Wanna guess what I got on my midterm?

That's right BABY!!!!

The Nickel Mystery quilt is finished - - it's got a label on it.....wait for it.......IT'S ON MY BED!!!!

I love the roses that Mr. H. quilted into each block's centre nickel.  I think this is one of my favourite scrappy quilts.  If you have your nickel quilt done, or even almost done, please send me a photo by email, or put a link to a photo of your quilt in the comments.

DH has been looking forward to this for DAYS and DAYS!!!!  He loves going to Shedden, ON for Rosy Rhubarb Days.  Once again, it seemed to come on the first hottest weekend of the year.  (WOW it's been warm.  I bet the humidex was around 40 today.)

Itty Bitty and I are the only ones in the house who actually LIKE rhubarb (and then it had better be in pie form cooked by someone else). The part DH likes is the town-wide yard sale.  It didn't seem like quite as many people participated in the yard sale part of it this year.  I did pick up some treasures though, so I have to brag.  And I brought home two pies. 

One was for a friend of DH's, who asked us to get him one.  He went on and on about how much he liked rhubarb pie last night, and his wife of over 20 years was simply stunned.  She never knew he like rhubarb.  Anyway, SHE went to Shedden and got him a pie, so he didn't want the pie WE got him.  Ordinarily this would totally piss me off - - - why did you tell us to get you a $9 pie and then change your mind???  It's not like I can TAKE IT BACK!!!  No worries....in this instance, I'm GLAD he's declined the pie...more for me and Itty Bitty (who has already consumed exactly one half of a pie on his own)!

Here are some of my treasures:

• At the first house we stopped at, I found these three quilt batts.  She asked me for $1 each, which I thought was okay, and I picked up nine 3-ring binders as well, six of which were still in the original plastic packaging.  She would only take $2 for ALL of the binders AND the quilt batts.  Now, they are polyester, and two are only crib sized, but I can use them to make charity quilts, and the bigger one I might save for my next hand-quilting project (if I ever get my LAST hand-quilting project done)
• "Vignettes of Early St. Thomas".  This is an old local history book, and in 1997, the last copies were auctioned of for something like $167 a piece or some ridiculous price, at City Hall.  I remember this distinctly, because I read a newspaper article about it to DH, and guess what?  His first gift to me ever was "Vignettes of Early St. Thomas".  The price on this copy however?  50 cents....and I got a book about the L&PS Railway for a quarter.  Now I have two copies, but I can give one to each of the boys in the future.
• Fabric: there's about a metre of the one with the feathers, and about 1/2m of the maize. ($1)  The woman I bought it from was a Native Canadian, and she asked me if I was a quilter.  I told her I was, and she told me it was very difficult to find good cotton print with Native themes, and I had to agree with her, because both of these were new to me.  I think she is glad they went to a quilter who appreciated them.  I might use these fabric in an International siggie swap, it would be a shame to go in my stash.  But then again, I have a friend who has first nations heritage (claims she is a descendant of Tecumseh) and we have had a looooooong conversation about feathers.  So maybe I'll make her something with the feather fabric.  You're not reading this, are you Lynn?
• Nancy Ann Storybook Doll.  This came from the thrift store actually.  I saw her at a yard sale a few weeks ago, but the price tag was a little too dear for my pocketbook.  I guess after the yard sale all of the remaining things went to the thrift store, and I was happy to bring her home, in her original box and dress (and she is bisque, not a plastic one) for $1.99.  Unfortunately her wrist tag is gone. I found a website to read a little history about the Nancy Ann dolls.
• I got some other books that I don't have time to read, but it's hard to resist books, isn't it?
• I got a sewing basket - - cuz like, I NEEEED another one, pffffffft....but it's always exciting to see what treasures may be lurking in those big old vintage baskets.  I paid too much for it ($4), but what I reeeeeeeeally wanted was to tuck the teeny tiny old British lady who was bargaining with me into my tote bag and bring her home to keep me company, so I caved in.  She gave me a book about African religions. She had two boxes full of anthropological books, and told me I could take whatever I liked.  She was cute as the dickens.  Wanted $5 for the basket because it was "brand new". We just grinned at each other, because we both new if we did some complicated math, we'd figure out that is was somewhat older than me, and somewhat younger than she.  She eventually said I could have it for $4 if I took it today. (She would too have fit in my tote bag!)

