I've tried writing a couple of times, but just kept drawing blanks, and so gave it up. I've thought about blog entries on and off during the day, but by the time I get to my computer at night, I've either forgotten what I was going to blog, or have just been too tired. Now I've once again caught a cold- it's been circulating around here and everyone around me keeps getting it again- and am muzzy-headed. It seemed a perfect time to blog.
School has been... school. It isn't bad. I had a Child/Adolescent Psych paper due last Tuesday and stayed up until 4 AM working on it because I didn't like the way it was turning out. Woke up Tuesday a few hours later, read through it, realized that the end was just plain crappy, and worked it over again. I finished and just made it to school in time for my Stats class. The nice thing is that I didn't have school on Thursday because both profs happened to have conferences scheduled on the same day. As my Psych prof collected the papers he apologized for not being able to return them to us on Thursday. I pointed out to him that I had just handed him my paper on time; could I have it back now please? I wanted to make revisions before he graded. He just laughed at me. I told him, in all seriousness, that he shouldn't bother reading my paper. Using it as a paper airplane when the conference became boring would be a better use of it.
I somehow doubt I'll get that lucky.
It's a summary of a (looong) professional journal article; I'll have to do 3 total on the same subject, plus a paper on my own conclusions. We each had to choose a subject of interest (I chose the effects of child abuse, whether the abuse be physical and/or psychological), find the articles we want to use, and then summarize them. We're doing one article at a time, not all 3 at once, which is a relief. The problem is that these articles are full of technical jargon. While I can make out what is being said, it's hard to summarize something you have a tenuous grasp of. I only hope I didn't fall into the trap of paraphrasing. That's all I need- to be accused of plagiarizing. I was so tired, I've no real idea of how it turned out. It's a testament to the education the college has provided, however, that I could pick out several flaws in the methodology of the researchers. I was proven right when, on the last page, they themselves acknowledged the same flaws I had picked up on. So yay me, and yay professors who taught me.
Also, we had another PTK meeting. We were throwing around ideas for fund raisers and other activities for the semester. We've decided to do a couple of things I think you'll find amusing; I know I do:
- We're going to kidnap professors' office chairs and replace them with a hideously ugly one that has a toilet seat on it instead. If the professor ever wants to see the office chair again, they'll have to pay the ransom! The cool thing is that they can then pay us to kidnap another professor's chair. PTK did this 3 years ago and raised $600 for our various programs. I can't wait to get started on this!
- We're going to erect a jail on the green by the main building, and allow students to pay to have their professors jailed for 15 minutes. I can think of a few that I wouldn't mind locking up.
On a more serious note, I suggested that we have a collection drive to receive donations for area homeless and battered women shelters. Winter is coming on quickly, and with the state of the economy, the need will be greater than ever at the shelters. I've been appointed to spearhead this project. We'll post fliers around campus (as well as in the campus activity calendar and student newspaper) listing the requested items, then set up a table for 3 days to allow students time to bring donations in. As a way of saying thank-you for the generosity of the students who donate, we'll be giving out coupons which will allow them $0.50 off items from our breakfast or lunch sales, held a couple of times a week.
So you see, I haven't just been moping about my rotten grade all this time.
Nothing much else going on. The leaves were glorious the past few days, and have now begun to fall in earnest.
And I have begun to realize how boringly little it takes to make me happy. Randy had my car detailed and it looks as though it just came out of the showroom. This happened a little over a week ago, and I'm still thrilled about it. I've even left the paper on the floor under the pedals; I have a dirt driveway and I can't stand the thought of tracking the sand and mud into my beautiful car.
And we bought a vacuum cleaner recently, one which specializes in ridding the home of pet fur. I can't tell you how delighted I am, especially since it actually works.
And though Randy offers to take me out for dinner and a movie every Friday night, I always turn down the offer (he does it to please me, not because he wants to go out), preferring to stay home and cuddle on the couch while we watch t.v. together and talk.
I don't need diamonds or pearls. Just give me a clean car and a vacuum, and I'm a happy- if dull- woman. Of course, I'd be happier if someone else did the actual vacuuming, but I'll take what I can get and be grateful.
