Yesterday I had off because it was Good Friday and I work for a Catholic School. Nice to have a 3-day weekend after having 2-week spring break So I took yesterday to work on my thesis. I am having trouble nailing down a topic so yesterday I did some brainstorming. I also did some looking around the web and found a great article on writing a thesis. One of the things they said was that as you get further and further into the research the topic will seem larger and larger. You really have to remain laser focused on your specific topic. That was good to read because that is what’s happening to me. I have an idea but then I start the research and it quickly becomes a monster. So I need to be precise in my focus and stay on topic. So I did some brainstorming to try and focus my topic and I created a timeline to help me keep on track for this thing. I want to be finished by the end of August, 5 months. That’s more than enough time if I keep on top of things. A timeline should help me stay on task. I have allotted days for reading, writing, reviewing, etc. Hopefully that will keep this thing from becoming a monster. When I am facing a huge project I tend to shut down and do nothing. But if I break it into small pieces I am able to manage it better. So that’s what I did with the thesis. I want to have most of the reading/research done by June, the writing done by July, and all the revisions done by the end of August. That makes it sound much better.

I spent a lot of time on the Internet yesterday and I was really surprised at the number of ads for things like acne treatment. I’m not sure why it surprised me but there are so many different treatments out there how can you possibly pick one that will work for you? I think things like acne treatments are similar to weight loss, there are a thousand possibilities and you have to find the one that works for you. Because I don’t believe everyone works for everybody. When I started this paragraph I had a point I wanted to make but I got interrupted and walked away for a few minutes. Now I completely forget where I was going with this. So I’ll stop here and go on with my day

I need a topic for my thesis and I don’t have one. I’m not even sure of the general subject. I’m not sure what I want to spend the next few months living-breathing-writing about. I could of course just pick a topic and run with it. Whether I liked it or not I could write a decent paper about anything. BUT… I have a great desire to continue on and get my PhD. If I do that my masters thesis becomes very important. Also, you generally continue on with your research in the PhD program. So if I pick a topic I’m not absolutely in love with and I have to live with it for the next 4 years this really could get ugly. So what do I do? Pick a topic just to get started and hope I can work with it for the next few years or delay starting my thesis and try to find a topic I love? I’m obviously leaning towards finding a topic I love but the search is the hard part and I’m tired of searching. I wish I could do something like what is the best multivitamin? That is something I could definitely sink my teeth into.

I’m trying to come up with a topic for my masters thesis. I really don’t know what I’m going to write about. I have a couple of ideas but I’m not in love with any of them. It needs to be related to education and I’m just at a loss. I wish I could do something like ways to reduce belly fat or something. I could write for days about that topic. I don’t know, I really don’t…… What am I going to do?

So school is over and I passed the class. Yea!!! I had to have an observation by my professor and then I had to present my portfolio orally to a panel of 4 professors. That was nerve wracking but I got through it just fine. So now I will be a certified teacher. And next semester I will have a masters degree. How cool is that??

So just as one stress clears up I pile on another one. We put an offer in on a house last week. The owners countered. Yesterday we countered the counter. The loan is going to mean paying off some big bills. It’s going to be tight, real tight, but I’m beginning to think it can happen. I’m so excited. They have until tomorrow to accept the counter-counter. My fingers and toes are crossed.

We are nearing the end of the semester at school. This weekend I have to write the final and create a study guide for my chemistry class. I can not believe it, this semester passed so incredibly quickly.

Tonight I rest. I got a planner for next year, I’m going to transfer my important dates into it. I need to look at some cell phones, as much as I like mine I think it’s almost time for another one. I’m going to check into it.

Okay, that does it for me.

I am just a bundle of nerves. I don’t know exactly why I do this stuff to myself but I do. I have this huge portfolio due on Tuesday to get certified as a teacher. I have a lot to do on it and even though I had 5 days off and worked on it every day, I still have tons to do. So there is that pressure. Then there is something I don’t want to talk about yet but the deadline is 10am this morning. It is now 8:45 and I haven’t heard a word. I’m jumping all over the place. I can’t sit still. I can’t focus. I’m just a bundle of nerves waiting to hear on this. Yikes!!! Okay, I’m going to go shower and try to get more work done while I wait.

