It's Been "A Day"

I should be winding down for the night and plan to after writing a mini-blog.    I'm looking forward to a hot shower and hoping it will help me sleep decently.    My sleep isn't consistent nowadays and it's getting frustrating.    It's also causing me to get really tired at work.   I can usually push through it most days but it's been tough. 

I got a call today from Biolife and I cannot donate plasma for awhile because a specific part of my protein measurement is off.    I go in next week to get blood drawn so they can check it again but it takes weeks to get the results back.     Pisses me off because I started donating due to a coupon that lets you get $300 if you donate five times in a month.    I had two more donations to go.   It's been nice earning some extra money and it was helping me afford Gavin's Christmas presents.   Sigh. 

I won't get into too many details but money in general is stressing me out.    It also pisses me off that I work a really good full-time job and a not-too-bad part time job and I still basically live paycheck-to-paycheck.    I don't know the last time I was able to put money into savings.    I see coworkers affording Thanksgiving trips to tropical resorts and such and it's depressing.   It makes buying a home cause further anxiety.    I got to see Gavin's senior pictures today and the cost of those are astronomical.    Bleh.   

On a good note, I actually feel pretty good about my grading tasks for both institutions.    The time of grading unit plans is upon me and I'll be buried in binders for more than a week.   I'm caught up with other grading though so I really only have unit plans to grade and nothing extra.   In past semesters/years I have been behind with other assignments and have been grading lesson plans and other things on top of unit plans.    I have good plans of sitting in the living room and grading while watching Netflix.   I also got the Christmas movies out too so I'll be popping those in too. 

I'll be working extra for DMACC the next two weekends too for our final coaching class of the year.   That will be some extra money (that I won't see until February) and it usually provides some down time and I can do ISU grading during it.    It's quite silly but when the class has more than 30 students, DMACC requires that two instructors be present.   One is the lead instructor and for the most part,  can do everything on their own.     The other instructor helps if asked but can usually just sit in the back and do their own thing.    I'm only the lead teacher on Friday December 8th but will work all day Saturday December 2, all day December 10, and for a few hours on December 9th.   I have a concert on December 9th (Seether) and I have my ISU Christmas party on December 10th. 

I guess that's enough for now.   Just needed to vent. 

Almost 35!

I can't think of a good title hence the reference to my soon-to-come birthday.   The only thing noteworthy about 35 is that I spent years saying "wow, when I'm 35 Gavin will be 18".    I'm more excited about his upcoming birthday.    No plans as November 28th is on a Tuesday and I work.    I'm not even that enthused about going out to eat. 

In weird news, I am now donating plasma.  I've done it twice now in the last week.    The first time was a long process (included a physical) but it went well.    The second time wasn't bad but I wasn't as comfortable.   My arm was still sore from the first donation but I have to admit they are decent at inserting the needles without it hurting.    I went on Tuesday to support Dan as donating plasma was a plan for him to earn some more money.    The local center has been offering coupons throughout the all.   $300 for your first five donations.   I didn't think I'd be eligible.    It was Dan that was ineligible (poor veins) and I was accepted.   I'm hoping to have continued success as it is easy money.   I'm also hoping I can figure out how to read a book while donating (one-handed).    Most people play on their phones but I find that to be boring after awhile.   I also have to be sure I stay distracted because I know I'm screwed if I look at my arm/machine or any of the others around me.   

Thanksgiving went well.    The night before, I did prep for green bean casserole and mashed potatoes.   I just had to put them in the oven to heat them up before the meal.    I made the ham in a crock pot the morning of as well.    The cherry pie from my realtor was good but I didn't get much.    Dan's mom brought a turkey (very good), sweet potatoes, rolls, and some desserts.   We had plenty of food that's for sure.    I feel pretty confident about making the full meal in the future.    Maybe next year in my new house?

I signed a new lease for my apartment and have to be out by the end of May.   Let's hope I have a house by then.    A shorter lease is making my rent rise in price come February but it makes no sense to renew for a year. 

