Just Musing (Nine Paragraphs Worth!)

On this Friday afternoon, about half an hour before I dive into preparing for the Sabbath, I have no photographs--just words.

I have noticed recently that it is getting harder and harder to pay attention to my schoolwork and do a productive, decent quality job on it.  Having thought the matter through, I have managed to identify one cause: sleep, or rather lack thereof.

Let me be clear: I am still getting quantity sleep.  What I am not getting, and probably simply won't manage until I teach my lesson plan and therefore stay in the school program, is quality sleep.  All the sleep in the world won't make a bit of difference if it isn't deep and relaxing enough.

Since I cannot force myself to relax and get deep sleep at night, I have found I must rest somewhere, somehow, during the day.  On days home all day, that's simple enough: after I have done the truly critical school stuff for that day I simply tuck myself into bed for an hour to an hour and a half.  Days involving leaving and going out and about are more difficult, but I still try for this rest.  Also critical is that for the moment, until I am sleeping better at night (when one is supposed to sleep, just saying!) I am "dividing and conquering" the schoolwork: more, shorter sessions rather than one or two long ones.

In other news, tomorrow I go to synagogue again! I discovered last week that I will truly, truly only last for an hour of the service due to chronic pain.  (I do NOT feel sorry for myself, AT ALL: going to that synagogue in the first place is enough of a miracle, but facing facts means facing facts.)  The more critical parts of the service--the technically required parts--start about 45 minutes in.  Henceforth, I time my experience there to coincide with these parts of the service.  Additionally, tomorrow is a Bat Mitzvah; I should be able to snag kippah #56.

This summer, I am getting one more warm weather synagogue outfit.  I'm quite excited; I don't get new clothes very often.  However, I currently go to synagogue every week, alternating between only two outfits (a purple and orange floral blouse and skirt or a blue dress with lace down the front).  That's not enough.  For the upcoming skirt, which I have to buy in person because I do not know my size and anyway skirt sizes change across brands, I am going back to the Orthodox Jewish clothing store about half an hour walk from my undergrad where I bought seven of the skirts I own now.  I am more comfortable buying the blouse online because shirt sizes are more consistent.  Regardless, I would be buying the blouse in a "normal" store; I have no use for Orthodox-style tops.

I have agreed to sleep over at JS's place over Memorial Day weekend.  I'm quite excited and I definitely want to; the only reason this is weird is that he still lives with his parents.  But I've met his parents before, I'm comfortable with them, and hey--if he wants me, he wants me.

The only thing left to share is to tell about my current sewing project.  I am making a patchwork throw pillow for my "religion" chair: my rocker, turned to face East, and really only used for religious purposes.  The pillow is going to be six squares across and six squares down, in three different materials: black with a small gray floral, a big brown print, and delicate pastel pink stripes with small flowers strewn over.  I have a material I might use for the back, if I have enough of it; otherwise I'm going to have to buy a piece for the back.  The patches started out four inches each side; so I suppose the pillow will be 24 inches each side.  That's bigger than I pictured, but will actually fit the chair well.  I love making things to beautify my religious practice, and it's been a long time since I did.

SHABBAT SHALOM EVERYONE!