Tag: school

Spring Classes

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
I was a bit bummed today when one of my classes was cancelled.  I was looking forward to it and they didn’t get enough students enrolled in it.  No playwriting class for me next semester.  I figured I’d end up with some weird class. 
Instead I got (drum roll please) the book editing class I originally wanted.  I don’t have the pre-reqs for the class but it would be great timing for me to have the class as I’m neck deep in editing my poetry book (and romance novel and on the horizon is my magic book).  If I could get some in depth knowledge on the editing process for books that would refine my skills and help me produce a better book. 
I emailed the professor today and she immediately came back with – yes you can be in the class.  I was enrolled by the end of the day.  Next semester looks like an interesting semester as I’m taking Fiction Writing in a night course and then the book editing in a late afternoon class. 
Another bonus for my schedule, I’ll actually have time to go to the pool on Monday and Wednesday.  I’ll have time between the two classes on Monday to go to the aquatic center for an hour and still make it back for my night class.  Wednesday I’ll be out of class early enough that I’ll be able to go and get not quite an hour for a work out. 

Busy!!!

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
It has been a busy weekend.  Yesterday I took my quiz, read part of a chapter, posted twice to the discussion board for one of my classes, baked bread, crocheted, helped Vicki with cookies, and made ornaments.  I’m probably forgetting stuff but that is the general gist of my Saturday. 
Today I did a lot too.  I’ve baked bread, helped with cookies, run errands, bills and budget.  Now I have to go finish one Christmas present and wrap all the presents.  If I still have time after that I’ll probably work on my short story.  I need to read it one more time before I submit it. 
I’m going back to work tomorrow.  Vicki will have an exceedingly busy morning as she is making lasagna for my student workers and faculty.  She will bring that in hot along with the homemade bread I made today.  I’m also taking a bunch of the GREAT cookies she made. 
I don’t know how many dozen it turned out to be but she made about fifteen batches.  They all look, smell, and taste delicious.  She tried two new recipes.  I think they turned out wonderfully. 

Home Stretch

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
My formal project is done.  In my linguistics class I have whatever quizzes he throws at us and the final.  For my creative writing class I have finished my journal and the rough draft of the final short story.  I only need to polish the short story and turn it in and I’m done. 

I’m disappointed with my classes this semester.  I thought I’d learn a lot and enjoy the process but it has not been a good process for me this semester.  In my one class no one participates and the professor looks out on a sea of blank faces.  In my other class, the writing assignments have been tedious and not stretched my skills at all, plus there’s been little peer critique.  I would have liked to spend more time on that.  Also for the last month no one has really been participating online. 

I hope to be taking two writing classes next semester and hope that I enjoy them more.  I thought I was all settled but I got an email today that one of my classes may be cancelled.  This means that I’ll have to find a second class to be in and one that hopefully doesn’t disrupt my schedule too much.  I will hopefully know by Tuesday – I definitely don’t like the added stress of this.  There is one class that is offered and required at the same time as the class that is being cancelled but it is full already.  That means asking the professor and / or waiting to see if anyone drops it.  More stress – I don’t like stress…

Very Tired… But Got a Lot Done

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
I got a lot done this weekend.  Formal project for class, presents crocheted, finish edits for romance novel, family gathering, movie, all done.  I’m sure there are other things I did but I am too tired to remember.  It was a weekend of late nights and lots of work being put in.
The good thing – I finally have a rough draft of my formal project.  I’ll edit it tomorrow and turn it in tomorrow night.  Then I have to read the last chapter for the class, write a short story, turn in my journal, and take the final.  Only a few short steps and I’ll be done with this semester.  I’m sure I’ll have more quizzes as well but those I’ll take as they come. 
I don’t think I’ve made it to bed before 2 am in the last 4 or 5 days.  I really just want to fall into bed and sleep but my mind is going so fast I doubt I’ll sleep.  Perhaps it might be time to redo my post its – or I could give myself a break for a day or so. 
My gout is definitely doing better.  I’ll have to see how it behaves on Tuesday after I walk the long distance to class.  Last time, I was in pain most of the day.  I’m hoping though that it won’t bother me as much this week.  Hopefully by Wednesday, I’ll be driving myself and not relying too much on Vicki any more. 

I need a weekend to recover from my weekend…

Resolution – I guess

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I met with the chair of the English department.  I got no options for fixing things this semester but I did get suggestions for faculty for next semester.  We will see.  I’m not holding my breath that anything good will come of my sharing the information.  

I’ve swapped over my formal project.  I still really want to do the other one but perhaps I’ll do that on my own.  I’m doing the Gricean Maxims which confuse the heck out of me.  I got him to agree to give points back if I prove my point.  I know it will be easy enough for him to say I didn’t prove my point but I hope that isn’t how he is.

