An Edem Update

This quarter I took Finance and Executive Leadership. To my surprise, I found elements of the finance course interesting. And much to my delight, I did decently in the stock market game we had to play. However, I did do poorly enough on the final to earn a B+ - I had an A- going in.

There is a lot of leadership theory out there. A lot. And the question of whether leadership is inherent or can be taught remains. But I got to watch most of 12 Angry Men, which I then had to go get from the library because there was not enough class time to finish the movie. So sad they couldn't sell a movie like that today! One set, no explosions (except what comes out of the actors' mouths). Don't get me wrong, I like a blowed up as much as the next girl. But man oh man! Could you imagine?

I got a lot out of both classes, from both the instruction and the (dreaded) group work. I'm still digesting it all.

Next up – Supply Chain and Negotiation. Supply Chain is a predominately online class. I don't particularly like online classes, so it will be interesting.

One thing's for sure - I'll be renting books again this quarter. Chegg is the best bargain of them all.

I've been working camera and shader as part of the production team at my church. I think my camera work is improving - I felt really good about this past Sunday; everything felt smooooth. And the day before was long and tiring (but enjoyable – a Wizard of Oz tap extravaganza that included a Tom Jones-ish version of Welcome to the Jungle (opening chords were piano) that would be appropriate for Disney, a techno version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight which might’ve been in Madagascar, and Ella (Fitzgerald) singing Ding Dong the Witch is Dead.)

Shading is a different story. A shader adjusts the brightness, so what is seen on the screen is consistent between cameras. But what I see is not quite what the director sees is not quite what is seen on screen. And the brightness is affected by the lighting on stage. And what is bright to me is not always bright to anyone else. Nor am I skilled enough to constantly adjust between cameras when the speaker consistently walks into (and out of) a dark spot on stage.

I do, however, know enough to crank it down when someone comes onstage to speak – the way the band is lighted is significantly different than when someone is giving announcements. So I've learned something.

I'll be spending the next few weeks hopefully getting one of my many sewing projects finished (or at least moved farther along.) and trying to gear up for next quarter.

May your days be merry and bright,

Random

Since I've gotten a smart phone, I've taken more pictures than I've ever taken thus far in my life.

If you've seen The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything, you'll understand why I was incredibly brave to eat an entire bag of these:

Shagtastic!*

*available at Target Matching scarf sold seperately

In one of the older buildings on campus, the toilets have foot pedal flushes. Why didn’t' this catch on? It seems ingenious to me. And most of us use our feet to flush anyway. Granted, those foot pedals might also be the reason why one of the bathrooms always smells like mold...

Saw pairs of Vera Wang flip flops selling for $95 in a Nordstrom catalogue. They look like something you could buy at Payless Rite Aid CVS and bedazzle at home.

I broke my fork when washing it. Snapped it clean. I didn’t do anything different from what I'd done before when washing it.

It came with a set I got on sale, aimed at college students. One plate, one bowl, a knife, fork, and spoon. (apparently, college kids don’t have guests). The fork lasted at least 6 months, I think.



I'm sure it's been answered, but why are colds called colds? Nyquil commercials were brilliant, though (SneezingSnifflingStuffyHeadFever SoYouCanRest Medicine)



I tried on several pairs of skinny jeans the other day. I had to jump up and down to pull some of them on. A few could not make it past my rump. All left the dreaded gap which, for me, makes buying jeans and pants a pain.



Best advice I've received thus far: "Don't be so hard on yourself!"



They raised the fees 4.44% for Winter Quarter. And didn't publish the new fees on the secure website until at least Sat, 12/4. Then they sent email notices on Mon 12/6 about not paying fees.

Last year, I had been told that changes in fees would not affect those on financial aid. Apparently, that person didn't know what they were talking about. An extra $142 doesn’t' seem like much, but it makes the budgeting tighter.  And the steam rise faster from the top of my head.

Cute dog. But with that mentality, you'll end of on What Not to Wear or How Do I Look



Saw some of Addams Family Values and realized that David Krumholtz was the little boy Wednesday (Christina Ricci) meets at camp. I already knew that Peter MacNicol was the camp counselor…So David Krumholtz got to work with Peter MacNicol both as a kid and as an adult (in Numbers). Cool.

