Caro’s Ramblings

22Mar
0

Turbulence

Let’s start by saying I am not in any way a nervous flier. There are some things that come with getting to your destination quickly and bouncing around in the sky is one of them. I’ve flown hundreds of times and actually kind of strangely enjoy mild to moderate turbulence (weeeeeeeeeeee!)

My flight this weekend wasn’t so amusing. First and foremost, it was pouring rain when we left. Sure indicator of a bumpy flight. Our flight out of town had been bumpy – super bumpy – but I was still able to catch a nap. Like I said, turbulence just doesn’t bother me. I expected bumps on this flight, and I expected they would be big. We took off and sure enough, we got rattled around pretty well. I saw some dude’s coffee come flying up, but to me that’s not an indication of a problem. It really just means you shouldn’t have drinks out during takeoff. It was bumpier than normal, and there were points in time where my alert system was pinged. Not scared at this point. Just on alert. A few more (big) bumps, and I heard a few women scream. Seriously ladies? Yes we are being blown around more than “normal” but let’s not lose it.

The combination of my alerts being raised and plain curiosity led me to brush up on the bracing positions we might take, should things take a turn for the worse. Pretty standard/nothing new. Then like clockwork, the plane hit cruising altitude and smoothed out. See ladies? Nothing to fret about. The flight attendants had taken orders prior to takeoff, and I was immediately handed a Diet Coke. Sweeeeeeet. Something told me I should hurry with it, so I chugged about 3/4 of it. Good thing too, cuz as soon as I stopped drinking, our plane dropped.

one-one-thousand-two-one-thousand

We stopped free-falling, probably because we were now bouncing side to side. My drink flew out of my hand, I hit my head multiple times on the window, and I heard a repeated KABOOM! in the back galley. Drinks and food were flying around. I heard someone come on the loud speaker saying something to the effect of “if you’re in an aisle seat and have an empty one next to you, move into it so the flight attendants can take yours.” I saw a minor shuffling of people, and three flight attendants picked themselves up off the cabin floor and took economy seats. Oh, and they didn’t leave said seats until we landed. At another point there was an announcement that if you have anything on your lap (computer, book, purse), put it under your seat and do it right now. I later learned someone had been hit by a projectile laptop. (more…)

Posted by Caro in Fears, Travel
21Mar
0

Congress/Abortion Funding

Reasons why I love Jon Stewart are infinite. Here’s a great example.

And for the record, are we seriously arguing about 191 abortions? Can’t my tax dollars go toward congress talking about something that actually matters?

Posted by Caro in Hilarious, News, Politics, TV, Videos
17Mar
0

Penguins on a Plane

Um why wasn’t I on this flight???

Posted by Caro in Animals
03Mar
3

Bridesmaid Dresses

OK that last post was depressing. Let’s move on to something FUN: wedding planning!

I have 6 bridesmaids, and they have all chosen their dresses. Here’s what was picked:

JL

2 people actually picked this one (MG, PB)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KS

SS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PF

The dresses are by Amsale, in crinkle chiffon. Each will be knee-length and in this color:

Posted by Caro in Shopping, Weddings
03Mar
2

School Update

OK so I last wrote about how I got accepted to the Convenient School, but their program is 100% disorganized, unprofessional and dysfunctional. I haven’t “officially” declined their offer, but I’m guessing I don’t need to. I doubt they’d even notice!

Well I interviewed at the Expensive School and was accepted on the spot.

I would start in a few months.

So now I’m in a bind. I will get some tuition help from my job, but I’m also going to have to cut my hours. Sooooooo this leaves me with a bit of tuition and at least half a year of lost wages. I don’t have tons extra cash right now, but even if I did, I’m starting to question the value of this investment. Seriously, the prospects of me finding a job after I graduate are pretty bleak. Things may shape up as the state budget improves, or as the economy in general improves. But that’s not guaranteed, and I don’t want to graduate a year from now only to find out that I’ve wasted multiple thousands of dollars.

I think maybe I should just get a full time job, stop going to school, and start saving money. I mean, I have goals in life, like having kids and buying a house one day. I certainly can’t do that the way things are going right now!

Am I too old to go back to school? I don’t want to be 40 before I start having kids.

Hi, my name is Caro, and I’m having a quarter- to mid-life crisis.

Posted by Caro in Life, Money, School, Work
23Feb
0

Disenchanted/School

I know that in a previous post I said I was officially going back to school (again). It turns out that may not be the case, and I’m really upset about it.

Here’s some background. I have a master’s in the field in which I want to work. I just need a few supplemental classes to get the certification I need for a specific job within my field. I’m not in a position to move across the state to finalize my education and training, so thankfully I live in an area filled with colleges and universities. Even though the program I’m looking for is super specific and not many schools offer it, I have found 3 that I could feasibly attend. Let’s name them.

