My personal goal of earning a bachelors degree is very important to me because I failed to complete an associate’s degree ten years ago. I know that Interior Design it is going to be a fantastic adventure to experience working with various elements such as fabrics, furniture, and lighting which will open up a whole new world to design and explore.

I feel that it is imperative to always have a goal and to stay committed and focused no matter how long or turbulent the road is to achieve it. I know that I am a great example of personal strength and perseverance. I will complete my bachelor’s degree online in seven years from now which may be a long road for some, but well worth the struggle.

July 2008 - Posts

• Online chat session

  Tonight my instructor gave us an opportunity to earn five extra credit points by logging into an online chat session with two instructors that utilized desktop sharing. It was awesome to see firsthand how to start using my new program AutoCAD. I have never used this program, so I was naturally intimidated by the challenge to learn something new. I found the forum very helpful to have a visual demonstration verses just textbook and online lectures on how to learn a new skill. These online chats are going to be held every Wednesday night, so I am sure that I will utilize this benefit as a student often. Work was work today. Another complete day of running around with my head cut off trying to get things accomplished. I never seem to be able to get everything done that I would like to accomplish and mark of my task list. Email and phone calls for help pour in constantly. I have already been tempted to put my phone on do not disturb for a few hours just to have time to focus on one thing at a time. I guess it is to be expected with all of the changes that I am introducing to the company with email and a whole new accounting system and complete rebuild of the infrastructure. I am learning that most people to not adapt to change very well. It just gets tiresome to have to explain a new process over and over to about 100 individuals. Everyone seems to think that they are the most important issue that needs my attention. Today I drove by my new home and took some more pictures of the process. I also took a few minutes to catch up with my husband and his day. He actually told me that he is proud of me and has been very patient with all of the hours that I have been putting in. I think that he has finally realized that I am an overachiever. Thank god he was conditioned by his father that has the same Midwest work ethic as I do. Posted Jul 17 2008, 12:02 AM by ajessey with no comments

• Busy

  I apologize for not writing at all last week, but I put in ninety hours.  I am exhausted. Yesterday my return of class started after my long and restful three week break. I am currently enrolled in Intro to AutoCAD which is a class that I have always wanted to take.  AutoCAD is one computer program that I know absolutely nothing about, and can’t wait to add it to my list of applications on my resume. Last night I spent some time getting reacquainted with the online classroom environment, it kind of felt like I was logging in for the first time. The Art Institute online just recently redesigned their student interface and added a lot of cool features such as more tutoring, better access to transcripts, a better way to review student loans, make payments and contact your advisor.  The module also has a better aesthetic to it which is very much welcomed I am sure. For being an art school, you would have thought that things would have been set up better in the past, well anyways, we have it now. I know that this semester will be very challenging for me juggling the demands of school along with an implementation of a new infrastructure by day at work. I also have the house construction to deal with.  I have recently stopped in to check the status of the project, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see the framing, windows, flashing, HVAC and rough plumbing were done.  School has definitely helped me understand the technical process of home construction which has made it very easy to communicate with the contractor along with being able to apply real world experience to my textbook education thus far. I have been seriously been contemplating taking a six month break from school after we close on the house. I really need a break from the commitment of time to focus and really get a better handle on the upcoming projects at work. I really don’t know how I am going to get through the end of summer session. Posted Jul 15 2008, 09:47 PM by ajessey with 3 comment(s)

• Fourth of July weekend

  Yes, it was a three day weekend, but it was no rest for the wicked. I worked a lot of hours this weekend. I built two computer systems and repaired two systems.  I also spent a lot of time cleaning up the mail server for work and troubleshooting the issues that I have had with it since Thursday.  I didn’t get out of work until six o’clock because I had to work on a project with the owner and their assistant. I put in a lot more hours since the promotion, and there is a lot more issues to deal with. More money always means much more responsibility. Hopefully when I get into the office tomorrow, it will be a slow start morning. I hate to walk into my office and have the phone ringing right away with a problem that I have to take care of before unpacking my bag and having the opportunity to get plugged in with all of my equipment. I don’t know where the days go lately. I made the time to slip away from the computer for a few hours today and went to the pool with my daughter and husband. It was nice to feel the sun and float in the pool. I was able to unplug my head and hands from the computer stuff for a few hours at least.  I built my daughter a new computer for school. She will be going into high school in a few months, I can’t believe it. Yesterday, I did a computer install and stopped by our lot. Again there were new things done. Every time I go out there, some sort of work has been done. I wasn’t in a rush to get somewhere, so I spent some time picking up the garbage from the workers. I hate to see garbage laying around on my investment. I try to pick up once in a while to avoid the trash later being buried under the new lawn and discovering it when we go to plant a tree or something down the road. Here I worked so hard to get to this point in life, to buy our first home, and others have such lack of respect, it is disheartening.  Posted Jul 06 2008, 11:18 PM by ajessey with no comments

• Big promotion

  Today was the big day for me at work. My 90 day probation is over on Monday, and today I was promoted to the IT director at work along with a nice raise. I was also given an incentive for another raise in six months if all goes well. Horray.  The week since I took over has been tough, but not as bad as I had thought. The best news about it is that it is retroactive and the raise will be on my check tomorrow, isn’t that a nice Fourth of July treat. My family is very proud of me and the hard work, hours and dedication that I have put in over the years to get an opportunity like this. Tonight my husband and I went down to the lot to check out the progress and was pleasantly surprised that the trusses were delivered and the framing will start tomorrow and probably finish up on Tuesday. This house construction project is going much faster than we had originally expected. The beginning of the process was very long and pain stacking, but now it is definitely worth the frustration. It is so exciting to watch the project from start to finish and think that in less than two months we will be moved in. My daughter is bored being at home on summer break from school. We taped a few work out shows off of the TV so that she can exercise and get some movement during the day instead of being cooped up. I feel sorry for her to not have anyone to talk to but the dog and a few friends on the phone. Her best friend in visiting in Louisiana so she is very alone. I wish I could lay low at the house or venture out and have some fun with her verses working.  The three day weekend will be a great break for me. My last bit of relaxation before school starts. I always enjoy three day weekends; I actually get one day to relax verses the norm of doing housework over the weekend.  Ahhh relax… Posted Jul 02 2008, 11:42 PM by ajessey with no comments