Andrea's Blog

Online chat session

2008-07-17T04:02:00Z

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.

Busy

2008-07-16T01:47:00Z

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.

Fourth of July weekend

2008-07-07T03:18:00Z

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.

Big promotion

2008-07-03T03:42:00Z

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…

Frustrating day

2008-06-30T02:10:00Z

Today I woke up to discover that the mail server for work is completely shut down. Come to find out that my ex super didn’t pay attention to an email three weeks ago and now everything has come to a screeching halt. I am sure that everyone that is out of the office and set up to get email on their blackberries are freaking out.

Tomorrow I have my first meeting with the software people, and looking forward to it. Today was nice, I actually got to lie on the couch and veg out, and watch a movie as a family, how nice that was. I am sure that this week will be filled with new challenges. I was able to do some research on a mac install issue while the house was quiet for a few hours. I really love Sundays.

This month is coming to a close, where did it go? On Saturday I was able to catch up on some bookkeeping and bills which is always great to do. I still love the break from school right now. I get to bed at a decent hour and I am not dragging at work every day from staying up to the wee hours of the morning working on assignments. I am really dreading the summer session starting. I really am not excited about finishing school four years from now. I contacted my academic advisor a few months ago to see if I could get an associate’s degree or at least a certificate for the classes that I have completed, unfortunately there is no associates program and I have too many credits for the certificate. The only way that I will get a degree is if I complete four more years. I really don’t know if I can keep up with everything for that long. The past two years have really been a strain on my family, marriage and me. I have gained so much gray over the past two years from not taking care of myself properly. I have dark circles permanently from the lack of sleep. Trying to juggle everything really takes its toll on the body.

Finally, things are looking up

2008-06-29T03:18:00Z

Today I had a pleasant surprise in the mail; it was a refund check from school for overpayment of SallieMae, my student loan account. Ironically, I was joking around with a co-worker that life would be easier if $xxxx.xx amount showed up somehow to help me out financially. Wouldn’t you know it, the check was for a little bit more than the number I said. I hope this is good karma or something coming to fruition. The little surprise was the amount that we still needed to save for the closing costs of our house. Ah, I can let my shoulders down a bit, everything will be fine.

Yesterday at work, things seemed to have calmed down and I was able to finish cleaning my new office out. I am finally organized and feel really prepared to be awesome at my new opportunity at work. I get to be a part of an important meeting for the software implementation and get up to speed on that which is a project that I have been in the dark about at work. First thing Friday morning, there was a crisis with our current accounting system, and I had it back up in five minutes. That was a great feeling that I could remedy that simple problem. I also got two software upgrades done on Friday. I also have a much better understanding of the mail server system writing in Linux. I impressed the owner on Friday with setting his blackberry up for his travels. I also was successful of solving a problem that I had with other users blackberries’. I had quite a few vacation messages to write too. The owner was also impressed with how I had organized I my new office, my recently departed supervisor was a pack rat and had over one hundred Mountain Dew bottles stashed everywhere.

Today, my husband and I did a favor for a friend and helped them out with some custom blinds for their house that they are remodeling. We also did a few extra things like screwing in ceiling air vents and shortening a few existing blinds. We also added a crown molding header to the existing units, what a difference that made to their house.

It does not get any easier

2008-06-27T02:59:00Z

Well, Tuesday the bomb was dropped on me at work. My IT supervisor quit with no notice to relocate and take care of family matters. I have slid into his position along with all of the responsibilities and headaches. It is a big jump for me into the unknown to be an IT director of a company. I have always done IT support, but not to this level. The company that I work for is in the process of implementing new servers along with new accounting software. In addition, I have to implement many new users as the company is expanding.

With the new responsibilities with work, I am stressed about the upcoming semester with school and how I will be able to juggle both of them. I hope that I won’t have to quit school, but sometime I think that a person needs to look at what is in front of them instead of a long term goal. I am running with the opportunity, and hope that I can succeed.

This small break from school happened at just the right time. I don’t know how I could handle this change in responsibility along with class. It will be a very tough decision for me. For now, with all of the new events, I am taking things a day at a time, that’s all I can do.

