Final Week

Hello Everyone,

Well, this nine weeks flew right by! I have learned a lot in this class! I realize how much work goes into a research paper and how your peers and professor can be very helpful in this journey. I appreciated the feedback since it helped me see my paper through someone else's eyes. I never realized how much work goes into a research paper. My biggest issue was finding good information on my topic. Research takes time, especially when there is some not so good information out there. I enjoyed learning how to weed out some of the extra information not needed in a paper. I think my biggest fear was taking too much out and not leaving enough! If I spoke to a future student, I would tell them to rely on your KU Handbook because it will be very helpful. Trust in your instincts and do not be afraid to ask for help or have someone give their opinion on your paper. They are only there to help.

I hope everyone enjoys their time off between terms! You have all earned it! I have enjoyed class with all of you and I feel I have gotten to know each of you a little better through your blog! I hope to see you in my future classes! Professor Barb, thank you for all of your help this term, you were a tremendous help!

Have a great week! Best Wishes!

Missie

The End Is Near!!!

Hey Everyone,

Well, we are in the home stretch!! We are in week nine and I am feeling the stress. I have two papers due, as I am sure many of you do and it seems like there is so much to do. I enjoyed working with all my classmates through this class. It has been an interesting learning experience which I was nervous about at first but you have all made it a lot easier. I enjoy writing on the blog and reading everyone else's blog. I do not know about any of you but I am over thinking everything. I feel all the feedback I have learned from this class has helped me become a better writer. I am looking forward to a little down time when our classes end this term. Are any of you doing anything special to relieve your stress during this week? Is anyone doing anything special when classes are over for this term?

I appreciate all of your comments on the blog and all of your help in class. This is probably one of our last blogs for this class and I can walk away saying that I enjoyed this term even though at times I was not sure I would make it...LOL Anyway, thank you everyone! I hope your coming terms at Kaplan are great! Good luck!

Blog Experience

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I spent time with family at their camp which had no internet service. They thought it did until I got there and realized there was none to be had. You never know how dependent you have become on the internet until you have to be without it for a couple of days. LOL. I still had a good time and found plenty of other things to do but in the back of my mind I was worrying about all the things I had to do on the internet that was not getting done. Now that I am home, all I think about is catching up! LOL It has been so hot here that I do not mind staying inside with the air conditioning doing some class work.

One of the topics listed for us to talk about from class was whether we would continue our blog after class. I like blogging and I find it can be very therapeutic. However, I am not sure I will continue on this blog site. I think that I do a little blogging everyday when I write on Facebook. Don't get me wrong I like writing on here but this is more for my class than for my everyday friends. I like that I get feedback and people comment on here but I feel a lot of people will not continue to keep their blogs updated. I do enjoy this experience for this class and it has helped me to get to know my classmates better. So, I am glad I did this!
How about you? Will you continue to blog at this site after class is over?

I can be found blogging everyday on Facebook. If you want to continue after class you can find me there at graybybush@yahoo.com

I have found blogging for this class and reading everyone else's blogs to be a nice addition to class. It has been great!

Missie

Frustrations

Hello,

This blog is up rather late and I apologize. I have been having problems with Internet here and without a car, I have no way to get to Internet very readily. It is frustrating to get the run around by the cable company when you live in a small town and there are few options to turn to for better Internet. One day I will move I swear! LOL

One of the options for class was to discuss how we felt about peer review. I was nervous at first, the very thought of other people besides the professor seeing my work made me nervous. Then I was thinking on the bright side of things and realized that this will help me with a better final paper. I have always hated to critique or criticize anyone Else's work. I always look for the good things and never have the heart to say the bad. I have learned though throughout the years of being a supervisor at work, that not everything can be great all the time. Critiquing is a way to help someone see it from a different point of view. I know all this and how it is beneficial but it does not take away the butterflies I feel when I read someone Else's review of my work. So this will be a learning experience for me in just calming down and looking at what is said. Then making the changes for a better paper. I look forward to all the feedback!

Have a great week!

Missie

Stressing Out!!

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Father's Day weekend! It was so hot to do anything here this weekend outside so instead of grilling outside we used a George Forman Grill to grill inside. It worked out wonderfully and everyone stayed cool! Since my father passed away about a year ago we started a tradition that on Father's day we would pay tribute to him by each of us telling something we remember about him or even a story about him, then we have his favorite dessert at the end of the day! This is our second actual Father's Day doing this and it was very nice to remember him so fondly.

I have been stressed out the last few weeks because of our final projects coming up in both classes. I have had mishaps happening to my left and to my right! LOL I have been having problems with my internet connection here and that in itself gives me a level of frustration that is beyond belief. I was then sick and I am just now feeling better and that lasted almost a week now. Lastly, our car broke down and lets just say I gave an arm and leg at the garage..LOL So, now I feel like I am working against the clock on how long my internet signal will stay on. It is like a race and let me say that I like a challenge but this is nuts...LOL. I have many ideas on my paper and everyone wants a outline but I do not usually work with outlines. I like to use free writing and brainstorming and then put it all together. This has worked for me in the past. I think I overthink the outlines. I am sure this will all come together soon, I just need to take a deep breath.

