learning
July 30, 2008
my A-game
Grades are in: I got an A for the summer semester!
Posted by oracle at 4:06 PM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2008
and that's a wrap!
I finished the last part of my final exam today, which makes me officially through with classes, homework, tests, and the like for a month. Life without schoolwork feels gloriously decadent thus far. I can't imagine I'll get tired of it and start longing for the fall term to start up sooner, but we'll see how the rest of the month plays out.
Posted by oracle at 7:53 PM | Comments (0)
July 2, 2008
puppies and lip gloss and concerts, oh my!
I took the puppies to the vet for their annual check-up on Monday. All the tests came back negative, and Max has lost three pounds! I knew she'd lost weight because she's visibly slimmer (she has a trim little waist again!), but it's nice to know exactly how much weight she's lost. She weighs 11.10 pounds now, Jordan weighs 10.8, and Maddy weighs 9.15, all well in the range of where they should be. The vet said they all looked fantastic and that I was doing a great job of monitoring their body weight, and I preened like a proud dog mama, of course.
I'm in love with Smashbox's O-Gloss. I picked it up after Gemma recommended it, and it is fantastic. It turns a lovely shade of pink on me without looking garish. I've only had since Sunday, but it's already one of my makeup must-haves. Which brings me to my next point.
I am also in love with Philosophy's Amazing Grace. We smelled it on a waitress at Outback a couple of months ago, and it smelled so fantastic that I ordered some from Sephora as soon as we got home. Thankfully, it smells yummy on me too, and since then, it's the only scent I've been wearing. <3 (Interesting note: I like the perfume and the shower gel, but the lotion stinks.)
I have less than a month left of summer school. I cannot put into words how happy I will be to have a break from homework, even if it's less than a month.
We're going to see Mötley Crüe next weekend! SO EXCITED. Jenny won tickets to show, so we're going to be meeting up with them at some point during the evening. If I somehow manage to get Nikki Sixx to autograph me, we're going straight to get that tattooed over before it washes (or sweats :eep:) off. Seriously.
Lately I've been making salami sandwiches with colby jack cheese and mayo on honey wheat bread. It'll take quite a while before I get tired of them, especially with a small serving of Pringles on the side. My arteries are going on strike as we speak.
Posted by oracle at 3:03 PM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2008
every homework assignment finished is one less that I have to do
I looked at my degree progress (slow) on Friday and realized that I am not as far away from my goal as I thought. After the current semester is over I'll only have ten classes left to take before I'll have my Associates degree. I'm going to be taking one of those classes over the summer (ick), which means I'll only have nine classes left at the beginning of the fall term, and that means I'll have a degree in just a smidge over two years from that point.
Posted by oracle at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)
March 3, 2008
spring break means no homework!
This week is spring break for me, and knowing that I don't have to do any homework or take any tests is a luxury. How am I going to spend the time? Working ahead so I'll have a bit of a cushion for the next couple of assignments in each class. There will probably be some gaming (Burnout: Revenge or Psychonauts, most likely), too, though.
Posted by oracle at 1:31 PM | Comments (0)
January 6, 2008
a new semester
When I logged in to check on the status of my classes this semester, I was pleasantly surprised to see that both are already set up, complete with class outlines and everything. After reading the syllabus, I'm even more excited about the web design one than I thought I would be; the professor has everything neatly laid out, with the requirements, expectations, etc. I'm confident that this class will be much smoother and less frustrating than the web design class I took last semester. The e-commerce one looks neat too. The professor is the same one I had for both classes last semester, but his course outline for this class looks much better than the last classes' did. I have hopes that that means the class is going to be better too. Either way, I'm logged in for the classes and I've got my books - I'm ready for the new semester.
Posted by oracle at 8:05 PM | Comments (0)
December 14, 2007
when it comes to finals, A is my favorite letter of all
I got a 92 on my web design final and a 90 on my final web design project*. My final grade for that class? 96. That's two As this semester! My current GPA? 3.897. I might survive this college thing after all.
* Yes, I was up until midnight taking that final and finishing that project. Yes, I submitted the storyboard and goals/objectives at one minute after midnight, which technically means I turned it in the day after the project was due. No, that will not happen ever again. I'm even going to take notes next semester. Novel idea, eh?
