Tuesday, June 9, 2015

June 9, 2015

On the eve of our presentations it is so windy and somewhat cool now ... so late at night.
It was a muggy day and my partner and I were running around Los Angeles to complete our final project.  After a short day of revising and reviewing what we had ... I came home to sit down and complete my final reflection.   It turns out, that is a little more difficult that I initially thought.

So, I took a break from it and decided to blog and post to my account.  I can't believe my first year of grad school is about to be complete tomorrow.  Now, I'll just sit back and wait for my grades, go back to work full-time, and start completing applications so I can perhaps get a part-time substitute position.

It's going to be a long summer.  I am just hoping for a cooler summer.  I've been focused so much on school ... my eating habits are poor, I have no regular exercise regimen, my cholesterol is out of control, my energy is running low.

I guess it's time to call it a night.  Yes!!!

Okay, have a good night you all.  Tomorrow is our presentation day.

Okay ...

PPT PRESENTATION (CHECK)
FINAL PROJECT (CHECK)

....

EVALUATION (TOMORROW!)
FINAL REFLECTION (TOMORROW!)

....

Good night and good luck.  What a day, what a day, what a day!


Friday, May 29, 2015

What a day! What a week! What a quarter! What a month! What a year! I can't wait for Summer!

It's a slow Friday night.  If I sleep now, yes at 20:45, I will most likely wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning but I have a long day ahead me on a Saturday afternoon ... what a day ... what should I do?

Well ... I'm here posting what probably is going to be my last post on this blog for this particular assignment.  I do want to continue my blog but probably under a different heading.  We'll see.

This has been an excellent way for me to communicate with classmates and others.  So you know, I at times found myself talking as I typed.  Was I missing the interpersonal interaction, or am I too into this and actually never spoke a word ... it was my inner voice telling me what to type (like it just told me to type those words)?

Either way, it doesn't matter.  But for being my first time blogging, I am very excited with having fun with this form of communication that I would definitely invite others to participate.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is it, right?  This is the last week.  So, far I've only received one email regarding the course site invitation from Yessie, Elsa and Luis' group.  I will check your course site this weekend on either my 'slow' saturday or 'slow' sunday nights.

I can't wait to check out your progress!

So, good luck on your finals and don't forget your deadlines for the projects.  Yeay!!!

(Mental note to self: Me too!!)

Monday, May 25, 2015

What a day it has been ...

I've done nothing!

Well, I shouldn't say "nothing".  I woke up, ate a small breakfast, came home, looked at my To Do List and fell back to sleep.  I'm up, went to eat lunch/dinner and am contemplating on going to the gym ... nah (that was quick!) ... I'll stay home watch my only TV show that I get to watch from beginning to end and work on some lesson planning for tomorrow.

It has nothing to do with motivation.  Perhaps, it has to do with realizing that I have 2 more weeks of school, 3 projects to complete and am posting this note a bit late in the week.  Anyhow, today has been just one of those ... lazy days.

I must tell you though, it's been a month since I've indulged in eating fried chicken.  And I found a spot here in the San Gabriel Valley that has some amazing fried chicken.  The batter is light, full of spice and taste so good.  I was thirsty for water soon after because it may have had a small hint of extra salt - which I love!  And as we were leaving my friend pointed out to that behind this hamburger joint, there's a market selling fresh killed chicken.  And that's where I'll end that story.  :-)

It was delicious!!

I've been thinking about a summer road trip to San Francisco.  What a random thought.  The point is I have a craving for some good dim sum.  And the only dim sum place I know is in the Richmond District of San Francisco, a/k/a "little Chinatown".  It's known Little Chinatown because it is not anywhere near the Chinatown District of San Francisco.  It's actually located on the west side of the city, starting on Clement and Arguello, and has a variety of excellent and authentic Asian cuisine restaurants and places selling only dim sum all line up.  Or, at least that's how it was the last time I went.

Why am I hungry, again?  If you have any suggestions for excellent dim sum places her in Los Angeles, besides the Empress Pavilion in Chinatown in DTLA, let me know.


Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Great job ...

The ideas are being considered and your feedback is excellent.  Thank you very much.

As students we are all in this together.

And it is days like this when there's so much interaction in the class and the time goes so fast that, for me, I experience what Mihaly Csíkszentmihályi calls "flow" or "zone".  And it is days like this, when we are all engaged in the class together, that reminds me why I choose to continue my studies of learning a second language.

Although, I must confess it is days like this that I know I am going to be up late ... past my bedtime.  I'm now faced with the task of continuing with other class work in preparation of the end of the quarter but at the same time wondering what time I am going to be able to go to sleep.

I wonder if sleep is a state of flow.

I know I enjoy doing it ... and the time always seems to go by pretty quickly.  Yet, I think my sleep circadian rhythm is off and lately it's been as a difficult task as getting my writing down on my blog and making sure links are done correctly so my post can make sense.

Below you will fin the Google definition of the word circadian (and pronunciation).  And below that is the link to a pronunciation of the word borrowed from YouTube.

cir·ca·di·an
sərˈkādēən/ 
(adjective)

PHYSIOLOGY
(of biological processes) recurring naturally on a twenty-four-hour cycle, even in the absence of light fluctuations.
"a circadian rhythm"



Personally speaking, I am waiting for this quarter to end so I can hibernate for a day or two.  My sleeping has been off for the last nine months and perhaps I will have a short break before I have to begin preparation for next year.

Do you sleep well?  I'm expecting some interesting responses.  I expect to get one back inquiring about my age ... if 11:00 p.m. is really past my bedtime.  Good-nite people ... see you all soon!

What a day, what a day, what a day!


(And if you're interested in a couple of extra brownie points try this:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0cMiX4sMvI (also borrowed from YouTube)

Friday, May 8, 2015

What a day ... 

I woke up and decided today would be a day that I sit down begin my homework in the morning, 10 a.m. the latest, and not stop until 10 p.m.  That's a 12 hour period dedicated to my homework!

Well, it didn't happen that way.  I woke up at 8 a.m., went for breakfast, sat down at the coffee shop, and did some homework.  I came home after a couple of hours, did some more homework at my desk and decided to lay on my bed and read.  I fell asleep, woke up a couple of hours later and have not completed my homework.  

Now, I am ranting and just browsing the internet.  I think I've procrastinated long enough.  Maybe it's the cold, crisp, overcast night.  

What a day, what a day, what a day.  

Is it the weather? Or, is it procrastination?

(Look up the verb procrastinate and tell me about ways in which you procrastinate to avoid completing your homework.  Think of other tasks you avoid or put off until another time ... but that you eventually have to do.  Be creative, be thoughtful, and most of all ... be yourself!)