Wow, ten days later ...

... and I am still learning all the ins and outs of knitSpeaker. No, it is definitely not that hard to learn. I put the pattern for my second Basics, Basics, Basics swatch on it in about five minutes, including my learning curve mistakes. It is more that I was just so fascinated with the app I wanted to know everything it could do. So, I dissected the app, the Instructions, and the free patterns that came with the app! It's a beautiful thing; I am definitely in love.

Well, I really have to get back to basics (pardon the pun) and get Lesson 3 back to Arenda this week. The sooner I finish the Basics class, the sooner I can start the Level 1 Masters Class. Actually, I don't think there is anything magic that is keeping me from just starting the Masters Class, except my own thinking. I think I will decide to think about it differently and just get started!

Mark is doing so well in his studies. He has completed three classes now with all A's. That's my man! He finally quit his second job, but not before he started physically breaking down. He developed neuropathy in his feet and legs. Now we have back to back appointments with my wonderful neurologist. We asked for a family discount, but no can do. Doctor says he is barely getting by with insurance system now. Oh my. Maybe I can take some canned food on my next visit.

Well, time to get off the computer and back to the real world. Hmmm ... what to do next?  House work? Knitting? I know, I think I will eat!

Inspiration from Rita Pierson at TEDEducation

 In addition to knitting, one of my other passions is education. I can't get enough for myself and I can't stop advocating it for others. I don't care what the subject matter is; it feeds your soul! The following are some quotes from a lifelong educator who spoke at TEDEducation. If you have never connected with this online community, give it a chance. There is lots to choose from and it is all good.

This is what Rita Pierson tells her students the first day of each new term -

You were chosen to be in my class because I am the best teacher and you are the best students. They put us all together so we could show everybody else how to do it.

Next, she has the students recite this statement every day, because she believes that if you say it often enough, you believe it, and if you believe it, you will achieve it.

I am somebody. I was somebody when I came. I will be a better somebody when I leave. I am powerful and I am strong. I deserve the education that I get here. I have things to do, people to impress, and places to go!

This is an example of how Rita turns negative classroom results into positive opportunities for motivation.

A student missed 18 out of 20. Student asked, is this an F, and I said yes. And when we review you can do better, can't you. He said YEAH. Minus 18 sucks all the life out of you, but +2 lets you know you can do better!

This is Rita's basic philosophy about being an educator.

Every student deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can be.

This is one of Rita's inspirational quotes that frames her philisophy.

"No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship."
       James Kerner

 In Rita's own words ...

Kids don't learn from people they don't like!

Well, now I am working on the last lesson for Basics, Basics, Basics. Dare I say, when this lesson is finished it is on to the Lesson One for the Master's Class? Yes, I will say it!

I discovered a new app for the iPhone called "knitspeaker" that reads your pattern to you while you knit. Now this was made for me. Like anything else in life, it takes effort and commitment to get back what you need from the thing, but I think it will be worth it long term. Of course, right now my OCD has kicked in and I have stopped in the middle of Lesson 3 to learn the program. Not good. Must knit. Must knit. Oh, and must do laundry and must load dishwasher. Yuck! All of these musts. That's one of the bad aspects of OCD. That non-stop self-chatter of MUST, MUST, MUST. Of course, the good aspect is that you do get things done; just not always in priority order.

Later ...

New purpose ...

Well, it's been awhile. I have been to Georgia to help my Sister move to her new home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Beautiful, but too far from me for my liking. I spent a week with my niece, Janey Kathryn. Wonderful. She is my namesake and that was our first really in-depth visit. You learn more about each other in the quiet moments than in hours of talking. She is absolutely wonderful and I could not be prouder for her to carry my name.

My original purpose for creating this blog was to talk to myself. Now I am adding another purpose. Mark, my husband, is studying to be a teacher. Of course, he is still working full time, so this part of his learning journey is on line. I am very proud of him. There is nothing more important in our relationship that each of us, as individuals, reach for and attain our aspirations in life.

So today, we begin his bucket list of quotes and resources to share with his students. The quotes are for use in reinforcing strong self-esteem in the students and the resources are for Mark to use in developing his teaching skills as well as teaching style.

"Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."
-Norman Vincent Peale

I'm still here ...

Yes, I am still here. I should leave some type of instruction in my will for a last post, but not today.

I've been busy lately, no time to really visit with myself. That's not good. We need to all take time for those moments of self-contemplation and conversation. But I have been productive. I finished Lesson 1 of Basics, Basics, Basics for TKGA and I am now knitting my way through Lesson 2. I am really enjoying the learning experience, although I know I will be going back to the videos each time I come across increase/decrease or whatever in a real pattern. My short term memory just can't handle it. But that's okay. Ruby, my wonderful MacBook (a gift from my loving sister, Susie) has it all bookmarked for me.

I did finally reach my medicine deductible and I am back on my brain meds. What a difference. It's too bad they are $600 a month. When I am insured for them, they are almost $200, but that is much better. It is just one of life's challenges to find a way to pay for them as I simply don't function without them. When I don't have them it is kind of like I have had a small stroke or something. I have trouble putting words together to talk to people and I forget to do things like bathe and cook. Not good.

I am scheduled for a trip to Georgia in a couple of weeks to help Sister move to her new home. I am looking forward to seeing Georgia, especially Atlanta, as I have never been there. Atlanta has seven yarn shops! I sure hope I can go to all of them, but I won't have a car so it will depend on Sister's schedule. I have mixed feelings about Sister moving. In part Mark and I moved to Texas to be near her and Poppy and now she is moving away. Bummer.

