Yesterday we had a snow day. The girls' school was closed, the Hoos' office was closed, and Mama used her discretion to work from home.
Alas, the Hoos has some significant projects and looming deadlines, so he spent most of the day locked up in our office. I spent my day being a trampoline, a coach, a chef, an inventor, a workhorse, a referee, a housekeeper, and an editor (I have a job too!).
I have determined that it is actually worse to have your spouse work from home when everyone is there. Because you think you can depend on them for help, when in reality, they are like a ghost and you are better off being ignorant of their existence. This is no slight to the Hoos. I knew he had work. And "working from home" is supposed to mean just that. At least for one of us.
By 11:15 I had not showered, but I had walked on the treadmill with my daughters (very slowly), done two loads of laundry, constructed snowmen in the basement out of imported snow, decorated the basement with chalk, made a vat of vegetable soup and a pan of chocolate cookie bars and re-ghost-wrote a column authored by my Vice President. Too bad the day was less than half over.
I showered around 2 to avoid listening to AK cry instead of nap. Fortunately she was asleep by the time I got out. I then spent the next two hours trying to figure out how to play Tinkerbell/Pixie Hollow on the Internet with LP. We still don't know what we are doing, but her custom-designed fairy is very cute and has a cool name (Chipmunk Orangesage).
Finally we decided to face the snow. LP and I suited up and I grabbed a shovel. After clearing the driveway (with some help from our neighbor and his snow blower) and walkways, it was time for LP and me to play. We built a snowman and made snow angels and in general just enjoyed the snow.
At the point that LP wanted to go in, AK was awake and wanting to come out. The Hoos brought her out along with our sled. Which made LP want to come out again. While I pulled AK around the lawn on the sled (trudging through a foot of snow is a good workout!) the Hoos and LP suited up. And, as usual, right as LP and the Hoos were exiting the house, AK removed her gloves and insisted on going in. The Hoos and LP built a humongous snowman and had a great time too. A highlight was watching LP try to pull the Hoos on the sled and tumble heels over head.
All in all, we survived. We had a nice day with limited TV time. I didn't have to pull out any of the store-bought special projects I have hidden around the house in case of emergency, and I love my family. Oh, and we determined that we have awesome neighbors. Really generous people who just decided to come and shovel/snow blow our driveway because they didn't think we were home. We were home, just lazy.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Wheels on the Bus
It is hard to believe that my little LP is growing up. The other day we got a notice about a field trip with her pre-school. How did she get to be old enough to have school trips?! The excursion to a local farm for pumpkin and apple picking is reminding the Hoos of his first school trip - to the same place! He has been describing what will happen on the trip to LP, "...and you will see how they make apple cider..." Who knows if they still do these things, but 30-years ago the tour included a cider press.
The unusual thing about day care school trips is that they don't involve buses. Parent chaperones also wear the hat of chauffeur. Parents have to drop off car seats along with their child and the drivers - hopefully with help - put the seats and the kids in the car and drive them to the venue. Originally we received a note that said only people that can fit 3-5 kids in their car can attend - sort of making a mini-van a prerequisite for being a parent. I think there has been a change and as long as you can fit two car seats you can chaperone. Either way, I am not going on this trip.
It is sort of unsettling to think of your child going somewhere in a car with someone else. I know this will be the first of many times, but it takes getting used to. And, at least I know the drivers will be experienced and over 18. Fortunately, I know most of the parents of LP's friends. I trust them and feel comfortable with LP driving in their cars. As long as she doesn't say something embarrassing. Which is definitely possible since her favorite place to talk is in the car. It could potentially be hysterical (and distracting) to be a fly on the wall (e.g., the driver) in a car listening to the chatter of five three-year olds.
The good news is, LP is very observant and a wonderful reporter. This is good because I will get a vivid description of the trip to help me pretend I was there. It also means that I know all sorts of things about her friends so that I can blackmail my friends back when LP shares information that need not be shared:)
The unusual thing about day care school trips is that they don't involve buses. Parent chaperones also wear the hat of chauffeur. Parents have to drop off car seats along with their child and the drivers - hopefully with help - put the seats and the kids in the car and drive them to the venue. Originally we received a note that said only people that can fit 3-5 kids in their car can attend - sort of making a mini-van a prerequisite for being a parent. I think there has been a change and as long as you can fit two car seats you can chaperone. Either way, I am not going on this trip.
