Is that even a word? I'm not sure. But April once again is awesome and has reminded me that I haven't blogged announcing the next quiz meet yet, like I usually do! Obviously, Winter break has taken a bit of a toll on my mind (and as my team would testify, my quizzing :oS). But I do have a list of valid excusees including the following (yes, I'm about to list a bunch of excuses for not blogging):
It's January, and not only does my dance school have our recital in the beginning of January, the 25th of the month is Robbie Burns Day, and Highland dancers are naturally super busy around that time. I had a dance performance yesterday and I will have another one tomorrow. If that's not excuse enough, my class was also working on new choreograpy at the beginning of December that we had just over a month to prepare, and I have a championship that I've been preparing to enter in, so I've been super dedicated to my dancing lately. Not that I haven't been trying to study as much quizzing as possible, of course.
Also, I've been really busy with my new job at Jysk. At one point I was working 20 hours in one week, although now it has eased up considerably to 7 hours, 6 this week. I literally wore pieces of dance costumes under my work clothes twice this week.
Annnnd I am now co-directing (coaching and choreographing for, scheduling practices for, writing letters to the parents of) a dance team at my church. Which if you lie in Edmonton you need to ask me about because it is awesome.
So if that's not excuse enough to have been caught up and not available to blog much, you either aren't a dancer, or didn't actually read the last few paragraphs.
But, yes, thus is my life. My flashcards are WAY behind, my blog hasn't been updated since... did I even blog about the last quiz meet? At all? Man, do I have some catching up to do!
So, let's start with the last quiz meet. Lots of fun stuff happened including a massive game of Gump that got slightly out of hand, falling flat on my face trying to do fouettes without warming up, running off to the mall during the break between prelims and championships... and oh yeah, QUIZZING :o)!
We had some really really good quizzes, all of which I am extremely proud of. There was one really crappy quiz which I would prefer not to really talk about, which was our last quiz of the day (Lana almost fell asleep on the benches, actually. It was pretty funny), but it was a fun day in general. Like normal, we took the long way around things, and placed 7th in Championships! Without a stats sheet in front of me I don't remember how NEXT 2 placed, but they did really awesome. In my opinion, they could be in the Senior bracket but *shrug*. They're doing awesome.
Personally, I placed 8th in the championship bracket which is a huge success! Not a personal best, but awesome nonetheless.
This next quiz meet is just... Gah. I'm too tired most of the time to really force myself to get pumped (dancing takes a lot of emotional, mental, and physical energy which I don't seem to have a lot of lately). However, while well-rested and caffienated, the thought of it sends my stomach butterflies insane. Without caffiene I'm not panicking though, so I guess that's a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. Bad thing because I am WAAAAAY behind and a little bit of freaking out could do my quizzing a lot of good.
I'm looking into binaural beats for focus and high brain activity, and I'll let you guys know what my experience is. Right now I'm desperate so I'll try almost anything.
Quesiton of the blog: Do you get less motivated over the Winter months? I sure do.... this happens every year!
Anywhoodiddles. There is studying to be done and I have a dance out tomorrow and I don't really have the time to be blogging :oP
QUIZZERS UNITE!
Maegan
Skip the first paragraph if you're not just bored.
So, guys, I posted this literally minutes after posting the blog about the meet, because it was a draft before and I hadn't finished it when I wanted to post it so if you want to read about how the meet went, read the blog.
Yeah... you have to read to blog to find out how NEXT did. I'm not spoiling ANYTHING for those who actually care.
Too bad everyone who actually cares probably already knows.
BUT the blog post has the STORY... *nobody moves* FINE! Don't read my blog.
Anyways, the purpose of this blog is to let you all know that I think I just found a place where being an obsessive quizzer is a good thing. I was just talking to my friend from dancing (If you're reading this, I hope you don't mind that I'm talking about you on my blog, you know who you are...) about theory and she said something about using flash cards for Highland theory... memorizing definiteions and stuff... and I, myself using flashcard machine for my Highland theory, directed her to the website that I use. Then it kind of clicked in my head... Quizzing... theory... Quizzing... theory... WOAH!!!!! IT WORKS! It is terribly pathetic that it took me THIS LONG to figure it out...
So, I was going over my study methods and I realized just how obsessive they all sound when all you're trying to do is memorize a few, or a few hundred (or so it seems) definitions of movements you can execute no problem. I mean, the flashcards with push-ups... that'd work fine... I think I'm gonna use that one with steps of a dance for my theory since I have to up my pracitce time anyways, but most of them are totally... like, unrelated! No key words, although you oculd try to find words that you constantly forget, so that takes out a chunk of them. No verse numbers, so that takes out high lighting. Trouble spots... those I can maybe use but most of the study methods would SUCK for Highland theory.
