Momma Hen

Dear Monday,

February 8th, 2010 by Jen Hen under Momma Monday. No Comments.

I believe I should be cordial and tell you hello since it has been 7 days since I saw you last. The problem I have with being cordial with you, is that each week when you knock on my bedroom door at 6:30am, you aren’t very polite. In fact, sometimes you are down right nasty. I realize that you have taken it easy on me this week. At least so far. But I have trust issues. You have betrayed me on more than one occasion. Multiple times you have promised me that when you came back around it would be nothing more than a fresh start to a new week. Then, you’ve slaughtered those  promises and splintered them into a million little pieces, thus nearly splintering me. Sometimes, you really just tick me off. I must admit, you and I have a long history together, but in the same breath, it seems I have no choice but to let you in over and over again. Why must you put me in such a position? You know, if you’d bring me to a sunny patio, with fresh coffee, and a good book, in a sunny Florida resort every Monday, we could be best friends forever. I have a feeling that’s not something you can do for me. So I shall accomodate you with nothing more than this: I know you’re coming whether I like it or not. I will meet you head on. Do not try to bully me, because I will bully you back. You have met your match, Monday. I bid you adieu until next week. (Nevermind that I still have 12 hours alloted for you.)

Signed,

A determined Momma Hen on Momma Monday

Thursday Thirteen-MIA

February 4th, 2010 by Jen Hen under The Busy Life. No Comments.

This weeks Thursday Thirteen is currently MIA. Should I find it in the next 24 hours, I will place it safely in its place.

Momma Monday

February 1st, 2010 by Jen Hen under Momma Monday. No Comments.

West Kentucky just survived “Winter Snow Storm 2010″ with no major emergencies. I had gathered the things I thought we would need early in the week. Once Friday arrived I was more than happy to hear that X-man’s school had canceled for the day, and happily kept my bum at home for three days (aside from a run to the store Sunday for the paper with my coupons, haha). My sister, Auntie E, came to stay with us on Friday so she wouldn’t be stuck out in the country at our dad’s house with no chance of being able to leave. We live in town, so the roads actually get cleared and you can at least get out of the house to go to the store (or have pizza delivered as we did Saturday night).

Friday before the snow started falling my cousin Mimi, and our friend Joan (you’ll see her comments on here from time to time), came over to visit/cheer me up. I went through a funk most of last week where I really wanted to hide from humanity as a whole. However, thanks to a supportive husband and great friends and relatives, I was able to kick it much quicker than I normally do. I had played hookie from responsibility on Thursday. My mom returned a missed call from me and when I told her what I was up to she said “Don’t hide to much, but don’t feel bad for doing it either.” I think it was the validation I needed for that day. Husband agreed when I told him what she said, and that helped too. By the time I went to bed and woke up Friday morning I was feeling much better. And the fact that a three day weekend was built in didn’t hurt either.

Saturday our friends, J and H, came over for pizza and game night. It was such a blast. We always have such a great time with them, and it was long overdue as we had scheduled for over a week prior but between sick germs in the house and other circumstances, rescheduling was a necessity. It’s so nice having friends who enjoy being “old” like us, and just playing card or board games until we’re all ready to pass out which is usually by 11pm or so. (To be honest I think we’re all ready to pass out before we even start the games, but we “stay up late” together. hahaha)

Sunday was nice and lazy aside from the endless energy that Lil’ C seems to carry with him at all times. While he was down for nap, sis, DH and I sat at the kitchen table working number and word puzzles from the Sunday papers. When Lil’ C woke up, DH, Lil’ C and I curled up in bed and watched “National Treasure” until DH and I realized we were going to fall asleep if we remained in the comfy bed. haha. So we watched in the living room.

And today has been an altogether good day aside from the fact Lil’ C got upset about having to go to daycare. The kid has just developed this separation anxiety type issue in the last couple of weeks (or rather, revisited it). He seems fine when we’re getting ready to leave the house and I tell him he has to go to school while Momma goes to work, but once we get inside daycare he clings to me for dear life. I thought we were going to be in the clear for the upset round because he actually got down voluntarily. He turned around about five times for “one more hug” but after the fifth one he went to the arts and crafts table to play with play-doh. By the time I made it to the front door he had started crying for me. *sigh* He has a good time at daycare. He’s always happy when I get there in the afternoons and he has been with the same group of kids since he was 9 months old. Maybe it’s the teacher change? I don’t know.

