A little bit about books, a little bit about life.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Completely Random

Yes....call me crazy. Because that's what I am. Crazy. I'm turning 50 this year, and while the actual number 50 doesn't bother me, I have been feeling as if I need to mark this occasion with something special. And being me, marking it with a fun-filled vacation to Tahiti or a life-time dream of a trip to Europe wasn't going to make the final cut (could be something like I can't afford Tahiti or Europe right now... I have 3 grandbabies due this year)
I decided to do two things: one was to particpate in a 3-day, 60-mile walk for breast cancer, and this is huge for me, because I can't catch my breath going up my own stairs. (that is a slight exaggeration, but only slight. LOL ) So I'm on a training schedule for the next 7 months. Wish me luck.

and just in case any of you felt so inclined to donate to the cause (yes,I realize this is shameless. SHAMELESS! But I have to raise $2300---$5 here and there add up :~)
just click here. ( thank you if you do...and no worries if you don't)

The 2nd thing I decided to do is take a class at our local college. "Beatles Across the Universe". It's an intergrated studies class. I had no idea what that meant. I just like the sound of the class and decided to take it. I had to get instructor permission, because it's an upper level class and I don't have all of the prerequisits. I take classes every once in a while as something fun and interesting to do. Yeah, I know--HUGE DORK.
I haven't taken any of my math requirements...NONE. I don't like math. But this is all besides the point..... the point is: I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE FUN???!!
Last night was the first class. I think I am in over my head. Plus I am the oldest person in the class.
We live in a very rural Nevada town (every town in Nevada is rural except for Reno and Las Vegas).....so we live out in the middle of nowhere. You Eastern people don't understand what "in the middle of nowhere" means. Take it literally.
Great Basin Community College is our college. It is based in Elko, NV, but we have branch campus here in Winnemucca, as well as in other small towns in a 7-hour...YES, 7 HOUR radius of Elko. (that is driving time).
Sometimes intructors are based in a town that isnt' your town....so they have a video class. There is a more technical name of course, but it bowls down to a big fancy-schmancy video system that broadcasts your class, the teacher and classes in other towns. there are two huge screens, one always shows the insturctor and the other one shows the classroom of someone who is talking or asking a question or particiapting in some way, so that one jumps around.
IF....you are just listening to the instructor lecture, it stays on your classroom.

So....you can see yourself. And I saw myself. It was very uncomfortable for me. I couldn't get over my socks. Seriously. I stared at them all night long. They were white. Like I had soaked them in bleach and just put them on. White was screaming out at me.
Note to self: wear blue socks next time. socks the color of my jeans. Or boots...wear boots.
Because of my age, I am really going to have to get used to this video broadcast thing. Well I feel as if it's my age, as everyone else seemed perfectly comfortable with the video technology.
One third of the grade is on participation....so I'm going to have to get over my fears.....of seeing my white socks.

Yes, I am crazy. But not as crazy as the instructor. I've never seen a more devoted fan of the Beatles. This week we discussed the Beatles up to 1962--PRE Ringo Starr.
Every time the instructor put a record on (he has a great collection of rare records), so that we could listen to their beginning sounds...he, the instructor would ..."Lip sync" to the song. And play the air guitar.
Now remember he is being broadcast to the campus network.... lip syncing. And exaggerated at that.
Kind of like playing charades or guesstures. A bad mime.

He's a nice man, and a good instructor.... ummm, not so good at lip syncing or air guitar. As my friend Jolina said...it's like watching a train wreck, you just can't look away even tho you probaby should.
*********

I have to research and find information related to the Beatles on/about the first canonized Catholic Saint in the United States. (Because....they released a song in Germany in 1960 called Saints. )
This is my assignement for next week... and then I get to present it, over the evil, vile, stinking campus broadcast system.

I really am crazy. And nervous.

I should have taken a cooking class. Or joined another book club. YIKES.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

You go girl Good for you going to school, and doing something different. I am your age and I myself am going back to school not for fun though but to get back into the racket. I am in the same boat as you feeling funny being the oldest person. I don't know if I would take a class via satelite though. My problem is the computer technology. Doing a research paper with all fangled new technology. If you want to see how I fared last semester you can see by going to my post about my paper that almost wasn't. Have Fun

bermudaonion said...

Good luck with the walk!

Sara said...

Hey, good for you for doing the 3 day! That will be a challenge, but you can do it!

Also good for you for going back to school. That is hard, especially when you are older and the students are more technologically advanced than yoU!

Tracy(bookroomreviews) said...

Sounds like a fun class. Good for you! Don't stress over your socks either:)

Jo-Jo said...

Oh you will be fine! I can't wait to hear how your presentation went.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for visiting my blog!

I love yours....the "what's on your nightstand" post is great! It kind of goes with my post today about library books and fines.

I see in your stack that you have "The Thirteenth Tale"....what do you think of that book? I read it last year...and it was a little creepy. Entertaining, I guess!

I am a girl with a very big stack of books next to my bed that I am trying to read...it's comforting to have them there :-)

Sandra said...

Oh, Debbie. This reminds me so much of the Fiction Writing class I took last year at a local college. It was me and a bunch of kids who were between 18 and 21! I felt sooo out of my league. But, I ended up loving it, and really benefiting from being around such a great group of kids, who were always friendly to me, and never ONCE called me grandma (at least not to my face!) :)

But, the video thing would have really made me nervous too. And no air guitar, but our professor DID act out many quotes from various books and movies. He was actually very good at that, so I really enjoy it. btw, HE was even two years younger tham me. :(

Jolina said...

I was in hysterics reading your blog about the Beatles class. I guess because I am so used to the technology I don't think about it when I'm in there. I am pretty certain no one else saw your white socks. When I set classes or meetings up with a couple of people, I always set the camera so it only shows from the table up. It bugs me to see waist down for some reason.