tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77734834204507844942024-03-13T22:42:14.030-07:00The Webb's WorldMs. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-4137404269891926232013-02-03T13:17:00.000-08:002013-02-03T13:17:10.302-08:00to begin with the endso last week i got my pinhole camera pictures done! super happy with my prints and so was the professor. she also made us make up the 'rules of engagement' for grades and class critiques. one of the punishments we came up with "miss a critique, you do one on your own the next class and must bring in a snack to share".. our professor liked that. one of my friends from last semster's class looked at me and said "don't be offended, but i hope you miss one... your food is awesome". no offense taken!! but really, all she had of my 'food' is rice krispie treats and cake.<br />
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but here is my problem. i need to order my supplies and i still don't have my refund. i checked the website that would tell me what i owe or get back.... it says what my refund will be, which means the grants came through and it's only a matter of days that i get my refund (i hope). my supply list isn't very long, but the professor said "those are minimums for the amount of film". DANG! well, my friend just might get her wish and i'll miss a critique. thank heavens we won't have them every week like in the intro class.<br />
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my art-lecture class was fine. i thought we were going to have a 'slide quiz' on monday so i really studied for it. turns out the test was wednesday. for the quiz, the professor shows us ten slides... we have to give two facts about the piece she is showing us. if all we knew was the title and the artist, BAM! there's our two facts. if we didn't know them... any fact that we discussed about the piece would do. for example:<i> </i>in<i> the marriage of arnoldfini</i>... what's the significance of the one lite candle, or the dog, or why they are not wearing any shoes. stuff like that. i knew the title of all and the artist name for all but 1. but for good measure, on the off change i got one of them wrong, i threw in a third fact for each.<br />
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we also had another paper to write. this time it was on our favorite color. we had to tell how it was made, why it was significant, why an artist chose that specific color for a piece of work... lots of stuff. i chose blue, i found a ton of info on it. did you know, at one point, to get the color... you would have to saok the leaves of the woad plant in human urine for three days? ICK! and not just any urine, but that from men who have been drinking alcohol! ya know, i think i'll send crayola a thank you card for making it possible to get our colors without the work. i'll keep ya posted on my grade, cause as of today, still lacking the grades for those things.<br />
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soooooo, hot professors class is slowly becoming my least favorite. had i known all the drawing that was gonna be done.... i would have totally skipped out. well, too late now to drop it. so here is what i turned in for our project two:<br />
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up close of my sneaker, cut paper (pain in the a--), watercolor pencils.<br />
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my professor liked this one better "texture is there, we know what it is, and we always see a stop sign with running shoes..." i don't! i used the treadmill.... not stop sign present. ANYWHO<br />
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he would have liked this one more if the colors were more vivid (just used the watercolor pencils).... or in other words... done with cut paper like the other. if i had a bit more time (aka, not procrastinated) and had more patience (i really wanted to curse out loud for the difficulties i was having with the other)... i would have. i might still later.<br />
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so this next project has us taking pictures of animals and simplifying them. think of sports teams logos, or the WWF logo with the panda... stuff like that. again.... I CAN'T DRAW, at least very well. so i went with three that i think i can do. i chose a peacock, two elephants together, and a white tiger. since the finals have to be in black and white, how hard could the tiger be, right? well, the prof seems to think it will be difficult. i got the peacock done in class and just now finished the elephants. i had to trace them because i was just having a hard time getting the lines right. and since i don't have a working black ink felt pen or sharpie... i used charcoal. not exactly the same effect, but i gotta make do with what i have until that refund comes through. i'll probably have to trace the tiger.... scratch that. i KNOW i will have to trace the tiger. i'll post them when i get all three done.<br />
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phew.... still with me?Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-42858769478464307102013-01-28T18:04:00.000-08:002013-01-28T18:04:39.749-08:00couldn't waitso you know i made that pinhole camera.... well today was a photo work day. YEA!! i got a few (well, two) prints done and thought it was amazing! i was afraid it would turn out since the sun decided to play peek-a-boo in the clouds.... without much 'peek'. when i took the first photo and brought it in to develop the 'negative', i have to admit a little surprise curse came out my mouth. sorry, but it was just so shocking that it worked. i had to go get another!!! thank heavens the temperature wasn't so cold, that exposure time was a very long minute and a half (for both). the second picture, i went to the little creek by the photo building. i set the camera on my knee (not wise) so it's more blurry than i wanted it to be, but it came out too. i waited for the prints to dry and then made the positive prints from them. so amazing!! mostly cause i sandwiched the prints together (print side to blank side) and exposed the printed negative from behind. if this makes no sense to you, sorry.... one day you could come with me to the lab and see it all done. so here are my pinhole prints<br />
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negative.... i think i like it better <br />
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positive! this is the entrance to the baseball fields. i love the 'fish-eye' look that the rounded canister gives the photos.<br />
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negative <br />
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positive. this is the creek by the building. i know, you can't really tell because of the blur and fish-eye.. i still like it. i may just stick with pinhole stuff for my final project. (i know, fourth week in and i'm already thinkin final)<br />
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i did make prints of my nighttime rolls. only three were worth the time. but i'm only putting up the two i like the most.<br />
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got up close to a tree with a million lights. turned the speed down to 'bulb', held the camera still for a few seconds, then moved it around.... i kinda like it. <br />
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i liked the effect of the reflecting pool with the lights, so i took a few pictures. this is the only one to turn out, and it's a bit dark. i still like it. how cool would this be in color! next semester i'm doing digital, for sure hitting the temple up at christmas time!Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-26032261884680840682013-01-27T11:23:00.000-08:002013-01-27T11:23:19.986-08:00week 3 recapwhat an odd week! i didn't have my one class thursday of last week because my professor lives in richmond (2 hour drive) and with the threat of snow... he didn't want to be stuck here. did we get the snow, NO! oh well. monday was a holiday, so no classes for me or the kids. i think my mom enjoyed her 4 day break from my kids. so the rest of the week i had my classes as usual and the kids got a snow day thursday and came home early friday (we barely got a dusting of the stuff).<br />
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photography was fun. not because i took awesome pictures, but because i made a camera! yes! you heard me!! it's not hard at all, my dad even said "we did that with the cub scouts"... scuse me for being behind the times. anyways, wednesday i got to class early enough that i made a contact sheet of my photos taken over the break.... soooooo not happy that they are so dark. but, it was night time photography and i haven't mastered that at all. there are a few potentials. when i get more photo paper i just might print them.<br />
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so on to the camera. super easy! but it did take us almost the entire class period to make them. thank heavens my mom had a canister that i could use, the soda can wasn't hard to come by (thank you grandma jones for the mt dew).... what?! you didn't know that you could use an ordinary (but light tight) canister and a soda can...? why yes, yes you can! let me show you<br />
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my container... wasn't totally light tight, i needed to put black electrical tape all over the lid. i also painted the inside black, didn't have to be perfect, but mostly covered.<br />
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see that black tape? i wasn't covering up vital nutritional info, that tape is my 'shutter'. i cut a hole in the side for my 'lens' so peek through.<br />
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and here is where the soda can comes in. you make the tiniest hole possible in the can, then place it in the larger container, glue/tape it down and you have your lens. you can't see it, but the arrow is pointing to it. the smaller the hole, the sharper your image. all i gotta do is put my photo paper in the container (in the darkroom of course) then go out where it's sunny, and then 'take a picture'.<br />
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i was hoping to make some pictures this weekend... didn't happen. i need paper, money is a bit tight and i had all the kids with me. i think monday will be a work day for us anyways... i'll show ya what i come up with.<br />
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so my easy-a art class.... i got a b on my first paper. a page on a controversial artist. my professor's comments explained that i didn't really write enough on why he was so controversial (i chose paul mccarthy). i'm ok with that. if i want i could rewrite the paper... don't think so. i really don't like the guy and don't want to get in too deep with his nasty stuff. we have a new assignment to write about a color. i'm choosing blue, my favorite, and have begun the research. due friday, so i have time... and it's only a one page piece again.<br />
