December 13, 2007
It Was Looking Bleak
Tuesday was a harrowing day for me. I rolled into work thinking I could write the conclusion to my paper, do the bibliography over lunch and turn the paper in that evening. What a silly fool I was. I did write the conclusion but surprise! surprise! all hell broke loose and I had to actually do work. My effort to finish my paper in time for class was thwarted. In the end I had to miss my class, and didn't leave the office until after 10:00 pm because that is how long it took to handle the work project and finish the bibliography. By the time my sweet Flounder picked me up from the Metro I was cursing life and beating myself up. I knew I had screwed up, and I was very worried that my hard-lined professor would accept my paper. I had just emailed it to him at 10:00 pm. I was beyond exhausted by the time we got home, having only gotten 4 hours of sleep the night before. I am so very happy to say that the prof. emailed me back Wednesday morning, confirming that he did accept my submission. What a relief!
What I have learn from this experience:
1. Bibliographies take a long, long time! Budget 4 hours to get it done, 6 hours if you haven't stayed organized while writing the paper.
2. Never, ever expect to finish school work at work. It's just a mistake.
3. If a scholarly source makes a subject seem overwhelming, don't procrastinate, go straight to layman sources like newspapers and magazines.
4. Even when you screw up in a serious way, sometimes hard work can pull you through.
In the end I couldn't be happier that this damn paper is done. Next Tuesday is the exam and then I am free to celebrate Christmas with joy in my heart. And I will.
Quote ofthe Day:
The world is full of human lobsters; men stranded on the rocks of indecision and procrastination, who, instead of putting forth their own energies, are waiting for some grand billow of good fortune to set them afloat.
-Orison Swett Marden
October 21, 2007
Is This What It Feels Like To Hyperventilate?
I am a terrible blogger! I haven't written in ages, or posted pictures of the kitchen, or the camera phone shots I took Friday, or anything. I don't have any excuses except for the general sense of ennui that settled over me these last few weeks. Yeah, I know I haven't blogged regularly in a very long time, but this is all I've got. Just as that case of ennui was starting to get comfortable, it was replaced this afternoon with blind panic. Looking over the calendar, I've realized that I have only 7 weeks before my 15 page (double spaced) paper is due and my exam is only a week after that. Shit! Double Shit! What am I going to do? The only real answer is get reading. So what am I doing? Blogging. Have I mentioned I am a procrastinator? Damn, here comes the panic again. Deep breathes...
The truth is I just need to be reading and researching every spare minute, and then writing just as soon as I get any idea of what to say about this topic. Any idea at all. My library books are giving me dirty looks, so I better get back to it.
In with the good air....Out with the bad....
Quote of the Day:
"Manners are of more importance than laws. Manners are what vex or soothe, corrupt or purify, exalt or debase, barbarize or refine us, by a constant, steady, uniform, insensible operation, like that of the air we breathe in."
-Edmund Burke
March 9, 2007
Reading Rainbow
Last night Flounder and I visited our communities big, beautiful and brand-spanking-new library! This is a perfect example of public-library-ness in my humble opinion. Not only is it bright and colorful, it's also roomy and welcoming. Can you tell I love it?
Our old neighborhood library was cramped, and shoehorned into the corner of a municipal building. There was nothing inviting about it. Oh, but the new one! It's right in the middle of town and really integrated into it's surroundings. It was built with bunches of meeting and reading rooms to encourage the local residents to use the space for community group gatherings.
In the end though, it's really the details that make this place inviting. The beautiful architecture, 60,000 new items purchased for the new library, 37 PC work stations, free WiFi and tons of comfy chairs make it a place to visit and stay. So a huge pat on the back to whoever made this project happen.
Sometimes living in the 'burbs is pretty great!
Quote of the Day:
The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
December 11, 2006
Last Chance
This evening I will attend my last class of this semester and I can't wait. I honestly threw my last paper together in only a few hours and I can honestly attest it isn't very good. I can also sincerely sware that I really don't care. Truly. I am just so glad to be free of the EN 109 shackles, I can't even begin to tell you.
Freedom will be mine at 9:30 tonight!
And then I have an awful lot to do.
