so, clay aiken officially came out in people magazine....AMEN! it's about time....
i was reading an AP article about it...how he and his partner just had a baby...there was no more hiding it now....they called the american idol judges- none of which were available for comment....but my favorite part of the whole article was this-
"This is really shocking news as I had no idea he was gay," read a comment posted by "Sheridansq." "And now I have to deal with this. I am not sure what to say to people who know I was a fan. ... I didn't go to work today and am not answering the telephone."
i want to meet this person....who the hell can't go to work or answer the phone because some celebrity you like comes out? i want to meet this person....clearly this is someone who believes you can catch the gay....watch out everyone, you might catch it too....
i will leave you with this fun quote- "If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in sick to work, 'Hello can't come to work today, still gay'"
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
the group member
sunday i was sitting in barnes and noble doing my normal sunday studying...or at least what is becoming my normal sunday studying....anyway, my phone rings with a restricted number....i don't answer, which is what i do....i don't answer restricted numbers, who knows who it could be....anyway, they leave a message and i go on with my work.....
later on sunday night my group and i "meet" on line to create a timeline for our project....when i sign in a few members are talking about something, but i have missed most of whatever it is, so i just ignore it....we get down to business....one member is missing, but people don't seem concerned, so i am not concerned...i am sure someone knows where she is.....
we finish our work and i decide it's time to listen to my messages....there is only one.....and it's from the missing group member.....now a little background about this member.....she talks a 100 miles a minute....and i am not kidding....i can never follow her no matter how hard i concentrate.....i understand our classmates who don't speak very good english better than i do her....and she is always very busy and by busy i mean- she can't sit still-ever.....she also gets very agitated, very easily....okay, so back to the message she left me....
what i understood from the message is something spilled on her laptop....her bibliography is not and will not be done because of it....she can't take her son to the school to her homework, so it won't be done....her cell phone and home phone were both stolen....and she won't be online tonight because her laptop is gone...and she can't take her son to the library....
i deleted this message....now you have to think that she is saying all this at her 100 mile a minute pace and really, i didn't get most of what she said....unfortunately another group member actually answered the call....the rest of us ignored it.....he answered....and 40 minutes later all he had was bleach was poured on her laptop and couch....someone stole her home and cell phones (which i am still perplexed how one's home phone gets stolen).....and she didn't do her homework and isn't coming to class....he told the group we were never allowed to call him.....
so, i don't know the fate of the 100 mile a minute talker....but whatever her story, it is bizarre....
later on sunday night my group and i "meet" on line to create a timeline for our project....when i sign in a few members are talking about something, but i have missed most of whatever it is, so i just ignore it....we get down to business....one member is missing, but people don't seem concerned, so i am not concerned...i am sure someone knows where she is.....
we finish our work and i decide it's time to listen to my messages....there is only one.....and it's from the missing group member.....now a little background about this member.....she talks a 100 miles a minute....and i am not kidding....i can never follow her no matter how hard i concentrate.....i understand our classmates who don't speak very good english better than i do her....and she is always very busy and by busy i mean- she can't sit still-ever.....she also gets very agitated, very easily....okay, so back to the message she left me....
what i understood from the message is something spilled on her laptop....her bibliography is not and will not be done because of it....she can't take her son to the school to her homework, so it won't be done....her cell phone and home phone were both stolen....and she won't be online tonight because her laptop is gone...and she can't take her son to the library....
i deleted this message....now you have to think that she is saying all this at her 100 mile a minute pace and really, i didn't get most of what she said....unfortunately another group member actually answered the call....the rest of us ignored it.....he answered....and 40 minutes later all he had was bleach was poured on her laptop and couch....someone stole her home and cell phones (which i am still perplexed how one's home phone gets stolen).....and she didn't do her homework and isn't coming to class....he told the group we were never allowed to call him.....
so, i don't know the fate of the 100 mile a minute talker....but whatever her story, it is bizarre....
