so i just made a list of all the things i need to do tomorrow. 12 things on that list. plus 2 on the long term list. it's been a busy and eventful week.

my son enrolled in college. a private very expensive college. he will get lifetime job placement assistance if he needs it, and his classes will be very tailored to his degree. the fact that he has enrolled and signed the loan papers to the tune of over $11,000 for the first year and is getting an apartment close to the campus is very surprising and encouraging. he says he's sick of living his life the way it's been and he wants to do something that will afford him a decent life. he's even thinking about continuing after this degree to go on and get another degree or so. wooooopeeeeeeeee!!! i hope and pray he sticks to it.

i have been toying with the idea of going back to school myself for many years. i started back before i got pregnant with my daughter and stopped for various reasons. i even went so far as to have all the paperwork sent to me last year and then did nothing else. so i have applied for financial aid and sent in my electronic application tonight. there's a back to school event in october for older students - i'm qualified there - in the evening and weekend program. i've wanted to go into social work my whole life. we'll see what happens. i'm so fortunate to have a supportive family and i have almost 3 years under my belt from right after high school. the reason i didn't finish then is just crazy, but i won't go there. i have regretted it since i quit and have always intended to finish. i'm not getting any younger. however, with middle age comes patience and hopefully, the ability to prioritze and concentrate a bit more (altho it might take drugs to do that!!!). anyway, i'll hopefully get some answers soon. the money is the big factor right now and i've talked to some folks in the program at the university who say there's quite a bit of money available for older students like me.

and my daughter has offered to help me with the math. and i'm sure she can!!!

so, after submitting my application tonight that leaves 11 things to do on the list. work, laundry, pay bills, grocery, house cleaning, running errands, stuff like that that i don't want to do, but it's gotta get done, ya know.

the 2 things on the long term list are finishing the paintings i've started and making some more jewelry, and hopefully, finding a place to sell both of those. the extra money sure would come in handy. and i love doing both, it's just, again, finding the time...

i'm getting my gall bladder checked out on friday. it's been a rough 5 days tummy wise. with that problem and the RLS acting up yesterday i was ready to just check in and check out for a bit. but we make it through somehow don't we?? i will gladly let them cut it out if it will solve the problems i'm having, but i hate to think about being out of commission for a few days. it would, however, be a good time to catch up on the painting and jewelry. see, there's always a bright side. (i'm thinking "annie" right now...you know, the sun'll come out tomorrow...geez, i hate that song!!)

time time time. there's never enough. it's all about priorities, huh??? sometimes there are just too many priorities to prioritize...we are generally fed and clothed to some degree, so it's all good.

which brings me back to what i want. a simpler life. a simpler way. and i know it sounds crazy to add more to my already hectic life, like college, but somehow it defines all those priorities. it's kind of like, i love my job, but it's not what i really want to do with my life. it will be nice to concentrate on that one thing that i want to do. so it becomes a priority and a simplification at the same time. does this make sense??? it does to me and i guess that's what matters, eh??