This morning Bug went to school at daddy's school. The College I'm going to, Jefferson Community College, has a day care on campus. Its not only going to be better for me, but it is cheaper, and its a more accredited day care.
Then I was off to US/Vietnam History. The teacher is pretty cool, comes into class listening to classic rock on his Ipod, cranked up all the way. Then we traipsed through the 1400 and 1500's of the Vietnam history. They pretty much were under attack from Spain, France, China, oh and the Christians.
Then my friend Pat and I went and found the computer lab. There we checked to see if our military transcripts were transcribed. They were not. Then we checked on our GI Bill benefits. they will start next week. Woohoo
Well then we went out to our cars to get our golf shoes and 7-irons for our golf class. we sat around for about a hour before we went into the gym and then saw the sign and said the classes for golf and badminton were canceled.
So I got Bug and we got on the road to Ricks. Traffic wasn't too bad till we got to Toronto then it got so bad, I actually had to stop in Canada for gas. Robbie had a little accident, but it wasn't his fault, as he had to go pee, and of course there wasn't an exit to be seen. Then we realized that we forgot diapers, so had to stop at Walmart for them. then we got to Ricks and got settled and now its time for bed.
More later
Friday, August 29, 2008
College log ... day four
Well Day four started off with meeting up with another "old guy". we had an ad hoc meeting of our new club "N.U.T.S". That stands for "Not Ur Traditional Students". Its going to be mostly for the older crowd that been away from school for like 10 years or so. We are still working on that. Our Motto is "Are You NUTS???"
In World Geography, we discussed the different types of geography. then discussed some of the types. We also had more pictures of South America, showing the different types of geography and how to interpret them.
In American History, I learned that Columbus wasn't the goodie goodie explorer we learned in high school. I thought that he was dirt bag, when i found out all the horrible things he did to the Indians. Then we got in to a class discussion about it. Not much impute from the 18 and 19 year olds but oh well. I got a lot out of it and hopefully it continues to be this easy.
Then I went and got Bug, went home and packed up some stuff, so tomorrow Robbie and I can go to Ricks house for the weekend. More on that tomorrow i guess.
Later....
In World Geography, we discussed the different types of geography. then discussed some of the types. We also had more pictures of South America, showing the different types of geography and how to interpret them.
In American History, I learned that Columbus wasn't the goodie goodie explorer we learned in high school. I thought that he was dirt bag, when i found out all the horrible things he did to the Indians. Then we got in to a class discussion about it. Not much impute from the 18 and 19 year olds but oh well. I got a lot out of it and hopefully it continues to be this easy.
Then I went and got Bug, went home and packed up some stuff, so tomorrow Robbie and I can go to Ricks house for the weekend. More on that tomorrow i guess.
Later....
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
College Log ... Day three
Well day three has come and gone. I had US Vietnam history in the morning, which was a pretty good class. We discussed Vietnam history through the mongols taking China. We had a lots of good discussion on it. Then Pat and I went and had a cup of coffee while we waited for our Golf class started. Pat is a prior service Army/Air Force. Plus he is old like me. We are going to start an old folks club and take trips to casinos and such. Plus we were throwing around an idea to maybe start a shooting club. Down south target shooting clubs are kinda big, so maybe we can get enough interest going here.
Then we had a fun golf class. But we had to hit wiffle balls, as there was a Fall Fest 2008 Picnic going on "down range". As much and as hard as I could try I could not get that darn wiffle ball to get there.
After class I went to the picnic, had some free food (burgers, hot dogs, macaroni salad), listened to some good music, and then got to play in a bouncy house. Every time we go somewhere there is bouncy houses for the kids but not adults. Well they had an obstacle course one, that pat and I and the student body president and a few others raced in. I got a little sweaty.
Well it was finally time for my last class. ALGEBRA. I got to class early so went in and sat down and was trying to figure out some of the problems in the book, when the teacher came in. So we chatted for a bit about this math program called My MathLab. Its pretty good but had a few bugs in it. Luckily I had played with it last night and I figured it all out, so I got to help the class with the problems they were having. Then she asked me if I was having any problems with the work, so I told her the problems I'm having. So instead of having a quiz today she figured out a better way to explain rational numbers, integers, etc... She still wont tell me what an "imaginary" number is. Cant imagine why that is. Then she told me that all our homework in the book has the answers in the back. She busted up laughing when I told her I didn't know that and had been fumbling with a problem. Well we finally got past that nightmare, and got into fractions. Now I'm remembering some of it from high school. Just need a calculator with the fraction/decimal button on it. Was going to buy one at school but its like 115 dollars, but it has a USB plug to plug into your computer. Might just go ahead and get a graphing calculator since I'm going to need it next semester.
