Monthly Report Card- March 2013

I am still getting used to 2013... and it's the end of March. Please tell me I'm not the only one?
So, an interesting month for resolutions in that I have a surprisingly high grade. I'm so proud of myself.

Study!!!- B

I have done rather well on this though on Spring Break I definitely slacked. Needless to say there were consequences.  

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books- A

I was heavy on the re-reading this month. I read Heavy Weather by P.G.Wodehouse and then re-read Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion (all obviously by Jane Austen). I had a lot of fun re-reading the Austen novels as some of them I hadn't re-read in awhile. So finally FIVE BOOKS!!!! Besides achieving my long sought after goal, I also had a lot of fun with my reading.

Take at least one walk per week or bike at least once a week-A

Excellent! There was even one day where instead of being productive and making cookies I was lazy and went on an hour plus walk. 

Stick to my "Diet"- A

I did really rather well on this. There were about five days where I was not so good but I balanced them out pretty well with having salads the surrounding days. One of them was Easter dinner so I think we can excuse that one. :)

Play only up to three games of online Dominion per day-A

I did fine on this. However, as I said in my mid-month progress report, the website I play on shut done mid-month as the official online version came out. I about had a nervous breakdown and died but somehow I survived. Anyways, the official version is dumb and I hate it so despite my hopes it could be some compensation it is really just a torture. I feel like getting on the internet isn't even any fun anymore. :(

Cut down on computer time-B

I did fairly well. A nice chunk of the month it was getting fixed so it was a very easy goal.  It was hard learning to do without it for that time and now that I have it back I find it somewhat easier not to use it. Still though, work to be done here.

Do one crochet project-A

As I said in my mid-month progress report, this was achieved in the form of a scarf using the basket weave stitch that I think turned out very nicely indeed.

Write at least 3 more blog posts this month-A

As always, a nice plump A here. I wrote this post about memories of bad weather experiences, this post about the pervading use of bad words in society, this post with a recipe for healthy cookies, and this post about how Jane Austen's novels are not romance novels. So four amazing blog posts.

So this is a A- for this month.... my first A!!!! :)
For those of you who have been praying for my Grandmother who had a stroke in January, she has made considerable improvement. Walking is really improving, which is exciting but she still cannot talk past a one word response. So I appreciate your prayers there. We were able to bring her from the rehab center to our house for Easter dinner, which was very special. I will hopefully be posting a full blog post report soon with more details of what has been going on with her. God has been working in her and it is obvious in the amount of recovery she has made.

In closing I leave you with something that we always say in my church- He is risen... He is risen indeed!

Linking up with Kelli at She Learns as She Goes.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Healthy Cookies

With trying to be all health conscious one of the most important things for me has been getting a good breakfast in every day. The other day I found a recipe for Healthy cookies that had three ingredients: oats, bananas, and walnuts.  We had a banana that was about ready to go bad so I thought, why not?   These aren't gourmet cooking or anything, but they do taste pretty good.  They taste a lot like banana bread.  Since I only had one banana I made only eight. They took just a few minutes to mix up and then it was just the baking time.  Warm from the oven they are pretty good but I think they are just fine also a couple days later. Because of the banana they keep their moistness. They are perfect for breakfast as a lot of them can easily be made ahead and they keep well.  The best part is they really are healthy. There are about fifty calories apiece. I like to have three.... and then close the lid so I can't have anymore. Try them out you might find you like them.

Healthy Cookies- Makes 16
2 ripe bananas mashed
1 cup oats
1/4 cup crushed walnuts (I used pecans)
Mix together all ingredients and then place by tablespoon on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350˚ F for 15 min.
The author of the recipe suggested trying different ingredients like raisins, chocolate chips, cinnamon, or almonds.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Mid-Month Progress Report- March 2013

That we are halfway through March when I am still even yet getting used to this whole 2013 deal is a little worrisome. This world moves too fast. I did get my computer back a couple days ago and hopefully I will have no more problems in the future. Anyways, my mid-month proress report.

Study!!!

