Week 8, Entry

     I’m a little disappointed that this is the last blog entry for the course.  Writing in the blog has been my favorite part of the class.  Since this is my last blog entry for the class I thought it would be appropriate to apply one of the things that have learned from this class.  Under no circumstances am I trying to be disrespectful.  If that is how it sounds, I give my apologies ahead of time.  A few weeks ago, we were given some “Time Management Tips” to help us as students with this English class. 

     What I have learned from this class is that your first reaction to reading something produces the best notes that help you in an assignment.  I have learned to “react” to writings instead of summarizing.  So here goes, time management tips, responses from a student’s perspective. 

      1.       Less Sleep-I survive on 6-7 hours as it is, anymore and I will be a zombie. 

2.      TV- If you call Disney Jr. TV, then I am the one addicted not my son.

3.      Lunch & Reading-I have mastered the skill of a working lunch, I could give you tips…LOL

4.      Expanded Lunch Time-what lunch time.  It’s a privilege to get to eat while driving to a home visit, catching up on paper work, or recopying to avoid turning in food stain pages.

5.      Less Friends-don’t have any to give up

6.      Facebook-Guilty as Charged.

7.      Vacation time-are you kidding me.  When I take a vacation time, I am in much needed of R & R from work, school, and life.

8.      Sick time-I have to be near death, hospitalized, or sick child to use this.  Have you ever worked for Head Start?

9.       Family Time-not in my vocabulary.  My husband works 4 jobs, goes to school 1 day a week.  I work two jobs and raise a child on my own although the state of Kentucky says I’m married and WKU has my enrollment listed as part-time.

10.  Travel time-Buses don’t exist in rural areas, it’s called Hitch Hiking.

11.  Read & Walk-there is enough weirdoes’ in this world; they don’t need to add me to the list.

12.  Read while in line-it’s obvious that you have not been shopping with a three-year-old.

 I have worked on number 6 adamant.  If I do homework at work, then I fall behind in work stuff.  If I try staying up late, so does my three-year-old.  So I manage to the best of my ability.  I work on homework while my son is watching TV.  Again, this is only a student’s response to a reading.   

Week 7, entry

Where do I begin this week?  I am proud of myself for all of effort that I put into work this week.  I got about six months’ worth of paperwork caught up at my Early Head Start Office.  I was dedicated, disciplined, and determined to complete that.  I think I will continue with this method each week so that I can leave work at the end of the feeling like something was accomplished. 

 I am working on some late gardening projects.  I find it is easier to make your gardening changes during the fall of the year.  I have started a rock garden, a compost bin, and I’m already planning for a deck that covers the roots of a tree in our back yard.  I am excited as this is one of my down times that I spend to “get away from it all”.  I also have to apply my dedication, determination, and be disciplined in these projects while balancing my school schedule.  I am finding myself in the pre-stage planning period of the renovations and remodeling that we are getting ready to do here at the house.  I have to keep reminding myself that renovations takes time due to having the money to do so and the time.  My three-year-old keeps asking me when we are going to paint the bathroom.  We are a few items short of having everything to start that project.  By the end of the year, my goal is to have the bedroom finished and get started on the bathroom. 

I like the short stories that we read this week for our compare and contrast essay.  Two great authors but with writings that are so different.  Although I found some similarities, I felt like there were more contrasting than comparisons.  I am pleased with my essay.  I did try a mix-up of the compare and contrast.  I didn’t write about the compare first, then the contrasting, and summarize both like I have before.  This was a new way of writing for me.  I feel like have learned from this class and learned about writing. I know that there are more difficult assignments to come.  I am prepared and I know that I can achieve the goal and finish this semester with all the “projects” I have going on…LOL. 

Week 6, Entry

This year is the first year that I think I have been able to enjoy fall break.  Being an online student doesn’t always fit into the breaks that are scheduled in the school calendar.  There are a lot of deadlines that an online student must meet, but overall, the student has the choice of taking breaks a little different.   What did I do on fall break, nothing that I didn’t have to do at the moment?  I do feel refreshed and am ready to get back to the semester to get it over with.  This has been a trying year for me at school.  My financial aid has been a long headache.  That puts a lot of additional stress on me that I cannot afford.  I am now in the final steps of getting all the necessary stuff that I need to correct that problem. 

  I am relaxing by the fire and enjoying the ambiance along with this cool weather that we are having today while completing my homework assignments for the week.  With all that the autumn season brings us, it’s like a canvas for writers.  This would have to be my favorite time of the year.  My second choice of season would have to spring because of the “rebirth” that nature goes through. I love playing in the snow and sunbathing is nice too.  Gardening is more enjoyable in the autumn and spring season.  I get to reap the benefits of my labor in the summer until the drought gets the best of everything and me too.  My gardening is my stress reliever from homework, computer breaks, and school.  Baking and walking is two other ways that I like spending time rejuvenating my brain away from all of the technology that I use for school. 

