Back to the Beginning

After wallowing in a blue funk for a couple of days (read that WEEKS), I am now back and ready to get back in the swing of things.  That's such a cliche'... in the swing of things.  But I guess until August 27, when my brain begins new stimulation, I will resort to cliche's when original thoughts don't come.   August 27 is when I begin a new chapter in my life:  Nursing School.


Nursing School.  The words terrify me.  I've heard stories about women (probably much younger than me) who get overwhelmed and burned out the first semester.  I've heard about the enormous amounts of studying I will have to do and the life I won't have because of it.  I have made all the preparations I can think of and now the only task that remains is to organize my study space so it won't be cluttered.


Good luck with that.  My study space is so cramped that I can barely turn around in it.  It's not really serving me the way I will need it to, so I guess a little reorganizing is in order.  I'll work on that today.  My one really big pet peeve is disorganization.  I really hate it when I can't find something.  I have to be able to put my hands on something the moment I think of it (mostly because I'll forget what I was thinking later... ha ha).  I did a little reorganizing a couple of weeks ago, but I still have a little more to do. 


My idea of a workspace is one that flows.  When I was a secretary (about a hundred years ago), I always made sure my workspace flowed.  If I was on a computer (or God forbid, a typewriter), I had to be able to move objects to my left.  Being ambidextrous, it's important for me to be able to use my left hand.  The present arrangement will not allow that.  So I guess that since this is not the optimal setting for me, I have to figure out yet another arrangement. 


The one thing that I have already had an "AHA" moment about is the window behind me.  The drapes absolutely have to be closed for me to be able to study.  I guess blocking out the world helps.  Another thing that will help is keeping the door to the study closed.  We have recently put in a cat door, so the cats can come and go.  I don't mind that.  Unnecessary, irritating noises have to be dealt with immediately, such as the tinkling of the water flowing into the aquarium from the filter.  The additional quilts and afghans being "stored" in this room have to find another home.  They are stacked on top of one of the dog crates, and I can't stand looking at the clutter.  My desk has already been cleaned out, but the table behind me has to be emptied as well.  Therein lies the problem.


The table has served as an overflow place for everything in this house.  I hate that.  This is my one little corner of the universe and I want it how I want it, so it will serve me well.  With bookshelves that are already overflowing, I'm not sure I know how to find space for everything that's on the table.  It will be great workspace once it's emptied.  It's just a 6 foot long folding table, and I have it covered with an old piece of grey velvet fabric that was once used to show paintings (when I sold paintings).  Of course, one of our cats has decided to puke on it, so that will be washed today, and everything in my work area will be sanitized.


Sounds like I have a tough job ahead of me today.  Some of the tougher things have already been dealt with, such as fitting in workout time.  I made an executive decision to NOT get a priority parking tag so I can park in the best spaces on campus.  That means I will have to walk about a half hour every day to get to class, and a half hour back to my car.  That's a perfect piece of time to count as cardio if I push the walk as fast as I can go.  I won't have as much to carry as most nursing students (eight books for one class... give me a break!) because I will be getting an iPad and buy electronic versions of the textbooks.  I checked with the school, and only one textbook is required in hard copy, so the rest will be on my trusty iPad.  So my load won't be as heavy as it could be, and with weather turning cooler (I hope!), walking will be easier for me than in this heat. And yes, I will walk in the rain.  I am getting a big umbrella that will help keep the water off me and my bag during those monsoons that inevitably come through Memphis.  Winter I can deal with.  I have a long coat, hat, scarf and gloves.  I wish I had boots, but they would be hard to walk in for a half hour at a time.  I'll have to deal with my cross trainers.



The other parts of my workout, strength training and flexibility, have not been scheduled yet.  I am usually my best the first thing in the morning, so I am thinking that it might be best to get up early and not give myself the excuse that I'm too tired.  Or too something.  My back is usually the tightest in the morning, so a little foam rolling, yoga and strength training might be just the thing. 


Then there are the menus and shopping lists... oh dear.  My family has been very good about helping me to make up menus, and we have kept menus from over a year ago, so it is relatively easy to change them up without having to think about it too much.  But the shopping sales at Kroger change every week, and that will be the challenge.  We are on an extremely tight budget with three of us in college at the same time.  I refuse to put us on a ramen diet though, and will do the best I can to make sure we have fresh fruits and vegetables in the house, along with quality protein and whole grains. 


What have I left out?  Housework.  Ugh.  I can tell you right here and now that it won't get done unless someone else wants to step up and do it.  Housework has never been high on my list, due to having a mother that would wake me up on a Saturday morning yelling about how it's time to get up and work.  How pleasant that was.  NOT!  It set the stage for me never wanting to clean house.  I do it only when it's absolutely necessary.  Even then, I get the guys to help because I figure I'm not the only one making the messes, so everyone has to help clean them up.  We are not hoarders by any means, but still it IS nice when the floors get mopped and the furniture dusted. 


So what am I waiting for?  I'm stalling, I know.  Gym first.  Once I get in the gym, I know I have an hour or hour and a half of torture to look forward to.  At least it's time spent that doesn't include the dogs or anything in the house.  Okay, okay.  I'm going.  But maybe just one more cup of coffee...


Nazdrowie'


Paczki Puta