Gavin did his first major trip with friends yesterday.    They drove up to Minneapolis for the day.   Spent a fair amount of time at the Mall of America and went to a NBA game in the evening.    They got back to Ankeny at 3:00am.    He had fun though and his team won the basketball game.    The other parents seemed to be a lot more worried about the trip than I was.    I was worried traffic would be nuts due to it being Black Friday but Gavin said the mall wasn't bad at all.

The remainder of the semester has its ups and downs.    The after school program is over until February so my Tuesdays and Thursdays are much easier schedule-wise.    Both of my DMACC classes are wrapping up nicely too.    I will have over 115 unit plans to grade soon though.    Slow and steady will win that race.   I have a day full of grading to do tomorrow (Sunday) too as I've been less than motivated to grade during my current break.   Shame on me. 

I'll be blogging again about said unit plans and complaining a lot, that's for sure.

Hello November

Time to blog!

It's been a busy past few weeks.    Gavin's football season ended.    The record wasn't good enough to progress further than the regular season but they were predicting that.    He did play a bit in the final game against Urbandale.    He was actually happy to be done with football though which was a little odd to me but I think the wear and tear was actually wearing on him.    He's happy just lifting weights now most mornings.    He'll likely do track in the spring. 

We had his senior pictures taken on October 24th after school.     We started out by Saylorville Lake and the weather was great.   He took a lot of outdoor shots.  I didn't take any pictures with my phone as that seemed inappropriate.    It was quite funny to see how many photographers were out there taking pictures of other seniors and families.    We then went back to the studio and oddly enough the alley in the back of the building had some more good outdoor shots.   We ended with him wearing his football jersey for indoor shots.   We should have his proofs in two weeks.   I will admit I had my first emotional moment out at Saylorville while watching him pose for his pictures.   I got a touch sad that he's almost done with school.

I am quite excited for my weekend travels.    I am leaving for Winona, MN after work to spend some time with Nicole and her husband.    I haven't seen their new house yet.    I see it as my mini-vacation before I am bombarded with insane grading.    I've kept up decently with two of my ISU classes and both of my DMACC classes.     I have a ton of things to grade for my elementary-ed course at ISU.   Like 200 items to grade.    It sounds like Nicole's making supper for us Friday night and we are going to a museum on Saturday.    The original plan was to go to a state park to hike but the weather looks crappy.    They are having a game night on Saturday that I'll probably stick around for and I'll head south on Sunday morning.    I think I am coming up to Waukon again the following weekend.    Sounds like Dan and Jude may come up with me too.   

A couple weeks ago I went to a show in Des Moines called The Naked Magicians.   It's an act that originated from Australia.    I was uncertain at first but my friend Jess talked me into it.   She was planning to attend with coworkers and asked me to come along too.    It's actually a really good magic show.    They do well with that.   And yes, as they proceed, the clothing comes off.   They can't show everything in the USA but you get the drift.   It also has good sexual humor too.     We had a VIP package so we got our picture taken with them too.   

Sidenote related to the picture above....so I almost stepped on the guy's toes next to me.   I said something like "Whoops, I don't want to step on you."   He looks at me with a straight face and says "Don't worry it's not long enough to hit the ground."   Well done sir, well done. 

The meal we had before the show was great too.    Had some great salmon and tomato tortilla soup.

Speaking of eating.    I got carried away in the last 4-6 weeks with eating junk food and not watching my calories.   For the first time since surgery prep, I gained some weight.    I am in the most risky period of time for people with gastric surgery.    People get happy with weight loss and progress and are most likely to gain weight 9-18 months after surgery.   The good news is I got back on track with protein intake and scheduling meals so I lost all the weight already.    I have healthier snacks available.   Honey crisp apples have been a godsend.    I have my year check up on November 20th.    Now that I lost weight, I am back to a weight I've been stuck at for months.   I still need to lose about 50 more pounds to reach my personal goal. 

Last but not least, I had a dentist appointment this morning.   My teeth are officially straight!   She took time to take the "buttons" off my teeth that were used with retainers over the past year to move my teeth.     They re-scanned my teeth so retainers could be made that I wear at night for the rest of my life.    I'm still wearing a set of retainers to keep my teeth in place.   Still paying off the braces but at least my teeth are done moving.    I'll have less dental appointments too. 

That's enough for now!