WOMEN AGES 50 + FOR DECEMBER 2019

We went through these 30 Days of Gratitude in November last year. Feel free to join in whenever you'd like ...




All right ... it's mid November and this will take us through to mid December ... just in time for Christmas!!

Day 1 - November 15 - Smell: My sense of smell is limited and my husband no longer has a sense of smell (or taste) since his accident. However, I can catch a faint scent from the roses and freesias he has grown, which are all coming into bloom.

I'm thankful that he has been able to garden and that we have so many lovely flowers and veggies growing and blooming.

Day 2 - November 16 - Technology: My laptop, my phone, email, facebook ... the fact that technology exists! It's what I do ... it's what I learn ... it's how I communicate with family and friends.

Day 3 - November 17 - Colour: Well ... I'm thankful for the bright colours on my table. Especially since this spring has been quite gloomy. They make me smile.

Day 4 - November 18 - Food: I'm thankful for my weekday lunches ... chicken, rice and veg.

Day 5 - November 19 - Sound: How applicable! I just got my laptop connected to my stereo!! I am appreciating the nice soothing music in the evenings.

Day 6 - November 20 - Nature: All of it! I am very thankful that there is nature ... animals and plants, water, rocks, mountains, hills, all of it. I'm glad I live in a place where I can see and experience nature. I couldn't live in the middle of a large city. My ideal would be in a small town or right on the edge of a larger one so I could be surrounded by countryside in seconds.

Day 7 - November 21 - Memory: I'm thankful for memory. I'm thankful that my husband has some of his memory - he's pretty good at past memories and procedural memories. I'm glad he didn't lose that. I'm also thankful that, with a bit of effort, I've been able to improve my memory a bit. I've discovered that if I focus and work at it, I can remember people's names at least some of the time! I've had to be my husband's memory.

Day 8 - November 22 - Book: Most grateful ... the Bible. It's been a comfort to me, especially in recent times.

Also grateful for books in general.

The last 18 months I've switched to reading "children's" books. I've also found them comforting.

Day 9 - November 23 - Place: I'm thankful for my bed!! Although I'm not there nearly as much as I'd like to be, my bed has become one of my favourite places to be. There I can lose myself in books or sleep.

That said, I need to get a new pillow. Might have to see about doing that tomorrow if possible.

Day 10 - November 24 - Taste! Well, there are only 4 of them: salt, sweet, bitter, sour, and I've written them in order of preference.

I am thankful I have all 4 but I wish my husband did again.

Day 11 - November 25 - Holiday: How appropriate ... one month before Christmas. Christmas is my favourite public holiday. I'm love the music, the decorations, the food, the Christmas Carol evenings, the lights, and the celebration of Jesus birth. I'm thankful that we have a Christmas holiday.

As for holidays in general, I enjoy any opportunity to a) take time off work, and b) travel. I'm very thankful I live and work in Australia where I get quite a decent amount of holiday time.

Day 12 - November 26 - Texture: Smooth. Since the measles (?) in 2016, I need to wear very smooth clothes. I've been thankful to find such things at a good price.

And the soft texture of the fur of kitties.

Day 13 - November 27 - Abilities: I am very thankful for my organisational skills. I don't know how I would have survived with the past 20 months without them!!

Deep breath ...

Day 14 - November 28 - Sight: What sight am I grateful for?

The sight of all the roses and other flowers in our garden.
The view from our dining room window out over the water.
The beach my bus goes by morning and evening ... sometimes there is sea wildlife out there. I've seen dolphins, a stingray and a whale!
The mountain behind the city.

Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
...

Day 15 - November 29 - Season: Summer. I'm always thankful for summer! The warmth. The long daylight hours. I come alive in summer. One more day till summer!

Day 16 - November 30 - My Body: I'm thankful for my brain and my legs. My brain, because it often has to be a brain for two of us now and although it fails me now and then, I'm so glad things like my memory seem to have improved. And my legs because they are what carry me around and allow me to do things like cycling and running.

Day 17 - December 1 - Knowledge: Coincidentally, my current course is Knowledge Management. I appreciate everything I've learned through formal education, experience, and life in general. I'm especially thankful for being at a point where I feel reasonably comfortable around computers ... but can still learn more! Even just today, I learned how to add contacts into my phone.

Day 18 - December 2 - Piece of Art: Hmmm ... I am thankful for my sister-in-law's art and gifts to us. She has given us paintings, wood carvings, and vases.

