Dear Diary

Pitter, as always - interesting reading! Thanks!

Dear Diary,

I'm feeling a bit irritated and beside myself today. And I shouldn't be. The weather is good - it's really hot outside and I like that. I have a job - I didn't choose it but it pays good money. I called a lot of people today who had applied for summer jobs. And I can make them happy so easily. It's nice to be able to do that. So what's eating me....?

After work, I sat outside the bar across the street to read a bit and was pretty soon joined by two girls I know and later on two guys. So I spent about two hours there - talking, drinking coffee and water and having fun. So why this strange feeling?

I guess I will go to bed now and read a funny book. That should help...

And - Friday and Saturday it's the big heavy metal open air festival which will be loads of fun. And my inlaws are coming to visit from Sunday to Tuesday! Lots of good things!

Ah good! I am feeling better and I'm smiling! :-)

Good night now...

Urs
Better check who is there, are you going? If it's the Area 4 Festival - my buddy is playing there. (Alter Bridge)

are Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath going to be there?

No, Husker. It is the Bang Your Head Festival. You can check it out here: BYH

This is in our town. I can walk there! And we will have backstage passes

It will be sooooo cool!

There are already some long-haired guys with tattoos wearing black in town.

Urs
have you heard of Alter Bridge?
I understand they have a pretty large European following.

No, husker, I don't know them. But I am not a heavy metal fan. I just go there for the party ;-)

BigDice doesn't know them either.

Where was the Area 4 Festival? I saw that Motörhead was playing there, too.

'Morning Urs - now I have a reason NOT to visit your town

Aw, Clary! That's just one weekend! We also have art exhibitions at the moment and a big 750 years party in July! It is really worth a visit...

Dear Diary,

I see you are being avoided.

We just received news that my dad is close to dying. He's 93. Doesn't know any of us...at least we think so. Does not respond to visitors...that is until a minister began singing old religious songs; at that, Dad started keeping time with his finger...there is so much we assume about things we least understand.

Tomorrow, we will leave Rome, GA and begin our trip to Anderson, Indiana.

Oh, my vascular surgeon released me today... The kidney doctor is next...just have have to get my production above 60%...hey, I started at 16%.

My daughter is being interviewed for her dream job. Apparently, the potential employer is excited about her job experiences...

Hurricane Dennis provided us with rain...no damaging winds.

I am wondering how the US will handle not being the top dog in the world? Maybe not in my lifetime, but I suspect we are heading in that direction.

Bless all of you...we are all of one family...yet....

Travel safe and take care my friend.

Dear Diary:

Life is unfair - i of all people should know that. But still, I hate it when that principle gets practiced...on me. I just got my results back and in no way do they reflect all the hard work I have been putting into my study - I worked so hard that i was sure i would ace all three units. Well the results came back and they were far from pass, but also far from ace.

I was so disappointed (and I have been for a whole day now.) I went to see the lecturers in charge of these units and they so kindly went through my exam answers and explained to me where I went wrong. Well, in a nutshell, the marks were correct - I was told not to appeal them and waste time and money.

But it is unfair - I know how hard i worked compared to some of my peers yet I know many of my peers who did better than me in the end compared to my marks. Bad luck seems to hit me all the time, more often these days and I don't know why. Although a Roman Catholic, it seems that even god is against me at the moment, and this moment of time in my life is such a crucial one.

What did I do wrong, I wonder.

Pragmatic

If you worked hard, didn't do as well as you expected, and your examiners say your marks are correct, then perhaps you need to examine your approach.

Are you answering the questions - or just telling what you know. Are you working smart - concentrating on the things you need to know.

When I was at college there was a chap who used to tell me he studied a particular topic for 2 hours every night - and still his marks were crap! When I was assigned to work a project with him, I found out why. He didn't have a clue. I don't think he was stupid, but basically he was just reading and not properly understanding. Perhaps you need to change your study habits.

If none of these are applicable - then, commiserations!

In college one time I had a professor that flunked every jock in the class.

I'm not a jock - but even so, thank gosh our staff members aren't like that prof!!

Hi margo:

It's true what you say - when I was talking to the lecturers, they did point out many things I could have done but failed to do and these were crucial points that bought me down. I guess the only thing I can do now is remember what they said for this semseter two.

Still, it hurts.

Hey Prag,

I'm sure it hurts...you are frustrated...it doesn't appear fair. I'm 65. In my youth, I was not the top of my class. I had to work hard to even come close to my friend Dave...who had a photogenic mind. Can you believe it....he actual turned the pages in his mind.

I agree with Margo, learning is different from just reading or even reviewing your notes. As far as that goes, some of my friends actually learned, but weren't able to compose well enough to convey what they knew...very frustrating.

CONTINUED....

But....I am a survivor...so I figured out what each Professor wanted as feedback. One history Prof actually wanted us to memorize the book. His questions were strictly from the text. Another teacher to know how our readings reflected on our present life...no memorization required...just maintain a general understanding of the text...he wanted us to brainstorm. Another required reading, but only tested on his lectures.

In general, through the years I have maintained this attitude...DO YOUR BEST...LEARN FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE, THEN MOVE ON. But again, note the word LEARN, how does one learn?

Good luck my friend...

Hi Mapleleaf:

Thanks for that advice - especially the last sentence regarding moving on. That's what I know I have to do - its in the past, so what can I do? Nothing really. That's what I tell myself. But sometimes its difficult, easier said than done, you know what I mean? This mark was the lowest I have gained in two years time - it was a shock to me, especially since i knew I didn't deserve it study-wise.

But thanks for your advice, as well as everyone else here. The general gist is the same, so its got to be right.

Pragmatic - I spent a lot of years wanting to be an md, silly of me as those were years women hardly ever got in to med school, in the US anyway. If you averaged out US med schools in 1962, it would have been some small fraction of one percent women students, as most US med schools had no women. So I was facing both that and university and working. I loved science, but in fact I was not so great at it, and you had to be great then.

Years later I figured out that I am also interested in art and design and got involved in landscape architecture, which has technical aspects and art aspects, much more suitable to me.
When I was at university, I'd never heard of this profession, much less aspired to it.

I'm not trying to talk you out of law, just trying to give you a longer perspective.

Osso - that's another great perspective, maybe me looking at another profession. To tell you the truth, I have thought about taking on an B. Education if the law side doesn't work out - it all goes back to me wanting to be in the teaching profession/academic profession. But then I really do only have one interest in mind and its all I can think about really, law and legal. Even if I did eventually take a B.Ed, I would still want to teach legal studies in high school or go academic in university. I guess I really have narrowed down my choice unconciously.