Now I'm just finishing up my computer homework, and studied the countries of South America. I'm going to watch a little M*A*S*H, and then get to bed and ready for tomorrow. After my two classes tomorrow, I will be coming home to get packed for the trip to ricks house for the weekend.
until later....
Then we had a fun golf class. But we had to hit wiffle balls, as there was a Fall Fest 2008 Picnic going on "down range". As much and as hard as I could try I could not get that darn wiffle ball to get there.
After class I went to the picnic, had some free food (burgers, hot dogs, macaroni salad), listened to some good music, and then got to play in a bouncy house. Every time we go somewhere there is bouncy houses for the kids but not adults. Well they had an obstacle course one, that pat and I and the student body president and a few others raced in. I got a little sweaty.
Well it was finally time for my last class. ALGEBRA. I got to class early so went in and sat down and was trying to figure out some of the problems in the book, when the teacher came in. So we chatted for a bit about this math program called My MathLab. Its pretty good but had a few bugs in it. Luckily I had played with it last night and I figured it all out, so I got to help the class with the problems they were having. Then she asked me if I was having any problems with the work, so I told her the problems I'm having. So instead of having a quiz today she figured out a better way to explain rational numbers, integers, etc... She still wont tell me what an "imaginary" number is. Cant imagine why that is. Then she told me that all our homework in the book has the answers in the back. She busted up laughing when I told her I didn't know that and had been fumbling with a problem. Well we finally got past that nightmare, and got into fractions. Now I'm remembering some of it from high school. Just need a calculator with the fraction/decimal button on it. Was going to buy one at school but its like 115 dollars, but it has a USB plug to plug into your computer. Might just go ahead and get a graphing calculator since I'm going to need it next semester.
Now I'm just finishing up my computer homework, and studied the countries of South America. I'm going to watch a little M*A*S*H, and then get to bed and ready for tomorrow. After my two classes tomorrow, I will be coming home to get packed for the trip to ricks house for the weekend.
until later....
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
College log...Day two
Well this was day two of my college experience.
Well started of by dropping off bug at daycare (old one), and found out she is going to be closed on Friday. I'm not going to start ranting on how i feel about her.
Then i got to school. Went and got my vehicles registered on campus, had a great breakfast in the cafe, turned in my laptop to get cleared for the campus wireless, signed for a locker (which i probably wont use because you could only fit a tissue box into it).
Then i went to Finacial aid to check on a loan I got from the state of NY. its only 250 dollars but it will help with supplies for the semester plus, I have to get a calculator for my math class, as I'm going to need all the help I can get.
then i just sat in the lounge and chatted with the student president for a little bit. then i checked into a club for military spouses / dependents. more on that later.
My first class was World Geography. the teacher is pretty cool. he is an ex army officer. today we basically had a Google Earth tour of South America. that was the coolest class. Of course next Tuesday is the first quiz on the countries of South America. In case you wanted to know, there are 12.
Then i had 2 hours till my next class. So I went and got my laptop, went to the student commons and logged into the Internet for a bit. talked to Lani while i was there. She thought i at home. but I'm not about to drive back ad forth numerous times a day. I will just hang out on campus.
Then i had American History to 1865. That's when my world as i know it came crashing down. The prof started talking about doing crisis reports, and event texts, etc... he had me so confused before he got finished handing out the syllabus. Then we introduced ourselves, told what we wanted to do in 50 to 10 years, what was our first memory of a historic event, and lastly, what we would write about in 2028 if we were writing a history. I'm going to share mine with you.
Name
Museum Curator or work at the Smithsonian.
The space shuttle landing at White Sands Missile Range. I just don't remember what year that was. I think that was the only time it ever landed there.
i would write about the fossil fuel crisis that's going on right now.
