Initials for What?

Sorry for not explaining certain item used in my last post.  I still have ideas in my head but have not had much opportunity for sitting down and turning them into posts.  Today feels like a Saturday and I don’t know how I will be able to get into the swing of things as I have accepted a work assignment at Canyonville for the remainder of the week – and so may not get things typed up still. 

APA can stand for American Planning Association or American Poolplayers Association.  I created one post in which I refered to APA as American Preparatory Academy.  For the most part my APA references and what seems to be most popular for Google Reference is American Psycholgical Association -  which is a style of writing.  The “proper” style.  It often seemed like APA format was more important than the contents.  What’s up with that?  Also, many professors seemed to prefer third person as opposed to first.  I am grateful to those that allowed or even preferred first.   

https://www.mendeley.com/guides/apa-citation-guide

Owl Purdue is a website that adds complication and confusion to APA use – at least in my opinion.  Now that I understand what it is, I might be able to understand it better than I did in 2016.  But Owl Purdue is NOT the only website to refer to APA nor is it the most easily understood.

NOT a Short Essay

          February 14 was the deadline for the short essay contest through the University.  The topic to write about one of the following:

Most memorable class or instructor, most valuable lesson or how the university changed my life.  I guess I could have gone for the third one and stayed with the 150 word maximum limit.  But I was certain that I would have well more than 150 words for the others.

Recently I have gone back to revisit some of the discussions that were posted.  I notice that I got a late start on the discussions in my first two classes.  I had wondered why as I have always been among the first to post to a discussion but then remembered that unlike most of my classmates who had actually started on Monday, I was not given the opportunity to do so until Wednesday.  (That definitely feels like a run-on sentence)

There had been a miscommunication on the parts of administration and I wasn’t able to get into the system until Wednesday – back in June 2016 when I started taking courses for an accounting major.  The first two classes were generic – everybody-takes-these-classes-regardless-of-major.  There were no live lectures. The two classes offered prerecorded classes with a link to YouTube.  Each instructor took a turn of being available to answer any questions or assist.  Of course, being that they were my first two classes, I had nothing to compare them to and so did not realize that the conduct wasn’t the norm of each class I would have since. 

The university was big on APA format and I think pushed Owl Purdue.  Or perhaps it was just that first instructor really did have a thing for it and really did trust it and really thought it would be helpful to everyone and would constantly refer me to the site.  Owl Purdue did nothing for me but frustrate me – not that my instructor was a great improvement since we were obviously not seeing eye-to-eye about how to fulfill my understanding (or lack thereof)

There were a few instructors that had great respect for, good standing with, or admired in some other way.  One of them, Whitney, was my English instructor, who as it turns out is/was the Dean of English Department . . . I suppose I could look it up to see if she teaches there currently, but I’m choosing not to do so at this time.  As you can see from my spectacular grammar skills (meant in the most sarcastic way) I was a star pupil in her class. 

I really did receive high marks in the class, but this post may say otherwise.  But I am more interested in posting something right now and checking the grammar at a later time (if ever).  She didn’t seem to care for Owl Purdue much either – but I think was required by the University to mention it.  She had other resources and links and homework trackers and was very helpful – unlike my first instructor.  She explained things on my level.  I really enjoyed having her as an instructor.

There are several other instructors I had – one of whom I had already written about in another essay.  My first encounter with Sarah was while I was taking the Whitney’s English class.  One week the students were required to visit the writing center and have an instructor proofread our assignment.  I expressed my grief in this post but did not mention the final result.

I don’t know if Sarah could hear the tears or frustration in my voice.  She said she would correct my assignment and return it to the canvas inbox so that I could have it.  I was quite grateful to her to take the time to do that.  I didn’t realize at the time I would have three more contacts with her.

The second contact I made was at my first online assembly which I posted here. The following month I was in her history class.  That was when I made the connection – that she had taken the time to give me feedback when I had been in Whitney’s class.  In my final year, Sarah was the instructor for my sociology class.   