Tonight after work, I drove out to the lot to check the progress of the construction. It will be interesting to see if they can get the house completed by the end of August, considering that the slab isn’t even poured yet.

Today I had a nice surprise at work, my mother had flowers delivered for me. I guess that they must be as a congratulations for the job advancement. The whole thing isn’t even official yet, I have to prove myself to the owners that I am capable of the responsibilities that go along with it. I doubt myself, but my husband tells me that this is the job that I have been training for all of my life, we will see.

Easier done than said

2008-06-24T01:51:00Z

Today at work was surprisingly easy and fairly quiet for computer support. My supervisor had the day off, which left me alone as the IT support. Things went very well.

I stopped at the construction site tonight and was very happy to see that they had the rough plumbing in and the work passed inspection. Tomorrow is the second day of rough plumbing, probably to cover all of the pipes and do a rough grade of the area where the foundation goes. Then comes the slab prep and then it is poured. I can’t wait. Every day is so exciting to see what progress has been made.

Even though I had an easy day, I am fairly tired for what time it is. I am really utilizing this time off of class to recharge my batteries and get all of the laying around the house out of my system. But if you know me, you would know that I am still locked in my office most of the time doing research or working on something. I actually was able to find the time to thumb through a few catalogs and magazines that have been sitting in my bin for a few months that was a nice feeling to do something that I wanted.

Tomorrow I am sure that I will find out some details about the next step in my position at work, maybe I will advance in my responsibilities for all of my hard work. Hopefully the saying that a little hard work never hurt anyone comes true soon; I could really use advancement opportunity for all of my years of service as a designer.

I wish that this break from school lasted much longer, I am really enjoying the minimized amount of stress in my life along with the extra sleep. I don’t think that you can ever make up for lost sleep.

Another weekend winds down

2008-06-23T04:40:00Z

This weekend, I forced myself to lay around on Sunday. I had four little projects come in late afternoon, but it was nice to make a little extra dough. Saturday we spent most of the day doing chores around the house and made it presentable for a showing. The house that we currently reside in is for sale. We had our first interested party come through. It was a great feeling when she was impressed with house the house was presented and said that it was the best in the neighborhood. Relief that we did a good job.

Tomorrow will probably present itself as a busy day at work. My supervisor is out of the state so I am left in charge of any disasters. I hope that it turns out to be a quiet day. I do have a meeting for the afternoon, but hopefully there are no fires to put out. I hope to take the opportunity to shine with the opportunity.

Work on the new home has been monumental with the stakes for the foundation in. The rough plumbing was supposed to be completed over the weekend, but I didn’t drive down to check. Gas is too expensive to be gallivanting around every day. We did visit on Saturday just poking around town to the local blockbuster and dinner out as a family. It was nice, but my daughter is so negative all of the time. It is as if she never has anything positive to say. It worries me. Her summer vacation thus far has consisted of sleeping late and eating. Makes me wish that I was a teenager again. I remember pulling the same routine as her.

This week lines up a few more side project opportunities. Two of our friends have decided to let me help them with ideas for their home renovations; I am honored with the gesture and am excited for the practice.

Relax

2008-06-21T21:15:00Z

It has been a whole week of break that has transpired already since the end of spring session. My next class will be introduction to AutoCAD and I am very excited about it. I got my wish of Textiles class for the second session of summer and am very excited about the upcoming semester.

This past week has been a very busy one, with work moving forward with the implementation of new users and equipment. I also received some more job training and more responsibility which makes me feel good that I am advancing with the new job.

Today we showed the house that we rent to a potential buyer for the landlord. We are very anxious to be moving out in a few months to our new house, but we will definitely miss the neighborhood.

The new house is finally seeing some action. On Thursday they put the forms in for the foundation, and this weekend the rough plumbing will go in. The slab should be poured this week and exterior walls and roof start next week and finish up the week after the fourth of July. Then the interior will start with wiring and the two by fours. Can you tell that I am excited? I had our first construction meeting this week and that went very well. I had a chance to look at the plans and it felt so good to be able to read them correctly with all of the symbols. It was awesome to look at the front and side elevations along with the foundation and roofing plans. The contractor and I also went over the electrical and plumbing plans. We also ran through all of the interior touches such as the cabinets, appliances, and tile and plumbing fixtures.

