Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Yoga
I've started taking yoga classes. It's been many years since I've attended. I like it. I leave feeling great and then about a day later it hits me! I'm just a little tender and sore and yet it feels wonderful. Mainly I just want to be more flexible, tone up everything that's floppy, and hopefully lose a little extra that's hanging around my middle. Of course, the benefit of being relaxed and serene is fabulous too! As well as actually sleeping at night instead of shifting about.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Excel
At work more and more employees are being asked to use Excel. Unfortunately a great many of them don't know what Excel is, much less have any experience with it. My answer, "let's train them!" Surprisingly enough after I complained for weeks and weeks the powers that be finally said, "OK, go for it." Also, one of our Team Leads is certified to teach Microsoft and has taught many, many classes. I knew she was all for training our employees Excel so together we created a handy-dandy guide and instructor outline.
We've taught four separate classes so far. Some employees were thrilled to be exposed to Excel, others were indifferent, and a few who already know Excel were concerned it would be a waste of their time... but we managed to show them a few new tricks.
It's so fun to be able to do more than just my typical work duties, and it's a great opportunity to be of service to the employees in a different capacity.
The Team Lead I'm working with is great. She's provided some excellent feedback to help me improve and is very supportive. I even learned some new things about Excel!
We're discussing expanding the training to also provide classes on Word and possibly PowerPoint - assuming that the powers that be agree. I suppose if I nag enough eventually they'll say yes to get me to shut up. Ah the power of persistence!
We've taught four separate classes so far. Some employees were thrilled to be exposed to Excel, others were indifferent, and a few who already know Excel were concerned it would be a waste of their time... but we managed to show them a few new tricks.
It's so fun to be able to do more than just my typical work duties, and it's a great opportunity to be of service to the employees in a different capacity.
The Team Lead I'm working with is great. She's provided some excellent feedback to help me improve and is very supportive. I even learned some new things about Excel!
We're discussing expanding the training to also provide classes on Word and possibly PowerPoint - assuming that the powers that be agree. I suppose if I nag enough eventually they'll say yes to get me to shut up. Ah the power of persistence!
My New Best Friend
I realize billions of others have already discovered Pandora Radio... but it's new to me! I found it and now I love it. Too fun. Why didn't I find this sooner? It's incredible that I can listen to all my favorite tunes on my laptop and not have to save it on my computer. Crazy neato! I'm still a novice, but as I play with it more and figure out how to manipulate all the cool things it's capable of I'm sure I'll love it even more than I do now! Happy sigh.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Wisconsin
Come September we'll be flying the friendly skies to visit our families in Wisconsin. I'm excited, it'll be fun.
Of course, since we both have family to visit we'll be walking a tight line - making sure to spend quality time with everyone.
In our attempt to be fair, we've decided to stay at a hotel. And, hotels usually have good water pressure and a helluva lot more hot water for my long showers. Plus, Internet! I'm sure I'll be back in class so I'll need a decent Internet connection to keep up with my schooling. Staying at a hotel will allow me to do school work without guilt. Besides, all the beer, cheese, and frozen custard will leave me feeling guilty enough for weeks!
Of course, since we both have family to visit we'll be walking a tight line - making sure to spend quality time with everyone.
In our attempt to be fair, we've decided to stay at a hotel. And, hotels usually have good water pressure and a helluva lot more hot water for my long showers. Plus, Internet! I'm sure I'll be back in class so I'll need a decent Internet connection to keep up with my schooling. Staying at a hotel will allow me to do school work without guilt. Besides, all the beer, cheese, and frozen custard will leave me feeling guilty enough for weeks!
A
I earned an "A". Yeah! So happy. Good thing, because over the weekend I purchased the Cuttlebug before receiving confirmation of my grade.
Monday, May 26, 2008
School's out and now I want a Cuttlebug, but first, the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
I completed my final exam Saturday morning. There was one question I mulled over for at least 30 minutes or more?! I just couldn't remember the whole formula and I finally gave up. I feel very confident that I did well with all the other questions.
When I left the class room I pulled out my notebook and looked over my lecture notes regarding the formula I couldn't remember. I was so close! This is what I couldn't remember:
90% confidence interval = [
- 1.645
/
n, + 1.645/n].
In English:
X bar (that's the x with the line over the top it) = point estimate.
Standard Deviation is the letter that looks like an o with a little tail on it.
Square root is just that, the square root of "n". n = sample size.
90% interval = 1.645
The margin of error is: 1.645 times the standard deviation divided by the square root of n.
Read out loud, the formula reads as:
X bar minus 1.645 times the standard deviation divided by the square root of n to X bar plus 1.645 times the standard deviation divided by the square root of n. That's the "interval part." So a final answer would be something like: "A 90% confidence interval is calculated to be 18.8 to 48.0 months."
Good times. I remembered the 1.645 and that I needed to do something with that number, but the "what to do with it" eluded me! I knew the sample size and the point estimate, but putting it all together was beyond my abilities that morning.