Sunday, September 21, 2008
NYC
i went to the city on saturday to do some serious shopping....and by serious i mean, tiffany, jimmy choo, barney's, bergdorf...you get the picture....you may also wonder what this has to do with school...well, it is only related because i blow off my homework to go....
so, my friend and i get off the nj transit and get on the subway.....we are on the c train...and phillip gets on....he starts by saying, "good people, i don't mean to disturb you..." and i am thinking, you are disturbed....he then proceeds to announce to the entire train that he is HIV positive and has been kicked out of his house....i feel a little bad, but avoid making eye contact....oh, i was standing up, not far from him....he then starts to tell the train that he went to "the bellvue hospital" and walks up to me and grabs the same pole i was holding....at this point, i prayed for a stop, any stop, because i was getting off....i also kept my head down the entire time- no eye contact....the good news, the train stopped and me and my friend got off...
while we are getting off, some little girl gets caught in the doors....her mother pulls on her until she pops out on the platform....then her mother starts to give both her and her sister a lecture on what to do if they get caught on the train without her...."stay on the train until the next stop...then get off and wait for me....i will come get you as soon as i can..." the one thing i would have added- find a police officer....
now my friend and i are leaving the subway on the escalator and in front of us is this very cute little girl with her mom? or older sister....anyway, the woman is giving the little girl directions about the escalator and what they would be doing today....but the whole time all i could see was her thong....yes, the woman's thong was hanging out of her pants, staring at me....there it was...and there was no way to look away, because that is all my eyes wanted to look at....
once i got away from the thong, we went off to the fancy stores....operation- expensive shoes....first it was off to manola blanik's....where they keep the doors locked and only the security guard can let you in....inside there are people who are there to spend lots of money and people who have no inention of spending any money.....on this day, there is a future bride, who's mother keeps asking her, "what's the big deal about this place? why are you spending so much on shoes?" the bride clearly annoyed, says, "i didn't get to spend what i wanted on my tiara, so instead i will buy these." mom just sighed....another customer was speaking very loudly in another language....from what i could make of it, the store didn't have the color she wanted....i didn't try anything on there....we left the store.
i did try on shoes at bergdorf....there in the shoe department all the sales people are men....not young attractive men touching women's feet....nope, old balding men....they are at least well dressed....my old, balding man was very patient with me as i asked him to bring me shoe after shoe and changing the sizes....he also didn't try to touch my feet, which i appreciated....i didn't buy anything from him, i felt bad....but then the woman next to me bought $7,000 worth of shoes from him....i didn't feel so bad after all....
anyway, if you are wondering, after a long day of shopping, i did buy shoes....at the jimmy choo store....they didn't keep the doors locked, though they did have a door guard....my saleslady was wonderful....especially when i told her i was looking for a "fun shoe and color" in other words, no direction what so ever....she didn't flinch....instead she brought me into a room on my own and brought me shoes....once the sale was done, she gave me wine to celebrate, a catalog, four waters, and the best her card....as we were leaving after the store was closed, she says, "jen please call me when you are ready for more shoes...i will send them to you right away!"
someday, maybe, i will make enough money to buy more shoes....
one last thing....we went to macy's...the mecca....anyway around floor 8 or 9, my friend and i were starving....in her bag were our leftover sandwiches from lunch....so, we found chairs in the dressing room, sat down, and ate our sandwiches....yes, in the dressing room....
so, my friend and i get off the nj transit and get on the subway.....we are on the c train...and phillip gets on....he starts by saying, "good people, i don't mean to disturb you..." and i am thinking, you are disturbed....he then proceeds to announce to the entire train that he is HIV positive and has been kicked out of his house....i feel a little bad, but avoid making eye contact....oh, i was standing up, not far from him....he then starts to tell the train that he went to "the bellvue hospital" and walks up to me and grabs the same pole i was holding....at this point, i prayed for a stop, any stop, because i was getting off....i also kept my head down the entire time- no eye contact....the good news, the train stopped and me and my friend got off...
while we are getting off, some little girl gets caught in the doors....her mother pulls on her until she pops out on the platform....then her mother starts to give both her and her sister a lecture on what to do if they get caught on the train without her...."stay on the train until the next stop...then get off and wait for me....i will come get you as soon as i can..." the one thing i would have added- find a police officer....
now my friend and i are leaving the subway on the escalator and in front of us is this very cute little girl with her mom? or older sister....anyway, the woman is giving the little girl directions about the escalator and what they would be doing today....but the whole time all i could see was her thong....yes, the woman's thong was hanging out of her pants, staring at me....there it was...and there was no way to look away, because that is all my eyes wanted to look at....
