The End is Here....And I Wish I Felt Better

July 30...last day of Summer Youth Fitness.    Typically I'd be jumping for joy and attempting back flips but I feel awful today.    If I remember correctly, lower back pain can cause other issues so that may be why I feel so nauseated and gross.   For the last two hours I've had the "hot and cold"feeling which isn't fun when I'm running all over for the camp.    Coincidentally we've had a decent number of injuries within the first hour of the program so I feel like a nurse.    Nothing like dry-heaving when you're trying to make a kid feel better.    It's amazing how a Band-Aid causes crying to stop for a child though.

I am counting down the hours until 5:00pm so I can go home, shower, and crawl into bed.    I don't feel tired thankfully but I just want to lay and be still.    Part of me wonders if my body recognizes the program is over and all my stress from the past eight weeks is in full physical effect.   The Family Night event went fairly well.   Hy-Vee catering was extremely late bringing our food though so I'm working with them to compensate money for our stress last night.    My favorite conversation with them last night (at 5:40pm)--"Our fruit trays have not arrived yet."   "Sorry to hear that but they aren't supposed to be delivered until 5:15pm"   "Umm...do you own a clock?"

In theory I have the next two weeks off from work but I will be doing some prep work for the fall semester.    I also need to finish prep for the graduate student orientation process too.    Luckily I can do most of it from home.    Gavin will be busy with football obligations so our ability to leave Ankeny is limited.    It bums me out the new semester will be starting so soon.    I don't feel like I get much of a summer anymore.

Things are going very well with the new fella in my life.    It's a new relationship so I'm not going to jump to conclusions but it's very nice to be seeing someone that is so compatible with my interests and likes.    I've looked forward to seeing him in the past couple weeks.   I must say that it's nice to have someone so kind and considerate in my life too.    Sad to say but I wasn't used to having that type of personality in my life in the past years.  

I guess that's all I have to report on for now.    I'm curious about how much I currently weigh but don't have access to the calibrated scale at work.   Most of my clothes are getting big on me so I have that reassurance.   Another nice perk with the new guy....he likes to be active.    I'm hoping to play more tennis in general during the month of August.  

Excitement and Progress

Time for another update.   As I stare at the calendar I'm rather bummed that the end of July is approaching so quickly.    The summer camp ends next week so I'll have time off prior to the semester starting but it will feel odd to not be swamped with work.   But I guarantee I'll be back to complaining about my workload by August 24.    My energy level is still pretty elevated so my productivity at work is fabulous.   I must have been a total slug in the winter months because I'm getting a lot of positive comments from coworkers.  

I'm also pretty pleased because I'm not having such a rotten time meeting new people.   I've met a new fella that is pretty darn compatible so it's been fun getting to know each other.    I'm trying to keep my feet on the ground but it's been such a nice change.   It's really opened my eyes to situations I should not have tolerated in past years.   You don't need to sacrifice or change yourself.    I'm finally able to be myself and not worry about judgment.   It's a much needed relief.   More to come when/if the relationship progresses...

I had my second visit to the dentist for my periodontal procedure.   The first one was a delight on July 8 compared to what I went through yesterday.    They had a hell of a time getting my mouth to numb and I had to get stuck seven times.   By that point I had too much septocaine in my system and it made me super nauseated.   It would be AMAZING if I never get a cavity again or need the periodontal work done so I never need to deal with needles being jammed into my gums.

I officially received my teaching schedule for the fall.   It appears I am teaching a health methods course on MWF for elementary education majors.   I'm teaching a health methods course for secondary teachers on TR.    And I'm teaching the physical education methods class for elementary PE on MW.   I'll also run Swim & Gym again on TR afternoons.    I get to come in late on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I don't teach until 1pm on those days.    Supposedly I'll be teaching a Monday night course for DMACC and one online class.   We'll see how enrollment pans out.   Not holding my breath.  

Gavin's doing well with his job.    He worked his first overtime yesterday.   His main complaints are standing most of the day and the rash he gets from the corn stalks.    He's doing really well with waking up at 5:45am.   Most days he's actually up before me.    We are curious to see how far the job goes into August.    We'll have conflicts with football then.    Sigh.  

I guess that's all for now.   I feel like a warden today with how often I'm walking around and checking on naughty kids.    Time to make another round through the building.

Yup, Still Hate Needles

Greetings:

All kinds of good things going on lately.    I had a physical at the end of June and had a full lipid panel done to see what my blood can tell me about my health.    My cholesterol was over 200 last time I had it checked and I am down to 170 which is in the healthy range.    I was shocked to see such a drop but happy at the same time.   My triglycerides have dropped a lot too and are in the healthy range.   They are in the higher end of that range so I can still improve.    I've been out of the range in past years so it's another good change.   The blood draw process sucked and it sucked more than usual.   Usually I'm whiny and it hurts but it's over pretty quick.    This time they had a hard time getting my veins to cooperate and I got stuck a lot.    Then I got the awful "hot-cold" feeling and turned very white.    I ended up staying at the appointment for an extra 30 minutes because I had to drink apple juice and get rid of dizziness.    Stupid needles.

I've started the periodontal process at my dentist which also involves needles and lasers.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I didn't hurt the day after because the staff forewarned me of how sore I'd be the next day.    The injection sites hurt from the numbing process, that's it.   Only needed one dose of ibuprofen.  

The 4th of July was pretty decent.   I am pretty pleased with the amount of fun I'm having this summer.   It has been so much easier to be active and go out and do things.    I've been pretty mum about things but at this point I'm being more open about the fact that I've been treated for depression since last November.   Actually back in 2014 it was called dysthymia.  (I like how my computer keeps trying to correct that word and turn it to "hysteria".)  Dysthymia is a low level depression that results in poor self-esteem and motivation.    Back then I was put on generic bupropion to try and get my neurotransmitters back on board.    Sadly I think I dealt with that issue since probably 2013.   Earlier in 2015 I was placed on generic Prozac too.    I wasn't too thrilled about that as I wanted to be off the other med as soon as possible.    I begrudgingly started taking the second medication.    I was shocked after about 10 days as I felt completely different.    I have so much energy.   I'm sleeping well.   And best of all, it's really curbed my appetite.   I rarely feel hungry and when I do, I feel satisfied pretty quickly.    At my physical, I had dropped about 20 lbs in one month.   I could handle more months like that.

I was happy we went to the zoo and happy it wasn't too hot.   It was also fun playing tennis and volleyball.   I found out that a person can pop a vein.    Luckily it was fine by the next day.    I think the next big venture will be to travel to Waukon for a gathering with my high school friends.    It will be nice going up a lot in August too.

I'm curious to see how our summer program runs this week as it's supposed to be wicked hot.   I'm grateful the temperature is supposed to drop as the week progresses as we don't have access to our gyms Tuesday-Thursday.    But the gyms will be very warm too so you can't really win no matter where you are for the program.  

Gavin starts his job tomorrow.   It sounds like he will work partial days tomorrow and Tuesday because of the heat.   I've been emphasizing the need for him to develop a routine so his lunch is made at night and he gets to bed early enough so he can function at 5:45am.   Part of me wants to head to work after I drop him off at the bus but I'm betting I'll go home for a bit before heading to ISU.  

That's it for now!