The Year In Review

Wait.  How can you call it a year in review when only three weeks have passed?  Well, technically almost four.  This year in review is actually going to be more of a talk about what's coming up this year.

First off, there's going to be a lot of holidays.  One every month, really, except for August.  Dang August, no wonder no one likes you.  I'm sure there will be plenty of birthdays, also.  Lots of people will have birthdays this year.  Hmmm.....what else will happen?

Well, just this past week I started two classes online.  Two classes?  Whatever for?  I've decided that it is time to waste some money on a useless Master's degree.  Just kidding.  I'm not wasting money nor is this degree useless.  For almost twenty years I have been involved in Educational Technology in some form or other.  Most of that was spent in San Diego though, coincidentally, when we moved from San Diego to Rancho Cucmaonga, I managed to stay in the education realm, continuing to support technology.

I knew that a degree in Educational Technology was something that I wanted for a long time, however, with various bills to pay and money to save, I wasn't able to fulfill that dream.  That has changed thanks to my job at Loma Linda.  The administration there are very supportive and would constantly ask me if I wanted to further my education.  After being asked several times, I mentioned that I did but was not ready financially.  They casually reminded me that as an employee I receive a benefit of tuition reimbursement every year.  Yes, I have to pay up front but am then reimbursed at the end of each fiscal year.  That was definitely good to know. 

With that in mind, I simply had to find a program.  After a lot of research, emails and phone calls, I discovered the Master's in Educational Technology at Boise State University.  The program is entirely online and I never have to go there unless I want to walk at graduation.  I think the program is going to really help me with my own job and provide me with information and resources that will be effective for years to come.

Don't be surprised, then, if there happens to be a blog about my classes or if I link to some of my work.  Also, watch my Twitter feed as there could be updates for my classes as well (just warning you in case you happen to look and don't understand something that gets posted).

But that's not all this year will hold.  As you know, I am still trying to become a published author.  I still have my one novel that is being read by a couple of other people and I have hope that another story of mine will begin to mature and finish sometime this year.

There are also plenty of movies coming out this year that are on my list to see.  However, since I have a child, it might be hard to see them in any appropriate time and I might just have to rent them eventually to see them, but I will see them.  Look for reviews as I'm able to write them.  I think that March might mark another month of 31 posts in 31 days but don't hold me to that just yet.  Plus other random blog posts about the most mundane (to most people) topics and book reviews on books that I choose to review.

The year may have just begun but I'm already behind on Christmas shopping and Christmas cards.  I think I'll make it easy this year and just make a blog post when the time comes.  Who knows what the rest of the year might hold but it's going to be fun.


Until next time.