For the rest of the afternoon, I get to lie around and relax. No side work for this woman today. It’s nice that we got all of the cleaning and outside work like the grass cut and weeds pulled before we showed the house today. That means that the rest of my weekend is my own. I do have a computer to repair, but that can wait until Monday or Tuesday. It depends on when a design project that I have been anticipating comes in for me.

I hope the sun comes out soon and maybe I will be able to lay by the pool with a book that I have been meaning to read for quite some time. I can’t remember when I read a book on my own verses required reading for class.

Class break

2008-06-16T23:33:00Z

Well, spring session is finally over. The instructor for Composition 2, posted final grades already which is surprisingly fast. I am so glad that I get a month break between now and summer session. My academic advisor said that it is the first time in history that there is a month break between sessions. I haven’t had a chance to slow down yet with work and freelance projects, but I hope that it will in a few months.

The house construction has finally started, we are on day three and it is very exciting to actually see some progress instead of just a lot of dirt with a sold sign on it. Thursday I have our first preconstruction meeting, and I can’t wait to be a client and learn the process to better myself when the table is turned and I am on the other side as an interior designer.

Work had a rough start, but I kept my head down and worked as feverishly as possible to complete projects. My husband and I both had a rough day at work and came home to my daughter not accomplishing any of her normal chores. It really upsets me when we work all day and she lounges around like a princess, and then wonders why we get upset with her and punish her by taking a privilege away from her. Kids!

School for her starts in two months, and I am sure it will be a long summer for us while she is home. I don’t think that I have ever met a kid as lazy as her. I know that sounds horrible to say, and I am embarrassed to share it, but she is nothing like me at all.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I am looking forward to sacking out on the couch in a few minutes. I am very interested to see how bored I get over the next month while I am on break from school. I hope that I am anxious, focused and ready to return. I also hope that things settle down so that the juggle of it all is not so difficult. This past semester really presented itself with more obstacles than others.

One more assignment.

2008-06-14T02:40:00Z

One more and I am home free, I can’t wait. I have to submit my final research paper for Composition class. Hip-Hip Horray. I have decided that I am going to head that off first thing in the morning, so maybe, I can enjoy my weekend with no fuss or muss.

Tonight I had two assignments due, a critique and a discussion question. Both assignments I spent a considerable amount of time on to really put my best foot forward. Tomorrow I am hoping to have the same momentum and finish a knock out paper. I still have quite a bit of work to do, but I am sure that it will come together nicely when it is complete.

This week I have been pretty busy with work, coming home exhausted from the day. It has also been considerably hot and humid which doesn’t help. You walk out the door and instantly start sweating. Summer is definitely here.

We are finally seeing some progress on the house. Yesterday they put the permit box out with all of the plans inside. I really am anxious to look at the complete set of drawings for everything. I have learned the entire process with my introduction to Architecture, I have drawn every sheet in a set for a fictitious client for my class projects, but this will be for real and mine.

Today, they put the stakes in to indicate the outer and inner perimeter of the exterior walls, where the footers will go. The next step will be to bring in some topsoil. When I went out there today, the trusses for the home next store were laying across a portion of our property overlaying the area of our house. It would have been great to get a better feeling to the overall space of the entire house, maybe next time. It will also be interesting to see how fast they put the trusses up next store as an indication of how fast ours will be done. It seems that there will be about a two to three week time span as each one of the new families move in on our cul de sac. It will be exciting to meet our new neighbors.

Is it summer break yet?

2008-06-12T01:41:00Z

I am so tired. I think the longer that I am a student, the more tired I get trying to stay up late and meet the submission requirements. I have purchased a lot of hair dye since my enrollment. I always feel like I am going like the Energizer bunny and can’t stop. I am so looking forward to a month break from any class. I am so exhausted that all I want to do it lay on the couch in front of the TV and veg.