I think I am doing pretty well with this. I did well on my last Pathophysiology test, which made me super happy and I think I did decently on my Therapeutic Nutrition midterm so that's good too. I still have trouble with not studying at home but I think I did a lot better with that recently because I had to with all of our snow days.

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books

I finished a book, which we ARE counting even though I didn't read the whole thing this month. I also just finished re-reading Pride and Prejudice.  Every page reminded me why this is my favorite book. I actually noticed several tidbits that though I have read it many times before, I never had observed. That's why I re-read books. :)

Take at least one walk per week OR bike at least once a week

I know, I just changed that, but I am not sure what was posessing me when I wrote my goals because it was suppose to say that. Anyways, I have been doing fine with that. No worries there.

Stick to my "Diet"

I have been doing well. One day I splurged just a little but my mom made delicious braid bread so you can't blame me can you? However, besides that, I have been eating pretty well and working out every day.

Play only up to three games of online dominion per day

Since I didn't have my computer for so long, most days I haven't been playing at all. To my utter disapointment, the website I play on is shutting down today because the official online version is coming out. I don't think I can handle this. We'll see. This official version better be awfully good. I just played my last three games today and I am unhappy. :(

Cut down on computer time

Quite easy with not even having it for so long. But now that I do...

Do one crochet project

I already did one actually. It was my tutor's birthday at the beginning of the month and I made her a scarf using the basket weave stitch. I thought it turned out nicely but unfortuatnely I didn't get a picture to show y'all. 

Write at least 3 more blog posts this month

I've already done two and have drafts of others so I think this one is covered.

All in all, I am doing well this month. We'll see how it progresses from here. :)

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

How Many Bad Words can I Cram into One Sentence?

If you go to a secular college like I do, you'll have heard those people who can't seem to be able to talk unless they have a few bad words thrown into each sentence.  To you people, I just want to let you know, you sound like idiots.  If your vocabulary is so severely limited to the "top ten dirtiest words", then I think you just might need to expand it... and not to the "top twenty dirtiest words" please.  Additionally, there is no more inane reason to use a million bad words, then over a tiny little incident... like your phone isn't working fast enough, or you dropped your phone and it broke (but you're going to get a replacement tomorrow), or you have to pay for your own phone, or really, anything to do with your phone.  People did live without phones once upon time.
And there are those students who talk about their parents using plenty of colorful language.  They are your parents, show them a little respect. I hear students say something very similar to this all of the time: "So my parents told me that if I wanted to use their car I would have to pay for gas and I was like 'explicative deleted'."  WHAT????
Only today I heard some girls talking outside our classroom and they were seriously talking with at least one bad word per sentence, if not more. Is that a rate now? Bad words per sentence... BWPS.  Because I think they just broke the limit and I am all for giving them a ticket.
To sum it up, whenever you use bad language, not only do you sound uneducated, but it is rude and offensive. So next time you are frustrated or at a loss for what to say, don't think "How many bad words can I cram into one sentence," instead think of this quote from P.G. Wodehouse, "...The richest and most varied language the world has ever known, crammed full from end to end with red hot adjectives..."
Enough said.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Favorite Bad Weather Memories

The last two weeks here in Kansas we were heavily snowed on.  Thursday, Friday, Monday, and then Tuesday, were cancelled for classes.  All the marvelous bad weather brought back very special memories of other times we have had tornados, snow storms, ect.  So here are a few of my most vivid memories.

My earliest memories of bad weather are of tornados.  If you live in Kansas, they are a very real and scary threat. I can't remember any specific one from my early years but I remember what we did every time.  Depending on how bad it was, we would either go down into our basement, which was not a very nice basement, or we would go down into our well, and I don't have to tell you that the well wasn't the nicest option either.  We would sit there until we got the all clear.  Later, when we moved into the house were we live now, my family would go down to our much nicer basement and my mom would always read to us from Little Britches.

Another memory I have, and mostly because we lost power for two or three days, was an ice storm we had way back when I was in fifth grade.  There was ice coating all of the trees in our yard, plus snow on the ground.  I remember spending a lot of time hauling all the branches that had fallen down from the weight into a pile to be burned.  Then we came in and my sister made hot chocolate on our wood burning stove.  That wood burning stove was an asset in many ways, namely keeping us warm, but also because we were actually able to cook food on it.  I remember making Qima (no that isn't misspelled, it is a Middle Eastern dish), oatmeal, and fried eggs on it.  I was actually a little sad when the electricity came back on because I was enjoying "roughing it".

