Today I got a fat package in the mail from SJSU and I could tell by looking at it that my diploma had to be inside. I was so excited and couldn’t wait to open it up. It was taped up real tight so I had to get a knife from the kitchen, and I slowly and carefully sliced it open. Inside was a big fat diploma holder. I opened it up, and saw my name written inside…

And I burst into tears. And I just started sobbing. So many emotions. Relief and accomplishment, but also such frustration and sadness that my parents couldn’t see it. I know my mom would happily die all over again if she had had a chance to see me graduate.

Some of you don’t know this, but my father passed away in my second semester of school and my mom followed in my third semester. I had to help my mom with the police and paramedics when my father died, and then four months later I was giving my mom CPR and screaming into 911 on the phone. I couldn’t save her. After they declared her they said I could sit and talk to her for a minute and say goodbye, and all I could do was assure her that we were going to be okay, and that no matter what I would finish school and graduate. I just hoped she could hear me, that she hadn’t completely left yet, that she knew I was going to fulfill my promise. I know it meant so much to her.

I remember in April 2004 seeing my mom on the road. I pulled up next to her in my car and told her through our windows that I was going back to school. She was so excited she went to the school (where she was a teacher) and told everyone, then she called my whole family. By the time I came home from work that day everyone knew. She was so excited and proud of me and I had not even attended one class yet.

She was always so proud of anything and everything I ever did. For me, right now, my life goal is to complete this triathlon. But before that goal, my goal had been to graduate college. Whenever the question came up about my one regret in life, that was always my answer: not finishing school. It was a rough four years, and the deaths of my parents didn’t make it any easier. But I did it.

So that’s why, even though I finished my classes last December, opening up this diploma now and having concrete evidence in my hands was such a terribly emotional thing. It represents so much. Erasing that life regret, accomplishing a huge goal and accomplishing it so well with so many things thrown at me, knowing I made my parents proud and keeping my promise… but also knowing they aren’t here to see it.

I’m about as emotionally wrecked right now as I was when my mom died. It’s sort of like losing her all over again because she was so much a part of this.

I just want to thank you all for all the love you’ve sent me. So many of you have supported me through the last four years, and sent me love when I needed it, and I appreciate it so much, more than you'll ever know. Thank you. I’ll try to continue making you all proud in the future.

Yeah, already slacking on the updates!

Went to Communications Law & Policy on Wednesday. Thirteen page syllabus. Every week studying legal cases and writing legal briefs. Then a 20 page seminar paper. Presentations. Etc. I loved the professor, and the class sounded really interesting. Many students were scared, but I was up for the challenge. What I wasn't sure I was up for was the work load.

Thursday I went to Media and Social Issues - or something like that. It's the Mass Comm 101 class for grad students. Professor is great and comes with great recommendations from students. Eight text books, and we'll get through one every 1-2 weeks. I don't have a choice about this class, I have to take it this semester.

But I was pretty sure at that point that there was no way I was going to be able to handle the workload. If I didn't have a job, maybe. Also, I have triathlon training every day.

Scott: Well now, I know you really want to do that triathlon, but... Never mind.
Me: I'm not going to not do that triathlon.
Scott: Yeah. I know. That's why I said nevermind, haha.

That's another month of training. I'm not giving it up. And I just don't see how I could do all three classes. BUT, the head of the department came in to talk to us about what is needed for graduation. We have 7 assorted grad classes we have to get through - and then THREE UNDERGRADUATE COURSES IN ANY DEPARTMENT. Like I can take POTTERY. SERIOUSLY.

I can knock out three undergraduate courses any day. Three undergraduate courses are worth 1-2 graduate classes. So I can drop the Law class and still be done in 2 years. I can take classes in writing, film, whatever I want.

So I did drop it last night, and it reduced my tuition by a thousand dollars. OH THANK YOU LORD. Good grief but it's been hard paying for grad school AND the books.

So I have International Communications on Tuesday nights and Media/Social Issues on Thursdays. This gives me time to do my reading and my writing without being a basketcase.

Also, it's 100 degrees today. Me no like.

It's 9:30am and I'm starting to wear down. I work early on Wednesdays, then I go to gym, then I go to class. I'm going to need coffee for this.

Thursday I get up to do swim workout, then work, then class.

It's a good thing Friday's are "rest" days in training. I'll get to sleep in and then work. I can see already that the weekend will be spent reading like a mad woman.

Okay. I liked it, or at least I think I WILL like it when it really gets going. I really liked the professor. A nice, soft spoken man who seems really intelligent and goes off into tangents but they are really interesting and kind of related tangents. I was nodding off in the first five minutes of class (so I think I need to bring some coffee with me) but then I just woke up and it was easy to pay attention.

Out of 19 students, only 3-4 came from any Journalism degree. We had everyone from Graphic Design to Environmental Science to History to Creative Writing. And of course English Literature. Everyone appeared to be intelligent although one female is irritating me a bit(lot) and one male has potential to get on my nerves even more. Three were from the middle East and one from India, one from Columbia. Several from San Diego, haha.

One student said she heard the class was fun, and the Professor agreed it was easy - which I've heard before, so we'll see how that goes.

The Professor has an undergraduate in History (Stanford), a Masters in Mass Comm (SJSU), and a Ph.D. in Education (USF).

About half the class has recently lost their job. That was scary.

The Professor seems very passionate about International Communications specifically, but also passionate about the Mass Comm Major in general. And that's good to have in a teacher.

No one will ever be as great as my English Prof who later became my friend, but I think I'll do okay in this class. Tomorrow's class is Communication Law and Policy. Fun.

First day of grad school

First up, International Communications at 6pm.

Speaking of school...

So I got my acceptance letter, which was slightly longer than the two sentence email they sent me, and I registered for my classes. Now, keep in mind that although I received my acceptance letter (seven months after finishing my last class) the school website still does NOT have my degree posted.

It still allowed me to register though. So I did. And within two seconds I received an email:

YOU NOW OWE: $XXXX.00 DUE BY TOMORROW.

So it takes them seven months to figure out I graduated with honors, but it takes them two seconds to send me a bill for tuition and they only give ME 24 hours to take care of it.

Obviously we know where their priorities lie. Well, the same place mine do.
Mass Comm majors make a lot of money, right? hahaha

Yes, those are ads

Yes, those are ads you see over on the right.

We should probably accept that ads are going to just be on every site now. It's just how things are. As for me, my finances are getting wiped out by tuition payments and I need to somehow make more money. I couldn't bring myself to add a "Help me with my tuition, click PayPal now!" button, hahaha. I really couldn't. (And I really thought about it) But if these ads bring in a couple more dollars, or if it encourages me to write more to bring more traffic in so the ads get clicked and more dollars come in, well, that's exactly what's going to happen.

I'm sure those ads will probably only show ads for school and weightloss stuff, haha, but if you ever see anything you'd like to click on, click away.

And if anyone wants to hire a writer, let me know! :D

Yes, those are ads

Yes, those are ads you see over on the right.

We should probably accept that ads are going to just be on every site now. It's just how things are. As for me, my finances are getting wiped out by tuition payments and I need to somehow make more money. I couldn't bring myself to add a "Help me with my tuition, click PayPal now!" button, hahaha. I really couldn't. (And I really thought about it) But if these ads bring in a couple more dollars, or if it encourages me to write more to bring more traffic in so the ads get clicked and more dollars come in, well, that's exactly what's going to happen.

I'm sure those ads will probably only show ads for school and weightloss stuff, haha, but if you ever see anything you'd like to click on, click away.

And if anyone wants to hire a writer, let me know! :D

Hello Cynthia:
I just wanted to let you know that your degree has been posted. You have graduated with Cum Laude Honors.

DEGREE AWARDED:

Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: English
Cum Laude
DATE CONFERRED: MAY 23, 2009

Hope you all enjoyed the little tiny respite from my school posts, because I JUST ENROLLED IN FALL CLASSES, WOOOOOO!!!!!!

Unfortunately, Musical Theater classes do not count for Mass Comm, haha. No, these classes are definitely NOT the Arts. This is what I enrolled in (actually, everything that was offered, heh):

Media/Social Issues
International Communications
Communication Law and Policy

I might drop one class, I was only planning on two at a time, but I'm going to try for three. So... the usual. Pretend I'm going to take it easy and then load up. But we'll see how it goes.

I am REALLY REALLY EXCITED!!!!

Hooray! Congratulations!

All my best,
[Professor C]

I'm a Grad Student, Get Me Out of Here!

After waiting for so long to be accepted I feel just a little conflicted now that it's finally over. Just a little, trust me. I mean, for three months I checked the darn site every day and nothing. Then I get an email asking if I still want to join the program, which cracked me up, but I figured it would still take a couple weeks more. I had no idea I'd be accepted within 24 hours!!! It sort of feels wierd to not have the worry and questioning any longer.

And then the reactions (aside from the huge congrats I've received): Spike says "So that means you have to do MORE school? for two more YEARS?" Another friend asks "Doesn't that mean more blood, sweat and tears?"

And yes, yes it does, and it's a little scary to jump right in again. Not a lot. Just a little. Because I'm not really confident that a Mass Comm degree is going to be that hard, but I do know it's going to be work. I think it's just that "unknown" factor. I hate not knowing exactly what's going to happen, and I only know the English Department. I know NOTHING about this new department.

But I'll be okay. We all know I will. I'm excited and proud - extremely proud because I was accepted by people who DON'T know me - and just a little anxious which is what I should be.

So now we wait some more. School starts August 24. I'm a free girl until then.

Congratulations!

Again, my congratulations.
William Tillinghast, Ph.D.
Graduate Coordinator
Mass Communications
San Jose State University

June 1, 2009

Dr. William Tillinghast
Graduate Coordinator
Mass Communications

WELL, DUH. I mean, Yes! Of COURSE I still want in!!!!!
I checked the SJSU site, my degree is STILL NOT POSTED, but my application status now says:
The status of your application is: Referred to Grad Dept

And that's the LAST step before "ACCEPTED".
I can breathe a little easier now.

So, busy day yesterday!

I drove to school with Buffy and friend Mark. I wore one of my brand new old skirts and a pretty blouse, and my red heels - unfortunately, with the gown on no one really saw me, but that's fine.
:)
So first I had to run to the student bookstore to pick up my Cum Laude medal. I knew I only had so long in my heels before I started limping around, but I felt like I could do what was required. So the three of us went to the bookstore and went downstairs to the warehouse below. I found the desk and asked for my medal. They pulled out the list and looked for my name.

And looked, and looked, and looked.

"You're not on the list, I'm sorry," said the girl.

"Oh, I'm on the list," I said.

"I'm sorry, your name isn't on here."

"I have a 3.805 gpa. I am getting a medal."

The girl and her supervisor looked at Buffy holding my gown that was already laden with honors regalia. "Can we just give it to her?" whispered one to the other. "We can't," the other said.

"Look, I have a 3.805 gpa, I know I'm getting that medal. Graduation is in 40 minutes."

So here is what we did:
She wrote down the phone number for the graduation advisor - the same one who won't post my fucking degree because grades won't be posted until June 12 even though I FINISHED CLASSES LAST DECEMBER - and told me to call her. I did. Got a voicemail that she's out until Monday. The girls debated again. They wrote down the number to the graduation advisor supervisor, Delia. This lady answered, and she verified I was getting a medal (DUHHH). But the girls said Delia had to give her okay to their manager in a different office. They pointed across the warehouse. Buffy and Mark and I RAN to the other end of the warehouse with Delia on my cell phone.

No one there.

We ran back.

"Can we please just give it to her?" the girl asked again. "No." They said they had to have manager permission to give me my medal. I gave them the phone to talk to Delia. After a few minutes of talking they pulled out a medal wrapped in plastic, handed it to some poor clerk, and told him to escort us upstairs to a different manager's office. The four of us RAN upstairs and across the bookstore to an empty office that had a sign saying "Jen no esta aqui." The poor clerk looked like he was afraid I was going to stab him.

I wasn't. But I was about ready to grab the medal and run.

A different lady came over, wondering who these civilians were who were lurking around the management office. We all explained what happened.

"But are you on the list? You have to be on the list. Have they verified you're on the list?"

I realized Delia was still on the cell phone I was holding. I thrust it at her. She took the phone and they discussed the situation. "Veronica will be back on Tuesday, can you come back then?"

"I am graduating in 20 minutes."

More discussion.

Finally she hung up, gave me some papers and a pen, and told me to write my name, student ID, gpa and date, and sign it. I did.

I got my medal.

And we ran back to the graduation area, with Buffy and Mark dressing me in my gown and regalia as we ran.

I sat down in a folding chair, looked down... and saw skin peeling off my feet. My precious ruby red heels had not expected to be running up and down stairs and all around offices. I had promised my feet we were only walking a little bit that day.

This morning I have bandaids covering the oozing holes where I used to have skin.

But I got my medal.

HAPPY GRADUATION DAY TO MEEEEEEEEE

I officially graduate on Thursday, May 21, at 4:30pm, WOOOOO!!!!

Not that they've posted my degree online yet so I could be officially accepted to grad school, but whatever. My name is in the program, *I* know I'm graduating, AND it says that I'm graduating "With Honors". Of COURSE.

Was discussing with ex-husband the latest trouble Buffy's in (she wore a spaghetti strap dress to school when she knows it's against dress code, I've warned her oh-so-many times, and today the school called and said I had to leave work and bring her a new outfit - so I dropped off some jeans and a long-sleeve wool sweater even though it's 80 degrees outside; THAT'll teach her), and then I told him that she couldn't go to his house on Thursday because it's my graduation.

"Congratulations," he said, "It only took you what, 32 years?"

"Um.... what??"

"It only took you 32 years to graduate college? It's about time."

Wow, that's some scarily inaccurate not-even-close math he's got going there. So I told him, "This is my second degree and I'm working on my third, how many did you have again?"

"Who, me? I don't got any degrees."

Right. May 21 also would be our 21 year anniversary, so THANK GAWD it's now something else.

It's my graduation! And I'm ready!!

My Class Ring was just delivered! Isn't it beautiful??? I LOVE it.

AND, I had bought it for my pinky finger... but it's too big! It fits my ring finger now, perfectly!!!

Tomorrow it's back to school. BOO. Oh, and file a tax extension. Yup.

I'm seriously considering taking my own graduation photos.
I don't know why I shouldn't. I don't know why they wouldn't turn out just as good if not better than the ones the school took.

I mean, first of all there's the whole cap thing. I went along with it for the photographer even though the mirror clearly showed that having an egghead was the least flattering look possible for my face. I mean, you have no idea. And you won't, because I'm not linking to the pictures.

But then you have the whole "different angles" thing. And while I understand that this picture is not your standard graduation pose, I can also tell you it shaves about 50 pounds from my appearance. Whereas my official graduation photo seems to have added 70 pounds. Not even joking, and again, not linking.

But my kids want a photo.

But it's 2009. We're in the middle of a technological revolution. We can take our own professional pictures.

So this morning I was thinking again about these photos and just realized: I don't have to suffer through those pictures. I can take my own. I can take them just holding my cap, I can take them looking over my shoulder, I can do the whole MySpace holding the camera up in the air while standing in the bathroom pic if I want.

And so that's what I'm going to do (well, not the bathroom shot). Because although the reality is that I might still be working on these extra 70 pounds, reality also means I didn't gain another 70 like my official pics show.

I mean, I took this shot myself, at my first graduation. And it's not me sitting in a chair at a studio, but it's my very favorite graduation pic of all. And there's no egghead involved. And I can certainly do better if I try.

So why shell out $50 for a 5x7 and 8 wallets that I don't want anyone in the world to see?

Okay, try this link for my class ring instead: CLICK HERE
In antiqued white gold and a blue stone.

If that still doesn't work, search for the Lady Legend style.
:D

My week at school

I've been up early every morning this week and back at school to take care of different graduation and admission things. It's been so nice to be back on campus. I really love my school and even if I wasn't a teacher I would love to have a job on campus. It's just a very nice campus with very nice people.

So anyway I bought my cap and gown, and was told I had to take my graduation pictures right then, but that morning I had just rolled out of bed, put on a sweater, and went to school - there was no way I was getting my picture taken!!

So back to school I went the next day, all gussied up, and put on the gown... and the frakkin cap. Is there no way on earth to make a graduation cap that doesn't make the graduate look ridiculous?? I look absolutely ugly with the top of my head all lopped off and flattened into an egg shape. Ah well.

BUT - they also had the class ring sales people there and I couldn't resist looking. I never got a class ring for high school, and that's okay, but I really felt like I deserved one now. So I spent an HOUR looking at them all, and trying every single one on, over and over again. And I finally settled on this one in antiqued white gold with a blue stone (for my school color). It's really really nice, and I love it, and I can't wait for it to arrive.

So I now have three professors working on my recommendation letters. Earlier in the week I was browsing through the Mass Comm website and found a link to Graduate Studies. I clicked it and what do you know, I needed ANOTHER application turned in to their department!!! And the due date was April 1!!! Well, I already had submitted the university application, on time, so I just quickly filled out the new application, wrote up a new and much improved essay (which I love) and sent that sucker off. Only time will tell whether they will accept it.

You see, California took millions of dollars from the CSU budget. And my university alone is going to eat 30% of those budget cuts. The "reasoning" is something about us being the most successful CSU, so... we could afford 30% of the entire cut??? It's pretty ridiculous. So now thousands of applicants are being turned away. As a graduate student I have a better chance, but not 100% especially with that little missed deadline. It's frustrating to me that that additional application and deadline was not mentioned anywhere but inside that one not-obvious link, but I have to accept that I may not get in.

BUT, then I came home yesterday and see my application status was changed from "Incomplete" (meaning they haven't looked at it yet) to "Complete" which means I have all paperwork in and they're processing it. It's not "Accepted" yet, but "Complete" is actually a few steps through the process. Yeah, there are a zillion steps to being accepted. "Complete" may not seem like a big step, but it's actually pretty encouraging. A quick check of the current graduate classes show they aren't very full at all, so hopefully the Journalism department (which includes Mass Comm) will overlook the missed date and let me in. I'm no longer extremely worried, and now am only a little worried but very hopeful.

In the meantime, I now look forward to my department graduation. I'm not attending the giant all-inclusive graduation (because that would be a nightmare for me), but the English Department has a wonderful lunch and lets everyone say something as they cross the stage. That will be May 21. The kids and Scott will attend and I will finaly be officially, no doubt about it, a university graduate.

And hopefully also a graduate student. :)

Soooo much got done today!

I went to SJSU and just went down the line of offices getting what I needed.

Office One: Hello Professor, I am switching majors, could you please write me a recommendation letter? Yes, I am sure that's what I want to do.

Office Two: Hello Professor, I am switching majors, could you please write me a recommendation letter? Oh, sorry I am breaking your heart.

Hallway: Hello Professor, I feel this major is a natural progression from the English major.
Professor: Natural progression??
Me: Okay, it's the next step.

Office Three: Hello Professor, please sign my form saying English 123D = 123A.
Professor: Why do we have to explain that... okay, nevermind.

English Office: Here's the form, please sign me up for Department Graduation Ceremony. Thank you.

Student Services: Here's the form, fix this mess NOW.

Student Union: I would like to buy this Alumni license plate frame, this Alumni water bottle, this Alumni key chain, two Humanities 2008 tassles, and a new SJSU Catalog for my Masters classes.

Admire the beautiful Cesar Chavez Memorial Arch that is FINALLY finished.

Parking Garage: No ticket on my car! Hurrah!!

It was a good day!

Okay, my Masters application is complete and turned in. Tomorrow I have the appointment to straighten out the whole "English 123A is the same class as English 123D and therefore I DID graduate (MORONS!)" situation. The department counselor just needs to give me the form and I take it over to the graduation office. Then I corner two of my professors, explain that I'm switching majors, and ask them to write my recommendation letters. They're going to be thrilled, heh. (NOT!)

And then I sit and wait for an answer. I can't say I am 100% happy with my admissions essay, so I have to say this is the first time I ever was not SURE that I'll be accepted. And admissions are way down this year due to budget cuts, so there is absolutely no guarantee. So I'm just going to get through everything tomorrow and then cross my fingers. I wouldn't mind if you crossed your fingers for me too - because I really want this.

Actually, I want it more than I even thought. My original plan was to also apply back to the English Literature department just in case, but when I finished the Mass Comm app I sat back and thought about going back to studying literature and I met that same block my brain started putting up last semester. My brain does not want to study literature for one more minute. It is through. Done. So if I want a Masters - and at this point, if I want a degree that's good for anything - then I need to get into that Mass Comm program.

So... please cross your fingers.
:D

And so here I am in the middle of my semester off. And loving it.
It has really been great for my brain to have this rest, and I'm already at the point where I cannot believe I just got through 4.5 years of full time school while working and mothering and losing my parents and blah blah blah everything else that has happened in 4.5 years. But I just don't want to go all out like that again. When I return to school it's going to have to be at a slower pace.

On the other hand, I'm switching majors. I've had serious doubts about whether an English Masters would make me happy. Professors I talked to about it last October tried to chalk it up to stress over the anniversary of my mother's death, but I knew deep down that they just were what they were: serious doubts.

The truth is, I love writing. I also love books, but I just don't want to get any further into an Elizabethan or Jacobean novel than I already have been. Really. I'm done. I want to write, I don't want to write about books any more. So after many months of thought I have decided to switch to Mass Communications. I don't know what I will do with this degree, but I do believe it will make me happier and fit me better than going any further into the English Literature degree. AND, the graduate work I already completed should be able to count towards the new major. So no loss of time spent.

I looked up the deadline for the application and I think I have until April 1 to get my new application in and two reference letters written (by professors who don't want me to leave their department, ah well). And then we'll see if all the budget cuts will allow me entrance. But I started school so that I could do something that I wanted to do - and if Mass Communications makes me happier than English Literature, then that's the direction I'm going to take.

The University sent me my Graduation Evaluation form, stating I didn't complete two required classes. However, the classes they want me to complete are not required. It appears that my university is dyslexic. These classes are not required and never were required, they are just one letter off of a class that IS required and that I DID take. It is obvious that they did not even look at what they were sending out. I'm not pissed, because I know I completed everything and more of what was required, and what they are asking for is silly - I'm just irritated that it will be up to me to clear up their carelessness and, well, stupidity. Because you don't fuck around and be careless with students' graduation evaluations. Other students might actually buy this silliness; I just gave the sheet an irritated eye-roll.

In other news, it's too damn hot in San Jose. I would like my winter back please.

I had my first Theatre class today, it's going to be fun. Just four students total, we'll be doing all the background work for any productions the college puts on. I'll be learning how to work the lights, arranging costumes, painting scenery, really super hard stuff like that.
;-D

Tonight we sorted through some old costumes. Next week we're painting all the backdrops black so we can start over. So haaaaaard.

hehhehhehheh

We had to introduce ourselves and our interests in theater, including what shows we've ever seen. I'm like, uh, EVER seen? Because I can't even count all the shows we've seen this year.
1. 'Tis Pity She's a Whore
2. & 3. Midsummer Night's Dream (two productions)
4. Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde
5. Chicago
6. Taming of the Shrew
7. Man with the Plastic Sandwich

And that's only what I can remember for the last year. Then I told him I was a SJSU Grad student who killed her brain and was taking a semester off to recover. This professor has his BA in English, so he was happy to have me there. Well, considering the other three didn't even know their majors yet (and are freshmen in junior college and I'm a Super Important Grad Student at the University [HAHAHAHAHA]).

Cinequest starts in less than 30 days. I think I honestly did kill my brain last semester because just the thought of Cinequest is making me tired. I haven't sent in my donation (ticket money) yet because, you know, waiting for the economy to grow my money back again and it didn't happy, heh. I've been thinking about just buying individual tickets this year - first time in ten years. We'll see. I hear Kevin Pollack and Diablo Cody are going to be there, among others.

Boo. Boo to the economy. Please fix it so I can go to my first Cinequest with no school responsibilities. Gah, life is unfair, hahah.

