Merry Christmas to all of my readers! (Disclaimer: Happy Holidays too!)
This week has been a good one. It’s been really nice being on break – and I got so much stuff done I can’t believe it. For one thing, I supposedly fixed my financial aid problem. I was told when I filed my FAFSA that I couldn’t get financial aid until I declared a major. But I didn’t want to declare a major. My major is “getting myself into PA program.” So this week, I declared a major. I am now pursuing an AA with emphasis in Biology. HA! That’s a step down from my PhD. Anyway, I’m hoping that if I get proper funding, I can move down to a part-time job (hopefully as an EMT) and take more classes each semester. That’ll speed up my process quite a bit.
If you remember from my last update, I was entering into a #nocaffeine challenge. The first week is complete, and I never even suffered from a headache! I did suffer from mildly crippling exhaustion, though. That may have been exacerbated by giving platelets on Monday. In fact, sometimes I wonder if giving platelets is just really bad for me. It seems like every time I give platelets, I get exhausted. But there are always extenuating circumstances. Like last time – I worked till 1 am and then was in to work at 6 am the next day. Isn’t that reason enough to be exhausted? So for right now, I’m going to continue my donations. 🙂
Next week I’m going to start reading chapters in my EMT textbook – getting ahead for the semester. My reason is that 1) I know how much reading there is because I tried taking the class last semester and 2) My first month of the class will be difficult since I will be busy two evenings per week training for the COLUMNS program (you know, the one where I work with a life-term parolee recently released from prison). I plan on keeping bullet points of things I’ve learned from the chapters and from class so because I think it’s sort of fun. You are welcome to peruse, skim, or skip.
Feature and Follow Question: What was the best Christmas (or other holiday) gift I ever received?
Well, my dad usually gets me a $100 gift card for Barnes and Noble. This year he got me a $150 gift card. Totally the best.
Posts:
Books Completed:
Books Acquired:
Film and Theater:
Bookish presents (to others):
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| These were given to one of the residents at the nursing home I work at. She said she liked history. I thought it was a good selection. |
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| Gave these books to my boyfriend’s nephew. He’s too young for them, but I figure his parents can read them to him. They’re on the Harry Potter books now. |
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| These went to my mom |
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| To my friend Liz (who is hopefully not reading this. If you are, I also got you chocolates). |
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| These go to my aunt |
This update is posted to Feature and Follow Friday @Parajunkee and @Alison Can Read, Stacking the Shelves @Tynga’sReviews, Sunday Salon, Sunday Post @CaffeinatedBookReviewer, @MailboxMonday, It’s Monday What are You Reading @BookDate
Hibernator's Library 
Wow, $150 book gift card! That is the best present ever! 😀 Hope you've had a wonderful Christmas. Following via bloglovin'.
My FF!
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Ooh, I like the sound of The Buried Book. I have to look that up! Hope you enjoy your new books.
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I hope that your Christmas was a good one Rachel.
Bureaucracy around financial aid can be maddening.
I agree that bookish gifts, be that gift cards or books themselves, are the best.
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That's an incredible present. $150 on a Gift Card. Way to go. I hope you love all of your new books.
Grace @ Books of Love
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What an amazing present! Gift cards are always an amazing present because you can get exactly what you want! 🙂
Novel Ink's STS
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Great books, and an even better dad!! Good luck with the no caffeine, I hope you do better this week!!
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What a great gift! Whoever invented gift cards was a genius. I hope you get most of the things you want with your GC! I recently discovered that I think I am caffeine intolerant. I have been experimenting in “safe” zones after the first disaster. I am wired afterwards, and up half the night. Something I have to address with my doctor in the spring. I hope you are doing better with the caffeine embargo, I might be joining you!
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A $150 B&N gift card?? That's amazing! I'd probably die of excitement before being able to even use it.
My FF: http://onceuntold.blogspot.com/2015/12/feature-follow-friday-best-christmas.html
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Merry Christmas! It sounds like there was a lot of good gifting this year–my favorite presents are almost always books.
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Gift cards fly out of the stores at Christmas time, but I always have to bury them in the middle of something else. Everyone got jars stuffed with candy and the gift cards buried inside, this year! http://wp.me/p5WCdr-yS
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Enjoy the holidays with your family ! I don't remember my best gift… I guess it was just us being all together, which won't happen any more now.
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You gave lots of wonderfully book-ish gifts!
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-cookies-my-secret-santa-box.html
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A wonderful bookish Christmas! Thanks for sharing, and enjoy. Here are
MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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Sounds like you had a great Christmas and $!50 to spend on books sounds wonderful! The school situation sounds like it was a headache but it must feel great to have a plan. Have a great week and a happy New Year!
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I haven't read any of your new books. I am jealous of your gift card! How awesome is that?!
New follower 🙂
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings Enter my 2nd Annual Blogoversary Giveaway
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Sounds like you had a great holiday. You're so lucky you got a B&N gift card. I hope you get some awesome books.
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Books make the best gifts!
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Congratulations on straightening out your financial aid. That can be so stressful when you aren't sure how it will go. Wishing you much luck in your studies!
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Lots of good-looking books.
ENJOY, and Happy New Year!!
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My It's Monday, What Are You Reading
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Merry Christmas! A $150 gift card sounds awesome, what a nice gift. All those books… 🙂
I enjoyed your post on Tolkien and allegory, nicely done. I've often wondered about that myself, and think I agree with you- parable might be a better term. 🙂
Have a great New Years!
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Love that you gave book gifts and your $150 gift card – awesome. All the best with sorting study and funding.
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Nice haul. Happy reading, and I cannot wait to see what you think. Good luck studying!
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You too!
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Thanks!
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Thanks Brian! In the end I didn't get the funding because I have too many credits. 🙂 But it was worth the effort. There's always next year.
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Thanks Grace!
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Exactly!
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My dad is pretty darn wonderful.
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I'm doing much better this week, thanks. 🙂 Too bad that you're intolerant. It doesn't seem to have much of an effect on me, but my doctor tells me that my anxiety should decrease if I get off the caffeine. We'll see!
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Yeah, I know, right?
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