SCHOOL, A New Adventure

You've thought this through as well as prayed through it carefully... I think that puts you in a great position to not only be successful in terms of grades but to get the most out of the whole experience!

You're on a journey of discovery.. Thanks for taking us with you!

Thank you thank you guys!! Pheewww, a BIG load off my mind! < =D
I've got the appointment set with my advisor for Monday at 11:00 to register and pay for my class. Wheeeeeee!!!!!!! < =D

Hmmmm, you mean I can use the crock pot for something other than roasting stuff in the oven?? ;P (heeheeheee, that crock part is the perfect size for roasting a chicken in the oven!) =) Yes, time for ye ole crock pot to get more action, excellent, thank you for the reminder Jan!

if two classes, I vote def for the same day. Much less running around time.

I'm sure your enthusiasm really brightens the day when you talk to the staff.!!!!!!!!

It has all been figured out, thank God. A big relief to not have to stress anymore over figuring that out. =)

Heehee. Never thought to use the crock pot part to roast a chicken in the oven, but thinking about it, the size is perfect. Cut down on spatters, too, I reckon.

Yes Ma'am, the size is perfect, and the clean-up is soooo easy! I've got one of those big oval crock pots, and that crockery is very versatile. Several years ago I found I'd worn a few small holes through the bottom of my "roaster pan"... you know, those old, oval, black-with-white-speckles things? I'd had 2; a hugemongous one, and a smaller one that was perfect for roasting a chicken. It was the smaller one I'd worn out, (and have yet to replace), so I learned to love using my crockery for roasting smaller items. It's ok, but just not the same....
Now you've got me wanting a new roasting pan, Ha! Sooo, of course I've already gone over to amazon and put one on my wishlist. Heeheeheee. While I was there I did some reading... turns out not all "Granite Ware" is created equal, who knew!? Guess ya gotta be careful.

I didn't know, but, now I do! I am soooo excited for your new adventure. I read what your DH said to my hubby and he got a big smile on his face and said what a great guy you have.

Aaaaaw, please tell your Hubby we say, "thank you!"... (and I agree with him). < =D I am super blessed and very thankful.

And very sore and tired... just finished painting the bathroom, ouch. Now the primer and coat-of-paint-#1 are done. Just one more coat of paint to go before we can install the flooring... and get that darned toilet out of the bathtub! HA!! After that, the medicine cabinet and vanity/sink/faucet will be a breeeeze.

Now, time to get a shower then clean out my dresser drawers. Gotta get some of these "to do list" things done before SCHOOL starts. < =D

Hi there! I got registered today and I am now "Official"!! < =D ... note to self: Make sure it is NOT a rainy day when you plan to get a PHOTO taken for any sort of ID. < =/ Can you say "Bad Hair Day"!?!? Eeeeek!! Oh well, when I smile and these railroad tracks flash, anyone will be able to tell it's me when they check out my student ID. ;)

So, that's the good news. The bad news is, the math class I need is already filled up, so I have to start with the English class. =( Oh well...gotta start somewhere, and it matters not that I start here. Got that done and paid for, got my ONE book, (poor solitary little book!), got my student ID, all done but wait for class to start on the 24th. This is the most different sort of English class I have ever taken, boy oh boy this is gonna be funnn!!! < =D

Speedie -- often people change classes after they first register, so you might monitor the math class. Given how hard you have been working recently on math, it might make sense to take the math class now to build on all the studying you did.

ROFL- student ID, probably right 'up there' with Drivers License for flattering-ness! UN flatteing-ness?

Maybe you asked but yeah might be a waiting list., that you might get in after just a week.

Yeah, we talked about that math class when I was there, so he pulled it up on the computer, showed me all the campuses it's available, and the status on all of 'em is "closed", so I don't think I'll be able to switch later.. and I don't think I'd want to either, not if I miss something at the beginning. It's all good, I did find out the earliest date for registering for next semester, so I'll be totally ready then! I'm not a good gear-changer, once I get started on something, I like to stick with it. Now that my mind is 'set' on this English class, I'm gonna take it. I'll do math next, that's ok.

