Okay - I've done this once already, and I am thinking that I tagged Cher......funny that NOW she does it and she tags me back! ;) Well, at least I do have enough randomness to fill another ten list......The rules of this game of tag are simple. Once you have been tagged, you must write a blog with ten weird, random things, little-known facts or habits about yourself. At the end, tag your close friends and explain why you chose them. Then leave a comment to tell them they've been tagged and to read your blog.
1. I cannot stand for socks to hang off your toes. This goes for me or anyone else around me. Socks are meant to be snug to your foot, not draping off the ends of your toes so that you can see all the debris that has collected. GROSS. (This stems from torcher inflicted by my Uncle Billy in childhood....) :)
2. I love Star Trek. (The Next Generation and Voyager.) Andy does too. We want to go to a convention one day. Maybe I'll dress up as a character....and make Andy be a Klingon......
3. I hate the feeling of wet paper. If I HAVE to use a paper towel in a public restroom, I get like three of them because I can't stand the feeling of the sogginess against my skin. This goes for paper towels at home when cleaning glass countertops, etc.
4. I have bad habits.....I bite and pick at my lips terribly and crack my knuckles, both of which I am trying to stop. So far, no luck.
5. I know many random facts about European countries because I had "Where in Europe is Carmen Sandiago" and played it incessently in the 4th grade.
6. Along the same nerdy lines, I taught myself to type in the 5th grade......just for the fun of it.
7. It is difficult for me to make new, close friends. I tend to either be too picky about who I spend my free time with, or I figure that we wouldn't have anything in common anyway, so why bother. But I'm great at letting people see exactly what I want them to see about me and nothing more. This is not a positive characteristic. I really miss having girlfriends close by.....
8. I can't stand Michael Savage. Even if he is right in principle on certain issues, his manner of communicating makes my blood boil and blood pressure rise. Andy, on the other hand, eats it up.
9. I require LOTS of sleep. I need my full 8 hours at least, but I really feel better with nine. Also, I can drop off to sleep at a moment's notice - no insomnia for me. (I get it from my Dad!)
10. I only wear real jewelry. Well, I mean - I will wear costume jewelry if it is beadwork or modern stuff. But if it LOOKS real, then it better BE real. No fake gemstones for me. I don't care what other people do, but for me, I just gotta have the real thing or something that everyone KNOWS is costume.
Considering nobody bothered to play along the last time I tagged them, I am not even going to bother. You know who you are........ :)
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Do your job! (Imported from Myspace)
Argh. Stupid teacher. I have this class that I hate, Principles of Counseling - thought it would be great, turned out I was way wrong. So anyway, I got a slow start and didn't do so hot at the beginning, so I really had to work my butt off the second half. I just got my grade back for my final and participation grade - both 100%! That was great, but my final average was still showing 88%, which didn't make any sense considering all my grades were A's except for my Discussion Board grade which was worth 15% of the final grade and I had an 88% average in that class.
I emailed the stupid teacher and she told me that the final grade was correct. I went back and looked again and I had earned 1001 of 1100 points, which is a 91% - so I emailed her to double check it. All she emailed back was "Stop....", which really ticked me off - I mean, I have a RIGHT to question her grading if it doesn't add up correctly and I am NOT going to take a B, just because that is what she wants to give me - not if my grades don't support it. I mean, I'm passive, but not that passive. So, anyway, I look again at the gradebook and I notice that her Discussion Board weights do not match - some show as 100% and some show as 3% - well, that doesn't make sense so I email the stupid woman again and guess what.......she changes my grade - to a 93%! Okay, so then she emails the class and says that she "discovered" that her grading was incorrect, so double check your grades. Then she sends me a personal email saying that she realized the grade had been incorrect but that I had been a pest and basically needed to ask all my questions in one email instead of three!! Well, don't you think I WOULD have if I had thought of all the questions at once??? And isn't the point that she is the instructor, which means she HAS to listen to my emails? I am so sorry that my emails get on her nerves, but frankly, that is what she is paid to do. I know lots of people far more annoying than me, and I am thinking that if she thinks that I am annoying, she better find a new profession.
Okay - I feel better now. I have my "A" and that's all that counts. So offended though! Once my grade is recorded officially I may write a nice little letter to admin to complain (not that I think it will do any good).