I spent yesterday with my books.  I'm just about caught up.  I still have notes from 3 lectures to review and fill in the blank spots where I must have slipped into a catatonic state.  How is it I can sit in a three hour philosophy lecture, and beyond the title of the lecture and the date....write NOTHING?!?!?! 

And, I've gotten ahead with some of the readings, but I'm stuck with Wealth of Nations.  In four sittings, I haven't gotten past the second chapter.  I keep passing out.  I tried again this afternoon, and ended up having a lovely two hour nap.

I have become a very boring blogger, haven't I?  All I do is bitch and moan about how stressed, swamped and miserable I am.  In fact, last night when I came home after the library closed, with an incomplete essay on....get this.....MARGARET ATWOOD.....that was due at 9:30 this morning.....but I digress......and got slapped with the grim awareness that the neat little comfortable life that I had was frayed in places and shredded in others. I indulged in an hour of self-pity, complete with sobbing and snotty tears.

And now that's over and it's time to chin up and get on with it. Cuz you know what?  It ain't that bad.  I wrote a mid-term exam on Tuesday.  I feel like I did really well on it.  There are some fantastic resources, and one pretty darn terrific librarian at one of the university's libraries who saved my butt with research advice. The school is really quite a beautiful place too.  I keep reminding myself that I need to take my camera some day. Oh.....and my essay? My essay was printed by 10 minutes to 8 this morning, giving me just enough time to throw on my clothes and head out the door. Yes, I'm (a bit) behind.  And I miss Lucy and the free time to do as I please.  But I have the next three days to get caught up, and get revved up for Monday morning, and maybe I'll even do a little sewing this weekend. 

To say I've been busy would be a gross (multiply exponentially) understatement. 

I'm writing a mid-term today.  I haven't studied.

I may develop a bleeding ulcer if I don't get my philosophy essay mark soon.

I have an essay due on Thursday that a)I haven't written b) for which I haven't decided a topic

I haven't had a vegetable in a month that wasn't diced on a pizza or in the form of shredded lettuce on a burger.

The bathtub is too dirty to get clean in.

Three more weeks of this hell.

The good news is: I went to see my shrink yesterday, and he explained to me all about how university is, and why all my profs are...uh...strange.  It all seems very clear to me now!

Anyway - - the library opens at eight.  I can get in an hour and a half of work on my essay before my midterm exam.  Thank goodness there is a Tim Hortons in between the library and the class!!!!

I got an iPod!  Bless you ladies who suggested that I listen to podcasts on my commute.  It's terrific!  Why didn't I know about this a long time ago!!!  I see the iPod commercials on TV of the weird kids dancing around with their ear buds in, but I had no idea I could download interenting history and biography and intervies, and then plug it into my car radio.  I LOVE IT!!!!!  This is a very bright spot in my very dark world.

Okay - time for a funny story.  I stripped my bed on Sunday, and got Itty Bitt to stand on the other side and help me put clean sheets on.

ME: (burying my nose in pillowcase) mmmmmmmm

ITTY BITTY: what's it smell like?

ME: sunshine!

IB: sunshine has a smell?

ME: yes, but only very sensitive souls like myself can detect it

IB: oh yeah?  well I can smell rock & roll.....it's mostly like beer burps.

 

 

When life gets you down (or you need to take a break because you can't remember is Francis Bacon is an Impressionist Painter or if The Restoration is a new reality TV show) I recommend a blender full of margaritas.  Sometimes, that's just not in the plans, perhaps not conducive to a passing grade , so you need a CUTE OVERLOAD!  Look at this: Something cute and how to make it

I have been sewing a bit though.  I've put some Dear Jane blocks together that just need a little hand work to finish them off.  I've been working on my messenger bag too.  Never more than a couple of minutes at a time, but it's a little break. 

