I Keep Forgetting

I get so mad at myself for not keeping up with posting to my site. But the truth of the matter is I really don’t have an excuse. Especially since I can post from anywhere simply by using my phone. That’s how I’m doing this post because I remembered that I could do this.

So today when I was downtown chaperoning 9-year-olds to see A Christmas Carol play at the Repritory Theater, I could have been getting the experience down right there in it all. Oh well, it’s going to have to be a matter of me doing it so that I get used to doing it.

Okay, I REALLY need to go and get some homework done tonight.

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Doing the Happy Dance

Four of the books I ordered last Friday came in today. I was really shocked to see them waiting for me when I got home. They were actually scheduled to be delivered on Saturday. And then another book that was supposedly shipped out early and was supposed to arrive on Friday hasn’t even arrived yet. I’m hoping the post office didn’t deliver it to the wrong address liked they’ve done so often lately.

Books that just came in

I can’t read the books that I’ve recieved. Now I really need to hurry up and get my school work completed for the semester so that I can get to reading.

I also just found out that I am the recipient of another free book from LibraryThing.com. I love that site. I can keep an online catalog of all my books and I can recieve new books to add to my collection.

I have been chosen to receive a free book in the last three months to review. These are books that haven’t come out yet and the publishers give away free books to get early reviews. These are the ones I’ve won so far through this program:

March 2008 – One in a Million by Kimberla Lawson Roby
September 2009 – A Change Had To Come by Gwynne Forster
October 2009 – Goodness and Mercy by Vanessa David Griggs
November 2009 – Big Girls Do Cry by Carl Weber

Actually, these need to be the first ones I read (whenever I receive them) so that I can go ahead and get the reviews completed and posted to my profile. But I don’t think that would be a problem because I only sign up to recieve the books that I would actually read. I don’t choose books that I know I have no interest in.

Well, that’s enough about books tonight. I just get so excited thinking about reading for pleasure and not having to do it for a class.

Until next time,
Peace and Blessings

A Great Holiday

This turned out to be a great holiday. There were no big problems. No big disagreements. Everyone got along well. It was very peaceful and really stress free. I’m so thankful to God for bringing about so much peace in my life. We spent Thanksgiving Day at my parents house and then at my in-laws. It was a really good time and there was really great food. I hate that I missed seeing 2 of my sisters and 2 nephews and 2 nieces but hopefully I’ll get to see them for Christmas.

Friday we had breakfast and lunch at our house for my in-laws. It went very well. I think everyone had a good time and great food. We watched some movies, laughed and even napped.

Saturday morning was family day. We went to see A Christmas Carol in 3-D. Had never seen a movie in 3-D at a movie theater before and it was a cool experience. I hate that it cost an additional $3 because the movie was 3-D but that was okay. The movie itself was kind of boring and I was dozing off through most of it. I guess once you’ve seen one A Christmas Carol re-make, you’ve seen them all. Will be going with the 3rd-4th-5th graders on Tuesday to see A Christmal Carol at the IRT. I don’t ever remember going to the IRT before but the little one insisted that I chaperone so I’m going. Hopefully I’ll be able to stay awake.

The rest of the day, after the movie, I’ve been working on Calc 2. This is my last chapter and there are 9 sections in this chapter. I’ve only gotten through 4 sections and the 4th section I don’t understand.

I’ve had so much problems getting tutoring for this class. I didn’t realize that getting a distance Math degree would be so difficult. I think if I was doing something else there wouldn’t be such a big problem but it’s kind of hard to teach yourself Math. If I could teach myself Math, I would have done it a long time ago and not paid so much to go to school. I could have tested out of a lot of these courses. I’ll be bugging my instructor next week again trying to get some tutoring done. It’ll have to be over the phone. Although I’d rather for it to be face to face or via web cam, I’ll take it any way I can right about now.

The writing class is going well. I’ve just got to do my short story/1st chapter and then 2 more reading assignments. Actually 1 1/2 reading assignments. I’ve done most of one, just need to do dialogue exercise.

Geometry is difficult but I think that’s only because I don’t know how the instructor wants me to answer the exercises. And when I ask, she gives such vague answers in her email. I really need to talk to her via phone but she’s not letting me know when a good time to call her would be.

Tomorrow, the kids plan on putting up the christmas tree. I ordered some more candles (Ginger Pumpkin, Pepperment Bark, Homemade Cookies, Apple Orchard). Going to have the house smelling real good for this holiday season. I’m so looking forward to now up until Christmas. I’m in a baking mood and want the house smelling good will all kinds of yummys. Not sure yet what all I’ll be making. My brother wants me to make him a pecan pie. I’d love to find a good recipe for chess pie but I guess I’ll settle for buttermilk pie since hubby likes that just as much.