Anyway, Monday’s are Lil’ C’s day to go to his dad’s every week, so once I drop him off in the morning that’s the last I get to see him until Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon (depending on the week). So when I get off work at the Science Resource Center on campus, I go for lunch, then do my errands for the week. It’s the one afternoon I can count on getting things done with little distraction. Since my sis has been staying with us, she joined me for my routine and we had lunch together for the first time… well, … hmm… possibly in forever. That was nice. I decided I still had plenty of groceries so we came on back to the house to wait for X-man to get off the bus. DH, Sis, X-man and I went out to eat for dinner, then came home and played a fast paced game of Monopoly until it was really pushing the limit for bedtime on a school night.

Now, I just have a week ahead of me that I’m not really looking forward to because it contains a Biology exam. And Biology is not my friend. Fortunately my sis has her notes from taking the same professor and my DH has offered to help me study. I still don’t think I’ll pass the test, but we’ll see. What really kills me is that I can pull A’s and B’s easily out of any subject area. Any area at all… EXCEPT Biology. This is going to be one class I’ll just have to expect a C in, but it doesn’t mean I’m okay with that grade.

Alright.. I’m tired. Bed is calling my name and it’s not even 10pm yet.

Thursday Thirteen

January 28th, 2010 by Jen Hen under Thursday Thirteen. 1 Comment.

Thirteen college degrees I have considered for more than a minute….

1. Social Work (I know, this is the obvious one)
2. Criminal Justice (my declared major when I was at Michigan State University, briefly, after they rejected me from #3)
3. English (Michigan State rejected me despite my 4.0 grades in college English, Honors English in high school, and my 29 on the ACT… they’re picky)
4. Sociology
5. Psychology
6. Secondary Education with a focus in Organizational Communications and English
7. Journalism
8. Broadcast Journalism (there’s a difference between number 7 and 8… one does news print, the other does radio and television)
9. Theater (I don’t want to be a starving artist though. We can cross this off the list already.)
10. Travel and Tourism (My dream job: Traveling the world and telling people about everything they can do wherever they go)
11. Photography (I’ll keep it as my hobby instead.)
12. Business Administration (because let’s face it, I’m good at being bossy. Don’t laugh mom, or DH, or …. anyone related to me. (DH just did when I told him what I wrote. haha.))
13. Finance (we’d be living well… but I get really uncomfortable dealing with other people’s money. I put on a mentality of “this is my money” so that I’m more cautious (as I would be with my own) which leads to high levels of stress when people aren’t spending their money wisely.)

There’s a common theme aside from a couple of the choices: helping people enjoy life more, in one sense or another. All of the career tests I’ve ever taken have listed most of these same things, but have added in Lawyer (which, I do consider doing once the boys are older since there isn’t a law school closer than a 2.5 hour drive) and Librarian. The latter always seemed like a curve ball in the mix.

Anywho… thanks to BossSanders for the reminder in her comment on yesterday’s post. I do appreciate that. I think I had forgotten that goal as I’ve been stressing out. Of course, I’m still sitting here debating my direction. C’est la vie.

I know that I can make the necessary grades and complete the necessary coursework for any of the things I listed. I know that I could find a job and probably do well with it. But I want to LOVE my job and LOVE going to that job. And it’s not illogical to want that. It’s what professors say you should do all the time. DH likes to remind me of his professors talk with his finance class: “I made a lot of money working in Finance, but I hated what I was doing. I really enjoyed teaching. It only pays me a fraction of what I was making, but I like coming to work. Do what you enjoy. Money isn’t worth being miserable.” (That’s loosely paraphrased and quoted.)

Not such a Wordless Wednesday

January 27th, 2010 by Jen Hen under The Busy Life. 1 Comment.