Yeah, UN-flatering-ness is spot-on for that ID pic, HAHA!!! Hairs all over the place...
>l=)

Speedie: Sounds like a great plan! I'm excited to hear all the details!

Who hoo!!! Speedie's gonna get sum edgemication!!!

And I knead it, two!! < =D

Heehee

haha!!!

Speedy, that english course as you outlined it seems pretty daunting all by itself. Is the focus on 'research' and paper writing? Hard to get back to original sources and to cite them as well. Just doesn't sound like creative writing to me.

Several times I have recommended that students needing to take a math course to fulfill graduation 'requirements' take Statistics as opposed to regular Math. Bypasses some of that ingrained 'not good at math' programming and lifts the veil to see how 'voodoo economics' or 'pseudoscience' gets away with distortions and manipulation of every sort so that "One and one equals two" depends on who and where it is being asserted for its trueness and impact.

Is the math course you placed for a prerequsite or will it count toward graduation math requirements? (Or, however they term such things now...it has been a while since I've reengaged with academia.) With a little continued math review this term and retaking the test you may be placed differently.

Most of the high school 'drop outs' I worked with to get their GEDs did best learning and reviewing math with and individualized self- pacing computer learning program rather than a class or tutoring. Another observation from my teaching days is that the speed with which a person can physically wirte the numerals 1 to 10, etc increases their math ability. We did a lot of 1 minute timed tests on work sheets and students could see their progess and chart it from week to week until a certain level of proficiency was achieved (80+% completed and 80+% correct consistently) In other words, you are competing with yourself.

Hope I haven't said too much...

Hello there Judy! Oh no Ma'am, you certainly have not said too much. Actually, the focus of the English course is researching and writing effective arguments, with the text book (thus far) being Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer's "Good Reasons" (Fifth Edition), to include access to mycomplab. The book does outline how to do the research, including the planning, analyzation, finding sources, et al. It looks to be a very comprehensive book. (there will also be presentations, **gulp**).
In High School, I got as far as College English Composition/Poetry, that's the last HS English class I took when I graduated. I never did get into "debate", but it looks as though I'll be getting a taste of that now, or some facsimile thereof.

Math, on the other hand...when I graduated, I was still in algebra 1, and barely passing with a C. The class that I will take here is both a prerequisite AND will count, credit-wise, toward my degree... how on earth that works, I do not know. I have asked and have been assured it "counts". The interesting thing is, it's a newly developed class, designed to work at the student's pace. If I excel, then I can "test out", and complete the class when I'm darned good and ready, ahead of schedule should I feel so inclined. Should that be the case, I would still have to wait for next semester before I can take the next-in-line math class, so the only plus for "testing out" early would be to free up my personal schedule. My degree requires a certain number of credits, to be split accordingly between maths/english/sciences/and "electives". There are a certain number of specific classes, but I don't remember off the top of my flat head right now how many.

Oh, and as far as the "how" of how I, personally, learn best, I definitely know that I learn best in a more 'humanized' setting, sorta balanced between some human contact and 'leave me alone and let me do my stuff'. ;)

I hope that makes sense.

I'm SO proud and inspired by you!! You GO girl!! Can't wait to hear more updates!! Debates? Those are FUN!!! ^_^

Happy First Day of School. Go Speedie!

Thank you thank you!!! I got all my little stuffs ready to go.. then I wake up at 4:30 to find about 3 inches of snow out there, and it's still (lightly) snowing! Haaahahahaaaa!!! I sure hope some roads get cleared, 'cause I GOTTA GOOO!! < =D

aa Comm College had delayed opening. don't know about your county, but Boy speedie, what a bummer if you had to miss your first class...!

