Wednesday/Thursday Ramble #3

-NEWS FLASH LADIES (if you're a dude this doesn't really apply to you unless you really love your woman and if that's the case, you need to tell her about this)!!!!  There's a thing called a Menstrual Cup.  Yep, that sounds gross, but how does it sound to not have to deal with bloody feminine hygiene products in the trash each month?  Or better yet, not having Teh Sister recce a pooped out, used tampon in her yard when you come to visit that one of your dogs left while you were in Raleigh...  Yeah that happened.  Anyways.  Menstrual cup is a thing.  Brit and many other smart women before me posted about it and if you're tired of the tampon string going up your butt crack when you wipe and finding ways to keep your blood thirsty animals from eating your monthly sacrifice, check this baby out.  It's also on Amazon.

-Extra news flash:  Teh Sister informed me that these menstrual cup things exist at Walmart in a disposable form.  Interesting.  I told her she could get them for me for Christmas.  Definitely a sister-to-sister gift.


-I learned on Monday that I look pretty much worthless via my resume.  This was from a stranger who pointed out all the things I'm lacking and suggested I look for a job "up north."  Granted, he looked at my resume and compared it to a job posting that I was looking at and gave me his honest opinion, but still.  To be told to look in a different area (he wasn't aware of the whole moving to Charleston for a purpose thing) and to have someone point out just how little experience I have in any single field (thanks Navy) burned.  I just want to ask him, should I stretch the truths to get a job?

-My tolerance for bullshit is getting lower and lower the longer I'm employed at Target.  Why didn't I apply at a small company that actually gives a shit?  Ugh.  Working a split shift the day before Thanksgiving isn't really high on my list of things to do.

-When I sit down at the computer, I automatically go to indeed or linkedin or some sort of job hunting website.  Honestly, it's consuming my life.  I sat down Tuesday night and Wednesday night to write this blog and then squirrel-ed to indeed and then had dinner and watched Mr. Mystery play video games while I was on more job sites.  I feel like it's all I ever talk about anymore and that makes me sad.

-Mr. Mystery wants me to get a "real life" job so household morale improves.  The dogs don't seem to care either way.

-Every time I want to play Katamari, I get distracted by hours of job searching.

-I've considered getting a part-time nanny/babysitting job and starting my Master's classes again, but that thought is always fleeting.  Additionally, there is something incredibly scary about being the carer of a child.  What if the child is a little shit?  Either way, I started the care.com registration, but I've yet to apply for any positions what with still being employed at hell Target.  Also, children are little germ buckets and I hate being sick.  But still, better than Target?  Probably.  My fear is also that I wouldn't get lucky to get an awesome family.  I've been lucky like that in the past, in college and even keeping Navy coworker children, but those were people that I knew.  Strangers are a whole different story.

-Since I no longer live with a teenager, my hip vocabulary has significantly decreased.  Apparently "basic" now has a special implied pop culture meaning that I'm not yet privy too.  But if I had to guess, it probably applies to me.

-I still say "swerve" to Teh MD Teenage Roomie while doing a butterfly with my hands because to me swerve is what a butterfly does when there is a strong breeze... like say when you barely miss hitting it with your car and it has to get realigned for flight.

-I feel like I should apologize to all the people in my life that I whine to.  I feel like the last 2-3 months I've been incredibly whiny when really I should just be incredibly grateful., which I am.. I just whine louder.

-While I'm hoping for new/better employment, I'm still loving the blue hair and I really wonder how much it will affect an interview.  Granted, my roots are starting to show, which makes me sad, since I'm not planning on bleaching them to redye them.  I haven't decided what my next color should be yet, but I have a feeling it's going to be a burgundy-purple color from the box, which kinda makes me sad because the blue is aweeeeesome.

Prob darker than this.

-More about blue hair, I often forget I have blue hair.  Seriously.  I don't really pay attention unless it's down or I'm shedding and even then, it no longer seems unnatural.  Having blue hair has definitely earned me some nicknames at Target.  If I were to quit there and dye my hair to a more "normal" color, I doubt anyone would recognize me.

So What Wednesday #8

So what:

...I dropped my graduate class this morning.
   ++ I looked at the syllabus and saw a 10-15 page lit review due on week 4 and a 18-20 page case study due at the end of the class.  During week 4 I'm going to be at DW.  At the end of the semester I'm going to be in NC.  It was for the best.

...I've been staying up late and waking up early for FB chats
   ++ This morning I got news that I wasn't expecting so soon.  It definitely made my week... if not much, much longer.  We'll see.

...I didn't study for my PO1 exam.
   ++ I was studying for EAWS and we had a snow day and I had medical and I've decided to study geography and call it done.  At least I'll find out how much studying helped me.

