Kim is Back to School

Number Crunching

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:27:00 +0000

In honor of the 164 hours left of me EVER being in another math class... I did a whole bunch of other number crunching.

All but the last bits of work is done for the math class, I have just a touch of homework I can go back and re-do for a few more points, and a quiz to take. IF I DO NOTHING ELSE and score a 16% on the Final, I will PASS the class. Of course I want to better than that. I could probably do 16% extremely drunk and with one eye open.

I'll need to score 85% or better on the final to earn an A overall in the class. Not a difficult grade to get at all!!! Especially as I've now finished the work, and I'm now on the review -AND I HAVE AN ENTIRE WEEK to prepare, study, review, practice and practice and practice... I don't see 85 being a problem at all. Woo-Hooo!

Then I finally plotted out, semester by semester how many credit hours I could take on, and I added them up, semester by semester. Full course-load in the Spring and Fall which will be 5 classes for 15 credit hours. Two classes for two summer semesters at 6 credit hours per semester.

and drum roll please...

... that should have me graduating, having earned over 120 credit hours in the Spring of 2012. WOW! While 2012 sounds far away... 2 years does not sound incredibly far away.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:41:00 +0000

I've ignored this blog for nearly a year now... there are many big updates to state, such as - I'M NOT AIMING FOR A MATH DEGREE ANYMORE. It's just not something I can do where I am now in life. It was very hard, I felt like I got beat up by my math classes, really - I felt emotionally battered and I couldn't stand up to anymore.

I'm now aiming for a fluffy liberal arts degree that won't beat me up at all. Well, it could possibly thrash me with a wet noodle, but it won't hurt as much as struggling in math did. It'll basically be a Writing degree - English with an emphasis on Writing, plus a minor in Writing. I'll read a lot of literature and do a lot of writing. I can do this, and I'll enjoy most of it.

I'll be starting at MTSU next month. Dividing my time between there on Tuesdays and Thursdays and at Nashville State on Mondays and Wednesdays.

I have a total of 5 classes I can take at Nashville State - I'll need 4 Spanish classes (ugh! changing to a liberal arts degree puts me in need of a foreign language. I did 3 years of French in high school, but that won't count because its so long ago... and since I have to start at ZERO here, I'll do Spanish) and I'll be finishing up one science class as well, because also with the switch to a different kind of degree, my science requirements change... instead of two of the same type classes, CHEM I and II... now I need two different classes... yay! I was struggling with CHEM II earlier this semester and didn't like it all. Lucky for me, as I really started to hate this class, I changed from the Math major and looked hard at what a liberal arts major needed - AND CHEM II WOULD **NOT** have counted! I need a different type of science class, completely different. So, I'm taking Earth Sciences next semester, Geology. It will be more interesting to me and in all likelihood, not as tough as CHEM II was.

Cranky

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:01:00 +0000

Just about everything is making me cranky this morning. I have a longer list on my other blog, dimberly.

Right now though I'm trying to focus on getting myself organized for school. One of the first things I like to do with my online classes is enter in all the due dates onto my calendar. It helps wonders with planning and knowing what you need to do and when.

RODP has 22,000 students this semester - I really have no clue what is a lot or a little in this scenario, but I had to email the online coordinator for my school on the first day of classes because I didn't even SEE my class. He responded that classes on that system wouldn't be available until the next day because they have 22,000 students this semester... so I guess that some there's some inference that that is a lot of students.

So there's a lot of students - and the system is so danged slow. I click on a link to go to a different page and I nearly forget what I wanted to look at when the page finally loads. This is incredibly painful and aggravating!

I really need to CHILL OUT - I have no idea what my problem is. I should eat something, and then when Chris gets home I can go to the gym. Maybe THAT will help me. maybe.

Chemistry Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Well, there was a bit of bad news with my Chemistry class but it doesn't really pertain to THAT class.

As I told my family last night, I'm able to see the class lists of who is in my classes, whether its online or on the ground. I can see all my classes on the online area for classes. And looking at my Calculus class I saw that my friend Robert is in there plus 6 other names I recognized from our Pre-Calculus class. There was a group of middle eastern guys in that Precalc class and they were extremely disruptive with their chattiness all throughout the class. Honest to God and Allah, they were chattier than a pack of 13 year old girls on the phone! The instructor was too nice of a guy to them. He actually gave them assigned seats to break them up so they would finally shut it. By the last few weeks of class though they kind of migrated to one another and while the chatter was much more mild, it was still CHATTER. There was a particularly obnoxious guy in that group, just off-the-charts obnoxious. Several times I think he was deliberately trying to rile me up. Since that day I've refered to him as being 'drunk on his own ego'. His name was Mena - and there was a Mina in that class also. I was never sure who was who.

