Yes! The title for the Lounge is part of a song from The Sound of Music! And I've been on the Jungfrau train! So beautiful!

Okay, all! I MAY pop in later today but it is a BUSY day. So if I don't get back, enjoy the conversation amongst yourselves! Jean in Newcastle, please lock up this evening - if you remember! 😉

Hello and welcome to the Lounge! For this morning's refreshment we have gluten-free, oatmeal raisin...um, were supposed to be cookies...turned out more like crumble or loose brittle. Still edible and delicious though! Today's theme stems from the fact that I'm headed off here and there starting tomorrow. I will NOT be opening the Lounge for the next two weeks. So enjoy it while you can! 😉 Do you know the relevance of the title of today's lounge? Here: it's immediately what I thought of when I thought about posting a "So long!" Teachers Lounge. Have you ever been to Europe? Here: yes! Germany and Switzerland, both of which were amazing and beautiful in their own right. Technically, I have been to England but it was only to go through Heathrow Airport. Never really saw any of it. Any conferences/conventions coming up for you? Here: this weekend: Train the Trainer! (public speaker training and so much more!); the following week, Sunrider International Convention. Busy month for me! Talk to me! 🐞

I like the idea of school at Starbucks! Maybe we'll join you some morning! 😉

My head is now foggy. could be the gluten. Or could be the fact I just completed an online job application. I personally LOATHE applying for any job online. Can't I just turn in a piece of paper to an actual human already?? May be time for a nap already...

Good morning! Welcome to the Hogwarts! er, I mean, the Lounge! Today's theme stems from the fact that I, evidently, woke up on the wrong side of the bed! Thankfully, no one else was awake to experience that - I just knew from the flumox going on in my brain! Therefore, I decided it was WORTH it to go to Starbucks today. Thankfully I had gift cards! Knowing it's probably all due to menopausal hormones, I treated myself to my favorite drink made with soy (and I know Sbux uses organic vanilla soy, which I prefer) and a bakery item. Organic soy for the win! Have you given yourself a treat lately? What was it? Here: see above! Plus, I'm going to a women's Bible study this morning at our former church. I really miss that church! What's your weather like today? Here: finally COOLER weather! In the high 70s to low 80s in the morning and under 100 for the highs. Might seem brutal to some of you but when it's been OVER 105*F for days.on.end, anything UNDER 100 is fabulous! What's your favorite bakery treat (full on gluten, gluten-free, vegan, whatever)? Here: I should not eat them as I am highly sensitive to gluten (not Celiac) but I really adore Starbucks' pumpkin scones! Talk to me! 🤸‍♀️

Had to get out of the house for a bit. Went to the Dollar Tree- and actually found some relatively interesting books there! Plus bought lunch (pizza) next door. Now to eat lunch and then get started on schoolwork and housework.

Yes, anxiety can present in a myriad ways. I highly recommend NOT going on any anxiolytics (anti-anxiety meds) as they can often exacerbate rather than help the situation. And what I've read most recently in my herbalist studies is that anxiety can be caused by physical illness and physical illness can be caused by anxiety. Figuring out which is which can be a very helpful first step!

Not an omen. You'll all be fine.

Prairiewind, I'm sorry you're dealing with chronic illness! Glad you can get out into some relatively fresh air and get some exercise, though! Wintermom, those are some very good points!

Morning! The Lounge is now OPEN! The theme today is a S/O (spin off) of another thread. Taking care of your HEALTH is vitaly important. Having experienced extreme health issues I can tell you this: if you don't have your health, you truly have nothing, because if your health incapacitates you, then you can DO nothing. Please take CARE of you! I know self-care has become a catch phrase but it's not the (sometimes) self-involved care I'm talking about. Mainly, if you are SICK in ANY way, please don't "push through" it - that is helpful to NO ONE. Instead, ALLOW your body to REST and HEAL. Who here has trouble truly RESTING, as in, even if you're not sleeping, you know you need to be STILL, to heal? Here: sometimes. My husband has a hard time with this ALL the time. I think we all do occasionally. But as I've had to remind myself, and others: when you're sick, doing nothing IS something. What's up today? Here: I need to get a packing list together for my trip this weekend and plan my son's lessons ( and I need to remember to include math!) Any field trips today? Here: not today. Talk to me! 📣

I've done a cursory reading of this thread. Mostly your comments, OP. Discussed a little bit with my husband. Here's our two cents: let her come home. Let her take a slower pace academically, rest, and HEAL. AP classes only really count in high school, and maybe towards some college scholarships. But in life? There is SO much more to life than having taken (and/or doing crazily well) in AP classes in high school. I think the greatest education you can give her right now is the lesson that it is MORE important to REST in order to HEAL, than to push through the pain and illness, which will only prove to be a detriment in the future. Those who look to her as leader now, she can tell them she's taking time to heal, and THAT is the greatest way she can lead them at this time.

