Monday, August 30, 2010

1st of September and the first day of class

Tomorrow, September 1st, will be the first day of the single online course, SDV101, I’ll be taking at WWCC. I am sure the curriculum will be grueling and more than what I was expecting but, this is something that I must do after all the years that I have wasted in my own imagined misery when I was younger. The online course ends in October so this is somewhat of a relief and will then leave more time to dedicate to the other three courses. The Psychology course may be the hardest and I am sure I will have some gainful insight on the thought and learning process that I both did not and will be going through. Thus far I have read parts of the reading materials and have gained some knowledge. English I am retaking as I scored a “C” back in ’94 when I took the course for the first time. I am retaking this course hoping for an improved score to assist my application to the Nursing program that is offered at the college. I am sure much has changed since when I took the course and the teachers assignments were to write about what you did the previous day and a favorite book. Even letting classes go early. Hopefully I’ll have some insight into writing better in English though I feel it currently isn’t horribly poor. Physiology shouldn’t be too difficult. I seem to grasp this concept more than expressing myself properly in English and the concepts on Psychology since Psychology is about idealism's proven and disproved. I suppose getting some thoughts down in this journal will help me recognize where there are flaws and if not I am sure the teacher will point them out in the writing that I’ll be doing. Studying is not my forte. So this upcoming course will give me some perspective in what I could do to improve my habits and give me insight on my type and style of study habits. I’ll improve and perfect to the best of my ability what I need to do to get acceptance into the Nursing program by deriving the knowledge from the courses taught to attain the highest grades possible. There simply is no doubt that I will be an improved man by December 17th. I feel I am already underway and am greatly inspired. This vision will not be for naught. 

Sunday, August 29, 2010

The Weekend .. Almost

It’s my weekend, Sunday and Monday off and I'm thinking it’s beginning to get a little old. I've kept this job this long only for the respect of my employer and the convenience of overnight work for the extra dollar an hour. This has helped greatly to the things that I have committed to in the last few years. In addition, I've all the day to do what I need to do. This job isn't one known for great respect but it is employment. I've had the benefits of this employment though I'll admit I may have not taken it to my greatest advantage. The near future will provide no more exceptional benefits other than insurance (stock and 401k are on the back burner). It was not till recently that I've made life changing decisions that I should have made long ago and I did not make plans for these changes. More recent changes in my attitude have led to advantages that I'll reap in the coming months and into my future. Though I am currently in a fair position and my employer will be changing my workable hours, I may need to change jobs. It will likely pay less by a couple dollars an hour but I'll be working days and hopefully I’ll find a new employer will make way for my courses that I’ll be taking in college. This may be my positive needed change. I'll need to focus on curriculum and study to gain knowledge retention and to derive a proper G.P.A for acceptance in the nursing program. I am a fairly decent learner but age does have its tolls. With that said I likely should depart and choose a different course of financial gain.

One and a half weeks! Only one and half weeks till my first day of class. This will be a new beginning for me. Doing all those things that I knew could and wanted to do for so many years. In my past I had decided that I would squander most of my money on replacing, repairing and purchasing those things that I neglected or broke and purchasing those things I didn't actually need and the remainder was trying to pay off a credit card balance accumulated from the for mentioned. Time wasted. Money squandered. I won’t delve into the bigger picture, of course it’s more than frivolous spending but, I felt like I was trapped emotionally with things that simply were not going well and allowed some of these things to bother me. I damaged myself financially which is the smaller part of not going to school; it was whatever place my mind was in. It was a dreary and ambiguous existence. From day to day I was utterly confused and had no direction as to where I should be and where I should go. Occasionally, I had times when things were more untroubled but I slipped back down. Finally, I’ve been able to get away from these times.

