Wazzup?

Since the last post, a lot has happened/ended/improved/come-and-gone.  Here is just a sampling.

Been living from Tuesdays to Thursdays to get K-dub through his compressed college course, and he ended with a solid A!  Yea, Karl!  He even used the opportunity to get up IN FRONT OF THE CLASS AND SPEAK for an additional (but totally unnecessary) fifteen extra credit points, using as a topic one of his written assignments throughout the course.  I am so very proud of him for following through and taking the class when he really wanted to drop out of it all those weeks ago.

Brian went to a tournament in Chicago over the weekend, and had his own brand of epiphanies.  We'll see where it takes him over the coming weeks/months.

Must head to the library to take an online aptitude test (job-related), as our internet connection is so slow, and more than occasionally takes a diaper break in the middle of every operation.  Would hate for that to happen during the typing test portion.

Have gotten halfway through RowD, and can now begin to look ahead to RowE.  One-quarter of the quilt is nearly OFFICIALLY complete, and I am excited to say the least.  A far cry from being in the first row with so much to look forward to.  I confess, I believed wholeheartedly that the process would go faster - especially after the first few squares, but adding material (colors) to the palette seems to have made it more difficult and time consuming.

Dropped online a couple of days ago to log the computer off for the evening, and saw that my lovely friend Maria was online, and in her google account.  By the time my home internet connection allowed the correspondence box to open up....she had signed out.  I was disappointed to have missed the chance to face-to-face with her. [sigh]  I hope she is doing well, and that her summer classes have brought her closer to reaching her immediate goals.  Miss you, Maria!

OK, time to stop burning daylight.  Enjoy your days and be well, everyone.

Aaahhhhhhhh

I still need to get to the grocery store - since we have 'snain' on the way later this evening - but I did manage to COMPLETE ESSAY #2 and the additional two writing projects assigned this week! Done!

I'm DONE! OK, well, I'm done until new stuff is assigned, but it feels good to be finished for the week and able to sit and sew without feeling guilt (for anything more than avoiding housework). BIG ;v)

[happy sigh]

Irritation

My most immediate gripe is of my composition instructor.

Karl has the same course with a different professor, and this dude (Karl's 'Prof N') is as incredibly prompt (and terrific) at communication as my composition dude is irresponsible and lackluster. They couldn't be any more diametrically opposed if they tried.  My instructor either never checks his email, or checks it and ignores it for days at a stretch before responding, OR likes playing the "eenie-meanie-miney-moe" game with whatever class email he receives.

A full week ago I wrote to ask if he was able to view my essay submission in the screwed up application the college has decided to utilize for torturing students, er....make that "use as an instructional aide to enhance the class syllabus and face-to-face time."  What a high-falutin' crock!  Too many bugs in the system, and if someone (like myself) hasn't got an updated version of Windows, that damned thing won't work from your home computer!  In fact, if you don't possess the latest and greatest software enabled laptop, iPad, etc., you can't do your homework from home!  That is, unless you go to the extreme of spending another pile of money to buy the latest version of Windows to replace the non-upgradeable Vista that was (the only thing) available when [I] purchased my laptop in 2009. 

That's right, I've had my current computer/laptop for more than four years!!!  I'm not a lemming with a small anything complex (I also don't have a never-ending pile of cash under my mattress to blow on new hardware and phones and other gadgets).  And look at me, I'm still breathing and functioning!

I'm happy (odd choice of words) to report that I am not the only person in class experiencing issues with the stupid MyWritingLab app/software/reporting tool, so I have been vindicated. The stupidest test of the MWL product came when I went to the campus library during a break to upload my essay from their computers. That's right, the MRL tool wasn't recognized by the school system! I was asked for permission to allow a "pop-up" to use the system. Then, the program had bugs beyond the firewall issue.....so HUGE RASPBERRIES to the new tool to make a lazy instructor's life easier! Hey, teachers - get yourself an email account students can utilize to submit their assignments via email - WITHOUT ALL THE DAMNED HOOPS!!

