Senior-itis

Please excuse me for not blogging lately, but I have been fed up with anything that resembles writing or reminds me of school.  During what should have been my most focused and carefree semester (since I'm not working) has instead been quite difficult as I have come down with a bad case of senior-itis. This condition is characterized by an extreme lackadaisical attitude toward school, homework, and tests and almost a total lack of concern for grades.  I couldn't understand the cause of my attitude until I heard other students complain of the same ailment.  I was glad to discover that my experience is normal and that I haven't lost my mind, at least not anymore than the other students.  All I can think about is that I want this to be over; I am ready to move on to the next thing, whatever it may be, and though my body continues to attend classes, my mind is done with it all.

So, yesterday I took my first final, in Literature of the Ozarks, and I think I did well enough to keep my "A". I know it may be difficult for anyone to believe that we have actual literature in the Ozarks, but, for better or worse, we have Harold Bell Wright, Donald Harington, and Daniel Woodrell. So there you are.

On Wednesday evening I was required to read my seventeen page senior seminar paper in front of the class. I'm not one for public speaking, but I survived well enough. My professor says I have a good paper and I had very little re-writing or correcting to do before I handed in the final draft. Based on my professors comments I am hoping for an "A" in this class also.

As for my Middle Eastern history class,  my final is next Tuesday evening and I am hoping to scrape by with a "B", but will settle for a "C".  I know, I know, there was a time when anything less than an "A" would have sent me straight to therapy; this just goes to show how extreme is my case of senior-itis.

On Monday morning I have a final in Fundamentals of Tourism and an "A" is possible, though not probable, in this class.  I haven't particularly enjoyed this class but it is part of my Ozarks Studies minor and I had to take something, like it or not.

All things considered, I am so happy, happy, happy, that this semester is almost over. Next semester I will have only one class which is "Murder and Memory in the Ozarks", the final class I need for my minor.  I'll be researching and writing about an historical murder in the Ozarks.  Can't wait!

I'm also looking forward to being a volunteer and the County Archives.  Historical documents everywhere and I can see them and touch them!  I'm not sure yet how many hours I will work or how long I will be able to volunteer, but I feel as though I am finally doing something with my life that is relevant to me and I am looking forward to the future.

Well, that is what's been going on.  Hopefully everyone hasn't forgotten me!

Happy Halloween!

Here is a link to the American Historical Association with about the history of Halloween.  Includes several interesting links with videos.  Enjoy the history of the holiday along with all of the candy!

Arsenic and Mrs. Wilkinson

In preparation for my seminar paper I'm spending the fall break weekend reading 1898 foreign relations documents and old newspapers.  Unfortunately, I'm frequently distracted by tidbits more interesting than the Peace Commission for the Spanish-American War.  Just felt like sharing this one from The New York Times:

ARSENIC SENT IN SUGAR: A Newark Woman Claims a Rejected Lover Attempted to Poison Her
Newark, N.J., Sept. 8, 1898

Mrs. Margaret Wilkinson who keeps a boarding house at 502 Warren Street, has reported to the police that an attempt was made to poison her, her three children, and her boarders two weeks ago last Saturday.  On that day, she claims, a boy came to the house and left a package of granulated sugar,with which she noticed there was something the matter, and as she had had trouble with one of her boarders she took the sugar to the Board of Health, where it was examined, and enough arsenic was found in the two pounds of sugar to kill 500 persons.

The chemist of the board certifies that about 4 percent of the stuff sent to him for analysis was arsenic.  Mrs. Wilkinson did not report the case to the police until she had received the report of the chemist.   When seen to-day Mrs. Wilkinson said she suspected a former boarder of trying to kill her.  This man, she said, wanted to marry her, but she had refused him.  There-upon he became angry, she claimed, and said he would get even with her.  The man mentioned by Mrs. Wilkinson denies her story.  The police are investigating.

MidTerm

I'm not sure where the time is going but it is already the eighth week of the semester and I'm am dreadfully behind in my studies.  So much reading and writing to do this semester and the more I think about it the more I panic and run from it and hide in some other nonsensical activity, which leads to less time to do my work and more panic and more hiding and, well, you get the idea.  Tomorrow I have to report to my seminar professor...too bad I  have nothing to report except for the work I have completed for other classes in addition to all the time I have wasted with my head in the sand.

As for the seminar paper, I had to give up on Nellie Bly because I could not find enough primary sources, particularly the newspapers she worked for, on-line.  I still believe she is a fascinating character and would like to return to her someday, but for now I have moved on the the Spanish-American War.  I've found 500 pages of foreign relations documents on-line and have been slowly (too slowly, unfortunately) wading through them for a few weeks now.  I desperately need to get started writing, which I hope to do later this week during fall break.  I'm running out of time to hide from my panic.

The last few days have been spent studying for a mid-term in Middle Eastern history.  I've been trying to cram 600 years of caliphs, Abbasids and Umayyads, Sunnis and Shiites into my tired brain.  Tonight is the test, so we will see how successful I have been.