Another "great" storm memory is from just a few years ago when it was raining really hard and our electricity went out.  Therefore, we had to manually dip out our sump pump so our basement wouldn't get flooded.  I will NEVER forget that one.

Do you all have any favorite storm memories?

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

March 2013 Resolutions

I finally got to take in my computer today.  I feel optimistic about getting it back safe and sound.  At least I had better.  I was able to spend some time with my Grandma today as well and talk with my Grandpa too.  And as if my day wasn't already incredibly productive, I went to a craft show and bought some amazing candles from Prairie Lights.
Anyways, on to my resolutions. :)

Study!!!

In general, just study. No slacking.

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books

I'm trying again.  Someday....

Take at least one walk per week

Once again, just getting some exercise in every week.  Hopefully I'll be doing more.

Stick to my "Diet"

If you read my earlier post about getting in shape, you'll understand.  I have been sticking faithfully to this and have lost a few pounds already and people are telling me I am looking better, which makes me very happy. :)  Now I just need to make sure I don't slack off and stay true.

Play only up to 3 games of online Dominion per week

Once again, making this goal, it has been super good for me.  However, I want to make an exception.  One day a week, I can play up to five games.  I am doing this because I am never going to move up from my current level (in fact I am moving down) with just playing three games every day.

Cut down on computer time

Same as last month.  It is tearing me away from studying and can be a major distraction.

Do one crochet project

Last month I wrote a post about different crochet project I wanted to get done.  So for this month, I am going to try and accomplish at least one project.

Write at least 3 more blog posts this month

Self explanatory.

I actually ended up with quite a few goals.  We'll see if I can manage. :)
Linking up with Kelli at She Learns as She Goes.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

February 2013- Monthly Report Card

It has been quite the month with plenty to keep me busy. Last Wednesday my computer unexplainably crashed and with all the busyness of my schedule I haven't gotten it taken in to be fixed.  Needless to say I am going through computer withdrawal.  I am having to use horrible Windows computers at school, which is driving me crazy. Thankfully I can come home and use my family's Apple computers.  Then I got a cold on Wednesday, which left me miserable and somehow made me forget to take care of one of my goals.
However, enough of all of that and on to my report card.

Study for the TEAS Test INTENSELY- B

As I said in my mid-month report card, I deserve a B for this one because even though I studied pretty hard for it, after I found out that I didn't even have to do really well on it, I kind of slacked off on it.

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books-D

Some month, some month hopefully soon I will achieve this.  I read three books.  I was almost done with a fourth but as I mentioned above, I forgot to finish it.  I am blonde.  The books I read were A Pelican at Blandings, Full Moon, and I re-read Summer Lightening.  Those are all by P.G. Wodehouse and I would recommend them all.

Take one walk per week-A

I actually kind of forgot about this goal halfway through the month.  The first part of the month was great the second half, I honestly can't remember if I did or not.  However, I have been doing the exercise bike most every day so I'll just count that (because I have enough bad grades in my history thank you very much).

Play only up to three games of online Dominion every week- A+

I stuck to this goal tried and true.  In fact, because I have been out a computer for a week, I haven't been playing it for a week.

Cut down on my computer time-C

I did okay... I guess.  This last week without my computer, I realized how much I really use my computer.  Quite eye opening I'll admit.

Write at least 3 more blog posts this month-A+

Achieved with honors!  I wrote this post about a new favorite recipe (Mediterranean Dip), this post about my thoughts on Valentine's Day, this post on my trying to get in shape, and this post about the different crochet patterns I want to try.  Four posts!  I would have done more but without my computer it was a little trickier to get on my blog.

So my grade point average this month is a.... 3.9 Giving me a B+. Pretty good, considering past months.  I'll hopefully have my resolutions up tomorrow, if not later today.  Until then! :)
Linking up with Kelli at She Learns as She Goes.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.