Do you ever get the feeling that, if you start to scream, then you'd probably never stop? I must confess to getting close - this continuous illness is driving me mad, as it's interfering with every aspect of my life!
I've started on my next Block with A210 - Literature and Gender - and will have to buckle down soon to seriously start on work for TMA 05. With this one, I have to study The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, and then choose another piece of prose fiction - I'm choosing 'Girl' by Jamaica Kincaid - then I have to discuss the relationship between rebellion and conformity, and how it affect the two texts - all in 1500 words!
I had seen the film of TCP before, and had loved it. Whoopi Goldberg impressed me no end with her role as Celie, but to read the book for the first time was a joy! It utterly took my attention by storm, and I couldn't put it down until it ended (I'm now on my second read of it, and starting the proper study process).
Alice Walker's story of Celie, Nettie and Shug Avery, and all they had to bear with the men in their lives, put my problems in their proper perspective - it's quite humbling when you read of the things that people have to bear in their lives, and how they either overcome them, or get swamped by them.
Now, I know this is a work of fiction, but I guess the things that were suffered were, and probably still are, being endured all over the world right at this moment, and it makes me feel grateful, and humble, for all the privileges I've had in my life, despite the ill-health!
The second piece of prose fiction, 'Girl', is a short piece - a stream-of-consciousness passage, that I loved as soon as I read it. It has very similar themes to TCP, although in a severely reduced format, and I'm hoping I'll be able to synchronise the two into a legible and, hopefully, interesting essay - the one problem I'll have - as usual - will be the 1500 word limit! lol
Well, I guess I'd better stop procrastinating, and get back to the coursework I'm supposed to complete before I do the TMA - it's amazing what we students will think of to do, rather than get down to the sometimes boring, sometimes frustrating, but always necessary study!
By the way - I'm on day 9 of the Emu Oil Capsules - no change yet, but the girl who recommended them said it'd take at least 10 days to show any effects - so I'll keep you posted as to any change.
A view through the window of my crafting life.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Another one in the bag!
Well, that's another TMA out of the way - I'm at the half-way mark in the course already! lol
Considering the state of me when taking it, I'm fairly pleased with my 68% score - I know I could have done a lot better - if I didn't have this constant pain - but just getting through each TMA is becoming an achievement in itself!
I don't know whether I'm mad - or a glutton for punishment - but I've booked up next February's course now - U211: Exploring the English Language. I'm sort-of looking forward to it, and will probably greet its start with glee, as I've not booked a winter course this time - I'm determined to take some time out, and try to get a bit better health-wise!
Talking of which, I've just started taking a course of Emu Oil Capsules, which are supposed to be a miracle-cure for what ails me - now, me being a cynic, I don't quite believe the 'miracle' claims, but if it improves my health in any way, I'll be over the moon! lol
I'll let you know how I get on with them, once I've used them for a week or two. :~))
Considering the state of me when taking it, I'm fairly pleased with my 68% score - I know I could have done a lot better - if I didn't have this constant pain - but just getting through each TMA is becoming an achievement in itself!
I don't know whether I'm mad - or a glutton for punishment - but I've booked up next February's course now - U211: Exploring the English Language. I'm sort-of looking forward to it, and will probably greet its start with glee, as I've not booked a winter course this time - I'm determined to take some time out, and try to get a bit better health-wise!
Talking of which, I've just started taking a course of Emu Oil Capsules, which are supposed to be a miracle-cure for what ails me - now, me being a cynic, I don't quite believe the 'miracle' claims, but if it improves my health in any way, I'll be over the moon! lol
I'll let you know how I get on with them, once I've used them for a week or two. :~))
Friday, May 25, 2007
TMA Avoidance - again!
I know - I should be studying, not coming on here! lol
I'm having a real problem with my O.U. studying at the moment - my ill-health, and the medication I'm on are conspiring to leave me very little energy to concentrate on it all -when I can get my brain to concentrate!
Then, what little energy I have, I prefer to use for my bible study which, after all, is much more important to me!
I 'phoned my rheumatology consultant on tuesday, to find out what date has been booked for my Carpal Tunnel operation. He told me when I saw him a fortnight ago, that I was on the urgent list, and so I expected to be going in within a week or two - much to my surprise, and disgust, I've been informed that it will possibly be August, but probably September before it's done - and this with being on the 'urgent' list! Grrrrrrr
I have skim-read through the various chapters needed for this poetry block - and it has really disappointed me in the way it's been set out. I have always loved poetry, and have tended to use it in a cathartic way when under stress, or when feeling emotional, but I haven't been able to make much sense out of the writing on this one!
Don't get me wrong - I'm enjoying the poetry (although I've discovered that Wordsworth is a bit of a windbag), but the actual coursework itself makes no sense to me at all. If it wasn't for the fact that so many on my course have the same complaint, I would have taken it as my own lack of understanding, but too many fellow students have made the same complaint for me to think it's just me!
