I'm a Magister Now

The last two years have been very challenging and interesting. My spouse and I went from discussing the pros and cons of me doing an online program to get a masters for Leadership in  Educational Technology, to me being a full-time teacher and part-time student, to me completing my coursework.

Balancing work, family, and studies is very challenging. At times, it was overwhelming. Especially towards the end of the courses, when I was mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Despite being close to the end, there were times when it was hard to maintain my motivation and energy level. The time and energy that went to my studies pulled from energy for work and family. I think work suffered a little more, my family was wonderfully understanding. Thank you, guys. I persevered and it really paid off. I completed my studies and I feel I did very well, I am excited about the opportunities that this opens up for me and my family.

I learned a lot about myself while taking these classes. I'm often a terrible procrastinator, but I found I was able to set a schedule and stick to it. I was really worried about this before starting the online classes. I hope this new skill carries over into the rest of my life. I did a lot better with more open ended assignments than when I was younger. I stressed a lot over assignments, and my husband would remind me that I always do fine and that I shouldn't worry so much, but I'd fret anyway. I guess fretting is in my nature.

The program was fairly new, which offered it's own challenges. There were glitches in some of the assignments, directions were sometimes changed during a class. I'm considering continuing on to get a doctorate, something I never thought I'd do, but it won't be for a couple of years. I want the kinks worked out of the program before I take part in it, though I know it will mean tougher grading of the assignments.

Right now, I am just glad to have a little time to relax and go back to doing some of my hobbies before returning to work. When I get back from vacation I'll start writing for my professional blog again. Until them I'll be reading and cross stitching, and enjoying the Minnesota weather.


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Fading Enthuisasm

I have noticed that when I start a new project I am full of energy for it, whether it's work related or related to one of my hobbies. I'm excited to work on it daily, then at some point I begin getting distracted by other things and interests. I started thinking about this because with school ending I was excited to get back to the Christmas stocking I have been working on throughout the year; then I found directions for making cloth baby blocks. I started working on them almost right away, once I got the needed material anyway.

In this case, it's partly because the baby blocks are much simpler and I can see the progress more easily. Artistically speaking, the stocking will be more beautiful when complete. It also is related to the fact that the stocking will probably never be used by its intended recipient, which makes it a bit silly to finish it. But it's not only with this project, it's with most things that I start. Like sanding down my daughter's furniture to repaint it, which is terribly hard work. One desk has over fifty years of paint on it. It is hot and dusty work, I can't do it early in the morning because I don't want the noise of the sander to wake anyone up. I will finish it this summer.

If I force myself to continue to work on the projects that are hobby related, it begins to feel like a job and I stop enjoying it as much. I know that in many ways that is ridiculous feeling, since I chose the activity. For some things, I know why it happens. Researching my family tree, which I haven't done in ages, gets left behind because it is a lot of drudgery until you find something and right now I'm at a wall in my research. And of course projects for work are work, though often still enjoyable. In fact, I have to work this summer or learning a new curriculum and a word wall to go with it. I'll start that next week, while the kiddo is at summer camp.

I know that this happens to many people, at least people with multiple hobbies. Does anyone have any tips on how to combat this tendency?

Pet News

Well, today I took our cat, Calypso, to the vet to get her shot updates and get spayed. We had been putting off getting her fixed because of the expense. We couldn't put if off any longer, she has been in heat for three weeks and was driving us crazy. Now she will not be at risk of a ball peen hammer in the head (That may sound cruel, but have you ever had to cope with a cat in heat? It's almost as bad as 30 teenagers in a small room.) Animal Alliance in La Marque came to the rescue with very reasonable rates, under $100 for the shots and the spaying.

She seems to be doing well, we have her in the small bathroom downstairs. We'll really be able to tell once she's allowed to get food and water. She tried to get out when my husband tried to open the door, but won't come near it when I do. I think she might be miffed at me.

Kids Say the Darnest Things

Earlier this week I bought some giant strawberries to snack on. The kid and I both love strawberries. A. had three of them. It was time for her to get ready for bed and I started tapping her on the head with an empty paper towel roll. I asked her why her head was hollow and what happened to her brain. Her response was that her brain shrinks when she eats strawberries but that it would be ok because her brain would grow back while she slept. I love her quick wit. Lord help her friends and parents when the sarcasm of the teenage years is added.

Another Update

I am still working on my project, but will be done very shortly. I am actually in the mood to write, I'm really eager and feel the need to do so. This is a completely new sensation for me. Much of my writing will probably remain private, but I'm sure some stuff will get on here.

I am looking for a teaching job in Minnesota. Wish me luck.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've been keeping very busy the last couple of weeks, mostly working on a project for a friend's birthday. But I have taken some time to relax too.

Last Friday I went out for my birthday, had a great time. The full story will be on my MySpace page as soon as I get pictures back from Steve.