1. The Good School. This is a school known for having a good program in my field. It consistently produces high caliber, qualified graduates. Pros: This program is well regarded; tuition is reasonable; it’s somewhat convenient in relation to where I live and work. Cons: It’s competitive to get into and I don’t hear for another 2 months; each class is only offered once a year, rather than once each semester; summer classes are not offered.
2. The Expensive School. This school is also pretty well regarded in my particular field. Pros: Small class sizes; classes are offered multiple times per year, including summer; I could start in July; I think I would only have to take the minimum number of units for the supplement (15). Cons: It’s expensive (almost double what I paid for my master’s); it’s far (think 60-90 minute one-way commute).
3. The Convenient School. Unlike the others, this program is not particularly well-known or well-regarded. At this point in my life though, that’s not my top priority. Pros: It’s super convenient in terms of where I live and work; tuition is cheap; I’ve been accepted to the program. Cons: They’re incompetent. Flat out incompetent. More info to follow.

I received my acceptance to the Convenient School and immediately called to set up an appointment for academic advising. I should have really taken it as a bad sign when I had the following conversation:

Me: I was just accepted to your department and would like to set up an appointment for academic advising.
Dude (Potentially Stoned): Well we have several information sessions coming up where you could get more information about the program.
Me: I don’t need to know about the program. I’ve already been accepted and would like to talk to someone about my particular course requirements.
Dude: Oh you’ve been accepted. Let me schedule you for academic advising. (Um – isn’t this what I already said?)
(pause as dude gets the schedule up)
Dude: OK we see students for advising on Mondays and Tuesdays, but we’re not taking people on Mondays for the next few months.
Me: So you see people on Tuesdays.
Dude: Well Mondays and Tuesdays.
Me: But I can only be seen on a Tuesday right now.
Dude: Yeah, that’s right. (At this point I’m already baffled). We have openings on Tuesday 2/15, 2/22 and 2/29.
Me: Tuesday 2/22 sounds great.
Dude: OK (We start trying to figure out a mutually agreeable time). Oh, and we also have Tuesday the 22nd. (UM isn’t that what we’ve been talking about?!?!)
(finally set an appointment)
Me: OK what should I bring with me? Transcripts? Past course syllabi?
Dude: Um (long pause, clearly he’s confused), I think (pause)… Just show up. Yeah, just come.

WHAT IN THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED?

So fast forward to yesterday, Tuesday 2/22. I arrived at my appointment a few minutes late because I couldn’t find the building OR the office within the building. I then received a super nasty phone call from a different office admin, asking me where the hell I was and if I was still coming for orientation. I was slightly confused and told her I was coming, but for academic advising. She barked into the phone something about how they don’t do that and that I was supposed to be there for the orientation session. What?

So I finally find where I’m supposed to go and there’s no one in the office. Some non-employee finally asks me what I need, I tell him, and he takes me to the academic advisor. She is baffled by my presence, and was clearly not expecting me. As I was explaining my purpose for being in her office, the bitchy lady barged in and started yelling over me that “She’s supposed to go to an orientation. She’s not supposed to be here today.” Well then why in the fuck did someone schedule me an appointment for this?!?

Thankfully the advisor was nice and said she would see me since I was already there. I showed her my acceptance letter and said I wanted to discuss what classes I would have to take. She was so confused. This in turn confused me. Do students not normally come in for advising? What kind of a program doesn’t offer the chance for students to make sure they’re taking the right courses toward their degree objective?

So after 10 minutes of floundering, we figured it out. She finally realized what I was accepted into, and I finally realized that the department is officially incompetent.

Basically this is a 60-unit program. With all of the other programs in the state, most have an option for people with a master’s to just take the courses they haven’t already taken and get their supplemental certificate. This school advertised that they offer this too. Only they don’t.

The advisor told me “the faculty have met and we decided that students can only transfer in 6 units”.
So I can only waive 2 classes? Yes.
So then I have to take 54 units? Yes.
But at just a first glance of your required course list I can already tell that I’ve taken at least 30 of these units. You mean I would have to pay to repeat all these classes? Yes.

ARE YOU FUCKING JOKING?!?

So basically I got dicked around by a department with their heads up their asses. I had even called the school to request info and they told me they offer a program just like the ones at The Good School and The Expensive School. I’m sorry, but this isn’t just like any other program. This is fucking STUPID.

So now it’s down to A. We’ll see if I get into The Good School or B. How much I can get in scholarships to The Expensive School (assuming I get in).

So it seems that despite an acceptance letter, I’m not guaranteed to go back to school. And I’m pissed.


Posted by Caro in Life, Rants and raves, School
23Feb
0

Prodigy

I was recently reacquainted with the band Prodigy.  I know 2, maybe 3 of their songs. Turns out maybe I don’t know the songs as well as I thought. It’s actually a little embarrassing.

One of the songs I “know”: I always thought the song was called, “Smack my Bishop”, a song about masturbation (that could make sense right?). It has recently come to my attention that this song is, in fact, called “Smack my Bitch Up”, a song about domestic assault. My mind has been blown to bits. I mean masturbation is fine, but domestic abuse is never OK. I finally understand what all the controversy was about in the 90s!

