Beneath the Wraps

   In this post I made a comment about how a survey is sent out during the final week of an online class and that we are expected to fill out said survey before we can continue with program.   I have now taken 4 or 5 classes in which I either haven't had a pop-up or else it popped up later than usual.   I don't know if I'm through with the surveys as I am halfway through my program, if it's a fluke, or if there have been bugs in the system when the school changed its format.   I'm guessing the latter.           Currently I'm taking the first of six intermediate accounting classes.   I signed on to the live lecture and was asked how I felt about last week's assignment.   O.K. I guess.   In the chat box I wrote, "I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either."   The instructor laughed as she read my comment.   She seemed to agree because of the subject matter.           Seriously? ...

                I think the young men and young women have a combined activity each month.   Once a year (I guess in January) they have a cook off.   Jenna had wanted to make the "cupcakes" that we had at her last birthday party - sure she is combining three ingredients to make something else, but I don't really think it should count if Reese's, Pillsbury and Duncan Heinz are really doing most of the work.   The rules are that it needs to be a recipe and not from boxes.   We didn't happen to have brownie mix, cookie dough and peanut butter cups hanging around anyway and so Roland had talked her into making an apple pie.             Pie for an armature cook-off?   Really?   I could sense that Jenna was not that thrilled with the idea of making any kind of pie. Nor did she wish to start it last night but rather after she returns from school today.   ...

                It was at the end of August or the beginning of September when the library treasurer mentioned a grants program workshop she had signed up for and said the tuition would cover up to four participants.   I don't know if she had mentioned it in hopes I would volunteer - but I did.   She said the program would start in October and I would be receiving email from the instructor - and then I forgot about it.             In September I attended a meeting in which clipboards were passed around in order for us to sign up for teams which would guide financing, library training, public relations and one other.   There were two that I definitely didn't want to belong to and signed up for training.   But wait . . . what happened with the Grants Magic ( here ) I had been signed up for?   I told the treasurer I had not received an email.    ...

                There is a student in my accounting class who thrives on accounting.   She LOVES accounting.   Her interest is consumed in accounting.   It is her primary focus.   I don't know if she has any other interest.                   When posting to the discussion, we are suppose to use at least 150 words (some classes say 300;   it depends on the class) and she always uses over 1,000.   At first I thought it was an attempt to show off her knowledge, but after having at least two other classes together, I can see that she is not only knowledgeable but passionate as well.   She wants to share her passion.                 I do not share her passion.   Accounting is a complicated language.   I don't thin...

         My mom had given Jenna a pillow pet for Christmas seven years ago.   Jenna loved that pillow pet and treated it as though it were a living breathing creature.   I had recently been reminded of this when I read about her first day back to school after the new year.             Before she left the house, she had made me promise that I'd watch her pillow pet (Fudge) and told me what movies it liked to watch and what kind of game it (he) liked to play.   I had actually placed "Fudge" back in her room with a coloring book and crayons.   I decided it would fall asleep and continue to "nap" until she got home.   I did not play games with it (him).           When I shared this experience on facebook one commenter suggested that I shift things around a bit, mess up the room and tell her that Fudge did it and she would have to...

            It is really a sad thing to have finals right after a two week vacation.   Instead of having just one assessment or assignment - all of it is expected from here on.   Every week will be the same.   That is fine for the times I have just one class, but it seems quite challenging this particular week when I have two and have not bounced back with my mind.             Theoretically I should be working on my assignments or posting a comment to a fellow student on discussion, but I first need to clear out my brain.   Perhaps if I brainstorm here I will have   a better understanding about what to write for my class assignment.             We're supposed to set goals on improving our self-management.   Yesterday's daily check point had us watch a video on sleep hygiene.  ...

104.9 the River is a radio station in Ohio.  My sister shared this post and I thought:  What a Cool idea!  I have added three "notes" to my jar already.  Think positive!!!!  Yeah!!!!

I'm really not much of a decorator.   I do put more thought into decorating for Christmas.   It is always so hard for me to take down the decorations - especially the tree.   Jenna must take after me as she is also having a hard time with it. This year I have decided to make it just a bit easier on myself by taking down something just a bit at a time.   On Tuesday I packed up the books that I had only attempted to look at.   I don't think anyone else did.   On Wednesday I removed the cards from the door.   On Thursday I took down the plush toys that hung around the frame of the mirror.   And each day I would also remove ornaments from the tree. Last night Jenna went to Roseburg with Roland and I decided to remove the remaining ornaments while they were gone.   I should have waited until daylight.   What was I thinking?   And why has every house I've lived in had such poor lighting in the front room? The decorations fro...

I haven't been sleeping well and I somehow seem to remember more detail about my dreams - though I don't fully understand why I would dream them. The house across the street really is for sale.   Earlier this month I had a dream that my sister-in-law's sister moved in with her daughter and that Jenna and Alex became really good friends.   I knew that Deb would need a job and remembered that they are always looking for teachers but then remember Deb had not gone into teaching but had gone to beauty school and helped her to get a job at a local salon.   I have no idea why I dreamed it. The dream I had this morning made more sense - except for one part. But I could understand why I had dreamed it as Biff and his living situation has been on my mind and I had just recently   looked at photos that his girlfriend had posted. I was having lunch with his girlfriend Clarissa and a friend from her photos - I'm guessing her sister. I asked Clarissa to tell me mo...

top is white chocolate, bottom is actual chocolate even before taste, sight can figure out the difference.             Those who enjoy a great martini or daiquiri may think that taking the alcohol out and calling it "Virgin" does not make it worthy of calling the drink by its alcoholic name.   I don't know as I have never had an alcoholic beverage on purpose.   I had been invited to a cocktail gala once.   I had ordered a mocktail pina colada I believe. When my glass looked empty, a waitress had asked if I would like a refill.   She hadn't realized my drink was alcoholic free nor did I figure out right away that my second drink had rum.   I didn't like it nor did I finish it.   The first had tasted so much better.   That was my opinion anyway. I cannot tell a mocktail from a cocktail by sight             The word "white" in "white chocolate" must mean the same as mock or virgi...

                When I first joined my family I believed Tony was pretty much a holiday Scrooge.   He said his favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, but he seemed to hate Christmas.   He made no effort to hide his negative emotions.   Fortunately that changed sometime after Jenna was born.   His feelings toward Christmas seem to become more positive with each passing year - or at least that is what I hear in his voice.   It is so awesome to have him enjoying that again.                 Rochelle and Tony's original plans this year were to send their gifts with their brothers who had planned to visit us during the holidays.   Only "when" turned into "if' and then "not this year".   Tony called the day the package was mailed and said that it would be late.   I am glad it didn't come before Christmas as I knew their gift to Jenna would pu...

                I don't remember having met Shelly's mother before, but   she seemed to recognize me.   Many of our town's citizens had gathered downtown for the lighting of the tree on December 2nd.   I was making my up 2nd Ave. to the library annex when she spotted me and waved as though we had been buddies for quite some time but seemed to have lost touch.   She asked about Jenna and mentioned the desire for getting Shelly and Jenna together.           Shelly and her mom had moved to Myrtle Creek last year.   I don't know what time of the year Jenna had been invited to her birthday party, but I know we were already living in Tri City at the time.   It was the first time I had dropped Jenna off at a friend's house without meeting a parent first.   Shelly was attending the same middle school as Jenna but did not return. She has decided to do her schooling online in...