That's how many school days I have to survive before Spring Break, and I'm equal parts excited and terrified. If I can stay on the ball and get the next few weeks' worth of lesson plans written--as well as the post-Spring Break plans done for when I'll be gone prepping for my first Masters Exam--it won't be nearly so terrifying.
However, it's VERY tough to lesson plan...when you just don't want to work. Students aren't the only ones struggling to hold on 'til the break! Teachers are fighting through it, too, but it's like struggling in quicksand: the more you struggle, the faster you sink.
That being said, since there was no class tonight AND I not only finished grading last Friday before leaving, I also got lesson plans for the rest of THIS week done, I really have no excuse for NOT getting the rest of my work done. I'm going to buckle-down, make a spreadsheet of days left and get 'er done! ... As soon as I finish watching the news. ;)
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The beat goes on...
It's that time again. Double-time, hardcore work time, whatever YOU want to call it; I call it 16 weeks of Hell.
That's right. Tuesday was my first class of the Spring semester (only TWO MORE CLASSES TO GO after this one). The class itself is wonderful: taught by an interesting teacher who knows his dtuff. The students themselves are wonderful: mostly grad students, all of whom comtribute. What SUCKS--what's makes it Hell--is trying to juggle my job AND all the work that goes along with not only my class, but with prepping for my first exam. Two days in and I'm already behind on EVERYTHING and floundering. Part of that is my own personal work ethic: despite hopes to the contrary, I continue to "waste" too much time.
It doesn't help that I'm hormonal and just want to EAT, consequences be damned. I just have to suvive tomorrow--school, Grad Advisor meeting, and monthly exam prep meeting--and then I can have a tiiiiiiiny break to get caught up. *fingers-crossed*
That's right. Tuesday was my first class of the Spring semester (only TWO MORE CLASSES TO GO after this one). The class itself is wonderful: taught by an interesting teacher who knows his dtuff. The students themselves are wonderful: mostly grad students, all of whom comtribute. What SUCKS--what's makes it Hell--is trying to juggle my job AND all the work that goes along with not only my class, but with prepping for my first exam. Two days in and I'm already behind on EVERYTHING and floundering. Part of that is my own personal work ethic: despite hopes to the contrary, I continue to "waste" too much time.
It doesn't help that I'm hormonal and just want to EAT, consequences be damned. I just have to suvive tomorrow--school, Grad Advisor meeting, and monthly exam prep meeting--and then I can have a tiiiiiiiny break to get caught up. *fingers-crossed*
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Oh, blogging. How I've missed you.
It's been years--not months: YEARS--since I've updated here. I could chalk it up to an insanely busy work and study schedule, but the truth is, my muse seems to have fled the scene on an extended vacation.
Let's begin with a couple updates:
1) After this semester, I will be SIX hours (and several exams) away from finishing my Masters in Spanish. HALLELUJAH! Lord willing this time next year will see me hooded and de-stressed (insomuch as it's possible to be stress-free in a teaching position). I'm very nervous for exams as I just can't seem to self-motivate enough to finish all the readings. Praying that God flips that "switch" in my brain to help me buckle down and dig in.
2) In June, I re-joined WeightWatchers. After travelling with Holly, Melisa and Baby Shay to visit Amy in Salem (a trip that Ho and Mel gave me for my 32nd birthday), I sat down and really LOOKED at myself in the pictures we'd taken, and I was ashamed to realize how badly I'd regressed. :( Since quitting in 2007 I'd gained back the 100 pounds I lost and then some, weighing in at a whopping 354.8 lbs. Now, just over half a year later, I'm hitting the YMCA 3+ times per week and have lost 58.6 lbs, bringing my current weight to 296.2 lbs. My initial goal was to lose 50 lbs this school year, so since I made that (and then some), my new goal is to be 100 lbs down by school year's end. Whether I achieve my goal or not, I know I'm going to be a darned sight healthier and better looking in May, and I'll truly be happy with ANY weight loss.
I'm sure I'm leaving out a crap-ton of important information--after all, it's been nearly three years since I've blogged--but those seem to be the two most important things on my mind of late. Teaching is... well... teaching. I have good days and bad ones, but I'm trying to breathe through all the problems and not take everything so personally. Again, when this Masters stuff is done, I anticipate improved job performance. Multi-tasking is NOT for me!
Mainly, being healthy has led me to feel re-energized mentally, physically and spiritually, which in turn has lead to my desire to write again. Several poem fragments have been dancing through my mentalscape, but I'm not yet ready to sit down and work with them. The truth is, I'm a little scared. It's been SO LONG!
As always, I endeavor to be a more consistent blogger; as to whether I'll succeed, only time will tell, so stay tuned. ;)
Let's begin with a couple updates:
1) After this semester, I will be SIX hours (and several exams) away from finishing my Masters in Spanish. HALLELUJAH! Lord willing this time next year will see me hooded and de-stressed (insomuch as it's possible to be stress-free in a teaching position). I'm very nervous for exams as I just can't seem to self-motivate enough to finish all the readings. Praying that God flips that "switch" in my brain to help me buckle down and dig in.