once i got away from the thong, we went off to the fancy stores....operation- expensive shoes....first it was off to manola blanik's....where they keep the doors locked and only the security guard can let you in....inside there are people who are there to spend lots of money and people who have no inention of spending any money.....on this day, there is a future bride, who's mother keeps asking her, "what's the big deal about this place? why are you spending so much on shoes?" the bride clearly annoyed, says, "i didn't get to spend what i wanted on my tiara, so instead i will buy these." mom just sighed....another customer was speaking very loudly in another language....from what i could make of it, the store didn't have the color she wanted....i didn't try anything on there....we left the store.
i did try on shoes at bergdorf....there in the shoe department all the sales people are men....not young attractive men touching women's feet....nope, old balding men....they are at least well dressed....my old, balding man was very patient with me as i asked him to bring me shoe after shoe and changing the sizes....he also didn't try to touch my feet, which i appreciated....i didn't buy anything from him, i felt bad....but then the woman next to me bought $7,000 worth of shoes from him....i didn't feel so bad after all....
anyway, if you are wondering, after a long day of shopping, i did buy shoes....at the jimmy choo store....they didn't keep the doors locked, though they did have a door guard....my saleslady was wonderful....especially when i told her i was looking for a "fun shoe and color" in other words, no direction what so ever....she didn't flinch....instead she brought me into a room on my own and brought me shoes....once the sale was done, she gave me wine to celebrate, a catalog, four waters, and the best her card....as we were leaving after the store was closed, she says, "jen please call me when you are ready for more shoes...i will send them to you right away!"
someday, maybe, i will make enough money to buy more shoes....
one last thing....we went to macy's...the mecca....anyway around floor 8 or 9, my friend and i were starving....in her bag were our leftover sandwiches from lunch....so, we found chairs in the dressing room, sat down, and ate our sandwiches....yes, in the dressing room....
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Dream
i know that school must be on mind alot....last night i was sleeping and heard jack start to bark....but i thought it was part of my dream....in my dream jack was barking because he couldn't get the classes he needed to complete his program....so he was complaining....then my senses came to me and i realized it was a dream and really he had to go out....
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
tidbits
so a few people have asked about fred this week....he was late for class- oh, no! so when he came in his seat was taken....a group of "jocks" took it....the jocks all work as ga's in athletics at albany....anyway, fred was thrown off the whole class....poor guy.
i learned that the average age for college students is now 26....no more of this 18-22 year old stuff....
i met with my ta for stats before class....he reminds me of a mix between george jetson and this boy i went to school with....the boy i went to school with was in my class from kindergarten through high school....he was our basketball manager in junior high and high school....the reason why he reminds me of these two people is- he would totally be the person tracking all the stats at a basketball game (and he has a similar walk to the boy in high school) but yet seems to have the common sense of george jetson....more to come about him
the final tidbit is about financial aid....or my uup benefits.....the benefit is that the union pays for 1 1/2 classes each semester....sounds like a good deal, right? except that you have to fill out five hundred forms and then they have to be approved by 800 people....and you need official letters and then the state has to decide if you deserve to get the money! today i found out that one of my waivers was approved- but the state still hasn't decided about the other one....i love bureaucracy
i learned that the average age for college students is now 26....no more of this 18-22 year old stuff....
i met with my ta for stats before class....he reminds me of a mix between george jetson and this boy i went to school with....the boy i went to school with was in my class from kindergarten through high school....he was our basketball manager in junior high and high school....the reason why he reminds me of these two people is- he would totally be the person tracking all the stats at a basketball game (and he has a similar walk to the boy in high school) but yet seems to have the common sense of george jetson....more to come about him
the final tidbit is about financial aid....or my uup benefits.....the benefit is that the union pays for 1 1/2 classes each semester....sounds like a good deal, right? except that you have to fill out five hundred forms and then they have to be approved by 800 people....and you need official letters and then the state has to decide if you deserve to get the money! today i found out that one of my waivers was approved- but the state still hasn't decided about the other one....i love bureaucracy
Week 3
today i am questioning what i am doing....last night i sat in class, discussing the reading we had to do, and thought, "i feel old." and then i thought, "jeez, they have no idea what the real world is like." we were discussing organizational change and how to make change happen. a lot of what we discussed i felt like i have been seeing in my everyday work for the last year- what causes change, how can it be effective, how can it be ineffective- and the biggest thing was how to help people through the process. this is when i started to feel old or bitter or something. the people in my group (all new grad students just out of college) went on and on about how change is easy and people will follow. this is when i said, "not really." and that is when they all looked at me like i was the old lady with 10 heads. i get that i am working on a different degree and i have a different set of experiences and that i was once as young and optimistic as they all are, but really what am i doing?