I hope all of you are getting along on your papers! Good luck! I know they will be great!

Missie

Kaplan Decisions

Hello Everyone!
One of the questions that was suggested we discuss for class was; How is school influencing our lives up to this point? I have to say that school has been a positive influence on my life. My main reason to go to school was to change careers and hopefully graduate to work from home. When I first started at Kaplan I was excited and a bit nervous. I am now in my fourth term and very comfortable with my classes. I have found out a lot about myself during this journey so far. I have learned that I can do more when I am faced with a challenge then I give myself credit for. I work hard for my grades and I have learned to balance school and home life. It helps that I do not have a job right now or children which are more of a challenge and I applaud the people who balance it all. It takes work. I happen to have a very understanding family and they tend to stay out of my way when I am doing homework. When I finished high school I went to work as a certified nurse assistant and did not feel the need to go to college. I needed to make money and figured later I would go to school for LPN or RN certification. Life changes though and so do we, my life took a different direction and I found some things I was really good at. I always regretted not going to college. I found the perfect job and loved every minute of working there but when they downsized, I became unemployed. Therefore, I needed a career change and with the disability that I have, working at a desk for eight hours a day is not possible. I need something more tailored for me. I know I am rolling on; it was just of story of how I came to Kaplan. Sorry for being long winded. Anyway, coming to Kaplan has been an eye opening experience. I have learned that I can do almost anything I put my mind to and that it is okay to ask questions. I love to talk and be around people so that is a bit of a challenge with online classes. Do any of you miss the social interaction? I also felt, until coming to Kaplan, that asking questions on how to do something when it is unclear as a weakness. Now, I feel questions help me more than hinder me. I find that with writing classes, like the one we are currently in, I over think the assignment. I get to many ideas and sometimes filtering them is a pain in the neck. I learned in my first term at Kaplan that brainstorming works for me best. I love to just put a lot of ideas on paper and then go back later and filter through what I think is important and which are not. I have tried other processes but brainstorming works best. What works for you? I am a huge fan of lists too! I love making a list for the day and then as I complete each project or errand I can check it off. At the end of the day I love to see a list full of checks! HaHa! I know it is strange. I love the feeling of accomplishment that I get.

Well, I am sure that you have had enough of my rambling but have a great week everyone!

Missie

Small Town VS. City Life

Hello! My question for everyone is which do you prefer, living in a small town or the city? I live in a town of about 10,000 residents. I grew up in a very small town of about 2,000 people. My point is this, many people graduate and leave here for college. I have been to the bigger cities in our area but never have I lived in one. I have a few friends that I have visited that live in larger cities and they love it. When I visit, I fall in love with all that there is to do and see. However, when I leave to go back home I feel a sense of relief. Living in a smaller town or village seems more comfortable because of the atmosphere and people. I can go to a store and sure enough I find someone that I know or I am friends with. This can be a blessing and a curse. HaHa! In small towns, everyone knows everyone else's business. When I visit the city, I feel anonymous and sometimes that feels good. I bring this up because one my best friends came to visit this week and she lives in a large city. She was here for only one day and started complaining about how early everything closes here. She got progressively worse as the week went on and said since she had not lived here in ten years that now she feels suffocated here. I felt a little insulted and I probably should not have. I agree that the city has a lot more to offer in the way of places to go and things to do but there is something to be said for the small town charm too. What she forgets is that people here are friendly and there are things to do here, they are just more low key. So, what do you all prefer?

On a different note, this week "Golden Girl" Rue McClanahan passed away. I have been watching the Golden Girls re-runs for years. I love the show and I actually look forward to watching it. In the past two years we have lost Estelle Getty and Bea Arthur and now Rue McClanahan. It feels like an end to an era! Betty White is the last Golden Girl standing. She is having a second coming in her career and she is hysterical. I was just sad about the loss.

My last thought is about procrastination. Do any of you do this? I am a perpetual procrastinator. I put things off until the last minute and then hurry about to get them done. I used to be a planner, always planning ahead. I like to get things done just a certain way. Lately, I have noticed myself procrastinating more and more on different things. I find that I actually get a rise out of finishing things at the last moment. I get a rush and I find whatever I am doing gets done better for it. I think this is backwards, when I was younger I planned out everything and now that I am older I am constantly putting things off. This should be the other way around, shouldn't it?HaHa! Do any of you suffer from this?

Well, that is all for now. Have a great week one and all!

Missie :)

Holiday--Vacation or Work??

Hello!

The reason for the title of this blog is that I feel that I did more work this weekend then relaxing. I am not alone when I say this, trust me. I have spoken to friends and family about this and they all feel like they need to go back to work to relax from the vacation. Haha! I think that most of us strive to have such a good time that sometimes we stress out. Every Memorial Day my family and I go to the parade here in our town. My towns parade lasts all of 30-45 minutes. I am not joking! Haha! Then we go to plant flowers and flags for our lost loved ones. I was surprised to see how many people were doing the same thing. Do any of you have any special Memorial Day traditions?

