Just Another Day in Paradise

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Dean-land is now Waterfront Property

Yes. This is our backyard.

For a more close up view:

This wouldn't be possible without the painstaking efforts we put in over the last three weeks to get the backyard cleared for use... we just didn't think we'd need a dinghy to enjoy it.

Atlanta is flooded because we've had 20+ inches of rain in the last 5 days. Oh, and tomorrow we have been told to expect 5-7 more inches. Yaaaayy.

So, given that our weather outside has prevented us from further clearing out the backyard, we turned to the inside. Darren's parents had given us a set of beautiful armchairs and a coffee table for the new sitting room we were creating in the kitchen (instead of an eat-in) but they didn't go so well with the red kitchen (because they were red too). I had taken to calling the kitchen "Red Meat Red" so obviously I was sorry to see that color go...

Come right in, Portabello - you are such a nice shade of taupe....

Before and Afters:

We also got to work changing out the fan that was in the living room so we could have some better lighting...

Oh. And we found a new beverage mart :)

Darren and I went to this really neat Irish Pub called "Olde Blind Dog Pub" which celebrates the countdown to St. Patricks on the 17th of each month...

Anyways, they're big fans of Guinness. I'm a big fan of Champagne.

Voila:

The Imperial Black Velvet

This picture is not of the actual drink I had. Mine was served in a pint glass.

Yes. It was a half a pint of Guinness and a half a pint of Champagne.

And for a moment, all was right in the world.

In parting, PLEASE COME VISIT! (especially if you have a boat...)

Thursday, September 3, 2009

GRAD SCHOOL

My only break from unpacking our new house is work and class.

I may or may not be in class at this very moment...

Anyways, here's the history:

I applied to UGA Terry College of Business. I work at UGA, I like UGA, it would be cool to be an official Bulldog, and my new office happens to be 4 floors above the College of Business in Buckhead. Also - since I'm employed by a University Systems of Georgia school, I am entitled to join a selection of degree-seeking programs at my institution (as well as other schools). Oh yeah, for free.

Well, I got in. And then I got told that the recent changes in their Evening (now FastTrack) MBA program, caused the Board of Regents (who own the USG) to re-classify UGA's program as "premier" - read: not free.

This was my sad face :(

So, I applied to Georgia State's J. Mack Robinson College of Business and Georgia Tech's College of Management that evening.

Tech called me to offer an interview.

State called me to admit me. I went with State - ultimately the highest rated B-school in the southeast, and Tech would have required Calculus.

So... here I am. First two classes (I can only take 2 a semester; 6 a year):

Economics for Managers - the hardest class I've take to date. On top of learning something that is so alien to me, we've got to write a research paper with a group. Our assignment: General Motors. Oh, and I'm project manager because I told my group on the first day that I was bossy and apparently they liked that.

Statistical Business Analysis - the grade is based on ten homework assignments - the first of which was to create a Pivot Table in Excel. I may or may not be writing this blog entry as a means to stay awake and appear as if I'm taking notes.

The other day I turned to Darren and said, "I feel like I'm in the weeds. That's how busy things are." My wonderful husband replied, "Me too."

Oh well, just another day in paradise.

Monday, August 10, 2009

DEAN-land!

Labels: Home

I know there are a ton of things I should tell you about, but there's one thing that probably supercedes everything else...

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!! (well, technically we close on August 28)

Here are some images to tide you over until I start with the before/afters and until you come visit us here in "Deanland."

6150 Parnham Circle, Roswell, GA 30075...