[pant, pant, pant]

I submitted it twice from different computers, and I have no idea if he ever saw the essay while in the precious MWL program. Jean submitted it from her Mac, where she saw the item snugly tucked into the "shared documents" folder, AND she could view it there, too. She even took a page image and we sent that to the instructor to show the document as having been in the system since the 4th of October! But when I queried whether he could view the document as sent via the library computer to the same program destination, I never received the courtesy of a reply!

[expletive, EXPLETIVE, EXPLETIVE]

Yes, I think it's safe to say I am a tad irritated.

How'dya do, Maria?

About two weeks ago you wrote that you had "just about two weeks to go" before the end of your semester.

Well...it's been just about two days past your two week forecast, and I'm a-wondering how it went?
How'dya do?
What's the word? 
Are you pleased with your final grades?
Oh, and how was your birthday?

In another very short while Jean's travails of her first 'year' of radiology studies will be over with, too, so the two of you each have something to celebrate! I have two incredibly bright friends!

:^)

It's (they're) not even my accomplishment(s), and I'm so proud!

Still cranky

Yes, I am still cranky over the (substitute) mail carrier 'creasing' my mailbox, and I know I will be EVERY time I have to use that very bent handle to attempt opening the flap to retrieve my mail.

My eldest cat has gone painfully hard of hearing (which has become very evident over the past two months), and I feel awful for her; seeing us move our mouths and looking her way, and wondering what has gone wrong.  I can't imagine the grief this must cause her little brain.  What cruel trick are we humans pulling on her that she has no noise to accompany the sights she is used to?  Poor old dear.

Brian has been sick, but seems to have thankfully avoided the flu-ish portions of it all.  He is still very stuffed up and somewhat congested, but also seems to be on the mend.  Hooray!

Karl passed his second Algebra test with a 90%!  He says he is feeling more confident in class, and is able to spot when he gets to a section of the homework where the instructor hasn't yet gotten to in class. [happiness]

The thrill of K's success in class is somewhat offset by the little demon she-beast who stalked him last year; who once was a friend but became quite twisted and bossy, displacing her frustration with me (long story) onto him, and emotionally hampering Karl on a daily basis.  He finally got wise and cut her off, cut her loose, tuned her out and moved along.  It was a hard (but good) lesson for him, and he sailed through it with a modestly small amount of discomfort overall. 

However, she now seems to have found him on campus and narrowed in on his routines, haunting his route and yelling out taunts as he walks by.  Odd that she wasn't in these locations for the five+ weeks of class which have passed from the beginning of the semester to now, so I have to wonder what may be next.  Stay tuned.

Yesterday was sunny and enjoyable, but today is back to cold, grey, and snowy.  Tomorrow is to be a mix of snow AND rain along with the low temps (WHY??), and I feel moved to admit I am quite tired of it all.

Busily working on a number of projects; my intentions are to have one - if not two - items to enter into the next AQS event for 2013.  Also have another Sewing 101 class added to my calendar for the very beginning of March, but if I have not received payment for the remaining 9 classes I have lead since mid-January up to now, I will be turning down anything further.  Perhaps this will light a fire under their payroll department (and anyone else who needs to keep up-to-date in making my payments appear in a more timely fashion).

One can dream.

More another time, at present I am feeling muddled and need to step away from the keyboard. Ciao!

Half done with the month

Yup, December is now on the downward side of the proverbial 'hill.'  One good push and the month is done, and the year is over!

Hallelujah.

What a craptastic year it's been, too. 

On the plus side, Karl took a photography class, attended all but one session, AND turned in ALL assignments either by or before the due dates!  Phew....but YEA!  Grade point average slides up a notch. :)

What's more, his instructor will be happy to write him letters of reference in order to find possible employment with a photography studio - to do retouching, mending of old photos, etc.  If not direct employment, then as a contracted or referred commodity to get one-off jobs from people looking for a service the studios don't do themselves.  :)

Furthermore, Karl has also decided (on his own) to take an "educational" class.  That is to say, he decided it was time to throw an academic course into his studies, in order to begin rounding out his requirements to complete his AA degree!  This is PROGRESS!

Thank you, God, for little (big) nudges.

