Dan Severson

I finished my comprehensive exam for my Masters in Education last Monday, 1/23/06. What a nightmare. All the things I have learned in my classes boiled into 7 questions with 7 days to finish. By the way, they were looking for a 5-7 page answer for each question. I usually take a good half a day just to develop an outline. The exam evolved around a reading list of about 10 books and 20 journal articles. I read each item on the list and took notes for future reference. I reviewed the notes the week prior to the exam to prepare. I feel that I did horrible. I felt that my answers were just rambling with no flow or continuity. Not to mention that each question would normally take a good semester to properly answer. I can't sleep or eat and my shoulders/neck are full of tension. I took a few days off last week to get my mind off the exam besides my mind was fried.

I spent my free time walking my children to school and picking them up. We also went to the grocery store and visited some friends. It is amazing how much my wife can accomplish by herself with three little monkeys running around. I did take a few days and went goose hunting. I a quickly becoming addicted to this sport. I just want to goose hunt all the time. As soon as our house is paid off I am buying a property just for hunting. I am sure that it will be after the truck and camper but it is on the list. I have some good friends who have a place for goose hunting and I just go over there for now. My place will have deer, turkey, small game and some water fowl, plus fishing. I think I should just retire and live off the land.

Speaking of retiring, my wife was contacted to apply for a job at her old company. I won't mention it because it may jinx us. We are trying to figure out how much money it will take for her to leave the kids and for me to stay at home. I would like to find a way to keep my job but work, a majority of the time, from home. We are not sure how much the salary will be but we also have to include added expenses such as gas, car, new clothes. My wife is also an excellent shopper so I am sure I can not save as much on groceries as she does. I would not mind staying at home as a full time dad I just would like to have the extra income.

I have been kicking around some ideas for a second income if I can't rearrange my work load (my wife also has to be selected, interview and be offered a good bit of cash). I have thought about doing some type of woodwork in the garage, make specialty sausage, or tutoring. I could find a part-time job at night or very early in the morning. I wake early so that is not a problem I just don't want it to place a burden on my wife if she is working. I just want to have some extra cash to send my kids to dance or karate. My Nana always said "It will work out if it is meant to be". We shall see.

That is why I have not posted for a while. I hope to to keep posting but our semester is starting next Monday. I am teaching dairy production and taking a crop class. I have the anatomy lab set and ready to go. Anyway talk at you later. Thanks for listening my shoulders are feeling better.