Goood morning! =)

Trying to keep a smile on the situation 'cause as it turns out, yeah, I did not make it to my first class. Everything was delayed until 11:30 yesterday morning, so I listened to the radio for road condition reports and they were not good, they included all sorts of accidents all over the place down here, including RIGHT down the road from the school. Nope, not risking my life for one class. The road that the school is on is a very narrow winding road and people drive waaayyy too darned fast on it while tailgating, (what else is new in Southern Maryland, right?), but to have to drive it in 20'ish-degree temps when it's icy just didn't sit well with me at all. =(
Will just hope that Tuesday turns out better. Meanwhile, I'm ready for it.

As my parents would say, "You have a good head on your shoulders." Wise woman decision for sure. It's not the mission to Iditerod with life saving medicine on board although that road seems risky even on a good day weather wise....Glad you have your 'mush' on for next Tues!

Oh what an adorable beautiful little Husky face!!!!!! I wanna snuggle it and smooch it!!!
< =D

Suze, it was a mess on the roads, and that was ROute 2 well traveled (Too well traveled) commercial road in our county. Impatient people and everybody trying to get on campus at the exact same time. You could well have missed half the class anyway. And I'm sure the instructor will not mind. Listen up if there is email or other internet communication with instructor, seem they are well into that some places.

Yes Ma'am, when I get there on Tuesday the first thing I'm going to inquire about is alternative contact options. (like email and online student forums et al). DH and I were talking about that very thing yesterday afternoon. I do HATE to have missed the very beginning!

Well, that was interesting!

Firstly, it turns out I didn't miss a thing last Thursday. They had decided to close the entire campus at 11:00 (nothing like last-minute planning, eh?), so I didn't miss my first day after all, today was my first day.

We spent just a few minutes in the 'regular' classroom to go over the schedule of computer lab time, then we all tromped like sheep (it took all I had not to bleat "Baaaahhhh") across the campus to the business building to the computer lab room. There we spent the rest of the time discussing what constitutes a complete sentence, then worked on the computer doing our "assignments" about comma splicing and fused sentences. I had started to get worried that I would have no idea how I scored because I kept seeing nothing but green check-marks, but finally I finished and realized I had seen only green check-marks because I got 100%! < =D

It's really strange, I'm the oldest one there, and that includes the professor. Everyone is so quiet, too... it's all so odd. No chatting amongst the students... eery. However, the professor is cool and quite upbeat. He's got a great sense of humor and is very encouraging of openness and conversation.

All in all a very positive first day! < =)

sounds fantabulous!

So happy your second 'first day' did not cancel with the frozen rain we got up here.

I bet you can get em warmed up soon!!!

Eeeek, you have frozen rain up there? Today!? I'll just quietly mumble that we had a lovely warm sunny day down this way. < =/

Sounds like you're off to a great start! Commas are one of the great tripper-uppers for people trying to "professionalize" their writing. I know most writing is very informal nowadays (and that's without even considering texting), but it's always good to know correct usage and how to "polish up" your words. I bet your fellow students will start to relax as the semester continues, maybe even exchange a few words before or after class!

GO, SPEEDIE, GO!

I can just picture you looking around so innocently with the rest of the crew wondering where the baabaabaa was coming from. Hahaha

Glad you didn't miss the first day after all. I agree that you will have everyone in a jovial mood soon.

We had a first day of school in my family yesterday. Our oldest son and wife have gotten legal guardianship of a little boy named Markus. He is 6 yrs old and moved in last Friday night. He started kindergarten at the christian school where my DIL teaches. They have been told there are some developmental issues, so he'll be tested to see what they can do to help him. hopefully the adoption will be finalized this summer.

I have always found it difficult to express myself in words especially if I have to punctuate correctly. Maybe I should do as my father did when he wrote a letter- no capitals or punctuation. It was a trip to read. Maybe you feel that way after reading some of my posts. Heehee.

Oh Jan, yeeesssss, I have been reading about Markus joining the family, WHEEEEEEE!!!!! < =D So his first day of school was yesterday? I will keep him in my prayers that he eases right into things smoothly and comfortably. I cannot help but wonder if a part of his 'difficulties' might be a combination of culture differences, language differences, and a just plain ol' "WOW this is different!!" type of need for time to adjust a bit more. Not to mention, he's awfully tiny-young! I will also keep "open hearts and spirits" part of those prayers for him. <3

EDIT: WOW, some of my originally-typed-out post got eaten! Here's the rest... I hope...


