Routine in Education

                It is so hard trying to get back into the swing of school assignments etc. after a holiday weekend or vacation.  For the last three years I have had classes at the end of the year for two weeks before the winter vacation (or Christmas) and am expected to finish the next two week after the New Year.  I'm certain it's equally hard on the instructors.  Perhaps even more so.

                So on MLK day, I was to start a new class (my last accounting class folks.  I had miscalculated before and thought this would be two more.  But I was wrong.  Hallelujah!).  Didn't do much for it on Monday as we had invited a few friends over to eat pizza and play games. The lectures don't happen until Tuesday at 6:00 MST and so I decided I would just wait before posting to my discussion.

                On Tuesday I did some research for my discussion post, but had failed to even look at the assignment - which included three videos which I could have watched.  All three together were just over two hours.  But I couldn't make the time for them on Wednesday.

                Unlike the last instructor from my last class, this one will let the class members know what is expected on the assignment, discussion and so forth and will actually go over sample problems with us.  My last instructor would show a power point and proceed to read every single slide.  Never covered the assignment or expectations.  It was boring.  I stopped watching his lectures.  What a waste - even for insomnia.

                I do seem to be having some issues with the program itself - like when I try to explore the instructor's bio, I get this:

                               

 

               When I use an alternative to find said bio, I get this:

What??!? That doesn't tell me anything!

                Fortunately he introduced himself in the introductory discussion which isn't mandatory for students.  I am so grateful that I wasn't assigned my last instructor as I have had that happen before.  I've had several instructors several times in a row.  There were three instructors that I've had three times and one that I have had four times.  I hadn't even realized that until recently.  I knew I had him twice, maybe three times. 

                Thus far the class feels more like a management class rather than an accounting class.  The class will end on February 18 and then I will be left with just fun classes - although I am not entirely certain about the class I'll be taking in May.  I saw something there just a few weeks ago, but it is no longer there.  I don't know if the University changed its mind or if the class has been illuminated or what the deal is.  Thus far there are five classes which appeared in the 2016 catalog but I have not taken.  There are also four classes that I have taken that were not part of the 2016 catalog.  I did write down the name of the class and may be somewhere on my desk.  I should know by February 18.

Dash #632

Would you rather give a talk in church or bungee jump?

            I don't know if I have ever had the desire to go bungee jumping.  I remember when my brother, Patrick, did it.  I can't remember if I thought I would like to do it also.  Probably not.

            I remember when Patrick made the jump, he did it backwards. He said it was easier if he wasn't watching himself fall.  Even if I did have the desire to do it then, I definitely don't right now.  I doubt I'd be relaxed and would probably break my neck when the rubber band yanked me back to where I had fallen from

            I think it's funny that the above question compares the thrill of bungee jumping to giving talks in church.  Some people find that both are terrifying.  I rather enjoy giving talks and don't seem to have opportunity for doing it much in sacrament meeting.  I do get to speak at RS activities sometimes.  Last night I delivered a the parable of the talents with a modern twist with Gabrielle, Amy and Stephanie (see here).

            In answer to the above question:  give a talk, most definitely.

I Have Anosmia - Two Scientific Word Definitions

        Ageusia is the loss of taste functions of the tongue, particularly the inability to detect sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness. This disorder can be triggered by many factors such as nerve damage or vitamin deficiency. Ageusia is sometimes confused with anosmia – a loss of the sense of smell.*

        My sense of smell has become dulled over the years - I would guess due to allergies.  My mom's sense of smell had been dulled as both of her parents were smokers.  I would rather lose my sense of smell to allergies than an example I learned about quite recently.

        One of the science instructors in the school district was telling about a classmate she had gone to school with.  He was a jock that wanted to prove his "macho-ness" by smelling an acid - a very foolish move on his part, for when he inhaled, the acid burned the insides of each nostril and he hasn't been able to smell since that time.

        It's kind of cool to know that my loss of smell has a scientific name.

                                                                            

* retrieved from wikipedia

Froot Loops and Pacifiers

                On Sunday Danny had set up the Monitor so that our Valiant class could watch "No Ordinary Shepard" here.   She passed out Bingo cards and Froot Loops to use as markers.  There were various pictures or words representing shepherds, sheep, the baby Jesus, prayer, love, peace, etc.  that would be mentioned in the video.  All that we had to do was listen and watch in order to mark.

