If you are a younger person reading this who is considering delaying getting your degree until you’re older think twice. 

I am 38 and back in college to get the degree I failed to get in my 20s and it is harder that I ever could’ve imagined to try and juggle classes, assignments, work, family, and a semblance of personal time.  I am doing it and I am trusting that it will all be worth it in the end.  I am putting my faith in the hope that I am on the right path and that it is simply a matter of walking the rest of the way through the dark deep forest to find myself in a beautiful clearing on the other side.

This semester has me fairly swamped in work as I took on too much.  I am determined to come out the other side with my “bright and shining A’s” but Sweet Goddess it may just be the death of me. 

Today I have several hours of homework ahead of me but as I spent the last 3 hours cooking all I really want to put up my feet and chill out.  I put up a large pot of pasta sauce with ground beef and sliced sausage and made a large batch of pasta fagioli.  We also made a batch of cupcakes (dont be too impressed I used a mix and canned frosting enhanced with a touch of cinnamon).

In other news it is almost October which means it is almost Princess Nibbles birthday.  She is happily counting down the days and I have collected a few gifts over the past several weeks.  She is getting an MP3 player (I got the Sandisk Sansa Shaker 512MB(Pink) for only $30) and a couple of small items such as Spirograph. Who else here remembers playing with spirograph?!?!?!

We ordered the cake last week from Sam’s Club (she wanted Tinkerbell) as their cakes are delicious and inexpensive.  I already have cards and the streamers Miss Artistic wanted to decorate our dining room with.  All that’s left is plates, cups, and a tablecloth from the party store and we are all set for a fun evening with just the 5 of us.

Of course the new month also brings with it a lot of emotional baggage relating to one very bad October 10 years ago when I lost my mom and suffered a miscarriage in the span of 25 days.  Because of that I tend to get very blue around this time of year  mainly due to simply missing my mom.  There was a time, in the months after her death, when I would reach for the phone only to remember at the last moment that she was dead.  I realized though this year that I don’t really remember what it feels like anymore to have my mom around.  And somehow, that’s even sadder.

Anyway, GamerDude and I have spent some of our TV time last week rewatching the miniseries The 10th Kingdom.  I enjoy it, its often very funny and has a sweet sappy ending.  The basic premise is that a young woman and her father wind up jouneying to an alternate dimension where fairy tales are real.   Add to this the prerequisite evil queen, a lusty half-wolf/half-man, magic that often goes awry, and a prince transformed into a dog with a dog transformed into a prince.

Today the girls have it in the DVD player and I look forward to wandering in from time to time as I do homework.  If nothing else listening to it is a pleasant (and often funny) distraction.

The miniseries spans 3 discs and is 7 hours long.  There are a few sexual referances here and there but nothing obscene.  I think that the most obvious one is the use of the word virginity and a drink named “a long slow spell against a wall”.

Check it out:

a scene in a swamp

humerous lines from the movie

scene in a bar

Well back to the grind

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Wander the Web Wednesday – Hair, Songs from the Movie, Video

The idea is to highlight 3 to 5 links that you feel would be new to other readers. They can be daily reads, or personal favorites. They may even just be something fun or freaky or just plain fascinating that you wandered into recently. They can all be about one theme or all different.

If you want to “play along” make a list on your site and link to it in the comments. Of course I’d appreciate a link back. You may use the graphic above, (do not hotlink), simply save it to your own computer.

**********

I am crazy crazy crazy this week (ok this whole semester) with school. I can’t believe I thought that it would be a good idea to combine working FT, a family, 10 college credits and 60 hours of classroom observation. I must’ve been momentarily insane.

Anyhow, this week, just for something completely different are songs from one of my favorite movies, and soundtracks – HAIR.

Enjoy, Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:hippies, meme, musical, youtube

First of all, thank you to everyone for their recent kind and supportive words.  I cannot tell you how much it means to know that people are rooting for me.

Last night was my History of NJ class and all I can say is that my professor seems to have a skewed idea of how much time we each have to put into this one class.  But I shall get it all done one way or another.  Additionally she is a big fan of extra credit essays and I have a list of topics she threw out there last night to occupy me for days and days.

Today however is a big big day here in Training to be a Teacher.  Today I get my first experience in a grammar school classroom.  Today I start my 60 hours of classroom observation and I am very very thrilled.  Of course I am also a nervous wreck!!!

I will be observing a 4th grade classroom and have already spoken with the teacher to whom I have been assigned.  She seems incredibly sweet and honstly willing to do anything I need to have a good semester.

