Jacquelyn's Space

I am so happy Christmas is over! Now I can relax. Also, the fall semester is over – WOOHOO! I made the Dean’s List – 5 As and 1 B+. I am so excited! I actually put in my application for graduation too! I have more than enough credits to get both my Bachelor degrees. That is awesome.

 

I am a bit rankled about my B+ but it was totally my fault. I could have had all As if I would have gotten my Virginia Woolf paper in on time. I took on too many classes this semester for one (so much to write). Plus my idea was too original and complex, Ha. I basically looked at all Woolf’s novels and a couple of her short stories to analyze how she uses the brooch as a symbol. It was rough going and not much scholarship has been done on that so I didn’t have much to build on except my own idea. I turned that paper in Thursday before Christmas but I still didn’t feel like it was done. It was 16 pages but I could have written 16 more. I got an awesome compliment from my prof about it too:

 

This is really nice work, Jackie – you’ve found many brooch references to examine, and you’re able to suggest a solid set of meanings that attach to them. This is a thorough, well-written, and exceptionally well-organized paper, probably most impressive for the way that your curiosity, creativity, and perceptiveness shine out from every page. You approach your subject patiently and build your analysis with a clear and productive logic.

If only it had been on time! The paper is six days late, which lowers the grade by a full letter. If I’d had it earlier I’d also have had time to put in comments throughout the paper, but maybe that’s no great loss? Anyway, thanks for the fine work.

I wanted to say “Damn dude, patiently building clear and productive logic takes time. Can’t you give me a break on the grade?” Ha… I didn’t say anything though because I did turn it in the very last-minute I could. Plus I learned tons and that is really what it’s all about – learning rather than a grade.

I can just throw and BS on paper for a grade. In fact that is what I had to do for my rhetoric class because I was using all my energy for my seminar paper. I got an A in that class but felt bad that I didn’t do my best work. I actually went and apologized to my prof about that, haha. She was very understanding and told me not to worry – I love her. I am going to miss my profs I had fall semester. 😦

It was a really challenging semester but I loved it all. On to the next…

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I didn’t do any Christmas shopping this year until Christmas Eve. I hate shopping on any holiday just for the fact that I really believe everything should be closed and people should be at home with their families. I wanted to go the night before but it was my husband’s work Christmas party and I couldn’t miss that celebration. Plus I heard the stores were crazy busy the night before Christmas Eve. So me and my husband got drunk and did a little shopping in the middle of the night after the party.Then I got a couple of hours of sleep and went shopping early in the morning on Christmas Eve. I hit the mall up at 8am and actually got in and out pretty easily. Not too many people were shopping yet. The worst was going to the grocery stores – I like to do a nice dinner in the evening but I needed to get provisions. By the time I got to the stores it was getting busy. Still had a lovely Christmas Eve though. 

Christmas Day was busy. We opened presents at our house, went to my mom’s to open presents and have a Nerf gun war with my nephews (wrapping paper and toys everywhere!), then we went over to my sister-in-law’s house for a family party. Whew, I was exhausted after it all. I think I still am. Perhaps that’s why I was pissy the day after Christmas…ha. I caused some drama the day after. It wasn’t intentional and I don’t think it was completely my fault. I think I just expect too much from some people. I suppose that is what I get for always trying my best – I expect others to care as much as I do. I am over it though, and I refuse to play power struggle games anymore (not that I ever really did – I guess I am just not having it though, not gonna do it, deal with it…). I am starting my New Years resolution early – I am not hiding how I feel any longer and if you can’t respect me and how I feel then I don’t need you in my life. I am done. I have plenty of other people and work to concentrate on rather than drama and BS.

Case in point – my stepson told me about a website where I can publish my work online so I checked it out. I am going to write about all the challenges, drama, and BS I have been through and publish it. If I can’t find a real publisher I will publish it myself. My creative writing teacher told me that an essay I wrote about being a stepmother is publishable so I will be looking into doing that. Plus, I want to look into getting some of my scholarly essays published in an academic journal. And there is a writing competition coming up. So working on and publishing my work is another New Years resolution of mine. I definitely have more constructive things to do with my time than deal with the games people play.

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I am so proud of my husband. I never did give him his props in my blog. He worked his ass off this past year to get his ambulance company CAAS accredited. He finally had his inspection earlier this month and passed, first time, 100%. The CAAS people gave him major compliments about how well his application was put together. I heard one company actually had a delay or something because their application was all wrong! Not my husband’s though – he owned that bitch, ha. So he had a great inspection and his company was CAAS approved right before Christmas. So proud of him – I kept telling him I knew he could do it.

I know some people doubted him – now they should be pretty damn grateful that my husband busts his ass. They have him (and if I may be so bold, a little bit of me – after all I am the woman behind the man, ha) to thank for their jobs, income, and support. HA ha…

All right, bring on the New Year!!