Don't know if any of you are still out there, but I'm here.
We're on day two of a snow storm, and it's beautiful out. I've got a front-row view of the falling flakes, a cup of hot chocolate, and a purring cat on my lap. I'm still in my favorite pj bottoms with the softest, snuggliest sweater I own completing this most comfy of ensembles.
So, what's new?
I think I have about a bazillion posts of yours to read, and I'm going to. I want to catch up with what's been going on.
As for me, well, the semester is over and, while I enjoyed my classes, I can't tell you how glad I am that I have this break. During the second half of the semester, two of my professors realized that they had fallen sadly behind. Rather than change their plans, they subjected us to a whirlwind of chapter overviews, quizzes, tests and papers. In both classes, I had a test on the last day of class instead of review. Yeah, they took it right to the very end.
While I'm certain that I received an A in my 2 psych classes (one has posted the grade, the other hasn't but has already told me I'm in good shape), it is my sad duty to report that my streak of perfection has come to an end: I got a B in Statistics. As you might guess, I'm not happy about that. There were some problems with the final. When I challenged him, he told me I was right and said that he corrected that and gave me credit. The test was online, so I went back to look. The grade is the same, and he has posted our final grades. I emailed him but never heard back. This was his last semester here- he's off to teach at Purdue- so it's not like I can track him down. I keep the B. I'm trying to practice acceptance. It's an uphill battle, but I'm working on it. Here's some happier news: my Bio lab professor liked a paper I did so much that she's keeping it on file for future students to use as a reference for how their papers should be done! I'm still waiting to find out how I did in Human Bio overall. I know I got an A in the lab, and A- on both the midterm and the final. I'm in the B range, though, for homework and quizzes. Each of these components makes up 25% of the grade, and I don't know if the B on homework, etc., is going to pull me down to a B+ for the class or not. The A in lab is really an A+, so perhaps that will offset it and leave me with an A-. I just have to wait and see.
I have a lot to do... tour college campuses, fill out applications and financial aid forms, finish work on that incredibly involved scholarship application (due Jan. 14). Our donation drive for area shelters went really well and I have a carload full of items to sort through, divvy up and deliver. I've already made one trip before this (a carload of blankets that time) and am so pleased and proud of our students and faculty for their generosity. Other clubs collected winter coats and stuffed animals for the shelters as well, while the faculty had a giving tree covered in ornaments with children's wish lists for toys and clothes on them. We could choose an ornament and buy the things listed, then leave them in the office to be delivered. My brother, who has just been laid off from work because of the economy, bought a special $50 snowboarder's sweatshirt for a kid who loves the sport (in other words, a kid after my brother's own heart!).
I don't have a Christmas tree and, at this rate, probably won't. We gave our tree stand to my mother because hers broke and, though she went to every store in the tri-state area, she couldn't find a new one! She had her tree in a bucket in her living room, still wrapped up, because she didn't have a stand for it. She asked Randy and I if we had a spare- we used to- but our second one had broken and we'd tossed it. Randy offered her ours, insisting that he can rig something up for us. I can't tell you how happy my mother is! She and the kids were finally able to decorate their tree yesterday. Why wait so long to put up the tree? My fault. It's a family tradition to keep the tree up until my birthday in January; I loved it so much when I was little! Naturally that means holding off on the tree until late in December so that it won't be a brown, shriveled up husk on Jan. 12. I haven't been over to see it yet, but will soon. As for us, well, we don't have any children and I've just been too busy to even think about Christmas really. The fact that today is Dec. 21 sank in a little while ago, causing my chest to contract, my breath to catch and my heart to accelerate like a rabbit's. Apropos, that, since "Rabbit" is my mother's nickname for me. I haven't bought anything for anybody, which isn't quite as bad as it sounds; most of us have said that we'd rather the money that would have been spent on us be donated to charity instead. It's such a tough year for so many! I can't even imagine...
I've blathered on long enough and have only covered the surface, but I think I'll stop here for now.
Good to be back!
We're on day two of a snow storm, and it's beautiful out. I've got a front-row view of the falling flakes, a cup of hot chocolate, and a purring cat on my lap. I'm still in my favorite pj bottoms with the softest, snuggliest sweater I own completing this most comfy of ensembles.
So, what's new?
I think I have about a bazillion posts of yours to read, and I'm going to. I want to catch up with what's been going on.
