~~~ UNDER CONSTRUCTION ~~~

Since I am on break, I thought this would a good time to re-vamp this blog. I have a new ID card and maybe paint the interior and the exterior. I also have new curtains that I think would look just darling in the foyer . . . 

Don't worry - I'll be back.  This will be the most exciting semester ever! Books to buy, peer tutoring, writing center, graduation in the Spring!  

Check back soon, but in the mean time you can read my other blog - I'm Nauseous  . . . Or Not, where I'll be reviewing all the music, movies and books that The Guy and I enjoy, or not, so much.

If the link does not work, you can visit by copying this address in your browser:   http://nauseousornot.blogspot.com

Be back soon!

Excuse me . . . No, no - the couch should go against that wall . . . and my desk needs to be near the printer with a brighter bulb in the lamp . . .

Happy Holidays!

As you can see, The Guy and I have been very busy.  Busy, busy, busy!  As soon as the semester was over we switched from finals mode to holiday mode.  That meant cleaning, decorating, organizing, shopping, wrapping, baking, partying, singing, dancing and enjoying our family.  You could say I have been just as busy out of school as I have been in school.

Makes me a little envious of most of my DCC friends.  Most of them are still young enough that their Moms still bake them cookies or decorate their homes and they get to spend break doing just that - taking a break. One fellow DCC student is even going to England during break!  Me? I'll be doing all I listed above and working too.  Because I took so much time going to Vassar this summer, there's no time left to take off now!  So, before I leave for work today I'll be baking another batch of cookies, turning the tree on and kissing my family goodbye - but only for half a day today.

I'll be back to spend the rest of the week celebrating the holidays with them doing just the last part of that list - partying, singing, dancing and enjoying our family.  That's what the holidays are really all about, no?

However you celebrate and whoever you celebrate with - Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

Note Taking

I take notes.  Lots and lots of notes.  I take notes when I read the textbook, because I find that highlighting does nothing for me.  I take notes in class.  I even take notes on the notes that the professors provide.  Then when it's time for a test, I take notes from my notes.  By this point, I only need to review the notes a couple of times before a test and I usually do pretty well.

The question now is - what to do with all these notes?  Throw them out? Seems like so much time and effort went into them to just toss them out with the trash.  I have before, it's true. After a semester or so I knew it was time to get rid of some Astronomy notes that had been just sitting around for a few months.  I think even last semester I was quick to toss some of my notes out so I could reuse the binders they were in.

This time I am feeling a little sentimental about it just throwing them out. They were something I watched grow and I nurtured them and when it came time to look for advice, my notes were there like an old friend that would always know the right thing to say, even without the authority of the textbook around.

Do you keep your notes when classes were over?  Should I have a quiet memorial for them as I toss them in the pail, while The Guy plays a beautiful song on his guitar?  Send your thoughts and feelings about this sensitive subject to cathyfurlani@gmail.com and do it soon.  They are just piled at my feet now as if they were worshiping me!  

Ta-Da!

That was it!  I am done.  My final final was last night, and actually I thought it went pretty well. It was the only one I needed to study for over the weekend, so I was well prepared for it.  I guess we'll find out in about a week or so.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Five classes this semester certainly was a challenge for me and there were times I was wondering what the heck I was thinking registering for five classes, but all in all, it was great and I had a lot of fun and I don't think any of my classes or family suffered terribly from it.  

Like I said, we'll find out about the grades in a week and my family will have to get used to me being home for the next five weeks before next semester starts.  Not only will I be home, but I won't have textbooks to read, or essays to write, or club meetings to run to.  Ahhh . . . it'll be like I never enrolled - for a little while anyway.  I am more afraid they got used to me not being around and will look at me and ask, "Don't you have something to do now?"  Let's hope not.

I am still going to the campus today to find out how much value my books lost this semester. This part is always amazing.  One book is pretty beat up, but that's how they sold it to me.  I bet they don't buy it back.  The other two are in pretty good shape, so they should at least give me something for them.  No worries.  PTK is having a textbook drive and all donated textbooks not only helps a children's organization, but raises $1 for our club.  So there (rasberries).

Now the only thing left to do is wait . . .  wait  . . . wait. . .

Made it!

I hope you all liked that musical interlude this week.  Yes Pam, The Guy rocks!  Here's the proof. I am glad he's around and not just for his musical talent either.  It was another rough week for me and he took care of everything else around here so I didn't need to worry about those things too. Thanks Guy!

I took six finals in four classes this week and lived to tell about it!  Okay, I guess that goes without saying, but my head could have easily exploded from all the information I stored up in it, or my right arm could have easily fell off since four of those six tests were in-class essays for my two English classes and then what?  Exactly.  See?  My statement holds true.

If you are Christmas shopping this weekend and are buying items at Barnes and Noble on Route 9, be sure to stop by the FREE gift wrapping table located at the front of the store.  I combined two of my favorite things and on Saturday, December 13 - members of PTK will be wrapping gifts for FREE and all donations will go directly to Literacy Connections to help their efforts of promoting and teaching literacy.  It's a win-win situation for everyone.  You get your gifts wrapped, PTK does community service and Literacy Connections raises some much needed cash.  We'll be there all day, so be sure to stop by.

