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.