Last Tuesday I finished my penultimate semester of grad school. Whew! Who takes two classes over the summer??

• Consumer Behavior could have been more interesting, but the rough part was that I didn't fit the demographic of the class at all. No luxury cars, face creams, gourmet cupcakes here. Plus, the group project was pretty tough just to get the members to fill the requirements! It's really a different group than my IOM classes. On the other hand, it was nice not having a final exam (as I didn't read the book).
  
• Financial Statement Analysis was just plain brutal. It's listed as an accounting class - I checked and double checked pretty often. It was taught as a finance class. I've taken both versions before, and they were pretty difficult, so I figured I could work my way through this too. But if you thought financial statements were subjective, wait until you hear some of the analysis "methods" out there! It's almost an entirely subjective class. The homeworks were long (but shorter toward the end), and I can imagine a project added on top would have made it insane. Luckily, the final didn't seem too awful, although I still couldn't venture a guess as to how well I did.
  

Both classes typically filled the four-hour time slot (when most everyone else I know got out early), and both classes I imagine would have been a lot more work in the full fall/spring semesters. But, since there weren't any IOM classes to be found during the summer (why offer the specialization if you're not going to offer the classes??), they were OK substitutes. After all, they make me look much more well-rounded.

Since I bid for fall classes, I've changed my mind on my second class twice. My first class is digital industry strategy class. For the second, I bid and won a finance class, because I felt like I should be taking a finance class and I've already got the finance degree. Then I switched to a high-tech business strategy class, because I'd heard it was good and I really haven't been happy with the finance classes. After this summer, I think I'll stick with IOM classes, so I've signed up for the available two. Why not take classes that will advance your career plans? At least I'll get to see some of my IOM buddies!

Sigh ....

I really did pick the wrong profession.

Look how they use buttercream frosting! It's so perfect but it still has that little swirl. You'd think they'd paid me to advertise ... I wish!

I think my books for next semester will have a little stowaway icing gun in the delivery...

Things I learned this weekend:

• China has come a long way, and I'm kind of proud of them.
  
• I like watching the Olympics for all of the happy people. Although, it makes me wish I put in a little more effort. Also, Olympians are something above human.
  
• Stress makes learning something all that much harder.
  
• If you're going to binge, do it on popcorn. "Accidentally" eating a whole bag is only 105 calories.
  
• Marketing is not for me.

Monday I have a big presentation and project due, which I didn't think my group would be able to pull off (it looks like they did). Tuesday I have an exam that is worth 50% of my grade. Then I have about a week and a half before I start my last semester (hopefully, barring any unforeseen disasters).

In a mere eight months, I'll be getting in to a strapless dress. Not to mention all of the arm-baring activities before then.

So who wants to take the 100 pushup challenge with me?

I did the test last night and could do a paltry three.

What a weird week. I'm so glad it's over!!!

Monday: Fine, except for a ton of crazy drivers out. I guess the things to come were why everyone was acting odd. That, and my school group decided to have a group meeting - after class! Until 10:30! I'm too old for that.

Tuesday: That was the "big one," of course. It had started out fine until the big earthquake around lunchtime. I was about to stand up, stretch, take a little break and hit the ice cream social when it started. All I could do was sit in my cube and watch the modular cube walls and hanging fluorescent lights sway. We've had little earthquakes since I've moved, but nothing worth anything more than just giggling and saying "that was crazy!" I was utterly convinced the building would collapse - it felt like it was rolling on balls. I even got motion sick; it lasted at least a full minute. I tried to be cool like everyone else, but I've never been so scared in my life! The whole world isn't supposed to move around you like that - I'm used to the ground being where it is, without fail. No damage and no injuries, of course. But, it seems that my work had it worse than Andy's; odd, but definitely not an award I want!! At least traffic wasn't bad that night, and my class didn't go all the way through to 10:30 as threatened. Just a homework assignment and final left for that class!

Wednesday: It was a long, long day. After yoga some friends went to a happy hour in Long Beach. I was horribly tired, but it was fun. Until half the group left and the rest of us remaining were stuck $300 short on the bill. No kidding. If anyone was there who left before that happened just know: we are not friends right now.

Thursday: Arrived at work to a snippy email, got a call from someone in my former rotation arguing about what I did then (four months ago - and wanting me to explain to them what they had been doing since then!), left work late, called home, ran, had dinner, and slept. Totally unnecessarily high-stress day.

Friday: At least today was more ... chill. Maybe things are going back to normal now that the earthquake is long over?

This weekend I need to arrange our engagement shoot with our photographer and start looking for a pair of jeans that actually fit (I tried on 10 today, and not a single one fit). I've got a bucketload of schoolwork to do, and July was over so quickly and it's hot hot August, but I'm still dreaming about that white Christmas.

This made me miss Christmas something terrible. When I was little, I was lucky to grow up seeing these little snow-covered towns, all cutely decorated for Christmas. I know it's special because it doesn't happen all year, like Starbucks holiday drinks and Fourth of July fireworks, but I could really use something simple and cheerful like this right now.

Wednesday: Running, 4 miles
Thursday: Yoga
Friday: Running, 4.5 miles
Saturday: Biking, 7 miles
Sunday: Yoga

... whew ...