I should be grading

Posted on February 26, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

But I’m not. My students are working together on a project, in groups, and they don’t really need me so I’m not bugging them. The powers that be (AKA the idiots in charge) changed the curriculum a few years ago and it’s impossible to fill 2 hours with the material that they expect us to teach. So I give my students an opportunity to work together, do their homework, study, each week, to fill the hours. I honestly find it ridiculous, but complaints fall on deaf ears so we soldier on.

Today was an exercise in “why did I schedule so many things the same day?” But it worked out better than expected. I had a class at 11, then off to therapy at 1. I woke up with a very sore right leg – reminiscent of the pain I had in the summer when I had, according to my chiropractor, “twisted my vertebrea.” I’ve been working on this book, the Pain Management Workbook, and one of the things I read last night was that once you’ve experienced pain somewhere, the next time you have pain in the same place, your body remembers that and makes you feel worse. I didn’t honestly feel as bad as I did back in June but the thought was there, I was really tense and that was making it worse. I was limping badly when I got to therapy. It’s normally my left leg that’s the problem, but that one was being lovely, the right one had all the stuff going on. My physical therapist said, after watching me and doing an exam, that it was most likely my piriformis muscle – I didn’t know I had one of those! She used her elbow on my butt, I kid you not, and pushed hard in several places, and holy cow, did it feel so much better in a very short time! We didn’t do many exercises but I wasn’t limping nearly as badly when we were done as I was when I started! I think I’m gong to adopt her!

I was meant to see my orthopedist after therapy but she had emergency surgery and had to reschedule. It will be interesting to hear what she has to say about the current developments. I am not ready for surgery, nor will I submit to more shots – the last one did more harm than good. So I’m hoping that working on muscle strength and maybe unlocking the muscle I didn’t know I had will get me back on track. I don’t expect I’ll ever be able to walk 5 miles a day again, but 3 would be nice! Maverick is less than impressed with my inability to go more than 1/2 mile – but I’m following doctor’s orders because I need to get well. I know my back will never heal

I did some shopping and got home by 3:00, my leg had kept me awake and restless all night – the best sleeping position for this mess is flat on your back and I can’t sleep that way, so I wake up a lot in discomfort. And then of course, I have to get up to pee. And then I’m cold. So anyway, I didn’t sleep well. The recliner called and I napped for an hour this afternoon. Naps are lovely things to get.

At 5:30, I picked up Maverick. At 6, I started my second class, after fighting with my computer to get online and stay online. As soon as class is over, I will be heading to a school board meeting to express my displeasure with some of the decisions they’ve been making. And yes, a decision has been made on my end, I am definitely running in the next election. I don’t really want to, but something has to be done, and someone had to step up. Wish me luck. The current president will be in office for another year, and then has two more years left on his term. I’m expecting some epic battles if elected, he already hates me and if he becomes a member of the minority, it won’t be pretty.

I started this post a week ago. Since then, I’ve seen my orthopedic doctor, who told me to continue therapy and come back when I need her. My piriformis muscles are seemingly unlocking and my legs are feeling better, although I still have hip pain at night, probably from sitting in front of a computer all day. Today I walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes, I’m quite excited about that! Progress is being made. I have accepted that I’ll never be completely “well” again, but I’ll be the best I can be.

Also, the school board meeting got a bit heated and I made the newspaper for one of my smart ass comments. ~~looks innocent~~ Well. When certain policies come up, it brings out the worst in both sides of the argument. It’s a true microcosm of the world we live in, no one will listen, they are hard line in their opinions and there is no convincing them there’s any value in any other argument.

In other news, I’ve lost my knitting mojo again, I have no time to sew, I manage to read for a couple of hours in the evening and all thoughts of training with Maverick have been put on hold. I get a break in two weeks, then 7 more weeks of crazy and then a break for the Summer. I’m planning my Summer trip to NY, it won’t be as long this year – since my sister died, I have less desire to go there.

