Time? to Pause? to Think? to Write...

I've been wanting to get to this for some time now. As little as I think happens in my life, I'm sure there is plenty I could write about, for your benefit as well as my own. Fall semester ended. The holidays are over. Spring semester has yet to begin. So here I go...
First let me start by mentioning my reconnection with Diane ("Simone", in some circles - which happen to include just me and Diane, and Stacey, who has known Diane since she was a toddler I think, and connects with her spiritually when in need of good energy and a good parking space.). Dee & I have been friends for over 20 years I think, and though we have been separated from time to time, either by geography or by time constraints, we are never apart from each other. But this fall we met for dinner after not seeing each other for a couple of years I think, and again just before the holidays. I am hopeful that we will get together again in the next couple of weeks, before my school schedule is in full swing. Her birthday is just around the corner and she marks a milestone this year. I think it's...hmmm...49! Yes, I think that's it - 49. She can correct me if she needs or wants to when we meet next. When I think of the good friends I've lost because they passed too young, I just have to say "Happy Birthday, Simone! You mean more to me than you know and together we are forever young!"
Today I started the day with an MRI of my foot. I've been having pain in my heel & up the side of the back of my heel since July, when I had to do some hand-walking of Biff in my western boots, which are not very supportive to my feet. I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis by a PA just before we visited Eric & Chandra in August. I did the exercises & the icing thing for a time, but probably left out the resting part of the therapy. While there has been some improvement, I still have problems with pain on the outside of my heel. So now, after a visit to the foot specialist, its time to see what might be causing that. Now, he did tell me to keep up on the plantar faciitis exercises etc, and I'll give that.
After the MRI, I went to the COD Bookstore to get my books for this semester, but alas, the financial aid office still hasn't given my scholarship info to the bookstore, so I have to go the the FA office on Monday and get a voucher for my books.
From COD, I sent myself over to BR Ryall YMCA. There I took a tour, talked with one of the assistant managers, and signed myself up. With Biff in Missouri now I need to make myself spend some time in physical activity. If I don't I'll allow myself to spend all my time either behind the desk and on my feet at work, behind a desk in class or behind a desk studying. I love to study and work on schoolwork, but it is not always the healthy thing for me to be doing. My plan is to start swimming, work out some in the fitness center, and eventually join some classes that will hold me accountable. In order to keep myself from making excuses from the start, I immmediately began my search for swimwear. It's a scary proposition, but I have to get into some and get into the water. I was not able to make a purchase today, but I think I have an idea where to go.
Backing up now, the holidays were wonderful. Eric & Chandra were here and Stacey made her first trip home from Missouri. Evan, who has moved into an apartment near school was here, of course too. Ted, Kelli & Meghan, Bill & Sarah, and Phil & Christie and all my buddies were here for Christmas Day. Christmas Eve we spent with the Anderson side at Byron & Pam's in Lake Zurich and celebrated Marv's mom's 80-something-th birthday. It seems we don't get together with Byron & Pam but once a year, which is too bad, because I always enjoy our evening with them. My hat is off to them for having us all, especially Pam who is a wonderful hostess.
And my fall semester of college classes was a tough one, in that I was not studying anything I really wanted to. Not being accepted into the PT Assistant program at COD, I took a Billing & Coding class in an effort to find out if health information technology interested me at all. Well, I got an A in the class and I think I will do very well as I have decided to continue with that course of study for now. I'm not sure that a job in that field would be any more rewarding intellectually than the job what I have now, but if I need to possess a marketable skill, this is a good road to follow. Still, it is a desk job, and I need to find ways to MOVE. In addition to that, I took the second half of the math class I need as a prerequisite to any other college mathematics class I might have to take. I didn't need to take it for anything in particular at this point, but depending on what my future holds, I may need it, so I decided to get it done. I only got a C in that course and I blame that on the instructor for being a very poor educator. Given an instructor with an education degree instead of just math degrees, someone who genuinely desires to promote learning & success, I would have received a better grade in the end. I could go on about this, but I won't, as I know the subject is indeed debatable and in the long run, so goes life. I'll take the C and know that the instructor only earned a C. I learned much more than that grade suggests. The good news is that it is not a course that affects my college transcript. In other words, I still have a 4.0!
Gonzo. Gonzo is an absolute joy. Except when he steals the potatoes for roasting right out of the pan on the counter, without moving the pan. Then he is just our handsome and forgivable Gonzo. Just ask Marv. We love him, so we had couscous tonight instead of potatoes. He gets into bed with me at night and after Marv leaves for work in the morning. He is always available for snuggling & cuddling, and in fact, he often insists on it. After Baron left us I wasn't really noticing the effect on Marv & me, until Gonzo came and engaged us in what we have been used to for 30-some years - caring for someone other than ourselves. We need him. Oh, yea, we wanted to take him, but I realize now that we really needed him. He is a joy. I hope that soon Phil & Christie can begin to explain to Zachary where Gonzo is and that we will be able to take him to visit the buddies. I know they miss each other some and an occasional visit would do them all good. Z was telling me last time we were over at his house how Pinot and Gonzo were his best friends. He told me Gonzo comes on his bed & cuddles with him. I know what he means! It's nice. And I want to give him that sometimes. I'd bring Z over here, but we don't have a fenced yard for them to play in and in the house there's not enough space. Mom's would be a perfect meeting place, but that's not so practical either. In time, all in good time.
On the technology front, Evan & I got new phones this week. Droids. Sorry iPhone relatives, we wanted to stick with Verizon and since Evan was hot on the Droid, and they offered a deal, we both got them. He has the Motorola and I have the HTC Eris. Its really fun to be able to connect to the internet wherever I am and get what I want. On the other hand, the first bill hasn't come yet. I am thankful that Evan is aware of the cost and sharing in it, if not bearing the larger part. He takes good care of me on that front.
Eric & Chandra gave me Her Fearful Symmetry for Christmas and I just finished it night before last. Congrats to Audrey on another enjoyable literary adventure! I look forward again to the next and feel blessed that I was able to spend time with you on several occasions. I love your imagination. Thank you Chris for that connection. And now on to Michael Pollan who is already, in the first few pages of his book, Second Nature, is describing gardening just as I imagine it to be! Come May, we'll see what remains of the garden Marv & I started last May, and perhaps with inspiration from this book, we'll forge ahead.
Well, it's been good chatting. The cold/flu I've had for the last two weeks is taking it's toll for today and I'm wiped. It's 7:33pm and I have my glass of water, & regardless of the playoff games, am ready to climb into bed with my book & call it a day.
Tomorrow, belated birthday dinner for my Dad (since Marv & I were terribly sick last week), and the end of the semester break. Tuesday I have my orientation at the Y and I start classes this coming Thursday. They include Diagnostic Coding, Intro to PT, and Intro to Computer Info Systems. Wish me luck!