NPR Article

My Aunt hooked me to NPR. Now I have to say, my feet are just wet on NPR i'm not fully in. I listen to different Podcasts that NPR puts out but I have not ventred to listening to NPR fully yet, I'm not a NPR junkie. I came across this article that was posted, I don't remember exactly where I found it at, but I did. This article touched me. It made me think back to those students I passed at IUS and they looked a little rough around the edges, a little tired, and lugging 2 or 3 bags around with them. Those same students I'd see in quiet corners of the campus taking a nap, eating a sandwich, and their nose in a book/laptop. I often wondered about their lives. Were they homeless to an extenet? Were they couch hoppers? I may never know, but with the economy in the slump that it's in will there be more students in this situation. The only thing I can say is that I'm thankful every day that when I was laid off from work, I had my family to fall back on, and a bed at my parents.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128778321

College Students Hide Hunger, Homelessness by Gloria Hillard

Pondering. . .

I have wondered more in the past year, "is this my path in life, is this what I'm supposed to be doing in my life?" I've been working at the Post Office for a few months now and I like it. I work with several great people. (They all are great) I am even training at two other post offices in hopes that I can learn everything there is to know about the Post Office (at the local level). I guess I'm still struggling with the fact I miss my other job. I prayed for that job for two years, because I wanted a change, a challenge. I needed to live my life freely, without reservation, and to see the world. I ask myself now, why am I attatching my life with my job. I guess I inherited it, I don't work my jobs, I live them. I can't live my life through my jobs anymore, I need to live my life and have the job be an accessory. I guess my prayer was more for a drastic change in my life, than a new job. I have had more opportunities the past two years to be present in my life. I am sooo close to finishing school, I had the opportunity to attend the Emmaus Walk, be active in my church and church lifegroup. What more can I ask for... (beside being married and having children) :) Is this the path for my life? I don't know, I just need to live it everyday.

So, this semester is coming to a close... Quite sad actually. The one class, Women's Health I found to be a success. I enjoyed the professor, and I will be taking another class with her next semester, Community Health. I also did well with the contract I had for class. My goal was to eat more veggies and increase my steps throughout the day. Before my contract, I averaged about 4000 steps a day with two days over 5000. My Goal was to add two more days (total 4 days) of over 5000 steps. When I finished my contract last week I had 2 days over 5000 steps, 2 days over 7000 steps, and the other 3 days I averaged between 3500 and 4500 steps. I am going to see if I can build on it over the summer and see if I can get two days over 10,000.

My History of Rock and Roll and Pop class I feel was a wash. I got a some from it but... could of had more. Yes, it's a 100 level class and should be easy but when your professor only gives you a half page syllabus with hardly anything on it, Didn't get textbooks ordered until the first day of class, spent 3 weeks on Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Velvet Underground and we just had our last class and haven't even covered the 80's. What a travesty not to even cover the 80's! (yes my opinion) Plus the class only had 100 points to get. I guess I was spoiled by the classes with 5-10 page syllabus an the professor pushed you to do your best.

Yes, You might think "why are you complaining? sounds like an easy A class to me!" well yes I am thankful for an easy class, but don't feel like I got my money's worth.

Otherwise, I am thankful overall for the opportunity to go to school and that I now have 3 classes left!!! Yippy!

New Update...

So well, why can I never find just a few minutes to update my blog? I mean, come on, I have time to get on Facebook like 500 times a day through my phone, but can’t log on for just a few minutes just to update a blog. (Ok, just a little exaggerated maybe like a 400).

While I’m on the subject of Facebook, I will admit that I am a Facebook junkie, or a stalker you pick. I always want to know what my friends are up to, see pictures, you know, check everything out. I was texting my cousin Megan and said something about them going to see the Colts play. She was like, How did you know? I told her Sean had posted it earlier on Facebook. Of course I proceeded to tell her I was a Facebook junkie and they needed a 12 step program for it. She agreed and said she was on it a lot too! I told her that the Asher cousins will be the first in line as much as we all are on. Ha ha ha!

I started back to school, I am really excited after this semester I will have 3 classes left. A big 3 classes! I am so excited! I also found out that my cousin Travis will be finishing up in December so he would be able to walk in May 2011 like me! He told me that he wasn’t going to walk, ok just wait till I tell your Mamma! (Ok Aunt Robin now is your time to start working on him!) I think it would be so awesome for the both of us to walk and have the family there.