There was a shooting at the local hospital over the weekend. It’s about 7 miles from me, too close to home. The shooter’s motive has not been revealed. 5 people were injured and one police officer was killed. He was only 29, an only child, and looks way younger in photos. I didn’t know him, but I cried all day. Part of the reason I cried was because of the terrible loss, and partly because one person outside of my circle of 4 close friends, checked on us. Sometimes you get clear indications of where you stand in the lives of others. This is yet another message about how little we matter to some. Families are so wonderful, aren’t they?

This is long and rambling but I promised myself I would write something today because it’s been too damned long. So, enjoy!

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Reset button

Posted on February 1, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

This day has not started off well. Saturdays are always challenging, Maverick doesn’t quite grasp days of the week and can’t understand why he isn’t going off to play with his buddies today. To express his displeasure at my apparent lack of memory, he will pant, pace, whine, and generally be a pita until I take him to the park to do his business. He has the opportunity to be outside and bark at stuff, and while he’s there, he could manage to poop, but he does not choose to do so. He will poop at home only if it’s an absolute emergency. Otherwise, it’s the park, or daycare.

I have tried to convice our daycare to open on weekends, but she is deaf to my pleas.

My leg is seriously in need of a good talking to, come to Jesus meeting, or amputation. (that last is a joke, I can barely walk now, imagine me with one leg!) Maverick does not care. Honey Badgers don’t give a fuck, and he is most definitely a Honey Badger.

So after being whined at for an hour – because I refuse to budge till I’ve had at least one coffee – I gave in and we went to the park. It might have been okay. It wasn’t that bad until the girl with the leash around her waist and the barking dog came running towards us, Maverick reacted, she made no effort to avoid us, I pulled Maverick off the path, and there went my leg. I held onto a tree and cried. She didn’t even look back. (I don’t get the whole idea of the leash around the waist, yes, it takes the pull off your arms if the dog pulls, but it puts it squarely on the middle of your spine) We managed, slowly, to go far enough for Maverick to decide to poop and then back to the car.

We will not be going to the park tomorrow.

My day started with Maverick jumping on the bed and rolling around. Came downstairs to find Bear had Andy Griffith on TV. No, Dear, they are not gonna pay the dude with the worst house in town a million dollars, it was Confederate bonds the first time you saw that episode 50 years ago and it still is. I sincerely beiieve that one had to pass a “screechy voice” test to be on that show.

So now I’m thinking I’ll just get a shower, do my new series of exercises that were prescribed by my physical therapist – who tells me my muscles are too weak to support my spine and we must work on strenghtening them – and then perhaps I’ll feel like vacuuming. Or maybe it will be late enough to start drinking.

Would anyone like a Golden Retriever for the weekend? (Just kidding, I love the little shit)

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While waiting for office hour to begin

Posted on January 28, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

Two nights ago, I started reading The Atlas Paradox. It’s the sequel to the Atlas Six, a book I loved. I normally expect less from a sequel but I still expect it to be good.

I rarely DNF a book

This one is testing me. I’m about 75 pages into it and not one bloody thing has actually happened. It’s been awhile since I read the first book, so I need something that’s going to jog my memory about each character – and it’s not happening. Last night I put it aside and scrolled my phone for 1/2 hour. I never scroll my phone before I go to bed, it often keeps me from sleep and I have enough trouble with that at night.
(But not during the day, nearly fell asleep during a meeting yesterday afternoon) (My mom would say I have my days and nights mixed up)

But I hate to DNF a book. And Peachy gave this 5 stars! What to do?