It is sort of unsettling to think of your child going somewhere in a car with someone else. I know this will be the first of many times, but it takes getting used to. And, at least I know the drivers will be experienced and over 18. Fortunately, I know most of the parents of LP's friends. I trust them and feel comfortable with LP driving in their cars. As long as she doesn't say something embarrassing. Which is definitely possible since her favorite place to talk is in the car. It could potentially be hysterical (and distracting) to be a fly on the wall (e.g., the driver) in a car listening to the chatter of five three-year olds.
The good news is, LP is very observant and a wonderful reporter. This is good because I will get a vivid description of the trip to help me pretend I was there. It also means that I know all sorts of things about her friends so that I can blackmail my friends back when LP shares information that need not be shared:)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The List
Last night my brother-in-law and his family came over for dinner. Sitting around the table talking we got on the subject of grocery shopping and lists.
LP, wanting to be included in what was a silly conversation, stopped chomping on her gingerbread cookie and announced, "Miss Miller has a list." Miss Miller is her preschool teacher.
When I asked what was on Miss Miller's list she said, "My name, sometimes."
Of course, I asked why her name would be on the list, "For when I'm bad."
Points for honesty.
Until my follow up question asking if her name was on the list today.
"Yes. And I got a sticker."
Not that I think she is lying, I just thing her little brain moves so fast it blurs things together.
Like last week when she came home with a rubber ducky for "...using my listening ears and pushing Jacob and Miss Miller chasing me around the room and catching me with her legs."
I have no idea what happened with Miss Miller (and when I asked she gave me an absolute blank stare, Miss Miller isn't exactly the chasing type) but the rest seems plausible if not mixed up.
LP, wanting to be included in what was a silly conversation, stopped chomping on her gingerbread cookie and announced, "Miss Miller has a list." Miss Miller is her preschool teacher.
When I asked what was on Miss Miller's list she said, "My name, sometimes."
Of course, I asked why her name would be on the list, "For when I'm bad."
Points for honesty.
Until my follow up question asking if her name was on the list today.
"Yes. And I got a sticker."
Not that I think she is lying, I just thing her little brain moves so fast it blurs things together.
Like last week when she came home with a rubber ducky for "...using my listening ears and pushing Jacob and Miss Miller chasing me around the room and catching me with her legs."
I have no idea what happened with Miss Miller (and when I asked she gave me an absolute blank stare, Miss Miller isn't exactly the chasing type) but the rest seems plausible if not mixed up.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Pay It Forward
LP and AK are almost 3 and almost 1, respectively. And yet I find myself thinking of them going to college.
Not in the weepy, "Oh, my babies will be going off to college in 15 years!" sort of way; more in the "How the heck are we going to pay for college in 15 years?" sort of way.
The Hoos and I went to one of the most expensive colleges in the country. I am not saying that because I am snotty and proud, I am saying that because I am shocked and appalled. Going to school in the nation's capital was cool and all, but is my education worth more than an Ivy education? Or a SUNY education? Likely not.
I was fortunate that my parents gave me the option of deciding which school to attend. I am sure SUNY Binghamton would have been a preferred, more cost-effective route, but I was interested in politics and thirsting for life in "the big city." All things considered, GW was a great fit for me; I got my degree, worked for the Feds during school and the summers, and acquired useful skills and gainful employment upon graduation. And I met the Hoos.
I also left school with debt. And left my parents with debt as well. Fortunately, because of the step-up my college education provided me, the values my parents instilled on me, and some lucky breaks, I haven't had to hit them up for assistance any time since.
When the time comes, I hope that I can offer my girls the same option that my parents provided to me. But I have to admit, I am scared sh*tless at the thought of them wanting to go to the most expensive college in the country considering how much will a year of college will likely cost in 2024!
Not in the weepy, "Oh, my babies will be going off to college in 15 years!" sort of way; more in the "How the heck are we going to pay for college in 15 years?" sort of way.
The Hoos and I went to one of the most expensive colleges in the country. I am not saying that because I am snotty and proud, I am saying that because I am shocked and appalled. Going to school in the nation's capital was cool and all, but is my education worth more than an Ivy education? Or a SUNY education? Likely not.
