I prefer math to almost any other subject.

Getting a later start on Biology today than I wanted to, but I think it's so intimidating that I've been putting it off this weekend. I've been working on it all week so maybe that's good. Time to buckle down again, though. 😕 First exam is tomorrow morning. 

Is it crazy that I always want to do my math work first? Every single semester, that has been the case. 😂

*****

I think I'm about all studied out.  🙁  Thankfully, I don't feel TERRIBLE about Biology - just definitely not as great as I'd like.  Oh well.

My adviser said that it's not uncommon for even A students to make a C on this first one so if I don't do as well as I hope (which is always an A, duh!), then I'll live.  But this is super not fun and definitely stressful.

Also, we're going over new stuff tomorrow that's on the test... right before the test.  I hope my short-term memory is in working order.

Wish me luck.  I feel like I need it!

Seriously.

Seriously.

Edited to add:  This was not about myself.

1)  I'm an atheist so I don't believe there is a god who sends people or responds to people.  I posted this because the response to that anti-choice crap is on point.

2)  I was aimless as a teen and had no real college ambitions.  Might as well have been a mother.  I do not regret my son at all - he gave me the motivation to work and get out on my own.  Life has been tough in a lot of ways, but now that I AM in school I have the drive do well because I've spent so much time knowing that the struggle is real.  But not every single mother (or homeless person, etc.) will end up in a place where they can go to college at some point if they choose and that is very sad to me.

I was on the last section...

I was on the last section of Trig problems when my brain just crapped out. I'm tired. Been at this all day. Didn't realize it was 1 in the morning. 😕

Me and the kid are making a quick run to McDonald's, then I'm calling it a night. 

I guess I'll spend all day tomorrow on Biology. Woo. 😕

Trying so hard, y'all.

Trying so hard, y'all. I'm digging the math of Trig, but there is SO MUCH to remember. I have at least 2 solid pages of notes similar to this of things I have to remember just to do the work. I'm sticking it in my brain with silly sentences left and right. I don't know what else to do!

Just threw Shadow out...

Just threw Shadow out at Saks High School. He has to get warmed up - he's performing at the Legend's Ball again this year! 😃 I hope someone gets some video of him this time!

This week has wiped me out.

This week has wiped me out. I took my Methotrexate a little earlier and CRASHED completely. I'm so done that I'm in my bed already. Goodnight!

A lady driving a pale blue Jaguar...

A lady driving a pale blue Jaguar just paid for my breakfast at the drive through at McDonald's. That was nice! 

Guess it's my turn to pay it forward! 🙂

Freaking out a little less today. Woo!

Freaking out a little less today. Woo!

Dr. Lee told us today that the first Biology test was the hardest and that it would get better as we went.  I am choosing (for my sanity) to believe her.  🙂

Started copying my Biology notes earlier because when I write something - it helps.  Also, being able to take the time to understand what I'm writing is pretty good, too.  Took a break for a shower and to check out the Internet.  Now I'm heading back to it.  Later, friends!

Maybe if I sleep enough I won't cry in my car after class.

I guess I have to get ready for bed because I have Biology tomorrow and my brain needs to be FULLY PRESENT for that.  Maybe if I sleep enough I won't cry in my car after class.  😂😂😂  Gonna make sure to have some Excedrin or some Ibuprofen at the very least ON DECK.  Y'all might think I'm kidding, but I am not.  😳

On the bright side I got through 1 1/2 sections of Trig this evening - not to mention that I came up with a reliable way to remember that sheet I posted so I'm feeling pretty accomplished and MUCH BETTER about all that.  Yay!  😃

I think I'm gonna have to split my evenings between Biology / Trig and Biology / History.  I should have worked on Biology today, but I got too excited about the Trig so I didn't.  It's not like I have a ton of time after work to do homework, anyway.  🙁  I was thinking about going to trivia tomorrow, but I guess we all know that the responsible thing would be for me to not do that so I probably won't.  I guess that's ok.  There is always Spring Break.  😂😭

'Night, Internet!  🙂

Look what I can do from my brain with the help of Some Old Hippie. 😃

Look what I can do from my brain with the help of Some Old Hippie. 😃

Sweet relief. I was afraid I'd have a much harder time! 