Beginning sometime last year, I had done a number of things differently: I've saved more, utilized a credit card less, and have become more than intrigued by a different diet, The Kind Diet. What ever bothered me in my past has seemed to dissipate. Motivation is the downfall of mine. I've grown a habit of laziness trying not to fall victim to spending money on expensive things by staying at home and doing nothing. I have a long way to go to attain the happiness I’m seeking. I hope to accomplish this by a journal of my thoughts here hoping for a greater sense of clarity. To chronicle my plans as best I can and seek the inner me that still exists and has been quietly and patiently waiting to be born.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death”

"Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death" Albert Einstein.





I always did like PBS. What I gathered intellectually and knowledge retained is another story. At least I had learned something for a time that allowed for a different perspective on certain events in history, places and things upon the Earth and people of interest. Programming such as Nova, Scientific American, archeology and paleontology programs were always of great interest. Most interesting were the cooking shows of which I've not prepared a single culinary creation from. What purpose those programs served to keep me alive and learning never manifested itself to day to day living, most specifically the cooking programs. I supposed I still always dreamed of creating fantastic dishes and healthier foods and exploring the fantastic ideas and places presented on these shows. Now, at least, I am preparing myself to indulge in a better diet. This diet will not come specifically from anyone of the culinary programming I've seen but rather the Bloggers  blogs that I've read. I have decided to eat better. These examples are defined by consuming less animal proteins and devise a diet of vegetables, grains and beans. This I believe will suit my needs as for some time now meats give me the feeling of great weight and a tiresome feeling. I have come to believe this is one of the factors that have held me back in sustaining a better existence for myself. But my situation is a condition of many things which include an irresponsibility and lack of motivation without a future perspective and lowered self-esteem with a certain sense of anger towards myself and others. There are many culprits along my way and many things I've tried that I believed would change my course. It’s possible I failed from loss of diligence and patience but it’s mostly my poor attitude. The fug has lifted. 


Something occurred to me on May 27 of this year as I was an outpatient having my wisdom teeth removed. Nursing is a pretty cool job. I always did like the physician’s office or the hospital. It simply never occurred to me that I could become a nurse. Maybe somewhere in my mind I believed I would be relegated to menial tasks and jobs no one else wanted or that I wouldn't be accepted for employment. I don't recall my thought processes that led to my pasts decisions exactly but I can image they'd be with some self-salvaging delusion. Within a week later I had made a choice. I would indeed attend college this next semester for an education toward a position where higher education is a requirement. This time I'll give it my whole hearted honest try. I'm 40, not 30 and not 24. Whatever place my mind was in at those ages I cannot say. There was some threshold I could not cross. This much is true. The nurse that practiced on me at the facility inspired me. I wanted to be a part of this action in that I could be a part of this action and will be a part of this action. I had wished to be a part of a greater good rather than a culprit of it. 


Come the 8th of September I'll be re-beginning college on course for the nursing program offered at Wor-Wic. I've a full course load and I believe this would be my best opportunity to advance in spite of the curriculum. I do know I did respectively well in my past semesters - my grade was lowered only because I missed a couple classes not because of poor test scores. English 101 I am retaking to improve my grade which should give me a greater opportunity of acceptance into the nursing program. Psychology will be my greatest problem. I have never been greatly analytical of thoughts and people. Fortunately I have few outside responsibilities and can devote attention to the detail that will be required in assignment and class participation. A job change will be an added improvement which may be a step down from my current employer but possibly a necessity. This semester will be a whole hearted attempt that will be fulfilling which will allow me the adaptations I have been searching for that I've never known the explanation of. Maybe I can unlock the hidden me that I know is there and develop him as he would have grown from this age and time forward. 


Hopefully I'll make a couple friends along my journey. An outgoing personality I do not have but friends are important. An outlet to grow psychosocially. This will be my next step. Opening up to others.


Wish me luck. Not that I need it.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Wish List

A few little things I'll work toward when time allows deliberately through the week either through perseverance and due diligence and some personality adjustments with self-esteem improvements.


Image says it all.
Condonations aside.
Not the girl but the bike. Expensive. I think I like it.
Nice outfit though and I like the basket.
I wasn't thinking about anything here. Really.
It's just a cool image.
A stack that high of Benjamins will take
some time.
I'll start with a buck a day
and go from there.

