Valence Shell

Tonight I wish to feel like a Valence Shell (the outermost part of an atom's shell) And had a complete number of electrons orbiting my nucleus. This would make the atom (ME) stable :}
I am happy to report I got an A- on my 1st exam and an 87 on my 1st quiz. But tonight's quiz, eh, not so good. The functions of certain organelles and cell parts were a little tricky for me tonight on that quiz. And I do not test well if I am tired. I will probably have to give up teaching 1 class in NJ next Spring. See I have a very limited time frame in which I am eligible for FA so that toppled on with my job teaching times versus the available class times that I need to take. I really hope my 1 boss works with me on my schedule to allow me to take the needed course load. Yep, I am stressed. But once I get this squared away, I will be able to relax.

I also have been taking an online class which did not off to a promising start. Anyways I have my 1st assignment given out earlier this week due before later today (Friday night) at 11:59pm! And I am just not into the whole "online" discussions. Ugh I got to print out the discussions and read them as a thread, otherwise I am not going to do well at them. I tried using that method (online discussions) for 1 semester teaching ASL in terms of the cultural readings, not ASL lessons. I did not enjoy it and certainly being responsible for it did not help. But I am hoping after tomorrow this online class becomes smoother sailing?

So during the periods when I am not studying or working I have been day dreaming of a major road trip. Something along the east coast (don't worry Baba, it wouldn't be any time soon) I just missed a lot of old friends from MSSD and Gally. I want to rub elbows with people I grew up with in some ways. Esp 2 friends one from SC and the other from southern Virginia. I think SC would be as far South I want to go in order to see dear ones. I am so happy and grateful to Baba that I have a used car to get around. I have adjusted quickly, Jack will vouch for that. He has been wonderful on the maintenance of both his baby and my car. He will soon replace one of the headlights that went out in the morning. Already replaced the windshield wipers. I am pleased. The ONLY complaint I have to say is I hate the GW Bridge (95) here. Its really bad off the Bronx area and unfortunately when going north I get caught up in the painful inching of cars for almost an hour to move I think its 1 or at most 2 miles. Its HORRIBLE. But I will grant you this much, its not as bad as 495 back in MD/DC/VA, the part going into VA, bad! That one was pretty bad but at least its a straight shot. And the roads, omigod, pot holes that would literally rip out the guts of your engines. I am NOT kidding. I think that's part of the reason why there are not too many accidents here. Everyone is keeping an eye out for the one that if you felt it, would make your stomach drop. I cringe at the few times I felt my new pride and joy hit one of the smaller ones. Thank god none were killer size. But they're out there, kind of like Black holes and dark matter.

And for this weekend, Saturday has been designated as my "fun day" of the week. The plans are as follow; Attend Jewish services in the late morning. Visit my friend Martin and eat Indian food
and maybe visit with Blondie to wrap up the day? Awaiting her reply.

Newest material I must digest and regurgitate is the Body' Tissues from cellular level and on up. Plus and here's the part I struggle with, is identifying it at a microscopic level. Tonight through the microscopes I looked at samples such as bladder tissue, lung tissue and many others. We had to draw diagrams of what we saw. Mine looked like a 7 year old drew it and I even tried to buy some pencils at the bookstore during the break but they were closed. The professor agreed to allow us to take it home and finish it, even though it was an "in class" assignment. Me personally I needed time to digest it. The one thing he preaches to us and I to my students is to read ahead. But he doesn't realize I don't have the time to learn 2 major biological concepts and all the details that accompany them and then try to read up on upcoming materials when he's quizzing us weekly or giving a Test or Exam every few weeks. Anyways I am going to try somehow to read up before the next class so I can do better. One little thing I find helpful when I study, is I imagine my brains building new memories and connecting pathways. Plus repetition helps, I often re-write concepts/systems over and over again till they make sense. To me its like when I learned Psychology and ASL/Linguistics, there's always a set of terminology you must master in which you will then understand the concepts. Biology seems to be going the same way but instead of having a year to spare and take my time, I got to bring it up to a whole new level and do it NOW.

Lastly I noticed today that people need to take a chill pill. This one lady at the library got all bent out of shape when at the printer in which all students share got mad at me when I accidentally creased her 1 paper out of like 50. She barked at me "look at what you did!" I replied "It was an accident. (cuz I was surprised) And after all its only paper, it can be reprinted." she then upped it and said "see, it doesn't have page numbers!" I was like "relax!" And at one point I even told her to "grow up." Yet, she just kept at it with the guy seated in between our computer seats. I spent the rest of the time ignoring her and tried to study for my quiz that I took earlier tonight.

My lease ends in a matter of weeks, very strange. I've done some packing but honestly I am not going to go gung ho till I have a place to move to and the means to do it. Right now I don't and won't till early March. And that's the way things go, I can't be worried about it when I can't do anything. Might as well study instead.