So I saw on my Calc. class roster that Mena is in that class with me. Ughhhh... was it the good Mena or the Bad Mena? I told my family about this question I had last night.

Today was the first day of my Chemistry class - and sure enough there's 3 of those chatty guys from my PreCalc class in there. Ugh. And the Good Mena was there. Well, he must be Mina, the good one. He was quiet and shy, and almost seemed embarassed by his friends. He's young, and probably values HAVING friends more so than having decent good friends. I actually saw them CHEAT on the precalc final - I saw it with my own eyes, instructor left the room and they immediately put their heads together and swapped answers for as much as they dared.

So Mina is in Chemistry with me and that means Mena is in Calculus with me. GREAT. Now all I can hope for is that the instructor, Ms. Jones, can be a REAL BITCH and that he will cross her and she'll throw him out of the class. HA! I would LOVE that.

Otherwise there's 6 other people in that class of 22 that I will already be familiar with - and THEY seem to be great people and I truly look forward to being in class with again.

Chemistry otherwise went fine. The professor, Dr. Anderson is younger than I would have expected - late 30's likely for him. And the way he talks, his diction, everything is just like my husbands cousin who is a physician and I only see him once a year at Christmas while we're up there. They kinda resemble each other as well. Kinda interesting. Hopefully though, Dr. Anderson will open up some and be a bit more personable. Its fine if he's not, I guess we're only spending 3 hours a week with him - but still, it would make the class more fun.

Spring Semester 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Well, it's about time to get this blog fired up again. Its fun to do, its a release for me, and what little attention its had I got great feedback on it.

Spring Semester starts tomorrow and I've just got the last textbook I'll need. It was a BITCH of a book, $214 from the bookstore, and not much better prices elsewhere. ugh.... TWO HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN DOLLARS FOR A BOOK. That is just ridiculous. I mean really - IT'S A BOOK!

Well, I thought it would be fun to take of a pic of my books so you'll know what I'm taking this semester:

Foundations of Education - an early class for an education major. Education will actually be my minor (taken online)
Art Appreciation - gotta take care of one more Fine Arts and/or Humanities credit. (taken online)
Chemistry - part one of two. This will be a class I'll really have to work at. No biggie, just gotta stay up on the work. and THIS IS THE $214 BOOK. (taken on the ground MWF)
Calculus I - part 1 of of 3 eventually - hahahaha, I'm going to be a Math major - soon enough it's going to be at least TWO math classes per semester! hahahahahha. (taken on the ground MW).

Wish me luck. Two serious heavy duty classes, and two classes not likely to be AS INTENSE, but I don't count on them being easy by a long shot.

ALL A's this semester is totally within in my realm of abilities.

Textbook Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:59:00 +0000

I shop around for my textbooks and have had excellent luck at ordering them all online (and receiving them before classes start. I've added up the "new" costs and "used" costs for the books at my schools bookstore to compare to how well I did with my shopping.

NSCC Best price total: $487.25
My shopping total: $327.41

Wow!! That's a pretty damned big difference!!! I'd gladly pay 327 instead of nearly 500 ANY DAY.

My ethics book looks pretty intense, the Fiction book is immense and I've peaked at the Photography book as that was the first book to arrive - and the first chapter is sailing right over my head but I guess that's why I'm taking the class... learn something, not rehash something I already know.

Am I a dork or what?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:50:00 +0000

I just ordered this shirt.

I'm going to be a Math Major, I guess I've got to find great humor in things like this.

Plus, imaginary numbers really ticked me off with I learned them. OMG!!! What a freakin' mess? It really makes me wonder about the people who created/discovered/invented/smoked crack while they did it. I really consider imaginary numbers as some seriously messed up. you-know-what. Really.

But I'll be wearing this shirt with pride. Wagering is welcome... How long will it take me to wear this shirt to my math class? It's a M-F class (super yuck). I'll be begin posting about fall semester tomorrow. I've already received 3 out of 5 book orders I placed on Saturday. Classes start in 5 days!!! wooo-hooo!

