Mar 30 2012

A Nutrition Class?

One of the “electives” that I could take for my whopping two elective classes was Nutrition. I’m not sure why I chose to take it, but I decided to take the plunge and actually take the Nutrition class. Now you have to understand this – I am a picky eater. Not as picky as some people are, but not really considered a “good” eater either. There are a lot of things I don’t like. And a lot of the “healthy” dishes include foods that I don’t like. So I’m sure you can just about imagine how I am going to feel about taking this Nutrition class.

Since I had this week off, I decided to get a jump start on the reading assignments for the classes and downloaded Week 1′s textbook selections. After reading the two chapters I was supposed to read for Week 1 in Nutrition, I have to say I am impressed with this textbook. It says you don’t have to give up your favorite foods, even if they aren’t “nutrient-dense,” you just have to work them in so that your diet is balanced over the week or month, not for the day. I like that because it means I can still go to McDonald’s and get a burger if I choose to for that day. I can still have a doughnut for breakfast on Sunday as long as I’m having healthy breakfasts the rest of the week.

When I was in my health class, the textbook’s nutrition chapter indicated that all foods that are not nutrient-dense and beneficial were to be completely cut out of your diet, otherwise you would end up obese and dying before your time. In this textbook, it is indicated that our favorite sweet and fatty foods can still be part of our diets, just not every single meal. I like that idea. It makes it easier to attempt to make my diet healthier and lose some of the weight that I’m carrying around.

So we shall see how this nutrition class pans out. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even blog more about that class here.

Mar 26 2012

Gotta Love Guitars

Fender Stratocaster Guitar

When I was in 7th grade, I fell in love with rock and metal music. Up to that point, I’d always listened to country music because that was what my mom listened to. My dad listened to jazz, but only when he was drunk, so that wasn’t very often. For the most part, country music was what was played in our household. Then I got introduced to rock and metal by my friends and I’ve never looked back since then.

I never really knew what it was about the rock music that drew me in. I mean, sure, my boyfriend was a rocker and he was a guitarist – usually playing Fender guitars, which in both our opinions were the best guitars on the planet, period, but I never really figured out what actually pulled me in.

I have to say though, that there is nothing I like better than listening to the awesome sound that comes from a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster guitar. Those guitars have always been my favorite and my first love. If I could play guitar, I guarantee you that I would scrimp and save every penny I had to buy a Fender guitar. There are two guitar manufacturers that come to mind immediately when anyone asks about guitars. The first one is Fender and the other one I won’t mention because they aren’t my favorite.

Plus, when you pair a Fender Stratocaster with a Fender amp you have a sound that can’t be beat. Hands down my favorite way to listen to guitar. Makes me miss that ex-boyfriend just a bit. ;)

Mar 26 2012

I Have A Week Off

Even though I never got that form back to my financial adviser (thank you crappy internet from CableOne), I still managed to get at least a one week break before starting my next set of two classes. Of course, that may actually be to ensure that I passed the one class with at least a C, as apparently you are considered to have failed if you get below a C- in any class. I’m pretty sure that I passed the Biology class regardless, but the programming class was a pain in the butt for me. Right now I have a C+ in the class, so unless I got no points at all for the final project, which I would have to get at least some points since I turned it in and I did try my best to do the project the way it was supposed to be done, I don’t think I can get lower than a C- in that class.

My next two classes are supposed to be Image Editing and Implementation, which I thought might be a pain in the butt, but so far isn’t too bad, and Nutrition. I got the materials and started working on reading the five chapters they gave us to work on the first week for Image Editing and Implementation (the first chapter was 26 pages of reading, I shudder to think what the other four are), and that one at least allows us to work along in Photoshop while we are reading. The only thing that made me angry about that was the fact that I was told I had to purchase the Adobe Creative Suite, Web Premium edition, in order to take these classes, so I did – now I find out that they have them in a virtual desktop that I could have accessed for free. *grrr*

The Nutrition class has two chapters for me to read, which I have not started yet. I downloaded the chapters, and I know that I have to create a healthy eating plan for my first assignment, but since I can’t access the syllabus until next week (seriously, that should be available as soon as your materials are), I won’t know the actual particulars of the assignment until then. I just know I have to use the MyPlate website to create a healthy eating plan. Bleh.

No, I am not having a fit about making a healthy eating plan, I just don’t see the point in having us do so when frankly, what is considered healthy and what is not changes all the time. One minute eggs are the bad guy because they’re high in fat and cholesterol. The next minute they’re the good guy and we should be eating them. I mean, really? Get a grip people. :P

In any case, I have a week long break, then it is back to the grind of school. Yay.

Mar 22 2012

I Don’t Run A Beauty Blog

I will never understand why people will send me emails asking why I am not posting about the latest trends in makeup, hair, fashion, or beauty. I don’t run a fashion or beauty blog. Frankly, I don’t even like fashion or beauty. I am simply not interested in those things. I don’t care if there is a new trend in eye shadow application, what the colors are projected to be this season, or what shoes are in style. I wear what I like and if other’s don’t like it, they don’t have to look at me.

This blog will never discuss things like the proper way to apply mascara (although I can do so with my mouth closed so do not tell me it isn’t possible because it is), the best way to determine what shape your body is and how to find clothes to flatter it, or dha tanning. You just won’t find it here because I’m not interested in it. I’m not saying these are bad blogging topics, I’m just saying they aren’t my cup of tea.

Bottom line – I don’t run a beauty/fashion blog. Sorry.

Mar 22 2012

I Want To Smack Someone

Right now I am in such a bad mood, I could just reach out and smack someone. Upside the head. With a 2×4. Cheerfully. I am in such a bad mood because of the constant BS that the instructors at our school put us through. One instructor gives you directions that require you to get information from the textbook – tells you precisely where to find that information, and then tells you that you have to cite the textbook. The next instructor tells you that unless you use the textbook for a paper or are specifically told to cite your sources in your discussion questions, you do not have to cite your textbook.

First off, if you are referring me to my textbook, I should not have to cite the source because everyone reading the answer to the question already knows where the information came from – you told us exactly where to find it. Second, it has to be consistent. One instructor should not be able to say “you must cite all sources, including your textbook” and another say “if the source is your textbook, you do not need to cite it.”

I have a huge problem with inconsistencies, which is making me think I may look elsewhere for my Bachelor’s degree when it comes time to start looking into it. I am not sure University of Phoenix is the right place for me to continue my education.