They keep growin' them like this, and soon we'll be carving 'em* for Halloween

*them would be oranges.  Not grapefruit.  Oranges.

Hey. I'm still a nerd, even if I can't do math in my head. Holla

If they sold these with Happy Meals instead of the crappy toys, would they bother banning toys in Happy Meals?

(The answer is yes - the issue is the unhealthfulness of the food.  But from what I've heard, kids don't want Happy Meals because of the toys.  They're addicted to the french fries like everyone else. Banning the toy probably doesn't do a thing in that regard.)

Really?

Dude, really?

Cross Bearers Church: An Unauthorized Plug

Tired a church that puts status above all else? Consider attending Cross Bearers Church in Oakland, CA.

Pastored by Reverend Demetries Edwards, Cross Bearers is a non-denominational congregation that meets in the McClymonds High School auditorium at 10am on Sundays. Pastor Edwards is committed to teaching from the bible and preaching the good news of Christ.

If you want empty religious entertainment, I recommend looking elsewhere. At Cross Bearers, you'll not only brag about what a good time you had, you'll be able to describe the morning's message and the actions you'll take because of what you've heard.

For more information, visit www.crossbearerschurch.org.

It Takes Practice

It took about a week and a half for me to fall off the wagon.

Maybe shorter. It's easy to slip into old habits. Then circumstances conspire to out bring not only the worst in you, but to take you back. Waaay back.

To hearing myself grumble, a teenager grousing about petty things, peeved that she is hearing things through the grapevine while everyone else was told directly. You know, I didn't particularly like ages 11 through 21 the first time around. I am not enjoying this trip down memory lane.

On another occasion, defensiveness took hold, sharpening my tone and spurting frustration mixed with impatience. Loving responses don't usually come from such a source.

How do you love when you don't trust? When you are accustomed to defending yourself because you feel, you know that no one will defend you? How do you learn?

I always make the mistake of thinking I can get it right the first time. I'm smart, right? I'm supposed to be able to get this. Then I remembered that no one gets this overnight. I stopped beating myself up and put the boxing gloves away. It takes time and practice.

So back to practice.

Why Are School Girl Outfits Sexy?

The plaid skirt, knee high socks, crisp white blouse and cardigan that is apparently the staple of many a teenage girl who attends a private high school.


(So I've heard. I didn't go to a private high school, but I did go to private elementary schools. Had all the gear, in two different colors to boot.)

Why is the involuntary garb of a teenager (or in my case, child) sexy when worn by a woman? Why is dressing like a minor a turn on?

I ask because of the GQ-Glee controversy. No controversy to "mainstream" media – women posing as sex objects is acceptable and de rigueur. And I agree with the argument that technically, it's not pedophilia because the photographs involved adults.

However

Am I correct in understanding that the women were portraying teenagers in high school?

Am I correct in understanding that the location was meant to represent high school?

Am I correct in understanding that the target audience for GQ is 25-39 year olds? Hip Generation X men?

If I'm not, then okay, this is just unfortunate par for the course. I have issues with the 'female as sex object' motif.

But if I am correct, then why is it a good thing for 30-something men to be ogling high schoolers? Why is it okay to encourage men to look at teenagers as objects to satiate sexual dreams and satisfy sexual desires?

Why are school girl outfits sexy?

Living Jonah

I hate my job.

I hate my job because for 9 months out of the year, I often have only 2 days worth of work to do in any given month.

I hate my job because when I repeatedly informed the powers that be that I was light on work, I was ignored. I gave up, and stopped asking. In my 3rd year. I'm now in my 7th.

(There was a brief respite from such nonsense for ~a year and a half. I had a supervisor who had a long list of things she wanted me to do. Even if she couldn't respond right away, I knew she had something for me. She heard me. She cared about me.)

Start with anger, divide it into sections. Let a section or two curdle into bitterness; reintroduce into the original anger batter. Add ego bruisings such as:

• Did you just really ask me to add a column to the shared spreadsheet so that you could blame me if something went wrong?

• I've worked with you for almost 6 years and you're still astonished by the speed at which I work?

• I'm still here because I’m too dumb to work elsewhere, right?

 

Knead until well mixed. Let sit and rise.

 

Congratulations! You've just made spontaneous combativeness and extreme apathy!