Okay - - back to research!

I sneezed this morning.  I was sitting on the futon in the attic, and Itty Bitty was in a chair across the coffee table, well and truly out of the "splatter zone", despite his fraudulent claims to the contrary. Besides, I tipped my head down, covered my mouth and nose, and....ya know....tried to... tone it down......can't be TOO careful - after all, I've had a few babies, and have a nurse's bladder (ask a nurse what that is, she'll laugh and tell you it means it can hold the equivalent of a your average windshield washer fluid reservoir for periods of at least 10 hours).  I digress....

HE: Oh, you got me!

ME: As if!  I sneezed in the library yesterday too.  Maybe I'm coming down with something fatal.

HE: Did you get snot on anybody?

ME: NOO!!!  You're gross.  But you know what?  Nobody said "bless you"

HE: Godless commies!!!!!

I came to a profound realization in Philosophy lecture yesterday.

I am the only person in this room who has had the indescribably exquisite experience of a hot flash.

In Writing, on the other hand, there are about 4 of "us" who are somewhat more mah-tooooooooooor.  I enjoy the company of one matron who sits beside me.  We keep tabs on each other to make sure that we remain upright, don't fall off our chairs and don't drool on our very pricey text books.  Today in Writing, we got our first essay back.

I should back up here and give you the prologue.  I handed in my philosophy essay yesterday, and the prof asked me to stay for 10 minutes after lecture, because he intended to "crush my soul".  After the rest of the class left, he threw it back at me, telling me if I insisted on handing it in like it is, he would have to knock the first 20% off just for the first sentence.  He insisted I omit the introductory paragraph, and replace it with something much more emphatic - uh, "ham-fisted" was the term he used - he wanted a treatment that was going to jump up and down on the table, and hit him over the head. I was to begin with a concise thesis statement, not a flower and fairy warm up to it. Okay....I can do that.  Back to the drawing board.....

My soul remained intact, though hanging in the closet, 'cuz I was too lazy to iron it this morning.  It's pretty wrinkled.  My Type "A"ness has poor coping skills.

Okay ...back to my classmate, and the essay.

ME: Look at this....she wrote "99" then erased it and put "76".  And where in the name of all that's good and holy is my sticker!?!?!?!

SHE: She must have had a psychotic episode.

ME: Indeed.  The erasure of "99" marks the event to the very moment of her break.  What did she say the average was again?

SHE: ummmmmmmmm....74.  I think the range was low 60s to 88.

ME: Uh....nooooooooo.....I BELIEVE what she said was that the range was 72 to 76.

SHE: Far be it from me to mess with your delusions.

ME:  Look at this....clearly....a "99"....tsk...tsk....tsk

 

We are always waiting outside of the lecture hall extra early, so we get a chance to visit, and compare notes on our university experience.  She is taking a philosophy class too, but not the same one as me. Based on our respective evaluations, I should have taken the same class as her.  But, she's willing to listen to my misery.

 

SHE: Well? How did philosophy go yesterday?

ME: Hm...well, now that I think about it.... it was better.  I couldn't care less about the "Big Bang" theory, but it must be a subject he really likes.  He actually formed complete sentences, so it wasn't as painful as usual. It sped right along.

SHE: That's an improvement.

ME: Yep.  After class I said to him: "This must be your favourite lecture.  You did REALLY well today!"

SHE: And did you pat him on the arm and ruffle his hair a bit?

ME: OMG!!!  I'm doing it again!  I'm mothering my prof - GACK!!!!

SHE: (through snorts of laughter) and what did he do?

ME: He said "thank you"....then got all weird and red-faced....he may have giggled...

 

Highlights from the comments the prof wrote on my essay for Writing class:

• excellent use of language
• you write very well
• you have a vibrant and arresting style
• in short, very well written

Now, you may note that I have neglected to include the page full of comments about how my essay is too narrative to be good academic style, and that my argument was buried in the narrative, but became clearer when I moved into a more analytical part, but I don't want to bore you with THOSE particular details.  I understand that a gold star was probably not earned in this instance, but a "NICE TRY!" sticker would have gone a long way to making me feel better. 