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design class! so our first big assignment was to draw an object 52 times in black and white, then another 52 times in color. well, because we missed a class, i wasn't aware until after all 104 drawings were done that i didn't chose a good enough object. i decided to draw my necklace.... i get his reasoning behind why he didn't like what i did. he said "i appreciate your effort"... which in art terms means "uhhh, try again". so i decided to draw my sneaker... he was fine with that. thankfully, i didn't have to draw it 104 times, this time only 6. (this all is an example of think-tank type work... lots of ideas, then you pick the best of those and work on them some more, then you pick the best one of the last pick and run with it). i really liked my stuff and found it to be much easier to find different ways of seeing my shoe. now i need to pick one (but i'm gonna do two) and really refine it and make it a final. i hit my mom's craft stash for papers of various colors and patterns.... when i finish, i'll let ya know what the professor thinks.<br />
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not a great artist... but i really liked some of these. if i could have done them in charcoal as a final... woo-hoo!<br />
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i think i just was trying to get the project done, so i didn't really enhance or change anything (like the prof was hoping). really didn't like theses in color... in a way (very small way) i'm glad he wasn't a fan of the work.<br />
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top left and middle right are the ones i will be finalizing. i like all but the middle left and bottom right... wasn't feelin them. but i needed 6 drawings. the top left reminds me of roads though the apple orchards at a distance; the middle right is like a city seen from above....Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-87352086051191239462013-01-20T17:44:00.003-08:002013-01-20T17:44:25.685-08:00a new semestersooo... my first two weeks of classes have been the most uneventful ever! maybe it's because i'm used to everything, nothing really seems new... except for the fact that two of my classes take place in the old hospital. JMU bought the old place a few years ago, i think last semester was the first time it was in use. it is really weird for me to walk around in there... instead of nurses stations and patients rooms... lounge areas and offices or classrooms. some offices are just sad... no windows.<br />
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anyways. so my first class isn't until 10:45 in the morning, so no rushing around this semester. photography is the class, or more specifically "experimental photography". NOT THAT! get your mind out of the gutter! in this class we use non traditional cameras, a variety of development methods, and a variety or print paper. i do still have supplies to buy that will drain my grant refund... but not nearly as bad as last semester. well, the first two days we were just getting to know each other, look at our past work, and then talk about our visiting photographer that came the next week (this past one).<br />
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so Phil Nesmith was the visiting photographer. (<a href="http://www.philnesmith.com/"> http://www.philnesmith.com/</a> ) he does some awesome work while using cameras and methods from the early time of photography. he "lectured" one day and the next was our demo day... we got to see his process from start (almost) to finish. the only thing we didn't see was how he mixed the chemicals. but it was very interesting. not something i would do, too dangerous for my kids to be around. i was the uber-goober and asked for his autograph in my photo journal. i figured it would give my professor a chuckle. we have monday off for MLKjr. day... so only one day... not much time for much of anything.<br />
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the other m/w class i'm in is 'art in general culture'. i was told it is an "Easy a" kind of class.... but i didn't care. i figured anything that can help me view art differently, appreciate even the nasty stuff, and help me get a better eye for my art would be worth it. this is not a class where you raise your hand, mostly cause the lights are off and the professor is walking around so much she just won't see you. i give a lot of answers because no one else will. i did get a great ego boost on monday. a kid who sits in the row next to me, but one seat back, was "whispering" to his friend and pointing at me.... i heard "art major... super hot". at the time i was looking off to the right (his side) and so i could see and hear him. i wanted to say "just because i'm a seat ahead doesn't mean i'm deaf". i decided to just accept the compliment as if i didn't hear it and just bask in the glory that i am still found to be attractive to the younger guys.<br />
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i have a night class this semester!!! t/th from 7 to 9:30!! thank heavens the professor isn't one to watch the clock... the first day we were done by 7:30, the next 8. i have already been assigned a project (due the second day) and now i'm working on the next. he doesn't shy away from starting early. did i mention that my professor is insanely hot!? i'm not the only one to think that. a friend from my photo class last semester is in this class.... she agrees with me. so this second project is drawing an object of our choosing 52 times! but not in just one position, we have to change perspectives, values, shapes... you know, be creative. the problem is that i can't draw very well. but i was able to get the 52 done on time, but class was cancelled due to the potential snow that we never got. the second half of the assignment is to do the 52 drawings over in color, tweaking, enhancing, or changing the originals as we see fit. not a big fan of this part.... i really like mine in the 'black and white'. oh, i'm half done with that part.<br />
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ok, i think that is about it. like i said, not much happening right now. but it still early....Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-73311255057046820432013-01-17T17:25:00.000-08:002013-01-17T17:25:35.654-08:00well hello.... my name is terri.... how have you been? oh wait! you do remember me?! i know, i know.... been waaaaaaaaaaaaay too long since i wrote last. don't blame me. if anyone/thing is to get the blame, i'd say go for my photography class and physics.<br />
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so physics! for those of you who don't follow me on facebook, i actually passed the bane of my existence with a B! and i got an A- in the lab. this is the result of many hours trying to figure out those blankety-blank-blank physics problems in homework, passing the only exam (before the final) with enough bonus points to give me a C. i would love to see my final.... i really want to know how i did. my lab partner got a C in the class, and she did better than i did on the first test. go figure... i ain't gonna argue. if you remember (or not) i had to build a functioning robot in the lab. lab only met once a week for an hour... challenge to say the least. well, at the 11th hour we got our robot working!! to celebrate, i was introduced to a new burger joint (very yummy and cheap) by my lab partner... and then we studied together for the final. mostly i tried to help her complete her homework, which helped me remember all those dang equations that i just hate so much. one of my brothers and his wife had asked me why i was taking physics... i have no idea what possessed me, but i passed and now i am done with GenEds!!!<br />
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this is "artie" the arduino.... this isn't the completed version, but pretty darn close. this was taken right before thanksgiving break. he worked then.... it took every minute of every lab time after break to get him finished!<br />
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not much to say about my "methods of art criticism" class. not exactly an easy A... i ended with an A-... but it was fun. i had to write gallery reviews, abstracts about the most boring chapter readings ever. i had made the mistake of looking up some of the work by the various artists... i was curious as to what i was reading about (most of them i have never heard of). BIG MISTAKE!!! i had seen some of the most vile and disturbing pieces ever. i know art is subjective and not everyone will like everything... but some of the stuff we had to discuss just made me ill. but, the whole point of the class was to figure out what art is and why we call some things are and other stuff "junk".<br />
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my photography class was a blast!!!! expensive! it took a few weeks to put up some work that the prof really liked, praised more than anything... but so worth the wait. about two weeks before thanksgiving break i put up 15 pictures... she was impressed with the numbers AND said that they were all final print/project quality. i loved hearing that. at midterms i knew what my final project would be about, so i started taking pictures right away. spent every saturday at the lab developing prints, making reprints... by the weekend before the break i had enough pictures. the task next was to figure which picture and where to place it in the book (shutterfly,com was my friend). i was done with my final the monday of break, it was delivered by black friday, and i could just vegg the rest of the semester in that class. i did have to work on our collabrative project. as a class we were to each take turns wearing a bear costume and then take a picture of us doing something crazy or normal... so out of my comfort zone. well, i went around with a group, so my courage level was up a little. i wound up sitting in a chair right next to someone who was sound asleep... i just made an "oh my" kind of face and someone snapped the picture. the guy woke up then and was really confused, oh well. we then had to turn our pictures into stickers... fun! so.. easy A for me! and done early... so out of character for me.<br />
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on of my professor's favorites! and this was a fluke. i tried to make my own version of "the three white dresses".... but the lighting wasn't on my side. but this close-up of my wedding dress did. it was even one of my pieces hung up in my first 'real' art show...<br />
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i love this picture.... and so did my prof. she said that it was so much more than a picture of the sky...<br />
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so if you're still with me.... i'll post again (i promise) about the first two weeks of this semester... not much has happened... but still....Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-33871884481601936242012-09-29T21:06:00.000-07:002012-09-29T21:06:08.471-07:00the kid-letsi figured you would probably want to know how the kids are doing.... it's been a while since i wrote about them, and not just as the subject of my pictures.<br />
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erica is loving 4th grade. her teacher is fantastic and is so willing to help her. she stayed after school one day to help erica with math, and it was just erica. i had a nice little chat with her teacher at the parent-teacher night and was assured that erica is doing fine in everything.... just maybe a little shy at saying 'i don't understand'. we're working on that. she has the cutie-pie teacher for her language arts/reading time. he just loves having erica in his class, she is one of only a few girls. he has told me that every once in a while he has to get her to stay on task... she likes to day dream, nothing wrong with that. but, he too said that she is doing great. friday she had a plant project due. the class has been studying the different parts of the plants and were to make a picture of a plant and label all it's parts. i told her that i had just studied this in my biology class last semester and that this would be fun. we love art projects for school. we enlisted the help of grandma for the supplies (have you seen her insane craft room?!)... fabric from my bridesmade dresses, feathers, raffia, beads.... lots of stuff. it took two days to complete, we did the pollen thingy (shush, i just can't recall the exact term) in glue and glitter and needed to give it time to dry. it turned out great! unfortunately, i did not get a picture of it before she turned it in.<br />
