The Attack of the Anemia!

Okay, to update you all, I have been taking my iron supplements and keeping up with B12 sublingual spray doses.  Who knows if the stuff actually works in the physiological sense, because I feel better, at least.  The placebo effect has power, indeed!  I was reading that caffeine can alter your ability to absorb iron and impacts B12 levels, too, so I tried switching away from coffee in the morning.

I don't drink the average level that some Americans drink, which is about a gajillion gallons each day.  I normally drink my one 8-10oz serving in my travel mug.  Often I don't even finish it by the time I arrive to work so it sits and gets cold in my car until I dump it out that evening.  Therefore, I've concluded that I don't take in copious amounts of caffeine.  That being said, I've tried to reduce it even further this week and couple that reduction with hydration.

Verdict?  So far I am feeling better than before, with little to no withdrawal symptoms.  I'm helping allay that potential crap-storm by simply reducing, not eliminating caffeine altogether.  That, I understand, helps reduce your symptoms.  Eventually, maybe I can cut out daily caffeine, but seeing that it isn't a huge impact on my life, I know I won't totally cut it out completely.  I love coffee, especially a specialty one on the weekend as a treat while doing errands or the like.
Or, coffee ice cream.  YUM.  I had some delicious coffee ice cream this summer, as shown in my little cute picture here.

Anemia, anyone?

Last week I couldn't help feeling every day after work as if I wanted to sleep all day long.  I napped that Sunday around noon, lazed about and finally rolled into bed for the night.  I fell asleep at about 9PM with my lights on, to boot.  I awoke around 3:45AM to go to the bathroom, which has become a common occurrence.  I do not like waking up in the middle of the night, but if I do I prefer earlier so I have the feeling of having so much more time sleep.

On my way to work this morning my eyelids were so dang heavy.  So what gives?  I think my anemia is kicking in to kick my butt.  I know caffeine intake can impact it, and my lack of hydration with alcohol consumption, too.  I drank a lot of coffee that particular weekend and not too much fluids.  I also haven't eaten a lot of iron rich foods.  This is really bothersome.  I have to be better at remembering to take my supplement and get back on track.  I should also take some more B vitamin.  Until then, bring on the snoozes.  Here's a sleepy kitty who feels like I do.

Drive My Sunday Blues Away!

Normally I can rely on good ol' GoT to assemble my team and wine up for a romping time through Westeros on a Sunday.  However, with the long wait I've had to take up another Sunday night show;  The Walking Dead.
It comes out October 23rd, at 9PM and I can't wait!  I've been catching up, even though I sort of know what happens up to the nagging Negan scene.  I hope they kill coral, but I don't really care as long as it isn't Daryl.  He's the best.  I've been reading up a storm with the comics, too, and I really enjoy them for the extra insights.
I just watched the Eastman episode - one of my favorites by far because of its inspirational nature.  You know what will ultimately happen, and it doesn't veer into the sugar-sweet side of things as you may suspect.  It stays dark but gives a hint of light and hope.  I enjoyed that style for a change in the Walking Dead.
I will just keep waiting, and fend off my blues like a zombie after a goat until more episodes arrive in October.

Texting Can be Irksome, Agree/Disagree?

I go back and forth between being a 'texter' or not.  Sometimes I quite enjoy texting with friends while I am watching TV, relaxing, or winding down before bed.  However, there comes a time when I know a phone call or actually seeing the person would be so much better.  That irksome situation usually doesn't arise, but sometimes I can't avoid feeling as if I wished the person on the other end of the phone (or myself) had just pressed 'call' or said 'Hey, do you want to meet up instead?'

I would never want to totally replace every technological exchange with in person or in voice interaction, though.  I'm saying that sometimes you find, after minutes or maybe even hours of exchange, that you would have much rather just seen that person or talked or maybe even facetime/skyped.  (I've never really done facetime or skype).  I know people are very opinionated on this matter because it has come up in conversations with friends.

What are your thoughts?

Discover Weekly

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in ages.  I'm apologizing to myself, you narcissistic reader.  I tried to promise myself to post every week this year and I failed.  Maybe I can make it up and post twice a week for a while.  It is worth a shot.

