Time flies when you're wasting a lifetime

 Went through most of the posts that I had transferred over a few years back and realized that I had accomplished a lot. 

I managed to successfully complete the nanotech systems program, sans my Calculus.  It's been a number of years, but last year, I was able to confirm that if I did the Calculus I could have the diploma.  This needs to get done this year. 

I began working in research and development for the University of Alberta, in the field of organic solar cells, then moved on to a different type of research at Thompson River University.  Husbands work took him out of Alberta, then to BC.  I ended up losing my career in the sciences, and because of the way things had changed, I ended up going back to Administration work. 

Having done the work though, I do know now though, that it really isn't a field I want to be in.  Academia isn't really my forte. 

Survived the first week, only 14 more weeks of this semester to go.

This week comes to a close with three math assignments, an electromag assignment all due on Monday. Plus there are three or four labs to prepare for and a quiz on Monday and Thursday.

Tomorrow I will complete the rest of my assignments, finish preparing for the labs and then review everything one more time. As part of the program I'm taking, there are information seminars that assist students with things such as memory and concentration, procrastination and time management and so forth. Part of this series indicated the importance of reviewing on a nightly basis, as 80% of the material is forgotten unless you keep up with this regimen.

Also, memory tricks such as the roman room method seem to work well for me. To briefly explain, if one must remember a list of items (which I will need to for digital systems and electromag) one visualizes the room they spend the most time in, and take the items they need to remember and place them in that room.

For example, three days ago, in the session I needed to remember the list:

Pumpkin, keys, envelope, shirt, stump, car, and flowers. To do so I made up a story about how I came home to find a smashed pumpkin all over my new bedspread, threw my keys down in disgust as I noticed an unpaid bill in the envelope. As if that weren't bad enough, there was a spot on my favorite blue shirt, a stump from my rose bush the dog had drug in, managed to step on a car that the grandbaby had left behind and the flowers my husband gave me (which I had dried two years ago were obliterated by the cat). While I was skeptical of the method initially, the fact that I still remember this obscure list 3/4 days later is a testimony unto itself.

I still have a few questions left, but also managed to briefly glance through the labs, and organize things into proper binders etc.

I keep reminding myself that I quit my job on account of this, and that to give it anything less than my absolute all would be both foolish and a waste of money.

Must keep focused.

Forced Downtime - 3 years ago

Ever since deciding to go back to school full-time I've been working a few jobs, and now that I've expended every possible bit of energy I've had my body has decided to mutiny. I've been forced to take a couple days off from work, as I've been coughing (among other things) so badly that there are periods when I cannot breathe.

Thankfully for me (although not for him) my sweet husband has been off work this week, and has been a gem in pampering me. Sometimes I'd prefer that he just leave me to die in peace (a bit dramatic you might think, but if you heard the coughing - you might just agree with me that I've caught the bubonic plague).

At any rate, it's forced me into some downtime, and while my body may be sick - my mind is still working out ways to organize, and gain more effectiveness in the tasks I do on a regular basis.

For instance this morning, I found myself looking for further organizational tips with respect to back-to-school for my children, and am quite happy with a couple of tips that I hadn't yet thought of myself. More specifically, having a clip on the fridge where papers that require signature can go --- already have the clip there, just haven't been using it for that!

I've also been creating a schedule which includes meals for the week, appointments, and so forth.

I've always had a workable schedule in my head, and never run late for this reason. Now though there is to be more on my plate than usual, I figure now might be the time to get an idea together as to what this looks like on paper (or a huge calendar that you can write on )

Now that I've got this thought under control, maybe I can drink my neocitran in peace, pump myself full of vitamins and get some sleep!

Nanotech Systems - Day 1 - 3 years ago

As some of you know, I've recently quit my full-time job to pursue education that will open up a new career path. Today was my 'first' day school, and I found it to be quite light, with a good portion of the professors simply going over course outlines, introducing us to one another without any real work. While I know this is good in some aspects, considering we're on an extremely tight timeline, getting down to business would have made the most sense.

Unfortunately, the only professor who agreed with me was in my last class of the day and decided to go over s.i. information which made my eyes glaze over.

We've got an interesting group though, and frankly I think we're going to have some incredibly heated discussions when it comes to the ethical portion of the course. We've got everything from 18 year olds to grannies like myself. Also interesting to note, most of the students had taken the course because it 'sounded interesting'.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I've doled out $2000, plus another $1000 for books, quit my full-time job and made a conscious decision to enroll because the field is vast, and because it truly will impact each and every field of science.

We went over our reasoning, and I explained that I'd done three years worth of work towards a B.Sc, and that previous courses included organic and inorganic chemistry as well as genetics. It was because this course took everything I'd learned and put it together, yet still offered flexibility and the ability to think outside the box, because I am so far outside the box, it's down the street and on the corner I think....it's been a while since I visited! LOL.

Still though, had some interesting conversations with some individuals, and managed to get myself involved in a ginger beef cook-off against a bonafide chinese chef. I challenged him to the cook-off after having said that I'd never eat restaurant ginger beef because it wasn't as good as mine.

