Feb 10 & 11: Happy Birthday!

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Feb 10: Today is Jamie's birthday!  I wish I had some money to get him something, but I came up with a silly idea and made some coupons for him for things like dates, picnics, kisses, etc.  It was silly but he liked it.  I wasn't able to do the surprise I had planned, but I can hopefully do it next year.

I found out that the tech writing prof decided to give me 10% off the assignment as per the policy.  She even has a note on the homework submission box that says you should make sure you leave enough time before 10pm to upload the homework or it will be late, so she really is pretty strict about it.  I was freaking out thinking she wouldn't even accept it, so I'm just relieved.

Jamie is not very good at getting everything he wants today!  He is so easy going; he just says he doesn't mind and asks me what I want.  I made him some eggs for dinner because I wanted to do stuff for him.  Plus, he made chocolate chip pancakes for me yesterday even though he couldn't have any (they would make the acid reflux worse).  He started taking that new medicine yesterday, but it is giving him headaches (that's one of the side effects).  I think it's so amazing that he doesn't complain even though he has all this stuff going on - all these aches and pains.  It makes me seem really complain-y in comparison (which I suppose I am - ugh).  He's just too lovable!

I didn't get much done today because I wanted to hang out with James on his birthday and do whatever he wanted.  We just hung out and watched tv and he played some video games.  It was a good day, though.  Other than that, I did get some networking homework done.

Feb 11: Today I finished up the labs for networking.  I just have a quiz and a short paper for that class and I have to do my JavaScript homework still.  I think I've been putting it off because I'm not sure how to approach it.  I had so much trouble with it last week that I'm not sure I will be able to get it done correctly.  I also have to reply to some discussion posts.  This has been a rough week.  I've been a little emotional, plus very stressed about what happened the other day with my directions paper (ugh!).  I'm okay about it now.  It seems like no big deal now that it's over.  I think the part that was hardest was just not knowing what was going to happen.  I'm going to just turn the papers in a day early from now on, I think.  Less worry and less chance of even coming close to the disaster of the other day.  Ugh!

We went up to the Eastwood Mall today.  It was pretty fun.  James and I wandered around and looked in some stores.  We went into Shoe Dept. and James was thinking of buying some PF Flyers.  He thought he could get them for cheaper online, so he didn't get them.  They seem to be more expensive, though.  I tried on some amazing high top converses that were black with red stitching that I want sooo bad.  They were $45 and I obviously have no money.  But I can still lust after them.  I also saw some pretty pointy shoes that were only $7.50, but they were super hard to walk in.

Then we looked in Bath & Body Works and I tried out some samples which smelled really good.  We also looked in a book store and a music store.  Then we met up with his parents and decided to get Chinese food from the place they go to in Jefferson instead of getting something from the food court or around the mall.  Jamie's nephew doesn't do well in sit down restaurants.

My food was delicious but I ate waaay too much.  Pretty good day, though, overall.  I'm going to have quite a bit of homework to get done tomorrow.

Love,
Christen

Feb 9: Freaking Out

Showstopper by bunni711 featuring wedding handbags

So, I'm not really going to write about my day in this post because I have something I really need to get off my chest.  I'm really upset right now and sitting up (it's 2am) worrying about this technical writing paper that was due today.  I had my directions written and done - I posted a first draft on the discussion boards two days ago and a revised one last night.  The teacher and one other person commented on them and I made the changes they suggested. I had everything done today and sat down earlier tonight to make some last changes before submitting it.  What ended up happening is that I was tweaking little things and making sure I had everything perfect (because I know how thorough the prof is when grading), when I realized that my homework was late.  Yes, folks - late.  I had been thinking all day that this homework was due at 11:59pm like all my other homework, but it was actually due at 10pm.  I was freaking out, crying, and practically having a conniption because I am pretty confident that she will not care much that I accidentally turned it in late.  The prof has a policy that if you turn it in late from 10:01pm up to 6 days after it's due, you get 10% off, assuming that she even takes the homework.  I am worried sick that she won't even accept it.  I'm worried because that means the end of my straight As and it makes me worried for the future because I obviously couldn't afford turning anything else in late on accident.

I know this sounds kind of silly.  I can recognize that, at least.  The thing is that I care a lot about my grades and this is really eating at me.  I'm not confident that she will take pity on me at all, even though I asked in my e-mail to her that she would forgive the mistake and grade it as if it had been on time.  She's very strict, though, so I'm just afraid it won't end well.  I hate that I'm so upset about it, but it's keeping me up thinking of all the things she might say and what I could say back.  It's so frustrating because I was just caught up in trying to make it perfect and didn't realize that the time it was due was different.  I would have had it in on time if I had remembered.  That's the part that is the most unfair, because I'm not sure that it matters at all to her that the reason it's late is not because I ran out of time or just didn't bother to write it before it was due.  It was late because I was stressed from the week and mistook the time it was due.  I was making simple little changes when the due date passed.  I'm talking words here.  I was going through the paper, trying to find out if I had used expletives and all these other things.  It kills me that it doesn't matter at all, even though my boyfriend has been sick and in the hospital, even though I have three other classes with tons of other homework, even though I had it done in time, even though I tried really hard and I've done well on all the other assignments.

