But I haven't had a chance to take one.
The other day I had surgery. Intense, scary surgery.
Ok, so maybe I just had a mole removed. BUT. Can I just tell you that it hurt like f-ing hell?! And I now have stitches in my body where a chunk of skin was ripped out?
I was extremely scared before the surgery though because the doctor comes in (after I wait for 40 minutes) saying that he just caused a cyst to explode on him in another procedure he was performing. For sake of conversation and not really knowing what to say I asked, "well how does that happen?" And he says, "if you're not careful and you puncture it." Well, fantastic. So you're telling me that you were just NOT careful with the patient before me and you are going to proceed to cut me open? That makes me feel so. much. better.
Needless to say, it ended up ok with nothing bursting like the cyst dude before me. And now at least that sucker won't give me skin cancer.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
A cold day in Phoenix
This morning I got into my car and turned the heater on, along with the heated seats.
Attire: black, wool turtleneck sweater, wool pants, black closed toe shoes.
When I get to the clients, the heater is on. It remains on all day.
The high temperature outside today, you ask? 90.
No joke.
90 degress is apparently our 60 degrees. So weird.
Attire: black, wool turtleneck sweater, wool pants, black closed toe shoes.
When I get to the clients, the heater is on. It remains on all day.
The high temperature outside today, you ask? 90.
No joke.
90 degress is apparently our 60 degrees. So weird.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Swan Lake
This week has been insane. In fact, I think I say that every week now. Can I just have a chill week? It's been fun, though.
Last night I went with a couple of friends to the ballet, Swan Lake. It was beautiful... I haven't been to a ballet since I went to the Nutcracker a few years ago and I had forgotten how much I thoroughly enjoy going.
I almost died in the ghetto on the way TO the ballet. There was a suns game last night and being the idiot that I sometimes am, I forgot that I have to have cash to park in downtown Phoenix. Hello. So I had to find an ATM machine somewhere in the ghetto. I ended up at Walgreens at 7th Street and Thomas, which, if you know Phoenix, you know that it's a little sketchy there. I then proceeded to continue my smartness by taking back roads back to 3rd street and Washington (the nice part of downtown by the stadiums, symphony hall, etc). I especially loved the part where I drove by houses with police tape around them. Needless to say, I felt like quite the urbanite. The inner city girl in me certainly came out. After finally getting cash, we met at Kincaids, had a glass of wine and some brie cheese, and then walked to the ballet. At the end of the day, the ballet was absolutely superb. I was extremely impressed with the Arizona Ballet company.
Last night I went with a couple of friends to the ballet, Swan Lake. It was beautiful... I haven't been to a ballet since I went to the Nutcracker a few years ago and I had forgotten how much I thoroughly enjoy going.
I almost died in the ghetto on the way TO the ballet. There was a suns game last night and being the idiot that I sometimes am, I forgot that I have to have cash to park in downtown Phoenix. Hello. So I had to find an ATM machine somewhere in the ghetto. I ended up at Walgreens at 7th Street and Thomas, which, if you know Phoenix, you know that it's a little sketchy there. I then proceeded to continue my smartness by taking back roads back to 3rd street and Washington (the nice part of downtown by the stadiums, symphony hall, etc). I especially loved the part where I drove by houses with police tape around them. Needless to say, I felt like quite the urbanite. The inner city girl in me certainly came out. After finally getting cash, we met at Kincaids, had a glass of wine and some brie cheese, and then walked to the ballet. At the end of the day, the ballet was absolutely superb. I was extremely impressed with the Arizona Ballet company.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Halloween Weekend 2006
This weekend has been so much fun! Much better than the 40+ hour of studying weekend last weekend. Friday, I met my girlfriend Kelly for sushi. Then I ventured to my cousin's Halloween party that I decided to go to last minute. Of course, it was a rash decision after another happy hour I was supposed to go to got cancelled so I didn't have a costume. I was endlessly harassed but it was all good. Very fun, needless to say. Then some other people I knew were having a party so I dropped by there to visit. Next thing I knew, it was 4 a.m. I gotta say, I haven't had a night like that for a LONG time. I got up yesterday morning at 9 a.m. and went straight to my friend Melissa's house for a pumpkin carving brunch. I was pretty exhausted but it was a fun brunch with a great group of friends. The pumpkin carving was about like I remember it- gooey. Creative people probably like carving pumpkins but for the people like me in the world who only do the triangle face pumpkins, it's not so hot. But, like I said, the company was well worth it.
