...To most instructors/teachers/profs who have had to deal with me. In some things, I am just fast. You're not doing anyhthing wrong.
This week, I'm taking the first of several web design classes. Kind of for work. Kind of for the fun of it. But this first one is an intro class. It's pretty basic. I could have arranged something so that I could claim prior experience and just skip the class, but that takes coordination (phone calls, alternate scheduling, hassle). I'm hassled enough at the moment. How bad could it be to sit through a few hours of review of basic HTML?
The answer: not bad. For me. I think I'm bugging the teacher, though. He gives an assignment such as produce a web page with a simple nested list. I'm done in about 30 seconds. He allowed 15 minutes for the exercise. Have I mentioned that I'm a fast typer? Lightning fingers. I'm not bragging. I'm sure my high school typing teacher would be proud (though I make ample use of the backspace button--a huge no-no in high school typing class).
I'm also always always always one of the very first ones done with a test. Its not that I'm smarter than everyone around me. Heaven knows that at Wash U that was far from the truth. More that I don't re-visit answers. I've found from experience that my fist guesses are usually right. If I don't know something right away, I skip it and come back. No getting stuck. And if I spend a lot of time checking things, then I second guess myself and end up doing worse.
Nope, I just do the work, give a quick check and turn it in. Sometimes, this habit does cause trouble (have I ever mentioned that I'm a horrible proofreader?)
Teachers think they're boring me. In a class like this one, where the instructor spends three minutes explaining how to open a file with TextPad in excrutiating detail, they're sometimes correct. And yet, sometimes taking a class is the best way for me to learn. I have to get out of my regular environment in order to concentrate on something new. If I just picked up a book and tried to read it at home, I'd spend my time doing laundry and playing with the kids, and reading all my fun fiction books. Therefore, I'm here. And other students ask questions that don't occur to me, but from which I learn things. Group classes are good.
The next few classes get into more detailed stuff that I haven't hacked at previously, and should keep me a bit busier. I hope.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
A week in the life...
Subtitle: Why I'm not posting much this week
Saturday
9AM Kindergarten screening for Charlotte for prospective school #1. Grandparents watch Trystan
11AM Charlotte misses swimming lessons
Eat lunch with grandparents before they go home
Kids nap
Go to Lowes to attempt to buy a new patio door. Get sent home to measure by annoying sales guy. Even though we know it’s a completely standard 72” door.
Sunday
Make two breakfasts. Trystan eats two. The rest of us eat one.
Go to church at 11
Go to lunch after church with husbands's family
After lunch, while kids nap, I go to Sam’s and Walmart for Diapers and other essentials (and score a winter coat for Trystan for next year for $13 on clearance)
After naps while I make dinner and turn on the SuperBowl for the kids, husband goes back to Lowes. Gets the same salesguy. Now finds out that the actual installer will come and measure as part of the installation process. Pays the $35 fee to get the install process started. Meanwhile, Trystan shouts “football” everytime the Superbowl trophy is shown on TV.
Monday
I take both kids to preschool, and arrive at work close to 9.
Husband gets call from installer midday and drives home to allow him to measure for the door. Surprise, surprise, its’ a standard 72” wide door.
After work, I drive straight to an evening class.
Husband picks up kids, makes a pizza. Babysitter comes over. Husband goes to weekly gaming with friends.
I get done with class early and am home shortly after 8, early enough to put both kids to bed myself.
Husband arrives home around 9:30
Tuesday
Trystan wakes up really early and totally messes up my morning routine.
Husband takes kids to daycare. I still arrive two minutes late for an 8AM meeting.
Late in the day husband gets call from Lowes saying they received the details from the installer, and that we can come officially buy the 72” door now.
Late in the day I get a a call from daycare saying that Trystan is having loose stools, and they’re concerned about stomach virus. I’m skeptical, as he regularly takes a stool softener, whose dose we sometimes have to tweak based on his diet.
I pick up kids, get dirty diaper details from preschool.