The tips, too, I just realized how obsessive I am! "Make sure you eat while you're studying" "If your eyes are closing on their own, take a nap" "Schedule study times with friends!" And the new one I just posted "Make a schedule with when you're going to do each method that you use to study"... WHAT? I laughed SO HARD comparing how much I study Quizzing with how much I study theory... I mean, I don't think I've touched my theory book since last week, and its a MIRACLE if I can keep my hands off of my quizzing work for more than an hour or two.
BUT! As different as the two are, from the work ethic I learned from Quizzing, listening to my body when I'm studying for a long time and learning what works best for me, to working as a team, calming myself down and eating the right 'brain foods'... its all thanks to Quizzing, and without it, I probably would've failed my last few theory exams. Badly. So, Quizzing is pretty cool that way. And many other ways but don't get me started.
Questions: Where do you see skills obtained in Quizzing reflect in real life? (Yes, there IS a world out there for all you study-a-holics) And... was this too much of an essay for you to bother reading this far? *sigh* Oh well.
Quizzers... UNITE!
Maegan
Yeah... check it out, a title with no song reference!! Please excuse me while I have a random 2 minute dance party with only myself.
Anyways, in honour of the 'OH MY GOSH I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE WEEK LEFT' spirit that is probably hanging around with your quiz teams, whether its welcome or not, I have posted another study method and another Rookie tip.
Yes, Ii did say in my comment response to Patricia that I wasn't going to make another post, but this HAD to be out there, because I just remembered the tips I wanted to put onto the site and I was itching to tell you people!
And, just for the sake of it, here's another link to the flashcards for John: http://www.flashcardmachine.com/891179/5q5v
They're almost one for this meet, I swear! Bear with me people... they'll be done sooner than later, probably by later tonight okay? Okay.
I don't have a question for this blog. Go to my earlier blogs and answer my other questions... I like seeing people's comments and answers! It seriously makes my day when I get an email wrom Weebly saying 'you have a comment'! Honestly, I'm not that pathetic in real life. Wait. Am I? Hey Patricia, a little help here??? LOL!
Quizzers UNITE!
Maegan
Skip to the end if you wanna skip the ramblings and go right to website udates.
Anyways, I've heard this from a few other people and I'm definitely feeling like this myself, every single practice 'I'm not ready, I haven't studied enough...'
Remember that panic demon in my head? Its not even panic anymore. Its just a general not ready feeling. At this point I'm not sure I'm going to be able to catch up in time for the first meet of the year, in all honesty. I'm just... not on my best game. I don't really have the drive I usually have. Which is odd. And kinda disappointing cause as a result I'm not doing well in practices and as much I expect it, it still bugs me when I can't find an answer right away. SO I'm thinking of putting some stuff up on my study page... so question... how do you get yourself to study when your head and heart are like "STUDY!!!!! STUDY STUDY STUDY!!!" But the entire rest of your being is like "Later. I can't reach my book from here. I'm too lazy to study right now. Zzzzzzz.". Or am I the only one with this problem? *sigh* as nobody bothers commenting anyways. Oh well. Fine. Don't comment.
Anyways, 2 new tips in Nerves. Thats the update. Happy now? LOL! Jk... Wake me up when practice starts, k? Zzzzz... Jk again... maybe... LOL!
Quizzers Unite
Maegan
Okay, so I wasn't planning on writing two blogs about being excited for the first quiz practice of the year, but this morning I woke up and I was so excited I was dizzy. With excitement. I swear I'm not sick or anything. Really, I'm not. I was so excited that I (theoretically) commented on my own status!!! (my quizhelper's status...) I know. I'm a nerd.
But I woke up so excited that I HAD to blog about it!!! Its kinda weird, ya know? I've been studying for a long time now and I've got a lot of my text DONE... but I feel like I haven't studied enough... not even CLOSE to enough... its the most odd feeling in the world cause even though I am fully aware that I've been working my butt off all August there's still that little panic demon inside my head... like... OMG MAEGAN WHY ARE YOU ENJOYING THE NICE WEATHER WHILE YOU HAVE IT YOU NEED TO BE STUDYING YOU DONT KNONW THE MATERIAL!!!!! GFDJKHFSIOFHB AAAAAAAH! I call this pre-practice quizzers syndrome. Pre-quizzing syndrome was already taken. See my blog about quizzers diseases.
SO thats the panic inside my head right now, pushing all logic aside and eating my brain from the inside out.
