Congratulation Solider (that being me!!) you have just completed week 2 of Boot camp!! (Drops to the ground exhausted!!!) I would have to say that I kept up the assignment posting going bullet by bullet ensuring that I completed each and every step and assignment that was presented to me this week.  I even went back to last week to see what I had missed and needed to accomplish this week along with the laundry list of assignments for the current week.  I was surprised that I had missed so much (you can only imagine the look of disappointment that was on my face) when I felt like I had climbed a mountain based on the amount of work that I had done just to realize I barely chipped the iceberg!

Week 2 was easier than week one because the more that I use the sites the more confident that I am and I even surprise myself when I am able to actually follow the directions presented to me to complete the assignments. (Patting myself on the back!) I think that the main thing I struggle with is time management which should become easier as I adjust into my new job and balance my home life, school, and work. I would have to say that a lot of the assignments took me out of my comfort zone and I had to remind myself of one of my favorite quotes that fit this situation perfectly.

“If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” – John Maxwell

I have to say that when I reflect on my blog now I am actually proud of how far it has come and I am constantly thinking of ways to personalize it even more. I am proud of what I have created so far and I would have to say that you can see it reflecting my personality more and more as I continue to blog (it sounds so official, I am a blogger).  I found it the most difficult figuring out what plugins to install and what purpose they would serve.  I would have to say that the one thing that would make me want to blog all day and be a true reflection of me is if I could blog and post pictures of my son all day.  He is the reason that I breath and do what I do daily so he is the biggest part of me so to truly reflect me and what I am about it would certainly center around him. (This is where you say Awwhhhhhh lol)

Wells lets jump right into some of the other assignments for the week.

I learned a lot about protecting my work (copyrighting) from the Creative Commons Assignment at the following link http://shenikarich.com/creative-commons/

The Daily Create Assignments were great.  I am pleased that there are sites that are designed to encourage creativity and art.  Although I would not describe myself as artistic i would however say that I had a lot of fun doing these assignments.  I think this is mainly because it does not feel like I am actually doing school work.  I chose to do the ones that popped out at me and to be honest the easiest ones for me to do (yes I had a few lazy moments.) You can view my summary at the following link http://shenikarich.com/daily-creates/

GIF

This simple image above you was a journey in itself I not only had to learn how to create it but I had to figure out what a GIF actually was.  From my piece of art shown above you can see that it is from the Temptaions movie.  I chose this movie because every time that I watch it I have to get up and sing and dance.  It was a process and something that I will not forget how to do. I took the easy route out and used a tool to help me to create it but I found that it lacked the same effect as the example provided for the assignment.  With that being said my GIF abilities are a work in progress and I plan on being able to master it and use it to enhance my blog.

As per the instructions for this week I must show my ability to embed a video, a image, and a tweet so here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Training for my new job, first week of school, and everything is just exhausting in desperate need of some me time!

— Shenika Rich (@ShenikaRich) September 3, 2012