On Biology I'm stuck in until I complete at least 60% of the course or I will owe money. I'm gonna do my best and see how it goes. My adviser said that she had to talk 3 other students down about that class this week. She also said that it gets easier. So I guess I'll find out!

I had an eventful evening and not in the best way...

I had an eventful evening and not in the best way.

I was low on gas and was a little early getting into Gadsden so I stopped at a gas station near the college.  It looked a little shady - people hanging around the outside, not as well-lit as I would have liked, etc, but I stopped anyway.  Turns out they don't even sell gas.  When I was on my way out of the gas station this one guy tried to get my number which I wasn't into.  He and a friend were doing something with some white powdery stuff in a baggie and I was just like, "I'm gonna be late!" and got the hell out of there.  I don't know what it was, but I imagine it wasn't headache powder.  Maybe my virgin eyes just saw some drugs IRL.  😳  I may never know.

Anyway.  Made it to school with very little gas.  Felt kind of shaken up by that, but got pretty into Trig once class started.  We went through THREE chapters... since this class only meets once a week I guess we have to cram the work in.  I felt better about it this time than I did before.  It's all starting to make sense - super yay!  But I have a lot of stuff to commit to memory.  I'm exhausted tonight so I'm going to start working on that tomorrow.

So time to leave school.  That was ok.  I still use GPS because it's dark and I don't know the neighborhood up around there.  Well... I don't have THE BEST night vision.  I was on some kind of bypass going the wrong way for a brief minute before I figured out  what the hell I was doing.  Had there been more traffic I would have used my context clues and gotten it right, most probably.  But it was dead out there so I got in the median and waited for a car to go by so I could make sure I didn't accidentally kill myself.

Long story short:  I made it home and cleaned some.  I ate a brownie with ice cream for dinner because I survived this damn day and that is worthy of a celebration.  😂  Seriously, I can't even tell you all how excited I am to be AT HOME.  My face is twitching and I'm not quite wound down yet, but I'm heading to bed anyway so I can be awake and alert for history in the morning.

I hope this Monday was nicer to y'all than it was to me!  ❤

On a break in Trig...

On a break in Trig. Feeling better about it than I did before. THANK GOODNESS! 😃

Heading to Trig momentarily. But so far, this day has SUCKED.

Heading to Trig momentarily.  But so far, this day has SUCKED.

I have enjoyed most of my classes since starting school last year and I gotta say that Biology is interesting, but I almost LOST IT in class today.  First of all, it's like a 3 hour class.  Second, I have a tough teacher.  And I 100% understand that I'm in college and shouldn't expect easy tests and have someone hold my hand, but there was so much information coming at me today that my head LEGIT felt swimmy and I just zoned out.  I couldn't do it anymore.  I had to sit in my car and cry before work today.

Look.  The teacher doesn't do study guides or multiple choice.  We have fill-ins with no word banks and essay questions on the test.  It would be one thing entirely if I knew EXACTLY what to study, but I have like 12 pages of notes SO FAR and a test coming on Monday.  I DO NOT feel prepared or like I possibly even could be.

Trig is hard so far, too.  Tonight is my 2nd class so maybe it will get better.  History doesn't come easily - I have to study it A LOT to make it stick.  So I feel like with Biology this is too much at the moment.  I'm talking to my adviser tomorrow to see what my options are.  I think I would be a nutcase if I tried to take all 3 of these classes together right now. There are easier Biology teachers out there and it's not like I'm going into nursing so at the moment even though I feel like a failure for thinking about dropping a class and looking for an easier route I kind of also feel more like it's not worth it to stress myself out like this.  Like, my scalp is numb and my hair hurts.  I am not in a good place.  I hate it when I feel this way.  🙁

Wish me luck tonight.  We have a quiz already.  Woo!  😕

I'm getting less sleep than I want tonight...

