I have re-entered the college scene. I am again a college student. Confident career woman by day, nervous rookie student by night. So much has changed with technology since I achieved my associate degree (only 9 years ago) but I am quickly familiarizing myself with all the changes. This first semester I am taking one in-seat class and two online courses. The online courses are accelerated and only last half the semester, so I’m taking them one after the other. Basically I’m taking three courses, but only two at any given time. I figured if the online course ends after seven weeks, I might as well take another one to keep the momentum going. Also, the more classes I can cram in, the sooner I’ll have my master’s degree! If I take two classes per semester I would have it in 4 years, but if I can take three per semester I’ll be done in just over 3 years.

I am taking the easiest classes possible right now, just to ease myself into it (not to mention we are heading in to prime tax prep season). I know it will get harder and more stressful but I’m really excited to be on this journey, and I’m doing this for my family which gives me that extra umph of motivation.

Marvin Phillips: “The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!”

Ann Frank: “Laziness may appear attractive but work gives satisfaction.”

Mahatma Gandhi: “Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.”

I’m kind of a little bit excited about Christmas this year. I’m not trying to pretend that I’m all jump-up-and-down-screaming excited, but I have been quietly enjoying this season. In the days leading up to the Big Day of Celebration, I have been doing a lot of contemplating and reflecting on what Christmas means to me. And in all that reflecting I have again come to the remembrance that God has given me Joy. Hope. Peace. Jesus.

I have so much more to say but for now I’m going to leave it at that. Merry Christmas and blessings to all.

So last night I had a dream that everyone loved the band R.E.M. just as much as I do. When I recalled the dream this morning it struck me as a little ironic. You know, the acronym and all.

Oh, also apparently I’ve become one of those people who snores.

For the sake of not becoming a hermit, which this introvert is prone to do, I’m posting a page from my journal here. I just have to say what I have to say. You don’t need to read it, I just need to say it. So move along now if you wish.

That was last night. This afternoon I feel like I have a little more to give, and I obviously changed my mind about wanting to blog about it. I think actually writing the journal entry on paper was therapeutic. See, it’s weird for me to feel so guarded because even though I’m an introvert, I have always been a wide open book. Self-disclosure is something I am totally comfortable with (obviously, I write this blog).

Hm. I’m already feeling better. Thank you Griddle Bandits. Thank you for being here for me. It’s been nice chatting. Let’s talk again soon.

The morning after a good night of trick-or-treating…

Within 10 minutes of getting out of bed this morning, Luke asked me if he could have some candy. Of course I said no, and that he had to eat breakfast first. He seemed to accept that answer, but when I had finished putting on my face and walked into the dining room I found a curious scene. Luke was crouched in hiding under the dining room table. And what did he have in his hand? A sucker! I pulled the sucker out of his hand, reiterating the previously established rule of no candy before breakfast, and certainly no candy FOR breakfast. Do you know what he said to me? “But Mom! But… but… but it was GOOD!”

I have to admit, he made a good point. Sometimes you just can’t resist a good thing.

Low self-esteem can be so annoying. Seriously, I’m driving myself crazy. Every day I teeter and totter from feeling confident and self-assured to feeling like I’m that 12 year old girl who doesn’t really have a clue. Of course, I have a clue. I’m a grown up. Right? I have these momentary flashes and I see myself and it’s not who I really am. I keep seeing that little girl with the funny hair and the clashing clothes. Well, some days I still have the funny hair and clashing clothes, but I’m not so little anymore. I have a husband and children and a job. Not just any job either, it’s sort of turning into what you adults call a career. I’m looking at going back to college so I can become a CPA and it excites me and frightens me all at the same time. Every day I’m asking myself, “Can I hack it? Can I really do this?” And then I wise up and say, “Of course you can! You’ve survived surgeries, childbirth, a couple of multiple sclerosis relapses, and you’re still around to make jokes about it all.”

So that’s that. I’m gonna go for it!

If you ever need a good laugh, spend ten minutes with my son. He loves to make people laugh. Sometimes he does it without even trying. We were at the dinner table the other day and Luke was trying to tell me about the tyrannosaurus rex but I couldn’t understand what he was trying to say so I repeated it back to him just as I heard it.

“Did you say ‘dinosaur coffee rats?’”

“Yeah!”

He was trying to say tyrannosaurus rex but it sure didn’t sound like it. Mike and I made no attempts to stifle the laughter and Luke just ate it up. He thought it was hilarious too.

Later that night after I tucked Luke into bed he called to me, “Mommy, I have something to tell you.”

“What’s up Buddy?”

“Dinosaur coffee rats!!”

It almost makes as much sense as Griddle Bandits, don’t you think?

When I was a kid my brother and sister and I used to ride our bikes down to the Trading Post, or when we were at our mom’s we would walk to the Minute Market, and buy candy and pop with our allowance money. I believe I remember that our dad would pay us ten whole cents to make his bed for him. What a deal!

We would often buy New York Seltzers and drink them as fast as we could and then having  burping contests on the way home. We could do that now with beer but I don’t think we’ve ever tried. Maybe we can reserve that activity for the next holiday family event.

We used to buy all kinds of candy but the kind I remember loving the most was Bonkers. Do you remember it? It was a fruit chew, with an extra dose of flavor on the inside. They don’t make it anymore, but the commercial still brings back good memories!

What was your favorite candy as a kid?

I’ve lost a lot of weight recently. I’m not bragging, as I don’t think it’s really a result of anything I’ve done. I had a baby last year so I did expect to lose that extra weight I put on, but I didn’t expect to lose as much as I have. I am a tad concerned my MS medication is causing some thyroid dysfunction so I’ll be getting that checked out for sure.

I am currently at the “ideal” weight for my height, and I can honestly say I do not remember the last time I’ve been this… Skinny. Yes, I said it. Not only do I feel skinny, but people keep telling me I look it. They don’t say, “You look like you’ve lost some weight”. No, they skip right to “You are skinny!” Hearing this and feeling the way I do is strange, foreign, and absolutely wonderful. I have never been that girly girl who is into her looks, but I am loving this new body. The only problem now is that all my clothes look utterly ridiculous hanging on my short little frame. The upside is that I am loving shopping for new clothes. Because they fit! On the first try!

Have you ever shopped for clothes on ebay? It’s quite fun. Or Kohl’s with their 99 cent shipping? Or New York & Company with their 2 for 1 pant sale? Oh dear, I really need to be careful. They do have a Shoppers Anonymous, don’t they?