Famous Last Words: It has come to an end.

Well the time has come to close another semester at OU. It was not the best of times but it was also far better than my last one. I think I might actually complete this class haha. I'll admit it has been a struggle keeping up with my assignments this semester. I also did not do a lot of writing and focused mainly on extra credit work just to get by. Not saying that a bad grade will be received, I am saying that I could have done a lot better with my time and wrote a lot more. I had the stories in my head I just could not find the time to actually sit down and write them. If I could do it again I would get the biggest head start I could and just write write write. I think that would have been a better route for me to take in the long run.
Needless to say though, I really did enjoy being able to read a lot of the other stories in the class. Life happens sometimes and I had to switch my focus over to the situations that just seemed to constantly happen over the course of the semester. Working a full-time job, being a parent and having extra work on the side does not make taking classes easily, especially with a chronic illness that could come out of nowhere. My advice to anyone would be to work ahead and stay focused. If you can do that this is one of the best classes I have taken at OU so far!
The emails back and forth with Laura helped a lot as well. She would always get back to me really quick with any questions and always had great suggestions to help with management of the class.

Image provided by woodleywonderworks, Source.

Famous Last Words: Back to Work

Well the vacation is over. I just got back from my home state, California. It was my son's first time out there and I hope it inspired him that the world is bigger than just what he sees here in Oklahoma. It was great to get away for a week and spend it with family and friends. The trip was to surprise a person I consider my brother that I have been playing online games with for about 10years. He was turning 50 and is moving to Arizona in June so me and a group of other friends that all play online thought it was the perfect time to do it. Yes, online friends can turn into family just like this group has. The trip helped recharge my mindset to focus more on my goals of getting back home and how to do it. School is a major factor in the plan.

We went to Venice, Santa Monica, Hollywood and all around SoCal. My son had never experienced anything like what he did during this trip. Just watching him with his eyes wide and the smile he had warmed my heart. I had done everything like that before so my enjoyment was watching him. The ocean was probably his favorite part. It was a little cold but he kept running in and out of the waves just being a kid. He got to meet my friends and he fit in perfectly. Some of them are engineers and seeing as he wants to become and engineer when he grows up it was inspiring from him. The cars that they drove probably helped that haha. I know this is sad to say but I even missed the traffic. At least I did not have to drive and was riding in a Tesla S the whole time.

Personal photo of The Lost Sons crew after the last breakfast (I'm the one in front)

Ventura, California 2017

Famous Last Words: The Grind Continues

This week has been a very busy week to say the least. I was able to get my story done on time and my reading done. I think I have found the perfect way to get to where I want in this class. Sitting back and making a schedule and dedicating what free time you have to get work done early or done at all helps. Knowing I am going to California in a few weeks is also extra motivation to push to get ahead for that week I will be gone so I do not have to worry about school.

The reading this week was enjoyable and I liked taking one of the stories and making it my own. I think when it comes to the writing in this class I will probably keep telling it in a modern setting. The feedback I got for my portfolio project was extremely positive. Makes me think I do have a knack for writing somewhere. It also helped that my ignorant asshole friends enjoyed the story as well. Since we play games together we are very critical of each other. I stand by what I call them haha.

I found out I won 3rd place for the logo that I did. That means a lot and is a big accomplishment for a few reasons. The first is because nobody in my office thought it would do well and the support wasn't there. The second was because it was focused on the LGBT community. Not being LGBT myself I had to do some research on what would be appealing to the eye of someone who is. I feel that I accomplished that just from the feedback I had gotten from the event organizers back when I gave it to them. To have it when 3rd place out of hundreds of submissions made me emotional actually.

Until next week.......

Photo by Gerd Altmann, Source Pexels.

Famous Last Words, Time to Get Real

This week has been a busy one to say the least. I am finally finished with one of my classes and can start to focus more on this one. I know I have been lacking when it comes to doing assignments for this class. I missed my goal of finishing early but life happens. After some math and figuring out what was possible to achieve in this class. I have come to the conclusion that it is still possible to pull an A this semester. As my title say, it is time to get real. Now that things have started to calm down a bit at work and with other school work I can focus more on completing all of the assignments and possibly starting to get ahead. I just need to put more time aside to accomplish this and I could possibly start winter break early, for school that is.

I did start to get more responsibility at work and more freedom to do things my way. As a graphic designer that is big. That means my work is actually appealing to someone and they want more of it. Maybe being nominated in the top 3 of logos submitted to the regional marketing and public relations competition didn't hurt. Top 3 out of hundreds of submissions, even the people in my office did not think I would place. I find out what I got next Saturday. This has lighted a fire in me that I did choose the right career path and strengthened the passion I have for graphic design, photography, marketing and public relations. Because of this I know I need to keep learning new methods and faster techniques to help my career move further, can't stay part-time forever. So between school and work I have learned a lot and know what I need to do. Moving forward hopefully these goals are accomplished.

Image created with Cheezburger

Famous Last Words: Life Happens

Well this week really did not go as planned. I have been falling behind due to work and other personal issues as of late. Every time I try to sit down and get my work done in most of my classes it always seems life happens. I did get my reading done, the story on the other hand did not get finished. It is a shame as well because I did have a few pretty good ideas for it. Other classes are going about the same but as a working single parent, life happens. Going to just say that instead of what word I really want to say haha. I did read some amazing stories and was very inspired from some of them this week. I do “plan” on sitting down and getting a lot of things done this week to try and get ahead in most of my classes, especially this one. I enjoy writing and especially mythology so writing for this class is especially fun.

I did recently find out that I will be going back home to California for a week the week before Thanksgiving, all paid for by a few good friends that want to see my son and I. That was pretty exciting to find out, I have not been home in a few years and my son has never been to California, let alone see the ocean. That is a reason I need to get ahead in this class, so I can have a relaxing time out there and not have to worry about am I passing or not. I know it will refresh me to be out there and give me even more inspiration for my writing as I will be around my Hawaiian family. One of my aunts will always compare something going on to some old story or something.  

Thorne Holder 

Famous Thorne Holder Quotes, flickr