I also ordered myself some books:
Secrets and Lies – Rhonda McKnight
The Ideal Wife – Jacquelin Thomas
Double Crossed – Darrien Lee
A Deep Dark Secret – Kimberla Lawson Roby
Forsaken – Vanessa Miller

I can’t wait to read them. I’m going to try and get them all read during my semester break. It’s supposed to start Dec 15th but they are allowing us a 3-week extension if we need it because of book and financial aid delays at the beginning of this semester. I’d really like to be done by Dec 15th instead of Jan 4th so I’m really going to be shooting for it. I want my 4-weeks in between semesters to recooperate and to enjoy some leisurly reading.

I tried to do NaNoWrimo this year but it didn’t work. I just had too much school work to do that I really couldn’t fit in leisure writing time. But I was able to get 5000 words down this year which is a huge step from last year. Last year I didn’t even log on to the website for the entire month. So mabye next year, I’ll be able to crank out more words. Every semester I get better at handling the work load.

Well, break time is over so I’d better get back to this Calc 2 stuff.

Until next time,
God Bless

And Life Goes On

So much has been going on. I don’t even know where to begin.

Let’s first start off with Pudds getting her flu shot. It was the funniest thing. I had talked to her about it on the weekend. She had said that she didn’t want to get a shot. I explained to both of them that they either got a shot or they could die. So, she yelled out “Shot!”.

On the morning of the shot, I didn’t say anything to her. I knew that if I did, she would freak out. When we arrived at her school, she asked why was I getting out of the car and coming in. When we entered the gym I told her that she was getting her flu shot. She started backing away and saying she didn’t want a shot. I told her that we had discussed this already and that she was getting a shot. But she said that I had not discussed it with her.

I told her to look at the nurse and told her that the nurse was an expert. The nurse said that she worked at the local children’s hospital and that she did this every day. I told Pudds that she could sit on my lap if she wanted and she said she did. So while sitting in my lap, I held her elbow and told her to look at her friends sitting at the other end of the gym. She didn’t want to look because she was trying to see the nurse with the needle. She did glance and by the time she looked back at the nurse, the shot was completed and the nurse was putting a bandaid on her arm. But Pudds didn’t even know that the shot was done. She was starting to get worked up again and didn’t believe me when I told her that the shot was done.

I thought it was the funniest thing. She was so worked up and afraid of the shot that she didn’t even realize that the nurse had given her the shot.

The other thing that’s fun to talk about is that we purchased a Nintendo Wii about 3 weeks ago. The girls actually keep their chores done now because they know that if they don’t, they don’t get to play the Wii. And I have been having a ball on it. I purchased the Wii Fit Plus and am loving it. Who would have known that you could break a sweat working out to a video game?

The girls and I are the only ones that are playing the Wii sport and work out games. Hubby got on the shopping channel and purchased old Nintendo games like Punch Out and Gradius. So you mean to tell me that I spent $200 on a Wii and another $150 on Wii Fit Plus and Wii Resort and you’d rather play Punch Out? LOL

School is going okay. Let’s just say that I’m not freaking out about it – yet. I’ve only done 2 out of the 3 assignments for Geometry. But it’s because I have no idea what I’m doing. The book is no help at all and for that matter, neither is the instructor. If I’m going to have to teach myself, at least provide me with the correct tools needed to do that.

I have decided that Calculus is not my subject. Well, I already knew it but now I really know it. It is kicking my butt. I study so hard and think I’ve got it once I’ve gone through the exercises and the practice test. And then I take the test and fail it. I just don’t understand what the problem is. I’ll be so glad when I’m done with all this Calculus stuff. I still have one more class of it to take and them I’m done.

Writing is going okay. I don’t like writing for young audiences. However, I have to take the class because it’s part of the minor. Also, I’m noticing that every teacher is different in how they grade. I put commas in places where I thought they should go for one teacher and they marked it wrong, then I left them out for my current teacher, and she marked it wrong. So…which way is it I wonder? I still have 2 more creative writing assignments, 3 journal assignments and 2 more reading assignments left and I’ll be done with that class.

Well, I think that’s enough for tonight. Until next time, and I hope it’s not 3 months from now.

