In over my head

Time sure seems to fly when you really want it to slow down. Today ended week 2 of class...the one I teach and the one I'm taking. Also it is the last day of week 2 of me being on Weight Watchers. Oh time flies.

First, it's week 2 of the class I'm teaching. I've been trying to keep up with grading but I'm more behind that I want. I have some updates to post for week 3 and still have week 1 journals left to grade. I didn't even open it once today - been too busy with family life. That is not good.

Second, I am taking that grad course. I am in way over my head. You ought to see the papers my classmates are writing. I feel like I'm in elementary school. It has been 8 years since I have written any type of scholarly paper. I can write for work, but man, I am so out of practice for class. One guy had about 5 words in his "ice breaker" paper that I've never seen in my life. Am I supposed to know such words???? I am really hoping he went overkill on that assignment. I had a good friend who has graduated from the program read my icebreaker paper and she just shook her head and marked all over it. She tells me I'm in grad school and have to write like I am. Oh man...in over my head. Her points were all valid. So here I am at the end of week 2 with only one paper that really needs to be rewritten done. I have 2 more weeks to get 6 papers done. I am so not able to spend 5 - 15 hours a week on this class. I spend that much teaching if not more. Again...in over my head.

On the bright side, I conducted my interview with an international student from Uzbekistan for my reportorial paper. I have to compare a foreign educational system to the US. I spent about 20 minutes with my student. He told me to call him if I thought of other questions or needed to be reminded of anything he said. He was nice. I open my OU email tonight and find a classmate has posted her paper. She spent 2 hours with her person. Let's think about that....2 hours/20 minutes. Hmmmm....I am at the elementary level. What am I thinking trying to go to grad school??? I thought I was fairly book smart prior to starting this class. But now...I am feeling like I need to go back and do my Bachelor program over. Hell all the grammar stuff I am supposed to be studying is reminding me all of what I forgot. I have never written APA style - always MLA. I am afraid that I am one of those people who take in stuff, keep it in my head for as long as I need it, and then it leaves for the stuff I really like. Looks like I need to follow the study tools I teach in my class. Guess I'll break out that text as well. There will never be enough time in the day to do it all. What was I thinking???

Last but not least, tomorrow I go to WW for the start of my 3rd week and 3rd weigh in. I have been doing so well this week. Today I woke up and weighed 6 pounds less than I weighed in last Sunday. Yay! Tried my best to eat well at home...save up those points for the movies. Got a smaller popcorn, drank a small coke along with my water, and some gummies. When I got home, I weighed 5 pounds more than this morning. What was I thinking there?? I had made such good progress. My goal was to lose 3 pounds this week. Now, I'm truly expecting a gain. I didn't even eat all my popcorn. Oh I will be so mad at myself if I go up. I've only had 2 cokes since I started WW- both small. I've only drank water. That's it. Water Water Water. I'm trying so hard. I don't think I've ever really tried like I have been on this. I'm competing with Chance sorta - at least on daily points. I can see that I might actually be successful with it as long as I don't go to the movies very often!

Well not much else to report. Helped Taylor pick classes for high school. She said she's pretty excited. I hope she keeps it. She's going to have to study more. I hope she sticks with it. We have high school parent night on Tuesday. That should be interesting.

Oh guess I do have more to report. They have been working on our house this week. Got our new fireplace which was not so easy to replace. There was dust and soot everywhere. They found a few dead birds in there. That made me sad. The tube that goes up the chimney was all rotted and had holes all up it. The fireplace guy said that is because they cemented the very top of our fireplace instead of using metal. Cement makes moisture get trapped in there and it rusted out our tube. But it's in. They replaced all the burnt boards. Decided not to put any more across the face of it as they weren't supporting anything anyway. This will hopefully prevent future fire. They also didn't put any sheetrock back in to prevent fire as well. The brick was put in yesterday. On monday, they will fix the hole in the ceiling, replace insulation, repaint the ceiling and my book shelves. The new mantel will be put on as well. Then it will be complete. Carpet comes after that. Need to get that all set up. That will not be fun as they want us to put our entire house in the garage so they can lay it all in one day. So I'm collecting boxes. It will feel like we are moving. I'm buying food and drink and anyone who wants to help can come over. I'll let you know what day it will be. ;o)

Guess I should go do some work. Tomorrow will be a busy day.

XXXOOO
B