We have two texts to read from. Each is on the opposite side the spectrum. so one day a week we will read from one and discuss/report on it, then the same for the other day with the other text. I'm going to have to talk to the teacher next class and see if he can help me.
Thing that bothers me is all the reports i have to do. i haven't done a report since the last book report in high school 20 years ago.
Also when some of the students were introducing themselves, i felt so old. some of them were too young to remember the first gulf war, much less before that. they were talking about stuff that happened in the last 15 years. i even asked if any of them remembered when we invaded Panama in 1989. even some of the active duty soldiers don't remember that. oh i felt so old.
Then the class was over and i ran for my life. so now i have to chapters to read for Thursday and have to come up with some kind of discussion point on EARLY American history for class Thursday.
well that's it for the day, more tomorrow.
Well started of by dropping off bug at daycare (old one), and found out she is going to be closed on Friday. I'm not going to start ranting on how i feel about her.
Then i got to school. Went and got my vehicles registered on campus, had a great breakfast in the cafe, turned in my laptop to get cleared for the campus wireless, signed for a locker (which i probably wont use because you could only fit a tissue box into it).
Then i went to Finacial aid to check on a loan I got from the state of NY. its only 250 dollars but it will help with supplies for the semester plus, I have to get a calculator for my math class, as I'm going to need all the help I can get.
then i just sat in the lounge and chatted with the student president for a little bit. then i checked into a club for military spouses / dependents. more on that later.
My first class was World Geography. the teacher is pretty cool. he is an ex army officer. today we basically had a Google Earth tour of South America. that was the coolest class. Of course next Tuesday is the first quiz on the countries of South America. In case you wanted to know, there are 12.
Then i had 2 hours till my next class. So I went and got my laptop, went to the student commons and logged into the Internet for a bit. talked to Lani while i was there. She thought i at home. but I'm not about to drive back ad forth numerous times a day. I will just hang out on campus.
Then i had American History to 1865. That's when my world as i know it came crashing down. The prof started talking about doing crisis reports, and event texts, etc... he had me so confused before he got finished handing out the syllabus. Then we introduced ourselves, told what we wanted to do in 50 to 10 years, what was our first memory of a historic event, and lastly, what we would write about in 2028 if we were writing a history. I'm going to share mine with you.
Name
Museum Curator or work at the Smithsonian.
The space shuttle landing at White Sands Missile Range. I just don't remember what year that was. I think that was the only time it ever landed there.
i would write about the fossil fuel crisis that's going on right now.
We have two texts to read from. Each is on the opposite side the spectrum. so one day a week we will read from one and discuss/report on it, then the same for the other day with the other text. I'm going to have to talk to the teacher next class and see if he can help me.
Thing that bothers me is all the reports i have to do. i haven't done a report since the last book report in high school 20 years ago.
Also when some of the students were introducing themselves, i felt so old. some of them were too young to remember the first gulf war, much less before that. they were talking about stuff that happened in the last 15 years. i even asked if any of them remembered when we invaded Panama in 1989. even some of the active duty soldiers don't remember that. oh i felt so old.
Then the class was over and i ran for my life. so now i have to chapters to read for Thursday and have to come up with some kind of discussion point on EARLY American history for class Thursday.
well that's it for the day, more tomorrow.
Monday, August 25, 2008
College log ... day one
Well today was my first day of classes. I started the day with a coffee social in the quad (which is actually not a quad but whatever its called with 6 sides). Then I went to finish the paperwork for daycare there on campus. Finally i got to sit down and try to relax for a few minutes before my class started. My first class is US and Vietnam History. Unfortunately the course covers EVERYTHING about Vietnam since like 900 BC. We went around the room and got to say why we were taking this class, and most were taking it because it was the only thing open when they registered. I was the only one who had an active interest in Vietnam War. The Prof said that it should be interesting dialog in class when we get to the American part of the war. Going to be a pretty easy class I think. Only one paper is due right before Thanksgiving. Other than that its just tests on the notes he gives in class and the reading we do in the books. Yes i said books there are 2 but one wont come in till we get to the actual war. really going to be interesting.
After an hour break in between classes. I walked around and checked out the rest of campus.
My next class is golf. Yeah i said golf. Basically all I have to do in this class is improve hitting my iron clubs across a football field. Oh and a 10 question quiz on the origins of golf. Even better is that i can skip class if I go to a hitting range and hit a bucket of balls or play 9 holes.
