Staying steady...

Staying steady...

SparkPeople.com is a great site for nutrition and fitness information and support. I enjoy the articles and the nutrition/fitness trackers. Probably the best part is the community. There are teams for every interest, but if I wanted to start a new group, I CAN!! It's great to communicate with others who are tackling the same challenges as I am, whether it is weight, nutrition, balancing work/family life, learning new skills, relearning old skills.... it's all here!

In the blog I posted on SP (that's what we insiders refer to the site as), I ramble off a few thoughts on anorexia, personal finances, recent fitness challenges, and nutrition habits. I hope you will look around on the SP site and consider becoming a member (YES! IT'S TOTALLY FREE!!), even if you aren't weight-challenged, you can get a lot out of the site. Come see, and enjoy!

Past MidTerm... heading for the holidays!

It's late... again! I had a Structural Geology lab exam today. Gruesome. So this evening while it poured down rain, I crocheted a little, dabbled in my etsy.com shop (http://www.etsy.com/people/Andiroth) getting ready for holiday rush, and watched re-runs of The Big Bang Theory on TBS. Else, I'm still learning the ropes of internet marketing, getting my name out there, and attracting users to my site. Not brain surgery, you say, but without an advertising budget, I may need to put a homemade bumpersticker on my car! LOL.. actually, I shouldn't laugh! I actually saw a bumpersticker where the person was trying to get people to click "like" on (his) Facebook page!!

I just got home from Utah this past week! Uploading a few pictures for you! I especially like the 2.7billion year old rock at Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake (top photo)! Definitely worth the trip! Canyonlands (bottom photo) and Arches National Parks are nice, and Upheaval Dome. Discussed a LOT of geology on the trip. Well, it WAS a geology field trip! Camping, long van rides, snow, sun, rain, stars, waxing moon.... good times!

Ah, well... the guts and glory of being a late bloomer! If only I had the opportunities now that I had 20 years ago coupled with the wisdom I have since acquired! This would be a completely different blog! "Everything happens for a reason" (they) keep saying, and "all things work together for good for those who love the Lord (and are called according to His purpose)" ... I certainly hope so!

Love to all my readers!

Busy Busy Busy!

My summer went okay. I didn't get to move out West, but I'm okay with that. The week of exams, my grandmother had gone back into the hospital. When she came home, and my exams were over, there was a daily onslaught of tornados through the middle of the country... where I needed to drive, no thank you. Then, as if that wasn't enough to discourage me, Phoenix, Arizona was blanketed by a severe duststorm!! Okay, truth: duststorm was not enough to dissuade me without the terrifying weeklong drive through tornado alley at peak season! So, I settled in with my folks for a long summer.... and enrolled for fall classes here.

School started for me on a Wednesday. Two days later, my grandmother passed. I had been expecting her departure for a long time. Watching her ability to take care of herself steadily decline was hard. She is missed, but I have peace in my heart. Just hours after her graveside service, there was a great earthquake! ('Great' for this area is anything that people can actually detect!) I laughed, because I was musing that if that EQ had hit during the service, we might have been digging some more holes!! LOL (okay, sorry, that isn't funny to everybody... but I still crack myself up!) I happened to be in structural geology lab at the time of the event, and we momentarily got off topic, but that's another story!

Family, school starting back, Fall Break planning, deciding on graduate programs, whether to file for a second Bachelors (not a bad idea, as it solidifies concepts by having to complete more classes, but   it would add more than 2 semesters to plan), moving... stay with folks or move closer to school.... need a job... want relevant work experience (in geology), not cashier at grocery/retailer (not that there's anything wrong with those jobs, but I need experience on my resume!) OH! AND.... I've been adding to my etsy.com listings (www.etsy.com/people/andiroth) ... and eBay (and_ankhira)... so I am feeling very busy busy!

Did I ever tell you about myself?

Mid-40's, no-nonsense, born again Christian woman seeking career in planetary geology. I enjoy hiking, climbing and nature trails which led me into the hobbies of rockhounding and letterboxing (similar to geocaching but without loose items). I also enjoy gardening and cooking.
Things I do NOT like: country music, tattoos, horror flicks, drinkers, smokers, drug users, reckless drivers, criminal records, men with no goals who are wallowing around waiting for an epiphany.I do like romantic comedies, comedy, action, drama (Nicholas Cage, Morton Downey Jr, Morgan Freeman, Richard Gere, Hugh Grant are my fave actors. Actresses: Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, and Angelina Jolie. 'Big Bang Theory' is my favorite TV show. I am most like 'Dr. Sheldon Cooper', less a few dozen IQ points. Within the past 6 months, I have watched most episodes of 'The Practice' and the entire series 'Firefly' (no doubt, I would know a lot more about Geology if I hadn't stopped for the TV!).

Typically my weekends are spent managing my Avon and PartyLite businesses, rewriting class notes, letterboxing (see http://www.atlasquest.com/ to learn about this hobby), spending time with family and friends, or walking in the park with the dog. I often visit my local Starbucks for a relaxing cup o' Joe and a book. Board games, canasta, Wii (LOL), "dance party" haha with nieces... nights I am trying to beat my sis at Bejeweled Blitz or crocheting/knitting, though I am no stranger to reading non-fiction or reviewing French language. In fact, I am reading Mars updates at present, when not studying geology.
I am getting my ducks in a row to move to the Flagstaff, Arizona, area within the next 18-24 months to pursue a Master of Science degree in Geology. I am currently enrolled in remedial courses in North Carolina to patch the difference in programs.
Thank you for stopping by.