...I like to one song over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over....
   ++ I can't help it.  First I have to learn the words properly, then I start singing it at the top of my lungs, then I start enjoying it, then that feeling comes where that song conveys your life so perfectly so you have to sing it again and again.  It makes for some killer song headaches.

...my goal for the entire month of March is to write my resume.
   ++ Writing a resume is hard work.  Writing a resume and having no idea what you're doing is even harder.  I'm going to have to enlist some help, but I will make it happen.

...I don't have school work or EAWS to occupy me at work so I feel bored.
   ++ I also look bored when I'm on FB 86% of the time. 

...I'm really enjoying getting up early to get to work early.
   ++ Not just because the 5am chats I've been having, but also because it means that I almost always go to the gym and workout and I've been seeing results which makes me happy.  My NSUs weren't tight when I put them on last Friday for my board which definitely was a confidence booster.  My NWU pants are still a bit tight, but I also bought them smaller than I should have... I was a Navy baby, don't judge me.

...I really want to get my EAWS pin this Friday but I don't think its going to happen.
   ++ Really this is more about my convenience and planning that actually wanting to wear the device..  Then again, I did earn the damn thing.  I have to figure out when to take my uniforms to the tailor to have the patches sewn on because yeah.. supporting the local economy and saving myself bloody fingers.

...I got 5 referrals and 1 prescription for my 5 issues from my medical appointment yesterday and I was completely happy about that.
   ++ Ahhhh military medicine at its finest.  Hopefully these referrals will help me solve my back problems issue and I also requested a referral for tattoo removal, so we'll see what happens with that.  YAY medical!

...I'm afraid that Monday's snow was the last snow of the winter. 
   ++ I know that most people are SNOW over it.. but I love it.  Truly.  Even if I have to come to work.  It's pretty and it means I get to go sledding and lay in the snow.

Happy middle of the work week!

Five on Friday #10

UNO

Five day work week, you suck.  On Wednesday, I thought it was Thursday, on Thursday I thought it was Wednesday.  Friday, you're an elusive jerk.  I feel like surviving this week has been an accomplishment! 

DOS

I really, really, really should work on getting my EAWS pin.  For my non-Navy Gentle Readers, EAWS = Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist.  It's like the IDW pin I got in Bahrain (you member?), except for the aviation community.  I have been tasked since I arrived at VX-1 to get this pin and I just have zero motivation to get it because my allegiance to the aviation community is practically nil.  I know I will get it, I just.. wah wah wah, excuse excuse excuse.  My goal for December was to finish getting signatures on my last few sections (like less than 5 sections to get signatures for), learn all the content, and have the test and board completed by the end of January.  Part of my motivation problem was that my last school semester really burned me out and I just wanted an educational break.  I don't want to learn, I want to blog and be lazy and watch Grey's Anatomy and not have to do anything (except wrap Christmas presents).  But, now we have passed the halfway point of December and I've yet to do anything with it, except print out some flashcards to study from (even though I made flashcards, yes I'm an overkill master). 

TRES

I was checking out ratemyprofessor.com and it's really not looking good for any class I could want to take.  The reviews are horrible for all the professors teaching the next 4 classes listed in my academic plan.  It's like AMU puts the good teachers on the initial classes so students get a good experience and you've already started the program so you're less like to transfer out, and then the other teachers are designated to teach in classes later down the line and they are horrible.  I know that what I'm seeing on the website might be skewed, but I've posted on that website since starting school again, so I do value those opinions in a way.  I really miss NC State's professor review website, which doesn't seem to exist anymore.  It came before ratemyprofessor.com and was extremely helpful in which classes and professors I took.  Most of the poor reviews I'm seeing have to do with the instructor's lack of participation in the class.  Which only makes me reflect on my INTL501 professor and what an awful experience that was.  So after being burnt out from last semester and the poor reviews, I'm scared to sign up for more classes.  The lack of instructor participation makes me wish I lived closer to DC so I could go to a brick and mortar school and instead have to worry about getting to class rather than lack of instructor participation.

QUATRO

Teh Bear will be working this weekend, which is totally ok since we will be off together for Christmas, so I'm taking the opportunity to save on shipping costs, by having an increase fuel cost and meeting Teh Sister to exchange presents.  I also will be enjoying English Christmas as one of the Brits from worked invited us to their house for mince pies and mulled wine.  I'm excited since I missed out last weekend on an invitation since I was party-prepping Teh House.  For church on Sunday, I'll be in the sound booth again, but this time potentially using the new computer and presentation program, which is scary yet exciting. 

