cbtreks

Yep, that's about the extent of this entry - I think this my first this year. I only have one class this semester but I'm also doing my practicum (internship) and, while I have much less homework, I also have much less free time. Haven't been on LJ in a couple of weeks and I know I haven't commented in ages. This weekend, I hope I can find some time to go back and catch up, but I probably won't try to comment on everything. If I missed something big, let me know!

No classes this summer - I'm so glad! It'll be a nice break (I've had classes year round since 2008, with the exception of the summer of 2009) but I still have plenty to do to be ready to graduate in December. I intend to read a lot of fiction as well.

Several to go. Since I'm going half time, I guess it'll take about forever.

My 4.0 is, sadly, a thing of the past. My current GPA is 3.93, which is perfectly respectable and in some ways takes a little pressure off me (pressure I put on myself - none of my friends or family expects a perfect GPA). Still, I wouldn't have minded maintaining it.... (I lost my 4.0 in undergrad due to B+, which I found much less annoying than losing it due to an A-. Does that make any sense to anyone at all, or is that just silliness?)

I find it both amusing and annoying that I got the same number grade (94) in both classes this semester but in one class (cataloging) it was an A and in the other (library administration and management) an A-. I wish we had a standardized grading system! Last semester I took a class in which the "A" cutoff was a 92. It doesn't seem right that two people could take the same class with two different instructors, get the same number grade, yet one person would have an A- and one an A. It's those letter grades that determine the GPA, not the number.

Next semester: web design, which I hope is not completely over my head, and collection development, which I'm looking forward to. Those will be my first two classes in the program that aren't requirements.

And can I just mention how much I dislike APA style? Especially references! The 6th edition of the manual, which we use, does not require listing the date a website, e-book, e-journal, etc. was retrieved when listing references, yet we have instructors that will take off points for not including them. Others will take off points for including them, since they're not required. No one tells you up front which way they want them! I need to get into the habit of asking every single instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Overall, I'm enjoying school and glad I decided to go for this degree. You might not think so from the little gripes in this post, but that's all they are - little gripes. Nothing big. (And it's not any instructors fault that I got a 94 when I wanted a higher grade - I think they both graded fairly and in fact, the grade on both my final papers was higher than I'd expected. The grade on all my papers is always higher than I expect because I always think they're awful. I finally realized I just don't like the way academic writing sounds, including my own.)

And now it's my day off, Youngest Niece is going to come over and move boxes out of the garage for me (hurray for 19-year-olds! - well she's 18 today but will be 19 tomorrow), and I have the ingredients to bake yummy things. Also, leftover Chinese food for breakfast, or maybe supper. Yay!

Submitted, with an hour to spare. I think it'll be ok - just wish I'd modified my topic a week ago. This week would've been a lot better if I had! No damage done, though. Sometimes it just happens that way.

- and not only will it not come together, I'm beginning to think my topic is not as good as I thought it was, and I'm not coming up with good search terms, so am not coming up with good sources. I have two. I need six. At least this is only worth 10% of my grade and right now I have all the points available at this point in the class, plus an extra. (Got a bonus point on 3 different assignments, which made up for the 2 points total I've missed on quizzes and gave me one to run with.)

I'm at Martin's deli because they have air conditioning and big tables. Paula Deen's voice always makes me want to scrub out my ears with wire brushes. I want to put duct tape on her mouth and never let anyone pull it off, ever. (They play the Food Channel on tv here. Usually it doesn't bother me except when Rachel Ray or Paula Deen are on because they're two of the most annoying people I've ever seen on tv in my life. I'm playing music but the tv's leaking through a little.)

ETA: I don't think I'll do any more accelerated classes unless I could do it and not have to work during that time. This isn't an onerous amount of work - but it is the same amount, in 8 weeks, that would normally be done in 16 weeks. I don't know how parents do it! (In fact, two of my class-mates, both parents, have also said no more accelerated classes. I'm sure there's more - I just haven't heard from them!)

In one of my lectures, the instructor was talking about various thesauri, including some found online. One of the ones he mentioned is BZZURKK! The Thesaurus of Champions and includes entries for things such as "bouncing sounds," "chewing sounds," and "weapon sounds." There is a thesaurus for everything!

Studying for the IC3 certification exam. I think it'll be ok, actually - word is that if you work with computers daily, you should be able to pass it. Still, I'm a little nervous because only part of it is about using software (specifically Word and Excel) and the Internet. Some of it cover things I'm familiar with, but not as much as I feel I should be to do well - types of networks, understanding memory types, resetting the computer. Resetting the computer!? Is this something I've done before and didn't realize that's what it was? I'll find out.

I'd like to put this off a little longer, but I can take it on campus when I'm there this week, and if I don't pass it (or part of it) I get one free retake, though it has to be done on campus. The last day to take it, though, is December 18, so I'm getting it done now and hoping I don't need to redo it.

***
In other news, no leftovers today - our friends' daughter, grandson, and son-in-law have flu so can't come from Illinois and the others that would've dropped by decided to get together in Dayton instead - but our friends forgot to call us. So we had a short visit instead, then spent the afternoon and evening at home with cats. And websites about computer innards. Now I'm out studying with a friend (not the same subject, just in the same place).