Husband has 5:30 wallyball game
I make a quick dinner for kids. And Trystan poops on the potty. A lot, and its loose (aren’t you glad to be reading this?). But it was on the potty. Did I mention he’s not even 2 yet? And that he has serious bowel complications that could potentially prevent continence? On the potty.
Husband arrives home from Wallyball at 6:45, scarfs down the few scraps of dinner that the kids left him
We all go to Lowes to pay for the 72” door. And pick out handles. And be tempted by a 50% off sale on electric fireplaces (no mantles, though, just the “firebox” part). We decide against it (though a space heater in the basement could be kind of useful)…
The kids run in circles through the door and widnow displays and are completely tuckered by the time we get home.
Wednesday
Husband takes both kids to school
I’m 4 minutes late for my 8am meeting
After work, I have another 5:30-8:30 class. And a writers group meeting from 6:30-9 with dinner afterwards.
I left my cell phone at home, so I will have to stop through between work and class.
Husband must pick up children.
And feed them.
And wait for Grandparents to arrive to watch Trystan.
And Husband and Charlotte will go to "meet the teacher night" for potential kindergarten #2.
I will hopefully get home by 10:30. Everyone will probably be asleep.
Thursday
Another 8am meeting.
Normally I have a 5:30 step class after work. It’s still debatable whether I’ll make it or not. Yes if husband is willing to drop off and pick up the kids. No if I have to pick them up.
I think that’s it.
Friday
Husband, Charlotte, and I have 10am meeting with principal of school #1. Trystan goes to daycare.
Husband goes to work afterwards.
Char and I have shopping to do for a birthday gift.
And a pie to make for the next day
Saturday
11am swim lessons. We typically all go so Trystan gets some pool time too
1pm Trystan at a minimum should be napping
3:30 Charlotte has a birthday party to attend
3:00 All 4 of us have an adult’s birthday potluck to attend.
Saturday
9AM Kindergarten screening for Charlotte for prospective school #1. Grandparents watch Trystan
11AM Charlotte misses swimming lessons
Eat lunch with grandparents before they go home
Kids nap
Go to Lowes to attempt to buy a new patio door. Get sent home to measure by annoying sales guy. Even though we know it’s a completely standard 72” door.
Sunday
Make two breakfasts. Trystan eats two. The rest of us eat one.
Go to church at 11
Go to lunch after church with husbands's family
After lunch, while kids nap, I go to Sam’s and Walmart for Diapers and other essentials (and score a winter coat for Trystan for next year for $13 on clearance)
After naps while I make dinner and turn on the SuperBowl for the kids, husband goes back to Lowes. Gets the same salesguy. Now finds out that the actual installer will come and measure as part of the installation process. Pays the $35 fee to get the install process started. Meanwhile, Trystan shouts “football” everytime the Superbowl trophy is shown on TV.
Monday
I take both kids to preschool, and arrive at work close to 9.
Husband gets call from installer midday and drives home to allow him to measure for the door. Surprise, surprise, its’ a standard 72” wide door.
After work, I drive straight to an evening class.
Husband picks up kids, makes a pizza. Babysitter comes over. Husband goes to weekly gaming with friends.
I get done with class early and am home shortly after 8, early enough to put both kids to bed myself.
Husband arrives home around 9:30
Tuesday
Trystan wakes up really early and totally messes up my morning routine.
Husband takes kids to daycare. I still arrive two minutes late for an 8AM meeting.
Late in the day husband gets call from Lowes saying they received the details from the installer, and that we can come officially buy the 72” door now.
Late in the day I get a a call from daycare saying that Trystan is having loose stools, and they’re concerned about stomach virus. I’m skeptical, as he regularly takes a stool softener, whose dose we sometimes have to tweak based on his diet.
I pick up kids, get dirty diaper details from preschool.
Husband has 5:30 wallyball game
I make a quick dinner for kids. And Trystan poops on the potty. A lot, and its loose (aren’t you glad to be reading this?). But it was on the potty. Did I mention he’s not even 2 yet? And that he has serious bowel complications that could potentially prevent continence? On the potty.