I'm getting less sleep than I want tonight, but I've been totally lazy all day. I didn't even do homework because when I looked at it I realized that we weren't there yet. I also didn't do my nails. 

What I did do was hang with my guys and ani-pals on the couch most of the day... and eat. I washed a few loads of laundry, but that's about all I can say for myself. 

Monday is my long day so I'm off to get some sleep. I'm SO not ready for the weekend to be over. 😕

I've been mostly useless today.

I've been mostly useless today.  For no good reason, which makes it even worse.  😂

I got the animals fed.  I did my taxes.  I went to Wal-Mart and bought Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix.  I swear I thought that frozen brownies were a thing, (like frozen cookies definitely are), but I could not find any.  I loaded the dishwasher, did ONE sad little load of laundry, made tea, brownies, and mozzarella sticks, and finished one section of Trig homework.

... That sounds like a lot more than it felt like.  Weird.  😵

I'm about to clean my litter boxes and call it a night.  I still need to finish another section of Trig homework tomorrow and study other stuff if I can, but I think I'll have time.

I kind of desperately want to fight sleep like an angry toddler.  It would be super fun to hang out and do my nails.  But I need to not screw my schedule totally up so I'm trying to be good.  Maybe if I get everything else done that I want to I can reward myself with nails tomorrow.  I was super pumped to find that the last ones I did hung in there until Friday.  😃

Goodnight, Internet land!

Just spent 2 hours making flash cards for Biology and History.

Just spent 2 hours making flash cards for Biology and History.  I downloaded an app so I can have them with me ALL THE TIMES on my phone.  I'm gonna get this stuff into my brain one way or the other.  Writing it / typing it / looking at it often will help.

I spent an hour or so looking at math videos online yesterday.  I think that helped.  Everything I looked at that was Trig was WAYYY past where we are at the moment.  When I Googled "triangle" videos that was better.  I guess we're doing the very basics and that I'm trying to make my homework harder than it has to be.  😂  I just need to CALM DOWN.

I think that since the weather sucks this weekend I'll probably not leave the house so I'll have plenty of time to study and feel ok about what I'm doing.  So that's my very interesting and totally not nerdy plan for the weekend.  😝  I hope everyone stays safe and warm!

I am trying to not freak out just yet...

Ok.  I am trying to not freak out just yet, but I am literally afraid of what this semester holds.  I am already worried that I might be in over my head.  The thought of dropping a class has, (for the first time since I started), crossed my mind.  🙁

I feel pretty good in History, but in Biology the teacher doesn't do study guides or word banks or multiple choice on tests.  I know, I know - guess it's time to grow up, but seriously I'm worried about my ability to just recall stuff out of my head.  I've been asterisking my notes every time she says "That's on your test." so I can try to remember everything about it.  😳

I sat down and did some of my Trig homework tonight.  DUDE.  It looks fun and I feel like maybe I could like it, but the book is nothing like my Algebra books were.  In Algebra we were doing problems in class then our homework would be basically the same problems with different numbers so we could get used to the steps of the problem.

Trig?  Trig so far is like, "Hey, this is the information you have.  Now figure out this other shit with what I just said."  There are some triangle rules, which help... but some problems I have solved with just subtraction and division and I'm just like, "Am I doing this right?"  I am getting the same answer as what is in the back of the book, but I'm wondering if there is some formula I'm not following.

I mean on the one hand it's like I'm making my own Algebra problems with triangles and that's pretty cool, but on the other hand I'm worried that I'm missing something and I don't want to do that.  I guess I'm just gonna get through it as best I can and see if the teacher can give me any pointers on Monday.

Anyway.  Heading to bed.  Y'all wish me luck.  Or if you know anything about Trig - soothe my brain, please.  I just want to do ok.

I helped my first student with Algebra today.

