GRE

I have been applying to grad schools. I am hoping to finish my Educational Administration degree in the next two years so I can further pursue School Administration. I really love my job.

My current hurdles are finding financial aid to go to TCU... it is dreadfully expensive and applying for school at UTA which is not my first choice. The program is a bit different and I have to take the GRE. Boo.

Have any of you studied for the GRE? It seems like a convoluted mess that has little to do with my future career but I am willing to do a lot to stay on track. I didn't realize my vocabulary was so abismal. I have a pack of 350 flash cards I am carrying around trying to absorb their meanings.

Aver...Hackneyed...Salubrious...Obviate...Alacrity....Shootme

I am also facing math again after a six year absence. That is, six years since I took the last standardized-so-I-can-be-a-teacher test. I had to get a GED math book to refresh my memory for that test because I hadn't had any since sophomore year of college...in 2001. Yes, children. I know that you were in diapers that year. If you ask me who Pearl Jam is again I may have to harm you.

I got through Math the hard way in school. I just didn't get it nor did I have any motivation. I am kicking myself now. How many times do I wish I had paid more attention in Punkin Moss's 9th grade Algebra class?? Oh yeah, you caught that did you? Her name was Punkin Moss...You can probably guess what a high quality teacher she was. It is hard to motivate your students to Mathematical excellence when they have no respect for you for showing up 10 minutes late to class because you were having a smoke break in your old suburban parked right outside the classroom door. She had a mullet too. Just saying.

It's not Punkin's fault though. I was never an ambitious student until I went to college. I was a late academic bloomer...but now that I want school to be my life I wish I didn't have that sinking feeling in my stomach when I open the GRE section on factoring.

Factoring? Sounds vaguely familiar.


(x+y)² is the same thing as x² + 2xy + y²?

It is?
Something about aluminum foil? But don’t forget to pay special attention to the signs!


Pos x Pos= Pos
Neg x Neg= Pos
Pos x Neg= Neg
Neg x Pos =Neg

This is not salubrious! It is tortuous. It is totally not germane. Am I using these correctly?

I'll be at Panera under a pile of old math books and vocabulary index cards.

Peace!

I'm Back

Apparently the Blogging trend rose in my group of friends in 2006 and died in 2008. However, I am deciding to be back.

I have a lot to say because I am a learner and there is a lot in my life I would like to keep up with. And since I sit in front of my computer for large amounts of my life, this should be the easiest way.

Just so there is something here, these are some movies and books I have seen/read lately:

Books:
Unwind--- weird sci-fi but so interesting. I couldn't put it down. I am sure the teenagers it was written for couldn't either.

Pillars of the Earth- I started this 1,000+ page book when I started a nutso HCG diet. It's massive length and stunning detail distracted me from the fact that I was only eating my own butt and 500 calories per day. Great book but scandaloso in parts. Sheesh.

The Help- I don't really need to say anything about this. The movie was actually just as good as the book . I think that's the first time I've ever said that!

Movies:

Drive- Ryan Gosling is nuts in this film. We like Independent films around here because we have seen everything under the sun and hate to smell the plot coming. My time is so precious lately that I just get up and walk away from movies that upset me or seem like they are going to disappoint. This one didn't.

One Day- Independent film let down. I have no idea what happened in the last 10 minutes but nothing could pull that movie up out of the dregs it had created....oh, and I can't stand Anne Hathaway

Midnight in Paris- My first Woody Allen film! I loved it! I particularly enjoyed the dialogue and how Allen made Paris a character. Beautiful and nonpredictable. Plus I really enjoyed seeing Rachel McAdams as a nightmare again. I missed her since Regina George.

The Ides of March- Ryan Gosling again. I swear I don't have a "thing" he just is working really hard these days. Great film... Good job George Clooney. It'll make you hate politics...wait, you already do.

The Descendants- on Blu-Ray... Loved it more the second time. "Sid" will make you laugh... a lot. You would think Matthew Lillard would but he takes a different role this time. I spent that whole day crying at the TV...I also saw the notebook that day... Gee! Maybe I do have a Ryan Gosling "thing."

Throwback::The Notebook- Nicholas Sparks, I only love your work when translated into movies. I tend to throw your books across the room in mushy disgust.

Way Throwback: Empire of the Sun... Christian Bale as a young child. He was just as disturbing then but I really love this movie.

Okay, That's enough for now. Making another Blockbuster run (yes, they are still in business) tomorrow because watching a slew of movies is how we Van Dycks roll on vacation.

I am going to try to enjoy the rest of Spring Break.

Blessings!!