Ugh!  I just don't know what to do.  I mean, I can't really do anything at this point except try to distract myself from thinking about it or imagining the worst possible outcomes.  Sorry for the grim (and possibly boring) post, but the blog is supposed to be about how "writing is cheaper than therapy" and I need to write about this to get over it.  Geez!  This semester is really kicking my butt, I'm telling you.  It's so unfair that one little mistake about the time could cost me my good grades and possibly get me a zero on this assignment.  You have to understand that there are only like eight assignments in this class.  No tests or quizzes.  I can't remember the exact number, but this paper is around 10% of my grade.  Man, it just sucks.

Anyway, thanks for bearing with me if you got this far.  I'm trying not to freak about this, but it's difficult for me.  Way too much of my identity is wrapped up in how well I do in school.  I know a B (or even an A-) in one class is not the end of the world, or really even a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it's hard for me to see right now.  I'm worried and it seems really unfair and I'm just going over in my head over and over how the conversation might go between the prof and myself.  I just hope that she is more understanding than I take her for.  Alright, enough of that.  It's not very grown-up of me to be so silly about this.  I do think I feel better about it, though, for writing it down.  I know it's not a big deal and I'll get over it.  I just have to hope for the best and keep perspective.  I let things wear me out too much.  I can't let it get to me.  Thanks for reading.

Love,
Christen

Feb 7 & 8: Doctors Galore!

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Feb 7: Today Jamie wasn't feeling any better; he was actually feeling worse.  Ibuprofen (which is what the doctor yesterday told him to take for the pain) was not working at all.  He was worried all day about what was going on, so we ended up going back to the hospital late tonight - about 11pm.  There weren't any other people waiting since it was so late, so we got in right away.  This time, I went back with him to his room.  He was so worried and didn't know what was going to happen.  He got the same tests as last time and the doctors said there weren't any changes from yesterday.  There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with his heart.  The pain (which actually spread some more, to his ribs) is most likely due to a pre-existing condition.  The nurses came in pretty much right away and started taking blood and doing tests, but then we had to wait quite a while for the blood test results.  He had a bunch of electrodes on which were measuring his heart beat.  I stared at that machine non-stop for a long time because the lines were all over the place.  I was really scared, but we realized that the heart monitor was reacting because one of the electrodes was loose.  Once he adjusted it, the lines were straight, even, and perfect.  I can not tell you how relieved I was!

It was after 1am by the time we got out of the hospital and we didn't get to bed until about 2.  I didn't mind at all because I knew how scared he was and I just wanted to be there for him.  I know that I would want the same.  It would have been a lot worse, in fact, if I couldn't have been there for him because I know I would have been freaking out.  He kept apologizing because he thought he shouldn't have gone, but I know he would have been scared and worried all night and wouldn't have been able to sleep.  I think he made the right choice in going back.

I didn't get much of anything done today, either.  I edited my paper some and put it up online for workshopping.  I checked it a few times and no one has commented on it yet.  It makes me nervous and frustrated because I know my grade depends on how much people have to say about it - the more things that are pointed out to me, the fewer mistakes will make it to the final draft.  I really don't like that the teacher offers some comments in the workshopping, but leaves some stuff out that she will later take off points for.

I started reading for networking, too, but didn't get much done.  I'm just trying to be there for James today and help him to not worry so much and try to relax.  It sucks because the doctor said he doesn't think pain medication will help him at all, so he just has to suffer through it.

Feb 8:  Jamie had an appointment today with his usual doctor and I went up with him.  His doctor says she thinks it is probably his pre-existing condition and possibly his acid reflux.  She prescribed another medication for it, and I'm really hoping it will help.  There isn't really anything else they can do.  I think James is worried the pain is going to stick around for a long time.  He has another appointment with her in two weeks and I'm hoping everything will turn out alright.  Our tech writing teacher won't let him turn the paper in late without medical documentation, which is ridiculous.  I find it difficult to respect a professor who values policy (one she made up herself, at that) over her own students.  I think this qualifies as extenuating circumstances.

I got a couple of comments on my paper, but they weren't super helpful.  I made a bunch of changes, though.  I condensed all of my directions and tried to make the steps as concise as possible.  I also added some spacing and decreased the font size.  It looks a lot better now, but I know that she will find a million things wrong with it anyway.  I don't feel like it matters how hard I try on it; she will find fault with whatever I turn in.

I took the networking book to the doctor's office and got a little (very little) reading done while we waited for his turn.  There were a lot of people there, so we had a long time to wait.  I read more after we got back, too.  This week should be easier because there are less labs total and the chapters are shorter.  I still have to figure out JavaScript and I'm worried I won't be able to make this function work.  If I get too stuck, I might have to switch to the other project option.

We had some beef stew for dinner that made me sick.  Then I sort of picked around for whatever I could find to eat.  I had some cake leftover from the Super Bowl party and I made some popcorn.  Then I sat down and watched The Bachelor for this week.  James and I also watched this week's Face Off episode earlier.  We're all caught up now.

