Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Sign Language Tests

Hi All!

Midterms are coming up in my sign language class. That means I will actually have to show what I have learned! I always get nervous about tests but I always do well on them. I am a good test taker and even like tests (see one of my earlier posts). Sign language test are a bit different. They have three parts.

Part One: the traditional test format with questions about Deaf culture, grammar rules, and that kind of stuff. Not too bad.

Part Two: receptive language. This one gets a bit hairier! In this section of the test, the teacher signs several sentences and the students write down what the sentences mean. In a lot of ways this is like doing dictation sentences on a spelling test but - in sign language the same sign might mean any of three or four (or sometimes more) things and there are often many different signs which mean the same thing so you have to know them all!

Part Three: the dreaded expressive language section! For this part of the test the students must prepare a short story to sign in front of the VIDEO CAMERA for the teacher to grade later. You are expected to use vocabulary from all of the lessons covered along with proper ASL grammar and sentence structure. Not only is there the stress of trying to remember all of the proper signs and order and that good stuff - you also have the stress of the camera. I HATE this part of the test even though it isn't too hard for me. Just the idea of being taped . . . ugh!

Last night in class we took a quiz pretty much in the same format as the midterm will be. Of course, it was much shorter than the midterm will be. I told the story of Skor in the piano (which - knock on pressed fiber board- hasn't been repeated this morning) and got a good grade on that section. The written section wasn't too bad - I know I missed one question because I couldn't remember the name of one "theory." I came close but I am sure it isn't worth a cigar - or full points! The receptive part was pretty easy also. I guess we will see on Thursday just how I did. Then next Tuesday is the first section of the real test (parts one and two).

Being in school again - I like it but I really didn't miss preparing for tests!

Trisha

Voice Update: I was good yesterday and did my exercises. Skor thinks I am going crazy when he hears me do my inhale e's! He just looks at me like I am going to jump on him or something! It is hard to do the massage while keeping him at bay but, on the way to class it is much easier at the stop lights!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Bloodwork, Bagels, and a Book

Hi All!

I just got back from my Endocrinologist's appointment and everything is looking good (except for the fact that I need to lose weight - big surprise - but I am ignoring that for a minute). My blood pressure, which used to be sky high when I was working with Psycho Boss and dealing with SD in the classroom (think teaching with NO voice!), is LOW. That is right - LOW. I can't remember the numbers now but the doctor was starting to look at it maybe being a bit too low. I didn't know that could happen. What would I have to do if it did become too low? Gorge myself on salty snacks? Interesting thought, isn't it?

Anyway - they drew blood as always. I must say that I have MUCH better luck with this than poor Hubby. I have easy veins to hit and almost never bruise AT ALL. Hubby's veins roll and he ALWAYS bruises - usually horribly. Did I tell you about his most recent experience having blood drawn? A real, Trisha-class bruise which covered pretty much all of his inside elbow area and lasted for two weeks! Poor guy!

I am just glad that my appointment is over. Now all I have to do is wait to get the blood work results in the mail. Hopefully nothing will be wrong!

For my appointment, which was at 8:30, I had to fast. That isn't too bad since I get to drink water. In fact, I don't even feel hungry on the drive to the doctor's or while I am there in the office. On the way home . . . that is another matter. I start thinking about food. What will I eat? I drive by McDonald's and Chic-fil-A . . . .

Sorry about the break in my train of thought but I just heard very, very weird sounds coming from the other room. I went out to investigate and found Miss Cleo looking towards my piano. Skor was nowhere in sight. Then - the sounds began again. They sounded oddly like a harp. Then I figured it out - Skor was INSIDE my piano! BAD kitty!

You should know that I have a baby grand piano and that the top is always down. The only way into the area where the strings are is a small - maybe 7 inch gap between the music stand and the top of the piano. Guess who squeezed himself into that gap and then took his own sweet time getting out? I was ready to throw the top up to grab him when he emerged to stand on the piano like nothing was wrong. Boy, was he in for a surprise!

Okay - back to my previous thoughts . . .where was I? Oh yes - driving home from the doctor's while trying to avoid the temptation of quick food at a fast food restaurant. It is a tough thing to resist. I could just drive in and get some good, hot food quickly and then I wouldn't be hungry any more. I resist though because, after all, I was just at the doctor's and I know fast food probably (!) isn't the best thing for me to eat. That is why I came home and had two Pepperidge Farm mini Bagels. Plain. Pre-sliced. Without waiting to toast them or spread cream cheese (low fat of course) on them.

Did I mention I was hungry?

I just hear another weird noise from the other room. Skor was on top of the piano again. He got yelled at - did I tell you how excited I am that I can now yell? I got the squirt bottle and brought it into the office with me just in case he needs stronger negative reinforcement.

Let's see . . . I did the Blood work and the Bagels - all that is left now is the book.

Here it is.


