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Oh my, what a trip ...

I'm still a little jet lagged, tired, and goofy. Will share stories later.

Rickrolled

This was on xkcd. I enjoyed it. You won't.

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3

And the great countdown begins - three days until I leave for Japan! I started packing last night and realized not only did I need to do laundry, I also needed to figure out how to make my limited professional wear stretch over four days of company presentations. It looks like I'll be bringing only two suits, and changing what I wear underneath, and that's the best I'll be able to do. It's also been unusually cold there, so suddenly my old wool suit isn't sounding so bad.

On the other hand, what does one wear to Japan?? I've already pulled out my yoga pants and a couple of favorite comfy shirts for the plane, that's for sure.

Plus, I'm a little afraid I'll offend some of our hosts with how much food I need in a day! I like Japanese food - you can't really go wrong with rice anyway. But lately my eating habits have been insane, since reception site hunting comes with eating a lot of very good food (and can I just say, I'm thrilled with ours!). But I've been on a real Mexican kick lately, and I'm not going to the other side of the world for that.

I'm otherwise ready to go, but it's just narrowing down those last few outfits and packing as optimally as I can.

It's been quiet at work recently since my job is winding down. I'm a little disappointed I don't get to see this current project out, but then again, I don't know that I really want all that riding on me. I saw our apartment manager today, and her first question to me was "How is work?" Since I see her about as much as I see my parents, it was a weird thing to ask, but apparently there are other tenants who work at my company and are worried about layoffs. I wasn't, but I guess I will be now!

Since I never blogged about my mom's visit, and the wedding-binge that ensued (literally, to the point that I couldn't take it any more), I might work on that tonight. I have laundry to finish, studying for a midterm, and packing to do!

So, until I return, sayonara!

Destitute

The thing that really bothers me about my school is its reputation. Not of high academic standards and expectations. Not of quality education.

It's the University of Spoiled Children.

MBAs don't exactly have a good reputation. They're money-grubbing, dishonest (surveys show that something like 70% of MBA students cheat on tests), and represent "evil corporate America." And I'd have to agree. There's a very small number of people in my program that I'd call friends. Which is surprising, because I always thought it was a stereotype.

But for some reason, MBA candidates feel like they're especially deserving. (And the faculty dedicates some time to facilitating this attitude.) Coming to campus is a nightmare, because apparently a USC license plate cover and a BMW/Audi/Mercedes (in that order) exempts one from traffic rules. Students are primed to expect an average $100,000 salary, but not have to look for a job. In fact, they say, the average would be higher, but it includes people who work overseas where the wage rates are typically lower, and those who work for non-profits. The people that I'm friendly with are the few who don't corner me in class or in the hallways to try to weasel a job opportunity or sleep with me (also surprising - sure, my program is only 27% female, but I'd say 90% of them are there for a degree and not a husband).

Normally I'm not the type to feel inferior because of social class or perceived wealth, but it's been really hard the past couple of years.

When I first moved out to California, and got my first job, it was sort of a disappointment. I mean, most schools prime their students with ideas that a college degree will almost automatically guarantee you a good, decent-paying job. Being out in the real world, and talking to a lot of people, I think we've all discovered that the real hard work starts after graduation.

But all of my job moves have been upward, and I'm able to live comfortably within my means. And yet when I'm at school I'm painfully aware that my clothes/shoes/purses are not designer labels (and are, in fact, from the Limited, Express, and Gap, but from TJ Maxx), I drive a terribly old car, rent an apartment in questionable neighborhood, and likely make the least in my class discounting those who aren't employed. I can't even begin to wonder how many dollars worth of automobiles park in the university lot, or the value of engagement rings of that third of my class.

I'm obviously attached to my car, and I always thought I dressed reasonably well. I'm not extravagant, and honestly, some of those designer purses? Do you really need to carry around a suitcase worth of stuff covered in an unattractive logo? I've gotten my own jobs, without referrals or family/friend help, and established myself pretty well. But now, it's time to buy a new car, and while I'd like something nicer than a Civic (Nissan Z350), it's far out of my league (Mitsubishi Eclispe). Buying a house in southern California is tough, but I'd never be able to if not for dual income. And most people know weddings are expensive, but few know just how much, even for a relatively small, simpler affair.

I've always lived by asking for little, but expecting even less. Lately that "less" feels way out of reach. Who would have ever thought that the basics (and the occasional luxury, like Starbucks or Disneyland) was too much to ask for?

Reading

Sigh. I didn't want to do it. I thought it'd be a pain.

But I've jumped on the Google reader bandwagon.

So far I've added my usual blogs and websites, but I see you can also add flickr and myspace accounts, as well as a lot of other websites that I'm sure I read but can't think of off the top of my head. (My blog should be available for feeds, if you're interested.)

Oh Google, why do you take over my life? I've effectively switched to the calendar, use the notebook for recipes, gift ideas, and inspirational wedding pictures, and of course use my (oft stolen) email & chat. Now you're managing all of my favorite sites (save for one blog) for free???

Ah, you do know the way to a girl's heart!

Accomplish

Well, here's where I stand so far on the monster pre-Japan to do list:

• Bought some flat black shoes. I ended up with the ones from Payless. The sizing was so bizarre, and they were comfortable for most of the day, but they started to rub by my toes. When I got home they'd chewed off my right heel! Luckily I kind of expected it, and bought little shoe-liner sock things.
• Finished my extra-hard spreadsheet homework.
  
• Ditched class for the first time, ever. My friends were leaving, and the wireless was down, and I wasn't really enthused about listening to a "course review" of three topics. I feel bad, but it was nice to come home.
• Met with the professor & my group via phone. Argh! It's pretty simple - we're creating a report on the global flat-panel TV market.
  
• Registered for Summer session. My second-to-last semester of grad school! The final schedule I ended up with is Consumer Behavior and Corporate Financial Strategy. I am decidedly NOT looking forward to having class from 6-10 p.m.
• Bought a travel neck pillow and vacuum-less vacuum bags. Both on emphatic recommendation.
  
• I'm already mentally planning my wardrobe for the trip. And I'm going to look fabulous.
  

Now that it's Wednesday, and I've accomplished about half of my original list, here's what's left:

• Catch up on business law reading. I have the feeling this will be my in-flight entertainment.
• Look up the deal on Tokyo Disney. I might have someone talked in to going with me!
  
• Still trying to work through all the drama at work. Interesting to see just how that turns out...
• Trip. Trip trip trip. After that, hopefully life will be back to normal!
• Midterm next Tuesday.
  
• Midterm the first Thursday I return (again, in-flight entertainment...)
• My first 30th and 1st birthday parties; oh how I wish I could fit in both. :-(
• Set up an appointment with our potential reception site, hopefully this Saturday. Is it a bad sign that it always seems to take them three days to respond?
  

And on I go!

Happiness

Happiness is watching the Office with Andy, blogging, and eating bagel chips & muenster with reckless abandon.