What a week! Monday was not friendly to me. Everything I planned last week, fell apart as soon as Monday hit. The kids and I woke up late so we rushed out the door. I got X-man to school on time, but with not a minute to spare. I dropper Lil’ C off at daycare, and ran about five minutes late getting to the computer lab on campus where I work part time. Two hours into sitting there I got a call from daycare saying that Lil’ C had a rash that had started on his wrist but spread to his belly, face, and back. I called Lil’ C’s father, but he was at work in Mayfield, a good thirty minute drive. Dear Husband was home but with strep throat, and just the cargo van. No carseat, and no real seat in the cargo van for putting a toddler even if he had a carseat. So once the 10:30 girl arrived at the lab, I told her I was going to have to leave to take care of the kiddo. Add in there X-man woke up with a sore throat, so I called the Dr.’s office and got an order of antibiotics for X-man (DH had just been diagnosed with strep on Sunday), and set up an appointment for Lil’ C.  The research project for class got postponed until next week, even though I hate to put things off.

4pm rolls around and I take Lil’ C to the doc, where we sit for 45 minutes before even being called back. Fortunately there were so many other kids there the wait was “fun” for Lil’ C, and once we did go back it didn’t take long for the doctor to come in. Unfortunately, she didn’t know what was wrong or what was causing his rash aside from a possible allergic reaction to something we were all unaware of. So an hour and fifteen minutes later we left with instructions to give him over the counter medication every four hours until the rash was gone. It was gone the next morning. He’s my mystery child with mystery issues. It drives me crazy.

The past couple of days have been punching me while I’m down. I’m not really sure what the funk is that I’m in, but if I think about it, I realize I get into this funk during the same months every year. It’s always between January and February and I get all down and out and indecisive about my direction in life. Essentially I’m back to my usual internal debate about college. This is the VERY LAST semester/chance I have to change my degree.

I find that I have an interest in 10 different potential degree programs, but can’t seem to commit to one or the other. I’ve started listing the pros and cons of each option, in hopes that I can start crossing things off to narrow down my list of possibilities. We’ll see how far that takes me. I have a passion for Social Work and I completely agree with the NASW Code of Ethics. I’m just not sure that I have the emotional ability of dealing with the career. As I was discussing this with a friend who knows me very well this afternoon, he understood what I meant by it. I get so incredibly wound up and upset at the prejudices, misconceptions, and stigmas that are associated with the field, even just a word or two. Regardless of whether I get the degree or not, I’m going to have some of those same emotions. The difference in getting the degree and not getting it, is the difference of whether it’s something I have to face and deal with on a highly regular basis, or only on occasion. My friend B. basically he said he wasn’t even certain if that kind of weight was something I should deal with daily. Not to mention the potential frustration in just dealing with certain populations. Perhaps this is all part of a self-realization process. Perhaps it’s all part of analyzing myself and where I need to put my focus. I’m just not sure. I really don’t like uncertainty.

I told my DH last night that I’m just kind of at that point where I want to stop everything I have going on. I want to quit and regroup and figure out what it is I am supposed to be doing. I told friend B. that I’d appreciate it if someone could plug into my computer’s motherboard (my brain) and enter the command prompts to tell me what I should be doing. ha.

Tomorrow’s “Thursday Thirteen” will most likely be composed of a list of things that I have been looking at as possible directions/degrees/options.

In a more positive note: last night’s “Sister night” with my sis, “Auntie E,” was a wonderfully relaxing pajama party spent curled up on my bed watching “The Biggest Loser” while DH and X-man did an “archaeological dig” with a Christmas present my dad gave X-man. E and I enjoyed lounging around and running our commentary on the program, and they chipped pebbles away to find dinosaur bones. It was the kind of relaxing evening I had been hoping for. I’m so glad that my sister and I can have those evenings and that DH and X-man enjoy doing projects together. They even cleaned up after themselves (mostly… but I’ll ignore the pebbles they missed because in their defense, they chipped off one at a time and there was no way to be neat about it so anything they missed was pretty well hidden).

I’m just ready to take it easy for a while. I’m ready for this summer and spending a few weeks in Florida with DH, X-man, and a few great friends we’ll get to see.

Thursday Thirteen… Already?!

January 21st, 2010 by Jen Hen under Thursday Thirteen. No Comments.