Life, Life, Life

I said I was going to try to do better. I actually tried to do a posting yesterday but wordpress wouldn’t come up on my computer. I needed a break yesterday. I had started working on Calculus II at 10:30 am and at 7 pm last night, I was still working on it. There were only 20 questions in the exercise but at the end of the night, there were still 5 that I could not figure out how to solve. I agree with hubby when he says that more than 5 hours is too much to spend on one lesson but we are talking about college level Calculus II.

 I emailed the professor last night and told her that I spent over 16 hours on this one lesson and that I was still having problems and that I needed her help because I have to take the test on Friday. She did respond and gave me the examples in the book to look at for those particular questions. She also gave me her home number to call her in the evenings to discuss the problems. That is SO helpful. I will try to work through the sections again on my own in the next 2 days and then give her a call on Thursday if I’m still having problems.

 I’ve put Geometry on hold until I can get to the library and find some books on theorems and proofs. The thing I hate about my Geometry class, which I’m sure I’ve already said, is that it goes under the assumption that I just got out of high school geometry last semester.

 The writing class is going okay. I have to read Charlotte’s Web for the class and dissect it. Glad that it’s a children’s book and that it doesn’t take long to read it. I’m almost finished with it. The second reading assignment for this class is a really long one. Only someone who doesn’t have a full time job and have a family can complete it in one week. I started it the last week of August and I’m still trying to get it completed. I haven’t even started on the other assignments for this class for week 2.

But I look at it like this, if I work on all classes a little bit and make sure I work on something every day, then I’ll be able to finish on time without any stress at the end because I procrastinated. I want to finish the majority before November because I really want to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I didn’t do it last year but there was good reason for that. I had a lot of personal stress in my life back then. But this year, things are looking pretty good.

The home search has been put on hold. Need to get some things in order. Also, need to save up for a down payment. Just found out that they don’t do “no money down” loans any more. So we have to come up with at least 3.5% for a down payment. For the size house we’re looking for, that’s at least $10K. So things are going to be tight for us for a while so we can save up but it will be well worth it in the end.

Pudds is doing really well so far in the 4^th grade. She was a little worried about it in the beginning but I think things are turning out good for her. It makes it easier when you already know all the kids in the class and their teacher is excellent. I really like her and her style of teaching.

I’m not quite sure how Pumpkins is doing. It doesn’t seem like they’ve done any school work yet. LOL I’m sure they’ll start next week. They had a middle school leadership camping trip last week and this week they are only in school for 3 days. When you’re barely in school, it makes it difficult to do any class work.

I need to start looking into high school scholarships for her. They are having a high school information session at the end of the month. I also need to look into applying for NCHS. But the only thing with that is that I don’t want to pay for school. That’s the main purpose of us buying another house and moving.

Okay, I need to get back to work. I have a lot to accomplish today. Until next time, and I hope it’s not two weeks later.

Oops! I did it again!

I said that this time it would be different. This time I’d blog every other day if not every day. Well, it didn’t happen. I can’t even remember the last time I posted. I can’t even check because I’m sending this one from my phone.

Right now I’m sitting in front of the CLD building waiting for Pudds to finish with her class. Then I’m going to drop her off at the salon where I’ve already dropped Pumpkins off. Then I’ve got to go by my mom’s and pick up some boxes. After that it’s back home to do some cleaning, packing and getting dinner started.

It’s like I never sit down. I’m constantly doing something. I know that’s the reason why I haven’t even thought about posting. I think the only reason why I just thought about it is because I’m sitting here reading the Writer’s Digest magazine while I’m waiting for Pudds. Well they are coming out now so I guess I gotta go. Maybe next time will be a lot sooner.

Duty calls!

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I’m Doing Better

Okay, so it’s been a few days since the last time I posted. I was really stressing out on Wednesday but I’m doing better now.

I’ve actually already started on my assignments. I’ve read the first chapter in my Geometry book. I couldn’t do the homework assignment though because I have to know something about high school geometry to do this class. It was 19 years ago when I took high school geometry and I don’t remember any of it. I went to Half Price Books looking for a geometry book but they didn’t have any. I’ll have to go to another one tomorrow because I really need the book.

I’ve already completed my first assignment in my writing class and have read the first chpater of the next writing assignment.

I’ve completed section 5.1 in Calc 2 and started on section 5.2.

I started all this yesterday and have to say that I’m doing a pretty good job so far. But, it hasn’t been a week yet. I’m always like this in the very beginning. Can’t wait to get started and I always start off strong. But somewhere in there life starts to get crazy, I start to get lazy and then I don’t do it everyday like I need to be doing. But my plan is to make a schedule and stick to it so that I am not cramming at the end of the semester. I really don’t want to be donig that.

