Back to the Grind

Back to school today.

Online courses, 13 credits, and work.

Well, in reality, work will only last another two weeks.

Then what, I'm not sure.

Today I left work for an early lunch as it was so dead with the three of us there, and I'd had enough of the guys talking football all morning, so I went home on my friend's route to get my car. It wasn't my usual bus as I had some information to share with him, and I also felt I really needed to walk more as it was so nice out and I hated being cooped up inside our offices. I had walked to work this morning too, knowing that this month is coming to an end, and that I don't know what the future will bring work wise. I feel it best to get out, get the exercise and enjoy the weather while I can.

As we arrived at UMD (a 10-15 min walk home) I noticed a stand of sunflowers along the wall. They looked so beautiful in the morning sunshine. I told my friend to try to take a few pics for me when he passes through there, but he said he doesn't stop or the riders won't leave him be on his breaks. I totally understood.

After work I ran up to school to get my uber-expensive book for my Biology course ($127.00) and after waiting 20 minutes to get into the bookstore, I then found that there were no used books left ($96) so I had to shell out the full price, and also that my loans haven't finished processing yet so I'd have to personally fork out the dough. Even at the register, the bookstore aide agreed that the book was way over priced and not worth it. Sad hey. Why is it in this economy, and with so many students needing financial aid, do these instructors insist on these expensive books that can't even be reused (they often change books every semester or year) and some books such as this one contain a special online code, that once used, cannot be used again -unless you buy a separate code to be able to utilize the online coursework again. Lame.

Anyway, after being ripped off, I hurried home as I really had to use the restroom and then decided I was still so full from my Gyro lunch at Coney Island with Tom and Dan, that I really needed to move more before setting down to checking into my coursework. I decided to walk up to UMD and take some photos of those glorious sunflowers not only for the exercise, but to just savour their beauty in the late afternoon sun. I still want to go back and take some morning shots of them. Perhaps next week. I was also afraid that if I didn't go take some pics, I'd forget or get too busy, and then they'd become compromised by weather or squirrels or people and I'd miss out on taking a few shots.

I changed out of my work clothes and walked up to UMD. Upon arrival I was asked by a young man with an asian accent for some help with the buses and schedules. Turns out he was new here from China, been in the USA for 1 month and had visited NY, Boston, LA and...I forget. Damn the kid has seen more than me in only 1 month. He wanted to know if he could buy a cell phone downtown, and some clothing. I said, well there are no cell phone companies downtown, and the clothing stores are very limited to a surplus store and two men's stores that have more expensive and dressier clothing. He'd best go up to the mall and could find both types of stores. He asked if we had a Macy's - HA! as if. I let him know there were many other clothing stores as well as cell phone kiosks there for him to get what he needs. He'd also need to find a #10 bus to get up there, and a #13 was just coming from break, so I helped him get on and talked to the driver on his behalf to get him sorted for the right bus, on the right side of the street. He thanked me profusely. Nice kid. After he was on the bus I thought, I should have brought him home with me and took him shopping, then brought him back to where he lives. But then I thought, hell he made it through all those big cities on his own, and this one is so much easier to navigate in comparison, that he'd be fine. I hope so anyway. (Hey, I'm a mom, I worry. I also care about people and like to help them, so it was eating at me some that I didn't do more for our new student.)

Ok. Him sorted, I set off to take my pics. After shooting several, the batteries were acting up. I have two sets of rechargables and the one set doesn't seem to hold a charge for very long, if at all sometimes. I had that pair in my camera :( So I finished, rotating the batteries and then started back home. As I was walking through UMD, my friend passed by in his bus, waving hello and smiling as he does. I love that smile. For so long he's barely smiled and it seems of late, he is able to again, and that just warms my heart to see. I had a very happy walk back to my house thinking about the boy, the sunflowers, my friend, the gorgeous evening and how glad I was I went for that walk.

I settled in to check into my courses, made my introductions and looked over some of the work ahead. That took several hours. Then it was time to write here and share these pics with you all.