FINAL!!!!!!

Course Goals:
Develop the ability to work well with others on composing tasks.
This semester of English, I have done the most group work I've ever done in my whole entire life. Now, I don't really like working in groups because I like working at my own pace. However, the intensive and peer reviews that we participated in were quite helpful. For me, it was like constructive criticism. At the time, I didn't like to think that anything was wrong with my paper. I wanted everyone to say that my paper was perfect. Therefore, I didn't take the criticism well. But now that I look back at it I know that my classmates weren't attacking me in any way. They gave me some helpful tips in how I could make my writing stronger. I really hated this class when I found out that we were going to be working in groups. And when I hate something, I don't really have an open mind about changing my ways of thinking. It wasn't until one of my papers got intensively reviewed that I was more open-minded about working in groups. I think it just really put it into perspective for me. So working in groups in this English class this semester has helped me in more ways than one; working more efficiently in groups and have more of an open mind and not think I'm so perfect all the time. Thank you English 103/my classmates/ Professor McArdle.

Develop effective strategies of invention, drafting, and revision for different audiences and different purposes.
I don't believe I have developed any strategies of invention, drafting, and revision during the course of this semester in English 103. I don't really see how we were taught any of these. I had trouble starting any of my drafts only for the reason that I didn't know how to start. And for me, getting started is the hardest part. I never knew what to write about, therefore, I just put it on the back burner thinking something will come to me later. But later always rolls around and I forget about it. Now I know I should take responsibility for my own actions, and that I am, but I think if we learned more about drafting and such this would have helped me get an earlier start and get things turned in on time!

Understand that persuasion- both visual and verbal- is integral to reading and composing.
I can be easily convinced with anything; It's the wonder of being naive. However, I can also tell when something is meant to be persuasive and when something isn't. So the understanding persuasion while I'm reading isn't really my problem. It's the composing part that gets me every time. I can be persuasive, but I don't really know when I'm doing it. This goes along with me having a hard time applying what I learn to certain assignments, such as writing. It's like I just go with it and hope for the best. I know that's not the best way to go about things, but that's the only way I know how to get through things. It's like I don't do things for a purpose and I was hoping I could learn some more about that this semester in English 103. I want to be able to apply things that I learn to real life because if I never do so then I'm going through life by just getting by without a purpose and without retaining any information. That means my whole education was a waste. Anyways, hopefully during my college career I can develop these skills and make the thousands of dollars worth it.

SNOW!!!! :]

hokay so it snowed today! woot woot! See, I hate being cold, but I don't really mind it if it's SNOWING!! Snow is quite possibly the greatest thing about winter (next to Christmas of course). There's just so much to do in snow! You can sled in the snow; ski in the snow; snowboard in the snow; make snow angels in snow; make snowmen out of snow; make a fort out of snow; have a snowball fight; catch snowflakes with your tongue; go tobogganing in the snow; eat icicles in the snow; write your name in the snow; dog sledding in the snow (mushing!); go ice skating in the snow (when the snow has frozen over); climb mountains in the snow; shovel and/or snow blow driveways to make money in the snow; play with your dogs in the snow; work out in the snow (believe me, it's one heck of a work out); and so much more!

Just imagine winter without snow. It would be miserable and just cold (depending on the state, of course). When you walk in the morning after it has snowed, it so quiet that no traffic can be heard or anything. It's so peaceful. I just can't get over how much I LOVE the snow! I can't wait until it snows a lot. It will be great fun!

p.s. if I never said "snow" again in my whole entire life, I think I would be ok with that. I've said some form of "snow" 31 times (including the one in this sentence) throughout this post.

I'm gonna tease your brain yo

Ok so I basically want to take a break from all the serious bloggness and do something more exciting-ish. So how about some BRAIN TEASERS! I totally forgot about them until now. So I figured I would share one with you guys:

(in your head!) Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What is the total?

I will post the answer in a comment on Sunday night. Good luck!

