Tizzy's Journal

Journal Entry for February 6, 2008 Mood

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

THE DRAMA - So after I got on here almost in tears with a glass of wine about the cable jerks and the boss explosion. I got on the phone with Cable and I really just pressed on until I had 3 comcast vans at my house with a supervisor two lead technicians and a junior technician. They worked on the stuff for 3 hours into the night and were very curtious to me. The job is done and it looks great!!!!! I also got the phone working again. I have a voice over internet phone VOIP and it's been down every since the crap with cable. I thought it was that but it wasn't and so I was working on that and finally last night got that taken care of.

A lot of you were concerned about my last journal entry. Thank you so much!!!!! Friday was chaos. I got up and of course my first day off in weeks I invited my friend over. I had this big ole' fight with one of my co class mates... I'm going to include some of that at the end. If you like soap operas you will like this. I also included an email from my Professor. She says I did an outstanding job on both of my major projects which I really needed to hear. Anyhow check it out at the end. I think you will all enjoy.

I haven't been on as much as I'd like to be. I've just been so very busy. I'm trying to work out more to increase blood flow and to feel better about myself so that I get that can do attitude on. I've been doing 20 minutes of Yoga a morning. You know that it is proven to increase the chemical GABA or GAMA I can't remember but it's the chemical you are lacking when you are depressed. They are now prescribing yoga to persons with depression. I'm also walking a mile at least 2-3 days a week. I'm trying very hard to stay away from simple sugars and carbs.

Overall I'm doing well praise the Lord. I think the med change is really working and I feel almost fine. I'm still a little manic but only enough to feel good not dillusional. Which is good. My son is doing great. I wish I would turn the tv off more and spend time with him but really I'm so tired keeping my eyes open until it is time to go to bed is a struggle. My mornings and evenings are so pathetic. I try to rest when the show is on and when the commercials are on I'll check on the activity we are working on whether it is puzzles or computer games or playing the piano and i'll help him and when the show comes back on I chill again. I need to just turn the tv off but it doesn't happen often.

SAGA CONTINUED!

ok below is the first email of the string... Background is we were supposed to have this HUGE presentation on Saturday 2/2/2008 and there are 7 girls presenting for an hour. We divided some of the material into smaller groups of 2. Because there was an odd number one of us had to volunteer for 2 of the 2 person groups for this subject material. I was fine with one girl Milli but Tanaka never ever talked with me about our portion and I was frustrated so I sent an email as follows:

FROM ME: Hey Asheley the powerpoint looks FANTASTIC! I am so impressed! My last name is BURROWS though not Burrow... :-) If you could make that correction I would really appreciate it, but if it is too late that is fine too.

Tanaka I didn't get copied when you sent the changes to Ashley for our part of the presentation. You have not once responded to my emails this week. The changes look great but I really would have appreciated you participating in this team effort for you and me with me. I have no idea if we are doing the skit I proposed or not. I was hoping that maybe we could have talked thruogh email like you agreed and I'm very dissappointed in how this part of the project is turning out. Milli and I have worked together a great deal this week and I feel like that is how it should have gone. Please if you get a chance today email me so that I at least know if we ARE OR ARE NOT doing the skit. If I don't hear from you I guess I have no choice but to wing it tomorrow but that is definitely an unpleasant experience (winging it I mean). I hope to hear a response from you. Jennifer

FROM TANAKA (the evil class mate) Ashley,There has been so many emails going back and forth. Ashley, if you don’t mind again, will you send Jennifer the final PowerPoint so she can see the changes. Ashley, is there anything else.

Response for Jennifer: Jennifer, the last email that I received from you was on 1/22 with just your questions and with no mention of a skit (or suggestions for the PowerPoint). The lesson learned here is not to wait until the last minute. This is why initially I proposed that we have everything finalized last Saturday instead of working through the week (I have been corresponding w/Ashley for the past couple of days and you have been copied on the emails) so I am not understanding where your disappointment is coming from. In any event, to avoid confusion, and for you not to have to worry about winging it, I can handle on my own. See ya’ tomorrow.

ON 1/25/2008 I SENT THIS EMAIL she says I didn't send her anything since the 22nd but that is not true. I sent her this email... Which didn't matter the damage was done: Tanaka, I noticed that others had met throughout this week to work on there philosophy. I do not have that luxury to have time throughout the week and I think I heard you mention that as well. How would you like to work on our philosophy? Do you want to bring raw material to tomorrow's class and just work on it tomorrow? That was kind of what I was thinking. Jennifer

Anyhow I had to totally pull the southern thing... like I'm so sorry our team is lucky to have you with us. I didn't mean to do any harm and I certainly want this class to be a wonderful experience for you. I'm just really stressed and couldn't get through to you and didn't know what to do. I didn't mean to email the group I must have inadvertantly included them when I emailed you. I'm so sorry. I don't want to be your only issue here at TNU.