Today was pretty good.  I slept last night and then ACTUALLY felt like I slept when I woke up today.  Woohoo for that!  😃

I helped my first student with Algebra today.  It was fun, but I was nervous and I had to think about stuff more than I wish I did.  I can do a lot of things, but figuring out how to tell other people to do it is less easy.  Maybe I'll get better at that the more I do it.  I could hear the other math tutor talking to her student and she sounded like she'd been teaching for years!

Regardless, she said that I helped her and that was the whole point so that was awesome.  😃  I see her again on Thursday.  😃

Last night...

Last night Shaun treated Storm's ears by himself.  He went into the room before me and I assumed he'd just play with him until I got there, but when I got to the door I saw that he had just finished.  Didn't have to hold a treat in front of him or anything!

After that OF COURSE he did get treats for being awesome, but he also got his first belly rub since he's been here.  I think he likes Shaun a lot.  He bounces to see him and jumps up on him and when Shaun was petting him last night he just kind of went from standing up to sitting down to melting on the floor in a furry puddle at Shaun's feet.  😂  I was like "Uh oh!  Is it belly-rub time?"  It was!  😃  He seemed to enjoy that a lot.  He just laid out and it was adorable!

Anyway.  On that sweet note I'm heading to bed.  Goodnight, Internet.  I hope you all are doing well!

In news about medication...

In news about medication I think I'm gonna have to take my Methotrexate on Thursday rather than Friday from now on.  I float through every Monday really tired and in a fog and I just need to be on top of my game on Monday since it's a long day and I have 2 hard classes.  I hate that it takes me almost half a week to get over taking it, but I don't think there is anything I can do.  I'm taking my folic acid and getting enough rest, but it's just really not enough.  I'm kind of at a loss.  🙁

Anyway.  On that note I'm heading to bed.  Goodnight, Internet.  I hope you all are doing well!

I've had a pretty good weekend, so yay!

I've had a pretty good weekend, so yay!  I got to see my friend Shauna yesterday.  We see each other so rarely, but it's always nice when we can manage to get together.  I got to paint her nails, which I've done so little of lately, but that made my day.  I probably talked her freaking ear off, but maybe she'll hang with me again one day.  LOL

Later, Shaun came over I watched Grease for the first time. OMG, it was HILARIOUS.  I know I've seen some of the singing / dancing parts at least partially, but I didn't know I hadn't seen the whole thing before.  So now I have.  John Travolta had some really nice teeth back in the day.  😃

Since I was having company over, that gave me the motivation to do some things around the house that I'd been letting slide, so I feel happier just from having those few things not tugging at my mind-strings.  There is nothing like the zen that a clean house can bring you.  I'm finishing up laundry and that's about all there is to do right now.  Woohoo for not feeling behind!

Shadow is with a friend today, and Shaun is SUPPOSEDLY going to clean his house and do laundry.  He's been sick and sleeping weird hours, so I'm hoping he's able to get some stuff done instead of just crashing out again.  Maybe we'll hang later, but I'm having a selfish day so far.  The kid isn't here hogging up the TV, so I'm having a much-needed Blu day.

I let Shaun come over earlier, but I was like, "I'm watching Roseanne and that is what's happening.  You can't change it."  LOL  He's good, thank goodness, so he messed around on his tablet while I watched what I wanted to and cleaned up my email.  Now I feel like getting up and doing things around here.  Go me!  😃

We're not super in-sync today which is why he went home, but that's ok because everyone has those days.  I'm just thankful that we have our spaces to go to instead of forcing the hang out and making each other miserable.  That is the dumbest thing ever and one major reason why I think I will always need my own house, no matter what.  LOL

Anyway.  I keep saying that I'm going to do my nails, but I haven't yet.  I've got an ass-ton of new polish from my birthday and Christmas that I haven't put away yet, and most of it is like, amazing.  I feel like I can't even decide what to do because I have too many beautiful things to choose from.  LOL  What a big problem that is!  But seriously, unless I just tire completely out, I'm committed to sitting down and painting on myself in a while.  As soon as I'm done with laundry!  😃

In the meanwhile, check out Shauna's Mario Brothers nails!  🙂

I just signed...