This evening we had a huge thunderstorm. I could not find my cat. I thought he had gotten out somehow. The power went out, which made the search even more stressing. After about an hour, I found him hiding in the bathroom under the sink. HaHa! His eyes were huge and he was scared out of his wits. I left him where he was and breathed a sigh of relief. Once the storm was over, he came strutting out like nothing happened. About 10 minutes later there was another really loud crack of thunder and I have never seen him jump so high in my life. I know it is wrong to laugh but it was just plain funny! Do any of you have pets that do crazy things when they are in panic mode or scared?

Well, that is all for now. Have a good week!

Missie

Random Feelings!

Hello Everyone! I know one of our option were to write something about this blog-o-sphere we are now working with. When I write on this blog it honestly feels like I am writing on my Facebook page, which I try to do on a daily basis. I think it is my way of keeping in touch and getting my thoughts out. Sometimes sharing things with people can be very therapeutic. I find that in my past classes at Kaplan I have made a couple of friends along the way. I think that because we do not see each other it makes it easy to just go on with our lives or the next class and not connect. I like taking classes online because it allows me to be flexible with my time. I have days when I feel better then others and some days I feel more motivated. So, going to class online allows me to go with the gusto. When I am feeling spunky, I get a whole lot done. When I do not feel like doing anything for class it is nice to know that I can do it later or the next day. I do miss being in an actual class room sometime because I am a talker and love to be around people. My husband laughs at me because he says he cannot take me anywhere without me striking up a conversation with someone. I just believe being nice to people comes back to you. Be nice to people and 95% of the time they will be nice to you. My brother thinks I am part Sunshine care bear and part Kathy Lee Gifford. HaHa! Anyway, I am getting off track here. I like being in class because it helps me with my procrastination. I am a classic procrastinator but when I know I have to actually check in with someone once or twice a week then I make sure things get done. All in all, I am pleased with my decision to go back to school and love being at Kaplan. No regrets! Missie

Turbulance Ahead!

Hello! It has been a week from which I have not wanted to pull my head out from under a pillow. It is 9:30 pm here in Herkimer, NY and it is still 83 degrees. Last week it was 52 during the day. This weather change has been wreaking havok on me. I contracted the nastiest cold out of nowhere this week and it still has not left me. My uncle had a major heart attack last Friday and I could not go see him because I was sick. Why let a sick person in the hospital??? Just kidding, I know it was to protect him. Then there is the family fueding with each other and me having to listen to all sides of the story. Interesting yes but I dare not ever take a side. Is it just me getting older or do most people feel this way, life is just too short to fight and yell over stuff that should be just ignored??

I find reading a good book can be very therapuetic but I find after doing school work I just do not want to sit down and read anymore. I love reading. It is my favorite pass time and most relaxing thing I do. Does anyone have any suggestions to really good books or really good authors to read??

I have found one thing that has made me less stressed out this week and it is to stop playing most of the games I play on facebook. I felt happiest when I was in there checking on statuses and notes. The games take so long and now when I can be in and out within an half hour, I like facebook again! I have found a lot of old friends and some new friends too! Now just to stay in touch!

Tomorrow hopefully my nephew will be over to visit and tell me that I have no skills to play video games....he really makes me feel old. I love watching his face when he learns something new.

Enjoy your day,

Missie

Beautiful Day

I hope everyone's Sunday was as calm and relaxing as mine. It was a beautiful day outside. I enjoyed a visit from family. My husband finally got my cat, Graybear, some snackies. He ran out the other day and has been truly inconsolable since. You would have thought I was giving him gold this afternoon when we gave him a few. I realize that he has his own personality and he is quite comical. I often wonder what he is thinking while he is just gazing out the window for long periods of time. I wonder if his mind is as cluttered as mine gets sometimes. I don't know if anyone else feels this way but my mind just never quits. Sometimes it is hard to even go to sleep. On a lighter note, I really enjoy looking at pictures that my friends post on facebook. I find it fascinating how fast the kids are growing up. Boy, it makes me feel so old. I think I have a facebook addiction. HAHA. I have to be on at least once a day or I feel like I am missing out on something. I think there should be a facebook addiction meeting online...haha. Well, time to get off of here. I am going to watch some T.V. while playing some Pogo. One of my favorite shows is one tonight, Army Wives. Love it!

A New Day!

Hello! This is my very first blog. I am both nervous and excited about this new adventure in writing. My first day of classes has been successful. I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead for each class. Going back to school has been one of the best decisions in my life. I am going to work from home when school is completed and that will be yet another great adventure. I have great family support which is very helpful. Life is about change and going with the flow of it is better than resisting. I will try to post here often because I am better at putting things into writing than I am talking sometimes. I think it gives me a chance to think things out before I put it in writing. Well, I am off to watch one of my favorite television shows MythBusters. Have a good night.