hannah ananas

I had to get another blood test today. Fortunately, an old neighbor mentioned what specifically to say so that the technicians would use the smaller needle for me. It only takes an extra few seconds total, but they almost always use the larger needle since it is faster.

When I went a previous time, I had mentioned that it was always very physically painful for me. The technician offered to use “the smaller needle”. I was delighted to discover there was a smaller one. All went well. It still hurt, but not as badly as usual. The next time, however, when I asked for “the smaller needle”, the technician kind of scoffed and said something to brush away the request, as though there only was one needle size. I felt duped, but also remembered looking at the needle the previous time – it had been smaller than the one in front of me right now.

Naturally, I bruised on this one.

When I went back this weekend, I imagined I had made it up about the smaller needle, and was too embarrassed to say anything about it. I didn’t bruise this time – the lady was very gentle and kept apologizing, because she truly saw how painful it was for me. But it still very much hurt, and it left a blood mark that still is there and slightly tender.

Nonetheless, an old neighbor who is also a nurse told me afterward to use the phrase “butterfly needle” and, if needed, “I respectfully request that you use a butterfly needle,” should the technician try to use the standard one despite my initial request.

So, when I went today, I requested a butterfly needle, please. The lady didn’t say anything, but went briefly into another room and came back with a little package thing. She gathered the rest of her supplies, then opened the little package. Of course, it was the smaller needle with the little ‘butterfly’ wings to hold it steadily and the flexible tube for the blood to transfer to the vile indirectly.

I kid you not, it was loads better than the other day. It absolutely still stung and was sore for a while afterward, but nowhere near as much or as long as usual. And that was great.

My body clearly is not about being messed with. I am, therefore, grateful for the help I was given in helping to ease the stress and pain of this current situation.

Thank you, God, for the greater ease of today’s test and interaction. And thank you for the care I was given by my friend today afterward. Keep us safe and well, please. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

I can tell that my body needs sleep and rest – it is exhausted from the intense mental and emotional strain and storm that has occurred this school year, but it is also physically tired from them. What’s more, my body is now tired from all the new stuff going on.

So, summer is here at a good time, in the sense of giving me space to rest. But it also makes it all the harder to get anything accomplished, because there is only ever a vague timeline during the summer… and vague timelines don’t very well get me to get stuff done that I don’t quite feel like doing… especially when I am exhausted.

God, help me, please. Keep us safe and well, please. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

Just a delightful reminder that Vicks Vapo Rub has to change the spelling of the company’s name in German-speaking countries, because “Vick” is basically a curse word in German. The actual word, “Fick”, is the culprit. But they are pronounced exactly the same in German, “Vick” and “Fick”, and the latter in English just changes its i to a u.

So, Vicks didn’t want to be called ‘Fu**s Vapo Rub” in German-speaking countries. Thus, they use the name “Wick”.

I hope you enjoyed this fun language lesson. I think of it just about every time someone mentions Vicks.

😛

Post-a-day 2024

We have positive news. The day is good. I get a single piece – though, it is significant, it is still only one single thing – of stress-inducing news, and I am suddenly on a state of depression the rest of the evening.

Seriously?!

I suppose it definitely doesn’t help that tomorrow is my last day at work. I’m still frustrated about how much of that all went.

Nonetheless, it will be good to be rid of that energy and of those who are against me.

God gives us a path forward. Always. Perhaps it is a matter of our being willing to look in a different direction and take a turn before we can find it. Perhaps, I have slowly been removing my blinders this year, and am learning to turn my head another way.

Thank you, God, for this new employment and for the love of and gratitude for me that they so clearly have. Help us to be mutually beneficial to each other, all while being those who you call us to be. Keep me and my family safe, please, healthy and holy all. Heal what is hurt, what is broken, please. Help us all to be the best we can be, the people you call us to be. Help me to find ease and trust in you fully. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

I love my husband. I also am exhausted and have no excuse for going to bed after two AM. But I got a lot done by staying up so late, including the unexpected trivia night participation with my husband over dinner at the wings place.

Thank you, God, for my family. Keep us safe and well, please. Heal us where we need and want to heal. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

So, the interview went very well. The round of golf, not so much. We got there, only to find out it was now canceled. Not rescheduled. Just canceled. That was frustrating. Several of us decided to go ahead and play, anyway, since we were there, though it was no longer paid for by the school. But it was the first twilight pricing, so it was a reasonable price for a round of golf. However, as I went up to tee off at the first hole, the storm arrived in full force, and we had to stop. We waited in the pro shop for close to an hour until the rain stopped, got a rain check to play another day, and then went all the way back home.

So, still haven’t played that first round of golf. But we definitely looked like a very cute couple today. And I filled it the background check paperwork on my phone while we waited in the pro shop. The lady was very impressed that I sent it all back to her so quickly. 😛 Silver linings, I suppose… that and the fact that I didn’t have to interact with any administration who might secretly hate me (still unsure on that one, so prefer to keep my distance from them all, really… sadly…).