CINCO

YAY for Teh Bear's birthday!  I didn't make a bday post for him which I've seen several bloggers do for their significant other's birthday.  I didn't even get a card, which I admitted to him, made me feel super guilty.  Then again, we did have a party on Sunday, a nice dinner (which he actually cooked) on Tuesday, saw Thor 2 on Wednesday, and we have plans to see The Hobbit next week when we're off together at one of the theaters with the recliner seats.  It's like perpetual birthday celebration.  He did remind me to not let him open future birthday presents early, as he was a bit disappointed that he didn't have anything to open on his birthday.  Yet, he's used his bday present every day since opening, so I feel like it was a pretty good trade off.  He announced last night that Earl Grey Tea is delicious, so maybe that's his favorite?  I know that we've been going through mugs much faster than I ever did.



YAY for 2 short work weeks, 2 weeks in a row!!  See, there are good days in the Navy!  The ones where you don't have to be there.  :D



Linking up with these ladies since it's FRRRIIIIIDAY:

A concluding rant... about one of my classes.. of course

I have officially finished my HR class.  I've submitted my weekly forum post, responded to enough people, and turned in my final project.  YAY!

Except that I still have 8 more pages to write for my intel class and I'm angry and my writing this post is to vent those frustrations so I can hopefully move past them and get to doing the actual assignment, which I did actually start, but anger distracted me.

So much anger, in fact, I did the dishes.

My intel class has been a HUGE disappointment.  As this was my first class I wanted to learn all the exciting things I didn't already know.  I wanted the non-military perspective.  I got over 300-500 pages of reading per week, in addition to hours of research and reading journal articles to help clarify the things I wasn't understand from the readings.  I understand that by taking online classes, I'm pretty much "self-teaching" all the things.  I get that.  What I don't get is how cookie cutter classes are difficult for instructors.  I don't understand why its so hard to review the syllabus, assignments, and weekly lessons and forums before they are posted, ensuring accuracy and that they reflect the desires of the instructor.

For instance (because you knew that was coming)...
My intel class is INTL 501 Strategic Intelligence.  The syllabus contained the title INTL 305 as the class.  The syllabus also stated that we had a weekly forum post to do except for during week 7, which was inaccurate, as we did have a forum post required that week.  During week 1, the instructor posted an extra forum that wasn't listed on the syllabus that contained a link to a video and asked if we had any comments.  I didn't have any comments after watching the hour long video, so I was not given full credit (at first) that week because I did not complete all the assignments.  I messaged the (Nobel Prize winning) instructor and explained that the video forum wasn't listed as required on the syllabus and it also didn't state it was required.  The instructor "gave [me] an extension" so I could do the assignment.  I later found that particular forum listed under the week one lesson as an assignment.. and by later I mean, several weeks later when looking for a reading that had been assigned.

Additionally, grades were received at least 2 weeks after the week had ended.  Example:  Week 2's grades were finally posted during week 5.  While week 6 grades haven't been posted yet, and we are in the final week of the class.  The first assignment that was due was a research proposal.  The syllabus stated it was due on 19OCT, his assignment page listed it as due on 26OCT.  It was finally returned with comments 6/7/8NOV (I don't remember the actual date, but around those days).  Originally, the research paper was due 16NOV, but on the 14th, the instructor sent out an email telling the class that the research paper due date was pushed back a week, which I had already assumed since that was the due date on the assignments area, ya know, since I'd already deduced that the syllabus was a waste of my time.

The real issue with this massive delay in grading of assignments is that the syllabus stated the papers for the class were to be done in Turabian format... except that the instructor wanted in-text citations.  It took me 5 weeks to figure out that he didn't actually want Turabian format in the paper (or forums, which I was being deducted points for, and the feedback was coming so late that the feedback was useless because new forums postings had already been done), only the references, because Turabian format doesn't use in-text citations, it uses footnotes/end notes, which I can totally do.

Additionally, feedback on the forum posts was originally done by editing the original post and later it was by responding to the post.  The responses and feedback didn't take into account the replies to the original posting, replying to other's posts was only a check in the box.  This guy should definitely win the "most involved professor of the year" award. /eyeroll

Often in the lessons, links were incorrect and it was difficult to get to the readings or videos that were required, which directly correlates with an issue I'm currently having doing the final project (which by the way, wasn't opened up until 17NOV and it's due 01DEC).  For the final paper, you are only allowed to use required readings that were used throughout the course.  When I go back through the lessons, some of the reading files are no longer available, which makes doing this final assignment even more difficult than it needs to be.  Additionally, rather that using bibliographies to assign readings (which would only make sense to me so students can actually go and fetch these readings that were assigned that are no longer linked) only web addresses were given for some items.  Those readings often are missing vital information that is needed to do a required reference page for the final project.

The final assignment reads like this: "This assignment is a Take Home Essay assignment to test knowledge and assimilation of the course learning objectives."  I'm just going to state that almost all online class requirements are "take home"...  /facepalm
And my favorite part of the final assignment: "The assignment should be no more and no fewer than eight pages."  Because you know, that's not very specific or anything.  What happens if its over (which I have a tendency to do)?