          I do have more to say about Whitney, about Sarah, about Jody, my guidance counselor.  I don’t know when I will be posting more detail.  It’s in the plan.  Right now I am tired.  I’m going to bed now.

Long Day

            The RS Pres. asked if I would pick up a food order in Winston.  I Googled the address but I did not like the option it showed on how to get there.  I DON’T wish to stay on the freeway so I can exit at 119 just so I can return back down.  There had to be another way.  I blew up the map and paid attention to the landmarks that were near the dentist office that I go to.  The addresses are on the same street!  I’m not going to get off 119 when I can get off 112 and work my way up.  That’s what I’ll do.

            Yesterday morning – before I was even out of bed – I thought about two streets in Myrtle Creek that don’t go through.  One cannot get from the post office on Broadway to a resident who lives towards Chestnut or Neal.  It ends at Spruce on one side and dead ends on the other.

            Same thing with Spruce.  You can’t get from the 7^th Day Adventist Church to the Catholic Church for example.  Once you hit Division you are at the school, and Spruce doesn’t continue until Rice curves into it above the hill at the corner of Coffenberry. Though a person could walk the distance of Spuce, I suppose.  Cross into the school parking lot and climb the hill and go from there.

            I am certain that I have mentioned before that the kids have a running joke about Coffins and being buried  (Coffen/berry) in the cemetery so close to their school.  The other day I received a text that asked if I would be working at “Cough and Bury” last week.  I laughed thinking she had typed it in that way on purpose, but really it was Google recording her dictation. 

Catholic cemetery, vineyard and Church taken from Coffenberry

            Yesterday I traveled close to 80 miles – which might not seem like a big deal to some people, but I personally am not used to driving that many miles in just one day.  I went 15 miles to the church in Winston(took about 35 minutes), 15 miles return (somehow that was shorter), another 7 miles to deliver (drive wasn’t as long as unloading), to homeward church from there (another 10 or so miles) stayed for 90 minutes, back to Winston for the dentist and return home. 

            Wrote this post.  Slept great last night.

Times Have Changed

            The earth spins around as it faces the sun and away from the sun.  It takes 24 hours to complete each spin.  We call the spin cycle of 24 hours a day.  While the earth spins, it also circles around the sun.  It takes 365 ¼ days to circle the earth.  Thus a full year is 365 days except every four years when we have a February 29 added to the calendar.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/02/26/leap-day-february-29-calendar/80618064/

            The earth has a northern hemisphere and a southern hemisphere – each experiencing seasons opposite of one another.  For example, someone from Minnesota may comment about how cold it is and how much snow they’ve had to shovel while someone in Indonesia may express how hot and muggy it is.  Both of these examples were posted the very same day – though maybe roughly twelve hours apart as one was experiencing night while the other was experiencing day.  But who knows?  The one in Indonesia may have gotten up during the night because he was too hot and sweaty to enjoy a comfortable sleep.

https://www.slideshare.net/geeta1967/motions-of-the-earth-presentation-1

            I had learned about the earth orbiting and rotation when I was in elementary school – I thought we had started learning it in fourth grade, but it could have been sixth.  Either way it had been in elementary school.  In this county the sixth graders start middle school. 

I also remember being more focused on geography in elementary school.  I specifically remember learning the names of the countries in Africa.  We would often have guest speakers from the different countries.  I remember labeling and coloring several maps.  I remember researching states and making posters about our findings. 

from my collection of scanned school work

I also remember learning to type in seventh grade.  I had taken typing as an elective and typed on an actual typewriter and not just a keyboard.  I understand the students are required to learn how to type now.  That is good – but I think it’s something they should learn BEFORE they get to middle school as the keyboard is now a part of their lives (computers were not a staple when I was in school).

Why not?

