I'm Baaack

I finally got my laptop back! I had to send it to be fixed. Thankfully, it was still under warranty. The prongs that hold the plug in place were loose so it wasn't charging. I just got it back today, Yea.

I finished my L. D. testing last Friday. I should have my results in three weeks.

Be Polite

Sorta Practice for ACT writing portion.




I believe everyone should at some part of their life work in a minimum wage job. Some people believe only the unintelligent or poor work in a minimum wage job. Others believe it can be a good stepping stone, and can be a good way of learning humility. Working in a minimum wage job can teach you humility, time management, and how to fit in with a diverse amount of people.

Working in a minimum wage job can teach you humility. While working in a minimum wage job, you have to deal with a lot of people. A lot of those people will be nice, polite, and patient. Those people will understand that, even when they have to wait or something goes wrong, your just doing your job. There are others who will do their best to go out of their way to make you life hard. One of my coworkers is constantly hit on in an unpleasant way, has her personally space invaded, and harassed in other ways by customers. They know that we can't be rude to them and as long as they stand in the store we are a captive audience. My friend remains cool, calm, and collected no matter what happens because she has learned humility.

Working in a minimum wage job can teach you good time management skills. In my job I usually have only four hours to get everything done. I have to put all the food in the prep table, make at least 6 medium pizzas and other food items, stock the cooler, make sure everything is set up for the next shift, wash all the dishes, wipe all the surfaces, and sweep and mop the floor. All of that might not sound like a lot but if you don't have good time management skills it can take a lot of time, and you'll leave work late and get wrote up.

Working in a minimum wage job can teach you how to deal with a diversity of people. In addition to dealing with customers, minimum wage jobs tend to have a high turn over rate. Because of the high turn over you never know who you are going to be working with. Maybe you will become good friends, maybe you will be bitter enemies.

In conclusion I believe minimum wage jobs are good preparation for the rest of your life. Also this essay has been half truth and half pure bull s%!^.

And Now For Something Completely Different: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Lately I've been watching some really great movies by Jean-Pierre
Jeunet. I started by watching Delicatessen. It was really good. It
takes place in a sort of retro apocalypse France. It's a love story
with cannibalism. The main character is played by one of my
favorite actors Dominique Pinon.

Then I rented Alien: Resurrection. I wasn't too keen on this
when it first came out but it's grown on me lol. After watching
Delicatessen, it was odd hearing Dominique speak English but he did
really well he stumbled over a few words but I certainly couldn't
speak French half as well as he speaks English.


Amelie, I have always liked this rather sweet
story.

The City of Lost Children is a rather strange gem. It's hard to follow at times but it's very good. Plus it has Dominique Pinon playing 7 roles.

Too much information.

This is a copy of the questionnaire I had to fill out for the Learning Diagnostic Clinic so I can be retested for my Learning Disability.

Briefly, what problems are you having that brought you here? Identify primary concerns and prioritize them. Discuss details of how long problem has been an issue. How have you tried to correct it?

My primary concern is my poor math skills. This has been a problem all my life. Over time I have developed functional math skills.





What do you hope to get from this evaluation? (e.g., diagnosis, accommodations, tutoring, etc.) I hope to get up to date documentation of my disability, in the hope of getting extra tutoring for Math classes.




Educational History and Career Goal
Briefly, have you ever been diagnosed with or tested for a learning problem, attention deficit or other psychological issue? (Please bring any available records to your first appointment.)





Were you ever held back in a grade? Yes
If yes, which grade(s) and why? 2nd grade I was having a hard time in school for a variety of reasons.


Did you have any problems in grade/elementary school? Yes


Did you have any problems in middle school and/or junior high? Yes


Did you have any problems in high school? No


What grades did you typically make? Cs


What was your high school GPA? 2.74 (I Think)

Were you considered a discipline or behavior problem in school? No

Did your teacher’s always say you were capable of doing better? Yes

Were you ever expelled or suspended? Yes

Did you ever get in any physical fights during school? Yes

Were you ever in any special classes? Yes

Tell me about your college experience.
N/A



What is your current GPA?
N/A
What is your current course load? N/A

Is that a typical amount? N/A

Are you currently taking any difficult classes? N/A

Have you ever dropped out of college or stopped taking courses? Yes No

What is your career goal? TESOL

Academic Skills
Tell me about your reading ability.




