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A little help please…
Five weeks and counting! My courses start 5 weeks from today and I’m super excited. I’m trying to get prepared for it. Waiting to order my books, check daily for my transcript transfers, trying to explain to hubs why the purchase of a MacBook could be the difference between success and total failure… 🙂
Image via CrunchBase
Seriously guys, help me out. We have an iMac. The reason we have the iMac is because the Dell PC we had got a nifty little virus that practically ate all of our data. If not for the wonderful skills of one of our IT guys at work, all would have been lost. So, we (I) decided that it was time to upgrade to the Apple family with just a little bit of apprehension from my main man. Since then Mr. Skeptic has the new iPad and is chomping at the bit for the new iPhone 5. Hmmmmm, how quickly we come around…
And ladies, you know how this is, if he wants it, he gets it, if we want it, it costs too much money. I know my baby will read this and it’s probably a good thing I’m not with him when he does, but he knows the truth of what I say (LOVE YOU HON!!!).
So here is my logic (and if anyone has any further logic that can help my case PLEASE share away!!!!), we have the iMac which we both love. We also still have that expensive paper weight called the Dell PC. It works, and by works, I mean, you can turn it on and it will boot up. Beyond that, I’m not so sure. It’s been stripped down to it’s factory settings but I suspect there might still be a little bug living in there somewhere that’s set up permanent shop. Sitting inside my laptop, drinking a rum, causing all sorts of havoc. Bastard. It runs slow, even with nothing extra on it and it scares the hell out of me to think that I’ll be right in the middle of a large assignment/paper having forgotten to save after the last three pages and POOF!, that damn squatter decides it would be a fun game to mess with me once again. I can’t take the stress and anxiety!
BUT, with a MacBook (Air or Pro…I’m not picky), the transition from desktop and laptop would be seamless, all the apps we have will work on both, switching back and forth between them would be super easy with the cloud, I’m MUCH less likely to get a new family of freeloaders coming in and eating all of my hard work…you get the idea.
I’ve done the research, been to the Apple store and looked at the laptops. Honestly, I would be happy with the entry level Air which happens to be their cheapest version. Just a little 11″ screen, which, when you actually look at it, is not all that bad. Since I’m a student, I can get education pricing, PLUS a $100.00 app store gift card. Not bad, not bad at all.
So, I think I have a good case for a new laptop. Come on baby…CAN I HAVE ONE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Can I get any cuter?
(I’m so in trouble for this when I get home…) 😉
Textbooks…
I think I GROSSLY underestimated the cost of text books for my classes. They’ve posted the required books and IF I can get them used, my first two classes are going to cost me $311!!!! USED people!!! If have to purchase all new books I’m looking at $415. I think I might be sick.
Can someone tell me why the heck textbooks cost so much?! Does it cost that much more to print them than typical hard cover books, I doubt it. I’m actually pretty ticked off about this. Who do I need to write a letter to? Grrrrrrr
Oh…yeah, here’s a good one. For one of my classes they have the option of renting an eBook…for the bargain basement price of $92!!! It’s ELECTRONIC and a RENTAL…$92.00?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Someone is getting rich and it’s isn’t me!
The killer is that because all of these courses are actually FOR my degree, not just gen eds, I’m probably going to want to keep them for future reference. Gah, I’m just annoyed…
Oy, had to vent. I thought it would make me feel better. I’m just more amped now…So, if anyone has any suggestions on how to drop this cost significantly, I’m ALL ears!!!!
Transit of Venus
Today is the big day! Venus will pass between the earth and the sun this afternoon. If you have the proper viewing equipment you will be able to see a small black spot travel across the surface of the sun. Pretty neat if you ask me…
If you have any interest in checking it out, you need to take advantage of it today. It’s not going to happen again for another 105 years! So unless you think you are going to live well into your 100’s, I would take a peak!! (Just click on the photo above to go to Nasa’s online stream of the event.)
Anyone planning on viewing it today? If you are, when are where? Inquiring minds want to know!
Can’t Wait Until Fall!!!!
Ok, so now that I’m registered for my courses and all set with financial aid, I CAN’T WAIT TO START!!!! I got a postcard in the mail from “Bully” wishing me a happy birthday. The mascot sent me a card!!!! Yes, I realize that he did not send it to me personally, but I still got all warm and fuzzy inside. I’m a University student! While I do already have that first Bachelor’s, it was at a private college and they didn’t even have a football team! So…flipping…excited…
I wish that I could get a job in the field in the meantime. The next three years are going to be tough. I want to completely immerse myself in it, but I’m thinking that isn’t possible. Maybe I could be a gofer at The Weather Channel? Do you hear that Jim Cantore?! How do you take your coffee buddy?!
Well, I guess not. I’ll just hang tight until all falls in to place.
My hubs would like me to work as a meteorologist at ESPN (if they even have their own), and asked me to think of the perks. Ha! Perks for who?! He kills me sometimes…
I’m a bus rider!!!
Today was my very first time, ever, taking public transportation to work. And let me just say that I wish I never had to drive my car again! It was so much more relaxing than merging onto the freeway, just to stop, go, stop, go, all the way into to town. I brought a book, a nice person gave up his seat so that I could sit, and before I knew it we were pulling over, already there!
I’ll enjoy it for the summer while my kids are out of school and I don’t need to drive them in. But I’m going to enjoy every single minute of it for the next twelve weeks! I’m going to get SO MUCH reading done. To that end, can you guys recommend some good summer reading? I would really appreciate it. Yay!!!!