Yesterday was full.  I paid bills, ran errands, studied, crocheted, hung out with Vicki, Ken and Beth.  It was a busy day.  When I finally headed to bed, I sat down to my computer and played a bit.  I was on the verge of shutting down completely when I went back into this short story I’m working on.  I worked till 3 am and now have a rough draft.  When I’m done with revising and editing it I’m hoping I can market it and get it published.  I am very pleased with it. 

This means that I didn’t get out of bed till 10 this morning.  It doesn’t bode well to getting a lot accomplished today but perhaps I just need a bit of down time. 

School

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

This week has been a disaster.  I’ve worked a ton of overtime to work on a huge project which is really only about half done.  I’ll be continuing to work on it this next week and I’m not sure how much overtime I’ll be putting in. 

There’s also been a bit of drama with school.  In my linguistics class I’ve been arguing with my professor about some of the answers on quizzes.  It isn’t really getting me anywhere but I at least want to make a good argument.  I’ve decided to step it up and start actually asking for points back because the subtle approach has not been working. 

Several of the students in my linguistics class have decided the professor is trying to fail everyone so they are taking it to the dean.  I’m not sure that is the right approach.  I’m sitting back and waiting.

I sent off three questions to my creative writing teacher.  One was for clarification on the comments she made on my paper – not saying she was wrong just looking for clarification.  One was asking about her grading scale.  One was a question on the next assignment.  Now I will concede that these were all in one day but I tend to ask things when I come across them.  It just so happened that I came across all of them at once. 

The professor was quite snarky about my questions.  Her attitude seemed to be “don’t question me”.  She insulted my ability to write which was very hurtful to me.  I know I’m a good writer and a good editor but for someone in that position to be so condescending it does make me question. 

I felt slapped.  I know that may sound harsh but if I can’t ask questions – particularly on the comments on my papers – then how am I going to learn?  I don’t know.  I guess then it just becomes her opinion which I can quite easily dismiss if I don’t agree with her. 

I’m disappointed with my creative writing class.  I was looking forward to some new and fun projects to expand my thinking and my abilities but I’ve got three books that don’t really help.  One of them I had to buy so now it is mine which after this class I will never open again. 

To me if you are teaching a writing class then the writing should be out there for discussion.  Here is my sample of work – how can it be made better.  We had a sample poem we had to edit but she never commented on the editing we did.  My question (which I’m not allowed to ask) is did I edit it the way she wanted?  What was she actually looking for?  There were some general comments but she couldn’t be bothered to comment on all the postings. 

I guess I’ll chalk this up to experience and make sure I do not take any more classes that she teaches.  I’ll also think twice before I take more classes.  If the teachers here aren’t able to help me grow then I need to go elsewhere so that I can expand my knowledge and my abilities.

Productive

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
Work, school, writing, family, and the beginning of a new semester means I’ve been feeling just a touch overwhelmed. Okay maybe more than a touch.  Today I was able to tackle some of the tasks that have been giggling on the corner of my desk because I just haven’t had time to get to them.  Now a number of them are done. 
My to-do list was over a page on a standard pad of paper.  I had notes in the margins and scribbled every which way.  Today I rewrote my to-do list and discovered all the things I’d crossed off meant that I was down to about 2/3 of the page.  This is a giant leap forward. 
I’m exhausted.  Partly because I’ve not gone to bed before midnight all week with all my homework and other things I need to take care of and partly because I got a lot done today.  It feels good. 
I’m trying to savor this good feeling.  I am going to breathe and enjoy it for at least thirty seconds.  Tonight I have to page through my homework to-do list and hope it isn’t too extensive.
Good news is I discovered on my Kindle that I have the Oxford Dictionary of English.  It is an amazing dictionary and quite extensive.  I am using it regularly.  I also purchased a calendar program which allows me to put in appointments and a to-do list.  This has become my closest friend right now.  I look at it multiple times a day.  It helps keep me on track which is something I definitely need right now.

Feeling Frustrated

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I know what you are all going to say to me.  Hang in there it is just the first week.  However, I can’t help how I feel at this point in time.  Let me preface this with a quick outline of my day…

Grocery shopping at 8:30, nearly 11 by the time it was all done and taken care of; lunch and then settling in to study.  I had three chapters to read and some writing to do.  I got my stuff together and decided I would submit some poetry as I could get extra credit for submitting to a couple of publications for my creative writing class.  After lunch I sit at my computer and get a half dozen submissions done.  Then I tackle my language studies book.  I’ve got just one chapter to read a little over twenty pages so should be a breeze right?  WRONG!!!

I’m researching terms on the internet because they aren’t clear in the book.  I’m looking in a dictionary.  I’m whining so much Vicki reads what I’ve read and tries to help.  I’ve only covered about ten pages and it is HOURS later.  I’m feeling frustrated that I’m just not getting it. 

I give up on the one section.  I get most of it and I’m hoping class discussion will clarify it for me.  I move on to the next section which does make more sense to me.  Still I’m tired and frustrated.  I know I’m not learning a damn thing.  I close my book and give up. 