Grading for the class is.. on another realm of education.  90+ grades (A- to A+) are only given if you are performing "above class standards", while a B+ is above standards.  Why would I be taking the class if I could perform above class standards?  What would be the point, since I obviously already know the material.  Teh Bear and I have often discussed this class because it frustrates me so, and he claimed that the instructor was trying to challenge the students.  Ok, fine.  I've been academically challenged, but when your feedback is consistently too late to be applicable, your comments include "errors" that can be considered preferences and the rest of the feedback is mostly the same as from previous weeks (a copy/paste portion of the grading rubric for A standards, as well as a disclaimer explaining that he writes/speaks in short clipped sentences due to "an old military habit"), I have fierce struggles.

A final stressor of this class for me is that due to late feedback, I know that I won't receive my research paper comments or grade from the professor before the final project is due (ya know, 7 days after the research paper was due).  The research paper was 35% of our final grade while the final project is 30% (forums were 20% and the research proposal is 15%).  Not having feedback is especially scary since I know that this instructor is extremely particular about all the things and I'll have no idea what I've done wrong, so I'm sure to repeat all my mistakes in the final project, which I'm sure to be marked down for.

The first week of the class, there were 21 people enrolled.  At week 8, there are 10 students left.  I struggle to comprehend why with such few students, grades are returned so late.

One of the feedback items that I gave to my INTL 500 instructor was that I didn't feel like grading was strict enough because I would later find errors in my papers that the instructor didn't catch or didn't care.  Well, that might have bit me in the ass.

Is it December yet?

PS.  I'm taking an education break for at least one month (if not two) after this semester.  I feel like I've been through the ringer, for sure.  I'm tired of only ever talking about homework.  I feel like I mommy-jack conversations, except that its not mom or baby things, it's homework related issues and no one like a conversation-jacker.

Homework break.

I feel like I've not written a real blog post in a mabillion years and it hurts.  I have this guilt that I should post blogs, except that I literally don't have time.  Teh Bear keeps asking me what's wrong based on facial expressions that I seem to consistently have, and I have to admit that I'm stressed about the mountain of homework that I have from taking 2 classes...  which I'll never do again.  8 week courses aren't the same as 16 week courses.  Online school isn't the same as brick and mortar school.  Being a student isn't the same as working full-time and being a student.

I will walk away from this "semester" (it's still hard to call 8 weeks a semester) with some marks, but I will walk away.  My HR class is going splendid, but my Strategic Intel class is kicking my bootay and the instructor is... well, not my cup of tea, which is ironic, because I'm pretty sure he's British.  While I understand he's trying to challenge me, I feel like his minimal interaction with the class as a whole is bringing the class down.  If it were a go-to-class-class, he would be the instructor that stands at the front of the class and talks for the entire time then tells you to go home and read 400 pages and come back next week with your 2 page paper in hand.  Granted, the guy is extremely knowledgable, but I don't feel like he's trying to share that knowledge, so much as show the class he knows the knowledge, which makes him come across as a prick.

See how so far this has only been about school, well, that's how my life feels.  I feel an extreme amount of guilt for sitting down and watching TV with Teh Bear in the evening while eating dinner.  I loathe the feeling that I should be doing homework at all times.  I feel like its school work or my life and that's just not the right balance for me, which is why I've decided that I'm definitely not taking more than 1 class at a time anymore (because I know that if I had just the intel class alone, I'd be able to manage the load a bit better, although I'd still complain about it just as much), and I'm probably taking off the month after these classes end to focus on non-school things (like Christmas and that stupid EAWS pin that the Navy says I should have).

In non-school things, Teh Bear is still in MD and it's still amazing for him to be here.  I've finally gotten over my OCD with the kitchen lights (there's 2 switches and I liked for one switch to always be down), I'm used to reloading the dishwasher to fit more stuff or to make sure the plastic bowls don't flip over, I'm coming to terms with the extra laundry, I'm relieved that I don't have to be Betty Crocker every night and that Teh Bear cooks dinner on days that he's off, I'm slack-jawed at the fact that Teh Bear has used the new (yet-to-be-named) vacuum more than I have, I'm loving the fact that Teh Bear gets self-motivated and cleans and I don't even have to ask him to, and I really just love being able to get hugs whenever I want.  All the crazy stuff in my head from pre-move-in seems silly and I knew that my worries were unfounded then, but it's nice to be proven wrong.

