Well, where do I start? This is hard. I don’t know what to say. I am a mature aged student studying Creative Writing at University. I was under the erroneous view before I started that they would actually get you to do some creative writing. To date we have only had 1 semester where we did any and that was only briefly. It’s very disappointing. I am doing it online,which is great in some respects and bad in others. Great because you can do it when you have the time during the day to study. Bad because half the lectures don’t get recorded. There is no interaction online between the students or the tutor, and we don’t get to go to tutorials so there is no peer discussion. The university is pretty slack in regard to their external students. I’m about half way through my Bachelor of Arts so have a long way still to go to finish, if I ever do.
I live near the ocean and love watching it change all the time. It sparkles like diamonds, or else it is sullen and grey. When there is a full moon shining on the water it looks magical. It can be as flat as a lake, or as wild as an angry beast who roars and pounds. It is amazing to watch the lightning over the water, flashing great arcs in the sky. Sometimes I see the dolphins fishing and playing, or fish jumping. There are lots of seabirds like sea eagles who effortlessly ride the thermals over the land, watching for their prey in the water. The dogs love going for a swim, and running in and out of the water, chasing sticks or shells I throw. They sniff everything on the beach like a couple of beach combing maniacs looking for treasure.
My great loves other than ‘The Spouse’, are Harry and Clark who are my dogs, my family, and my friends. I also love books, animals, computers, plants, movies, music, and art. I have books everywhere and the spouse keeps buying me bookcases to put them all in. I don’t think a house feels like a home unless you have books, and animals, and a garden.
I am trying to learn to play golf as the spouse (who is a good golfer) bought me some clubs for Christmas. Thank goodness the teacher is very, very patient. He is only young but I could swear there are more grey hairs on his head than before I started. There is a lot to enjoy about golf. I like to be out in the fresh air and see all the birds and animals that live on the golf course.
For exercise I enjoy yoga and pilates and walking the dogs. Oh! and golf of course.
I have also just started drawing and painting. I have never done anything like that in my whole life. So it is a huge learning curve for me. I never did art at school so I am way behind most people who at least have a rudimentary knowledge of art. I really love it though even though I am not any good. But, you have to start somewhere and if I keep practising I can only get better right?
Other than that I guess there is not much to tell. Some people live big lives and some live small lives. I don’t want to be rich or famous. I am happy in my life. I have so much to be thankful for and I love it.
I hope you enjoy my blog and thank you for reading it. I am indebted to all my regular followers who send me comments and ‘likes’. It makes my day to hear from any of my blogging family. 🙂
Quite candid! It’s like breathing fresh air. Brings back memories from days in college.
LikeLike
Hi Judy,
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award: http://thejottersjoint.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/accepting-praise-recognition/.
LikeLike
Hi Judy,
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award: http://thejottersjoint.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/accepting-praise-recognition/.
LikeLike
Hi there Judy, Nice work I like to hear from you all as well and I have other blogs as well
LikeLike
Nice to meet you, and thank you for comment, follow. Thanking you in advance!
LikeLike
Hi Judy,
I just wanted to say thanks for reading my blog and consistently commenting or liking posts. I appreciate you!
Gail
LikeLike
The pleasure is all mine Gail. You have an awesome blog. 🙂
LikeLike
I teach part-time at one of our local universities. You are describing one of my frustrations with higher ed generally. If they made the coaches run the football team like this (all theory but never touch the ball or go on the field) the alums would eat their lunch. I’m glad you’re finding an outlet with your blog!
“I am a mature aged student studying Creative Writing at University. I was under the erroneous view before I started that they would actually get you to do some creative writing. To date we have only had 1 semester where we did any and that was only briefly. It’s very disappointing.”
LikeLike
I coouldn’t agree more Rebecca. That was a good analogy. I wish I had thought of that. cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Judy, I like your view of life 😀
LikeLike
Thanks Jane for the lovely thought 🙂
LikeLike
Love your description of the ocean, Judy. And I’m with you on the higher ed frustration. I loved my time doing a BA (it blew my mind) – less so a year of Creative Writing. Sometimes, one just has to DO, or at least, not only to think cerebrally 🙂
LikeLike
I couldn’t agree more Alarna 🙂
LikeLike
Hello Judy, I thought I come and look what you’re up to.
I love that you mention your dogs as your great loves. I have cats now but we used to have a Norwich terrier.