            I smile whenever I see Froot Loops as I think to a time when I was watching my niece who would sometimes be rewarded with Cheerios.  For those of my readers who may not know,  Cheerios is like a staple of LDS parents with tykes.  The Cheerios are mostly for keeping the little ones quiet during the meetings.  Sometimes it works, but not always. 

            I did not have the Cheerios that she may have been used to, but had given her Froot Loops to tie her over.  It appeared that in her mind she was eating the most delicious Cheerios that she had ever tasted.  The actual Cheerios that she was given at Church did not measure up to the cool tasting "Cheerios"  that were in my cupboard.  Truth is, I don't even like Froot Loops.  I suppose they make an okay snack when they are dry.  But I think they are disgusting in milk as they become mushy tasteless circles surrounded by sickenly sweet blue liquid that no tastes like milk.

            I remember attending a baby shower several years ago.  One woman had brought her baby who was walking but still sucking on a pacifier.  One of the favors that each guest had been given were candies (white Lifesaver and a pink jelly bean) made into the shape of a pacifier.  They were cute. 

            I remember the baby taking the real pacifier out of her mouth and inserting the jelly bean.  Her eyes lit up.  Wow!  It was small but definitely the best tasting pacifier that she had ever had in her mouth.  So good in fact, that she wanted to share.  She kept on extending it out so that other people could have a taste.  She didn't use words yet, but I could see it in her eyes, "You've got to try this.  It is so amazing."

            I knew if I posted the bubbled syringe trigger here, I would be able to think of more triggers that make me smile.   

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

          Martin Luther King was born on January 15, but as with so many Federal holidays, his birthday or MLK day is celebrated on the third Monday in January.  

The first year for this nationwide holiday was on January 20, 1986.  I happened to be on my mission at the time, but I do remember receiving a letter from my mother that the holiday had been created after quite an ordeal here. 

          Whenever I think of MLK day, I think of my sister, Kayla, who (according to mom) was ecstatic about having the day off from school as it was her birthday.  Mom said Kayla felt that the holiday was designed especially for her.  Funny.  

My niece, Ellen, thought it was for "milk" day and will celebrate MLK with dairy products here.

          MLK was designed as a day to promote equal rights.  Many have been encouraged to volunteer their services for citizen action here.  How blessed we are to have this reminder as "we all have a dream".

         

My Baby Girl

                I can remember my mom taking pictures - many pictures.  She wasn't much of a photographer.  But she did her best to preserve memories by taking photos. 

Patrick, my cousin Michelle, me and my cousin, Ross

Corey with Grandpa Ralph

many of mom's photos make it seem
like the background was her focus

The painting (or at least parts of it) above
has made it to several photographs

brother Patrick, me, Corey's head, Great Grandma, dad
 behind her, great aunt who recently past holding Kayla

Kayla and Corey at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Canada.
We do not know the people in the background.

I must have picked that up from her and added to it - so I would take pictures of material things as well as people. 

Patrick with his oldest two Ellen and Kimball

I love this picture of Biff reading to Jenna

when Jenna was in 6th grade

Roland at Umpqua River

Riddle Library

graham cracker houses

                After a while my mom no longer took mounds of pictures.  She relied upon me to take the photos - which I did.  Neither of us had ever attempted taking selfies.

Kayla, Anna and my mom

Christmas in July 2009

                When we first got to Oregon, I took hundreds of photos. 

Over the years they have all seemed to blend together.

                 Both Jenna and I had taken pictures to enter into a contest here in town.  The winning photo would be made into a postcard.

I took this one - the boy found a rock we had
left on the trail.  I thought he was cute about
finding his "treasure"

This is the one I selected of the many that Jenna had taken

                Neither of our photos won, but I was later contacted for permission to use in the Myrtle Creek calendar.  Jenna brought home a brochure last night.  The brochure gives a calendar outline of community activities.  On the cover is the picture that she took.  I am so proud!

                Now it's Jenna's turn to hold the camera and take millions of photos - including selfies

and my turn to sit back and let her.