My little neighbour kids - adorable little blonde hellions sweeties that I love to see, and love to see go home (I'm reckoning this is much like grandparenthood) came for a visit this afternoon.  The boy is four and his sister is three.  They brought a bag full of markers and paper and they were making a "grocery list", and wanted to know what grown up toys I wanted them to buy.

ME:  I'd like one million dollars and a five minute head start.

HE: That's too much money.  Pick something else.

ME: One half million dollars and a five minute head start.

HE: Okay. (scribbles something in his notebook)

SHE: What else do you want?

ME: World peace.

SHE: I can't buy that. Sowwy. (and does this cute little simultaneous pout, head tilt, mono-shoulder shrug thing that would charm you of your last nickel)

In the meantime, brother has started drawing happy faces on his naked chest with a neon pink marker.

ME:  I hope that marker comes off.

HE: It's okay, I'm having a baff.

ME: Alright then.  I think you should draw a face, and use your belly button as the nose.

HE: (promptly does just that) THERE!

ME: (laughing so hard, I've got tears) OMG!  Show your dad!

HE:  Daddy!  Daddy! LOOK!! (proudly pops out his round little tummy)

THE DAD: Don't do thaaaaaaaaaaat

HE: (pointing to me) She LET-TED me do it!

 

Little rascal ratted me out.

  Anyway....now I know why we can't have world peace.  You can't buy it.

         Out of the mouths of babes

Go ahead and start putting your blocks up on your design wall. Crib size is 3 across by 5 long; twin is 5 across by 8 long; queen is 7 across x 8 long.  Alternate spool blocks with the nine patches, separated by the sashing units you just made, and remaining 2.5x8.5" background strips. In mine, I one row of spools upright, and one row sideways - - so play with your blocks until you are happy. The strips of 4 patches are borders.

It just may take a week or so to GET HAPPY so, in the meantime paper piece your label.  Here's your one and only warning.  I am not any kind of a computer genius.  I have NO IDEA what size this image will print for you, but it's SUPPOSED to be finished at 4" x 6.5" - - not that it REALLY matters.  So, shrink or grow as you need to, or simply draft the pattern on 1/4" graph paper using my pattern as some sort of a guide.  You can draw on the thread, leave it off, or embroider it with 2 strands of embroidery floss.  The needle is grey floss with a silver blending filament.  It looks metallic in real life, but it's kinda dull here:

What's that?  I didn't show you MY quilt???  Oh...okay....this picture was taken in April, and has since been quilted (which looks FANTASTIC!!!) and I've started the binding.  I'll have the final reveal for you on June 8th!

I spent the wee hours of the morning tidying up my sewing studio.  Oooh!  It's neat as a pin now!  Then Itty Bitty and I went out yard sale-ing.  I found all kinds of this and that....some linens for Baby Soldier to take to college with him, and a few other bits and pieces.  Nothing much to write home about.  But I did pick up a whole bundle of note cards, with drawings of local buildings, in among the cards were THREE DIFFERENT images of the church where Hubby and I were married, and a half dozen images of the church next door to us (very quiet neighbours, except Sunday morning) plus I got 2 m of this ivory with tiny blue polka dots fabric, and then this yellow and white daisies on pink.  Upon closer inspection, I don't think the pink is going to pass the "burn test", but considering I only paid 50 cents for the two pieces AND 3 dozen mechanical pencils (four of them were pink!!!!) I'll happily use it as my photo backdrop ~  

Hubby took me out for lunch, and then I spent some time reorganizing the bookshelf (where I keep all my school junk) in my bedroom.  Everything is nice and neat again ~ I don't dare move!  I can't possibly do any homework today and mess it all up.  Good thing the sun is shining, and all is right in my world.