Now last night was great. I met Mark Z. Danielewski, the author of House of Leaves, The Whalestoe Letters, and Only Revolutions. He did a reading in Houston, as a favor for a friend that runs the local literary magazine, Gulf Coast. I didn't even know we had a literary magazine, it's really fat and only comes out twice a year, they print all genres and discusses art as well. The current issue had colored copies of first draft pages from Only Revolutions, I got it signed. I also went and bought new copies of HoL and OR and got them signed.

Mark is very handsome and personable. He's a genius, but doesn't seem at all pretentious. He was wearing jeans. He read three selections from Only Revolutions. A part on Sam's side from a party in the 1920's, a part from Hailey's from the 1990's, and the end from Sam's point of view. The end made me cry. I felt an empathy with Sam and his pain and anger at his loss that he could not prevent.

I found out the scene from House of Leaves of the woman dying in the hospital is a true story, which he heard from a friend that worked in ICU. Poe is writing a new album, part of which inspired OR and part which was inspired by OR. Mark is hoping that the audio book will be ready when the paperback comes out, he will be reading Sam. He said they heard many very good Sam's but felt many fans would prefer to hear him read it. I'm eagerly awaiting the audio, because I have such a tough time with poetry, but I really want to read this book.

I took my daughter with me. She spent most of the evening playing her Gameboy, but found the 20's slang very amusing. After the reading she wanted to ask him why he wrote House of Leaves, I told her he might not have a short answer. She decided to ask him what his favorite animal was. She did ask him, he said a cat. I then mentioned that she really wanted to ask why he wrote HoL, he told her it was because it was in him and just had to get out. Then told me, she is a wonder. He signs his books in different colors, I don't know if that's strictly because of OR or if he's always done it. He let A. pick out the color with which he signed each book. He even took the time to ask her, her name.

I also met this really cool girl before the reading started, she had driven all the way from Arlington to get HoL signed. She's a theater major and wants to teach. We started talking because the book she was reading was making her laugh out loud. It was by Christopher Moore and now I have another author to add to my "To Be Read" list.

So Long, We Will Miss You

Kurt Vonnegut died last night. Best known for Slaughterhouse Five. I enjoyed his easy conversational tone when writing, and his biting wit. His blatant honesty will be missed in this world.

Looking for an image of Kurt to use for this, I noticed that as he got older he looked like Mark Twain or Einstein.


November 11, 1922-April 11, 2007

Conflicted

I'm torn. I have many things I want to be doing right now. I want to rework some poetry, cross-stitch, strip paint from furniture, write about a realization I've come to about myself, or practice drawing. So I'm working on the cross-stitch since I have a deadline. I need a ruler for the drawing, which I'll pick up tomorrow at school. I don't think I've ever had so many creative activities that I've been split between.

Tomorrow I will also be getting what I need to apply to a charter school that follows the classical liberal arts approach to education, so I also have research reading to do. And I just started a book, Dies the Fire, that the husband recommended to me strongly.

Say What?

This is a story I wrote for a writing workshop I had to attend, the years ago, to get my current teaching job. It is based on a true story.

As with most families these days, our family is always on the move. My husband and I work different schedules, so the days when we can all be together as a family are sporadic. The days that we do have together are cherished. One day, Don, A., and I were relaxing at home when Aunt Jenny, my husband's sister, came by for a rare visit. As the adults talk, three year old A. runs excitedly to her bedroom to get something she just has to share with her aunt.

"Aunt Jenny, Aunt Jenny! Play ponies with me! You can be the sister, I'll be the Mommy and the baby."

Jenny takes a pony and tries to play with A., and talk with her brother at the same time.

A., as the Mommy pony, "What's the matter baby?"

"I'm consternated, Mommy," A. says as the baby pony.

This snaps the adults out of their conversation, startled by the surety with which she uses this unfamiliar word.

"What did you say honey?" I ask A.

"Consternated," she replies.

"Do you mean constipated?" I question quizzically.

"No, consternated!" she says with the exasperated tone of one long troubled by another's ignorance.

"Is that even a real word? I've never heard it before," I say turning to Don and Jenny.

"It's a real word. I've seen it used before, but I can't remember where," my husband confirms.

"I haven't either," responds Jenny.

"What does it mean sweetie?" I inquire.

"It's when you go rrr," as she stomps her foot and shakes her fist.

Being a teacher, I run to get a dictionary and quickly flip through the pages.

"Ah, here it is! Consternation means frustration. She used it correctly! I can't believe it! Two of us have never even heard of it and she defined it correctly. honey, where did you learn this word?"

"I don't know Mommy."

A. continues playing obliviously as the adults work through their shock at a three year old's vocabulary.

Eternally curious, I set out to discover where my daughter picked up this unusual turn of phrase. I ask her preschool teacher if they have used consternated in class, they reply that they haven't. I then ask the rest of the teachers at the school if they are familiar with the word that is causing me so much bewilderment. None have used it in front of their students and most have not heard of it before. I guess how A. learned such a large word will forever be a mystery.