It's October, the horrific summer heat is just a bad memory, there's a chill in the air, the days are shorter, and I am happier.
I notice that my last post was about my upcoming automobile review. I will get back to that later.
Today I am going to write a bit more about school. I took 4 classes over the summer. It was a condensed 8 week semester, but the 4 classes were easy and I fared well. Comp II, Geology (Science elective), Fundamentals of Computers (required!), and General Psychology. I positively hated the Geology and Computer classes, and did the required work but was not happy about it. Comp II was different than I expected. I did like this teacher, but she had a very odd approach to teaching. She was very hands off and we got out of class early every time. Some days we would only be there for a half hour.
I fell head over heels in like for my Psychology teacher. He is not my type. Really *really* skinny, Scandinavian, dark blond hair, blue eyes, pretty boy. The more I got to know him, the more I learned about his past and that he was a "bad boy". That's more like it. Anyway, I positively loved his style of teaching and he was incredibly engaging. The eye candy was great, sure, but there was more than that. He was interesting. So interesting that I signed up for his Abnormal Psych class in the fall.
Which takes us to today. I am taking Math for idiots, Communications (speech), Intro to Literature, and Abnormal Psychology. I was taking Chinese I but had to drop it due to Dan being switched to 2nd shift. Really bummed me out as Chinese is only offered in the evening, but I had to sacrifice. I actally (gasp! choke!) *like* my Math class. I hated math in High School and nearly flunked each year. I never really *got* it. I thought this instructor was going to be a jerk based on his initial electronic communication, but turns out he is a weird quirky old man who is actually TEACHING me math. I find him interesting and I find his style interesting. I remember nearly nothing about HS Math classes. Well, actually, I remember exactly nothing, which is why I am in remedial math. Yeah, I know the basics: adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and honestly those are the only tools I have ever used in my 25 working years, but now I am learning the rest. It is yet to be seen if these new math skills will ever be used, but whatever, here I am.
Communications class is, well, sort of fun, but sort of boring. I like the teacher alright - at first I had a hard time focusing on anything other than her facial stubble and side mouth goo, but she has grown on me. I like speaking in front of people - Jewel Kade helped me with that - and I like working with different groups of people, so it's fun. It's an easy - EASY - A. And who doesn't like that.
Intro to Literature is, uhm, weird. Our instructor is published author, she is a single cat lady and her gazes linger my direction more than I feel comfortable with. She reads stories to us. I often feel like I should sit criss-cross-applesauce on a carpet while she reads to us. And I would suggest it...if I didn't fear how I would get up off the floor. Anyway, we have to read one novel, about 2 dozen short stories and write 3 papers for this class. It's easy peasy, especially for someone who likes to read and write.
Abnormal Psych is fun, and engaging, and well, Mr Hottie is teaching it. I actually find the material interesting too. Learning about crazies. I feel like we are discussing my people.
I loved Chinese class. It was hard, but not as hard as I anticipated. The instructor is a sweet lady from Beijing who speeks choppy English. I had to chuckle each time she would talk about "vowels". The Chinese alphabet does not have the letter "v", so that's why many of them cannot pronounce it. She would say "bowels", and we would look at her puzzled. It wasn't until she wrote the word on the board that we understood what bowels were. It was great. I am really bummed.
I am registering for Spring semester now and discovered that Chinese is only offered in the evening. I am researching if I take it at another college that it will apply to my degree. I sure hope so.
Dan will be on 2nd shift, which is quite possibly the most ridiculous shift ever, until May 2013. I was hoping to be done with school by then, but it doesn't look like that will happen. I sure like being a student though. How much more challenging and rewarding is school than work? A hundred percent, if you ask me. I have worked for 25 years, worn many different hats, and it hasn't been since I managed the Marketing Department at ASB 13 years ago that I actually felt rewarded.
My unemployment compensation will run out around that same time. I am thinking of working part time for the school to make up the difference. Dan has made considerably more in 7 months at his new job than he made in 12 months at Roadway. So, I hope we will be ok with me working part time and finishing school. I plan to transfer to UT for my Bachelors and then we'll see. Maybe keep going...
