Spring Semester 2015

Tomorrow has approached much too quickly as the spring semester begins for both ISU and DMACC.    I was informed last week that one of my DMACC classes had been cancelled due to low enrollment.   In past semesters, I've usually taught two classes.   Fortunately I was slotted to teach three classes this semester so the fact that one was cancelled doesn't change my income.    I admit it would be nice to earn some extra money.    But it's also nice to know that I don't have to work on Monday nights.  

Both my DMACC classes are online classes.   One is my usual Sport Diversity class.   The other class is the same class I was going to teach Monday nights but its online only and is for a select population.  Apparently only high school students are enrolled in the class.   It should be interesting.

My load at ISU is lighter this semester, thank God.  I am teaching one health course for two sections.   The grading will be heavy but at least the prep is identical for each section.   The other course I'm teaching is for PE majors and I haven't taught it for a few years.    I'm still trying to figure out how I exactly want to teach the information so my syllabus isn't done yet.   Shame on me.   I am also supervising student teachers this semester but I only have one during the first half of the semester and only one during the second half.   The first is placed in a town very close to Ames and the other is student teaching in the Ames district.   

I think the lightening of my schedules is a sign or an indicator that focusing on my social life and having more fun should be a priority this year.   It can also help me with including exercise and physical activity in my life and making it more of a routine.   I had blood drawn last week (ick) and got my results.   I was happy to see my cholesterol had improved and my triglycerides are lower.   Now mind you, my triglycerides need to be much lower but at least they are lower.   My LDL cholesterol can also decrease too.    I'm in no rush to get my blood work checked again any time soon.   I also forgot to have them type my blood.   Sorry LeAnn!

I am also happy to report that I am sleeping better.  The first week of the new year was very rough in terms of quality, restorative sleep.   I even had a few rough days last week.   The last couple nights haven't been perfect but an improvement nonetheless.   My main issue is with falling asleep.  

The new living situation has been pretty decent too.   The set-up makes it look like I'm a college student again.   Our living room is still kind of haphazard.   I haven't hung anything up yet.   I still have a few random boxes in some rooms.   It's been nice to just having Gavin and myself in the apartment.   It feels normal for us to be the only ones in the residence.   A sad realization but a true one that I cannot deny.  His birthday is next week and luckily he is happy with having friends over to spend the night so that the cost can stay low.   We'll order some pizzas and they will play video games.   I will hide in my room.   It will be a wonderful Saturday night.    Hard to believe years ago I was organizing birthday parties at bowling alleys.   He didn't seem thrilled to do try that next weekend.

Anyway...time to wind down so the morning starts of well.

Happy New Year!

Well 2015 is upon us...I am more than happy to start a new year.   In a sense, I am happy that all my personal drama happened toward the end of 2014 rather than in the beginning or in the middle.   We've been back in Ankeny for a few days and I haven't been as productive as I had planned.   I still need to organize my "office area" but sorting through file cabinets hasn't been appealing.   Gavin and I have been fairly lazy but it's been nice to read for pleasure and watch TV/movies.  

I have been up and down but the valleys have been less common, which is nice.   The holidays were very nice and I was happy to spend a week up north.   I had been a little worried about how I'd be around Christmas and in all honesty, I was just fine.   I was a little bummed on New Year's Eve but it could have been worse.   I also go between being fine/relieved, a little sad, and angry still.  I'm sure the variance with my moods will continue for awhile but it gets annoying at times.   I can safely say that I have no motivation to date and I'm sure that will be the case for awhile.  It feels defeating to have put so many YEARS into a relationship and have someone just discard all that time and effort.  He has successfully ruined my trust in men, kudos to him.  

I need to crank out more tasks for work.   I need to work on my syllabi for my ISU classes and my DMACC classes.   One of my DMACC classes is new in a sense.   It's the same class I teach on Monday nights but it will be offered online with no in-person contact.  I need to start putting the class together...at least the first weeks.

Over break, I finally went to the Wellness Center in Waukon and did really enjoy it.  It was fun to play tennis during December.   I racked up a lot of fitness points with my tracker that day.   I need to figure out if and how I can use my treadmill in the apartment.   Whenever I try to use it, it trips the breaker in the living room.   I'm not sure if using a power strip will help or if the machine is too much for the electrical set-up in the apartment.   Sigh.   It's set up perfectly so I could watch TV while I use it...if only it would work.   Nevertheless I want to be more active.   And our eating choices need to improve too.    Luckily our strict grocery budget will help with eating out and poor dietary choices.  

Happy New Year!