Jacquelyn's Space

I have started a new blog. It is all about writing and my exploration of writing. I have wanted to do this for a long time but I procrastinated. I figure now is the best time to get it started because I am embarking on my graduate career and I am going to need the support…a blog specific to what I am studying. It helps me immensely to blog about school. Plus I have bought a ton of books on writing and need to put them (and the money I spent) to good use, a place to record my thoughts on them so I learn and remember.

I have created all kinds of wonderful categories for my new blog, now I just have to get to writing some posts.

http://austenwoolfplathinspireme.wordpress.com/

I am happy to report that I am not having a bad week — things seem to coming together for me and I even got to spend some much needed quality time with my husband, he hee.

The beginning of the week sucked: my stepson’s new used truck he bought broke down, I had trouble fitting in stuff I needed to do because of work and I was sharing my vehicle, and I also was worried about getting stuff all set up for school so close to the start of the semester. Needless to say I was not a happy camper…

Now I am feeling better…much relieved. Oh my stepson’s truck is still broke down, which really sucks because I was hoping it would last him at least 6 weeks (well 5 weeks now) until he went into the Navy, but we have plans A, B, and C in place to get that problem taken care of. And though I am upset for my stepson, I have even found a lesson in all this crap. I wish he would have listened to me and my Dad and been patient — I told him to wait to buy, he could use my car, etc. and my Dad told him to offer to buy his old car from his mom and step-dad and at least look around at other used vehicles (not being sold by a dealer). My stepson was in an all-fired hurry to get a vehicle so now he has to learn a lesson the hard way…act in haste, repent at leisure. I think this whole episode is about learning patience and controlling impulsiveness. I just hope he sees and gets the lesson.

My work week was pretty good. I hate my job but I love the people I work with…we have had some great conversations over the past couple of weeks. We have talked politics, about sex and sexual orientation, gender and race issues, economic and social issues, and on the lighter side, about movies and comic books. A co-worker who made a few mistakes in his youth even shared his prison experiences, which were very interesting. I love talking to people about their experiences, good and bad!  This week was a breeze to get through despite not being able to get enough sleep because of my stepson’s issues.

I got all my school stuff squared away and now I can really get excited about being a grad student at UM-Flint — I am truly happy. I got the financial end of it taken care of  with an email and a phone call, signed up for classes (there were still some open!), and talked with my adviser. One class I am burning to take, Collaborative Writing (it is all about tutoring and working in the Writing Center), I had to jump through a few hoops to sign up for, like provide a writing sample and get a nomination from a professor but thankfully I got it all taken care of. I even got most of my books for the new semester — only need about 3 and it looks like it will be under $100. Yay! I only need to take 2 0r 3 classes a semester so I think I am only going to take 2 classes this first semester. Grad classes are in the evening so I will be able to keep my work schedule (I have been working overnights and prefer working that shift — more autonomy) and look for a better job, perhaps a full-time day job. All I need is a clean house and a vacation and I am all set to start the new semester 🙂

I have always believed that to be true.

There is an old saying, “Success is the best revenge.” Don’t waste your time planning and plotting against someone — do some planning and plotting to make yourself a success and leave revenge to the gods, karma, and small minds. 🙂

I posted the above on as my Facebook status to hopefully make my stepson think about a few things. Seems people like it — someone I didn’t even know (a friend of a friend I think) shared it on their Facebook wall!

I also posted this on my wall today:

LOL, love that. Describes so many situations lately. I told my stepson about the meme and he was like, ‘Post it to my wall’ … and I was like ‘Yeah, right. Then people will think I am directing it at you.’ but I posted it on his wall any way. Hopefully his friends won’t think I am being mean to him. Don’t want that reputation of being an evil stepmom, ha…though I do like to play around with that.

Well, I was accepted into the Master of Arts in English program at UM-Flint:

On behalf of the Master of Arts Program in English Language and Literature, I am pleased to inform you that your application for admission for the Fall 2012 term has been approved by our Graduate Committee.

Yay!!

Okay, celebration over. Now I just have to make sure it is really what I want and figure out how to pay for it…

It truly is what I want. I want to study writing…I have been studying writing but I want to make it a full-time pursuit though I have only recently allowed myself to seriously consider it.

I applied by the late deadline (August 1st) because I wasn’t sure if it was the right step or not but since I applied to the program I have been checking every day to see if I got in. I actually found out I was admitted to the program yesterday but I got official word today.

I was mad at myself for applying late and for not writing a stronger statement of purpose. The one I submitted for consideration really sucked because I did not give  myself enough time to write it and I was stressed when I worked on it. Thank goodness the Graduate Committee was kind to me…and I must have had some strong recommendations. Thank goodness!

I even have a way to work my study of writing into my dreams of becoming a mental health counselor. I still plan on pursuing some kind of graduate degree in psychology or counseling.

Now it is just a question of finances.