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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Silver Liningness Sunday

Greetings on this warm Sunday!  Can you hear the snow melting? Yes, fresh snow is pretty, but after a couple of days, it becomes a crusty annoyance.  I'm happy for the melting.

This was another nice week, and I took a photo so we can play a little "I Spy" for the good-things post.  Not to worry, it should be super easy.


First of all, the new semester began this week, so it's nice to be back to learning stuff.  I'm liking my classes.  I know it's only been one week, but things look promising.  

Then there's that university Pedal Perks program for bicycle commuters.  It continues with the new semester, but I learned that not only do they give out prizes each month, but they gave out big semester prizes at the end of the last one.  And I was a weiner again!  I got a $150 gift certificate to a local bike shop and a $5 gift card to a another local shop thrown in for good measure.   Sheesh, generous!  On top of that, they gave out bicycle computers to all participants.  Nothing fancy, no GPS or such, just a small unit to track speed and distance, but it's free and cute!

In other news, remember the Christmas crud that moved through the family?  I managed to avoid it for the most part, but I did have this irritatingly hacking cough for a week or so.  I'm glad to be done with that, but it seems to have left an injury to my rib cage (bastard!).  I'm no stranger to rib injuries, but that doesn't mean I like them.  There's not a whole lot one can do about them other than ride them out, so that's what I'm doing.  In the meantime, I found some free samples of Performance pain relief gel in our drug stash.  I think they were included in one of my race packets from last year.  Usually, I just chuck that stuff, but apparently I decided to keep these.  Yay.

Last fall, I had a tutee who is a local basketball standout.  No "dumb jock", he's also a good student and just a nice kid from a nice family.  He needed to raise his test scores to open up more scholarship opportunities, and he worked hard for me.  I remember telling him, "Get 'er done on the tests, sign with that college, then you  can enjoy this basketball season and the rest of your senior year."  He seems to be following through on all of that, and yesterday his team was featured in a story in the paper for beating a rival school that hadn't lost a division game in five years!  It's always nice for me to learn about former students going on to do good things.  "A" is a team captain, and the photographer got a nicely timed photo of him to accompany the story.

In movie news, Magnum and I watched "Better Living through Chemistry".  Nothing life altering, but fun entertainment enough with a few nice lessons.  You can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone...

Thanks for playing along!

.

20 comments:

Riot Kitty said...

Congrats! On the goodies, not the cough. That has been making the rounds through my office as well.

LL Cool Joe said...

I thought they were a couple of "perform" condoms in the photo. Then I was wondering what else you wanted me to spy with my piggy eye.

I have a cough too, I wouldn't describe it as hacking, just bloody irritating. :D

Abby said...

Viral spew from a cough or sneeze can linger for 17 minutes. Just a fun fact I learned.

Abby said...

The Performance gel says,
"...for hand application... massage into skin for increased blood flow... flip top for less mess..."
I think I'll stop now.

Marcy said...

Congrats! I love the story about your hard-working tutee too. Hope your ribs are better quickly.

Abby said...

Thanks, Marcy. I think the ribs are coming around. It only hurts when I breathe.

agg79 said...

More bike bling! Shiny! You seem to be raking in all of the awards/prized. Not too shabby for the Goose Poop Slalom Queen.

Seems like we are all coming down with something (or maybe it's just me). I've had a major neck pain/sprain for a the past few weeks that feels like someone is stabbing me in the neck. I hope your sore ribs not as much of a pain in the neck as mine is.

Linda Hensley said...

Congratulations! And congrats to your mom's anniversary of citizenship too! I've been watching the snow fall on a Monday morning and thinking of your dog and your California classmates' first snow is a reminder to me to embrace the seasons. Maybe being saving up your posts for one read can be a good thing? I hope you have a great week!

Abby said...

There are 3 bike bling prize categories, based on mileage. Higher the mileage, the more valuable the prizes. They give out one staff and one student prize per category each month, so it's a pretty generous incentive program for about 150 participants. I kinda wish they'd use that money to put in a nice bike path up the hill to campus!

Abby said...

It does sometimes help to look at snow and ice and general winter through someone else's eyes. Stay warm :)

Rock Chef said...

Hah, that basketball story sounds like the plot of several movies! I suspect that the coach of the other team was an evil win at all costs schmuck who got fired after losing the game :-)

Abby said...

I like it RC! Maybe that could be your next book :)

ShadowRun300 said...

I think I spied all the good things about your week! $150 gift certificate? How fun! Can't wait to see what you get!
Sorry to hear about your rib! I know first-hand how painful rib injuries can be. Hopefully it won't take too long to heal!
We watched The Interview this weekend. It, too, wasn't life altering. But it did provide an hour and a half of light and occasionally funny entertainment.

Ginny said...

what is this melting snow you speak of. We could use that here in Boston.

Abby said...

Good eyes! I have no idea what I'm going to spend that gift cert. on, but I'll probably come up with something.
Haven't seen The Interview. I'm not a big Seth Rogan fan, so it doesn't strike me as a "must see", but a "maybe see".

Abby said...

You know, when the snow turns into water and evaporates... well, maybe you don't know... Hope you've got provisions!

Anita said...

This month seems to be on a roll toward good things for you. Or... I should say, "more" good things! May the force be with you. :)

terri said...

Okay, I did NOT know that coughing could cause rib injuries. You're the second person I've heard of this winter to have that happen. (The other woman is a coworker and things got so serious, she was hospitalized and had to have surgery. Take care of yourself!)

Cool beans on the bicycle commuter awards. I'll bet the prizes motivate some of those on-the-fence people to get on their bikes and join in.

We were just talking at work today about upcoming work opportunities. That conversation helped me realize that when offered the choice, I'll choose the one that allows me to help someone, rather than the one that just lets me perform a bunch of routine processes. Work is so much more fulfilling when you can see someone benefit from it. Guess that's why you like your tutoring so much.

Abby said...

And also with you. Defeat the darkside!

Abby said...

Gosh, your coworker's troubles are much worse than mine! (I'm still going to whine, though).
Funny you mention your work objectives. My tutoring site has these random polls and this week's asked what was our primary reason for tutoring (extra money, be my own boss, etc.) The top choice was "helping others". It is rewarding, isn't it.