After that class, which we got out early, I had like a 2 hour break so I went to the commons and just chilled out there, with a cold drink and some nice conversation with other students.
My last class on this day is Basic Algebra. i got to the classroom early and was talking to the teacher, who is a military spouse, but so are a few other women in the class. They sure were surprised when I told them I was a military spouse. Then the class went way over the hill, and so WAY over my head, with integers, whole numbers, irrational numbers, etc... I was so lost. then i realized that they were just trying to get us ready for the <,>,=, and other symbols. the teacher saw my lost in the headlights look, and after class asked me if i understood what she was saying. I told her I was confused with all the names but i understood how to use the symbols. but we will see. This class is also what they call a hybrid class. Part of the assignments are written, and part is online, with something called "My Mathlab". That's MATHLAB, not methlab. More about that later once i get it on my computer.
Tomorrow morning, i have to get my vehicle registered on campus for parking, sign for a locker in case I need to use it, which I might during my gym class. and get my computer registered to use on the campus wireless web. And I need to look into getting a calculator for later on in my math class, IF I can get into the book store tomorrow.
So finally I went and got the bug from the babysitter, and we came home where I quickly read my one chapter on Vietnam history. Now I'm about to start my math homework. Its just 35 questions so it shouldn't take long, unless I get lost again.
Tomorrow I have the hard subjects on my list. World Geography and American History to 1865. Like need to know about History before 1865. If only I could just take a history class that started after WWI, i would be happy. but its not to be.
Well more tomorrow...if I survive
After an hour break in between classes. I walked around and checked out the rest of campus.
My next class is golf. Yeah i said golf. Basically all I have to do in this class is improve hitting my iron clubs across a football field. Oh and a 10 question quiz on the origins of golf. Even better is that i can skip class if I go to a hitting range and hit a bucket of balls or play 9 holes.
After that class, which we got out early, I had like a 2 hour break so I went to the commons and just chilled out there, with a cold drink and some nice conversation with other students.
My last class on this day is Basic Algebra. i got to the classroom early and was talking to the teacher, who is a military spouse, but so are a few other women in the class. They sure were surprised when I told them I was a military spouse. Then the class went way over the hill, and so WAY over my head, with integers, whole numbers, irrational numbers, etc... I was so lost. then i realized that they were just trying to get us ready for the <,>,=, and other symbols. the teacher saw my lost in the headlights look, and after class asked me if i understood what she was saying. I told her I was confused with all the names but i understood how to use the symbols. but we will see. This class is also what they call a hybrid class. Part of the assignments are written, and part is online, with something called "My Mathlab". That's MATHLAB, not methlab. More about that later once i get it on my computer.
Tomorrow morning, i have to get my vehicle registered on campus for parking, sign for a locker in case I need to use it, which I might during my gym class. and get my computer registered to use on the campus wireless web. And I need to look into getting a calculator for later on in my math class, IF I can get into the book store tomorrow.
So finally I went and got the bug from the babysitter, and we came home where I quickly read my one chapter on Vietnam history. Now I'm about to start my math homework. Its just 35 questions so it shouldn't take long, unless I get lost again.
Tomorrow I have the hard subjects on my list. World Geography and American History to 1865. Like need to know about History before 1865. If only I could just take a history class that started after WWI, i would be happy. but its not to be.
Well more tomorrow...if I survive
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
its time to learn...
Well today was orientation and registration day for college. after i got a tour of the campus i sat down with my faculty adviser to discuss my major, and get my schedule started. Here is this semesters schedule:
Monday-Wednesday-Friday:
0905-1000 US and Vietnam History
1325-1420 Basic Algebra
Tuesday-Thursday
1100-1220 Intro to World Geography
1400-1520 American History to 1865
i also have a half credit class---Bowling, for my PE requirement but that might have to change since they only give me 10 minutes to get from the bowling alley in downtown Watertown, to my class at the campus. overlooked that somehow. will get it fixed tomorrow.
oh and you cant imagine how happy i was about the Vietnam History class. It was almost made for me. for some of you who don't know, I have a great interest in the Vietnam War and collect artifacts, and do living history reenactments of the war. its going to be a great course for me. the rest of the schedule fills out some of the requirements for my degree. My major is in Museum Studies. When i grow up i want to work in museums.