Ticking things off the list

These last couple of days have been filled with a number of activities, and I am still catching up with all of the undone stuff from my time on that last film.

Did you catch that, universe?  LAST film as a scripty.

Today we made our way to campus in order for Karl to have his assignment printed for presentation.  Then, had to make haste returning home for another appointment (for him).  After which, there was then a drive across (a few) town(s) to get the Duke in for his 25K checkup and an oil change.

Busy, busy, busy.

Tomorrow will be much the same, sad to say.  All I want to do is rearrange the furnitue and quilt a bit....uninterrupted!

Ah well, maybe next week.

Operation "Omission"

I have opted over the first two-plus weeks of October to remain silent rather than rant. To practice abstention over my need to explain, or question, or expound.

I exercised silence in hopes of finding my voice once again - but it's still missing.

The feeling that I have nothing to offer persists.  Nothing that anyone would give a rat's ass about, anyway.  My melancholia is evident in spades, and I resent it!

This time of year is usually my favorite.  The cooler days; the languid afternoon sun shining down at awkward, elongated angles; shorter hours of daylight; falling evening temps; the changing colors of the trees and foliage around the yard.  It all normally buoys my spirit and raises my happiness meter to new heights.... but not this year - and I don't know why.

Over the past few weeks I have hidden away from all of my normal activities.  Found a deep recess in the attic space of my psyche and burrowed in, wholly surrendering to oblivion and ennui.  Eshewed the handful of brilliantly sunlit days (when I would normally revel in them with my quilting projects) and ignored the overabundant dark and rainy days, keeping myself cloistered and walled off from the daily disappointment of the less-than-satisfactory responses to job applications (mostly), the ignorant SPAM comments being shovelled in this direction, and the daily barrage of Karl's strange, Autistic-shunning friend seeking help and guidance she laughingly will not give credence to. 

She is a time waster and an emotional drain.  An 'ask hole,' and unworthy of the space in my head and the indigestion she has caused. A walking whirlwind of discontent.  But, she is another story for another. No!

I've told you already, she is a drain, and I won't go there any more....never-in-a-million-years!

At any rate, I am feeling a bit more optimistic this afternoon, so I thought it might be a good time to share a little information.  Don't know how enlightening or significant you may find any of it, but here it is.

Karl's photography class is proceeding down it's slow, slow path.  It's not the sort of class he thought it would be (maybe that'll teach him to read the darned class description when mom suggests it), and it is a bit of a backward step for him, but at least he is getting outside the house once a week and having to deal with meeting new people and being in unfamiliar territory. 

We (Karl and I) had lunch with Maria in Ferndale about a week ago, and had a very nice time at a restaurant named Como's.  Always wondered about that spot every time I would pass it coming home from a film gig in the D.  Now I know! 

Thank you, Maria -- a-g-a-i-n!

I had some farm animal materials to give her (pulled from my stash, Mom) for the charm block challenge happening in the quilting guild she belongs to.  I hope she can use them, or pass them along to others who can.  Goodness knows it's all sat long enough in my collection! 

My surprise was in receiving one of her wonderful tote bags with a flap!  Made of beautiful, upholstery-like material, it's lined and has interior pockets, and a very long strap which is wide and comfy for over the shoulder use.  Thank you so much, lady, I've already had an opportunity to use it and will continue to do so!!

Been contacted for a scripty gig but most likely will be turning it down, as 'they' are unresponsive regarding questions I have, and have yet to send the script for a breakdown (production begins 10/29).  Rushing for every little scrap of time is not my ideal way of working.  Plus, the daily rate is absolute crap - AGAIN! 

Damned California production companies thinking they can undervalue MI talent while taking advantage of the incentives (what little remains of them).  I may as well continue to look for 'regular' work outside of the industry during those three weeks as opposed to all of the driving I'd be doing; spending money on gas and a place to stay, and bringing home little $ for bills and the bank.  Not worth it.  SO not worth it.

On top of all those detractors is the real issue of arranging a ride for Karl to and from class for those three weeks.  He can't afford to miss that much time....so, it's a definite "no" for this cheap Cali-indie.