Got my financial aid application on file, did the loan counseling, signed the paperwork. I'm scheduled for orientation and for the computer certification test. ($90 out of my pocket! Ouch.) Tonight I called my cousin Dave to see if I can stay with them for a couple of nights while I'm in the area for orientation and I've made arrangements to borrow mom's car. (Much better for a trip than mine, even just a four hour one.) Now I need to watch the videos to prepare for the certification test, and then it's pretty much waiting. Less than two months and classes start!

Remember earlier this year I was talking about library school? I was looking at a program at IUPUI but really wanted to go to Wayne State. I didn't apply there because the non-resident tuition was quite high and I didn't think it was a good time to be moving up to Detroit without a job. (There's an understatement!) Well, last month, while trying to whip up enough enthusiasm to apply to the IUPUI program, I was tooling around online and found that Wayne State offers its MLIS degree online now as well as on campus - and everyone from North America who does the program online is given resident tuition rates. I found this out literally one week before the application deadline for the January semester, managed to get everything I needed and has the application submitted the day before it was due. I got my acceptance letter today. Yay! I'm going to get an MLIS degree! And from the same university where my dad got his MSW - how cool is that? Right now I can only think of a couple of things that would prevent me from starting in January, which would be trouble with financial aid/getting my loans, and anything that would prevent me from attending orientation on December 3. They've made it very clear that anyone who doesn't attend orientation will not be allowed to begin the program. I have my vacation time, I need to contact my cousins to see if I can stay with them, maybe arrange to trade cars with my mom, and pray for good weather and good health.

The Wayne State MLIS degree is 36 hours. I think on-campus students do it in about a year (three semesters of 12 hours each) but online students are expected to take 6 hours each semester and so do it in two. I figure that means I'll be done around December 2012. Huh, just in time for the end of the world! *g*

I'll be finished with my bachelors degree on June 18. (Graduation is actually May 3; they let us walk then but we still have a class to finish. The last day of class is June 18.) I'm not sure what I'll be doing job-wise at that point - stay where I'm at? Look for something with better pay (and an office!)? A lot of that depends on what I do academically - I'm contemplating grad school. Part of the reason for that is, of course, that as long as I'm in school full-time, I can continue to defer paying my student loans. Mostly, though, it's because grad school was always one of my goals way back when and I'd still like to get that masters degree. When I first began college (in 1981) my goal was an MLS degree and I'm leaning toward that again. I just got an information package from IUPUI and next month I'm going to get together with a cousin who completed their MLS degree (masters of library science) program, loved it, and loves the job she got as a result.

Actually, asking "what next?" is kind of silly at this point, since I'm planning on applying to the program. The big question is whether I want to start in August or in January. I think I can postpone till January without losing my deferment - but starting in August won't bother me. A large part of the program can be done online and through televised distance learning, with some trips to Indy necessary. Hmm, I wonder if IUPU at Fort Wayne has this program? I need to look; Fort Wayne's closer and I have an aunt there.... Just checked, doesn't look like it.

Of course, if I move up to Niles pretty quickly, I can live there for six months, then apply to U of M and Wayne State as a Michigan resident. I'd actually prefer both of them to IUPU - but logistically it probably makes more sense to stay here. If I went to either U of M or Wayne State - where dad got his MSW, by the way, so it really does appeal to me - I'd have to move to Ann Arbor or the Detroit area. I love that idea, but we all know what the job market in Michigan is like. At least here I have a job and I think they'd be ok with having to go to Indy once in awhile, plus I have vacation time. Also, to qualify for in-state tuition at either school, I'd have to be a Michigan resident for at least six months, which would mean moving to Niles pretty quickly.

Actually, I wouldn't mind moving to Niles anyway and becoming a Michigan resident again (it's close enough to South Bend to keep the job I have if need be) - but that would mess up my tuition for IUPU. *sigh* It's all so ridiculously complicated! Too many decisions!

So it looks like I'm headed for another year or two of school, provided I get accepted into the program and get enough financial aid. It's a 36 hour program, so technically I could do it in a year, but I don't think I really want to take 12 hours of grad-level classes and work full time. I think 9 hours will still qualify me for financial aid. Now wouldn't it be nice if I could get enough financial aid to work part-time. With Irish's disability payment each month, it would probably be doable, but I don't think my employer's really big on part-time secretaries. Most law firms, in my experience, aren't.

Haven't had Internet access at home since October and I got so far behind reading that I quit posting. Which is silly, really. Anyway, I'm almost caught up reading again, except for the Buffy group. It's been faster not commenting, which is why comments are so few and far between right now. If you've posted fic and I haven't commented it's either because (1) I haven't gotten there yet or (2) I just haven't commented because I'm trying to get everything read. I'll try to do better - posting and commenting - in the future.

To prove it's really me - I still love a fun meme!

		I will marry Callum Keith Rennie.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in Imlay City in our fabulous House.
		We will have 3 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a blue Dodge Dart.
		I will spend my days as a lawyer, and live happily ever after.

Though I suspect Callum Keith Rennie might not be all that easy to be married to.... Gotta love that blue Dodge Dart, though!

And to prove further that it's still me - I still can't remember how to do a cut without looking. I might edit tomorrow. Also tomorrow, who's birthday have I missed?

In upcoming episodes - where am I living now? Is it true I'm back in school yet again? Tune in next time....