I took about a 45 minute nap today and that helped. Feeling 75% better? AND the biology book I had on order arrived today! 👏 I realize that, to some, a biology book is not that exciting but this one I've had my eye on (Devotional Biology) because, when I read the description it really resonated with me! We will probably be doing a small co-op, starting at my house, this October. Will be interesting! Now to find a microscope...

I am truly sorry you're having such a rough day - and on your birthday of all days! May your day brighten exponentially from here!

Morning and welcome to the Lounge! Yesterday and even this morning had/has my brain in the spinning whirling dervish of anxiety. I don't really know why. Well, I know partially why. We are once again, at the same time of year, where finances are quite precarious. About a month or so ago I decided I want to BREAK this cycle but it hasn't broken yet. Anyway, now you understand today's theme. Anxiety anyone? Here: see above! What are you looking forward to this week? Here: a couple of different webinars, meeting with friends, learning some more alongside my son, and a conference this weekend. Is your weather getting cooler? Here: haven't been outside just yet but it's supposed to be in the low 70s for the low all this week. Yippee! "Bout time! Talk to me!

Go, you! And go, your dh! I'm certain there are SO many people who, with your particular physical challenges,would automatically assume they could not even do that 1/2 mile trail. Yet you decided you COULD and WOULD. I don't know you personally, yet I'm SO proud of you! 🎖️ Yes, hang on to him, TIGHT! You are quite certainly blessed!

Yes! Always make sure to read EVERY ingredient list. Seriously. It's ridiculous but you really have to do so. The online service of eMeals has a paleo version. it's been very helpful for me!

Only bought one book today. At Goodwill. Just wasn't a book day, I guess. Or maybe it was, kind of. I did order a book of the company who shall not be named this morning. And hubby is printing off a text for my herbalist course, which he'll bring home to me tonight. finally. 😉

Follow a paleo method of eating. Seriously. There's absolutely no grain in paleo and that helps quite a bit!

textbooks are PRICEY! I was glad, when I was in grad school, that we were using REAL books, written by people who have been in the actual field, and not textbooks for our studies.

Hello and welcome to the Lounge! 🏕️ Today's theme stems from the fact that I admit to being a book addict. In fact, I just ordered (via the gargantuan company who shall not be named) a book on embroidery, justifying it as a necessary school book. Truth be told, I feel it IS necessary...to me. And I DO plan to use it in my son's schooling. This particular embroidery book has amazing pictures and instructions for myriad stitches! Personally, I think it would be a good thing for him to know! What books have you bought lately? What are they for? Here: see above. PLUS, I considered some others but decided to go with just the one for now. Where do you tend to buy your books? 📚Here: I do enjoy the gargantuan company who shall not be named, but I also like yard sales, estate sales, and thrift stores. In fact, in a little bit here I'll be headed out to see if I can find a few of those sales. What are your weekend plans? Here: I'm going to a town about two hours away tomorrow to be part of a video Bible Study filming. I'll be in the "studio" audience. 🙂 Talk to me! 🤸‍♂️What

We don't really get visitors where we live unless I've scheduled some sort of gathering. I would love a friend or acquaintance to drop by! But now that I think about it, I'm the only extrovert in our family of four. DH and DD are both introverts and DS calls himself an ambivert. I would call him more of a social extrovert, and maybe those are the same. Not sure. He's fine to talk with people when we're out and about but once we're home, unless it's a well known friend or acquaintance, he'd rather just be by himself. I grew up in the Midwest where it was pretty much expected that your friends would drop by unannounced now and again. Especially kids. I actually kind of miss that.

wintermom, how long have you had said virus?

Hope everyone had a great day!

Right now, my courses are through a very small, online school. I've only completed about 5 courses out of 24 so far! But I keep plugging along. And now, I need to get groceries!