Bite the bullet

I've been avoiding two of my classes so far this semester, and today I realized that the first major deadline is quickly approaching.  I need these classes to graduate (my days of taking classes for fun are over...at least for now), so I need to get busy and get focused.

The only problem is, I'm finding it super difficult to do that.  We all have classes that aren't our favorites.  Growing up, I despised math.  A math whiz, I was not, and I'm still not.  In fact, I get really proud of myself when I can help my 7th grader figure out what's going on with HIS homework.  Last night it was subtracting negative numbers and I literally explained it to him by saying, "It's like in English when you, God forbid, use a double negative and it becomes positive."  He replied with, "You mean like 'there ain't no way I'm doing my math homework?'"  I cringed as I told him that was the general concept, however, "ain't" isn't a word.  Blech.

I can handle the basics when it comes to math.  I have no desire to be an engineer, so I will never use College Algebra for anything.  Ever.  Luckily, I finished my math requirement last semester, so I don't have to deal with that anymore...however, I do "get" to take Economics.  I'm not a fan.  There's no real rhyme or reason for it.  I just don't like it.  And when I took it in high school, my teacher (also a football coach) specifically said, "Econ is not my favorite, but we'll muddle through it as best we can."  See?  I was destined to dislike it.

The other major class I just don't like is International Relations.  I'm pretty sure I've complained about it before...like every single day.  It does have its interesting points, don't get me wrong, but the man loves to hear his own voice.  The lectures (via YouTube) are long and tedious and full of brief pauses as he takes a drink or collects his thoughts.  I find these less irritating in person because when you're only listening, you hear every "gulp."  And that's gross.

I have 3 lectures and 3 discussion boards to finish by Monday, and that's just for this class.  Usually by now I have my juggling act firmly in place, but I feel like I'm floundering this semester.  I bit off a lot, and it may be more than I can chew, but I'm determined.  Will I get the best grades of my life?  Probably not, but I will do everything in my power to make sure that I pass.  I have a lot riding on this, and so does my family...both immediate and extended.  I have a lot of people in my corner, helping me out while I strive for better for my boys and for me.  And I totally have something to prove.  It's not really about that, but there are a lot of people in this world, people I'm stuck with speaking to on a regular basis, that have voiced their (unwanted) opinions about how there's no way I can handle this or the pressure or the workload or any number of other things.

And you know what?  Yeah, I get a little crazy sometimes.  There's more than enough chaos to go around, but you know what?  We still manage to have fun.  There's plenty of time for that, if you plan for it, but sometimes you just have to be spontaneous...like tonight when the boys were outside playing with a volleyball and got it stuck way up high in a tree.  They started throwing things at it to try to knock it down and succeeded in getting EVERY. SINGLE. THING. stuck in the tree.  We laughed so hard at each other and our feeble attempts to knock the following items down:

- Volleyball
- Shoe
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Super Soaker attachment
- Mini 4-Square ball
- Mini foam basketball

Eventually, a neighbor took pity on our exhausted arms and took a turn.  I'm happy to report that he was able to get everything down, earning exuberant cheers with the return of each item.  We were sweaty and hoarse from yelling and laughing, but you know what?

It was totally worth it.  And now I need to bite the bullet and start another lecture.  Oh joy.  Oh bliss.

Aubs