Yes, Bud is still with his company, working 40 hour weeks, and they are gearing up for the holidays already - annoying music and all.  Hoping it would incentivize him to find other work while the finding is good (for his ilk), but he seems determined to stick it out at M's and continue internalizing the grief and sniping of his workmates and staff. [tsk, tsk]  He'll have an ulcer if he never leaves there.

Karl had been contacted by Target over a week ago, and had a cursory phone interview ending with the vague promise of a return call in a week's time.  Yeah, yeah...right. 

No, he hasn't heard from them again.  Yes, we know it takes time.  Yes, we are aware this particular wheel grinds slowly (if at all), but please understand how eager he is to find a job at a place he would prefer to be. 

Tall order without the Autism thrown in for good measure.  At any rate, we wait.  See? This is why I have omitted myself from blogging of late.

Tick.  Tock.   Tick.

Hope things are well for you, wherever you are.

Hmmmm

There seems to be a lot of reminiscing going on with the blog entries over the past couple of days. Lots of hits on pieces going back to the creation of the blog - and the early years.

Julie Gaydos, are you looking for photos of yourself to post on FB? LOL You should know I ended up erasing a lot of them about a year ago (of everyone) from those SHS days - and I most likely will eliminate several more shortly.

You really should get yourself a camera (or a friend with a camera) and take more up-to-date pictures anyway. Quit living in the past. ;)

UPDATE

Turns out it probably wasn't Julie looking into those really old posts to find photos of herself for FB.

Whatever.

So, whoever you are....HELLO! Do you have any questions about anything thus far?; please don't hesitate to leave them as a comment. Or, simply send an email, and I will get back to you fairly quickly.

Happy

Happy with the beautiful cool breeze (cuz I know we most likely won't have one tomorrow).

Happy with the progress on the quilt - could be happier/further along - but it is progress!

Happy with the thought I do not have to go into that classroom tonight for a test, or a final exam, or a lecture!!

Happy that the boy and girl are talking once again.

Happy with the new shower head! It actually propels water in a forceful downward spray - through all of the holes - without "peeing."

Happy that Brian can set and 'take care of' the rat traps once the chipmunk(s) are no more. [ominous music]

Happy, happy, happy!

Oh, and a little P.S.

This was the first Tuesday I didn't have to study for in a very long time. The first Tuesday I had no tests and no lectures to sit through - the first since beginning the two medical classes in February!

Feels good to have passed them so successfully, to be done with them and to move on!

It's a beautiful morning!

Have a great day, everyone!

This begins my last week of studying, of classes, of test-taking, of stressing and worrying.

Wait. Scratch that. The stress and concern remain, but on a narrower scope. I now will only need to worry about finding a job....again....still.

LOL

My search pool has widened. LOL

Let's concentrate on what a beautiful morning it is!

April evaporates

I really should be studying at this very moment, but I wanted to slip in and bid April a fond farewell for another year, and welcome May to 2012.

As ever, the Beatles said it best:

"Hello, hello! I don't know why you say 'goodbye', I say 'hello.' "

More later; for now there is a plethora of free-range information I need to suck up in my spongey brain.

Satisfaction

When everything goes 'according to Hoyle" there is a certain amount of satisfaction derived; even if you only manage to get half of the garden weeded. Looking out over that lovely bunch of groomed bed swells your senses and urges you to complete the task when time permits. However, in the meanwhile, you can bask in the glory of a lot of hard work and in the knowledge of what the garden will look like when the task is completed.

Of course, if you are the superficial type (or a supervisor), you gain no satisfaction from any sort of outcome. Yours is a soulless existence. If this is you, please move along and find another blog. Go ahead....toddle along. [tick tock]

We'll wait. [tick tock]

Please close the door behind you. Thank you!

A sense of well-being and contentment no matter what the errand or project or voyage or chore; that feeling of pride and accomplishment is wonderful and well-deserved.

Hey, if you don't derive a bit of satisfaction in a job well done (esp. after cleaning the bathroom), then there is something seriously wrong with you.

