Future Fun! -- Writing, Degrees, and Work. No, forget the Work part.

[paragraphs]

Thanks everyone who commented on my last post. I finally woke this morning not being boiling angry, but looking forward to the day.

Yesterday was fun! I accomplished two things. First and foremost, I changed out the door knob and deadbolt to my house. Had to--we could not get out! I managed to get the door off by removing the pins so I could shift the door enough to get a stiff knife between the latch, and push it back. Go me! It wasn't hard to replace the parts either.

I also managed to get my resume draft written and sent off to tx_cronopio to hack and slash to bits. We met in REAL LIFE WHOA on Thursday at Riscky's BBQ to enjoy big bowls of awesome brisket stew, and beer. I treated myself to a frosty mug of Shiners. Nothing beats Shiner Bock. durayan agrees with me on that one!

ALSO! I have heard back from my actual editor! She hopes to get to my ms fast. She'd better. I shall cry. Now that I have turned something in finally, I want an answer like yesterday. I feel too good about this ms...I am 99% positive they will take it. One never knows though, but I am hoping. FINGERS CROSSED AND TOES TOO.

ALSO TOO! Yesterday, I went to Arlington to visit my old university to see what condition I left my past in. Both good and bad...I left with 164 good credits, but in a whole messy slew of areas, and way too many F's. OMG I WAS SO BAD WTH! Fortunately, I am still in good academic standing. I was told over and over yesterday that 'returning students make the best students!' Pressure is on! No more F's for me! I must get all A's or I will disappoint all those people who insisted I will do awesome!

So, after finding out I am good to go when ready, and with a copy of my transcript at hand, I headed back home. Now I am making a spreadsheet to decipher what the heck I have finished and in what area, and what I need to get a degree. I have several routes I can take:

1. Finish out the Sociology major/Poli Sci minor,
2. Sign up for the Online Degree program in which I would get a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (which is perfect for someone like me with a gazillion hours in too many things)
3. Stick with the Sociology major and take on getting a History minor, or
4. Go crazy and change my major to History, in which case all I'd need is a bunch of history classes and one math class.

With what I need for a major in Soc w/minor in Hist it is about as many hours as going all out with the History major.

Getting a history degree would, given what I think I ultimately want to do, be the most sensible, though not the fastest. Second most sensible for future plans would be the Soc/Hist major/minor.

I *could* just get the hell done any which way I can, and go straight to the Masters in Library Science, but the concern there to me is I want to do archiving, am pretty positive, and research and history knowledge is kinda really important. ARGH. Daughter suggested I do the fastest option, and take some history classes after I get the degree in a few areas just for the fun of it. Two of the classes she is taking this semester are like that--she doesn't need them to graduate, but she wants to take them as she feels like they will be good for her to do. So there is that option!

AAAHHH!!!

I have to say though, compared to Yesteryear, universities offer so many ways to finish one's degree that not doing so is just plain silly.

Decisions decisions, and I need to decide fast if I am going to pick up a class this spring like I really want to, though I don't have the money. At all. Hello being unemployed! I don't get my Esop money until February, and barely have enough in savings right now to get me to that the first week or so of Feb! ARGH. 'HEY DAD, CAN YOU LOAN ME FOUR HUNDRED BUCKS? PLEASE?' He will probably faint at my going back to school, considering he paid for it all out of his pocket. Meep. I was a bad bad daughter. :*(

In other news, I am going to do Merlin big bang. No I don't know why, I really don't. And I will probably end up dropping out and finishing the whole shebang as original fiction, because it will be AU anyway. But, I want something fun and light to play with while I tackle the Project For 2011, my fantasy, so why not?

Naptime now. Will finish going through credits later... LOL.

Comments

[dremiel.livejournal.com]

GO YOU!

Change is good.

I tend to agree that if you plan to follow up with an MLS it may be best to take the quickest route to graduation now. Also, credit hours are expensive, BB. But I KNOW you'll be fine whatever you chose.

Right there with you on the Shiner Bock! I'll raise one for you tonight when I head out for gumbo with friends. And, of course, you need to plan on one while kicking back with me on the new front porch when you're down for ArmadilloCon!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Oi, the more I look at options, the more I like the interdisciplinary studies BA. I don't have enough credits in any of my, uh, areas--art, poli sci, sociology--to declare one a major. Most are in poli sci, though I don't really remember taking THAT many classes. LOL. I can't believe my parents put up with my nonsense!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

I'd finish up as quickly as possible because of cost reasons and because having a degree makes you more marketable. If you're serious about the history get a master's in it later.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, at 964 for three hours I don't want to waste money. I had not thought about a master's in history later! That is surely an option... I can't believe I am going to do this, but I want to. Never ever thought I'd want to go back to school.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

You can always do a master's. Right now you need to be as marketable as possible.

