Beneath the Wraps

          A year in April I had started a class called Sociology of Ageism.   A class that seemed more to do with life than with career choice. It was during this class that I was able to meet one of my favorite instructors that I had during my three years online.   She was really quite animated and did her entire lecture with the camera on.             I had seen other instructors use the camera before the lecture started, but not for the entire lecture.   I don’t know how many students watched the video.   I was the only one present for her live lectures.   I had become familiar with Zoom during those three years at school.   I did not realize that this year it would be an essential for so many.           I’ve had several instructors who cared about their students as well as the subject they were teaching.   I didn’t have many w...

          It has been less than a year since I graduated from the online college that I attended.   Recently I received an email from the school with an interest in candid photos in which I could share my personal story.   I am usually the one behind the camera – or was.   Jenna has taken over that job and has taken countless photos.   I don’t know that any of them say “success” as far as “look where our student is now”.             Included was a list of questions which I was more interested in answering with words than with photos.   The first five wanted reasons about why I had gone to college – specifically their school.   Umm . . . because my husband is an underpaid employee who works for your company and thus we took advantage of getting an expensive education for his time.             Roland had majored ...

I find it interesting that the topic of my last class focused on Medicare and social security.   The topic of my current class has been the brain, stress and this week’s topic on sleep disorders – which I have had my entire life.   Thus I’m making discoveries.   I am also getting the feeling that I need to put my affairs in order and start throwing away mountains of stuff so that Roland and Jenna won’t have to do it in the event I leave this earth.           I’m not saying that death is around the corner.   It just feels like it in some ways.   Perhaps it’s just the side effects of still trying to heal from bronchitis and still coughing and not breathing right.   I was told at the doctor’s office that my breathing was off.   I don’t think it’s the bronchitis that’s to blame.   My breathing has always been off.   I think more off as I age.   My pipes are small and seem to shrink with ...

Online work Check Turned in Both Classes Have even received my first week's grade in one class Resumes, cover letters, references so many weaknesses Next week will be setting up a LinkedIn account and preparation for mock interviews I'm getting the experience that will take me to a job career opportunity before the end of the year I even have my interview set up Now to build confidence and prepare to answer questions

       Currently, I am taking two classes.   Neither is difficult, but both (especially accounting) are very time-consuming.   So time-consuming that I have been working on assignments or other class projects on Friday.   In the past, I have always had each of my projects completed before Friday, though sometimes I have taken time to review before sending on Friday morning.   This month I have not.        The University offers an online writing center where students can submit their papers or make appointments to get feedback.   Thus far it's been a very devastating experience for me.   But then again, I haven't used for almost two years. It appears I had only used it three times the very year I started, and may not have used it at all, but it was required in one of the classes that I took.        The idea is to get feedback on grammar, sentence structur...

                It took us just under two hours drive when we had gone to the Enchanted Forrest in March - not that it was our destination yesterday - but we did not even pass the sign until almost three hours later.   Our destination was another twenty-five minutes north.               The online school had sent an announcement of two upcoming open house/conventions - one in Boise and one in Salem. We sent an RSVP for Salem.   The convention was to start at 7:00 p.m.             I have a cousin who lives in Salem.   Though I have lived in Oregon for three years now, we have never been able to get together until now.   We made arrangements to visit with him and his wife at 5:00.   I called Zach at 4:45 as we were still on the road in non-moving congestion - which...

        I have been an online student for almost two years now.   During that time I have had only four instructors make comments on each page of the assignment.   Most will make a comment by the grade but not explain specific details within the paper.   I still don't know the difference between relativism and contextualism but did get 100% on my assignment.         The online school that I attend requires APA ( American Psychological Association) for written assignments. My blog does not.   Rather than include the list of APA cited references, I will just include the link in my parentheses references should you be interested in more research on the topic. "The moral values, ethical codes, and laws that guide our choices in normal times are, if anything, even more, important to help us navigate the confusing and disorienting time of a disaster" ( Fink, 2018 ).    ...

He graduated with a BA in graphic arts the October before we moved to Oregon. He had planned on walking in the graduation ceremony the very day that he and Jenna came to Oregon to start unloading furniture. I went to my uncle's funeral. For over a year he's been online, creating plans for a business.   He took his assignments seriously and did the research as though he were really going to start a business here.   Except for just one week, his business plan focus was always on starting an adult day care which this area is in great need of.   It hasn't been done before.   It sounds like a good idea, but he doesn't have the funding.   He has done the research and had even sent out surveys.   We call it "sunk" investment. He graduated with his masters last month.   He would like to walk across the stage in June. It would be so nice to see the family again, but I fear it will be a repeat of our visit to Utah this...

            For the last five weeks or so, I've had instructors stress the importance of using reliable computers and Internet because if an assessment is turned in incomplete or daily checkpoints aren't answered, there is nothing they can do about it.   It's been emphasized before, but I hadn't noticed as much as I have the last four or five weeks.   Apparently there are electronic gremlins invading the entire school - and not just the students.             I recall the instructors having their turn with Zoom issues and recently the electronic bugs have spread themselves to all workers - I'm thinking even the technicians although I can't say for certain.                 On Tuesday there were facebook reminders that summarized Roland's birthday on various years.   He was sick on the last two   birthdays...

            The online school that I attend allows four weeks for each course.  I didn't think my mind would be able to process the information in such a short amount of time.  Thus far I am actually doing quite well.  Who would have thunk? (last word I picked up from Dr. Seuss) The  four week period is called a mod, short for mosule.  I don't know how many mods I will end up with but I will have 62 classes which will equal 181 credits.  I will be done sometime in 2019. To quote from the last paragraph from this pos t, " Should I continue with all of my courses and don't use it any of it career wise, I realize what I have learned thus far has made me a better person whether I flourish in the workplace or continue to stay at home. "               So I started at the end of June.  I had two classes: Computer Fundamental and Psychology of Motivat...