Central Command Newsletter

One of the ways I keep myself up to date on the happenings in Iraq & Afghanistan is subscribing to the Central Command Newsletter. Central Command is one of the higher Army organizations, it's purpose is to manage the operations in a number of different countries view this link CENTCOM to find out more.

The newsletter this week has a great article on three Marines receiving the Bronze Star Medal (the third highest medal for war time service; not including the Medal of Honor); a Navy SEAL posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan. Along with a number of other great stories of the happenings in this Global War on Terriorism.

New neighborhood

"Hubby 2.0" and I were pleased yesterday when we stopped by the house we are renting and on our way out the neighbor across the street introduced himself to us. He told us the area is nice and quite not a lot excitement and on Halloween night if we are at the house we might get 10 to 15 kids to trick or treat the house not bad. It was nice to see the neighbors taking a interest in who is moving into the empty house.

He forwarded us about his chestnut tree, large black, they could damage and stain the car if parked underneath. That was awful nice of him.

Furniture arrives tomorrow

I received a phone call from the driver of the moving company paid for by the Army to pack, load and deliver our furniture at about 1700 (5 pm for our non-military friends). We will have our furniture delivered tomorrow and then begins the real fun, unpacking and establishing a new house in a new neighborhood.

Posting again

I haven't posted in almost two months, but I am back now. I spent the last month diligently working on my phase I of my current military education class and have 6 classes left to complete. I was hoping to be completed by now but the past two weeks has been more hectic than I expected.

In preparation for our move to St. Louis "hubby 2.0" and I took Columbus day weekend and made a quick trip to St. Louis to look for a house. I have to praise God and give him thanks because we did find a place to live. So, the movers will pick up our furniture on Wednesday and be able to deliver it directly to the house in St. Peters, just west of St. Louis. I will have about a 20 to 30 minute drive into work but, we are paying less rent in St. Peters than we are here in Moon Township.

I worked my last weekend for the Army Reserve this past weekend. The best part about my new job is I am not required to work a weekend unless by exception.

This past week has been having lunches and saying see you later to friends. Friday was my last day a work.

Both 'hubby 2.0' and I have been sick, he earlier in the week and I today which makes getting ready to move so much fun (NOT).

Semester off from DBA course work

I'm happy to say the school has granted me permission to take a semester off, I don't start course work for the DBA again until Jan 08. I will use this semester to complete most if not all of my Intermediate Level Education (ILE) for the Army, the first half of the required course work for this round of military education. I will also move from Pittsburgh, PA to St. Louis, MO and start a new job all at the same time.

Yeah, a the next few months are going to be a whirl wind of activity to say the least.

Frustrations of setting up new computers

Most of our friends by now are aware 'hubby 2.0' and I had both of our 17" laptops stolen (or borrowed for an extended period, hubby's way of dealing with the issue) out of our hotel room this week. We fortunately have the savings to replace the laptops and our insurance company paid our claim within 4 days of us calling in the the loss.

Yesterday we spent most of the day trying to decide whether or not to replace the laptops with desktops or laptops again. We decided to get both desktops and laptops, the desktops we will use at home and keep all of our personal information on the desktops and the laptops for travel. I have at least two more years of traveling to Sarasota to complete the course work for the DBA.

Once we purchased the laptops late yesterday we have spent most of the evening yesterday and the day today trying to establish some since of normalcy to our lives by installing the necessary software and setting up the software to the way we like. It is hard to believe it can take so much time to re-establish your life with the convenience of items and systems you are use to. I have actually felt a sense of loss, I guess that is a bad thing but I'm not sure.

We get the pleasure of setting up computers again when the desktops arrive sometime next week, oh yeah.

Enough complaining, bye.

Steelers pre-season game

Last time I took "hubby 2.0" to the first pre-season game of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since, I'm not a sports fan I was not really interested in the game but, was fascinated with the fans. I was truly surprised by the number of fans at a pre-season game. The price of food was amazing as well $3.00 for a pretzel and $1.50 for a small tub of cheese to dip the pretzel.

I'm really glad "hubby 2.0" enjoyed himself.

Approaching the end of another class

Well, I'm currently in the middle of week 7 of my Global Challenges class, which will be my last class in the Argosy University Online DBA program. I have decided and transferred back to the Sarasota Campus of Argosy University. I now have to travel to Sarasota once a class for either three days or five days for a residency requirement. I realized I need to face to face contact with an instructor you get with in class set time.

I am also going try and take the first 7 1/2 weeks of the fall semester off so I can focus on my next level of military education. I have 12 months left to complete a series of papers and short answer questions in three phases, which if I had organized and been diligent I could have been finished with my first phase.

Run after work instead of morning

Today "hubby 2.0" and I ran after I got home from work instead of this morning before work. Boy, was it a tough run for the both of us, I really do prefer the morning workout over an evening workout.