Husband arrives home from Wallyball at 6:45, scarfs down the few scraps of dinner that the kids left him
We all go to Lowes to pay for the 72” door. And pick out handles. And be tempted by a 50% off sale on electric fireplaces (no mantles, though, just the “firebox” part). We decide against it (though a space heater in the basement could be kind of useful)…
The kids run in circles through the door and widnow displays and are completely tuckered by the time we get home.
Wednesday
Husband takes both kids to school
I’m 4 minutes late for my 8am meeting
After work, I have another 5:30-8:30 class. And a writers group meeting from 6:30-9 with dinner afterwards.
I left my cell phone at home, so I will have to stop through between work and class.
Husband must pick up children.
And feed them.
And wait for Grandparents to arrive to watch Trystan.
And Husband and Charlotte will go to "meet the teacher night" for potential kindergarten #2.
I will hopefully get home by 10:30. Everyone will probably be asleep.
Thursday
Another 8am meeting.
Normally I have a 5:30 step class after work. It’s still debatable whether I’ll make it or not. Yes if husband is willing to drop off and pick up the kids. No if I have to pick them up.
I think that’s it.
Friday
Husband, Charlotte, and I have 10am meeting with principal of school #1. Trystan goes to daycare.
Husband goes to work afterwards.
Char and I have shopping to do for a birthday gift.
And a pie to make for the next day
Saturday
11am swim lessons. We typically all go so Trystan gets some pool time too
1pm Trystan at a minimum should be napping
3:30 Charlotte has a birthday party to attend
3:00 All 4 of us have an adult’s birthday potluck to attend.
Monday, February 02, 2009
One door opens (or is it two?)...
My kitchen-update freakout and I have called a truce.
In case you hadn’t read my previous post about the subject, we have to do some work in our kitchen. Our sliding door is leaking water into the house, which is damaging the floor and into the subfloor, and staining the ceiling of our basement bathroom. In order to fix the floor, we will have to replace the sheet vinyl that is currently there—we have already had to cut a square out of it just to see the extent of the damage. Plus, our adjacent family room carpeting is coming due for replacement. It’s cheap and it’s been well-used.
Because the kitchen, breakfast room, and family room are really all one big room, I have long wanted one seamless floor. The (12-foot long) threshold between the breakfast area’s vinyl and the family room’s carpet is in an aribitrary spot, and is the site of some of the worst wear and tear.
But, I’ve wanted to remodel the kitchen from almost the day we bought the house and I realized just how shoddy of a job the builder had done. And I’d long stated that I didn’t want to replace the kitchen floor without just re-doing the kitchen. Doesn’t seem right to fancy up what we’ve got, when I sometimes fear that the cabinet shelves will simply collapse in the night.
However, now is just not the right time for a full remodel of the kitchen. We have design issues to work out, including whether (and where) to move the existing laundry room (so that we can add its space to the kitchen or as a bigger pantry). And, of course, financing. If the world would stop spinning right here, then financing the kitchen is no big deal. But over the next year, we have kid(s) changing schools (possibly to much more expensive private ones), and possible job changes for at least one of us. And our (currently paid off) cars are aging. Our finances in 12 months may look completely different than today’s, and I’m just not comfortable taking out a second mortgage or home equity loan or whatever to finance a kitchen remodel that we’re not ready for.
The compromise: we need to replace our door, and then the floor. Those two items are not negotiable at this point. And the laminate is purchased. We picked out a new door—a French door this time instead of a slider, and it is much more reasonable in cost than I initially feared. Before installation, we’re talking about 2/3 of what I thought a barebones model would be. That door will be installed over the next 2-4 weeks, probably on the shorter end of it assuming there are no unforeseen complications to the install. After that, my husband and I will find a good long weekend to move all of our furniture, rip up carpeting, add underlayment, snap together floors, and reinstall/replace baseboards.