She also told me that her classroom is inclusive and has some children with disabilities ranging from ADHD to autism.  As a result her class is smaller than average, having only 20 students.

I hope to get back here over the weekend to let you all know how everything is going in more detail and to let you know how I enjoyed (survived?) my first day of school.

Mama Kelly

soon to be known as “Mrs. D”

Written by Mama Kelly

Wander the Web Wednesday – SCA and Renaissance Festivals

The idea is to highlight 3 to 5 links that you feel would be new to other readers. They can be daily reads, or personal favorites. They may even just be something fun or freaky or just plain fascinating that you wandered into recently. They can all be about one theme or all different.

If you want to “play along” make a list on your site and link to it in the comments. Of course I’d appreciate a link back. You may use the graphic above, (do not hotlink), simply save it to your own computer.

_________________________ 

The family went to the Lakewood Ren Faire this weekend.  We only spent a couple of hours there and it certainly gave GamerDude (hubby) and I the bug to get back involved in the whole scene.  One of the easiest ways to do that is to simply join the SCA, otherwise known as the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Hubby and I both did the Renaissance Festival thing “back in the day”.  We drifted away from it once we became parents as traveling to fairs became more challenging.  Navigating most faires with strollers is impossible.  Money woes and bodily changes which brought with them weight gain exceeding the limits of our old garb and chronic illnesses which depleted our stamina.

To this day it is something we both miss a great deal and now that the girls are older it is something we see as definately possible to get back involved in.  But on to links for your own perusing pleasure:

1. The SCA main Page – “an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our “Known World” consists of 19 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which may feature tournaments, arts exhibits, classes, workshops, dancing, feasts, and more. Our “royalty” hold courts at which they recognize and honor members for their contributions to the group.”
2. The East Kingdom – this is where Mama Kelly and Lady Rose hail from in the world of the SCA
3. Choosing a Name – for your SCA persona
4. Children in the SCA – lots of info files
5. Historical Folk Toys - Find “period toys” for your little ones – Dark Ages, Colonial, Bronze Age, Modern Era, etc etc etc

Blessings, Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:family outing, meme, renaissance festival, sca

Ugh!  It’s Monday morning and I can barely keep my eyes open.  I wanted to post to let everyone know I’m alive.  

Most of my blogging time for the past week (and weeks to come) is being totally consumed by the monstrous task of moving 100’s of posts from the diet pulpit on wordpress to it’s new location on my very own dot com domain (Diet Pulpit) (and also combining it with a huge amount of content over from one of the very first blogs I started (with Mama Kelly) – incredible shrinking ladies (about 12 months worth – why you ask - because I want a lot of history to the blog when it opens, and I’m probably insane and just don’t know it.)    Since most of these posts were written way back when before I had any blogging experience – I am taking the time totweak a lot of stuff.  Not to mention the giant learning curve to do even the simpliest thing – which can be so frustrating – for example it took me hours and hours just to figure out how to install a plugin so the youtube videos would work.   Once you have wordpress on your own - there are no more easy plugins, all that has to be found out on the web, downloaded, uploaded and then figure out how to use it – and since I barely understand the instructions it takes me forever to do the simplest thing.

The blog theme is still in the works by my designer - but that’s ok.  I at least want most of the info. moved and set before the big grand opening any way.    But with all that work I’m very very burned out and at times wondernig why the heck I blogged in the first place!      But that will pass I’m sure once it’s all set up.

This weekend was very very busy – Angelgirl had her black belt test, which went very well.  It was a 2 hour ride there and 2 hours back, and about 5 hours of sitting on school bleachers while she tested.   Needless to say we were all tired and sore.       Sunday my work had a huge family picnie (over 10,000 attended), there was a lot of walking and playing carnival games, which was fun – but I was exhausted.  

So this morning I can barely move and in need of a lot more coffee then my usual 1big cup that I have. 

I’ve also found another obessions – like I really need another one!    I found a place in New Jersey that certifies for Qi Chong healing.   It’s expensive (over $2200 for both levels of training), and would require a total of 5 weekends (and I’d have to take off work for 5 Friday afternoons in order to make it to the classes on Friday night on time).   It’s pretty far from my house – and I may have to stay at a hotel depending on just how far it is, which would be an added expense.