It’s Thursday and you all know what that means. It signals time for our weekly thirteen listing and my weekly indecisive freak out. You would not believe how anxious I feel when I’m just trying to come up with something to write for you guys. I guess I could finally go public with my list for the New Year. 2010, here’s what I’m going to do:

1. QUIT SMOKING! Yep, that’s at the very top of my list, but I will almost put money on it being the last thing I accomplish. I’ve been working on a major reduction of cigarette inhalation, and it’s actually been going fairly well, all things considered.
2. GET IN SHAPE! (And everytime I see that phrase I automatically attach “Girl”… like the Mary Lou Retton work out tapes and equipment from the 80’s. ) I have gotten physically lazy and it’s time to put a stop to that. I’ve actually done really well so far with the new year. I haven’t taken any elevators, except at the doctor’s office with Carter because I really wasn’t ready to carry his 40lbs on one side of me. My knees would have yelled. Anyway… yes, stairs five days a week and when nobody is around, I take them two at a time. I feeeeeeel the burn in my buttocks. I’ve also avoided soda all year, aside from one shared 7up at the Globetrotters two weeks ago. And I’ve been controlling my urges to gorge on sweet stuff.
3. EAT FEWER SWEETS: Alright, I decided it deserved it’s own spot. Seriously, I was baking at least one thing weekly during November and December that was sweet, sugary, and bad for me and the rest of the household. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not eliminating sweets completely, but I find that the fewer I keep in the house the less tempted I am. And while X-man and I went to Culver’s last week, I ordered a small chocolate shake instead of the tempting medium or large. Sometimes one of the better things to do for a more controlled diet isn’t to all out eliminate things, but to keep control over your portion size.
4. BE MORE PATIENT WITH THE KIDS: When I told DH this was one of my resolutions for the  year he said, “You ARE patient with the kids.” To which I had to provide the rebutal: “On  YOUR scale I’m ‘to’ patient. But trust me, I need to work on this.” Being patient does not mean the absense of discipline. It’s all about the tone and how crass  you can be. I’ve been focusing on controling my temperament so that I don’t come across more harsh than is necessary.
5. Reorganize the house: ALWAYS on my list of things to do, but it doesn’t get my attention as often as it really should. We have accumulated so much “stuff” and we don’t need it all. We really don’t even need half of it. So, slowly, but surely, I will be cleaning things out. Ideally I’ll be able to post the items on craigslist and sell them. Other things I will just automatically donate.
6. Commit to Full Time student status this Fall: I’m very non-commital with this for a few different reasons. I have to much experience with “Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, at the worst possible moment.” I am concerned that if I go full time, the need for me to work more will come up, or one of the kids will have something drastic happen and will need more availability out of me, or I’ll get overwhelmed and hurt my gpa again like I did in Spring of ‘03. I really need to commit to full time so that I can complete my degree within the time frame I have outlined in my 5 year “plan” for life.
7. Work on my study habits. Don’t groan at me. I know I typically have A’s and B’s in my classes. But trust me when I say there is room for improvement in my study habits and just imagine how much better my grades would be if I fixed those issues.
8. Be more thrifty in my grocery budget: I slacked pretty hard core during the holidays. I need to get back to using coupons and sticking to a list. I buy healthier foods that way, and I control my grocery spending a lot better. I make a tentative list of meals for about three weeks at a time. It’s not something that I schedule and stick to strictly, but it helps me keep my thoughts more organized on the grocery items I know that I will need while maintaining variety in meal choices so the kids, DH, and I don’t get burned out on any one item. Also it helps me shuffle meals around so that I can set a goal for my weekly spending and stay within just a couple of dollars of that amount.
9. Clip more coupons! Yes, this goes in with grocery shopping, but also with everyday necessities such as toothpaste, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc. Therefore, I’m cutting down on my needed budget for these items as well which saves me money overall that I can stash back for in-case-of-emergency or for vacation. Since we have a big vacation planned for this summer, saving is a big factor to cover the lost time working, as well as any of the activities that we have on our “must do” list.
10. See the Atlantic. Yep. I’ll be 30 this year and I’ve never seen the Atlantic. I saw the Pacific for the first time when I was 26. I saw the Gulf for the first time when I was 28. I’m looking forward to spending some time on the Atlantic beaches this summer before I hit 30. It’s really just a silly little goal I have, but it’s one less thing to have on my bucket list in old age.
11. More game nights with X-man: We used to have a real set routine with game nights, but life got pretty darn hectic and crazy a couple of years ago. While we’ve maintained some sort of routine, it’s not nearly as often as it should be. However, since December I have been paying a lot of attention to this detail. It’s one of the big things that means a lot to X-man in terms of time with me (and anyone else who plays with us).
12. More structured time with Lil’ C: The kids really kind of run amuck on the weekends. X-man already has some basic guidelines for t.v. time and game time (however, I’m very lax on both these days). Lil’ C really needs more structure to his days. He has a great time at daycare and I’m sure that just the predictability of his days there helps. I’m not saying I’m going to put him on some strict schedule, just put a few things into his days that make things a bit more smooth flowing and less about television or video games.
13. Last but not least: More quality time and conversation with DH. I am hoping that our scheduled vacation is going to be as relaxing as we want it to be. But I’m afraid I may have to throw any of his technological toys out into the ocean. (Cam: You’ve been forewarned. And you know I’ll do it.)