Well, I guess I’ll slog through another 50 pages and if it’s still not happening………….I’ll just have to suck it up and finish it anyway

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I don’t really care, Margaret

Posted on January 28, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

That line has nothing to do with anything I might write, but it’s been making me snicker all afternoon. I’m pretty tired so it doesn’t take much right now, but it’s just still funny. (If you don’t get the reference, it’s J.D. Vance talking to some interviewer who keeps talking over him and being rude)

My back and left leg have been giving me issues lately, the last round of shots honestly seemed to make things worse – which I discussed with my doctor last week when I went for my post shot checkup. It’s never had this effect before, it’s been a couple days of “drunk legs” and then back to feeling pretty good. This time, it’s increasingly drunk (weak) legs, and lots of aching – to the point where it wakes me up a few times each night.

She prescribed a round of prednisone, which took down the ache but hasn’t done much else, and physical therapy to start on Wednesday. And I’ve been doing okay. Not great, but okay. I need to walk, but when the paths are covered with frozen footprints, I’m not gonna chance breaking a hip and I have nowhere to walk other than the local parks. Yes, I live on a country road, and everyone has a dog and most don’t stay in their yards when someone walks past – I don’t fear any of them, I doubt they’d bite, but they might knock me over and I’m pretty sure it won’t take much for me to break.

Last night I got into bed, feeling thankful for every pain free moment, and there were a lot yesterday. I sat on the bed, turned to get my lotion, and felt something pop. Pain shot down my leg. It eased within a few minutes, but I was afraid to go to sleep because I knew I’d wake up and not be able to move. I had to be up early, couldn’t sleep, and this morning it was painful. I hobbled like a 90 year old woman.

But I kept moving.

As the day progressed, it got better. Tomorrow I have the chiropractor and he’ll put as much of me back together as he can. Meanwhile, I’m babying myself big time.

In other news, we now have about 50 lbs of beef in the freezer because the farmer up the road butchered and was selling beef for a really good price. I have plans! This is so much better than anything you get in the grocery store, next to no fat, just lean meat, and the taste is amazing. I will be doing a roast next weekend, for sure.

The first week of classes is done and it’s gone well. Started the second week today, which was why I was up at the crack o’dawn. I have class – well, I always have class, I AM a princess – at 9, then again at 12:30, and then a faculty meeting at 2:30. I have emails I should answer but I’m done for the day. I will take care of that stuff tomorrow.

Maverick has decided that the hounds of hell are in the front field and it’s up to him to bark until they leave. The only thing that will get him to come inside is the promise of a Pupperoni. I am not above bribery.

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More random thoughts

Posted on January 25, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

Because my brain is on a treadmill these days

I started classes again this week, teaching them – not taking them. I’m also getting involved in the local school board. I’ve gone from “what will I do to amuse myself today?” to “where am I supposed to be now?” in a matter of days

And I”m exhausted!!!!!!! But it’s a good exhaustion, honestly. I didn’t realize how much I missed teaching till I had 4 really good classes this week, talking to students and interacting and realizing that there is hope for the future. We had good conversations about Ai – most were not totally on board with it being a good thing and we agreed that we all need to learn more. I asked them to teach me about things like podcasts and to get involved with creating discussion topics for the class and they responded with enthusiasm. There were disagreements, but not arguments. I am seriously excited about this semester.

The school board stuff has sort of been forced up on me. I’ve just seen too much nonsense from the current board, my school districk is going to have a couple million dollar deficit in the upcoming budget and they’re doing little to make rational cuts, and more interested in spending more, borrowing more – without considering interest payments. I’m concerned about education – obviously – but I’m also concerned about the tax payers. So I’m attending meetings and speaking up and totally ticking off the current board president. (He’s a total jerk so I feel no shame in annoying him mightily, he has a problem with women challenging him so I feel compelled to go “HI!!!!!”

I also got involved with the Friends of the Library and have been asked to make a “book pillow.” I had to look that up. So I have that cut out and will attempt to sew tomorrow.

And in between, I shall find time to grade discussion posts, homework, train with Maverick and maybe eat something. Welp, maybe I’ll lose some weight!

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Tired

Posted on January 11, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

Since my last shots in the back, my legs ache at night. Actually, they ache all the time, I just notice it more at night. I have an ortho appointment on Friday and we’re going to discuss this, because it’s keeping me from getting a good night’s sleep.