Should Math be this much fun?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:41:00 +0000

I am really having fun with Pre-Calculus!!! I just love the feeling when I "get it". I'm cranking out the right answers left and right, my graphing calculator and I are the best of friends... this is FUN!

Damn! If I knew this would be so much fun, I would have done this years ago. Also, as a disclaimer I should mention that I had a Red Bull late this afternoon to help me with my studies tonight. I swear, it works, it helps me wonders. Summer classes, even just two, have been harder to juggle than I thought it would be. I've just been so tired at the end of the day with the two kids and their bickering and whatever activities we've been part of during the day.

I had to move out of my fabulous chair, my regular study spot. My legs got sunburned today and the very warm laptop even with some insulation between, made me WAY too warm. I'm now at the kichen table with the heat of my laptop well spaced away from my legs AND a fan blowing cool air above me.

It is getting a bit late, I'm running out of steam a little bit, plus I opened a beer for a refreshing beverage when I moved out here to the kitchen. Kinda made myself wind down for the evening. I feel I got lots done though. :D

Summer Semester - week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:11:00 +0000

I have this horrible horrible tendency to totally freak out the first week of classes. My stress level is through the ROOF and I seriously doubt my ability to learn anything at all.

Arghh!!!!!!! When will I learn to take the proverbial chill pill BEFORE classes start? This is the 4th semester I've begun, and I do this same thing to myself every time.

I've just got two classes going on this summer. History and Algebra. The History is a continuation of what I've taken before, American History since 1877. And the Algebra is my very first EVER college level math class.

My history class is quite different than the previous class I had. Definitely not a lame instructor here. There's no textbook in fact and no tests. Only 100points total for the class and they all come from essay question quizzes that will we have each week. The quizzes are due each Friday (god, I loved the Sunday night due dates, Friday kind of blows). We'll see how this instructor is... I just kind of slapped stuff together for the first two quizzes. He may rip those to shreds and that would be deserved. I'll be okay with C or D grades for the first round. At least I'll learn what exactly he's after. We'll see. I'm anxious to see how slow/fast this instructor is with getting grades back to us. Again, if his standards are HIGH high High and he's going to preface every sentence about expectations with "you're in college now"... I will want to hold him to similar expectations. gahhh... it's only fair.

Math: I've just finished up my first batch of homework. It wasn't too hard, as long as you don't count the hour I spent on one problem. I would swear to god that my new graphing calculator (the TI-83+) smokes crack. It was just being insane and not doing what the "TI-83+ Graphing Calculator for Dummies" book was telling, or the text book or the class videos. The machine was just being loony and I was about to cry it just wasn't working. So after nearly an hour of this, I gave myself permission to just SKIP that question. Jeeze, I should make myself skip troublemakers after 15-20 minutes max. I had four sections of math to get done, it was only my goal to get 3 done, but I actually pushed through and got all four done.

My goal for the coming week will be to do the practice exercises for each section and do the practice quiz/test for Module One. That will be due in 8 days. Plenty of time. There's weird stuff too I haven't read over yet for the class, like the dropbook. I need to read about that. I guess we need to show our work for a few problem per section. Yippee... and then there's the stupid discussion. I will talk about my calculator smoking crack when I'm not around and I'll recommend the "For Dummies" book for specific calculators.

Two weeks ago I got three novels out of the library. I've barely started one. I'm still not even halfway through the Andrew Jackson biography I'm still interested in, and I have another novel given to me by a friend I want to read. Its from an author I've heard great great things about, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. There's a few books of his I definitely want to read. This one I have, The Autumn of the Patriarch isn't very long. I look forward to Love in the Time Cholera and One Years of Solitude.

Time... I really need time. I often think of sleep, and doing without. But then I've read about how the government has REALLY studied this issue as well. With the space program, they wanted to get the absolute MOST out of the astronauts they were sending into space... initially they hoped the astronauts could work work work the entire time they were up there. Well, it just simply turns out humans NEED to sleep. Bummer - because that would really be a nice chunk of time to get things done. :D

Speech Grades

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:13:00 +0000

$%^*&(&%@$!$$^%&(()*()*&)^&$%#$@!#$^%&%*^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, that's a string of pseudo-cuss words. So my lovely hard-ass speech instructor didn't give us grades for our last two major speeches. Simply bitchiness was her excuse. So she tells the class we can contact her and find out after she completes the grades. So I approached her after class and got her cell phone number. No big deal, she's offered that to the class several times on an individual basis. So she gives me her cell phone number, SHE WRITES IT DOWN FOR ME, and invites me to call her after Monday. No big deal

So Monday afternoon rolls around and that number she gives me doesn't work!!!!! I tried several times with no luck. Some weird message saying I entered the wrong code or that I mis-dialed. WTF? I've tried here and there over the previous few days and same thing. Chris, my husband thinks its hilarious, that she gave me a fake number - referencing a Seinfeld episode where Elaine gives out a wrong number on purpose. ughhhhhhhhhh...