Don't worry mom and dad and rick, i will still be coming labor day weekend. just might have to leave after my last class. i should still be there by midnight, if everything goes as planned.
other than that, i will be posting more as classes start next week and i get into the swing of things.
Robbie might be changing day cares also. the campus has a day care center on campus for the students. it will be easier for me to drop him off and pick him up, and its going to be way cheaper. also it is a pre-k center so he will be ready for kindergarten next year.
i got a government loan, which surprised me, that covered all of my tuition except for 41 dollars. once my GI Bill kicks in and whatever else i get from VA everything will be good. OMG have you seen the price of books lately????? my books for 4 classes was $472. it was outrageous. but some of the books, like for my Vietnam class, i wont be getting rid of. I'm keeping those. i read the first few pages of one of the books and almost could not put it down.
I also got a student ID Card which you can put money on it and use it around campus, as the soda and snack machines have card readers on them. plus it can be used for other activities like plays and such.
till next week......
Monday-Wednesday-Friday:
0905-1000 US and Vietnam History
1325-1420 Basic Algebra
Tuesday-Thursday
1100-1220 Intro to World Geography
1400-1520 American History to 1865
i also have a half credit class---Bowling, for my PE requirement but that might have to change since they only give me 10 minutes to get from the bowling alley in downtown Watertown, to my class at the campus. overlooked that somehow. will get it fixed tomorrow.
oh and you cant imagine how happy i was about the Vietnam History class. It was almost made for me. for some of you who don't know, I have a great interest in the Vietnam War and collect artifacts, and do living history reenactments of the war. its going to be a great course for me. the rest of the schedule fills out some of the requirements for my degree. My major is in Museum Studies. When i grow up i want to work in museums.
Don't worry mom and dad and rick, i will still be coming labor day weekend. just might have to leave after my last class. i should still be there by midnight, if everything goes as planned.
other than that, i will be posting more as classes start next week and i get into the swing of things.
Robbie might be changing day cares also. the campus has a day care center on campus for the students. it will be easier for me to drop him off and pick him up, and its going to be way cheaper. also it is a pre-k center so he will be ready for kindergarten next year.
i got a government loan, which surprised me, that covered all of my tuition except for 41 dollars. once my GI Bill kicks in and whatever else i get from VA everything will be good. OMG have you seen the price of books lately????? my books for 4 classes was $472. it was outrageous. but some of the books, like for my Vietnam class, i wont be getting rid of. I'm keeping those. i read the first few pages of one of the books and almost could not put it down.
I also got a student ID Card which you can put money on it and use it around campus, as the soda and snack machines have card readers on them. plus it can be used for other activities like plays and such.
till next week......
Saturday, August 9, 2008
college man??????
Well i took a placement test today to get into college. it covered reading comprehension, sentence structure, an mathematics. well to begin with, since i love to read, i aced the reading comprehension test. The mathematics was a little trickier with fractions an percents an such. my guess work must have been pretty good as i passed the test. guess my scribblings of formulas were the right ones. Now the rest of the English test. First off let me say that back in 1989 i dropped out of high school and joined the Army because of English. Almost my entire senior year would have been English. Now i take this test almost 20 years later and I did so well i skipped an English course and moved to English 102. that was very surprising. Now on Monday i have my final financial aid appointment, then hit admissions to complete that paperwork, the head to registration to set my classes for this semester. if that all goes well, on Tuesday i will meet my faculty advisor and my student advisor who will then show me around campus, where my classes will be held, where the bookstore is and such.
on another note, since VA changed my medicines i have to take for my head injury, i have been stressed out to the max, massive headaches, nausea, irritable, moody, and my head feels like its on a water bed, just floating back and forth. hopefully on Tuesday i will get it fixed. i was better off with my old medicines, just needed something for the headaches. we will see. i have lately been going to the VA hospital to get cat scans and such done. i have more appointments there in the near future.
finally Robbie an I went bowling on Thursday with some of the other families of the family readiness group. but im going to let him talk about that.
on another note, since VA changed my medicines i have to take for my head injury, i have been stressed out to the max, massive headaches, nausea, irritable, moody, and my head feels like its on a water bed, just floating back and forth. hopefully on Tuesday i will get it fixed. i was better off with my old medicines, just needed something for the headaches. we will see. i have lately been going to the VA hospital to get cat scans and such done. i have more appointments there in the near future.
finally Robbie an I went bowling on Thursday with some of the other families of the family readiness group. but im going to let him talk about that.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
S T R E S S ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Well first off the VA changed my medicine, so now i have to go through all the figuring out what dosage is right for me stuff. i cant fall asleep, when i do i sleep really soundly, which in turn means i don't hear my alarm, so i sleep till sometimes 1 pm. I'm restless, and anxious, and stressed all the time.