Anyway… hmm is there anything else I am forgetting? Oh yeah, continuing the update on my life…the 2 classes I am taking are Women’s Health and The History of Rock and Roll and Pop music. I like them both ok I guess. They were not my first choices but I can’t be picky. I am going to look for a summer class but with me starting my new job I will have to see when she schedules her vacation and if I can pull off a summer class, then 2 fall classes. If not, it’s either 3 fall classes or 2 in the fall and 1 in the spring (maybe 2). Like I said earlier, I do have a new job, I will be working for the New Salisbury Post Office, pending background check and drug test. I will be working on Saturdays from 7:30 to Noon, and anytime she takes a vacation. At this point I am not complaining, I need a job and get back to paying into retirement!!! At this point Social Security will not be there so I need a backup!

Still not dating anyone yet, maybe I’m too picky. I don’t think I am. Of course I always figured God would drop him on my doorstep. (OK God, I’m READY!!!) Ha ha! So, if you know any single good looking guys out there send him my way. Requirements: NO criminal record, has a job (and a car), a good job, must want children. Last but not least, can withstand meeting the Asher clan, and not be intimidated.

Another Late Night...Again!

I have been a night owl for as long as I could remember. I hated getting up for school as a child and when I started college I somehow managed to schedule my classes in the morning. What?!?!? I actually had a choice WHEN I took my classes and I chose to schedule them early. Then I got smart; the past several years I have scheduled them in the early afternoon and into the evening. That had to been the best move I ever made! Plus, I am an older student now and having a class with like minded adults is, well, nice. Group work is great because you know that those who are in the group with you are actually doing their work. You don't have the fear and hair pulling wondering if the other student is going to show up for class with the completed work. Hopefully they are not still hung over from the blowout party from the party the night before.

Well anyway, I did pass another semester. Yippy! I now officially have 5 classes left and see a HUGE light at the end of the tunnel.

Well, here goes another post...

I have a few weeks left of classes, this semester BY FAR has been the hardest. It's not that my classes have been hard, I just lost my umph. I was only out 1 year, but what 1 year does to you! My teacher busted me on my paper last week, she said: "Sandy, I know you don't turn in this kind of work." Long story short she is letting me rewrite my paper, and I explained to her about how tough this semester has been after being out for a year. She totally understood, thank God!

After this semester I will have 5 classes left, 5. Did I say 5? Yes 5. Part of me want's to hibernate for a semester and take all 5 and be done. The other part says, "ARE YOU CRAZY???" you need to make money and have a life. Spring classes are already in stone, I'm going to try to plan out for the fall. I might just take 3 classes and get it done. It depends on what they offer, IUS has been slacking on the upper level courses. URRGH!

Thanksgiving is next week, I am excited. I am even more excited about BLACK FRIDAY! This will be my second year going with the gang! I didn't buy much but had fun going along for the ride. We had so much fun, especially the Urgent Care Center run with Kathy and setting off Megan's car alarm at Wal-mart. (after it had been going off for 15 minutes with Kathy and Robin inside!) Good Times...

I'm excited for what will unfold this year!

More later.

Hmm...

I haven't written in awhile, sorry Aunt Robin. I have been busy... The liturature class I am taking has kept me buzy, I just got done reading The Things They Carried by (well I don't remember) and before that read Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonagut. Both were interesting reads but not part of my natural reading selections.

I signed up for classes in the spring... I am taking Women's Health, and a music class: History of Popular and Rock Music. These were not my first choices, but since they are not offering many saftey classes and I had no other choice. The safety classes they are offering I have already taken or one class it has a prerequisite. IUS has gotten bad about cutting upperlevel classes for evening students. THIS SUCKS! I hate not having classes to choose from that fit my degree PLUS that are interesting. Yes I know that my last 15 credits are electives but I don't want to pay over $1000 per semester for classes that I don't really need. The good thing is after this semester I have 4 classes left to take YIPPY! I should be done by next fall.

Well enough about school...

There is a lot I want to write about but I'm too tired at the moment to continue... I will get back on soon.