I was fortunate that my parents gave me the option of deciding which school to attend. I am sure SUNY Binghamton would have been a preferred, more cost-effective route, but I was interested in politics and thirsting for life in "the big city." All things considered, GW was a great fit for me; I got my degree, worked for the Feds during school and the summers, and acquired useful skills and gainful employment upon graduation. And I met the Hoos.
I also left school with debt. And left my parents with debt as well. Fortunately, because of the step-up my college education provided me, the values my parents instilled on me, and some lucky breaks, I haven't had to hit them up for assistance any time since.
When the time comes, I hope that I can offer my girls the same option that my parents provided to me. But I have to admit, I am scared sh*tless at the thought of them wanting to go to the most expensive college in the country considering how much will a year of college will likely cost in 2024!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Getting Oriented
After ignoring the request to send four bottles in for AK instead of just three, I received a new request on yesterday's daily sheet, "Please get larger nipples, [AK] gets frustrated when the milk doesn't come out fast enough and she then falls asleep."
First of all, thank you very much for noticing my nips, I think they are large enough considering they are the size of tea saucers; second of all, fine, whatever, I will get faster flowing nipples. I know that she is a fast eater at home and despite the fact that the nipples on the Nuby bottles are supposed to be "vari-flow", I can understand if a different nipple might better mimic the boob. In fact, I picked some Dr. Brown's stage 2 standard nipples at WalMart this morning.
On the positive side, last night was the open house at LP's and AK's school. We got to meet and greet with the teachers and other parents and hear more about their classrooms. Since there is only one of me and two classrooms for me to visit (the Hoos had an event for work last night, so even with the in-laws baby-sitting I was still on my own), I sent the majority of my time in LP's room. I did the infant room when LP was in it.
Regardless of time spent, Miss Louise and the other teachers in AK's room did inform me that they think she is on the cusp of holding her own bottle. That is pretty awesome in my opinion. They also let me know that she is adorable and very alert. What can I say, I make awesome babies?
LP's classroom required me to sit in a very uncomfortable toddler-sized chair. What is it about those chairs that make my kidneys ache? I was pleased to learn more about LP's teachers and day-to-day activities. I got the impression that everyone thinks LP is as cool and cute a kid as I do. But I would probably think that even if it wasn't true. Apparently at school when they wake the kids up after nap time, all they have to say to LP is, "Do you want to go potty?" and she jumps up and runs to it. If I ask if she wants to go potty she typically ignores me.
A good outcome was that the teachers offered to share their lesson plans and song lyrics so we can try to keep up at home. I always feel like a moron when LP requests a song that I don't know - except for "Hamda," a title she has given to a Hebrew song that I likely wouldn't sing even if I could - it is part of the Hoos' repertoire anyway. I just hope they have some songs other than five little monkeys jumping on the bed or swinging in the trees. They are already killing me.
First of all, thank you very much for noticing my nips, I think they are large enough considering they are the size of tea saucers; second of all, fine, whatever, I will get faster flowing nipples. I know that she is a fast eater at home and despite the fact that the nipples on the Nuby bottles are supposed to be "vari-flow", I can understand if a different nipple might better mimic the boob. In fact, I picked some Dr. Brown's stage 2 standard nipples at WalMart this morning.
On the positive side, last night was the open house at LP's and AK's school. We got to meet and greet with the teachers and other parents and hear more about their classrooms. Since there is only one of me and two classrooms for me to visit (the Hoos had an event for work last night, so even with the in-laws baby-sitting I was still on my own), I sent the majority of my time in LP's room. I did the infant room when LP was in it.
Regardless of time spent, Miss Louise and the other teachers in AK's room did inform me that they think she is on the cusp of holding her own bottle. That is pretty awesome in my opinion. They also let me know that she is adorable and very alert. What can I say, I make awesome babies?
LP's classroom required me to sit in a very uncomfortable toddler-sized chair. What is it about those chairs that make my kidneys ache? I was pleased to learn more about LP's teachers and day-to-day activities. I got the impression that everyone thinks LP is as cool and cute a kid as I do. But I would probably think that even if it wasn't true. Apparently at school when they wake the kids up after nap time, all they have to say to LP is, "Do you want to go potty?" and she jumps up and runs to it. If I ask if she wants to go potty she typically ignores me.