[klgrem.livejournal.com]

Something light to do around your fantasy, I think would be good. You'll occasionally want to 'come up for air', so to speak.

Bob is still unemployed, too. His class starts Monday. He wants to be a police officer. G.I. Bill doesn't start till he's been in school a month.

Merlin started last night. Finally. Yay! I can't watch till Monday. We don't stay up and Ken isn't interested. ;-)

Good luck getting your degree! I say go for the Master that mosts interests you, and minor in the other. And if you don't like math, that's one thing to consider, too.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

i hate math!!! But I can't avoid it. I may just decide to love it, and challenge myself to do well despite my life-long bad attitude. Whee Merlin! It is fun times.

Can you believe I finished Lee's story! WHEE!

[heddychaa.livejournal.com]

When I was up for an archivist job, it was for stuff I'd done almost nothing of in my degree. History knowledge can be acquired at any time, but it's the research, writing and just general skillset/methodology thats importAnt.

Sorry for the spelling I'm on my damn iPhone.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

iphone spelling is always funny. Yeah, I remember when that job came up, and was sad you didn't get it, darn them. I'm on an lj comm called archivesgig that just makes me squee... So many of the positions make me bounce up and down. And you make sense, definitely. I think I just *want* to take some history classes, I am so fascinated by the past. But, mostly, a fascinated by UK History, not American history. LOL.

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

Fingers toes and eyes crossed for your ms! And whatever you do for your degree, make sure to have lots of fun doing it!

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Having fun is definitely high priority. I realize now that I'd stopped having fun at my old job. I just couldn't see it!

LOL at your user pic. Oh JB!

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

John Hart is wrong - it's not about the money, it's about the fun! Hope you enjoy your course lots and lots.

JB is going to explode and shower us with glitter one day.

[misswinterhill.livejournal.com]

::hugs you:: BIG BANG! And I think I've said All The Things about most of the other stuff, but if there is anything you want, let me know.

I put the lizards into a gdoc, oh yes I did.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

You did? Whee!! I think Nick went to bed on me. I went out to eat my daughter--THOUGHT it was going to be her treat but we went dutch. LOL. Oh well. And he seem to be Nowhere. Sigh. Wibble. I do not like not saying goodnight and sweet dreams but hopefully he will have happy lizard dreams.

You know I would love to see the continuation of the lizard story. Cracks me up.

[blue-fjords.livejournal.com]

OMG, TOO MANY OPTIONS FOR ME!!! I don't know what to decide. I personally think history and sociology are the most interesting of the possible subjects. Something w/ those! But what is the difference in time/price for going each way, yeah? That would help w/ a decision. Ooooh. I'm glad you have options, sweetness!

And Big Bang -- you've got mail? I am going to finish my 6x11 coda tonight come hell or high water.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

YGM, yeah. Poor fic has been tossed around so much but it'll be fun, I think. I'd also toyed with it being Dean and Sam but...nah. Not really desirous of writing Dean + Sam. LOL. And I don't think I could do justice to SPN anyway--I don't mind reading it though!

I will have to show you my spreadsheet of doom. Man, what a mess I was. Watching my kid, who is about to start her last semester, be so darn organized, and how she worked closely with her adviser throughout--man, I was really lacking guidance, in a bad bad way. The classes I have the most of are in political science, which I can't stand! Although maybe that is not true-- politics is never boring these days, that's for sure.

[alba17.livejournal.com]

I have a BA in history and a JD. Frankly, I doubt it really makes any difference what your BA is in. In either sociology or history, you'd be doing social sciences research and writing, I assume, to complete your degree, so I'd do whatever is fastest, unless you can't stand the idea of sociology courses any more. What kind of history are you interested in?

What the heck happened to your door?!?

Your day sounds so productive - go you.

Merlin Big Bang!?!!! I'm thinking about it too. Thankfully there are a few weeks to decide. I just don't know if I want to make that big a time commitment or put myself through that much stress for something that's supposed to be fun.

[talekyn.livejournal.com]

I have been completely out of touch once again other than those brief Tweets. Didn't realize you were looking at going back to school to finish up. I think that's a fantastic idea. The "quickest route" option seems to make sense at first blush, but I'm leaning towards the "get what will benefit your future job intentions" option even if it takes slightly longer.