This is not normal for me. My mom used to say I was the Queen of sleep, I could sleep anywhere, any time. So for me to be awake several times in the night, and then be awake for awhile trying to get comfortable, is not normal

Well. Would you expect me to be normal?

We got more snow last night. I think it was about an inch. I think I’m tired of it and there are 67 days till Spring. All it did was make a mess and so we didn’t get a walk today. Maverick is not pleased but I’ve been to our park when there’s been snow – people walk anyway, and leave footprints in the snow, which then freeze – and that’s a broken hip waiting to happen. It’s also colder than a witch’s tit out there and I hate being bundled up – layers are not my friend. I like being able to move and layers make me feel constricted.

So Maverick and I are playing the “let me in so I can go back outside” game and I just told him that if I have to get up one more time, I’m going to a hotel for the rest of the weekend. (Get a dog, they said, it’ll be fun.)

My classes start on the 21st. After a semester off, I will now have 4 classes, 3 of the same subject and one more advanced. I don’t much enjoy the first class so I’m working on ways to make it more fun. Hopefully I can get the students involved and that always makes things more interesting (My classes are fun, because Accounting can be extremely dry so I do my best to keep them interested) At any rate, this has involved a good bit of work and I know I won’t be ready but I’ll wing it – I always do!

I’m still plugging away on the scarf, may finish the second color tonight – if I don’t fall asleep first. Bear has been working on the plow all day so I suspect it will be subs for supper and an early night. I’m about 10 pages from the end of my current book, so that will be done and the next one started I’m knocking down that TBR pile this year!

And how’s your weekend going?

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Snow day and procrastinating

Posted on January 6, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

After a week of hearing about little else, the storm of the century ended up leaving us about 3 inches of snow – which was what the only guys I trust had said almost from the beginning. It was enough hype to make everyone cancel for doggy daycare so Maverick is home. I knew this would happen, I could probably have gotten out to take him, but getting back up my driveway when Bear hadn’t plowed? Nah, not happening. However. Maverick is totally bored and outside barking at random things. I’m sure they’re very important things but I really wish he’d hush up about them awhile. We’ve played the indoor-outdoor game all day. This is why he goes to daycare.

I haven’t taught a class in 6 months and was assigned one I haven’t taught in over a year. There have been changes to the power points, and a few other fun things, so I’m attempting to catch up – and playing the indoor-outdoor game is impeding my progress. I’m also really easily distracted so I keep having to check Facebook, Threads, etc.

In my defense, it’s been an interesting news day with the election confirmation and Justin Trudeau sort of resigning. And apparently there’s yet another storm of the century looming for the weekend. (There’s a local group of weather fearcasters who hype every storm, and all their posts are all caps – as someone put it, like a terrorist threat. They are very rarely correct, nearly always downgrade their predictions at the last minute and then say, “look, we got it right, AGAIN! Aren’t we awesome?” I love making fun of them. It astonishes me how many people continue to follow them and worship at the altar of their greatness.)

Bear just left for work, he’ll be home in about 5 hours. He was basically harassed this morning for not going in early – umm, driveway, 850 feet of driveway, snow covered driveway. His boss offered to come get him. I told him to let her, if she could navigate that driveway, which goes down a hill, around a curve and then continues that curve up a hill, when it’s covered with snow, then I’d love to see it. 4-wheel drive be damned, I’m betting she would have ended up in the pond. And that would be worth seeing. (Okay, we would have pulled her out! Maybe. After a while. There’s no water in the pond! Geesh)

So I’m sitting here blogging instead of updating syllabi. And that makes me think about how long I’ve been blogging. I started when it was a new thing, had no clue what this was about, back in the days of Blogger. Yep, I’m that old!