A good outcome was that the teachers offered to share their lesson plans and song lyrics so we can try to keep up at home. I always feel like a moron when LP requests a song that I don't know - except for "Hamda," a title she has given to a Hebrew song that I likely wouldn't sing even if I could - it is part of the Hoos' repertoire anyway. I just hope they have some songs other than five little monkeys jumping on the bed or swinging in the trees. They are already killing me.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Finding Coverage
As much as I am sure everyone would love to read a post about my take on universal health care coverage, this post is actually about child care coverage.
This week LP's day care is closed. Fortunately, I only have to get people to watch her for two days since I am typically home on Mondays and Fridays and Tuesday was a holiday that everyone gets off. Even more fortunately, LP has two sets of grandparents that look for any opportunity to help out and watch the energetic little munchkin.
LP spent yesterday with my mother-in-law. Apparently she was "an angel". They went shopping and she spent the entire time calmly standing in the main section of the cart, enjoying the view of the toy store. If I was the one pushing the cart I would have to resort to bribing LP to stay in the cart. They also managed to eat lunch out at a local diner. Again, if the Hoos and I were there she would spend the time throwing food, climbing out of the seat, and running around the restaurant. Typical, right?
Today LP is with my parents. I am sure I will have a similar report about how she was wonderful and angelic and the most perfect little child. I am not going to complain, though. If she wants to be good for our babysitters, that is great, because that means they won't mind babysitting again.
On a more serious note, the week without day care really has me thinking about how parents with elementary age kids do it. My parents were teachers, so growing up we pretty much always had the same vacations. The Hoos and I and most other parents do not have this luxury (although there is no way I would trade my job for being a teacher full-time). Summers become a time of juggling different camps, seeking full-time babysitters, and paying lots and lots of $$$ to keep your kids occupied.
But summers only come up once a year, I am also thinking about the five days a week that the kids go to school!
In our neighborhood, the bus pick-up time is 9:00 am. Well, even with his relatively open schedule there is no way the Hoos could get to work at a decent time (9 is considered late at a lot of offices; I get in at 7:45 currently). Of course there is before and after school care (starting at 7 and ending at 6) which I guess isn't much different than day care, but it seems to me that school-age kids start knowing the difference between kids whose parents pick them up and kids who "have" to hang out at school and do their homework. Ugh.
The good news is, LP is in day care for another three years. That should give me enough time to get my head around all of the craziness that will become my schedule in the not-too-distant future. Just in time for carpools and tee-ball practice.
This week LP's day care is closed. Fortunately, I only have to get people to watch her for two days since I am typically home on Mondays and Fridays and Tuesday was a holiday that everyone gets off. Even more fortunately, LP has two sets of grandparents that look for any opportunity to help out and watch the energetic little munchkin.
LP spent yesterday with my mother-in-law. Apparently she was "an angel". They went shopping and she spent the entire time calmly standing in the main section of the cart, enjoying the view of the toy store. If I was the one pushing the cart I would have to resort to bribing LP to stay in the cart. They also managed to eat lunch out at a local diner. Again, if the Hoos and I were there she would spend the time throwing food, climbing out of the seat, and running around the restaurant. Typical, right?
Today LP is with my parents. I am sure I will have a similar report about how she was wonderful and angelic and the most perfect little child. I am not going to complain, though. If she wants to be good for our babysitters, that is great, because that means they won't mind babysitting again.
On a more serious note, the week without day care really has me thinking about how parents with elementary age kids do it. My parents were teachers, so growing up we pretty much always had the same vacations. The Hoos and I and most other parents do not have this luxury (although there is no way I would trade my job for being a teacher full-time). Summers become a time of juggling different camps, seeking full-time babysitters, and paying lots and lots of $$$ to keep your kids occupied.
But summers only come up once a year, I am also thinking about the five days a week that the kids go to school!
In our neighborhood, the bus pick-up time is 9:00 am. Well, even with his relatively open schedule there is no way the Hoos could get to work at a decent time (9 is considered late at a lot of offices; I get in at 7:45 currently). Of course there is before and after school care (starting at 7 and ending at 6) which I guess isn't much different than day care, but it seems to me that school-age kids start knowing the difference between kids whose parents pick them up and kids who "have" to hang out at school and do their homework. Ugh.