2) In June, I re-joined WeightWatchers. After travelling with Holly, Melisa and Baby Shay to visit Amy in Salem (a trip that Ho and Mel gave me for my 32nd birthday), I sat down and really LOOKED at myself in the pictures we'd taken, and I was ashamed to realize how badly I'd regressed. :( Since quitting in 2007 I'd gained back the 100 pounds I lost and then some, weighing in at a whopping 354.8 lbs. Now, just over half a year later, I'm hitting the YMCA 3+ times per week and have lost 58.6 lbs, bringing my current weight to 296.2 lbs. My initial goal was to lose 50 lbs this school year, so since I made that (and then some), my new goal is to be 100 lbs down by school year's end. Whether I achieve my goal or not, I know I'm going to be a darned sight healthier and better looking in May, and I'll truly be happy with ANY weight loss.
I'm sure I'm leaving out a crap-ton of important information--after all, it's been nearly three years since I've blogged--but those seem to be the two most important things on my mind of late. Teaching is... well... teaching. I have good days and bad ones, but I'm trying to breathe through all the problems and not take everything so personally. Again, when this Masters stuff is done, I anticipate improved job performance. Multi-tasking is NOT for me!
Mainly, being healthy has led me to feel re-energized mentally, physically and spiritually, which in turn has lead to my desire to write again. Several poem fragments have been dancing through my mentalscape, but I'm not yet ready to sit down and work with them. The truth is, I'm a little scared. It's been SO LONG!
As always, I endeavor to be a more consistent blogger; as to whether I'll succeed, only time will tell, so stay tuned. ;)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Well poop
I had my first test today in my WSU class...and I think I did terrible.
The worst part is: I KNOW THIS STUFF!!! If you'd sat me down with pen and paper and told me to write the history of Spain from the Neanderthals to 1492 (and the Spanish provinces and rivers), I TOTALLY COULD HAVE DONE IT! Maybe I wouldn't have every date and emperor down, but I'd do pretty darned well. However, this test was totally different. Things I thought would be on there weren't; things I didn't think would be on there were. ... Bah.
So. Flippin'. Upsetting.
I tried so hard and it feels like it was for nothing. I KNEW at the time that I was messing up, but I just kept thinking: better to have put something down and have it be wrong than leave it blank.
Who knows if Wilks will have them graded by Monday.
I guess the good news is that I have more tests yet to come to off-set this bad score...?
...
Honestly, I'm just so disappointed in myself. This whole balancing work and school thing just sucks.
I'd really like to curl up in bed and stay there for a few days.
The worst part is: I KNOW THIS STUFF!!! If you'd sat me down with pen and paper and told me to write the history of Spain from the Neanderthals to 1492 (and the Spanish provinces and rivers), I TOTALLY COULD HAVE DONE IT! Maybe I wouldn't have every date and emperor down, but I'd do pretty darned well. However, this test was totally different. Things I thought would be on there weren't; things I didn't think would be on there were. ... Bah.
So. Flippin'. Upsetting.
I tried so hard and it feels like it was for nothing. I KNEW at the time that I was messing up, but I just kept thinking: better to have put something down and have it be wrong than leave it blank.
Who knows if Wilks will have them graded by Monday.
I guess the good news is that I have more tests yet to come to off-set this bad score...?
...
Honestly, I'm just so disappointed in myself. This whole balancing work and school thing just sucks.
I'd really like to curl up in bed and stay there for a few days.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
I think we can all see how well my hopes to post more frequently turned out. lol
Honestly, I used to NEED to blog; now, I'm finding (or rather, used to be finding...more on that in a a minute) other ways to deal with the day-to-day.
Updates:
1) The school year got off to a great start. I literally had the best first week EVER, which turned into the best THREE weeks ever. It's not perfect--because nothing is--but it's been pretty darned good. Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up, and that's always the true test, so I may be singing a different tune soon.
2) I have two Spanish 4 students (which I didn't know, until the day before they showed up, that I would have) in with my Spanish 3's. This means, much to my frustration, that rather than getting the practice they need with the native speakers, they're stuck listening to much of what they heard last year and working on individual projects and readings. Again...not happy.
3) I've decided that I don't--repeat, DON'T--like going to back to school to get my Masters. I would LOVE to be a lifelong student, simply taking classes that interest me or because I can. Getting ones Masters, however, is a completely different animal. First there was drama about whether I'd even be allowed to take Spanish Civilization and Culture again (as an 831L) since I'd taken it as an undergrad as 626. Then there was more drama about getting a Masters advisor (since Dra. Akrabova left a HUGE hole in the department). This, thank goodness, was resolved: I am now being advised by Dra. Myers (HALLELUJAH!!!). Finally, there's drama with the class itself. I realize as a Masters student I'm automatically required to do more work; I just didn't realize that it was work for the sake of work rather than learning. More hoops to jump through. ... Bah. I'm frustrated. Obviously.