Teh BFF came to MD to visit while she was on vacation.  It was awesome to be able to hang out with her for an extended period of time without having to deal with work schedules (I was able to get Thursday off and Friday was a family day at the hangar).  Teh Bear was cool with hanging out with us or giving us girl-time, which was awesome.  We visited the National Zoo in DC on Thursday (maybe one day when I'm school-free I'll post the pics) and one of the pandas was out!  WIN!  After the Zoo, we tried to go get pics of the White House, but due to trick-or-treating, access was blocked off, so it meant far away photos.  We did also go across the street and check out the Washington and Lincoln Monuments.  Teh BFF's favorite part was driving around DC, I think.  She was glad we didn't make her drive, and I'm not sure why she thought she'd be doing the DC driving, but that's just silly after she'd already driven 8 hours to come visit (in addition to her limited big city driving experience).  Thursday night, we had a handful of trick-or-treaters and the best part was when they would ring the doorbell and Phil would be the first at the door.  Most of the kids were like, Wow, check out that big dog, while some of them, literally, screamed and ran away.  LOLZ.  We had so much candy left over.  Le sigh.

Friday, we took Teh BFF on a tour around base and she got a full show with all the air traffic that was going on.  Even I was impressed, except at the jet flying overhead... NOT impressed by the noise on that sucker.  At. ALL.  After the base tour, where I learned that my favorite tree had lost most of it's leaves before I could get photos, we went on a 5 hour shopping spree, which was awesome and wore us both out.  We were happy being lazy for the rest of the evening.  Sadly, she left on Saturday and Teh Bear had to work, so I did homework (of course) and laundry and took Phil on a walk with Teh Greyhound Neighbor, who purchased Phil's mustache coat (and he was in very dire need of a new coat).

And I returned $20 in stuff that didn't fit properly...
This is how you win at shopping.

Love my Philbo

Can I just say that I have awesome friends?  I mean, not like, YAY presents for me!  But literally, awesome friends who I can just hang out with and talk to and who take care of me and let me attempt to take care of them and there's really no way to repay that.

What other big news have we missed out on?
Hrm.. some big news coming down the pipeline potentially on the "stay in or get out of the Navy" front.  I'm not purposely trying to be vague, but I am, as I don't want to jinx myself or anything and I'd rather not get a huge hype going about this particular item and then it not happen, but I will tell you that it's a big deal and something I've considered since I was a baby in GTMO and it's currently got the Command Master Chief and Skipper involved.  I have no idea what the actual timeline is on this entire ordeal, so feel free to inquire if I fail to mention it, which I probably won't, but just in case.

I volunteered to sing with the praise band at church Sunday since 2 of the 3 singers were away for the weekend.  Many people gave their compliments, which I really appreciated.  I can't really say if it was good or bad, I was there, I had been praying about it for a long time, I just sang.  The lady who leads the praise team gave me a very long hug after it was over.  I'm not sure if it was relief that it was over (since working with me wasn't as easy as working with her normal team, I'm sure (in addition to my lack of choral education)) or that I had done well.  I'm always doubtful of myself in regards to performance, and this isn't me fishing for compliments.  I even had a dream on Saturday night that the leader had decided that we weren't going to perform as we had practiced on the Tuesday prior, I wasn't going to sing with her, and that she was just going to take requests from the audience.  When I told her about it, she laughed and said, I'd never do that!  But that's just how worried I was that I was going to bring down the quality of the service.  Although, since I was on stage, I dressed it up a bit to include heels and dress pants (the ones I wore for my NCSU graduation actually).  I even got a compliment on my shoes, which credit really goes to Teh Worldwide Jesus Lover for picking those torture-devices babies out in 2007.

I finished the last season of How I Met Your Mother on Netflix.  1.  FINALLY.  2.  MORE!  I say more, in a I-wish-I-had-more-time-in-my-life-for-fun-activities-that-aren't-homework-or-homework-guilt type way.  I have a significant amount of photos to edit from the zoo trip and from a walk Teh Bear and I took at one of the local state parks, so maybe one day I'll get to those.

In the meantime, I've started a blog series called 4 Things that I found on Brit's blog forever ago.  Maybe doing that post with the weekly sunglasses will make me feel slightly less guilty about neglecting Teh Blog, but probably not.

And just FYI, it has been an absolutely delightful feeling to be able to sit here and type and ignore the homework-guilt.  I miss blogging so, so much.  Academic writing makes me want to dig my eyes out of their sockets.  Writing in my voice and in my improper, non-formal style is just so much more satisfying than meeting all the rules of a Turabian or APA paper.

Happy Fall/November/impending Christmas season, Gentle Readers!



