Ernesto...what a nice let down

Ernesto didn't amount to much. We were overly prepared but thankful for no damage. (Heck, our daily rainshowers pack more of a punch!).

The good thing was Ernesto got me out of work a whopping half hour early. I went home and wrote a paper since I didn't know if I would lose power or not. He was good for getting one more item off my checklist. The following morning, I didn't have to report in to work until midmorning which was nice also because my house got a quick cleaning.

So, the storm has passed and it is status quo with homework and exercise.

Potential Tropical Storm/Hurricane Ernesto

As many of you know, those of us in southern Florida are paying close attention to what Tropical Storm Ernesto is doing. If he would just beef up his winds speeds a couple miles an hour, he classifies as a hurricane which in turn = a warning = me getting out of work early.

I have plenty of work to do but knowing that my husband and friends are sitting at home relaxing while I am stuck here at work irks me! This has been the pattern for the last couple years. I work for a company that prides itself in little down time due to storms. They turn the conference rooms into daycare since none of the kids have school. They organize carpooling to make sure you can make it to work. Last year they catered in sandwiches and porta-potties. Yeah, great company to work for. I would rather be at home watching the hyped up news, sipping on cocktails and eating my hurricane junk food.

I was good though, I printed out my assignments and notified my teachers just in case we lose power. I probably won't get out of work but with my luck, I will lose power and get behind in my classes. Go figure.

Mission Accomplished

Yes, I did it! I accomplished all my goals today. The most impressive was that I actually rode bike and ran a mile tonight. Now to some of you that isn't a very big deal but to me, it is huge check mark on the exercise tab. Even more impressive is I drank half a bottle of wine before my run. Hold on one second before you get all wound up and tell me that that is one of the worst things I could do. I already know that but darn, it sure made the unbearable, bearable. I wonder if there are any drunk 5K's I could run? I would rock at that type of exercise/sport.

Sunday goals

Yesterday I made myself a smaller list and actually accomplished it all. Well, I left off the desire to get back into the exercise groove so today I am adding it to my list.

1. Chapter readings
2. Web field trips
3. Discussion questions
4. Exercise
5. Trip to the store with hubby
6. Nap and/or fun reading
7. Cook dinner

Now, doesn't that sound like an extraordinary way to spend your Sunday afternoon? That's what I thought. Maybe it will have a twist like yesterday...

The hubby and I went to a movie with our friends. We got there during the "20" (the stupid pre-preview commercials they show 20 minutes before the movie). There was no sound but we decided we would wait until the real previews came on before we said anything. When the previews came on, my friend went and told someone out front the sound wasn't working. A few minutes later, we had sound but couldn't see the picture. So, we nominated my hubby to report the inability to see the previews. After about 20 minutes, the manager finally came in and told us the projector wasn't getting enough power and that we could get a refund and a free pass to another movie or wait for the next showing. We opted for free passes and to make it easier on the guy (when we got to customer service desk...the computer was down...go figure) we opted for an extra set of free passes rather than wait for a refund.

With free passes in our pocket, we headed to a local bar to have a drink and decide what to do. We opted for mini golf. For those of you that don't know what hot, humid, southern Florida is like...let me paint this picture. You step outside of airconditioning and instantly sweat. Not just a little warm and dew on the brow type sweat but rolling rivers in places you didn't know could sweat. Yep, mini golf in 90+ humidity is not fun. At least I didn't lose if you call two people tying for first and two people tying for second not losing.

It was an interesting afternoon and I was glad I wasn't sitting at home on the computer hacking away at a longer list. Time to start on today's.

First Saturday with homework

Ah...the weekend is here! This was a hellish week at work and school started. I finished my usual "prep for class" stuff and decided to get a jump start on week 2. Normally I give myself these lofty goals of getting way more done than I usually can handle in the 48 hours I like to call the "weekend." So, today I set realistic goals for myself and feel pretty good. I got up this morning and picked up the house, cleaned a little, and showered-yes, as some of you may recall, this is a new addition to my "weekend" routine while in school. I used to wait until I was done with homework before I treated myself to that nice clean feeling. After my shower I read 2 pdf's for one class and am about to tackle the discussion questions and first assignment (it's a small one) before going to the movie with my hubby and friends tonight.

Tomorrow's goal includes reading the required chapters for my other class, a web field trip, and discussion questions. I am leaving the literature review for another day during the week. I have also scheduled in some time to spend with the hubby running errands and what not.

So, as far as I can tell, I am off to a much better start than usual. Let's hope I can keep my pace and not create too long of a list for myself. (that list I made for my week off...I got quite a bit checked off but not all of it).

Have a great weekend folks...I am off tackle my list!