Another Facebook quiz - just for the sake of posting - I guess

40 things about me

1. Do you put ketchup on a hot dog? Sometimes.  Mostly just mustard and relish, but ketchup (catsup?) is good too

2. Choice of soda? Code Red Mountain Dew

3. Do you own a gun? No, Not even a squirt gun

4. Can you swim? Yes – perhaps it’s a lame version of swimming.  I can hold myself up and move quicker on my back than on my stomach.

5. Hot dogs or cheeseburger?  Cheeseburger usually

6. Favorite type of food? Italian

7. Do you believe in ghosts? Yes

8. What do you drink in the morning? Water, juice, or milk (usually in that order)

9. Can you do 100 pushups? No

10. Summer, Winter, Spring, or Fall? Autumn

11. Favorite hobby? Compiling Memories

12. Tattoos? No

13. Do you wear glasses? Yes

14. Do you have a phobia? Accounting (numbers)

15. Do you have a nickname? Husband calls me “Sweet Pea” – but there’s no one that many people use

16. Three favorite drinks? Water, code red, cherry coke

17. Biggest downfall? Sweets (lack of will power)

18. Rain or Snow? Rain

19. Can you change a tire? I do know how.  Do I have the strength to remove the bolts?  Not hardly

 
20. Favorite flower? Marigold

21. Can you drive a stick? I suppose I could if I needed to but I prefer automatic

22. Ever gone skydiving? No.  There was a time I would have jumped at the opportunity, but I don’t see myself doing it now.

23. Kids? Yes

24. Favorite colors? Green and Purple

25. Employed? Yes, part-time right now.

26. Can you whistle? That’s up for debate

27. Where were you born? Utah

28. Siblings? 3

29. Surgeries? 3? – I was conciense for only one – my ingrown toenail.  The others were the removal of female parts

30. Shower or bath? Shower though I’d love the opportunity to soak in enough water to cover all of me

31. Last song you listened to? Roaring 20’s normally sung by Panic! at the Disco but the version I heard this morning was Jenna’s singing

32. Age? 57 soon to be 58

33. Broken bones? No, I have had sprains and torn ligaments though

34. How many TVs are in your house? 2 – which is 2 too many

35. Worst pain? Ectopic pregnancy – (see here) 

36. Do you like to sing? I do.  I’m not good at it, but I do enjoy it

37. Favorite sport? Watching Figure skating without the commentaries, participation in bowling

38. Do you like camping? I did at one time, but have outgrown that desire.  Give me a hotel

39. What do you enjoy binge watching? Did you notice my answer on 34?

40. Pecan or Pumpkin pie? I agree with my brother’s answer: They are both good. Maybe pecan by a nose.

Rain and Snow

We have had wild weather all the way around. 
Mostly rain. 
But it snowed on I5 between Canyonville and Azaelea. 
I got pictures on the way down to Medford. 

When we returned, the snow was gone.

Love For Music

           I’m guessing that before Jenna was born

she had learned the words and notes to music

of many authors and artists and carried it

with her when she came to earth.

When she was inside of me I would

put headphones over my belly and play

songs for her, mostly classical or

primary songs. She seemed to enjoy them.

And after she was born, I would sing to her. 

I would sing songs about whatever toy she was holding

or whatever picture we were looking at. 

For example, I would sing “You’re a Grand Old Flag”

whenever I caught her looking at the flag on my tee shirt. 

Or I would point to the animals on her teething ring and

sing songs about each animal if I could think of one.

I don’t know why it surprises me whenever

Jenna sings along with a song that is decades

older than she is. 

I caught her singing along with Sam Cooke

last night and asked, “How do you know this?” 

She hadn’t been aware that she had

even been singing along.  She shrugged.

I think Jenna has an entire stash of

music genre within her and she can’t

help it whenever it comes out. 

She is just a happy positive upbeat personality

and music is just one way she lets it shine through. 

I love listening to Jenna sing.