Will this suffering never cease?

How long does it take a body to adjust to sleep deprivation?

My dear father seems to think a person doesn't need to sleep beyond 5:00 a.m. According to various sources, the prevailing opinion seems to be that a person needs less sleep as he/she gets older. My body must be getting younger and younger all the time. I declare this time around the adjustment is far more difficult than any other time. It takes super-human effort to roll out of that bed every morning at 6:00 a.m. I feel like a total druggie until my second class at 9:00. Then I seem to function a little better but still in a haze. At work, it's all I can do to drag myself around which I have to do quite a bit of in my current supervisory capacity. It may be a good thing that I have that position at this time, for I fear that if I were just keying, I'd be asleep in minutes.

Last night I waged a war with my conscience on the issue of how late I could sleep this morning. I thought I should be allowed to sleep as late as my body wanted, but I feared I'd sleep all my time away so I set my alarm for 10:00. I thought I'd maybe wake up before that since I've been rising at such an early hour the rest of the week. At 7:00 on the dot, I awoke in a pure panic wondering why my alarm hadn't gone off. It was a delightful sigh of relief that I remembered it was a beautiful Saturday morning and I dropped right back into the land of slumber. I didn't awake again until my alarm went off and even then, I still felt like a druggie.

Again, I ask, will this suffering never cease?

I've also discovered that as the homework load increases, the urge to do domestic tasks such as cooking also increases. Is there a correllation there? Could it be called avoidance or procrastination?

The world of fresh vegetables has been calling to me. I've been eyeing those attractive yellow squash every time I go shopping. But I knew I didn't have the time. Then we had a birthday celebration for one of the supervisors at work and I was supposed to bring a vegetable dish. Since I've been craving squash casserole, I decided to take the plunge even though I've never made it before. Do you know that of all the Mennonite cookbooks I have, there is not one recipe for squash casserole? That is such a shame. I had to resort to the internet. Even though it turned out quite good and was a real hit with my co-workers, it didn't taste quite the way I thought squash casserole should. So if any of you have a recipe for it, bring it on. I've also been cooking new potatoes as of late. Is there anything better than new potatoes and fresh tomatoes for a meal? I do love summer.

It seems that my textbook purchases are still not complete though I'm up to $500 already. My used music book came with an introductory CD which has various pieces that we must listen to and be able to recognize for quizzes and exams. Alas, mine has some severe glitches in it so I've decided to take my textbook back and exchange it for a new one. I'm already cringing. In addition, we must purchase a 6 volume CD set for the same purpose. It will cost me an additional $75. And here I thought that I could budget about $300 for books. OUCH!

On the topic of buying textbooks....after my first day of class, I headed to the bookstore to buy some additional books I had missed. It seemed every student on campus was also doing the same thing. So I got in a line that wrapped around the store. Fortunately, there were lots of registers, but I was still in line for about 20 minutes. As I got closer to the registers, there were some of those poles and ropes to direct the lines. On several of the poles were these little signs. As I got close enough, I started reading them. They were instructions on purchasing your books such as "If you are purchasing with a check, have your ID available" and "If you are purchasing with your MOCS card (student ID), you must have book points available" and "If you are purchasing with a credit card, you must have your credit card." I thought, "Now what idiot would be purchasing with a credit card without the credit card." No sooner had the thought entered my head than I went hot from head to toe. I realized that I had not stopped at my car for my purse before coming into the book store! So here I was in a line that was all roped in with 50+ students behind me and 50+ ahead of me and no way out. Since I wasn't about to shove my way ahead or behind, I just waited until I came to the head of the line and ducked out. I just pretended I had forgotten something (which I had) and meandered back into the aisles of books. I left my pile with the help desk and went after my purse. Serves me right for thinking such unkind thoughts about forgetful idiots!

I've been having a bout of extreme back pain and my overloaded backpack was not making matters any better. So I weighed it to see how much extra baggage I was actually carrying around. It turned out to be 21.7 lbs and I thought shure it would be about 50!

I must go tend to my domestic chores and get ready for work. Since I got no studying done this morning, I have a hefty workload for tomorrow and Monday.

Suffering and sleep-deprived in Chattanooga

First Impressions

The dreaded first day of facing new people is over. I don't think I'll ever get over that no matter how many times I do it. I stuggled with it to the point that I had a hard time sleeping last night. I did finally fall asleep in the wee hours of the morning and woke to covers that showed much evidence of tossing and turning. The small classes are worse than the large ones because then I KNOW every eye is on me. At least with the large classes I can attempt to convince myself that I'm lost in the crowd. I have 2 such large classes this semester.