Tonight is my theatre class. It might get canceled due to low enrollment, but I'm going to have fun whether I have a class or not.
:-)

My class this morning is taught by my music teacher from 1984-1986, a man who made a huge impression on me and the only professor I even remember from that time. It was a joy to see him today, truly a joy, although as a gay man he had too many heartbreaking tales from the last 20 years. I'm terribly sorry for all his losses, but so happy to see him happy and proud and exuberant and loving life even after all the sadness.

And we're going to watch movie clips, listen to music, and go to a play. And write a couple papers. That's it! I'm totally happy I took this class.

School starts today

My first class is today, Music Appreciation of American Music Theater. I feel strangely nonchalant about the whole thing. I mean, how hard can it be? And if it is, which I highly doubt, then I'll drop it. HAH! It's a strange feeling to have no expectations of one's self.

So I registered at the community college and signed up for the Backstage Assistant class which is one night a week in the evenings.
Then I signed up for Piano but there's a waiting list so I might not get in.
I did not sign up for the History of American Musical Theatre class, because it might involve actual school work or paper writing, and I'm REALLY trying to stay away from anything remotely like actual school.
So if I get into Piano then I do, if I don't then I'll do it another time.

The best news is our community college has a program where they let high school kids take classes to earn credits for high school. And my daughter and her friend (the international model from her movie) are both going to take the Theater Arts class with me!

That fulfills many purposes:
1. They get to earn more school credits
2. I get to spend fun time with my daughter
3. She doesn't get left alone to her own devices while I'm at school.

So now I'm really excited and happy, and... actually learning to relax. A little.
Baby steps into real life, haha.

...officially a University Graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.

I am off to my very last class. When I return I will be a university graduate.

Sooo...

I'm going to sign up for some classes at the JR college next semester. I want to fill up some of my time. I want to take:

Backstage Assistant (Theatre Arts): there are many areas of assisting in their Spring production, including directing and publicity. I think my English degree could serve me well here AND I may even get some writing for my portfolio.

Then I have a choice of:

Piano: the only instrument that I want to play that I don't know how to play. And now I have a piano.
or:
History of American Musical Theatre: I just think this sounds really interesting. The kids want me to take piano, and so do I, but I also really want this class.

So what do you all think? Which one should I take along with Backstage Assistant?

I turned in the last two papers of my undergraduate life today.
Actually the last one paper of my undergraduate life,
and my first graduate paper of my graduate life.

I am not 100% proud of either paper, but they are good enough, and certainly good enough to pass the classes and graduate.

At the moment, my brain is fried and I am very run down. I am in need of a lot of rest.

I still have one presentation to do on Thursday, but it's a 10 minute presentation with four other people. So like... I just have to show up.

So that's it, I survived, after 4-1/2 years I am a university graduate, and now it's time for a rest.

24 hours left.
8 pages left to research and type.
Then I can give my brain a rest.

Finished Paper #1, turned in Wednesday morning.
1/2 done wtih Paper #2.
Will be writing all 15 pages of Paper #3 over the weekend.
Also studying and taking notes for presentation on Thursday.

But the papers are due on Monday.

TYPING TYPING TYPING TYPING TYPING TYPING TYPING TYPING

Feeling better today, just getting run down. The stress level is raising, but I write the best papers under those conditions, haha.

I can't believe I only have two more classes to attend before I'm a graduate. WHAT the HECK!!!

But first: two more papers and one very short presentation.

It's the last week of school, so we all know what THAT means, RIGHT?

I have the flu.

I go wrap myself in a blanket and continue writing my papers now. *sniff*

Work is over for the week, and now I begin writing my final essays for my Bachelors Degree. I'll be hunkered down over the keyboard for the next two weeks writine and writing and writing.

Hopefully you won't be hearing much from me, because I REALLY need to just get these final papers done.

See ya when I'm a University Graduate.

I received my graduation announcements in the mail today, and happily stuffed and addressed them.

I'm wondering if I should send one to my unemployed "Boo Hoo I'm going to lose my house" Ex-husband?

You never know, he might be happy for me.

Okay, school did nothing for making me nicer, sweeter or less evil. But it did give me a degree!
WHOOOPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

15 days to graduation!

Just received my graduation announcements in the mail!

I ordered my graduation announcements yesterday. I graduate in 18 days.

Itsy asked what I would be writing about after that - and that's an excellent question. Would you all even recognize my blog if I wasn't listing all the essays for which I was procrastinating? I don't even know what I'll do with my LIFE with no school, to tell you the truth, I'm sure another life crisis will arrive. Most likely I'll be back to school next fall getting some degree or another.

But first I have to finish up this semester. Two essays of 1500 words each, one 15-20 page paper, and a ten minute presentation. I haven't started any of them. I have 18 days to get them finished.

And then I'll be done. What then? I have NO IDEA.

Yeah, I didn't go to bed until midnight, haha, it's still early for me. It's not that I have insomnia, I just don't want to miss anything! So I usually only get 4-6 hours a night.

Did one presentation in class today, it went very well. My other one was pushed to next week cuz we're always running late, but I spoke to the professor about it before class. It was nice to hear him say things that seemed like direct quotes from my own paper. I must have it right then! And no "disturbing exuberance"!

And in two hours I leave for Flames for drinks with my two friends, then it's off to Taming of the Shrew. Good times. Friday I head over to Aptos, and I have very little to do other than think about my papers. WOOOO! Maybe Scott and I can see a movie! Or... TWO!
Still haven't seen: Religulous, W., Zack and Miri, or Changeling. We've been falling behind. And after this weekend, I won't have a moment of spare time until end of the semester.

So... Which should we see? Have you seen any of them? Each of them has been recommended by at least one person to me. So now we'll put it up for a vote.

OOH, and yesterday I remembered something I used to do years ago on this blog. I was going through some very old posts for another reason, and I came across... (drumrolllllll)...
Saturday Morning Movie Quotes!!
Remember those? When I would post ten movie quotes on Saturday mornings and you would try to guess them? Well, what do you think, should we do it again? Would you participate?
Let me know and I'll decide if I'll do them again. It was a lot of fun, that's for sure.

And now I wait for 5pm and the end of work.

Well, you all are very flattering, and I thank you for all the wonderful things you've said. I wouldn't exactly call my proposal "brilliant" though, haha, I mean it was only a one page proposal. Who knows if I can pull it off? It does interest me though, this is the kind of thing that gets me excited, what makes me WANT to write a paper. Why do we as students feel we have to come up with the most inane, boring, jargon-filled subject that no one would ever ever ever want to read if they weren't forced to? That's the kind of thing that makes me dread graduate school. My paper topic is the kind of thing that makes me look forward to graduate school.

However, the comment that you all are the ones who would really "know me when" made me smile big. Because isn't that the truth?

Anyway, I love you all, I really do. Thanks!

In my graduate class, a seminar on Comedy and taught by my favorite lesbian professor, we have been studying crossdressing in theater, mostly 17th century from Elizabethan period on. We have a 15-20 page paper due mid-December so today we had to bring a paper proposal with us to class, and present it to the class, to discuss.

Plays have always been difficult for me to read, I really need to see them produced on stage for me to completely "get" them. Jacobean drama is especially difficult to find the "comedy" in. So often in class I bring up movies as comparison in our discussions; for instance when we read something horribly vile or violent I bring up "Fargo", which would not read very funny on paper, but on screen it IS funny. And recently I've brought up Monty Python movies as example. I'm in a group of graduate students who maybe don't get out to the movies that often, because I feel like I get a lot of blank looks and "crazy old movie watching lady" faces.

So this weekend, with a paper proposal due, I decided that no matter what, I was going to fit film into my paper topic, and maybe the professor would protest, but I knew that I could pull off a fantastic paper. The last time this professor disagreed with my topic she ended up writing "tour de force" next to my grade of "A". So I pulled up Celluloid Closet to watch, and took all day pausing and playing while I took notes. (By the way, Celluloid Closet is an excellent film for ANYONE to watch, I highly recommend it). But even with the careful study, I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to write about. But I kept on thinking, and two hours before class I just started writing and arguing to myself. Little by little I narrowed my arguments down into what I hoped would be an acceptable enough proposal to begin with. Professor had not asked for a thesis yet, just a good start of an idea. I didn't think I was quite there yet, but this was all I had.

I went to class a little nervous, and wanted to do my paper first so I didn't end up after someone who had their entire act together. But of course, I ended up last. I listened to fifteen paper proposals, some better than others, MANY too technical and full of jargon for me to pay attention to, at least half way out of my league. Most proposals were met with nervous laughter or a couple questions. I remained calm, with the "whatever" attitude I have been perfecting (as opposed to being a perfectionist).

I gave my proposal, beginning with the caveat that we all know that I am obsessed with the performance aspect of drama, and also with films, and that I was going to be including film in my paper but just needed to narrow down my focus. I read from my proposal. I finished. I sat back and took a breath, waiting to hear "But what??" and looked up...

And I heard a cacophony of excited voices: "WOW." "OMIGOD." "That sounds like a BOOK." "That sounds like a book I want to READ." "Wow, now we can all say 'We knew you when.'" It kept going. My brain was all confused. My professor said, "That was really really great, what I especially liked were the connections you were drawing between..." I have no idea what she said. My head was in the clouds. All around me were excited voices, telling each other what a great idea I had, that it sounded so interesting. "Wow. Really?" I asked. Everyone nodded and smiled and STILL kept talking, but I have no idea of what else was said.

It really was the highlight of my entire school career. The day I had a room full of graduate students, some really smart ones too, blown away by my paper idea.

Now I have to live up to it, heh.

Actual proposal after the jump, but it may not make sense if you haven't read the particular plays we had to read this semester.

Research Paper Proposal

In 1995, Richard Dyer, a film historian, said, “Your ideas about who you are don’t just come from inside you, they come from the culture. And in this culture they come especially from the movies, so we learn from the movies what it means to be a man or a woman, what it means to have sexuality.” This is as true today as it was in Shakespeare’s time. Just as we grow up learning how to act and behave in a sexual way from today’s cinema, theater was used to both teach and reflect gender identities of its time. Because Hollywood is the Globe Theater of our times, I would like to explore both our readings and cinematic characters in film. Looking back at the cross-dressing characters we have read about there is a definite change in how these characters are portrayed and how they affect the storyline. Shakespeare’s Rosalind is as vastly different from Moll Firth as they both are from Marlene Dietrich as the tuxedo-clad singer who kisses a woman in Morocco. Film also has a counterpart to drama’s Fop: the Sissy. In the book The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies Vito Russo describes the Sissy as Hollywood’s first stock gay character. Much like drama’s version of the Fop, the Sissy dressed and acted effeminately, though Hollywood’s version of the character was to be understood as a homosexual in contrast to theater’s Fop, who is heterosexual. While the Fop/Sissy character is usually only found in Comedy, the cross dressed female can often be found in drama. My hope is to trace the changes in both types of characters from the time of Shakespeare’s plays through current times, and show how they have both taught sexuality, and reflected it, in their own times.

And in my Global Understanding class my essay that was NOT hard, and that I wrote up in about 90 minutes...

Got an A.

Yay!

It's Monday morning and I'm actually about 110% on track with all three of my classes - pretty amazing! The next two months will be spent writing three very long, difficult papers, but hopefully I can get through it.

And it's off to school for now.

It's been a stressful, unproductive weekend and I can't wait for Wednesday, my last due date, to be over.

I finished one essay, made good progress on another, made minimal progress on the third, am behind on my reading, and am generally disappointed in myself and the work that I did not do.

I also read the most horrific, depressing bunch of short stories from my Global Understanding: Literature of India class. It's no wonder the US doesn't spend much time teaching the history of India, kids would go home crying every day and having nightmares every night.

I didn't get any graduate work done. This sucks big time. And I'm going to have to cut class tomorrow to get my Honors essay completed.

Proposition 8 was annoying the heck out of me, now it's frustrating the crap out of me. I came across a bunch of comments about it from Pro Prop 8 people - and I just don't get it. I don't get how you can hate so much or be so apathetic towards the feelings and rights of other people, how you can throw up the Bible and your religion to take away rights. And feel good about it, feel proud of yourself. How you can blatantly lie in your television ads. A friend of mine on Facebook sent a congratulatory note to her recently married friend, and a wedding pic was on the site. I looked at the excited, happy faces of the two brides and it just devastates me to think that we may take that away from them.

I read my Indian short stories and wonder how humans could have been so cruel to each other and then I watch what we do today. We're not chopping up human beings, but we're doing things just about as cruel, all in the name of, basically, religion.

I don't get it, I'm depressed from the short stories, I'm disappointed in my work, and I'm frustrated by all the ignorant people in the world. I need to go to bed now.

This is going to be a not-fun weekend as I try to write three essays and read too many books.
Two essays will easily write themselves, but my Honors essay is not going well and I really should just forget about it until Sunday night when the pressure will be on to write SOMEthing.

My graduate reading sucks this weekend so there's that too.

To top it off, I had some crazy dream where my Honors professor (who borderline hates me) was playing footsie with me under the desk during class. GAHHH. Now I'm going to think about that when I'm in class.

The good news is that after this week I don't have any more writing due for a long time.

I have a feeling I'm going to spend a lot of time on the internet procrastinating this weekend.
Facebook Sudoku anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Sorry, I had not realized until I got Leslie's comment that I never told you all about my bad day at school last month.

I had a presentation due in my Honors Class and I was pretty confident about it, but as soon as I started the professor started ripping it apart. And he's kind of an asshole, personality-wise, so it was very... unreal, what was happening, and I got flustered and the presentation just went into the CRAPPER. UGH, it was the worst school day EVER. And half way through the presentation he told me, "No, keep going, it's just that your... exuberance... is disturbing."

I seriously wanted to DIE, hahaha. And after that day, NO ONE wanted to speak up in class. They all told me they had agreed with my presentation but didn't want to say anything against the professor - I was like, "thanks a LOT", hahaha.

Anyway, I scored lots of points with this one, so hopefully all is better. But I have an essay due next week, and I have a lot of work to do on it.

Today was a good day.
Yesterday I had my presentation for my graduate class, it's about 25% of my grade and I'd been really nervous about it. But I was really calm the evening of class, and we just zipped through the 3-hour class. It's a seminar, so by "presentation" I mean I led the class through the discussion and had to have discussion questions and notes ready. It went well, the professor says she was impressed, that I had thoughtful and well-thought out discussions, and that it was the most I've talked in class all semester, combined.

I guess I've mostly been contributing to the discussions in my head, heh. I'll have to start using my out-loud voice from now on.

Anyway, it made me feel really good.

This morning I thought I had two presentations due in the same class (Honors Colloquium) but it turns out one isn't due until the end of the month. At least I'm ready for it already! But the one that was due went really well too, and I wasn't told I have "disturbing exuberance" this time, so that was a plus. That class is going much better than it was before.

Now I have another 100 pages to read and a reader response to write for tomorrow morning. At that point I will finally be caught up with all my classes.

Except now there's a 1500 word paper due on Tuesday, so this weekend will be shot doing that, and I'll go back to being behind again.

Just another average week in a student's life!

Just for the record, I DID do my homework and got it posted on time. Three minutes to spare.

It's now midnight - Monday starts in one minute. Blah.

Well, the day is starting off well!
My schedule this semester requires me to work from school on two mornings, but we weren't sure if I would be able to connect to my company's network from the university.

But I'm here, and I'm in! My schedule is going to work! Hurray! This is great news for 8am on a Monday morning.

I was just declared the Undergraduate Representative for the English Department Curriculum Committee at the university - which means I get to help decide what classes should be required for the major AND it gives me another line to put on my resume/graduate applications.

WOOOO!

And the grade is in:

"A"

That class was a nightmare, and that A was well earned, let me tell you. English Grammar can kiss my arse now.

The waiting game

I finished Summer School a week and a half ago but my grade still isn't posted. I know it's most likely an A, could be an A-, but the deal is that I need it posted before I can finish my Masters Application. So POST THE GRADE ALREADY.

Stress.

So our professor today gave up and said he would give us our final as a take home exam.

My life just became a whole lot easier.

And now I go to bed and geek out with my grammar book. Must study noun and verb phrases.

Also, my Norton Literary Criticism book arrives any second now - talk about geeking out!

Oh, wait, you thought you were done with school posts? HAHAHAHA, yeah, never gonna happen.

I start my summer class Monday afternoon. Modern English, which is a required intense grammar class. I don't really believe I'll have a problem with it, so I'm eager to just get it over in six weeks. I'm sure I'll eat my words on that one.

I ordered the Norton book of literary criticism to study over the summer, party because I'm insane, partly because I'm mad that I learned exactly zilch in my class, and partly because I'm fascinated that no professor seems to want to teach it because it is so difficult.

And difficult is right up my alley. Don't be surprised to see me specializing in literary criticism, heh.

I saw a swim-team mom/friend at Time Trials Saturday, she asked if I had graduated yet, and when I told her I was going to apply to some PhD programs she shrieked, "Are you crazy???"

And I agreed that I probably am, but it also took me back to my very very first semester of school when I registered for 12 units while working full time. "Are you crazy???" was the question of the day, by everyone I spoke to. But then I got all A's, in every class. And now I'm graduating with all sorts of honors and a passed fluency exam and a lot more accomplished than I ever would have dreamed back in the Fall of 2004.

"Well I figured I'm not going to be accepted if I don't apply," was my answer after agreeing to my craziness. And that's really the answer. I think it's probably not likely that I will be accepted at this time, mainly because I don't have experience yet writing a paper that would be required for acceptance. But I do have a chance, and I have the beginnings of a paper that is appropriate.

So I'm still preparing to apply.

But tomorrow, it's Grammar.

OOH! Dracula IS on the reading list! So is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! Looks like this summer will be my "Romantic and 19th Century British Literature" summer!

It just came in!!

Spanish: A

:-)

Grades for Spring 2008 are... ?

So grades are supposed to be posted already, but there's always some professors who can't manage to get them listed on time.
*grummmmble*

I got the expected A in Age of Elizabeth.
I was very very happy to get a B+ in Literary Criticism. Too bad the teacher never taught us a thing in that class and now I feel like I need to study it on my own over the summer.
I got a very unexpected A- in Chaucer! I had a solid B+ through the semester, I guess I must have done great on the final!

And we are missing... the never-ending Spanish. I should have an A, I had a solid A throughout the semester, but the final was intense, so it could drop as far as a B+. I don't want it to drop at all, I need a solid A to keep my GPA up. Ya'll laughed at me for stressing about my A's, but now that's what's going to get me into a PhD program. I need A's from here on out.

So HURRY UP Spanish Professor!!!!! Get those grades IN!!!!!

So we have another theater day scheduled, this time we're going to see John Ford's "'Tis Pity She's a Whore". With a name like that you can't go wrong, eh? Plus, it's in English! hahahaha

I am seriously considering graduate schools for a PhD now, too many people telling me I have the ability. Ability doesn't come with money or time though, so I'm not really sure how possible it is right now. I'll be applying to UC Santa Cruz and UC San Diego. UCSD will require a move, but it also carries the likelihood of them paying my way through school. UCSC is closer, but the teeny tiny size of their English graduate department is so small there is only a 1% chance I will get in.

But that's what college is all about, right? Waiting for those acceptance letters. Anyway, I sent my GRE scores to both UCSD and UCSC plus SJSU (and Stanford, but I don't really have the $40,000/year required for seven years of school there), so I may as well get things together to apply to them all too. It only costs around $60 to apply to each, I just have to get a lot of papers (20 page writing sample, 3 letters of recommendation, 1 statement of intent) together by December. If I get accepted to any... is there really any excuse to not go?

So I'm trying to just not get my hopes up, because while I may be good enough for Santa Cruz, their tiny program will not likely have room for me. On the other hand, while the logistics of San Diego may seem to prevent me from going... if I get accepted and get a free ride (likely), why would I NOT find a way to go there? Do I just deny myself a PhD because the education is in San Diego (which happens to be the most beautiful place in the world to live)?

Lots to think about, but I'm not going to dwell because I have months to go before everything is due in, and again, likelihood is... well, we'll see.

I am done, I am done, I am DONE. And only three more classes to ANOTHER graduation!

I got to my Literary Criticism class yesterday morning and the entire class was pretty morose. "Hey," I told them, "this stupid exam isn't so scary when you realize we are also getting our papers back today." *GROANNNNNN* Well, it got their minds off the final.

So she gave us the final which except for the essay portion had, as usual, NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT SHE GAVE US TO STUDY. Our last class day was a review where she helped us creat study sheets, which we all studied, but then... NONE OF IT WAS ON THE FINAL.

So, whatever. But then, halfway through the final, I walked up front to get a cup of coffee (we had brought breakfast foods). The professor looked at me and whispered, "you got an A on your paper."

"me??" I whispered back.

"yes," she whispered.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME???"

"SHHHH!!!"

Heh. So I went back to my desk... feeling up in the CLOUDS. I sat there recounting points in my mind. Because if I got an A on my paper, then I had an A-/B+ in class, before the final. Which meant I just might get an A in class. Which was SO COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE throughout the entire semester that it really was blowing my mind.

It turns out that a lot of people got A's on their papers. People who I know don't write that well. So I think maybe she realized she was... being too hard on us? I don't know. There's really no explanation for the A's. I mean, my paper didn't even deserve an A - how could it, when I didn't even understand the criticism I was using to write it? None of us did. So somehow... she grew a heart (?). I don't know. What I do know is that I should for sure get at least a B in class after finals are graded, which is fine. I was afraid that I was going to bomb the final, and get a C or even an F on my paper, and this would have been disastrous. So somehow, things worked out. Really though? I'll never understand how.

Then I went to my Spanish final which was the hardest exam I've ever taken and took 2-1/2 hours to complete. It was crazy. It was so crazy that I couldn't help giggling through the whole thing. I mean, I just got out of Literary Criticism, where I was very close to not passing the class, but then left with an A paper in my hands, and now here I was realizing I may not even get a B in Spanish after this final. I could not get less than a B in class because of Masters requirements. So I'm sitting there realizing I've somehow passed Literary Criticism, but now I'm going to totally fail Spanish. And I couldn't help but get the giggles. Alix, my Spanish partner, sits in front of me. She kept turning around and hissing, "WHAT is the MATTER with youuuuuu!!!!! WHY are you laughing!!" But all I could do was giggle back. Because I knew the answers to half the exam, but had no idea what I was doing for the other half.

But we have a crazy Spanish teacher too. Every exam we take we have to stand next to her while she looks over our completed exam and points out which questions we got wrong. Then she sends us back to our desks to re-do them. (I know, WHAT???) The problem with this exam was, IF WE KNEW THE CORRECT WAY TO CONJUGATE THESE WORDS WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT THE FIRST TIME. Which is why after 2-1/2 hours I was finally set free to go (she won't let us leave until we've fixed everything) but there were still people sitting at their desks trying to get through the exam.

But the main thing is, she set me free after only one re-do section. That means I should have at least a B on the final, leaving me with an A in the class.

I was so deliriously happy when I left that class I know I made no sense in the conversations I had after. I just completed the Semester from Hell, passed my Literary Criticism class, wrote at least two papers that received RAVE reviews, AND NEVER HAVE TO TAKE A SPANISH CLASS AGAIN. That's right Folks, these long years of studying Spanish are OVER. I am officially "fluent" in a foreign language according to Graduate Standards.

On June 2 I start my summer class, "Modern English", another requirement. It's over by July 11. And then just two classes next semester before I graduate.

Good lord this has been a long journey.

I took my second final Monday, my Age of Elizabeth class. I had a solid A before the final, and I think I got an A or B on the final, so no problem there.

Tomorrow is going to be HELL.