One 2 x 4 at a time… Momma Monday

January 18th, 2010 by Jen Hen under I'm Just Saying, Momma Monday. 3 Comments.

I tell you what, decision making is for the birds. To build? To buy? To renovate? To start from scratch? Planning, budgeting, “what-if” analyzing. Disappointment, excitement, and downright anticipation.

The steps to come are the steps toward the next chapter. Melodramatic, eh? Yeah. Us theatrical background people are real good with the melodrama. ha. X-man’s own room, Lil’ C’s own room, and a room for the “baby it” that has yet to come into play. Dining room, office, and a kitchen with some actual storage and counter space. There are plenty of things on the wish list for DH and myself (and X-man… Carter’s still to young to really voice an opinion on this topic). At any rate… eventually will commit to one option or the other. I’m ready to make that commitment, but until DH quits driving me INSANE! picks which way he wants to go with things, there will be no final answer.

In other news: X-man made Honor Roll… AGAIN! Yep, that’s my kid. Lil’ C went for a check up at the ENT Specialist last Friday and checked out fine. We didn’t end up going to Chuck E. Cheese or anywhere else around Paducah. He fell asleep within five minutes of leaving the doctor’s office because he was fighting off a nasty cold. There was green ooze coming from his nose and really must not have been feeling well considering he took  his nap at 10am which NEVER EVER EVER, and I do mean NEVER, happens. It really bummed me out that he got ill at the end of the week because Boss Sanders and I were going to get the rugrats together while we caught up on life.

The semester seems like it’s going to drag out for me. I don’t mean to complain, because I’m very thankful that I’m able to work on my degree, but I really wish I wasn’t required to take Biology. Attendance isn’t required for the class which to most would probably seem wonderful, seems like a really bad devil’s advocate to me. Biology is one of those classes I do NOT need to miss. Science classes usually equate to a “C” unless it’s more along the likes of Psychology. In other words, when I’m feeling that slump of “do I really have to go to class” during the semester I’ll have the little devil on my shoulder saying “You should, but you sure don’t have to. Go ahead. Take another day off. The teacher won’t mind.” Of course he won’t. But my grade sure will.

Social Work class should be great, as always. I really enjoy this subject for studies, even though I’m still not certain it’s the degree I should be working on. I can’t really go wrong considering once I finish this tract, the road splits a hundred different directions for where I can go career wise. And there really isn’t a doubt in my mind that I’ll eventually enter a Graduate program. I’m a planner… I want to know where I should be placing my focus for the future. I’ll handle changes as they come, but until that need arises, I need to have my eye on a goal ahead. There’s something disappointing though. As I sit in a classroom surrounded by my peers who are to eventually become my colleagues, I find myself unsettled.

One of the first assignments for this class was for students to comment on the discussion board, outside of class, and state their previous perception of Social Welfare or “welfare” as a lone word. While reading the other students responses I felt a knot form in my stomach. So many of these individuals who have chosen to get a degree in Social Work seem to have made that decision blindly. They are entering the program with the negative precognition that “welfare” is for, and I loosely quote, “for lazy people who choose not to work.” SIGH! Yeah, that was a HEAVY sigh. You would not believe the number of students who actually put that out there. Granted, they weren’t phrasing it in such a way that they didn’t seem to keep themselves open to a change of perspective, but I really would have expected more people to already have an open mind on this topic. It’s not as if this is a degree people choose to make big bucks. So why on Earth would anyone choose to get a degree in Social Work who thought that, for basically minimum wage, they were going to work with a bunch of “dead beats”? Did they not already realize that virtually everyone has had assistance from the Social Welfare system in one degree or another? Social “Welfare” isn’t just food stamps and medicaid. It isn’t just a welfare check that gets mailed to certain people. It’s the Women’s Movement, equality in the work place movements, equality in general movements, insurance agencies (not just Medicaid), Red Cross, United Way, the federal policies for wages for every American and far to many additional organizations, groups and “things” for me to even mention.

