Faster than a speeding bullet...

Wow! It is already February. I thought that last year sped by me, but this year is already moving even faster. I love the fast pace, but I also would like to catch a breath of air. However, I am grateful that I survived Managerial Accounting. I hope to never take another accounting class. Sorry all you accountant type people! I don't like it at all and I HAVE tried it. (However, I love my Finance and Operations class. They both use accounting principles. Knowing about income statements and balance sheets does pay off, I admit.)
My life pretty much revolves around school. Even when I got my undergrad, my life didn't revolve around school so much. Talk about learning by immersion! I realized that it has taken over my life this week. (I was warned that it would take it over for two years.) The realization was driven home by five things.
1. I'm falling asleep over my homework (face planted) at night and dream about it.
2. My roommates were surprised to see me home at all but not surprised to see me with my laptop out and doing homework.
3. I arrange my life schedule around what time I need to spend on homework individually and in groups, be in class, or organize things for the student committee.
4. I relate everything to something I learned at school...including my spiritual and social life.
5. My conversations all go back to something about school. The irony is as I was writing this one of the guys I work with came by and asked me how school is going.

How am I doing? My operational system runs on refined raw materials and the balance sheet of life is well...balanced. The NPV of this is that I will not have to do this all again in the future! What am I going to do next? Go to Disneyland!! I'm serious. ;-)

My final answer is Volleyball.

I've been hobbling around for about 3 and half weeks on an injured foot. When I'm at work, I don't usually leave my desk. However, I do have to get up to do a couple of things. When I do, I seem to have the same experience. I run into someone I barely know or don't know and they ask, "What happened to your foot." Then I have to stand there on my good foot for a few minutes while they grill me and give me advice which I try to listen to attentively, wishing I could hobble away to a chair. My response is getting to be second nature.
For example, today, I ran into a guy I work with once in awhile. He said 'hi' and instead of responding with 'how are you' or 'hello', I said, "Volleyball." He just started laughing. Yep, he had not even asked about my foot. He admitted he was going to, but I threw him off with my statement.
Serves me right I guess. Volleyball IS my destruction and my love. I can't say how many times, I've injured myself playing volleyball, but is definitely more than five or six times. Yet, I can't seem to give it up. I am paying for it by having to go to physical therapy. The therapy seems to be working though. I can walk with a much less noticeable limp and I get out of my aircast starting tomorrow. I also can drive again starting tomorrow! (I did kind of cheat today and drove myself to therapy.)

Thanks for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving. I decided to list the top ten things I am grateful for about the actual day.

1. Turkey--I think Benjamin Franklin was right...the turkey is a magnificent bird...and definitely yummy.
   
2. Football -- This keeps my dad interested while I get to just chat with my mom.
   
3. Pie--no explanation needed.
   
4. No work--Tons of work, but nothing job related. I appreciate the change!
   
5. The NAP--Maybe I'm the only one, but I love taking an afternoon nap between the meal and the eating of pie...even if it is only 15 minutes.
6. Thanks List--I like hearing what my family is grateful for even only for one day.
7. Cooking--It is a day dedicated to cooking. I feel like I never have time to cook, but here is a whole day to spend in that pursuit.
8. A day to prepare--I think the eating is storing energy for the next day shopping trip!
9. Thanksgiving Movie--Traditionally, my mom and I go see a movie...yay!
10. MOST IMPORTANTLY--I GET TO LISTEN TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC WITHOUT ANYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT BEING BEFORE THANKSGIVING!!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

No "Jack" about it!!

This is the beginning of many pictures documenting the greatest pumpkin carving event ever conducted at the Clubhouse. Thanks to Eric, who came up with the idea and organized it, we were able to get Bachelor Pad and Clubhouse girls together again...including the fabulous spouses!

Is it LUCK or SKILL?

Some may argue that to get 100% on a your accounting quiz that you have barely looked at the material for is just pure luck. Of course, they might just say it is luck because there is no way that accounting is logical and the details can drain the personality out of a person.
However, I did just get a 100% and I've definitely got a personality and only a little numbers logic. It probably helps that I prayed and that I work with the "Finance Guys" at work. Terminology is what gets me but I can add and subtract. I think however, it was luck that the questions were all number based...so maybe it was luck and skill.
Going on though, Kelli Post and I were playing racquetball a little while ago. She commented that she thinks that when women make a great kill, they usually respond, "That was luck." She further stated that men usually respond to a great shot with something along the lines of "THAT WAS SKILL" and flex or something equally as manly. So I'm curious...I wonder if I could get a grant from someone to study if this really is a gender differential or if it is something else entirely. Maybe I could even run a multiple regression model from my beginning Statistics course...oh...I better stop before this sounds like a completely viable idea...

Ultimate Traveling Spoons Addict

I must admit that I love competition. I love games. I used to deny it, but now I embrace it ... completely. It all started with Settlers of Catan. I kept playing and playing until I could figure out a strategy to beat the guys I play with every time. Yeah...that feels very good. So this past Sunday, after our usually crazy dinner at the Clubhouse (which Jon cooked for us), we decided to play games. Andrea, my cool work friend who has been adopted into "THE GROUP," brought some of her friends. They introduced me to Ultimate Traveling Spoons.

Within a few minutes, the group of friends became a mob of people dashing for the coveted utensil in the next room. The first round was hilarious. I climbed up on the couch to avoid the mass exodus, but Brennen caught my foot and tripped me, causing me to land on Debi. She face planted into the couch. I slipped my foot free of Brennen's grasp and and jumped off the couch over the people sprawled in the hall. Victory was mine...and 8 other people's too. Only David didn't get a spoon...Yes, we kept playing until everyone was worn out...but I have admit...I think I might be an addict.

So I just ended my relationship with the guy I've been dating. You know that it is good thing you ended it when you feel so happy it is over!!!! I feel free to do things with my friends and not feel guilty anymore. I decided to go out last night with Brennen, Jen, Chris, Andy and Dawn to a corn maze. SO MUCH FUN! But the night got even better...We went to Denny's afterwards for Botttomless Hot Chocolate!! Chris and I waltzed through the aisle and Brennen and I cha cha'ed later. So much fun! I love people and hopefully we entertained those around us. Chris also picked up my tab...see not all men are clueless. Everyone should try it sometime...randomly dancing in a public place (with nice partner of course)!!