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aidan is just a super star in his class.... but i'm so biased. his PALS test scores do prove that he is doing fan-friggin-tastic. the benchmark score for the fall is 39... he got a 68! he's a fantastic reader, great speller, and can even tell you what an exoskeleton is. aidan hasn't had any special projects yet, but they will come soon. just like his sister, he comes home having stayed on 'green' all week for behavior, which is a very good thing. his teacher wrote on his progress report that he follows directions well and is always willing to help anyone who needs it. got to admit... he's had a great example in his sister!<br />
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sofia wishes she could go to school with her brother and sister, but i think she likes having the tv to herself (unless grandpa is home) and being able to have all the attention. she spends monday, wednesday, and part of friday at my mom's while i'm in school. there, she gets a big yard to play in and a variety of tv shows to watch when the weather isn't as agreeable. she hasn't been big on the nap thing all summer, but so far this year she gets one almost every day. most are not that long, but just enough to take the edge off.<br />
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yesterday was a BIG day for them. i took them up to their other grandparents for the weekend, which you're probably thinking 'so what'. well this trip was special because uncle sam was home from deployment and visiting with his wife laura, great grandma waliser was out for a visit (whom they have never met before), aunt amy came up with her kids (uncle nick is still out on his deployment), and aunt robyn (grandpa's sister, another relative they hadn't met) was out visiting with her husband steve. whew! that's a lot of people! so many that the family dinner was held at the chapel. i hadn't met robyn before either, so i was not going to let my kids miss this opportunity. my kids weren't too receptive to great grandma, but they at least acknowledged her.... except sofia, she really didn't want anything to do with her. i think it's all those old ladies at walmart that mean well, but scare the crap out of my child. well, the kids spent most of the time with their cousins playing in the gym while i visited with all of jeff's family, jeff had to work. i also got the rest of my pictures taken while i was there (i was going for the theme 'reflection in/of time'). i left the kids around 9 last night and had a very quiet saturday.<br />
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as a bonus to my day.... my pretty pretty sparkly necklace came today. i had sent a friend, who is in the custom jewelry business, my old wedding bands and my grandma's engagement ring. i asked if he could make something happy out of them. after a few chats with him and his designer, i was sent the computer mock-up. BEAUTIFUL!!!!! i was really excited to get my necklace. due to circumstances beyond my control, and my friend's as well, it took longer than anticipated to make. no matter in the end, because i got it and i love it! it's so light that i have to remind myself that i am wearing it. it sparkles and is just so beautiful. i even got a little teary eyed as i put it on. i showed it to my family, they think it's beautiful as well. so, now i have my diamond and my grandma's always with me.... creating happy thoughts! (pictures to come soon)Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-89144114255045607742012-09-29T20:27:00.000-07:002012-09-29T20:27:23.729-07:00busy busy busy!this week was insanely busy. i was all over the burg resulting in buying more gas (before my weekly tank refill curtsey of my grandparents). but, the ending has been wonderful, so let me fill you in.<br />
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physics.... how i kind of get you! thank heavens for the book and good notes. actually, my professor tells us all sorts of info, we write the notes, then he says "well, you don't really need to worry about this..." well shoot! one day, the guy next to me forgot his notebook. i took pity and gave him some paper; he wrote one line of notes and the rest of the class was just us staring at the white board. friday was an impromptu biology lesson... he was trying to get us to understand how our senses work because we need to give our robots sensors when we get around to building them. anywho, we had homework due friday and i got mine done by wednesday!!! the few problems i had left were explained to me by the other students who 'got them', well, all but one. i wound up going to the homework help session wednesday night and finished my work with a little help from the professor. now for the next set.<br />
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for the lab, i think my partner and i are gonna be the 'teacher's pets'. NOT because we are super smart when it comes to physics, we're just not afraid to say "we don't get it" and we actually follow the diagram directions, so our arduino (mini robot) works. we got all our LEDs to light up, blink, and then fade. we were gonna be the ambitious one's and get a LED with three lights in one.... no time though. lab is only an hour and our professor talks for most of it. my partner and i did attempt to help two other groups with their circuit set up, but like i said, not much time to do anything.<br />
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photography has been a blast this week. last weeks assignment to print was 'edges'. i took most of the pictures at my parent's house, a few didn't come out (not enough light). monday was the day to have the professor pick our the prints to make, she picked her two and then i picked two more, the one's i like the best. i cut it really really close, but i got all four printed within the hour and a half i had left of class. the assignment for this week is 'reflection'. as always, the topic is open to interpretation. i decided to do a roll of 'traditional' reflection and the other, not -so-traditional. i got about 10 pictures done and then took another15 wednesday afternoon right before class started. BUT, class was cancelled (no idea why), so i had plenty of time to get more pictures done. i asked my brother, who works at lowes, if i would get in trouble if i took pictures there (remember walmart). he checked with the powers-that-be and said it wasn't a problem. on my way there i decided to get him a 'thank you ' gift at walmart. as i was leaving i noticed my mother in the parking lot looking rather pissed. i drove over to ask why, before i got the whole question out i realized that she locked her keys in the car... the car that i didn't have the spare to in my own car. i stayed with her and waited for my brother to come over to see if he could get the car open, he couldn't. so it was decided that since photography was cancelled, and my next class didn't start for another hour or so, i would take mom home to get the spare and bring her back (this is where the more gas came in). after i helped mom, i went to lowes and took my pictures. finished roll one and started on roll two. i got some great pictures of my daughter reading a magazine, and you can clearly see the magazine reflected in her sunglasses. i also got one of her holding a picture of a younger version of me. but my favorite pictures that i took were of my son looking at a painting of his great-great grandfather in his military best. i was so happy when i developed the film that those pictures came out! so today was spent at the lab developing the film, making contact sheets, and then my filter 'test'. the filters just aid in making the picture have distinct black and white and every shade of gray you can get. i had some fun with this! now i'm completely caught up with this class.<br />
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still with me....? cause i still need to tell you about my criticism class. remember when i said that i cut my photo printing close? it was so close that i had to run to my car to get my books for the next class then run to make it to class on time. i was late enough that i got the dreaded seat behind the pillar. i was sweaty, out of breath, and developed a headache. well, it was a good class, good discussions, and the lights were eventually turned off (much to my headache's happiness) for a demonstration in aesthetic scanning, not as hard as it sounds. OH! one of my reading response papers was given back with only one point. when i saw why, the professor changed a word i had intentionally used to another. i wrote him an email explaining why i used the word i did and he responded back with "you have your full 2 points", well, not those exact words, but the exact meaning. wednesday i had my first gallery review due, i sure hope i did it right, and another reading response. it was a light class and we had more good discussions, but i was happy to be done with it for another week.<br />
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another week done and i do believe 7 more until thanksgiving break. i think the next post i'll put up some pictures that i'm proud of.... stay tuned!Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-58791366289475291022012-09-22T19:05:00.001-07:002012-09-22T19:05:08.661-07:00the madness continuesso my physics class is gonna send me to the loony bin. i still have only four problems left of my first homework assignment, but i also started on the next homework assignment. force and friction are gonna be the death of me. you would think that those topics would be easy.... according to my lack of being able to answer the problems right.... NOPE! i have 99 tries for each problem, for two of them i'm at try 6. at least the lab part is going better. we have the proper programs and drivers on the computers, so now the computer can talk to the arduino (little robot). have i mentioned the my professor looks like jerry garcia.... i mentioned it once to a friend, and now i keep wanting to call him professor garcia instead of giovanetti.<br />
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oh photography... how do i love thee?! let me count the ways.... $23 here, $86 there, another $45 here... yes, this is one expensive class. it wouldn't be so bad if my tuition refund would come so i can buy in bulk at a cheaper discount site than from the 'cheap' store in the 'burg. but i am having fun. so much that i skipped my last class on monday to finish printing my pictures (we had a sub that day and i had turned my assignment in early). so monday we learned how to enlarge, print, our pictures. a lot of paper can be wasted if the light isn't right or if the print needs to be 'dodged or burned' (lighten or darken). my waste was in the test strips to get my prints right. the first batch of prints i didn't do anything to them. but when i was in the lab today, i burned my photo a little so the white area wasn't so white. i only printed one picture, i have to have my professor check my contact sheets to see what others would be worth printing.<br />