It’s totally crazy to think about — but I can’t help it.  At least there are no classes scheduled between now and Jan. that I can take so I have time to think it over.    Years ago I was certified in massage therapy – this is my true calling in life.  And I’ve been told I’m very good at it by everyone who has had a massage by me.  But the state has managed to make it impossible for me to practice – I can’t have a business out of my home (so I’d have to rent), the insurance costs are very expensive, plus I’d to take several classes over the years to keep certified – which puts the expense out of my reach for  the amount of massage I would do — which would only be a massage or two a month, probably at no charge.

At least with the Qi Gong for healing – it would be doing the kind of work I love which is helping people to heal and relax.  After the cost of the certification, there is no further expense, so even though I’d only work with others part time and most likely for free at least I would not have any on going expenses.   IF I decided to do the certification – I’d have to give up something else that I was looking into.  Right now I am taking life coach class – (it’s the basic starting course) and was going to continue on for more training – but if I take Qi Gong then I will not do life coaching.  I had been thinking of taking personal trainer classes next summer at the community college – but definitely would prefer Qi Gong.   

I don’t know – I hestitate to spend that kind of money.  But I do prefer Qi Gong to the other options I had planned to do.   I have to be honest with myself – that I will not quit my job, I will not be charging any one for these services no matter which way I go for training, so what ever I decide if I do take classes it should be classes that will be of the most use and benefit for me and that I would enjoy doing with others on a part time basis.

Every few years I get all these crazy ideas in my head to work on my own, and I decide it’s time for me to grow up and do something - but usually I start, never finish, and it never goes any where, and waste time and money and fail miserably.   Now I know better at least what NOT to do – but I still have the desire to find something in my life that I have a passion for.  I know it can’t be about money, and that I’ll never be able to quit my boring office job for a business of my own – but I still long to find a fulfilling “career” that I could do at least part time without the need to actually earn money doing it.     

I guess the best thing to do is just see what happens down the road.   All their indivdiual workshop type classes are during the week and during the day so I can’t even go check out the Qi Gong ahead of time to see if I really do like it.  Oh well, if it’s meant to be I guess I’ll know and if not then it will fade out of my life in time.

Let me try to wake up and get a little work done!  

Bright Blessings, Lady Rose

Written by Lady RoseTags:blogging, karate, qi gong

Well I knew I was overloading myself this semester with 3 classes on top of classroom observation and working full-time.  I hemmed and hawed about only taking 2 classes but in the end, since my classroom obv. time does not give me credits, decided to buckle down and go for broke.

Now that I have received all of my class syllabuses (syllabi?) I am thinking that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

My Spanish class is supposed to be “online” and was supposed to start just over a week ago. Instead the professor dragged his heels and didn’t even communicate our course requirements to us until yesterday and has yet to make our class “available” on the online server.  He has also indicated that coursework is to be done in a workbook, and then either scanned and sent via email, hand delivered, or sent via postal mail.  He also expects us to attend “conversation meetings” on campus or meet with an assigned parter once a week (in person or over the phone).  Additionally tests need to be taken in person.

I am wondering if this person understand what an “online class” means?

My History of NJ class professor is …. well …. possessing of unrealistic expectations.  The 15 week class requires 8 books and multiple homework assignments weekly.  An example is my first week’s homework assignment:

• read 85 pages on The Indians of NJ
• read 20 pages on The Pine Barrens
• write a 300 wd “journal assignment”
• do some map browsing to select one
• write a 150 wd. map-study

In addition to the weekly course work there is also the semester’s paper (brief … only 2 pages but high expectations on content and research) to be worked on as well as a 7 page summary and analysis of a 209 page book.

This is not a core class, it is a throw-away requirement course. 

I am wondering if perhaps this prof. has us confused with someone else. 

My American Literature professor seems to have a good grip on things and I am much more comfortable with her work load.  The main issue here will be a paper doing a poetry analysis on a 20th century poet.

It is going to be a long, busy and hard semester.

I hope I can keep my head above water and hold on to my 4.0 GPA.

 Wish me luck

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Spells on Saturday – Good Grades and Studying Success Spell

Supplies

• yellow candle – yellow or a color you associate with the subject
• incense – rosemary or something minty

Every time you study, light the candle and incense and chant:

I call upon this simple spell
To aid me in my quest
To study hard and learn it well
All required for my test

Do your required work. Then extinguish the candle and incense (if needed) with the words:

Let me remember all that I’ve learned
Let me retain all that I’ve read
May top grades be what I’ve earned
May I lose all sense of dread

(All work copyright Mama Kelly 2007)

Written by Mama KellyTags:school success spell, spell

For the past couple of weeks I have been crying at the drop of a hat.  I do not know if it is hormonal (either from the hysterectomy or the ovarian remnant) or depression (no I haven’t started taking my Paxil) or if I am just starting to crack under the pressure of the past few months ….. okay ….. years.

