A Radical Sabbatical

I’m feeling down this weekend as I become keenly aware that my return to work is going to happen, like it or not.   Its not that I don’t like work, I do.  Its that I actually like the idea of retiring and unfortunately am seven years away from that point in my life.

I guess some people would say, don’t rush it but I so enjoy being home, learning and doing new things. My son is home for the summer and its wonderful having him here.  He wants to grow up so badly and I want to remain young forever. There are so many things I want in life, not material things necessarily but people things.  I want to go places with my friends and loved one.  I want to enjoy everything around me.

Over the past two weeks, my speech discrimination feels as though it has deteriorated.  It probably hasnt but thats how it feels.  My allergies are destroying my scenses and I’ll been living on sudafed, advil and ambien.  

All in a day!

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It’s over! My coursework requirements for my sabbatical is officially over and I do not feel elated.  I feel somewhat sad that the end result means I have to return to the workplace.  However, I’ve gained so much from this year in school and am now continuing with completing the advance certificate program which I was accepted to.  Its pretty exciting.

I’m actually looking forward to attending summer school for six weeks, two in the classroom and one at home online.  I am also continuing with my jewelry making classes and am now working on earrings.  Have no idea how I’m going to adjust to returning to work but I hope this year doesn’t become a distant memory.

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I am so in awe with having made and completed two rings in class today.  I just cannot believe I did it.  I’m not the creative type nor am I the most sensibly fashionable woman u will ever meet.  I guess that’s why I stick to basic colors like black and heather gray.  They’re easy to match things up with and go together well or individually…lol.  

We had our last class today and I just can’t stop admiring the ring I made with a beveled stone.  I now have an appreciation for all the handcrafted hard work that goes into making jewelry although, we probably made the easiest of what could be made or what one could learn.  

I was so proud when the teacher used my completed work to show the class how low to cut the bezel for the zone setting.  I couldn’t help but gloat……okay, okay, I didn’t gloat, I was qvelting……I was in awe that I had done it right.  I even managed to make one more ring (without a stone) with a design and tinted the ring.  Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to give up my job one day and spend weeks just taking jewelry classes in the city……………………………………….

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With less than two weeks left to the end of the college school year, its hard to believe that I have attended college for two semesters.  In some ways, it flew by so fast that I can’t remember the first semester.  In other ways, I’ve grown to enjoy watching the seasons change on campus, it was so noticeable.

My silver making jewelry 1 class is also coming to an end next week and I’ve so enjoyed it all.  I’ve decided to take Jewelry II for the month of June and also plan to continue with the certificate program at the College as well.   I really enjoy going to school and learning.  Its so different from when we’re in our 20’s. 

Now I can’t say that I’m happy about the thought of returning to work the last week of August.  In fact, I wish I could hit a lottery, big time.   The thought of returning to people who have no appreciation for the work u do, is very depressing.  I hate to think that what I will have to do, is go to work, do what I have to do and come home. Repeating this for the next seven years!

I love working with the population I work with but I don’t like working for the people I work for.  There is so little appreciation shown for fear that we may skip a beat. 

My summer schedule is going to be very hectic.  College three nights a week, jewelry class one day a week with the possibility of an additional course.   How will I ever give this up?

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Okay, so I handed my class paper in and I put it in a folder to hand to the Professor.  I was the only one who had the assignment in a transparent.  The Prof gave me a funny look and I told her that I have a bad habit of spilling coffee on my things and didn’t want to take chances with the paper.

 Now I know that wasn’t exactly why I put it in that folder but I thought I would look good having it in a transparent.   I wasn’t going to tell the Prof I was kissing up to her and my telling her I have a habit of spilling coffee on my things is really true but moreso on furniture and in cars.

On another issue, I had my hearing aid adjusted and boy can I hear better.  I also plan to look at the Starkey Destiny hearing aid which supposedly can be programmed to do everything for you except raise a toilet seat.   I’m certain though that one of these days, the manufacturers will have specific programs that we can have put in to make everything easier but our hearing needs.