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my baby! this camera was my dad's. i remember it always around his neck when we were on a family outing. now it's mine, and i love it. i got the camera bag at walmart as an early birthday present to me... it is so much better than what my dad was using. <br />
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turning the film into negatives is a short, but smelly, process. it takes me about half an hour, including going into a pitch black room to roll the film onto reels and then put in the development tanks. once in the negative sheets, i make a contact sheet (on the right), a nice way to "print" my pictures so i don't waste paper on a bad shot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-Hdru2MmzvfC-jjc3ziPs-vzaqgfdn2KOvPv8PmAk3SateeRNB9aeiZ7c5cs4CJl5DFT3akcZM6C0Qo-kZNV6MTsC6t2TggRHuZq772Ifnz2sr1R_KVgl19izEdbo6JU-1PpSAqVh6Y/s1600/IMG_2920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-Hdru2MmzvfC-jjc3ziPs-vzaqgfdn2KOvPv8PmAk3SateeRNB9aeiZ7c5cs4CJl5DFT3akcZM6C0Qo-kZNV6MTsC6t2TggRHuZq772Ifnz2sr1R_KVgl19izEdbo6JU-1PpSAqVh6Y/s200/IMG_2920.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
here are 5 of the six prints i made. i have one picture of each of my babies. i swear the class will be sick of seeing my kids in every assignment. the one of aidan (top right) was what i printed today. i had one of each of the girls, so i needed one of my boy. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lHR5GVBmoHM8WVYNhypDPalA0gZpjFw3R6GBN5BaBqS858rKtL-SAjhT1Trm2aizektzXTBWJ2ZL8Fw54Duc0hvcVWU0x_mrbiFRYsv7W-YcKjyy5xA0IAGlS5Rd93NBKxqX93F2ThI/s1600/IMG_2923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lHR5GVBmoHM8WVYNhypDPalA0gZpjFw3R6GBN5BaBqS858rKtL-SAjhT1Trm2aizektzXTBWJ2ZL8Fw54Duc0hvcVWU0x_mrbiFRYsv7W-YcKjyy5xA0IAGlS5Rd93NBKxqX93F2ThI/s320/IMG_2923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
now, this is a picture of the picture i printed.... i didn't really feel like turning the scanner on and waiting for it to warm up. this was taken tuesday of this week, the day of the massive rain, right before we went to the bus stop.<br />
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i did have a 'close up' of the picture of sofia.... but it wasn't working right. so if ya want to see it, you'll have to wait for another post.<br />
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my criticism class is the one i skipped on monday. like i siad, a sub and my assignment was turned in early. i just got my grade for it, only one point (out of two). ANY corrections the professor makes and it's an automatic 'no points' for that section. he changed one word (critic to artist) and took my point away. i don't think he realized that i meant to say critic. oh well, nothing to fuss over. my professor was out of town this week, so there was no class wednesday. i decided to take some pictures at my parents' house since i had to go there to pick up sofia.<br />
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so it was a good week. not too much stress, not too much work. next week looks to be about the same. though i do plan on taking advantage of the homework help my physics professor is offering on wednesday.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-46863510840891515492012-09-17T15:51:00.002-07:002012-09-17T15:51:41.487-07:00i learned...a lot this past week. and i also got in a little trouble with the wally-world, but that story is actually a little funny. so, here we go with week three sum-up:<br />
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physics: I GOT IT! well, most of it. thank heavens, the only time the professor called on me for an answer, i knew it. turns out, the tutor site i went to on monday is exactly what we talked about on wednesday. i felt so smart, but then i leaned over to the guy sitting next to me and fessed up to my smartness. he got a good chuckle out of it. and he and i both laugh at our professor's attempts to draw. the lab would have been great, but the proper programs weren't loaded onto the computer, so our arduinos didn't work. my partner and i were the only ones that said anything, makes me wonder why. anyways, i ordered a book to help me out with the homework and any concepts that just blow right over my head. thank goodness i did. i used it to help with some of my homework a few nights ago, three more problems done and 4 more to go. i have until the end of the month to finish.<br />
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photography: monday was the day to learn how to take our film and turn them into negatives. i had no idea that the very first step (removal from case to the reels to the developer tank) had to be done in the pitch black! we practiced with dummy rolls and i felt that i could do it. so did a few others. the professor drew my name out of a tank to be the guinea pig (YES!). she was impressed with how fast i did the rolls and that i did a text-book job. yea me! she walked me through the development process and it seems pretty easy. i did it all by my lonesome this past saturday with my two new rolls. wednesday we learned how to turn our pages of negatives into a contact sheet. just about a 'no-brainer'. so my first two rolls of film were done by wednesday afternoon. i had to do everything for my next two rolls saturday to be ready for class today. let me tell you, creepy being in the lab by yourself. toooooo quiet! it's a very secure building, so i was safe... but still felt a bit creepy. i found a radio and blasted a rock station, that helped. in about an hour and a half, two more rolls of film turned into negatives and contact sheets.<br />
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criticism: already i turned in an assignment late. we have to do abstracts of our reading assignments, have them ready by the next class, then turn them in before midnight the day it's due. well, we didn't talk about the last one and i forgot. i was up early wednesday morning, doing my morning ritual.... DAH!! i turned in my assignment with a note of apology and stated that i was prepared to take my 'no points', but please tell me what i would have gotten. turns out, i wasn't the only one who forgot. he wound up giving my my points (all two of them) and said "never again" to doing that. i'll take it. wednesday we went to a fellow classmates art show. beautiful work!!! i was happy to find out that she had prints of her work and said "i want you to have them, take as many as you want." i did! we are actually using this show for our first review write up. i'm a bit nervous, but i have always done pretty well with my writings. i can't just write my opinion of the show, i actually have to include some research.... suck! oh well, gotta learn it, so i'm gonna do it.<br />
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now on to my next photography assignment, edges, and work on that review.... maybe some physics homework too.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-70656797823036168442012-09-10T17:12:00.000-07:002012-09-10T17:12:14.692-07:00my day... in picturesare you shocked!? two posts in one day... and one with pictures too. i decided to give you an idea of where i go and what i see while i'm at school. i didn't take too many pictures, i didn't want to look too dorky. so, here we go:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqvSKsPGFqpeoWfWV7HN-KbWdE9QmhZYHh9iawsSPwcEMQ1jLCJP6MVzZCxemmMBHVSOmnhOBxEs6Ok7c2tclZcOiJ2efCjds4TNFgqz7n9lu-5TK8ycFnkypxRbTcLFS2ANogkmjZvw/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqvSKsPGFqpeoWfWV7HN-KbWdE9QmhZYHh9iawsSPwcEMQ1jLCJP6MVzZCxemmMBHVSOmnhOBxEs6Ok7c2tclZcOiJ2efCjds4TNFgqz7n9lu-5TK8ycFnkypxRbTcLFS2ANogkmjZvw/s320/IMG_2884.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
this is that commuter lot that my friend said fills up fast. so far i have been able to get a space every time. if not, then i would have to park across the busy street at walmart and hike over. NOT an option. i'm usually about the 8th row back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxcN3tCy55VPJqjWCAvzEghvzszdllFo_v9F7eEUP9NDIDD6t19rlU1yH_-s6E8PaJETxp2DOD1fZUbD0h9dPG9O7xhn-CopcqsBmaMle3lX1XP6yi5y3iH2Gd_s5KF-YmpE8EZberts/s1600/IMG_2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxcN3tCy55VPJqjWCAvzEghvzszdllFo_v9F7eEUP9NDIDD6t19rlU1yH_-s6E8PaJETxp2DOD1fZUbD0h9dPG9O7xhn-CopcqsBmaMle3lX1XP6yi5y3iH2Gd_s5KF-YmpE8EZberts/s320/IMG_2885.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
the building the the foreground is the actual physics building, which is where i have my lab. the building furthest away is the isat building, which is where my actual class is. the three buildings are actually connected, so no walking outside if i don't have too. and yes, there really are few students walking around at this hour of the morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hdhPz3BdKPuFrLL71hB5NH2VsPpxNnVTIBX281zEhEOYUYdKaV-TrEyaaSGXPCKk_OLUS0HaMWFGfvl6LhY-ksZ81EJLgqg_9-GoTG_IPo9HBQkhSRc93FEFKs8P0zSUR8hBG0qGWzE/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hdhPz3BdKPuFrLL71hB5NH2VsPpxNnVTIBX281zEhEOYUYdKaV-TrEyaaSGXPCKk_OLUS0HaMWFGfvl6LhY-ksZ81EJLgqg_9-GoTG_IPo9HBQkhSRc93FEFKs8P0zSUR8hBG0qGWzE/s320/IMG_2886.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
that's the set of steps i hike up three days a week. doesn't seem so bad, but that first week i was wheezing by the time i got to the top. third week, not so much wheezing, but really needing water once i get in the building.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXkDj6o1bwyMj2TnzL6-N9wE38Rk-GOqxBQIAiku5YjLDsq45NvRgOdtCHbMUKZr4Ci_sgdUNHT-aqn8NiZw6B5IXKBFxaUbfmMGEVVuJTa4KUCDdoYGcc0l2KvWZvGb2RBPuEJ0p2IM/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXkDj6o1bwyMj2TnzL6-N9wE38Rk-GOqxBQIAiku5YjLDsq45NvRgOdtCHbMUKZr4Ci_sgdUNHT-aqn8NiZw6B5IXKBFxaUbfmMGEVVuJTa4KUCDdoYGcc0l2KvWZvGb2RBPuEJ0p2IM/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
ok, this isn't normally part of my school day. but today i didn't realize how empty my gas tank was until i was half way to class. no problems, i'll just get gas in between classes and be done with it. can't do that unless you have money! which i didn't because i left my wallet at home!!!! i called my dad and asked if he could bring me some gas so i wouldn't get stranded on my way home. this is the note i left him. my daddy loves me!! and yes, i will make those cookies for him, double batch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTFyFAk-p8o_AD-SV5Ww-f1xYomEaEBLPUitngs5CboXDneLhwa1yOYYK1tl_JZgXOqbG1nN9kWY205xliFt-XyoWBJKJb56leebvqq3M0Zi5MVdHa0ES078tKIAoWAPRbBY16pbpur0/s1600/IMG_2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTFyFAk-p8o_AD-SV5Ww-f1xYomEaEBLPUitngs5CboXDneLhwa1yOYYK1tl_JZgXOqbG1nN9kWY205xliFt-XyoWBJKJb56leebvqq3M0Zi5MVdHa0ES078tKIAoWAPRbBY16pbpur0/s320/IMG_2887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
this is one view of the new baseball/softball fields. pretty huh? i get to gaze on this on the walk from my car to my photography class. maybe one day i'll get to actually see a game here. <br />
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THIS is where my photography class is held. i promise we have a window, but only one, and the blinds are usually closed. kind of sad huh? at least the professor lets us play music to make the environment not so stiff. and we probably won't be in the classroom too much since we will need to take pictures.<br />