7:15am I have my dreaded Literary Criticism final, and I'll be really happy if I get a C on the final. I'll be really happy if I get a C in class. That's not a joke, Folks, that class/professor was brutal and I will not miss it for one second. The only thing worse than the final tomorrow is getting back my paper in that class. Papers I thought I had earned an A on I received B-, and that last paper I did NOT think I was getting an A on. So... I am just hoping I passed the class, and that seems to be the majority thought in that class. Students are bringing donuts and coffee to class tomorrow, I think we all just hope to drown our sorrows in sugar.

Then I have a short nap/breakfast break, and it's on to my Spanish final. Which... I have to say I've already forgotten most everything at this point and really don't care. I need a B in class to pass the Masters requirement. I have a solid A at the moment... so I can get, what, a B on the final? C+?

All I know is, by 3:00pm tomorrow I'm going to be wiped OUT, and so looking forward to summer. I can't wait for a NEW semester to start. Next Fall is going to be so much easier, and simpler, and a better schedule, and hopefully a little less work. What I DO know is that I will have three very very good professors.

Wish me luck folks, I'll really need it tomorrow.

Man. That GRE Exam was intense.

I only need the essay scores which won't come in for 14 days. But I had to take the whole test anyway. My score for Verbal was 590 out of 800 - I thought that sucked until I saw the mean average was in the 400s. My score for Quantative Reasoning was 620 - the average mean is again in the 400s. So I guess I did pretty good.

But I sure hope I did well on the essay portion, cuz I don't ever want to take that exam again!
It took me from 8:00am to 11:30am. My brain is fried!

No more finals until Monday, but I take my GRE Exam in 9 hours.
8:00am Saturday I'll be working my way through a 3+ hour test, WOOOO. It's a computerized test so I'll have my scores right away, except for my 2 essay scores - which are the only scores I really need anyway, hah. I'll have those scores in about 2 weeks.
I'll be stopping at Starbucks to energize up on my way there.

Then in the afternoon I'll be giving my car a good scrubbing, inside and out. The inside is full of books, papers, crap, empty coffee cups and water bottles, etc. And it's dusty. The outside is just Dirty. I don't think I actually got to the inside-car-washing at the end of last semester, so the poor car really needs it.

Then Sunday... FUN TIme! It's off to San Francisco with two of my friends for drinking and Shakespeare. What's more fun than that?

It's going to be a big weekend, and I'm glad a lot of it is going to be spent in air conditioned buildings. This heat really sucks.

What English Majors do when school is done:

1. Play endless stupid word games on Facebook
2. Sit and read their Literary Criticism book... just for the heck of it

Okay, here we go: My last paper is due tomorrow morning. I'm 900 words into the 2000 word paper. I have a big frozen lasagna in the oven and a large glass of Mt. Dew with ice next to me. I have my stupid Waste Land book in my lap and the laptop on and Judge Judy on TV...

I really hope I can get this last one out.

Bring on the Mt. Dew

Tonight is D-Day(/Night). My last paper is due tomorrow morning. It's the 2000 word Literary Criticism of The Waste Land, and I'm 900 words in, 1100 to go. I am exhausted and my brain is fried I don't feel like I have the energy to finish this, but I'm going to get a 2-liter of Mt. Dew on the way home, send Spike out for burritos, and set down to writing.

Mt. Dew = Magical Essay Writing Juice

From Friday afternoon on it will be all alcohol all the time through the weekend. Now I understand why college students drink so much.

Super Fantastic Spenser essay all complete!
After school today I work on my Spanish presentation (on Daddy Yankee, HAAAR) with my partners for Wednesday.
Then I finish the last 1100 words of my Literary Criticism paper, due Friday.

That's about IT, Folks!!!

Turned in my Chaucer essay today, it came in at 3300 words (and 11 pages with 2 pages of works cited).

My Spenser essay has to be 2000 words (around 5 pages) and I'm 150 words into it (due tomorrow) but I finally have a good thesis in mind and it's progressing. I can always count on good old Ovid for inspiration.

I have my Mt. Dew here next to me and expect to be up until at least 1am.

I am happily writing away!

At 2700 words and 2 pages of works cited I am all finished but the conclusion. I think I'm going to put that paper away until tomorrow, take a break from it and then write the conclusion with a clear head. Just in time to print it for school!

And now I BEGIN my 2000 word paper on Spenser's Epithalamion. Don't hate, I know you want to write one too.

I can't believe I've written over 3000 words in only a few days... My cold isn't 100% gone (because I'm not getting enough sleep or healthy food) but as long as I can keep it at arm's length I'll be okay.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I ONLY NEED TO PASS THREE MORE CLASSES TO GRADUATE!!!!!!!

Progress

2000 words done on my Chaucer essay, 1000 words to go, due tomorrow.
(sighhhhhh...)

Nothing done but the title of my Age of Elizabeth essay, 2000 words to go, due Tuesday.

900 words done on my Waste Land essay, 1100 more to go, due Friday.

On Saturday I'm going to sleeeeeeep.

The first 2-3 pages of our 2000 word papers in Literary Criticism are due Friday morning. I just finished over three pages and 900 words so I'm printing out my copies for class right now (1:00am). We had a choice of The English Patient or The Waste Land to write on. You can guess what everyone else chose... I decided to be different and take the harder route and chose The Waste Land. Now that I'm over my cold I think it's going to be a good paper.

The entire thing isn't due until next Friday, so after this that paper is going to sit until Tuesday.

Starting tomorrow evening I'll be frantically pounding out my 3000 word research paper for my Chaucer class. It's about the Blood Libel stories and Chaucer's "Prioress' Tale". Nice and bloody and gory - it's going to be a fun paper. Oh yeah, and I haven't started it yet and it's due MONDAY.

I just discussed an entirely different approach for my Age of Elizabeth paper with my professor today. So again I'm going to be different and instead of writing about The Faerie Queene again I'll be writing about Spenser's Epithalamion. And that's due Tuesday.

I'm sure it all sounds boring, but now that I'm not sick I'm having fun and am thriving under the pressure. And after the papers? School is all over except for the Finals.

WOOOOOOO

And now I go to bed so I can be at school by 9:00am. Six hours of sleep, Yayy!

Except for a hacking cough that is exhausting me (and about to split a blood vessel in my brain) today is the first day I've felt better since Friday evening. So that's... four and a half days of writing WASTED. WHY do I get sick at the end of EVERY DAMN SEMESTER????

I got one page done today and lots of research for a paper which is due next Friday, but of which I need to bring the first three pages to school THIS Friday for peer review.

I got research done last night that will help for the 3000 word Chaucer paper that is due... MONDAY. That I have not started WRITING yet.

And for my class on Spenser? We are still at Zero, even though I sat staring at my computer screen all weekend long with the book open next to me, but my doped up brain couldn't think of one coherent word to type.

So, that's where we are. I'm not sure I've ever been this crunched for final papers, but I know it's been close. At least now I'm better. We'll be eating takeout all week and I won't be leaving the house this weekend until I have my Chaucer paper finished.

No matter what that sounded like, I actually finally feel optimistic that I can finish everything, now that I'm well again - just a little stressed about time, but I know I'll get them done.

Okay, off to bed I go.

I went to the ceremony and I'm really glad I did because it was really nice, and the speeches weren't long and stuffy but then the chemistry professor told everyone that if they didn't graduate college they could at least MARRY someone who graduated from college.

Which set my scary English Professor OFF. I think she may still be in the courtyard griping about it right this minute. And really now... what the F??

But anyway it was nice and only one hour long, and the kids even seemed to be okay with it. And maybe something got through to them because as soon as I met up with them after, the first thing Buffy tells me is that her counselor told her she can still get into a four-year college. And as many times as Buffy gets herself grounded, she HAS been pulling through in school... and if she ever really set her mind to it she could really surpass MY accomplishments in school, that's for sure.

So maybe I should force them to go to ALL my awards ceremonies, hee.

Anyway, this weekend I'm holed up by myself so I can churn out 8000 words of research, but OF COURSE I NOW HAVE A COLD. Because what is a semester end without BEING SICK?

God Bless Tylenol Cold medicine.

Dudes, I don't even know what to wear to tomorrow's Dean's Scholar ceremony. I know what building it's in but don't know where exactly I'm supposed to go. Blah. I just want to sit at home and do my papers. But I have at least two professors there expecting me to show up. Ah well.

On my first essay for The Faerie Queene I just received an A and these comments:

"This is quite a tour de force! Your essay is original and well argued and extremely thorough. Nice Work! A"

Those are the best comments I've ever ever received. It's going to be hard to live up to that with my second essay, heh.

Back I go to writing it. Blah.

It appears that I have two 3000 word research papers and an 8 page essay all due on May 5.

I guess I better get on that.

Good grief. I was hoping to take Modern English this summer so next semester I only would need one elective and my Capstone Seminar, allowing me to take a graduate level class at the same time.

Summer tuition for one class is $1,106.00. For one freakin class. Plus parking fees and books.
Is taking this class over the summer and getting it out of the way worth what will amount to $1500 in fees? On the other hand, being able to take the grad class next semester will help me finish my Masters a semester earlier, saving $2200 in graduate tuition (PLUS parking, books, blah, etc.).

So I guess when you look at it that way, it's worth it.

I have my Phi Kappa Phi honors ceremony in two weeks, and my Deans Scholar ceremony the week after, and hopefully a scholarship ceremony two weeks later, and then take my GRE exam two weeks later and then turn in my Graduate Apps two weeks later. School is flying by!

Speaking of which, I have an essay on Spenser's Faerie Queene to write this weekend, the beginnings of a research paper for Chaucer, and a WHOLE LOT of Spanish to catch up on.
So I better get crackin.

The costumes, they are complete. Or, just about. Dude, I even finished all the hems. It's crazy to the Nth degree. Also, machine needle death tally is now at five. I only need to hand sew a couple inches of a sash, and attach the bracelets to the chain.

I keep looking at them trying to decide if they are truly worth $1500 in tuition money. But the kids seem to be very impressed, and Buffy has been SO HELPFUL with it, putting the dresses on and off every fifteen minutes and standing still while I pin her some more. She's been so cooperative. And the kids friends think they are beautiful too, even Spike's guy friends.

So, tomorrow morning Buffy will put them on and we'll take pictures (it's too dark now) and I'll print them on the printer (and post them for you all too), I print out my statement of intent and all the other forms I need to fill out... and then I drag them off to school.

They don't really hang on a hanger, being togas, but I don't want to just dump them in a bag and I don't have a box. So I'm going to fold them nicely up, put all the paper work in a folder under them, and tie up the bundle with a purple ribbon. That's how I'll turn it in.

It's kind of exciting, because I kind of do think I did a pretty great job. Winning a scholarship is pretty cool. And this is by far the biggest one available from the English Department.

My entire house is covered with glitter (and thread and pieces of fabric)(and beads), and I had to take the brand new super-duper expensive vacuum in for service today because it stopped sucking things up three weeks after I bought it. Well, that also coincided with letting Spike vacuum the garage, so I'm sure there's a connection, but I do have a three year warranty. Anyway, the stupid thing won't be ready until April 11th!!!

So I guess we'll be living in a glitter house for awhile.

I sure want that scholarship.

I sure get myself into projects that are intent on killing me.

The wings look fabulous, I can't wait until you all see both dresses actually. Titania's Faerie Queen dress is pretty sparkly and the beads look great. Hippolyta's looks regal and royal for sure.

I've gone through three, count them, THREE sewing machine needles sewing those damn beads on Titania's dress, and I've never had to change the machine needle before EVER. Long time readers will remember that I used to sew quilts non-stop, yet I've never replaced a needle, so breaking three in one night is about sending me over the edge.

And I have glitter in my nose.

And real school work to do. I won't have time to sleep until Wednesday night.

If only I had another week to work on this!

I realized that I can't really have a "costume" for Titania, Queen of the Faeries, if I don't have wings for her - and Buffy immediately said her friend has wings from Halloween that she was going to throw away! I told her I'd give her five bucks for them, so Spike drove her over for the exchange.

And do you know, these aren't regular little white angel wings, these are Big Rainbow colored wings, like for a butterfly, AND they exactly match the colors of Titania's dress!

Now if only I could get the darned things finished...

So... Easter is this Sunday??

I had no idea.

I am leaving to go to my last midterm today. In Literary Criticism. Stupid class is going to destroy my GPA.

I registered for my GRE test (Graduate Record Examination). May 17. As soon as my score comes in I can apply to the graduate program at my school. Because of the kids and the fact that I cannot (and have no desire to) afford Stanford, I am pretty much stuck with staying at my school, but that's fine because that's where I want to be anyway. I think I must be pretty lucky to have a great university so close to home. UC Santa Cruz doesn't really have a program for me, but SJSU has a pretty good one. I spoke to the graduate advisor this week and she is pretty eager to get my paperwork, she said there will be no problem getting in with my GPA.

After today I'll be on Spring Break, but I'll be spending it writing papers and working on a project for a scholarship. Oh, and Saturday I get my taxes done. I actually am pretty overwhelmed with some life stuff right now, but I'm going to try to settle down and start checking off what needs to be done. And then get it done.

I sure could use a Personal Assistant, that's for sure.

Here we are again.

I took my Age of Elizabeth midterm last week and I'm pretty sure I aced that one, that was easy. Hopefully Tuesday we'll get back either those grades or our papers from the week before.

Tomorrow I have a midterm in Chaucer, I'm about as prepared as I'm going to be.

Friday I have another midterm in Literary Criticism. It feels like midterms have been going on for weeks. I'm ready for Spring Break already.

But then I'll be furiously writing for scholarships.

So, here we are again. Back to school.

I just typed up a 1500 word essay on Midsummer Night's Dream FOR THE FUN OF IT, because I had a point I wanted to think over and prove to myself.

I repeat: I just wrote a 1500 word essay for the FUN of it.

I don't even know what to say about that.

I hate when the university website changes links on me and my bookmarks get all messed up.

For instance, today I clicked on my bookmark for the Upper GE Classes, and I am directed to the Physics Major page. Unlike Elizabeth Wiltsee from "This Dust of Words", yesterday's movie, I cannot do physics problems in my head and am having enough trouble getting through The Old Arcadia.

So now I am off to locate the correct link. This ends the Complaining About School post for the day.

I just finished my last paper due this week. Today I turned in the six page Queen Elizabeth paper, tomorrow morning I turn in the 4 page Literary Criticism. Then all I have to do this weekend is WATCH MOVIES and read Love's Labour Lost by Shakespeare.

I'm really happy that I have nothing to do the rest of the weekend and now I can go get my money's worth from my Cinequest passes. I've been really happy this year that so many movies have been really outstanding. It truly lived up to my expectations that this would be the best year ever. Now if only school will cooperate next year!

(What am I talking about? I'll be in GRAD SCHOOL next year, can you BELIEVE that???)

Tomorrow I have four movies on my schedule:
The Metrosexual
Young Single and Angry
Glory Boy Days
Speed Dating

I asked one professor yesterday if she thought I was up to grad work since I an consistently unhappy with my papers (yes, even though I get A's on them). I got an emphatic YES from her and that made me feel better.
Today I did some research on my own regarding a Greek myth that I had remembered about a woman named Pasiphae and a possible obscure connection to Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream. I emailed what I had found out to another professor and her response was "WOW!" and said she would help me turn my ideas into a conference paper.

It's been a very difficult semester, but things are finally starting to come together. I'm starting to feel comfortable with what I'm doing and more optimistic that I am cut out for the life of an English Professor. It definitely takes a certain kind of person to like that life I think, but when I do discover research that really interest me, like today, then I know I have definitely made the right choice.

And now it's 12:40am, I have a 9am class and then movies to watch from noon to 11pm, so I think it's time to go to bed.

This 1500 word essay is already up to 1542 words and I still have about 500 more to go. That's not good.

However.

I got a whopping 99% on my Spanish exam today, which boggled my mind and everyone else's in the class. I know, I know, ya'll think I get A's so easily, but this class makes me crazy and I had already resigned myself to getting a B (All I need to satisfy the Masters requirement). But... 99%!!!! I was damn proud and damn happy. And laughing at the other students who were so mad, haha. I mean: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA.

So I rewarded myself by going to see a movie from Mexico at Cinequest after class. Review later.

And now I return to this stupid essay.

Stress City

AI YIYIYIYI I don't know how I'm going to finish this 1500 word essay by tomorrow afternoon... I mean, I can churn out 1500 words any time, but making a good essay out of those words is another story. I so could have used just a couple more days - or the end of Cinequest.

Then I have the Literary Criticism essay due on Friday... but then I am FREEEEEE to watch as many movies as I like over the weekend.

Movie total so far: (I think) eleven movies in seven days. Pretty far under my hoped-for goal.

We interrupt Cinequest coverage to bring you the following message:

Congratulations!

Dean's Office
College of Humanities and the Arts

OMIGODOMIGODOMIGOD!!! YAYYYYYY!!!!

I finished The Great Gatsby in two days and I finished, yes finished, the 1200 line Book of the Duchess by Chaucer this afternoon. I actually have no homework to do. That's right, I'm a rockstar.

We cleaned the house - and it really looks nice. We love our new vacuum.
I read all of The Great Gatsby - I LOVED it, and had no idea it was such a disturbing story. I mean... from the first few pages I just thought Tom Buchanan was one of the most repulsive literary characters ever, but then I met the rest of them... and it just got worse and also better. If you've read it, you know what I mean.
I finished my Literary Criticism reading assignment.
I read my Spanish Chapter.
Could not get through Chaucer, I still have a few hours tonight but I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish all 400 lines assigned.
Now I just have to write my Spanish paper.

It was a good weekend. Stress and anxiety were way down, I think because it was a rainy weekend with the kids so we were able to just all stay home together and that's really all that calms me down right now. Also, I was really proud of the work the kids did on the house. We split up all the rooms and each kid did a really great job cleaning. Buffy picked the kitchen, and I wasn't too happy about that because, well, let's just say her cleaning skills are lacking. But the kitchen looks incredible! I'm really proud of them both.

And now I leave to write my Spanish paper.

An example of what my life will be like this semester, this is the opening to the next 600 pages I have to read:

I have gret wonder, be this lyghte,
How that I lyve, for day ne nyghte
I may nat slepe wel nygh noght;
I have so many an ydel thoght,
Purely for defaute of slepe,
That by my trouthe, I take no kepe...

I may nat slepe wel for the next five months either. Why does Chaucer have to haunt me every single semester???

Literary Criticism: It's still a great unknown, although it's clear there will be a lot of work. I love when professors think that just because they only teach one class a week, the students in that class also have no other classes during the week.
We'll be reading approximately one novel and around 150 pages each week with a typed response due every Friday. Also a research paper due later on.
Professor was interesting... She looks like she may run 50 mile races, or at least bicycle 50 miles a day... she even wears a pedometer and refuses to sit down because she's "more comfortable" standing up.
Good news: She doesn't like the idea of our 7:15am scheduled Final, so it's a possibility she will either hold it later and make it really short, or give us a Take-Home final.

So that was cool.

Also, she let us out after only an hour. Also cool. But we don't expect that to happen again.

This weekend I'll be reading: the entire novel of The Great Gatsby, The Book of the Duchess by Chaucer, a chapter of Spanish, writing a page long description of my vacation in Spanish... ooh, I think that's it? I must be forgetting something.

Also planned: Revisiting one pawnshop, an appointment with... an installer, finishing Queen of the South (80 more pages), getting the kids to understand that they will be cleaning the house before they go ANYWHERE, convincing Spike that he will mow the back yard before he goes anywhere, I guess buying a mop because I don't think we have one... and maybe that's it? It seems like so little, yet I know I'll never get it all done.

I should also go get some binders and buy some pens too, since I'm still not prepared for this semester.

Friday

This morning I have the great unknown: Literary Criticism with another brand new professor.
3 hour class, yuck. We'll see how it goes today.

Today was The Age of Elizabeth.

First, the professor asked us to write down on one side of a paper everything we know about Queen Elizabeth 1.

I wrote: 1. Virgin. 2. Unmarried.
And set my pen down.

Professor: What? Pischina is not going to play the game?

Me: I'm playing the game. There is a reason I'm taking this class.

I have never seen any of the "Elizabeth" movies, never read a book about her, really know absolutely zilch about her. But I love this professor more than any other, and it was obvious to everyone today that this is going to be a great class, even if she is going to make us read "Old Arcadia". I know I'll be able to fill pages and pages about Elizabeth when this class is over.

Also, Parking was a breeeeeeze. Yay.

Also, no fewer than FOUR, 1-2-3-4, students and one professor were very happy to see me today. One student yelled at me from across campus and waved me over but I couldn't stop then, two others wanted me to sit by them in class, another I only ever see in the English Lounge and he was excited to see me and tell me about his grades last semester. And my beloved Professor retraced her steps to come back and say a happy Hi after recognizing my voice in the Lounge.

I had to take a Spanish placement test today to make sure I was ready for Spanish 4. I needed a 400, I got a very nice 414 and I was happy.

Work went well, I got very much done and felt stress free when I left for school. I only start stressing out and feeling the anxiety again when I think about returning home to see if anything else bad has happened. I really am thinking about going to a doctor soon, the anxiety brought on by the last problems (that I haven't talked about yet) is really causing me a lot of problems, but I want to give it a little bit longer to see if I can calm down first - time heals all wounds, right? But sometimes those wounds just don't close, and anyway, I don't need this added stress in my life.

And now it's time for my evening Bloody Mary - they're not just for breakfast ya know.

We have good and bad.

Parking: Not as bad as usual the first week. Just about normal. So that's a good.
Food: I did not schedule any eating time into my Monday or Wednesday schedules. Good thing I brought a little banana muffin today.
Chaucer: Oh dear lord. We learned the difference between belongen and belongeth, that "eke" means "also", we learned that knight, cnight, cnigt, cniht, knigte ETC all mean the same thing, and that people who read and wrote in Middle English didn't actually have to know how to spell. It took us the first 45 minutes just to translate six lines of one poem. Also... ZZZZzzzzzzzzz.......
Spanish: The Bad News: THERE IS SO MUCH WORK IN THIS CLASS!
The Good News: Our professor is TOTALLY on crack. Bad for our work load, good for our entertainment. We all just kept staring at each other like, "Helloooo, we passed our last class so we could be in this class? This is Insane! How are we going to do all this work? How fast is this lady talking and do you have ANY idea what she is saying???" But then we couldn't help but giggle CONSTANTLY because she really is SO INSANE! She's around 50 years old and she talksahundredmilesaminutewithouttakingabreathe! She's like a Spanish Robin Williams. So... Entertaining. We are scared but looking forward to seeing what happens in class.

More good news: Friends! Being back where I belong again! As soon as I walked back on campus my anxiety and stress from everything else just went away and I felt so much more comfortable again. It was nice being back with people that I understand and that understand me. I have lots of friends at school, and they were so happy to see me (yay!). In Spanish my partner from last year flew across the room to sit next to me again and pleaded with me to be her partner. Yayy, of Course! It was just nice to be back. Honestly? Since my parents' house is gone, and the pastors from our church are gone, school really feels like my home and my family. So Yay for being back.

Tomorrow: The Age of Elizabeth with one of my favorite professors.

First day of school tomorrow, I haven't picked up my books yet, I have no binders, no pens, I am NOT PREPARED.
Heh.

Tomorrow I get up early and work, then drive to Park&Ride hoping I can find a parking space (HATE first 2 weeks of parking!)...
Then go to my first, most dreaded class: Chaucer with the insane professor.
Then I have my second most dreaded class: Spanish. Unknown, brand new professor.

We shall forever more call that class: My Last Semester of Spanish, or MLSS.

Then back home to work another hour or two. BLAH. Don't wanna have these classes!!!!!!

Then Thursday I get to go to my Age of Elizabeth class to study Spenser, ah well, the professor is great.

Friday I have one morning class, Literary Criticism, and another brand new professor.

I still have 150 pages left to finish Queen of the South, so I better get on that right now.

School starts Wednesday and I can't stop the feeling that I'm going to forget to go.
I had a little better day today, was able to relax a little, but this evening the anxiety is coming back. Too much anxiety, I swear I could use some pills to calm down. What happened to SuperWoman? I'm falling apart half the time now. I'll figure things out though, somehow life keeps going on, right? Well, usually anyway. Blah.