I really hope the course will be re-organised for future students - at least it will bring a little more pleasure to their studies - something that's in short supply for me, I'm afraid!
But, whether I like the course-work or not, I have another TMA due on the 7th June, so I guess I'd better take a deep breath, and try to plunge myself into the morass that's in front of me - wish me well, won't you? lol
I'm having a real problem with my O.U. studying at the moment - my ill-health, and the medication I'm on are conspiring to leave me very little energy to concentrate on it all -when I can get my brain to concentrate!
Then, what little energy I have, I prefer to use for my bible study which, after all, is much more important to me!
I 'phoned my rheumatology consultant on tuesday, to find out what date has been booked for my Carpal Tunnel operation. He told me when I saw him a fortnight ago, that I was on the urgent list, and so I expected to be going in within a week or two - much to my surprise, and disgust, I've been informed that it will possibly be August, but probably September before it's done - and this with being on the 'urgent' list! Grrrrrrr
I have skim-read through the various chapters needed for this poetry block - and it has really disappointed me in the way it's been set out. I have always loved poetry, and have tended to use it in a cathartic way when under stress, or when feeling emotional, but I haven't been able to make much sense out of the writing on this one!
Don't get me wrong - I'm enjoying the poetry (although I've discovered that Wordsworth is a bit of a windbag), but the actual coursework itself makes no sense to me at all. If it wasn't for the fact that so many on my course have the same complaint, I would have taken it as my own lack of understanding, but too many fellow students have made the same complaint for me to think it's just me!
I really hope the course will be re-organised for future students - at least it will bring a little more pleasure to their studies - something that's in short supply for me, I'm afraid!
But, whether I like the course-work or not, I have another TMA due on the 7th June, so I guess I'd better take a deep breath, and try to plunge myself into the morass that's in front of me - wish me well, won't you? lol
Friday, May 11, 2007
Yippee!!!!!!!!
I have to give a great big YIPPEEEEE!
I got my TMA 03 results today, and I got a really respectable 72% - something I hadn't expected considering the state of my health (and my memory) recently!
My lovely tutor gave me some encouraging words of advice as well - something that I hope to use in the next TMA, which also deals with poetry. All I need now is to get a bit better so I can concentrate a bit more on my study.
Talking of getting better, I saw my Rhuematology Consultant last tuesday, and he is arranging an operation that he hopes will ease this horrible Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that I'm suffering with. He did warn me that it may not work though, as my Fibromyalgia is also in my arms and hands, so some of the pain I get is from that as well - I don't mind if it eases it a bit, as some relief is better than none!
On a note of light relief, one of my fellow students put a link online to see if you are a geek, nerd or dork - I did the test (as you do!), and my results were:
56% Nerd, 13% Geek & 60% Dork!
And this is the explaination I was given:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd and Dork, earning you the coveted title of:
Tri-Lamb Material
The classic, "80's" nerd, you are what most people think of when they think "nerd," largely due to 80's movies like Revenge of the Nerds and TV shows like Head of the Class.
You're exceptionally bright and smart, and partly because of that have never quite fit in with your peers or social groups. Perhaps you've realized, or will someday, that it is possible to retain all of the things that you like about being brilliant and still make peace with the social cliques around you. Or maybe you won't--it's really not necessary.
As the brothers of Lambda Lambda Lambda discovered, you're fine just the way you are and can take pride in that. I mean, who wants to be like Ogre, right!?
OH Dear!
I got my TMA 03 results today, and I got a really respectable 72% - something I hadn't expected considering the state of my health (and my memory) recently!
My lovely tutor gave me some encouraging words of advice as well - something that I hope to use in the next TMA, which also deals with poetry. All I need now is to get a bit better so I can concentrate a bit more on my study.
Talking of getting better, I saw my Rhuematology Consultant last tuesday, and he is arranging an operation that he hopes will ease this horrible Carpal Tunnel Syndrome that I'm suffering with. He did warn me that it may not work though, as my Fibromyalgia is also in my arms and hands, so some of the pain I get is from that as well - I don't mind if it eases it a bit, as some relief is better than none!
On a note of light relief, one of my fellow students put a link online to see if you are a geek, nerd or dork - I did the test (as you do!), and my results were:
56% Nerd, 13% Geek & 60% Dork!
And this is the explaination I was given:
A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.
You scored better than half in Nerd and Dork, earning you the coveted title of:
Tri-Lamb Material
The classic, "80's" nerd, you are what most people think of when they think "nerd," largely due to 80's movies like Revenge of the Nerds and TV shows like Head of the Class.
You're exceptionally bright and smart, and partly because of that have never quite fit in with your peers or social groups. Perhaps you've realized, or will someday, that it is possible to retain all of the things that you like about being brilliant and still make peace with the social cliques around you. Or maybe you won't--it's really not necessary.
As the brothers of Lambda Lambda Lambda discovered, you're fine just the way you are and can take pride in that. I mean, who wants to be like Ogre, right!?
OH Dear!
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