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the studio, or just 'studio'. this is where i go for my criticism class. i think the window on the far left is my classroom... don't hold me to that though. it's very industrial inside and has old creaky floors, i like it!<br />
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this is the busy street i get to cross twice. i park by the photo building and just walk over for the criticism class, literally across the street from each other. because of a few fatalities of people crossing when they weren't supposed to, i cross when the little man tells me too.<br />
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so there ya have it. a better idea of what my day looks like. should have done this last year, the buildings on the main campus are just beautiful. and there are lots of old trees to give lots of shade and nice places to sit while you wait for your next class.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-48627294283185679092012-09-10T16:40:00.000-07:002012-09-10T16:40:22.813-07:00it's a new weekso last week was kind of awesome.... i got a lot of work done and was able to have a stress free weekend.<br />
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physics: the class itself is hard. keep in mind that the last time i was in physics was 15 years ago. so far, nothing has 'come back' to me. but i decided to look at the homework (online) and see if i could do any. i was able to do three problems, only took one attempt to get the first two right. the third was a four-part problem. the first two i took two attempts, the rest... ONE! i am awesome!!!<br />
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lab: lab this week was really great. my partner and i are both lacking in the confidence department, but were all for the trying anyways. come on people, we do need that passing grade. this time we were supposed to get our 'protoboards' and set up a simple circuit to get an LED light to light up. we followed the diagram/directions... and low and behold.... our light was shining. we kind of made a commotion about it, turns out we were the first to get ours working. we heard a lot of "how did you do that?".... umm, did what the professor said and followed the diagram. we decided to be ambitious and to a parallel circuit to add more lights. no work! when we asked the professor why things didn't work, in a nutshell he said we were making it more complicated than it needed to be. of course! that actually is my biggest problem.... making things too complicated. oh well, we got ours working right the first time and were satisfied.<br />
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photography: this week was just working on our first assignment. we had to take pictures with varying depths-of-filed, light meter readings, and such. we were to have two rolls done by monday (today). well, i took sofia around town with my tuesday to take some pictures. on the way home.... SNAKE! a smallish black/yellow snake crossed our path home. i saw it in time to grab sofia and let the snake continue on his course. freaky. wednesday, the professor said that since the lab wasn't ready, that we could go out and take our pictures. i went around with a partner and found a nice water area to photograph. right by the edge of the grass was a small gravel area that had that black burlap-type stuff sticking through. i took a step by it and saw that some of the burlap stuff moved. you got it... SNAKE! same smallish black/yellow type snake. this time i got a picture of it. but really!!! two days in a row!!! needless to say, i got all my pictures done and headed into town to buy the last of my photo supplies. such an expensive class.<br />
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criticism: we talked about a new (to me) program that JMU offers called MDID, Madison Digital Image Database. basically, a lot of pictures of art pieces and information in one place. very handy-dandy for the art history people and those going into art education. one day was spent learning about it and the other day was spent using it. i didn't have any issues with it, but i do need to go back and pick new items.... the professor wants artist from 2007 to 2012, oops. at least i know what i'm doing now.<br />
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now on to doing homework and readings.... intense week ahead of me.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-25393035878575618812012-09-01T20:38:00.002-07:002012-09-01T20:38:46.270-07:00jmu, i've missed you!my first week of school is over! and what a week it was. i was mildly panicked at the thought of having to be super early to east campus (the newer section) in order to get a parking space. a friend of mine said that the commuter lots fill up by 8:15, which would be the time i would leave my house. ACK! and UGH! terrified i was! well my mom helped out by being early to pick up sofia, so i took off about 8:05 and used my lead foot to help. turns out i didn't need it. i got to the commuter lot and saw LOTS of parking spaces left. my friend was wrong! but i was sure to keep in mind that the first day, even week, could be a fluke.<br />
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my first class is GSCI 101... general science, but the theme is robotics. not sure how this will turn out, but i'm willing to try. found my class with enough time left to read a little. the class is kind of big, but i take that as a good sign that i wouldn't be called on to answer anything. please remember, my last science class that was remotely close to this one was back in '96. well, the first class went well and i actually understood some of what was talked about. the second class (on wednesday) was good too..... once i got to the right room. YES! i did it AGAIN! went to the wrong class. to be fair, it was the right classroom, i just missed the email that stated that my class was to meet somewhere new. i caught on when a different professor showed up. after a minute or two i looked to the person behind me and asked "is this g-sci 101?" NOPE! i grabbed my bag, gave the class and professor a good chuckle and found out where my class was meeting. don't get me wrong, i was embarrassed and i know my face was red.... but really, i'm too old to let that bother me too much. i wound up only missing the first five minutes of my class. friday's class was a shock to me, i actually understood it. we talked about velocity and position and magnitude... but i understood! well, after someone else gave and answer and then the professor explained what the answer was right or wrong. still, though... a break through for me to understand when i'm not that science minded.<br />
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friday was the day for my science lab. that was more scarey to me than anything else because we are going to be building robots! i don't know if i can do that. well, i made a friend in the lecture class and we both decided to brave the lab together, we are lab partners. our first task was just to test the voltage of our power supply (that's all we had time for after the explanations of things). we got our supplies, hooked everything up, and tested. we needed 5 volts and we got 5 volts. success! now, if the rest of the labs will be this easy i'll be good.<br />
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i'm taking photography this semester, which is my next class. it's a 2.5 hour class and i'm intimidated. i took a photography class before, but it was independent study.... not a way to learn how to use a camera. the professor assures us that by midterm everything will be second nature and we won't have to think about anything. i sure hope so. we haven't gotten our first assignment, but when we do it will be at least two rolls worth of pictures. did i mention it's a traditional film photography class? yeah, film! and expensive... i spent $23 on four rolls of film yesterday. yikes! and i know it will only get more expensive. i have the 'materials needed' list and saw that i will be easily spending a few hundred dollars. oh well, i have a refund due to me (gotta love grants).<br />
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my fourth class is an art criticism class. it's more of learning how to critique the art and how to do that in a classroom setting (most of the students are getting their teaching license in art). i chose this class because i did a paper on art critics last semester and i was intrigued. well, so far the class has not disappointed. it's a fun class and my professor is big on class discussions. i will have readings and have to write responses to them as well as to gallery viewings that we will be going to. here's the kicker: the abstract has to be 50 words exactly, the response has to be 50 words exactly, and the other section can be as long as i want. it's harder than i thought... but it's a challenge i will embrace. <br />
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one week down and 14 to goMs. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-26409796138021612782012-09-01T20:09:00.000-07:002012-09-01T20:09:00.151-07:00back to school!!!so my kids first day of school was wednesday of last week (a lot of parents are scratching their heads on that). i was very excited to get them out of the house, get back to a routine, have a lot of quiet time, and be able to get things done without playing referee every 10 minutes. i did my traditional 'prior to pounce' pictures, erica woke up as i was taking it so i wasn't able to scare her awake. this year i decided to take one of sofia too. she can't start school until next year, but she was so picturable.<br />
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the kids woke up fairly easy, i had been getting them in bed earlier for two weeks so we wouldn't have any issues this day. erica was her usual lack of breakfast self while her siblings wanted their cereal. since we took all their supplies to the school a few days before their backpacks were light. i asked the kids if they remembered where to go and what their teacher's name was. memory was in tact! i was really hoping for erica to get the hottie-tot teacher, not just because he's a bit of eye candy, but because he teaches in a way that would benefit erica. well, she didn't, but i was really impressed with who she got. aidan has a new teacher to the school this year.<br />
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soooooooo, with getting up on time and getting ready right away, we had some time to kill before walking up to the bus stop. so i took more pictures.<br />
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this year is a special year.... my brother and his family moved in to the neighborhood, 11 houses up to be exact. and this year their kids are in school, one in kindergarten and the other in pre-k. so we walked up to aunt katy's house to let them know it was time to go catch the bus. my nephew came bounding out of the house, super excited. <br />
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all set and ready to go! and there are a lot of kids this year. i prided myself on knowing each kid at the stop and could call them by name. not this year, though i just might not try. i'll be spending my time talking with the other adults at the stop this year.<br />
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this past week was their first full week, and it was fantastic. of course there hasn't been any homework, that does help a lot. but this was also my first week of school (another post), so anything to make it easier for everyone was nice. here's to hoping that the next week will go just as smooth.... and the rest of the year!<br />