I could always shave my head, that would be interesting. Didn't seem to work that well for Britney though. On the other hand, it did get her a nice long vacation at rehab. Maybe I should drink more Bloody Marys.

Good thing I remembered my books.
I went to the website to order them and OF COURSE they have changed one of my professors from the Masters Guidance Councelor to some unknown professor who doesn't exist on RateMyProfessor or even Google.
The good news is, it looks like we'll be reading Great Gatsby, English Patient, Hamlet(BOO), and some poetry. No sign of Heart of Darkness!!!! This was the one class (Literary Criticism) where it was likely to come up, but it looks like I'll get away without reading it.

My Advanced Composition class was dropped, but that was not unexpected. However I am left with Chaucer, studied in Middle English, and taught by my semi-insane mythology professor. I want to rub my eyeballs every time I think about that class. In fact, as soon as I hit "Save" on this entry I'm going to go check, AGAIN, if there is a different class I can fit into my schedule.

The Age of Elizabeth class at least I know the professor will make it fun.
Spanish will be Spanish, I just have to get through this last class and I will be FINISHED.
It was definitely nice to converse easily in Mexico though, and to help Scott with his bargaining. But I really can't take any more language when I'm trying to concentrate on the rest of this.

And now I check for something to replace Chaucer.

Spanish final tomorow,
Shakespeare and Mythology final Tuesday, then I'm done with school.

Christmas shopping almost done, ordered lots online as usual, but we moved our Christmas up to this Friday/Saturday (due to child-sharing issues) and I'm not positive all our presents will arrive on time. So we may be opening presents on Friday, Saturday and also Tuesday. Heh.

It's been a stressful week. I can't believe I'll be on a cruise to Mexico with Scott in 24 days. It will be a needed vacation, for sure.

My last final is still on Tuesday, so I'm not done studying, just have the paper done. Which is a RELIEF. Now I only have to brush up on seven Shakespeare plays (NOT Troilus and Cressida!) and study seven chapters of Spanish.

No problema!

Oh, and the Buff managed to get herself grounded for all of Christmas Vacation, just like I hoped she would, so now I don't have to worry about what sorts of new trouble she'll be getting in this December. Because she'll be safe at home watching TV.

Like all teenage girls should be.

Troilus is DEAD

It's done, I cannot believe it, but the paper that took me 365 days to write is DONE and Spike is at school printing it out for me right this moment.

The professor and another student and I are going to celebrate the end of our Ovid class "with libations" and I bet it will take me half a glass of wine before I put my head on the table and fall asleeeee...... ZZZZzzzzzzzz....zzzzzz....

I cannot believe I actually have this stupid Troilus and Cressida paper 60% done, and I've been given a Thursday deadline so I may actually have an A paper to turn in. Unbelievable. Last night at 10pm I was about ready to throw in the towel and accept a 0 with a B for a total grade, as the professor offered. But I decided to drink another cup of coffee and stayed up til 1am doing more research, so that now I actually have the beginnings of a good paper. This morning the professor offered the Thursday deadline. So awesome.

So finals Thursday and next Monday and Tuesday. To study I have to go over one Shakespeare play each day and one Spanish chapter each day. And read about 400 pages of The Metamorphoses, but I'm afraid Sparknotes will have to help with that one. Then add about 3 hours of work on the Troilus paper, and in seven days I'll be done with this semester.

YAHOOOOO!!!

Goodness, the blog has gotten pretty boring, eh?
Don't worry, school work should be over by Monday. Or so.

I still want to write a little about Thanksgiving, and other things. Soon. Not yet. I still have to kick Troilus' ass in this research paper.

Everything done but the Troilus paper, and A's on everything!

And now I kick Troilus' ass.

Mythology Project: Done, finished, over. Check!
Spanish Project: Done, finished, over. Check!
Shakespeare Project: Done, finished, over. Check!
Troilus & Cressida Paper: 2% done

Shakespeare research paper = A
Mythology research paper = A

Tuesday, 11:05am

Mythology Project: Done, finished, over. Check!
Spanish Project: 98% done
Shakespeare Project: 99% done
Troilus & Cressida Paper: 2% done

Today I got back my Shakespeare paper, and got a BIG FAT A!!!

So far, unless I bomb on all my finals, I have BIG FAT DESERVED A's in every class!

Mythology Project: Done, finished, over. Check!
Spanish Project: 98% done
Shakespeare Project: 95% done
Troilus & Cressida Paper: 2% done

And I got my Mythology research paper back, the one I spent all birthday weekend writing = A! ("Well done, Well researched")

Spanish project = 95% done
Shakespeare project = 95% done

Mythology = 0%
Troilus and Cressida = 0

I'm tired. I typed nine pages for Shakespeare in less than four hours. I go sleepy night-night now.

Saturday, 11:15am

Spanish project = 95% done
Shakespeare project = 85% done

Mythology = 0%
Troilus and Cressida = 0

Saturday, 9:30am

Spanish Project: 95% done
Shakespeare Project: 15% done

Mythology Project: 0
Troilus and Cressida paper: 0

I'm on my way to the end!

Almost finished, semester ends December 10, then a week break, then finals... One paper to go, three presentations, GOSHDARNIT I JUST REMEMBERED something due tomorrow!!! Uhhhh.... it's a rationale... I think it can be hand written... then, yeah, the three presentations. Ok, I have a handwritten rationale I have to do right now...

The best part about finishing those papers is that now I can get to bed before 1am. I'm sorry but I cannot operate a full time school schedule and a part time work schedule and chase those kids around on only 5 hours of sleeeeeeeeeppppp... zzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

11:47pm. Mythology Paper... Done, and Fabulous! Check!

That is IT for what is due this week. This weekend I have to read one half of Ovid's Metamorphoses, all of The Winter's Tale by Shakespeare, and two thirds of "Till We Have Faces" by CS Lewis.

Then I have:
10 page paper on Troilus and Creyssida, the paper that will never die.
Presentation in Spanish.
Presentation in Mythology.
Presentation in Shakespeare.

And then I'm done except for Finals!

(Sorry Rachael, I cannot do your paper too... unless you want to trade for the Troilus paper!)

End of School

Shakespeare paper done! Check!
Shakespeare Xtra credit done! Check!

Now on to finishing the mythology paper!

I am 3/4 finished with my mythology paper which means I am almost completely done with my work for this semester, and this boggles my mind! And makes me happy!!!!

If I can get this mythology paper knocked out I know I can get that crappy Troilus paper finished.

And then Projects times three.

Almost there!

So, remember last week when I had two exams that I just could not get ready for, and had accepted that I was going to get 2 F's on and then I took them and thought I may have actually done okay?

Mythology = 85%
Spanish = 91.5%

YAYYYY

Also, signed up for my classes for next semester:

Literary Criticism
Advanced Composition
The Age of Elizabeth
Spanish 4

I have finished my Spanish essay and I think it will get an A. I am about to write my review of a production of Midsummer Night's Dream that I watched with my professor and some others in my class (it was SOOOOO GOOOD!!!!!), and then I get extra credit for the review. I still have a presentation proposal for that class that's due the week after Thanksgiving.
This weekend I'll be writing my Mythology paper that I've been researching so hard, I think I can get an A on that too.
Then I have to quickly write a stupid Troilus and Cressida paper, and if I never hear the names of those two again it will be too too too too soon.
After that: Presentations in Mythology, Shakespeare and Spanish.

Goodbye Hotel Montgomery.

My Shakespeare paper is almost complete, my mythology paper is well on its way. It was a weekend well spent, and I can definitely see why writers live in cabins in the woods. It was great having no distractions, and I never could have gotten this much work done at home, even alone.

If you ever need a room in San Jose, I definitely recommend the Hotel Montgomery. It's been a great, quiet weekend.

11:39pm, Shakespeare essay is 60% complete.

Checked my homework notes, I also have 10 pages of Hero and Leander to read, by Christopher Marlowe - who I HATE.

Sighhhhh. Who knows, maybe I'll like this one.

So I continue to type.

10:21pm, still working

Shakespeare paper half typed and 2/3 finished.

I just realized I also have a short story (Cupid and Psyche by Lucius Apuleius) to read, but that's not due until Wednesday. And the papers are going to have to take priority.

Hibernating with my laptop for the weekend

I may have mentioned that I have two 10-page papers due by November 20th, and another 10-pager two weeks after that, and three presentations the weeks after Thanksgiving. So I canceled my weekend with Scott because I HAVE to concentrate and get this stuff done.

But it's also my birthday weekend.

So I checked into the Hotel Montgomery for the weekend, in a huge room that I got for real cheap with a Cinequest discount. I think that discount is only supposed to be good during the weeks that Cinequest is here, but it worked and I got a damn good deal. Free internet access, no distractions such as dirty dishes or clutter. Very cheap and delicious food within walking distance. It's actually one of the best spots downtown, and if they didn't charge so damn much during Cinequest (quadruple!!!) we'd stay here then.

Anyway. I am having a lovely quiet time researching and typing. I have two papers one third done, but really more when you count research results. I am still going to have to cram typing and research next weekend, but it will be better.

So anyway, that's where I am. Until tomorrow at noon when I check out. Hopefully with two 10-pagers well on their way to being finished.

I also took a quick break to watch P2. Which was, ...you know. Mindless, scary fun with no intelligent thought needed, and a satisfying, fiery ending.

And thanks to everyone who sent happy birthday wishes - I loved them ALL.

I am currently drowning in schoolwork. I was trying to update the journal more often, but I'm going to have to take a break from that. I have two 10-page papers due by Nov 20, another 10 pager due two weeks later, three Shakespeare plays to read, a Spanish exam Wednesday, an exam on La Morte DArthur on Wednesday, presentations due in Shakespeare and Spanish and on and on and on.

So I will be taking a three week break from this.

(Well, maybe not on Thursday which is..... MY BIRTHDAY)
Heee.

#1. Me. I GOT AN A ON MY MYTHOLOGY MIDTERM!!!!!!!!!!!!

#2. The Buff. The phone just rang, and the mechanical voice from school was on the other end.
"Today. Your. 10th grade... daughter. Participated... Well. In 4th period. Biology. *click*"

That was Extremely odd! But... YAY FOR BUFFY!!!!!!!

Happy End of Midterms tooooo Me!

Finished with Greek Mythology, now we're on to Le Morte Darthur.
And in Ovid, Heroides.

I love school.

No, I'm not being sarcastic, I love school!

It's been about 25 years since the first time I read Hamlet.

It doesn't really get better with age.

Sorry, I didn't realize the blog was disappearing from lack of use. I am here! Just being a very good little student. Study Study Study, that's all I do, but I LOVE school this semester (next semester is going to SUCK though).

Right now I am:

Reading The Art of Love, by Ovid
Reading my Mythology book for class
Researching for my essay on Theseus and Hippolyta and how their stories affect the reading of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Finishing up Henry IV Part I, and finishing Hamlet by Thursday morning.
And as always, studying my Spanish.

