Yet another block on the educational road

Probably, the block is only in my mind. Once again, at the 11th hour, I have dropped a course based on the online content. Business and Technical Writing was not a course I'd have chosen to take, but I thought that I could just take it and get it over with.

Wrong. The book, available nowhere except the University book store, costs $100--and it was co-written by the instructor. Red Flag #1.

The introductory material, for which I could earn 5 points on a quiz over said material, consisted of 15 items, the first of which was a slide show with narration that I began watching on Windows Media and promptly went catatonic. Red Flag #2.

The number of assignments for the semester exceeded 40. Red Flag #3.

So, in spite of my well-laid plans, I am going to be attending class one night per week at UHD Northwest. Philosophy of Religion. Perhaps it will help me get out of the spiritual valley of dry bones in which I am stuck.

But on a positive note, my dear daughter Mary leaves Afghanistan in just a few hours! Thank you, God!

January . . .

. . . and it's COLD. My nemesis. I really believe that hell is cold, not hot. At least the circle to which I would be assigned. Must remember to be good.

Today's excitement consisted of getting my hair cut for the second time in a week. Basically, I got a really bad haircut on Saturday and had to pay someone else to fix it. It came out a little shorter than I wanted, but at least it doesn't look like thin syrup poured over my head, which was what the first one resembled. NEVER go to TGF again!

School starts again on Tuesday. All online classes this time. I'd love to take some interesting classes face-to-face but unfortunately all those are at times when I have to work. I really hate working. Tomorrow I'm starting on my internship work by meeting with my favorite high school librarian to get some recommendations for a high school summer reading list. The one we have now is crap.

So like 75 percent of America, I'm trying to lose weight. My goal is 23 pounds. So far I've lost three and a half. Not a stellar start, but if I lose three and a half each week, which is really fast weight loss, I'll have gotten to my goal in half the time allotted. Sarah Jane and I are weight-loss buddies. Whoever has lost the biggest percentage of their goal by the end of each month gets a new pair of pants from the other. On May 31, whoever's lost the most weight gets a fabulous new pair of jeans from the other. She wants Buckle jeans, I want True Religion. We'll see who wins.

So, short hair, really cold weather, and trying to lose weight. I hope I can stick with it. I really want those jeans.