The good news is, LP is in day care for another three years. That should give me enough time to get my head around all of the craziness that will become my schedule in the not-too-distant future. Just in time for carpools and tee-ball practice.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Rock the Crazy Happy Dance
I AM DONE WITH MY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CLASS!! YIPPEE! Doesn't everyone want to party with me?
My exam is due tonight. Wanting to just be done with it and get the course to go away, I submitted it last night. At least I thought I did. My email was acting screwy, so I sent it again to the professor this afternoon just to make sure he got it and he responded right away:
Hi Amy:
The exam did get delivered. You got an 86 on the final and an A- for the course.
Norm
You read right folks, not only is the class over, but I passed! With flying colors! Happy dance, happy dance:
Thanks to my Uncle Joey this video is right side up! YAY!
My exam is due tonight. Wanting to just be done with it and get the course to go away, I submitted it last night. At least I thought I did. My email was acting screwy, so I sent it again to the professor this afternoon just to make sure he got it and he responded right away:
Hi Amy:
The exam did get delivered. You got an 86 on the final and an A- for the course.
Norm
You read right folks, not only is the class over, but I passed! With flying colors! Happy dance, happy dance:
Thanks to my Uncle Joey this video is right side up! YAY!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
School's Out...for the Winter
Yay for me! I had my last Financial Management class last night. Now I just have to get through the take-home final (so far I have actual answers for 13 of the 20 questions). And because I am in a good mood, I am going to ignore the fact that when I told one of my classmates I was expecting the first thing she said was "Was it planned?".
LP's school pictures came in this week. They really have the worst photographer contracted to take them. And, even though no one took a few seconds to brush/straighten my toddler's hair - she is still adorable:
Yes, she has a mullet. We have not cut her hair. It just keeps growing longer in the back and not growing as fast in the front. At least her boobies don't look as big as they did last year:
Note that in this picture she is wearing random backup clothes from her bin at day care since she exploded up the back of the adorable outfit I had picked out for her. And yet, still adorable. Although looking back, she was quite, umm...round. I guess it is true what they say - parents see a beautiful kid, no matter what. What can I say?
LP's school pictures came in this week. They really have the worst photographer contracted to take them. And, even though no one took a few seconds to brush/straighten my toddler's hair - she is still adorable:
Yes, she has a mullet. We have not cut her hair. It just keeps growing longer in the back and not growing as fast in the front. At least her boobies don't look as big as they did last year:
Note that in this picture she is wearing random backup clothes from her bin at day care since she exploded up the back of the adorable outfit I had picked out for her. And yet, still adorable. Although looking back, she was quite, umm...round. I guess it is true what they say - parents see a beautiful kid, no matter what. What can I say?
Monday, October 22, 2007
Red Meat Monday
I don't eat red meat. I haven't eaten it since I was about 14. Nothing religious or noble, I just don't like it anymore. Unfortunately for the Hoos, he does eat red meat. But obviously not often, since I do the cooking just about every night. What he does it is a lot of ground turkey and chicken (and fish once a week). You name it, I can make it with one of those proteins: turkey meatloaf, turkey meatballs, turkey tacos, chicken piccata, chicken fajitas, chicken stir fry, chicken pad thai....
Because I have class on Monday nights and the Hoos and I aren't going to eat dinner together, I have started buying him steaks (and one night I left an "oven beef stew" in the oven for him following his mother's recipe). Amazingly, LP LOVES steak. She ends up eating more of the Hoos' steak than he does. Poor guy eats the grizzle to keep his little girl happy. And in case "Red Meat Monday" doesn't sound manly enough, his side dish is also a microwave baked potato (and occasionally a sweet potato).
At this point, I think the Hoos wouldn't mind not eating red meat on a Monday. BUT now that he knows LP is a fan, he wouldn't think of denying her. What a good daddy. Now I just have to come up with more options for boneless, skinless chicken breasts and ground turkey.
UPDATE
Last night when I got home from class, the Hoos put the kibosh on Red Meat Mondays. "Maybe once a month..." Looks like "my plan" worked and he will be more accepting of the lack of meat in our diets:)...