And, a year from now, we can re-evaluate where we are financially and possibly start real planning on a new kitchen. “Real Planning” involves more than sketches on paper and collecting free catalogs from Lowes. We’re talking actual appointments to design, order, install, schedule everything. That gives us time to adjust to school tuitions, salaries, etc, and possibly even sock away some cash so we’re not financing everything. Or decide to scrap the whole idea if we can’t afford it.
Yep, I’m doing what I never wanted to do: installing a new floor in the kitchen next to the old cabinets. And then planning to possibly rip it right up not long after. But it’s a good compromise. The laminate floors are very reasonably priced, so we aren’t wasting nice hardwood. And the snap-together installation makes me think that we could potentially re-use the flooring (back in the new kitchen, or elsewhere in the house). Possibly. And, I’ve wanted to replace the slider with a French door, so we’re already ahead of that piece of the puzzle.
All in all, a good compromise. Now, I just have to handle living for another month with a pallet's worth of laminate flooring boxes in my formal dining room.
In case you hadn’t read my previous post about the subject, we have to do some work in our kitchen. Our sliding door is leaking water into the house, which is damaging the floor and into the subfloor, and staining the ceiling of our basement bathroom. In order to fix the floor, we will have to replace the sheet vinyl that is currently there—we have already had to cut a square out of it just to see the extent of the damage. Plus, our adjacent family room carpeting is coming due for replacement. It’s cheap and it’s been well-used.
Because the kitchen, breakfast room, and family room are really all one big room, I have long wanted one seamless floor. The (12-foot long) threshold between the breakfast area’s vinyl and the family room’s carpet is in an aribitrary spot, and is the site of some of the worst wear and tear.
But, I’ve wanted to remodel the kitchen from almost the day we bought the house and I realized just how shoddy of a job the builder had done. And I’d long stated that I didn’t want to replace the kitchen floor without just re-doing the kitchen. Doesn’t seem right to fancy up what we’ve got, when I sometimes fear that the cabinet shelves will simply collapse in the night.
However, now is just not the right time for a full remodel of the kitchen. We have design issues to work out, including whether (and where) to move the existing laundry room (so that we can add its space to the kitchen or as a bigger pantry). And, of course, financing. If the world would stop spinning right here, then financing the kitchen is no big deal. But over the next year, we have kid(s) changing schools (possibly to much more expensive private ones), and possible job changes for at least one of us. And our (currently paid off) cars are aging. Our finances in 12 months may look completely different than today’s, and I’m just not comfortable taking out a second mortgage or home equity loan or whatever to finance a kitchen remodel that we’re not ready for.
The compromise: we need to replace our door, and then the floor. Those two items are not negotiable at this point. And the laminate is purchased. We picked out a new door—a French door this time instead of a slider, and it is much more reasonable in cost than I initially feared. Before installation, we’re talking about 2/3 of what I thought a barebones model would be. That door will be installed over the next 2-4 weeks, probably on the shorter end of it assuming there are no unforeseen complications to the install. After that, my husband and I will find a good long weekend to move all of our furniture, rip up carpeting, add underlayment, snap together floors, and reinstall/replace baseboards.
And, a year from now, we can re-evaluate where we are financially and possibly start real planning on a new kitchen. “Real Planning” involves more than sketches on paper and collecting free catalogs from Lowes. We’re talking actual appointments to design, order, install, schedule everything. That gives us time to adjust to school tuitions, salaries, etc, and possibly even sock away some cash so we’re not financing everything. Or decide to scrap the whole idea if we can’t afford it.
Yep, I’m doing what I never wanted to do: installing a new floor in the kitchen next to the old cabinets. And then planning to possibly rip it right up not long after. But it’s a good compromise. The laminate floors are very reasonably priced, so we aren’t wasting nice hardwood. And the snap-together installation makes me think that we could potentially re-use the flooring (back in the new kitchen, or elsewhere in the house). Possibly. And, I’ve wanted to replace the slider with a French door, so we’re already ahead of that piece of the puzzle.
All in all, a good compromise. Now, I just have to handle living for another month with a pallet's worth of laminate flooring boxes in my formal dining room.
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