<br />Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-46932670640923721582012-08-19T17:04:00.001-07:002012-08-19T17:04:43.123-07:00We're really here!holy cow! did a whole summer go by with no posts? considering that i wasn't that great with the posts during my spring semester, why am i surprised?! so, i can give a rundown of the summer activities... and the next post just might have some pictures (but, please don't hold me to that)<br />
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<b>school let out, pool opened up:</b> jeff decided that it would be nice to have a pool pass this year instead of forkin over money every visit. $100 for a family of 4 (sofi being only three is still free) yes! thank you! we have taken full advantage. we started the summer with aidan being terrified to him saying "i don't need my floaties if i'm in the short part mom". he got over his fear and taugh himself how to swim. not perfect, but enough of a start. we did want to start the tow older kids on swim lessons, just never happened. sofi loved the pool, took to it like a duck to water. erica loved it too. at just about every visit included me going off the diving board at the kids request. i can only do one dive, but they loved it.<br />
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<b>uncle scott and aunt katy!:</b> my brother and his family moved back from utah (hooraaaaay!) and moved just 11 houses up from me. LOVE IT! what i love most is having my nephew, aylor, randomly opening my front door and saying 'surprise, your aylor is here!' he makes me smile. katy and i are constantly texting back and forth asking if our kids are at the other's house. katy and her kids have been our pool buddies too, makes the time go by so much faster.<br />
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<b>erica in missouri:</b> mom went to visit her sister in missouri and asked if she could take erica. ummmm, YES! i love my child, but i was really looking forward to her being gone and having less fights among the children. she was gone two whole weeks! by the second week i was actually missing her. and because i knew she would behave for mom and aunt janet, i put her room back together as a surprise. (remember, she lost EVERYTHING in her room for being snotty and disrespectful to me, had to earn it all back, hadn't yet). she came home the second week in august and still has everything in her room.... progress!<br />
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<b>my first car accident:</b> i had been driving for 16 years by now... first accident was just last month. by now i can say (without bitterness) that me and the other driver were equal in the blame. i had a stop sign at an intersection, was in the middle of it when other driver came through. love my insurance, took care of everything really quick. lola's (my car) only damage was some paint scratches on the front passenger side of the bumper. takes a lickin and keeps on tickin.<br />
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<b><strike>spring</strike> summer cleaning:</b> my family knows that my grandma hasn't been the best with keeping up with expiration dates on her pantry items. since i've been the 'house keeper' for a while now, i have mentioned a few times her need to clean them out. one day, after removing green hamburger buns from the counter, grandpa gave me the authority to 'clean house'. the job was too big for just myself. so i enlisted the help of my SIL katy and my mother. we must be nuts for all the fun we were having. we laughed, dry heaved, gaged, laughed some more.... way too much fun for what we were doing. not completely done, but so much better.<br />
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<b>a new school year:</b> and now it's time for another school year to start. the kids go back on wednesday, i don't go back until monday. i'm very excited, the kids.... not as much. but we have two birthdays this week, so that will help cheer things up. <br />
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here's to another year and to better blog updates! (did i mention that my son taught himself how to ride a bike)Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-11750227475175631742012-05-14T17:56:00.003-07:002012-05-14T17:56:57.802-07:00wow.... been a whileso this semester wasn't all that exciting. i just didn't have much to write about. but i can give you a sum up of each along with my final grade.<br />
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bio wasn't nearly as hard as i thought it was going to be. every friday we had a small quiz, usually five questions. the first 4 i did really well, the rest... not so much. the prof would take the best 6 scores when he tallied the final grade. i wound up with five that were 80% or higher, don't know about my last quiz, but i'm pretty confident i did ok. i studied for my exams and did fairly well, a 21 out of 30. i know, it's only a 70%, but with bonus points i made a 27, 28, and a 28. the bonus points were the mercy points he gave everyone, whether the answer was right or wrong, on the questions the majority of the class got wrong. well, the final only took me 30 minutes, it was only 30 questions, and as my reward... i got to be a witness to four male streakers. my mom teased me by saying 'some girls have all the luck'. i really didn't consider myself all that lucky, but i had a good laugh about it. so my final grade in the class.... A!!!! can you believe it? well, i guess you can considering my exam grades were all As and i did B work or better on the 6 quizzes he considered.<br />
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my writing class was such a no brainer, really! we had to do a ton of reading, but there were no quizzes and only one project to do the entire semester. i didn't exactly wait until the last minute to write my paper or do the research, but i could have been done a lot sooner than i was. my biggest problem was my topic took a major turn. originally i was going to write about how someone becomes and art critic, why they have so much power, and why we rely so heavily on their opinion. well, after the research... the paper was more on why the art critic is a dying breed and the 'fights' between the average joe/jane and the critic. my mom is my toughest critic with my papers, she liked it and said it was entertaining. got a big, fat A for the class. are you surprised, cause i'm not.<br />
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online math! hated it!!!!! it wasn't really all that hard, but it did have it's moments. i did B work on the web assignments, which is surprising considering how many questions i left blank or half done because i just didn't understand. i told my mom, after a really tough assignment, that after three days and two extensions (the prof gave cause of web issues) i was just guessing and there was no point in finishing. i got a very low c on that assignment. i had two projects to do with a group, which is stupid when it's an online class. i was the group leader only because i sent out the initial emails, two people decided that group work wasn't for them, and the other two helped a great deal. my group, at least the ones that participated, got good grades on the assignments, despite our lack of understanding. i am pleased to say that i got a C+ for the class. i'll take it and enjoy the fact that i never have to take another math class again.<br />
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so, for the term i have a 3.433..... for the year, i have a 3.388, not too shabby i'd say.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-84396991716918323892012-03-20T10:49:00.003-07:002012-03-20T11:04:48.626-07:005 weeks to goi know, i said i would have pictures with this post... sorry. i know i'm being lazy. i have pictures from christmas still on my camera. honestly, i just so tired at the end of my day that i don't feel like posting anything - hence the lack of posts this semester. but, one day i'll keep my promise of posting pictures. i do have pictures on shutterfly... which is out of date too. DAH!<br /><br />so a sum-up of the last few weeks:<br /><br />the 5-9 was my spring break... not much of one since it didn't coordinate with my kid's spring break. i was planning to spend some time each day to get some research done for a paper due at the end of the semester... didn't happen. i spent my time reading and watching movies and playing with my kids.<br /><br />my first week back to school was hard, not so much a big work load, just tired from all those late nights the week before. my bio class continues to be fun, mostly because the professor and his stories. he's an odd duck, but i like him. we had our second exam the friday before our break and turns out i didn't do too bad. i got the same score (pre-bonus points) as the last exam, a 21/30. i know, not great... but when you add in the bonus points he gave to everyone for some of the problems... i got a 28. i figure i'm doing solid B work in his class. i had a quiz this past friday on human reproduction, i got a 50!!!! my mom couldn't believe it, since it was multiple choice. i read her the questions i got wrong, the look on her face confirmed that she wouldn't have done any better. so HA!<br /><br />math class is a challenge, but a good one. the professor has a chart that lists our class rank. with one being the lowest, i'm in the 20th spot out of 27 listed. i'll take it. we had two 'papers' to do and i got a whole 8 points on the first (out of 20) and 17 on the second... i think i'm gettin it. my web work assignments are solid Bs. so i have earned that rank of 20. though there are 33 people in the class, so 6 didn't even register on the chart. as long as i did i'm ok with that.<br /><br />my writing class has just gotten interesting. we've been talking about ethics in writing and now copyrights. some of the topics get my blood boiling, but i keep it in check when i respond to her questions. the same people still irk me with 'like' and 'i was gonna say' and messing with their hair. i'm sure i was just like them when i was their age, doesn't soften the response though. well, like i said earlier, i am in the process of research for my paper. it's dealing with art, why we call it art, why we feel the need for.... crap, i can't think of the word!.... justification (not what i wanted but it works) in purchasing said art, why we spend thousands of dollars on art that a five year old can produce... stuff like that. still not sure if i'm gonna do an actual paper or not, i do have options. if i do the paper then i can be done sooner, but i don't know if i can get 6-8 solid pages out of my topic. we'll see.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-987896526548633592012-02-23T15:09:00.002-08:002012-02-23T15:20:52.894-08:00the countdown...... until spring break. i told my mom i had only four more days of classes then i'm off for a week, which means she's off for a week. yea!!!<br /><br />i actually skipped school this past monday. for some reason, rockingham county closed the schools (there was NO SNOW despite the 3-8 inches predicted) so i decided to stay home too. my brother brought his family up for the weekend, which means loud-yet-fun times at grandmas, and i decided to give my mom a day off. good thing i did. my brother was to take his family home sunday afternoon-ish, but the snow that missed broadway completely prevented them from going far, so they turned around and came back to grandma's. i figured she needed to have some quiet time to recover.