Because I have class on Monday nights and the Hoos and I aren't going to eat dinner together, I have started buying him steaks (and one night I left an "oven beef stew" in the oven for him following his mother's recipe). Amazingly, LP LOVES steak. She ends up eating more of the Hoos' steak than he does. Poor guy eats the grizzle to keep his little girl happy. And in case "Red Meat Monday" doesn't sound manly enough, his side dish is also a microwave baked potato (and occasionally a sweet potato).
At this point, I think the Hoos wouldn't mind not eating red meat on a Monday. BUT now that he knows LP is a fan, he wouldn't think of denying her. What a good daddy. Now I just have to come up with more options for boneless, skinless chicken breasts and ground turkey.
UPDATE
Last night when I got home from class, the Hoos put the kibosh on Red Meat Mondays. "Maybe once a month..." Looks like "my plan" worked and he will be more accepting of the lack of meat in our diets:)...
Monday, September 17, 2007
Apathy, My Enemy
I am on a break from my Financial Management class and I am struggling to have any enthusiasm for the content and therefore have very little motivation for a grade.
Work no longer pays for my tuition since I don't work full time, so the Hoos and I are baring the $1695 fee (which doesn't include the $130 book, which finally arrived a week into the class). When work paid for the course, I had to get at least a B in order to get 100% of the cost reimbursed. Not that I ever got below an A- (I even got several A+'s, which I didn't even know was possible until I received them). I don't believe there is a minimum GPA requirement to graduate.
The guys sitting to my right are haggling with the professor over decimal points for their grades on the first quiz. I have questions, but I don't care enough to ask them. At this point I am just getting my MBA because I started the 19 course program and am half way through. Hopefully I will be able to skate along for the duration of the program and graduate.
All of the exams and quizzes are take home. I am trying to take enough notes so that I can solve the problems on my own when required; however, I am not really trying to pay enough attention to learn the content. Yes, I am banking on the fact that I will never really have to apply any of the Financial Management concepts to my current job (or ideally any job I will have in the future); so it could potentially hurt me in the long run. But one concept I have picked up in this class has to do with recognizing, minimizing and accepting risk.
For those of you that knew me in high school or college, you might be wondering if someone has stolen my password and written a blog entry under my name. IN fact, I have a hard time recognizing myself as I write this. I assure you this is me. I have just become a person with different priorities. I would much rather be home with LP and the Hoos right now...
Work no longer pays for my tuition since I don't work full time, so the Hoos and I are baring the $1695 fee (which doesn't include the $130 book, which finally arrived a week into the class). When work paid for the course, I had to get at least a B in order to get 100% of the cost reimbursed. Not that I ever got below an A- (I even got several A+'s, which I didn't even know was possible until I received them). I don't believe there is a minimum GPA requirement to graduate.
The guys sitting to my right are haggling with the professor over decimal points for their grades on the first quiz. I have questions, but I don't care enough to ask them. At this point I am just getting my MBA because I started the 19 course program and am half way through. Hopefully I will be able to skate along for the duration of the program and graduate.
All of the exams and quizzes are take home. I am trying to take enough notes so that I can solve the problems on my own when required; however, I am not really trying to pay enough attention to learn the content. Yes, I am banking on the fact that I will never really have to apply any of the Financial Management concepts to my current job (or ideally any job I will have in the future); so it could potentially hurt me in the long run. But one concept I have picked up in this class has to do with recognizing, minimizing and accepting risk.
For those of you that knew me in high school or college, you might be wondering if someone has stolen my password and written a blog entry under my name. IN fact, I have a hard time recognizing myself as I write this. I assure you this is me. I have just become a person with different priorities. I would much rather be home with LP and the Hoos right now...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Old Lady
Last night was the first session of my Financial Management course. And boy, do I feel old.
Contributing Factor 1: It has been about a year and a half since I attended class in person. In the 16 months since I last visited the UCONN-Stamford campus, it seems that everyone I knew graduated. I did not recognize a single person in my classroom. And the average age of the students appeared to be about 25.