I just read about your frustrations to not do enough creative writing in a creative writing course. I took courses with the Gotham School for writing
http://www.writingclasses.com and they are awesome. You will do a lot of writing even when you take a course called Reading Fiction. If you try them, let me know what you think of it. They also give amazing feedback.
LikeLike
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I have tried Gotham before I started with University. You are right they are good. I love cats too. We always had them when I was growing up, but now we don’t because we feed all the native birds. My friend has a cat so I make do with a cuddle from Maxie. He purrs a lot, very loudly in fact.
thanks again
cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome. I can’t believe it. The name of one of my cats is Maxie. And he’s also a loud purrer.
LikeLike
So nice to read a little about you, Caroline. We have a lot in common. Like you, I love dogs, my spouse, golf, and writing (not necessarily in that order) – and I think a house is not a home without book shelves, a garden, and at least one animal. I spent my career in education, teaching every level from K to adult, and a decade or more in administration. Your frustration with not enough of the practical, applicable, real practice at what you’re there to learn is a concern of many educators. Ah, if we ran the world… Come back to JanBeek often – and I’ll drop in on you, too, OK? Do you really keep up with the daily entry of “A Daily Thought”? I find that hard to do!
LikeLike
Thank you so much for the comments. I really appreciate getting some feedback. Yes! I do try to blog every day but sometimes it doesn’t happen.
Happy Blogging cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Judy thank you for coming by my blog 🙂
LikeLike
The pleasure is all mine 🙂
LikeLike
I tried blogging every day but it was too much. hummm I remember popping in on your blog every so often. It is good to be back!
LikeLike
Judy,
This “About Me” is so honest and filled with spirit. Reading this I can see why you would be drawn to the Creative Writing path. I hope you’ll keep writing.
And good luck with the golf.
Tom
LikeLike
Thanks so much Tom, that was such a lovely comment to make. The golf is going slowly but I am enjoying it so far. cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Judy,
I nominated you for the Booker Award. I would love to hear your favorite books, if you choose to participate. http://thejottersjoint.com/2012/08/29/the-booker-award/
Thanks! ~Gail
LikeLike
Thanks Gail, I appreciate that very much thank you.
🙂
LikeLike
Gail I can’t remember if I answered this or not. If not thank you so much for that. I really appreciate you thinking of me. That was so nice of you.
cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Judy, thank you for stopping and liking my blog post today. I enjoyed reading about Molly the Wonder Horse. She seems pretty incredible and I thank you for making me aware of her story. I look forward to more posts from you.
Take care,
Ivon
LikeLike
Thank you Ivon that is lovely of you. I enjoyed reading about Molly too. There is so much we don’t know about animals. They always fascinate me.
I am glad we found each other’s blogs. Thanks for following mine, I appreciate your support. cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
I have nominated you for the lovely blog award. 🙂
Please on the the following link for info. http://kara003.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=4706&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
LikeLike
oppps here is the correct link… http://inkarasworld.com/2012/09/12/nominated-one-lovely-blog-award/
LikeLike
Thanks so much Kara that is so sweet of you. Much appreciated. cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Hi. Thank you so much for liking my blog. I enjoyed reading your posts. I am now following your blog, too.
~Ariesgrl
LikeLike
Hi!
Judy, what is Creative Writing?
LikeLike
Creative writing courses are where they teach you to write fiction by studying the ‘greats’. However, the course I did we never got to write anything except academic essays which wasn’t what I wanted at all 🙂
LikeLike
Happy New Year! Just wanted to drop by and say thank you for visiting my blog recently and liking one of my posts.
LikeLike
Thank you for coming to visit. I hope you had a nice Christmas and New Year. Look forward to visiting your blog often. cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Really enjoyed reading your posts on here, and I will be back again for another read! I think my brother will be interested in your blog, so I will pass your blog name on to him too!
Suzy 😀
LikeLike
Nice reading about you.Judy
Thanks. for visiting my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may definitely find something of your interest.
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting nice to meet you cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
thanks
LikeLike
Pingback: Would you be apart of my WordPress Family? | In Kara's World
Terrific post. How sad that you don’t have interaction with your peers. For me, that was one of the most important parts of the learning process. I’m enjoying your stories.
LikeLike
Hello just found your amazing blog and I adore Westie’s my favorite dog.
