Sierra College feels like high school

Greetings, my illustrious frirends!

Yes, this is another post stating that "I haven't written in a long time and I plan to get back into it", but there's much for me to say. Like a demotivational poster I found online said,

"Blogging
Never before have so many people with so little to say said so much to so few"

Take it for what's it's worth. My number of emails has gone up since I bought a laptop and it's a good thing. There are times when I feel the lines of communication between me and those who are far away is foggy at best. So, if you're interested in keeping up with some of my challenges, joys, and mundane life occurrences, here's the continuation of my blog.

Sierra College Nevada County Campus:

First of all, I'd just like to say that I appreciate the education I have already and am glad to be back in a formal learning environment. Second of all, I'd like to express my disappointment in the campus 'vibe' at SCNCC. There's this early college high school program called Ghidotti that is based off of the NCC and it gives young students the opportunity to get some college classes done and out of the way while they're still high school age. This is good for them and I'm glad they have that opportunity, but it creates a very high school feel for anyone who actually wants to study like it's college. When you sit in a classroom with 14-17 year old kids it makes you feel almost silly for being there. My accounting class on Tuesday nights is a great contrast to my music appreciation class on Monday and Wednesday mornings because, in accounting, it's all adults who are looking to further there vocational options or peers of mine who are looking to get a degree that requires accounting knowledge. Contrast this with my music appreciation class where more than half of the students are younger than me (and I don't mean 20 or 21) and they've got issues of a lighter nature on their minds. This is fine, but when I walk across campus and 70% of the students I see are younger than 18, it feels like I'm playing college and not actually going to college.

Mind you, I'm not a naive person, in the sense that an education is attained on a personal level and it's not the responsibility of the college to create an environment conducive of higher level learning...or is it?

Although school isn't as grand as I was anticipating, longing, hoping for, it's still a good experience and I'll have my AA (or AS depending on what classes I choose in a year) by spring of 2013.

If only all semesters were setup like summer school semesters. Eight weeks of hit-it-hard, condensed classes that challenge and push me more than listening to opera twice a week.

I love learning and, as previously stated, am grateful for things falling into place where I could attend college once again and should never complain because the experiences I've already had in life surpass the possibilities some have to merely imagine. What I'm trying to say in a long-winded way is that some people don't eat every day. Some people have never been inside of a high school. If I never go to another class in my life, I'll still be glad to have been lectured at no matter how boring I may have thought the material was/is/always will be.

God has blessed me and by not acknowledging that as often as I should have, recently, my mindset towards the gifts freely given me is less appreciative. It's time to turn over a new leaf.

Sierra College NCC is very much like high school. For now, I'll just do it and take what I can from this 'higher level' academic institution.

P.S. - ONE YEAR

P.S. - I'm in Orlando, FL right now! Just like this time last January. This is almost habitual.

There are two issues on my mind.

1) There are no fun-loving kids (like Madelyn and Collin!) here to make this experience as magical.

2) Harry Potter Wizarding World is going to be M-to the-AGICAL!

ONE YEAR!

So, I haven't written on this blog in, literally, over a year. Hectic, eh? I know that some of you out there get updates whenever I do happen to write on here. It just brings me a little joy to think that you were notified because I merely made an observation about my own blog.

Love you...

Really...

Upcoming trip.

Well, I must say that this trip that we, as a family and Sasha, are going on to Disney World next week should be interesting. That castle, the characters, the kids, the sweet suite, the warmer weather, the food, the fun.

Hope you're all doing well. It's been somewhat dismal around here (meaning that my life hasn't taken and exciting form) but hopefully things will pick up with two jobs.

Tomorrow I'm going in at 8 AM for training at Kwik Trip. How excited am I? VERY! Something to do, gainful employment and networking.

Can't say too much right now because American Idol is on and I really don't want to type anything further. Goodnight.

Christmas?

Well, tonight the dad, mom and sister arrive in La Crescent for an evening of festivities and eating. What else would we do? Food is how we fellowship?

I've been in an odd place these last few days. There are some rocky patches in my life right now that have hurt my feet to get over. True that there are always things that will push us beyond where we want to go. God is going to take care of this...even though I can't really see what's going to happen. Seems to be this way a lot.

BUT...it's always going to be good.

Whoever you are...I love you...

KCK

610 N. Third Street

Good evening, my friends.

I'm sitting in my basement abode talking on the phone (with Sasha) and enjoying the warm ambiance created by wood patent paneling that covers all of the walls of my room. It's alright, I don't mind. Never will I ever be at home in this world. That's a comforting feeling, though, because a restless, adventurous spirit has filled me and there's so much to do.

Living with Benjamin, Kristine, Madelyn and Collin has been a great encouragement to me. The kids come down and visit me now and then but it's never annoying. Collin woke me up this morning ...

KNOCK KNOCK
"Who iiiis it?"
"Aaaaaaah!" (as he runs over to me and jumps on top of my covers)

It was nice. After looking at the clock, shock and shame filled my mind at seeing that I was still asleep after 9 AM.

Having my keyboard in a setup and usable position is inspiring me to practice and think more about music. Right now more music and stimulus would be good for me.

My brother Benjamin is involved with the opening of a new Kwik Trip store tomorrow so he'll be getting up and leaving the house by 4:45 AM. It's unlikely that he'll be seen off by yours truly in the morning, but who knows, maybe I'll surprise him and make coffee.

LG washers and dryers = very nice. It's the YEAR OF THE APPLIANCES in this house.

Well, I should be asleep and be giving my entire attention to this call. So, until next time...goodnight.

P.S. - Please pray for me to find employment. Kristine is going to a Bible study in the morning and is taking me to the Kohl's area/mall and I will be putting in applications for a couple hours. Thanks.

KCK-ILY

Finishing Trinidad.

I never did finish writing about my time in Trinidad. It was spectacular. We spent a lot of time just talking and being around the house, walking down the street to the shops, and me being sick and causing strife in my own mind because of the discomfort. I really do complain too much sometimes.

Saying farewell to Sasha at the airport was difficult. Although I knew that we would get together again in a couple weeks, at the time A COUPLE WEEKS seemed like a very long time. Karim (our friend) drove me to the airport and he showed us some things on the way. He was very compassionate about taking us places and providing us some transport.

I returned to the states with yet another adventure and experience behind me, but never apart from me.