So as you can see = Busy.
I'll talk to you all soon.

~~~~~

Okay, one more bit of info. The class schedules are up for next semester, and because there is only one class AGAIN for Spanish, and it's right in the middle of the day, AGAIN, that means my schedule is screwed and I'm going to have to take some classes I don't really want to take. But anyway. This is probably what I will have:

Spanish (SUCK SUCK SUCK)
Literary Criticism (required)
The Age of Elizabeth (at least I love the professor, my favorite lesbian)
20th Century Poetry (GAAAAAAAAAG ME!!!!!!!)

But that's months away. So... See ya later for real now.

I worked my little (well, big) butt off over the weekend catching up on school. Caught up on everything for Shakespeare, wrote six pages of my 10 page essay, did two chapters of my Spanish workbook and read every word of two chapters in the textbook, TWICE, to study for the test that was today.

I did not read the last two required chapters for Mythology, because nothing was due in that class, so I was going to catch up there over the weekend.

So today, there was a quiz. In Mythology.

Of course.

I was happy because 3/4 of the quiz was on the chapters that I had read, and I knew those answers. But it sucked because I probably got a 15-16 out of 20, and I could have gotten a 20.

But then I went to Spanish and the professor handed out the FIVE PAGE test. And I finished it in 30 minutes! I finished first! It was so easy! I knew every answer!!! Every one but one, but on a five page test, one stupid word (quejarse) will not matter.

So at least I got to go home happy.

Now I have to finish my essay, catch up on Mythology, and ready 80 more pages of Ovid by Wednesday.
I can do it!!!

My equally-overachieving partner and I both spent a humiliating 90 minutes in Shakespeare Thursday morning, as NEITHER of us had found time to read The Jew of Malta but the class was divided into groups to discuss it. We both were in the same group and sat there stupidly while the other students attempted to answer the questions. LOOOOSERS.

But this weekend I am catching up on everything (being sick 3 times in 3 weeks slowed me way down). I read all of Jew of Malta. I read all of The Merchant of Venice. I watched the movie of tMoV. I finished 1/2 of my Spanish workbook. I developed my thesis for my Shakespeare essay and started research.

I just have to write one composition in Spanish, study for my Spanish exam, finish my spanish workbook, and read two chapters for Mythology. I have to finish all that by Sunday evening. I have 85 pages to read for my Ovid class due on Wednesday. Then my Shakespeare essay is due Thursday.

That may seem like a lot to do, but really it means I am back on track. Heh. Just a normal week for me really. Egads. But I'm pretty proud of what I accomplished in the last three days, and hopefully I can finish everything tomorrow.

I am NOT going to get sick.

It is fricken HOT here again, so we are just big sweaty balls of sweat here in my house and it's making me CRANKY and IRRITABLE. I cannot ready 70 pages of Shakespeare in one night when it's 95 degrees in the house. Can't concentrate, can't SLEEP, can't think, can't cook, can't eat.

Weather says it's about to get hotter. Yay.

Today is Spanish and Mythology. I am very very very concerned about the workload in Mythology ever since I got my books - many story AND history books included, plus a honkin' huge 954-page Le Morte Darthur - in middle english. But I know the teacher is much loved, so we'll see how it goes. Today is the first day of that class.

Spanish didn't go really well last week - I like the teacher, and I am one of only five students who were able to get the required, out of print text book. I guess everyone else is getting a photo-copy - we'll see how THAT goes. But, most of the students appear to speak Spanish as a first language. Also, not enough seats in the class, and I come from Mythology on the other side of campus so I am currently standing against the wall with ten other students. Also, there is no air conditioning. What is up with the no air conditioning in the brand new business building??? So we will see how that class goes. This is another much loved teacher, so I hope it works out.

Work is giving me tremendous headaches today. My server connection is sucking the life out of me, and the slowness is causing some minor mistakes which make me INSANE. I leave an hour early so I can get a parking space for the shuttle to school. I HATE the parking situation the first couple weeks of school. The only thing saving me from a stroke is knowing it only lasts about 2 weeks. Still, with Slow-Server/Mythology/Spanish/Parking all together today, I am a little bit stressed.

The good news: Buffy made Varsity for water polo the second year in a row. And she's a Sophomore.
:-D

First class of the semester today, Shakespeare. Not one I'm looking forward to, but the professor picked a lot of good plays. We're starting off with the Taming of the Shrew, one of my favorites. We still have to do Henry IV and Hamlet though, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I liked the professor, she's semi-young... which I guess means about my age or maybe 5 years younger, haha. A little scatterbrained though, kind of jumped from one thing to another as her brain kept going. I realize now that I've had some very structured professors up until now, so this was a big change for me.

Today she asked some of us why we waited so long to get this class out of the way, since the class is 99% seniors. I answered, completely innocently and honestly, that it was the first time it fit into my schedule and I heard she was a really good professor.

"DING DING DING! She's the first to get an A in class!"

I swear I wasn't trying to kiss up. Scott won't believe me, but I really just said what I was thinking, and accidently became teacher's pet, AGAIN, on the first day.

Heh.

I don't care, I'll take that A.

***
Oh, also, there were SOOOOO many of my friends from last year in class, I was so happy to see them, and they were happy to see me too. We were all so excited together! Even the soccer boy that I had to stalk last semester in order to find my buddy the other soccer player. Of course, he doesn't know I was stalking him last year... heee... But this year I don't have to stalk him outside of class, so we'll just be friends. Anyway, it was a happy morning seeing all my friends, and some of them are going to be in my other classes too. It will be a good semester!

Tomorrow: Stupid Spanish class.

Whewww!

Four seats left, and I got one of them!

So my classes next year are:

Intermediate Spanish
Mythology in Literature
Individual Studies of Ovid
Shakespeare

Yayyyyyy!!!!

High blood pressure day Part Two

10:10am, there's still 6 seats for Shakespeare, 15 for Mythology and 27 for Spanish. Only 2 hours ten minutes to go. It looks like I'll probably be okay. I gotta keep my fingers crossed though because this semester I didn't have any Plan B!!! Doh!

The twice yearly high blood pressure day

Today is the day I register for my classes. My appointment online is at 12:20pm.

At 8:55am, right now, the Shakespeare class only has 6 openings left. The Mythology class is half full. There are plenty of seats available in Spanish (of COURSE), but I need that Shakespeare class.

I am going to be biting my nails for the next 3-1/2 hours.

The Bad News:
1. Phoebe looks worse again. It's one step forward, one step backward.
2. Buffy's dad is shirking his responsibilities with her again. Something I haven't talked about here recently, but really it's no wonder she misbehaves when her father CLEARLY shows that he doesn't really care either way.

The Good News:
My grades just came in... I got ALL A'S!!! Even in stupid Spanish 4B, I got an A-, but all the others were A's!!!! I'm really really happy and relieved, there was a chance of 2 Bs, but I got AAAAAAAAA!!!! 15 units of A's!!!!

It doesn't block out the bad things, but it's nice to have that.

86% !!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That brings me to a 94.8% in class.
= "A" !!!

No more exams!

Done, finito, All Finished!
That archaeology exam was so easy, I finished in 15 minutes, no joke.
I'm sure I did not get 100%, but I only need 62% and I think I probably got 80-90%.
The grade will hopefully be posted today.

I got my English essay back today, it was a deserved B+ but as long as I got an A on the final essays I'll have an A in the class.
Spanish 1B is a firm A
Spanish 4B is unfortunately probably a B+
Weight Training is an A, duh.

Official grades will start trickling in on the website from Friday to Monday.

I only need a 62% on my archaeology final to get an A in class, so I gave up the idea of more studying yesterday. Spring fever finally caught me, I am done with school. I still have two placements tests for spanish, but no studying needed for those either - so overall, except for going through the motions, I am DONE.
GAWD I am so done with studying.
It was my favorite semester by far, I loved it and the classes. But I also studied harder than any other semester, and I am so done with that.

On an unrelated note, I think we'll fly to LA when we go on our cruise instead of me driving. I don't mind the drive down, but I'm thinking the drive back I'm going to fall asleep. Plus, it looks like it's even cheaper to fly than to drive down.

And I'm ready to go NOW. SO glad school is over and I'm not taking any summer classes. True, I am bored, but I'll figure out what to do and I will be all refreshed and ready for school when it starts in late August.

That's it, I'm out.

100 out of 100 for my Archeology research paper!!!!
I only need around an 80 on the exam Monday to get an A in class now!

So... I'm bored. Yeah. Only one class to study for, nothing else, no essays to write, no literature to study...
I'm bored.

Check!

Finally, the exam for European Literature is done, and yeah, I think I probably got an A.
Monday I have an exam for Archaeology exam, then I have Spanish placement tests on Tuesday and Wednesday but I don't have to study for those.
So this weekend I read up on Archaeology and then after Monday morning, I'm done.
WOOOOOO

Okay, first night I'm going to bed before 1am in quite a while... (it's 11pm now).
Tomorrow is D-Day for two exams.
Well, I get to re-take a Spanish test, and then I have my two-essay final exam in European Literature.
As long as we stay away from Song of Roland and don't concentrate too hard on Dante, I'll be fine. Give me Thorstein the Staff Struck and Sophocles, and I'll ace them.

Cross your fingers please.

Gosh, will this exam period never end?????????

I turned in my last two papers today, now I'm pretty much done. I still have to study for two exams and the Spanish placement test that I have to take on different days for two different classes, but overall, I'm done. No more staying up until 1am typing up papers. No more getting up at 5:30am to go to Weight Training Class.

I would go home and sleep for a week if I didn't have to study for those exams. But that's okay, I'll sleep in ten days.

Overall this was the best semester I've had in two years. I loved all my classes, I had time to learn what we were taught, and... I just loved the classes. They were really interesting and I learned a lot. Next semester will be even more fun.

But now I work.

Check #10

And the eight page essay comparing Genesis to Ovid's story of Creation is FINISHHHHHHED.
CHECK!

Only two exams and placement tests to go.

Finished my eleven page research paper for Archaeology! Check!

Now I just have one eight page paper for European Literature, two final exams and two placement tests.

YAYYYY.

I knew I wasn't going to be so lucky that I would escape an end-of-the-semester without getting sick. And here it is. Ugh. Even my eyes are all swollen and my eyesight is blurry. YUCK. I need to finish two very long, very important papers! GAH.

And then we have our second Mother's Day with no mother. And it happens to coincide with the anniversary of my father's death. Good times.

I am fine ya'll, it's just a hectic end-of-semester as usual, and being reminded of deaths doesn't make me feel much better.

Back to work. I wish at least this blurry vision would go away. It's irritating, dammit.

DUDES, school is almost OVER!!!
In fact, I have no more spanish classes - I get to work for four hours tomorrow and then GO TO THE GYM. I am so excited. I can't even believe this is really going to happen. I get to work half time and go to the gym every day... OHMIGOD. I am so EXCITTTTTTTTED!!!!
I just have two more papers to write, two exams and two placement tests, then it is all OVER.

WEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finished my Spanish Oral Exam, Check!

She said I was excellent, and that it was amazing that I could be so funny when speaking another language.
Which... I guess is a good thing? That I am funny even when I don't mean to be?

Heh.

Spanish final DONE! Check!

Tomorrow morning I have my Spanish Oral Exam. Then I get another check!

17 units next semester?

I spoke with my english professor today about the Ovid independent study.
It's a credit/no credit class, with only one paper due, and just class discussions.
That means I probably fit it in.

WOOOO
That makes me happy.

So it looks like I'll probably have:

Spanish 25A
Modern English
Shakespeare
Mythology
Study of Ovid

Now THAT is going to be a fun semester.

Finished Dante's Purgatorio AND Paridiso... Check and Check!

Another Check!

Spanish 4B - Last Chapter AND Essay, Completed! Check and Check!

I can't believe I am so far along on everything.

Half done with Dante's Purgatorio.
90% done with Spanish Final.
95% done with other Spanish class.
90% done with Archaeology Paper.
Research almost done for European Lit essay.

This has been a good semester. I have enjoyed all my classes, never really got stressed about school (except when I got that one B on my Arch test, heh)... I'm going to miss my classes. I will not, however, be taking any summer classes. It's going to be hard enough keeping up with Spanish on my own.

My dad died two years ago Saturday. I would have to say everything was upside down from then until this semester. I am glad that 99% of that is all over (I filed an extension for this year's taxes).

I would wish you all a good night but it appears mine is the only house not celebrating Cinco de Mayo and/or the boxing match with a very very very loud outdoor party. So I doubt there will be much sleep over here for quite a few hours. So I wish all of YOU a good night.

I'll be back online in the morning working on my European Lit essay. Adios.

On track with Finals

I have finished nine pages of my Spanish final, including the poem explication. Only one page to go.

On to my other Spanish class now.

I think I'm going to sleep late tomorrow.

Focused...!!!

I have been working non-stop since Thursday afternoon on the end of my school work. I can't believe I haven't taken one break. Today I got up at 7:30 and have been writing and reading ever since.

My archaeology paper is up to 12 pages, now I just have to refine it down to 10.
My European Lit essay is very well researched but I have not started writing, yet. It should flow nicely though.
My spanish final is doing very well, I am one third done with it (the poem explication part).

My back is starting to hurt now though. I am going to go sit and watch some TV for a few minutes. Need to veg out to clear the brain and get ready for more sitting at the computer.

3 Page Kinesiology Paper - DONE!

Those small easy papers tend to get lost in the shuffle, so I got that one out of the way real quick.

Silly Archaeology Professors

I have to stop and share this real quick.
On the instructions for my research paper in Archaeology:

"Keep your title short and remember to check it for grammer/spelling/typos."

There are many layers of hilarity in that statement but if you don't get the funniness I won't hold it against you.

But you will get an F in my grammar class.

Almost the end of the semester...

I finished my Spanish exam today, I think I got an A, it was not easy but it was the easiest one we've had all year.

Now I have to:
Type 5 page Final Exam for Spanish 1B, including explicating a poem in Spanish and written in Spanish.
Type 8 page essay for European Literature, Subject: compare and contrast Genesis from the Bible and Creation by Ovid.
Finish 10 page research paper for Archaeology, Subject: Otzi the IceMan - Proving the cause of death
Type 3 page essay for Kinesiology, Subject: Various weight training stuff
Type 2 page essay for Spanish 4B, Subject: Vacation in Argentina
Finish one chapter in Spanish 4B.
Take an Oral Exam for Spanish 1B.
Take Final Exam for Archaeology.
Take in-class 2-Essay Final Exam for European Technology.
Take the Spanish Placement Test twice, once for each class.

Oh My Gosh, I wasn't stressed until I just wrote that all out. That all must be done by MAY 14. HOLY SHIT I need to get going, sorry, I was going to fool around here but that's not going to happen...

My picture contribution from school.

So the new schedule for next Fall is finally out and basically I'm screwed even worse than this semester which is worse than last semester... but anyway, this is what it looks like I'll probably take:

Spanish 25A
Modern English
Shakespeare
and either:
Myth in Literature
or
Independant Study of Ovid

I think I'll probably take the Ovid class, but it depends on what it will entail.
It's a tough schedule because it's five days a week and all those classes are a lot of work. I'm going to see if I can test out of Spanish after this semester because that will be a major gift if I can avoid those last ten required units.

I'm so happy my internet is working right now...

After school I went to Starbucks.

"Quiero un Dulce con Leche grande."

"What was that? A Dolce Frappuchino? a what?"

"Si. Pero una latte."

He looks at me.

"OH! OH! I'm sorry, I just got out of Spanish class! I guess I have to adjust..."

He laughed. It was funny. It was only a small bit of spanish that came out, but I didn't even realize it and it was just enough to confuse him.

Plus, then they have me a Cinnamon Dolce Latte instead, heh. It was still good.

Archaeology: 100% on my Research Paper Proposal (20% of my grade)

WOOOOO

:-D

Clase de Espanol midterm: 87%

Which is okay porque tengo muchos creditos extras. Or whatever. Basically, I still have an A.

:-D

European Literature: A

:-D

7 hours into my Spring Break and I'm totally bored.

I think it's very nice that Britney came out of rehab just in time for my vacation, and really, if she would just go out partying tonight and like, I don't know, crash the Miss USA contest or run away to Vegas and get married to, say, Tommy Lee, or maybe she could give an exclusive interview to Entertainment Tonight where she makes it clear that it is she, SHE, who is the mother of Anna Nicole's baby...

Well then my Spring Break would be complete.

Also, just because my unusually-colored car appears to be parked across the street from Britney's house, I assure you I am just sitting here in my own kitchen and that MY car is parked in my own driveway. I don't really have time to stalk Britney myself, sorry.

Well, I do have a week I guess.
;-D

ZZZZzzzzzz......

I'm done, all done with midterms. I can barely keep my eyes open right now, I feel like I've been up for two days straight. I'm going to go home and sleep for a week.

I think I did fine on everything, but you never know with Spanish. I could have anywhere from an A to a C. I'll be happy with whatever, I did the best I can do.

Now I'm off to bed.

Midterms... almost... over...

Just finished my Sophocles essay, still have a Spanish essay to write and another Spanish midterm tomorrow.

I got an A in Archaeology
I am weak in in-class essays and I'm not happy with what I did for European Literature, However, I think my Sophocles essay is good enough for an A.
After I left Spanish today I realized I had made some silly errors - just silly ones but there were many, and it's going to lower my grade. Good thing I have lots of extra credit.
I hate my second Spanish class - it's too easy, but in that deceptively hard way, and it takes a lot of work for me to get an A. I don't have a good outlook for tomorrow's midterm.
Weight Training actually has a paper due on April 2. I have a feeling the paper is only expected to be a page long, but mine is going to be at least three.
;-)

The good news is it's only midterms, and I am pretty sure I'll still carve out A's in everything by end of semester. The bad news is I don't know quite how I'm going to manage another year of Spanish, and I need it to get my Masters, which I need to teach college. So I'm stuck.

But the even better news is that Spring Break starts immediately after I finish my midterm and turn in my essays tomorrow. That means a week of no school and 24 hours in Vegas with Scott and cleaning the house with the kids and lots of sitting on the couch watching Judge Judy in peace.

Y muchos mirando de television y peliculas en espanol, y leyendo libros y revistas en espanol.

But we'll concentrate on BREAK for now.

Plus... this spanish essay isn't writing itself.

Even better, all my work is pretty much done as of this Friday. Then there is a week of vacation from school, and lo and behold... none of my professors have assigned projects!!! I have a one pager for Archaeology, but I can get that done in a day. So I am really looking forward to my week off (and a trip to Vegas with Scott too).

This week I just have to turn in:
Tuesday: Mucha tarea para Espanol
Wednesday: Midterm Paper for Kinesiology due
Thursday: Midterm Exam for Espanol
Friday: 8 page essay on Antigone's desire for kleos before her death,
and a Midterm Exam for my other Espanol class

See? perfectly do-able.

Never Mind

Essays are flowing nicely now, and I just have to get my Spanish homework done (Surprise! 6 pages I didn't know about! oops!) and I'll be back on track. One thing at a time, and as long as this essay is flowing, all will be well.

Whew! Disaster averted!

SchooooOOOOOOLLLLL AAAAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!!!

I'm in the middle of midterms and I swear my teachers are all trying to kill me.

Or at the very least give me a nervous breakdown.

Except for my archaeology professor, because I already have an A in that class.....
:-D

But the rest... WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
:-(

100% on my Archaeology Review paper! WOOOOO!!!! Now I have a solid A average in that class again.

Today in Spanish the professor taped names of famous people on our back and we had to guess who we were by talking to classmates who could see the description.

My classmate told me, "Eres una cantante, y muy loca..." (You are a female singer, very crazy...)

Me: Britney Spears.

Her: YES!

Me: Dammit.

88% on my Archaeology midterm!!!!!!!!

:-(

And finally, I have a midterm tomorrow that I am cramming for at this very minute. Outlook is not good at the moment.

CatieCake says every time I worry about school I always manage an A. Well, I'm probably going to get an A+++++++++ this time then.
;-)

I just remembered, heh, that I have an itty bitty teeny tiny bit of Spanish homework that is due tomorrow. But tonight is Opening Night Movie and PARTY.

So I shall do my Spanish at midnight.

Okay, I rested a minute and now I'm taking a break from studying (already). This was today at school:

7:30am - Weight Training. Love the older teacher, he's really nice. We're in a small gym, about the size of my workout room at the YMCA actually. Plus - we can do anything we want! We can use treadmills, bikes, weight machines, free weights - ANYTHING! I'm going to love that class, and I'm so happy I get at least 2 days a week of working out.

9:00am - Archaeology: Reconstructing Lost Civilizations. Cute teacher, looks about 25 but he's a doctor, and he looks like a weatherman. Says he's a bonafide "professional archaeologist". It doesn't look like the class will be terribly difficult and there's only a couple papers due.

10:30am - European Lit: Homer to Dante. This is with my beloved "mean" teacher from last semester and I already love the class. It is very very difficult to not get excited about reading Homer, Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, whoever she is teaching. I am very lucky I found her early on.

And then at noon I went to work for four more hours. I had to get up at 5:30am. I am exhausted. But excited about school finally.

Tomorrow: Spanish.

The official tally:

The Short Story: B+
Writing Workshop: A
History of Women in the US: A
Spanish 1A: A

WOOOOOOOO!!!

*happy dance*

All finished. I may get all A's. Or I may get all B's after the stupid finals we were put through, heh. At this point, it seems that all the students including me have a horrible cold and my Spanish final was filled with sniffling, snuffling students AND teacher, all of us variously running to the bathroom to blow our noses. My buddy Jacob actually went to the bathroom to throw up, poor guy, and then CAME BACK to finish his final! Crazy cutie-pie...

I signed all papers for the estate today. I now have massive amounts of money in my bank account and something called "investments", HAHAHAHAHAH. Whoever would have thunk. I figured these things called "investments" were safer than money in a bank account since I have no idea how to take care of more than $25 at a time. HAH!

So I am done, with everything, and I am still miserable with a cold (this is a running streak, right? Don't I always get sick the last week of finals??), and I am tired and don't want to read ANY books, and just want to take a six week long nap and maybe watch some movies. I don't even want to write in the journal yet.

I'm watching Idlewild right now... and I'm sorely disappointed. I love the singing and dancing and music, but the in between actual storyline makes little to no sense.

For those of you who listen to podcasts on iTunes, check out Scene Unseen - I love that podcast, the guys are intelligent and give great reviews, and their voices are sooooo soooothinggggg.... yeah, I'm tired and sick and need to go to bed now.

Today was the official last day of classes.
Now we're in "Final Prep Time" or whatever.
I have a 12 page paper due next Friday,
And a Spanish Final at 7:15 that morning.

It appears that these will be my grades:

Writing Workshop = A
Spanish 1A = A
The Short Story = A-
History of Women in the US = B+/A-

If I turn in a good paper to history I'll have an A.
Not sure how I pulled those grades off, but... there ya go.

Next semester:

Spanish 1B = 5 units
Spanish 4B = 3 units
Archaeology: Reconstructing Lost Civilizations = 3 units
European Literature: From Homer to Dante = 3 units
Weight Training = 1 unit

Total: 15 units

Obviously I am still insane.

The Short Story - Done
~~ expecting a B
Writing Workshop - Done (Final Saturday morning)
~~ Definite an A
History of Women in the US - one 12 page research paper due December 15
~~ expecting a B or A
Spanish - a 300 word essay due Monday and a Final on Wednesday
~~ Definite A

Then I'm DONNNNNNNNNNNE.

Due to some extenuating circumstances I have been allowed to turn in my 8 page final paper for Writing Workshop in January. As for Spanish I have the luck of some Saint of Espanol, I swear. Every test I've been sure I earned a B or C, and every single test I've received an A. Writing Workshop I also have an A on everything. The Short Story suffered from my work on the probate estate, so there's a B there. And my history class was an upper division history class that was not designed for English Majors, haha. I have received a B on every goshdarn test and quiz, it drove me insane. But I participate every day, and its obvious I've read the books, so the professor kind of likes me a lot and said if I do well on the final essay then I should get an A. So here's hoping!

Gosh, I know you've all missed these minutiae of my education! It's going to take a ten page entry in the journal to catch you all up on my life - but I'm not ready for that yet.

We interrupt this break in blogging to report that Midterms are now OVER.
Finished my last essay just now and I'm feeling FIIIIIIIIIINE!

(and yes I've disabled comments for now, they'll be back up when I'm back up)

Went to school, really like my teacher. I am glad I've had spanish before though, she really assumes you know some basics already and a lot of the poor kids in class looked totally freaked. I mean, she taught us a bunch of nouns, and told us to write a sentence using one of those nouns. Um, last time I checked you needed some verbs and other stuff to make a sentence, heh. Anyway, *I'll* do okay anyway, haha.

And now I'm at work, I have ten minutes left and I finished my work 45 minutes ago, even did extra work. See, I knew this part time stuff would work out! It's easier to cram my work into four hours than it is to try to spread it out into eight. Anyway, I leave in ten minutes.

I'll study my spanish tonight. Then tomorrow I work from home for a couple hours, then brave the traffic for my afternoon classes (The Short Story and History of Women in the US). I cannot wait for The Short Story, that's going to be my favorite this year, I think.

Okay, gotta get ready to go now.

I spent a good deal of my vacation reading "The Kite Runner", which I finished in two days, and is an excellent book that I really recommend everyone go read immediately.
But as soon as I finished it Scott noticed I seemed really restless. It's true, I need school to start. Kite Runner kept my mind off things for a while, but I really can't wait. Kind of excited, kind of need it to keep my mind off other things.
Still miss my mom. But she's not coming back, so I need to go to school and get my mind off everything.
It's hard sometimes, wanting to write about so many things, but I just can't get things together in my head. I think school helps me focus on everything better, to tell you the truth.

I am looking forward to working part time. Working part time with the flexibility I'm being given actually makes me want to work even more. You know, why not work at 10pm when I'm bored if the employer is allowing it? So in the end, I think they'll benefit from this deal too.

I think that's the extent that I can get out of me today. My bookbag is packed with my Spanish books, my tablet, my folder and pens. My parking pass is afixed to my windshield, I just have to set my alarm clock to 5am (cuz I'm nervous and excited and have to be at school by 7:30am). Oh, and I should probably get my clothes into the dryer, eh?

Tomorrow a University Student

I know I've been severely neglecting this site, and the journal, just haven't been able to summon up any desire to write much.

BUT, tomorrow morning I have my first day of class. Just one Spanish class tomorrow, but still, I'll be a real, bonafide student tomorrow.

And now I go away again.

My arms have been really sore today, as if I'd been to the gym (I haven't), but I just remembered it's probably from carrying that full box of 15 school books all across campus and then up to the third floor of the parking garage.

*****

I'm going to be scarce for a few days as Scott and I are going to Monterey for a few days. I'll be back Tuesday afternoon, and school starts Wednesday - at 7:30am. Espanol!

See ya'll on Wednesday, probably.

So I did a test run driving to University today, and good thing because it took twice as long as I thought it would.
Then I did a test walk between two of my classes, because me being a smarty-pants, I scheduled a class that starts five minutes after one ends - and they're two blocks apart. Hah. But, I walked between buildings in 3 minutes, without running. So I'll be okay.

Picked up my books for three of my classes. 15 in all. I still have one more set of books to purchase.
Plus, English books! Yayyy! You know they're all winners!

So then Spike, the birthday boy, didn't wake up until I went and woke him up at 12:30, and then his friend came over to wake him up too. So he got up, more friends came over, and now they've gone to the park to "chill out" and "figure out what we want to do." Because 2-3pm on your birthday is a good time to figure out what you actually want to do on your birthday.