I am not quite ready to kick completely back.  I still have one more final Monday night in Psychology. With finals week, I've been able to observe psychological changes in my friends up close and personal.  I've noted how people act under stress and how personalities can change when pushed to the limit.  If questions about those things are on my test, I should ace it!  I am pretty sure this exam is on the brain, emotion and motivation, so it just seems natural to have questions about college students during finals week.  Don't you agree?

Enjoy!

Where Have I Been?

Good question I am sure a lot of people are asking. IT'S FINALS WEEK!  Yes, I am yelling. Yes, I've been very busy studying and preparing and writing essays both in and out of class.  YIKES! Taking extra classes this semester means extra finals! Why, just this week, I have six finals in four classes and then another final on Monday!  

I'll be laying low for a few days, but don't worry. I'll be back!  It was such a great semester and there is so much more to say about it!  In the meantime, enjoy this video made by The Guy to one of my favorite Christmas songs.  Thanks Guy! (Yes, that is him singing too)

See you all next week.  Enjoy.

What I've Learned This Semester

Yesterday was my last official lecture classes. Next week will be nothing but finals for me, but I thought this would be a good time to review what I learned over the past semester. Kind of like a review for the finals, if you will.

Why, just last night we were talking about alternative fuel sources in Environmental Science. Do you know what type of fuel NASA developed? My answer was the Flux Capacitor, but no, the answer is hydrogen fuel.

In Russian Lit I learned that 19th century Russian authors certainly have a way of insulting people in the most polite way!

In Social Problems I learned that a class about social problems in its self is a social problem.

In Psychology I learned way too much about why people are the way they are. I may never look at people in the same way again!

In Pop Culture I think the real lesson was to the rest of the people in my class. They learned that you don't have to be young to be cool or to know what is popular. That was the best thing I think they could learned.

I also learned that on Thursday I can accomplish very many things with very little sleep. (Thursdays = classes x 4, clubs x 2, work x 4 hours and tutoring x 1) Did I sneak in some math and not realize it?

I wonder if I should be studying these lessons for my finals?

How nice is this going to be? Sorry I can't make it, but today at noon on the DCC campus they will be a campus walk complete with hot chocolate and good cheer. What a great way to end the semester and welcome the holidays. After all, we all have finals next week and this may be our only chance all weekend to get some fresh air.

Enjoy!

Homework and Essays and Finals - Oh My!

Feeling a little stressed out from getting ready for finals?  Finishing up those pesky last essays? Well, the Programming Board has it all under control for you.  Today you can get a FREE stress relieving massage from 11-2.  Go to the Student Activities office for details and to make an appointment for this free stress reliever.

Want to just kick back and watch a movie instead?  On December 3 at 7:30 in the good, old James and Betty Hall Theater there will be a Student Audio-Visual Show where Communication and Media Arts students will be showing off their best works.  Its FREE and open to the public. You never know!  You may find the next big star!

Would you rather listen to music?  Tonight at 7:00 in the theater DCC presents its Winter Instrumental Concert.  On Thursday, December 4 at 12:30 is the Winter Choral Concert.  

See?  There are plenty of ways to relax this week.  That'll make taking those finals and finishing those papers a breeze.

I won't be taking advantage of the free massage.  I am way too ticklish!  Just thinking about it gets me laughing . . . hahahahahaha.

 

Boy, I Must Have Really Missed Class

I dreamt that I sat in the wrong class, thinking it was Popular Culture when I should have been in Russian Lit.  I was sitting among women who were studying for a hair coloring test, and afterwards I saw my Russian Lit teacher and apologized for missing class, but then realized that I still did have to go to Popular Culture and ran, ran, ran to class.  What does it all mean?  The Guy told me not to worry.  When he was in college he too had dreams about missing class or being late to class.  He says it is very natural.  Okay, I'll buy that, but this was supposed to me a break from school, I didn't need to dream about it too!

What a great break it was too!  The Guy actually came down with something early last week, so we stayed home for Thanksgiving.  It was actually nice to be home in a quiet house eating chicken wings.  We were thankful for each other, and that's enough.

Friday we went to see Mike Doughtry at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.  We were very surprised to learn that the general admission tickets I thought I was picking up turned out to be first row, center seats.  Good thing too.  The Guy still wasn't feeling all that great and I was concerned about him standing all night, but we got to sit all night in the best seats in the house! It was the first show I was ever at that the person performing was not happy with the noise from the audience and actually asked someone to leave after warning him a few times to be quiet!  The person leaving was not happy, but the rest of the audience was.  He was very distracting to both us and Mike Doughtry and the show was much better after he left.

I also want to thank everyone that stopped by the History Club's table at the DCC Craft Fair over the weekend.  We sold a good amount of tickets and even a couple of books and DVDs. Congratulations to all the winners.  We'll be contacting you in the next couple of days to make arrangements to pick up your prizes.

Today is back to classes day for me.  One class tonight, four tomorrow.  The next two weeks will be the last for the semester, so there are a couple of papers to write and lots of finals to study for.  Me worried?  Hahahaha!  Not really, as long as I get to the right class on time, I will be fine!