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Random thoughts on a January evening

Posted on January 5, 2025 by suziecreamcheese

I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Well. I usually say I’m going to quit smoking and everyone says, “you did that years ago!” But it takes them a minute to realize that I don’t smoke and most people I know now didn’t know me when I did. (I quit when my appendix ruptured and I was in the hospital for 11 days – after going that long without a cigarette, I wasn’t ready to pick it up again) (My appendix ruptured because I had no normal symptoms. Would you expect me to be normal?)

However. I would like to resolve to blog more often. I enjoy reading the people I follow and I always think I should write something and then my train of thought derails and it’s another day.

Today was a total waste. Maverick woke me up early, panting and whining, so I got up and let him out – where he promptly plopped on the sidewalk and went back to sleep. Not a good way to start the day, I don’t like being woken up early. Weekends are always a challenge, partly because he goes to daycare during the week and his routine is to get up and go. I’ve been working on taking more time in the morning so he’s not driving me crazy on the weekend, but it’s slow going. He can be very very demanding.

It’s very cold. I really didn’t want to go to the park but someone won’t poop at home. (That would be Maverick. ) I was already crabby from the early awakening, so the thought of putting on 85 layers of clothing – i hate layers – didn’t make me happier. But we went. It was cold. It was not the kind of day to dawdle, so of course, Maverick had to pee on every blade of grass. (One of the joys of having an intact male is that they have to pee on literally everything.) Normally, I don’t mind, sniff and pee to your heart’s content but not when it’s freezing and windy, please. So it was a short walk.

There’s a snowstorm coming on Monday. Today is Saturday. This storm has been the center of attention for at least a week. I am already tired of Winter and it’s barely begun, and we’ve only had two minor storms that left merely a coating of snow on the grass. That’s about the only type of snow I can tolerate. Snow causes anxiety – not as bad as it once was, but not good, and 10 days of hearing about “we might get a foot of snow! But then again, we might get an inch!” doesn’t help. So here we are a day out and it seems we’re in the 3-6 inch range, unless it pushes south (please!) and then we’ll get less.

Maverick decided that cheese was poisonous today. He refused to take his allergy pills and the next to last antibiotic for his hot spot, which is thankfully cleared up. The he got his leash all tangled up in the bushes out front and it was the last straw. I went upstairs and went back to bed. So the day was shot to Hell because when it starts out badly and gets worse, you may as well just go back to bed.

In crafting news – I’m trying to knock down the yarn stash, so I’m making a scarf from this cute bundle of small balls of yarn that sucked me in – 6 little balls, 3 darks, 3 lights, should be a cute scarf, yes? I’m almost done with the first ball and it’s taking me a week to knit 5, maybe 6 rows. We’re talking 21 stitches here, not a lot! I’m determined, however and will finish this before summer! (Pray for me)

I’m also trying to knock down the fabric hoard. Not making much progress this week but I do have things cut that just need to be sewn.

And I got assigned 4 classes, so there goes half my spare time. I’m not complaining, I’ve really missed teaching. Remind me of that when I have to grade homework and start whining.

I’m also considering running for school board. I’m on the fence but leaning hard towards giving it a shot. Our school board is a disaster and we really need to get a few people off of it. More on that when the decision is made.

Anyway. Hopefully you all had a better day than mine, and that tomorrow will start off on a good note! And we get no snow on Monday!

**Peanut butter balls recipe:

https://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com/peanut-butter-balls/

super easy – I used candy melts to coat them instead of chocolate chips cuz I had a plethora of candy melts left over!

