Spring Season of Baseball - Entry #8 Lesson 4

     Baseball season stats on February 18^th, 2015. I am so excited to have it start up again. I love going to a ball game. I always have to get a ballpark hot dog. That may be my favorite thing. On my second date with my boyfriend in 2012, he took me to a Springfield Cardinals Baseball game. We sat up in the Roost section. I was so nervous. I was sweating and trying to look cute making sure I didn't get hit with a foul ball.

     We also went to Teal in the Park. A portion of those ticket sales went to benefit GYNCA. Gynecological Cancers Alliance is an amazing nonprofit organization that helps women surviving gynecological cancers in the Ozarks. The first time we went to this, we were selected to go on the field and play musical chairs. It was fun. Having the crowd cheer us on while we entertained the crowd by falling on our butts.

     It is also nice to go to the really hot games, sit in the shade, and eat frozen lemonade. I also love that they have pizza, cheesesteaks, and ice cream. Being able to still watch the ballgame while getting your food makes the wait in those lines not seem as long.

     I once went to a game where they had hundreds on motorcycles circle the field and honor a soldier. The bikes were all over. Instead of a green field you saw the glare from the chrome in the sun. The sound of the engines roaring to show appreciation for this soldier’s service made you get goose bumps in the heat. I am just waiting for opening day. The start of spring. The Friday night fireworks that leave the air full of sulfur and light. You first hear a boom and then an amazing display of colored lights. Oh I can’t wait until February 18^th, 2015! 

My Son is 9 Going on 30! - Entry #7 Lesson 4

     Tonight, I took my 9 year old son to a roller skate party. It was the first one he has been to this school year. He was so cute acting like a grown man taking his ticket to the skate counter. He gave the man his ticket and grabbed his skates. He seemed like he knew exactly what to do. He laced up his skates and was gliding on the carpeted area. I thought for sure he would stick to the carpet area. I found a seat in the café to do homework and I looked up and he was skating so fast on the hardwood. I was scared for a bit just picturing that he would fall and break something.

     He skated for a little over an hour. Then it was time for a break. I bought him a PowerAde and he drank almost the whole bottle. That skating was wearing him out. He then asked for some money for a snack. I gave him money and he came back with a Hershey bar, a sprite, and a girl! They sat across from me in the booth sharing a chocolate bar. They seemed like they were on a date. My son dating at 9? I think not.

     The kids got back up and went skating again. They went faster and faster. My son was sad when I had to leave. He wanted to spend more time with Jade. Then we went to Walmart and he winked at a little blonde girl. Just a few days ago we were at Walmart and he was trying to buy a faux diamond ring for this girl named Carly. How many other girls are there? I don’t know why he thinks he has to get married this young. I know I am not ready for that! 

Work Life - Entry #6 Lesson 4

     I graduated high school in 2002. I started college in 2004 when I lost my job and the job search looked hopeless. I tried to be a full time student. I worked full time. I couldn't afford to continue to go to school. I also had a job that wouldn't work with my schedule. I ended up getting pregnant when I was 20 and had my son at the age of 21. I became a single parent immediately. There was no way that I could go to school due to working 70-80 hours a week and having a child.

     I felt like I hit the jackpot when I found a job in 2006 for $12 an hour. By 2011, I was making $14 an hour. But I couldn't rise above that pay grade due to my education I couldn't advance. I then lost my job and was unemployed for 5 months. I found a part time job for $12 an hour. I want this degree to make my dreams come true.

     I want to advance in the work field. I also want to expand my business and eventually fully work for myself. Owning your own business but working for someone else confuses people. They don’t think my business is thriving due to working for someone else. I have to explain that we have to shut down for the winter to weatherize. Our business is just to offset competition costs at the moment. We are not ready to quit our jobs and do it full time.

     When we are ready to do it full time, I hope to have a degree and use it to expand the business. It is nice having a business partner that is also your partner. He is with me in love, family, and business. I trust him completely and it would be hard to trust someone I didn't trust in love. I don’t think I could ever be partners with a friend or family member again. Been there, done that!

Know Your Audience Analysis - Assignment 4.4

         I was surprised when I read the Know Your Audience Posts. I assumed that most of the students here were local people. I mean they are local people now. I just thought since I always grew up here, then everyone else did too. It is surprising to find out that Audrey came from Texas. Devon moved here from South Dakota. Vicki moved here from Arizona. Kayla is from Louisiana. Christina is from Virginia. We have quite the diverse group.