I am very close to being done with my shopping and I have completed my canning, which is VERY good news. However, I have a big pile of presents to wrap, about a million cookies to bake, a blanket to make, the house to decorate, a few cakes to make, the tree to trim...etc. However, I will do all of these things with love in my heart as opposed to the pure resentment I was starting to develope toward my course this semester. I just couldn't get into it. Now, Christmas -- that's something I can get into!
Speaking of Christmas, I have made a pact with myself this year. For every item that comes to live in my home this holiday season (i.e. gifts, decorations, new clothes) 1 item will go out. I will do my best to make the item that goes out in someway comparable to the item that comes in; either in size, function or costliness. I already have a mental list of items to Freecycle.
I have also decided not to make any New Years Resolutions this year, not even secret ones I don't share. Having resolutions have never gotten me anywhere good. So out with the useless. I have better things to do.
Quote of the Day:
How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.
Henry David Thoreau
November 6, 2006
Phoning It In
Ways you know I have been phoning in my English Class:
* I don't start my assignment until the day before class.
* I haven't ask Maryment to proofread any of my work.
* I do more doodling in class than note taking.
* I don't finish my assignments until 2 hours before class.
* I don't even pretend to do the reading.
Quote of the Day:
Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
George Eliot
May 18, 2006
Ace!
I just found out I got an A in my English class this passed semester! Whoo Hoo! Now, which class to take in the Fall?
Posted by La at 2:22 PM | Comments (1)May 10, 2006
Free!
I completed my final exam yesterday, and now I am FREE! The Proffessor revealed to me after the test that I was awarded a 90 on my last paper. This is a grade is DID NOT deserve, but since I was the teachers pet, I will take it!
In other good news yesterday, I was informed that several people will be attending the wedding (and a few will not) which leaves only 1 person who has not responded. This has to be some kind of record. I have been annoyingly obsessed with the guest list for sometime now. I am happy to say that time has almost passed. Only one more.
I have also been honeymoon shopping. I am gathering a fine array of travel clothes that will also serve me will for the rest of the summer. Ahh! Sanctioned shopping. Love it.
17 days! Whoo Hoo!
Quote of the Day:
He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.
Douglas Adams
December 20, 2005
#1 Student
Whoo Hoo! I just got back my final grade for English 101. I am officially an A student. *happy dance, happy dance*
Quote of the Day:
Learning by experience often is painful- and the more it hurts, the more you learn.
-Ralph Banks
Adaptation 102
I have signed up for my second class at Montgomery College. I have not gotten back my official grades from ENG 101, I am looking forward to ENG 102. Maybe next Fall (which will be very importantly after the wedding) I will take two classes! But lets not get crazy. I am pleased with my progess, but I think this coming class will take even more time and effort on my part. It's good for me. Builds character and such.
I am enjoying my break from school at the moment. Classes don't kick back up until late January. I am taking advantage of the down time, though it feels a little odd not to have homework looming in the back of my mind. It's amazing how quickly we adapt.
Quote of the Day:
"Do noble things, do not dream them all day long.”
Charles Kingsley, 1819-1875
December 9, 2005
English One Oh What?
I have finished my first college course in 8 years and I am very proud of myself. Yay me! Last night was my last class for English 101 and tonight I am going to bask in my own glory. English 101 is history! I can think of no better way to celebrate than going to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe! Hurrah!
Flounder will be working most of this weekend (just call me a Mac-widow), so I will be taking some time to go to the gym, wrap up Christmas gifts, make some treats and possibly drop in on a party Mi Mama is throwing. Sunday afternoon Flounder and I planning to pick out and cut down our Christmas tree. I can't wait to decorate it!
Posted by La at 11:31 AM | Comments (1)November 4, 2005
Blue Skies Smiling At Me
What a beautiful day! It is going to be a good one. I can tell. First of all, the saturated blue skies outside automatically make me smile. Secondly, today is Friday, which is always good. Thirdly, last night I had a conference with my prof and found that thanks to my grade on Paper #2 (which I found so difficult to write) I now have a 92 average in the class. Yay for me! This is especially good since I turned in Paper #3 last night and that one is not A material let me tell you.
