Ten Things Tuesday

Mrs. Chili’s got a pretty busy day, folks. You’re getting my to-do list as a Ten Things Tuesday because that’s what’s foremost in my mind.

1. I’m taking my mom (as opposed to my biological) to the dentist to have some teeth removed. I’ve not written about it yet because I’m still processing it, but Mom was diagnosed with cancer a little less than a month ago. She’s had some trouble with some swelling in her throat, and someone had the sense to biopsy it and it came back bad - pharyngeal squamous cell. The treatments that she’ll have to have will kill part of her jaw bone, which means the bone won’t be able to support the teeth. Mom doesn’t drive (and even if she did, who’d want to drive themselves home after having three teeth removed?), so I’m taking her over to the hospital complex this morning.

2. I’ve got to put this semester to rest. I’ve got all the composition students’ final exams graded, now I just need to enter everything into my grade book and fill out all the end-of-term paperwork. I figure that waiting rooms are good places to get that sort of thing done.

3. Our insurance company decided not to pay for our eye exams last December. It turns out that we’re in an HMO, and my optometrist, whom I’ve been seeing for years (and yes, I intended that pun) is not on their approved list. I’ve been meaning to call them to give them my medical spending account card for weeks now, but I’ve never gotten around to it. I’m going to do that today.

4. I need to call the girls’ dentist and reschedule their appointment in May. I got classes next term - a fact for which I am quite grateful, actually - but one of them conflicts with the girls’ 6-month check-ups. There’s less urgency for this than for the optometrist - I don’t owe the dentist any money - but I figure I’ve got a better chance of actually getting the girls seen around the 6-month mark if I call sooner rather than later.

5. I must go to the grocery store. We’re almost out of milk, we’re completely out of bread, and I need to plan dinner for the rest of the week. Not for tonight, though; we’re going to a restaurant with my friend Laura and her fiance. Laura and I live in the same town, she works literally four buildings away from Mr. Chili, and I almost never see her. I hate that. I’m looking forward to spending some time with her tonight.

6. Laundry. Really; need I say more?

7. Vacuum. Again, do I really have to explain?

8. I should probably schedule an appointment with my doctor. My digestive system has been rumbling and gurgling for about a month now and I’ve got sort of a low-grade ick going on. Plus, I have a small cyst on my forehead that has changed character over the last week. I’m vibing for myself and I’m convinced that I’m making a difference, but I might need a little modern medical shove over the wellness line.

9. I need to get serious about getting my CV out into the world. I’ve put it in two colleges so far and have heard precisely nothing from either school. I’m hoping to meet Mr. Chili for lunch today, and I’m planning on bringing a copy of my credentials to L.U. to give to my former department head. I called him a few weeks ago and he said that it’s likely he can give me a few sections of Freshman English in the fall. I’m all over that. I’ve also got to investigate a couple of smaller community colleges in the area and get my CV out to them, too. I have a job at TCC through next term, but there are positively no guarantees after that. I’d like to have something new in place for at least September.

10. I want to write a letter and make some phone calls. I’ve not written to my grandmother in a while, so I’ll fire off a card to her. I’ve got a Capital-G Girlfriend whom I feel I’ve been neglecting (even though I’ve not been actually neglecting her - I’m just constantly amazed that weeks can go by before we get a chance to talk to each other), and I need to call my local grandparents and arrange to see them sometime in the next few days. We weren’t able to make our usual Friday visit last week, and I miss them.

That’s it! I hope you all have a safe, happy, and productive Tuesday!