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.