Time flies when you're...oh, wait

Wow...I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. I'd say time flies when you're having fun, but you all get it by now.

I spent the weekend in Chicago, at the Net Impact Conference, which was very interesting. The conference focused on social issues in both non-and-for-profits and I went to some really great panels and sessions that focused on education and the environment. There are companies out there that are doing amazing things when it comes to business and the environment, which gives me a little hope that are planet is not going to hell in a handbasket. At least, not yet.

The conference opened my eyes to a lot of issues and reaffirmed that I really want to explore the non-profit space. The issue now is just how. It's so difficult to break into this area and I feel that I need more time to network and really get to know the organizations that are in the area. Maybe I start somewhere else and work my way to a non-profit or foundation. We'll see...

Another great thing about the weekend, besides the wonderful conference and cold, windy weather, was seeing Abby. Granted, it's only been a few months, but that's a long time in Abby-years. If only we lived closer to each other. Maybe someday. We'll see...

The results are in

I batted a 0.75. Not too shabby. Out of the four predictions I made about my mother's comments to me during my visit home, I got 3 of them correct.

1. My mother did, in fact, comment on my hair and encouraged me to get it cut while I was home. I declined.

2. My mother proceeded to comment on the dark circles under my eyes. I faulted her Italian genes.

3. My mother tried to force feed me while I was home.

There was, however, no comment about my growing ass, which surprised me. There usually is at least one ass-comment whenever I visit. Could my mother be losing her game, as she gets older?

Overall, it was a great visit. A lot of shopping (for my little sister), some drinks, and some quality time with the parents. Despite the comments.

Real Men of Genius

Monkeygirl presents "Real Men of Genius" (Real Men of Genius)

Today we salute you, Mr. Transportation Security Administration Director (Mr. Transportation Security Administrator Director).

You have single-handedly stopped terrorists from bringing explosive materials onto airplanes. No one else would have thought a simple, clear Ziploc bag would prevent explosive liquids from igniting, but you have found a way to protect millions of people each day (blue and yellow make green). Ordinarily, passengers would not be allowed to take liquids on the airplane (kaboom), but you know that by putting them into a Ziploc bag, the properties of supposed liquids are neutralized (you should have been a rocket scientist). If it shakes, sprays or pours, put it in the Ziploc bag. Or else you'll confiscate it. So crack open an ice-cold Bud Light, oh Pioneer of Plastic, for making our skies a little friendlier to fly (Mr. Transportation Security Administraaatooor).

This message is not endorsed by Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, Missouri, but was inspired by true events that occurred while travelling to St. Louis, Missouri.

Please, sir. May I have some more?

It's true. I had to get my Jmac fill.

There are few people in the world that you can go awhile without talking to, only to pick right back up where you started when you see each other again. Jessica is one of those people. It's amazing that our friendship has spanned so many years - we first became buds in high school - and while we have each grown in our own way, we are, in a sense, still the very same people we were when we first met.

Add Jessica and Craig to my growing list of friends who own their own house! Of course, due to the rain, the late night, and the people who currently live in the house, we couldn't actually go inside to look around, but maybe next time! Then off to Applebee's for a drink (Cab for me, Bud Light for her), to talk a little politics, and to catch up on the last few months.

I, by no means, got my Jmac fill, but it was still good to see her for a few hours. Now if I could convince her to visit me down in NC....

Mama Mia!

I'm leaving tomorrow morning for St. Louis, to visit my parents for a few days. While I'm looking forward to seeing them, and my sister, I'm not looking forward to the many comments my mother will make while I'm there. Maybe that's just what mothers do - make comments about their daughters - but I think my mother may be a little more critical than most. So here is a list of my predictions...and I'll let you know if they come true!

1) My mother will make a comment about my hair, about how long it's gotten. Personally, I like my hair long. And I bet my dad will, too. But my mother doesn't like long hair. It "drags down your face" as she likes to say. I even predict she'll "offer" to make me a hair appointment while I'm home, so I can get it cut.

2) She'll complain about how skinny I am, and forcefeed me. Maybe that's just because she's Italian.