Oh, and .. no thank you, please keep typing the way you do, it's quite easy to read! < =D Haahahahaaa!!!

Crit, you're right, commas are the biggest tripper-uppers!!! (I'm sure you've noticed it often in my own posts, and now I am horribly aware of them!). I learned something new yesterday that I'd never heard of before: The acronym FANBOYS. It's to help remember the coordinating conjunctions For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So. True, there are others as well (like "however"), but... I'd never heard of this before and I thought it pretty cool. =)

I discussed the "Honors" thing with the professor yesterday and we decided that, based on my long-term goal (of agriculture), it would not do any real-world good to have an "H" on my degree next to English, so I will skip all that extra work. He said it truly is a LOT of extra work, and all for no real-life benefit for my intended goal. OK, I can live with that reality. =)



This message was edited Jan 30, 2013 6:08 AM

Well NUTS, much of my last post got eaten, so here's the rest of it.... (I tried to "Edit" it, but that didn't work either). =(

Crit, you're right, commas are the biggest tripper-uppers!!! (I'm sure you've noticed it often in my own posts, and now I am horribly aware of them!). I learned something new yesterday that I'd never heard of before: The acronym FANBOYS. It's to help remember the coordinating conjunctions For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So. True, there are others as well (like "however"), but... I'd never heard of this before and I thought it pretty cool. =)

I discussed the "Honors" thing with the professor yesterday and we decided that, based on my long-term goal (of agriculture), it would not do any real-world good to have an "H" on my degree next to English, so I will skip all that extra work. He said it truly is a LOT of extra work, and all for no real-life benefit for my intended goal. OK, I can live with that reality. =)

I could definitely live with that realiy very easily!!!

My son is thinking that some of Markus's problems are definitely speech related. No, Markus was in first grade while he lived with his grandmother. They decided to put him in kindergarten to help him get a good foundation.
They have a new concern-my DDIL's Grammy is in the hospital and my DDIL has responsibility for her. Talk about a sandwich situation. She will be glad when her dad gets home from his trip so he can take over.

And, when Markus lived with his Grandmother, was this in the States? Just wondering.. ya know, about that cultural thing. Or maybe a school system thing?

Goodness, yes I hope your DDIL's Dad gets home soon too, she's got quite a plate full!!

Yep, in the Portland, OR area.

Oooh, ok... no, you're right, that's not it. =/

Good Heavens, I haven't been here in ages!!! Well, just a quick update since I'm off today and working on the latest essay... I've turned in, and been graded on, 3 argument essays so far, and gotten an "A" on all of them, Yippeeeee!!! I gotta say, I'm really surprised to be doing this well so far, but am ever so thankful... it's a really nice re-start in my continuing education career, enough to keep me energized and motivated!
I never realized before how many different types of "arguments" there are out there... causal, proposal, narrative, rebuttal, definition, evaluation... it's enough to make one's head spin!

Anyway, the juggling act continues; Home/school/work/ and a little bit of yardening when I can squish it in there. I finally got all the beds out front cleaned out this past weekend... from LAST YEAR! Yipes!! And I dug out all the pots from under the benches out back... OH BOY those Hostas are really flushing out nicely! Got.. I think they're Virginia Bluebells blooming, the Columbines are filling out prettily, and the Clematis have buds on them, WHEEE!!! Boy oh boy, I'm really gonna need to get some new babies in those beds out front, I NEED COLOUR!!!!!!! < =D

So, that's what's up around here on the school front. I'm already registered for the summer with my Maths class. NOT looking forward to it, I can tell you that! < =/ HA!!! Well,... ok, I sorta am looking forward to it, heeheeheee. Want to start figuring out what I am capable of learning on that front. Not my forte to be sure!

Hope you all are doing well... and now back to the grind...