I bought my very first Christmas present this week. I love Christmas shopping, though I get fed up with the crowds very quickly. Any thoughts on what I can buy my father this year? I don't think I can give him anymore sports, grilling or movie gear. What the heck is left?
Sidenote: I want to share one of the funniest things I have seen on the internet in a long time. I give you, Two Chinese Students singing I Want it That Way.
Quote of the Day:
A good conscience is a continual Christmas.
Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)
October 6, 2005
Have You Done The Required Reading?
12 out of 15 of my classmates did not do their reading this week. You can imagine that our professor was not at all happy. I myself was wrapping up the reading minutes before class started. As it turned out, we even had a quick quiz on the reading. It worked to my benefit that the material was so fresh in my mind; I made a perfect score. Despite doing my reading at the last minute, I sware I did not slack off this week. My paper took up my time than I expected. Yes, I turned in my first paper of the semester. Even after some expert eyes looked it over, I was nervous turning it in. I was worried that I might not have hit all the nit-picky requirements the professor had in mind. Too late to worry any more about it now. I already have my next assignment. This time I am going to try to do as much work on it over the weekend as possible to avoid the nervous crunch time that has become Wednesday's lunch hour.
Tomorrow afternoon I am have a very exciting appointment with the oral surgeon. Ick. It is just a consultation on some future work but I am not looking forward to it. I am however looking forward to the fact that I will not be returning to work after said appointment. Instead I will be returning home and working on the house. The In-Laws are coming down from PA on Saturday and our domicle must be presentable. Flounder and I will be taking the Storybook Parents around town to the three possible rehersal dinner locations. I pray that they will pick one before the weekend is over. I seriously want to take this item of my wedding to do list.
Sunday, Flounder, Mi Mama and I are going to Gettysburg to tour some houses Mi Mama is interested in. She and Micah are still planning to move to PA. Is it possible that Pennsylvania is really the center of the Universe? OK, that's an exaggeration, but my life have been very Penn-centric lately. I feel like every one I know is moving to or from the state and we are attending two different weddings there this month. That's a whole lotta PA.
Is it a miracle? I have successfully pruned one of my houseplants, forced two cuttings from the original plant to grow roots and then transplanted the new plants in their own pots! 1 plant now = 3 plants! And they are all alive?!?! Has my plant killing spree finally come to an end? Stay turned for further news.
Quote of the Day:
Jayne Cobb: Shepherd Book once said to me, "If you can't do something smart, do something right."
- Serenity
September 29, 2005
Too Much Internet
It's offical. I spend too much time on the internet. How do I know? Because I am writing a paper about San Francisco for the ENG 101 class I am taking and it feels wrong not to be creating hyperlinks to webpages as I write. It would be so very simple to include a link to the SFMoMA site, or the Fisherman's Wharf page. *sigh* I guess I will have to change my ways.
Posted by La at 1:37 PM | Comments (4)September 1, 2005
We Don't Need No Education?
Today I go back to school. I have my books and my parking pass. I have my bookbag all packed and ready to go. When I visited MC's Germantown campus last night to buy my books, I was happy to see that it didn't have the frenetic, chaotic feeling that I was so overwhelmed by at the Rockville campus on Monday. That place was literally teaming with students. Germantown was calm and I am thankful. Cross your fingers for me tonight. I feel like I am going into the breach!
Quote of the day:
I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
August 11, 2005
Spotty Grammer
Continuing on the path to higher education, I have another step to check of my to do list this evening. I have to take a diagnostic essay for the office of disabled studant services. The results of the essay will help them determine if I am eligible for assistance. For once my bad spelling skills and spotty grammer may be helpful to me.
Quote of the Day:
Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.
Benjamin Franklin
July 26, 2005
Progress Report
The pace of my slow climb back into the world of higher education picked up a smidge today. I have pulled together all of the paperwork Mi Mama still had on hand from my early education. I have made copies and am ready to mail it all it to disability services. Great.
Montgomery College's website, however is thwarting me at every turn this morning. What grade did I get in the math class I took a few years ago? What courses are available? Where should I send my change of address form? All questions the busted website should be able to tell me. Argh! I will check in again when I get home tonight, maybe the issues will have worked themselves out.
Quote of the Day:
Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
B. F. Skinner