First of all, to all the lovely ladies who came to visit last night - thank you so much!  By the end of the night, I realized this was the first time in two weeks that I laughed so much because something was humourous instead of as an option to bursting into hot, frustrated, snotty tears.  I felt so relaxed. 

The boys want you to come every night, for two reasons.

1. They were happy to see me happy
2. After you left, they descended like locusts and completely devoured everything yummy left on the table.

Itty Bitty and I climbed in to bed to catch the last hour of the season finale of Grey's Anatomy - (which was a fantastic finale - n'est ce pas?) - and through a mouthful of crackers loaded up with cream cheese and pepper jelly, over a paper plate piled with pumpernickel and spinach dip carefully balanced on his chest he asked, "Can you have a tea party every night?".

Back to school.  In Writing, we do in-class writing every day, and submit it for the prof's comments and suggestions.  I got my first paper back yesterday.  It was a short commentary on an essay "The Look" by Ingram.  Here's what my prof had to say:

Well, I think the coffee is ready.  That means I can grab a cup and get to work on my Philosophy essay.  I'm getting all my homework done today, and taking the weekend off!

I have an essay due for Philosophy Wednesday, and by yesterday morning was in panic mode.  I still hadn't chosen a topic! I had had several ideas, but nothing developed in a way I could get excited about.  I called and booked an appt for Friday with an academic counsellor to get some advice.  I explained the problem, and didn't snort out loud when she told me to bring what I had, and the books I was researching from.  Well.....I'd be travelling light!!!!

After I got home yesterday, I went to the local library and just sort of poked around the philosophy section, picking up a few books in a "Philosophy for Dummies" sort of vein.  Then I sauntered over to the periodicals, and picked up an issue of Scientific American. It looked interesting...something about memory.  Hm. Could be an essay topic there.

An early dinner, and hit the books.  I leafed through the magazine, looking for inspiration, and found an article which was largely a discussion between two scientists about how they react to religious opposition to scientific theory, practice and instruction.  By George!  I think I've got it!!!!

In five hours, I completed an outline for my essay.  The argument I make is that religious belief can not only exist in a modern world view, but that faith can be enriched by science........or something like that.  I talked over the outline with Hubby, and he thought all of my arguments were clear, added a thought or two, and gave it two thumbs up.  And it has some philo-cred 'cuz I've tossed in a smidge of Descartes, a dash of Anselm and a brief nod at Darwin. I can knock this essay out this weekend, and I'm confident I'll do well.  I'm just that confident that I believe I can safely cancel my counselling appt. What's that?  Did you say something about pride?  and a fall??  huh???? No worries - I've got my hubris proof undies on.

Quilt guild at MY HOUSE tonight!  Looking forward to the break from my books. And tomorrow?  No lectures!!!!  I think I'll kick everyone out, lock the doors, and take the phone off the hook.  I will work furiously on my essay, catch up on my readings, and free up my weekend.

Well, I sort of jumped from project to project today.  I began sewing the front of a tote bag  "The Messenger-Girl Bag" .  I finished a Dear Jane block that had been intimidating me.  Actually it wasn't that big of a deal.  J 10 Chieko's Calla Lily.

I did a bit of hand sewing on the binding of my Mystery Quilt.  I worked on this month's guild block (it's supposed to be done by tomorrow ~ LOL) of the month. We'll see how far I get!

Seems the blog servers have been down forever!!!

First....sorry about my temper tantrum on Friday.  After venting I decided I was going to have to adjust my attitude or the next four years are going to be impossible to endure.  Two weeks ago I was grateful for the opportunity to have the University experience.  I guess I had expectations, which were miserably dashed by the reality of the last week, and that's my own fault.  Yes, I feel like I'm going to be doing all of the learning on a self-directed basis, but is there really anything wrong with that?  The discipline provided by the institution will keep the learning happening for me.

