The boys are back in school this morning, but because of whonky kindergarten schedules, Abby doesn’t go back until Thursday, and then is off Friday. Care to do the math on that one? Me neither.
Every single piece of laundry in my house is washed, dried, folded and PUT AWAY. Bow down, suckas! I shall enjoy it for the 3.7 seconds it will last, before Abby changed her wardrobe for the first of twelve times today. But for those few seconds… ahhhhh.
DSHS has my annual review scheduled for sometime between the 3rd and 6th- this week. Only they’ve been closed for ten days. I can’t even get the recorded voice on the phone this morning- only the error message telling me all circuits are busy. Hooray. This should be fun. Hopefully I can catch a lull by Thursday, otherwise- sorry kids! no food for us this month! Living on the edge is so much fun!
If I do get through to DSHS, my kids all have an appointment with a nutritionist downtown. Their pediatrician thinks maybe a nurtritionist, all official-like, might be able to convince Bean to eat something besides peanut butter English muffins. I let her have her delusions, and kept the food log for the week. This should be fun.
I’m running again, if you’re generous in your definition of “running”. But it’s happening, and that’s all that matters. Right?
I’m having to cut myself some slack on my grad-school applications. Some of them are due by the 15th of this month if I want to start in August, and I haven’t been able to take the GRE yet. This makes me want to cry, but there is simply not anything I can do. I might have to accept matriculating to January, and while I’m not happy about it, I have to acknowledge it was not humanly possible to knock out the 19-unit quarter, study (and pay) for the GRE back in the fall, deal with the Holidays and raise three kids alone. Expectations, meet the Brick Wall of Reality. I’m trying not to let it take the wind from my sails- and some of the schools still have April deadlines- which is waaaay more practical for me. Either way, I can do this. Keeping my eyes on the horizon and realizing sometimes things won’t go perfectly.
Speaking of, school starts for me on Monday. A more sane 15 unit quarter, I have to admit, and I’m trying to look forward to it.
Bean has taken my five-pound weights and done something with them- I have no idea what. Knowing that kid, they’re in his backpack. Remember when he used to put cans of pineapple in his backpack and wear it around the house? Creative problem solving and self-therapy. My kid is a genius. Now where the hell are my weights?
Perhaps the best Christmas gift we got was from Grandma- the Hot Wheels Wall Track- regard, the tidiness and compact nature of the track belies the coolness of the cars cascading down the wall. They all love it, and I’m not constantly cursing the tracks being everywhere:
Worst gift? Oh easy-peasy! Baby Alive! Dude… why? WHY?
Was treated to an optic migraine (x3!) yesterday. It’s not as bad as it could be, I know- I only get the effed-up vision and the nausea and dizziness that come along for the ride. The fun is what it starts when I’m out running errands. Usually I can get myself home before I can’t see- but yesterday it came on fast and furious, and I was in the grocery store. No way was I getting home, and no way was I gonna drive basically blind. So I parked my cart and hung out at the in-store coffee-shop until it passed enough to see and walk again. Good times.
Mo got me started (and totally hooked on) Words with Friends. It took me umpteen games to finally beat her, but I think I got the hang of it. It reminds me of playing Scrabble with my grandma when I was a kid. I’m terrible, but its fun.
Wow, I have a ton of thank-you notes to write. I’m grateful.
My friend Steven Peck wrote a new book called “The Scholar of Moab” and it’s sitting right here on my bed waiting for me to curl up and finish it. It’s spectacular, if you’re looking for a bright, creative, slightly odd science-fictiony western-ish book. It’s really its own genre- and I highly recommend it. I also recommend his other book- “A Short Stay in Hell”- it’s coming out in March, and is one of the best books I’ve ever read, no joke.
On that note, I better get reading. Monday academia takes over again and my reading will no longer be at my leisure.
As Jeffrey used to say when he was little, Happy Janulater!
Dandelion Mama 
This is awesome. Love the new theme, too.
I’m thinkin’ I need a hot wheel track like that! My 4yo would love it and I wouldn’t have to as you say “Curse the tracks” !!!
Words with friends – ME TOO!! I’m sooooo addicted now! Want to play? You’d beat the pants off me, I’m sure!
my screen name is dandelionmama. 😉
Every blog post you write – I read and am inspired and comforted by each. The world of the single mom going to school is not too far in my past and some days, still, I marvel at what it takes to succeed and stay sane. You are doing an amazing job at both. Look forward to your next nuggets of wisdom.
Thank you Dorothy. If you can do this, you give me hope I can too.
Love you…
Welcome January and back to school!
You know I love you, too, Kell. ❤
On the grad school apps– I applied late to GW and was still able to start in their summer session. It might be worth a try. I also remember students who were taking one or two classes before they were officially enrolled, so that might be another option.
Happy New Year!
Breena, thank you. GW is my first choice, and admittedly who I am stressing over- they have a January 14 submit date, and I can’t take the GRE until Feb.
One thing to do is contact the specific program directly and explain your situation to them. Grad school admission rules are often administered by a large organization (like an all-encompassing administration that covers all graduate students), but individual programs and departments have more leeway. At any rate, it will tell them you exist and are interested.
On the GRE study, shell out the $25 bucks for a Kaplan review book. I taught test prep for them, and they are worth it. They know how the test works, and how to do well. It will save you much frustration in the long run, I promise.
Thanks Emah, that’s a great idea. I have the department on my list of calls to make this week, just to see what, if any, options I have.
Settle for a smaller, less well-known university. There’s one in our ward boundaries (an awesome, amazing ward – with a youth orchestra that plays sometimes for sacrament meeting!!), so I have an ulterior motive in that advice, but, as an extra incentive, you would be in the Nauvoo Stake.
That’s gotta count for something, right?
I love Nauvoo Ray, and being close to you and Michelle is not small thing. 😉
The Hot Wheels Wall Track is something I’m going to find this week. I swear, that has got to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Love it!
Just finalized a schedule of 17 credit hours for this semester and I’m praying that it doesn’t kill me. I’ve not heard good things about this kind of workload (I’m also flying solo with three kiddies in tow) but the sooner I get it done, the sooner I get it done.
Any tips?
Sinclair, I do it for the same reason. As hard as it is, I don’t regret it. I wish I had some advice, but I fly by the seat of my pants and just do it. The only gem I’ve learned is, if I get behind, pick up where I’m at and do what’s needed immediately, then go back and pick up the missed pieces. Don’t get the idea that you can’t do the next work until you catch up. Bad idea. Otherwise, best of luck to you as well!!
You can do it, you can do it, you can do it! I am amazed at all you have already done, and I love reading your updates. Totally inspiring. Also, I made your meatballs last weekend (for fondue), and they were yummy!
Im so glad the meatballs were good for you! We love them. Fondue is a GREAT idea… mmmmmmmm, cheese!
Thanks for the kind words! And, seriously. A hot wheels wall track! I am so envious. I would never get anything done again.