I went to the doctor today to get some help with my anxiety. Since this class started and all fo the personal issues that we have experienced, I started to have anxiety attacks and chest pain. I am getting really tired of being tired all of the time too. I so miss the life of a normal person that just goes to work and sits in front of the TV at night or has free time to visit with friends. I have completed two whole years of school part time and a gasp when I look ahead to the four that I have left to complete. I have made a promise to myself to enjoy this upcoming break and complete the summer session, then I am going to re-assess my goals and decide to continue with school in Fall.

In addition to my chest pains, I have also been very short fused and irritable, kind of ready to blow. My daughter is getting on my nerves being out of school herself for the summer. I suppose she thinks that now that she is a high school student, that she can just go run the road like she is instantly more mature and responsible. Every time she opens her mouth, I am automatically saying no and getting upset with her. I don’t want to get any worse to the point that my daughter will recent me when she ages. I am so overwhelmed and feel like I am falling with everything that piles up on my shoulders. Three more days to go till summer break.

Soaked up the sun

2008-06-09T02:34:00Z

I was able to obtain my goal of lounging around the pool on a Sunday. Today was a gorgous day, not to hot, not too windy. We went down to relax late afternoon, my husband put some time in on a side job today for a little extra money. I stayed up until six am working and taking advantage of a quiet house to get caught up on little things that needed to be done like follow up emails to potential clients. It was such a relief for me to see him get off of his butt and attempt to make some extra money and contribute to what we need for closing.

Tonight for class, I had to create an annotated bibliography for my final paper. I spent a few hours looking for respectable sources online for my paper of how the Women’s movement has affected women and families as a whole. My final paper is due on Saturday, which is also the last day of class.

Tomorrow is the start of the work week, and unfortunately, tasks that need to be done were running through my head last night and getting pretty long. I am sure that it will be a struggle for me to accomplish everything that needs to be obtained along with the amount of assignments for school this week. I will get through it, I always do.

The upcoming weeks should start to get exciting as we will start to see the construction start on our new house. First the foundation, and then the walls. Being in Florida, we can’t use the term break ground, since there are no basements. The subdivision looks pretty good after the fires, I am really surprised considering the damage that was caused and the emotional downfall it was to experience. There is a home, a few doors down with the same elevation that is currently under construction. We were able to walk the structure and compare it to how our own finished product will look like. Even though the exterior colors are the same scheme, they will look different. Also the interior is very opposite to what we are doing. We have modified the plan a bit and have chosen different finishes for the cabinets and countertops throughout. The lighting will also be different. It will be two completely different homes on the inside, but it is good to be different from the neighbors to offer a bit of variety and uniqueness to the subdivision.

Sundays

2008-06-08T02:20:00Z

As always, it happens that Sunday is my glimmer of hope that I will have a few moments to really fully relax. Saturdays tend to be consumed with housework, homework and perhaps a little work. Tomorrow, which is Sunday, I will be able to spend a few hours lounging and soaking at the pool. The sun always feels good, especially when you can jump in the refreshing water on a hot day. I can image lying in a chair with my eyes closed, feeling the warm and health on my skin.Tonight for homework, I had two assignments to complete. I had to respond four times in response to my peer’s answers to the assigned essays for the week. I was surprised to notice an improvement of the quality of work from my peers. I have been disappointed lately in the lack of substance found in my classmates work. I also had to do a prewriting exercise, just quick notes or points, really direction for our big paper of the week that we have to write. With only a week left, this week’s required submission is rather large compared to our normal word count. This essay has to be 1,600-2,000 words and focus on a literary work, indicating its historical significance. For example the paper’s topic has to be something like British Imperialism, U.S. race relations in the 1930's and 40's, The Feminist Movement, or the Civil Rights Movement. We also have to include an Annotated Bibliography which was a new concept for the week.I am rather nervous about the paper, but I have decided to do it on the women’s movement and how it has affected the role of women today. I think it will be a nice to learn the facts about something or an event that has changed the world, even though I personally think that it has a direct effect on the increase of crime and the social problems today, but who am I to judge? Tomorrow, I do have two assignments also due. I have to give feedback to other people’s pre writing postings, and come up with an annotated bibliography of at least 4-5 historical sources relevant to your paper.

The last week of class is always so heavy on activity required to finish a class, six more days until break.