Back in February, when these classes (I am currently enrolled in) began, I had that satisfaction from not only passing the tests each week with flying colors, but in studying for them and understanding the reading material. Here we are, months later, and I am so ready for it to be over! With the seasonal changes in the weather, I am itchy to be outdoors on nice days instead of at the table making flashcards and re-reading about patients rights and the CPOE....or is it the PCOE?

I hate looking at the quilt hanging on the layout wall and thinking only about rearranging the color blocks instead of concentrating on the pericardial sac and its function. I find myself constantly wishing it was Friday so that I can play instead of study. Argh!

I am constantly musing over how to rearrange the lower level furniture instead of drilling over the forms for patient care.

Concentrate! I can't make myself do it any more. Not for these classes. My sense of satisfaction with this small portion of my life has evaporated. Pffffap! Gone.

Does anyone know how to get it back? It isn't as though it was knocked off the coffee table and rolled under the sofa. No, it's more like it packed a bag and ran away from home.

Come back, little Sheba!

Everyone tells me to be happy in looking forward to the classes being over with in just a very small handful of weeks. I know they are right, but it doesn't help as I am a pragmatic now-ist. Yeah, I can see down the road. I can usually see the big picture - paint in broad strokes and all of that.

I can picture the future, but my realistic side has complete control over my psyche for the time being, and it keeps seeing the class glass as nowhere near empty, yet. Instead of so many weeks down and only X amount to go, it dwells on/in the disbelief of weeks still to go.

Yeah, my psyche is a bit of a drama queen.

Right now, I am taking satisfaction in the knowledge that my bathroom is clean(er than it was).

:^)

I REALLY don't want to study any more

I'd rather be outdoors in the garden (wet and dirty), or holding a sound stick - 18 floors up in a derelict, powerless Detroit building - than studying any more.

Really....I would!

Passed my mid-terms

All is right with the world; mid-term tests are done and I made it through with room to spare (and then some)!

[sigh of relief]

Brian is suffering through another work funk and I am having a difficult time not 'gaaagghhh-ing' at him to look for something else. Step outside your comfort zone and try! See what options exist and learn something about yourself!! Try...at least try!!! [pant, pant, pant]

Even though he hears me say that it is far easier to find another job when you are already working, I am not sure he is taking that to heart.

Long pause [heavy sigh]

Ah, well.

On another page: Beautiful sunshine this morning, just like yesterday. So many things on my "want to do" list, but many more things on my "need to do" list, and I am combing through them looking for cross-referenced items to make the biggest impact.

And I'm combing, combing, combing....

This may take a while, so I will meet you back here in the near future. Have a great day!

Lazy Sundays

Outside it is ucky. That's right, I said it - "ucky."

Inside, it is perfect. Cats are sleeping. I was studying (up until about 25 minutes ago). Karl is blissfully seated at his PC monitor, everything FINALLY working as expected - smoothly....noiselessly....perfectly. Almost.

It took one final (literal) last-minute run to Micro Center last night to obtain a large enough power source to run his new graphics card, but things began to look promising - until they didn't any more.

As soon as we arrived home, Karl calmly (as calm as he could) set about disassembling his PC's interior workings to install the new power unit. That was a feat in itself.

Eagerly, he fired it up, only to come interface-to-ear with an annoying, unidentifiable, frequently-intermittant noise. My suggestion was to shut down the PC and tackle the trouble in the morning. Fresh eyes and ears, new start, sleep-refreshed and not so aggrevated from the get-go. He reluctantly agreed, and that was the day.

Of course, the noise was non-existant in the morning, but after less than 10 minutes of use, it materialized once more.

The frustration level peaked his meter and he dug his heals in.

No way was he going back to MC, and no way was he in the mood to talk to anyone there over the phone to try and troubleshoot!

We talked and assessed the issue, sussed out the noise location and visually spotted the trouble. He opened the box one last time and tied an errant cord back, away from one of the fans.

Voila!

All is right in the kingdom once more, and I can get back to studying.

Uck!

A watched pot never boils

Blah, blah, blah.

Maybe I should have said "...and all of that rot." Same dif.

I keep heading to an email inbox, checking to see if my humble 'pie' made it into a fine arts competition - today is the day they will begin announcing the juried pieces.

