by Megan on August 25, 2009
I miss this blog. I miss wanting to write. Well, I still do want to write, but I’m having trouble of coming up with anything aside from work or school things. However, I have some ideas floating around. (One involving my film camera + the town I live in, but that’s all I’m giving away.)
This weekend, Husband and I are taking a mini-vacation (before classes begin next week) with my in-laws. We’ll be heading to Gatlinburg, which is just less than three hours from where I live. We’re leaving Friday afternoon with a return home Sunday evening. I’m looking forward to it. The last “vacation” we had was our honeymoon last year, so this is needed. I’m looking forward to staying in the cozy cabin and skipping across rocks at the creek. (I might be lugging my film camera with me for this; while I’d choose film over digital any day, I really wish I could afford that Nikon D5000. Sigh.)
This is completely off-topic, but I have a question for all of you tech savvy people. Basically, I’m going to be purchasing a new laptop soon. I’ve had my Dell since my senior year of high school, and I’ve never had problems with it … but I’m itching for some new/upgraded technology, especially since I’m taking online classes this semester. I’m just unsure of whether I should buy another Dell or go for a Macbook. I’ve always wanted a Mac (I love the design, especially), but Dell has been great for me the past few years. What do you think? I’m trying to weigh the pros and cons, so I’d love feedback of any kind (especially if you’ve used both).
Just a sneak peek of where we’ll be staying this weekend.
{image via Hearthside Cabins}
by Megan on August 20, 2009
It’s the same every semester — you start school completely involved in your classes, but by the end of the semester (or maybe even the middle), you become bored with it. It has happened to me since I began school around fifteen years ago. This time, though, I hope to be different.
I started by reading my Introduction to Literature book yesterday. I’ve only read one essay (about a woman going home and realizing that her daughter will never have the same idea of “home” as she had), but I’m hoping to read the majority of it by the time by classes begin in a little over a week. I want to maintain a firm grasp on the big picture, my goal. It’s easy to get thrown off course along the way — I know this from experience. This time, though, I’m going to start by telling Life how we’re going to live, rather than Life telling me how I’m going to live.
There is something else that will make my goal easier to obtain. Financial aid. Since I worked as a waitress at the beginning of last year, and at a hotel at the end of the year, my overall income was low. Therefore, I’m receiving a state award as well as a pell grant to help me get through school. It is more than enough of what I need, and with the leftover money? I’m buy a new laptop (possible a Mac, but I’m up for suggestions) and paying off half of my student loan (from my first semester of college).
Not only that, but remember when I said I might be working twelve hours a day? As far as I know, I won’t be. I will, however, be working swapped shifts (7am-3pm and 3pm-11pm, rotating every other week). Either way, I will have all day or all night to work on school.
This is an important time in my life. I’m beyond ready to take it on at full force.
P.S. Twitter remains blocked at work, unfortunately … but I can check my email throughout the day. I miss all of you without twitter!
by Megan on August 16, 2009
Life has been hectic. With twitter now blocked at work, it’s hard for me to keep everyone updated.
I’ve decided to go back to school this semester. At first, I signed up for two classes (Comp II and U.S. History I — gotta get rid of the basics), but after a few days of contemplation, I added another class to the pot — Child Growth & Development. Even though they’re just online classes, I’ll have a lot on my plate in the next few months.
At work, we’re about to start an outage, which could have me working twelve hours a day (or more), though I’m completely unsure of what is in store. I can see the possibility of stress, but I’m attempting to remain open-minded. I’m so ready to go back to school, and I didn’t want to wait another semester to get my life started. So, I’m preparing myself for long days (and nights).
Needless to say, I’m slightly nervous … But I’m ready.
by Megan on August 10, 2009
I won’t lie — I’ve been avoiding this blog like the plague. Why? I adore this blog, but it was beginning to feel like an obligation rather than a want.
My life is at another standstill. While I enjoy my job (and the money that comes along with it), I feel like life is becoming routine. I feel like I’m missing my purpose. There is nothing left to look forward to. My first wedding anniversary has come and gone; children are too far off in the future that it’s not even a topic of discussion. What’s next? It’s a question that I’ve been asking myself.
When I dropped out of college in my second semester, I figured I’d go back the next fall. Well, that time came and went as did the following spring semester. Here it is, fall once again, and I feel the need to go back. I feel the tug at my heartstrings as I walk by the school supplies or happen upon Facebook statuses mentioning class registration. (I’m not even kidding.) I miss doing homework and feeling like I have a career to look forward to.
What I do now (secretarial work, in simple terms) isn’t what I want for a career. I once thought it was, but it isn’t. I want to be a counselor. I want to be a grief counselor for children and teens, specifically. I want to be someone a child can come to when their grandparents die. For this to happen, though, I must earn a degree. It’s not just a need anymore; I want it.
Remember when I was planning to go back to school only to have my school say that I owed over $1000 (even though I had thought I only owed $224)? I was discouraged. I lost hope. I quickly gave up (because I didn’t have the time or the energy to fix it).
That all changed when Husband said he’d be registering for classes this semester. I contacted my school, and much to my relief, they informed me that it was all a huge mistake on their part … I only owe the $224, then I can go back to school. Then I can take my life back.
I don’t know if I’ll go back to school this semester. (If so, classes start in a couple weeks, so I’d need to get in gear). I’ll definitely be back by next semester. I feel relieved. Even though I won’t even get my associates degree until 2011 (at the earliest), I’m ready to move forward.
And maybe the topic of children won’t be too far off after that.
