The New James Bond Movie Quantum of Solace

Anyone seen Quantum of Solace? I thought it was pretty good, but not quite as good as Casino Royale. My favorite James Bond has always been Sean Connery, but I think Daniel Craig is already my second favorite. He seems to have a natural tough guy image and his pretty blue eyes are a plus. Before I saw him in the movie, I thought of well he'll only be in a couple, but I have a feeling he will make several. Anyone have an opinion on him or the movie?

Any favorites?

Would any of you mind sharing your thoughts about your favorite classes and instructors. This is my first semester and I would like to have some input into which classes you have found enjoyable. I am registered for Culture, Health, and Power and Stress and You. Anyone have input into either of those. I did receive some input on one of the instructors, so I thought maybe I could gain more insight into other classes too.
Also, I am interested in taking some management classes. Is it hard to get approval for classes when it is not your primary major?
Thanks

I am basking in delight and I wanna just drive!

I don't know about you, but I love that I can go to Evansville or Paducah and back and not spend more on fuel than I do on my purchases. I filled up my Escalade for $38.34 today. It was $1.87 a gallon. How long do you think it will last? I don't me to be skeptical, but I thought it was all political, and assumed right after the election it would rise.

Search Engines

I am so naive about the internet and the capabilities. I have learned so much in my Internet/American life class. I found out several search engines exist and one of them is called Ms. Dewy. She has an attitude problem. If you sit and wait, and don't enter a search just listen to her and watch her expressions. www.msdewey.com I still prefer Yahoo and Google, but she is funny. O also enjoy the Kartoo search engine, it is very visual. The larger the bubble the more significant the site is to your search.

Sissy, Some People Nerve Me UP

Is Feeeewwwwh a word? If it is, that's how i feel. The last two weeks have been agonizing for me because of two of my staff members. We have just now, after 10 years of talking, gone to order entry and billing. I have a staff member who depends on one of her coworkers for everything and since she too is freaked out about the billing, the other has had sleepless nights, cold sweats, nausea, and diarrhea. Honestly, I would say she is a little worked up. I have constantly reassured them by going over and over the process. I have made procedural templates, they have my cell number, they have IT's cell numbers. The problem exists because they both keep saying I am not going to get it, I am not good with computers. The problem is their attitude, and I really believe if you think you cannot do something, you will struggle. I have one employee who is 65 annd somewhat resistant to change, and she learned it in two hours.
I remember the first couple weeks when I had to log on to the blackboard, I thought I would never get comfortable, but I did. As I think back, I was never stressed to the point of phenergan and immodium.
Now, I understand what my dad meant, when he said, Sissy some people Just Nerve Me UP! I am signed up for the class, Stress and You and I am needing it about now. lol

Any IT people out there, my submit button is gone.

Has anyone ever accidently done something to their computer that would delete the submit button on their on-line classes. I can get into my classes and I can fill out the reply, but my submit button is gone. The last thing I see on my screen is a save files prompt. I can log on to blackboard type the work, but I have no way to submit.
I noticed the left side of my computer that displays my classes is lighter too. Anyone know if I could have caused this? My computer is only 4 months old.
I guess I will check the site out when I get to work tomorrow. I tried to email my instructor, but again I can not send her my message.

What a difference a couple of months can make

What are you thoughts on the stock market? Do you think it will continue to drop as we go into the election month? I don't know about you, but this is kind of a scary thing, not scary enough to cancel my vacation with my mom.
We flew to St. Petersburg, Florida and even with the Rays doing well, Baywalk seemed bare. The only happening place seemed to be Fergs, a sportsbar next to Tropicana. The malls were having sales, but the crowds seemed scant, restaurants didn't have waiting lines. as I walked on the beach I noticed the pigeons even appeared skinny. Even with all of the worrisome sights, the best part of my trip was when the guy at the toll bridge said mom and I looked like movie stars in our convertible. I guess toll booth guys need tips too. We did kinda feel like Thelma and Louise, but as luck would have it, there were no Brad Pitts in sight.
I don't normally pay attention to the news, but even while I was there, I still tried to catch the market value at the end of the day. Can anyone relate? Do you think I am giving it too much thought if I have to work another 20 years?