To illustrate in the past days I have had tears streaming down my face in reaction to a song on the radio (Hey There Delilah) ….. one of Princess Nibbles TV shows (Drake and Josh) ….. and during TV time with hubby (Doctor Who).  Its embarrassing and it really upsets my younger daughter.

In other news:

My semester has offically started.  I am taking 3 classes this fall and doing my 60 hours of classroom observation (what drug was I on when I thought that was a good idea while working full time?).  Tomorrow will find me buying my textbooks and attending orientation for my American Literature online class.  I am, at once, anxious and excited.  I am looking forward to learning new things and getting closer to my goal of earning a teaching degree but, of course, I am concerned about how I am going to manage juggling everything.

The girls started school.  Princess Nibbles adores everything about it.  Miss Artistic hates it, though she does say that she likes her teachers this year.  So here’s hoping we can avoid last years’ (and previous years) issues.  She is still seeing a therapist who seems to (finally) be seeing through some of her BS and understanding that our fights over school have less to do with an aptitude issue and more to do with a laziness issue.

We went out for a couple of hours over the weekend to The Historic Village at Allaire.  It was unbearably hot and humid so we didn’t stay long but we came home with freshly baked bread and a sunbonnet for Princess Nibbles.  This evening found she and I watching part of an episode of Little House on the Prairie after she donned the appropriate headgear.

The next days see my father having some medical testing (hubby has to take him as I will be at work) and the girls having a 4-day weekend due to the Jewish holiday.  My major goals for the weekend include getting some time in on homework assignments and to cook.  My plan is to make:

• a pot of chicken soup (lots of onion and garlic)
• a pot of meat sauce (meatballs, sausage and spare ribs)
• a baked ziti (I cannot wait!!)
• a “cape cod meatloaf” (poultry loaf topped with cranberry sauce)

That’s about all the news that’s fit to print.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Hubby and I recently watched an episode of the National Geographic series “Taboo” that we had saved on our DVR.  It was about Nudity, specifically being nude in a religious context.  One of the segments dealt with a coven of Australian Wiccans.I cringed at the sexual undertones in coven members undressing one another.  My first (and only) coven worked skyclad at esbat rites.  I can promise you that at no time did any of us undress one another except … later …. in our homes …. with our partners/lovers/mates.

I winced at a few wordings that I felt were poorly chosen.  One example was when the narrator made mention of stripping in front of strangers.  In my own experience skyclad rituals were not open to the public.  You did not work skyclad with a group unless you were an initiate which implied having known them and worked with them for a year and a day …. hardly strangers.

But I shuddered at the end when the narrator referred to Wicca as ….. a CULT ….. as opposed to just referring to it as a religion.  I was one very angry witch last night I can tell you that.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

I wandered in to a wonderful article at the website for the LA Times which talks about labor-specific holidays of the ancient Romans.  Read it here.

The article ends making the point that

“the U.S. is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee its workers any paid vacation or holidays”

I am one of those workers. I work for a company that does not offer any paid time off to its hourly employees. They also do not give paid holidays to those of us who are not salaried employees.

When I want to take a week off I have to not only “eat” the loss of pay but I have to write a check to cover my weekly insurance premium.

When I have to call out sick I have to either “make up the time” or deal with the loss of pay.

When the company closes for national holidays …. Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. I am not paid.

And I am by no means alone. Most companies do offer paid time off benefits to their workers.

one in four private-sector workers do not get paid leave (source) …..  roughly 28 million people

However, if you look at the rest of the world, we as a nation are truly treating our workers in a pitiful manner.  

• Thailand guarantees that employers must give 19 days a year off (with pay) 
• Workers in the UK are guaranteed 28 days off a year (with pay)
• Slovakia guarantees its workers 35 days a year (with pay)
• France’s labor force is guaranteed 40 days a year (with pay)
• Finland guarantees 44 days a year (with pay)

See the entire comparison chart and note that the US is the only nation on the list that does NOT guarantee time off to its labor force.

So Happy Labor Day ….. if you have today off with pay count yourselves lucky and remember that millions of workers are either working today out of sheer necessity or having to adjust their budgets for the lost income of this national holiday.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly