Finally Clicked and Clicking!!!

 For those that have known me for a while know that I'm back in school and pursuing an English degree. I have grown to love writing and books and education. And I try to get as much out of every class that I take, especially the ones in my major (this should be obvious).
Well, last semester I took a class in Linguistics that I felt I didn't get much out of. It was grammar and usage and the professor just struggled at teaching the class the curriculum. I mean, I know it's a boring subject but she had a very poor strategy and didn't divert from it at all. For me (being 31and the majority of the class near my age) it was something that I hadn't seen in quite a while (over a decade) and some things I had never heard of or at least not in that vocabulary. This forced me and my study group to do a lot of self teaching. I survived the class with a solid B, but felt it had been a wasted credit.
I am currently taking a course in my major called Linguistics: Structure and Dialect. I'll have to admit that at the beginning of the semester I was hoping this class wouldn't need much attention because I am taking quite a load of classes. So, because I paid little attention, I have fallen behind and pretty much have a mountain to climb in order to get the grade I desire. Fortunately, we are going over a couple of chapters that correlate with last semester's course that I spoke of before and to my surprise I feel really confident in knowing the subject very well. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's because of last semester's instructor by any means, but I do have a greater knowledge of the content than I thought. I will chalk it up to her "forcing" us to work independently through the text with little instruction. I guess you really don't know how much you can do on your own until it's thrust upon you. I can now say, to a certain extent, that last semester's class wasn't a total loss. I would have rather had better instruction, of course, but I can move forward knowing that I did retain what I learned through my own reading and self-inquisition.
The rest of the semester, for this course at least, is looking a lot brighter. Good luck to all of us that are after that endless pursuit of knowledge.

New Confidence!!

I ran a 5k this past 4th of July. Yep, that’s right. I did. I didn’t really train for it, unless you think that six days of training is enough for a 5k. Then yes, I did train. Actually, I just got on the treadmill and ran/walked 3.11 miles (5k) to see if I could breath during the exercise. To my surprise I was barely out of breath. So I decided right then and there that in less than a week I’d run/walk a 5k around downtown Nashville.

I have always considered myself an athlete. And most sports that I’ve tried have come fairly easy. Now that’s not saying I competed on a professional level, but locally, I held my own. But this is running. If you haven’t taken care of yourself and are out of shape something awful, then you are not going to perform well……at all. I fall into this category. You see, I quit smoking just over a year ago and haven’t really done anything physical in probably four or more years. So….yes, I am very out of shape.

I have wanted to run in a 5k or some short race like that for a while, but running has always intimidated me. It’s one of those activities you just can’t pick up and be great at. I mean, anyone can run, that’s not what I’m saying. You just can’t start running competitively without training. And you have to train consistently over a long period of time. But anyone can start. So I am.

At the end of the race I was so happy. The fact that I had ran (and walked) a 5k was a huge accomplishment for me. I had gained an inner pride about myself that I haven’t felt in a very long time. And I finished the race a lot sooner than I ever thought I could (37:05). I am already looking for the next race.

I guess the whole point of this besides tootin my own horn is that you have to try…..you have to start……if you don’t do either of those, then you won’t ever know if you can.

Is there anything that intimidates you to the point that you just won’t start? If there was something, what was it and how did you overcome it?

Vacation Set!!!

My wife and I set a date and a place for vacation this year. I know, we procrastinate. Actually we didn’t think we were going to be able to have a vacation this year because of the arrival of our fourth child in February. She had to take pretty much all her vacation time for maternity. But we’re gonna be able to after all.

We have chosen to go to Gatlinburg! We went last year and completely underestimated how much it had to offer. So this year we’re going to do a lot of the things we skipped on last year.

The trip is not until late August but I am crazy excited for it to be here now. Of course we have to put back a few more dollars before we can go but that’s not stopping me from getting ready now!

We are staying at The Wilderness of the Smokies. This place has two different lodges to stay at with their very own waterpark. You get the passes to the parks when you arrive. The price is included in your room rate. One of the parks is indoor which means the weather is not an issue. I will have full details while we’re there……unless I’m having too much fun!!! If that happens I will write about the parks when we get home.

I hope everyone else is having a great summer and exciting vacations!!!

Handyman? Why Yes……at least for today!

Confidence goes up a little today! I fixed our broken clothes dryer. I thought the heating element had gone out but it turned out to be a fuse. The fuse that controls the heating element or something. Anyways, this fuse went out and dryer stopped blowing hot air.

After making a few phone calls, I decided to pull the dryer out and take it apart to see what it looked like. Needless to say I had no idea what I was doing. I found the heating element housing and detached it. Then I took off the thermostats and the one fuse that was connected to the element housing. Then bagged the things that I was going to take to the appliance store (which turned out to be their house).

The maintenance guy tested the element and thermostats and said they were fine. But when he checked the fuse he said that it was the problem. Fine with me, I then asked him what the damage was? Around thirty bucks, but I also got a new thermostat with it so not too bad. Either way I didn’t have to buy a new dryer and it keeps me from the Laundromat. Which can eat up a chunk of change if you have to use it too often, especially for a house of six.

The point of this is to say that….I DID IT!!!! Yep, I know it sounds a little conceited, but I don’t care. Actually, the REAL point is I just sucked it up and did something at first I didn’t think I could. Like when I try to write I get intimidated by the screen or paper, the keyboard or the pen/pencil. I procrastinate and eventually feel like crap because I got nothing done on my WIP. Not today though. I have proven that you just have to start.

Is it tough to start for you? What gets you to the point of words on paper? Have you ever proven to yourself that something really wasn’t as bad as you first thought?

What I’m Doing Now and a New Writing Goal!

I was thinking about writing today and looky here….I’m writing. Wow!! It was just that simple. I have the summer off from school but I am getting my reading done for my Major 18th Century Writers course next fall. Nothing but Daniel Defoe and a splash of Eliza Haywood.

I have enjoyed Defoe so far. I am almost through “Robinson Crusoe” and have started “Moll Flanders”. I have a feeling that I will like “Moll Flanders” more. Depends on if it is as repetitive as Crusoe.

The one thing I hate is that I haven’t spent anytime on any of my writing ideas. I need a better schedule. But I know as soon as I get a schedule put down I’ll have something come up like work. My work schedule mainly depends on weather and if there is anything for me to do at all. Construction has picked up a little but with all the bad weather we’ve been having lately it’s hard to get anything going. Thank God my wonderful wife makes all the money!! Love ya babe!

My New Writing Goal:

I am going to write at least 100 words every morning before anyone wakes up. This is my minimum. If I go over great, but I will at least write my minimum.

I may let you know sometime soon what my main writing ideas are, but for now I will just write what I can. It’s not that I’m shy or embarrassed, I just haven’t gotten to a point in the stories where I can pull anything out that’ll make sense. Just hang in there with me for a little while longer.

What’s your daily writing goals? Or what goals do you have about anything? If anyone reads this I’ll be surprised, let alone anyone commenting back. But that will not discourage me. I will keep writing.