Baby shower and visitors :)

So, it's been a while since I posted.  A few things have happened since then.

Last Friday I kept pretty busy.  I began with a choir rehearsal for a Christmas concert at church at 9:30.  I'm trying to connect with people in my life stage, but they are hard to find.  Honestly, I'm just trying to connect, which is why I went to coir practice.  At noon, I went to a baby shower for a coworker whose last day was Monday (she's due next Wednesday).  I made her a baby sweater and a turtle hat, she loves turtles.  After a few hours, I ran over to Richie's place to see him and our cousins.  I've never seen any of the Harry Potter films, but I've now seen the very last one...

My parents came down for ten days in the end of October.  First stop, Disneyland.  I also went shopping with them at the mall just half a mile away from my place.  Then we celebrated Richie's birthday the next night.  On Richie's actual birthday, I was able to have lunch with them at Chick-fil-a.  The next weekend my parents took me to Palm Desert while Richie was at a retreat.  I got some brown work pants, so now I don't have just black!  It was so much fun and I enjoyed spending every penny...and there were a lot of pennies :)

I've gone to Disneyland a few times with Richie, Ashley (cousin), and a few of her friends.  Its been so much fun, I love exploring everything without being pressed for time.   That's the beauty of the annual pass!  I saw it during the Halloween season and can't wait to see it during Christmas (though apparently I've seen it then before...).

I have a few weeks left of class, my last day is Dec 1st!  I then have the whole month of December off before starting up class again on Jan 3rd.  I'm coming home for a few days for Christmas, Friday night to Monday afternoon (tried to get a later flight).  I'm excited to some up, yet sad that it is so short (thank goodness its on a weekend).

I'm still waiting for the vacation schedule to plan out my time off next year.  I'm taking a week of in October to spend time with my family when they bring the nieces down to Disneyland for the first time!  I know that they will love it.  I've decided that if they dress up as the Disney princesses, I will dress up as Tinkerbell.  I don't know what I'm going to do with my other 2 1/2 weeks of vacation.  Since I'm the last one to choose my time, I'll just have to pick times that aren't chosen.

All I have left are two presentations.  Almost done with my first trimester!

Update: BBQ, cook-off, and pumpkins!

This post is a bit long since I haven't blogged in a while...

I'm more than halfway done with my first trimester of grad school!  I love my Thursday night marketing class, it's so interesting.  I have two papers and a group presentation in that class.  I'm so excited that I've done most of my book report and the other paper is only one page...single spaced.  My group presentation will be difficult, but we'll do it together.  I have my operations class on Tuesdays, but I don't really care for it.  I have homework and one test that I didn't like.  Writing papers is easier, because I actually take time to learn instead of trying to cram everything in my head and on the page of notes we got to use.  Oh well, I should still get an A.  I'm going to try for it, but who knows how long that will last.

Every Tuesday after work I go over to the food trucks by my place and get dinner.  I've had a baked potato (delicious), a smurf burger, nacho fries, and a sandwich.  It's great and fun!

I started working out regularly at my work's gym, which I'm happy about.  Not very many people go, but the other day I saw more than I usually see.  It's small, but all I need is a cardio machine, and some space for weights.  I'm following my mentor's advice and being realistic.  I have been doing two days a week.

Last week was the Santa Maria BBQ.  Every year our CEO put on this amazing BBQ of rib-eye steak, baked beans, potato salad, rolls, iced tea, and pie.  The grassy area in the middle of the 4 buildings was decorated western.  They were so cleaver!  The center pieces were old fashion lanterns with flowers.  My coworker, who wants to someday get married in a barn, LOVED it.  She just had a hay day, pun definitely intended.  It was incredibly good and I was stuffed afterwards.

Yesterday was the chili cook-off.  There were six different chili dishes, but my favorite part was the deserts.  I did love entry #6, but the pumpkin pie tarts (which needed a bit of work, but still good) and and cheesecake cupcakes were awesome!  Who would have thought, bite sized cheesecake.  It was a bit too frozen, though.

This week I learned more about the pumpkin contest in our section of ECCU, BPS.  No, we don't carve them, but we create a scene around them.  Since this contest started, a few years ago, the tellers were the champions.  Yesterday we got our pumpkin.  We had already started planning our idea and delegating the work.  Well, someone thought it would be funny (and it was) to put a moldy pumpkin where all of BPS would see it, with a note saying that it was moldy and for tellers.  Well, we wrote back...something and got a response, "why so serious?"  Apparently an inside joke between my coworker and the prankster.  It was a hilarious day trying to figure out who it was.  My other coworker kept taking about sending all of BPS an e-mail talking smack, "Dear BPS all...you know who you are..."  All day she was talking like this, we loved it!  This morning we found a poster (no, it wasn't written on the wall):

Our supervisor eventually admitted to making it with another coworker the night before.  We hung it up where BPS would see it when they came into our area, but the vandalized it writing pee-yew with an arrow pointing to the pumpkin.  What they don't know is that we are going to wipe out the competition with out awesome project.  I'll post pictures when the contest is over.  Apparently secrecy is key.