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Cream filled chocolates

Posted on December 28, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

as requested, the recipe:

ingredients:

2 1/2 lbs of confectionery sugar

1 lb of butter

1 can sweetened condensed milk

5-6 tbs of vanilla – I used 4 and it’s quite sweet enough, so taste it before you add more

Directions:

  1. mix in a large bowl with your hands _ yes, with your hands, there’s no other way to get it all together!
  2. divide into bowls to flavor – to taste (use an extract or something thick) 3
  3. freeze to harden
  4. remover from freezer and shape into 1/2 inch balls – refreeze (Mother always put a toothpick in each one because she dipped them with that. I use a dipping spoon so I don’t use a toothpick)
  5. coating – now, I use the candy melts because I’m lazy, and also because you can’ vary the colors and flavors. Mother is probably still annoyed about that. Her recipe follows for coating: 1 large package of chocolate chips
    • 1 small package of butterscotch chips
    • 1/2 block of wax (yes, wax)
    • melt the wax in a double boiler, then add the chips
  6. dip the frozen balls (oh, the perv alert there!) into the mixture and place on waxed paper. Cool in the fridge, remove the toothpicks and fill in the holes they left. (If you use the dipping spoon, you don’t get holes. So there, Mother!)

And that’s it. They’re a bit of work, but they’re so good! So rich, and so delicious!

It’s fun to experiment with flavors and coatings, so let me know what you make!

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The time has come, the walrus said

Posted on December 25, 2024 by suziecreamcheese

To talk of many things

Of shoes and ships and sealing wax

and cabbages and kings

I used to know that whole poem and The Raven – which I would happily recite whenever the mood struck. My brain is now too full of other stuff, or someone hit the delete button by accident. (That happens quite often, by the way)

So it’s Christmas and we have much to discuss. I’m taking a break from candy making. My mom made cream filled chocolates every year***, started with a bunch of flavors and eventually only made maple creams because those were the favorites. When I moved to PA, I volunteered to make them but in one of those ‘”This is how it’s done and I can’t change” moments, I only suggested maple and no one here likes it. Duh, you can use other flavorings! (Sometimes I get stuck, too!) Three years ago I decided to make them and got a little crazy with flavors, but my friends truly loved all of them. So last year I made them again and this year – well, I really like experimenting, so we have peppermint with dark mint coating, peppermints with white mint coating, raspberry with dark chocolate coating, coconut, rum and maple with milk chocolate and cherry with pink vanilla flavored coating. The cherries are currently in the freezer, and will be dipped later.

***recipe will be shared if anyone wants it

During this process, Bear discovered that we’ve owned a double boiler thingie for like 3 years

I swear sometimes he never opens a cabinet. (And when he does, he doesn’t close it! Men!)

In other news, Maverick had to visit Dr. Dave – our vet. Maverick decided it would be fun to scratch his butt on the carpet, thus giving himself a rug burn on his ass. That rug burn has turned into a lovely hot spot. Part of the cure is to shave the affected area – so he’s got a bare ass look going on and he’s not impressed. It’s also sore and I feel bad for him but I can’t help thinking, “dude, you did this to yourself!” (My mom had no patience with injuries. She would say, “do you want sympathy? Look it up in the dictionary, it’s between shit and syphillis”) (I had no idea what syphillis was, but I knew it was after “sympathy” in the dictionary!)
At any rate, he’s always a bundle of energy and this has turned him frantic. Yes, we’ve resorted to calming meds. They’re sort of working. So is brandy. For me, not him. I’m not that crazy! (Although it has crossed my mind) Today I will be making a neck pillow in the vain attempt to keep him from biting his butt. Because I’m quite tired of yelling “LEAVE IT!” so loud the neighbors can hear.

Bear is off for the next two weeks. Pray for me. Seriously, when he’s home, I tend to snack less so it will be good for my diet. Also, I have a honey do list that I haven’t mentioned. Don’t tell him.

My family is 350 miles away. Bear’s family situation is complicated. It’s me, Bear and Maverick of the Bare Butt today. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I feel like most of what I love about it has been taken away. So I’m choosing to focus on the blessings in my life, and on the meaning of today. Last night I watched a live stream of a local church service where my BFF played the organ, and a girl who was a member there since she was a child sang “Mary Did You Know?” and brought tears to my eyes. She has an amazing voice and I expect to see her on Broadway someday.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Hope your day is filled with joy and no “Leave it!”

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