 

We all act like teenagers when we feel no one is listening to us. Or toddlers if we are prone to particularly loud violent tantrums.

When I cried, defeated and in anguish, my faith was the only thing I could cling to. A thin chord, slowly unraveling.


Those who follow Christ are to be Lights. Regardless of where they are or what situation they find themselves in. It can be difficult (that's why the Holy Spirit empowers), but it's what we are commanded to do.


But I didn't want to be a Light. I didn't want to show the Love of Jesus. I didn't want to possibly be the only Bible that they ever read. I didn't want them to go to Hell, but I surely didn't want to be the messenger. I'll take the belly of the whale, thank you.


So in the belly I sat. Rebellious.


*********************************************************************************

 

I've repented, turned from my rebellion. Now I ask for strength daily and try to love my neighbor as myself. I try not to snap or sulk or be sullen, even when I have nothing to do. I try to be considerate. I try to smile and laugh more often.

 

I gave someone compliment the other day. It was sincere – the sweater really did look good with her skin tone. Her smile was so bright…it made my day.

 

My situation hasn't changed.

 

I have.

 

JJ

It seemed that the writers felt the same way cast and fans did about A.J.'s sacking. So they wrote an ode of love and respect.


In JJ's final episode, we learn that she is being promoted against her will. Hotch fights for her, just as many fans fought for A.J.

In the end, it was beyond his control. All he could buy was a little bit of time. Likewise, we were gifted with seeing A.J. for the first two episodes of this new season.

And not peripherally – her prominence in the season opener was brilliant. BRILLIANT.

Hotch declares JJ is irreplaceable, and refuses to replace her. And though it is known that someone will eventually come along, we are satisfied that, for at least one episode, the they will let the hole be.

I loved the Ray LaMontagne song that was used in the final sequence. But I couldn't see how it fit. Was it a message from the team to JJ? Was it a message from JJ to the team?

And while it could be both, I think, perhaps, it was a message from the cast and crew to A.J. From them, and on the behalf of her fans, they declared "We love and support you. If you need us, we'll be there."

The MBA - Year 2 Has Begun

I was late to my first day of school by 3 minutes. I thought the class started at 6:30, but it started it 6:00. My other class starts at 6:30. At least they both meet in the same room.


The parking lot seems emptier than it was last year. I've been able to find a decent spot in my favorite lot. And it's early in the quarter, before people have decided to drop classes.

Once again, I'm taking two classes - Executive Leadership and Finance. Finance scares me. I think of the Stock Market Game we had to play in Jr. High. I didn't much like that game.

Guess what we get to do in Finance class?

There were 8 chapters to read and 4 questionnaires to do prior to our first Executive Leadership class. Even though I'm caught up on my assignments, I still feel behind.

The first drop of the rollercoaster is my least favorite part of the ride. Only 4 more quarters to go.

Observations from the Road

Some notes about my recent vacation, when I visited usually sunny Southern California.

I had a headache from the morning's decaf white tea, but no problems with the lunchtime Dr. Pepper or dinnertime sweet tea. Is there something to be said for caffeine quality?

I put my credit card in the machine at a Mobil gas station. The machine asked Debit Card >Y/N< ?


Not

Debit Card?
Y
N

where you can pick the appropriate button on the side, but

Debit Card >Y/N< ?

with everything on one line. I couldn't figure out which button to push, so I got gas at Chevron instead.

The trailer of a big rig said "Jesus Christ is Lord not a swear word". Schweet.

At the Getty, there's a sculture called Moving Flower. Designed in the 50's and construted in the 80's, is sits on a small lawn of unkempt grass. It was the grass which struck me. Amid the precisely manicured gardens of the Getty is this tangled, messy mass. I liked the grass more than the sculpture.

DisneyLand! Indiana Jones was closed all day. The corn dogs are large and a bit oily and very good. The re-instituted submarine ride can be scary for little kids. And Captain Eo is still cheesy, made all the more so by the wonderous absoluteness of it being made in 1986. The hair. The make-up. The rainbow t-shirt.

A tip for infrequent visitors (like me): Don't put your bag on the floor when riding Pirates of the Caribbean. It will get wet.

California Adventure! My first time! Toy Story Midway Mania closed. Too tired for Screamin' over California; too long a wait for Tower of Terror (a ride built on my least favorite aspect of a roller coaster - the drop). Soaring over California was well worth the wait, and was the only ride for which we needed a fast pass.