It's been a long, cold and wet weekend.  Even Yard Sale day was ruined by showers. No exciting finds at all.  The remainder of Fri, Sat, and Sun have been all about studying, reading, and writing.  Today I swore I was having a PJ sewing day, but that hasn't exactly happened yet.  BUT!!!  I did pick up my Mystery Quilt from the quilter-man the other day, and I sewed the binding to the front of it this morning.  I haven't got it sewn to the back yet, but I put it on the bed to see what it looked like.  Hubby is currently napping under it.  I'm absolutely thrilled with the quilting.

I think I'll crack open a box of fabric here and get to work on something pretty for the afternoon. I may have to turn OFF the computer so I'll quit googling "determinism", "infinity" and "Edmund Burke". Hopefully the servers will stay up for a while so I can come back and share some photos of something QUILTY later today.

AND it's a long weekend. (Happy Birthday Queen Victoria!!!)  One week down - - about 200 more to go.

I don't like school.  It is bad.  I like my basement.  A lot.

This pretty much sums up what I've learned in my first week of University thus far.

Okay - - I wrote my first essay since sometime in the 1980s today.  It's good, considering the parameters I had to work within: no research, five hundred words, and sucky topics.  I wrote about reality television (which I loooooooathe).  So, for my first essay, I thought I'd better take it in to have a 'peer' look it over and offer some constructive criticism.

I'm guessing he was about 12 years old, English was NOT his first language, moves his lips when he reads, and I believe he told me "isssss good".  I explained I wasn't going for good (I know it's GOOD bonehead!) I was after literary brilliance that would dazzle the dog milker.

He shrugged. 

The only mark on the paper was one I made when he thought maybe I could put an "In conclusion...." sort of a statement, so the audience would know it was over.  Apparently endings come as a surprise to some.  I stuck a little ^ in there to humour him.

Several drafts later, the final product flows a little better, and I'm not working on it another minute.  This has been an all day project and now I'm just over thinking it.  It's definitely time for a "Print" command.

I'd tell you all about the 90 minute meeting I had with my philosophy prof yesterday, but it's just too depressing.

I miss my basement.

I was prepared.  I knew my stuff.  I was organized.  I had it DOWN man.  There was gonna be some academia ass-kickin' in Philosophy today!!!!!!  I had THE answer to every conceivable question loaded and my brain cocked and ready to fire.

PROF: Did everyone get a chance to read that essay?  Good, huh?

ME: Oh yes.  (did I mention I was sitting in the front row?)

PROF: Okay - so what was the main point the author was trying to make?

ME: (I restrained myself from doing the Horshack - ooh! ooh! ooh! thing - am I dating myself with the Welcome Back Kotter reference??) (read: clear, concise, well thought out, logical, and above all....CORRECT answer - I swear I heard a choir of angels)

PROF: ah huh

ME: Not bad for an old lady, eh?

PROF: wellllllllllll.....let's hear from someone younger....

 

Apparently, I missed the entire point altogether.  Crushed does not begin to describe.....

Hours later, he did concede that my answer was, and I quote: "decent", and he was open to discussing it.  I agreed to expand on my opinion, as long as it didn't hurt his feelings.  By the way - - the Prof and I are the only two people in the class who have any kind of a sense of humour, understand references to "The Graduate" and have any conscious memory of any part of the 1970s.

After class, I had to make my way to the bookstore to pick up my Philosophy texts, which had finally arrived.  It took me SIXTY-FIVE MINUTES to get back to my car, try to find a parking lot where I was actually permitted to park (me, being a lowly undergrad, 'tho once again, info booth girl tried to send me to staff parking) and then walk to the bookstore, make my purchase, and get back to my car.

A very handy subterrainian walkway gave me quick access under the very busy road above, and a short respite from the constant drizzle.  On my way back, a very BIG, ENORMOUS RAT ran across my path.  It was huge.  I think he was trying to get to Jenny Craig's.  He was as big as a bucket.  I've never seen a real live wild rat before, and believe me, I screamed my lungs out.

Fortunately, everyone in the tunnel with me had their I-Pod ear buds in, and clearly missed the whole incident.  I don't know if I'll take the tunnel again.  Not because I was afraid of the rat (I was, for REAL!!!) but because I'm pretty sure I could get axe murdered in plain view of at least a dozen of my so-called-peers, and not one of them would drop their signals mid-text-message to call 9-1-1 for me.