Week 5, Entry

When I think about all that I have been through this week at work, school, and on a personal level.  My head hurts and I am angry.  I feel like nothing positive has been accomplished that is worthwhile my time, effort, and energy that I have put into everything.  Work is busy as ever this time of year which is expected, need I say more.  As for school, I am hanging in there, feeling a little burn out and ready for fall break.  I need revived in the education department so that I can finish the semester.  I am proud of myself for being able to complete all of my assignments on time for my English 200 class.  What has been so frustrating about school this year has been my computer problems (now solved) and my Internet connections.  I have had more issues with my Internet provider this year than what I have had in a very long time.  It is exhausting. 

 

I have learned a few things through all of this.  I’m not as patient as I once was.  I have been fortune enough to learn about reducing my bills.  I learned about a mobile share plan, hotspots, and internet connections all through my IPhone.  I have called my cable/internet provider so much this month with problems, I honestly think they were afraid I would drop them as a provider, so they did what any good sales person would do….offer me a sale, and what did I do?  What any bargain shopper would do, I accepted it.  Saving money is what it’s all about. 

 

Over all, I feel like I’m giving my best to this class.  I have enjoyed this assignment on poetry.  I use to write poetry at one time in my life, nothing worth mentioning.  I was delighted to find some of my favorite authors in the text…Robert Frost, E.E. Cummings.  I have always liked the poem “The Road Not Taken”.  My favorite poem by Cummings is “I Carry Your Heart”.

 

My bed is beckoning me to sleep…LOL.

Week 4, Entry

A lot of stuff has happened this week.  From my son to being sick and a trip to the ER to myself giving in to seek medical attention.  I usually take about one night off with no homework to give myself a break.  However, due to a terrible sinus infection, coughing, and high fever I had to take about three nights off from homework this week.  I didn't see all of this coming but I glad that I started in the beginning of the week with my readings and note taking.  I feel like I have a great start on my homework for this week and will finish on time. 

As I continue my personal selection of reading for pleasure, the Fifty Shades Trilogy, I find myself looking for words that are ending in "ly".  The last two assignments has made me aware of this.  While reading the assigned articles for this week, the one on the geometry of dialogue, I found myself comparing the article to what I was reading.  I was able to understand that article clear with the comparison. 

The crisp cool nights and autumn sunshine is a welcomed sight.  Autumn is one of my favorite seasons.  One of my favorite pass times during the autumn season is to curl up with a good book and blanket.  Walking is another favorite pass time, especially after a homework session.  I find walking a good way to relieve stress, tension, frustration from homework.  It's a good way to revive yourself so I can get back to the books. 

Week 3, Entry

If there is ever a time and place to vent, I sure feel like this is the place for it tonight.  I thought my computer problems were solved with buying a new one and then the cable/Internet service decides to throw their problems into the mix.  Last Friday, there was an outage in this area only, got it fixed with a phone call by Saturday morning and as the week goes on, the Internet crashes. 

Long story short, frustration after another, victory is mine tonight in the world of technology.  A cable technician repaired my Internet with changing out a cable cord.  My first worry was that I would miss the pop quiz over the textbook, "The Elements of Style" because I didn't know what format the quiz would be.  My second stress was that due to limited Internet, I couldn't get my articles opened to read, and I worry that I cannot write the essay that is due for this week. 

Instead of worrying about one essay, I now have two to write.  My three-year old, a tired brain, and distractions are my constant companion.  I am starting to feel the pressure that comes from this English class.  I don't know if it's from my lack of writing abilities or all of the other things that have been road blocks.  One by one, I am overcoming my obstacles that are preventing me from homework getting done.  It's not that I am neglecting my responsibilities, I feel like none of my homework strategies are working for me this semester.  I am so open to suggestions. 

Time is in my favor tonight as I work on this assignment.  If I manage my time more adequate and become more efficient in any task I have at hand over the weekend, I am sure to write essays that I can be proud of.  I may not be a great known author but I am the author of my work, which I take pride in each semester that I complete at school.  Being the second person in my family to go to college, this is one accomplishment that we all share in. 