As for me, well, the semester is over and, while I enjoyed my classes, I can't tell you how glad I am that I have this break. During the second half of the semester, two of my professors realized that they had fallen sadly behind. Rather than change their plans, they subjected us to a whirlwind of chapter overviews, quizzes, tests and papers. In both classes, I had a test on the last day of class instead of review. Yeah, they took it right to the very end.
While I'm certain that I received an A in my 2 psych classes (one has posted the grade, the other hasn't but has already told me I'm in good shape), it is my sad duty to report that my streak of perfection has come to an end: I got a B in Statistics. As you might guess, I'm not happy about that. There were some problems with the final. When I challenged him, he told me I was right and said that he corrected that and gave me credit. The test was online, so I went back to look. The grade is the same, and he has posted our final grades. I emailed him but never heard back. This was his last semester here- he's off to teach at Purdue- so it's not like I can track him down. I keep the B. I'm trying to practice acceptance. It's an uphill battle, but I'm working on it. Here's some happier news: my Bio lab professor liked a paper I did so much that she's keeping it on file for future students to use as a reference for how their papers should be done! I'm still waiting to find out how I did in Human Bio overall. I know I got an A in the lab, and A- on both the midterm and the final. I'm in the B range, though, for homework and quizzes. Each of these components makes up 25% of the grade, and I don't know if the B on homework, etc., is going to pull me down to a B+ for the class or not. The A in lab is really an A+, so perhaps that will offset it and leave me with an A-. I just have to wait and see.
I have a lot to do... tour college campuses, fill out applications and financial aid forms, finish work on that incredibly involved scholarship application (due Jan. 14). Our donation drive for area shelters went really well and I have a carload full of items to sort through, divvy up and deliver. I've already made one trip before this (a carload of blankets that time) and am so pleased and proud of our students and faculty for their generosity. Other clubs collected winter coats and stuffed animals for the shelters as well, while the faculty had a giving tree covered in ornaments with children's wish lists for toys and clothes on them. We could choose an ornament and buy the things listed, then leave them in the office to be delivered. My brother, who has just been laid off from work because of the economy, bought a special $50 snowboarder's sweatshirt for a kid who loves the sport (in other words, a kid after my brother's own heart!).
I don't have a Christmas tree and, at this rate, probably won't. We gave our tree stand to my mother because hers broke and, though she went to every store in the tri-state area, she couldn't find a new one! She had her tree in a bucket in her living room, still wrapped up, because she didn't have a stand for it. She asked Randy and I if we had a spare- we used to- but our second one had broken and we'd tossed it. Randy offered her ours, insisting that he can rig something up for us. I can't tell you how happy my mother is! She and the kids were finally able to decorate their tree yesterday. Why wait so long to put up the tree? My fault. It's a family tradition to keep the tree up until my birthday in January; I loved it so much when I was little! Naturally that means holding off on the tree until late in December so that it won't be a brown, shriveled up husk on Jan. 12. I haven't been over to see it yet, but will soon. As for us, well, we don't have any children and I've just been too busy to even think about Christmas really. The fact that today is Dec. 21 sank in a little while ago, causing my chest to contract, my breath to catch and my heart to accelerate like a rabbit's. Apropos, that, since "Rabbit" is my mother's nickname for me. I haven't bought anything for anybody, which isn't quite as bad as it sounds; most of us have said that we'd rather the money that would have been spent on us be donated to charity instead. It's such a tough year for so many! I can't even imagine...
I've blathered on long enough and have only covered the surface, but I think I'll stop here for now.
Good to be back!
I've got the pj bottomes, the purring/snoring cat and the front-row view... no sweater (need to get one that isn't a pull-over) and the hot chocolate is warming up. Also have the fireplace going.
Separated at birth???
I am so glad you are okay. I am not used to not reading from you for so long at a time. I was shocked when your name was in bold (meaning updated). I was so excited. :)
David- you're so sweet! I missed everyone, too. It didn't feel right, not blogging. Here's hoping I have more time next semester now that my toughest courses are done.
John- you too!
Looks like your studies are a doddle for you, hope you keep it up and get that missing A!
As for snow, we've none of that here - we had our share in April and October. Now we have usual grey skies and nada.
Have a great break - catch you in the new year. Wishing you a happy one!
tnn
Hope you have a Merry Christmas. For whatever reason Christmas is approaching fast and I am so not ready.
Ralph
Also that was crummy of your professors! They should have CUT chapters or stuff out rather than cram it in. That's what I do, and I'm leaving my class next semester open at the end with some leeway. Either I'll add more if needed or I'll have space not to have to cram everythin in.