Posted by Caro in Music, Random
16Feb
2

Motivation

I officially feel like a slacker. I mean, I have been doing my share of working out, but I’ve also been doing my fair share of finding excuses to sit on my couch. Like this past Saturday? I left Jenny Craig thinking “I’m pumped! Let’s go to the gym!” But then I went with the fiance to buy a new printer and stock up on supplies for our BBQ. By the time I cleaned my house for said event, it was time to shower and get ready. No gym. This happens way too often.

It has recently come to my attention that 3 of my 6 bridesmaids are running half marathons this spring/summer. It seems they all train pretty regularly, all with the end goal of running, nonstop, for 2 consecutive hours. To me this sounds like HELL. But it’s pretty inspiring. I’m not able to run because of my foot/leg, but I can do something, right? Tonight? Yeah I’ll go to the gym. I won’t skip spin class tomorrow, and I’ll even go to my body sculpting class on Friday. Yep, this is the class with the weird ass lady that tells us to feel like we are birds. I’ll even do that too.

I’m also going to take the plunge next month and sign up for a swim class. I might not be physically able to run right now, but my lack of swim skills shouldn’t be a deterrent. I CAN swim. I’m just not good at it. So if three of my close friends are challenging themselves to run 13.1 miles, I’ll challenge myself to make it from one end of the pool and back again. Maybe even there and back a couples of times ;)

Wish me luck!

Posted by Caro in Health, Life, Sports, Weddings
15Feb
0

Wedding Updates

I’ll try not to make this too boring of a post. I’m really only posting it for my one bridesmaid that put out a request ;)

*Vendors: I think we’ve booked all of our vendors. Everything from venue to DJ to pictures, flowers and decorations is set. Of course I have a binder that is seriously full of contracts (Hi, I’m Monica from Friends lol). We really hit the ground running on this category, which is nice cuz now we can kind of just ease through the rest.

*The rest: We’ve been busy doing things like picking songs, looking into dance lessons, deciding on menu options, etc. This is really the FUN part! My dad also offered up his services. He’s retired so he’s been searching the internet for various things we “need” – starfish decorations, candles, a ketubah, etc. He’s been a big help!

*Bridal party attire: Half of my girls are outfitted. The other half will be soon. J is a groomsman in his Best Man’s upcoming wedding, so while we picked up his outfit for that affair, we started perusing attire for our own. Yeah…we selected basically everything. I’m just waiting on a swatch of the bridesmaid material to arrive so we can finalize vest colors. Yes, I realize we’re like 2-3 months early on this task, but it’s better to be early than late! I’ve also been chomping at the bit to pick out a dress for my flower girl, but given that she’s still growing (related: she’s turning FIVE in a couple of weeks!?!) I can’t commit to anything yet. Who knows if she’ll still be a 5T or up to a child’s small? I already know what I generally want though, I’ll just have to wait a couple of months to find it :)

*Registries: We have 3. They are all works in progress, but OMG they have been so much fun to put together! One of the registries is basically a website with wishes for our honeymoon. J has been doing a GREAT job of picking out fun activities for us and making entertaining captions for our guests. The other two are at stores, and each one has had some sort of registry event for us to attend. I have to say, if you’re gonna register somewhere, do it at one of these events. While setting up these registries, we were served a range of treats from mimosas to waffles, samples of coffee from various coffee and espresso machines, dinner foods, and on and on. Plus they have TONS of people on hand to answer any questions. It’s the best way to go!

*Honeymoon: Aka the best part! My one complaint though: WHY are plane tickets so expensive?? We’ve settled on a tropical island location and J has enough hotel points for us to stay affordably. We just have to get there. Now we are in the midst of playing plane ticket roulette. We have 2 options here: Buy tickets now at a whopping $1400ish each, or keep waiting for a “deal” to come around (we’ve been waiting 3 months already and the only thing that’s happened is that the every day fare has gone up about $50. The longer we wait, the more the fare will creep up). It’s kind of fun/exciting, but dude, I’m not down to get ripped off on a plane ticket right now. I think we should set a threshold price (aka find something for $1250 and pounce) and a threshold date (aka if we don’t have a “deal” by May 1, just buy whatever). What would you do?

*The wedding website: While I’m a true slacker on this blog, I actually do update the wedding site religiously. Like anytime there is a change lol. New block of hotel rooms? On it! We booked a shuttle to take guests around? Information is there! Maid of Honor changed jobs? Bio updated (at her request lol). If you’re privy to the URL, you should check it out :)

That’s really all I’ve got right now.

Posted by Caro in Family, Life, News, Travel, Weddings
15Feb
2

Valentine’s Day 2011

I have to share what I got from Jeremy for Valentine’s Day this year. I’ve been wanting a starfish necklace for a while, or at least since we decided to go with a sort of starfish theme for our wedding. Dude came through with this gem:

Posted by Caro in Random, Rants and raves
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