I'm just pissed. I want those grades. Yes, I got an A in the class, but I still want feedback on all of my major speeches. This totally blows. I emailed her... we'll see if she ever responds... I doubt she will.

#$%^#$^&%^&$#%^#@$%^$&$%.... more cussing.

Final Grades - Spring 08

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Well, today was the day... final grades came out. I felt that two classes were **close** to being B's but could very well have gone to A's - AND THEY DID!!!

Four A's and one B! and I don't think that B really counts because it wasn't an undergraduate class, it was a get-up-to-college-level-remedial class.

I'm very proud of myself and I don't think I could have done this without the help of Red Bull. Perhaps I didn't go back to school before was because Red Bull wasn't in the US when I was in school previously. Read about its origins here.

Yay Me! I feel like anything is possible now! I did so well with my first full load of college!

Now to decide what I'll do this summer. I'm still torn between 2 or 3 classes. Microeconomics is the one I'm the fence about. Still time to decide.

Spring Semester is over... so I cleaned

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:57:00 +0000

Testing Center Nightmare

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:33:00 +0000

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! God damn I'm pissed!

These ladies who work at the testing center at my school are UN-freakin'-believable. Its the testing center, there are signs all over the place that say "shhhhhhhh" and what do they do? They talk and laugh, and people come by to talk to them where they laugh and talk even louder. And their laughs... OMG, it's loud and cackling... part of my head still hurts from hearing it. Honestly.

I felt that I was going okay on my math final, and I had mentally prepped myself for taking my time and thoroughly working through all the mutliple choices for the problems and then going back over everything, and really just being very careful and thorough. This stuff was not hard, I had a good handle on ALL of it in my practice and actual work up to that point.

But.

Those ladies made it freakin' impossible to stay in there one minute longer. Yes, its bad in the moment, but I was so ANNOYED at the scene that I had to get out of there for my own mental health.

There are signs on the door from the actual testing area to the reception area, that say very BIG, please keep the door shut... and do you think think these ladies keep that door shut as THEY come and go? NO! So, even when they're talking in normal voices, which I realize they have to as they sign in people coming in, they can be heard.

This is just horrible. I was determined to complain to someone. This is not the first time this has happened... its happened too many times. So when I left the testing center, which is basically its own two rooms in the corner of the library, I went to the library desk and asked who was in charge of the testing center. The person I asked, pointed inside, "the woman in the blue shirt" argh..... I'm not going to complain to HER, she's in there and freakin' clueless. So I ask, "who's HER supervisor?" and it was a nice woman in a yellow shirt and I explained how awful they are and inconsiderate blah blah blah, and she expressed concern, there have been problems before and they've been talked to before about this same shit. Argh. I was exasperated but tried very hard to be calm and not as pissed off as I otherwise felt.

I did LOUSY on my math final. I can't totally blame those ladies, but they did not help one bit. So it's kind of a mixed bag for me... being pissed off mad, or being down on myself for doing such a shit job on this test. :(

Demonstration Speech - Hummus

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:31:00 +0000

Here I am practicing my demonstration speech in my kitchen for speech class tomorrow. I'll actually be bringing in my food processor (it just barely fits into my rolling computer case) and all the fixings. I'll basically be doing everything the same. Except...

Improvements will be, I'm swapping out that metal spoon with something quieter. and I will talk more, no more silent places while I'm focussed on something else, that's just not entertaining for the audience, I need to talk - just like they coached the contestants for The Next Food Network Star.

That which makes me busy...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:17:00 +0000

The end of the semester is near. As I am a fairly new student (I was online classes before) I did not quite pick up on the fact that classes end before finals! Argh! When I kept hearing about x, y and z being due the last week of classes, I though that meant the last week when there was finals! So CRAP! I had to write two extra credit papers for Speech this week, one was 2 page minimum and I did 2.5 and the other was 3 page minimum and I did 6 pages.