Linking up with all these ladies:

Five on Friday #6

UNO

Tonight is the Battle of Britain celebration!  If you don't know what that is, don't feel bad, cause I didn't either, but really, its a UK thing.  The Battle of Britain was one of the largest and most sustained aerial bombings in history.  The goal during the battle was for Germany to destroy Britain's air defenses, but Britain was like NO BITCHES!  So Germany didn't win, and it was a significant turning point for the European front of WW2.  Obviously this is a good military campaign to celebrate.  But why is it happening in America?  Because VX-1 hosts several British military personnel and they always like a good reason to have a party!

Honestly, preparing for this party for me has been a significant battle.  It was decided Teh Bear and I would be going a week ago, at which point we had to start finding our "40s costumes."  This was easier for Teh Bear than myself.  After spending an entire day on Ebay searching for the perfect dress, Teh Bear liked one more than the others, and it was approved by others, so I purchased it right before walking out the door to head to DC for last weekend's color run.  It didn't arrive until Thursday afternoon.  STRESSFUL.  When I tried it on, it was a TENT!  I was immediately disappointed, but then went to the closet to see if I owned anything that would suffice.  Teh Bear wasn't a fan of the options, even though I was fine with them and he suggested going shopping to see if there were any options at all. 

After spending 3 hours, we came home successful... more than successful actually.  Now I have 3 options and I have no idea which to choose!  Which is more "40's"??

First world problems.  I know!

DOS

This morning I did my best run to date.  Longest time, longest distance, and best average pace.  I was thinking about my running problem, ya know, since I had an hour to think about whatever, and I realized that when I got Phil, my working out abilities have greatly improved.  It used to be hard to just run 1/8th of a mile of the 1 mile trek I used to take Phil on.  Then it wasn't so hard and I made it 1/4 of a mile, and eventually worked up to a 1/2 mile, then I could run the WHOLE MILE!  Yeah, it wasn't my favorite thing, and since I was doing this with Phil, we had specific stopping points we always stopped at for business, so there were breaks, but running a whole mile was a big deal to me. 

Yeah, I'm in the Navy and we have our physical readiness tests, but I always opt to swim mine instead of running, or going the way of using a machine. 

I think the biggest thing that changed for me was when I downloaded the RunKeeper app and it was like all the things clicked.  I could now track my distance, my time, my calories, I could SEE improvement!!!  At first this was a struggle because I wanted to use my iPod, which just wasn't ready to handle that kind of pressure.  Once I just succumbed to using my cell phone, it was easy peasy.

Ok, actually that's a lie.  The biggest thing that changed running for me was buying NEW SHOES.  I purchased new shoes when Teh Sister and I went to the NY wedding in June and it was like a magical healing.  My back stopped hurting all the time!  It was like FREEDOM!  I've been excited to go workout now since I know I'm not going to end up feeling like I've been hit by a car each time I work out.

This morning I ran almost SEVEN MILES.  Last year I was proud that I was running a SINGLE mile.  Yes, sometimes my back still hurts and I power through it.  I definitely believe in mind over body, so even when it hurts I still workout, unless I feel like its only going to hurt me more, then I will probably just do a lighter workout instead of not going (unless I'm feeling particularly unmotivated).  TAKE THAT BODY!  I WIN!

TRES

I've felt like a bad blogger recently.  I forgot that last Friday was Friday due to the dress hunt.  Oops.  I really enjoy writing weekend wrap up posts, except that by Sunday night, I'm usually exhausted.  It also doesn't help that Teh Bear's thing is watching TV, which is supppppppper distracting to me.  I blame it on the fact that I didn't watch much TV when I was growing up so when the TV was on, my attention was 100% on the TV.  That habit still continues today, when the TV is on, I struggle to focus on anything other than the TV.  ANDDDDD, more Teh Bear blame, he has me watching Breaking Bad and Sherlock, which are awesome shows (I'm pained to admit), so I actually want to pay attention to those shows.  Additionally, there's the looming paper that I need to write for my class, but haven't even started yet.  Oops.

CUATRO

Speaking of class.  I signed up for my 2nd and 3rd masters classes.  Strategic Intelligence and Human Resources Management.  My first class didn't have a book, which was delightful.  Unfortunately, these classes both have books.  BOO.  I didn't miss textbook prices.  Also, price gouging because the word "management" is in the title should be illegal.

Left: $104 (which didn't come with the 3-ring binder it suggests)
Right: $34 (completely bound)
WTF?

CINCO

NJ this weekend for Baby Boomkin-Voices's baptism!  Not only do I get to hang out with Mr. Voices and Mrs. Boomkin, I will obtain a delicious cannoli!!!  WOO!  NOMNOMNOM!  Also this weekend, I have fingers crossed that Roof-a-doofs gets adopted.  Not that she isn't adorable, just we aren't her Forever Family (although Teh Bear would happily foster fail with her I think).

Sunbathing!

Linking up with these ladies since it's FRRRIIIIIDAY:

On going back to school.