3) ...and then she'll "mention" how large my ass has gotten. I can't counter here. It has gotten big.

4) She'll inevitably point out the dark circles around my eyes and try to get me to bed early. This actually may not be a bad thing...I could use more sleep!

Oh, the joys of going home!

Sleep, fame and corporate finance

It's official! My first term of my second year is over. I just walked out of my Corporate Finance exam, and I am forever finished with that class! But for those of you who are fretting that they will no longer be able to hear me gripe about Corporate Finance, fret no more. Next term I will be taking Entreprenuerial Finance, and since I cannot spell entreprenuerial, it will hereafter be referred to as Ent. Fin. So more griping is on the way!

The one fun thing that came out of exam week had to be the Financial Statement Analysis exam. You can add an extra 0.09 seconds of fame on to my clock. A few weeks ago, I may have made a mention in the Fuqua Times about how I decided to take FSA while smoking opium at a hookah party. Apparently, our FSA professor also reads the Fuqua Times and got a kick out of this, showing it off to every FSA section one week. A barrel of laughs. Well, he decided to have the last laugh and name a "company" after me in one of the FSA exam problems...Laura's Pipe Dreams. Yes, I now have my very own FSA problem that will go down in the annals of Fuqua Accounting history!

And, lastly, it appears that the scientific community agrees with my sleep assessment, which I bemoaned in my last posting. My friend, Lisa, (and yes, Lisa, that is the appropriate use of commas) sent me this link. So sleep soundly...it's good for you!

Sweet, Beautiful Release

Do you realize that we spend most of our lives awake? As I type this, I have been awake for 19 hours straight. Simple math, that even a Corp Fin flunkie can do (yes, I'm squeezing blood out of this turnip), dictates that only 5 hours are left in the day. Only 5 hours for sweet, beautiful sleep. Why must we spend so many hours of the day awake?

I know, I know. Carpe Diem and all that crap. But how can you seize the day when you're sleep deprived? How can you save the world when thoughts of pillows and down comforters prance through your head? How can you pretend you're the next contestant on America's Next Top Model when you have black circles under your eyes?

The answer is: more sleep. We need to stay awake less and sleep more. Then can we, as a people, as a human species, make a better difference in this world. And actually enjoy the day that we are seizing, after getting a full 8-9 hours of sleep.

God Bless America

For the most part, I stay away from the news (except when it's celebrity gossip, of course) because there really isn't anything interesting going on anymore. After today, I felt it my American duty to comment on the state of our nation:

• Good ol' Mark Foley. Just when things were getting a little tough for him, he does what any God-fearing American does: blames a priest. I thought Republicans were all about personal responsibility, taking ownership of one's actions. It's the Democrats that point the finger, cite their upbringing and cry "woe is me". Has the planet tilted off it's axis? And what does being gay have anything to do with having internet sex with a teenage page boy? The lesson from Mr. Foley: when in trouble, blame the gays and the Catholics. Everyone else does.

• Speaking of gays...apparently Brad Pitt and Angelina have decided not to marry until everyone else in the country is legally allowed to marry, as well. Hmm. This sounds like a devious, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing strategy devised by men to avoid tying the knot. After all, can you really argue with such a socially-minded cause? But that's not the real story here. Turns out Mr. Donald Trump is equally suspicious, so much so that he wrote about it on his blog. I know what you're thinking: "When did The Donald start caring so much about the sanctity of marriage?" But the truly important question: When did The Donald get a blog??

My 0.15 seconds of fame

When I was in Nantucket this summer, I ran across a photo contest that was sponsored by the local island newspaper. Although I don't claim to be a great photographer (my sister was blessed with those genes), I decided I'd give it a try. Not that it was that hard, as Nantucket is such a charming island and everything on it is a photo op.

Anyway, I submitted three photos. None of them won. (Damn...I could have bought another pair of jeans. At Target). But one of my photos did get featured on the newspaper's website. So, I'm famous! Or at least I would be, if they have spelled my last name correctly. But I can't be too greedy.

So check it out. I call it "Windmill Basking in the Sun."