Contributing Factor 2: Class is held from 7-10pm. To sit rapt and pay attention at the end of the day is difficult for anyone; I feel especially at a disadvantage after having spent the day running around (and thoroughly enjoying it!) after LP. Typically by 10 o'clock I am dragging myself up the stairs in our house to get ready for bed. I didn't even get home until close to 10:30 last night. And without time to really talk to the Hoos or wind down, I had a really difficult time falling asleep.
Contributing Factor 3: Last night the MBA program had pizza and soda available during the break. The pizza was cold by the time my class got its break (our professor apparently likes to talk) and it looked completely unappetizing. I used to eat pizza at 11 in the morning that had been ordered the night before. Our group was also being used to test a new drink, The Switch, which is 100% carbonated fruit juice. My only question for the poor woman standing there handing it out was "Does it have caffeine? Because it is way too late for me to have caffeine."
All of these factors, coupled with the dreary weather, definitely has me feeling my age. Which, as of today, is officially thirty-one.
Contributing Factor 1: It has been about a year and a half since I attended class in person. In the 16 months since I last visited the UCONN-Stamford campus, it seems that everyone I knew graduated. I did not recognize a single person in my classroom. And the average age of the students appeared to be about 25.
Contributing Factor 2: Class is held from 7-10pm. To sit rapt and pay attention at the end of the day is difficult for anyone; I feel especially at a disadvantage after having spent the day running around (and thoroughly enjoying it!) after LP. Typically by 10 o'clock I am dragging myself up the stairs in our house to get ready for bed. I didn't even get home until close to 10:30 last night. And without time to really talk to the Hoos or wind down, I had a really difficult time falling asleep.
Contributing Factor 3: Last night the MBA program had pizza and soda available during the break. The pizza was cold by the time my class got its break (our professor apparently likes to talk) and it looked completely unappetizing. I used to eat pizza at 11 in the morning that had been ordered the night before. Our group was also being used to test a new drink, The Switch, which is 100% carbonated fruit juice. My only question for the poor woman standing there handing it out was "Does it have caffeine? Because it is way too late for me to have caffeine."
All of these factors, coupled with the dreary weather, definitely has me feeling my age. Which, as of today, is officially thirty-one.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
No, Seriously
Honestly, I have one question left on my homework, anyone out there want to take a stab at guiding me through it? If it works I will say wonderful things about you :)
Suppose X and Y have the following joint distribution:
(a) Find the covariance of X and Y, i.e. Cov(X,Y).
(b) Find the correlation of X and Y, i.e. ρ(X,Y).
(c) Are X and Y independent variables?
(a) Find the covariance of X and Y, i.e. Cov(X,Y).(b) Find the correlation of X and Y, i.e. ρ(X,Y).
(c) Are X and Y independent variables?
Anyone Want to Do My Homework?
As discussed the other day, I am taking a class toward my MBA this semester. The Hoos was able to work out being home by 6:15 every Monday so that I can get to my 7pm class at UCONN- Stamford. After I complete this course I will have finally passed the halfway mark (this is the 10th of the 19 courses required by the program). Since I am only slowly pecking away at the degree, I continue to try to knock out all of the required courses first.
This fall I am taking Financial Management. Reading the description I figured it would be something about reading financial statements and maybe doing some basic calculations. The course did have some accounting and statistics pre-reqs that I completed sometime in the past few years, but I wasn't really worried about the content. Then I was emailed our first quiz. We didn't actually have a class before receiving the quiz, this little test was meant to gear us up for what was coming, I think. If that is the case, suffice it to say I am either 1. screwed or 2. really lucky that the tests are all take-home.
Here is an example:
8. Solve for n:
(a) 275 (1.04)n = 440.28
(b) [1-(1.06)-n]/0.06=8.384
Of course, upon seeing this, I did what every other self-respecting marketing /communications professional would do - I looked for help. I emailed my brother, a computer engineer, to ask for some advice. He sent me back some answers (this is a direct lift from his email):
8a) 275(1.04^n)=440.28
1.04^n=1.60102
n ln (1.04) = ln (1.60102)
n ( 0.039221) = 0.47064
n = 12
8b) same way as 8a
Umm...okay. Hopefully most of you are just as confused as I was upon seeing this. So I call him up at his office out in California and say, "Thanks, I really appreciate it, but what the heck is 'ln'?" He goes on to explain that this is natural log a function used with exponents and that I should remember it from my calculus courses. I remind him that the last time I took a math class was my freshman year of college - THIRTEEN YEARS AGO.