The count down begins

I wish I had actually tallied the days until I am done with school but work has been too hectic to take the time to do this. I know, I should do it right now but I just want to post and get started. Yes, today is the "last first day of a term" I will have. Notice I didn't say last forever. I may get a wild hair up my butt to tackle a PhD. or another Master's but so far, not in the near future.

Unlike most terms, today's started with a little hiccup. My capstone course was originally scheduled for Tuesday nights at 9pm ET. One announcement said Tuesday at 8:30pm ET and then an email from the instructor said MONDAY at 7:00pm ET. Talk about frustrations and confusion. The kicker is my other class is also listed as Monday's at 7:00pm ET which, if things continue as is, it is probably on Tuesday ;) Oh well, keeps me on my toes.

Time to get to it. I have introductions to post and syllabi to read. I should probably start some homework but maybe I will tackle that tomorrow. Ah, sweet procrastination already setting in.

Last day of freedom

Tonight is my last free night for the next 10 weeks. Classes start tomorrow. It is bitter sweet. When I am not in school, I miss it a little but then again, who wants to be tied to the computer every week night and weekend...

I have to try to finish the book I am reading tonight. Today was horrid at work so I think I will crack open a bottle of wine and read. Hopefully I don't fall asleep before I finish!

Poison Concert

The Poison concert was fun last night. It rained on us but I think it added to the excitement and craziness. I woke up this morning feeling pretty good and had thought of a great post but now that I actually have time to type it, I can't remember what it was!

Oh...I think part of it is coming back to me. In my prior post I mentioned I needed a new hobby. I would love to add professional concert goer to my list but my liver and wallet can't afford it. Tickets were pretty inexpensive. It is pretty sad when you can spend more money on two beers than you do on a ticket! Not to mention when you drink like I do...you could have bought several tickets for the price of all those glorious Miller Lites.

The rain was a bummer but it did add to the excitement. It was like my own personal Woodstock. Not really but my friend did slide down the hill in the mud on the way out.

As you can tell from this horrid post, I drowned a few brain cells last night. My typing and thought process are a little on the slow side.

Removed links

I removed the links to my fellow classmates blogs. They hadn't posted for quite a while so I figured I would add two more that I visit frequently.

I think I might have to come up with a new topic now that my class is over. Education is boring...I need a new habit or hobby.

Super cleaner

Well, every ten weeks I do a superb cleaning job on the house or odd and end chores that I normally don't do while in school. Today I was a cleaning machine. I cleaned the outside of all the windows on the house (I will tackle the inside after I finish school). I proceeded to wash all three cars, clean the kitchen thoroughly, dusted, swept and washed floors, watered plants, cleaned sliding glass doors and other little chores like cleaning out my wallet. I am pooped. It sure is easier to write a paper than clean the house :)

Only a few more days of freedom and back to the grind. I think I am going to take a nap and not feel guilty about it since I don't really have anything I have to do. Who knows, I might even read one of the 4 books I just bought. Ah, I love weekends!

Bowling and dorks

Last night was the end of the bowling league my husband, his coworkers, and my friends are on. I was a substitute for the girls team but only bowled one game this year. It is amazing how a "sport" that so many of us mock is actually starting to be fun. Everyone has improved over the last several seasons. It is always a nice break to have a few drinks and kick back on a weeknight.

They started discussing joining a 36 week league (this one was only 10). 36 weeks! That is over half the year. I don't think I could bowl that much even if I loved it. I said I might bowl more once school is over. I loved when the hubby would go to bowling because it meant I had a free night to concentrate on homework without any distractions. He is pretty good at leaving me alone but knowing he is lingering around the house is a distraction to me. I want to know what he is doing, talk to him, harass him, etc.

I am full of lame posts this week. Hopefully things will pick up shortly.

Lazy Blogger

I have been a lazy blogger. My week off from school has been fabulous so far. I have started many chores around the house that I have been thinking about doing but not quite able to accomplish while in school (you know...cleaning light fixtures, washing curtains, cleaning outside windows...).

I have also read 3 books so far and just bought 4 more. I was thrilled to see two new books by 2 of my favorite authors. I owe my husband a huge thank you because the one book I missed on the new releases shelf. I have another author I read that has a book coming out in September and thought that was the one he was talking about. I guess I will have to buy that one too when it comes out and hold it as my reward for when I finish school.

I will be back to blogging more regularly. School starts on Wednesday, the 23rd. One last term...I can do it. I will survive.

Back from my reunion

The reunion was fun but wiped me out. It is true you tend to socialize with your friends and then play nice with everyone else. I had my intro down...Married, Ft. Lauderdale, no kids, dog and a cat. That about did for most people. Then of course I received the "but how come you aren't tan" comment back 80% of the time. People...I am a fair skinned Norwegian. I burn in less than 10 minutes down here with an SPF of 45 or more on! I work in an air conditioned building during the day and am in front of my computer in my air conditioned house each night. Enough said.