Aaron Gillespie

Speaking of weekly, I have never mentioned how much I really enjoy the discover weekly function of spotify.  I find new artists constantly.  For example, I just went and saw Aaron Gillespie this past Monday.  He was fantastic live, and the opening act Vinnie Carauna.  It was pleasantly surprising how he used a simple kick drum to bring together his vocals and guitar.  Ace Enders was the last act, and I left because I didn't enjoy his style/voice.  He sounded like Dashboard Confessional, and I can't do it.

Vinnue Carauna

The "crowd"

The Middle East: A wretched hive of unicorns and folk singers.

I have only been to the Middle East in Cambridge a handful of times.  I enjoy the cantab and pheonix landing, too.  However, recently I've been going a bit more.  I saw an artist named Tim Barry.  I am not really sure how to describe his music, so the best I can say is that he tells stories really well.  He was in Avail in the 90's, a punk rock band, but now he is solo, singing folk music with a gritty tough tinge.  I had never heard of him before, so if my description of him sucks, then sue me.  Either way, he was pretty dang fun. The crowd was really behind him and by the end everyone was belting out the tunes and rocking out.

Afterwards, I ran into him while waiting for the bathroom.  He told me to go into the men's room because there was a line outside the girl's bathroom.  He was super cute and said "Well go on in, there nobody in there" with a southeastern accent.  It was a hilarious serendipity and I kinda had to just laugh at the whole absurd situation.

Once the place cleared out, "Soulelujah" started.  It is a funk dance party held almost every Saturday night.  I could tell something was up when a troupe of young college kids in glitter and unicorn costumes streamed in the outside bar.  I had a wrist band, so I got in for free and frolicked happily for the next couple hours with sparkly unicorns.  To wind down, I headed next door to the corner bar and eventually I turned into a pumpkin and had to go to home.  It was a very interesting night out in Cambridge.

(Disclaimer:  I wrote this a while ago, and never hit 'publish' - oops!)

The Summer Strikes Back

I haven't blogged for a while, and most of that is a symptom of summer break.   I often gear up to "get so much done" only to find myself pushing up against September 1 with only about one, or maybe two goals accomplished.   Let me explain.   Actually, let me first state a disclaimer: I am in no form complaining about having "summer off." And secondly, I don't really have it off,  I only get paid 9 months salary by the way...like every other teacher.

So now, let me explain the mysterious lives of summer teachers.  It's actually rather lovely but very lonely.   Without a place to arrive, work to accomplish, and deadlines to structure your day to day, it can get blurred and lonesome.  One day stretches seemingly on and on forever.  However, at the end of the day you have no idea where the time went because you barely have anything to show for it.   It's a bizarre feeling that almost borders sorrow in a strange way.   

The best way I can describe it is to imagine your year as a week.  September and October and like Monday.   The are crappy and you feel as if it is hard to get your groove established.   Tuesday would have to be November and just a dash of December, followed by hump day which would be Christmas, January and February.  The holidays and the following slag of February are definitely Wednesday because while you're week is half over, you're only really half done.  No one likes hump day, and no one likes February.  And don't give me that drivel about Valentine's Day; its a made up holiday to make you buy horrible chocolate.

Shortly after, winter starts to wind down.  This would represent Thursday because you see the end might be nigh, but you need a few drinks to tide you over.  I consider March to be that time.  You feel like repeating the mantra "just hold on, just hold on!".

So, finally Friday arrives, just like spring.  Its pretty, getting warmer, and you can see the summer around the corner!  You just coast through Friday, which, of course, would be after April break,  including May and June.  All my time as a teacher those last couple months have me feeling like I'm inside a Wilson Phillips song; I'm just holding on for one more day.   June could almost be considered my Friday night, as it is the last month of school.  Not a lot happens, and you're counting the minutes.

So, logically,  Saturday and Sunday are July and August.   August can be like Sunday because it leads to the onset of Sunday blues.  After brunch is over,  you've settled in for the night, your Netflix show is over you can just feel the impending doom. That is last week of August to the letter.   Maybe labor day weekend can pull your outta the funk,  but Monday still is coming.   And it starts all again.

That was really rambling...ugh sorry.  I need to get writing again.  My brain is fried.