So, after much deliberation and a little twinge of pain, I've decided to send this blog into semi-retirement. I'll still keep it online as a personal blog, but I won't be updating it very often.
I have, however, started another blog for the purpose of writing about food, God, and books: eatpraywriterepeat.com. Please check it out (it's still in the works of being all set up right now, so there's not much to look at yet), and share it with your friends! It would mean the world to me.
I love and appreciate all of you, and you have made this adventure a great one. I'll be seeing you.
Love Always,
Kristin
23 February 2015
16 January 2015
Learning Online: The Ups And Downs
So I know a lot of universities (and other programs) have started to latch onto the idea that online education is the future. And in some ways, I agree. However, I think I will always be an advocate for in-person education (for several reasons), but I will admit there are definite benefits to online education.
For starters, there's the obvious benefit of working and learning on your schedule. This is great for students who work during the day or whose schedules otherwise prevent them from attending in-person classes. Also, it's a good option when you have other classes that meet in person and you need that one class that doesn't fit anywhere else in your existing schedule. As a student who has taken a couple of online classes myself, I really do enjoy the flexibility it provides. Of course you still have specific due dates to meet, but it's a lot easier to do that when you have the choice to do your classwork at midnight (if need be, and let it be noted that I wouldn't wish that on anyone). It also really helps if you're super motivated and like to work ahead (which can sometimes be difficult in a traditional class because you don't always know what the specific assignments will be) because there are oftentimes opportunities for you to chunks of the class at a time, which saves you a lot of time and headache later in the semester.
I will say, though, that if you're thinking about taking an online class, you should be prepared to work. Possibly harder than you would if you were taking an in-person class. You have to be able to teach yourself to an extent, but remember that the instructors are there for you, too. The instructors of these courses never get to see your face, and they only get to communicate with you through email, so they don't know if you're struggling with a concept. They only see your performance on the assignments, and how often/for how long you logged into the course. The only way to let them know if you're dealing with outside circumstances is to tell them. I was a teaching assistant for an online course for three semesters plus a summer semester, and let me tell you from experience, one of the most frustrating things is when a student contacts you at the end of the semester and tells you everything they were dealing with over the course of the semester and why they should get some sort of extra credit. Believe me, it's a lot easier to tell the instructor if you even anticipate problems arising and be wrong than to scramble at the end of the semester and miss out on possible accommodations.
All of that is to say, basically, that there are definite benefits to having online options for learning, but there are also some serious downsides. For instance, if you are a very reading/writing-oriented learner, you'll probably do a lot better in an online course than someone who is very aural, because most of these online courses (at least the ones I've had experience with) use limited sound bytes. Although you definitely can make it work, just take into account how you learn; online courses don't work for everyone.
Like I mentioned earlier, I tend to operate better in a traditional class, but I understand that other people prefer the online setting. I don't think that online education will completely take over traditional classes, because there are too many people with too many different learning styles and preferences to exclusively offer one format or another, but online courses have their benefits in the busy age we live in, especially for adults who are returning to school and may have nontraditional scheduling needs.
If you have other experiences or opinions about online education, please feel free to let me know! I'm interested in hearing what you all think.
Love Always,
Kristin
For starters, there's the obvious benefit of working and learning on your schedule. This is great for students who work during the day or whose schedules otherwise prevent them from attending in-person classes. Also, it's a good option when you have other classes that meet in person and you need that one class that doesn't fit anywhere else in your existing schedule. As a student who has taken a couple of online classes myself, I really do enjoy the flexibility it provides. Of course you still have specific due dates to meet, but it's a lot easier to do that when you have the choice to do your classwork at midnight (if need be, and let it be noted that I wouldn't wish that on anyone). It also really helps if you're super motivated and like to work ahead (which can sometimes be difficult in a traditional class because you don't always know what the specific assignments will be) because there are oftentimes opportunities for you to chunks of the class at a time, which saves you a lot of time and headache later in the semester.
I will say, though, that if you're thinking about taking an online class, you should be prepared to work. Possibly harder than you would if you were taking an in-person class. You have to be able to teach yourself to an extent, but remember that the instructors are there for you, too. The instructors of these courses never get to see your face, and they only get to communicate with you through email, so they don't know if you're struggling with a concept. They only see your performance on the assignments, and how often/for how long you logged into the course. The only way to let them know if you're dealing with outside circumstances is to tell them. I was a teaching assistant for an online course for three semesters plus a summer semester, and let me tell you from experience, one of the most frustrating things is when a student contacts you at the end of the semester and tells you everything they were dealing with over the course of the semester and why they should get some sort of extra credit. Believe me, it's a lot easier to tell the instructor if you even anticipate problems arising and be wrong than to scramble at the end of the semester and miss out on possible accommodations.
