I’m definitely heading back into student mode these days; re-adjusting the household budget to ensure we can pay for important stuff like textbooks and tuition.

Or, like any good student would, plotting ways to encourage friends, family & random strangers to buy me gift cards from the Uni for my textbooks!

It’s going to take a little bit of effort and co-ordination to make it happen – it’s not something they have automated (yet!) – but U Sask seems to be filled with people who are willing to go the extra mile to make the experience good for their students. 

Which is very good for me…assuming my friends & family actually want to help me buy textbooks at the Uni bookstore.  In case anyone actually *wants* to do that (my birthday is next month!) I’ll be posting details in a few weeks.

Muse about writing a weekly post so I don’t forget the important, or even random, things that happen in my life and *boom* a month passes. The only surprise I can claim in this is that I hadn’t noticed a month had flown by already! What I wouldn’t do for those long, lazy days of a childhood summer. We were so desperate to grow up and wanted time to pass quicker. Now I blink and entire months disappear.

I do have some news to share. After much worry and chewing of fingernails I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be attending the Education Technology and Design program at University of Saskatchewan in the fall. It was much first choice in programs and I can’t wait to start.

Cue the whining about course loads and homework in 3…2…1…

A few years ago I returned to school thinking I’d shift into an entirely new career. It appears that we can’t leave the family businesses (Education OR Nursing) that easily. Just when we think we’re done, they suck us back in. After many moons of Military History and Psych classes, I know I wouldn’t make a good Therapist. I like to think I’m a decent Instructional Designer and I know I’m far happier doing this than I would have been completing mandatory counselling hours. Despite having grand plans to help others like me, I don’t think I’m cut out for regular interaction with people.

And so we fall back on what we know. And for once, we’re content. We think.

I joke a lot about being an unread blogger. So much so that it’s in my twitter and FB profiles. I’ve slid away from writing over the past few years. Not because I have nothing to say, but because I’ve got limited amounts of time and have found other venues for my craziness. That said, I think I need to ponder reviving the blog.

Months have passed between posts. I didn’t post my usual tribute to the members of my family who served in November. I didn’t post a giant celebratory message when I *finally* graduated from RMC or rant about my insecurity as I wait for notification relating to my grad school applications. There have been few posts about learning to live with a celiac diagnosis or what it’s like to spend years in a marriage with someone who is frequently away from home. Nothing about the amazing milestones our not-for-profit society has reached nor the people I’ve met through its development. I didn’t post about our family’s attempt to walk up a mountain and spread some of dad’s ashes.

I wonder how much more time will pass before these items, already disappearing, completely fade from my memory.

Perhaps I should start with a short weekly post. I’ve come to realize that I need the blog to act as my memory and if I don’t write my experiences, thoughts & random babbling down and stick it somewhere in the ether, I’ll never remember any of my life. Which is terribly sad in and of itself.

Each year I count poppies and then make a donation to a charity that inspires me. This year, I’ve decided to donate the funds generated through my poppy count to Valour Place. Valour Place is a temporary home away from home for all Canadian Forces members, Families of the Fallen, Veterans and RCMP along with their families who require medical treatment in Edmonton. Through Valour Place, they have the means to face the challenges of rehabilitation in a warm, welcoming and supportive environment. Hope away from home.

I’ve spent a significant amount of my knitting time this month working on poppies for knitmonton’s Valour Place Project. Working on the project has made me run the gamut of emotions;   pride (yay! I figured out how to sew the petals together), frustration (when Nat tried to teach me to crochet and I just couldn’t get the yarn into the correct hands!),  relief (when I FINALLY managed to figure out loopysue’s knitflat pattern).. you get the idea.

I’ve got last night of knitting tonight and then it’s time to put it all together…which I’m told involves more attempts to teach me to crochet. Those poor, patient women who try to teach me things!

Poppies will be available for sale to the general public on October 25th. That’s today for those of you playing along at home.

After last year’s moving experience with Drew and his family in Ottawa, I’m back to honouring Remembrance Day alone. Drew will be on parade in Cool Pool. I haven’t yet decided which of the ceremonies I’ll go to. I’ve never been to the one at the Butterdome; I hear it is the largest in the city. I suspect I’ll go back to the Ledge.

Edmonton, you’re on notice. I’ll be counting poppies beginning on Oct 25th to determine what the $$ amount of my charitable donation(s) will be this year. As always, I’m donating $0.10 for every poppy I see on my wanders throughout the city (Legion poppies, not the handmade ones we’re working on for the Valour Place art installation). I’ve yet to decide which organization(s) I’ll be donating to this year, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your part to make some fabulous organizations very happy. Buy a poppy. Wear your poppy.

I’ll be counting for the next 18 days.