At any rate… I digress. I can only hope that I’m able to learn everything I need to learn to do whatever career I pursue to the best of my ability.

And with this, I bid you all a farewell and good night.

Thursday Thirteen

January 14th, 2010 by Jen Hen under Thursday Thirteen. 2 Comments.

I’ve been pretty darn annoyed by people this week. I really don’t like it when I get this agitated by the general public, but occasionally it just happens. I’m down right nasty mean feeling (even if I do keep it internalized and to myself). I tell DH that I’m really starting to wonder if I should change my major when I have weeks like this. So I don’t know whether to write a positive Thursday Thirteen to divert my attention, or if I should just go ahead and get those annoyances off my chest. DH votes for the annoyances. Okay, he wins.

1. The person who rides around in her powerchair on campus and is mean and ugly acting towards practically everyone who tries to say hello. I thought this woman was legitimately disabled and required her powerchair. I thought she probably had some severe problem that was preventing her from walking, thereby decreasing her quality of life, and probably the reason for her sour attitude towards life. And then… I saw her… outside with her daughter. This woman literally jumped out of her wheelchair and walked with more of a bounce than I do. I kid you not. I wanted to turn around and ask her why the heck she was using a wheelchair when she was walking with such a spring in her step. I didn’t.
2. People who yell and throw a fit in public. It’s not pleasant and nobody else wants to hear your issues like that. Or see you throw your trash out of your vehicle into the University parking lot while you are belittling your daughter. Reference the woman in number 1.
3. People who make things more complicated than they need to be. Like using a hole punch. Really. It’s okay if you only punch five pages at a time, instead of 15. You aren’t being quicker by realigning your pages three times, cramming the paper between the punches, and fighting with the punch for five minutes then having to rip your pages out and repunch them. Ugh!
4. A person who claims to have been in Intel with the military who obviously never served our country. Do NOT lie about military service! Don’t do it! It’s an insult to the men and women who have and do serve and protect us. UGH!
5. A person who says they are four months pregnant with twins, but when asked when she is due says August. I’m sorry, but I made it to college because I can do math. Somehow I’m not buying that you’re expecting to have a 12 month pregnancy. So what’s the situation here? Are you lying about being pregnant? Or just about how far along you are? And to either: WHY?
6. How can you complain about a professor you’ve never had before, you’ve stated you didn’t show up for the first day of class, and you are already 10 minutes late to class and still standing outside socializing? Can we please make it a little more difficult for people to get into college? Please??? (This person is the same person from 4 and 5.)
7. Don’t yell at me because I don’t know where your classroom is! If I haven’t had a class in the room, chances are I don’t know where the room is any better than you do.
8. If you ask me where the North side of the building is, and I tell you that you are in the North side, I promise I’m not just being a smarty pants. And if you ask me where the South side of the building is and I tell you it’s back through the double doors you just walked through… I’m still not just being a smarty pants. I promise. And if you ask me where the East and West wings of the building are, and I tell you that there is only a North and South wing… well, then that’s the answer. Don’t get exasperated at me. Please.
9. If you tell me that you are in the Biology building and I explain that you are actually in Blackburn, don’t tell me “No. I’m in the Biology building.” Then, when you ask me where the Biology building is and I point at it through the window we’re standing near and explain, please listen instead of interrupting and saying “What’s the name of it???” THEN get mad when I tell you the answer, “Biology building.” “Well where is it??” Didn’t I just show her out the window?? Explain again. “What’s it say on it?” Really?!?! UGH! “It has gold or silver lettering and says Biology above the door.” She HUFFED at me and went stomping out like I was lying.
10. If the professor has already made it very clear that he has a no tolerance policy on cellphone use in his classroom, do not sit next to me while you hold your cellphone under your desk and text. I really wish the University would establish a no cellphone power on in the classroom policy of some sort. I get so irritated with people sitting around me texting while I’m trying to listen to a soft spoken professor. It’s amazing, I know, but I go to classes so I can hear lectures, take notes, and at least learn enough to pass my class (and when I say pass, I don’t mean a “C”… I mean a “B” minimum).
11. People who sit and gossip DURING class. For most of the same reasons listed in 10. I know, I’m a boring person. haha.
12. I’m going to go back to something I mentioned at the beginning of last semester in a Thursday Thirteen or something. I believe that there should be a mandatory wait time before going to college. I think these “KIDS” need to find out that when they are spending twice as much time partying as they are studying or worrying about paying attention to their class, they aren’t going to learn much. They are going to struggle to get a good grade. And the teachers aren’t going to do them favors. Granted, there are people who are perfectly capable of maintaining an active social life and high markings.
13. I’ve come to realize that my view has changed on an issue. I used to be on the bandwagon of thought that higher education should be available for everyone. But, I’m afraid I may actually have a more conservative/reactionary view than I’d like to admit on certain topics. Does that mean I’m a “moderate” who likes to sit on the fence until I make up my mind on each issue? Nah. I still identify more strongly with a liberal perspective for a majority of issues. But… yeah, I’m pretty darn conservative on this issue.