Internet and American Life

To those of you who asked me to keep you informed about Internet and American Life, I really enjoy the class. I spend ample amount of time reading the assignments and watching the videos, but it is enjoyable. I respond to the discussion boards and I find interests in other peoples posts. Dr. Ray had one post that included checking the speed of your internet, which I thought it was kind of neat. My DSL speed only turned out to be 8 times faster than dial up, but our phone lines in Southern Illinois are as old as dirt. I can't wait to all of the fiberoptic cables are in place.
In this class, I found out our country is definitely not a world leader where the internet is concerned, many others are much faster with cheaper rates. I guess I thought we paved the way for everyone else, but I think we ranked in 8th. I won't make this post too long, I just wanted to let you know that even though Dr. Ray is doing seminars all of the country, he takes the time to comment on your posts. I like the fact that he always gives you feedback on your work and he chooses excellent reading material. I love learning something new, and I guess that is another reason this class is a favorite.

Lis 301

I have a question to those of you that have already taken Self Directed Learning. Did you feel the amount of homework in this class was comparable to the rest of your on-line classes? I am trying to fit in eight hours next semester, but I know if I take two courses that require this much time, I will not be able to do them justice. Thanks
Beth

The Mom in me wants to kick some guys butt

Well, what a wonderful weekend it was, both of my boys were home from college. After both of my boys headed back to their respective colleges, my husband and I were sitting down to relax after spending countless hours sanding and staining steps we just had made. All seemed fine, and with one phone call, it went to hell.
What I heard on the phone was Mom this has been the worst day of my life, I just had an accident, I ran a stop sign hit a car, and the man kept calling me an SOB, and then he threatened to hit me, if I didn't get back in the car. Of course, my son got back in his car called 911 because the man kept threatening him. My son described him as a big fat man,dirty looking, bar type, but I think as mad as I was, (and I am not the tough sort,) I could body slam him right now. When someone threatens your child, it would be nice for the police to address it. The police officer said oh, he was just PO'd, Does that makes it ok to threaten someone, especially since that someone is mine, with bodily harm. Oh, how i would like to get even with that jerk for scaring my son. I am still so mad, I think I could take him.
The feelings I have right now are the same feelings I had when he got knocked down on the playground by a bully in 2nd grade. Isn't it funny, no matter how old they are the mom in me wants to protect them from all harm, and in a way I guess they feel that way too, because I am the one they turn too when they need help.
An accident is just an accident, until someone overreacts. You never know what kind of crazies you will run into, and sometimes I mean run in to.
Oh well, I was planning to work on my section 5 of Self Directed Learning tonight, but I can't concentrate on anything but that man in Carbondale, the man I envision as Fat Bastard in the Austin Powers Movie.
Do you think it is too late for a 47 yr old woman to learn some of those ultimate fighting moves, they could come in handy.
I am sure this post will appear strange to some, and probably to me, after I chill awhile, but I felt better typing it.

No news may be good news

This is the first night I have been able to get back to the blog. I have been so busy trying to figure what discussion posts I am supposed to be answering, that I haven't had much free time. I think I am on the right track now, at least I hope so.
I don't know about you, but I have been watching a lot of CNN, then after listening I find myself waiting to see what commercials offer the best depression medicine. Stocks are down 5oo points, they go up 140 or so, then down another 400. One analyst says it is by the far the worst situation our generation has seen, and it will affect the consumer, then another says don't touch your 401K, it's not that bad, whatever you do don't touch your money. So what's a person to do that has saved a fair portion over the years, I know diversify, right, or should I just cash it in and go on a vacation? I am getting so tired of the negativity in the news, just once I would like to hear them say, hey oil has dropped down to 20 a barrel, and prices at the pump reflect it, there are no hurricanes in sight,, and Hillary is running as an independent. What a day, glorious day that would be.
But seriously, I have been watching the stocks drop and thinking about checking my balance and I am not sure if it is the stress of all it or just my memory, but I forgot my password, so I am locked out of my account for three days. Maybe that's a blessing.
Maybe the best medicine is to find out what channel SpongeBob is on. Andy might tell me what channel he's on.
For now, I get my kicks out of replaying the clip of Tina Fay on SNL as Sarah Palin. She's a hoot!