I'll have an english paper due on the day of our final. The week of finals, I will have Math, History and Economics. I may try to take care of History the week of the 21st. Speech will be basically taken care of on the 22nd, I'll be doing my Demonstration speech. The day of our final the other half of the class will be doing their demonstration speech (and I will be doing a make up jackpot speech). Even though I'm a little cranky that the second group gets to do their demonstration speech with an extra 9 days to prepare... the more I think about it, the more glad I am... I would really rather have mine over with before finals and not have to worry about that at all that week.

Overall, I think I'm, in okay/good shape. I did some number crunching for my history class and I only need an 84 on my final to get an A in the class. Yay! I need to do similar number crunching for Econ...

Tax Day Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:14:00 +0000

Yee-haw, a Tuesday. This day has been a bit rough for me. I was up late last night, up at the normal time... and I was reading health advice... 6.5 hours of sleep is what should be considered the minimum. I may have just gotten that amount.

Get the kids off to school and now is the time to get serious about final practice for my speech. I'm writing out my main points onto notecards when I laugh at myself, CLASS starts in about 1 hour and I'm doing this now?? jeeze... generally I'm not that kind of student.

As I'm driving to school, I realize that I left my wallet at home and that I forgot to brush my teeth. Well, as much as it sucks to have no money, no id and no means of getting money... I was more concerned about not having brushed my teeth. It was group speech day and I thought it was very likely that I would be face-to-face with my group members and I DID NOT need to knock them over with my breath! Luckily I've done this before, and I have travel toothpaste and a tooth brush in my van. and I had an empty cup in which to spit and some water to rinse with. Good. I did this in the parking lot at school. I'm so cool, I noticed that there was someone in their vehicle to my right, so I made sure I did this while looking out to the left.

Well, I get out of the van, backpack over one shoulder and I take about two steps, I stepped on a rough seam of the pavement, my ankle twists and I fall. I fall HARD. Onto my knees and hands. OUCH! I'm totally amazed I did not tear my tights. Wouldn't that have looked great while giving a speech? Torn tights and white-ass bare knees! Well, that didn't happen. I recovered ok... but yes, the contact points have been sore all day, my wrists are sore, my neck is sore and I've had a headache all day. Is it possible to get a form of whiplash from falling like that? I'm certain my head was jerked when I fell so fast. Ugh.

My speech went well. My group was the first to go. Everyone looked over the outline and they were pleased. As we're getting up there, Heidi says "I'm setting the timer for 15 minutes" WTF? She harped on us about 3-4 minutes per person. That does not equal 15 minutes!!! WTF! Quanda was great and she really stretched her part. She later said she can't help herself, that's just the way she is... but man! She totally saved us on our time. We were still under time, hell, none of the other groups hit the minimum either - BECAUSE THIS SHIT INCONSISTENT INSTRUCTOR OF OURS told us 3 minutes per person was minimum. And today she insisted that it was 15-20 minutes.... good fuckin' lord. I will be so glad her class is over, she's so inconsistent and rather bitchy. You can not tell her what she did or didn't say... SHE knows best. Yeah right, she's totally guilty of not being able to keep her classes straight, and I don't totally blame her, I think she has 7 sections of the same class. yuck, not my idea of enjoyable teaching.

This has gotten too long. Not any great insight into being a student... I have a headache and while I've been writing this I've had both kids complain to me about 20 different issues that are really close to meaningless. I'm actually sitting out in the living room with my laptop, in the same room as the kids... I shouldn't allow myself to be such a target - by being available. What a lousy mother I am.

Mentally Hard Time

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:56:00 +0000

I am having a mentally hard time staying focussed on ANYTHING this afternoon.

So here I am working on a list of questions to go along with the book we just read, The Kite Runner... and I'm looking up the Kite Runner online, reading reviews, reading interviews... oh yeah I want to read more about Hazaras....

I decide to IM a friend I'm not in too much touch with lately, send him a link to this blog, and my laptop starts being pyscho. I didn't trust myself to type out my web address, so I went to blogger to simply copy it. Then blogger had logged me out (I actually have two google accounts) I couldn't remember the password I used, the first three were rejected... so I went through the password request steps... but Google talks to me in Spanish and I tried to change my password in Spanish but got majorly confused even though I tried it about 7 times. I yelled at my spanish speaking friend who WASN'T ONLINE to help me here.... I tried to yell at my ISP but they told me Chat help wasn't available to people in Michigan ... WTF? I'm in Tennessee! I frustrate myself further with getting myself into English for Google and I think I may have solved it... but we'll see... I don't actually think the problem is solved.