on the other hand...i just found out that my student loans from undergrad (yes i am still paying) have been deferred....who knew? they would do that without a request...
on the other hand...i just found out that my student loans from undergrad (yes i am still paying) have been deferred....who knew? they would do that without a request...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
stats class
last night in stats class we learned how to use excel to crunch numbers....the interesting part...the professor, doesn't know how to use the program...it was funny to watch her trying to show us how to use the program and she didn't know what she was doing.
we had to learn this information in order to start our first homework assignment...it's a four section, 4 part to each section assignment- so not short. in class i shared a computer with a woman who is a middle school administrator....she talks to fred flintstone alot- and spent 2 hours doing the first part of our homework by hand....that's right, she counted over 300 answers on three different columns of information to get her answers....so, while sitting in class doing the excel work, she says, "i can't beleive the computer can do that in 3 seconds...it took me 2 hours." she promised me to never again to stats by hand.
we had to learn this information in order to start our first homework assignment...it's a four section, 4 part to each section assignment- so not short. in class i shared a computer with a woman who is a middle school administrator....she talks to fred flintstone alot- and spent 2 hours doing the first part of our homework by hand....that's right, she counted over 300 answers on three different columns of information to get her answers....so, while sitting in class doing the excel work, she says, "i can't beleive the computer can do that in 3 seconds...it took me 2 hours." she promised me to never again to stats by hand.
Fred Flintstone
monday brought my second set of classes...it was weird to go to class, have a week off, and then go back...but i got right into the swing of it again...
let me tell you about fred flintstone- this is not his real name....but i do believe we all in someway resemble a cartoon character and this man reminds me of fred....
fred is in my statistics class and he comes to ever class in a three piece suit....now in his defense, his day job is provost of a community college in the state, so it's probably required (that's the suit)....fred has made me giggle a little since the day i met him during orientation....he is very much a politician, but a very awkward one....he comes into class (the last two weeks) and waves as he comes in...i am still not clear who he is waving to- the class is only 20 people and i have yet to notice anyone waving back....he then is very careful to use the names of the people who sit in his row and says hello- "hello, sarah....hello, bob....hello, jen" oh, i sit in his row....i asked fred this week what his plans were- i mean i do wonder why a provost is taking higher education classes....i find out that he wants to be president and doesn't have a terminal degree....his community college told him if he got his doctorate, they would make him president....that's when i asked him for a job....
i mean, these things don't happen to me....but i am okay with that....so, fred is going to be president someday....he hopes in the next 3 years he will be done....then promoted....in reality, i don't want to work for fred flintstone- i would always wonder about how he runs his car with his feet...
let me tell you about fred flintstone- this is not his real name....but i do believe we all in someway resemble a cartoon character and this man reminds me of fred....
fred is in my statistics class and he comes to ever class in a three piece suit....now in his defense, his day job is provost of a community college in the state, so it's probably required (that's the suit)....fred has made me giggle a little since the day i met him during orientation....he is very much a politician, but a very awkward one....he comes into class (the last two weeks) and waves as he comes in...i am still not clear who he is waving to- the class is only 20 people and i have yet to notice anyone waving back....he then is very careful to use the names of the people who sit in his row and says hello- "hello, sarah....hello, bob....hello, jen" oh, i sit in his row....i asked fred this week what his plans were- i mean i do wonder why a provost is taking higher education classes....i find out that he wants to be president and doesn't have a terminal degree....his community college told him if he got his doctorate, they would make him president....that's when i asked him for a job....
i mean, these things don't happen to me....but i am okay with that....so, fred is going to be president someday....he hopes in the next 3 years he will be done....then promoted....in reality, i don't want to work for fred flintstone- i would always wonder about how he runs his car with his feet...