I'm lost....

So me and my friend are going through this thing where we feel as if we need to "find ourselves." I mean we are at a point in our lives where we should feel like we serve a purpose or we know where we stand as a person. I guess we don't know exactly where it is that we stand. For me, I feel that I don't know anything. That can sound vague so some explanation is needed. For instance, when someone asks me what I want to do after I graduate I have no idea how to answer that because I have no idea what I want to do after I graduate. Another example would be if someone would ask me if you could ask God any question what would it be? I couldn't come up with an answer. My mind seems to become blank all of the sudden. I mean it's not like I'm an idiot (at least I hope not). But sometimes I feel as if I don't have an opinion on important issues. So I guess ignorant would be the right word to describe what I've been experiencing. I HATE not knowing things like this. It scares the crap out of me. I guess college would be a good place to start looking for yourself. But then again I feel like I'm easily influenced by people. So I don't have my own opinion about things.

I know all of this may sound extremely confusing to some of you because believe me it's confusing to me too. But I guess in a sense, that's what life is all about. Just figuring life out is exhausting.

It's good and good for you...

Recently, I have been wanting to be more health conscious because I'm slowly on my way to gaining that freshmen fifteen. Yikes! To accomplish this, I've been watching what I've been eating (somewhat) and working out (not a lot, but more than I have been). I heard if you totally eliminate sweets and junk food from your diet that it helps out A LOT. I'm trying to do that, but my sweet tooth is more like a sweet grill (you know like the rappers wear) except that it's permanently stuck in my mouth, so I guess that would be called sweet teeth. Whatever I think you get the point. ANYWAYS...

I'm also sort of stressed out with school. And thinking about working out and eating right stresses me out too because when I'm stressed, all I want to do is eat junk food. So I was hoping I could find a solution to my stress/working out/eating problem. I was thinking maybe pilates or yoga. I mean the the breathing exercises that go along with these workouts seem to be rather relaxing. Even the music is soothing. And while you're "relaxing", you're also getting fit. I never understood how yoga or pilates could be such a good work out, but people say it works. So I figure I may give it a try. My only concern is that I don't think I will have the patience for it. Hopefully by relaxing, it will give me patience for everything, including eating right! Everything comes together now! woot! anyways I was just wondering if any of you have tried yoga or pilates and if it has worked for you.

Long Time Gone

It's been forever since I've written one of these. No worries because I am baaaaaack! :] But not much in my life has changed except for the fact that I'm an aunt again to a beautiful baby girl! Her delicate hands, her raspy whimpers, and her dark head of locks; everything about her is simply sensational. Oh yea I forgot to mention her name, Ava Grace! The beautiful name surely compliments her beauty alone.

Since I'm a fashion major, I can't wait to dress her up in fashionable baby clothes and do her hair all cute! My niece will be a diva. I will make sure of it!

I'm so happy for my sister and my brother-in-law! It's their first child. I can honestly say, I didn't think I would ever see the day my sister would be a mother. As a kid, she would always pick on me. Not a very motherly thing to do, but she has grown and adapted maternally. I'm very excited for the both of them and for the growth of their family!

where has the semester gone?

Is it just me or has the semester flown by? It seems like the weeks keep going by faster and faster. Just in a couple weeks, everyone will be packing up for the weekend to go home for Thanksgiving break. It's crazy I tell you! I'm not complaining by any means. It's just that it's going by so fast that I hardly remember what my freshmen year has been like so far. For me, this week is a short one so there goes another week that has flown by. I only have three days of classes because on Thursday and Friday I'm going to Chicago with my fashion class! :] It will be way fun because we leave Thursday morning and get to shop all day! Then Friday we have to get up way early to participate in our fashion workshop that we signed up for. Each of us going on the trip signed up for four classes of interest, that are fashion related of course. So basically we spend all day learning about fashion stuff! How exciting is that? Super exciting!