So me and Le Buff are waiting for them to come back with their decision. I'm going to look at my books now.

I just got a mass email from my University telling me different things to do to help me be successful in school.

These include:

Learn to use the library
Turn my cell phone off in class
Read (for instance, "the newspaper")
Write (specifically, "start a blog")

So you see, that's it! I've been blogging for years, THAT's why I get straight A's!

Got my essays back, A+

Got my course grade (Women in Literature): A

Next up on August 23:
Spanish
Women in US History
Writing Skills
The Short Story

...and I'm bored again.

I finished my essay in 90 minutes, turned both of them in an hour early, and now school is over. My AA diploma should now be on its way.

I have until August 23 to enjoy summer vacation... and I'm bored silly already.

I do have books coming from Amazon that are taking freakin forever to arrived. No movies to watch, no good TV on, my books are pretty much all read... We may just have to go somewhere today.

OH, also, it looks like one tuition payment finally came out of my account sometime after 1:30am (when I went to bed). And my paycheck arrived also. So we're all okay with that now, and I supposed that second tuition payment will come out eventually - but at least there's money in there now! I only owe $1000 more for tuition, paid over 3 months. Then I have $450 in books to buy. And $192 for a parking pass. Heh.

College is expensive.

So... the school website where all our information is given to us says both my tuition payments have been posted.

Except... No money has come out of my account.

One payment supposedly got paid Wednesday, the second one today. It would definitely be showing on my online banking.

Um... well, at least it's "paid".

???

Last day of school. Finals due.

I've got some sort of... not a death wish, but a wish to fail? (oh hardly!) A challenge to fail? A challenge to get an A without starting an essay until the last minute?

I finished one essay yesterday, well it's 99% finished. And now I have 2 hours 45 minutes to knock out the second one.... haven't quite started it yet.

Okay.... I'll start it now. After I check the Big Brother recaps one more time.

Speaking of school, tuition was supposed to come out of my account yesterday, and though I got an email that said it was done, nothing has come out of the account. There's supposed to be two different payments, and I have EXACTLY the amount of the first one, the second one is supposed to come out today (but of course, not yet).

So, the first one will go through, the second one I'm stressing hard enough about to NEED a drink at the bar today, hoping our paychecks actually go through tonight OR that the second payment will get delayed like the first.

Of course, with Wells Fargo, I can count on them to put the checks through 5 minutes before my paycheck arrives, decline the checks and send back, and then post my paychecks. I can always rely on them to screw things up as much as possible. So I really should just stop stressing and figure I'll be re-registering for classes on Monday.

Heh.

Crossing my fingers that they'll just delay one single day so my paycheck can get in first.

So this week's assignments are to read "Story of an Hour", "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Shakespeare's Sister" and answer discussion questions. Also, turn in another essay on Friday.

This morning I read "Story of an Hour" and "The Yellow Wallpaper", and answered the questions already. I also submitted my thesis for my essay, AND am almost done with the book for the following week, "The Bluest Eye".

This leaves me plenty of time to play The Sims! WOOOO!

And Buffy comes home from Arizona tonight!

And that is all that is going on right now.

It looks like my books for the semester will cost $327, which isn't bad for 14 units. I've paid more at community college for less units. Well, one class didn't have any books listed, so I'm not sure what that means. So it may be more. The great thing about english majors is most of your books are actual books, not textbooks, which saves at least 60% in my experience. Half of my book cost was for Spanish - the textbook, workbook, audiotapes, and a lab book or somethng. The rest are stories, and it looks like a good semester: Gogol, Poe, Chekov, Hemingway, Chopin, etc. I love short stories!!!

Nobody die of surprise now...

I got my essay back.

I got an A...

MINUS.

Hahahahaha, what a slacker I am this summer!

I'm so fricken bored. Essay is done and turned in, nothing due for ten days, The Sims won't load on the home computer and I don't have my laptop at home, nothing on TV, no assignments to read, blah blah blah.

The good thing is, it's summer time AND we have TV. And at 8pm Big Brother starts. And I haven't watched it in two years. I know, I know, no big loss, haha, but it's better than nothing.

And then Rockstar: Supernova comes on, and it was pretty good yesterday, I thought.

I guess I'll go watch People's Court and wait for Big Brother.

Blah blah blah.

I just finished my essay for Women's Lit, and I just have to say, I really like it, haha.
Hope my teacher likes it too!

Oh, and I went back to the eye doctor today and got my contact lense exam done, and it so happened that my glasses were in too. Yayyy! Except Booooo for having to pay another $81. This whole insurance-covered thing has cost me $300 out of pocket. Again, Boooooo. I took my contact prescription and left, because I think it was Charleen who told me I can just go to Cosco to get it filled, or 1-800-Contacts, or whatever. But not until the 15th, because I am just about at negative money right now. Darn kids and their camps. And my glasses. And the maids. And water polo. Glad my tuition isn't due until after payday!

Oh yeah, SCHOOL! WHOOPEEEEE!

I just signed up for the automatic payment plan, so my tuition will come directly from my bank account in four monthly payments starting July 26. So no more worrying about that either.

WOOOO! One month and 20 days until school starts!

ON MY WAY!!!

Checking for my enrollment time every five minutes finally paid off as magically my enrollment opened up this morning and I just now registered for all my classes. I did have to take the 7:30am Spanish class, but I am much more awake in the morning than the afternoon, so I think this will be best. So my classes for next semester will be:

Spanish 1A Requirement for graduation
English 100W Major core class requirement
History of Women in the US Fills an Upper GE requirement
The Short Story Major Elective Requirement

So now my potential stroke has been replaced by an excitement induced heart attack I AM SO EXCITED. And relieved. The next step: Pay my fees by July 26, and I'll do that at next payday (July 15).
SOOOOOO excited, and SOOOOOO happy.

"HoLa! mY NaMe iS aNdrEa. iYeA iM So ExCiTeD cAuSe I jUsT GrAdUaTeD FrOm HiGhScHoOl!! I'm NoW GoInG tO gO tO sAn JoSe StAtE. yEa SpArTaNs!!!!!"

NO. NO! Not at my school! You cannot go to my school if yOu tYpE LiKe tHiS.

I swear, when I get my Ph.D. and am Dean or President of the University or Queen or whatever, I'm banning anyone who types in their MySpace like that. BANNING.

Will it surprise you that under Favorite Books she says: "I DeFfInAtlY dOnT rEaD!!"

Well duh. I'm sure you'll go far in school.

Looking for the correct path

I began researching graduate studies for a Ph.D. last night, and was disheartened to see many sites doing all they could to discourage a student from going that path. The general consensus was a 5-8 year plan to finish, thereby leaving me around 50 years old before I finished. Is that an appropriate age to begin a new career?

But they also gave you a lot of other things to think about: Why do you want a Ph.D? Do you have a purpose for it or do you want it "just because"? Questions such as that. And my answers were always: Because I want to teach at a University, and I need the Ph.D. to do that. Which is the correct answer to continue.

I try to imagine myself teaching community college and always knowing in my head that I didn't go that extra step to do what I really wanted. I think it would haunt me forever. If you're going to go to school to do what you want, you should finish school to do what you want. Why do any of the work if you're going to settle?

So even though I was less enthusiastic than I was previously, I continued my research today. I narrowed my choices of schools to Berkeley, Stanford and UC Santa Cruz. I don't really want to go to Stanford even though it's the closest at 30 miles away. I was really leaning towards Berkeley. But at 50 miles away, it would make life a bit more difficult and probably put an end to my relationship with Scott. That relationship has suffered enough, and I need to decide if it will survive a doctoral candidacy.

Of course, with the kids gone, I could move in with Scott or at least in town - my plan anyway - and attend UCSC. So I looked closer at their program. And actually, it sounds like exactly what I would like. True to UCSC reputation, it gives you a lot of freedom, and pushes you to study in related fields also. There is a great deal of freedom in choosing your exact field of study, and with focuses such as "queer studies", "feminism", "race in America" etc., this is probably my dream school over any Yale or Harvard.

They only accept about 15 students a year for candidacy, so I will have to work hard, and getting all A's through my Bachelors will probably be necessary. Necessary and perfectly possible. Knowing ahead of time what I want will make it easier, as the Professors at SJSU are anxious to help students through to that path.

So now I am really happy and excited, and even more looking forward to my studies at SJSU. I know I just got out of community college last month, and haven't taken my first class at SJSU yet, but it's my way to look 15 steps ahead of the game. But it seems to me that that's the path to success, knowing what you want and having that goal in mind.

And who knows, maybe I'll be the first to write a doctoral thesis on online journal writing, haha. Who knows?

I just got my Writing Skills Test back from the University and I got a PERFECT SCORE. I scored high enough to waive one of my Upper Division GE courses - except that the English Major won't allow you to skip that class, so bummer. But it does allow me to now register for any upper division class I want to, so YAYYYY.
I am really excited about this, because it was a hard test, and I have heard most people don't pass it the first time, but I got a perfect score and Yes, I am Proud of myself!

From my class. I think I probably shouldn't really post it here, so I'll just put it below:

"i am working on getting my degree in psychology
and my degree in administration of justice. i am hoping to be a
forensic psychologist. i am also working on opening a tattoo shop."

Copy and pasted. I mean, aside from the COMPLETE LACK OF CAPITAL LETTERS, in your online college post (WHATever!)... that's quite a lot of goals, eh? I'm still trying to wrap my head around why you would need a psych degree and admin of justice to open up a tattoo shop, or how you could possibly maneuver being a forensic psychologist AND a tattoo shop owner. But the kicker is the answer to her post from another student:

"... i am also working on opening a tattoo shop."

WTF with the opening of the tattoo shop plans while you're in college? And WTF with the small "i". People make me CRAZY.

I wish SJSU would allow me access to enrollment soon, classes are filling up and I really have no idea when they'll open it to me. It's going to suck if I can't get the classes I want, but even worse if I can't get the classes I need!

Tomorrow: Swim Meet. Then drive to SanLuis Obispo to transfer my mother's dog to her new home.

Sunday: Rest. No dad, so, that's it I guess.

School starts Monday

And now it's on to Mr. Shakespeare and Ms. Austen.

No time to write this week, but I'll have time soon. I just got my syllabus for my summer class and this is what I will be reading over the next 6 weeks:

Much Ado About Nothing ~~ Shakespeare
Pride and Prejudice ~~ Jane Austen
The Yellow Wallpaper ~~ Charlotte Perkins-Gillman
The Story of an Hour ~~ Kate Chopin
Shakespeare's Sister ~~ Virginia Woolf
The Bluest Eye ~~ Toni Morrison
Trifles ~~ Susan Glaspell

I am almost finished with The Nanny Diaries (I will be in a couple hours) and I really really like it. I hope it ends well, like maybe Nanny marries H.H. and they get to adopt Grayer and liver happily ever after, but I can't think any possible other good way. I am biting my nails worrying, haha.

I am feeling calmer now that I have my syllabus in hand. I guess school is good for me. I've been lost without it, haha.

If I quit work next semester I can have my Masters in hand in 3-1/2 years. Unbelievable, eh?
But not decided.

My grades are in.

I got all A's.

Today I took my first test as a SJSU student. All Juniors must take the Writing Skills Test and pass before taking any upper division courses. You can only fail it twice and then you have to enroll in a Writing Skills class. So this morning I had to miss the kids' first swim meet so I could line up in the hot sun for an hour before the test started. Inside the class we had 45 minutes to write an essay, with everyone getting different topics. My topic had to do with a quote from D.H. Lawrence about how a snake must shed its skin or kill itself trying. I wrote five pages single space and my hand was completely cramped when I was done. Then 45 minutes for a 75 question multiple choice about editing. I finished 15 minutes ahead of time.

I won't get my scores for a couple weeks. I'm not real concerned, but you never know, and this would certainly be a blow to the timeline if I don't pass it. But... I'll pass.

I'm a Junior at the University!!!

I left the pool right before Buffy's first race, and I arrived back at the pool as it all ended. I think this is the first swim meet I've ever missed. We did win though.

To answer some questions that have been asked:
1. I've seen Under the Tuscan Sun and it's a much better movie than Stealing Beauty. But Stealing Beauty was beautiful. And the soundtrack is one of my top three.
2. Spike is definitely still into film. And getting a driver's license.
3. I think my "problem" probably isn't stress related because if it was, it would be constant, not just the first three days of my period. Also, most of my stress is finally gone. It definitely feels like some sort of chemical imbalance as it's happening which makes me pretty sure its hormones. Anyway, the yelling started last night, but as long as I stay calm and rested and the kids stay good we're all okay. One or two days to go.
4. I've taken Spanish before and it does make Italian a little easier, but it also makes it a little harder as it's "same but different". I've taken some Italian before too and love it, but Spanish is easier. Since I have to take a fluency test for some language before starting my Masters, I have to take all that into consideration. I still have time to think about it.
5. Leslie, I feel the same way about the Religion classes. I think it would be really interesting to find out more about all those different ones - SJSU even has classes on Mysticism, Native American religions, etc. And I think it would be a good background for the Literature major. So... really conflicted. As much as I would like the Religion minor, what other chance do you get to learn Italian? And I HAVE to be fluent in some language other than English. Spanish or Italian, Spanish or Italian...

Almost done with my current book, "The Undomestic Goddess". I definitely recommend all books by Sophie Kinsella for light, brainless, cute summer reading.

I love Rescue Me and want Denis Leary to be my sex slave.

Oops, I forgot I'm not supposed to talk about s-e-k-s here. Sorry.

Because I am Bold with a capital B and because that's how I managed to graduate with an English degree in two years, I emailed the Italian division of the Foreign Languages department at SJSU to ask about minoring in Italian.

And Professor Cereghino just emailed back with all the information I need to get into Independent Study for Italian classes the first year and will make an appointment with me to go over the Italian minor since "Dr. Cassarino will be in Italy over the summer" and it looks like I just may be able to do this! Learn Italian! Learn to read and study in Italian! This means I can minor in either Italian OR Comparative Lit. I'm so deliriously happy right now.

Still have the tingles though. Emotions up and down and down and up. Just have to deal with it.

Minor Difficulties

I have four weeks to decide on my minor, and it may come down to just what fits best with my schedule.
Here are my thoughts at the moment:

1. Religious Studies - Relatively easy, only 15 units required, fits perfectly into my schedule.

2. Italian - I want this one badly but there is a poor choice of class availability. 30 units required.

3. Comparative Lit - I would also love this one but the 18 units required would have to all be taken my senior year.

Religious Studies will be easiest but is my third choice.
I can only take 10 units of Italian the first year, so the other 20 units would have to be the second year - or beyond.
Comparative Lit presents a similar problem - I need that first year of language before I can start, and I can't really excell in that minor unless I take even more language classes. This kind of rules out that minor unless I want to take longer than 2 years to get my BA.

Aaargh, why does what I WANT to learn have to take so long?

Any comments or ideas?

Final grades aren't in until June 9, and you know what that means...

You all have nine days to hear me bitch and whine until they're posted.

Okay I'm getting antsy already. I want school to start so I can really say I am a student at San Jose State University.

Saturday I take my Writing Skills Test.
June 9 I get my Spring grades and can send over my final transcripts (3.55 gpa)
June 29 I have a Transfer Orientation or something, and I believe I get to sign up for classes that day.

GAH, I'm ready NOW.

p.s. did you hear I'm a college graduate now?

Okay, I rested for 3-4 days without thinking about school.
You didn't think I could go much longer than that, did ya?

So here are the classes I'm hoping to get into in the Fall:

English 100: Writing Workshop
English 101: Intro to Literary Criticism
English 123: Literature for Global Understanding: The Americas
Spanish 1A

Lit for Global Understanding replaces "Homer to Dante" as a required class, which excites me to no end. There will be no Homer in my college curriculum! Hurray!!!

I need all those classes for my degree. I wanted to take Italian instead, but that class was the same time as my other classes, and there was nothing else that would fit. Sucks, kind of. How are Spike and I going to go to Italy without speaking Italian? We'll figure something out, I'm sure.

That schedule is by no means set in stone, as they keep changing class availability. Last week I was going to register for "The Short Story" but this week it's gone, replaced with Global Literature. And I can't register for anything yet anyway. Hopefully I won't be stuck with too crazy a schedule. I like the one here.

June 19 I start Women's Literature. It will be my very last online class. Sighhhh, I will miss my online classes.

I am a little floored by all the people who have come here to say congratulations to me. People I haven't heard from in ages, how did you all know?? Anyway, it was really great to see some of your names again. REALLY great. Thank you so much, it really means a lot to me.

Look at me, here I am!

In four hours I'll be marching with my cap and gown, 6pm.
I received a graduation card from my mother's school, signed by all the first grade teachers.
That was quite a surprise. They all wrote notes in it.
It made me tear up, but I'm okay.
I put my cap on with the tassle too and looked in the mirror and teared up a bunch more.
Partly because I am just so damn proud of myself, but partly because I know I'm making my mother proud.
No one was ever as proud of me as my mom was.
Whether she's here or not, or with me today, I don't know, but I know I've made her proud.

After graduation I'm going out to dinner with my mom's sister, my grandpa, my uncle, and Scott and the kids.
Then it's off to Aptos for a rest.

The last day of school is always an adjustment.
I get bored, don't know what to do.
When I had papers to write all I wanted to do was watch TV.
Now I sit here wondering what I'm supposed to study.
In three weeks my next class starts, Women's Lit. It actually is the last class I need to complete my English AA, but I do have all my classes and units to graduate for General Ed, so I'm still counting today as official. But I do have that last three weeks of school to get my English Degree.

But like I said, what now? Well, I have five new books to read, I guess I can start there.

Tomorrow I walk the stage!!!

I am a College Graduate

My actual ceremony is not until tomorrow, but I handed in my last paper today.
I believe I have all A's again.
After handing in the paper is when it hit me, I have nothing else to do! I am a graduate! I have a college education! I can check that box now! I finished! I did it!

What do I do the rest of the day??? *scratch head*

My books from Amazon haven't arrived yet, so I went to Barnes & Nobel and bought a ton of books AND a jump rope "kit". Then I took myself to lunch and read one of my books.

Then I came home and passed out on the couch in front of the TV.

Of course, when I woke up Buffy was late coming home from school and no where to be found... of COURSE.

But she was found and all is well, it wasn't a big deal. Except for where I was driving all around looking for her, but it was all okay and innocent in the end.

Now I go to dinner with Charleen and another girl from work.

I'M A COLLEGE GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Almost...

I already got back my grade for my essay that I turned in last night!
A+

Of course. That makes an A for the class too.
Have to finish up this last one now, then I'm done.

I can't believe I'm actually almost done.
Swimming is over, I should have an A.
I just turned in my essay, I should have an A in Gay/Lesbian Literature.
Now I just need to finish this stupid research paper and I'll be done with English Lit (and good riddance).

And then I get to check that little box, "College Graduate".

Five Pages left to Write

And when I'm done I get to read whatever the heck I want to.
First on the list, The Devil Wears Prada . An easy summer book for sure.
After tomorrow morning, I am done with the semester,
WHOOOPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

1500 word essay pretty much complete. I'll probably go over it one more time tomorrow and then it must be turned in by tomorrow night.

I'm up to barely five pages on my research paper. It's coming along. It will get done, it's just requiring so much work. I would have had an easier time if I had figured out my topic earlier, but it really was difficult. Anyway, progress has been made, so there's that.

I have an A in class so far, so I shouldn't stress too much about this paper, but I don't want to turn in anything substandard in either. For all the pressures I put on myself it's quite hilarious that the kids put NO pressure of any kind on themselves. Only you know, NOT hilarious.

I get my quote for the maid tomorrow. This will be the best purchase EVER, and make me a tiny bit happy. I could use some happiness, I tell you, this last week of deadlines is making me crazy.

Having a very difficult time

Regardless of what Rachael thinks, this research paper is going to be the death of me.

Now that I have actually started typing the research paper, for real, it is officially about Salman Rushdie and his The Prophet's Hair, compared and contrasted with Anita Desai's Scholar and Gypsy. Both are writers of English Literature who were born in India, so I finally got my connection.

I think with a lot of hard work tomorrow and Wednesday I can knock this out. Scott has given up his birthday tomorrow to celebrate this weekend after my graduation.

Just have to pad the paper with a whole lot of bologna and I'll be ready to go!

Essay almost finished...
Just needs a better closing paragraph and some touch ups...

Research paper not really too far but I have chosen my subjects at least (Katherine Mansfield and Jean Rhys), heh, and it's due Thursday. I can do a 5-10 page paper by Thursday, just have to keep concentrating.

We even got a lot done in the house - it's still a horrendous mess though - but it's almost good enough for me to call in the maid. When I get that maid... I'm going to be one happy girl.

Tuesday is Scott's birthday.
Friday is graduation.
Then I'm free! I can't wait to enjoy Scott again.
Heck, I can't wait to enjoy LIFE again.

Must. Graduate.

Essay, Essay, Essay.
Research, research, research.
Blah.

Final Essay today - Easy! I studied really really hard, got it all down, and wrote another great essay. AND the teacher said I had been a great student.

Next up, Research Paper and one easy essay. YAYYYY

Thursday morning I go to school and write my final English Lit essay - 7 pages long. Wish me luck. I didn't read any of the assignments this semester and have just crammed SparkNotes before my essays. It's worked for me so far, heh. And uh oh.

Then Tuesday I have a 500 word essay due in Gay & Lesbian Lit. That will be easy. I've received A's on all my essays in that class and have consistently finished the book an hour before the essay was due. Easy class.

Then Thursday next week I have a 5-10 page research paper due on some subject I have not picked out yet for, again, English Lit. Hate that class. So glad it will be over next week.

Friday I graduate. Done. 7 days until Graduation!!!!!

And this is me not preparing for tomorrow's essay.

Finally went in and updated my reading list (under link ---> "What am I reading?"). I also cannot wait for school to end so I can start up reading books I've collected throughout the semester. I've never read a Jane Austen book, can you believe it? So I ordered a boxed set. However, I have Women's Lit this summer, and I know my teacher is partial to Austen, so I would bet I'll have the books assigned anyway. That's okay, you could do worse than be assigned to read Jane Austen over summer vacation, eh?

If anyone would like to write a conclusion to this < insert swear words here > essay I would much appreciate it. It's due right now and I would like to print it out and turn it in, so let's have some help here...

You will be happy and proud to know that I have studied and researched all evening for my English Lit midterm essay. I will research a bit more during lunch tomorrow, and start writing after work. The finishing touches should be put on Thursday morning, and I drive it over to the professor at lunch.

See? I can plan and do well without procrastinating. I think this essay will turn out pretty good.

Tuesday Update

So I did lots of work at work today, and took my supervisor on a ride to Starbucks in the new car (which I am learning to really love - it's such a happy color and is going to look so pretty at the beach!), and then decided to chuck Byron/Shelley/Keats and go for the essay on Jane Austen/Sir Walter Scott/Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. This is the essay the professor thinks I would be unable to pull off since I don't attend class. Of course that means it's the essay I want to do. But it's also the essay I think I can fake my way through the best.

Why so many poets in English Literature? Didn't they ever read books?

Did you know Percy Bysshe Shelley was the husband of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein? I didn't.

Tomorrow morning we get Direct TV hooked up in the house, bringing us into the 21st Century with that great invention, Television.

Tonight I go home and pretend I am not home when the sister calls.

Okay, it's about time to leave work.

I just realized that my entries don't have time stamps on them.
Well, the essay was due at 11:55pm.
I typed my name on the document at 10:15pm.
I started typing the actual essay at 10:45pm.
I turned it in at 11:43pm.

It is true, I may not get an A.
But I bet I do.

You may throw rocks at me now

I did it. Turned in a 1000 word essay that I wrote in the last 45 minutes before deadline.

Scott warned me earlier this evening that if I went through with my plan to wait until the last second to begin the essay, and then manage to get an A for a grade, he doesn't want to hear about it.

Guess I won't be calling him tomorrow, heee.

(By the way, Stone Butch Blues, excellent book. Heartbreaking, but not with a sad ending. Read it.)

And now the difficult part - This semester's English Literature Class is probably one of the hardest classes in my entire school history so far. And I have an essay due Thursday morning on Keats, Shelley and Byron, which I haven't exactly studied yet. I am going to be busy the next three days.

I know, busy procrastinating probably, but busy nevertheless.

SuperStudent, AWAAAAYYYYYY

I have just started my essay that is due at 11:55pm.
Watch me finish it in 70 minutes flat.
Watch me get an A.

This is me, still not typing my essay.

My teacher already graded my paper!
My essay on Rubyfruit Jungle got a 96%, Hurray!

Still reading never-ending Orlando though...

I feel so much better now!
I turned in my essay last night and I think it's an A - super easy.
I don't have any other work other than reading due until March 26!
7 units is the easy life I tell you.

Went to English Lit, wrote 9 pages by hand, only 30% was bullshit, and that's pretty good.
I think I did okay.

Now I deal with a total of 6, count them S-I-X, teenagers. Bah.

Someone please write this essay about Wordsworth and Coleridge for me please.

Lord help me

Sparknotes, you CANNOT go down on me now! I have a final tomorrow! I NEED you to study Wordsworth and Coleridge! I NEED YOU. You cannot go down right in the middle of my notes, GODDAMIT PLEASE COME BACK!!!!!

So guess what.

I had a ten question quiz on Rubyfruit Jungle in Gay/Lesbian Literature Friday.
I got 100%. Of course.

Then I had a paper due on Sunday.
And I missed the deadline.

Yes, that's right, *I* missed a deadline for school. An entire paper! Why? Because I waited until the last minute to do it and then we lost internet access Sunday. When it was due. SEE? I don't always get A's!!!!

Well. Apparently there was mass confusion in class about the exact date the paper was due (12am February 12, which is technically midnight BEFORE Sunday, but on the class calendar it lists it as Sunday) and so she extended the date to this evening.

And obviously, the internet is up again. And my paper is turned in.

So.... PSYCH! I won't be getting an F afterall!

As IF.

So school is officially starting today.
We're reading Rubyfruit Jungle in Gay/Bi Lit and discussions will be starting this week.
I sorted out the specifics with the English Lit teacher - this class again is an in-class class but they are letting me take it without going to class. Scott doesn't understand how I manage to get this special treatement over and over again - he doesn't believe that I don't understand either. But I'm going to run this School-Luck thing until it's over, that's for sure. We're going to be reading Frankenstein sometime in the semester and I'm really looking forward to that because I have never read it.
Saturday is Swimming.

So for Gay/Bi Lit I have 3 essays and a couple quizzes throughout the semester.
For English Lit I have 1 essay, 1 research paper, and 3 in-class midterms.

So that's my school entry for today. I'll let you know how the books are as I read them - and if any of you have read them, let me know what you think too.

I have been waiting ALL. DAY. LONG for my Statistics grade (and I'm sure you have too so you'll never have to hear about it ever again...

So FINALLY the grades were posted so I went and checked the score for my Final first...

And I got a 92%. An *A*.

I about died laughing.

So of course, my grade in the class is...

An A.

And that's the end of Statistics.

I want it to end already!!!