Do you read better silently or orally ? Silently

Is reading speed a problem? No

Do you have problems with phonic skills? No

How is your vocabulary? Good

Do you have difficulty with reading comprehension? Yes

Tell me about your spelling ability.




Do you believe you are a good or bad speller? Decent

What types of spelling errors do you make if any? I have the tendency to rely on the spell checker a little too often




Tell me about your writing ability.




How is your grammar? Okay

How is your punctuation? Poor

How is your capitalization? Good

How do you organize your thoughts? I tend to write whatever comes to mind, then go back and edit.

Do you have the ability to develop an idea? Yes

How fluent are those ideas? Good

Tell me about your math ability. (types of errors, reasoning ability)




Are there specific types of errors you make? I am decent in basic math but get flustered with more complicated forms.

How is your reasoning ability? Good





Other Relevant Skills
Do you have any trouble paying attention in class or in general? Yes

If yes, give examples When I am comfortable, I tend to daydream and lose focus.




Do you have any trouble taking notes or understanding the notes you have taken? Yes


Do you have any trouble concentrating on homework or in general? Yes

If yes, give examples I tend to focus for a little bit then will go off and take a break.



How is your memory? Decent


Do you give up easily? Yes


Do you budget your time well? Yes


How are your study habits? They need improvement


Do you consider yourself an organized person? (e.g., uses a planner?) No

Do others consider you an organized person? No

How well do you take tests?


Do you experience test anxiety? Yes

Do you run out of time? No

Do you score poorly on things you thought you knew? Yes


What types of strategies or accommodations are helpful and are any being used regularly?


Do you ask for help? Yes

Do you use a tape recorder in class? No

Do you have a study partner? No
Do you study in a certain location? Yes

Do you study in a certain way? Yes




Developmental and Personal History
Tell me about your birth history.


Was it a Cesarean or vaginal delivery? Vaginal

Were there any complications during birth process? No

Were you premature, late or on time? A day or two late

Did you lose oxygen during the birth process? No

How was your mother’s health during pregnancy? Okay

Did your mother use alcohol or other drugs during pregnancy? Yes

Did your mother smoke cigarettes during pregnancy? Yes


Were your developmental milestones within normal limits? (Average, late, early)


Sitting Up Average

Crawling Average

Walking Average

Talking Average

Toilet Training Average

Did your parents claim that you were difficult to control as a child? No


Did you have any problems getting along with your peers as a child? No


Did you have any temperament or mood difficulties as a child? No


Tell me about your home life and family.

Father’s occupation and education? Pest Control, College

Mother’s occupation and education? Medical Transcripts/ College

Parent’s marital status? Widowed

Who raised you? Dad


How was your relationship with your care givers? Good

What was growing up in your family like? Good at times, Sad at others, Very supportive but at the same time isolated.




Number of siblings, ages, and occupations? 1, 30, Maintenance


Tell me about your current relationship with you siblings. Okay


Who currently resides with you? Dad and brother

Length of current marriage if applicable?

Number of times married? 0

Spouse’s occupation and education?

Number of children and ages?

Tell me about your relationships with those who currently live with you. Okay


Tell me about your current relationship with your parents? Good



Are there any other members of your immediate family with learning problems, attention problems, or psychological difficulties? Yes, my Dad has a learning disability



Do you work? Yes

If so, what is your job? Crossing Guard/ Cook

How many hours a week do you work? 42

How long have your worked at this job? 6 and 4 years

What types of work have you done in the past? Clerk

Have you ever been fired? No

Have you served in any branch of the military? No

What are some of your hobbies or interests? Reading, Writing, Crotchet, Painting figurines




Medical History
Were you healthy child? Yes



Did you suffer from chronic ear infections? (at what age and were tubes inserted?) No


Do you have any ongoing or chronic health problems (including allergies)? Yes


Do you sleep okay? Yes

How much sleep do you obtain on average? 7 to 9 hours a night


Please describe any sleep-related problems. N/A


How is your appetite? Good



Describe any significant illnesses, hospitalizations, or injuries. (Be sure to describe what happened and when.)

Have you ever had any heart problems? No

Have you ever had high blood pressure? No

Have you ever had migraine headaches? No

Have you ever had a thyroid condition? No

Were you ever in a car accident (even if you don’t believe you were hurt)? Yes
If yes, please describe.
It was a rainy night and my Dad accidentally pulled out in front of another car, we got sideswiped. Fortunately, we always wear seatbelts so were only shaken about. The other people were not injured.