Am I a little overeager?

O-o-o-o-h-h yeah, baby. To say the least.

But, I guess a watched (-for) email never arrives

In the meanwhile, I am basking in the glow of 1) having passed another of those impossible medical class tests with a flying 103%, and; 2) one class to go before a two week break (the instructor is going on a sea cruise). That means there are two weeks to cram for the next set of tests AND get everything (covered thus far in both classes) so entrenched in my brain that I can sail through the mid-term exam without breaking too big a sweat.

Read and review, read and review...read, read, read - and so on. I don't want to hesitate too much on any of the questions, whether she gives us a definition or an odd clue and we have to come up with the correct abbreviation or term, or whatever. When I hesitate, I question myself. When I question myself, I tend to talk myself out of the correct answer. Drilling and daily reviews are necessary for me to be assured the information is in my head and accessible. Quite frankly, some of the abbreviations confound the crap outta me, too. Like "PSA."

I am used to "PSA" meaning "public service announcement." But medically, it means "patient something-or-other associate."

Yeah, my brain is mushy at the moment. And then there are the medical terms for the anatomy, learning the anatomy, diseases, suffixes, prefixes....knowing all of that more doctor-oriented stuff. Argh!

Support!! Patient support associate!

I knew it would fall outta there [tapping on head] eventually.

Ah, anyway - it's time to trim the cats' nails and review body cavities and nervous system gunk, plus start the memorization process for forms used in patient files and what each is for. I'll have to let you know if and when the wall hanging makes it into the show.

Diligence

Nothing but diligence.

I have managed to keep my head down to get this current quilt done, but have also managed to miss several contest deadlines, and to that end I am disappointed....but not devastated. After all, the contests I missed-out on this year can still be entered next year - and let's face it, two of the missed deadlines were due to having work for a short while.

Yea, work! Yea and boo, actually. Temporary jobs - phe!

Anyhow, I am excited to be using the new ironing board (I received for Christmas) to make the sleeve for the quilt. Very cool. I actually used it for pressing a small portion of the cut binding strips, but it was neat to have a new, non-rocking, right height, functioning ironing board - with an extension that holds the iron off of the board's surface when you are not immediately using it!

I know, it doesn't really take much any more to excite me.

Finished blind stitching the binding over last night, and will get to work on the sleeve in a bit, but wanted to touch base before I hunkered down one more time.

Diligence has also paid off in my two medical classes, passing both of my first quizzes with flying colors! However, now that we have passed the honeymoon period - and are on to week three - the work is becoming more intensive, and the ground covered during in-class "lectures" is enormous. The reading alone is tremendous, as is the amount of information to try and commit to memory. No new projects of any sort for me for a while I'm afraid (and no old ones, either), and I am wondering if I should even try to rearrange the lower level and clean it out as I would like to with so much time needed for pounding these terms and words, etc., etc., etc., into my head.

Oh my gosh, what have I gotten myself into?

Had a long day with Karl at his college campus yesterday, straightening out crooked lines (dealing with issues) and scheduling him for an impromptu tutoring session. Then I waited....and waited, and waited some more for him to finish with class and then tutoring, etc.

I kept busy with the quilt while I waited; turning over the surplus backing to the front and basting it down (this helps to protect the edges of the quilt while I do the top stitching).

Today, I looked for work (like normal), made us a decent breakfast, and then got busy with creating the stencils for the top stitching/quilting. Currently I am in the middle of cutting out the first of (too) many, and man! - I just want to get started quilting!

Bud has a day off, and Karl is going back and forth between studying for his final, complaining about studying and goofing off on his PC when he should be studying. Please think motivational thoughts for Karl, and say a prayer if you're of a mind to. He needs all the help he can get to pass his final this week. Thank you.

It's just a blah, icky, wet day here. Whatever snow was left from the last squall is now melted and washed away with the constant rain, leaving it looking very un-Christmas-y outside.

Well, I need to get back to what I was doing, just wanted to stop in and say "hello" and to see how everyone is and what you're up to.

Be well, be happy, be creative!