September, already?

I'm still hanging tough with school. Earning a Doctorate is as much work as 'they' had told me. I wonder why I thought it would be easier. Silly me. I'm about 1/3 of the way thru. I have a thesis topic, have started collecting research, and am becoming a 'topic expert'. My classes meet once a month for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday....and the times in between is spent online. It's a blended course, combining the best (or worst) of both worlds...online and in-person. I complain endlessly about school, but it's so exciting to be learning at this level. I need more sleep, more exercise, less junk food, and possibly, less caffeine. I wouldn't stop school now, for all the tea in China!

I'm still dating my e-harmony guy, G. He was recently in the hospital for back surgery, so I'm babysitting the dog. She's about 10 months old, a reddish colored Golden Retriever. Sweet, but untrained. I have her for a month. I immediately signed up for 'puppy kindergarten'. We've gone twice so far, and she seems to like it. She responds to commands when she feels like it, and doesn't when she is distracted or doesn't want to be bothered. We do, however, go to the dog park for an hour every night. She likes running off leash, and chasing balls, Frisbees, and other humans. The other dogs are just a nuisance to be put up with. I try to bring some articles to read, but she is an attention seeking bitch! G is still her master, and I am just a pack mate. However, since I provide food, and rides to the park, she tolerates being with me.... still, every time she hears a car door slam, or hears footsteps in the apartment upstairs, she thinks I have G hidden somewhere, and am just keeping her from him. Two weeks, and she still seems to look for him constantly!
        G. did well with his back surgery, so she may be going home early. We're trying to work the schedule out tonight. He might come up for a few days when he's able to drive that far, and then she can go back home with him!
         I've let my cooking slide. There's just no time for it! I'm still interested in eating well, I just can't fit in the meal prep! I have to go in for surgery (6 hernia repairs with a wall of mesh) on Nov. 10th. I'm scared to death after my last hospitalization, with the severe complications. I'm not mentally ready for another month in ICU for a 'routine' surgery. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers! I'm just trying to be focused on getting the class work done ahead of time, and having nothing due that week! Got my priorities in order.... homework, check.....not dying, check.....AND the good news is..... I can start to think about getting some plastics done, 6 months after the hernia repairs. Not sure how I'll pay for it, but I can start thinking now.
        My weight is stable, my labs were drawn 2 weeks ago, and they're in the normal ranges, staying in the normal range. My DS was the healthiest choice I've ever made for me, and I am grateful everyday 250 pounds ago, I wouldn't have had the energy to go back to school while working full time, babysit a 60 pound puppy, and date a great guy at the same time! YAY DS. YAY me! I've caught up with my blog, so I want to go and read yours now!!! What have I missed? MC

CHANGE! Be careful what you ask for!

Well, I started grad school in January. I'm working towards a doctorate, and it's a combination of online courses and an 'executive model' schedule. This means we meet monthly for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the class is online, with mandatory posts and readings, and all papers, tests, etc emailed by due dates. It's exciting, and overwhelming, and a mix of a million things at once. I'd never heard of 'turn it in" . com. It's a service where you must submit all your term papers, and written work, and they give it a grade for originality, and check it for plagarism! Who'da thunk it! It take a day or two, so all papers have to be ready BEFORE the teachers deadline. Yep, I'm an old fogey... I didn't know such a site existed! If you use phrases or ideas from previous papers, there's a thing called 'self-plagarism'. You have to be careful not to reuse your own ideas!
Talk about change.... I'm doing homework, and spend almost all my free time reading journal articles. Weeellll, not ALL of my free time. That new guy G from December has hung on, through school and work and all. He's adaptable, and kind and very patient. His birthday was in March, so for a combo Valentines Day and BDay present, I chipped in and got him a Golden Retriever puppy. She's beautiful, and extremely attached to G. He's the alpha dog. I'm only around on weekends, so I'm just a pack mate. She nips my hair, and steals my snacks...but she adores him! Oh well, it keeps him busy when I'm not around! (She also has many Golden traits, like eating furniture and anything not nailed down)... She reminds me of the dog in the movie Marley and me! Maybe she'll be calmer when she's a little older!
Work is first, then school, and G seems OK that he's the weekend guy. I try to make it easier by being the commuter.... I drive to his place, and use the time on the road to decompress and center myself. It's working so far.
The weight has stayed off (mostly). I go up and down within a 10 pound range. When it get high, I really cut back on the carbs, up the protein, and moderate the fats. When it's low, I'm waayyy more flexible with them. I eat more chocolate than I should, and am working on substituting more SF jello for a Hershey bar now and then. Weight loss surgery seems like a life time ago. I'm still faithful (compulsive, almost) about the vitamin supplements, and the yearly labs have been fine. I'm due again soon. I'm going to try to squeeze in a few more home cooking posts, because , well, It's fun!
Changes have happened, mostly good, some scary..... what have you gotten that you wanted? and did it work out for you??? M