School has been... school. It isn't bad. I had a Child/Adolescent Psych paper due last Tuesday and stayed up until 4 AM working on it because I didn't like the way it was turning out. Woke up Tuesday a few hours later, read through it, realized that the end was just plain crappy, and worked it over again. I finished and just made it to school in time for my Stats class. The nice thing is that I didn't have school on Thursday because both profs happened to have conferences scheduled on the same day. As my Psych prof collected the papers he apologized for not being able to return them to us on Thursday. I pointed out to him that I had just handed him my paper on time; could I have it back now please? I wanted to make revisions before he graded. He just laughed at me. I told him, in all seriousness, that he shouldn't bother reading my paper. Using it as a paper airplane when the conference became boring would be a better use of it.
I somehow doubt I'll get that lucky.
It's a summary of a (looong) professional journal article; I'll have to do 3 total on the same subject, plus a paper on my own conclusions. We each had to choose a subject of interest (I chose the effects of child abuse, whether the abuse be physical and/or psychological), find the articles we want to use, and then summarize them. We're doing one article at a time, not all 3 at once, which is a relief. The problem is that these articles are full of technical jargon. While I can make out what is being said, it's hard to summarize something you have a tenuous grasp of. I only hope I didn't fall into the trap of paraphrasing. That's all I need- to be accused of plagiarizing. I was so tired, I've no real idea of how it turned out. It's a testament to the education the college has provided, however, that I could pick out several flaws in the methodology of the researchers. I was proven right when, on the last page, they themselves acknowledged the same flaws I had picked up on. So yay me, and yay professors who taught me.
Also, we had another PTK meeting. We were throwing around ideas for fund raisers and other activities for the semester. We've decided to do a couple of things I think you'll find amusing; I know I do:
- We're going to kidnap professors' office chairs and replace them with a hideously ugly one that has a toilet seat on it instead. If the professor ever wants to see the office chair again, they'll have to pay the ransom! The cool thing is that they can then pay us to kidnap another professor's chair. PTK did this 3 years ago and raised $600 for our various programs. I can't wait to get started on this!
- We're going to erect a jail on the green by the main building, and allow students to pay to have their professors jailed for 15 minutes. I can think of a few that I wouldn't mind locking up.
On a more serious note, I suggested that we have a collection drive to receive donations for area homeless and battered women shelters. Winter is coming on quickly, and with the state of the economy, the need will be greater than ever at the shelters. I've been appointed to spearhead this project. We'll post fliers around campus (as well as in the campus activity calendar and student newspaper) listing the requested items, then set up a table for 3 days to allow students time to bring donations in. As a way of saying thank-you for the generosity of the students who donate, we'll be giving out coupons which will allow them $0.50 off items from our breakfast or lunch sales, held a couple of times a week.
So you see, I haven't just been moping about my rotten grade all this time.
Nothing much else going on. The leaves were glorious the past few days, and have now begun to fall in earnest.
And I have begun to realize how boringly little it takes to make me happy. Randy had my car detailed and it looks as though it just came out of the showroom. This happened a little over a week ago, and I'm still thrilled about it. I've even left the paper on the floor under the pedals; I have a dirt driveway and I can't stand the thought of tracking the sand and mud into my beautiful car.
And we bought a vacuum cleaner recently, one which specializes in ridding the home of pet fur. I can't tell you how delighted I am, especially since it actually works.
And though Randy offers to take me out for dinner and a movie every Friday night, I always turn down the offer (he does it to please me, not because he wants to go out), preferring to stay home and cuddle on the couch while we watch t.v. together and talk.
I don't need diamonds or pearls. Just give me a clean car and a vacuum, and I'm a happy- if dull- woman. Of course, I'd be happier if someone else did the actual vacuuming, but I'll take what I can get and be grateful.
Love your description of what makes you happy. I love diamonds and pearls, but more than that I love the little things that people do for each other (and me). Just one thing - what type of vacuum cleaner? Love My Boys, but not so much their hair!
I love my vacuum, too. Its the vacuuming that I hate to do:)
I really liked reading of the wonderful things you were doing for other people; reflective of who you are inside
I'm a simple girl too - it's the little things that add up and make me happy.
I hope you get healthy (and stay that way!) soon!