All of that is to say, basically, that there are definite benefits to having online options for learning, but there are also some serious downsides. For instance, if you are a very reading/writing-oriented learner, you'll probably do a lot better in an online course than someone who is very aural, because most of these online courses (at least the ones I've had experience with) use limited sound bytes. Although you definitely can make it work, just take into account how you learn; online courses don't work for everyone.
Like I mentioned earlier, I tend to operate better in a traditional class, but I understand that other people prefer the online setting. I don't think that online education will completely take over traditional classes, because there are too many people with too many different learning styles and preferences to exclusively offer one format or another, but online courses have their benefits in the busy age we live in, especially for adults who are returning to school and may have nontraditional scheduling needs.
If you have other experiences or opinions about online education, please feel free to let me know! I'm interested in hearing what you all think.
Love Always,
Kristin
09 January 2015
I Guess You Could Call It A Calling...
Hello all,
First off, Happy (belated) New Year! I can't believe I've waited this long to post something in 2015. I just wanted to start off by saying that I am super excited for this year, and I can't wait to see what God does in my life and the lives of those around me. I guess you could say I'm super positive about it.
New Year's resolutions aren't really my thing. I mean, I always start thinking that I'll change my habits, get healthier, get into a good non-stressful routine, but it's really just wishful thinking. I know that they don't work for me, that I have to work on one thing at a time and gradually adjust. I think that's where a lot of people catch themselves, because we expect ourselves to be able to do a complete 180-degree turn and change all aspects of our lives at the same time, just because we're in a new year, but each change takes work and dedication and focus. So I'm focusing on a handful of things to work on (not fix completely) in 2015.
One of those things is my writing. I've gotten seriously out of practice with my writing, and that saddens me. NaNoWriMo in November was kind of a flop, just because I was so busy with school. So to remedy this, I've decided (as I'm writing this, actually) to make it a point to write recreationally at least three days a week. I have a book of writing exercises, and I'll probably start with those to get back in the swing of things. I know that writing is a gift I've been given, and I haven't been using it. I feel more depleted when I don't write, and I want to feel full in that aspect again. I love writing and I know that's what I'm supposed to do (at least one of the things), so why am I not doing it?
This is me asking all of you to keep me accountable. I've got big goals for 2015, but my motivation tends to run out around the end of January. That makes it kind of difficult to accomplish anything, you know?
Let me know if you have any goals or plans you would like accountability for, and I'll be happy to check in with you and keep you encouraged! Feel free to email me and tell me what you've got going on, and I'll keep in touch with you.
kristinpaige.ok@gmail.com
Love Always,
Kristin
First off, Happy (belated) New Year! I can't believe I've waited this long to post something in 2015. I just wanted to start off by saying that I am super excited for this year, and I can't wait to see what God does in my life and the lives of those around me. I guess you could say I'm super positive about it.
New Year's resolutions aren't really my thing. I mean, I always start thinking that I'll change my habits, get healthier, get into a good non-stressful routine, but it's really just wishful thinking. I know that they don't work for me, that I have to work on one thing at a time and gradually adjust. I think that's where a lot of people catch themselves, because we expect ourselves to be able to do a complete 180-degree turn and change all aspects of our lives at the same time, just because we're in a new year, but each change takes work and dedication and focus. So I'm focusing on a handful of things to work on (not fix completely) in 2015.
One of those things is my writing. I've gotten seriously out of practice with my writing, and that saddens me. NaNoWriMo in November was kind of a flop, just because I was so busy with school. So to remedy this, I've decided (as I'm writing this, actually) to make it a point to write recreationally at least three days a week. I have a book of writing exercises, and I'll probably start with those to get back in the swing of things. I know that writing is a gift I've been given, and I haven't been using it. I feel more depleted when I don't write, and I want to feel full in that aspect again. I love writing and I know that's what I'm supposed to do (at least one of the things), so why am I not doing it?
This is me asking all of you to keep me accountable. I've got big goals for 2015, but my motivation tends to run out around the end of January. That makes it kind of difficult to accomplish anything, you know?
Let me know if you have any goals or plans you would like accountability for, and I'll be happy to check in with you and keep you encouraged! Feel free to email me and tell me what you've got going on, and I'll keep in touch with you.
kristinpaige.ok@gmail.com
Love Always,
Kristin
14 December 2014
Music is Power, and the Writing It Produces
You ever hear a song that gives you all sorts of motivation to do something? Anything? Everything?
That happens to me a lot. Right now it's Rise Against (a very good band if you're into a little bit harder music). It amps me up, makes me want to be productive. But what can I do? I can write. Okay, what do I write? I've got this project and this project and this one over here, but I don't feel drawn to any of those right now. Okay, what about a new story? I really don't need to do that until I finish one I'm working on already. Alright, then. Draw. Drawing? I haven't drawn in forever. Too bad I don't have any homework to do, or I could get all that done. Well, you could start reading up for your research project, or working on your IRB application. Dude, I haven't gotten a day off all semester. I need to do something for fun.
