Lonely

"I think it makes a big a difference knowing there's at least one person in the world who has your back, no matter what. It doesn't have to be the same person for your
entire life, but everyone deserves at least one someone."
Everwood

My someones have often turned out to be no-ones, and that really sucks. The bright side is that I'm used to being "independent" and being able to take care of myself. That's a good thing, right?

Recap

Thursday: Flight to CT delayed for 3 hours, but there's snow on the ground when we land! I am astounded by my own patience. Not everyone was content to be sitting in the airport and waiting for so long. I enjoyed the time to myself.

Friday: The North... there are yankees and no sweet tea but this seems balanced by the abundance of microbrewerys. Everytime we pass a bar or pub we yell out "beer!" It's good to spend time with people who really know you. Successul outlet shopping excursion, quick view of Long Island Sound, beer and Pride and Prejudice round out a great day.

Saturday: Cold like I've never been cold before. The Mohegan Sun casino... the most extravagant place I've seen besides Atlantis in the Bahamas. Sad that I am too poor and too scared to play the table games, but probably good since I already lost so much at the slot machines. Casino buffets really are that good.

Sunday: Skiing! I was surprised that I was able to still do it... sorta. Still needs some brushing up. I can't wait to go again. Seeing 3 female engineers trying to learn to ski was possibly one of the funniest experiences of my life. Wish I had time to take a shower before my flight back. Saying goodbye was sadder than I thought. Back around 930... still no on-time flight.

Monday: Slept from 1-330am (ok, so the late bedtime was my own fault, but totally worth it). Back to the airport at 5 for my 630am flight to D.C. This flight is also late... because of snow in D.C.! Beautiful landing at Reagan with a view of the Capitol. The cold doesn't seem so cold after Hartford. All day meeting, then too many beers at the bar with the boss lady and a tipsy ride back to Atlanta. Sad to be so close to seeing my soulmate yet so far! Back at 8pm, the first of my 4 delta flights that is close to being on time... I should go to bed, but I go watch indoor soccer instead.

Tuesday: After doubling the amount of sleep I've gotten since Saturday night (but still only getting not even 6 hours), I can't remember for the life of me why I've set my alarm for 5:45am. Oh yeah... I have a 7am meeting. This new leadership role seems like it's going well. First I make coffee, then get donuts, then make more coffee, then find I'm paid less than a person who is now technically lower on the totem pole. I remember why I don't want to stay there.

I'm glad to be home.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Tonight I fly to Hartford, Connecticut to visit one of my best, longest friends from undergrad, Sarah. It will be my first trip on a jet since 2004 and my first trip alone in quite some time.

I'm excited to see her and to travel. I'm hoping to get to go skiing, to the casino and definitely hoping for snow! I'm a little sad to miss the weekend here but I know I'll feel better when I get up there.

Last Semester?

And so another semester has begun. This one, like the majority of my other grad school ones, should be easy. I have three classes: Human Decision Making (an IE elective), design and analysis of experiments (an IE course to satisfy a math credit... but I already learned this stuff) and special problems, which has to do with the decision making and my contract work. All in all, I have class from 3-6 on Monday and 3-430 on Tues/Thurs. By far the easiest schedule yet.

Whether this is my last semester of taking classes is still up in the air. Each day I go back and forth on the PhD thing. I aim to land on no PhD. Seriously, spending all of my 20s in school doesn't seem that appealing. Being compensated accordingly for my work does. Leaving all my work from the past 3 years doesn't. I intend on using the theory I learn in my decision making class to help with this one.

I leave on Thursday of next week to visit my good friend Sarah in Hartford, CT. This is the first trip I've taken on my own in a while. I'm excited to go see her, but a little sad to miss out on all the fun I've been having here. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to make the most of my upcoming fun here :-)

YAY!

That was an awesome game to be at.

Ringing in the New Year

With a ringing headache and a hangover. In a break from the past few years, I went out to a cocktail party at a friend's house. It was a great time, although I had way too much to drink and ended up being sick for the first time ever. In the middle of the street. Good times.

I did spend today how I intended. Hungover and watching football. Started with the Outback Bowl, then the Gator Bowl, then the Rose Bowl. Only the Rose Bowl ended up the way I wanted. And, even though Tech lost, I thought they played extremely well, especially when compared to the past few games. I heart Taylor Bennett and I'm looking forward to seeing him play more!

Tomorrow it's back to work... boo.