Whether the Weather be: Overcast (54F/12C)
In the News: Voting begins in Solomon Is. elections (Source: NZPA)
Events of Note: Unit 5 begins.
* Well, I'm having a really pleasant day, today, and beginning to my Mid-Term/start to Unit 5. My daughter is with her grandparents for most of today, so that I can catch up on paperwork, apppointments, etc. I've gotten most of my paperwork completed, already, this morning, which gives me the perfect opportunity to do some expanded research work for both of my Final Papers. I've been getting some really pleasing grades back, particularly in A&P. Gratifying. Makes my being a stickler to my self-imposed study deadlines and set timetable well worthwhile. In addition, my husband has today off, and it's simply nice having him around. He has also let me indulge myself this week, with a beautiful acquisition to my makeup 'collection'. A coral cream blush in an adorable, Vintage-style, portable compact. After months and months of not feeling like wearing makeup, and lots of dry, irritated skin and assorted, distressing skin reactions because of medication side effects, this is a special and sentimental treat for me.
* My physical pain level appears to have evened-out. At last, I can dare to hope that the healing that still needs to take place is now happening. I've gotten my hopes up before, and been let down and disappointed, so I'm naturally cautious. Still, little victories, however small, deserve some tentative celebration, at least. A big part of me is yearning to find a stretch of sand to run along, but everything happens on its own terms and timetable.
* I think that I'm going to revise my thesis statement a little for my final paper for Comp 11. It needs to have more of an assertive tone. After that, all of my subsequent writing should flow on from that point on. I like being methodical, factual and topical in a persausive paper. Fewer ways that arguments can go sideways, slippery or head South, that way. It also makes for a paper that's an engaging read. Hopefully, going a little further into exploring a topic than simply regurgitating secondary sources for their own sake.
* In the meantime, I'm going to do my daily online reading. One of my favorite websites for an interesting variety of current reading and writing links is "Arts and Letters Daily". ALD was founded and continues to be edited by one of my former philosophy of art Professors, Denis Dutton. As an undegrad, I took his 100 level, 12 credit course in Art Theory, and thoroughly enjoyed it. A thought-provoking course, taught by a dynamic philosopher.
Good luck to all of my fellow students at this halfway point. Another five more weeks, and this course and Term will all be in the past!.
