ATTENTION: Usage Survey 1 Participants NEEDED

Many of you already know that I am taking grammar classes, but if you hadn't heard, now you know. In order for me to complete one of my lessons, I need to get five (5) participants to complete a usage survey.

So, if you don't mind, the first five lucky readers who seize the day get to help me with my homework. Lucky is the word, right?

The instructions are simple. Just go to the six polls found in the right hand side column of the blog and answer all six questions in order of succession. Your answers need to be what you actually say. And DO NOT peek at other people's answers. Just put what you say. Then, after you take the polls, please come back here to the comments section and let me know what part of the world you are from. You do not need to give specific city name if you don't want to. I am only looking for regions.

As soon as I get five participants, I will take down the polls.

Your Assistance is Kindly Requested

Not sure if I've mentioned this before but, in case I haven't, I am in the midst of an introductory linguistics class. I have to conduct a bit of research for my course project and need YOUR help. I want to measure the prevalence of usage between  Can I...? and May I...? and am curious to know any reasoning you might have behind why you say what you do.

Instructions for being a very helpful and lovely sort of person:

1. Go to the top right-hand column to find the poll. (The poll will run through June 8, 2012 at 7 p.m. PDT) 
2. Take the poll and please be sure to put *YOUR* answer and not one you think might be more correct. I am not looking for grammar correctness. I want to know common usage statistics. For example-- if you were taught one way but do it differently, put what you actually say most of the time. (It is one question so it should take approximately 10-15 seconds.)
3. If you want to help make my research project really awesome and multifaceted: Please share your answer and any thoughts you have about why in the comments section of this post. (Anonymous comments are enabled on my blog. Therefore, if you do not want your identity known but want to share some insights with everyone, be sure to access this page prior to signing in on anything that would catch you on the radar.)
4. If you want to help make my research project really fabulous and the opposite of lame-due-to-lack-of-enough-participants: PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK WITH OTHERS. (There is no such thing as too many people taking the poll or leaving comments. I am an over-achiever, hence my expectations are probably too high, and my dream number for how many people will participate is astronomical.)

I have share buttons at the end of the post for direct emailing, StumbleUpon, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. So take the poll, comment and/or SHARE.

I thank you in advance for supporting my effort to do something interesting and worthwhile. I appreciate it very much.

Please Note: The poll ends June 8th!!!

On a Whim...

i {heart} BYU

All silliness aside, I must say how grateful I am to be attending such a fine university. I am learning more than I ever thought possible! Each semester, I have faith-building experiences, grow in knowledge, and make some of the dearest friends.

I never could have imagined all the amazing adventures I would have with fellow students who don't mind and even admire me for surviving my insane, non-traditional student life. My heart is bursting with gladness for each and every person who has thought outside the box and learned to include me and be my true friend. Some of my most cherished memories with mis chicas include going to the Nutcracker Suite, a Halloween dance party, a matinee of The Magic Flute, photography sessions at the railroad tracks and school, a study session deemed as fabulous as a tea party, cleaning session at my house where no judgments were made (that I know of), fire pit parties, lovely meals after class, and countless hours of talk, talk, talking. If I had done things the supposed right way, I would not be making these priceless friends right now, so I am glad I did things a little differently.

My life is enriched and enlivened by so many unexpected friendships. They help keep a sparkle in my eye and hope in my heart that things will all work out.

Thanks, girls.

photo credit: K. Johns (one of mis chicas)

BYU vs. Utah - What Color Do YOU Bleed?

I have never really understood the saying "I bleed..." of ANY color other than the natural red color that comes out of our bodies. And I'm sorry, but isn't that a given? I thought we learned our colors in like kindergarten and first grade, at the very latest for non-intellectually disabled persons. Actually, the saying has seemed rather silly and even bizarre to me, just to be completely honest with you.

But in light of the fact that my school's rival football team bleeds red physically and figuratively, AND today is THE RIVALRY GAME of the season (aka the holy war), I feel a need to join in-- just a bit.

School Parking

Tuesday Morning

This week has been interesting, to say the least. My class schedule definitely pushes me to my limit with all my other responsibilities crowding in for their slice of the time pie. But-- this is not a complaint session!  I want to share a bit of funny inspiration that hit me whilst heading to my first class the other day.

Every morning this week, I have been STRESSED OUT trying to find a parking spot. Anyone who has ever attended a university (and drove their car to it) probably knows what I am talking about. Parking a car in a spot that actually sits on university property during the first bit is an absolute dream for anyone arriving after 9:00 a.m.  Well, you might end up in one of the dream spots, but you will probably be late for class waiting to get one like I was on Wednesday. Talk about irritation! So on Thursday, I left for school two hours before my class begins and I still could not just pull into a spot. I had to start hunting. I was desperate, seriously desperate. All I kept thinking in between prayers for one little spot for me was: Why in the world doesn't the university engineer a better parking situation?

Monkey Bars Take Two

Tomorrow starts yet another semester and I am disheartened by all that transpired over the Spring/Summer terms. The thought of beginning yet another set of failure-for-me courses makes me want to cry. I would never consider quitting it all, but a semester off would be so nice-- I will NOT forget this and WILL take Summer term off this school year. (if you get any posts to the contrary in about 8 months from now, remind me to read this post)

Happiness is Learning New Things

My life as a non-traditional student can be highly stressful at times.

• Juggling children
• Getting regular exercise
• Homework
• Housework
• Errands
• Yardwork
• Class time
• Doctor/dentist/etc. appointments
• Writing
• Serving at church
• Going to church
• Attempting to live a full and happy life
• And the list goes on...

Homework and class time slip into the mix almost unnoticed. It looks so simple putting all those things into a nice neat list, but it really is NOT. The homework this term has been kicking my rear since my personal life has overrun my student life just about off the dang highway. I must take ownership though--I should have used the emergency pull out lane and taken a couple terms off.

So anyway. My point is that I go to school, but see things quite differently than many students working on their 4-year undergrad degrees due to plain old life.

Monkey Bars

Tomorrow starts another first day of school for me. I am taking another Spanish class (the 3rd in a series of 5 required for my degree) and a scripture class on Isaiah in the Old Testament (an elective, but an amazing one at that). I have the same anxiety coming on that I always get because my girl group that I had an entire regular school year with are either traveling the world, working so they can survive another school year out here, or closing the door on their formal career as a Spanish learner. So tomorrow I get to see my same teacher, which is fabulous, but I will have to reach out yet again and see if I can find someone that will want to do study groups and be a friend.

Why would I be so nervous about reaching out? I reach out once a day six times a week to unknown readers around the world (hopefully). 

There is something about the first day of school...anticipation, excitement, recognition of our ignorance--if we already knew the stuff we would not need to go to the classes. Right? I think that last part is the humbling experience that causes a lot of the nerves.

The Non-Traditional Student

If ever there was a non-traditional student that stuck out like a sore thumb on a university campus, it is me at BYU. I went to a community college to get my Associates degree and so I know the difference.  I feel the difference. I enjoy my university experience a great deal, so don't think that I am knocking BYU. I love attending BYU, but I am a thirty-almost forty-something with four kids working on my UNDER GRAD degree.  Picture it: I go to class with 18-23 year olds.  I could have babysat them and some of them I could be their mother.  It is humbling and exciting.  On the first day of a new semester, I just feel old. Then, a few class sessions go by and I have got to know some of the most amazing young people and I am comfortable. The most priceless part of my BYU experience is the super friendships I have made so far.  Some totally fabulous friends. Who can ask for more? Friendship is as essential to me as food, water, and air.

That brings me to the HOW part of my school attendance.