*squints* Dur...

[averygoodun42]

Went to the eyeballogist today, and the drops have just worn off enough to be able to read less than 24 type fonts. Though things are still pretty blurry.

He told me off, in the kindest of terms, for not having switched out my glasses for the last *mumble* years, so it's looking like I will be getting new glasses very soon. Geoff should, as well. (When it rains, it pours?)

But, this does explain why I've found reading books so tiring lately. It also might explain the current bout of conjunctivitis I've contracted got. Reading off-screen books used to do that to me quite a bit. And I'll rationalize the price of new glasses as cheaper than an ereader, and far more useful.


This morning was rather a disappointment as it turned out I needed all of Babe's school time (from when I got going, which, granted, was not that early) to do the next lesson of algebra. I'm finding this course frustrating because a) the tests cover material not covered in the lesson, b) the links given to explain the lessons are alternately too basic or too advanced for the topics covered, and c) I'm experiencing a resurgence of math-related anxiety.

Math was the only subject in school that would consistently tie my stomach into knots, and not just at test time. I'm very disappointed that it still does it, especially as I seem to have lost my instinctual grasp of it. Not understanding some of the basic concepts (right away) is... humiliating. This is pretty easy stuff, so I feel stupid when I don't get it.

To add injury to insult, I made some dumb mistakes in both the homework and the test today. I expect I passed both, but... bah.

Not that this course really matters. This course is only to get me reacquainted with the subject enough to not need to spend time and money on remedial math when I go back to school. Its worth is showing me where my weak areas are. Too bad it seems that they're all weak areas...

But not all is lost. I have three weeks to study hard and get a better grasp on this stuff. A good enough grasp to be able to take calculus and not drown. I think it's probably doable, especially with Geoff on hand every night to help. I just wish it weren't so difficult to restart the brain.

However, this does tell me that I am right in that I have become dumber over the last few years, and that I am making the right decision in going back to school now. I can still salvage a fair amount of gray matter if I get it going now before sclerosis sets in.

ETA: Heh. Got my scores back and while I did miss one on the test (on a question I really wasn't sure about), I got 100% on my assignment. Even though I did goof part of one answer. *shrugs*

It's still not coming easily, and my shitty memory is not helping.

Comments

[firefly124.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about the glasses. I mean, your eyes will be happy with new ones, but I know how expensive they can be. Ouch.

Re: math, that's you and every other returning adult student. Seriously, "I feel so stupid for not remembering this" is something I hear all. the. time. And my answer to you is the same as my answer to my tutees: "Have you been using it? Well, are you surprised you didn't bother to hang onto it then?" It's probably still in your head somewhere, but you packed it away in favor of keeping stuff you actually use on a regular basis more accessible.

Did my second email get to you? Yahoo did something weird while I was sending, but it turned up in my sent mail, so I thought it had gone, but maybe it didn't.

[paisleysnail.livejournal.com]

~hugs~

Maths is teh ebil. But soldier on - sounds like you're doing much better than you think! :D

[kribu.livejournal.com]

New glasses are definitely worth it, even if an expense one could do without. I hope they will last for a while, at least!

I was very, very good at maths in school. Never a problem with it; I grasped almost everything instantly. If I had to anything beyond 2+2 now (and I mean anything, even simple division), I would struggle. I struggled with remembering the basics of trigonometry when I went to Norway, as this was something we'd done five years earlier at home, and it was more difficult than learning new things. :-S

As firefly124 says, it's very definitely the lack of usage that does it. I hope it'll eventually start coming back to you - the instinctive grasp of it - with more regular practice!

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

You make me think I ought to brush up on my maths brain, too. Trouble is, I don't NEED more than basic arithmetic.

[evieeros.livejournal.com]

sorry it's 6am and I just came back from a sleep study so the comment is sucky but before I forget and you spend tons of $$$ on glasses go here. www.zennioptical.com my parents, hubby and i have probably ordered ~10 pairs from there and only had 1 problem with them being slow on shipping. (usual time is ~3 weeks) but wow cheap. and they look nice and last too. mine are going on 3 years of constant wear and are just now begining to look funny around ears.

[septentrion1970.livejournal.com]

Congrats for passing the test!