I'm not too upset with myself for not remember this, as I only need a 70% or higher test score to earn a final grade of an A, and I'm pretty sure I did.
School's out for the summer and now I'm going to enjoy myself! I think there will be some card-making in my future. There's a new toy I really, really want: a Cuttlebug. Once I have my final grade in hand I'll check with the hubby regarding our finances and see if I may reward my schooling efforts with a cute little Cuttlebug. It does dry embossing and die-cuts. It uses its own brand of die-cuts as well as those of other manufactures. It has a five star rating. My friend at work LOVES her little Cuttlebug. I've been eyeing it for sometime now, but wanted to wait until I completed my Statistics class.
Unfortunately I'm not a very patient person and Joann's has my new little buddy on sale, RIGHT NOW! Oh the agony of having to wait for my final grade. But, I've made it this long without it, what's another couple of weeks of waiting? Hell, that's what it is.
Oh well, such is life. At least the hubby is feeling much better. In fact, he wants to go see the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". We spent all of Saturday afternoon (before his violent vomiting began) watching the first three Indiana Jones movies. I'm looking just as forward to this next installment as he is. Should be fun, Indy usually doesn't disappoint. I just hope the hubby's really up to it. It won't be much fun for him if he has to dash off to the men's room!
When I left the class room I pulled out my notebook and looked over my lecture notes regarding the formula I couldn't remember. I was so close! This is what I couldn't remember:
90% confidence interval = [
- 1.645/n, + 1.645/n]. In English:
X bar (that's the x with the line over the top it) = point estimate.
Standard Deviation is the letter that looks like an o with a little tail on it.
Square root is just that, the square root of "n". n = sample size.
90% interval = 1.645
The margin of error is: 1.645 times the standard deviation divided by the square root of n.
Read out loud, the formula reads as:
X bar minus 1.645 times the standard deviation divided by the square root of n to X bar plus 1.645 times the standard deviation divided by the square root of n. That's the "interval part." So a final answer would be something like: "A 90% confidence interval is calculated to be 18.8 to 48.0 months."
Good times. I remembered the 1.645 and that I needed to do something with that number, but the "what to do with it" eluded me! I knew the sample size and the point estimate, but putting it all together was beyond my abilities that morning.
I'm not too upset with myself for not remember this, as I only need a 70% or higher test score to earn a final grade of an A, and I'm pretty sure I did.
School's out for the summer and now I'm going to enjoy myself! I think there will be some card-making in my future. There's a new toy I really, really want: a Cuttlebug. Once I have my final grade in hand I'll check with the hubby regarding our finances and see if I may reward my schooling efforts with a cute little Cuttlebug. It does dry embossing and die-cuts. It uses its own brand of die-cuts as well as those of other manufactures. It has a five star rating. My friend at work LOVES her little Cuttlebug. I've been eyeing it for sometime now, but wanted to wait until I completed my Statistics class.
Unfortunately I'm not a very patient person and Joann's has my new little buddy on sale, RIGHT NOW! Oh the agony of having to wait for my final grade. But, I've made it this long without it, what's another couple of weeks of waiting? Hell, that's what it is.
Oh well, such is life. At least the hubby is feeling much better. In fact, he wants to go see the "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". We spent all of Saturday afternoon (before his violent vomiting began) watching the first three Indiana Jones movies. I'm looking just as forward to this next installment as he is. Should be fun, Indy usually doesn't disappoint. I just hope the hubby's really up to it. It won't be much fun for him if he has to dash off to the men's room!
Ill
The hubby had chicken the other night. I ate my usual bowl of cereal, which I'm glad I did. My poor baby however suffered horribly as result of what we're guessing to be a bad case of chicken.
He woke up at 2:30 am to empty his stomach of all contents. This woke me up too, but at least I wasn't in any physical pain as he was. I felt terrible for him, but there wasn't anything I could do. He returned to bed and tossed and turned. He remained in bed pretty much all day yesterday and all night.
I tried to be a good wife, bought him so bananas, juice and other "stomach friendly" foods. I made him tea, various light meals, and tried to comfort him, but I'm just not cut out for this type of thing. I can be a "good wife" for about 24 hours, which thankfully, is just about how long this lasted. Any more than that and I doubt we'd be on talking-terms. He's much better at this sort of thing than I am.
My mother wasn't like TV-moms. When I was sick as a child (all two times it happened - pink eye in the second grade and chicken pox in the seventh grade) she gave me the prescribed drugs and pretty much left me alone on the couch to watch TV. Brought me a little food here and there. I'd have rather been at school! Being sick and staying home was worse punishment than being sick at school.
No, there weren't any soft murmurings about "hope you feel better soon. Is there anything I can get you or do? Would you like to play a game." Nothing, just a cold shoulder and if I was lucky, "you're going to school tomorrow whether you want to or not." Are you kidding? I WANT to go to school!