With any luck at all I’ll be completing my master’s degree in the spring.  I’m very excited about that because I believe education is the most important thing you can do.  Every other thing you may work for in this life can be taken away; your job, your home, your children, your husband; but once you have an education no one can ever take that from you.  So in my mind it’s the most important thing.  So I have plans on going for my PhD once my master’s is completed.  I’m considering doing it online as that would be a lot more convenient for me.

I have  a friend who injured his back about 10 years ago.  He was a mechanic with the bus company and he injured his back at work.  He ended up having back surgery – something I would never, ever consider, ever, but that’s a whole different story – and being on disability.  He’s been attending a community college as part of his disability for retraining into another career, but that’s getting to his back.  He’s looking to get a business degree.  So in my searching for online schools for my education degree I came across Western Governors University and I think it would be a perfect fit for him.

WGU is  a fully accredited, online university that offers a number of options for an online degree but, more importantly for my friend, he can get an online business degree. I think this would be a great opportunity for him. He can work from home and not have to go anywhere. If his back is bothering him he can put it off until later. I think this is the way to go.

WGU seems like a pretty good school. As I said they are fully accredited, they are a non-profit and therefore more affordable. I also like the way they structure the programs. You sign up for 6-month intervals and pay for that 6-months, not the credits you take. This semester I took 9 credits and it cost me over $6,000 – that’s insane!!! There is a lot of things to like about this place. I just wish they offered a PhD in education. Hint, hint guys!!!!

Today was Halloween at school. It was fun. They had a costume contest for the elementary and high schools as well as the teachers. It was a fun day. As you can imagine, it being Friday and Halloween not a whole lot got done. We spent some time talking and goofing around. One of them was on the internet trying to find the best acne treatment. I don’t think she found it. I figure that part of the whole teaching experience is talking and getting to know the students. They are a pretty interesting group. A couple even want me to teach AP Chemistry next year. I took that as a great compliment.

I could be this tired. I’ve started new jobs, changed fields, taken on totally new careers and never been this tired in all my life. The classes I’m taking are all ending this week so I’m crushed trying to get everything done and in. Plus tonight I sat on a discipline board at the school I teach at. Then met with a teacher about my class. Ugh….I’m exhausted. I was up until 10 last night working on my presentation for today. Then I almost overslept this morning. I still have a pile of work to do I’m really wiped out tonight. I’m thinking of relaxing and calling it a night early, then tackling it all tomorrow. Maybe tonight I’ll sit around and read weight loss supplement reviews. I’m so tired I haven’t been able to exercise and am starting to get a little soft. Time to shape up. I’m off to get something to eat then collapse into bed…..

Really!!  I have about 10 posts banging around in my head but I just don’t have the time to sit and write them.  I did install live writer on my netbook so that I could write a post whenever I found a few minutes.  Of course, I haven’t had a chance to use it yet but I will.

Teaching is hard, hard work.  They say teachers are not paid enough and I always thought they started out okay, not great but okay.  I was wrong.  Teachers do not get paid enough, at all.  It is really hard tiring work.  You’re on stage all day, then have to work at night to figure out your performance for the next day.  It’s tough.  You’d think they’d at least let you take Gatlinburg vacations when you wanted. But, yeah, no!!

Okay, I have to shower and get ready for today’s show

I did not realize I haven’t posted in a week. Where have I been?? Oh, that’s right, working. I’m a teacher. It’s been a good week and hopefully it will keep up that way. I find myself in an interesting position. In companies I’ve worked in I’ve been one of the most technologically talented people. I’m the one doing things others haven’t even heard of lately. Now that’s not the case. The tech guy at school has found my blogs. I don’t know which one, I could figure it out if I went through my posts but that’s too much work So I’ve been found out. I hope I didn’t write anything I don’t want them to read, but I don’t think I did. I pretty much know this is out there and while I’m pretty open, I do use some restraint.

Anyway, I see to find myself immersed in technology lately. I’m taking a technology class for teaching science. I’m taking a professional development course in school that’s about using technology in the classroom. It’s everywhere. I’m wouldn’t be surprised if there is some custom software we are going to use.

The really funny part is that I’m at one of those points where I want nothing to do with technology. I want to just sit on the couch and not touch the computer. But, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. I have to finish up a couple of classes at HPU and then start another. Ugh!!! I so want to be done with my masters.