Anyway, all I have to say now is thank goodness for big brothers. I know I will be leaning on mine quite a bit over the coming months.
This fall I am taking Financial Management. Reading the description I figured it would be something about reading financial statements and maybe doing some basic calculations. The course did have some accounting and statistics pre-reqs that I completed sometime in the past few years, but I wasn't really worried about the content. Then I was emailed our first quiz. We didn't actually have a class before receiving the quiz, this little test was meant to gear us up for what was coming, I think. If that is the case, suffice it to say I am either 1. screwed or 2. really lucky that the tests are all take-home.
Here is an example:
8. Solve for n:
(a) 275 (1.04)n = 440.28
(b) [1-(1.06)-n]/0.06=8.384
Of course, upon seeing this, I did what every other self-respecting marketing /communications professional would do - I looked for help. I emailed my brother, a computer engineer, to ask for some advice. He sent me back some answers (this is a direct lift from his email):
8a) 275(1.04^n)=440.28
1.04^n=1.60102
n ln (1.04) = ln (1.60102)
n ( 0.039221) = 0.47064
n = 12
8b) same way as 8a
Umm...okay. Hopefully most of you are just as confused as I was upon seeing this. So I call him up at his office out in California and say, "Thanks, I really appreciate it, but what the heck is 'ln'?" He goes on to explain that this is natural log a function used with exponents and that I should remember it from my calculus courses. I remind him that the last time I took a math class was my freshman year of college - THIRTEEN YEARS AGO.
Anyway, all I have to say now is thank goodness for big brothers. I know I will be leaning on mine quite a bit over the coming months.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Not All Customer Service is Good
Today I wasted an hour of my life dealing with eBay. I neither buy nor sell stuff through the online auction. I actually was just attempting to purchase a textbook through Half.com - a site owned/serviced/somehow linked to eBay. (As an aside, yes, this means I am taking a class toward my MBA again - finally). The book was going to cost me a bargain of $130 compared to $160 at the UCONN bookstore.
Unfortunately, the login I used to purchase the book was associated with a long-ago job. I haven't worked there for five or six years. I only noticed this when I was attempting to contact the seller for confirmation that she received my order. I was not able to change the email address associated with the account, because apparently in my old age I have created alternate accounts with my current work and hotmail email addresses and I can't remember those logins. Don't ask why I remember the ancient one and not the new ones.
Half.com does not have customer service on the weekends. eBay never offers telephone customer service, instead forcing you to suffer through LiveChat. I have nothing against LiveChat and I have nothing against outsourcing client service overseas - except when I actually have to make use of it. Here are some excerpts from my conversation:
Unfortunately, the login I used to purchase the book was associated with a long-ago job. I haven't worked there for five or six years. I only noticed this when I was attempting to contact the seller for confirmation that she received my order. I was not able to change the email address associated with the account, because apparently in my old age I have created alternate accounts with my current work and hotmail email addresses and I can't remember those logins. Don't ask why I remember the ancient one and not the new ones.
Half.com does not have customer service on the weekends. eBay never offers telephone customer service, instead forcing you to suffer through LiveChat. I have nothing against LiveChat and I have nothing against outsourcing client service overseas - except when I actually have to make use of it. Here are some excerpts from my conversation:
- 2:41:09 PM Steven S. S. : I am afraid, but you will not be able to use a email address which is already existing on another account.
......(TIME ELAPSES/DISAPPEARS IN A VACUUM)
- 3:16:37 PM Steven S. S.: In this situation you'll need to contact the eMerge Team.
- 3:16:49 PM AmyBow: can you out me in touch with them?
3:17:57 PM Steven S. S.: You'll need to send them a message from the following link and they will help you get the issue resolved: http://pages.ebay.com/help/account/... - 3:18:23 PM AmyBow: NO. I WANT TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY. sending an email and waiting for a response is NOT ACCEPTABLE
- 3:20:43 PM Steven S. S.: I understand this Amy. I would really be glad to personally assist you with this issue as much as you expect me to. However, your concern will need to be taken care of by the eMerge Team which is specialized in handling this kind of issues.
I hung up at 3:43.
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