Big thank you to Sunshine. (He knows who he is.) Here is a bit of explanation  I've struggled all my life to understand binary numbers.  I even missed out on a good paying job years ago because I simply couldn't get my head around it at all. Today I found that there is some binary in the next course I want to do.  To my way of thinking there is no point signing up for a course if I'm going to fail before I even start so I emailed Sunshine.  He is my daughter's friend who has been my mentor in all things computer since he was in upper school.  Bingo, he explained it and sent a simple grid that made it crystal clear to me.  Then I went back to a web page that I'd looked at earlier and didn't understand at all and now it makes sense!  How wonderful is that?  I first came across this in the mid 1960's and finally in 2012 get it.  I'm not slow......lol.  Of course I've saved it all into a new folder so I don't lose it and have also got it on a memory stick.

Sent in my first essay yesterday and now have to wait for the feedback.  No hurry there, I did my best and it is what it is.  I can learn from it.  I'm well through the next week and am finding this better as it is using the textbook.  Okay so it is like wading through treacle than reading Fifty, but I can do it, just slower and with more focus.  And that IS what I signed up for so I'm happy.   If I could ignore the Facebook groups I'd get on faster.....as would we all but at the same time they are so supportive and helpful.  I guess it's like going to the canteen with the rest of the class since we are a virtual class.

I have a sore throat today that isn't going away.  No, I can't take anything because I already take painkillers and aspirin daily.  There is only so much you can have in one day.  I will try brandy next as I have no honey to mix with lemon.  Brandy....honey and lemon.....nope, gotta choose the brandy.

The postman brought the photo and CD of the school reunion.  It's a super photo but I havent' looked at the CD yet.  Jean kindly sent a who's who with it that is vital as I don't recognise anyone.  Well, it has been 50 years and they have all changed a bit......wonder why? My mirror says I've changed since then as well so I guess it's fair.

Off now to hit the get something to drink and hit the books.  Unless I fall asleep first....any bets on which will happen?




 
but I'm going to start writing anyway and see how much I get done before I crash and go to bed.

I've been working so hard my head my burst!  I'm loving studying but boy, it can eat up my time.  If I stayed of Facebook I'd probably progress faster.  The flip side of that is that there a a couple groups set up for my course and I'm gaining a lot by reading their posts and problems.  I feel far less alone because of them.  I've done okay so far; have done the first essay twice and am happy with it for now.  I'll wait to see what is said at the next tutorial before I send it in though.  I just doubt myself which is very silly as I know I can do this.  I've just started on the second small book and the first big textbook.  That feels like progress already.  I've also got the Good Study Guide by Andrew Northedge which I'm working my way through.  I'm having to read more thoroughly than I do for novels.  I can do it but it just takes longer.  I'm still finding time to read for pleasure though and to play on the DS.  I need the downtime.   I am doing okay-ish with the housework.  I can always do what I need to do quite quickly anyway.  I'm enjoying that more too, since it is a smaller part of my life.   I will find a balance as I go on.  I'm sure (at the moment) that I've made the right decision in choosing to study.  The Social Sciences are so far proving to be more interesting than I'd expected.  Bonus.

I'm still coughing a bit but feel tons better.  I finally got a good night's rest last night, didn't work on my essay all night in my sleep!   The Horlicks and and the chocolate one do their stuff almost as well as a brandy in my coffee.  I have one or the other most nights now it's colder. 

The leaves are blowing all over the place. Today I went out to pick some up but didn't as it was so windy they were all over the place and I had trouble breathing......to dopey to put a scarf on, wasn't I?  I'm not ready for this weather yet, although. I am wearing warmer clothes around the house.   Gotta love the socks.  I'm glad I have so many pretty ones that are comfy and fun to wear....I'm still a big kid at heart.

The dopey dogs are still keeping us laughing with their antics.  Jess sleeps on the ottoman again.  How this big dog can fit onto that small thing amazes me.  But she's happy.  She does have a perfectly good soft dog bed that she uses sometimes.  Stevie shares it during the day when I'm on the pc. 