I emailed the stupid teacher and she told me that the final grade was correct. I went back and looked again and I had earned 1001 of 1100 points, which is a 91% - so I emailed her to double check it. All she emailed back was "Stop....", which really ticked me off - I mean, I have a RIGHT to question her grading if it doesn't add up correctly and I am NOT going to take a B, just because that is what she wants to give me - not if my grades don't support it. I mean, I'm passive, but not that passive. So, anyway, I look again at the gradebook and I notice that her Discussion Board weights do not match - some show as 100% and some show as 3% - well, that doesn't make sense so I email the stupid woman again and guess what.......she changes my grade - to a 93%! Okay, so then she emails the class and says that she "discovered" that her grading was incorrect, so double check your grades. Then she sends me a personal email saying that she realized the grade had been incorrect but that I had been a pest and basically needed to ask all my questions in one email instead of three!! Well, don't you think I WOULD have if I had thought of all the questions at once??? And isn't the point that she is the instructor, which means she HAS to listen to my emails? I am so sorry that my emails get on her nerves, but frankly, that is what she is paid to do. I know lots of people far more annoying than me, and I am thinking that if she thinks that I am annoying, she better find a new profession.
Okay - I feel better now. I have my "A" and that's all that counts. So offended though! Once my grade is recorded officially I may write a nice little letter to admin to complain (not that I think it will do any good).
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Will Term II ever end? (imported from Myspace)
Man, this term is about to kill me. I'm taking a five-minute break from a final exam on the heels of another final. Blackboard booted me out of the system while I had just barely started a test and I've emailed the professor hours ago, to no avail. Due by midnight. I'm stressing (probably over nothing, I admit) that he might not let me retake it, which would KILL my exam average and also frustrate me beyond all possible reason.
It's not that this semester has been that much tougher than another, but just that with everything else that was going on at the outset I got behind, which has caused me difficulty ever since. I put SO much pressure on myself to make straight A's and so, I don't accept much less from myself. At least not without exhausting every opportunity to do better. We'll see how it turns out this semester though - I'm borderline "B" in every class, but I can still pull off A's if I do really well on everything that is left. THAT is why this test thing has got me so freaked out. I NEED A GOOD GRADE. Argh. Frustration. Annoyance. Irritation.
Add that to the other stressors in my life, and this week just has been a doozy. Praise God I'm almost done. Then I get a two week break. Yay! I have NO intention of working full-time during that break. Pray with me that Pat will not "remember" that school lets out over the Christmas holidays. I do not want him to ask me to work, because I do not want to have to say no. Frankly, I don't know that I have enough backbone to request to keep to my part-time schedule for two weeks. I am such a wuss. I hate that about myself. He doesn't *need* me to work those two weeks - it's just that I would be available, so I must want to work, right???
Okay, I vented. I don't feel loads better, but I will in ten minutes when I go to bed against my will. By morning I should have an email. (I hope!) Better finish up my study guide....
It's not that this semester has been that much tougher than another, but just that with everything else that was going on at the outset I got behind, which has caused me difficulty ever since. I put SO much pressure on myself to make straight A's and so, I don't accept much less from myself. At least not without exhausting every opportunity to do better. We'll see how it turns out this semester though - I'm borderline "B" in every class, but I can still pull off A's if I do really well on everything that is left. THAT is why this test thing has got me so freaked out. I NEED A GOOD GRADE. Argh. Frustration. Annoyance. Irritation.
Add that to the other stressors in my life, and this week just has been a doozy. Praise God I'm almost done. Then I get a two week break. Yay! I have NO intention of working full-time during that break. Pray with me that Pat will not "remember" that school lets out over the Christmas holidays. I do not want him to ask me to work, because I do not want to have to say no. Frankly, I don't know that I have enough backbone to request to keep to my part-time schedule for two weeks. I am such a wuss. I hate that about myself. He doesn't *need* me to work those two weeks - it's just that I would be available, so I must want to work, right???
Okay, I vented. I don't feel loads better, but I will in ten minutes when I go to bed against my will. By morning I should have an email. (I hope!) Better finish up my study guide....
Sunday, December 2, 2007
NYC (imported from Myspace)
NYC was great - we realy had a good vacation. It probably wasn't as great as Washington, DC was last year, but great all the same. I love going new places.
