I remember 5 am...........

........and I didn't like it when my kids were babies any more than I like it now!! LOL
Being at the mercy of crappy internet, I had to get up at this ungodly hour to submit a Law assignment. Yes, they are giving us the grind right until the bitter end and there is another one due this Friday........GIMME A BREAK LARRY!!!

A major oral presentation is also due today, one that I had no intention of doing seeing I did the last one but 2 of our team are off sick. Gotta do what ya gotta do I guess.

Studying has not yet begun as I have been concentrating on getting this darn presentation ready. Once this morning is over with it will be smooth sailing for the remainder of the week to really dig my heals in and study study study. By Friday we may even be finished a couple of classes......that would be awesome and very welcome!

Going to head back to bed and see if I can catch at least another hour of much needed sleep.

The finish line is now in sight!!!

Jen : )

And the count down begins...............

As of this Friday, there will only be 3 weeks left of regular classes. Beginning December 14th exams will be the order of the week. I know that two of them are 3 hours in length lord help me!
Hopefully I will come out the other end of this term in one piece. My goal is to be able to write my CHRP designation in May but there are stipulations of 70% average over all and nothing under 65%. Only one class has proven to be a challenge but I'm still ok.......so far.
My blogging will be more interesting next term as I will be more familiar with school life than I was in Sept.
Many thanks for those who drop in and take a peek but I would love to hear from you too so please leave me a message!
Take care
Jen : )

November.......

Even though it's a balmy 16 degrees outside, truth be known winter is just around the corner. I managed to put most of the remaining garden to bed yesterday and intend on going out again today as I believe this is the last hurrah of lovely weather for awhile. It's so hard to sit inside, nose in the books when it's like summer on the other side of the window. The glare of the sun intrudes my computer screen and I can't help but get distracted. Maybe I should rearrange the furniture............something to contemplate.

I survived midterms and now it's the final push until December 18th when the first half of my program will be complete. Winter will come, the snow will fly and the dreary dark days will make me want to stay indoors.

There is one huge concern weighing on my mind in regards to the winter months.........how the heck am I going to fit my winter coat, my boots, my backpack and books into my tiny 4ft x 2ft cubby call a locker!!?? Should have rented 2 when I had the chance!!

Jen :)

Midterm Madness!

I realized today that is has been awhile since I blogged. Time fly's when you're having fun!

October has been a very busy month.....thus the reason for not doing an entry since the 11th! Midterm exams, projects, presentations and assignments have been my major activity on the computer. I can't believe I'm half way through this term already.

When I began this course I was totally jazzed about the whole returning to college thing and I still am......BUT.... although I knew it was going to be a challenge, I didn't think it was going to consume so much of my time. That's ok, I don't mind. My grades are proof that I'm spending the right amount of time studying etc.

My brain had dormant cells that are now screaming out for a time of peace and quiet....sorry guys, not happening any time soon! lol I'm still in the "getting used to it faze" and I'm sure that by the end of the whole course I'll have figured it all out.....NOT!

Don't get me wrong, I am very glad that I took this step and very curious to see what is in the future once I have completed HR Management. For now, its study study study and hope that those once dormant brain cells don't gang up on me and mutiny!

Jen :)

My World's Collided!!!

One of the courses I'm taking is called "Dispute Resolution". A very interesting read, and significant to one's every day life as I found out last week. For those of you who know me, I tend to be a very emotional person and usually let everyone know how I feel. Just ask my family........they are the ones who experience it on a very regular basis.

The chapter we were studying was about emotions. We discussed how to keep them in check when dealing with conflict, what words to use, and how to diffuse a situation that is getting emotionally out of control. But, the one area that collided with my everyday life is how previous experiences, when given the opportunity, can arouse emotions so strong that they throw you for a loop. You forgot about how it affected you at the time and the simplest thing will trigger a years worth of events, thoughts and, yes, emotions.

Two of my class mates and I went into the library at the college and there he was. We had met when I was 17 at a christian retreat called Agape. He was a team leader and we clicked immediately. It was November. In February that following year he asked me to marry him, he gave me a promise ring for my 18th birthday in May and by that October I was in a tale spin. Too much way too fast!