And now I will head for my bed and hope to sleep soundl
 
I've had a bit of a chest cold again this week but am feeling mostly okay and am improving daily.  At last.

My eating has been very up and down, but I am trying hard. Because I've not been well I have slept in the afternoons and didn't feel much like cooking or the others thought I should just rest. We've been out for at least one meal and have take away twice that I can think of.....I'm not about to weigh myself. Why set myself up for an upset?  My clothes are tight and that's what is most important at this stage.

  I'm studying hard and spending a lot of times on the forums for my course and finding it very useful. It's early days but I'm loving being a student at last.  It's more complex than I thought when I first looked at my books etc but as Andy said"What did you expect if you want a degree?"  Well said, Andy.  I know I can do it and will enjoy it once I get my first essay out of the way and see the feedback on it.  I have a good idea of the basic concepts now so feel that I'm on the way. I've been taking notes for many years but have to learn new ways to do it now that will be more effective and serve me better.  It's like starting from scratch, which I guess it really is. 

Everything else is ticking over fine.  I'm in touch with friends on here if not in person and have managed to walk the dogs - no, not yet today but hope to later. I have to face the fact that although I can't be bothered most of the time, I do feel better for going outside and moving around.  It will become even more important when I'm spending more time sitting at the computer.





 
Just on the off chance that the above heading didn't make it quite clear enough, I'm not a happy bunny right now.  Earlier this evening I saw some recent photos of myself sitting in my fave chair unaware that my photo was being taken.  I'm fat.  To make it more honest, I'm horribly fat.  I know how much I weigh, but have been kidding myself about how fat I look.  Yes, I'm saying fat as that is what it is. Why dress it up with any other word just because they sound nicer.  They look the same on my body whatever name you put on it. 

Now please know that I'm not being mean to myself.  I'm not beating myself up.  I'm not belittling myself.  That in itself is a great improvement.  But I am facing an unpleasant fact of my life.  I'm going to use those photos - which may just exaggerate the problem by the way I'm sitting - as a tool to help me get back on track in a positive way.

I know, as anyone who has a weight problem knows, what I need to do and how to do it.  I just have not wanted to do it or to really face it.  Like everyone else I can use the rose tinted spectacles and see what I want to see. I've been ignoring the fact that the scales say I'm heavier, my jeans are tighter, and moving is harder. 

At last I *think* I'm ready to face things and try to improve the situation gently and sensibly.  As my course starts tomorrow it's a good time to implement several changes at once.  I want to implement a new time management system here to be able to study and keep up with the housework and have a social life which has been getting more full.  So why not piggyback a  healthier lifestyle as part of this?  I have been doing some studying already and find that it is useful to take a break for a snack now and then.  I need to eat if I'm going to study effectively.

Up to now I haven't planned much, I just do as I feel like or do what needs to be done.  Now I am entering a new phase in my life.  We can all make changes whenever we choose, but as I am embarking on a major change anyway.........

My immediate goal for this week is to eat sensibly and healthily every time I make a food choice.  I will make a proper meal for myself and the family twice this week.  Then I will make a goal for the next week and the next one.   I am not putting a number on my weight loss goal.  I know where I'd like to be, and what dress size I'd like to be, but for now it is enough to eat and drink well and keep moving more.  Because I study upstairs and the kitchen is downstairs it follows that breaking for snacks/drinks means nore trips up and down.  And I have to go down to let the mutts out........

Here's a giggle for you.  Our lurcher, Jess, enjoyed the mug of coffee I left on the table this morning.  I heard an unusual sound so went to investigate.  It was her collar tag clinking on the mug.  She met me at the foot of the stairs licking her lips and wagging her tail  with 'that' look on her face.  She didn't like me moving the cup.  When I switched on the kettle to make myself another one she got all excited with a look like 'ooh, can I have one?'   No, she did not get another one!!!!