To think that yesterday I described my feeling towards this year starting as numb... I mean, I'm copying down my own jumping tips... (seriously. I'm not kidding.)
K, so I really need someone to comment. Fill in the blank. Please.
I'm SO excited for quizzing to start I _________________.
Please. SOMEBODY comment!
Don't get too excited, but I'm probably gonna blog tonight after practice. (troll: GET OFF THE INTERNET!)
*sigh* Quizzers unite!! WOOT!
Maegan
I am SO excited for Finals!
And you know what? There's only 5 days left including today! Freak out much!
Its a happy excited, though, I promise... although I can't help but bring back memories from last year's Nakamun experience... To the rest of NEXT 1: I PROMISE it WON'T happen again this year...
Since Great West I've been trying to turn on my Corinthians stuff so I can listen to it in my sleep and its all been going fine so far, I think its working... but I won't post it on studying tips until I check it out with some online sources... Right now I don't know WHICH methods are working and which ones aren't since I'm pretty much using almost all of them around the same time... is that a good idea? AAAH! What are your opinions...?
Well, this is the last stretch of studying for the year, hey? Paul will definietely be missed... at least I'll miss him if nobody else does. Get ready for another gospel, time flies!
Question: Any last minute tips for Finals? What tips have worked the best for you?
Maegan
Wow... It seems like its been forever since I've blogged! Since my last blog a bit had happened... and by a bit I mean a lot.
First of all, I recited 14 chapters of Text in 2 days. Yeah. I was that far behind.
I got the rest of the flashcard questions... they'll be caught up and everything in a few days.
I went to Great West practice (HALLELUJAH! Still excited...) and learned how to jump faster... now it won't be as frustrating to quiz against fast jumpers! :o)
I was in Love According to John where I nearly fell into the orchestra pit (but I didn't :oP) and lost about 5 days of studying... almost... I still studied but not as much as I should've.
Seriously... I'm not a very interesting person. I'd be more interesting if I'd give you the sweet details... but that'd take up a lot of blog space.
Anyone wanna send stuff in? I haven't added anything in a while!
I've been studying like a monster since the quiz meet, people. Like even more than normal. Like, more than MY normal. This is overkill. So I'm going to blog for a bit.
Wow... I am BLOWN AWAY!! Do you know how many views I got 3 days ago?? Do you want to know??? Of course you do... 120!!!! It makes me smile to know that people are actually finding worth and use in this website!!! Warm fuzzies much!
I just realised I have to study more than one chapter per week for Great West. I am freaking out about Great West. I am homestly. Freaking. Out. I mean, its like studying and practices take on a WHOLE different meaning... I mean, I WANT to get EVERY question I get right. I want to answer as MANY questions as I possibly can in an hour. I want to study ALL the time... it doesn't matter where I am or what I'm supposed to be doing. Motivation much?
I don't know. Maybe I'm just having a really good 2 weeks. Leave a comment cause nobody ever does... I'm going to try to ask a question you can comment on for every blog I make now... so this blogs question is: what motivates YOU? Bribery? Competition in meets? Or even practices? Tell me! Tell me! Please? Cause nobody ever comments. Except Patricia. And if SHE doesn't even comment on this I'll take a hint.
Have a great week, fellow quizzers, and check out the flashcards, chapter 8 is UP!
Maegan
Hello again and welcome to another blog post from an obsessed study-a-holic! (that didn't come out right...)
Just thought I'd update y'all!
One week until Quiz meet time. The Beans are OFFICIALLY back together... plus Laura. I am SO happy we got the dream team again! Watch out WCD... we are IN!
But, for the first meet we're not together because they... uh... feel like it?? I don't know. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! Did I MENTION that its next week?? AAAAAH!
We ALL hate chapters 4 and 5 at NEXT. ALL! of us. Not even kidding. Probably because when they're together its so much material to memorize! By the time we get to the meet, though, we WILL be awesome! Cause thats just what we are! Yay!
And I finally got my head in the game and started on the flashcards for 1 and 2 Corinthians, so check it out homies!
You are so lucky I didn't say that out loud. Would've sounded SO wierd...
Hey y'all!
All of the Beans were re-united at the first Quizzing practice of the year! We all did our verses and we're all pretty pumped for the year. Let me tell you, they don't memorize text for nothing! Its really useful! Actually, its kinda frustrating, case when you know the answer but didn't jump fast enough, and they don't know the answer, even if they're on a different team, you just wanna scream at them. But thats okay. At meets, thats what the frustration plan is for. (see dealing with nerves)
|
RSS Feed