I finally went to the VA hospital in Syracuse for the first time for a CAT Scan. well i left Carthage really early thinking that it would take time to get there, find the hospital, find my appointment place, get checked in, etc... Well i got there at about 9 am for an 11 am appointment. i found the parking garage, and the guard gave me directions for after i found a parking spot. Once i got in the hospital, the information desk directed me to each of the areas i needed to go to. First was to get an ID card and travel reimbursement. I get .285 cents per mile for traveling to and from the hospital to my home, minus a deduction. But that rate i believe is going up soon, so that is cool. I checked into my appointed place at about 9:45, and by 10 i was lying on the CAT Scan machine. I was out of there and done with everything by 1030. remember my appointment was scheduled for 11 am. talk about service.
Lately Robbie and I have been slowly cleaning the house as we have kinda let it get away from us. Its getting better.
Well now for the good news. HOPEFULLY by the first of September i will be a college freshman. i have applied to Jefferson Community College here in Watertown. I'm going to start off with an AA in humanities and social sciences, just to get started. Once we move to the next duty station i can start working on the subjects that i really want to study. I'm want to work in museums, so i need to study history and museum studies. more on that later. the bad part is getting financial aid. half the scholarships i have found are bogus ways to get to to go to "online colleges". once they find out that i want to go to a real school they say thanks but no thanks. If anyone has any Ideas of scholarships i can apply for please let me know. i need all the help i can get. i don't know what scares me more, trying to get into school, or going to school after 20 years (cant believe its been that long since i left high school to join the Army). This weekend i have to take a placement test to see where i stand on the subjects I'm going to take. Ummmm guess i need to start math and English from the beginning. the math just blows my mind, and i never have been good at school English.
Well its time to get the bug to school, and get on with my list of things to get done today. Hope you all have a wonderful day and talk to you again soon.
I finally went to the VA hospital in Syracuse for the first time for a CAT Scan. well i left Carthage really early thinking that it would take time to get there, find the hospital, find my appointment place, get checked in, etc... Well i got there at about 9 am for an 11 am appointment. i found the parking garage, and the guard gave me directions for after i found a parking spot. Once i got in the hospital, the information desk directed me to each of the areas i needed to go to. First was to get an ID card and travel reimbursement. I get .285 cents per mile for traveling to and from the hospital to my home, minus a deduction. But that rate i believe is going up soon, so that is cool. I checked into my appointed place at about 9:45, and by 10 i was lying on the CAT Scan machine. I was out of there and done with everything by 1030. remember my appointment was scheduled for 11 am. talk about service.
Lately Robbie and I have been slowly cleaning the house as we have kinda let it get away from us. Its getting better.
Well now for the good news. HOPEFULLY by the first of September i will be a college freshman. i have applied to Jefferson Community College here in Watertown. I'm going to start off with an AA in humanities and social sciences, just to get started. Once we move to the next duty station i can start working on the subjects that i really want to study. I'm want to work in museums, so i need to study history and museum studies. more on that later. the bad part is getting financial aid. half the scholarships i have found are bogus ways to get to to go to "online colleges". once they find out that i want to go to a real school they say thanks but no thanks. If anyone has any Ideas of scholarships i can apply for please let me know. i need all the help i can get. i don't know what scares me more, trying to get into school, or going to school after 20 years (cant believe its been that long since i left high school to join the Army). This weekend i have to take a placement test to see where i stand on the subjects I'm going to take. Ummmm guess i need to start math and English from the beginning. the math just blows my mind, and i never have been good at school English.
Well its time to get the bug to school, and get on with my list of things to get done today. Hope you all have a wonderful day and talk to you again soon.
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