Friday, January 29, 2010

Ramblings

Back in December I posted a 101 things to do in 1001 days.  I have made progress on some of the things and mark them off on the list.  On Thursday I finished one which was give up diet coke for a month.  I had many false starts but have now hit that target and plan on keeping ice tea and just plain water in my diet instead of diet coke.  It wasn't easy and I still get a yearning to have that first delightful sip of diet coke when I hear the fizz when someone pops open a can.  Ahhhhhh.


Despite lacking confidence at the beginning, I had a great tempo run Wednesday night.  My run last night went well too.  I'm finding that throughout the day my energy and enthusiasm dampens but getting out for a run is uplifting. Nothing like a good run to cure the taper or any kind of blues.


Last week I mentioned the spelling errors in the lecture/syllabus for the creative writing class I',m taking.  The instructor did acknowledge that it was done on purpose (thank goodness).  Here’s what he says Some of you noticed that there was spelling errors, grammar problems with the first lecture (and if you didn't that is alright - not all writers are editors).  I did this for a reason.  When a reader finds mistakes, they unconciously look for more mistakes.  Their enjoyment of the writing is lost.  Make sure that you reread your work and correct any errors that you find.  People want to read to enjoy the story, not become an editor.  (I didn’t notice till I copied/pasted that unconsciously was spelt wrong).  I’ve continued to be negative on the class that hasn’t even officially started yet. There is a whole mess-up with the book for class too so all my proactive planning got me no-where. There is a mess-up on when the class starts.  His first week assignment is to start a memoir 1000-2000 words.  Fine.  The next week says to write another 2000 words.  Wouldn’t it have been helpful to have known that at the beginning to pick a topic?  Not to mention the first weeks assignment said 8 pages MAX.  Obviously that can’t be 8 pages max if you just added another 2000 words. I know I'll learn something but am disappointed at the way the class is starting.  Have you ever taken a class where it was disorganized and you thought the professor, although must be smart, was a doofus?

For any of you considering to get into the rental housing business…DON’T.   That’s my advice.

Did you know there was an 8th dwarf?  His name was Sleazy but that’s inappropriate for a kids cartoon so they had to RIF him right after the casting call. 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, I wonder what his traits were if he earned the monikor sleazy?

Katie A. said...

I don't know how you gave up your DC - it's liquid gold and I swear it runs through my blood stream instead of actual blood.
Sorry to hear about the class - this just confirms my belief that just because you have a degree in a subject doesn't mean you can teach. It takes a really special person to be able to teach, but they let all kinds do it because no one wants to work for the pennies it pays! Good luck!

Running Through Life said...

Sounds as if you would be a better teacher for that class that the unorganized guy.

Lisa said...

Give up Diet Coke? I don't think I could do that but I am trying to limit the amount I drink. Great job.

Julie said...

Hi Christina,
Hell yes I have had a professor that was a big ding-a-ling!!! It was a chemistry class and he was so smart...just not people smart! He was so hard to understand because he just did not know how to come down a notch or two!! Anyway I survived with the help of tutors:)

I took a creative writing class about one year ago and loved it:) Actually I did a paper that he entered into some contest and it made top ten:) Have a great weekend Christina!

Oh and thank God you were not always fast....that means it is possible that there might be a little hope for me:) Wishful thinking!

Carol said...

One of these days I am going to take a creative writing class. Every time I've seen them offered it has been when I was planning a trip or something. Anyway, I hope you can still enjoy the class.

I am Day #3 into giving up Diet Mountain Dew. It used to be Diet Coke but hubby has a history of kidney stones and the doc said to avoid dark colas so we switched. I'm fine once the day starts (I only had 1, in the morning) but I still like that cold, fizzy feeling in the early morning. I just replaced it with another cup of coffee. All the studies are saying coffee is now a health drink (who knew?).

Glad your taper is going well!

Libby said...

Wow that class sounds like a mini nightmare. At least the syllabus was on purpose.

kilax said...

You know, it is true. When I am reviewing stuff at work and notice errors, it ruins it for me. I cannot focus on the design anymore. All I see is errors.

Unfortunately, I have had doofus professors!

Kerrie said...

Yikes. That professor sounds strange. Just look at it as a learning experience. You should look into some writing clubs, too.

Thanks for the comment and the character idea. I like that. I've read Diana's books before and I think she's a great writer. Thanks!

Emily said...

While I was working on a campaign I drank such an obscenely disgusting amount of diet coke and iced coffee that one morning I woke up and just went cold turkey. Within a week I felt amazing and didn't miss either. I went about a year and then recently caved and now I'm back on the DC! (I'm drinking one now.) Good luck with the quit-the cravings seriously stop sooner than you think!

Anne said...

Yeah, I've had doofus profs...they can be both super irritating one day and yet you can learn a lot from them when they've got their sh&% together.
Good job on the Diet Coke...actually, if you can hang in there, there will come a day when you don't crave them anymore...I swear! I did the Pepsi weaning quite a while ago (many many years ago) and I can't even imagine having even a sip now.

Lindsay said...

nicely done on the diet coke! i gave up soda... wow 7 years ago now (did not realize that long ago!) well, first i gave up everything but ginger ale - since you know, you need that when you have tummy aches :) then i kicked that too (though i had it last fall when i had my wisdom teeth pulled and felt nauseous). i do drink carbonated water though, i don't know if that's cheating but you get the bubbliness still!

Miguel said...

Just read thru your list, and some of your earlier posts. Have you ever heard the reaction of the people you left RAKs with? I wonder if they paid it forward? Last year, on Halloween night, someone left a box of Godiva chocolates on our doorstep, with a note similar to yours. I thought it was pretty cool and probably would have indulged. But, my wife wouldn't let the kids touch it...