Surprised to see a full service Union 76 station in Venice. Thought such things were extinct in California.

Is that drizzle? You gotta be kidding me!

Only took 1.5 hrs to get from Venice to Simi Valley during rush hour traffic. A pleasant surprise.

Am the proud owner of a Ventura County Library card. Anytime I'm in Simi Valley, I can use the computers at the library.

When the metering lights are on in Simi Valley, they often stay green.

Saw two movies, $3 each. Toy Story 3 (worth the $8.50 I would've paid for a matinee at home) and The Last Airbender (worth $3). The latter was better than I expected. Much to the chagrin of US critics, however, installments 2 & 3 must be made. I need to see how they finish the adaptation of one of my favorite tv shows, Avatar, The Last Airbender.

Goats are not afraid of heights. They are quite comfortable traipsing across wooden walkways 2 stories off the ground. The things you learn when you visit a farm.

Goat Milk Yogurt

Yogurt made with goat's milk tastes like goat cheese. Which isn't surprising, but surprised me anyway. It's not a subtle flavor.

It's relatively stable when scooped from its 2-qt container into a smaller dish, mixed with honey, drizzled with Grape-Nuts, and eaten immediately.

However, scooping the yogurt into a smaller container, mixing in honey, letting it sit overnight in the fridge, transporting it to work the next day, and placing it in the work fridge, leads to soup when mid-morning snack time rolls around.

Whether stable or soupy, I think it would taste best with fresh strawberries, coarsely chopped.

Unfortunately, my system was unhappy after I ate yogurt soup with apples and raisins. The uneaten portion is now in our green bin.

It's not a subtle flavor.

More Money to the Man

5% increase in the graduate professional fee. AFTER I select how much finacial aid to accept. Thanks, CSUEB.

It's All Beautiful

There's a new Jenny Craig commerical out, featuring actress Sara Rue. It's the lastest in her progress with Jenny Craig.

It starts with her saying (50 lbs ago), "not owning a pair of pants that I feel comfortable in isn't normal."

Which means I'm more abnormal than we thought. Because we look like we're the same size. And I don't own a pair of pants that I feel comfortable in. She can wear skinny jeans now - I won't try them on for fear they won't cover my rump. And for me, losing weight is not an option.

There's an implication in our culture that skinnier is more beautiful. That seems to be the subtle? message of this commercial. Every time I see it I think, "Wow. She was a gorgeous woman." She still is, but

Don't believe the hype. Losing 50 lbs didn't make her more beautiful.

Bloodletting

This was the second time I gave blood. What I mainly recalled from my first time was the size of the needle and how painful it was. So when I decided to drop in at my church's blood drive, I steeled myself for pain.

According to the informational material, it takes ~ 10 minutes to give blood. The needle was stuck into my arm at ~11:09. It was twisted a couple of times to speed up the blood flow. Then my blood stopped flowing, and the needle was pushed in deeper.

Deep breaths and whispered jibberish helped me deal with the pain of the needle readjustments. And when the blood flow restared, my arm tingled and my eyes were wet.

"We're done!" said The Tech. "What about the tubes?" I responded. "We're not done until the tubes are filled." What were the odds that my blood would stop flowing again and I hadn't filled the bundle o' test tubes?

The needle was pulled out at ~ 11:37.

At least two people came and went while I was on the table. I walked to the parking lot with one. He told me of a time when it was slow for him, and of another time when he was on the table for barely 5 minutes before the bag was filled. It was encouraging. Still, I probably won't be giving blood for another year. Or two.

School Fees Released

My school fees have been posted. The university fee for grad students went up 5%, the Instructional Related Activities fee (???) went up 10%, and the cost of a parking permit went up 27%. Yowza!

The university website encourages students to "try alternative transportation". Maybe they're trying to force us to go green(er) by making parking less affordable. Hmmm {stroking imaginary beard}.

'Eco-Friendly' Bags

I bought two Target branded 'eco-friendly' bags a couple years ago. They were red. One could be folded and zipped, handily fitting into a purse. The other was like a paper grocery bag with handles.