4) I'm having a terribly difficult time forcing myself to grade, lesson plan and generally do my day-to-day, single-woman-earning-a-living things that used to consume my life. Some time within the past two years, I just got sick of it. I realize a typical 9-5 job not only isn't for me, but would literally drive me crazy; however, I am increasingly annoyed by all the 'extra' (work, time, money, effort, energy, ...) that goes with my job. I can only spread myself so thin. I pray for guidance and can only assume at this point that if God wants me to find a new path, He will present me with one. In the meantime, I'm treading water.
5) Due to extra stress, lack of anything resembling time and general apathy, I'm pretty much back on my old eating schedule: coffee for breakfast, diet pop for lunch and a real (read: large) dinner. NOT good. Must re-incorporate healthy eating into my life.
Ugh. So there it is. The past month or so.
Honestly, I used to NEED to blog; now, I'm finding (or rather, used to be finding...more on that in a a minute) other ways to deal with the day-to-day.
Updates:
1) The school year got off to a great start. I literally had the best first week EVER, which turned into the best THREE weeks ever. It's not perfect--because nothing is--but it's been pretty darned good. Parent/Teacher conferences are coming up, and that's always the true test, so I may be singing a different tune soon.
2) I have two Spanish 4 students (which I didn't know, until the day before they showed up, that I would have) in with my Spanish 3's. This means, much to my frustration, that rather than getting the practice they need with the native speakers, they're stuck listening to much of what they heard last year and working on individual projects and readings. Again...not happy.
3) I've decided that I don't--repeat, DON'T--like going to back to school to get my Masters. I would LOVE to be a lifelong student, simply taking classes that interest me or because I can. Getting ones Masters, however, is a completely different animal. First there was drama about whether I'd even be allowed to take Spanish Civilization and Culture again (as an 831L) since I'd taken it as an undergrad as 626. Then there was more drama about getting a Masters advisor (since Dra. Akrabova left a HUGE hole in the department). This, thank goodness, was resolved: I am now being advised by Dra. Myers (HALLELUJAH!!!). Finally, there's drama with the class itself. I realize as a Masters student I'm automatically required to do more work; I just didn't realize that it was work for the sake of work rather than learning. More hoops to jump through. ... Bah. I'm frustrated. Obviously.
4) I'm having a terribly difficult time forcing myself to grade, lesson plan and generally do my day-to-day, single-woman-earning-a-living things that used to consume my life. Some time within the past two years, I just got sick of it. I realize a typical 9-5 job not only isn't for me, but would literally drive me crazy; however, I am increasingly annoyed by all the 'extra' (work, time, money, effort, energy, ...) that goes with my job. I can only spread myself so thin. I pray for guidance and can only assume at this point that if God wants me to find a new path, He will present me with one. In the meantime, I'm treading water.
5) Due to extra stress, lack of anything resembling time and general apathy, I'm pretty much back on my old eating schedule: coffee for breakfast, diet pop for lunch and a real (read: large) dinner. NOT good. Must re-incorporate healthy eating into my life.
Ugh. So there it is. The past month or so.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Viva Mexico!!!
Al final, estoy aqui en Mexico!
More info to follow, but my hope is to post more frequently (so that I don't forget all the hilarity of my trip...trust me, it's been more laughs that tears).
The basics: 6 weeks in my sweet duena's house with two awesome roomies: Karen, a Wesley nurse and Laura, a Kapaun Spanish teacher.
Classes officially start tomorrow (8:00 to 4:30 every weekday!), and given what I've experienced thus far, I'll have LOTS to share!
Besos a todos!
More info to follow, but my hope is to post more frequently (so that I don't forget all the hilarity of my trip...trust me, it's been more laughs that tears).
The basics: 6 weeks in my sweet duena's house with two awesome roomies: Karen, a Wesley nurse and Laura, a Kapaun Spanish teacher.
Classes officially start tomorrow (8:00 to 4:30 every weekday!), and given what I've experienced thus far, I'll have LOTS to share!
Besos a todos!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Mexico (via Portland) ... HERE I COME!!!
That's right, folks. Yours truly is headed out of town as of tomorrow morning with my one of my bestest friends in tow; rather, she's towing ME since she's the whole reason I'm headed to Portland before Mexico.
Words cannot express how flippin' excited I am for this trip!!!
I'll be gone for seven weeks, six of which will be in Mexico. I'll be staying in a house with two other women, attending classes during the day at the Hotel Colonial and doing...whatever...each night!
H E A V E N !!!
I'm going to do my best to update from the road, but no guarantees. I just may be having TOO much fun for blogs! :)
Let summer officially begin!
Words cannot express how flippin' excited I am for this trip!!!
I'll be gone for seven weeks, six of which will be in Mexico. I'll be staying in a house with two other women, attending classes during the day at the Hotel Colonial and doing...whatever...each night!
H E A V E N !!!
I'm going to do my best to update from the road, but no guarantees. I just may be having TOO much fun for blogs! :)
Let summer officially begin!
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