Anyway, seeing him brought a flood of emotion into me and I told the girls who he was. Of course, like high school kids, "go over and say hi!!" was the first thing they said. Not sure what to do, as he was there working on the photo copy machine, I contemplated. After a couple of agonizing minutes, and these two chirping in my ear, I decided to go and say hello. I tapped him on the arm and he was truly shocked to see me standing there but genuinely happy. I gave him a quick hug and asked how he was doing, he is now a Grampa!!!! It was wonderful to see the gleam in his eye as he talked about his 5 week old granddaughter.

After a brief conversation we parted ways and guess what class I had to go to...you guessed it, Dispute Resolution and we were continuing our conversation about emotions. In the short time it took to walk from the library to the class room I had gone through the major events of my relationship with him. It was a significant part of my life that will remain with me.

I always knew that emotion played a major role in life but once you have the opportunity to study it AND experience it at the same time, it puts it into a different perspective.

Thanks for the memories William, and congratulations!!

J : )

The Turkey Dump

What the heck is a Turkey Dump........sounds bathroom related to me but I really don't want to go there! lol

A couple of years ago this terminology was brought to my attention and I had no idea what it meant. Guess I was showing my age! Apparently this occurs when teens have a "significant other" when they go away to school and the relationship starts to be questioned once they are apart. The first big holiday that they usually come home for is Thanksgiving. They see eachother, they talk, and the "Turkey Dump" process begins. "I've met someone else, this isn't working with you being so far away, I don't know what I want any more, I'm too busy". Sound familiar? It probably does seeing that it doesn't have to be Thanksgiving to dump a Turkey!!!

There was a conversation I overheard while at my locker (ok I was listening in and very intently). Two guys were discussing going home and one of them was in a quandary as to how he was going to dump his girlfriend because he loved the freedom he now had being away from her. You'll never guess what words came out of his buddy's mouth...."Guess it's time for the old Turkey Dump dude!"

I couldn't help but start to think about the poor young lady who's weekend was about to be turned upside down. On the other hand, maybe she will be the one who gets to it first and lets him know that there is more to life than hanging on to something that probably won't survive the distance. I hope I'm right.....

HAPPY TURKEY DUMP DAY!!
J : )

Can you say MIDTERMS!!!!

October is going to be one crazy month. My profs are starting to set up tests and assignments and today I can honestly say my brain hurts. It's a weird feeling actually, not like a headache but more like a muscle that hasn't been used in awhile. It gets a tremendous work out and says to the rest of your body "Um, excuse me but WHAT IN GODS NAME ARE YOU DOING TO ME!!" lol
Not to brag (ok I am a little) but I did a law assignment and scored 20/20 on it. I hope this isn't setting the bar (no pun intended)! As in the words of my law prof, "hang on, don't panic."
Today we had our first study group. Six of us went to the college student lounge and hashed out HR Planning for 3 hours. It was very productive and definitely worth sacrificing a sleep in day. This week it's HR Planning and Finance Accounting. Seeing I haven't sat a formal test in quite awhile this is going to be interesting to say the least.
The only worry I have is that my brain explodes from all the pressure and I won't be able to remember a single thing I've studied. I guess that's why they allow you to bring a "Linus Blanket" into the test. I'll save that for another blog.
J : )

Silence is Golden

This weekend my hubby and son went to my sisters cottage along with my brother in law and father in law. Although I love them both dearly, I must admit that I didn't miss them too much. I was able to do what I wanted, when I wanted and even sing outloud if I wanted without having to worry about someone else.
Of course, homework took a significant amount of my time but the first thing I did on Friday night was tidy up my house. I was bound and determined to have it that way for the short 48 hours they were gone. After that, I hit the books and boy did I get alot accomplished. I spread my stuff all over the dining room table and LEFT IT THERE for the weekend! I didn't have to clean it up or put it away, I just worked around it. The biggest taboo was eating while working at my computer........a huge no no in the computer world.
Now they are home and I can hear the tv in the bedroom, my son chatting with someone on his computer headset while playing a game and just the "noise" of having someone here. I guess in reality I'd hate to live by myself, it would be quiet but very lonely. Those 48 hours were bliss but I couldn't do it all the time. I'm very blessed to have them here to drive me crazy!
J :)

My Garden is Calling Me!!!