And that, dear friends, is what's running through my head right now. Heh, that didn't go exactly like I planned it. But then again, when does anything we write? When does any story, any paper, project, poem, or article ever turn out the way we expect it?
It's absolutely amazing to me how music can set the tone, change the mood, completely amp up or calm down a person listening to it. Bring up memories, good or bad, and provoke deep thought.
Just thought I'd share these thoughts, as I prep my fingertips for the insane amount of writing I'm about to do. Here goes nothing.
Love Always,
Kristin
That happens to me a lot. Right now it's Rise Against (a very good band if you're into a little bit harder music). It amps me up, makes me want to be productive. But what can I do? I can write. Okay, what do I write? I've got this project and this project and this one over here, but I don't feel drawn to any of those right now. Okay, what about a new story? I really don't need to do that until I finish one I'm working on already. Alright, then. Draw. Drawing? I haven't drawn in forever. Too bad I don't have any homework to do, or I could get all that done. Well, you could start reading up for your research project, or working on your IRB application. Dude, I haven't gotten a day off all semester. I need to do something for fun.
And that, dear friends, is what's running through my head right now. Heh, that didn't go exactly like I planned it. But then again, when does anything we write? When does any story, any paper, project, poem, or article ever turn out the way we expect it?
It's absolutely amazing to me how music can set the tone, change the mood, completely amp up or calm down a person listening to it. Bring up memories, good or bad, and provoke deep thought.
Just thought I'd share these thoughts, as I prep my fingertips for the insane amount of writing I'm about to do. Here goes nothing.
Love Always,
Kristin
08 December 2014
I Knew It!
So, ever since I got Levi, my precious little furbaby, I've thought that he had some Jack Russell in him. They told me he's a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix, which I can see, but he's just too stocky to not be a Jack Russell. He has a very muscular chest, and his face looks just like a JRT (Jack Russell Terrier). I believed it, though, since his coloring is so defined, I thought he had to be part Chihuahua.
I was right, though! I looked again at his rabies certificate, and *boom* there it is: "Russell/Doxie." I knew it! One more problem with that, though. His ears and tail are definitely Chihuahua. I mean, look at him. Right?
Wrong. I found out, by doing some quick Google research, that a JRT's tail is long and can curl a bit if they aren't docked. Also, Dachshunds have long, thin tails, much like Levi's. And apparently there's a "condition" in JRTs called prick-ears, which basically means they stand up straight...Just like Levi's.
I don't know why it makes me so happy to learn that he's actually a Jack Russell/Dachshund mix, but I'm thrilled. I think part of it is the validation that I knew my baby enough to know what he's not, and he is not Chihuahua.
All for now, just wanted to share!
Love Always,
Kristin
I don't know why it makes me so happy to learn that he's actually a Jack Russell/Dachshund mix, but I'm thrilled. I think part of it is the validation that I knew my baby enough to know what he's not, and he is not Chihuahua.
All for now, just wanted to share!
Love Always,
Kristin
30 November 2014
Isn't Winter Supposed to be Coming?
Well, I would say NaNo was a bust this year, but I learned a lot about myself, even if my story didn't manifest out of thin air. Today is the last day of NaNoWriMo officially, but that definitely doesn't mean the writing has to stop!
Although I'm not sure exactly how much writing I will be able to do in December, either, I hope to have things a bit more worked out so I can at least do something. This semester has been absolutely crazy for me, but I've only got to survive two more weeks! Then I get to try to catch up on everything that has been put off this entire semester...
So in addition to trying to get my life in order (and by "life" I mean my classes), I'm feverishly searching for a new job, any chance I get. I really appreciate everything my current job has done for me, but I feel like it's time to move on to bigger and better things. I've been there since January, almost a year, so I don't feel guilty for wanting to leave it. My ideal job, and the market I've been looking in, is online. Preferably online writing, but I guess I'm open to whatever God throws at me. I've been talking to my cousin, who does freelance work for a company online, about her work, so I'm hoping something will come from that line of inquiry. But of course I'm not sitting around waiting for a job to fall into my lap.
If I like the job I'm at, why do I want to leave? Well, with my schedule, especially for next semester, keeping this job would mean that poor little Levi has to stay in his crate all day four days a week. I really don't want to do that. If I work from home, I can spend more time with him, which I'm sure will make both of us very happy!
Another reason I want to leave this job is I want more time to invest in my church and small group. Next semester, I will be co-leading a Chi Alpha small group with my best friend, and I want to have the time available to pour into our girls and to meet new girls. If I work from home, I will be able to get more involved in Chi Alpha, which I really want to be able to do, and I would be able to go back to my church's youth group as a leader, and maybe even play in the worship band (the worship pastor has been asking me for about a month if I can play with the band, and I really want to, but with my current work situation there's no way).