I’ve been at it all evening and I think I’ve called it quits for the day. I still need to find me a bag that I can carry all my books in but also to carry my computer.

I had a great time with Pudds in between church services. She gave me a rundown of a story she had been wanting to write. Her characters are Frankenstein Jr. and Pumpkin Jr. but she calls them Frank and Pump for short because she got tired of writing their whole name out every time. That girl is hilarious.

Pudds is supposed to be going over her multiplication facts. She’s supposed to do it everyday but instead she’s sitting up on the couch staring into space. Pumpkins is supposed to be cleaning up the kitchen. She was supposed to be cleaning it over an hour ago and she still hasn’t started on the dishes. I really don’t know what she’s up to walking around the house all slow like she’s an old woman.

I’ve got to go. I want to put all my school things away and get ready for work tomorrow.

Until next time,
PEACE!!!!

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

I went to register for classes today. OMG! What have I done to myself? I’m taking “Writing for Young Audiences”, “Calculus II”, and “Geometry”.

I have to do different things for each one, of course, but it’s stuff that I didn’t know I’d be doing. For instance, for the writing class, I have to write and illustrate a children’s book and write a short story geard towards the preteen/teen age.

For Calc I have to do a project – calculus and baseball. Are you serious? Who cares about the calculus of a baseball? I sure as heck don’t. Even less so than the project I had last year about the calculus of a rainbow.

Geometry would be okay if the book looked like a geometry/math book. But it looks like a literature book. It’s paperback, thin, and there’s a lot of reading to do and hardly any problems with examples.

This is going to be a trying semester and I know that before I begin I have to change my attitude towards my studies. I can’t go into it thinking negatively. I have to be positive so that I can make it through and come out with good grades.

I’m glad hubby went with me today to register. When I asked him I wasn’t expecting him to say yes so I was surprised when he did. He was quiet most of the time but that’s okay. I do know that he’ll never go back with me again. But that’s okay, at least he did go one time.

Oh, and get this. I get to the school bookstore to purchase my books and find out that one of the books that I need for my writing class is sold out. How do you sell out of a book on the 2nd day of registration. They know in advance how many people are registered for the class. Why wouldn’t they at least have that number of books ready. So now they want to order the book and charge me to have it shipped to me. What kind of crap is that. I decided to order the book through Amazon.com. It was cheaper anyway.

Well, I’m going to get some recreation reading done. I want to get this book finished before I have to get started on my studies. I see that this semester there will be no time for any recreational reading.

I’m proud of myself, I’ve been doing a whole lot better with my blogging. I’ve only missed one day and for me that’s progress. I’m not sure how well I’ll do when I start studying but I’ll probably need to rant and this will be where I’ll do that. I know, I know, think POSITIVE.

Okay, I’m out for now,
God Bless

Tomorrow is the Day

Tomorrow school starts. I’m so excited. I’m sure it’s going to be a great year for the kids and they are going to learn so much and grow up so much in the next 10 months.

I’m going to spend more time in the classroom this year and try to become a more involved parent. I know it’s going to have to take some discipline on my part since I’ll be taking 3 classes this semester – 2 of them being math classes.

But if I plan my time wisely and use every bit of time that I have, I know I can make it work.

I’m glad things have slowed down today at work. I’m no where near as busy as I was last week. That’s a great thing since this week is going to be busy outside of work. We have something going on ever day but Friday. That will have to be my relaxation day for sure. Monday – choir rehearsal & church meeting; Tuesday – first day of school & basketball practice; Wednesday – I go to register for school; Thursday – choir rehearsal.

Hopefully we’ll be able to go to the fair tomorrow. I want to go and get another ribeye sandwich. I’m thinking about getting a soft serve ice cream also but I know I don’t need it and will probably not like it because of the sugar. Yesterday was 5 weeks of biggest loser challenge and I’m down 10 pounds. That’s good – about 2 lbs a week.

Well, need to get back to work. Only 3 more hours and then my work day is over!

Lazy Day

Today was a lazy day. Well, from the afternoon on. Went to the 8am church service, went to the grocery store, then took the girls to their ice cream social. Paid out $137 while at the school – sport fees and planners.

After returning home, I chilled out on the couch for the evening. Watched the Bratz movie with Pudds and then she and I went through the 5 boxes of school supplies and divided them up between she and her sister.

I gave hubby a card and a watch today. He asked what it was for. My answer – just because; I love you; you’re my husband. He then said that now he has to buy me something. Ha. That is not why I gave him a gift.

Well time to straighten up before I go to bed. It’s going to be a busy week.

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