The small bag started to decay, bits of the Target motif flaking, eaten by who knows what. The large bag shed red, staining everything it came into contact with. Cotton had to be washed to remove the usurping dye.

The piece de resistance was when the large bag began to tear. I was toting nothing heavy (the heaviest item being a bottle of astringent), yet by the time I got to my car, a hole was forming, like when the sacred stones burned through the bag in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Now, I kept the bags in the back seat of my car, exposed to sunlight and heat and whatever else. And perhaps 100% non-woven polypropylene should not be in such an environment for an extended period of time. (Without the benefit of handling instructions, there was no way I could ascertain the proper storage locales for such treasures.)

A two-year life cycle on a bag does not shout "eco-friendly" to me. One more reason to practice my sewing by making bags.

Criminal Minds - Aftermath

It's done. JJ is leaving, and this will be Prentiss' last year.

The whole Prentiss issue made the new CBS commercial irritating in its irony. Why use Prentiss' image to represent Criminal Minds if you're plannig to reduce the number of episodes she'll appear in?

I don't know how things are done in Hollywood, but did it really take a petition to get producers to close out JJ's storyline? Were they really going to have the character disappear with little explanation? Were they really going to leave JJ's position (communication liaison, aka media wrangler) empty?

This clearly caught the actors off guard. They might've been told before the news got out, but the anger and frustration lead me to believe that at the very least, some common courtesy was violated. Actors (or writers or anyone else for that matter) shouldn't feel like they've been slapped in the face or stabbed in the back.

The effect on the rest of the cast cannot be underestimated. Part of the reason they appear to be a loving work-family on-screen is because they are a loving work-family off-screen. Yes, they're professionals. Yes, the show must go on. But it is often harder for those who remain than it is for those who leave.

School's Out for Summer-An Edem Update

My first year of the MBA program is done; I have a year and half to go. I earned my first B (B+, actually) courtesy of Managerial Accounting. A hallelujah moment, as I got a solid C on the midterm.

My 'soft' class (i.e., no math) was Business Communications, a marketing course taught by a management professor. There was a lot of reading, but the professor chose books worth keeping. We had to do a Pecha Kucha style presentation - 3 slides, 1 minute per slide, the slides automatically advancing. The topic was "My Business Communication Culture", and I learned a lot about China, India, Mexico, Thailand, Iran....one guy even had a step-by-step diagram of the 'man-hug'. It was awesome.

Thus far, group work has been the bane of my MBA existence. But a friend pointed out that what I'm experiencing - throwing strangers together to complete a project in a month - is common in the real world. Unfortunately, I've been spoiled by my past experiences; we knew what we needed to do to make it happen. At school, half the battle is getting everyone close to the same page. It's probably the most valuable thing I'll learn in school.

My employer signed up with a wellness plan earlier this year. Through the plan, we're participating in a patriotic wellness challenge. We try to walk at least 2.5 miles a week, with a goal of walking 5 miles or more. They give us forgettable tidbits about the American Revolution and the War of 1812. So now I walk for 30 minutes at lunchtime (weather permitting). I plan to keep it up after the challenge ends. Though I'm not sure what to do when winter comes. Dark & cold is why I could never get into excercising in the first place.

The optometrist says my eyes are getting better, so I got a new pair of glasses. I opted for transition lenses; I thought they would do a good job of doubling as sunglasses on super sunny days. What I didn't realize is that they slightly darken (grayen?) in moderate sunlight. So on an overcast day, it's a little too dark.

Now, the lenses don't darken when you're driving. Refraction something something. But, depending on the time of day and the direction I'm driving, the sun shines through my driver's side window and darkens my lenses. Unevenly. The left lens gets really dark, while the right lens gets barely gray. A framed pirate patch, or A Clockwork Orange for everyday living. I wish I could take a picture of it, (if you thought driving while texting was fun, wait 'til you try driving and taking self-portraits!) but alas, I'm not reckless in that way.

To a restful summer,

On Criminal Minds

While searching to find out what Wednesday night Criminal Minds episode would be airing, I learned that the contract for A.J. Cook (who plays JJ) would not be renewed, and that Paget Brewster's role would be reduced (she plays Prentiss) .

The first reports said it was for "financial reasons". An unfortunately logical but no less upsetting excuse. Then it was emphatically clarified to "creative reasons".

