This week has been a mixed bag.

Monday held a meeting for school related to help for ADHD and guidance on some things like, “How does one write an essay again?” It’s been 24 years, so I need to refresh myself on some things. Also, learning how to properly read and study to get the information into my head, so I’m not some kind of last minute cram artist. I relaxed for much of the rest of the day as I was getting over a cold and I needed to catch up on the sleep I had been missing for several months. I also watched Steel Magnolias for the first time ever.

Tuesday began with X-rays I had been trying to get done for awhile. The initial appointment was back in July, but I had gotten a massively bad ear infection that was missed by doctors twice. It had given me a cough and I didn’t want to chance giving anyone anything. Then it got moved two more times because the labs had equipment issues. I was relieved to have this finally off my to-do list.

Next up was a school related webinar. It was mainly a Q&A session. It was OK, though they didn’t have enough time to answer some of the questions. After that, I chipped away at some condo cleanup.

Until I found out about Dolly Parton. I grew up with Dolly’s music often playing or movies she was in on the TV. And I know that’s not uncommon. She was such a force for good in this world. One of the last movies I watched with mom was her life story featuring her coat of many colours. Losing Dolly in some ways felt like losing mom all over again. Her love of books and her generosity were a piece of my fondness for her. As a writer, I love that she did so much to help literacy in the world through her Imagination Library. She also co-produced one of my all-time favourite TV shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With Anthony Head’s loss also this year, I’ve started a rewatch. But Dolly also has always felt like a musical idol as well. I’d chuckle when I’d see some piano teacher whose fingernails were chewed into the quick of their nailbeds as they told me that I needed to keep mine shorter. If Dolly could play guitar with those fake nails of hers, I could certainly press some keys with nails that went to the end of my fingertips, which is not long at all. Dolly was also an LGBT ally and a model Christian. She crossed musical genres. There was so much to love about her and she put so much love back into the world. I don’t know that I’ll ever be OK that Dolly isn’t here anymore. Rest in Peace, Dolly. Please say hi to my mom if you see her.

On Wednesday, I started the day with a walk. Partly for exercise and partly because I was out of allergy medicine, which is never a good thing for me. That done, I worked away at my condo mess some more. I also began the physio my massage therapist recommended to help with inflammation and a micro tear in my shoulder tendons.

And then I found out about Tim Curry. This loss hurt too, but at least I expected we wouldn’t have him around a lot longer given all he had been through in recent years. One of my favourite performances of his was in Clue. Though I also saw Rocky Horror Picture Show in my teens, I didn’t enjoy it to the degree a lot of other people do. Tim Curry was the antagonist in the first horror film I ever watched. I was 9-years-old when the original version of Stephen King’s It was televised. The blood didn’t bother me. The huge spider did! One thing that I think was better about his version than the new one is that he seemed a more innocent, friendly-looking clown. Surely a better lure for his victims. I also enjoyed his performance in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He’s the second cast member from the Home Alone series to pass this year. He was an excellent actor in whatever role he played and I hope he’s running freely in the afterlife.

Thursday was an on campus day. I found the in-person Q&A session much better than the online one was. They answered a lot more questions. Then I was able to get a key textbook, which was my priciest one. At least it’s needed for two courses. I also picked up my student card and checked out my locker and one of my two classrooms. My locker is right around the corner from one of my classrooms. It was quite a lot of walking to access the building my classes are in from the inside and actually much easier from the parking lot. I definitely got all my steps in for the day.

After that, I stopped at Michael’s then DeSerres to get the five DMC embroidery floss colours I needed for a planned future spooky cross stitch project. I was so happy to find them all. I had most of them and then I was worried I’d have to order from DMC or try and substitute for one or more colours. This little project is ready for starting on a later date.

I was pretty tired after the busyness of the morning. I also hadn’t slept incredibly well the night before, so I mainly relaxed in the afternoon after packaging the project up. I found my very last book used for seven dollars less than the campus store and ordered it. Not a huge discount, but I’ll take any savings I can get.

And then I found out that Peter Cullen passed away too. He was the Canadian actor who voiced Optimus Prime and Eeyore. Another piece of my childhood lost this week. It’s going to take awhile to recover. I think we need to bubble wrap everyone who is left.

What was good this week? I won a small entrance bursary for school. A little bit more money in my pocket. And I didn’t have to go to work. Even driving on the 417 didn’t feel nearly as annoying because of that.

I had to redo most of my planned schedule because a class was moved to Mondays. Hopefully, it is better, but they moved one that was on Thursday previously. Friday still has three classes. It’s also in a different building. At least I don’t have it until the second week, so I can check out where it is in week one and not get lost on the day I actually have it.

Friday held a lesbian billiards event. I had some good conversations. I decided to leave early because my tongue was very sore, which was making talking painful. I’ve been getting scalloping happening lately and there’s a spot on the right side that gets very sore. I’m not sure if it’s dehydration or a nutritional thing, so I got a bunch of electrolyte filled things on Saturday and healthy foods to hopefully stop it. I still need allergy medicine regularly because ragweed is evil. I was supposed to be getting a refill on a prescription, but the pharmacy never texted me. Again. People rely on notifications for their medications, so it’s really not OK. I submitted a complaint. With my allergies in high gear, I really need that medicine.

After groceries on Saturday, I took another look at my schedule and realized I didn’t properly plan out Wednesday, so I had to fix a bunch of things again! I had forgotten travel time for that day, which is rather important. I now have a one-hour session and a two-hour session for each class for reading and revision time. Hopefully, that will be enough to do well. I also have some fun built into my schedule and time for chores. Currently, evenings can be pretty relaxed. Will they stay that way? Who knows?

The step outside my stairwell was replaced recently. It’s beautiful, but it messes me up because the old step was lower down, so my muscle memory is having to be rewired.

I spent Sunday between getting the condo ready for school and relaxing. I visited the hardware store for a handful of fasteners. I never need so little from there. It was nice for a change.

This week, I finished reading The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Despite the straight steamy scenes, I really enjoyed it. It was a unique concept for a story. A dragon riding school with a high likelihood of death. As exciting as it seems, I would’ve gone with some other kind of job if given a choice.

Catch you on the flip side,

Rae