That's it for right now. I am anxious to finish my samples for Lesson 2 and get them in the mail.

New paragraph ...

So, I have just been to busy to visit with myself for days! I started taking my medicine again a few days ago and it is amazing how my life kicks into high gear when my brain is running right. My great neurologist worked with me for over a year to get the right combination of medicine to balance the chemicals needed to bring my function levels back to normal. He isn't sure what happened; maybe an old childhood injury, a light stroke, or a series of night seizures I have been experiencing for some time. His philosophy is to correct the problem and then worry about the cause if it continues to get worse. The problem only gets worse if I don't take the meds, so the problem is solved. So why, you say, do I ever stop the meds? Simple enough; those pills are almost $600 a month without insurance coverage. With coverage, the co-pay is $186 a month, with the balance eating you into your "doughnut hole" in about six months. That means you only have prescription medicine at all for about half the year.

Part of what I have been doing since we last talked was researching what I could do to get help with the cost of that medicine. So far, nothing. There is not a lot of help for Seniors, but what help I have found does not cover that particular medication. It is new on the market and there are no substitutes. But I do intend to do something with everything I have learned. On Monday I am calling our local Senior center and volunteering to meet with other Seniors and share my information with them. I think that is something that will be good for my mental health, especially if I can help some other Senior. Of course, I will also take my knitting along, just in case it generates some interest in a knitting circle.

Speaking of knitting, my first lesson is in the mail to TKGA! Now I wait for review and suggestions before I begin Lesson Two. Hopefully there won't be many do overs and I can get started right away on the next lesson. It felt really good to see it off. I also got Lisa's box in the mail with a couple of things I made for her.

When I am tracking properly, I always see how far behind I am on housework and such. I cleaned and organized the laundry room yesterday. I cleaned the kitchen as well, but left the floors for today. I still have dusting and vacuuming to do.

Lisa bought me a beautiful gently used side piece that I put by my knitting chair (that she also bought me) to complete my "command central" area. I am sure that was not it's intended use, but it is perfect for me. Now if I can just get Mark to do something with his half of the room. He gets a pass for right now though. He is still working two jobs AND taking two classes toward his teaching degree. He never has a moment to himself.

I also have taken a few tentative steps toward becoming politically responsible. I have spent my entire life avoiding politics because they made no sense and seemed beyond the influence of individuals. I don't think my opinion has changed much, but with our country in the mess it is in, I feel each of us has to try. So I am. I have picked one Senator from my State to communicate with. I have no way to know if he is good or bad, but I agree with what is coming out of his mouth so far. I will continue to watch his actions and send him my input. I also communicate with the President, but I have little hope that those communications ever reach his ears.

One last item, the dreaded E word. Yes, Exercise. My lovely Lisa has sent me YouTube links for chair yoga. I bought a used straight back chair at the SPCA Store, and no, I did not have one I could have used. The time is now. I made my commitment to her. Must ... do ... yoga ...

"D" for Done

So, the swatches didn't disappear in the bowl of water; it took a gazillion pins to make them look like the shapes in the example pictures; they looked so much better when they were all rolled up like little sausages. Now to sew the loose yarn in. Simple, maybe. I used to just run those threads right up the sides. Not for the class. Nope, they use something called "duplicate stitch" which means I have to make them look invisible, i.e. loop them through the backs of stitches until they disappear.

Okay, what have I done today to make that happen. I put all the swatches in plastic bags, per the instructions. I wrote all the labels for the swatches, but did not attach them yet because the yarn ends are not hidden yet. Then I spent five hours on the computer reading reviews about awesome knitting apps for iPad and iPhone; bought two apps; wrote reviews for one app that was super; organized the app icons on my phone. Did I mention I never touched the swatches again? I also reviewed word processing and note taking apps for my husband to use in his online degree program and learned a little more about Google Docs and iCloud. The last two are so I can help him with his homework. I am his editor and help with his research. Hey, my education has to contribute somewhere!

So last night I got a bit upset. Remember, this blog is for me from me, right? Well all of a sudden it became important to me that my husband should demonstrate his love for me by reading it so he could understand me better. Never mind that he is working two jobs and taking two online classes toward his own four-year degree. He should be finding the time to show me the love, right? Okay, I got over it. So I told my daughter about it today. She will read it just because that is what we do for each other; we show our love for each other by showing respect for our interests and efforts. It's a mother/daughter thing.

And that brings me to the Ellen show. I really want to write to Ellen to be on her show but I haven't figured out exactly what to say. I haven't survived any great traumas, like health issues or financial loss, at least none I want to discuss on a major TV network. I just love Ellen like everyone else that watches her show, and I miss my daughter. I want a trip to California to see Lisa. Not that I wouldn't have a good use for some of the money she finds to give to people. It would be so nice to set up an education fund for Mark, that's my husband, so he could finish his degree without having to work full time; and the same for Lisa, my daughter, so she could immerse herself in a lifetime study of Yoga throughout the world and share her special spirit with all she meets. But for now, I just want to see my BBG (Bouncing Baby Girl)!

Well, that's enough visiting for today. I have to decide on a program and download it for Mark. Then, must hide yarn tales ... must get to post office and mail swatches ... must ... must ...