I hate that I feel more awake now (1:40 am) than I ever do for most of the first part of the day.  I can't stay up all night because I'll be even more tired tomorrow, but I hate that so much of my day is wasted being exhausted.  I've got a bunch of work to do.  Ugh!  Hopefully I get comments on my revision of the directions, but I'm not counting on it.  I'll probably edit through it again but I'm fine with where it is now.

Love,
Christen

Feb 6: At the Hospital

Gray and Yellow Outfit by bunni711 featuring jimmy choo bags

Last night, James was having some chest pains and trouble breathing and he was pretty worried about it.  We went to the hospital this morning to see what was up.  I ended up sitting in the waiting room for a couple of hours (at most), but would've rather been in the room with him.  I was pretty worried.  I brought my book and got a lot of reading done, plus I watched some court shows on the lobby tv.  James said he wanted me in the room, but no one sent for me.  I would've gone with him at first, but he thought he'd be in triage first.  The doctors took a bunch of tests, including blood pressure, a clot test, and an EKG.  They all came up normal, and his blood cell counts were normal too.

The doctor didn't prescribe anything, but he's supposed to go see his regular doctor in a few days.  It was still bothering him earlier tonight, but seems to have migrated around a little.  The other day it was on the left; last night, in the middle; tonight, on the right.  The x-rays didn't show anything, so we really don't know what it is.  I think he's alright, though, but I'm still a little worried.  I don't think I could handle it if something happened to him.

After we left the hospital, we got some Subway and came home.  I sat with James while he played video games, and I fell asleep.  I've been napping too much lately.  Same old, same old.  We also watched Rango while we ate lunch, which was alright.  I was dozing a bit toward the end.  I thought Johnny Depp sounded a little like Jerry Seinfeld.

I looked up the directions for our next paper and I'm thinking she's going to be very picky about how thorough we are.  I wrote out a rough draft, but I'm going to edit it tomorrow morning (hopefully) before I submit it for workshopping.  I started reading the info about it in our textbooks, but I'll have to take another look tomorrow.  I'm doing my directions on the sock bun method of hair curling.  It's going to be difficult to be so exact about the directions and still keep them to one page.  I'm not sure if we are supposed to number them or not, but I'll take a look at the other students' workshopping submissions to see what her comments are like.  It's pretty helpful to see what she corrects on others' work before submitting my own.

I'm pretty drained from the last week, but the work just keeps coming.  The networking class is pretty intense, but the next round of labs aren't due until Sunday.  I'm going to concentrate on this paper until Thursday when it's due, and then I have to get going on that JavaScript homework I was having trouble with.  So much to do!

Jamie's birthday is Friday.  We're hoping his parents will take us out to eat.  He wants me to stay over here with him for the rest of the week because he's not feeling well.  I told him I will stay as long as he needs me.  I would rather be here with him if he's worried or not feeling well.  That means I may not be able to do his birthday surprise, but I can always wait until next week or his next birthday.  I'm hoping we can go out for Valentine's Day too, but we'll see.

He's dozing on the couch right now, so I think I'm going to go see if he wants to go to bed.  He asked me a few minutes ago what time it was and said it was too early, but he's already out.  I love that man so much.

Love,
Christen

Feb 5: Super Bowl!

Gray and Purple Comfy Outfit by bunni711 featuring long rings

So today was the Super Bowl party at Jamie's house (of course!)  I had a pretty good time, but there were some moments when I wish there had been less children in the room!  Half time was about the worst part in terms of noisiness.  I would've liked to have heard Madonna - I'm not really a fan, but the show looked pretty good.

We weren't able to watch the Puppy Bowl this year (they don't have Animal Planet here - gasp!), but we went online and looked at the cute pictures of the starting lineup.  I'm ridiculous when it comes to puppies.

The game was pretty good.  It was really close.  I was rooting for the Patriots (I didn't really have much of a preference), but they lost.  I still think that the 2 points the Giants got at the beginning of the game were cheap, and without them the Patriots could have won with a field goal.  Oh well, it's a shame.

We had a lot of good food, including some fried chicken, sandwiches (Italian subs!), and pulled pork sandwiches on Hawaiian buns - you wouldn't believe how good those were!  We also had lots of snacks, including some delicious mint chocolate fudge.

I was able to submit my multimedia homework.  Apparently the submission form asked you to designate a homepage in your zipped folder.  It's pretty cool that profs can do stuff like that.

Well, today was sort of a day off, but I have to get back to work tomorrow.  I have to write a paper giving directions.  I remember doing those in middle school/ high school, but hey, why not cover the same ground again?  I'm not a fan of having to take this class, if you catch my meaning.  I learned how to write a long time ago, and I don't see how this is relevant to a computer technology degree.

I submitted a valentine for one of the Polyvore contests today.  I think it turned out really pretty.  I also started my series on Disney princesses (which I borrowed from another Polyvore-r) with Belle.  I think it turned out alright, but not my best work, probably.  The set looks a little sparse.  I don't know how many more I'll do, but it will have to wait for another day.

I'm going to go read some more while I have a little bit of free time.  I'm going to be slaving away until Thursday, in all likelihood, so I had better enjoy myself now!

Love,
Christen