After that I headed home and then turned right back around to go to the infamous annual Halloween party hosted by this guy at my work. This party I was actually prepared for- I had my costume (rainbow brite- who I IDOLIZED as a kid) all lined up. My friend Carolyn came with me. She and I have known each other since grade school but haven't seen each other since high school graduation. I learned recently from a mutual friend that she is out here now (recently moved) and so we met once for sushi and then I invited her to come along with me to this. I think she had a pretty good time... everyone loved her! The party was a lot of fun... people are so creative with their costumes! I can't wait until Halloween next year (or maybe next weekend... I heard there are more Halloween parties)... it is so fun!
After that I headed home and then turned right back around to go to the infamous annual Halloween party hosted by this guy at my work. This party I was actually prepared for- I had my costume (rainbow brite- who I IDOLIZED as a kid) all lined up. My friend Carolyn came with me. She and I have known each other since grade school but haven't seen each other since high school graduation. I learned recently from a mutual friend that she is out here now (recently moved) and so we met once for sushi and then I invited her to come along with me to this. I think she had a pretty good time... everyone loved her! The party was a lot of fun... people are so creative with their costumes! I can't wait until Halloween next year (or maybe next weekend... I heard there are more Halloween parties)... it is so fun!
Saturday, October 28, 2006
I really dislike dumb people
So, OMG. I almost castrated someone on Thursday. Namely, the IT guy at the client I'm at right now. We were trying to get hooked up to the printer at the client. And we told the guy it wasn't a big deal but if it was easy to do, then that would be fantastic.
Well, apparently it wasn't so easy to do. My computer and my co-workers computer were completely jacked. Our domains were wiped out, we lost all of our settings, we lost bits and pieces of our hard drives, we couldn't log in, etc. Describing it doesn't do our actual reaction justice. And, again, this was all supposedly the relatively easy task of hooking us up to a printer.
The guy was on drugs. And I'm not just saying the dude was on drugs because I am mad at the outcome of what happened. I was told this by the president of the company AFTER we realized that we were headed back to our office to have our IT guys somehow fix our poor computers. Um, hello? Maybe you should disclose the fact that your IT guy is on drugs BEFORE I let him come 10 feet close to my computer!? And btw, how is your company even operating? Oh, you still use greenbar? Oh this is an issue we try to address every year? Ah, it makes so much more sense now. And the logical question: 1) Why is it acceptable to employ an IT guy that is on drugs?
I would have done less damage trying to do what this guy was trying to do if I was drunk. And trust me, that's saying something.
There was yelling that happened, profuse apologizing from the controller, president, etc. to us. It was an ENTIRE day (no joke- 8 straight hours) of just trying to get the computer fixed. That doesn't work so well to waste a day considering the tightness of my schedule right now.
And, needless to say, my IT guy was certainly not happy. He did not find it humorous when I told him in all seriousness that I had a message from the client's IT guy: "if you just have whoever it is working on your computer do exactly what I just did (and he wrote out the instructions), you will be golden and will never have any problems." Noted. Maybe I should send that to Microsoft or Apple. It might be helpful at least in training people into how to fix massive problems.
Well, apparently it wasn't so easy to do. My computer and my co-workers computer were completely jacked. Our domains were wiped out, we lost all of our settings, we lost bits and pieces of our hard drives, we couldn't log in, etc. Describing it doesn't do our actual reaction justice. And, again, this was all supposedly the relatively easy task of hooking us up to a printer.