I've jumped back into knitting.  I'm making a sweater, the stuffed elephant again, and maybe a turtle-looking baby hat all for my coworker's baby shower next month.  I'll give to her whatever I am able to finish.  I still have homework to get done, though.

Well, I'm heading off to another weekend.  I'll be in D-land Sunday with Richie and Ashley, so tomorrow I need to get everything done, which isn't too bad.

Church Searching

I wasn't meeting anyone at EvFree Fullerton down the street, so I went to Grace EvFree where Richie is.  I enjoyed it and talked with a young woman who encouraged me to check out their grace groups.  I would love to meet people and have some friends down here.  It's very discouraging, but I trust that God will lead me to the right church.

I got to meet with my mentor on Monday evening for dinner.  We talked about what we expect from the program (I have no idea what to expect since I've never had a mentor) and scheduling.  She told me that when I make a list of stuff to get done, I need to define exactly what I want to accomplish.  I can't write a paper in one sitting, so my goal could be to write 4 pages or spend 2 hours writing it.  Even though I didn't finish the paper, I feel accomplished.  Also, I need to make realistic to do lists.

Not too many exciting things this week.  I got more curry, yellow this time, for dinner.  Oh, and I found the hummus variety pack.  I rip up tortillas that I have and dip them in, yum!  I love Trader Joes.  I love to do my grocery shopping at Ralphs and Trader Joes, they are close and have just what I need.  I have been taking turns going to each of them, though it depends on what I need.

Classes are going well.  I can't believe that in a little over a week I have a midterm in my operations class!  It's creeping up on me, so I had better start studying.  Hm, I might want to remind my study group today when we meet.

My marketing class is going very well.  We now have some actual homework, not just reading chapters from "Blue Ocean" (which was actually quite interesting).  I got my book for my book report two weeks ago, "Purple Cow."  It's about standing out and not relying only on marketing ads.  It's not due until November, but I want to start on it.  I don't want to wait until the day before, no more procrastination!  Well, that's my goal.

My room: I got a white board this weekend to put on my wall.  It's very helpful, I put my homework on it so I don't forget to do it (hasn't been a problem yet).  I also got some computer paper, though it was hard to chose form the FIVE different kind of paper...I have no idea what the difference was.

Oh, I want to say "hello" to all my friends in Washington.  I miss you!

Disneyland and Updates!

On the 11th, I went to D-land with Richie, his friend, our cousin Ashley, and a few of her friends.  It was a lot of fun, we went to both D-land and California Adventure.  We kept running back and forth between them trying to get fast passes at a later time for World of Color.  We watched the parade as the Disney princesses waved and blew kisses to Richie.  We didn't go on all the rides that we usually go on, but that's because we got there late afternoon and we have annual passes.  We don't have to worry about getting the most for our money, we already are!  We got home late and I was exhausted the next day at work.  It was worth it, though.

The next evening was study group.  Three of us meet each week to do homework together for our operations class that's on Tuesday.  It took us 4 1/2 hours to do it!  It shouldn't have taken so long!  I went to bed late that night too and was tired on Wednesday.  I eventually caught up on sleep by the weekend.
I've been doing great at making dinners for myself.  I even plan and go shopping once each weekend, except when I ran out of bread for lunch.  Trader Joe's has bottles of red and yellow curry.  It's quite easy to make and is very delicious!  I cook the rice first (plenty for other dishes too) then the chicken.  Once that's ready, I mix in the curry, chicken, bell peppers, and red potatoes.  I can't believe that I'm motivated to make myself dinners like this after work.  I guess it comes with all of the changes.  I've also had pasta (angel hair and spaghetti), tortillas, and several leftovers.  I find that it's easy cook more than enough for one meal so I can warm it up for the next, especially something that takes long like rice.

My room is put together, I even cleaned it today.  I have my shoe rack and everything organized.  Everything has a place.  I still feel like I need something to put over my bed, it's empty.

Downtown LA and Updates!

On Monday, Labor Day, I went to LA with Richie.  It was a fantastic day and I got so much walking in.  I was exhausted near the end of the day.  We started out at The Last Bookstore, which was really awesome!  I got one of CS Lewis' books that contains Surprised by Joy, Reflections on the Psalms, The Four Loves, and The Business of Heaven.  It was only $5, not too bad for a large hardcover book.  Richie also got some books at a great price.  We then dropped off our new books and started walking around LA.  We saw the library (which was closed), the US Bank tower (which was circular), the old location of Biola, an awesome hotel with Star Wars like senate seats, Chinatown, and tons of beautiful fountains.  The streets were pretty quiet, so we weren't bothered by any crowds.  It was such a great day to spend with Richie!