<br /><br />so when i was back in my bio class i found out how crappy, yes... i said crappy, i did on my last quiz. out of 6 questions i got 3 right. i told my neighbor ' i guess this will be one of the 6 that gets dropped'. i have been doing B average work, so i don't think i'll suffer too much. my professor is still nutty and full of stories that make no sense. he always says "well, i don't know", "i'm making this up", "maybe it was like this", and "now, where was i" with all his stories. some are funny and most are just WRONG (but still funny).<br /><br />what can i say about my writing class.... this last one wasn't boring. wasn't really all that great, but not boring. since i only have one writing project for the entire semester, there isn't a whole lot of work to do. a lot of reading, but nothing too bad. which reminds me, i still need to post a response on this weeks readings... maybe i should finish them.<br /><br />math is a bit easier this week. which means i actually understand what's going on without much outside help. i got all but two problems done on my webwork assignment on my own. but i'm soliciting the help of my math teaching uncle for one of the problems. i have a few more days to complete the assignment, so no worries on my part.<br /><br />i'm thinkin my next post will actually have pictures... and only pictures. well, maybe a small bit of writing at the beginning. i may even stick in some christmas pictures too... i need to upload my camera pictures before the memory gets too full.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-64384002418546665212012-02-09T17:09:00.001-08:002012-02-09T17:27:06.741-08:00i'm still hereok, i know i have seriously slacked in my posts this semester. i haven't been overly busy, just not in the mood to try and think of what to type to make my semester so far sound as good as last semester. maybe you should ask my parents, mostly my mom, about how i've been doing. i'm constantly goin off about my classes and the students all over campus. so let me fill ya in...<br /><br />my bio class is hilarious! i mean it. my professor reminds me of the absent minded professor. he is constantly telling stories to stop half way through to think about what he said, tell us it doesn't really happen that way, then say he made that up, then lose his place entirely, and finally end the story and get back on track to whatever the lesson was on. i've had 3 quizzes (all b's) and one exam so far. we have a quiz every friday during the last five minutes and i have consistently gotten one wrong out of five. the first exam wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. my wonderful professor said his quizzes and exams are all multiple choice, NICE! he also said that the exam looks like the quizzes, so i was sure to study those as well. i got a 21 out of 30... i know, not a great score. BUT, he gave everyone 6 bonus points... the 6 questions that the majority of the class got wrong (i got four of them wrong). i guess this is his curve... so i went from a 70 to a 90! tomorrow i will have my fourth quiz, i think i should study a bit.<br /><br />my writing class is driving me crazy!!! i hate it and love it at the same time. i hate it because we can NEVER stay on task in the discussions and it seems like a contest for people to make their comments. and can i just tell you how much i am starting to hate the word 'like' and the phrase 'i was gonna say'! i swear every other word out the kids' mouth is like. and 'i was gonna say'.... what did you suddenly change your mind even though you're gonna say it anyways? i don't get it! and let's not get started on the fact that half the girls in the class can't seem to leave their hair alone as they give their two cents. i vented this to my parents on wednesday when i went to get the kids... dad just said "welcome to my world sweetie" as they both laughed. well, i don't have any tests in this class and only one writing project that i got to make up. i let you know about the progress on it later.<br /><br />my math class is gonna turn me batty. it's online and it is all logic crap. i can safely say that because it stumped my dad. i needed help on one problem and had him look at my paper. the look of confusion was priceless. i was able to explain most of it, but that didn't help him. he said "give me algebra and i can help you, i can't do this logic stuff". so i guess i'm to rely on emailing my professor or calling my math teaching uncle. i understand what i'm reading, and if i don't get it right away i do some of the practice tutorials and soon pick up on the concepts. i didn't do too hot on my first 'paper', got an 8 out of 20. i just turned in my second one and i'm hoping that i did much better. i still need to finish up the web class work... this was a loooooong 'lecture'.<br /><br />soon my ge classes will be done and i can really focus on the classes i want to take for my 'major'. you remember what it is right.....? archival photography and historical processes, basically learning the history of photography and learning how to restore. fun times ahead!Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-24719082230742667102012-01-13T20:44:00.000-08:002012-01-13T21:04:08.151-08:00first week backso i have gotten through my first week back at school very well. i thought i would have issues getting a parking space in my favorite garage due to the lateness of the hour of my first class. my class doesn't start until 11:15, but i left my mom's (i agreed to drop off my youngest instead of my mom coming to get her) a bit before 10, pulled into the garage by 10:30ish and managed to get a space. i prayed to be able to get a space and even said "i don't care what level it's on, just to be in the garage is great!" i'm a creature of habit and the champion garage is a habit i didn't want to quit.<br /><br />monday i got to campus early enough to try and pay my tuition bill, i had grant money!!!! they said my bill wasn't updated since i was no longer full time (3 measly credits) and should wait until friday. ok, i mean, who really wants to part with money.... not me. so off to my class i went....<br /><br />biology! oh how i do not like you already!!! well, first of all i went to the wrong classroom. i wrote down the room number, but left it in my car. luckily the class hadn't started yet when i discovered my mistake and i was not the only one who said "oops". so in the right room.... the professor said the dreaded word 'chemistry' and i about panicked. i signed up for the most basic science jmu offered.... which isn't chemistry! i was assured that this was more like playing with tinker-toys and there was no math involved. i'm already a bit confused with half the lecture notes, but i can tell you that glucose is C6H12O6 and can draw it out for you. AND i have already had a quiz, 5 questions that were multiple choice.... i was only confident on two of them. sad, i know!<br /><br />so with three and a half hours to kill before my next class.... that's right, to the library i went. i'm taking an online math course so i spent some time emailing the professor for the information, for some reason it just wasn't ready monday morning. the rest of the time was spent reading for math, emailing, a little facebook, more emailing and then to my last class of the day. during the rest of the week i was diligently doing my math assignments once they were received and turned them in by wednesday afternoon. so far i haven't done a single math problem. that will change by next week i'm sure.<br /><br />so my third class is a writing course like the one i had last semester. the professor likes to go off on tangents and i'm constantly saying to myself "the point edith!". but she is also a trip and very nice. i have a feeling this class is gonna be easy, not 'easy A', but not so hard that i feel overwhelmed. we did manage to have a pretty good discussion on some key words that will be used a lot during the last class. hooray for me, the class is only two days a week! but there will be a lot of readings.<br /><br />so the first week is done and i survived. it helps that i only have classes three days a week....Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-5604340846455667262011-12-20T12:10:00.000-08:002011-12-20T12:17:56.811-08:00survey says.....the verdict is in..... i have passed this semester with flying colors. i was so worried about my history class, i even told my professor early in the term that i would be ecstatic if i passed with a c. well, my ecstatic-ness is on high right now. i was able to view my grades this morning.... (drumroll please)<br /><br />GCom B+<br />GHist A-<br />GWRTC A-<br />Psych C<br /><br />which gives me a 3.215 for the term and a 3.362 cumulative. i told my brother about my grades and he said "this is what happens when you're older and goin back". i have NEVER EVER gotten better than a C in any history class, so i was jumpin up and down when my mom just happened to stop by. i really want to see my final exam though, curiosity is kickin in. i had already figured out what i was getting in my other classes, it was just confirmed. my GCom and GWRTC professors used the 'blackboard' feature so it was easy for me to figure out my grade without waiting.<br />so here's to next semester! i have math, biology, and another writing course. i am so gonna rock the semester!Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-62016194329513121432011-12-14T16:19:00.000-08:002011-12-14T16:33:39.244-08:00i be done!at least for the semester. with end of the term projects and studying for finals i have seriously neglected cleaning my home until today. well, i just cleaned a bathroom that was going to be used by guests. so now that i have time....<br /><br />anyways, my communications class was just so much fun. i got a B on my last speech, totally earned it. i forgot a few key elements and that cost me some serious points. but overall, i did great. the final was practically a no brainer, had i gotten an A it would have been a complete no brainer. i didn't stress over it and just went over the study guide. i had two hours to complete it and i was done in 45 minutes.... gotta love computer lab tests. i got an 83, which gives me a B, and that pretty much secures me in the B department for my final grade. i'll know for sure in a couple of days or so.<br /><br />my writing class had no final!!! we did have a grammar test which i got a C on, out of ten problems i got seven right. better than i thought i would do! i'm still waiting about my revision paper, i tweaked my 'david' paper because i had no desire to delve further into christopher columbus' past. i got an A- on my digital story, the one about my grandparents, only because a few spots the pictures didn't match the narration. it was hard to find enough pictures that worked perfectly with the story.<br /><br />as for my history.... i will miss that class and the awesome professor. have to admit, little crush on the guy, but that already went away. the class was tough, the tests insane, but overall i had a blast in the class. the final was on a saturday morning and i was very prepped. the only problem was having two hours to write a ton of information. i spent an hour and a half on the first question (the 50 pointer). all during the test the professor and his teaching assistant would make comments and get us all laughing. made the test itself a bit less intense. also, the punk that he can be, the prof decided to announce to the whole class that i was having bathroom issues the day before since i was carrying around a roll of toilet paper.... i had allergies and i ran out of my regular tissue. ten minutes after the announcement, he place an immodium cap on my desk. i gave it back to him and wished i had said the great line i came up with after the fact. oh well, i hope to know my grade before new years... he's slow with the grading.