Posted by oracle at 7:19 PM | Comments (0)
December 13, 2007
I'm so glad I didn't drop the class
In spite of my horrible (nonexistent) study habits, I got an 84 on my networking final, which gives me a 91 for my final grade. An A! In the class I was worried I was going to fail (and seriously considered dropping after the first five weeks)! Now I have to finish up my final project and take my web design exam before midnight. Procrastination is not going to be a key player next semester.
Posted by oracle at 5:46 PM | Comments (0)
December 5, 2007
stupid weighted grades
I don't know how it happened, but, grades-wise, I'm doing pretty well in my networking class. With the exception of two assignments, my scores on tests and homework assignments have all been above the class average. In fact, more often than not I've gotten 100s on my homework. And yet my weighted average for the semester is 74% before taking the final exam. 74%. That is unacceptable. I'd better fucking ace that final, is all I'm saying, because if I consistently got good grades throughout the semester only to turn around and walk out of the class with a C? I will be very displeased. Admittedly, some of said good grades were more a result of intelligent guesses and help from my hot geek husband than a result of the time I spent studying the material and preparing for tests, but that will not temper my displeasure much at all. I have a GPA to maintain, you know.
Posted by oracle at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
November 29, 2007
PSA #36
36) If you have to take a test over four-chapters-worth of material in a subject you are shaky on, to say the least, waiting until two hours before you leave to take the test is not recommended. If you don't know where your textbook is and have to hunt for it so you can commence the last-minute studying, you need to get better organized. IMMEDIATELY.
PS: Waiting until the second-to-last day to take the test is also not recommended.
Posted by oracle at 5:28 PM | Comments (0)
September 21, 2007
homework is my nemsis
I have GOT to stop putting off my homework till the last minute. It is killing me, y'all. Last night I stayed up until after 11 working on my web design assignment. I would've been done before then but some time around 10:30 the program I was using to create a storyboard crashed, and I had to start over from scratch. (Note to self: Remember to save your work periodically so this does not happen again.)
Posted by oracle at 4:00 PM | Comments (0)
August 23, 2007
parenting 101 - week four
Good stuff, as usual. This week's class focused primarily on choices and consequences, with a sidebar on treating your kids with respect. I cannot stress enough how glad I am to be taking this class. Also, the instructor brought us Oreos to help emphasize a point from one of the films we watched. I <3 Oreos.
Posted by oracle at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
August 22, 2007
in which I am possibly over my head
I just read through the syllabuses for both of my classes, and I have to confess, I'm more than a little nervous. Like, what the hell was I thinking, signing up for a networking class? I'm not AS nervous about the web design one because I've played with HTML a little bit, but I'm not as confident about it as I would be about, say, an English class, either. I need to stop over-thinking this, get over the "OMG, COMPUTER CLASSES!" mindset, and get started on my classwork already.
Posted by oracle at 5:29 PM | Comments (2)
August 15, 2007
why stop with college and parenting classes?
The fall Parks 'n Rec activities catalogue was published today. I didn't realize it in time to grab the copy that came in the paper before I left for work this morning, so I've been using the lists online to map out my plan of attack. Here is my current sign-up wishlist:
a crochet class
a knitting class
a blood type & nutrition class
a natural aromatherapy herbal household cleaners
a local craft fair (!)
some kind of market event
various classes on dogly training (because the barking at EVERYTHING is getting less and less cute by the second)
a variety of cooking classes
a Halloween event
a Gingerbread house event
MAYBE a metal embossing class
Posted by oracle at 1:05 PM | Comments (2)
August 7, 2007
parenting 101 - week two
Tonight was the second parenting class, and it was even better than last week. The main focus was on the "Think - Feel - Do" cycle and the role parents can play with encouragement and praise. I do not do as well as I could (and should) in either of those areas, so this class was very enlightening for me. It's way too easy to overlook the positive, the progress, and the effort they're putting in.