Completely changing the topic, but since we're talking about changes, another change I will be making (starting tomorrow!) is getting back in shape. I used to be in great shape (at least for me) when I was in AFROTC, and ever since I've been out, I've let my good habits fall to the wayside. I'm starting off small, since I'll be here and there all over Texas and Oklahoma in the next month, so I've decided to do a 30-day ab challenge. *everybody hisses and boos* I know, I know, those challenges are intense, and everyone seems to hate them, but since I won't have access to my school's gym every day, I figure this is a good way for me to stay active and actually do something between semesters.
So that's what's been going on in my life! I hope all are well and ready for a month of changes!
Love Always,
Kristin
Although I'm not sure exactly how much writing I will be able to do in December, either, I hope to have things a bit more worked out so I can at least do something. This semester has been absolutely crazy for me, but I've only got to survive two more weeks! Then I get to try to catch up on everything that has been put off this entire semester...
So in addition to trying to get my life in order (and by "life" I mean my classes), I'm feverishly searching for a new job, any chance I get. I really appreciate everything my current job has done for me, but I feel like it's time to move on to bigger and better things. I've been there since January, almost a year, so I don't feel guilty for wanting to leave it. My ideal job, and the market I've been looking in, is online. Preferably online writing, but I guess I'm open to whatever God throws at me. I've been talking to my cousin, who does freelance work for a company online, about her work, so I'm hoping something will come from that line of inquiry. But of course I'm not sitting around waiting for a job to fall into my lap.
If I like the job I'm at, why do I want to leave? Well, with my schedule, especially for next semester, keeping this job would mean that poor little Levi has to stay in his crate all day four days a week. I really don't want to do that. If I work from home, I can spend more time with him, which I'm sure will make both of us very happy!
Another reason I want to leave this job is I want more time to invest in my church and small group. Next semester, I will be co-leading a Chi Alpha small group with my best friend, and I want to have the time available to pour into our girls and to meet new girls. If I work from home, I will be able to get more involved in Chi Alpha, which I really want to be able to do, and I would be able to go back to my church's youth group as a leader, and maybe even play in the worship band (the worship pastor has been asking me for about a month if I can play with the band, and I really want to, but with my current work situation there's no way).
Completely changing the topic, but since we're talking about changes, another change I will be making (starting tomorrow!) is getting back in shape. I used to be in great shape (at least for me) when I was in AFROTC, and ever since I've been out, I've let my good habits fall to the wayside. I'm starting off small, since I'll be here and there all over Texas and Oklahoma in the next month, so I've decided to do a 30-day ab challenge. *everybody hisses and boos* I know, I know, those challenges are intense, and everyone seems to hate them, but since I won't have access to my school's gym every day, I figure this is a good way for me to stay active and actually do something between semesters.
So that's what's been going on in my life! I hope all are well and ready for a month of changes!
Love Always,
Kristin
17 November 2014
Writing Update
Well, as usual, NaNoWriMo never goes as planned.
I think my university professors conspired at the beginning of the semester to plan all of the big assignments and tests for the month of November, so it would be more difficult for me to participate.
I haven't written since Day 3 (I know, I know, please don't stone me), and even though I'm extremely behind the daily par for the month, I have decided that I will finish this novel. Probably not in November, but before December 31, 2014, I will have completed a novel. That gives me almost half a month of (nearly) uninterrupted writing time. Of course I have to account for family time with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, but I believe I can make it work. When there's a will, there's a way, right?
My story still fascinates me, but I'm sort of lost when it comes to what adventures my characters will encounter. What is the Event? I don't even know. I don't think we'll ever know. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, keep your eyes out for when my book gets published...Then you'll understand.)
I'm still excited about it, which is a good thing considering I haven't written in two weeks. Even though I'm straggling far behind all the other Rhinos, I'll be sure to keep you updated on my progress as I discover this story.
Love Always,
Kristin
I think my university professors conspired at the beginning of the semester to plan all of the big assignments and tests for the month of November, so it would be more difficult for me to participate.
I haven't written since Day 3 (I know, I know, please don't stone me), and even though I'm extremely behind the daily par for the month, I have decided that I will finish this novel. Probably not in November, but before December 31, 2014, I will have completed a novel. That gives me almost half a month of (nearly) uninterrupted writing time. Of course I have to account for family time with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, but I believe I can make it work. When there's a will, there's a way, right?
My story still fascinates me, but I'm sort of lost when it comes to what adventures my characters will encounter. What is the Event? I don't even know. I don't think we'll ever know. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, keep your eyes out for when my book gets published...Then you'll understand.)
I'm still excited about it, which is a good thing considering I haven't written in two weeks. Even though I'm straggling far behind all the other Rhinos, I'll be sure to keep you updated on my progress as I discover this story.
Love Always,
Kristin
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