Friends

This doesn't really feel like a class.

I'm taking Computer Applications online in the Winter Mini, and kinda chugging along, just . . . well, getting through it as quickly as doesn't actively irritate me, because the thought of being finished with class halfway through the actual runtime amuses me. (But not actually trying that hard, 'cause . . . well, why?) So far, I'm doing pretty well; got As on the quizzes I got to see the results of, the one essay that's been graded, and all of my Microsoft Word tutorial work. Which is all of it; I've moved onto Excel.

We've got four days each to pick up Word, Excel, and Access, then one day to do Powerpoint. I just finished the last stuff for Word earlier today, and am working on my second Excel tutorial. We've got from the 4th to the 16th. I don't think I'll have much trouble. I'm really glad I didn't decide to take this as a full-semester course, though.

The teacher'll answer your questions, but overall it's pretty much "Do what the book says." She's pretty vague when it comes to the stuff not in the books, like what she expects out of the essay questions. (Come on, at least format'd be nice . . .) I don't really mind, especially since I've been getting good grades, but it doesn't make the class feel any more classlike than it has to. I dunno, maybe I'm just not used to online classes. That's probably it.

Anyway, think I'll start on my next Excel tutorial. It's not like I've got nothing better to do, but certainly nothing easier or that gets quite as cleanly done.


EDIT: Oh, BTW, pakgwei! I've been thinking of you a LOT through the Word tutorials, because . . . *whistle* Man, you won't BELIEVE the looks of the stuff I'm having to make for this. Don't have much room to complain 'cause it IS a Microsoft Office course, not an Adobe Creative Suite course, but . . . damn, man!

*sigh* Anyway, er, yeah. Figured I'd say.

With the Amazon card Dad got me, I got some Pixar movies, Ludwig von Mises' Human Action, and Ayn Rand's Anthem. I started reading the middle of these today. Holy crap, is that a lot of book for $25--it'll take me weeks to finish, especially considering how von Mises is a bit hard to read. But it'll be totally worth it.

Meanwhile, it turns out that all of the information I need for my Computer Applications (which starts Monday) course is already up . . . and seemingly has been for a month, possibly. Erk! Anyway, I figure I'll try to get as much coursework done before the semester actually starts, 'cause . . . well, the earlier to finish the class, the better, right? Right.

So far I'm just reading the boring stuff about what a computer is and how important they are to employers. But I've got Office 2007 installed, so it should be pretty easy to start on the Word tutorials whenever I get around to that.


It's good that I've got so much to occupy me, 'cause I seem to be a little sick. Not too bad in the way of stuffy-nose/cough, but my head has been full of fuzz and my limbs have been made out of lead. Walking helps, but it's cold, so I think sitting around and doing coursework suits me better for the moment.

Anyway, that's all.

I made an ass of myself just now for taking a political blogpost at face value without looking up what they were talking about.

Here's the thing, dudes: Refusing to hear a case is not the same thing as affirming the judgment. Speaking as though they are the same damn thing is the height of dishonesty.

I shoulda known, too. They kept saying things like "one-line judgement" and never cited the name of the case. They also kept talking about the horrible precedent this sets, but . . . uh, I don't think the Supreme Court refusing to hear a case sets any precedent on that level at all. It merely doesn't overturn the precedent set by the US Circuit Court of Appeals.

I feel like a moron for swallowing it when I should have known better.


(PS, bloggers, here's a hint: When talking about a specific court case, a specific piece of legislation, or a specific any goddamn thing, PLEASE cite. Linking, even, is a good thing.)

I hosted family Christmas [Eve] for the first time ever. It was successful and fun, though the fact that the baby was visiting rather than me visiting the baby meant the night had to end at about 8:00. (Still past her bedtime.) Went well--both my and Bill's parents came, and . . . oh, holy Hell was there a lot of food. We still have most of it, including the stuff we didn't make. I'm absolutely sure that Bill and I can't eat it all, but . . . well, we'll make quite a dent, and I figure I'll find a few people to give some cookies to. (Mom's cherry-chocolate fudge, incidentally, is to die for.)

Bill crashed at about 10.00, very early for him . . . I thought I was going to, as well, but then I couldn't get to sleep. Too much sugar/caffiene, I imagine. Shoulda had more beer when it was still around; we've got a bunch of liquor, but I don't really feel like drinking it.

Tomorrow we go to Bill's parents house for Christmas dinner; I think his mom's gonna make Seafood Neuberg, which is, near as I can figure, shrimp in a very, very cheesy white sauce over bread. Bill's friend David is coming over, too, I think--I get the impression he was kind of admitted to the family when he was a teenager, so it only makes sense.


Turns out my winter mini course requires a book that's $130. Used. Agh! And I can't find it anywhere on the internet, either . . . ugh. And that's disregarding the $100 software. (Which really isn't a big deal, as . . . well, Microsoft Office 2007 is probably a useful thing to have, regardless. Already calculated for that.) Didn't occur to me to think of that in advance 'cause, after all, it's just Computer Applications, right?

On the bright side, winter mini courses are all online (except sign language) . . . which means I can do the entire class without getting out of bed or putting on underwear. So that's something.


I hear Maryland has a new recreation tax, or something like that. Sucks to be you folks, don't it?


Anyway, I guess I should probably get back to trying to get to sleep. Merry Christmas, everyone, and a happy new year.

I think I slept on my left shoulder wrong; it's super-stiff and not responding well to my attempts to make it better. Ow. I've been doing that a lot this week, but not to this extent. Wonder if I should give up the cuddling for a few days and see what happens.

Looked around on the Four Freedoms a bit yesterday. Most of the results were strictly informative or on the subject of Norman Rockwell's paintings on the subject. (Or on the Rooseveldt Institute's Four Freedoms Foundation and Award, which I'm not quite sure what to count as.) Most everyone else was slavering over the idea. Well, except for a couple who thought it was a cheap way to get America into the idea of WWII. I do get the impression that we produced a shitload of arms that year, so I suppose I gotta hand it to him.

Still, I would have thought the insanity of "freedom from want" and "freedom from fear" was a little more obvious than that, as well as being a little more obviously inconsistent with any other definition of freedom. Sigh. Maybe the people talking about that hide under different search terms.


So much for it being "too cold to snow". Bill says that's why it hasn't been snowing for the last while--but now we're getting big, fat, fluffy flakes. They look nice, but they make me not want to go retrieve the trash and recycling bins from the walk. I was supposed to have had them up three hours ago, though, according to the county, so I'll do it anyway.

The thought of the get-together tomorrow has got me less excited and more petrified, now. The whole concept of "The house has got to look exactly as I want it to" kicking in. Also, that just shoving everything without a place into the bedroom won't work, since that's where the video game systems are (and I want, y'know, all freedom-from-boredom options to be open. ;) )

On the other hand, it's the fam. So I think they can live with some loose things on various surfaces.

Really, just a little straightening and a vaccuum over all the floors should get me to good. Nothing to worry about.


It occurs to me that I still haven't sent out Dad, Diana and Shannon's Christmas presents. I, er, guess that they won't be getting to them on time . . . er, I'll work on that for next year.

Anyway, I guess that's all.