I'm Weird - Post #2

I’m Weird- Post #2

As stated in “I’m Weird-Post #1,” the things that I find “enjoyable” are actually a little weird. It has taken me a long time to admit that I don’t necessarily enjoy the things that most people (or at least most “homemakers”) enjoy, and I still feel a little uncomfortable posting this (especially after blog-stalking a few great blogs whose authors are posting their “made-my-own-pattern slip-cover success stories” and “I made these great rolls-they only have to rise twice-allow 4 hours to make” recipes. (4 hours?! Are you kidding me?! I don’t make anything that takes longer than 30 minutes-cooking time included-ok except for the potato salad recipe included in my last post- and I only do that once a year, and the only joy I get out of this cooking project is eating it and maybe, just maybe cleaning up the mess-see “I’m Weird-Post #1). So I’m about to reveal the next weird thing about me. (Yes, I’m just putting it out there for all to see.) I LIKE to do “school work.” I loved and continue to love being a student. I like getting good grades. I liked going to college. (FYI: I had to quit taking “fun” classes at BYU cause somehow I didn’t “wiggle my bootie” enough to get an A in social dance-I got an A minus, and my legs didn’t like to operate independently from my hips- earning me a B plus in ballet. Once I started keeping my classes within the boundaries of “academia” I earned all A’s and graduated with a 3.9 something or other.) I LIKED getting a graduate degree with two small children under age 2, and I did maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning my master’s degree, and even had my graduate level statistics professor try to talk me into changing my major to statistics because apparently I “have a gift.” I found great satisfaction in getting up at 4 a.m. and studying for three hours until 7 when the kids got up (totally weird-I know- even as I type this, I’m thinking, “You are so weird Kay!”) I still like to take on-line and/or summer courses for re-certification. (I have to take 6 credits every 6 years to keep my teaching license current.) And I fantasize about going back to school and completing my math minor (I was 2 classes short, but did graduate with a music minor.) The last couple of years I have taught ACT prep classes at the high school, and I have LOVED it. I love preparing for them, working out the math problems, finding the grammatical errors in the English sections, and reading the graphs and charts in the science section. (If you are interested, this is one of the best math prep books I have seen for ACT prep, and this is my favorite overall ACT prep book. And as far as practice tests, act.org can’t be beat-it’s best to practice with actual retired tests written by the ACT people.) My poor children have had to suffer with a teacher sans students for a mother, and thus, they get to be my “class” all summer. So should you drop in and find me perusing the new Algebra II book I ordered “just in case” one of my kids should need some extra help, or find that I am late for an event because I am working out “just one more” ACT math problem, or even should you have to keep reading my written work via this blog, please excuse the “weirdness” as I try to get my fill of “school work” now that I am no longer a student.

P.S. I tried to scan Dallin's 3rd grade paper entitled "My Family" to include as a picture illustration to go with this post, but the scanned pencil was just too light, and it couldn't be read (even though it was such "cute 3rd-grade cursive," ) so you'll just have to let me tell you in part what it said: "...My dad's name is "Kent." He likes to look at cool cars and eat pizza. My mom's name is "Kay." She likes to eat salad and do homework." -Dallin Barlow age 9. (Draw your own conclusions as to who is the cool, fun parent.)

P.P.S. Did you notice that I successfully included "links" in this blog?! And I did it all by myself! I'm becoming a true blogger inspite of myself. Now if I could just figure out how to not have HUGE spaces between everything that I want small spaces between-note the WAY spaced out recipe in the last post-it's annoying.