That Art class again

I know, it's always something with that class. I guess because most of the class is 18-19 years old, I don't know. Yes, the instructor is quite picky, and she doesn't always make sense, but really it's not that hard to get everything together. For instance, she told us we have to do an experience report, which is basically going to a museum or an architectural work and writing a paper on it. Alternatively, if anyone is unable to do those things, they have option C, which has some different guidelines and expectations. It's not a hard concept to grasp, unless you're Boy A in that classroom. He seems perpetually confused, unable to understand even the simplest details. I don't believe there is anything wrong with him, such as a learning disability, I think he's just dim. And he doesn't pay attention in class. Yeah, you might miss some things if you DON'T LISTEN! He wasted almost our entire class period yesterday, asking her to clarify and clarify again a very simple concept. If this class is too hard for you, then drop it and take it later under another instructor. It is not rocket science. You have choices!

Boy B is a brown noser to the nth degree. He's also a know it all. He thinks he knows all there is to know in the art world, when really he's just talking out of his ass most of the time. He regularly interrupts the instructor (which is just rude) to interject his own comments and points of view. Like we care, dude! He also starts talking religion at the drop of a hat. I know there is a lot of religious art, and some of it is in the book, and when analyzing it, you do have to understand the belief system behind the painting. I have no issue with that. There are also Chinese paintings featured in the book, and a lot of them reference Buddhism. This guy will almost start preaching when we get on the subject, though. Highly freaking annoying.

A couple of weeks ago, she was lecturing, and asked a question about something she had told us in the previous class. This guy starts answering, but he's going around in circles, and not giving her the ONE WORD answer that she was looking for. So when he stops talking, I said the correct answer. No biggie, right? Well, I guess I offended the poor fella, because he had it out for me after that. Everytime I answered something after that, he had to correct me, even though I was not wrong. I pay attention, I take notes, and I know what I'm talking about (and if I don't, then I just keep quiet). He even corrected the order in which I read a list of items off, like that matters! He corrected me about 3-4 times in just that one class. Apparently he doesn't like to be wrong. I felt like standing up and asking him what the fuck his problem was. I'm not going to sit there and not participate to soothe his fragile ego.

In other news, I had my first Spanish test last Thursday. I got it back yesterday, and I made a 97! Woot! I actually made a 95, but I got a couple of points extra credit for turning in all my labs on the day of the test. Funny, I thought the labs were mandatory. Besides, they are helpful, and some of this Spanish language stuff is complicated! I need all the practice I can get. I'll leave you with what I learned how to say yesterday: Me tomo tres clases: el espanol, literatura, y arte. :D

Adios!

However, but

This is what my Art teacher says all.the.time. However, but. At first I thought it was just a one time thing, she must realize they mean the same thing, right? But, no, she has continued to say it repeatedly at each class. And she says it all together, like it's one word. It's especially funny, because she is such a stickler about pronunciation and such. She'll correct us if we say Renaissance incorrectly (or incorrectly according to her anyway. I'm not so sure we're the ones saying it wrong). Every time she's lecturing and says "however, but" I want to laugh out loud. So, yeah, that's the highlight of my Art class. Sounds really fun, right?

Mackenzie told me yesterday that she tested on a book at school for AR and got a 60. Then a few minutes later she says she has to walk all of her recess period on Friday, as well as during the free recess they usually have. I asked her why, and she said it's because she made a 60 on the AR test. What.the.hell? I meant to write her teacher a note and ask her what the hell kind of policy this is, but I forgot. I'm going to write one today and get it to her tomorrow. I think that's insane, and I'm not having it. AR is not optional, the top 5 grades of all the books she reads in a 9 week period count for 25% of her Reading grade. However, but (haha!) I don't put it on the same par as homework, especially since I know Mackenzie reads well more than 5 books in a 9 week period. If she can have five 100s to account for the 25%, then what's the big deal if she occasionally screws up and doesn't do well on an AR test. She told me it took her from last Monday to read the whole book, during which time she also read another book. So, most likely she either took too long to finish and couldn't remember certain details, or the book was possibly just out of her comprehension level. She told me it was nearly 300 pages, but she couldn't remember the grade level.

In any case, I will be talking to the teacher, and letting her know it is unacceptable for Mackenzie to walk during recess on Friday, for that reason anyway. I'll let you know what happens!

At least the first two weeks were easy

I'm on my third week of school, and the pressure is mounting. I got lulled into thinking it might not be so bad, so hard, during those first two weeks, but uh, yeah, it is. I have so much to do, I need to start my first paper in Lit, which I'm terrified of doing. My first Art test is coming up, and I know it's going to be killer just from what she's already told us we need to know. I have to do a project for that class, as well as visit an art exhibit and write a 5-10 page paper on two pieces of art that I see. I am behind in my Spanish lab, too.

My house was a wreck today, so I've been cleaning today until just now, and of course this evening I had to cook supper and get Shelby & Maggie ready for bed, plus take Kenzie to church and go back and get her. So now, here I sit, when I should be reading "The Fall of the House of Usher", Chapter 5 in my Art book, studying how to tell time in Spanish, and catching up on my Spanish lab, blogging. With it being this difficult taking only three classes, I don't know how I'll manage the 5 I plan to take next semester. Argh, stress!

Happy Birthday, Maggie!

3 years ago today, I gave birth to my baby, my precious last child, my namesake! I so wanted to hold on to her time as a baby, knowing just how fast it goes, and I did, but it still went by far too fast. Today, she's a rambunctious, chattering, smiley, laughing, hilarious, sweet, affectionate, loving, adorable little 3 year old. She melts my heart when she says 'I love you, mommy', and irritates me beyond belief when she says 'I don't have to!'

I have her all to myself for one more year, before she goes off to pre-school, then Kindergarten, and out into the big, bad world. It won't go by slow enough, and before I know it, she won't be my little baby anymore, my little Maggie May. But for now she is, and I will enjoy every single day of it, even when I'm cleaning up the 3,000th mess of the day, or listening to an infamous toddler tantrum. Well, okay, I may have to refer back to this post during some of those times. ;)

Happy Birthday, my sweet little Maggie.

[sappy post over. please return to your regularly scheduled blogging.]

A little cheese, please...

To go with my whine. I'm sick. :( The kids have ever so thoughtfully shared their cold with me. I feel like crap today. I'm congested, barking like a dog, dizzy, and just feel rundown. My back is hurting and now my tongue is numb. I've just been laying around the house today, but my house is an utter disaster and tomorrow I have to get it completely cleaned up, and grocery shop, since I have school Tuesday. I had planned on getting it all done before now, I wanted to do some yard work too this weekend, but that's not going to happen now. I hope I feel better tomorrow. *whine*