I've formed my first impressions of the classes and the professors. It will be interesting to see if first impressions hold up. It's hard to withhold those snap judgments even though past experiences have led me to realize that I may very likely change my opinion. For instance, I went into my chemistry class at WKU totally dreading it, and my first impression did nothing to allay that dread. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying that class. On the other hand, I went into my chemistry class at UTC anticipating the same kind of experience and was sorely disappointed.

My first class was anatomy. This is the first time I have a female professor. She is a little on the elderly side of life...probably upper 50's. She isn't just bursting with energy, but I'm not sure if one can be when teaching about all those body parts. She definitely isn't familiar with the effects of gravity upon dry-erase markers. As is the inclination of most people when writing something higher than one's shoulder, she kept the tip at the high point rather than the low point. She promptly starting throwing one marker after another in the trash. Knowing how costly those markers are, I cringed every time another one bit the dust, for if I were a betting person, I'd bet they have plenty of life in them if only they were tilted so that gravity would draw the ink toward the tip rather than away from it. I may have to advise her on that point before class next time. She also had us fill out a paper with our particulars...name, contact info, major, etc. Then she proceeded to call out all 90 plus names on her roster which took almost the rest of the class period. But even though she doesn't seem the most efficient person, and didn't have a rapport with her electronic equipment, she does seem likely a kindly lady. Time will tell.

After that I was off to my English class--Rhetoric and Composition. Now this class will truly be the bane of my existence for I thoroughly dislike writing. I came hurried up to the door wondering if all the good seats would be taken. I screeched to a stop in the doorway for it seemed the class was in session even though it was a full 5 minutes from start time. Most seats were filled, and a lady was at the front speaking. Of course, much to my horror, she stopped in mid-sentence, and all eyes turned my way. Casting my eyes desperately about for a seat, I was at the same time wondering if this was the wrong class. So I feebly asked amid the silence and stares if this was English 122. The lady assured me it was, so I humbly climbed over people to the nearest available seat. The lady finished her sentence about somebody needing to go to some other room and left the room. Everybody sat in deathly silence until this guy comes huffing and puffing into the room with a motorcycle helmet under his arm. I was much comforted to have this momentary diversion. And there we sat in total silence until about 15 minutes past time to start. At 15 minutes after on the dot, half the class arose and filed out. Those left behind started talking here and there. The room gradually emptied out, and I too finally gave up waiting at 30 minutes past. So I have no first impressions of that professor except to wonder if there even is one. My class schedule only lists the professor as staff. It is my understanding that graduate students often fill those positions.

I was grateful that I had a little extra time to find my way to my next class. I didn't want to experience that arrival to a full room again. Not one of my 4 classes were in the same building, and I only have 10 minutes between classes to reach the next destination. Fortunately, I only have one hill to slow and it's nothing like a WKU hill. There is one hill that they call "cardiac hill" which leaves you sucking wind a bit, but I just smile and think about my sisters making their daily cardiac rounds.

The next class I met up with another "adult" student who promptly latched onto me proclaiming that I'm her "person." She always has to have a "person" in her class and I'm it. She proceeded to give my her life story including her latest internet romance with a man from Louisville whom she just met last weekend in Nashville.

This class happens to be my music appreciation class. This class also has a female professor who isn't in the least afraid of facing over 100 students. I think I'll like this class, but one never knows. I had to pay 25 bucks for 2 CDs that are used! And that is in addition to the $48 I spent on the textbook. I think that's totally outrageous! I shall peruse half.com this evening and see if I can't find them cheaper. The cool thing is that we are required to go to at least 3 concerts. Now I won't have to feel guilty for taking off of work since it's mandatory. The sad thing is that I'll either have to burn some annual leave or take leave without pay. I wonder if I could just call in sick.

My 4th and final class was World Civilization. I really have mixed feelings about this class. It is the first of three I have to take to fulfill one of my general education requirements. I chose World Civ rather than Western Civ because I thought maybe I'd learn something about some of those places I plan to go one day like Africa and Asia or maybe India. This first of the three will be the worst one because it is the time period of the "beginning" to 1000. Now how does one deal with material that is in direct contradiction to ones own beliefs? Fortunately only the first chapter deals with the 15 million years during which man evolved from an ape. But I have come face to face with the concepts of Neandertals and Cro-Magnons and Australopithecines and hominids during the paleolithic and neolithic eras to which my sheltered Christian education never exposed me. That, along with the concept that large portions of the earth was covered in ice which receded over time, makes a person's head swim.

To top off this wonderful class, the professor tells us in no uncertain terms that this is a difficult class. Mostly because we will be studying cultures that are totally foreign to us. Most of our focus will be on Asia, India, and the Mediterranean societies. We will be facing a lot of names we won't know how to pronounce along with religions that are totally foreign to us. Of course, this was exactly why I picked this option for my history requirement, but I hadn't considered that the unfamiliarity of the cultures would also make it more difficult to learn about. I'm totally withholding judgment on this professor. He's not normal, that's for certain. Whether that's a good thing or bad thing....who knows. He has these really deep, deep-set, peircing blue eyes and they seem to be almost rimmed in black. The eyes along with the way he paced very stiffly around the front of the class reminded me very much of a mime. He didn't make much eye contact and seemed very ill at ease. I totally had a hard time concentrating on what he was saying at first because I couldn't get past his mannerisms. Then I had the distinct impression that he has a German background because he pronounces his v's as f's. It makes me totally curious.