Still no grade!!!

AAAARGHHHHHH

Patience is a virtue I do not have

I want my grade NOW!!!!!!

10am today, in three more hours, I take my Statistics Final.
If I fail it I may get a C in the class. If I get more than half right I may get a B.
I don't think I'm going to hold on to my A.

"You ALWAYS say that, 'Oh poor me I'm going to FAIL' and then you get an A+!" said my co-worker.

Okay, but this time I have an 8 out of 30 on my practice midterm. It's not like I know the answers this time, I REALLY DON'T GET IT.

But all I need is a C. A C in this class puts me into the University. So let's get this over with.

AAAAAAGH I CAN'T DO THIS LAST CHAPTERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!

2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days 2 more days

Test Scores are in!

I got a 96% on my midterm yesterday!
That means I now have a 94.5% in the class, and blah blah blah I stuck Itsy's head in the toilet blah blah blah Stastics!

WOOOOOO!

My second midterm for Statistics is in 90 minutes. Last night I finally achieved an A on the practice midterm (we get graded on the practice midterm but can retake it over and over up until the real test). This section was a little more difficult, but when I realized last night that I had accidentally switched formulas between two different types of equations, that was the difference between a C and an A. I think I can earn an A today too - but I'll be happy with a B. (well, not really, I want an A!)

Countdown until I'm finished with Statistics: 7 more days
Countdown until I'm in the pool at 7am: 17 more days
Countdown until the graduation ceremony: 127 more days

I realize the only thing I've written about recently is my Statistics class. I'm just sort of immersed in it and not thinking of much else - except the gym, which is good.
By the way, why is it I have GAINED 2 pounds since New Years?
Never you worry, that will come off SOME how.
Anyway.
Second midterm this Thursday, and the Final is the next Thursday and then I'm done.
And then we can get back to the life I've given up the last 1-1/2 years as my school load finally dies down and I get ready to graduate.
It's all going to be worth it in the end, right?
Yeah, I think so.

I got a 92% on my Statistics midterm!!!

Total score for the first third of class: 93.5%

A!!!

The book list is up for my Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans Literature course and it's a BIG one!
Here is what I have to read for this class, which starts January 30:

Funny Boy Shyam Selvadurai
Laramie Project Moises Kaufman
Lost Language of Cranes David Leavitt
Orlando Virginia Woolf
Penguin Book of Gay Short Stories
Penguin Book of Lesbian Short Stories
Rubyfruit Jungle Rita Mae Brown
Stone Butch Blues Leslie Feinberg

I am pretty excited about this list, it's going to be a very interesting semester!

GPA did not suffer

And so I finished the Fall semester, the worst semester ever in my entire life, with a 3.545 gpa.

English Literature A
InterPersonal Communications A
Algebra II B

I was afraid I was going to get a D in Algebra II (which means I would have to take it over - and wouldn't be qualified to have Statistics right now) because I never opened the last two chapters, didn't turn in the homework for them, and I definitely had to have received an F on the Final because I had no idea how to work half of the problems.
Granted, I had an A up to that point, but my calculations showed me earning a very hopeful C.

Sometimes I wonder about how teachers grade. Not that I'm complaining. But I really do question some of my grades sometimes.

Now I have a 94% in Statistics.
And I'm seriously worried about myself for how much I absolutely love this class.
I could do these problems all day long.
I wish I had taken the semester long class so I could do more.

Somebody smack me, Please!

Okay, for the first third of my Statistics class I have:
100% on Homework
80% on practice Midterm
?? on Real Midterm scheduled for Thursday.

So far... 90%!! An A!!!

Not just a dork, but now a NERD

Would you all hate me if I told you I love Statistics?
:-D

I'll have you all know that I kicked Statistics Ass all over the place last night.

I still don't get part of it, but I finished half the first unit (in one night!) and it's not due until Thursday.
So I think I will have time to figure it out, and once I started the work it didn't seem like that much.
It may turn out that I actually lucked out taking this intersession online class.

First of all, Itsy, you ATTEMPTED to read "Handmaid's Tale"? Spankings!!! Why do I feel like I'm talking to my kids here?? READ IT. Jeez, I was in high school when I read it and she's a damn CANADIAN writer so it's even in your own language!
;-)

Second of all: Statistics is going to KICK MY ASS. Omigod I am so lost already. LOOooOoooOOOOost.
Four months of class crammed into 3 weeks of class. I must have been crazy to attempt this.
However, I WILL pass it.
My first midterm? Thursday.

Third of all: There is no third. Who has time for thirds when you've registered for Intersession Statistics???

Today is the day.
From 3pm to 5pm I will be at orientation for...

S-T-A-T-I-S-T-I-C-S

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!!!!!!!

My last math class, my last class needed to graduate, my last non-English class.

Three weeks of concentrated hell, and then it's finally over!

Well that was definitely a big fat C, but really no worse than I expected.
Now I study crazily for the Algebra midterm on Saturday.
Then I am caught up.
And time to take a breath.

Not biting my nails but

Okay, so in an hour I go take an English Midterm, and that may sound easy enough, but it's about Renaissance Poetry and I'm not exactly sure what we're being tested on and though I can pick them apart well enough I do not remember exactly who wrote which one and we ready like 30 different poems.

So I'm nervous.

But I got a 95% on the last midterm so hopefully this will go well.

I'm still nervous though.

I just turned in my Beowulf and Shakespeare essays!!!! YAYYYYY!!!!
Such a relief, now I just have one more 1000 word essay that is due this evening and I will be all caught up.

Tuesday mini-update

I was not feeling well in the head yesterday, at all. Brain so fuzzy and couldn't think straight.
Today I feel better. I have to concentrate. Must get work done, must finish essays, school tonight, english midterm Thursday, algebra midterm Saturday.

For next semester I am registered for:

English Literature II
Gay/Lesbian Literature
Swimming
Art History - Prehistoric to Gothic

I may drop the art history course, but doesn't it sound interesting? And Swimming, it's every Saturday from 7am to 10:15am.
I think that will be a good semester.

And now I go work.

I just started up Algebra for the first time since Mom died. I'm a week behind in all my classes. What a time to be taking 16 units, eh? It seemed like an easy chapter though, we shall see.
It's time to start thinking about next semester (and graduation!) and the new class schedule is out.
It looks like I'll be able to take my final math class over Winter Session and it will even be online! But that would mean I would be taking Statistics, which Pischina no likey, but you can't beat an online class.
And then in the Spring I'll have:
Spanish II (5 units)
English Lit B (3 units)
Swimming (1 unit)

AND they are offering the Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Trans Literature class online. That is super exciting, to see all these new classes opening up online. So if I can get into the winter math class, then I'm taking that Gay/Lesbian Lit class in the Spring. That will be 12 units. Piece of cake after this semester if I can keep everyone around me alive.

You may not want to get too close, heh.

And you know what that means!
I go to class, where I get to hear more nonsense stories about a blind husband who rides a bike around town...

Caught up on some Spanish work yesterday, almost caught up on my English Lit reading - midterm on Thursday, and maybe today I'll do some Algebra. Or maybe I'll watch the dvd of Batman Begins which should arrive from Netflix today.

I have stories to write Folks. And no time to write them. For instance, Spike has been declared truant but is still the best damn kid I could ask for (except I might ask for a non-truant fantastic kid, but oh well), Buffy is gaining weight and quickly, Scott is a walking fool, my mother is still sick, and Charleen gave me some news about the ex-husband and his Red-Headed Ho that she insists I need to write about. But time, Folks, I need Time.

So bear with me. I have a five page essay to write this week also. Maybe I can squeeze in an entry this weekend.

Happy Tuesday!!!

First, T-Man Sam - glad to have you back!

Second, an update on the communications teacher/whacko - in case you missed it, her husband also rides a bike. So... Yeah. Also, last week in class she was talking about slavery and religion (again, what does that have to do with interpersonal communications???) and she told the class that the early colonists, who the slaves went to live with, were CATHOLIC. And she made a big deal about it, so it's not like she just slipped and meant "Christian", she actually had a long discussion about the CATHOLIC early-colonial slave owners.

For those who never paid any attention at all in History class, not even back in second grade... the colonists were PROTESTANT. NOT Catholic. But whatever.

Third... Phi Theta Kappa - WHOOOOOO!!!!!

Fourth - I'm at work, and I have to get started. Everyone have a happy day!!!

"Congratulations on your academic achievement! As a result of your dedication to scholastic success, the Phi Theta Kappa chapter on this campus extends to you an invitation to accept membership in the International Honor Society of the Two-Year College.

"...Gold Key Membership Pin. ...notation of membership on your diploma and transcripts and the privilege of wearing regalia at graduation. ...letters of recommendation for scholarships and employement.

"... induction ceremony on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ...contact the Honors Program assistant," etc. etc...

Heck YES I'm paying the $57 fee!!

Oh, and I've settled on my major for next year.
Major: English Literature
Minor: Religious Studies

Doesn't that sound smart? heeee

Oh yeah, and I got an A on my Algebra midterm...

You know what, all we hear about in my communications class is about the teacher's blind husband, "my blind husband this" and "my blind husband that" and while it is clear that she loves him, and that he must love her, I am a bit more pissed off than I already was with my teacher at the moment.

Because I just did an internet search for my teacher, who has a very unusual hyphenated name, and I saw more results for her husband than for her. So I just clicked a few, you know, to see more about who he was - because I figured he is probably an interesting person. And one of the links led me to a thread where he is actually explaining what is wrong with his eyes, and while other people are bringing up very specific problems like cataracts, he says...

...only that his vision is 20/200 in one eye, and 20/400 in the other. Which means I don't know how I have a drivers license, because I am blinder than that. My vision is 20/475 in one eye and 20/525 in the other. Yet I don't say I am blind, you know why?

BECAUSE I WEAR GLASSES. And CONTACT LENSES. Have you heard of these? Because not only have they been around for a very long time, but YOUR WIFE WEARS SOME.

I mean, come ON. Yes, I am blind as a bat WITHOUT my GLASSES. And I believe I am legally blind WITHOUT my GLASSES. But I don't go around telling people I am actually BLIND, because my vision is CORRECTABLE. 20/200 is better vision than I have ever had in my entire life, and I never thought I was blind before I got my glass at age 10.

Now, no where does the husband ever state, on the internet, that he is blind, only that he has difficulty seeing. But my teacher reminds us every danged week (when she manages to come to class) that her husband is blind, and disabled somehow, and such a special person because HE CANNOT SEE.

I'm telling you, this lady is a lunatic and is going to make me crazy before semester end. I'm afraid to raise my hand in class, because I may accidentally exclaim, "BULLSHIT".

You realize this is just procrastinating instead of preparing for my Algebra II Midterm at 10am, right?

I better go.

Ya know what, every time I think about that email from my algebra teacher I feel this huge weight come off my shoulders. A whole page of notes! Front and back! How can you fail with that???

Maybe I'll get straight A's after all...

I just got an email from my Algebra II teacher, for the mid term she is allowing the use of a calculator AND a whole page of notes, written on both sides!

Now that's a load off MY mind!

As for good news, I haven't completed even one week of school and I'm finished with my Communications homework, finished with the first two chapters of Spanish, and finished with the first three chapters of Algebra. Those last two classes, though they have deadlines, they are also self paced - I can go way ahead if I want. The Algebra teacher even said she's had students who finished the whole class in ten weeks! I think I'm going to slow down with it eventually, but I'm glad I get this chance to get ahead now since I have Scott's surgery to deal with next week.

And now we're off to church.

Went to Algebra II today, and I think I'm going to do really really well thanks to that study book I used all summer long. It appears that book went into much of Intermediate Algebra too, because there is not much in my book that I haven't been over at least a little during the summer.

So that's the last of my hard classes, - it's going to be a piece of cake I think. Famous last words.

Saturday is Spanish, but I have my books and I took it in high school and I'm pretty familiar with everything there too. So my two hardest classes will actually be more review than anything.

My english teacher emailed me today and said the private English Lit class is getting set up for me right now. So it's a Go, and that means...

I'll still be graduating with an AA in English in the Spring.

Wow.

Okay I went to Interpersonal Communications last night. I really liked the teacher even though several students walked out as they realized she was going to force us to do actual work and challenge us to actually learn and had *gasp* high expectations for us.

Bring it ON, Teacher.

I'm going to have a good time in that class.

Next up: Algebra on Thursday

School starts at 6pm!!!
I'll be sitting in my Interpersonal Communications class!

Okay, per Catie's comment, if I manage to pull a B or higher in Algebra II, there will be some drunken happiness one evening soon after. Ya'll are pre-invited.

Don't be surprised if I speak Spanish after a few drinks.

First day, New semester, Almost here

I'm on page 182 in my Algebra book, and it ends on around page 300 (with a whole bunch of word problems). Algebra II starts Thursday September 8. AAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I can do it I can do it I can do it...

And this Tuesday my first class, Interpersonal Communications, starts. So soon? I thought I had another week before classes start!

I just looked up my teachers over at MySpace.com - you can rate professors there now. My new Spanish and Algebra teacher are pretty highly rated, and the students say they are easy and helpful so that's a LOAD off my mind.

But then they totally trashed my Communications and new English teacher, say they give a LOT of work and grade hard, etc. So that makes me scared only because with 16 units I can't have too many really hard classes and Spanish and Algebra are already hard.

But then I looked up my old professors that I've already taken classes with, and my favorites - including my favoritest english teacher ever, who is giving me special classes so I can get my english degree on time - they got HORRIBLE ratings. It appears that the students who rated them believe they shouldn't be assigned any work, no research, and not have any english skills whatsoever.

So I'm going to try to not be scared of my Comm and new English teacher, and just be happy that Spanish and Algebra may not be too hard.

*biting fingernails*

WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
All signed in by the Dean!
Thank you Dean!
I'll have my English AA by May, can ya believe it???

School has started, I only have one class this summer, Creative Writing. My first assignment? Write a poem. At least twenty lines. Aaarrrrgh.

So I started and stopped and changed subjects several times. This is not the poem I'm turning in, but this is one that I came up with last night.

1:30 am

Death is different when you see it
On the television screen.
Even on a crime show
The blue blanket of my father
Would not block the goddamn door,
A fuzzy blue sentry
No way around but over
I hugged the wall and jumped -
This never happens on TV.

Just got my grades in:

World Literature: A

American Literature: A

Environmental Science: A

American History: B

I am a very happy girl right now!

Speaking of school...

I think I got 3 A's and one B!

I KNOW I got A's in:

World Literature
American Literature
Environmental Science

But I'm pretty sure I could only get a B in History. With my horrible history final after the funeral - who knows, I may even have a C in class. But I'm not going to stress. Stuff happens and I did my best, that's a fact. The grade won't be any lower than that.

On June 20th my Creative Writing class starts!

Then for Fall Semester I'll have:

Spanish
English Literature
Interpersonal Communications
Algebra II

School - WHOOPEEEEEE!!!!!

I have just submitted my last final and am now officially

DONE
with school for the semester!

Now I have about 30 days to do what I want until Summer Session starts (my private Creative Writing class, WHOOOO!).

Bring on the books and DVDs!!!!

History final: DONE! (and bombed hard, heh)

American Literature final: DONE!

Environmental Science final: 2/3 Done!

World Lit final: Working on now!

WhoooEEEEE!!!!
I'm going to be complaining about no work to do again in NO time, hahaha.

My presentation is going excellently, and I wanted to thank you all again who helped me by filling out the survey. If you still want to I can still accept the help, so just visit the diary and go back one or two entries. Like I said, I will post the answers as soon as presentation is completed, which will be at the end of the week..
I'm so happy it's almost done!
Now if History would just sort of disappear!
And then all I'll have are the essays! Yay for essays!

That blasted science presentation is due this Thursday, well, six people at a time each week, and I volunteered to do it first.

Someone bop me on the head for that.

So by Tuesday I was so overwhelmed trying to get this thing put together, along with all my other work, that I found myself just frozen up, I wasn't doing ANY work.

So I sent my teacher an email, the one whose wife my company put in collections? And I told him I was overwhelmed and knew I could get an A but needed one more week, and I knew that he didn't have to give me an extension but I had worked very hard this semester and could really use the extra week, and pretty much promised him I would get an A if I just got one extra week.

So then I stressed even harder because if he didn't give it to me, then I was up the creek. NO paddle. And a hole in the boat.

I got my email today!

"Pischina,
You have been an exceptional student this semester. You have earned your extension and it has been granted.
Professor."

HURRAH!!!! Now I have a week and an entire weekend to work some more on it! And really, I really will get an A, I'm going to do GREAT.

Thanks in part, to all you who filled out my survey. So thanks again to every single one of you.

I feel so much better now that I have unfrozen and am doing all my work like a good little girl. Who knows, maybe I'll even be ready by Thursday.

But I won't. By next week I will.

Somebody please complete my science presentation for me.
I will love you forever.
It's due Thursday - orally.
I don't mind the oral it's the written and the research and the powerpoint that make my brain go "lalalalala let's watch Lemony Snicket instead."

Lemony Snicket wasn't even that good.

But it's better than this.

>:-(

Okay folks, I need your help NOW. I have to have at least 50 people answer ten questions on a survey I made for science and I need the answers by Tuesday. So could you all pleeeeeeeease answer them for me? It's in my diary right now. Then email the ten little answers (just the letter next to the answer, how hard is that? Plus your name and city/state) to pischina AT diaryland.com. I will love you forever. You don't even know.

At 2:30 I get to sign up for my classes for Fall.(Yay!)
Tonight Scott comes over (Yay!) then I just have to read 20 more pages of Science (Boo) answer questions for World Lit (Boo) finish editing my final draft essay in American Lit (Boo) finish my rough draft for World Lit (Boo) and... I think that's it. haha.

So I will see ya'll at the end of the week!

I have been wiped out by midterms this week. There's still one more month of school left but I'm ready for it to be OVER already. It seems every semester as soon as the new class schedule comes out I get anxious for the current classes to be done so I can start the next ones.

I'm definitely going to sign up for all four classes.
Spanish I
Algebra II
Engl Lit I
Interpersonal Communications
(otherwise known as "speech")

So, 16 units to try for. I'll do it.

And I'll have my first degree in 13 months, 6 months before I turn 40.

So should I take 16 units next semester?

HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

*choke*

So this is my plan for Fall:

Intermediate Algebra (5 units)
Spanish A (5 units)
English Literature (3 units)

And then I may, just may, take Interpersonal Communications (3 units).
If I don't, my plan had been to take some communications class (which I need) over winter break, but that means going to actual class every day after work for three hours each evening, for three weeks straight.

Can you say Party House?

So if I take it during the semester I only have to be gone one day a week. I can do it if there's not much work outside of class. I think this particular class is light on outside work. WHY can't we see the syllabii before classes start??? It would make schedule planning so much easier!!!

So, why not just arrange babysitters for the teenagers over winter break and take it then?

Because of the budget cuts. The class may not even be available in the winter. Yesterday there were demonstrators at my college and at San Jose State University, protesting the fee hikes (150% at my school, going 100% higher in a year) and the budget cuts (20% cut - no wonder I have no english classes available!!!). So if I wait for winter, it may not be around, and that's a class I must have to graduate.

So I'll probably sign up for it, and see what happens. Just cross my fingers, that's all I can do.

Well, the history exam was hard, as usual. No matter how prepared I think I am, she has the hardest questions on the test. She give us three essay questions the week before the exam so we can study before, then she picks one for the exam. Every single time, this is the fifth exam I have had with her, she ALWAYS picks the one essay question I'm not sure about.

Anyway, I think I got about 70% on the exam but somehow pulled an essay out of my butt and hopefully will average a B.

I think I'll be getting 3 A's and one B this semester.

But I have a science exam tomorrow that I haven't even cracked the book for, so I have to go. WHY WHY WHY do all exams have to be in the same week? There's no TIME!!!!!

Time to go to work, and then weekend in Aptos. Bringing my history book along so I can quickly read four chapters before Wednesday, yet I also have to read a chapter for science and two stories for my literature classes.

I think I got an A on each of my science tests last night. WOOOO!

I will see ya'll Sunday afternoon.

Ugh, History Quiz tomorrow and I didn't realize it. I thought it was NEXT Wednesday. Not exactly prepared. But such is how History has been going for me this semester, ha.

Whoa, ups and downs today!

First, I got an email response from the Dean today, basically telling me "So sorry, better luck next time, oh and hey - good luck finding classes at other schools!"

Aargh. So that got me pretty down pretty quickly. She explained that the english classes just aren't that popular and with the budget cuts (Thanks again, Governor Schwartzennblegger!) she had to consider how many students needed the basics instead. That she may possibly alternate American Lit and English Lit online every other year.

Fat lot of good that would do ME, heh.

I emailed her back one more time that maybe in the future she could consider scheduling an evening English Lit class when an on-line class wasn't available - since it's REQUIRED and all, in a major they OFFER, and I would bet a good lot of their students have JOBS.

Only I said it nicely. Really, really nicely.

And my curt reply from her was something like "Thanks for your concerns. You have given me much to think about with scheduling."

So I figured, Now I've pissed off the Dean. Go me!

Heh.

But this evening I got an email from my professor saying that I had written a very good letter.... and it worked! That the Dean is going to speak to the President about putting Creative Writing back on schedule for this summer, and that I'll probably be able to take English Lit from her in the Fall, AND she's going to enroll me in her on campus English Lit B class in the Spring and create an online syllabus just for me!

Does this blow your mind or what???

So she asked me to help her find a couple more students, she wants a class of four "good students" who will complete the class and get A's, because she's "not getting full pay for this, that means I'm not teaching grammar :-)"

She said Scott could join!!!

I emailed one other student so far, and hopefully the Professor can find one or two more. But it looks like my education has been saved, by a professor who really cares.

Guess I'll have to dedicate my first book to her, eh?

I've spent most of today wrapped up in the warm fuzzies that come when you know someone cares enough to pay special attention. Yeah, I'm talking school, haha. I was pretty distraught last night, researching on-line English Lit courses all over California, and when I woke up this morning that was the first thing on my mind, that my entire educational plan was up in smoke. Then turning on the computer and seeing that my professor, who has a Phd in English, is willing to conduct two private classes with just me. Private classes with a Doctor in English!!! Although we're going to try to get some other students involved, to make it a workshop, we can still do it with just me. She could have said Sorry Charlie and went about her business, but she's trying to help.

I wrote my letter to the Dean. It was a nice letter, but I let her know these cancellations were delaying and/or preventing my graduation, that I cannot get an AA and I cannot even transfer as an English major without them. My professor said to make sure I told her I was considering taking classes at other schools, so I did. And I mentioned that even if she couldn't change the schedule, I just wanted her to know that there were students out here who needed them and counted on them. That scheduling a Core Class only in the morning prevented any adult with a 40 hour job from graduating. And I told her how most adults in my on-line classes were only back in college because of those classes. That we depended on them.

My professor said she should hear from the Dean tomorrow, I don't know when or if I will hear from her. She asked me to not mention the independent study courses - and to not tell her where I got her email address from, lol! As if she's not going to make that connection? lol! So hopefully I will have some very very good news tomorrow.

If not, West Valley here I come.

What a great way to wake up today!

School update:
I received an email today from my english professor who said she has just written a letter to the Dean herself, AND she is willing to do an independent study with me for at least Creative Writing AND English Lit!

WHOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Now I just need one more english elective!

Okay. Wow. It appears as if a direct result of Arghhnold being our governor is that half the English classes (and many others) have been dropped from both the colleges I go to, because of cuts he has made. I will be missing one class to get an English AA, because the electives needed are not available!!! Can you believe that??? I can still transfer, but not with a degree...
Only get this... I may not be able to directly transfer as an English Major because the last core class I need, English Lit, is only scheduled for one class, on weekday mornings. Apparentely no one who has a job will be able to transfer as an English Major.
Wow. I don't even know what to say.

I am still taking Creative Writing from West Valley, and I actually found an online English Lit class at Los Angeles Harbor College, lol, but I don't know if that will work.

Are you allowed to take several different classes all from different schools? lol...

Okay, I'm off to go bang my head against the wall.

Science Project Done!!! WHOOOOO!!!! That's the biggest project I have this semester and I'm all finished. It's all easy from here...

Also, I looked at the online SJSU catalog last night, and taking 2-3 classes per semester will definitely be an option when I get there. So that's a relief because I didn't think there were enough hours in the day to do it, but I'll be graduating on schedule after all.

I still can't believe I'm actually doing this! Only one year ago I decided to go back to school and by the end of summer I'll have completed 34 units.

Now if someone would just come and clean my house and fix my lawnmower for me everything will be Peachy.

I haven't received any grades yet this semester in either of my english classes, but two essays are due to be graded any minute now and I cannot wait to find out my scores. Please Please don't let her take all week to post grades!

SchoolSchoolSchoolSchoolSchoolSchoolSchool

WOOOOOOO

I finished 95% of my science project (due on Thursday) and my english teacher finally posted the questions for the week. So I'm back in school again, Hurrah!!!

So you know I haven't been to school in 18 years and I'm nearing the end of my first year and so really this week of Spring Break is really the first "vacation" I've had in quite a long time (don't get me wrong, I'm still at work this week, heh) and it's just been really nice on my brain to not have to DO anything. I'm trying to stay focused though and keep my eye on the prize. In 14 months I'll have my first degree, WHEEEEEE!!!!

Anyway, what I was trying to say before I got sidetracked by Spring Break AGAIN...

Is that I have a science project I need to finish by next Thursday and with my schedule I really have to finish it by Sunday and I totally wanted to do it this evening, like every other evening this past week, but I just don't feel like it yet. I just want to sit and watch TV and The Apprentice and veg.

I think I'm going to do just that. Science can wait for Saturday.

Or Sunday.

Or Wednesday.

So after talking with Scott this weekend, and after my son's school district just decided to layoff over 500 teachers, I have decided to stay in school until I get my Masters.

Then I can teach high school, college, whatever. Wherever the job is, heh.

Just call me Professor Pischina, heee.

And the Test Grade is...

102.5% !!!!

Making my average in class now 100%.

You may all throw tomatoes and rotten fruit.

Me: My teacher *still* hasn't posted our test grades yet!
Scott: What, you think you didn't get an A???
Me: No, I *know* I got an A, I just want to know how *big* of an A I got!

Catie already put her guess in, how about the rest of you? What do you think my score was?