Here I sit gazing out the living room window. Children are playing and laughing, birds are chirping and a beautiful breeze is blowing. I can hear my neighbour mowing her lawn and the sweet smell of newly cut grass fills the air (along with the pungent odour of gasoline!!!)I snapped you out of that pretty picture didn't I! LOL
Some of you may but most of you may not know that I am a garden lover. My garden (pictured here, yes that's mine) is my haven, my place to escape and where I do my best thinking. The past few weeks have been a gardeners dream. Apart from the fact that we haven't had enough rain all other aspects have been glorious!
Unfortunately, I haven't been out as much to enjoy it due to my new found student status. Not that I'm complaining but I must admit that I wish I was getting dirt under my nails and thinking about how I'm going to change things for next year. Gardeners are constantly renovating their pieces of heaven.
But instead, I've done 2 law assignments and now need to dive into reading for the next 3+ hours. My garden will be there next weekend but there will come a point in time where I will give in to those little voices begging me to "go walk about" in the my favourite place, my garden.
J : )

It's a Small World After All!

It has been a very interesting week getting to know my classmates. It's amazing how small a city can be when you start to talk to someone else who lives here. While chatting with a man who is in the same program as myself, a neighbour who works at the college stopped by to say hello. Through the course of the conversation the name of my street came out and my classmates eyes popped out of his head. It turns out that he once lived at the end of my culdesac for about 4 years AND WE NEVER FORMALLY MET EACHOTHER!!! Holy Doodle!
Then, tonight I had a board meeting for the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts and we were waiting the arrival of a lady who is taking of the Chairperson position for the remainder of the term. In walks another classmate!!! OK this is way too weird. I know that Sarnia is small but this is crazy!
I wonder who else is going to surprise me over the next few weeks. I think it's kind of awesome to be honest. It makes that gap between you and a stranger shrink considerably in a matter of moments and you feel more connected with them. A stranger is a friendship waiting to happen. At least it is with these two great people!
J :)

Homework!

They say "no pain, no gain". What about no pain, NO BRAIN!!! I've been in vacation mode since the end of May so my poor brain is crying out "What the heck are you doing to me?" My girlfriend was walking her dog past my house on the night of the first day of school. She saw me through the window doing some work on the computer. Yes, it was the dreaded "H" word ----Homework! What is the purpose of homework? To ingrain in our grey matter what we have taken that day at school - to reinforce what our profs lectured about? Why do we call it homework anyway---can't I do it at school on my time off or do I HAVE to do it at home? Is the homework police going to sneak up on me in the college library and kick me out because I'm not doing it at home?! What if I decided I wanted to do some reading about The Employment Act for my Law class while sitting on the toilet? Hey it's time management - work with me people! Would it be called "bathroomwork?", "toiletwork?" Anyway, my brain is going to be struggling for the next few weeks to get back into the swing of having to remember and regurgitate! Hope those homework police don't catch me on the toilet!!!!!
J :)

Fantastic First Day!

Well....I'm off and running! Today was the first day of classes and although I was slightly pooped by the end, it was great. There are a few younger students but it is a terrific mix of experience, ages and knowledge. My teachers are very relaxed and I can tell by their humour that they are going to make it fun to learn. Watching all the "fresh meat" walking the halls brought back memories of my first days at Lambton 25+ years ago. What a difference between then and now! Tomorrow I have a very full day.......a class at 9:30 - 10:30am, 5 hours off then a class at 3:30 - 4:30 LOL. Do you think I should come home for awhile?????
J :)

Jitters

It's "2 sleeps" before school and I am starting to get the butterfly's. I'm sure that by Wed morning they will feel more like pelicans! I've been to the college a couple of times to put things in my locker, build a locker shelf and walk around afew times to orient myself with my classe rooms. The next week or two is going to be physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting but I'm up for it. As the anticipation builds I have caught myself doubting my ability to be successful as a student once again. I guess it's understandable and I shouldn't be so hard on myself. The goals I've set are definately attainable, I just have to make sure I focus. Can I do this? Sure I can. Am nervous? Definately! Will it be worth it in the end? You bet your bippy it will!
J : )

And so it begins...........

So........in "5 sleeps" (as my kids would say when they were little), I will be heading back to school after a long hiatus in my accademic career. Although I've taught at Lambton College for four years and worked there for a short time in Continuing Education, it's much different being a student. My books are bought, my parking pass is hanging in my windshield and my locker is good to go. I will admit to being slightly nervous but that is out weighed by excitement. This is a new adventure and a turning point in my life that I am really looking forward to. And so it begins.....this new chapter, a change much needed in my routine life. Hopefully I will be able to keep this blog up during my year as a "college chick"!