Work and School

Well school has started and its going to be a challenging quarter. I decided to stop being such a slacker by taking only one class a quarter and ramp it up to two this quarter so I can get through it quicker. So I'm taking project management and finance analysis. PM should be kind of a cool class...we're doing a simulation which keeps things interesting, plus my group is in 1st place so far, so I can't complain. The class only meets three times (Fri for 3 hours, Saturday for 8 hours) throughout the course of the 10 week quarter, but there's lots of group work in between. The good news is there is no exam and I don't really have to read the textbook. Woohoo!

Finance is going to be challenging I think...I haven't taken an analytical class since senior year of my undergrad so I'm a bit rusty. The prof seems great though...very flexible and fair. He's given us the option of either writing a term paper and taking a comprehensive exam OR taking a exam based on new cases he gives us 3 weeks before the exam. He said the anxiety level is higher at the end with the second option, but more and more of his students are taking that option and most get A's or B's. I think I'll go for that second option....anything that gets me out of writing a ten page paper about finance!

In work news, I found out today that I'm getting a new statement of work. I've been quite frustrated with my current work package over the last year for a variety of reasons and its definitely time for a change. Hopefully this will be the change for the better that I think it is and it will keep me sane while I wait for a safer time to transition to a new organization. With layoffs happening every few months, I've been advised to stay where I have experience and a good reputation! My other career interests will just have to wait I guess.

Between the work news and the sunshine, I'm feeling 100% better than I was last week (I was in a funk last week....self-pity and loathing like I haven't seen in quite some time). And coming up to improve my outlook on life even more....DisneyWorld! Phil and I are headed down to Orlando to meet his aunt, uncle, and cousins in T-minus 3 days. A much needed break from work (even though I just went to Mexico in December....that seems like it was AGES ago!). Wow, I just reminded myself how lucky/spoiled I am...dang.

Well I guess I better stop procrastinating and get back to my school work so I don't have to worry about it during my vacation. I'll leave you with a pretty picture Phil took at UW, which we visited this Sunday to check out the cherry blossoms and study in the beautiful library. While I have a certain affinity for the WSU-Pullman campus, even I can't deny how pretty UW is...double dang.