One of her vases ...


Day 19 - December 3 - Touch: My husband's hugs! There were a few months when I thought I'd never have his hugs again. His hugs were one thing I dreamt about during those months.

I'm not chipper this week. I had a crazy workday on Monday - about 12h almost non stop-teaching meetings, calls, then home and another hour on work related call.

National strike on Tuesday. I participated in the strike and went to the protest and march. First I couldn't find my schools, then a college who has an ankle issue texted me and we tried to find others, but unsuccessful we had a coffee, he left then I found the others and spoke to a couple about an issue in our department- very helpful. And then I ran into this other guy in another union at one of my schools. unfortunately he alternates between working together and being rather against the other union -which mainly only helps the direction. Since we were walking together we found a more peaceful mood, thank goodness. I'm surprised how complex work relations can be at work.

Wednesday I had 3h of class only. we were to start early to make up some time, but the students take 45 min to 1h to get there by foot (there's a massive subway strike) if they are able to come. I was exhausted and went home to rest all day. Went to the doctor the next day.

Thursday went to GP. She was asking if I didn't want sick leave note? Here you can have up to 3 months sick leave in a year! I just read the average amount of sick days is around 30 per person! I've been sick 3 days in 11 years. My school -illegally-kept asking when I was going to make up sick days. Adjunct-type teachers are really poorly treated. They never ask that to admin employees (many of who are often out sick) nor full-time teachers. I went to 6h of classes. The classes were mostly quite good. Students again travel 45 min to 3h (walk, automated line, walk) to get to class. I have to feel honoured. I have some students who I have had for 5 years- 7 semesters. Though my subject is not the main subject I know their work and approach and help them to evolve, for sure. We do pre-master's thesis defences in class. it can help them get clear and prepared. Then one had a celebration of her master's thesis defence and I popped by the celebration-it was nice.

Friday-bummer I left my computer chord at work and had to return. Totally not on my agenda. It was hard for us to find the key so it took a while. I ran into the DHR and he was unpleasant and impolite. Usually he's dishonest but pleasant and repectful.

Went to counsellor (have only been 2 x and it's ok) and she suggested that I take sick leave next week. I was disappointed in the session (on my side) because I had some stressful things to deal with just before and spent the whole sessions just on blablabla, not super-useful.

Here there have been national strikes since Dec 5. The most striking strike is the transport one. Many people can't get around normally : to work, etc. Many elementary schools have been closed at least one or some days. and many other things. There were 1.5 million on strike and in the streets on the 5th. (about 2.2% of of the TOTAL population, including children, retired people etc, who weren't on strike). Half that on the 10th. Another big strike day is planned for next Tuesday.

I can usually get to work since I have a scooter. On major strike days it's more iffy but I declare myself on strike. Many colleagues manage to get to work and others just say they will make up the work later. a small number of engaged workers are on strike where I am, but in elementary schools some days were 80% strikers. The Sorbonne was totally closed and at least one art school and one architecture school have equally been totally closed. I go to work on the days that are not major protest days, but some colleagues, very engaged, (and possibly on more secure material footing) do not.

I felt carpy yesterday - having to go back to work on Friday for the charger put me in a bad mood. A colleague was accusatory - whereas actually I majorly support all colleagues in our service- much more than anyone else. It upset me. But she was just stressed. She tends to be a bit negative sometimes. I like her- she's a work-friend, but I've seen her a bit obsessed and negative before. She also just lost her brother and I'm sure it's hard for her.

Today is medium.
I awoke feeling light-headed- again and had a hard time getting up. Had to go to lab for some tests- fasting- then got an omelet and coffee at a café nearby. And a GF strawberry coconut tartlet on the way home. It hit the spot but eats up all my carbs.

My place is a mess again. For the past 3 years or so I've been unable to keep up w housework and paper work most of the time. it's super -depressing. I'm not sure if it's physical or emotional. It actually seems like a mix.

I have had low WBC for about 10 years. 2.8 this time whereas normal is 4-11. I've been 2x to specialist who never find anything but I'm feeling like they don't look deeply. My present GP was surprised they never did a bone marrow analysis. It takes months to get an appointment usually...Maybe there are some private specialists that are more expensive and faster to get an appointment with. I can look into it.

I tracked today so far after many many days of not tracking. [ /spoiler]