So i woke up this morning and in the midst of dragging myself out of bed somewhat kicking and screaming as is the case when I dont get a good nights sleep, I looked at my computer and saw that it had been some time since I had published a post. That isnt to say that I haven't written anything, but that in all that writing I had not come up with a final product of any worth that I felt should be published.
So it has been two weeks and in the interim I have begun classes for the Spring Term here at BYU. What does that really entail? A whole lot of stress topped with not much of anything else. I have to make the disclaimer though, I knew what I was getting myself into and with that I knew the consequences of taking as many credits as I am.
So a quick run down of what exactly I am taking. There is History of Philosophy to the 1500s which is to act in place of one of the Civilization GE credits. It isnt too bad as it deals with Greek and Medieval Philosophy. I have a liking to both of those schools of thoughts. Where that class becomes cumbersome is the fact that it meets three days a week for two hours a day and there isnt a lot of discussion in the class as the teacher is trying hard to dispense information and setting to us for the reading. The reading gets to be a lot as it is 30 to 50 pages for each class period. That being said, I wanted to take this class and I wanted to take the teacher, so I knew what to expect and so I must at a bare minimum tolerate the class schedule until the end of the term.
The other BIG class I am taking this term is Technical Writing. Now I really didnt want to retake this class again, but I relented because I realized that I needed some help for a professional level person with my writing skills. I feel I dont need to re-take composition, but rather that I need to refine or tune my skills to a more professional level. I do miss being able to write sarcastic emails expressing my view on work related subjects, but I see the need to professionally express ideas. Having statistics as my major and wanting to actually work in research, I see the need to be able to write reports as a priority in my educational process. All that said; I can express something of annoyance here: the textbook. I hate this thing. Well I hate the last three iterations of the Technical Communication book by Lannon that is used for the class. I have seen this book three times in my educational career.
The first time I used the book and had to drop the money for it was my first college semester at Temple Junior College (now just Temple College) there in my hometown. Its was the eighth edition of the book for my composition class geared towards a technical documents. I had read the book for the class and assimilated it. I would still have that particular edition had I not loaned it out.
So the second time I saw the book was for my Technical and Business Writing class from the same college a few years later after my mission. I was at that time seeking a particular degree and sure enough the ninth edition of the Technical Communication book was being used for it. I noted early that although the pictures were better quality [more color, etc.] the actual content of the book hadnt changed much, making me wonder at the need for a new edition in the intervening 3 years since the eighth edition. Again I had to read most of the new edition for the class as well as the arbitrary "pop quizes" the teacher gave. I ended up holding onto that book as it looked like it could become a good resource for future reports I had begun writing on a regular basis.
Now when I went to the bookstore two weeks ago and picked up the books for this term, I picked up the custom printing of the 10th edition [BYU had something special done] I drop more money for the same material. For what has been read for the class already this semester it seems almost identical with similar stuff in the 9th, but with different page numbers and pictures. I grimaced as I had been told that it was vital that the 10th be used cause it was better or more complete than the 9th. I wonder if I could sell off my 9th edition for any money at this point.
Enough about that class. In edition to those two classes I am taking an online Lifestyle Management course which boils down to reading useless information taking quizzes and trying to retain stuff for tests. I am not to worried about it. In conjunction to that, I am TAing a STAT221 lab which is pretty fun as it helps reinforce statistical concepts that are basic to the rest of statistics.
This seems to be what my life is relegated to be for the next 5 weeks. Between school and work I am out of my apartment for 10 plus hours a day during the week, and then I get home in time to eat something study and have very little time left for anything fun. I hope to change that though.