Back to School

Seriously, I had almost forgotten that I have a blog. Summer whizzed by way to fast and before I knew it the time had come to ditch my job of twenty-two years and become a full-time student instead of perpetually being a full-time employee and part-time student.  It felt like it meant that I wasn't serious about my education, which is far from accurate and unfair to mature students trying to juggle life and school. Anyway, I have officially moved on to a new life and I couldn't be happier with this decision, difficult as it was as well as a long time in coming.

I'm already almost three weeks into the fall semester and I'm sinking fast and questioning my sanity.  I thought I would have lots of time for my classes since I am  no longer employed, but I don't believe it's going to work out that way after all.  For the first time, all of my current classes require a paper, plus book reviews, and so on.  The scary part is my Senior Seminar class which requires the longest paper (only 4500-6000 words, but still) and requires a quick decision on my part as to my topic, question, and thesis.  I'm not known for making quick decisions. If I do make a quick decision I will probably just change my mind anyway, so why bother?  It's best when I can just take my time about these things, which is also why I am completing my education as an adult student.

Next Wednesday is the deadline for turning in my prospectus and bibliography for my seminar paper.  I feel like my professor doesn't really like my chosen topic (Nellie Bly and the role of female reporters during the progressive movement, or something along those lines) and my initial excitement has given way to trepidation.  Well, maybe not exactly trepidation, but more like panic.  I'm waffling, as usual.  He wants me to do something about Louis Post and the Red Scare or making peace with Spain,  presumbly about the Spanish-American War, topics which I know absolutely nothing about.  I am leaning toward letting go of Nellie Bly, but I have to decide yesterday and this is causing me a great deal of stress.  Just decide already!

Moving on, my classes this semester are, in addition to Senior Seminar, Literature of the Ozarks, Fundamentals of Tourism, and History of the Middle East from 600-1914.  I'm wondering why I chose to do all of these classes this semester and leave only one class for my last semester in the spring, but it must have seemed like a good idea at the time. 

The best thing so far about this semester so far have been the trips with the seminar class to both the school and the county archives.  It was fascinating to read arrest reports, almshouse ledgers, and old coroner reports.  Apparently, back in the 1920's our county had quite a number so suicides by carbolic acid.  All very intersting; I just wasn't sure how to make a paper out of any of it. 

So here I am, trying to make a very important decision:  Nellie Bly, the Red Scare, or the Spanish-American War.  Suggestions anyone?

Good-bye Spring, Hello Train

I still can't believe that I got to see Train!  They were the closing act last Saturday night for our first ever Show Me Music Festival weekend concert series.  I gave up an arm and a leg for a 3-day pass just so I could be there to see Train.  I was a bit upset the next month when 1-day passes suddenly became available. Oh well, at least I was there and ever so close to the stage.  

Unfortunately, I did not catch the hat when Pat Monahan threw it into the crowd, but I will nonetheless see that he is immortalized in his "cowboy" moment.  Most of the concert was country music; Train was the major exception.  In a nod to the country music majority he donned a cowboy hat and quickly sang a country-style song of which I didn't understand a word but thoroughly enjoyed anyway.

Then came the bad news...a storm was fast approaching and, with the Joplin destruction fresh in mind, Train was given time to sing only three more songs and then, for the safety of the concert goers and and performers, the concert would have to be cut short. I was crushed, to put it mildly!  We barely had an hour with them and then they were gone.  They sang "Drops of Jupiter" last, then quickly left the stage.  As the crowd drifted away the lightning began to flash and the tornado sirens began to sing.  Having seen a tornado up close a few years ago, I take the warnings very seriously.  Still, if only Train had been able to finish the concert...

Springtime in the Ozarks

On Memorial Day this year we took a road trip to Powersite Dam and saw many interesting things, though unfortunately I can't seem to get very many of the pictures to load on the blog, probably because of their size. So you'll just have to take my word for it...we saw lots of cool stuff.  Above is a view of Lake Taneycomo, formed when a branch of the White River was dammed almost 100 years go.  What you can't see, or hear, are the bazillions of 13-year cicadas that are absolutely everywhere and make a continuous prickly, humming sounds that is about a thousand times louder than a mosquito.  They bust out of the ground every 13 years, do their thing, then disappear for another 13 years. They always make news because there are so many of them and they make so much noise.

{Sigh} I'm having a terrible time with these pictures. They won't go where I want them to go.

Anyway, the second picture is what's left of a STOP sign right below Powersite Dam.  All of the lakes and rivers in the area are flooded and the dam gates have frequently been opened, leading to even more flooding.  Powersite Dam was completed in 1913 and is the oldest dam in the Ozarks.  I'm not sure of the typical lifespan of such a structure, but I can't help but think that 100 years is pretty darned old for a dam. What are the ramifications of a region containing a large population of aging dams?

Spring flowers are everywhere, quietly waving in the breeze.  They seem so peaceful and dignified compared to the noise of the cicadas and the rush of the flood waters. 

I'm having computer problems so right now I'm borrowing my husbands laptop.  It may be few days before mine is ready from the repair shop.  I've been having terrible internet withdrawals.  Thank goodness for smart phones that allow Twitter and Facebook access!