So I get myself here into my blogger stuff. I realize, SHIT! I have an econ test tomorrow, I really should study for that. And @%%$#@$% There's a history quiz tomorrow too!! Only five points but still, I'm that kind of student, I sweat over 5 point quizzes.

My brain is fried with all my distractions, its not even funny. I think I'll pour a Diet Dr. Pepper and go outside and smoke. Maybe if I can figure out a way to do that for 20 minutes solid I can clear my brain.

Economics Unfairness

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:28:00 +0000

My econ instructor emailed the class today and the more I think about it, the more ticked off I'm getting.

From the very begining of his class he's stressed very clearly that he does not give extensions for missed tests (this is an online class and he even plainly states if you like to procrastinate, you won't do well in his class). Well, I took note of the deadlines for the 4 tests plus the midterm and final and even though I've been taking these tests ON THE LAST DAY POSSIBLE, I haven't missed one and I'd be in a total panic if I had... I know I'm risking **something** by waiting until the end, massive illness, car accident... I don't know what it could be, but it could be something.

So we're just about at the eve of our last test, and he sends out his reminder email... "Several students have missed one test this semester and will receive their lowest test score as a substitute. The second missed test will receive a score of zero. This usually happens because of procrastination and affects your semester grade. I encourage you to take the test well in advance of the deadline."

Well, how how fair is that? NOW if you miss a test, your lowest grade will substitute in for that ZERO you earned. This is not how he explained how things would go down for us at the beginning. I think people who missed a test deserve their zero... what if I choose to miss this next test coming up? I'll get an 82 on it for a whole lot less effort. and what if I score less than an 82 on this test? You can BET a million dollars that I will raise this issue with my instructor about subbing that 78 I theoretically earned with my previous lowest test score, the 82.

I would seriously consider following up on skipping this last test, but questions for the final will in part be drawn directly from this test... I definitely want to HAVE this test to study from, and if I don't take the test, I'm not certain I will have access to it afterwards. I hope this makes sense.

And please, tell me with comments below how fair you think this change in policy is. I think it's ridiculous and unfair to student who take tests seriously!

Two A's

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Yay! Finally something school related to cheer me up.... I got my persuasive speech grade back (A-) and my english conciliatory letter back (also A-) Yay! Two A's! I like 'em.... and yes, that's only like 'em. I don't know whats in my head lately, I'm not even THAT happy with these A's. I'm not quite sure I would feel much different if they were both regular A's. What's with me?

Last week, my 1st grader cried and cried, sobbing really, about 3 S's on her schoolwork papers. There are only S's and N's (Satisfactory and Not Satisfactory), and sometimes if the teacher is so moved there will be an S+ or S- ... so why would this almost 7 year old cry and cry about S's? because she expected herself to do better, she really felt that she had done better.

I talked to her the following day about how Daddy and I feel about S's, they make us smile and we know she's doing a good job. Even an S- would only make us frown a little bit because we know that she could do better but we wouldn't say anything to her about it. An N would definitely make us talk to her about this. Both my kids are quite intelligent, their only trouble in school really to date has been effort, and issues related to organization and laziness (gee, I wonder who they get THAT from.... )

Monday Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:11:00 +0000

Well, I think I'm actually in a good place for all the schoolwork I need to get done... I will plan on treating myself to a pedicure Monday morning. The weather is finally becoming warm and I want to wear sandals, so a pedicure is a must.

Tomorrow I will need to get my stuff together for my part of the group speech outline. I should also get a start on all the questions for english class. I should also finish chapter 16 in Econ... I started that last night, but all all amazing things, I fell asleep with the book in my lap.

Tomorrow though, I will bring my econ book to the nail place. My fingernails have been growing very nicely lately, I think I'll go for a manicure as well. Aren't I livin' the life? :P

Why I don't like Economics...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:59:00 +0000

These are actual phrases I'm supposed read by the dozens and NOT have my eyes glaze over or my brain to become numb....

"Supply shocks increase the price level and increase unemployment, while an increase in investment would increase the price level but reduce unemployment."

" •money multiplier

The ratio of the increase in total checking account deposits to an initial cash deposit. "

And I *always* enjoy graphs... $#%@#%$^ too many graphs all time... I just don't care!!

