Friday, June 15, 2012

Back in school

I am in Sea School for the weekend.  Today was a long one, but the material was interesting enough.  I think that I have a fairly good grasp of the material.  Tomorrow, class will start again at 8 AM.

When I got home this evening, I wolfed down some dinner and went back over the material from today and began to prep for chart navigation tomorrow.  I am glad that I still have the stamina to put in a long day of class work and evening study.  I had to smile at one of the young fellows in the class who took a nap at lunch and didn't wake up until we were over an hour into the afternoon session.

One of my strong suits has been sheer determination.  It served me well with studies and a research career.  It also worked against me terribly for all those years that I thought my determination would make sense of alcoholism and change my loved ones to being how I wanted them to be.  It's another example of how a character asset can be a double edged sword and work to my detriment.

I don't have time to make comments on your posts, but I will do so when I get a chance.  For the moment, I am reviewing what I learned in some of the piloting courses that I took last fall.  I'm glad that I did some prep by taking those courses because I can see the befuddled look on some of the faces of those who have not done this work before.  It surely is a lot to cram into a few days.  All of those years of focusing in meetings and being an intense listener is actually helping.

I wondered what each of you were doing while I was grabbing a sandwich at lunch.  I hope all is well.

16 comments:

  1. hey back to studying...smiles...thanks for the update on class...that determination def helps as well...

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  2. All is well in Lloyd. Don't think you have to leave comments all the time. You are busy! We know you're there.

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  3. Coastal navigation ranks as one of my most fun classes. I lived offshore of Key West Florida at the time with my Brand spanky new husband and toddler.

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  4. I can't believe that you took the time to post today Syd but I'm glad you did. It's so interesting to be vicariously learning with you !!

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  5. Well, I passed out in my bathroom the other night and bruised myself up quite a bit! You'll have to come back to my blog and read it when you have time. lol

    Glad YOU are well and enjoying learning again. We are never too old to learn something new, right?!

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  6. Hi Syd,

    I remember your intense concentration on passing that other 'sea' course a year or so ago for you!

    You already have great character assets - listening and focusing (on self) - - - that is one of the Al-Anon tools which have been tremendously enhanced in your studies and obvriously for your satisfaction in living for today.

    Proud, Proud!!!!

    Hugs,
    Anonymous #1

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  7. Oh honey, they make GPS now ya know. ;-) Enjoy your schoolin'.

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  8. Learning keeps our brain healthy and young. I bet you are the smartest guy in the class.

    Don't worry about us, our drama will still be here when you get back..LOL

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  9. Keep at it, Syd. We'll see you when we see you...

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  10. Learning new subjects keeps our brains young and active . . . Not that you're old.
    Enjoy sea school Syd, you'll sail through it ;-)

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  11. I'm glad you're taking these courses. You strike me as someone who really loves learning, so this seems like a great opportunity for you. I hope you enjoy yourself!

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  12. Life long learning and keeping the little grey cells warm is a good thing. Good luck in the class.

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  13. You know Syd navigating isn't all that complicated when you have ACCURATE charts. It's when you're flying with on that is more than a year old that close to shore when the sandbars are always shifting the depths.

    I loved being a radar operator...Triangulation was as close to geometry as I ever got!

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  14. Thanks for the update! Glad those old skills are coming back to help! Have fun!

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  15. Glad to see I am not the only one back in school and struggling with keeping up on my blog site. I'm trying to stay in touch the best I can, and think of you guys often. I am learning too how my character assets are a double edged sword. I am so anal retentive, in how I keep my notes, archive class material with colored tabs, print everything for my notebook. If I can keep everything in order than I can keep disaster at bay. Eventually, I know, my ardent efforts will grow tiresome and I will fall off in the other direction by recklessly throwing everything into a stack of papers on my desk. In the meantime, I watch myself with no judgement. (Or at least I'm trying to.) Good for you and your stamina. It's a testament to how well you take care of yourself.

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  16. Thanks, Anonymous. I took a lot of courses with the US Power Squadron. Sea School is to enable me to sit for the OUPV and the Master's exam. I am tested there, rather than at the USCG regional exam center. Much less hassle and a lot less pressure with Sea School. But the instructor leaves a lot to be desired.

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Let me know what you think. I like reading what you have to say.