I ran away from the academic world after I graduated NC State. Literally. Teh Mom asked about graduate school, my LPOs and Chiefs and occifers asked me about continuing my education.. and I was like, kthxNO for about... uuuhhh.. Dec 2007 until July 2013. Math is hard.

I've only been in class for a week now and I'm extremely critical of all things. I don't remember being this critical when I was doing my undergrad. I took everything at face value. The students, the teachers, the lessons. I probably could have been radicalized in my time at NC State and not even realized it. Ok, maybe that's extreme, but you get it.

Not only have I been super critical of my current classmates (not really anything personal, I just hope your grade reflects your inability to follow directions and that includes making significant typos in your posts and in ability to hit the word count), but I'm also super critical of the lessons. I found this gem while studying:

"OK, I know it's a convoluted, awkward and formalistic way to ask research questions. But it encompasses a long tradition in statistics called the hypothetical-deductive model, and sometimes we just have to do things because they're traditions. And anyway, if all of this hypothesis testing was easy enough so anybody could understand it, how do you think statisticians would stay employed?" -William M.K. Trochim (source)

You've got to be kidding me.  After reading an entire page devoted to different types of hypotheses, the guy is like, yeah we know its redundant and stupid, but we do it because its tradition... Are you fucking kidding me?  Traditions change!  People get over it.  If he would have said, this method is tried and true and it ALWAYS works, I would have been sold, but he practically admitted this wasn't the best way to do research.  /wrist.

On to the next one, on to the next one (always rappin', yo)...

The UNnecessary use of necessary:
"You should strive to create a single question as your primary research question, although many research papers will necessarily deal with a number of sub-questions relevant to your inquiries." -Edward J. Hagerty, Ph.D. (I'd link the source, but it's a word document).

No jk, I had to read that sentence several times before I realized once the problem was.  Once I decided to skip the word "necessarily", magic happened in my brain.  I know you've got your Ph.D, but if you actually speak like this IRL, you don't have real friends, dude.  Stop trying to sound smart by using extra words, you have a Ph.D, there's no reason to sound smart, you obviously are.  Unless that is a meritorious Ph.D, then hang it up, buddy, hang it up.

Finally...

I'm enrolled at AMU, which is an online school.  That doesn't really matter to me, but as I've went through 3 weeks of lessons, they've used other college/university's websites for AMU lessons.  Almost like they are too lazy to make their own lesson pages.  Which I guess I can kinda get, especially if someone else already has the information in a good form, but still.  Seems very unoriginal to just "borrow" some other school's information.  It almost makes AMU less "reputable" in a sense.  Maybe its just me?

I don't think this class is super difficult, but it's been quite difficult to get back into that "student" mindset again.  Maybe with some practice it will get easier?

It's real.

I filled out some forms (applications).
I paid some money ($50, which was a waste).
I posted a blog.
I messaged a former NCSU advisor on Facebook.
I decided that schools with redundant names were unacceptable (lookin' at you, University of Maryland University College).
I filled out a Veteran Affairs (VA) form online.
I spoke with someone from the Navy College Office (NCO) about Tuition Assistance (TA).
I emailed a lady at the NCO about TA.
I went to see the lady at the NCO about TA.
I called a VA rep.
I scheduled a meeting with a VA rep.
I looked at the available classes for the August session.
I went to ratemyprofessor.com to compare the 2 instructors (one was good, one was very, very bad).
I had a panic attack because the bad teacher was teaching the class I needed.
I reconsidered redundant name school.
I sent an email to my AMU admissions advisor.
I filled out more forms.
I almost paid more money (but I needed more information before I could).
I received an email from an AMU admissions rep who said that the class with the good professor filled the same requirement as the class with the bad teacher.
I gave a large sigh of relief.
I waited over an hour and a half past my appointment time to meet with the VA rep.
I felt confident I'd be properly initiated into the VA process.
I made the VA rep do his paperwork twice.
I got what I wanted from the VA office (to not waste my GI Bill).
I got an email which notified me my command approved my TA application.
I paid NC State $12.25 (not $10) to electronically send my BA transcripts to AMU to prove I have my Bachelor's.
I sent an email to AMU to prove I was in the military (since apparently applying for TA doesn't provide sufficient proof).
I went to my AMU site and clicked on almost all the links on my home page (which I learned very little by doing).
I signed up for the class with the good teacher.
I paid the remaining dollas that TA wouldn't cover.
I (annoyingly) wished it was August already so I could just start my class already.


So officially...  I'm a master's student.
Woah, ya'll, woah.
That's a HUGE deal.
I'm not gonna lie, I like telling people... but I like it better when other's share the good news for me... it feels like their bragging on me.  :)

The final (eventual) diagnosis is:
Master's Degree in Intelligence Management...

I got this.