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It was difficult last semester to get my head into studying and I totally forgot, that taking graduate courses meant writing papers.  Long papers that have to be to perfection and in a style that most of us are clueless to.  My first paper is due in a little over a week and I have yet to start writing and reading.  I guess not that much has changed in my approach since my days in college 35 somewhat odd years ago. 

However, I am thrilled that we’re situated in a classroom that is acoustically better for me.  The powerpoints are awesome as the Professors follow them pretty much to the letter, so hearing, is not a big issue.  I so wish we had powerpoints when I was in college.  I doubt very much I would have been a Social Worker had there been an easier way to grasp the material with hearing loss back then.  I can just feel all the emotional anxiety creeping up on me as I think back to the days of College.  It certainly was not easy.

Well, it also looks like I’ve hit the half way mark to this sabbatical and I am very aware that one day, I have to return to the work force. In the meantime, I plan to enjoy it, embrace it, and get the most out of it and who knows, maybe now I’ll feel good about retiring one day.

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Obviously, there are people reading my blog but unfortunately, unless u leave me a comment, I have no idea who my fan base is…lol.  I can only tell how many people are reading my blog.

 So feel free to comment, criticize, compliment or just say hi!

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First off, I had studied for this past weeks anatomy test like a true geek.  I wanted to do well very badly.   As the teacher was handing out the graded test papers yesterday, I sat anxiously thinking how I have one more week to drop the course and how I would manage to take the class next semester and work harder. 

The Professor came up to me and asked if the handwriting on the test she was showing me, was mine?  Apparently, I had forgotten to put my name on the test paper.  I looked at the grade and saw a 92.  I grabbed the paper and said yea thats mine but wait, any chance u have a paper with a grade of 100 on it that’s missing a name?  She didn’t laugh!

 I got a 92 and I wanted to jump for joy but I had trouble parting with the test paper when the Professor wanted them back. You know how when you have a kid who brings home a nice grade or compliment on their school project, and you hang it up on the refrigerator door for the family to see proudly?   Well after years of putting my childrens projects on the refrigerator door, I really wanted my test grade on my fridge.

So today, I made a big sign and hung it up on the fridge.  It said:

                 ANATOMY TEST ON CRANIAL/FACIAL NERVES

                                        AND DENTITION

                                                   92%

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Thank god the anatomy midterm is over! Why is it that when students from my class see me before and after a test, they come over and ask me an anatomy question thinking, I know the correct answer?  Do I look like a geek who has all the answers? Just because I’m older than the rest of the class does that automatically mean I have all the answers? 

Actually, I’m quite flattered that my fellow peers think I might know the right answer.  However, I’m always quite amused by it all. 

The midterm was not as difficult as the Professor made it out to be.  I can see why multiple choices are wrecklessly dangerous and when you get to the fill ins, u sort of wish they were multiple choices available.  The diagrams were easier than I expected but the three essays were thought provoking.  I still can’t figure what the outcome for me on this exam will be but I do know one thing, I am going to start studying for the next test now.

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Took my first midterm today, yea, thats right, on a Sunday.  I didn’t take it as scheduled last week as my Professor offered for me to take it today so I can focus on my anatomy and spanish test.  SHE IS SO SWEEEEEEEEEEEET.  Of course when she first made the offer I didn’t understand it as that. Sometimes I’m just thick headed. 

 Anyway, I thought I was prepared, I had hoped I was prepared but multiple choices and true/false questions, always leave me floundering.   There were two essays as well and those were not too bad though I had to wing one of them.  I can only do what I can do.

I had to laugh though.  There were four of us waiting for the Professor to arrive.  Now honestly, this class is a no brainer but I guess having experience working with teachers and children helps.  All the students waiting looked frantic, hovering over their notes for last minute absorption.  

One of the students came over to me and said,  “what does remediation mean?”  I had to ask her to repeat twice because my brain and my ears could not believe they were hearing correctly.  I finally repeated, “remediation?”  and she responded, yea.   I said, remediation is tutoring.  She thanked me and walked away.   What I really wanted to say was, if you don’t know the meaning of remediation, do u really think u should be in any field requiring language?

And here I thought I was slow!

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