Season's Peak

When I was writing to you last weekend, I was coming down with an illness. Steph believes she communicated it to me, as she felt bad Thursday and Friday, but its hard to say for sure. Furthermore, I had not yet asked for a space heater in my bedroom (an addition I now consider essential) and thus was sleeping in a temperature that varied somewhere in the fifties to low sixties. Couple this with the lack of sleep (I was just beginning to find a good rhythm that involved actually getting enough sleep, but its not infrequent for me to lay down for 6-8 and get 3-5) and despite the exercise, which boosts immune system strength, I was definitely not in a great position to fight something off.

So, Monday I called out, a decision I didn't come to lightly. Tuesday, I went in, and somehow, was able to finish the shift. Whether I felt as good as I thought, or convinced myself I did because I refused to be sick on my Birthday, or whatever, is unclear, because Wednesday I went in for 2 hours and had to leave after feeling so dizzy and faint I grew increasingly concerned that I might pass out, throw up, or worst, fall asleep driving home. I stuck it out for as long as I could, and then asked if it would wrench up the works if I left early. When they told me it would not, I went home. I stayed home Thursday as well, to ensure my full recovery and to prevent spreading my illness to the rest of the boxline... if my Supervisors were upset about one absent employee, it would surely upset them more if half of them were out sick.

Friday, I did go in and work the whole shift (yay) and found out that one or two of my fellow co-workers were also out sick, and had to have their lungs scraped. Sincerely hoping that that is not a necessity asked of me, and as I am feeling much better, with the exception of some hoarseness and the occasional overabundance of mucus, am reasonably sure this is not in my future. If it does somehow end up being the case, everyone will be seeing much more of me.

My Birthday was great. Thanks to everyone for the calls, cards and well wishes! All the cards (including the ones from Graduation, yes, I saved them) are stapled up around the door to my bedroom, and t makes me smile every time I go in. I got a gorgeous watch from Dad, and I've been wanting a watch for a while. I need to take it to a jeweler, because the clasp is unreliable, but its great in every other respect. Until then, I try to not wear it too much so I don't risk losing it. Mom got me a set of nonstick cookware, which is presume is great, but havent used yet. I didnt cook at all last week, between my illness and eating out on Tuesday. Friday, though I felt well enough, I worked two jobs and didn't have time. I'm still getting to the end of the previous menu, which is all slow cooker recipes, and haven't had need to use the new stuff yet. I may get a hanging rack for them, though, since the kitchen is very very small, and there's not much space for new instruments. Also got some very generous cash/giftcard/checks that I am not using or thinking about right now because they will make me very happy in a few weeks or months when I need to change something in the immediate environment.

As I mentioned previously, I'm looking at taking a few classes at the local community college to get back into the educational groove until the state considers me a resident and will give me all its money. Ivy Tech offers a somewhat more limited selection of degrees, but deals with this by offering "concentrations" within a degree program. Thinking about:
Liberal Arts - Social and Behavioral Science Concentration
Hospitality Administration - Culinary Arts Concentration
School of Business - Accounting Concentration
School of Business - Administration Concentration

The last two strike me as potentially very boring and unsatisfying, but I recognize that they open up more job or promotion opportunities for me in the immediate future, and would be useful, if not essential, in the long term dream of owning my own Comic or Animation Studio. I'd also given some thought to Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, because they tend to be in demand and with the Insurance system undergoing some heavy revision, it seems like an area that might see a good bit of growth. E-mail me your thoughts. While I may only be there for a semester, and may only take a few classes, it might make a difference in where I'm aimed.

So many people my age are still wondering where or what they're going to do, I'm glad I have so many interests; but there's so much to do.