Just signed my tutoring paperwork and met my first student. We start next week! How exciting! 😃

I am so tired this week...

I am so tired this week which doesn't make sense to me because I have been REALLY good and have been going to bed at a decent hour every day.  I am such a night owl and I never mean to stay up all night, but it's easy to let it happen.  I've had to try hard to get myself in bed before midnight.  Now that I'm without health insurance I feel the need to put more effort into taking care of myself and not sleeping regularly / enough is probably the worst thing I do to myself.  So I've been really good, but it doesn't feel like it.  If anything I feel more tired!

I was super annoyed this morning because despite sleeping on time and getting up early and heading out with plenty of time I was almost late to my history class because IN TWO SEPARATE PARKING LOTS at the school TWO DIFFERENT TURDS had parked their vehicles IN TWO DIFFERENT SPOTS at the same time.  All of the spots were filled, but they wouldn't have been if people hadn't gotten greedy with the parking spots.  Who does that, really?  College students, apparently.  😂

Anyway.  TGIalmostF!  😃

THESE ARE ABOUT TO BE MINE.

THESE ARE ABOUT TO BE MINE.  I am gonna have so much animals on my nails and probably on jewelry, too.  😳

I survived this day and made it home.

I survived this day and made it home. I feel accomplished.

Digging Biology so far.

Digging Biology so far. Some of the later stuff looks intimidating, but maybe not by the time we get there. Class is LONG. On a break. Would only be better if I wasn't SO SLEEPY. 😕

I wish I felt as excited about today...

I wish I felt as excited about today now as I did yesterday. LOL But mostly all I feel is sleepy. 🙁

I've been up since 5:45 am which is just insanity. Usually I wouldn't even bother going to sleep if I had to get up that early, but I did because I have a late class today that's far away from home tonight. I'm gonna be tired enough trying to drive that with sleep - much less without.

I got up so crazy early to take the rest of the foster kittens to meet the spay / neuter transport. My favorite little baby had to go this time and that makes me sad. She's so small and sweet and I just wish I never had to put them through this, but it is the responsible thing to do and so it is being done. It was INSANELY COLD this morning and it sucked a lot.

Heading to my first biology class soon. After that - work until I leave for Trig in Gadsden. Since it's the first day of both they might let out early. In the case of Biology it will just mean I get to work sooner. If Trig gets out early I might see my kid tonight.

Anyway. Time to get this day started. At least I'll be so busy that I won't have time to worry over the kittens all day. Yay Monday! 😕

I wish I felt as excited about today...

I wish I felt as excited about today now as I did yesterday. LOL But mostly all I feel is sleepy. 🙁

I've been up since 5:45 which is just insanity. Usually I wouldn't even bother going to sleep if I had to get up that early, but I did because I have a late class today that's far away from home tonight. I'm gonna be tired enough trying to drive that with sleep - much less without.

I got up so crazy early to take the rest of the foster kittens to meet the spay / neuter transport. My favorite little baby had to go this time and that makes me sad. She's so small and sweet and I just wish I never had to put them through this, but it is the responsible thing to do and so it is being done. It was INSANELY COLD this morning and it sucked a lot.

Heading to my first biology class soon. After that - work until I leave for Trig in Gadsden. Since it's the first day of both they might let out early. In the case of Biology it will just mean I get to work sooner. If Trig gets out early I might see my kid tonight.

Anyway. Time to get this day started. At least I'll be so busy that I won't have time to worry over the kittens all day. Yay Monday! 😕

I'm so excited...

I'm so excited that classes are starting tomorrow. I'm REALLY pumped about Trig. 😃 Nervous about biology - I haven't had that in over 15 years. Happy about History - I got Mr. Hamilton again. 😃

Yay for leveling up my life! 😃

Well Storm is smarter than we gave him credit for...