I just finished reading this book, the last of the books from my Aunt Donna. It is The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen.
The title freaked me out a little before I started reading. I am not a person who likes reading really gory things and the title sounded a bit . . . well, gory. I did start reading though and by the end of the first chapter, was hooked.
This book takes place in two completely different ages - the modern time and the 1880's. Chapters alternate between the two times to tell the story of a young woman, Rose Connolley, an Irish immigrant to Boston who watches her older sister die after giving birth to a little girl.
*****Another Skor interruption. He is really being annoying today! This time he was on my antique washstand playing with the book marks I have hanging on it. I decided that he might need a little play time once I found the kitchen throw rugs about 10 feet from where they normally rest. I got out the "fishing pole" toy and gave Skor a good workout. Right now he is resting and guarding the leather "bird" at the end of the toy.
The book. A rich cast of characters is introduced in this book including a young Oliver Wendall Holmes and several other young medical students. A dark side of the story is revealed when Norris, one of the medical students, reveals that he helps rob graves to get medical cadavers to earn part of his tuition. The book shows that getting cadavers to study is a big problem for all of the medical schools in America and grave robbing is quite common. Also, executed criminals are also given to the medical schools after they are dead. Nice, huh? That is the nasty part of the story.
In modern times, a woman named Julia purchases an old, run-down home and when digging in the garden, discovers the skeleton of a woman. After getting in touch with the home's previous owner's family, the mystery of just who this woman was begins to unravel.
I found this book to be quite entertaining and only a little gory at times - like when they described dissections in the medical school. Overall, I enjoyed the book and just might read some more of Tess Gerritsen's work.
If you like mysteries with a little gore thrown in (nothing gratuitous), I would say to keep your eyes open for Tess Gerritsen's The Bone Garden. I think it would be worth your time.
**** Another Skor note. I never knew that kittens could make such horrible smells when they fart! Yikes!
Trisha
Voice Update: I have done exercises! I have done massage! YEAH! I did exercises and massage while waiting for the doctor. I also did them both while driving home from my appointment. I will certainly continue now that I am home!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

Hi All!

This morning my walk was . . . well, all wet! That is hard to believe but it was really, honestly raining this morning when I woke up (actually, Skor woke me up - he hasn't quite figured out the whole "wait until the alarm goes off" thing yet.).

As the weather people have been saying . . . this was the driest September in eight years for Texas so we can really use the rain. I hope it keeps raining today but - looking out the window, it doesn't appear that rain is continuing to fall. *sigh* Oh well! Maybe it will start up again a bit later in the day!

On Saturday I got to have a LONG lunch with my friend, Donna. I haven't seen her too much since school started - she is a teacher. We try to do lunch once in a while on a weekend just to stay in touch. It seems like our lunches are always long ones. Of course, we usually finish lunch and then wander around a store or two so we can keep talking without sitting in the restaurant for hours on end. This time we hit Best Buy to pick up a birthday gift (a CD) for Donna's daughter. I picked up a comedy CD to add to my collection.

My new CD is by Jeff Dunham. He is a ventriloquist and has a really interesting set of puppets. He has a grumpy old man named Walter, a weird purple thing named Peanut, a Jalapeno (on a stick), and couple others. I saw him in person once somewhere - a cruise perhaps - and think he is hilarious. The CD - titled "Spark of insanity" is a nice addition to my diverse musical collection. I am going to put it on my ipod also (which is still working perfectly, thank you very much!).

I guess that is all the boring stuff I can make you read - for now! I am off to get ready for ASL lab and grocery shopping (don't get too excited! I know that you are jealous of my day of "fun!"). Have a fantabulous day!

Trisha

Voice Update: Okay - I have been "caught." Hubby cornered me last night about not doing my exercises so I guess I will have to get going. It is just so very easy to not do your exercises when your voice is doing well. It seems redundant but I guess if I want to continue doing well I need to keep up the program which got me to this point. One of these days I am going to have to get a new podcast recorded also. Such busy stuff to do.




Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Eyre Affair

Hi All!

About a week ago Hubby and I went to Sam's Club to order his contacts (which are much cheaper through Sam's than the eye doctor!) and I, of course, had to browse the book aisle. It seems like there are always good books at Sam's and for a good price. Some of my favorites I have picked up for less than five dollars.

I know, that isn't as good as my Half-Price Books clearance deals but, the books I get at Sam's are usually more recently published.

Anyway, my most recent trip to Sam's resulted in me buying this book:

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. I must admit that prior to picking up the book at Sam's, I had never heard of the book or the author. I picked up the second book in the series (I think it is second), Lost in a Good Book and then realized it was a part of a series. Luckily for me the other books in the series were also on the shelf.

Wanting to do things properly, I purchased the first book in the series and resisted my urge to purchase all of the books in the series. After all, the book might have been seriously horrible and then I would have the entire series on my hands. I didn't want to do that!

I am happy to report that the first book in the series ISN'T horrible. In fact, it was quite enjoyable and even edged into the "I couldn't put it down" category.