<br /><br />next semester i have decided, by force, to take it easy. i have three classes, one is an online math class. i was aiming for 4 classes, but that fourth was proving to be difficult to get in. figured i would wait until next semester to take it. but i will have a biology, math, and a higher level writing class. mom is happy that my classes are only three days a week and starting later in the day. i'll still be spending hours in the library in between class time, but two days off is gonna be great. maybe now i'll get some more pictures of my kids up.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-90890337217987156712011-12-03T12:02:00.001-08:002011-12-03T12:13:30.718-08:00one week to go!i got my history exam back on tuesday.... totally passed!!! a 92.5 to be exact. when i saw my test the professor actually said "terri, you're not gonna pass out on me are you". i have never gotten a B in any history class. i was thrilled! anyways, two more lectures then my final exam. not thrilled about it being the first one on saturday morning. well, i'll just do what i did for the last one, read my notes every day and pray to remember it all.<br /><br />my communications class is still fantastic. i was the first speech on the first day back from thanksgiving break. i think it went over well. mom was a bit miffed that only 12 of the mini pies we made were gone. those that had them said "oh, they're so cute" and one guy looked at me with his mouth full of one and gave me a thumbs up. now all i have left for that project is the critique and then a grade. we had our third test yesterday and i got a (sniff sniff) C. i should have known the test was gonna be right after thanksgiving, but i was still surprised when the teacher announced it on wednesday. that only gave me two days to study. at least i passed. a week worth of speeches left and the next week to study for the final on friday the 16.<br /><br />my writing class has finally eased! i properly stressed over my digital story and got it uploaded to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SDyuZlS6_I">youtube</a>. you can watch it, but please keep in mind that i had a lack of pictures. i know, shocking considering how many pictures my grandparents actually have. but usable ones for my project.... slim indeed. well, it's done and i should expect a grade by monday. all that's left for this class is a grammer gram test (yes, a test on grammer) and a revision of one of my papers. the revision won't take long... just adding a little bit more to my 'masterpiece to master joke' paper on the david sculptures. no final for this class!!!<br /><br />so, only two finals, a week apart, then three weeks off before the chaos starts again. love it!Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-8442498759217998182011-11-25T15:59:00.000-08:002011-11-25T16:12:10.129-08:00my break so farso this week i had off from school. but i was still doing school work for the day i go back. i have a speech about how to make apple pies to write up and finish the power point portion. it's mostly pictures, but the outline has to be full and complete sentences. FUN! the other project is a 'digital story' that i'm doing on my grandparents. i have 5 out of 9 paragraphs done, well narration with pictures, which is amazing since i didn't get started (really get started) until last night.<br />monday was spent watching a friends little angel then takin my kids over to my grandparents to clean their house.<br /> tuesday was my shopping day this week, i was able to get the narration recorded that night (thank you jeppson family for the use of your microphone!).<br />wednesday was spent getting pictures of my grandparents for my project, figuring out if i was going to take my kids up north, then actually going. jeff wanted the kids with him this year because all of his family was going to be present. i had no problems with that. so, since wednesday night i have been kid free.... NICE!!!<br />thanksgiving day was spent cleaning my house for a few hours then heading over to my grandparents for turkey. it was nice to only need my phone, license, and what i needed for the food i was in charge of (mashed potatoes). i didn't have to worry about what sofia was getting in to and possibly breaking, didn't have to hear any whining or fighting.... just some fun visits with my family. i was proud of myself for not stuffing myself silly with food. i had one!!! plate full and was done. after everyone went home i helped my aunt janet a little with the fake tree at grandma's. but i wanted to work more on my narration project so i could go out on black friday without guilt.<br />so this morning i worked some more on my projects. at 9:45 my mom picked me up and aunt janet, mom and i went out. i did pretty good, two of my kids chirstmas shopping is done. i just got home a half hour ago (6:30). now i'm gonna watch a christmas movie while i get the tree put up. i told the kids that we would decorate it for sofia's birthday....Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-76954806806625658072011-11-13T19:38:00.000-08:002011-11-13T19:54:17.558-08:00a week of nothing to comethis is my last week before a nice week off for thanksgiving. i can't wait, but it won't be totally school work free. with two projects due right after the break.... i'll be gettin a bit chummy with my computer.<br /><br />my communications class is one of my projects. i just finished up my 'this i believe' speech, got a big fat A on the paper part and waiting on the speech grade. my professor suggested i submit my speech to the 'this i believe' website, which i just did, and i'll hear in about six weeks whether they will accept it. i don't know if he made that suggestion to anyone else, but i like to think i was just special enough. next up is the informative speech. when i asked if we could be funny he said "oh please, yes!" so mine is going to be on 'how to make an apple pie'. not many college freshman know how to bake much, let alone a pie. this needs to be a power point, so i have some pictures to take, an outline to write and a lot of practice ahead of me. i have two weeks. oh, just took my second test on friday, got another B... i'm happy with that.<br /><br />my writing class is the other project. for our third paper we need to write a short narrative. then we need to add pictures to it then upload to youtube. i have the narrative part done and will have the conference on it tuesday. this whole week class is canceled for the conferences and because no one will be here friday before the break. so i have two weeks for this project as well. my only problem is that the program i need to it isn't working right. it's a sound thing. but i'll get my computer-geek husband to help me out and see what we can do. after that, a revision for one of my projects and we can call this class done!<br /><br />history is just peachy. no word on my test results yet, i'm starting to get paranoid about it. i know i answered the questions pretty thorough, but i'm not sure it's what he wanted. the unknown is awful!!! so far we have talked about FDR and the new deal, all the different groups that fought in WWII and the boarder crossings in arizona (the discussion section). i only have the final left... on a saturday! how did we luck out with that?! anywho...<br /><br />so i have two of my classes for next semester lined up. a biology class and an online math class. my brain is not really on the smarty-pants side so i went with the 'dumb peoples' math and science. i know where my limits are, so no correction needed for my 'dumb people' remark. i need to get an override for my next writing class and photography because i'm not on the list for the specific majors that these classes go with. those people get first priority and i have to wait, but since i'm not a 'traditional' student i may get a little help. i tried to be nice with my schedule for my mom's sake, all my classes are on MWF and none at night. she should be happy about that.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773483420450784494.post-84060877333783190782011-11-04T08:40:00.000-07:002011-11-04T08:58:16.166-07:00another week bites the dustoh, i have been one busy bee. lots of studying (yes, i do that sometimes) and papers to write. and i finally have an advisor! adult degree program people have to find our own advisors because we are non-traditional students. well, after many "i'm not right for you, try...." i finally have one. she's the ADP liaison and is still baffled as to why i wasn't sent to her from the start. oh well. so my concentration is "archival photographs and historical processes". don't worry, she told me that this can guarantee me a job because some of the classes and internship i would take works with someone with power... she knows people. i am really excited about what i get to do and so is my advisor. now, hopefully this will enable me to get financial aid through jmu!<br /><br />gcom, communications class, has been fun. we have been working on our 'this i believe' essay, which will be turned into a speech for next week. monday i left early,wednesday and today we haven't had class. my poor professor has damaged his hip (i think) and had to cancel classes. but, no matter what, we will start our speeches on monday! by the way, due to 10 bonus points (taking a test that needed to be taken and the practice before) i now have an A in the class.<br /><br />gwrtc, my writing class, is becoming intense. mostly cause of the work load, it's not really that bad, it just seems like a lot. we finished up our second paper (still waiting for grades) and we jumped right into our next assignment. this one can be one anything, but it requires pictures and narration. i voiced my "but i can't do this if it requires programs that i don't have" issues, the professor said that i was not to worry. i can download the needed program for free... but that still leaves me with a need for a microphone. details that i can work out later. so it needs to be 5-6 minutes in length and the transcript is due just before thanksgiving break.<br /><br />ghis, history of course, has been kickin my tail. did i tell you that 70% of the class failed the first exam? yeah, that's right! and i was among the 70%... a big whoppin 47! it soothed erica's hatred of math to know that even mommy fails sometimes. anyways, i was determined NOT to get another F. i studied my notes everyday for two weeks, i even took the notes with me on my shopping days. i was worried that the 50pt question would be on WWI or the new deal, the more recent lectures, which i hadn't been able to study as much. well, the 50 pointer was on the various people in the west... NAILED IT! i wrote so many facts on each group he asked about my hand is still hurting. i spent about 30 - 40 minutes on that question alone. we had 5 10 point questions to answer and i got those too... one or two may have not been answered as fully as he wanted, but i think i got enough down on paper that i will get most points. here's to the power of prayer and preparation!!!! i'll let ya know what i got in like three weeks... yes, he takes that long to grade them.Ms. JMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15644061826872518128noreply@blogger.com1