Category: Studying

The Reluctant Blogger

I don’t blog as much as I should or would like to. One reason is because not enough goes on in my life to warrant blogging everyday. Yes I’m a college senior, and yes I’m looking for a job – but does that warrant blogging about all of life’s ups and downs? I don’t think so. Another reason why I don’t blog much is because I’m afraid to. I hesitate in blogging because in the back of my mind I’m thinking, “Oh god, someone is critiquing my grammar, and I’m supposed to be an English major.” (Aren’t people studying English supposed to write well?) I could always throw caution to the wind and make all sorts of grammatical errors and mistakes. Trouble is, I want to improve my  English and make less mistakes. I’ve never turned in a paper that didn’t have comma splices or sentence fragments. I know it takes time to improve technique, but I’m impatient. I want to be a writer when I “grow up” and I’m even considering going after a Masters Degree in English, but am I truly ready for it?!

I’m due to graduate in December and I’m highly considering taking the GRE. Yet I’m stopped by my own fears and concerns that I’m not academically up to snuff. Although I am excited for my last semester, (I’m taking a lot of cool classes that I truly am looking forward to,) again I am not too thrilled with ending my undergrad career with all of these questions about my future.

On a brighter note, I had my prescreen interview with Amazon.com Friday afternoon. I was nervous about it,  having never previously experienced a telephone interview. It went really well and I’m pretty sure I answered all the questions appropriately, if I had not I’m sure the lady I talked to wouldn’t have bothered asking for my “proof of education.”  Still I applied for a warehouse job, meaning I would be on my feet for more than eight hours a day walking upwards of five to ten miles daily, not to mention lifting 30 pounds or more. I’ve done my research and the pay is comparable to what I made during my summer job two years ago. 11.50 an hour with the possibility of being hired as a full-time Amazon employee (after a probationary period). Honestly, I’m really excited about the prospect of getting this job. I really want to work. I remember when I was in high school, my grandparents wanted me to get a job, and I dodged the idea left and right. All these years later with the economy still in the toilet and nearing graduation, I regret my actions all those years ago. I should already have a job that I’m successful at. No use crying over spilt milk, but the sting of my decision still smarts.

This week marks the end of my Spanish 2020 summer course. If I complete the final successfully (not if but when) this thursday, I will put my foreign language requirement to bed. After more than two years, I’m anxious in being rid of this Spanish monkey on my back. Today will be spent doing flashcards and ensuring I know the vocabulary and the grammar. It’s been a wild ride, but one I will be happy to see end.

July will see me back on campus taking a poetry writing course, so I will not have a chance to take a breath before the fall semester starts in August. That’s okay though, I had a break in May between the spring and fall semesters.

I still hope to make a dent in the backlog of books I have in my room. I have so many books I’ve either purchased or received as gifts that I’ve not been able to either start or finish.

To be honest, there’s a lot on my “to do” list but will I have time to do all the things I want to?! Who knows.

First things first though, must get a start on those Spanish flashcards.

Posted using Tinydesk Writer iPhone app

Aggravated

So. Next week is the last week of classes, before exams take place. Unfortunately my British Literature class received their take home essays back this evening. I made a C. Okay, I thought I was finished with getting shitty (excuse me,) grades on essays? It still comes down to the sour truth of: I don’t proof read enough, and I don’t happen to have an editor. I could take my paper to the “Writing Center” on campus, but those individuals refuse to assist in editing. Obviously taking pity on undergraduates isn’t something people do anymore. Never mind that we’ve had count them 2 grades in this class. Our first test I only passed because our professor (whom shall remain nameless) graded it on a curve. 

He declared to the class,  “You’re lucky no one made an F.” Not much of a saving grace.. 

Why do professors have to be so anal about things? 

Wracking my brain…

I have a British Literature take home exam; it’s due Tuesday evening and has to be 750-1000 words. Over Medieval Literature, I’m trying to come up with a thesis statement on Courtly love. I want to talk about its historical context, versus how popular contemporary authors treat “love.” I just can’t come up with a thesis statement and it’s driving me crazy.

Oy…

Always trying to fix things

I’m always trying to improve my writing. Yet, I find myself always stumbling around the same mechanical and grammatical errors. I don’t know what to do. Frankly, I suck at proofing and editing my own work, and that doesn’t bode well come term paper time. I usually get C’s and B’s on my papers because I cannot get the hang of things. 

Here’s where I get lost: 

  • Comma overuse: how to combat using the comma, too much.
  • Semicolons: is there an easily way to remember when to use this punctuation? 
  • Comma Splice: these things kill my papers, how does one get rid of them? 


There is hope for me, right?! Any assistance/suggestions/thoughts/encouragement would be greatly appreciated. 

Espanol con música de Tony Bennett

Hola mis lectores y amigos. Pensé que podría empezar en español

Yes, I’m studying my spanish homework and listening to Tony Bennett’s new album Duets II. Last Tuesday, we started on the 10th chapter which is regards to “en el consultorio” (in the doctor’s office) and since I’ve been to my doctor here of late, I find this chapter and its vocabulary quite interesting. The one thing I do NOT find muy intersante is the Imperfect verb tense of both regular and irregular verbs. So I’m trying to figure out how to understand all this stuff and do the quia work (website workbook and lab manual) and still make a good grade on the test.

So, I’ve been sitting here making flashcards and taking in all the “contextos,” albeit slowly. I’ve also been listening to Tony Bennett on Spotify. Let me tell you how I think about the album:

Wow. Is Tony really 85? He sounds amazing, and his cast of superstar supporters is awesome. I was not sure about this album, since I had not heard his first “Duets” album in 2006, except for, of course Barbra’s duet with him on “Smile.”

Here are the tracks that I love:

  • The Lady is a Tramp – Lady Gaga sounds lovely, she should do some more Jazz. Her ad-libbing is awesome.
  • Body and Soul – Amy Winehouse shines here, it’s a beautiful track.
  • Blue Velvet – I’m no fan of k.d. lang, but her voice works very well on this track
  • How Do You Keep The Music Playing – I love Tony and Aretha together!
  • The Girl I Love – Sheryl Crow sounds great!!
  • Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) – This one surprised me, I had no Queen Latifah had such a nice singing voice.

As always, I also like to talk about the orchestrations and arrangements on albums. I will spare you that diatribe (since I’ve already discussed my obsession with orchestrations). However, I have to mention how I love the sound on the album.. it works. This MAY NOT be an essential Bennett collection, but I am sure it will do well on the Billboard charts. Also, I am almost certain that both Bennett and Streisand will be GRAMMY nominees this year – who will win? Lord only knows..

Back to studying Spanish..

Hasta Luego

P.S. I will actually post a more in-depth review later