It was great to see my close friends and their families. It was also nice to run into people that I liked in high school. The ones I could care less about, I didn't go out of my way to play nice with. My friends had a theory about those of us that didn't change (read that as we didn't morph into some crazy looking person-fat, whacko clothes, super skinny, freakishly weird) because we knew who we were in high school and didn't spend the last 10 years trying to reinvent ourselves so at the reunion people would be impressed.

I would like to point out that I did unofficially win the "identifying/remembering the most people from our class" game. I was like a walking yearbook! I was accused of studying before hand but I don't even know where my year books are. I attribute it to actually talking to a ton of people in school and not having one select group of people to hang out with all the time.

Many drinks were had, we even received a visit from the police at an after bar party, we rode to the bar in style...a minivan...and it was a hoot! I am beat though. My trip up north started out with a long day of travel due to those darn terrorists. Luckily I was able to transfer my "liquids and gels" to my checked luggage. I got stuck in MSP for 5 hours so I was able to meet some friends for dinner. It was good to see them. Too bad it was so short. After missing 2 of my connecting flights, I finally made it to God's country. It was a full 16 hours of airports and flying. The next night had a 4am bedtime and the following night was 2am. I am too old for that crap. I didn't even drink that much! My flight out left at 5am so I was up at 3:40am this morning. The stupid rooster at the in-laws was up before that! Aren't they supposed to sleep in until dawn?

This post is a novel. I am sure I will add more to it later. On the scholarly note, it was great to not have any homework. I am still waiting on one final grade for my research class.

Long time-no post

Sorry folks. After I wrapped up my finals this weekend I headed to the mall. It was nice to be able to spend time with friends and not rush home to hop on the computer for the last couple days. Not to mention, I had a nice spyware/virus incident that kept me off for a couple days too.

I am off to MN to visit my friends for my high school reunion. The term isn't technically over but all of my gradeable work is turned in. Just before writing this, I received a final grade in my tech elective class. To my relief, I have kept my A average. Hopefully my research class comes back with the same results. It is awful to have a break because it makes me realize how dedicated I have been to my homework over many other things in life. I am going to enjoy life for a couple weeks and then hit the books one last time for my final term.

For those of you in my classes-see you next term. For those of you that are just faithful readers, see you Tuesday upon my return from God's country (MN).

Light at the end of the tunnel

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I got up and was working on my final literature review today before 9:00 am. I plugged away at it. Cursed it. Plugged some more. I finally decided to send an almost complete draft to a friend for a second set of eyes to review it. Hopefully tomorrow I can make a few necessary changes and submit with a sigh of relief. I have been literally sick to my stomach all week trying to get everything done. It looks as though I will finish with room to breathe!

The hubby and I are going out to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. It is a true testament to our marriage that he has survived living with me during the my journey through the Master's program. I am sure he will be happy to have his wife back in another 3 months when I am officially done. Then again...he had a lot of free, uninterrupted time for the last year while I worked on homework...

Happy Hour

So my old boss is moving back to Chicago and I have a new boss as of a week ago. Tonight we had a happy hour/going away party for him. I had the best intentions of leaving early and doing at least an hours worth of work on my final research paper...yep, it's a no go. Happy hour turned into happy 2 hours and I got home and thought there is no way in heck I am working on my paper. Tomorrow my hubby and friends are going to a movie and some other fun things. I will be home cursing myself for not working on my paper tonight. Oh well...tiss the grad student who is procrastinating and hating this last paper.

One submitted, one drafted, and one still hanging

I submitted my final for my technology class tonight. It was quite long (which stinks when you are proofreading) but I thought it was pretty good. I revised it several times. Only time and a grade will tell.

As for the reflective journal, the rough draft is done and waiting for a response on a question to the instructor about one section. After the instructor replies, a little proofreading and tweaking, it will be ready for submittal.

Finally, the dreaded research paper is looming over me. I know in my head what I need to do and will have to buckle down tomorrow or Friday. Saturday and Sunday are truly dedicated to it. I am going to be so relieved when this term is over.

To top off the celebration, I have a trip planned to Minnesota for my high school reunion. I wish that this would have been my final term so I could have celebrated having accomplished my masters. Oh well...I am so close I can taste it. No harm in stating I am "almost done" with a large vote of confidence.

My blogging has been slightly slow and uneventful the past week or so. Too many papers and the job change has kept me busy at work. I hope to have some interesting posts coming up and maybe some of my classmates will continue to visit.

My question tonight is this:
When you have a really long paper to proof read, do you ever feel like the beginning is super good because you have proof read it a million times but by the time you get the 10+ page mark, you have lost interest and the writing starts to dog? Does anyone have a suggestion for fixing this? I have started proof reading in the middle but I lose the original flow so I don't feel like I am doing my paper justice.