christmas tree

Last weekend, we went with our friends Dan and Angie to cut down our Christmas tree. We had tagged a tree at a local tree farm back in October with them as well. When we tagged the tree, it was literally 90 degrees outside!!! The weather was much better for the cutting. Crisp, but not anywhere close to freezing. Mike had his first go at cutting down a Christmas tree. We haven't gotten the outside lights up yet as it was pretty cold last Sunday. We were planning on doing it tomorrow, but they are calling for a fairly major ice storm to hit us, so we'll see whether or not we get up and outside before the nastiness gets started.

This, that, the other...

I'm due for a post. Thought I'd give you some highlights:

• K and I rode with B and D to meet M, D, M, D, G & P at Petit Jean State Park in AR. Much food was eaten, tales told, and I received three copies of "Taboo" for my birthday.
• Illinois upset #1 Ohio State in football last weekend. Our last home game is this weekend. K and B will forego their tickets so that D and D can go with D and I. Tailgating is a must.
• Applied to take the P.E. exam. I've been studying for this exam for the last 6-8 months and will be studying up til the April '08 test date. This and four years of engineering experience are a requisite of licensure. Whee!
• Planted three trees and named them: Bert, Herbert, and Inglebert. All three are looking healthy.

That's all I know.

LTA, Mike

job and other life updates

It's kinda been a little crazy the last 2 weeks or so. But I'll try and keep it brief.

Two weeks ago, I received the news that my best friend Maggie had passed away. She was diagnosed with lymphoma December 2006 and has been fighting it ever since. She had only called a week before to tell me that she had decided to fore go anymore treatments since there weren't any viable options left. While we all miss her greatly, we know that she is in a better place. She had an amazing faith in God in her short 24 years.

I was also asked to take a pre-employment exam for State Farm. I took and passed that almost 2 weeks ago. The HR department called this morning to ask me to come in for a second interview/office visit/lunch next week. So that will be on Monday, starting at 10am. After that I should hear whether or not I get an offer.

It's coming down to the wire for school this semester. This week before Thanksgiving break is always pretty crazy with papers and exams and whatnot. I've got a big accounting exam tomorrow, a group paper due Thursday, and a rough draft of a group paper due on Friday. After the break I have one more group paper due, and then 3 group presentations based on all these group papers. Sometimes I joke that I'm not really majoring in accounting, but in group work instead. Now you all can see why I say that. I think the only thing I've done individually all semester that counted towards my grade are exams and quizzes. :) And those were all open-note/open-book.

Speaking of that exam, I should probably go crack open the books so I at least have an idea of what is going to be on the exam.... :)