Lesson 1: Do not schedule long layovers in boring airpots, regardless of how much money you save. We had a three hour layover (not bad, normally) at the Orlando, airport. YUCK. I hated that airport - almost nothing to do, or nothing to look at. Give me Atlanta anytime.
We were thrilled with the cost-element of our trip - I continue to be thrilled with the deals that obtain. Going to NYC for a week for $1,000 is not a bad deal in my book. Not for airfare AND lodging. We booked our hotel in Queens, three blocks from the "7" train, which was great because we were able to escape the noise and crowds of the big city and yet we were only about ten minutes, tops into Times Square, without having to switch trains. The subway is GREAT and though some people don't like using it, I really enjoy it - someone drives me and I don't have to worry about parking, what more can you ask for? :)
Once we got to our hotel that night though - we ordered authentic Italian from a local restaurant that delivered. Oh my goodness.....Andy was in Heaven. ;)
Sunday we got up late and walked around Brooklyn - we ate brunch in a great little cafe, The Union Square Cafe, that had the best french toast I've ever had. I liked Brooklyn - though it was cold, the area had a welcoming feel to it. Lots of neat stores and a very cozy atmosphere - at least in the area we were in. A little later we went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, which was a phenomenal experience, and one of the highlights of the trip for me. Ever since I read "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" several years back, I've had a real admiration for Jim Cymbala and the awesome work that is going on in that church. I really had to "get it together" because my emotions came close to getting the best of me when the worship service started. SO many people, of all colors singing and praising God together. Little, old white-haired white women standing next to a black man with dredlocks - both singing. I just loved it. I'm so sick of the homogenous worship that we experience week in and week out and it was refreshing to be in a place that was so vastly different. Praise songs blended with hymns and everyone sang together. Oh, such bliss.
That night we ate Asian Fusion, which I actually had never heard of until I read The Devil Wears Prada. It is actually food that comes from the regions where China meets up next to India. Very unique and delicious. The atmosphere was great, and I love asking the waitress to order something yummy on my behalf. Makes the meal interesting, and usually results in a great choice!
Monday we walked through Fifth Avenue and enjoyed looking at the city, but it was nasty and drizzly (hence the hood in my pics!). We took a respite in a Cajun eatery, The Delta Grill, for lunch and they had the best macaroni and cheese that I think I have ever had. I ordered "real" food, but I think I should have just ordered a second mac and cheese. We also *finally* found the Apple Store for Andy, which was neat because it was all glass and the actual store is located underground, you take a circular stairway downstairs, where you can test out about a million Apple products. After walking around Times Square we signed up for the obligatory bus tour, which we really didn't get to enjoy like we had hoped because of the weather, which was still on the gray, cold side. We took the uptown tour into the Upper East and West Side and Harlem, which was neat, except we didn't start until late and it started to get dark on us. Plus we got bad news about our little dog Walker while on this tour - it's always so hard to lose a pet......
Tuesday we slept in (again) and went back to downtown to eat breakfast at a great little dinner, The Andrews Cafe. Then we went back to the bus tour, braved the elements and sat on the upper level of the double-decker bus. The tour was very long, especially because of traffic, but it did a great job of letting you see the major sights and get more familiar with the neighborhoods. I've done bus tours in several cities now, Savannah, St. Augustine, DC, NYC and I really think that they are a great way to start a touring trip in order to familiarize yourself with the layout. Everytime we've taken one, it's led to our discovery of something we WANTED to do, but would have never known about except for the tour.
Wednesday I insisted on getting a *real* NYC bagel from a bagel shop - what a disappointment. The Italian lived up to its reputation, but the bagel was certainly lacking. Especially in comparison to Andy's berry yogurt muffin. Wow! But it was a good experience, nonetheless. We spent several hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has been a dream ever since I read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in the 5th grade. (BTW- if you haven't read this, it is a GREAT read, even if it IS a kids book!) :) I liked seeing the portraits of George Washington that I have always seen in my textbooks in person......you can really appreciate them much better that way. My favorite was the GIGANTIC painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware. It is HUGE and very, very impressive in person. Definitely a highlight.
We also got some nuts and a hot dog from a street vendor - again, the hot dog did not live up to its reputation and my expectation.