The instructor also emphasized that pointing out people's mistakes very rarely causes them to learn from that. More often than not, she said it makes them feel criticized and frustrated, and eventually they give up. The better way to approach things is buy point out the areas they excel in or where you see improvement in, help motivate them to live up to a higher standard of doing things. This, again, is an area that I can improve in because I have a tendency to point out the mistakes instead of focusing on the way they are reacting to their mistakes, whether or not they take responsibility for and learning from it.
It's easy to slip into the mindset of "I'm a failure, I don't do this, or this, or this..." but I'm trying to view the areas I could use improvement in as just that - areas where I can do better instead of thinking of them as areas where I am a complete failure.
Posted by oracle at 10:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 1, 2007
more schoolgirl chatter
I currently have completed all the Gen Ed requirements for an Information Systems Technology degree, which means I only have to take 15 more classes! If I take two classes each spring and fall semester and one every summer, I'll have my associates degree* in three years. My worries of toiling in school for the rest of my life are unfounded.
* Note: eventually I would like to get a bachelor's degree, but thinking about getting there taking five classes a year is a bit overwhelming. I'm focusing on the more readily attainable goal.
Posted by oracle at 2:24 PM | Comments (0)
parenting 101 - week one
I had a migraine yesterday afternoon and evening, so when I left for the class I took a Relpax, hoping that would help things enough that I would be able to focus on what the instructor was saying. That was the second Relpax I'd taken yesterday, and it seems that I can handle taking one without getting drowsy, but taking two in one day makes me very, very sleepy. I felt guilty for the first hour of the class because my eyes kept losing focus and my head kept dropping. I never actually fell asleep, but I sure wanted to. And I was sitting on the front row, so it's not like it wasn't obvious. Thankfully the instructor is a fellow migraine sufferer (she gets rebound headaches too), and was very understanding when I explained the situation during the break. I got some water, put on some of my minty lip gloss (the minty smell and tingly feeling usually seem to wake me up a bit), and the second half of the class went much better for me.
This class is a good starting point for me. It's called Active Parenting of Teens, and that's the age group it is primarily geared towards, but I think the ideas and techniques I'm learning will apply to my interaction with non-teenagers as well. Since this was the first class, the instructor gave us an overview of the course - letting us know the topics we'll be going into more depth over the coming weeks - and covered what the goals of the course are. She did elaborate on some points, emphasizing that in order for a parent and a child to have a good relationship, the parent needs to respect the child (their opinions, feelings, thoughts, ideas, etc.) while helping them learn how to make responsible decisions instead of just dictating what's going to happen when. (That's going to be hard for me because I definitely fall into the "dictator" category of parenting styles. It's easier for me to just determine what, when, and why than it is to work with the kids, letting them flex their decision making skills and have more involvement in things.) She also pointed out the difference between discipline and punishment, which is important for me to keep in mind. Another point she emphasized is that people behave in certain ways to get something, and if that behavior no longer results in them getting whatever it is they're looking for (the "payoff"), they stop it and find another way to get the payoff. Power struggles were one of the other areas she touched on in more depth, comparing them to a merry-go-round: you get on and go around and around and around, but you don't get anywhere. A lot of what she talked about hit home, and I think I'm going to be able to learn a lot over the next six weeks. I'm really looking forward to next week's class.
Posted by tayker at 9:16 AM | Comments (0)
July 28, 2007
back to school agayn
Mike and I went in and talked to a counselor at one of the local colleges today, and when we walked out, we were both signed up for classes. They don't start for another month or so, but I'm still excited. I'm closer to getting a degree than I thought I was (approx. 1/3 of the way to an associate's degree), and that's exciting. Instead of taking another nine years to get an it, it might only take me two or three. I'm also excited because taking five classes will get me a certificate in something that will help me finally get my ass in gear for my business. Both of my classes are online, which is both good and bad. I like not having to go into class and deal with real people face-to-face if I don't have to, and taking the classes online will certainly not have the same impact on my evenings as staying on campus until 9:45 would. On the other hand, part of what I love about going back to school is buying school supplies, and I'm not sure just how much I'm going to need supply-wise if I'm not physically in the class. I can be such a nerd sometimes.
Posted by oracle at 12:16 AM | Comments (2)