PERSONAL To: MOM I'm a really good girl.  I did my homework AND went to the dentist for a cleaning this morning.  NO CAVITIES!!!!

Much calmer.

In fact, I was bored to tears during the lecture.  I can truthfully say I learned NOTHING.  I had to close my eyes because the prof kept grabbing hold of handfuls of her long blond hair on each side of her head as if she was milking a golden retreiver. She bounced backward and forward from behind the lectern.  Um, and she um, had this horribly (sniff) um, distracting manner of um (sniff) speech, or um maybe ahhhhhhhhhh her communication had um static cling. I couldn't WAIT to get out of there.  I'm sure she's a genius, and truthfully, did come across with a very nurturing attitude.  I might have enjoyed her more if I could have gouged my eyes out with a grapefruit spoon.

I think I'll actually do a little sewing tonight while I watch Law & Order!!!

I'm going to be fine. I am all prepped for tomorrow - did the required reading, summarized it, looked up two pages of words that I didn't really understand, and I think I've actually got a couple of thoughts to contribute to tomorrow's lecture.

I'll let you know how I make out tomorrow - - Lecture #2 Philophy. I'm gonna kick some educated ass.

First day of University, and I could have kicked myself for not having my bag packed and all the details ironed out.  My thought was I would leave a few things to the very end to keep myself busy, so I didn't go crazy waiting to leave.  This was a mistake.  I was harried, and felt disorganized.

I pulled into campus, and stopped at the info booth to ask about where the closest place I could park.  The nice girl put down her cards (I had disturbed her game of solitaire).  She directed me to a lot directly across the road from Talbot College.  Terrific!  It's raining, and I can just scoot across and enjoy my morning coffee.

Um....it was a staff parking lot.  My transponder wouldn't let me in.  The dang kid in the booth (who should have been reading a BOOK for crying out loud!!!) thought I was a professor!!!! The closest lot was a healthy 10 minute walk from the building, in the rain.  Oh well, I had allowed myself plenty of time.

Anyway.....this is what I learned in my first day of Philosophy 1130

I know more about

Then I will EVER know about

Now, I'll be honest here.  I'm reasonably intelligent.  Mensa isn't banging on my front door, but I can walk and chew gum at the same time.  But I didn't have a freaking clooooooooooooooooooo what these people were talking about.  Only one very small glimmer of recollection here:

Professor: Why can we assume that eugenics are a "big idea"?

Me: Uh....ca we assume that some of us don't know what eugenics means?

Professor: OH! DEFINITIONS! (goes to the black board) "eu" from the Greek meaning "good" or "well" and "genes" meaning, uh...oh something health related.

Me: (to me) there's hope for you here old girl....genes is Greek for "born" all the Latin and Greek from nursing school is going to help

 

But I reckon I'm NOT supposed to know, I'm there to LEARN, right?  (Or as Socrates would say, "recollect" because I already knew everything before I was born, but simply forgot - - see Mom?  I did my homework!)

And homework?  HOLY MACKINAW!!!!  I worked a seven hours solid on homework, and still didn't get it done. I have an article to read and summarize.  The hold up was going over EVERYTHING we discussed yesterday, slowly, with a dictionary in hand, so I could digest it, and possibly retain it. 

Today I'm in Writing, and I'll be home earlier, so I should be able to get caught up. 

I didn't sleep worth a darn.  I passed out early, before "House" ended, but woke around 3ish, and laid there until 5.  I got up, unloaded the dishwasher, scrubbed the kitchen sink, tossed in a load of laundry, made coffee and oatmeal. Dinner is planned. My bag is packed, my clothes are laid out.  I'm just waiting to hear that the boys are out of the shower so I can switch loads and then go get myself ready to leave for school.  I'm feeling much better today.

 I went "no-mail" on all of my groups, so if anyone needs to get a message to me, you'd better send it to my personal email.