Allie & The Long Time No See Post

I'm not sure anyone even reads this blog, but if so, I should probably apologize for staying gone for so long.  I know it's been around 5 months since I've updated this, but tons of stuff went on in my life.  I got extremely busy with classes, I went to a conference in North Carolina, I dropped my classes because both of my teachers were absolutely horrible at educating, broke it off with TH, I turned 30, I had to cancel both vacations I planned this summer (including my annual birthday trip with my GBF RW), and lots more.  Stress upon stress upon stress upon no jogging time.  So faithful readers, if you exist, I'm sorry for neglecting my blog. :)

I did enjoy myself quite a bit at the Appalachian Studies Conference in Boone, NC this past spring.  Myself, Doc Wilson, Ginger, and Lee Maynard traveled together.  It wasn't a three hour tour, it was more like a four hour car ride that I slept through.  The conference was on the campus of Appalachian State University, who's campus is stunning and open, and nestled in the hills of Appalachia.  I fell in love.  Not to mention the fact that their cafeteria had sushi! WHAT?! Where have you been all my life ASU??  Our panel was called Dead Dogs and Other Critters: Animals in Appalachian Literature, and it was a success. We each had a topic of our own to discuss, and I chose to talk about canaries in the coal mines.  I read some excerpts from Storming Heaven by Denise Giardina, and The Tell-Tale Lilac Bush by Ruth Ann Musick.  I didn't want to present my opinion of the sad lives these birds lived, so I presented the facts, read my stories, and asked the audience a question to make them think: is it acceptable to sacrifice a single life, even a small one like a canary, to save the masses?  Keep in mind this was in the late 1800's, and early 1900's when today's technology and gas detection systems were not around.  What do you think?

Oh my classes.  I was taking Educational Psychology and Learning with Dr. Mehdi Syedmonir, as well as Math for Liberal Arts with Dr. Akey.  I prayed for strength.  I didn't receive any.  Dr. Mehdi was the most absent minded, self-absorbed teacher I have ever had.  He couldn't grade the online quizzes correctly, they were all open book, with plenty of time to do your research on each question.  I read the chapters, I chose the correct answers.  Yet I never could get better than a B or C on his quiz.  When asked for an answer sheet, he wouldn't provide them.  You also weren't told which questions you got wrong.  Tell me how I'm supposed to learn a damned thing in that class with that kind of feedback, or lack thereof.  Additionally, I was assigned to do my observations at CHS, and repeatedly called the HS to schedule a time to come in to meet the teacher.  No one ever called me back.  So with that and my frustration with Dr. Mehdi, I was over it.  Dr. Akey I just couldn't do it.  He was one week away from 6 feet under, and I don't know if maybe I was ahead of the subject matter but omg.  I was two to three weeks of assignments ahead.  It was stupid of me to drop that class, I know, but I was so stressed with Mehdi that I just dropped both and said "fuck it." 

I reconsidered being a teacher, and while my heart is still in it, I just don't think I can or want to any longer.  I want a profession where I can make a difference in someone's life.  Teaching is no longer about that.  It's all about red tape, and standardized testing.  Social Work, however, is exactly what I should have majored in all along. 

I broke off my relationship with TH because after a year, he had not told me he loved me.  He didn't know.  So, I said, peace.  We'll just leave it at that.

I turned 30, and that's when all hell broke lose and everything unraveled. Vacations had to be canceled, money got tight.  My mom is still unemployed, so I'm paying everything and it's crazy right now.

So that's my life...I'm a hot mess.

ANM

Note: My BFF, TV, is leaving me :( We work together and her last day is Friday.  I can't be too upset though, she's leaving to go to Nursing school.  I'm so extremely proud of her, and happy that she's finally realized what she is destined to be.  I can't wait to see how well she rocks those nursing classes and blows them all away with her awesomeness.  I lu you!

Allie & The Slippage

My lapband doctor has an Upper GI scheduled for me to check and see if anything is stuck or if the band has slipped again. 

Great.

That's all I need.  Surgery.  I'm praying that it hasn't slipped.  Please pray too :(

ANM

Allie & The Residual Anger

Where I wasn't feeling well yesterday (I'm still not 100% better), I was in a really pissy mood.  Well....much to the dismay of my coworkers, some of that pissiness carried over into today. I drank a big glass of milk last night before bed, which usually is fine, but it didn't set well with my tummy, so at 2am it made its way back up.  Since I was up so late, I didn't go to the doctor this morning.  BUT, I did call my Primary Care's office today and will be going to see her soon about all this mess.  I was just there last Thursday getting some lab work done.  Ug. 

I've been straight up mean today.  I've bitched and moaned about almost everything and just generally didn't put up with any shit (whereas on a normal day, I do). 

My side isn't hurting as bad today, but the pain is back in my shoulders again.  :(

ANM

Allie & The Painful Gallstone

Ok, quick update.  I'm currently having an awful pain in the mid-right side of my abdomen.  This weekend I had really sharp pains between my shoulder blades.  On top of the nausea and dizziness, WebMD tells me it is more thank likely gallstones.  yay.

I have way to much to do tonight than sit at the local Urgent Care.  I work til 8, I have a meeting at 8:30 with my Appalachian Studies Conference group, and then I have two chapters to read for my Education class and an online quiz to take in conjunction with those chapters. 

If it IS gallstones...they'll still be there in the morning...right?

:-\

Pray for me y'all!

ANM

Allie & The Game of Catch Up

Wow...I haven't posted in a while.  I got overwhelmed with school and work, and lots of other things.  I made straight A's last semester, so I guess that 3 month sense of drowning paid off. 

I have lost about 10 pounds since I last posted, which I know isn't a lot, but hey, it's still 10 pounds off.

The sausage toe is all healed up, I've been jogging a couple times, but still haven't gotten into the swing of things.  TH and I joined the YMCA in January, but then he got sick, I got sick, then I got sick again.  I'm still trying to figure out what's going on.  I stay light headed, and it's hard for me to keep food down.  Certain days I can eat a cow and be fine, but others, I take a bite at lunch and I feel sick all day long.  I have a sneaky feeling that my band is too tight. 

TH and I are still together :) I'm happy, head over heels, and wish I had more time in the day to see him.  Our 6 month anniversary was last week, and of course, WV had a snow storm, which put a damper on plans.  We ended up going to see Movie 43 (don't waste your time, lol, it was awful), had a quick dinner out, and then made a b-line straight to my place before the roads got too bad.  He gave me a key to his apartment.  :) Big step, I know.  But (excuse me for being cheesy), with that key, I melted into one big Allie puddle on the floor of TGIFridays.  My New Year's Resolution was to be more organized, but I'm thinking I should add a late amendment to it.  I need to learn to express my emotions better.  I'm so reserved when it comes to showing someone how I feel about them, and I know he has a hard time reading me sometimes.  So, since I'm doing well with my organization, I'll start on that.  :)