Well Storm is smarter than we gave him credit for. He wouldn't take his tranq pill last night. Spit it out of ham, cheese, peanut butter - he'd eat everything right out from around it. Since he's settling in we thought we'd just try distraction and shooting his meds in with the syringe again. It actually went ok, which is fine by me. The vet didn't really want him on those pills for 10 days straight and I feel bad for him when he's spaced out. He wobbles and trips. I know it can't be pleasant.

On the bright side: One ear definitely looks better to me. The other not so much, but we're keeping at it.

Also, last night, he noticed the cats in the other room. He walked through them to get where he stays, but I think last night was the first time he'd noticed them running around and playing. He barked about it! LOL I let him out of his crate and he ran to the door and stood up still as a statue and just watched. It was adorable. 🙂

He's being so good so far that I haven't been too worried about how things are going. As long as things stay like this I'm not too concerned about him being here when school starts on Monday. 🙂

So glad that tomorrow is Friday...

So glad that tomorrow is Friday. This week has worn me out. And my bones are hurting so that makes everything better. /sarcasm

Better News: We gave Storm his tranq pill for his ear meds, but we didn't have to muzzle him. He's getting too smart when he sees that coming and we don't want to freak him out or lose trust by restraining him to muzzle him. Someone at the shelter suggested squirting his meds in with a syringe so we tried that and it went much better. 🙂

He even went outside on his own through the doggie door this morning. He's a smart cookie and a really good boy. I'm glad he's doing so well. ❤

I let Storm out to potty this morning.

I let Storm out to potty this morning. He normally runs to the doggie door after I open his crate, but I have to push it a little for him to go out.

I just went to let him back in and he was already in the house waiting in his crate. He came in all by himself! And then got in his crate!

Silly boy! I was giving him time so he could have some fresh air and stretch his legs. I guess he's not going to play on his own. We'll have to teach him what play time is next. 🙂

I called Storm's vet about getting more tranquilizer...

I called Storm's vet about getting more tranquilizer and they told me to try to medicate his ears without it and let them know how it goes since it's not good to keep him on meds that make him loopy.

Well... he wasn't into it and we couldn't even get his muzzle on him. 😕 He's smart and quick and he's like "Nope." So I'll let them know tomorrow.

On the bright side, he looks a lot happier. He's very bouncy. LOL And he still likes to snuggle into you so that's pretty sweet. 😊 I'm seeing that nub wiggle more and more. It just makes my day! 😀

Well, I know that most of you will probably think I'm insane, but...

ADOPTED 06/29/16 - I picked up this guy yesterday to foster. He's got a home to go to as soon as he's ready so he's definitely a temp and I don't have to worry about looking for a home, which is (for me) the most stressful part.

His ears are infected so we're treating him for that. He doesn't like it and he was not tolerating it well at the shelter, but I'm sure he was stressed because that's just how it is. Thankfully, he's allowing us to treat him, but we did muzzle him as a precaution. Once we get to know him better, maybe I will stop with the muzzle, but for now better safe than sorry.

He can't hear much at all - sometimes he will turn his head in response to a noise, but not often. He also has no tail so I've had a hard time reading him and was pretty nervous with him with my other dogs at first. He is really skittish (probably because he can't hear them approaching), and also because Nappy can't see well so she runs right over him. We're doing the "crate and rotate" thing right now and that's working out ok. In just a day's time he's decided that the crate is ok and will go in there willingly for a treat.
By yesterday evening he was hugging me - not with his arms, but when I would crouch down he'd walk to me and just keep pushing into me for a cuddle. It felt like a hug. 😀 Today he's standing up and asking Shaun to pet him and wagging his barely-there nub. 😀

I hope things continue to go well. If they do I'll foster until he's ready to go to his forever home. If not, he'll have to go back to the shelter when classes start because I'll be super busy and probably stressed, but I'm just going to think positively and roll with our progress. He seems like a good boy and I like him so far. 😊

Oh, btw, his name is Storm. 😊

Accurate.

Accurate.

What we do at 5:30 in the morning when left unsupervised. 😛

What we do at 5:30 in the morning when left unsupervised. 😛