Translate

Friday, November 30, 2012

Finals

Approaching yet another finals week.  At least I got my math done early, so that's not an issue.  Still have to bug my math teacher about attendance though....
Studying can really be a drag, but if I want to pass this semester, then I have to move past that.  I noticed a lot of the other students looking really tired this past week.  I've been tired too, but not from late night study sessions.
So far I have two classes down and four to go.  Not counting institute, as that doesn't have finals.  But english wants a ten to twenty page final paper, so that's going to take a while.  The others don't have any higher demands, but they are not easy at the same time.  It's basically two tests and two papers, though one paper is only a page or so.
Weather has been really nice, but it looks like it's going sour today.  Makes the weekend interesting.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Scheduling

There are the classes you need to take, and then there is orgaizing them so you are not running from one end of the campus to the other.  I have one such issue on monday and wensday.  My second class of the day ends ten minutes before my final class, and unfortunately it's more than a ten minute walk from one to the other.  And it is uphill the mojrity of the distance.  So I wind up having to run up stairs for a good ten minutes, arriving at my class winded and often gasping.
That's where I promised myself to not do that again.  It may be good cardio exercise, but as it gets colder that means I have an even harder time breathing while running.  And carrying two-while small, they do drag on my arms-textbooks, a set of scriptures-a quad, for those who know what I mean-a half full water bottle  and a bag weighing roughly ten pounds.
Then I have to pull out my student I.D. to get in the building, while trying to breathe in the cold air.  So yeah, I'm not doing that again.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Football, Food, Family, Fun...

The thanksgiving F's, I suppose.  The men like to watch whatever teams are playing each other-and the two playing yesterday I don't really know.  But it is fun to watch and listen to the men and some women as they enjoy the game.
Of course there's the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and vegitables that everyone can gorge on.  Not that I ate more than two plates-I have a small stomach with a fast metabolism.  But I got to try some of everything, so I'm good.
And most people I know get together with at least one side of their family-in regards to couples-and they all bring something.  We get together at the largest house to eat and play whatever games strike our fancy.
Fun can be watching the games, but I also enjoy playing card games like crazy rhummy, and Phase 10-they are similar in some ways.  My brothers love playing video games with our younger cousins.  One year we did a competition with the WII.  We did Micheal Jackson song dance offs.  Not that I got very far in that-I have very little grace on my feet.
But we all gave thanks and had fun, so no complaints there.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Not so Fun...

Coming to school after a dentist appointment where they were just doing a routine checkup and ended up pulling two teeth that had become abcessed.  A friend of mine had that happen this week.  Not to mention it started bleeding a little right before class, so trying to talk after that was a bit of a linguistic exersice due to the gaze they put in their mouth to stop or at least contain the bleeding.
Trying to take a math test with a growing headache and you didn't have time to eat breakfast-yeah, I did that one.
Having two out of three teachers cancel class for thanksgiving the wensday right before but the third is still determined to hold it so you still have to go to school.
Getting elbowed in the head while helping someone get the lint off the back of their suit jacket-accidentally, of course.
Dropping the change you got from the parking lot attendant machine, right where you can't open the door to get it.
Having a huge windstorm the day of a huge test for a language class, and then still having to go take it. Yeah, trying to get to the building was still a lot of exercise, but everyone who tried made it there in one piece.
Getting sick right after midterm testing so that while you don't miss class, you don't get a nice break either.  As in really sick, by the way.
Having to go to a different location for a class and having the car breaks go out right as you hit them so you still rear end someone no matter how hard you try not to. Good news about that is the only damage was to my car, so it wasn't a big deal.  Did give both of us our heart attack for the day.
Or there is the one person who tries to make the green arrow at the light and pulls in front of two lanes of oncoming ttraffic who fortunatley stopped in time-I was one of those.  Still a heart attack though.
It snows the day after a test that you didn't have time to study for, so you don't get extra time-haven't personally done this one though. Just heard about it. It has snowed the day before a test for me, but not enough to make a difference.
It snows during class, and while your teacher does let you out early as a result, the roads are bad enough as is.  Getting home with bad tires in that senario was definately not fun.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Good news

Things like Thanksgiving are good news because students are glad they don't have school for a few days.  Being able to finish a frustrating class early and managing to do so are alos good news.  Slightly warmer weather is good when you have an outdoor excursion planned.  Getting projects done on time or ahead of time help too.  Plus it opens the way fro lively discussion, so having spare time is fun.
On the other hand, having extra time means putting more effort into job hunting because the cost of textbooks is rising, and tuition is going right along with it.  With the way things are going, it seems like everyone is looking for help but no one is actually hiring.
Nanowrimo is almost over.  32,000 words and counting for now.  And I think I'm insane for trying to do that with all the school work I've got plus trying to find a job. But I've been managing so far.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Fire!

Nothing brings a lot of attention like the fire alarms going off.  Especially when everyone in the building has to leave, and they're all there to work on math.  It's especially not fun when there's close to a foot of snow on the ground, and the temperature is below 40.  Everyone then gets to spen the next five to ten minutes trying to stay warm while finding out what's going on.  Usually the announce a drill via email, or something.  since this surprised the tutors as well as the students, I think someone was either smoking or pulling or prank (maybe some other reason too).  But we got back inside and back to work without too much delay.  Felt bad for those who had been taking tests, because the proctors had to separate them and make sure they didn't try to look at notes or something.  If they did, the proctors would have to terminate their test and make them start over.
Funny how an election can bring up unusual topics in class.  One of my english classmates thinks we need to get rid of the electoral college.  Given that most votes are counted electronically, they have a point.  But the only way to get rid of them is to assemble a continental congress, because it's a constitutional amendment.  Given the way things are going, that's highly unlikely.
One can dream though.  The electoral college was meant for times when counting votes would take far too long.  With the current method, that's a little outdated.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

12,000 and counting

Though if you're like my mom, you're over 15,000 by now.  Yes, I am talking about words she's written in a single story.  Nanowrimo is in effect.  Sigh.....
On the othe hand, math is finally going good.  I may finish early, which will give me more time to focus on other classes that I'm not doing so well.  I can hope anyway.  Leaves are falling all around.  On the rooftops on the ground.  Yes, thats a primary song I'm quoting.
English is about the same, but the two classes I'm taking online (that is not counting math) are something I'm struggling with.  I really don't like online classes, but at this point I have to take some online in order to get a full schedule-and get grants.  Makes the workload quite interesting. 
Another plus for today, got past my first aid practical, so once I pay for it I have a two year certification.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Nanowrimo and Halloween

Well, the candy craze is past, at least as far as trick or treaters (or truck or treat, if you don't want to go from house to house) go.  Not very busy at my house though.  Nice weather for it, so I was hoping that would encourage the little ones (or parents).  No such luck.  Nothing like watching a scary movie too.  Makes it interesting if you want to get a good nights sleep.
Now comes the writers craze.  All aspiring authors join the line to try and write 50,000 words in one month.  If you try to write every day, your average needs to be 1,666 and 1/3.  Or more if you can manage it.  I have two in my family, so they are going to be on the computer a lot this month, though there have been threats of causing internet problems just for fun.  I try, but haven't met the 50,000 words yet.  and I'm in school, so that's even harder.