The guy was on drugs. And I'm not just saying the dude was on drugs because I am mad at the outcome of what happened. I was told this by the president of the company AFTER we realized that we were headed back to our office to have our IT guys somehow fix our poor computers. Um, hello? Maybe you should disclose the fact that your IT guy is on drugs BEFORE I let him come 10 feet close to my computer!? And btw, how is your company even operating? Oh, you still use greenbar? Oh this is an issue we try to address every year? Ah, it makes so much more sense now. And the logical question: 1) Why is it acceptable to employ an IT guy that is on drugs?
I would have done less damage trying to do what this guy was trying to do if I was drunk. And trust me, that's saying something.
There was yelling that happened, profuse apologizing from the controller, president, etc. to us. It was an ENTIRE day (no joke- 8 straight hours) of just trying to get the computer fixed. That doesn't work so well to waste a day considering the tightness of my schedule right now.
And, needless to say, my IT guy was certainly not happy. He did not find it humorous when I told him in all seriousness that I had a message from the client's IT guy: "if you just have whoever it is working on your computer do exactly what I just did (and he wrote out the instructions), you will be golden and will never have any problems." Noted. Maybe I should send that to Microsoft or Apple. It might be helpful at least in training people into how to fix massive problems.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Is that singing I hear?
Scenario: I'm at the gym tonight. Running. Next to a girl, a fairly in shape girl who looks like a good person to run by (mainly because she has headphones on which means she won't try to talk to me. Headphones are ALWAYS something to look for at the gym). All of a sudden about halfway through my run, I start to hear singing. I glance at her without being obvious but come to the conclusion that it must have just been the radio. Then again. I look at her and she's singing "Walking in Memphis." Loud. At the top of her lungs. In the gym. People are looking at me. Trying to figure out if it is me or her that is singing. Walking in memphis. In the gym.
I guess I just don't get it. Maybe if she was good it would have been more enjoyable. But as it was tonight, it was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. Yeah, it was that bad.
Another scenario: I'm in my car. With the windows down. Hey, it's nice in Arizona now- 70s...perfect. I have my music cranked and a car pulls up next to me. They also have their windows down and their music cranking. And when they are right next to me, I hear singing. Holy crap is that the LADY I hear? Yes, over my music and her music, I could hear her belting it out. I couldn't help but stare. She had one set of vocals.
I guess I just don't get it. Maybe if she was good it would have been more enjoyable. But as it was tonight, it was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud. Yeah, it was that bad.
Another scenario: I'm in my car. With the windows down. Hey, it's nice in Arizona now- 70s...perfect. I have my music cranked and a car pulls up next to me. They also have their windows down and their music cranking. And when they are right next to me, I hear singing. Holy crap is that the LADY I hear? Yes, over my music and her music, I could hear her belting it out. I couldn't help but stare. She had one set of vocals.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
CPA exam 101
I took the CPA exam on Monday. Let me tell ya, I can't believe that's something I have to experience three more times, probably more considering that I may have to take one or more of the sections over again. I'm not even CLOSE to exaggerating when I say that it is by far the hardest, most exhausting test I've ever taken. It's like all four years of accounting all balled up into 4 hours. I can't even explain how impossible it is to try to study for that. And we're only talking about one section here, peeps!
I took the financial section on Monday. I studied for about 30-40 hours straight beginning friday night through about Sunday afternoon at 5 when I experienced a mass breakdown that resulted in me throwing my financial book, running out of the house in tears, and thinking seriously about my career options aside from accounting. I went to the gym, came back more calm, realized I knew what I knew and took it easy Sunday night. Monday I reviewed a bit and then sat for the test at 10. I feel relatively good about some parts, not so good about others. Like I said, it's so comprehensive that it's impossible to know exactly what to study for and eventually in the process of studying you have to accept that you're never going to learn it all. At the end of the day, I feel ok about it. I know eventually I'll pass it and even if I don't this time, I know at least I got the experience.
After I walked out of the exam, I swear it felt like I was in a different century. I probably looked like I was on crack. Hell, I felt like I was on crack. I couldn't process anything. Nothing. Couldn't even focus on the road when I was driving. Stared at people blankly when they talked to me- including the Starbucks guy. It's probably a good thing it takes two months to get the results back... as stupid as that is. If I got them directly following the exam, I don't think I would have been able to process the results.
