Where does the time go?

I've been so busy with work and school and commuting that when I get home, I just want to slump on the couch and nap until it's bedtime.

That is sad really.

But man, sleep is my best friend right now.

Clearly a case of S T R E S S

Online Master's Degree

I have always said that a person is never too old to go back to school. I have argued this point with my brother in law. He went back to school to become an engineer. During his courses, he fell in love with all things mathematic and changed his major to become a teacher of mathematics at the high school level. Then he dropped out because his school schedule was interfering with his work schedule which was not flexible at all. I tried to convince him to take some online courses and plug forward, but he is now of the mindset that he is too old and his education will cost more than he will make upon graduation.

I feel very frustrated for him because I took the last year an a half of my undergrad studies online. I loved the freedom and the fact that I could work full time and still take care of my children and get my education, which would ultimately better myself and my family. In fact, I so enjoyed my online experience, I am now, four years later, obtaining my Master’s Degree online. Personally, I believe that the online learning experience is richer than a traditional, in class, education. I believe that online learning forces the student to pay more attention to what they are doing, thus committing it to memory in a deeper manner than what would be experienced for some in a traditional setting.

Recently, I was looking at online degree programs for my husband and my little brother. My husband works for the Department of Corrections. He wants to eventually move from the prison and into Adult Probation and Parole or perhaps juvenile probation. I want him to consider obtaining a Public safety masters degree because I think that would further his career in a more fulfilling as well as financially beneficial way. While researching the Lewis University and its online program, I found that Lewis has been listed as one of the best colleges in its region for the past five years. That is impressive to me because I believe that a person should be proud of where they obtain their degree, otherwise, the degree will not be worth much to the student, nor will the student work as hard for their degree. Further, I believe that any school that offers flexibility in both the time it takes to obtain a particular degree, as well as an accelerated pace to those students who want it, is important. It takes away the cookie cutter aspect of college and everything being uniform, which I believe is important to adult learners. Finally, I believe that more and more adults want to further their education and obtain degrees that were formerly unattainable unless a person was willing to quit their job and go to school full time. The idea of online university classes and degrees is appealing to a great number of professionals so the more programs that become available, the better the selection as well as the programs. That benefits everyone really.

getting a good sleep

Often times, I suffer from bouts of insomnia. Usually it is when I’m mega stressed at work and working 15 or 16 hour days. When I’m in that particular mode, it is hard for me to relax enough to get to sleep and if I do fall asleep, I’m awake again after half hour with another good seven or eight hours before I’m tired again. I’ve heard from different people that I should consider a sleep aid. However, I’m not sure what the best sleep aid is, or how I might react to it. Certainly I don’t want to feel like I have a hangover the next day. I also don’t want to zombie out and start doing weird things in my sleep. Honestly, sleeping aids scare me. I’ve tried an over the counter sleep aid, but all that did was make me feel groggy and sluggish the next day.

Education - pursue it.

Not many people know this, but most of my undergrad studies were done online. I did not have an actual in person class for the last year and a half of my quest to obtain a bachelor's degree. Can I just tell you, I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Sure, there were a couple of weekends where I was holed up in my master closet (because it is the quietest place in my house) with a coke, skittles and a book I was supposed to read weeks prior and had a report due on within the next 48 hours. However, the fact that I could do my homework after my kids were in bed, after my house was clean, after working a full day and not having to rearrange my days off, all said and done, my experience with obtaining an online degree was such a good one, I decided to go back and get my Masters in Psychology. I will have that degree in August of this year. I don't know what I will do with all my free time come August, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it!

Speaking of insomnia

I have 16 different Olympic programs recorded. I think I've made my way through three of them. I predict my weekend to be consumed with a sick husband who whines a lot and many hours of watch - fast forward through commercials - watch - skip events I don't want to see - fast forward through commercials - watch - delete. Over and over and over.

Hair Loss - an epidemic

Have you ever watched late night television? I don’t usually watch it on purpose, but last week I had a bout of insomnia and via my channel surfing I stumbled across an infomercial for the best hair loss treatment out there. This particular program had to do with that cheesy hair dye stuff that men are supposed to spray onto their bald spots and magically grow a hairy colored spot there. At first I was rather fascinated with the idea of a dry, powder like spray being used to cover a bald spot. Then I realized there are probably men and women who have purchased this product for their husband, boyfriend or even for themselves. At that point I made a mental note to block late night programming from my husband.

