My hatred for math began in the third grade when a very mean looking teacher slapped his ruler down on my desk and said he would not move until I answered his math questions.

 Needless to say this violent act by this wrongly occupied elementary school teacher did nothing to help me enjoy math.  Along with the prevailing propoganda at the time that girls were not supposed to be good at math and add in the fact that I was probably more in love with books than numbers and you find a person not in love with math.

 Life rolled on.  I took required math course, (no algebra) and got our of high school.  Then a few years later, decided to obtain an associates degree in business.  Math was required, but not very much algebra, and I slid through with nary a backward glance.

 “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.  Albert Einsten said this long ago, and it still hold true.  Because I decided to get another degree and this time algebra became the bane of my existence and I failed miserably. 

So, here I am again facing algebra.  

Why?  Well, I really want this degree.  But, beyond that, is the fact that I have found a certain elegance in the slope and y intercept. 

This time I have decided to do it in front of the world and see if I can do better.    And, this time, I am bringing along a very old tutor- Einstein at his most articulate.  

Come along with me while I slip and slide through x and y coordinates.  See me cry as I try to understand arithmetic sequences.  After all, is only for one semester.  

I hope!