Later that night, after a small disagreement over my cranky condition (from walking WAY more than I'm used to) Andy and I took the Staten Island Ferry roundtrip to get some great views of Manhatten and the Statue of Liberty at dusk. The lady was so beautiful and majestic all lit up - that was probably the single greatest sight. Made you proud of our nation, regardless of where we may be at present. Too bad the lighting was strange so I couldn't get a good picture at all. Very disappointed about that. But the ferry was Andy's idea, and the best one that we had while we were gone. You can't beat free for a pricetag, either. If you go to NYC - definitely do the ferry at dusk.
Thursday was our last day and we tried to make it full, but it being Thanksgiving and all, and besides our exhausted condition from all the walking we aren't used to doing, our bodies fought back as far as the tourist-ing was concerned. We slept in later than planned, but did make it to Columbus Circle by the time the Macy's Day Parade had begun. Took a while to get a spot where we could actually see, but man, was it worth it. The weather was (finally) beautiful, and t was a great thing to see 4-5 story balloons! The bands were neat also, and I felt like a kid! Andy enjoyed it too, which I think may have surprised him! If I ever go back, I will make sure to rent a hotel room that overlooks the parade route, at least for that one night - I was super jealous of those folks - they had it made! I guess they may have lost some of the experience by NOT having to fight the crowds though.....We then went out and bought our Thanksgiving Dinner from Boston Market and took it back to our hotel room because they had run out of utensils. So we ate dinner in our hotel room, on dessert-size paper plates. It's amazing how little food can fit on a plate that size! I discovered a new love of pupkin pie, which I could have lived without. I need another vice like I need the proverbial "hole in the head." We topped off Thanksgiving by going to see Beowulf in the IMAX at Lincoln Square, which was fun and escapist entertainment. We both enjoyed it.
We did a lot more, the Empire State Building, Macy's, Times Square, Grand Central Station, the subway, the historic Public Library and it was all wonderful. I could go on and continue writing a book, but I am tired and it is late. I recommend NYC for anyone at Thanksgiving - we had a marvelous time and now it is time to start planning the next getaway - hopefully to Vegas and the Grand Canyon in May! Yay!
Lesson 1: Do not schedule long layovers in boring airpots, regardless of how much money you save. We had a three hour layover (not bad, normally) at the Orlando, airport. YUCK. I hated that airport - almost nothing to do, or nothing to look at. Give me Atlanta anytime.
We were thrilled with the cost-element of our trip - I continue to be thrilled with the deals that obtain. Going to NYC for a week for $1,000 is not a bad deal in my book. Not for airfare AND lodging. We booked our hotel in Queens, three blocks from the "7" train, which was great because we were able to escape the noise and crowds of the big city and yet we were only about ten minutes, tops into Times Square, without having to switch trains. The subway is GREAT and though some people don't like using it, I really enjoy it - someone drives me and I don't have to worry about parking, what more can you ask for? :)
Once we got to our hotel that night though - we ordered authentic Italian from a local restaurant that delivered. Oh my goodness.....Andy was in Heaven. ;)
Sunday we got up late and walked around Brooklyn - we ate brunch in a great little cafe, The Union Square Cafe, that had the best french toast I've ever had. I liked Brooklyn - though it was cold, the area had a welcoming feel to it. Lots of neat stores and a very cozy atmosphere - at least in the area we were in. A little later we went to the Brooklyn Tabernacle, which was a phenomenal experience, and one of the highlights of the trip for me. Ever since I read "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" several years back, I've had a real admiration for Jim Cymbala and the awesome work that is going on in that church. I really had to "get it together" because my emotions came close to getting the best of me when the worship service started. SO many people, of all colors singing and praising God together. Little, old white-haired white women standing next to a black man with dredlocks - both singing. I just loved it. I'm so sick of the homogenous worship that we experience week in and week out and it was refreshing to be in a place that was so vastly different. Praise songs blended with hymns and everyone sang together. Oh, such bliss.
That night we ate Asian Fusion, which I actually had never heard of until I read The Devil Wears Prada. It is actually food that comes from the regions where China meets up next to India. Very unique and delicious. The atmosphere was great, and I love asking the waitress to order something yummy on my behalf. Makes the meal interesting, and usually results in a great choice!