Losing Weight The Old Fashioned Way

Last year I made a resolution that I was going to lose weight. I was not sure how I was going to accomplish that goal, but I knew it was going to happen. I started by cutting out sugars from my diet. I don’t mean all sugar, just the extra sugar I was consuming like soda pop and cupcakes. Then, I cut back on portions. I checked into some diet aids and considered the alli weight loss diet but ultimately, I decided that if I wanted to lose weight, and keep it off, I needed lifestyle changes first. I honestly believe that is the key to maintaining the weight loss. Next came exercise, which I am still doing in baby steps. My metabolism is about zero point one these days so getting motivated is harder than one would think. And before you give me the pep talk about exercise giving me energy, save your typing fingers. Right now, all exercise does is make me tired and sweaty.

Baby steps people. Baby steps.

Anti Aging - count me in!

When I turned 40 last year, I was not concerned with my looks. I have had a smattering of gray hair for at least ten years. Only recently have I started getting more in my forehead area. They used to be mostly at my temples. I was not worried about laugh lines or those fine lines that appear by your eyes.

Then I lost 35 pounds. Wow. Fat really helps smooth out your face skin. I’m just saying. Now, well, I’m considering some kind of anti aging product that would bring back my smooth, flawless skin. Seriously. I’m going to have to buy a face bra at this rate!

Where do HGH come from anyway?

I can honestly say that I have never really been in the market for an hgh spray but I suppose there is a real market out there for such products. I have always been just a tiny little bit afraid to try anything that didn’t come from my doctor. Then again, I have not found myself in a position to want to improve memory or strengthen my muscle or bones. I remember years ago, when I was first married, my husband was a skinny thing. He wore a size 27 waist (I broke one of my own rules, dating/marrying a guy with a smaller butt than mine). Anyway, he used to make these shakes with ice cream and some really disgusting powder crap that he put in them, it tasted like a sand shake to me, and it was supposed to make him gain weight and muscle. It didn’t work. He finally gained wait when he quit smoking years later. Now, he is trim and muscular and surprisingly, he looks back on those years of supplementation as a waste of time.

Moving or Relocating? Do your homework!

When we moved from Utah to Arizona, we did so with a very blind eye. We did not know the city, we did not know the freeway systems and we did not know how to go about finding somewhere to live. Thankfully, my husband is pretty internet savvy and found us a place to rent. However, after being here for two years, we decided we wanted to stay and we set about finding a house. What we did not know was how many mortgages and loan types were available. We were again taking blind stabs in the dark until we finally found someone through a a friend of a friend. I wish we knew then what we know now.

toning up

Today I waived to my daughters as they walked into the school. I finished waiving, but my arm did not. It kept on waiving like the wattle on a turkey. Had I been in public, I would have been mortified. I knew right then and there that I needed to do something to tone up. I've lost near 40 lbs since September. Now, while I fit into my size twelves again and look pretty darned good, even I concede that I must check into some fitness equipment and get myself toned up. It's almost summer. That means pool parties and swimming suits. I want to look as good out of my clothes as I do in them. Internet, here I come!

Let's talk shoes

Two years ago I heard about a sandal type slip on that allegedly helped to tone your muscles. They were only available over seas so of course, I didn't buy any. I sat around on the internet looking for quicky weight loss plans or ideas. Last year, again with the whole turning forty something, when I took stock of my life and made some choices, one of the things I dedicated myself to was losing some weight. I am glad to be able to say that I am down over thirty pounds now, six months later. I continue to lose but I am concerned about toning up and finding the time to fit in just a little more activity. Walking is the one thing I can do and do well so I have been checking into the new sneaker type shoes that are supposed to help with toning. Recently, I came across the mbt shoes and while I do not think they are very attractive, they do have an appeal that I like: they allegedly mimic the feel of walking barefoot. I walk barefoot all the time. I only wear shoes at work. I don't even worry about the spiders, critters and scorpions anymore. I just want the feel of my bare feet clenching when I walk. I might have to try the shoes.

Taking Stock of What's Important

When I turned forty a couple years ago, I did a little prioritizing in my life. I realized that killing myself at work was not going to give me more quality time with my kids or husband. I realized that getting my Masters degree was important to me. I realized that I needed to slow down and take just a few minutes each day for myself (that part isn't working out so well. See my last post). Mostly, I did something of a taking stock of my life thing and decided there were a couple places that needed changing.

Since that time, I have redone my yard (because hey, it was on the list of things to do). I've gone out on a limb and did something racy (that I'm not blogging). I have made more of an effort to call the important people in my life and just say hi. Recently, I painted my bedroom. I'm not liking the color much, but, as I was laying there one night thinking, man, this room needs a coat of paint, at least I wasn't thinking about how I need a life insurance policy or a living will.

Maybe that whole taking stock thing did some good.