     I think that having such a variety of regional cultures will make writing more exciting. I can read their posts and it may be totally different from mine. I only know local culture. They have an advantage with being from a different state.

     It was nice to find out that almost everyone taking this class had the same answer about winning the lottery. It’s refreshing to find out that my fellow students have compassion for those around them. They wanted to pay off their family’s debt. Buy them houses. Take their families on vacations. Best of all, they wanted to donate to charities. A cause I am very passionate about. I volunteer for Gynca. An organization that assists women surviving gynecological cancers. Compassion is always the best trait to have.

     It seems like we all spend our free time with our families. May it be a spouse, children, or friends. Jayla said that her greatest goal was to become a parent. She has been with her husband since she was 17. She has 2 kids. She definitely enjoys her family time. Electronics are also a good form of relaxation. Personally I am not an outdoor person but there are a lot of students who adore the outdoors.

     I think if this class were all to meet face to face there would be no silence. I feel like we would all connect based off what I have read. We all share hobbies, values, or compassion. I would personally love to see this take place. 

New Job Stress - Entry #5 Lesson 4

     Switching jobs can be the worst feeling. I became a stay at home mom in May of 2014. I was off work for 5 months. Not by choice but we made the best of it. I spent the summer with my 9 year old son. We had a blast. We didn't go anywhere but we just played and had fun. In late October of 2014, I was told that my old employer was hiring. I was excited that they could use me again. I truly like working there. I signed up to work 4 hours a day Monday thru Friday.

     This nonprofit organization I volunteer for asked me to stop by their office one day. I stopped by and they wanted to ask me if I would ever consider a paid job with them. I was in total shock. I was astonished they wanted me on their team. The pay and perks are out of this world. The flexibility is amazing. Of course I want to work here.

     The thing that is stressing me out is having to tell my current boss that I am quitting AGAIN! I hate to disappoint her and she has been so amazing to me. I know that this transition is the best thing for my family right now. We would benefit in so many ways. I would never have to put my son in daycare again. He hasn't been since May of 2014. I worked my hours out to only be there when he is in school.

     I hate change. I hate learning new things. I love consistency. I know I will succeed at this new job. I will do my best. I don’t think I am made to deal with the depressing side of the job. I do not deal well with death or crying. I am not an emotional person. I do have empathy for people but I am not able to put myself in their situation. I hope I just fit in and am not the new girl forever.

Test Anxiety - Entry #4 Lesson 4

I have severe test anxiety. When I have to sit down and take a test, I immediately blank out on the subject. I go through these moments where I am convinced I know the answer but it won’t come to mind. It gives me a feeling of Alzheimer’s. I forget the name but I can remember where I saw it or what it looked like. I also tend to second guess my answers. I will be sure it is A but then my mind says “no, change it to C”. I also get confused with the wording of the question. Sometimes it reads like a certain term but then there is a point where it could be a completely different answer. I can score well on assignments and training. Then it is test time and I freeze. Frozen with sweaty palms and an upset stomach. I start to feel nauseous and I lose all faith in what I have learned. I feel like I need to develop a relaxation technique. Maybe figure out the triggers of the anxiety. Is it the quiet? Is it sitting in a room of strangers? Being watched while I struggle? Sometimes I get to the point where I am trying so hard to concentrate that I start to fidget. I also can’t eat breakfast because it makes me nauseous. If I don’t eat breakfast, then I get shaky. I also have a class where in 1 week we went over 4 chapters and the next week we went over 2 chapters. That is a lot of information to cram into such a short period. There is no way I will be able to remember all of that information. I still have 2 weeks until my proctored exam in that class. Oh what to do….

My Personal Credo - Prewriting Assignment 4.2

     I believe in hard work. I believe you should always try your hardest. Whether it is in your own life, at your place of employment, in your family, or in the community. I grew up where hard work was not instilled in my upbringing. I witnessed family work until they could collect unemployment. They would work the system.

     I believe in working as hard as I can. If you work hard then you play hard. I don’t think you should benefit if you don’t put in the effort. Even if I don’t get rewarded for my effort, I still stick to my beliefs. It is hard to work with fellow employees who don’t share this belief.

     I work as hard for my employer as if I would want my employees to work hard for me. I don’t expect a paycheck for goofing off or cutting corners. I would expect a cut in pay for me not performing my best.