So on my class presentation we had an evaluation and I told the professor about our "miscommunication" and how I did "a great deal of the work.

PROF REPLIED:

Jennifer:

I wanted to follow up concerning your written comments about the group presentation this past Saturday. Do you feel like the work load was divided evenly between yourself and the other 6 members? Do you feel as if the issue(s) that you and Tanaka had in preparation for the presentation has (have) been resolved? The other members did not express concern in their written comments so I felt that it would be best to communicate with you individually. If you think things are fine, want to put it behind you and move on, I will keep your comments private; however, if you still feel uncomfortable, I am more than happy to set aside some time prior to or after class with your group to communicate feelings, etc.. As you know, you will be working closely with this group for the next year and I want not only you but everyone in the group to feel comfortable coming to class. Let me know your thoughts when you get a chance. Thanks, SO I REPLIED:

Dr. Conditt,

Thank you so much for your concern. I really appreciate it. I absolutely feel like the issue with Tanka is resolved. It wasn't really an issue so much as a miscommunication. I am happy to say that we talked it out on Friday pulled our part together quickly and everything is good / went very well on Saturday. I almost didn't say anything at all. In retrospect there really was no reason to say anything at all. Tanaka and I hung out after class even after you left so all is good. I know that in any working environment you will find personality differences and this is no different than if we were both teachers so it was good experience for both of us. We just had a miscommunication and I guess I just wanted to write about it.

As for the work load I believe it was weighted to the skills and resources of each member. Because I have been a teacher before so I was able to do the lesson plan, and knew how to create a hook for the beginning of the lesson. There was a need for one person to help with two presentations and I volunteered for it. I was not assigned it. There were just things that I knew and was happy to do. I could never have done that amazing powerpoint that Tanaka did. So yes I did a lot but I don't think it was unevenly divided, I think I just took on too much. haha. I think that on Saturday after the presentation I was really wore out and just overwhelmed and wanted to tell someone about it and about what I had done. Both Ashley and I were talking yesterday and today about how tired we were after our presentation.

I really wasn't sure if I should write anything about those two things anyhow. I guess I just felt like sharing at that time. There is nothing wrong and we are all becoming fast friends. I love everyone I'm working with and am so excited to have this opportunity. There is nothing to be concerned about. It is already behind me. I love your class! I was telling my Mother about what a wonderful teacher you are. I think that you have such a great balance between video, lecture, and group activities. You are such an encourager and your devotions have really touched me every time. I'm really glad that your class is the first class that I am taking in this program. I also really love the people I am getting to know. I LOVED college so I know I'll feel the same here. Again thank you for the concern. I think to a certain degree I was just venting :-). Sorry about that.

God Bless!

Jennifer Burrows

TO WHICH SHE REPLIED:

Jennifer,

YAY!! I am so happy that you think things are resolved. I have had days/events/situations where I also “just needed to vent” so I completely understand where you were coming from. Besides, you are in an overwhelming class and you have had a lot of work from the class as of late (website presentation, group presentation, curriculum map, etc.) plus you are a mom and I know how consuming that role can be! I will consider any miscommunication from Saturday’s presentation resolved and won’t mention it again. I am so happy that you are enjoying the class and making friends. I think a lot of the MAT program and believe it will more than prepare you for teaching in the local public school system. You also are blessed to be in the group that you have been assigned to. I have worked with several groups and I get a very good feel from your group. There are a lot of hard and caring workers in this group …just the ingredients for great friends and teachers. You are doing a fabulous job…both the website and group presentation were outstanding. Keep up the good work J! Have a WONDERFUL Saturday…sleep in and enjoy that precious son of yours! I’ll see you on the 16th !!

SO..... You can see that I have the most amazing professor ever. I think my stupid bipolar just got in the way a bit, but I think I did well digging myself out. On my behalf that girl is a stupid bitch. Anyhow the saga ended well with a wonderful presentation and as my professor put it OUTSTANDING WORK! YAY!!!!

Hug Tizzy

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Comments

Argh! All the "group work" for a master's degree can be very challenging. I remember getting into it in a big way with a fellow class member one time. I'm glad you were able to resolve the situation.

morgainev