The premise of the book is that history went a "different way" somewhere along the line and, in the 1980's, England is at War with Russia over the Crimean Peninsula and weird things can happen. The government has Special Operative units to deal with all kinds of things including time abnormalities (and time travel), cloned animals (the Dodo is the most popular), and literary issues. The literary issues unit - called Literatec - is the center of the book with its main character being Thursday Next, a SpecOp agent in SO-27 (Literary Detective Unit).

Thursday ( a charming woman who is very serious about her work), begins the book by attempting to help another Special Ops department (SO-5) capture a master criminal, Acheron Hades. Things go horribly wrong and Thursday ends up being blamed, indirectly, for the deaths of two of her colleagues. She goes back to her hometown to join the Literatec division there. This should be a much quieter assignment and, while Thursday is in the hospital after the botched capture, she tells herself via a time traveling, older self, to take the job.

Sound intriguing? There is more!

This book throws all kinds of literary references into the mix and Jane Eyre becomes endangered when Hades threatens Jane's life.

I won't go much further or I will spoil the book for those of you who might want to read it.

This book was very enjoyable for me. It is supposedly a young adult book but, with the sheer number of literary references, it was perfect for me with my adult knowledge base of literature. There were times when I literally laughed out loud and shared sections with Hubby (who, not being an avid reader, didn't really "get" most of what I read him).

If you have the time, pick up this little book and, possibly, the entire series. As for myself, I will be hunting down the rest of the series as soon as possible.

Trisha

Voice Update: I haven't been talking too much so I am not too positive about how things are going. I know it is still there (my voice) but as to its fitness . . .??? I am having lunch with a friend so I will get in a good voice workout this afternoon!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Did You Get A Haircut?

Hi All!

I slept in a bit today (actually Skor wasn't so keen on that idea so I didn't sleep in nearly as much as I had hoped!) so I didn't post at my normal time. Sorry about that! If it makes you feel any better, I got a pretty respectable scratch from Skor as he was clawing me through the covers this morning (and action which was very highly discouraged very promptly!).

Okay - I have to say that one of the things that always makes me think of my father is when someone asks if I have had a haircut. You will understand why in just a bit.

Today I had my hair cut (gee - I'll bet you never guessed!) and because of my short "do" I tend to get it cut pretty darn short. It is blatantly obvious that my hair has been cut. This doesn't stop Hubby from coming in from work and asking "Did you get your hair cut?" each and every time. Don't get me wrong - I am THRILLED that Hubby notices but . . . really? Does he need to ask? I always have to hold myself back from giving my dad's much used response . . .

"No, I got them all cut!" Think about it for a minute . . .

I also have another one that Dad likes to say . . ."No, it shrunk when I washed it this morning."

Maybe I should just tell Hubby that he could tell me the shorter hair looks nice or something like that and we could avoid the whole question altogether. Wouldn't that be nice?

Of course, then I wouldn't get the chuckle from picturing my dad responding to the questions . . .

Trisha
Voice Update: It is doing good. I did notice that I was "cutting out" when I was talking on the phone this evening. Never a good sign. I guess I need more exercises!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Aftermath

Hi All!

Thank you for all of the good wishes during my headache day yesterday. Unfortunately, it did end up turning into a particularly nasty migraine which had me in bed pretty much all day. I did get up for a bit before Hubby came home but then took more meds and took another nap.

The thing I hate the most about migraines is that they limit my activities so much. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read and when I am dealing with a headache it is NOT the most appealing thing to do. I struggle with really wanting to read and knowing that it will make my head even worse!

The computer is also a thing which migraines don't "play nice" with. I want to check email and things but the monitor and the headache - not a good combo!

Pretty much the only thing I CAN do when I get a migraine is to hide under the covers and be bored. I do try to sleep- it makes the time pass more quickly and sometimes convinces my head that I am really trying to take care of it so the headache goes away. However, I usually have problems sleeping so I end up just "hanging out" wishing the headache was gone. Even listening to my iPod isn't good with a headache.

There is nothing worse than sheer boredom! Except maybe having all kinds of ideas about things to do- things you can't do with a migraine!

Trisha

Voice Update: So far, so good. Skor was a bit "active" early this morning (5:00 A.M.) and I found myself with an aching back and neck. That makes me grumpy so I don't want to do my darn exercises but . . . I will TRY to be good!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Headache Morning

Hi All!

You know those mornings when you wake up and know that you should just slide back under the covers and hide for the rest of the day? Well, today is that kind of day for me!

Nothing major has gone wrong but I have quite a doozy of a headache. That means that today will just be annoying - at best.

Great!

I walked with C this morning and while it was bearable, all I really wanted to do was to close my eyes and lie down on the cool grass for a while.

It is definitely a day I should have stayed in bed!

Of course, today is the day I normally go to the Deaf Action Center to visit with the Senior Citizens and I did miss last week. Maybe if I sneak in a quick nap I can still do that . . .

Trisha

Voice Update: I just don't have the energy to relate it to you - I will catch up tomorrow.