(no subject)
I started the outline for my book review of The Great Gatsby this evening. It needs to morph into a three page analysis by Thursday- but as much as I've stretched my procrastinatory limits this semester (and successfully, I might add...) I'm not sweating it too much. I'm glad I decided to do the review on Gatsby. I initially wanted to do it on a book I hadn't read before- but in rereading Fitzgerald's work I realized that it might as well have been the first time I read it. Maybe it's cliche to toot the horn of an American classic- but I don't care. That book is incredible.
I crunched the numbers/credit hours for my projected college graduation timeline today- and to my dismay, realized that the only way I can possibly graduate sooner than 2011 is if I take three courses every semester (including summer) starting this upcoming spring. I took it into consideration for about six minutes, and then realized that a work load of that magnitude, that would quickly and constantly deplete my savings account- goes against so much of what I've been working towards this year. I'm happy going to school part time. It keeps me just busy enough.. and offers enough of a challenge without breaking the bank at this point- to compromise my happiness and finances for the sake of getting a diploma six months sooner is pointless.. and possibly downright stupid.
One of our policyholders called today and told us that her husband died yesterday. He was 32 years old and he died suddenly of cardiac arrest. I was absolutely floored by this- I think all of us were. This woman is one of the sweetest, most polite and soft spoken women you could ever meet. Always kind, always positive. They had a baby just a month or so ago... and now their entire world is in shambles because a young, seemingly healthy heart stopped working.
I think this was one of the things that tapped on the back of my brain while I was considering a heavier course load. I'd be paying all of this money- and be spending less time with Matt and with my family.. for a degree that I'm essentially getting for fun. All of that time and effort would be spent driving to Tampa and studying- when waking up tomorrow morning isn't even a guarantee.
It's not that I'm just now becoming keen to the frailty of life- I guess it's just that that one phone call makes this a pretty easy decision for me- and reminds me that there is very little in life that is more important to me than having the opportunity to stay close to the ones I love- and that it isn't always about visable, or tangible 'progress'... but about an overall sense of purpose- and more importantly, about true overall happiness.
I crunched the numbers/credit hours for my projected college graduation timeline today- and to my dismay, realized that the only way I can possibly graduate sooner than 2011 is if I take three courses every semester (including summer) starting this upcoming spring. I took it into consideration for about six minutes, and then realized that a work load of that magnitude, that would quickly and constantly deplete my savings account- goes against so much of what I've been working towards this year. I'm happy going to school part time. It keeps me just busy enough.. and offers enough of a challenge without breaking the bank at this point- to compromise my happiness and finances for the sake of getting a diploma six months sooner is pointless.. and possibly downright stupid.
One of our policyholders called today and told us that her husband died yesterday. He was 32 years old and he died suddenly of cardiac arrest. I was absolutely floored by this- I think all of us were. This woman is one of the sweetest, most polite and soft spoken women you could ever meet. Always kind, always positive. They had a baby just a month or so ago... and now their entire world is in shambles because a young, seemingly healthy heart stopped working.
I think this was one of the things that tapped on the back of my brain while I was considering a heavier course load. I'd be paying all of this money- and be spending less time with Matt and with my family.. for a degree that I'm essentially getting for fun. All of that time and effort would be spent driving to Tampa and studying- when waking up tomorrow morning isn't even a guarantee.
It's not that I'm just now becoming keen to the frailty of life- I guess it's just that that one phone call makes this a pretty easy decision for me- and reminds me that there is very little in life that is more important to me than having the opportunity to stay close to the ones I love- and that it isn't always about visable, or tangible 'progress'... but about an overall sense of purpose- and more importantly, about true overall happiness.