The next class section of the CPA exam review started Monday night- as in, yes, the same day I took the financial section of the test. This section now is auditing and it's AWESOME. So much easier than the last. I'll take that part of the test at the end of November. After that, I start regulation/tax in January (the next hardest section compared to financial) and then business law/ethics in February.
One down, three to go.
I took the financial section on Monday. I studied for about 30-40 hours straight beginning friday night through about Sunday afternoon at 5 when I experienced a mass breakdown that resulted in me throwing my financial book, running out of the house in tears, and thinking seriously about my career options aside from accounting. I went to the gym, came back more calm, realized I knew what I knew and took it easy Sunday night. Monday I reviewed a bit and then sat for the test at 10. I feel relatively good about some parts, not so good about others. Like I said, it's so comprehensive that it's impossible to know exactly what to study for and eventually in the process of studying you have to accept that you're never going to learn it all. At the end of the day, I feel ok about it. I know eventually I'll pass it and even if I don't this time, I know at least I got the experience.
After I walked out of the exam, I swear it felt like I was in a different century. I probably looked like I was on crack. Hell, I felt like I was on crack. I couldn't process anything. Nothing. Couldn't even focus on the road when I was driving. Stared at people blankly when they talked to me- including the Starbucks guy. It's probably a good thing it takes two months to get the results back... as stupid as that is. If I got them directly following the exam, I don't think I would have been able to process the results.
The next class section of the CPA exam review started Monday night- as in, yes, the same day I took the financial section of the test. This section now is auditing and it's AWESOME. So much easier than the last. I'll take that part of the test at the end of November. After that, I start regulation/tax in January (the next hardest section compared to financial) and then business law/ethics in February.
One down, three to go.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Spinning out of control
I'm convinced that the CPA exam is going to be the end of me.
Trite, of course.
But I go to bed dreaming about numbers, people. I wake up thinking about leases. I take a shower and I think about the different disclosures required for pensions plans. Sometimes when I'm on the phone, talking with clients, hanging with friends, I think I start speaking in tongues in a way that makes them look around like make. the. madness. stop. They do not care that I can recite FASB 144 or SFAS13. And that I do so on command, I even do it in the middle of conversations just because I cannot process any normal conversations anymore. I'm asked a question and all I can respond with is some kind of reference to the statement of cash flows. DO WE NOW SEE THE PROBLEM HERE?
Like I said, the CPA exam is going to be the end of me. And, while confident in my abilities, I'm very confident in the ability of this test to kick the living crap out of me. And that's ok. I fully expect to take it again because I sincerely doubt that one round of this torture will be enough to satisfy it and the effect it's having on my life.
Trite, of course.
But I go to bed dreaming about numbers, people. I wake up thinking about leases. I take a shower and I think about the different disclosures required for pensions plans. Sometimes when I'm on the phone, talking with clients, hanging with friends, I think I start speaking in tongues in a way that makes them look around like make. the. madness. stop. They do not care that I can recite FASB 144 or SFAS13. And that I do so on command, I even do it in the middle of conversations just because I cannot process any normal conversations anymore. I'm asked a question and all I can respond with is some kind of reference to the statement of cash flows. DO WE NOW SEE THE PROBLEM HERE?
Like I said, the CPA exam is going to be the end of me. And, while confident in my abilities, I'm very confident in the ability of this test to kick the living crap out of me. And that's ok. I fully expect to take it again because I sincerely doubt that one round of this torture will be enough to satisfy it and the effect it's having on my life.
Today I don't live in Arizona
Just in case you were wondering. I'm going to deny it just for one day.
And I'll walk around with my head to the ground while I'm out in Arizona today.
24-23, folks! To any sports fans out there, this means something to you.
To people in Arizona, all it means is sheer embarassment. How can we call ourselves Cardinals fans after the destruction of the Bear's victory last night?
Oh, how glad I am to NOT be a part of the Cardinals offensive line today.
And I'll walk around with my head to the ground while I'm out in Arizona today.
