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When a celebrity dies.....

Lately when a celebrity passes away, many people learn of the death on either Facebook or Twitter.  News has changed.  With a 24-hour news cycle and breaking news being reported on social media, people are finding out news that they may not have heard about until they watched the news that evening or the next morning.  

Because of this trend of getting our news via social networking sites, the conversations that evolve due to a celebrity's death have changed.  Some seem to embrace the chance to "talk" about a celebrity on Facebook.  Others seem annoyed by it.  I don't really have a strong opinion about it.  It's part of our times.  If the talk annoyed me, I would avoid social media. 

With the news of Whitney Houston's death reported last night, many took to Twitter and Facebook to talk about it.  With these Tweets and statuses came many You Tube videos showing the singer at her prime.  

When a celebrity from my youth dies, the constant chatter brings me back to a time in my childhood.  The news of Whitney's death brought me back to second grade when her first album debuted.  I had it on cassette.  I remember when she performed on the show "Silver Spoons".  I wished I had a voice like hers.  I also remember the constant use of her songs during talent shows in elementary school.  

What I had forgotten about was the song "One Moment in Time", which was recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics.  I watched this video this morning after one of my Facebook friends posted it. Instead of bringing me back to 1988, it seemed relevant to me today in this quest to get my bachelor's degree.  This song gave me goosebumps, not only because of the wonderful voice singing it, but because of the lyrics and the emotions I felt about my own moment in time.  Rest in peace, Whitney Houston.  I hope you are in a better place.  

"I'm so busy"

Let's face it--this statement probably comes out of many of our mouths quite a bit.  Are we truly busy or do we just like to seem busy?  

When I was a SAHM, I used to think I was really busy.  In reality, I wasn't managing my time well. I didn't always multi-task as well as I could have and I had a more laid back approach to handling certain things because I had time.  I always thought my house had to be perfectly clean because I was a SAHM and that kept me "busy", but I was really just keeping myself busy.  

There is a difference between truly being busy and keeping myself busy.  

The logo for our event!

Right now, I am busy.  I am working on a big event that is going to be held on campus on Sunday, Feb. 19. This consumes me when I am not working on everything else that needs to get done.  I have the kids' activities that keep me occupied and running here, there and everywhere, I have house errands and tasks that have to get done,  I have 5 classes plus a lab that I have to attend and I have a good amount of homework for all of my classes this semester.  I am up at about 5 a.m.ish and by the time I go to bed at night, it's almost 11 p.m.  I'm old--that's a long day. 

I haven't stopped since the semester started.  The next 10 days really are going to be busy.  I am finding ways to stay organized since I have a lot of running around to do (thank you Google Tasks, Google Calendar and the great apps on my phone).  My boys have been awesome about this event--they are so excited and know that it's a busy time for our family right now.  They can't wait to attend this event. I love seeing them so excited for it.  My husband, as always, has been great.  

I think anyone can learn ways to manage time better, but it's a skill that comes with time.  I certainly didn't manage my time well when I was younger.  I also think that when life has you going in many different directions, prioritizing and breaking tasks into manageable steps are key to not losing your mind.  And realize when you are truly busy and when you just like to sound like you are.  

A fresh perspective

Confession: I wish I didn't have to take lab sciences.  I have to take a lab sequence, meaning I have to take two semesters of lab science and they have to be part of sequence.  So I can't take Weather and Climate, which I am taking now, and then take Biology in the Fall.  I think Geology is the other part of this sequence I am taking, so that is what I will be taking in the future.  

I don't love science.  I get some aspects of it and am clueless about others.  I haven't taken any type of Earth Science class since my freshman year of high school--in 1990.  Yeah, it's been a while. I think I took some type of non-lab science during the first go-around of college, but I don't remember what it was and it didn't transfer, so I clearly didn't do well.  

I was in my lab this morning.  Lab meets one day a week for almost three hours.  The lab professor goes over what students are expected to do, explains a few concepts once, and is available to answer questions while we work on the exercises.  

He's going to hate me by the end of the semester.

I ask questions--a lot of them.  It doesn't register with me during the first explanation. I can't help it. It's just not my thing.  

I was ready to cry during one exercise of my lab this morning because I just didn't get it.  I felt stupid, especially when others were leaving rather quickly because they were done.  I asked for clarification and I was eventually OK.  All I could think was, "I so would have withdrawn from this 15 years ago!"  Then I realized it's three more months.  It's not the end of the world.  He'll answer questions, so I should be OK.  My lecture professor is good about answering questions.  I'm keeping up with assignments and am not afraid to ask for help.  

If I can get through some of the crap I've been through, I'll get through this.  If I break things down into smaller pieces, it will all get done.  That's the way I've handled life this week and will continue to do so.  Everything is on a to-do list--well, Google Tasks really.  

Oh yes, and at the end of the class, when I turned in today's lab assignment, I got back last week's.  I got a 95!!  

I likely won't love it, but I might squeak by with a decent grade and will live to tell about it.  And maybe I'll eventually recall more about cloud classifications.  

That didn't take long!

It's been a busy week.  I was out three nights last week and my days were packed, as well.  I have a decent amount of regular homework and my public relations case study campaign is also keeping me busy.   The semester is officially in full-swing.  

I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am still in the midst of working on laundry, but I've worked smarter this weekend and instead of feeling exhausted, I feel accomplished.  It's a nice feeling.  It's almost 8 p.m. and I will crash in about an hour, but it's great to know that another busy week will start on a positive note.  The funny thing is that it doesn't seem quite as busy because I don't have as many places to be during the evenings this week.  It's busy, but it's the new normal.  

It's better than being bored!

This is what's tough about a new semester

It's Day 2 of the semester.  I had one class already, a Lab section of my Weather and Climate class, where I learned that I don't really remember the concept of latitude and longitude.  I guess that information is going to have to be retrieved from the vault of my memory.

It's 9:10 a.m. right now.  I don't have my next class until 11 a.m. What little bit of homework I got yesterday for tomorrow is done.  So I'm bored.  I'm on my computer taking care of a few things for my PR campaign, but other than that, I don't have a lot to keep myself occupied until my next class.  There is no way I am giving up my parking spot and going home to get stuff done there.

So I sit.  I'll do what needs to be done for my campaign and try to stay busy.  I do have a long day ahead, so I should be grateful for the "break", but this is weird.

Next week I will likely be slammed.  I wish there could be a happy medium!

Back to the grind!

First day of classes today.  I only have two on Tuesdays. For the first, the professor kept us for all of 15 minutes.  The fun part of this class was that initially I went to the wrong room.  I have Weather and Climate lecture (a required lab science) on Tuesdays/Thursdays at 8 a.m.  I have the corresponding lab on Wednesdays at 8 a.m.  They are in the same building, but I swapped the rooms in my head and realized it when I double-checked my schedule a few minutes before 8 a.m. Good one, Amy!

My next class was Principles of Marketing.  I have declared Marketing as my minor and I think it will be a good fit since I am a Public Relations major.  We shall see.  We were only there today for about 30 minutes.

All in all, an easy day.  I figured out the rest of my textbooks and came home.

The best part of my day will be going to get my dog from the vet and knowing he should be ok.  The big dog had a surgical procedure this morning and has been at the vet all day.  I'm going to get him when he's ready to come home.  I can't wait!

Who wouldn't love that face?  He's the best!

More to come when I have some more interesting things to post!