to be offered every term so I really want to take advantage of the offering now and will be studying the Plains dialect (spoken in the western provinces and Northern Terrritories).  Originally I was going to carry on with my Swahili language lessons but that will have to wait until the Fall or I will try to make time to study on my own.

In domestic news, my kitchen is now back to normal. The new dishwasher has been used to wash a load. It is a very quiet operation (so nice). I've also made some porridge on the new stove top. The burners heat virtually immediately. This is such a nice feature as I really dislike waiting for water to boil. The oven was also used to roast a rosemary chicken and came out very nicely crisped on top. I will save some white meat for my lunch or dinner tomorrow. The fridge appears to be working very well. Everything is nicely chilled. So far I'm very happy with all the new appliances. I'm now going to kick back with the heating pad on my leg and read a good book.

I hope you are making good progress on your goals and plans for 2013. We have a whole wonderful year to look forward to and enjoy. See you soon.

Blessings!