Learning Curve Balls

In third grade, in front of my entire class, I told Mrs. Carr to “Fuck off.” I even obliged, articulately, when she asked me to stand up and repeat what I had said.
The corporal retribution for this blatant disregard of authority included two paddles and six pages of a Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. A rather maniacal-looking paddle, whose face was adorn with carefully carved swat-holes, was retired in the process. The replacement had to be brought in from another area of the school to finish the job, or at least, that’s what I was told. And the pages of the dictionary were painstakingly transcribed, character by character, on college rule with a standard-issue yellow No.2.
Unable to find intellectual challenge or refuge in either junior high or high school, I was commuted to my first year of college when I was 12. One of the first classes I ever took was a course on study skills, which unfolded new approaches to exploring and retaining new information. Among these, was the simple notion of applying acquired concepts to matters of personal interest.
Oddly enough, both of these experiences are still with me today. As I’ve been progressing through the SAMS lessons, I’ve been applying the lesson projects to anything I think I can develop for personal or business interest. While this does have a tendency to slow my advancement, I not only retain more of what I learn, but I’m able to pursue related goals while exploring and practising these new concepts.
One thing that’s really pissing me off coming to my attention during this time is that my typing skills are a tangible hindrance. I took my first typing class way back in college, but did poorly. I’m now confronted with the fact that I’ll need to address this limitation in order to better facilitate other ambitions. Being aware is the first step.
On a final note, I “unofficially” closed the Picklefish site on Monday. Of course, a few people started coming out of the woodwork today, saying that they (and their friends) are really wanting to play. I know I have my energies focused in new directions, but I could really use a distraction and some exercise. At the same time, I want to avoid negativity, so I’m really not too sure how I feel about this.
All in all, great stuff is going on over here!