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.