Monday we walked through Fifth Avenue and enjoyed looking at the city, but it was nasty and drizzly (hence the hood in my pics!). We took a respite in a Cajun eatery, The Delta Grill, for lunch and they had the best macaroni and cheese that I think I have ever had. I ordered "real" food, but I think I should have just ordered a second mac and cheese. We also *finally* found the Apple Store for Andy, which was neat because it was all glass and the actual store is located underground, you take a circular stairway downstairs, where you can test out about a million Apple products. After walking around Times Square we signed up for the obligatory bus tour, which we really didn't get to enjoy like we had hoped because of the weather, which was still on the gray, cold side. We took the uptown tour into the Upper East and West Side and Harlem, which was neat, except we didn't start until late and it started to get dark on us. Plus we got bad news about our little dog Walker while on this tour - it's always so hard to lose a pet......
Tuesday we slept in (again) and went back to downtown to eat breakfast at a great little dinner, The Andrews Cafe. Then we went back to the bus tour, braved the elements and sat on the upper level of the double-decker bus. The tour was very long, especially because of traffic, but it did a great job of letting you see the major sights and get more familiar with the neighborhoods. I've done bus tours in several cities now, Savannah, St. Augustine, DC, NYC and I really think that they are a great way to start a touring trip in order to familiarize yourself with the layout. Everytime we've taken one, it's led to our discovery of something we WANTED to do, but would have never known about except for the tour.
Wednesday I insisted on getting a *real* NYC bagel from a bagel shop - what a disappointment. The Italian lived up to its reputation, but the bagel was certainly lacking. Especially in comparison to Andy's berry yogurt muffin. Wow! But it was a good experience, nonetheless. We spent several hours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has been a dream ever since I read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in the 5th grade. (BTW- if you haven't read this, it is a GREAT read, even if it IS a kids book!) :) I liked seeing the portraits of George Washington that I have always seen in my textbooks in person......you can really appreciate them much better that way. My favorite was the GIGANTIC painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware. It is HUGE and very, very impressive in person. Definitely a highlight.
We also got some nuts and a hot dog from a street vendor - again, the hot dog did not live up to its reputation and my expectation.
Later that night, after a small disagreement over my cranky condition (from walking WAY more than I'm used to) Andy and I took the Staten Island Ferry roundtrip to get some great views of Manhatten and the Statue of Liberty at dusk. The lady was so beautiful and majestic all lit up - that was probably the single greatest sight. Made you proud of our nation, regardless of where we may be at present. Too bad the lighting was strange so I couldn't get a good picture at all. Very disappointed about that. But the ferry was Andy's idea, and the best one that we had while we were gone. You can't beat free for a pricetag, either. If you go to NYC - definitely do the ferry at dusk.
Thursday was our last day and we tried to make it full, but it being Thanksgiving and all, and besides our exhausted condition from all the walking we aren't used to doing, our bodies fought back as far as the tourist-ing was concerned. We slept in later than planned, but did make it to Columbus Circle by the time the Macy's Day Parade had begun. Took a while to get a spot where we could actually see, but man, was it worth it. The weather was (finally) beautiful, and t was a great thing to see 4-5 story balloons! The bands were neat also, and I felt like a kid! Andy enjoyed it too, which I think may have surprised him! If I ever go back, I will make sure to rent a hotel room that overlooks the parade route, at least for that one night - I was super jealous of those folks - they had it made! I guess they may have lost some of the experience by NOT having to fight the crowds though.....We then went out and bought our Thanksgiving Dinner from Boston Market and took it back to our hotel room because they had run out of utensils. So we ate dinner in our hotel room, on dessert-size paper plates. It's amazing how little food can fit on a plate that size! I discovered a new love of pupkin pie, which I could have lived without. I need another vice like I need the proverbial "hole in the head." We topped off Thanksgiving by going to see Beowulf in the IMAX at Lincoln Square, which was fun and escapist entertainment. We both enjoyed it.
We did a lot more, the Empire State Building, Macy's, Times Square, Grand Central Station, the subway, the historic Public Library and it was all wonderful. I could go on and continue writing a book, but I am tired and it is late. I recommend NYC for anyone at Thanksgiving - we had a marvelous time and now it is time to start planning the next getaway - hopefully to Vegas and the Grand Canyon in May! Yay!
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