So with much anticipation and trepidation, I start off another semester in academia.

Catching up

Somehow I stopped doing updates during my June semester. I guess I thought I was too busy at one time; and when I stopped, it was just hard to start up again. But I've found this is sort of a journal for me and helps me put my life in perspective.

I managed to get through my June semester with A's in both of my classes--Psych 101 and Math. The Math was very interesting and easy so I didn't have to study at all. The Psych was mostly interesting, but I dreaded those essays and I had to do a lot of reading and cramming.

I had to go for my orientation on Saturday. I thought it was kind of useless for me since I've already been attending for 2 semesters. But I did learn some stuff about what was available to me. One interesting twist was thatthis was Adult Orientation for those above 25. I was amazed how many people showed up. I'm guessing around 90 people. I think that's great and makes me feel a little better about being older than the average college student. If little gray-haired ladies can do this, surely I can! Another intriguing thing I found out was about the international program they have. I'm definitely going to check into that one because there is oportunity to study in almost any country you desire. How cool would that be? It certainly merits much consideration to scratch my travel itch.

My classes this semester will be Anatomy and the lab that goes with it, Introduction to Music, English 122 (I'm dreading that one), and World Civilization I. I've arranged so all my classes take place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, except my Anatomy lab. It looks like we'll be dissecting a mink for that lab.

My weight loss program has been very up and down. I know it's totally a matter of getting very serious about it. I do well for about a week, then along comes a weekend. It seems the days I have off, I always find some reason to eat stuff I shouldn't. Tamy and I went to work out yesterday afternoon in our fitness center here at the apartments. She's started this workout she heard Barbara Walters talk about called the power of 10. You are supposed to do 8 reps of 5 or 6 different exercises in which you take 20 seconds to do each rep--10 seconds to contract and 10 seconds to release. You follow a routine of either once or twice a week. You have to use weights that are lighter than you would normally use because you just can't take very much of it going that slowly. It makes your muscles quiver and burn! After I got back to my apartment, it was a total struggle to lift my arms! I am still feeling it this morning, but at least I feel like I have my strength back.

The all-consuming event of July was my brother Alvin's wedding to Doretta Schrock from Maryland. I used the first several weeks to catch up on some much-needed sewing. I've got 7 new dresses to show for it and I hope to get at least one more done before school starts again. I'm sure I won't get any done after that. On the 21st I flew to DC and Alvin picked me up on his way up to Maryland. The rest of the siblings drove up by that evening. It took them 13 hours. I was so glad not to have to sit for that long. It was the first time I hadflown since 9/11 and I was surprised at how well things went. The security check points are much more complicated, of course, but they moved quite rapidly.

Thursday we went over to the reception place and set up all the tables and chairs, covered them all with plastic table cloths and set them. We also set up the bridal tables, covered them with linen table cloths, set them withDoretta's china, and decorated the front and sides with swags made of real ivy twisted with lights and wrapped in white toole. After a little trouble with not getting the arch they had rented, we ended up with a trellis arch and no idea how to decorate it. So we just started messing around with it and ended up using fake ivy, toole, and lights on it that looked really nice. We also put some real ivy down the center of the guest tables. The center pieces for the guest tables were large glass vases with marble stones on the bottom with goldfish and floating daisies. Her flowers were daisies and white roses. The appetizers consisted of punch and pretzels and mints and the main meal was roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, green beans, dinner rolls, cake and ice cream.

I thought the wedding was very lovely and of course, being the emotional sort, I cried. I was pretty sure I was going to and in our discussions beforehand, my sisters thought maybe we could keep from crying by just focusing onthe nieces and nephews to come. Didn't work! It is going to seem strange to think I've got a sister-in-law since this is the first time for our family.

After their honeymoon in Gatlinburg, TN, Alvin and Doretta came to Kentucky for a reception there. They couldn't invite very many from Kentucky becausethey had to keep the guests under 300 due to the limited capacity. They ended up with around 260 at the wedding and 150 at the reception in Kentucky.

Along with all the excitement of the occasion, there was the emotional let down after it was all over. It's totally thrilling to see my brother find somebody to share his life with, but at the same time, it is a strong reminder that I'm still single at 33 with absolutely no prospects. I try hard to be content with the life God has given me, but it is occasions such as these that make me feel very lonely. But soon I'll be too busy to think about it.