I learned something this week

The reason I have to spend so much time studying instead of sleeping is I actually do all the readings for the non-insurance classes. It turns out no one else does those.

For the last week I tried an experiment and stopped reading all that stuff. I just read for the three insurance courses. It’s a lot more manageable that way and I have more time to devote to learning the insurance material.

The funny thing is I don’t feel behind at all from not doing those readings. They seem to have little bearing on those classes. I’ll have tests I’ll need to read the text for, but I’d read it again when studying for tests if I had read it before anyway.

Basically, it seems I’m going to get a lot more sleep and have a much better handle on this semester from here on out.

I am falling apart

I found a huge bruise on my right calf a few days ago with no idea of how I got it. My right knee hurts and has a bruise on the kneecap. Last night my back started hurting on my lower-right side and this morning it hurt do much more that it woke me up.

Whatever I’m doing, it’s obvious that my right side is not happy right now. My knee and my back and having synchronized waves of pain and it sucks. I need to find my microwaveable bean bag thing and hope that helps.

So

Today I had a very important insurance midterm and so I’ve had even more trouble than normal sleeping and keeping to any sort of normal patterns. I was stressing so much that I’d go to bed at 12:30am or 1am and wake up around 5am unable to sleep any more so I’d just study. I studied from 7:30am to 1pm today before the test, then after it was over we had a lesson until 3:30pm.

I got home around 5pm and was very burned out so I’ve done shit all since then. I had some ice cream and watched Gilmore Girls, had red curry chicken, watched some TV with Dean and got some knitting done on something that want the sock that lives in my backpack. Oh, and I packed a lunch today which was awesome since I hate giving the Tims at school my money.

Sleep time now because I’m exhausted and going to crash any second.

Unprepared

This semester is a very different animal from the last one. Since term started I’ve felt like all I do is rush to catch up. It’s been impossible to get ahead at all. There are reasons for that. One is that this semester has been shortened by a month compared to the rest of the school, because the national insurance exams are at the beginning of April and not the end of the month. The other is because I went from taking one insurance course to talking three at the same time.

The way the insurance classes work, you read a chapter and then learn about it in class. But in that same class you have an assignment and a difficult multiple-choice quiz due on the chapter covered in the previous class. I have insurance class 4 times a week which means 4 tests every week, minimum. I have three other classes still and they have stuff due as well.

I’m really feeling the burn this week since all three of my other classes have assignments due and two of those have tests as well. Brain overload. I feel like no matter how much studying or homework I do I am inadequately prepared for all of it. I don’t have time to devote the same level of detail as I normally would to all this stuff.

Gweeker does not want

She wants to sit next to me while I do homework but she doesn’t want me touching her or paying attention to her at all. Putting a camera in her face was worthy of glares.

OMG OMG

Today is full of so much win! Pancakes for breakfast and fried chicken and mashed potatoes for lunch! I am over the moon! Fried chicken day happens so rarely it’s better than birthdays and Christmas.

It’s alive

So, I basically quit using this thing. I spent so much time while I was unemployed worrying that I would say something to offend a potential hiring manager that may stumble across my blog that I stopped writing anything at all. That’s not very useful for anyone, least of all myself.

This place is in need of a redesign but I’m back in school and have no time to do anything about that until the summer. Expect a new look before September and some more posts from me.

Ringing in November in Style

Dean asked me on Tuesday if I wanted to go see Classic Albums Live perform Queen’s A Night at the Opera on November 1st. At first I was skeptical because we’d gone to see It’s a Kinda Magic before and while it was good it was still not Queen and made me a little sad to be there.

I have to admit that I’m glad I said yes to this one despite my misgivings. The concert was amazing. The performers don’t try to copy the live experience of a band. They create their own concert experience while performing live versions of the songs on an album exactly as they are on the album. It was mind-blowingly amazing. I wish very much that they were doing a second show tomorrow because I’d go see it again in a heartbeat.