It won't let me enter the classroom since it's not even available yet.  BOO!

Master's

Master's 

Degree vs Certificate...

or both?

That is the question.

Education Motivation

I was recently talking with our new Chief who is really down to earth and not really involved in any programs at work yet to be super busy yet.  Most people who are higher ranking than you usually have some pretty standard questions they ask their sailors to get to know them better.  Are you married?  Do you have kids?  Are you from the South (to me since I still seem to talk like a hick)?  Are you working on your degree?

To the last question, I usually catch folks off-guard because I've already completed my bachelor's degree.  Then the conversation goes a different route.  1-  Why aren't you an officer?  2-  Are you working on your Master's?

1.  Well, honestly, I'm not an officer because I had a particularly shitty officer recruiter who covered the entire western side of NC.  He didn't seem to be in need of recruits, so he didn't bother with me because my graduation gpa was 2.968.  It wasn't a 3.0, so it wasn't good enough for him and he acted like even meeting me for 15 minutes was a waste of his time.  There's some other stuff that went down, but lets also add the fact that working as a server at Texas Roadhouse wasn't really covering the bills and I needed a job, uhhh yesterday, so the pressure was on.

2.  No.  When I graduated Teh Mom asked me if I was going to get my Master's.  I looked her straight in the eye and asked her if she was paying for it.  She said, "no."  To which I responded, "Me either."  Well folks, that's not a valid excuse anymore.  I have the GI Bill AND I could use Tuition Assistance ((TA) remember that program that the DoD threatened to cut and every servicemember using TA and all the dependents of the DoD got up in arms about?), the money is there.

But guess what isn't... my motivation.  I have absolutely no motivation to come home every day and do homework.  I enjoy my evenings sitting on FB and reading through Reader Feedly and getting to take Phil out for a walk and having time to do a good workout in the evenings and make dinner and be lazy.  That Chief asked me how long it had been since I graduated from college.  I had to count...  on two hands how long it had been since I graduated college (Dec 2007).

For a long time, I had a valid excuse.  I don't want to do more school work so soon after graduating (pre-Navy).  Once I joined the Navy, I was busy with bootcamp and A school and C school.  Then I went to GTMO and I already had my degree so I didn't care.  Also, the internet was barely real internet.  I wasn't worried about getting a Master's degree.  Then I was in Bahrain, working 12 hour days.  Master's homework + 12 hour days?  Ain't nobody got time for that.  Then I came to S.MD and I just wanted to enjoy being in the US again, not having the stress of 12 hour days, of not being brand new at my job (which is only partically true), and I already had my degree.

Then that Chief looked at me and said, "Every year you don't use TA, you're taking over $4,500 that the Navy is willing to give you, for free, and throwing it away.  It's the dumbest thing ever.  I've been doing random certifications since I realized what I was wasting.  Even if they aren't huge accomplishments.  They are FREE!"

So with less than 2 years left in the Navy (probably), I'm strongly considering starting my Master's.  Not only will this move make me potentially more marketable when I do (probably) get out of the Navy, but then people will stop harassing me about why I'm not working on my education.


My other options for education are to get my Enlisted Air Warfare Specialization (EAWS) pin (which I am supposedly required to get before leaving VX-1) and getting promoted to E-6.

The test to promote to E-6 happens every 6 months, and I am required to take it, so really, the focus there is just studying my pants off to actually do well on the exam and pass...  Since this exam rolls around every 6 months, I try to start studying a few months in advance.  I've already started studying for my September exam since I will be in school in DC for 2 weeks in August (woot!), which will definitely cut into my normal study time.

For my EAWS pin, I'd have to learn about an aircraft (since I'm at a squadron and all) and someone talking to me about aircraft is like me talking to someone who has never heard of WoW about guilds and raids and levels and experience points and character races and talent points and armor scores.  It is overwhelming.  I've yet to actually find someone that is willing to sit down and literally teach me the material.  They want me to read over the provided materials and regurgitate the information back to them.  Sadly, I don't learn well that way, which is really why I have no motivation to complete the program.  At least with the IDW program, there were briefs you could attend and ask questions, even if it was just someone reading a slide, I was hearing the information.  There is no training given on these subjects, so it really starts to feel like a self-taught thing.

I'm definitely not comfortable teaching myself something about which I have absolutely NO knowledge on at all.  Gentle Readers, I didn't even know what FOD was, and FOD walkdown is so important it happens everyday, first thing in the morning.  BTW, FOD stands for Foreign Object Debris.  It's the crap that could potentially get sucked into an aircraft's intake/engine and cause problems to the aircraft or potentially injure personnel.


So yeah, I'm not sure where this motivation is coming from..  but I should probably follow through on this before I lose the momentum....  Anyone know any good (online) graduate schools/programs for me?