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Barnes and Noble
today i decided to try doing my homework at barnes and noble....mostly hoping it will keep me better focused....i did get alot done, but let me tell you about the characters i saw....
the man in his yankee pj's....yes, it's true, an adult man was in his pj's....yankee's pj's....he was also carefully studying the sex section...CREEPY
also in the sex section- another man- long ponytail.....he stood there in the section and looked at every book...he had to be there at least half an hour (and the section is only one small book case)
the first date...as I was reading about the commercialization of higher education- i kept hearing this annoying throaty laugh...i finally looked up and saw two people sitting at a high table....the annoying laugh coming for a very plain looking woman...sitting across from a man with no hair dressed "athletically." being who i am, i decided to listen....what i learned is the woman has not been in a long term relationship for more than 4 years, she has a cat who scratches her alot, and she likes to hang out in the music section at b and n.....also, she has a very annoying laugh that comes out of her alot
and now onto the worker lady....she carries this "i don't care about anything" attitude, as she walks around picking up books people have left behind....she seems put off by the fact that this is her job, yet secretly seems to enjoy it.....i also wonder about the goth look but not really...maybe she is a vampire...all i know- is she can walk by me anytime.
then there was "alex" this is not his real name, but i have decided to name him....he just walked around for about 4 hours....talking to himself about the circus....just paced about the sitting area....sometimes he had a book in his hand....he even asked a worker to not take his book....then he got a call and told the person on the other end they better not be outside waiting for him....he wasn't ready to go home....and then he paced more
oh, you might be wondering if i got any work done....i did....it's true...yo
the man in his yankee pj's....yes, it's true, an adult man was in his pj's....yankee's pj's....he was also carefully studying the sex section...CREEPY
also in the sex section- another man- long ponytail.....he stood there in the section and looked at every book...he had to be there at least half an hour (and the section is only one small book case)
the first date...as I was reading about the commercialization of higher education- i kept hearing this annoying throaty laugh...i finally looked up and saw two people sitting at a high table....the annoying laugh coming for a very plain looking woman...sitting across from a man with no hair dressed "athletically." being who i am, i decided to listen....what i learned is the woman has not been in a long term relationship for more than 4 years, she has a cat who scratches her alot, and she likes to hang out in the music section at b and n.....also, she has a very annoying laugh that comes out of her alot
and now onto the worker lady....she carries this "i don't care about anything" attitude, as she walks around picking up books people have left behind....she seems put off by the fact that this is her job, yet secretly seems to enjoy it.....i also wonder about the goth look but not really...maybe she is a vampire...all i know- is she can walk by me anytime.
then there was "alex" this is not his real name, but i have decided to name him....he just walked around for about 4 hours....talking to himself about the circus....just paced about the sitting area....sometimes he had a book in his hand....he even asked a worker to not take his book....then he got a call and told the person on the other end they better not be outside waiting for him....he wasn't ready to go home....and then he paced more
oh, you might be wondering if i got any work done....i did....it's true...yo
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
homework
i have had some interesting homework assignments so far. most of what has been assigned is reading, which is what i am used to....one professor, however, has assigned some youtube videos to watch...this blows me away- you tube for homework? it just doesn't seem very academic, but it is amazing what is on there. check them out:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3-qfeCQvNA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaBwpnDAgZ8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG5na7JD7rE
the first one is funny, the second and third cheesy....
back to my reading.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3-qfeCQvNA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaBwpnDAgZ8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG5na7JD7rE
the first one is funny, the second and third cheesy....
back to my reading.
New
so, i have decided to start blogging my experience returning to school, for my ph.d, after 10 years of working and not being in school. i am still working full time, school is a part time gig for me, but so far feels full time.
my first day was a week ago. i was very nervous and overwhelmed. what was i doing? i must be crazy- commuting two hours a week- missing an afternoon of work each week. i don't miss work, ever. now i am going to miss it once a week.
two classes later, and a pile of homework, i felt pretty good. i met a few nice people, who actually talked to me, and my professors seemed fair, firm, and friendly.
my first day was a week ago. i was very nervous and overwhelmed. what was i doing? i must be crazy- commuting two hours a week- missing an afternoon of work each week. i don't miss work, ever. now i am going to miss it once a week.
two classes later, and a pile of homework, i felt pretty good. i met a few nice people, who actually talked to me, and my professors seemed fair, firm, and friendly.
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