Here’s the set list:

• Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to…)
• Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon
• I’m in Love with My Car
• You’re My Best Friend
• ’39
• Sweet Lady
• Seaside Rendezvous
• The Prophet’s Song
• Love of my Life
• Good Company
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• God Save the Queen (Instrumental)

Intermission

• Tie Your Mother Down
• Keep Yourself Alive
• Get Down, Make Love
• Killer Queen
• Bicycle Race
• Brighton Rock
• Spread Your Wings
• We Will Rock You
• We Are the Champions
• Under Pressure
• Crazy Little Thing Called Love
• Somebody to Love

I’m pretty sure I have all the bonus songs listed here. The official set list only included the songs from A Night at the Opera, so the rest I’m trying to recall from memory. The order may be slightly off because of that. I was too gobsmacked to keep track exactly because I was enchanted waiting to see what their next song was going to be.

I’m sure it helped that A Night at the Opera is my favourite album and I listen to it all the time. That gave me a deeper appreciation for what it took for this group to be able to perform all the songs in that way. I never would have thought I’d hear The Prophet’s Song done justice in a live version, because covers either skip or drastically simplify the vocal harmony section which completely wrecks the song. There were four vocalists and they pulled that off wonderfully. It was a joy to experience. Similarly, the solos in Brighton Rock were perfectly done as well. I was both gleeful and fascinated watching the guitarists and drummer perform those.

I’ve also got a soft spot for News of the World so I was really glad that some of those songs were played as well. Spread Your Wings is always excellent live.

Everything was performed instead of using pre-recorded sound effects. Notable were the kazoos used in Seaside Rendezvous and the bicycle bells used in Bicycle Race. Everyone on stage looked to be having a blast playing those sections. Their enthusiasm was contagious. I’m hoping they come back next year and do it again because I will definitely be there if they do.

Family Ties

I got to spend last week in Windsor and Harrow visiting my family.

Originally me and my sister were supposed to go dress shopping in Detroit with my grandma the first day there. We knew she was scared of Detroit but had no idea how much. She tried to talk us into staying in Windsor and when that failed refused to go with us. So we spent the day shopping, just the two of us. Shopping for us is mostly looking at stuff though. So after 5 hours in the US we had spent a total of $40 between us. Whoo! The border guard gave us a weird look when a Diet Dr. Pepper was the highlight of our purchases. Good times, good times.

We did manage to spend another $14 for dinner at Mexican Town. I’m disappointed I only found out about its existence last year. It’s the bestest best restaurant ever. I’m always saying it’s a good thing that I don’t live closer, or I’d be there all the time. I’m telling the truth; they can feed me every day. Did I mention they’ve got fresh tortillas and fresh-made salsa for free? I never thought in my life that I’d call salsa “refreshing” before eating there.

Most of the rest of the week I stayed at grandma’s house and hung out with her, which amounts to talking about stuff and watching movies on tv. My parents live up the street, so I popped in there most days if I knew someone was going to be home and/or awake. Tuesday night was a pizza party to celebrate my uncle’s April 1st birthday and my April 18th birthday, since we were both at grandma’s that night and it was our only opportunity to do so. It was a good dinner and I’m glad I got a chance to spend some time with my uncle while I was there.

Thursday was memorable because for the first time in at least a year I got to spend some one-on-one time with my brother. We talked for a good 3 or 4 hours and just kept each other company. I miss that, since we used to do that all of the time.

Friday I got to do the same thing but with my dad. He pointed out that when I lived at home he worked such long hours that it’s probably the longest amount of time we’ve ever spent together; I’m quite sure he’s right. Twice I rode along with him when he was working, but I’d usually last a few hours and fall asleep. So I’m glad we had that time to catch up.

My sister came up with a great idea for Saturday: a family dinner. At first she suggested going out, but my dad has pretty bad social anxiety so he wasn’t sure if he’d come. So we changed it to ordering some takeout and hanging out at her place. My mom didn’t want to come, but the rest of us had a great time talking and watching Storage Wars on tv. My dad and brother were cracking up at the stuff that Barry guy does.

All in all it was a good week, and one I’ll remember and cherish.