You want creativity? Have a few more episodes where no one is saved (e.g., A Shade of Gray or Tru Night); have a few more episodes where men are the victims; have Reid start dating; explore a possible relatioship between Morgan and Tamara Brown (and have him tell Garcia she was right); give Prentiss a shock to her self esteem (I know in the end she can handle it). But lose JJ? And 'replace' her with someone else? This is not Law & Order, this is not Monk. JJ is a pillar of the team, the Voice. You can freshen the series without main characters disappearing or (in Prentiss' case), fading.

Which leads us back to the initially reported reason. Money. We're all adults here. Why can't CBS just call it what it is?

Almost Over

I'm extremely excited about getting an A on my Decision Modeling midterm…I wasn't sure that I would get higher than a B. We're now in the home stretch in my classes – a few more quizzes, one more case study, a few more chapters, a presentation, and then the final. (Not all in one class, mind you.) Then a week off before the next quarter starts. What a whirlwind!

The university budget problems are severely affecting many of the students. Not as many classes are available, and if you didn't register when your registration time started, you were likely waitlisted (I'm 2 & 4 on the waitlist for the two classes I've signed up for next quarter. I'm confident that I will get in…but one never knows.)

Pierced Ears

I read this article about little girls having pierced ears,

http://www.contracostatimes.com/search/ci_14410861?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&nclick_check=1

and was disturbed by the absolute lack of awareness of the multiculturalism that is America. No mention of the little girls whose ears are pierced as infants because it is part of their cultural tradition. Some of us have never known life without pierced ears.

But then, the author is writing from her experiences, and the experiences of her primary reference. I can't fault her for writing about what she knows; it is, after all, a commentary. But it does irk me.

An Edem Update – Tis the New Year

Abstract (for the super busy folks): Got A's for my first two classes of business school. Am taking a decision analysis class, and my first ITM (information technology management) class. (Current plan is to get an MBA w/an ITM specialization.)

Prayer Requests (for the praying kind): Wisdom for school and work. Direction, and the courage to walk that path.

Okay, here's the update:
I made it through the first quarter of graduate school. To my relief, I earned an 'A' in both of my classes (one class's grade was based on the group project and a final; I had no idea how I would do). I was just getting used to not going to school when the next quarter started. All I knew for sure was that there would be group work.

For my Information Technology Management (ITM) class, there is a minimum 10 page paper (excluding title page, references, table of contents) that is part of a group project. I hate page minimums. In high school, I always had to bs to make the requirement. Seriously, it you can't be concise, then do you really have something to say, are you just blowing smoke?

Our group has five members. Hopefully, it will be a better experience than in one of my other classes last quarter. That was ultimately stressful for me. What happens when you put a person who is organized and likes to stay on top of things with people who are more 'go with the flow'? And when the organized person tries to play nice instead of being her normal take charge self? Deviation from parts of one's essential character is a stressful proposition.

So this quarter, I started off with my take charge self. I still want everyone to have a voice – that's very important to me. But I do not want to run around at the last minute if I can help it. We'll see…at the very least, I need to work on listening.

The often longwinded professor brings props with him to class. Like vacuum tubes and floppy (not 3.5", but true floppy) disks. (Though he did bring the 3.5" as well.) Last week he showed us a coaxial cable, among other things. I love the props. The class, so far, is otherwise laborious.

My other class is a decision modeling & analysis course. It's basically a math class masquerading as a management course. So far, it hasn't been so bad. Midterms are coming up the 2nd week in Feb, though, so we'll see how much I really learned. {Again, if you're the praying kind, please pray for me. I mean, it's math.}

In that class, the 'group project' is actually a team of two and two case studies. We pick our own teams, so of course I was one of the kids who was picked last – most everyone else had friends in the class and had coupled up fairly quickly. Ah well.

Otherwise, things are plugging along. The rain or cold we've had for the past month and a half makes my daily ritual of escaping to my car at lunchtime extremely difficult. Reading in the lunchroom, sitting on plastic chairs that are uncomfortable despite my ample cushioning is not ideal. I need to get away from the building, not just my desk. And turning on the heater in my car every day is probably not the best solution. Besides, who wants to go outside when it's raining? But turning on the heater may be the only viable option. If I have to stay in the office at lunchtime, I will go stir crazier.

Until next time,