Anyway… we were both exhausted, though. After we got home, I lay down to watch a movie. My husband did a few things in the yard for maybe half an hour, then he came in and sat down. He said he was doing e-mail before going back outside. Not even twenty minutes later, he had switched chairs and was passed out, phone in hand. He didn’t get up for another few hours.

He was a tired pup. I opted to stay awake until bedtime, but just take it easy, so I passively watched some shows and a movie before trying to go to bed. At which point he woke up, went outside briefly, and then wanted to eat something and watch another couple shows with me… but then he finally went to the gym and I came to get ready for bed.

We are exhausted.

God, help us to rejuvenate. Help us to be our best selves. Keep us all safe here, please. And thank you. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

So, the interview went very well. The round of golf, not so much. We got there, only to find out it was now canceled. Not rescheduled. Just canceled. That was frustrating. Several of us decided to go ahead and play, anyway, since we were there, though it was no longer paid for by the school. But it was the first twilight pricing, so it was a reasonable price for a round of golf. However, as I went up to tee off at the first hole, the storm arrived in full force, and we had to stop. We waited in the pro shop for close to an hour until the rain stopped, got a rain check to play another day, and then went all the way back home.

So, still haven’t played that first round of golf. But we definitely looked like a very cute couple today. And I filled it the background check paperwork on my phone while we waited in the pro shop. The lady was very impressed that I sent it all back to her so quickly. 😛 Silver linings, I suppose… that and the fact that I didn’t have to interact with any administration who might secretly hate me (still unsure on that one, so prefer to keep my distance from them all, really… sadly…).

Anyway… we were both exhausted, though. After we got home, I lay down to watch a movie. My husband did a few things in the yard for maybe half an hour, then he came in and sat down. He said he was doing e-mail before going back outside. Not even twenty minutes later, he had switched chairs and was passed out, phone in hand. He didn’t get up for another few hours.

He was a tired pup. I opted to stay awake until bedtime, but just take it easy, so I passively watched some shows and a movie before trying to go to bed. At which point he woke up, went outside briefly, and then wanted to eat something and watch another couple shows with me… but then he finally went to the gym and I came to get ready for bed.

We are exhausted.

God, help us to rejuvenate. Help us to be our best selves. Keep us all safe here, please. And thank you. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

So, the interview went very well. The round of golf, not so much. We got there, only to find out it was now canceled. Not rescheduled. Just canceled. That was frustrating. Several of us decided to go ahead and play, anyway, since we were there, though it was no longer paid for by the school. But it was the first twilight pricing, so it was a reasonable price for a round of golf. However, as I went up to tee off at the first hole, the storm arrived in full force, and we had to stop. We waited in the pro shop for close to an hour until the rain stopped, got a rain check to play another day, and then went all the way back home.

So, still haven’t played that first round of golf. But we definitely looked like a very cute couple today. And I filled it the background check paperwork on my phone while we waited in the pro shop. The lady was very impressed that I sent it all back to her so quickly. 😛 Silver linings, I suppose… that and the fact that I didn’t have to interact with any administration who might secretly hate me (still unsure on that one, so prefer to keep my distance from them all, really… sadly…).

Anyway… we were both exhausted, though. After we got home, I lay down to watch a movie. My husband did a few things in the yard for maybe half an hour, then he came in and sat down. He said he was doing e-mail before going back outside. Not even twenty minutes later, he had switched chairs and was passed out, phone in hand. He didn’t get up for another few hours.

He was a tired pup. I opted to stay awake until bedtime, but just take it easy, so I passively watched some shows and a movie before trying to go to bed. At which point he woke up, went outside briefly, and then wanted to eat something and watch another couple shows with me… but then he finally went to the gym and I came to get ready for bed.

We are exhausted.

God, help us to rejuvenate. Help us to be our best selves. Keep us all safe here, please. And thank you. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024

I have an interview in the morning, second-round. I have not ever been much concerned when I’ve had an upcoming interview, but this one is different. I have to teach a sample lesson. I was given a set of topics to address. They are all things I haven’t taught in over three and a half years. And how I normally teach requires a whole setup for the class, and I’m not sure this school wants that level of intensity. Nor that one of the assessors actually speaks much French, so half of my “class” wouldn’t understand what’s going on… ugh.

I probably still will print the language tools I always use, and bring them. I’ll know whether to use them or not when the time comes.

God, grant me easy sleep tonight and the right words tomorrow. Help me to be myself and to honor my work and you. Thank you for this opportunity. Please, keep my husband safe. Please, also, help us to keep our money safe, too. In your name, I pray. Amen.

Post-a-day 2024