Solar Eclipse 2012
We were lucky enough to witness the solar eclipse yesterday. It was pretty awesome to see. Luckily we have a decent camera and were able to get some photos of it, although not very good ones. Had we a different lens and the proper filter they would have come out much better, but the ones we got are still fun to look at!
Thankfully, no retinas or corneas were hurt in this process…
Solar Eclipse May 20, 2012
My Dormant Brain
Yeah, yeah, I know. Where have I been?! I guess I just haven’t had much to say lately. I’m getting anxious for school to start. I just want to learn!
Truth be told, I’m just tired of sitting at a desk all day doing the same mundane thing over and over. I honestly think I’ve been dumbed down. I used to be smart. My IQ is impressive. But here I sit, doing the same thing day after day after day. Monotony is not good for me. It makes me lazy. Which brings us right back around to me not blogging! I’ve just been lazy! Oh good, I feel better that I’ve figured that out…
Generation 1 and Generation 5…amazing.
I flew back east a couple of weeks ago to see my family and spend time with my 96 year old great grandmother. I’m always impressed with her. I love listening to her talk about when she was young. She was born in 1916, can you imagine the things she’s witnessed?! I only spent a couple of hours with her, but I’m so glad that I had that time.
Crystal remembering her friend.
We went intoNew Yorkand visited the 9/11 Memorial. Wow. I did not expectthe emotions that overcame me when we went in. It was overwhelming. The sound of the fountains while looking over all of the names of the victims was surreal somehow. My sister showed me where the name of their friend was on the memorial. It was powerful to see her standing there looking at it.
Matt, Chris and Me
The rest of our day in the city is pretty much a blur of walking and drinking. LOTS of drinking. In fact, I couldn’t tell you how much, it was that good of a time! My cousin and her boyfriend met us for dinner and drinks. We also hung out with two of my friends from high school, one of which I hadn’t seen in about 20 years! My dad made the outing and my sister and I were both impressed with his stamina. A 19 hour day is tough enough on the young! 😉 Thank goodness we were able to make our way back to the (correct) train. I don’t think being stranded at Grand Central Station would be a good time…
The whole trip was just fantastic. Even at the airport on my way there things were interesting. I like to get to the airport early, especially if I’m taking a red eye so I can get a couple glasses of wine in me before boarding (helps me sleep). I was joined by a gentleman who happened to be an astronomer. I’ve never met an astronomer before. I have a meager telescope and have occasionally pulled it out to look at the stars. I can name maybe three constellations and I love watching those Discovery Channel shows on space, but that’s about the extent of my knowledge in that area. We started talking and I brought up the fact that I would be starting my meteorology program in the fall, to which he replied that he studies atmospheres on other planets. What?! How interesting! So now this dormant little brain of mine has been kick started and my gears are once again spinning. I have absolutely no idea if I can apply my degree to anything like studying atmospheres on other planets, but it’s worth looking into!
I just think everything happens for a reason, that we meet people for a reason, nothing happens by chance. Look back at your life and think of those pivotal moments, and how just one decision, encounter, success or failure had forever changed your path. A simple conversation with my new friend Stan could be one of those moments…
So.Much.Pain.
Oh boy, I obviously had absolutely NO IDEA what I was getting myself into with this P90X thing (ok, I did, I must have had a momentary lapse of my senses). But, since I’m trying to stay motivated, let me start with the positive stuff…
I’m actually pretty proud of myself for sticking with this so far. Yeah, I know, today is only day 4, but cut me some slack. Just putting the disc in is an effort for me! I’ve done better with the exercises than I thought that I would. Of course I can’t do it all yet, but like Tony says, “Do your best, forget the rest.”
Which brings me to the negative…WHO THE HELL INVENTED PLYOMETRICS?! Are you kidding me?! I literally thought I was going to die. But, I did what Tony said, and I forgot the entire last half hour of that torture. I’m pretty sure that’s not what he meant, but it was either turn it off or begin to yell profanities at my TV. And besides, I couldn’t catch my breath enough to yell if I’d wanted to. My muscles are screaming so much that it hurts to sleep. Yes, it’s true. I wake up in the middle of the night because I’ve rolled over and apparently that pisses off my muscles right now.
I’ve talked to my sister, who is now on week 9 and she assures me that the pain becomes more manageable. I sure hope so, because if she’s lying to me, she’s on my hit list too…right behind Tony what’s his name…
Time to Get in Shape
Ok, if you know me personally, you know that one of my LEAST favorite things in the world to do is exercise. I always spill my wine all over me and my carpet, it’s not pretty. 😉 Seriously though, with my 20 year high school reunion coming up in October, it’s time I get up off my backside and take care of the extra fluff I’ve got going on. (I mean, I’m not the Stay Puff Marshmallow man or anything, but I could stand to get some lean mass going on…) So today, the torture starts! Hubby and I will be whining, whimpering, crying, crawling, soaking, (more crying), through the next 90 days with P90X. I’m not going to lie, I’m scared.
Even with the fear, I am looking forward to feeling better and having more energy. I’m going to need a fair amount of energy when school starts in the fall!
So, If you see me over the next several months, please, don’t make any sudden movements, scare me, or smack me on the back to say hello. I don’t think my muscles are going to be able to handle any kind of extra jolt. On the other hand, if you see me in a crumpled mess on the sidewalk, don’t be alarmed, it’s just that my muscles have given me all they can and are tired and resting. Feel free to call 911; a stay in the hospital would get me out of my next workout… J
Hopefully I’ll be giving you updates on my progress, assuming the muscles in my fingers are still functional during this process…
meteorologygirl 