So… that’s what is grinding my gears this week. I don’t enjoy feeling so irritated and like a negative nancy, but at least I got it off my chest.

Not a Wordless Wednesday

January 13th, 2010 by Jen Hen under Not a Wordless Wednesday. No Comments.

Momma Monday

January 11th, 2010 by Jen Hen under Momma Monday. No Comments.

Today is the first day of a new semester of college which means I’m one step closer to graduating with my Bachelor’s. Be closer to graduation excites me, but being back at school this semester does not. I think it’s the cold of winter. I would much rather hibernate during these cold days. There is nothing enticing about walking in 24 degrees with a wind chill bringing it down to 13. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, the cold of KY winters is much more brutal than the cold of a Michigan winter. I didn’t mind the winters in Michigan. I really didn’t mind the walk to classes at Michigan State University when there were two feet of snow covering sidewalks even though I was walking much farther than I do now.

Aside from the cold, I am looking forward to my Social Work class.  I’m not looking forward to the Biology class so much, but I’ll have it out of the way after this semester, so that’s something positive.

Tomorrow evening is going to be a special night out for just X-man and me. DH Cam is busy busy with work and he gracefully bowed out of the plans for tomorrow. X-man and I are going to see the Harlem Globetrotters! We have floor seats which excites me to no end! X-man says he hopes they don’t pick him to help with any of their stuff, but I think it would secretly make his night.

Friday I will be taking Lil’ C to Paducah to see his ENT Specialist. We’ll just be doing a check up on the tubes they put in his ears last year, so it’s not a big deal appointment. However, I do plan to talk to the Doctor about his snoring. I have never heard a toddler who could saw logs like Lil’ C can. Yesterday we were curled up on the couch together, watching t.v., and he fell asleep. I changed his position so many different ways, hoping to find a quieter position for him, but nothing seemed to help. I’m thinking he must have gotten his father’s sinus issues, but I’m hoping we can get something done or figured out to help him. After the doctor’s we’re going to make a big day out of driving all that way. I think I’ll take him to Chuck E. Cheese and let him play to his hearts content. Then we’ll probably hit a couple of stores. Old Navy clearance racks are calling my name. Actually they are calling Lil’ C’s name… he needs bigger shirts. Why must children grow so quickly? At least we can buy clothes from places like Old Navy that hold up good and don’t stain very easily.

Saturday night our friends, The K’s, came over for a long overdue Spades game. We had a complete blast, even if the Husbands beat us Wives. As we were sitting there talking about great places to eat, and new places to eat, and our schedules, we discovered it was feasible between the households to start getting together on Monday’s every couple of weeks to go on “adventures” and have game nights. So, next Monday we’re going to a hibachi grill for dinner (X-man LOVES hibachis, as do the rest of us), then we’ll play board games back at the house (or at least, one of the houses). I’m hungry just thinking about it. Mmm… chicken and shrimp and steak… mmm…

I really shouldn’t have started thinking about food. I have another hour and a half stuck in the computer lab. I think I’ll go straight for lunch when I leave here. I was going to get a few other things accomplished, but really, food sounds like a much better idea at this point. The rest will get finished eventually.