Last night, I had a hard time getting to sleep, so I stayed awake thinking about my options. I woke up in a sweat this morning around 6 o'clock.

Going online about 3 hours later, I found that the College was in the process of adding course sections, which should not have affected my assignments at all. And yes, thankfully, I will get the courses back in February or March, according to the administration.

Of course, I'm relieved, but will believe the administration when those months arrive and the courses are assigned to me once again.

So that drama is over for now. My next step is developing more income streams and have money coming in all of the time. I've resolved to avoid squandering so much time ---- that was a HUGE mistake. There's really nothing worse than being up the creek without a paddle. Believe me, I'm paying a lot more attention this time and am in the process of implementing my strategy.

My cousin, sister and I visited my aunt in Pennsylvania today. My aunt was very pleased to see us, as she is in a nursing home again, temporarily, and doesn't get many visitors.

Anyway, she needed a nurse's help using the bathroom, so we excused ourselves and waited in the corridor for a few minutes. When the nurse was done, she told us that we could go back in my aunt's room, which we did.

Probably to our regret. The stench was awful. It smelled like a three-megaton fart had just exploded in the room. My cousin and I exchanged looks.

Then my aunt's roommate arrived, assisted by a nurse. The first thing that woman did was make a face and use her thumb and forefinger to pinch her nose together. She held them for two or three minutes, but the stench was too strong. So she carefully folded a napkin, picked it up and covered her nose with it.

Of course, I watched that happen out of the corner of my eye and wanted to laugh so badly. The whole thing was just too funny. Or maybe I was just being too silly. I nearly snickered loudly, but stifled it by covering my mouth and turning my chair so that I wouldn't be tempted to watch that woman.

She was hysterical without realizing it.

Keeping a straight poker face was a real trip. While my sister, cousin and aunt were talking, I paid little attention to what they were saying. Making things worse was the fact that the stench just seemed to be getting stronger and the lady was trying harder to avoid smelling it, even though it surrounded her and permeated her skin and clothes.

I just found out today that two of the online courses I'm teaching have not been reassigned to me for next month --- and I don't know why. Actually, I had a funny feeling about losing them two months ago when the assistant dean posted them on our online meeting forum. I was shocked, but thought, nah, I'll still get them. I've done a good job and haven't heard anything negative from any of the administrators.

What I should have done was ask one of them point-blank whether the two courses would still be assigned to me. I had helped to develop them and put a lot of time and effort in them. Now it looks like they're gone, at least temporarily. I'll still have a good income for the next three months, but unless things are straightened out soon, that income will be drastically reduced.

The income I earned from them so far has helped to pay a lot of big bills and allowed me time to do other things.

I've dealt with this by sending an email to the person who assigns the courses, letting her know that I was still interested in teaching them.

Just shows what happens when someone like me depends on a single employer all of the time. I know much better now and will respond to this as a wake-up call to earn even more money by creating my own opportunities. I began to do that earlier this year in January, but became too lazy and complacent and eventually stopped.

Next time, I'll pay closer attention to my gut feelings.

So late this afternoon, just as I'm putting away my DVD player, I and my cats hear a noise at my door and mailbox. I went to the sunporch to the window and aaw a familiar SUV parked in front of the house.

Uh-oh. It's BA-CK.

I'm talking about a pesky solicitor from Verizon who's been here on Monday and Thursday and now today, Saturday. He's here because he's under the mistaken impression, thanks to the bs from Verizon, that I would be interested in getting FIOS.

Hello! I told at least one other sales rep that I wasn't at all interested. I hate Verizon. They've tacked on all kinds of crazy fees and taxes on my regular phone bill for service that I hardly use. All told, my average bill is about 27 dollars a month --- and that's without my making any calls at all.

Now every December, Verizon does some stupid thing to get on my nerves. This year, they've sent extra junk mail and when that didn't work, sent one of their pesky solicitors every few days to pester me.

Thing is, I don't want FIOS, period. I've got Netflix, which only costs about 9 dollars per month and provides a great selection of movies and tv programs. They've also received great reviews. And there are no peaky taxes and fees tacked on either.

So when the same guy, an old guy who could barely walk using a cane, showed up today, I didn't answer the door.

Maybe that will discourage him and Verizon, though I doubt it. I feel that if I speak to those nuts, I'm only encouraging them to keep pestering me. If they sit out in the cold long enough, maybe they will stop. And if my any chance I have to talk to them, I'm telling them to shove FIOS where the sun don't shine. It's that or simply call the cops and press charges of harassment.

I still hate the concept of gift-giving at Xmas. However, I'm sure that my sister, who's probably bought me something, expects something in return.

What to buy for her?

Probably something silly, like the mouse puppet that she thought was so cute at the bookstore one time. I offered to buy it for her right then and there, but she firmly refused.

If I see that puppet, I will get it for her. It only costs some 12 measly bucks, which when you think about it, is an expensive piece of junk. She will be able to accommodate that junk very well. Her home is roomier than mine. For example, she's got six closets. I only have two.

I don't care what she does with it. Maybe she'll keep it, maybe she'll regift it or throw it away.

But at least, I will have fulfilled an obligation to give a gift.