Have you ever been unconscious? No
If yes, please describe this.


Have you ever had a seizure for any reason? No If yes, please describe.




Substance History
Tell me about your past and current use of alcohol. I drink with friends. About, two or three times a year I get really drunk.


Tell me about your past and current use of illicit drugs. I have never done drugs but I have gotten a bit contact high


Have you ever had any problems with alcohol or drug abuse? No


Have you ever been treated for alcohol or drug problems? No

Psychological History
Have you ever had a psychological problem? (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.) No
Please describe the problem(s) and identify when and for how long they occurred.


Have you ever seen a psychologist, counselor, etc. to deal with emotional or psychological issues? No

Was any help he/she received beneficial?

Have you ever been hospitalized for a psychological problem? No

Are there any significant stresses in your life right now? Yes

How would you describe your mood most of the time? Okay

Do your moods change very frequently, abruptly or unpredictably? No

Do you have excessive fears or phobias? No

Do you have any obsessions or preoccupations? No

Have you ever had a panic attack? No

Do you have any compulsive habits or rituals? Yes

Have you ever experienced a delusion? No

Have you ever experienced a hallucination? No

Do you have problems with gambling? No

Do you have an eating disorder? No

Do you have trouble making friends? Yes

Do you have trouble keeping friends? No

Do you have any sexual difficulties? Yes

Do you often lose your temper? No

Do you often argue with others? No

Do you defy or refuse to comply with supervisor’s request or rules? No

Do you deliberately annoy people? No

Do you blame others for your mistakes? No

Are you touchy? No

Are you angry and resentful? No

Are you spiteful or vindictive? Yes

Do you bully, threaten or intimidate others? No

Do you initiate physical fights? No

Have you ever used a weapon that caused physical harm to others? No

Have you been physically cruel to people? No

Have you been physically cruel to animals? No

Have you stolen while confronting the victim? No

Have you forced someone to sexual activity? No

Have you engaged in fire setting? No

Have you deliberately destroyed other’s property? No

Have you broken into somebody else’s house, building or car? No

Do you often lie? No

Have you stolen items of non trivial value? No

Did you run away as a child? No

Did you skip school? Yes

Are you impulsive or do you fail to plan ahead? Yes

Have you ever had trouble with anxiety? No

If you have anxiety, do you find it difficult to control the worry? No

Do you feel restless, keyed up or on edge? Yes

Are you easily fatigued? Yes

Does your mind go blank? Yes

Are you irritable? Yes

Do you suffer from muscle tension? Yes

Do you feel sad or empty? No

Have you lost interest or pleasure in activities? No

Have you had any significant weight gain or lose in the last month? No

Do you feel worthless? No

Do you feel guilty? No

Are you indecisive? Yes

Have you had any recurrent thoughts of death? Yes

Have you considered suicide? No

Have you attempted suicide? No

Do you have a specific plan for committing suicide? No





Medications
What medications do you take regularly or often? Please give the name of each medication, the purpose, and the dosage.




N/A

Comments

Is there anything else about you that you think we should know? N/A

Ode to a Lean Pocket

Ode to a Lean Pocket

Beloved pocket
Steamy Molten Goodness Hot
Healthy Fast and good.

In the Microwave
I wait and pace two minutes
Burn my mouth and heart

Oh time saving meal
Low calories high value
Keep me on the track

----------------------------------

Lol just being goofy, I know this isn't actually an ode. I have always preferred to do Haiku. As for the lean pocket, I was in a rush to get to work and only had time to grab a lean pocket for lunch. Having it did somewhat help me to keep from grabbing some junk food.

And Now For Something Completely Different: Tiger lillies

Even though I am striving for perfection, I still feel like celebrating my own unique style. One of my favorite Odd bands is The Tiger Lillies. I first heard of this great band on Ovation (one of my favorite channels). The have a strange sort of cabaret style.

My two favorite songs are Snip Snip and Maria. Snip Snip is a song about the long legged scissor man who cuts off thumbs. Maria is a tragedy, I find it sad, disturbing, and beautiful.

www.myspace.com/tigerlilliesuk

http://www.tigerlillies.com/2003/index.php

Check them out.