Cough cough wheeze

[kitsap_charles]

I wish I could say it's been a quiet week in Lake Paradux, but the pastoral silence has been often shattered by my near-constant coughing.

This week, riverheart and I had wanted to make significant progress on the room that will someday be the library, but we've both been laid low by the chest cold that followed me home and stayed for supper. We have managed to meet some (but not all) of our social committments this week, particularly the ones for which we had already paid Lots Of Money™. These include two concerts (the Allman Brothers and Ian Anderson) and the Phantom of the Opera. We had to forego attending the Rebuilding of the Wall at omahas and elfs, place, and the housewarming party of a dear friend.

Both riverheart and I are physically very low; she more than I, since she succumbed to the Cold From Hell several days after I did. We're taking it very easy, making judicious use of decongestants, antihistimanes, warm drinks, and almost enough sleep.

Ah, sleep; the Fall Quarter starts tomorrow, and I'll be rising at oh-dark-thirty to drive to the park-and-ride, catch the Kitsap Transit free commute bus to the ferry, boat across to West Seattle, and then take Metro Transit (two buses) to the college. The school offers a Metro pass that's good for the entire quarter, but it's a significant chunk o'money up front. Washington State Ferries also offers a monthly passenger pass for the route I'll be taking, which is a savings over the daily fare and the reduced-price ticket book, but (again) must be paid for up front.

I'm about as broke as I've ever been, and I'm committed to going to visit my Distant Daughter next weekend. Her mom still owes me from the last visit I could afford to make, back in July; fortunately, I had enough money to pay for my airfare earlier this month, but I'll be Dead Broke after I pay for my hotel and rental car.

I'm only about 80% certain that the Worker Retraining program will cover the balance of my tuition and books this quarter. (The Dislocated Worker program came up short, thanks to tuition being raised and the program's budget getting squeezed. Feh.) If not, I might not be able to cover the balance of my tuition, and certainly won't have enough money to pay for this quarter's textbooks. I've been living off a "Training Completion" quarterly grant, which should be available in late October or early November; the summer grant was only 75% of the previous two quarters' amounts, which is why I'm skint.

Please note: I am not asking for money. I'll manage, one way or another. Okay? I'm just using this space to piss and moan a bit.

Oh, I just realized I didn't post last quarter's results. I took three five-credit classes, got two 4.0's and one 3.9 grade, for a 3.97 quarter average and a 3.96 cumulative GPA. I've completed 70 credit hours in the past year (12 hours per quarter, or 48 per year, would be considered "full-time"). I'll be taking another 17 this quarter, and then will have one or two more five-credit classes plus my internship to finish the curriculum in the Winter 2004 quarter. I also have to take the Cisco CCNA certification exam, but that's not required for graduation. By April Fool's Day, I'll be ready to rejoin the wage slaves job market.

Not hungry, but need to eat. Quest for food in three, two, one...

Comments

[varushka.livejournal.com]

That's a damn impressive GPA. Just sayin'...

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

That certainly is a great GPA. Here's some virtual chicken congee (my current fave for colds), a hot cup of lemon-balm tea with honey, and some Worker Retraining mojo. I'll start burning incense for you, too. If you and River feel up to it, try some massage. My friend Doug of Magic Hands massage says that massage speeds recovery from colds. I know myself that a little gentle percussive therapy is good for lung congestion, and if you can stand it, try taking a hot shower and leaning over in it while River taps your back. Then do the same for her. It'll help the cough.