Ya know what, there's something I just love about updating from the school library computer. I guess it feels like I'm doing something I'm not supposed to be doing. I should be doing research. Ah well, I've been here 2-1/2 hours. I want some Taco Bell.

Tonight I go to Science and give a little presentation on a nonprofit environmental group and then we take another test. Should we take bets on what my test grade will be?

;-)

In the last two days I've completed three very short research projects, one presentation, studied Chapter 5 for the EnviroSci test tomorrow, written four essays for Psychology and kept up with my reading and discussions for Huck Finn and A Doll House.

And feeling Great! Like Wonder Woman!!! Where's my golden lasso?

yeah, time for be- zzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

I got a 97% on my chemistry test, which is the hardest chapter we're having in Environmental Science, so the rest of the semester should be easy. It brings my grade down to a 99% but can't complain about that, eh?

We're reading Ibsen's "A Doll House" in World Literature - a play I have loved since reading it in high school.

We're reading Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" in American Literature, one of my favorite books of all time.

We're on to Ecology in Environmental Science - Easy.

Studying neurons and Alzheimers in Psychology, pretty interesting.

And History is history, we're up to about 1900 now. It gets much easier as we get closer to present times.

So. Looks like I may be able to pull of 16 units after all. I'll have two classes over the summer, Creative Writing and Women in Literature. That makes twelve classes in one year. Pretty good, eh???

Starting in the fall I'll only have three classes for each of two semesters. I cannot believe I only have two semesters left after this one. I have accomplished a LOT. And it's going so fast.

Of course, my writing here and in the diary has suffered, but in the end I will be better off. I'm learning so much, and just the feeling of accomplishing so much, it feels so good.

Scott and I are going to see Constantine in just a couple minutes. I'm suffering from a pretty bad cold, but it's finally going away. Scott is taking a month off work because of... I guess I haven't mentioned that yet, right? Well, he's been diagnosed with osteoathritis, and a hip replacement is being recommended. For someone who had practiced martial arts almost his entire life, this is devastating news. But he's trying to get himself better without a hip replacement. I hope this month off does him some good, I think it will. So that's what's going on with us.

It's a very rainy weekend here in Aptos. But we're keeping each other company and having a nice time. I hope you all have a good weekend too.

School and Scott, what else?

I got a 97% on my chemistry test, which is the hardest chapter we're having in Environmental Science, so the rest of the semester should be easy. It brings my grade down to a 99% but can't complain about that, eh?

We're reading Ibsen's "A Doll House" in World Literature - a play I have loved since reading it in high school.

We're reading Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" in American Literature, one of my favorite books of all time.

We're on to Ecology in Environmental Science - Easy.

Studying neurons and Alzheimers in Psychology, pretty interesting.

And History is history, we're up to about 1900 now. It gets much easier as we get closer to present times.

So. Looks like I may be able to pull of 16 units after all. I'll have two classes over the summer, Creative Writing and Women in Literature. That makes twelve classes in one year. Pretty good, eh???

Starting in the fall I'll only have three classes for each of two semesters. I cannot believe I only have two semesters left after this one. I have accomplished a LOT. And it's going so fast.

Of course, my writing here and in the diary has suffered, but in the end I will be better off. I'm learning so much, and just the feeling of accomplishing so much, it feels so good.

Scott and I are going to see Constantine in just a couple minutes. I'm suffering from a pretty bad cold, but it's finally going away. Scott is taking a month off work because of... I guess I haven't mentioned that yet, right? Well, he's been diagnosed with osteoathritis, and a hip replacement is being recommended. For someone who had practiced martial arts almost his entire life, this is devastating news. But he's trying to get himself better without a hip replacement. I hope this month off does him some good, I think it will. So that's what's going on with us.

It's a very rainy weekend here in Aptos. But we're keeping each other company and having a nice time. I hope you all have a good weekend too.

So it's Saturday and I needed to do stuff at the college library so here I am reading my psych book and studying. I let the kids loose to do whatever they like on this BEAUTIFUL sunny Saturday. You have no idea how gorgeous it is here today. I so love that the college is right next door to our house too. I should bring my camera next time so I can take a picture from the library balcony and you can see how gorgeous the area I live is, and also you could probably see my house! Anyway, kids deserve to be let loose once in awhile. I'll be home at 2:30 and they're instructed to be back by then too to check in. The cats are playing outside too. Everyone is happy. I hope the weekend continues like this - I hate feeling so wonderful and then having a bomb dropped on me... but I'm going to try to keep this positive feeling until something happens to make me feel otherwise.

Also, remember my Environmental Science test? I got 102.8%!!! How that works, I don't know. But the score says I got 36 out of 35 questions correct. I don't remember how many questions there were. But whatever, that's an A if I ever saw one!!!

So I took my Science Quiz and I think I did well, if I missed everything I wasn't sure about I probably got about 85%. But I probably got some of those right. Then we moved on to our Chapter with the atoms and other non-sensical stuff, and we got to pair up and do ALGEBRA problems together and then some lab experiments. I got paired up with Hai, a vietnamese guy who I really liked. I was literally banging my forehead against the desk as my brain tried to implode while doing these algebra problems (and then spent time rubbing the spot where there'll be a bruise tomorrow, heh), and then I compared them to Hai's. Some of the answers were different so I immediately started marking mine wrong. Then Hai would check with his calculator and my answers... were the RIGHT ones. And we did more together and our answers were different... and mine were the RIGHT ones. Every single time this happened I had to bite my tongue to stop from exclaiming: "I can't believe I'm beating the ASIAN guy at math!!!" But we were laughing hard together anyway. "I think you're a plant," I told him, "Put here just to boost my confidence." We also had fun with our retarded experiments, measuring colored water. The worst, most non-fun part was converting Farenheit to Celcius and vice versa. Which of course I better figure out pretty quick so I'll be able to measure after Canada takes over the US, hee.

Anyway, I should know my test score by tomorrow, hopefully.

Also... LOVING my teeth. Never thought I'd say "I love my fake teeth" but since these are permanently cemented in they seem pretty real to me. And my teeth actually fit together! and don't hurt any more! And I ate a cookie and really chewed it! And even some caramel! and carrots!

Yeah, I've been trying a lot of foods I haven't been able to eat in the last year. Teeth problems suck. Fixed teeth Rule!

Okay, gotta get ready for bed.

Oh yeah, STILL NO STUDENT LOAN has arrived!!!!!! It's a week late! I still need to buy two school books! AAAAAAAAAGH! And I need food to feed two teenagers over the weekend! Please, Student Loan Gods, bestow upon your humble student a check tomorrow, PLEASE!

Our first chapter test in Environmental Science is on CHEMISTRY and my head is spinning right now with ions and protons and acids and base, exothermic, endothermic, molecules, organic/inorganic, enzymes, respiration.... AAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Oh, also, did I mention that the school bookstore refused to buy back ANY of my books?? Because they all had new editions out now. Even my almost brand new $120 Oceanography book!

So I put them up on eBay and Half.com. Already have a $10 bid on my history book.

Bastards.

I could use a new white jacket anyway.

Okay, I'm now certifiably insane. I've decided to keep all 16 units.

I do have until February 24 to give one up, but I think I can do it.

Heh.

I'M BACK!!!!
I wasn't hiding out, my stupid internet connection took a dive, AGAIN right before school started. This seems to be a trend. Another bowl full of thick fudgy brownies served up to Computer God at work and he fixed it in five minutes.

So I'm back.

Tonight I go to my first "real" class, I have an Environmental Science lab every Thursday evening. The class itself will be online, but the lab is at school.

Yay School!

I'm done! I'm done Done DONE!!! Hurrah! School is over for a whole... five days! And then the cRaZy semester starts! Boooo!

Heee. Just kidding. Ya'll know I love school.

Okay, time to go relax and eat some dinner and wait for The Apprentice to start!!!

Tooting a horn for a sec...

I just got my second essay back and I got an A-!!!! Which means combined with my first essay (perfect score) I will definitely get an A in class, unless I've completely bungled my final essays and get F's. No way Dudes and Dudettes, I'll get A's or B's on them and then I rack up another A on my transcript. Whoooo Hooooo!!!!!

Also, the teacher's comment:

" WELL WRITTEN, AND I REALLY LIKE IT WHEN YOU TAKE A CHANCE ON A DIFFICULT TOPIC! GRADE: A- "

It's the last week of Winter Session and I have to turn in 2 1500 word essays by Thursday evening, so I will be scarce until then. Have a great week and I will see you all on Friday!

I got my Environmental Science book in the mail yesterday. $85 at the book store, $20 on eBay, hahaha. I can't wait to start school again! Okay, I'm still in school, taking English 1B during Intercession, but I can't wait for my next four classes to start!

Environmental Science
Survey of American Literature B
History 17B
Psychology

School! Yay!!

So...
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I GOT STRAIGHT A'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School starts tomorrow so of course my computer has gone bonkers again. Hopefully computer guy can fix it at work. It only works for like 5 minutes at a time. Megs, I haven't been able to finish returning your emails, but I'm not ignoring you! or anyone else! Hopefully I'll be back online this evening!!!! HELP!!

I'm DONE! DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NO MORE SCHOOL!

Well, at least for two weeks, haha.

I'm so happy I don't even want to look at this computer right now.

I think I'll go read a book. A good ole, non-required-reading book.

You will have to wait another day for me to write my diary entry about threatening to Spike's friends that I will "stick (them) like a pig" if they touch my daughter. heh.

For some reason they are now terrified of me. Don't know why. May have had to do with the "bloody" butcher knife I was waving at them. heee.

Anyway, Good Bye for one more day. Then I will be back in full force.

Omigod I think I'm done. I'm not sure. But I'm going to step away from the computer for a couple hours and come back later to proof it. Must upload by midnight.

Yep, I may be done. Gawd I need a nap. A month-long nap.

Never never ever ever EVER put off doing your research paper

In eight hours and 9 minutes I will be absolutely DONE with this research paper, finished or not. That is the only thing keeping me going at this point.

Six pages down. Four more to go.

The Finish Line....

I totally bombed my American Literature final so I am probably guaranteed a B in that class. Next time I'll take the research paper option which at least give me a chance to proof and redo my work instead of pulling 2 essays of crap out of my ass in 2 hours. BLAH.

Yesterday I had my Oceanography exam, and I really thought I would get at least a 90 on it, I knew my stuff SO WELL. I only needed about an 80 to get an A in the class. I started the exam and knew all the answers... until halfway through when suddenly I didn't know CRAP about the questions. Then I started getting way bummed because I was so sure I was getting an A in the class, and I really needed the A to get on the Dean's List, so finally I finished and went Christmas shopping.

Then I realized I was one of THOSE students, you know the ones, the students you want to slap because they're crying that they got an A-. Well I finally understood what they were going through. I know I should be super-happy if I get a B in my classes, a B is a good grade... but what upset me was that I studied SO HARD. I worked so hard and was sure I was going to do well. THAT's why it's disappointing.

Anyway, the teacher promised to post grades by Saturday night... and he did... and my score was a 78.

Which got me...

An A-!!!!!

Believe me, an A- is A-Okay with me. An A is an A, haha. Also, I got the very highest score in the whole class, and the second highest grade for the whole semester. Only 2 A's in the whole class! WHOOOOOO!!!

Okay, and now I've been up since 5:30am so I can finish a 10 page research paper that's due this evening.

No more fooling around.

They certainly don't make these chairs very comfortable. I guess they don't want you hanging around. I have at least 2 hours to go, I wish I could get a little more comfy, but oh well.

NOT at work

But here at school of course, haha.

I'm in the library waiting for my final to start at 3pm. It's noon right now.

I went to Traffic Court this morning and got my fine reduced by over $200, WHOOOO! Remember that fine? From long ago when I had to renew my license and get insurance, blah de blah? Well today was the court date, and I'm getting over $200 back which of course will go directly back to Scott because he lent me the money in the first place.

My library computer pass says "NO ONLINE CHATTING AND COMPUTER GAMES". Does that mean I'm allowed to post here?

I'm a rebel.

Critical Thinking teacher says he could give me an A right now...
Got a B+ on my last Am Lit essay...
which means Friday's final will determine A or B...
Oceanography final Saturday, still studying for an A...
Just received my History Final, got an A-...
but I don't think it's quite enough for an A, maybe... but maybe not...

At any rate, Final Friday, Final Saturday, Research Report Sunday and then

I'm

DONE.

GAWD, will it ever END.

I would post more now but unfortunately Oceanography is not over yet so I need to go study.

Oh... and my teacher re-figured our grades and I now have an A!! That means... it's possible I'll have straight A's this semester. I had a pretty firm B last week in Oceanography, now I have a very firm A. If I get that A in History, and do well in American Lit... We'll see...

Off I go to study.

School's... almost... over... 3... more... weeks...

Wednesday evening, and I just finished a couple more assignments. Only have one more 5 page essay due by Sunday - haven't started it yet. Ten page research paper due in two weeks - I started that one a couple hours ago. Another one page essay due in Critical Thinking on 12/1. A re-take in Oceanography for extra credit Tuesday. I think I have a History exam Thursday - Not sure - guess I need to check on that. Oh yeah, no one in my group for the Critical Thinking group project has done one blasted thing, except for I wrote the essay all by myself... If anyone thinks I won't be telling the teacher this, they would be WRONG.

Losing my mind... cannot wait for this semester to be over... still top of my class, still A's and B's...

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I just took my History Mid Term and I think I ACED it. SUCH a relief!!!!

Now, on to the next essays...

OH MY GOD I ALREADY GOT MY ESSAY GRADED!!!
And I got a 95%!!!!! My highest grade yet!!! WHOOOOOO!

I. Don't. WANNA.

Guess what. After writing and re-writing that Gay Marriage essay until I was sick of thinking about it (and ya'll were sick of hearing about it), after completely writing that thing over FOUR SEPARATE TIMES... I turned it in, in all its glorious perfection...

And received my next assignment. And that is?

To re-write the essay into a better argument. I have to re-write that damn thing one more time. Our grade will be based on how much we improve our essays.

If I had waited five minutes to turn it in I would have seen the new assignment first and turned in a previous draft. But noooooo. I had to turn it in EARLY.

DAMMIT.

All right, here you go

Okay, my GrownWoman account here, courtesy of Megs, has a diary included. So I've turned it into an essay diary. I'm only posting my essay that got As on them, haha, except I'm including the Gay Marriage essay before it's graded. If it gets an F it will disappear in a flash, hah! Anyway, go to http://aGrownWoman.com/diary to read the essays. The Gay Marriage one is titled "Baby Steps".

Fried Brains

Okay, I did it. I completely re-wrote my argument from scratch three times. It was most difficult for me to come up with a compromise when the basic argument - a religious one - is not a valid argument in a Critical Thinking class. So if the basic opposing argument is declared technically invalid - what do you compromise with?

I have received several requests to post the essay. Do you all really want to read it? Keep in mind, I was required to write a compromise when my own beliefs do not permit compromise, and it is not an essay on whether gay relationships should be socially allowed - I could write thousands of words on that. At any rate, if I have enough requests, I'll post it.

At any rate, I am now DONE. Don't want to think about compromise any further. BLEGH. My brain needs a rest.

I never expected to have so much trouble with this Gay Marriage Solution essay. To come up with a compromise is just killing me. For me to accept a compromise, I have to recognize some valid, logical non-religious argument against gay marriage. I have not heard a valid non-religious based argument yet.

If anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it. Whether you agree with my view or not, what I need is a non-religious argument to prohibit gay marriage.

Anyone?

What does Jesus say about homosexuality in the Bible? NOT ONE WORD.

I'm writing my essay on gay marriage now. It's hard not to rant. I have to create a solution both sides will agree to and be happy with - how can a gay couple be happy with less than equal rights? A compromise is difficult.

I already got my history quiz back and unexpectedly got 100%!!! It was only a ten question quiz, and I was the first one done, but I wasn't sure about a couple questions, just picked the ones that made the most sense.

100%!!

Have I mentioned that school books will cost over $300 next semester for 3 classes, and $180 of that is just for Spanish???

I'm already searching eBay.

Studen Review, Take notes

Although I lost about 8 pounds when I first started school, I've pretty much made them all up, plus possibly more.

Maybe it's "The Freshman 15", haha.

Anyway, Did I tell you next semester's classes? Oh wait, I did.

Well you all get to hear a repeat update anyway. Cuz it's my blog. NYAH.

I just took my History Quiz. I think I did really well. For only opening my history book just this week and not watching one of the videos. Uh. Well.

Oceanography review this Saturday. I'm having some trouble with this current section of class. A real class to go to would have helped me. But I'll take good notes during the review again.

Overall: 2 As, 2 Bs. Yeah, I'm proud. But still CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS SEMESTER TO BE OVER. OR I'M GOING TO LOSE MY MIND. ALSO, THE LAWN HAS NOT BEEN MOWED SINCE SCHOOL STARTED.

Okay. And so. Next semester I take: Algebra Review, Spanish and American Literature B. Found out we'll read Huckleberry Finn in class. I LOVE that book.

Okay, no more school for tonight.

Two weeks til sign-ups for Spring Semester.

I'll be taking:

Review of Algebra (One evening a week)
Spanish I (Telecourse)
Survey of American Literature B (Online course)

Only 11 units, instead of the 12 I have now, and only 3 classes instead of the insane FOUR I have now. I should ace next semester.

History exam grade finally in:

83%

Yayyyyyy!!!!!!

Whew! My 5-6 page essay for American Literature is almost finished with editing (mainly because I need to cut out at least 200 words, heh). Then I have one discussion post in Critical Thinking to put up by Saturday night, then ANOTHER 750 word essay on the STUPID PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES due Sunday night. Not that I'm bitter.

I also have several tapes of History and Oceanography to watch, I'm a bit behind but I also have to move a TV and the VCR into my room this weekend before I can watch the tapes (long story involving a blown circuit breaker in the living room). So hopefully I can get Spike to help me with that - but he will be gone most of the weekend.

Anyway. Hanging on by a thread. And yet STILL AT THE TOP OF MY CLASSES, NEENER. Hee.

Also, must read about 50 pages of Fast Food Nation, to prepare for my ten page research paper due next month.

Gah. Sometimes I think I should just stop thinking about what I have to do.

And I am sleepy and it's about 11pm so I am off to bed. Now. Come on Kitties, time to go Night-Night.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz z z z z z ......

No, it's not my birthday, but I just got my Abu Graib essay back...

90%!!!

A!!!!

Okay, off to drink wine and make dinner for Scott.

Also, I already have 8 extra credit points, which makes my grade an A, and I can get 7 more extra credit next week. A+ !!!!!

WOWWWWWWW!!!!!!

Okay, grades are posted for Oceanography. Scroll down to student #05489. See that? 80%!!!! I got a B!!! But not only that, LOOK AT ALL THOSE F's!!!! I got the 3rd highest grade in the class!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I cannot tell you how happy I am!!!!!

I just got back from my History Mid Term and I KNOW I got at least a B.

At LEAST a B!!!

I'm SO HAPPY!!!!

Saturday = Oceanography - I think I'll do well again, but we'll see!

Okay, today's 750 word essay is called: Are computers necessary for student success?

That's an easy one.

But next week... NEXT WEEK.... *grumble*...

I have to write about Wednesday's presidential debates. That means I have to not only WATCH it, and TAKE NOTES, but also find the transcript, and then write about it.

Don't get me wrong, I have them on anyway, but I can only take so much of them. I turn them on in the background while I cook dinner. I don't stress if the sizzling chicken drowns out George Bush's stuttering. I don't even mind if I miss hearing Kerry completely sidestep a question that has an EASY ANSWER. I guess the biggest problem is that I am too wrapped up in my opinions about those two and also my hatred for one of them to ever write an unbiased essay. And I just hate debates so much - are they really of any use? Are presidents bound to abide by what they said in the debates? NO. It's just so much nonsense and it makes me crazy.

So anyway, I'm not looking forward to it. Heh.

And yeah, I really should just go study my history now.

I am SO going to get an A in Oceanography!
To think I almost dropped this class - I'm going to do SO WELL!!!

Okay, results are in.
6 out of 10 correct. Ew. But expected. I emailed the teacher asking for quiz answers to be posted so we can know what we did wrong.

Tomorrow, Oceanography. The class that worries me the most. But I just took a bunch of practice quizzes online and got an averge of 80%. Plus, learned from my wrong answers, heh.

So cross your fingers for me tomorrow! Or save them for next week when the real exams arrive!

I just took my first quiz in History after a 2 hour review in class. I paid so much attention, then got my 10 question quiz and there wasn't one thing on it from the review.

WHAT was the purpose of this review????

So...

I don't know what I got. I could possibly have gotten an A. I could possibly have gotten a D. I'm hoping I got at least a C. I just need to pass this class, it's not that important, however I did not re-enroll in school to get bad grades.

I really like my online classes better, heh. Telecourses are very difficult with no classroom reinforcement or teacher contact for 6 weeks at a time.

****

So then I get home at 8:55pm (on Thursday! you know what that means!) and a circuit breaker has blown in the front room and entryway, which is where the TV with the antenna is. I unscrewed the antenna, ran to the family room where the Playstation TV is, yanked that 100 pound sucker out of the entertainment center and screwed in the antenna just in time to say Bye Bye to (Survivor Loser of the Week). Then, switch channels and -

WALAAH! The Apprentice!

So this Thursday at least will not be a total waste.

I SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET SICK WHEN I HAVE A 750 WORD ESSAY DUE!!!!

Have I mentioned that I'm doing really well in school? Also, my teachers love me. Heee.
:-)
My Survey of Am Lit teacher loves me and gives me career advice, my Critical Thinking teacher loves me and emails me often, and my Oceanography teacher likes me because... We both know Will! HAH!

Also, I heart my online classes SO much. The telecourses, not so much, but the online ones are great.

Only the yucky ones left

So these are the only classes I have left to take after this semester:

Speech
Science with lab
2 math classes
History part 2
Spanish

I may possibly have to take one more semester of PE, and I'll probably retake English 1B. If I can find an online Survey of English Lit class I can transfer that class over too. But otherwise, that's it.

I just talked to one of my english teachers and she recommended not worrying about getting my English AA first. Just finish my transfer classes, then go right to SJSU and get my BA much faster. What a relief!!!

That means 9 less classes!

That means I finish the first half of school in Fall of 2005!

I may really be done before my son finishes high school!

Dr.Heimler... BACK AWAY FROM THE ASSIGNMENT SCREEN! PUT YOUR MOUSE DOWN! STOP TYPING ON YOUR KEYBOARD! GO TAKE A NAP OR SOMETHING!!!

In the ten minutes I've sat here trying to take a break and read from Television Without Pity I've seen FIVE NEW ASSIGMENTS pop up in the online classroom, all due this week.

LALALALALALALALALA

OVERWHELLLLLLLLMMMMMMED!!!!!

I finished my first college paper in 18 years and turned it in online. Now *that* was one scary thing, hitting that "submit" button, knowing there was no getting the paper back for corrections. Just *POOF* and it was gone.

I think I'll get an A though, heh.

And just so you all know this, and I'm totally seriuos, every one of you who is either in school or has graduated is an inspiration to me. That includes Courtney, Sabby, Mocksie and Itsy, and ALL the rest of you. I admire each one of you.

So... tired...

I was up the entire night with a toothache, finally went to sleep at 4am and woke up with the toothache again at 6am.

At 9am I was in school for my History orientation. It went very well, I really liked the teacher and think I'll do well in class.

at 10:30am I was in orientation for Oceanography. Again, I think I'll do very very well - though looking at the class grades from last year, only 2 people got A's, about 4 got B's, and most everyone else got C's and D's. I'm going to get an A though.

Now I am exhausted. I took probably 16 Advils last night, maybe more. Almost lost the last one down the sink this morning, it was like slow motion, "Nooooooooooooooo" and then I caught it. Went to the store to buy Extra Stength Tylenol (was looking for Super Duper Strength Tylenol, but I guess they don't make it) and was able to barely tolerate my classes.

I just want some sleep. The tooth isn't bothering me as much right now, but please oh please let me have some sleep tonight.

Also, my first papers are due tomorrow. I've written 6 pages so far, only have 2 pages to go.

I'm sitting here in the air conditioned college library (it's been consistently over 100 degrees F this week) and waiting for my next class to start. Free internet access at school, WHEEEEEEEE.

Had another run-in with the Bitch-Supervisor-From-Hell today, and yesterday. I tried to make nice yesterday morning, it quickly went bad, she's gunning for me and there's not much I can do. Except get a different job where I never have to see her face again, because honestly? I'm about to bludgeon her with a club. But ever since school started yesterday I've felt much Much MUCH calmer and less stressed - less stressed than I've been in a month. She can't fire me until she hires someone else (well, she CAN, but it wouldn't be a smart move) so I'm safe while looking for another job.

And what do you know, there are quite a few well-paying jobs at school!

That will complete my happiness, and I'll be on my way to a stress-free life.

I also found a great job for Corina, paying more than twice what she makes, she's totally qualified, and Supervisor will be up shit creek if Corina leaves. I told Corina that would be even better than *me* getting another job. "What? Corina quit? Oh gosh, that's TERRIBLE. I guess she actually applied for that job I told her about, huh?" BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA

WHOOOO!

I'm a Student!

And I just turned in my first assignment!
(A Bio on myself... OOH, Hard! heee)

AND... I was the first to turn it in!

Actually, this was for Survey of American Literature, which seems like a pretty good class, it will be harder than I thought, but okay.
Tomorrow's class, Critical Thinking, looks HAAAAAAARD! And I have to do a 10 page research paper! But it has something to do with the Fast Food Nation book, so that's probably okay.
BUT... Some of the essays I have to write will be about:

Rush Limbaugh and Fallacies

Gay Marriage

THOSE sound interesting!

Okay, I'm off to bed.

Today I go pay for my classes. I'm having a panic attack just trying to decide whether to take all four classes or stick with three. I think I can do it, but I don't know, I worked the last time I went to school, but I didn't have 2 kids either, but its just junior college, it's not as if it's hard, and Oceanography and Survey of AmLit will be easy, but do I have time???

I'll probably go for it. I really really want to be done by Fall 2005. I think I can do it.

First of all, thank you to Itsy for playing Child Welfare Agency and Child Protection Services all in one.
:-)

Also, I have completely lost my mind. I have managed to squeeze in another class. I am taking 4 classes, and 12 units.

Oceanography
US History 1
Survey of American Literature
Critical Thinking

I got my transcripts, and guess what? There is a Big. Fat. F. F as in Frog. For English 1B. Amazing. I must have dropped the course and not turned in the official drop notice. This SUCKS. English Major fails English 1B. BAH!!!!!
SOOOOOOOO mad at my self, at my younger self. With that F and the F for the Psychology class I also dropped non-officially, my grade point average is a 2.6389!!!!!!!! Even with 7 As and 5 Bs and 2 Cs.

Oh well. Starting over. My first semester of college, with 5 classes I had a 4.00. I will do it again. And I'll get that gpa up.

Failed English. That is just Stupid.

I am now officially a student at Evergreen Valley College, again. The last class I attended there was in Spring of 1986.

I'm enrolled in Nutrition and Oceanography, and I'm trying to decide if I should take Critical Thinking at the same time.

I even have my own Student ID #. It's the same number from the first time I was in college. It's also listed under my MAIDEN NAME, goshdarnit.

That's okay, I'll be graduated soon enough, and then I can torture my own students, hee heee.

Also, do I need mention that my mom is having a freakin heart attack she's so happy I'm back in school?

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