Loose Ends

Next up:
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine
  • True Blood television series
  • The "L" Word television series
That will about round out all I want to see. Cut off the Netflix subscription and save a few more $$. Haven't been to a cinema in years and probably should go sometime. See movies as they were meant to be seen. Get out some more and make some friends. So, these are a bit newer loose ends in the "Loose Ends" series but they're things I didn't partake of and in some small way wish I had. At least I can say I've done it. A decent television would be a plus though the plan is to continue watching less television, saving more diligently, reading more often and improving health.

Sure sure theres a bit of television in there. Gotta have something in the down time. There IS a hobby I attempted to take up but not that is complicated or I don't like it its that I'm not good at it. Not that I've tried hard to learn, its patience that I don't have. Ah, thats another:

  • Gain an aptitude towards having more PATIENCE

Oh yeah, and there is the quitting smoking part. That'll happen soon enough. Note to self: FIND (affordable) HOBBY
Additionally: Exercise. See how that goes. I do like bicycling.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Just Sayin' Its America After All

The protesters are out in force discouraging the development of a mosque near the former twin towers building site. I wonder if there would be this problem if it were anywhere in Europe. Often the U.S. is immature in opinions and beliefs in our progressive but intemperate attitude that we perpetually deny the beliefs and opinions of others. 


Here is an excerpt from The Holy Quran: 



84. Say (O Muhammad ): "We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob) and Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)] and what was given to Musa (Moses), 'Iesa (Jesus) and the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we have submitted (in Islam)."

Or in other words the same God that was worshipped before Jesus and the prophets of receipt of messages from God there after were all of the same God, so it is written. I believe in a God. I have my own personal relationship with God. I would like to further develop this relationship without interference from others indulging their personal beliefs upon me. These personal beliefs are not specific to any one faith. All faiths are welcome in my life. 


Just sayin' to the protesters: you're wasting your time. People that are important are growing tired of intolerance. The mosque should be allowed no matter its location. We may not be Europe but the eyes of the World are upon us. Since we all thrive on consumerism it would be prudent not to be so discouraging when it comes to acceptance of others and their faith and opinions. The backlash could be rather harmful to an already harmed economy. The world watches our news events, I imagine, with eyes rolled and are unconcerned with our rights of self-expression. To salvage embarrassment these other nations may distance themselves from friendships with us. I certainly hope this will be among the last of foolish protests that serve no greater purpose other than to prevent an indigenous documented right of one group of people. 




Quotation was provided by the website: http://noblequran.com/translation/surah3.html

Loose Ends

So I've been gathering up some loose ends. These are years in the making. Laziness hadn't help one bit. Unfortunately for years I stooped to levels unlike me. I let thoughts and things get to me. I was buried under my self perceived stratum. Now I am emerging from my fug in a whole new light and achieving those things I should of accomplished long ago.
  • Clothes to send to Thrift: Messy Messy room. Getting rid of the old. 
    • Done half the cleaning: the next quater is various statements - the last quater is actual cleaning and repaint
  • Red Dwarf: Seen em' all now in consecutive order. Netflix
  • Battlestar Galactica: Seen em' all now in consecutive order. Netflix
  • Have tuition and books paid for
  • Deciding whether to attempt to fill my platter with a CNA course given by the Community College. Maybe get a new job serving a greater good. 
Sure watching old episodes of old television shows doesn't have a whole lot to do with being buried under self depravity but it was about finishing old things in order. Putting things in order. That is what these last 4 months of 2010 will be about. Getting things done that proper way with all my heart in it. Filling my time with study, books and hobbies. All those things I've wanted to do but never allowed myself the financial means, the time or indulgence. 

    Next up is to QUIT SMOKING!! 

    Well, Not The First

    Might be the very first post to my new blog but, hopefully wont be the last. I've not a lot to say at the moment. Just watching Battlestar Galactica "Take the Celestra" episode. Next to the last.