Week 2 entry

Where do I begin with all that has happened this week.  Work is the same with a growing caseload daily. As of today, I have a full caseload.  I am excited to work with my new families in this new school year.  On the down side of things, the week began in a technological tradegy for me, but there is hope.  My trusty laptop of 3 or 4 years gave out on me and died.  I was ever so thankful that my computer came on last Sunday long enough for me to submitt my homework assignments.  However, after getting the diagnostics from a technichan today (9/6), there is nothng they can do.  I was heart broken because of the pictures that I had on the computer.  I would like to get the other information off there due to the nature of it.  My computer had lesson plans, songs, recipes, etc...that was stuff I honestly wanted to keep and at some point do use.  I have one last chance to take my laptop to a place that repairs hard drives and pray that it can be repaired if only long enough to get my stuff off.

I have to admitt, I am proud of myself for completing all of this weeks reading assignments.  Just when I think I have homework strategies worked out, my energetic three year old throws me a challenge.  I only have two more chapters left to read in The Elements of Style.  While reading in the other textbook Backpack Litature I felt like I was back in my sophmore English class learning all about writing, the rules of writing, and how to use them.  I feel like I had a good understanding and read a few examples to help get a better understanding. 

I enjoy writing in this blog for the class.  I want to devote more time to my personal blog but I get side tracked with work, school, and homelife.  It's so interesting now that my toddler is curious to what mommy is doing all the time.  When I have homework, he has to have homework too.  While I read in my English textbooks, Jeremiah, my son, is learning to read "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake".  He loves books and reading if only dictating the pictures.  I only hope he still has this eagerness to read when he gets in college.  He is facinated with "growing up" and going to "college" now.  He only started preschool...LOL, two weeks in. 

Happy Reading. 

Week 1 entry

Hello Everyone,
 Since this blog is a requirement for my English 200 class for the fall semester.  I feel it is only appropriate to begin my very first blog sharing some information about me as a person, a student, and some of so called crazy life. 

My name is Carrie and I live in Berea KY.  I have been married 9 3/4 years....December marks a whopping 10 years...LOL, a milestone in today's society.  I work as a Parent/Child Educator & Family Child Advocate for Early Head Start in Rockcastle County (almost 3 years now).  My husband Mike, has his own private counceling business (I'm so proud of him and I don't tell him that enough).  He also works as a Clinical Supervisor at his full time job.  He also works at his own mowing business and reads water meters too...busy, busy bee.  We also have a wonderful, amazing three-year-old baby boy who started preschool this week.  A big acheievement in his educational journey of life long learning.  To hear our chatter box and to watch him interact with others you would not be able to guess that he was born as a premature baby.  Working in early childhood does have it's advantages, but there are some things early childhood does not prepare you for in parenthood.  I was determined to work with him, along with the help of my husband, so that our son can excell in all that he does while trying the best to his ability.  More to come on the adventures of preschool, I know my son, and I know there will be many, many more things to share with my fellow students.

I began my educational persuit of a degree in the summer of 2007 taking online classes here at WKU.  Being out of high school as long as I had been (graduating in 1996), I felt like going back part-time would help my self-esteem because I don't prefer a classroom setting due a bad experience.  I can't keep up with the fast pace and this helped me to achieve that, one class at a time.  Then came along a child. Need I say more?  Adding a child to the mix is hard to adjust too.  In the infancy stage, I thought, I can do this...toddler stage, I'm surviving, and now the preschool stage...were taking it one day at a time because we are just getting started...LOL.

If I could just get my child to go to bed and not sit up and wait for momma to get finished with homework.  I am opened to suggestions. 

I like to read a good book but I haven't done that in a very long time.  Distractions and life sometimes get in the way.  I just finished Hear my Heart by Sheri Easter.  Anyone else on the edge of their seats reading the Fifty Shades Trilogy?  My first reaction to this book when my friends suggest that I read it was, that's a criminal minds episode waiting to happen.  The only book that I have read twice is Too Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee.  I also try to read my bible, again, not as much as I should.

On the down side of things, I recently watched all the seasons of Criminal Minds over the summer, during daylight..yeah, I'm a scardy cat.  NCIS is killing me!  I can't stand the suspension but I am counting down the days to the new season.  I'm also a fan of NCIS LA.  I like law/action shows.  I also love to watch a good clean comedy and romance/love story.  Disney Jr. seems to rein in our house, wonder why? 

After reading this one might think that all we do is watch TV, not so the case.  All of it is done pretty much in moderation.  A lot of times I will watch TV while doing something else, like right now, I'm doing homework while my son is watching Little Einstiens.  It drives my husband nuts that I can do "two things at one" most of the time. ....Let's face it folks, multi-tasking is must to get things done.  There isn't enough hours in the day to get a womens work done....(I couldn't help myself, had to put that one in).

Well, I think I have "typed" enough for one entry....Happy Reading!