Feeling Calm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:13:00 +0000

Well, I just looked over my previous post and I'm making good progress on all that I need to get done! How the heck is that happening? I ended up taking a long nap yesterday, prime studying time. Friday was mostly occupied by other activities, but I did manage to knock out my math homework (yay).... so how am I doing this? Jeeze, I wish I knew...

I've just finished my History quiz for this week, and I'm a bit ahead in my reading for econ, but then I could do the online exercises (yes, I really should do the online exercises because the readings sailed right over my head. I'm so tired of charts shifting to the left or right - econ is so not for me!!!!).

I suppose I will work on my portion of the group speech. My group will be addressing student stress, I will be tackling preventing stress - the overall type of speech is problem/solutions. My group is with three others. Brian will be coving the introduction and explaining why stress is a problem, the bulk of the speech will be preventing stress and Joseph and I will be covering that. Quanda will talk about managing stress and do the conclusion. I emailed everyone Friday morning and I've only heard back from Brian. I made clear what parts we're each responsible for and what we should have for class on Tuesday. Since I haven't heard back from two of them, I really don't know if they've read this. But that is Joseph and Quanda, they're otherwise pretty on top of things as far as students go and I will trust them to do their part, well, the situation I'm in I HAVE TO trust them....

SO much to do!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:01:00 +0000

OMG LOTS to do. Let's see.. let's simply bullet point these:

Math - maybe 3 hours or so of work to get done, its lesson 9, 3 different sections and the homework is due Saturday night (it's an online class)
English - by Tuesday I need to be up to chapter 15 of The Kite Runner, not too big of a deal, but still its about 100 pages to read... I will need to make time to sit down and read.
Speech - group speech is likely next week. I need to do a bit research and my part of the outline. I also volunteered for my group to DO the outline, and I'm also organizing and directing the efforts of others.
Econ - there's another big test the Monday after next. I CAN NOT put off reading and studying this chapters for the last possible week. I want myself to have read 2 of the 3 chapters needed by the end of this weekend.
History - close to the same situation, but I have a small brainless quiz due on Monday. I need to read and review that chapter (13?) over the weekend.
Parthenon - I'm nearing the end of my training to become a docent at the Parthenon. There's a class Saturday morning (we're likely starting early) to attend. Next Saturday is graduation and I will be doing a presentation of a paper I'm supposed to have written. So, next week I need to write that paper... only a page or two. I will be discussing neo-classical architecture in Nashville.
Misc. for next week. Let's see... Wednesday afternoon my son has an appt, Thursday morning there's something at my kids school at 730, then I have classes from 930-1220, then I have an appt at 1pm then at 430 I'm taking the kids to the rollerskating rink (school thing), then I'm volunteering in my daughters classroom Friday morning... and I think there's something else next Friday.

Tommorrow I'm volunteering at the Symphony, I'm a docent at the Schermerhorn and I've got a tour at 1pm tomorrow. I love doing tours, but I sure would love to have all of tomorrow just to get work done. With this load I'm carrying through next week, I'm highly motivated to get stuff done. I will reward myself with my favorite Greek place for lunch. Santorini's. I've totally been craving this place for about 2 weeks now. TOTALLY!

Tonight though, I'm still holding onto the fantasy of finishing my math work and then rewarding myself with a viewing of Survivor which I recorded earlier. That and a beer will be a wonderful way to finish the day.

Persusive Speech Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:54:00 +0000

Well, today was speech day. I wish I had prepared better to have had more time to rehearse. I really felt I was too dependent on my notes. Its recorded, and I think I'll actually dare to post it since I don't think anyone has really discovered this blog yet (and I have to admit, I haven't really turned it into something to want to visit much). Well, the video should post just below this one.

Other news.... I finally got my test results from that history test two weeks ago, I got a 93, very nice. My previous test score was 92 in that class. There are only 3 tests in this class, so instead of being mega-uptight about that fact, I'm actually feeling pretty good.

That week I had two major tests and a paper due within 36 hours of each other.... overall I got A's on both tests and a B on that paper (I had kinda veered away from the assigned topic some, but I would still argue over the wording of the assignment).

I have a new paper to write for english... I think I'm going to rely on the power of procrastination to get that done. There's nothin' like the last minute for motivation right?

My Persuasive Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:06:00 +0000

I'm attempting to persuade you to change your health habits in order to reduce inflammation in your body.

Yes, I'm nervous, Yes I'm looking at my note cards too much.