Vicki being a librarian has kindly gone to the library to reserve books to explain my book to me.  Great more reading… I know I’m old and it’s been a long while since I studied grammar but I think I need a refresher course of sorts.  The terminology is killing me.  I think I understand the underlying theory but the terms are throwing me off.

Then I go to my computer to get some down time with relaxing fun emails and games.  In my emails I have two rejections.  Go ahead universe just kick me when I’m down. 

Okay I’m done whining.  I’m going to bed and tomorrow when I get up I’m going to tackle the last ten pages in that book, finish off the two chapters in the other two books and do the damn writing assignment.  Then I’m going to look at the next week of assignments and see what I have to tackle for that. 

I may be down (i.e. damn exhausted, frustrated and annoyed with myself) but I sure as hell am not out. 

Freaked Out to Swamped

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Monday we had a house full of people.  It was nice to sit and chat about everything.  We grilled out and filled our tummies with goodies and filled our soul with great companionship.

Tuesday was not such a good day.  I knew I had to be out of the house early so I was up early.  On the verge of leaving when I went to set my bowl of milk down for the cat.  I almost had it on the floor when it fell out of my hand and spilled everywhere.  The cat was thrilled she helped clean it up nicely.  However, it threw me off schedule.

I’m driving to school and I get almost into town and there is a train blocking traffic.  I sit in the extra-long line of cars thinking about alternate routes and realizing I should just stay put.  I pick up Alicia because we ride share on Tuesday and Thursday.  I get to class and I’m feeling rush, behind schedule and nervous.  In the classroom they have these small chairs with desks attached.  Now I’m a large woman.  I try sitting in one and realize I’m going to end up leaning into the desk for an hour and fifteen minutes. 

I enjoyed my class mostly.  Okay I was in pain the entire class period because of the desk.  More than the pain level though I was a bit freaked out by the class.  I made the mistake in the morning of looking at the list of work for my other class. 

I had that moment where I thought HOLY SHIT what have I gotten myself into?  I talked to Vicki and she smacked me (figuratively) and made me realize I could manage all the balls I’m juggling. 

Tuesday night I sat down to organize myself.  I read through syllabi and started homework.  I got a list and got organized.  I have five books for two classes.  I have two binders and a pad of paper.  I’ve got a system in place and think it will work nicely (I hope).  I did my first writing assignment (which I’m refining and editing – again).  I’ll turn that in either tonight or tomorrow.  I did my first quiz and didn’t fail miserably. 

Thursday in class I took part in the discussion and felt I added to the quality of the discussion.  I stayed up way too late working on homework but I think I’ve got a grasp on things – for now.

I’m busy but maintaining.  This weekend I plan to get all the things on my to do list for homework done and maybe even start on the next set of reading.  I at least don’t feel like the material is beyond me.  I know I have the ability to do the work.  Now it is just a matter of hunkering down and getting the work done…

Bumness

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
After a week of overtime and chaos with fifty balls in the air, I took yesterday and did NOTHING.  It was so relaxing to play on the computer and hang out with Ken, Vicki, and Beth.  We did only one thing productive and that was rent a car for our trip to Georgia.
I think my brain just needed to shut down and think on nothing.  I did make a date with a friend to visit her.  I have to email or text another to set up time with her.  I also have to turn down an invite to another friend’s for a party because the timing is bad for me.  One more friend to contact and see if she wants to get together, then I’ll be caught up on the social front mostly. 
With starting school, my time is getting more crunched.  The funny thing is I think I actually like it.  It means I’ll have to make the most of the time I actually get to do things like writing and genealogy. 
While I was a bum yesterday, I have to get my bum in gear today.  Ken and I played together on the computer but now I have to get serious and find my desk, organize my writing, genealogy, bills, etc.  I have to get my stuff ready for work and school next week. 
On top of which I got an email from a cousin with information on a family member I didn’t have before.  I need to write her a note and send her more pictures.  I also have to work on submissions for writing today. 
At some point though, I really want to go sit on the deck.  For the most part this summer it has been too hot and muggy to be outside for me.  I’ve felt trapped but today the a/c is off, windows are open and it feels HEAVENLY.  I’d be tempted to take my crocheting out and sit on the deck to do nothing. 
Mom, Alicia, and Beth are coming down tomorrow to grill out, maybe I’ll drag Stephanie’s afghan out there then and have my down time.  Social time and crocheting – multi tasking once again…
Vicki just brought me a pattern for a wrap which looks amazing.  I read the pattern too and I think it would be easy enough and quick enough to do.  I might have to do one for her and see how fast it works up.  I better stop before I get a giant list of craft stuff I want to do.  Although I seem to remember doing fifteen afghans one year while in school and working.  Maybe I just need to do more to keep me busy and sane (or is that insane?).