autobiography

It's been a week since my last post. I have been pretty busy trying to get organized with a homework schedule, and so far it hasn't happened. I just grab the computer and log on when I can. This weekend I plan on working on my autobiography for my self directed learning class. I'm finding it difficult to get started, but thankfully the LIS handbook gives a good example of an outline.

The world of technology and children

Well, My sons are fully wrapped up in their classes and jobs while I begin my new journey of on-line classes at UIS. I try not to call them every other hour, and so far it has been a struggle. I forgot how much I depended on them to answer any little technical questions that I may have about the internet. I celebrated my birthday in July so my husband, being supportive as he is, bought me a laptop. So initially I browsed the UIS website, just waiting for classes to start, and on the night before my first classes started my computer wouldn't connect to the internet. Was this a sign? I called both of my boys, and I got I don't know mom, did you try the main computer? Is the router on? What does the message say? Maybe should buy a new router? All of these questions came to from young men who were undoubtly too busy to talk to mom, I would say who is that in the background, are you at a party? No mom, it's just some of my roommates friends, and they are from up north, you know they are loud. Oh, ok son. Sorry to bother you, I can't hardly hear you, so I will get off the phone now. So I looked at every connection I could think of, and thought oh well they will be home on labor day, I'll just check on my classes on the desk top. On Tuesday, my youngest son called me and asked how it was going? I told him I started blogging, and he laughed and said you are kiddin, right? I explained to him, that it was an invitation through the school, and I quite enjoy it, except for the fact that my laptop still wouldn't let me on. He said mom, is the wireless light on? What wireless light? The blue one on the front of your computer? I didn't know there was a blue light on the front of my computer? There are several little blue lights on my computer. Well check it, and see if you have accidentally turned it off? Look to see if there is an orange light or a blue light on the bottom left corner? Ok, it's orange. Ok, now slide the button to the right and you should see a blue light. Walla! I'm back in business.Why didn't you tell me that the first time I called you? I figured you might have checked that you said you checked everything... Listen young man, I am still your mother so don't be makin' fun of me. You are a hoot, love you mom, gotta go. At least my lack of knowledge provides them some comedic relief.

First day, first answer to message board.

I was thrilled to figure out that I could actually find my way around the blackboard site. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to figure out how to use blackboard. It seemed like it took me forever to find the bb page. I told my husband the biggest challenge would be my technological skills or the lack of them.
After I posted for my ECCE class, I noticed just a couple of word omissions and punctuation errors, and how did they get there? Maybe the send button messed it up. Other than that, this is what I have learned... I worry too much about the small stuff.

Hospital humor, All in a name.

I got an email from a friend today speaking of a former olympic skier. Her name is Pekabo Street. Pronounced Peek-a-b00. I was told that she is now a critical car nurse in a large metropolitan hospital. Evidently she has caused some confusion on her unit, so administration will no longer let her answer the phone. Seems Peek-a-boo ICU, just confuses those on the other end of the line.

Empty Nest

This week I am dealing with the so called "Empty Nest." What a terrible thing to go through, but as luck would have it, I have been busy working and preparing to start classes. Since both of my sons are away at school, I should have more time to study. I am not new to on-line studies, but I am new to UIS. I am excited about this journey and I hope to figure out how to blog and find my way around the virtual UIS campus. Even though I won't be attending any classes on campus, I like the school. I attend quarterly meetings in Springfield and sometimes they are held there. Actually, I will be attending a vendor fair in Springfield tomorrow, so I may stop by to get me a UIS tshirt. My sons wear their SIU and McKendree tshirts proudly, so why not join them.