Non-Smoker!!

What was I thinking? Taking college courses online is much more complicated than I imagined. Not only am I trying to figure out where all my assignments are located (Taskstream, ebooks, Prometric, etc.), but I have to find the time to get online and have enough time to get the work done. Night time would be the best, but honestly, getting up at 5:00am and staying up until midnight (or even past 9:00pm!) is kickin' my arse! Seriously, I'm beginning to think I'm a little over my head.....or alot! So, the snow is melting and it's kinda sad, since I love Winter and winter fashion, layering is always my style! The more clothes I can pile on my "nonsmoking" body, the better! Seriously, It's been almost 1 year (February 19th)since I've quit smoking and I have put on a few extra pounds....as in 20 extra! Big deal...that's what I say cuz I will take a little weight gain over smoking any day! It was terribly hard to quite and I have tried for several years, until finally, with my daughter and my Mom keeping at me to quit; I realized it was time. It was such a burden on me and my family. Everywhere we went, I had to stop and have a smoke. If we went hiking for the day, I would have to take my cigarettes and a Pepsi, cuz I had to have a Pepsi with a cigarette and smoking in a beautiful scenic location and smoking don't go together very well. Staying at hotels, I always had to have a room with a balcony, so I could go out and smoke and then the smell would just linger into the room and everyone had to suffer. And having to go outside at home because that's where I had to go to smoke,even if it was freezing cold in the winter. Yeah, really fun.Anyone who thinks cigarettes are not addicting...they must not smoke or they have never tried quitting smoking. I still want to smoke everyday, but I know I can't because if I do, I will start again. And that's not an option for me. And to know I can stand next to others and not worry about smelling like cigarettes is such a relief and my teeth are whiter and I chew gum to enjoy the flavor and not to try and mask the smell of cigarettes. So much more liberating, than I thought it would be and I still can't believe it has already been a year! Keep up the good work, whoever has quit and for those who are trying...don't give up, it will happen if you want it bad enough. Oh, and Popsicles were my run-to treat because when I wanted to smoke, I grabbed a Popsicle and off I went to have my downtime. Especially the banana and root beer ones. They really work! Speaking of which, gotta go, it's Popsicle time! Peace.

Looong Day!

Hey there. Oh what a day today.....junior high can be exhausting! But, it's good to know that some teenagers still ask for advice and listen to the advice you give them. They may not take it, but at least they're listening...I think?! Anyway, I drove to work today, which I had a 15 minute commute and I was on "empty" in my car! How I love a challenge! Kidding. I was running late and I didn't have time to stop & fill up. But, I kept the heater off to save whatever little bit of gas fumes I had to run on. Oh, and it was 17 degrees when I went to work this morning. Nice. So, I get home and I want to climb into bed and sleep until Friday, but I have sooo much work to catch up on for school. I still have 2 essays and my mentor just informed me I should be thinking of a topic for a research paper. I asked her if she could give me an example and the examples she gave me were ones other students are using for their research. My goal for the week is to do my pre-assessment on Lanuage Arts.....I know that doesn't sound like a very big goal, but trust me, it is. There are other goals throughout the week I set for myself, like "try to shave my legs at least once a week and try to stay up past 10:00pm on Friday night" and Sleep in on Saturday!" Yep, big goals. Ok, gotta go. Peace.

I Heart Rain!

Hey there! So it's Saturday and alot of work ahead of me! I am starting on my 2 Essays and man, let me tell ya, it's all "Greek" to me! I should have paid more attention in Greek school, but my priest, Father Athas always made me stand in the corner cuz I was always talking! But, believe it or not, he was my favorite priest. He had us learn these Greek poems and at the end of the year, we would present them to family and friends. Mine was about chocolate and fruit. Interesting. We dressed up in Greek attire, which I loved because the jewelry and gold coins sewn onto my dress would make this cool noise when I would move about! I felt like a Greek princess! I always felt bad for the boys though, cuz they had to wear these socks for shoes with little pom poms sewn on them! Ok, enough about my days as a Greek goddess! It's raining outside (again!) & my daughter is bugging me to go outside and play! Children never get cold! When I go up to the school, there is a huge pile of coats that have been left behind by their owners. Poor coats. Ok, really, I need to get busy. C-ya.