Look forward to reading more of your posts as I am following you.
LikeLike
Thank you so much that is very kind of you. Harry the Westie is a little cutie and very affectionate. He follows me everywhere and he loves to help you garden. Our older dog Clarke just likes to sit and guard the house so we have indoor security and outdoor security. 🙂 cheers Judy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Judy,I just read your “About me post” and did not realize you were a senior student and wondered how you have been getting on with your study since. I understand you live near to the sea, so do I as I live on the island of Crete. I also am a senior citizen studying the Minoan and Mycenaean Linear B language online. My teacher is in Canada. I don’t have the problem you have because the study is of course here in Crete Greece anyway, so I can get to all the sites if need be. Also most lectures are recorded which is a great help. I am in my third year and hoping to achieve a B.A. Degree. By the way I also like lots of books mostly History but occasionally I may read a romance novel especially if it touched on ancient history. Anyway, good luck with all you are doing and wishing you a Happy New Year.
LikeLike
Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
LikeLike
You have a great blog I really enjoyed it cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving a like 🙂 I hope you’re creative writing course improves! And good luck with the golf 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for taking the time to comment that is very nice of you. I have given up golf as it’s too hot in the sun and I would rather be doing my own thing like painting or drawing. I had to give it a go as the spouse bought me a set of golf clubs a couple of Christmas’s ago. He’s resigned to the fact now that I will never be a golfer. 🙂
cheers Judy 🙂
LikeLike
Hi I am not sure if I have spoken to you before but I love your introduction, your dogs look great fun a pair of “naughty boots” you sound so happy in your life and that makes me feel good. I envy you the ocean I love to be near the sea but that only happens when we take a break we live in land though living in the UK our distances are not as huge as yours but it is a distance to us! Keep studying and keep writing !! I shall have a look around your blog later so put the kettle on …please! 😉 xx
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. Kettle is always on for friends. The dogs are my constant companions and I wouldn’t know what to do without them.
We have had really windy weather here for what seems like months and the other day we were walking on the beach and there were all these dead mutton birds. We heard later that they came from Siberia and by the time they got here they were too exhausted to fight the wind. It was so sad to think they had come all that way and were in sight of where they wanted to go, and then they died. It really upset me.
I have been to England a few times to visit my cousins and I love it. Such a beautiful country and so much history. My mother came out here when she was 13 and sadly never got to go back.
Anyhow thanks again for your lovely message. Hope to talk again soon.
Cheers Judy
LikeLike
I would of been upset by the sight of all the dead birds……… nature can be so cruel. Talking of nature right now we are expecting a huge storm tonight and tomorrow I am dreading it!
Well I am glad that you like England , it is sad you mum never returned here but hey it is good that you have been here and met your family. I hope you have a good week!!
LikeLike
Yep I don’t like big storms either.
Nature is cruel unfortunately.
Good luck in the storm.
Cheers Judy
LikeLike
Thank you 😉
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Your dogs are adorable. And that’s great you are in school finishing your degree! Awesome.
LikeLike
Judy – in the 17 Oct 2013 post, you show a purported photo from 1846 of a “New Hampshire volunteer group”. Any idea where the original resides?
Kind regards –
Bud
LikeLike
I have nominated you for an award. If you do not accept awards – no problem. Simply interpret this as my admiration for your tireless work and sharing your wonderful posts with us all. ~ Amelia 🙂 http://mungaiandthegoaconstrictor.me/2013/12/16/thanks-for-the-nominations/
LikeLike
Thank you so much Amelia that is very kind of you. Merry Christmas cheers Judy
LikeLike
You are very welcome, Judy. Merry Christmas to you and yours too ~ Amelia 🙂
LikeLike
Hello there my friend! I would like to congratulate you…for I have nominated you for the “Superstar Blogger Award.” You can find the link to the page here; http://goodtimestories.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/the-superstar-blogger-award/
Thanks for creating such a tremendous blog. I thought that it would be a good idea to give recognition to your page and allow other people to view and enjoy your site!! Once again…well done and congratulations!
LikeLike
Thank you so much that is very kind of you. I am glad that you enjoy the blog. You made my day 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Judy, thank you for stopping by my blog. I am enjoying browsing through yours.
Diana
LikeLike
Thanks Diana I like your blog too 🙂
LikeLike