Sunday, December 28, 2008

Enjoying My Vacation

I am having such a wonderful vacation just hanging out at home. My husband and I have been playing a joint computer game and I have read two books and am working on a third. I read The Rose of Sebastopol by Katherine McMahon and T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton. The Rose of Sebastopol is a historical romance set during the Crimean war. It was a good book, much more than just a romance novel. T is for Trespass is another Kinsey Millhone mystery. I've read them all now from A to T. Now I'm reading Roman Blood by Steven Saylor. It is a historical mystery set in Rome during 80 B.C. I am on the fourth chapter right now.

The spring semester starts up next week and I admit I am not looking forward to it. This last semester wore me out. Even before next week, I have to start gathering materials to study for the big Entomology/Nematology final, which I have decided I am going to take in the spring semester rather than in the summer.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Finals Are Done!


I'm done! I have stayed up most of the night. I finished my last take-home final and have submitted it. I am done. My semester is over!!! Now I can truly say I have only 3 more semesters to go before I graduate.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Finals in Progress

Well, I am making my way through finals. The CE take-home final has been completed and turned in and I took the HP final this morning. I am working on the CN take-home final. Each word on my progress meter stands for 1 question on the take-home finals and one word is for the HP final. I have to finish the CN final by Thursday 12/18/08 at 2:00 pm.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Wordled My Thesis


Instead of studying for finals, I have been playing with my M.S. Thesis. Thanks to Sciencewomen, I went to Wordle a site where you can enter something that you have written and get back a graphical representation of the text. Its great fun! This is my result. Click on the image to view the larger image on Wordle.

Studying for Finals


I like the progress meter so much that I have decided to use it to help me get through finals. I have to complete the following:

1. CE take-home final: 12 questions - done
2. CN take-home final: 17 questions - done
3. HP in class final - done

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Papers Are Done



I have finished all of my papers for this semester! I had a total of 5 papers to write. One of them I finished just before I joined in on InaDWriMo. I had 4 papers to write for InaDWriMo. I did not finish in time to be a winner, but I have met my goals for my classes. I am so glad that I am done with them!!!

Unfortunately, I now have two take-home finals to deal with. I received one of them by email this morning. I also have to start studying for another final. However, I am taking what is left of this evening to just relax.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Deadline Extended


The deadline for the paper got extended. It is now due on Monday, 12/8/08. I am so relieved. I worked on my paper until 4 am and I stopped because I couldn't think anymore. I would have turned in my paper even though it was unfinished and it sucked. Thank goodness the professor saw the light and said he had too many papers to read this weekend so why not turn this one in on Monday.

I should have gone for a Ph.D. instead. In the program that I am in there are too many classes and not enough time to do all of the assignments. Part of the problem is that the classes that we take are geared towards masters or Ph.D. students. So for every class, we have to do at least one paper, sometimes two papers, at least one presentation, usually at least one project, plus the quizzes and exams. When that is multiplied by 4 or 5 classes it can be very challenging to get everything done on time. In addition, we have to work for our assistantships. So at the moment, I am so wishing I had gone for a Ph.D. instead. I have hope that the outcome from getting my degree will make everything that I am going through worth it. So, I just keep telling myself...hold on...3 more semesters to go.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

No Sleep Tonight


Sorry that I haven't posted anything for several days. This has been a very hectic week. I am still working on my last paper which is due tomorrow morning. It has been such a challenge to find time to work on this. During the day I attend classes and when I'm not in class, I have to work. So the only time I have had to work on my paper is at night. I have had 7 hours of sleep over the last two days. Well tonight is the last night I have and somehow I have to finish this thing. I am so tired and I don't think there is enough coffee in this town to keep me awake. I'll let you know how things turn out.