Summary of the week...

Today was the first week of classes and since I'm taking a statistics course, it was also my first week as a student in 9 years.  Let me tell you, it sucketh muchly! I have a three credit class that meets MWF from 11:00-11:50 and then a recitation that meets Th from 5-5:50.  So in total it's four credits.  I'm taking it on my lunch break which means it's my only break in the day.  However, I'm managing that part ok so far.

The instructor is good  She provides her notes ahead of time with spaces to write and then after class she posts her powerpoint with her notations from class.  She has clearly outlined her expectations.  She expects us to be there every day and participate with the clicker (Blasted clicker costs $65!).  There are no make up points for classes or recitations missed. However, she does provide an extra credit assignment at the end of the term and she gives one extra point each day for participation so that with four days of attendance you could make up one missed day.  Still, the pressure is there to be at every class.  With Egils, I'm expecting to miss both my recitation and my Friday class.  Unfortunately, that's also the week that homework is due on Friday instead of the following Monday.

So homework...Is basically an online, open book/notes quiz every week.  You may take it twice but you won't get the same test twice as it pulls from a bank of questions. For most of the term it is due on Monday but the week of Egils and every week there after it is due on Friday.  So, I'll have to work on the homework before I've even attended the lectures to get it completed.

The reading took me three hours this week but I was working the questions as I went.  It isn't hard reading; it just takes time to digest the content.

I went to the recitation last night, and this is the worst part of the class.  The TA speaks heavily accented English and very rapidly.  So by the time I've figured out what she has said, she's so far ahead of me that I'm completely lost.  There are assigments to work on in class, although she didn't collect them, and then there are quizzes every week at the end of recitation.  I've not used a scientific calculator in 20+ years.  I have no idea how the stupid thing works but she just breezed through the calculator instructions saying "I'm sure everyone knows how to use the calculator.."  I was lost all class and then suddenly she's handing out a quiz and I'm completely baffled.  Fortunately, the quiz covered the things we did in class and I found some notes that helped me with the calculator. I, however, am not impressed.  In fact, I was rather irritated.

So, my confidence level about this class is pretty low and my anxiety is pretty high.  I keep reminding myself it's just 10 weeks and then it's over.  I wondered if I would want to take the stats series and not just the one class but I'm thinking the probability of that is pretty low.

There were good things this week too.  Sverre and Breaca who just won the coronet tournament have asked me to be on their retinue as the largesse coordinator.  I'm excited to be on a retinue again but I've never done largesse coordination and so I'm maybe a little anxious as well.  I've been asking around for advice and any is welcome.

We finished Lady Johanna's dress before the tournament and she looked quite lovely while she was standing, stunned in court after being offered her Pelican.  I was fairly confident that the offer was a possibility so I stayed up until 4:00 am to make sure it was ready for her.  She was quite pleased by the dress....and the offer.


I still have an underdress and a second dress to finish for her.  I'd like to do that before Egils so that she has fresh clothes and I don't have it hovering over me still.

I purchased a boat load of linen for myself but it all has to be dyed.  I bought yellow, green, and purple dyes but I'd also like to get another box of the blue I used for Johanna's dress.  It's a beautiful color.  I need some lightweight undertunics and some short over tunics.  I also want to make a couple of bliauts for myself out of linen and or wool.  I have silk but it's not a great tournament fabric at that length.

There is a possibility that Sverre and Breaca will ask me to do some garb for them but I don't know yet and they do have a lot of hands available for that kind of help.   I do very basic construction but I'm good at fitting things to people's bodies.  I'll have to leave embellishment to others.

With all of this going on, I'm a little stressed and anxious.  I'm hoping to hit two events a month during the reign but we'll have to see how the finances and the household chores are managed.  I'm trying to balance what feels like a lot right now but I know class will be over in 10 weeks and I'll better be able to focus on other things.  I'm hoping that will help reduce my anxiety levels.  This will all be fun!  Really!!


And, if you were curious, these are the yarns I ordered from StringTheory Colorworks.