TGIF Woohoo!

Hey there! Again, really tired. Slept in until 6:00am....that's a whole hour later than usual. But it's Friday! So it's all good. I have 2 essays to write this weekend. One is a persuasive essay & one informative essay. Oh my. I ran off so many papers yesterday, I used up the entire black ink cartridge! Good thing we just bought a new printer cuz the old one's ink cartridges cost about $45. And for the new ones, only $15! Ok, I'm back. I had to drive Zo to the bus stop. It's so cold standing there waiting for the bus, so we drive over. And it's raining! I love the rain, but I don't like standing in it! I have to go get ready for work now...yeah. Have A Great weekend y'all! Peace.

Greek Goddess!

Hey there. I am so tired! I better get used to it though cuz I will be staying up later doing school work. It's really the only time I can really focus on my work. I found out yesterday I passed my first test. I was sooo suprised because it was really hard! Subjects like Reading Comprehension, Small Communication Skills, Citing, Referencing, Editing....yeah, hard! When I talked to my Mentor, I asked her how I did, waiting for the words, "you failed," but instead I heard, "you passed!" For a split second, I thought, "She must be looking at another student's test!" But no, it was mine! Now I have to prepare for the Objective Exam which is similiar to the pre-assessment but a littler more difficult. I have to take it at a testing cite which will be a challenge in itself! I hope stretch leggings don't go out of style anytime soon. They are my go to comfy pants and my velour pants! Even my yiayia likes her velour tracksuit! Us Greek women know comfort when we see it! We've come along way since the "house dress!" Speaking of Greek women, I read an article on Tina Fey today and I never realized she was Greek (& German). She says she has the booty and the boobs because of her Greek heritage...I must have been skipped that day! Oh wait, I do have the booty but that's due to Greek cookies...does that count?

Brain Overload!

Hey there. So, I'm thinking if I could blog more of my thoughts for the day, week, etc., then I might have more room in my mind for other things, like remembering I have a blog spot! That probably doesn't make any sense, but in my mind....it does. So, thought for the day....online college programs are much harder than I anticipated! I have become more computer oriented in the past week and that was just the setting up for the program. And then there's the actual program. The courses and exams and assesssments and proctor site tests and discussion threads and well, alot of smart people stuff! And having to commit at least 20 hours a week for school, I still have to work everyday and do mama stuff and clean and cook and do homework and study and.....ok, I think I'm in a little over my head....or alot! Work has been pretty hectic lately as well. I've been substitue teaching for P.E. and I'm pretty p.e.'d out! I've taught it for 3 weeks straight and thought I was finished and then next thing I know, I'm doing it again! I have had my exercise for the year...and it's only Jan. 18! When I made my New Year's resolution to be more active and exercise, I didn't think it would be everyday! Oh well, the students are great and make my job alot more fun! The funnest game to play is "What time is it Mrs. Fox?...fun! I have to tell the students (Kindergarten thru 2nd) what time it is and they take that many steps and when I say, "Midnight" they run and I have to chase them and try to tag them....they're really fast! And it's not easy running in 3'in. boots! For the older students, we play kick ball and I never realized how much I knew about sports as far as rules and then I realized, I was once married to a sports finatic! I guess all those softball games that I loathed, payed off! Tag up, fouls, stealing bases, bunts, etc., yeah, I'm on it! So, I just answered our house phone and it was a cousin from Greece! Her name is Anastacia and she lives over in Crete (I think?!). My Dad met her when he and my Yiayia and Uncle Michael and his family and my Aunt Helen went over there a few years ago. My Dad talks to her once in awhile and they email back and forth. She asked me when I was coming to Greece and I said, "soon." Wishful thinking Chris. One of these days, I hope I can go over there and see where my Yiayia grew up and my Papou and their lovely country. Back to reality....my daughter and my parents are going to S.L.C. today to visit Danny and Steph and the baby and I'm staying home and I'm not happy about it at all! I just have so much catching up to do with school, since I worked on days I needed off for certain things and now I'm paying for it. It's just hard to say "No" especially when it's the teacher who calls and asks you to work! Oh well, whatever. I guess I'll stop here and get back to focusing on school work....wish me luck!