Now, perhaps I should give some background on my opponent, this fellow IS chinese, and his family owns a restaurant! Still though Jean-Pare has this to die for recipe for ginger beef that I have replicated several times, each time with great delight to myself and those who eat it. I SHALL be victorious! (It has a ginger honey glaze...mmmmn).

At the end of my rather long day, my surly husband came to get me, ranting and raving about everything under the sun and informing me that the dayhome had called asking where the hell we were because we were 2 hours late. Hence the reason why I'm planning his demise.

Methinks sometimes my husband isn't as smart as I give him credit for being, afterall who in their right mind would tick off a woman who is prone to bouts of violence during PMS week who could potentially build something so small to slip into him.

P.S. My husband's name is not Earl, but he could easily be renamed.

Nanotech Systems - Week I - 3 years ago

Survived the first week, only 14 more weeks of this semester to go.

This week comes to a close with three math assignments, an electromag assignment all due on Monday. Plus there are three or four labs to prepare for and a quiz on Monday and Thursday.

Tomorrow I will complete the rest of my assignments, finish preparing for the labs and then review everything one more time. As part of the program I'm taking, there are information seminars that assist students with things such as memory and concentration, procrastination and time management and so forth. Part of this series indicated the importance of reviewing on a nightly basis, as 80% of the material is forgotten unless you keep up with this regimen.

Also, memory tricks such as the roman room method seem to work well for me. To briefly explain, if one must remember a list of items (which I will need to for digital systems and electromag) one visualizes the room they spend the most time in, and take the items they need to remember and place them in that room.

For example, three days ago, in the session I needed to remember the list:
Pumpkin, keys, envelope, shirt, stump, car, and flowers. To do so I made up a story about how I came home to find a smashed pumpkin all over my new bedspread, threw my keys down in disgust as I noticed an unpaid bill in the envelope. As if that weren't bad enough, there was a spot on my favorite blue shirt, a stump from my rose bush the dog had drug in, managed to step on a car that the grandbaby had left behind and the flowers my husband gave me (which I had dried two years ago were obliterated by the cat). While I was skeptical of the method initially, the fact that I still remember this obscure list 3/4 days later is a testimony unto itself.


I still have a few questions left, but also managed to briefly glance through the labs, and organize things into proper binders etc.

I keep reminding myself that I quit my job on account of this, and that to give it anything less than my absolute all would be both foolish and a waste of money.

Must keep focused.

Nanotech Systems - Semester I

I did it! It's done, I've passed all my courses and am gearing up for a second semester starting January 10th.

My marks were mediocre in some areas, and I realize now that I was spending time on frivolous things and that my organizational skills, or lack thereof hindered my progress in some respect. 

Toward the end of the semester I had honed my study skills, and my note taking, as well as cut back on the frittering away of my precious, precious time.

Now though, we've experienced some considerable financial set backs, my husbands transmission went in his truck that he uses for work, and the cost of the program was slightly more than anticipated - it drained the reserves that I had set aside for this next semester.

All these set backs have left us pulling our pockets out our jeans and picking the lint off of them. So now, I'm having to leave the 'coming up' with the funding to God. I've done my part, I've put out resumes, my husband has taken on extra work and there is nothing else we can do.

I place my trust in him that he will help me to get a position that works well with the schooling and will provide me with what I need. I know to some this sort of attitude might be strange, but God has seen me through all of the incredibly hard times, so why wouldn't I trust him with something as simple as this?

Nanotech Systems - Semester II - from 2 years ago

Semester II is in full swing. I've been given my course load and find that I'm working on things like PCR primer creation (via computer, then in practical lab) in microbiology, statics, calculus, clean room procedures, materials science, microelectronics and organic chemistry.

I write my first exam for Calculus at the end of the month, and have already handed in five assignments for various courses. This spells the end of week one, and the beginning of the next.

Calculus seems to be interesting, I took a smattering of it before but never finished the course. Seems largely based on algebra (YAY - math I can actually do), and statics is on trigonometry (YAY - more math I can actually do!)

With this in mind, I need to keep on the right track for success.

In order to be successful, I need to have the right frame of mind, and to be willing to sacrifice fun things for my schoolwork, and to make it a priority.

I need discipline, assigning regular study and homework times, practicing good study habits, and minimizing procrastination.

Organization is crucial as well, capturing important dates in my daytimer, making a daily to-do list, and keeping my binders/notebooks/lab books up to date, legible, and neatly organized for ease of reference.

Distractions, by analyzing the things that hampered me last semester, I can avoid the same types of distractions. Time spent online is definitely not constructive if it's spent blogging (ha ha) or frittering away time by planting things in Farmville. Yes, I said it. I play Farmville. Live with it. One thing I can do to avoid this particular type of distraction is to avoid being online at all, thankfully I have large cycles of time during my week in which I can spend at the library away from my addiction muahahaha.

Focus, do I find myself day dreaming and wandering off into an unused corner of my mind during a riveting math lecture. I'd be a liar if I said NO. LMBO! Still though, I am able to recognize these weaknesses and catch myself and modify my behaviour accordingly. Note to self: Afternoon classes require coffee, and foods that provide energy.

If you've read through this thus far, sorry....this was more for me, than you. However, I'd like to point out I've just stolen 3 minutes of your life that you'll never get back. *snickers* SUCKA!