Work has been going very well for me.  I was officially accepted after working through a temp agency for a few weeks.  I've gotten to know the women here and they are awesome people.  They love to go out to lunch together and have fun!  Several times I've brought my lunch only to take it back home because I went out.  It's costs a bit more to go out often, but it's the fellowship that I think about.

My room is slowly getting organized.  I bought a shoe rack online so my shoes aren't in a big pile by my closet.  I still have to store my suitcase and empty, flat boxes in the garage.  I put up several pictures on the walls, without puncturing the walls (picture hanging strips).  It's a good sized room and I love it!  Oh, and I got my own PO Box so I can have my own address.  Yah!

I cook my own meals and thus have to do some planning when I go to the store.  It's been good, though.  I've made pasta and have some stuff to make curry, yum!  I got a special pan to cook my chicken in for my pasta.

It's been hard to make friends.  Most of the people at school are married and I've had trouble meeting people at church.  There are some people who go out to lunch after service, but since I've been here no one has.  It's confusing.  One Sunday people slowly left the table to go sit with someone else.  I thought it was kinda rude, I come over to sit with them and they leave.  I miss my friends in Washington.  We always went out to lunch and did all sorts of stuff.  Come visit me!

First week of classes

I survived my first week of classes!  Getting to class in time was no problem.  What's nice is that there's a 10 minute break during the 2.75hr classes.  Otherwise it would be a *really* long class.
There were 8 people in my first class on productivity, two of us were new to the program.  The class was just us going over the syllabus, introducing ourselves (though most people knew each other), and talking about the articles we read before class.  It was interesting stuff about what COOs are.  It's going to be a good class.
I had about 12 in my marketing class, with 5 of us who are new.  Same thing, syllabus, introductions, and learning. We didn't have reading, but we did watch a video and had group discussion.  I'm excited about this class too.  I actually learned what blue ocean strategy is, besides it being the title of our text book.
People were so awesome and mature.  People want to be there for the experience and to actually learn.  Even the first day, people were on the ball to have discussions.  I'm excited to be going to class with them.  I truly believe that I will learn so much here about business, leadership, and Christ all together.
My room is coming together nicely.  I have some pictures up, clothes organized, and books on the bookshelf.  I still need to get a shoe rack and put some stuff in the garage for storage (empty flat boxes, suitcase).  I'll take a picture for my friends to see once it is clean...hopefully soon!
What I have noticed about where I live is that it's close to EVERYTHING!  Not just work and school (only 20 mins), but grocery stores (Ralphs, Trader Joe's, and Vons), restaurants (new to me and old ones), and shopping malls!  I have a Michael's down the street for my creative side, Staples for my computer needs, and Yogurtland for my sweet tooth!  The beach is a bit farther, though...quite a bit farther.  I couldn't have thought of a better place to live and work, it was all God's idea.  When He provides, He *really* provides!

Orientation!

It's been an exciting journey to get to where I am, in sunny CA!  I started in October and 10 months later my life is totally different.
Background: I started thinking about the MBA program in October, took the GMAT in April, turned in my application on Easter, and was accepted in May.  We moved to another house before I moved down here.  I'm living with a couple that my dad knows from Biola (his dorm parents) and working at a credit union.  I had six days from US Bank to ECCU (Evangelical Christian Credit Union) and I'm catching on impressively fast (as said by my supervisor).
This weekend was orientation for my MBA program.  There are thirteen of us entering the program, a small tight knit group!  Friday night we had a dinner with our mentors.  My mentor is Cindy Glessner, CEO of a credit union in LA.  She has been working in credit unions for over 20 years and prefers them over banks.  We got along very well and I believe that this is a great match made by Biola.
After the dinner, I headed over to Sutherland to see my brother's SOS team perform their skits.  They did such a great job with the costumes, skit ideas, and energy.  I got home late, but it was worth it!
The next morning I was at Biola for a full day of stuff, 8am-7pm.  We started with breakfast before our first session, which included a break.  We learned about listening to people if we want to get to know them and letting them dominate the conversation.  Oh, and I got my first homework assignment, a paper on my self reflection of my faith.  Then we ate lunch from In-N-Out burger before our next session, with another break included.  There we learned about leadership types and character wakes.  Character wakes are like the wakes of a boat, they tell us information about the direction of our lives and how stuff from the past affects us today.  Then I got another paper about what my leadership style is.  Two papers and school hasn't even started!  Then we had pizza hut for dinner before we parted ways.  It was awesome to meet these people, who were so kind and mature.
Next week I start classes.  Tuesday is "New Techniques for Productivity in Operations" and Thursday is "Marketing Strategy."  I ordered my books and should have them this week.  I'm excited, but nervous.  It's been a while since I've had to write papers and even in my math program at GFU I had few.  Thankfully I only have two classes to worry about.