August 29, 2011

Well here it is, the second week of school and I think I am starting to get back into the routine again. Got my first few assignments done and turned in on time. There wasa some computer problems the first week, but it was on the school's end not mine for once! Today someone at work was asking me about doing classes online and I have to say I really like it. I know that it might not be the right thing for everyone but it does seem to be the right thing for me. Enough about school for now and time to move on to other subjects. My son won his football game on Friday night. It was the first time I got to go to one of the out of town games and I had a blast. It was even more fun than a home game. My unexpected guests are also now gone. Last week, the babies left the nest, but had to make a trip to the inside of the house first! That was quite an experience, as the two of them ended up between the fish tank and the sliding glass door, requiring me to get on my hands and knees, then convince them to get on my finger so I could let them out the front door. They didnt appear any worse for the wear, despite the excitement and flew as soon as they got outside. It was nice to have had them share my porch these last few weeks. I hope more decide to nest next year. I still have the hummingbirds for another month or so. I saw a picture on the news last night with a hummingbird pirched on someones finger. Now that would be really cool! I did get a picture of my baby birds in the plant, which turned out pretty good. Well, I am running out of things to say and my A&P homework is not going to do itsellf so I guess its time to go.

Starting the Semester-August 20, 2011

I started off the new semester today with a slight bump in the road. I had been checking my e-mail and blackboard and hadn't seen anything new so I thought my first chemistry lab was today. Turns out it wasnt, but another student also showed up just to be sure we didnt have lab and she gave me some good info. So a plus was getting to meet a fellow  student. I also had trouble logging into the school's wi-fi, not sure why, but its good I have my own wi-fi access. It turns out I only have to go to lab 5 times this semester, but the rest of the chemistry schedule looks pretty full. I did get started on my reading and also my intros and replies to fellow students in the class. I learned last semester that this is a great way to get to know people that you only interact with via the computer. One of my fellow students is also a first time online student and it felt good to be able to give her some encouragement in the process.
An update to my unexpected guests: Turns out the wren that built the nest in my plant not only built a nest but built a family as well. I think there are 2 babies in the nest and it is pretty cool to watch the parents bring in bugs and stuff for the little ones. Yesterday my husband had the front door open and one of the wrens flew in the house!! It stayed a couple of hours, until he lured it outside with some bread crumbs. I was at work and missed it, but he called me to tell me about it, so I was able to share the story with everyone at work. I just wish he had gotten a picture of it!
Looks like a storm headed this way, so I am going to get off the computer for now. I had to go out and buy a new mouse today, and I would hate for lightining to fry my computer and have to go out tomorrow and buy a new one of those. LOL!

Getting ready for fall August 17, 2011

Well I think I am just about ready for fall semester to start. Went school shopping yesterday and got supplies for me and my son. He is going to be a high school senior this year, and a football player also. Lucky that buying supplies gets easier as they get older. Oh yeah, we each got brand new scientific calculators!! Got chemistry lab starting this Saturday. Luckily I figured out what building to go to when I picked up my books the other day. Textbook reservation is definitely the way to go!. I hope I havent gotten too lazy being out of school these past couple of weeks. I had someone ask me the other day how many classes I was taking and I said 14 credits. They asked how I was going to do that and work full time and the only answer I can give is because I have to. I don't have the option of working less, and the only way to accomplish my goal of getting into next fall's nursing class is to follow my plan, which means a lot of classes each semester. I know it will be tough, but I am motivated and I hope nothing goes too terribly wrong. I remember that when I started LPN school, on the first day one of the instructors said that whatever can go wrong will go wrong while you are in school. I didnt believe her, but 6 weeks later I was in the hospital having emergency surgery for appendicitis!. At least I got that out of the way. Time to go and try to load my computer programs for chemistry and A&P.

Unexpected Guests-August 7, 2011

I have had a few unexpected guests at my house in the past few weeks, but they were welcome none the less. First, there was a large skink lizard running across my porch yesterday. He was quickly running toward the ivy that grows along the front of my house. I believe this may be where he is living, eating the bugs that are everywhere. Second was the walking stick I found climbing up my gutter drain. I always found them to be an interesting insect to look at. Third is the pair of trees frogs I see on my bathroom window every morning. At first it was just one large one,  and now there is also a smaller one. It is amazing how they can stick to the glass with those suction cup like feet. The final guest at my house is the small rust colored wren that has built a nest in the spider plant that is hanging on the front porch. It sits under the porch roof, so it is nice and shady there. At first I thought the leaf material I was finding had been blown in by the wind but then my husband said no it was a bird nest. I agreed with him when I went to water the plant with the water hose and this poor bird came flying out. I am not sure who was more surprised, me or the bird! I looked in the plant again the next day, and sure enough here came the wren flying out again. I have learned that if I peek in very carefully I can see if he is there or not without startling him. I am also being careful to check if he is in the nest before I water so as not to disturb him. The nest looks a bit like a cave and sits on the dirt under the plant. When I peek in, I can just see the white stripes that run horizontal across his eyes.  It looks like a very cool and restful place to spend these hot summer days, and it is protected from the worst of any rain we may get. I dont know how long he will be here, but I will leave the plant outside until I am sure he has left for the winter. My goal is to try and get a picture of him, and I will post it if I am able.