24-23, folks! To any sports fans out there, this means something to you.
To people in Arizona, all it means is sheer embarassment. How can we call ourselves Cardinals fans after the destruction of the Bear's victory last night?
Oh, how glad I am to NOT be a part of the Cardinals offensive line today.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Quote of the day
"I promise you not a moment will be lost as long as I have heart & voice to speak & we will walk again together with a thousand others & a thousand more & on & on until there is no one among us who does not know the truth: there is no future without love." -Storypeople
Today is a new day
My resolution is to post more... starting now.
I have many pictures... of the house, the restored car (that we FINALLY got back last week), and of the trip to the Grand Canyon we took a few weeks ago. Those will follow shortly... hopefully.
While I intend to post more, it's sort of hard to do so. My CPA class finished a week or so ago and now I'm busy cramming for the test that's quickly approaching. I'm pretty busy at work, too. But, such is life.
Although I'm not a great back poster, I'll try to make more effort to keep this updated as to the current happenings in my life. We'll see how it goes...
I have many pictures... of the house, the restored car (that we FINALLY got back last week), and of the trip to the Grand Canyon we took a few weeks ago. Those will follow shortly... hopefully.
While I intend to post more, it's sort of hard to do so. My CPA class finished a week or so ago and now I'm busy cramming for the test that's quickly approaching. I'm pretty busy at work, too. But, such is life.
Although I'm not a great back poster, I'll try to make more effort to keep this updated as to the current happenings in my life. We'll see how it goes...
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Back into school mode
I started my CPA review course about 3 weeks ago. I go to class for 4 hours a night, 2 nights a week. There are 4 parts to the exam. You study for one part at a time, take the exam for that section and then move on to another section. The section I'm studying for right now is the financial section. It's huge and incredibly hard. I've found that I'm glad I've waited (IE: procrastinated) for 2 years to start studying. It seems like I know some things now just from experience that I may not have known before. I'll take this part of the test probably right around October 15. The exact date is to be determined.
So, I have spent all day today trying to cram the information I should have learned in the past 3 weeks into my head. It's going well... I'm just so out of the school mode that it's been hard to get back into the swing of things, to develop a 'study schedule' per se. But, I'm working at it and hopefully something I do works...
My actual job is going well... it's still fairly busy but that's ok. I moved into my own office which is nice and I think I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I got promoted... So, things are going well on that front. Pretty soon I'm going to start a countdown until January 15, the day when things (IE: any life I may pretend to have) start to go down the drain as a result of the craziness of busy season. I can't believe it's already almost that time again... Ugh... Gotta love public accounting!
So, I have spent all day today trying to cram the information I should have learned in the past 3 weeks into my head. It's going well... I'm just so out of the school mode that it's been hard to get back into the swing of things, to develop a 'study schedule' per se. But, I'm working at it and hopefully something I do works...
My actual job is going well... it's still fairly busy but that's ok. I moved into my own office which is nice and I think I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I got promoted... So, things are going well on that front. Pretty soon I'm going to start a countdown until January 15, the day when things (IE: any life I may pretend to have) start to go down the drain as a result of the craziness of busy season. I can't believe it's already almost that time again... Ugh... Gotta love public accounting!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Out of commission
Both cars, that is.
Our trusty Ford Focus and of course, the mini cooper.
The mini drama is never ending and always infuriating. First of all, insurance companies are dumb. I mean, really, who are these people that we are dealing with? They are just absolute morons. On Tuesday, Tim talked to them and we were 25% liable for the accident, the other lady was 75% liable. When they talked to me on Wednesday, we were 70% liable and she was 30% liable. Did they just determine that they didn't like me after talking to me? Because nothing that happened in the accident changed from Tuesday to Wednesday. They said that ultimately it's my word against hers (so perhaps them just not liking me could be accurate) and that because she was on my right, I'm liable. Dumb. The liability is still to be determined because we learned after further discussion that they have the facts wrong regarding where exactly I was coming from before the accident happened. Apparently that changes everything... it's complicated but I'll suffice it to say that I firmly believe that it was her fault. If nothing else, they should at least say we're both equally liable (50%-50%).