So, I guess the cycle continues. I'm nice to the hubby for about a day trying hard to be like the TV-moms, kind, gentle, caring... then I revert back to what I know and just go about my business hoping like crazy he'll be all better soon.
I realize when we were married I said something to the effect of, "...in sickness and in health..." but really, who ever thinks about the "sickness" part? Not me, I rarely get sick and fortunately the hubby rarely gets sick. If we keep it that way, we'll be fine. But, there are things out of our control and that worries me.
I hope we're never tested, I hope we never have to deal with a true sickness. I doubt I'd be any good at it. Goodness, I can't even imagine being a mother?! As my poor hubby was retching the other night all I could think was, "thankfully we don't have children!" Kids get sick ALL the freaking time! They cry, they have many, many needs. More than I think I could ever fulfill. I'd be a horrible mother. "Quit your crying or I'll give you something to cry about!" "So you have a big pink, puffy eye, want a matching set?" Yep, I'd be an awful parent. I best not ever venture down that road!
He woke up at 2:30 am to empty his stomach of all contents. This woke me up too, but at least I wasn't in any physical pain as he was. I felt terrible for him, but there wasn't anything I could do. He returned to bed and tossed and turned. He remained in bed pretty much all day yesterday and all night.
I tried to be a good wife, bought him so bananas, juice and other "stomach friendly" foods. I made him tea, various light meals, and tried to comfort him, but I'm just not cut out for this type of thing. I can be a "good wife" for about 24 hours, which thankfully, is just about how long this lasted. Any more than that and I doubt we'd be on talking-terms. He's much better at this sort of thing than I am.
My mother wasn't like TV-moms. When I was sick as a child (all two times it happened - pink eye in the second grade and chicken pox in the seventh grade) she gave me the prescribed drugs and pretty much left me alone on the couch to watch TV. Brought me a little food here and there. I'd have rather been at school! Being sick and staying home was worse punishment than being sick at school.
No, there weren't any soft murmurings about "hope you feel better soon. Is there anything I can get you or do? Would you like to play a game." Nothing, just a cold shoulder and if I was lucky, "you're going to school tomorrow whether you want to or not." Are you kidding? I WANT to go to school!
So, I guess the cycle continues. I'm nice to the hubby for about a day trying hard to be like the TV-moms, kind, gentle, caring... then I revert back to what I know and just go about my business hoping like crazy he'll be all better soon.
I realize when we were married I said something to the effect of, "...in sickness and in health..." but really, who ever thinks about the "sickness" part? Not me, I rarely get sick and fortunately the hubby rarely gets sick. If we keep it that way, we'll be fine. But, there are things out of our control and that worries me.
I hope we're never tested, I hope we never have to deal with a true sickness. I doubt I'd be any good at it. Goodness, I can't even imagine being a mother?! As my poor hubby was retching the other night all I could think was, "thankfully we don't have children!" Kids get sick ALL the freaking time! They cry, they have many, many needs. More than I think I could ever fulfill. I'd be a horrible mother. "Quit your crying or I'll give you something to cry about!" "So you have a big pink, puffy eye, want a matching set?" Yep, I'd be an awful parent. I best not ever venture down that road!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Singing it loud and proud!
There are birds, lots and lots of birds! Singing, lots and lots of singing. I love it!3:00 am outside there's a bird chirping. Even now at 5:31 am, while the sun still sleeps, my feathered friends converse.
It's so wonderful. When we lived in the McMansion with the bare backyard we didn't have these lovely songs. Our current yard is clearly very inviting! Lots of mature trees, shade, grass, dirt, apparently everything a bird could want. I think we should get a bird bath and maybe even a bird feeder or two. The hubby worries that the seed would spread across the yard, which it probably would, but big deal. Can't put a price on happy birdies!
The cats enjoy watching the birds through the windows. We don't allow them to go outside. Karma seems indifferent and Sassy loves to chase them when they land in the grass.
Me, I just treasure the music.
http://greenandgold.uaa.alaska.edu/podcasts/pictures/birds.jpg is where I found the picture. Isn't it cute!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
I'm a copy cat
Ppod has this same template and I liked it so much I thought I'd change mine too. Thanks Ppod for the inspiration. I miss you!
Stats
I only have three classes left... sigh. I'm really enjoying this course. The idea that it's coming to an end soon is sad. Of course, being able to sleep in on Saturday will rock!
I attempted a Stats class online with University of Phoenix (twice!) and it just didn't make a lick of sense. I take one course at a community college and whamo! I understand the concepts and the formulas. I blame my professor. He's brilliant. He's dedicated. He puts much thought and care into each lesson plan. He rules. Dr. Sieger, I'm going to miss sharing Saturday mornings with you.
I attempted a Stats class online with University of Phoenix (twice!) and it just didn't make a lick of sense. I take one course at a community college and whamo! I understand the concepts and the formulas. I blame my professor. He's brilliant. He's dedicated. He puts much thought and care into each lesson plan. He rules. Dr. Sieger, I'm going to miss sharing Saturday mornings with you.
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