Then, the body shop. Oh, the body shop. They are my new best friends. They called me several days ago to tell me that they are happy to report that they 1) Have all of the parts for my car and 2) Got everything they need from the insurance. I'm thinking, "Fantastic... my car should be done soon!" That bubble burst quickly when my guy said, "I'm happy to report that we'll have your car back to you in FOUR WEEKS!" Oh great, retard, that's just fabulous! You've already had it for four weeks. So the total for fixing my car is 8 weeks? They built the whole thing in England and shipped it to Iowa in 5 weeks. Tell me if that makes sense. Not to mention the fact that if we're 50% liable, we'll have to pay 50% of the rental car costs which are $20 a day. Do the math on that. It's more than I really care to pay for driving around a ghetto Chevy Aveo (what is that, you ask? Just picture the biggest shit box you've ever seen on the roads that is purported to be called a car. But it's a 2006 model! With no CD player! Or tape deck! Or auto locks or windows! And as a bonus it smells like old cigarettes!)
So, on top of this mess, earlier this week the focus deciding to start grinding. And not in a good grinding way. It was the type of grinding that hurt ME to hear it. We realized that it might be the brakes. The car has 106,000 miles on it, we've had it since it was brand spankin new and we've never had the brakes fixed. So we take it in and the brakes need to be fixed in a big $600 type of way... mainly because of the rotors or something (this is the part where I tuned out). Anyway, it's something major... naturally.
Now we're done to the ghetto Chevy Aveo rental car between us... sweet!
Have I mentioned that cars suck?
Our trusty Ford Focus and of course, the mini cooper.
The mini drama is never ending and always infuriating. First of all, insurance companies are dumb. I mean, really, who are these people that we are dealing with? They are just absolute morons. On Tuesday, Tim talked to them and we were 25% liable for the accident, the other lady was 75% liable. When they talked to me on Wednesday, we were 70% liable and she was 30% liable. Did they just determine that they didn't like me after talking to me? Because nothing that happened in the accident changed from Tuesday to Wednesday. They said that ultimately it's my word against hers (so perhaps them just not liking me could be accurate) and that because she was on my right, I'm liable. Dumb. The liability is still to be determined because we learned after further discussion that they have the facts wrong regarding where exactly I was coming from before the accident happened. Apparently that changes everything... it's complicated but I'll suffice it to say that I firmly believe that it was her fault. If nothing else, they should at least say we're both equally liable (50%-50%).
Then, the body shop. Oh, the body shop. They are my new best friends. They called me several days ago to tell me that they are happy to report that they 1) Have all of the parts for my car and 2) Got everything they need from the insurance. I'm thinking, "Fantastic... my car should be done soon!" That bubble burst quickly when my guy said, "I'm happy to report that we'll have your car back to you in FOUR WEEKS!" Oh great, retard, that's just fabulous! You've already had it for four weeks. So the total for fixing my car is 8 weeks? They built the whole thing in England and shipped it to Iowa in 5 weeks. Tell me if that makes sense. Not to mention the fact that if we're 50% liable, we'll have to pay 50% of the rental car costs which are $20 a day. Do the math on that. It's more than I really care to pay for driving around a ghetto Chevy Aveo (what is that, you ask? Just picture the biggest shit box you've ever seen on the roads that is purported to be called a car. But it's a 2006 model! With no CD player! Or tape deck! Or auto locks or windows! And as a bonus it smells like old cigarettes!)
So, on top of this mess, earlier this week the focus deciding to start grinding. And not in a good grinding way. It was the type of grinding that hurt ME to hear it. We realized that it might be the brakes. The car has 106,000 miles on it, we've had it since it was brand spankin new and we've never had the brakes fixed. So we take it in and the brakes need to be fixed in a big $600 type of way... mainly because of the rotors or something (this is the part where I tuned out). Anyway, it's something major... naturally.
Now we're done to the ghetto Chevy Aveo rental car between us... sweet!
Have I mentioned that cars suck?
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