Feeling Burn out

It has been almost a month since my last post and I no good reason to justify the lack of posting other than feeling burn out. Right around the time of my last post I entered the Army Weight Control Program because I was at 38% body fat when I'm allowed only 36% body fat, so I spent the last month utilizing a diet by the name of the Extreme Fat Smash Diet by Dr. Ian Smith. I removed 10lbs of excess body weight and dropped 4% on body fat. On Saturday I was officially removed from the Weight Control Program I am now at 34% body fat 2% below my max, the next goal is to remove an additional 20 to 25 pounds of excess weight to where I no longer have to be tapped my max allowable weight is 146 pounds, right now I weight 158 pounds. I was exercising twice a day for two to three days and did not have a day off from exercise.

Another reason for feeling burn out is the doctoral class I'm taking titled Global Challenges, which is a class I looked forward to. When "hubby 2.0" took the class the focus was on the economic challenges of a corporation taking the business but my class is nothing near that focus I am still trying to figure out the focus of the class.

Also, why I am working on this "terminal degree thing" I have been trying to complete the required classes for my next level of military education which is essentially working on a masters at the same time. I have had a busy month and it is not going to slow down because I have wasted 6 months of the 18 months I have to complete my next level of military education.

"A" in my first Doctoral Accounting class

Well, the first summer session ended on Wednesday 28 June 07 and I earned an "A" in my first Doctoral Accounting class. My GPA is a 3.55 up from a 3.46, yeah. I have found my niche for my doctoral program. The class was tough and demanding but I learned a lot and actually enjoyed learning accounting at the theory level.

Hubby is 3lbs away from loosing 200lbs Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For our friends who are aware of hubby having had gastric bypass surgery in Sep 06, he is as of today 22 June 07 3lbs away from loosing 200lbs. When he started the liquid diet in prep for surgery hubby weighed in at 435lbs and today he is 238lbs. I'm so proud of my great, handsome husband.

Leases

This weeks assignment is on Leases and the criteria for determining what is a operating lease and what is a capital lease. Right now I'm so confused over the topic, I'm praying the information I have read will bounce around in my head tomorrow enough to where when I write my answer the the assignment it makes sense.

The assignments are getting tough towards the end of the class. which is how it should be.

Update on running - hubby and I ran/walked 2.20 miles today. I slowed my pace a bit and my heel is not hurting as bad today as it had the past few days. I realized I had been sprinting during our run portion which is something I'm not ready to do just yet.

4 June 07 start of week 5

Well, I'm starting week 5 of this 7 1/2 week course and am keeping me head above water. Today is also the start of week 3 of a running program James (the hubby) started in an effort to get back in shape. I'm so proud of my dear husband and happy that he is running with me, it has been a long time. He is now at 241lbs to 245lbs down from 435lbs (weight at the end of July 06). Our bodies are trying to adjust to working out so we are both tired but it feels good. Because of this tiredness I'm updating my blog instead of reading two chapters, one on Accounting for Income Taxes and the other on Leases but I'm sure I'll find some way to read the chapters, the three Statements of Financial Accounting Standards and the articles I need to research and read for the two assignments due Thursday and Friday of this week; I always seem to find the time even if it is not when I would like for it to be.

Start of Week 4 in Contemporary Accounting Theory

It is at times hard for me to believe I currently have 98.12% average in my first doctoral level accounting class. I find my getting a "A" in accounting hard to believe because I started out as a accounting major in my under grad and switch to straight business because I failed three accounting classes in one semester.

When I finish this 7 1/2 week class with an A my GPA will increase from a 3.45 to a 3.55. Yeah.

Finished week 2 assignments

I just submitted part one of my final paper for initial review by the professor and my classmates. I kind of rushed the submission since I have to read 100 pages for week 3 and wanted to finish week 2 before I started. I have only lost one point in my overall grade so far and if I lost a few more I would still have an A in the class. I will put more effort into next weeks portion of the final paper, I should probably write at least two to three pages per part to ensure a decent final paper.

I was so exhausted from trying to answer the second part for my first assignment this week I could not focus on the portion for the final paper. I did finally figure out what extraordinary items are though. Extraordinary items are those items which unusual nature and have a infrequency of occurrence.

Middle of week 2

Well, I've been very frustrated for the past two days. I have been trying to answer the second part of my assignment this week and could not understand why I was not understanding the question being asked, until about 830pm tonight. I finally looked up the term/concept extraordinary items in the index and found out the concept was not discussed in the readings for this week. Extraordinary items is part of what I am to read for next week. So, I have asked the professor if he wants us to answer the second part of the assignment.

Week 1 of first doctoral accounting class

Today is officially the last day of the first week of last for my first ever doctoral class in accounting. I am actually did better on the first assignment than I had expected. The first assignment was worth 28 points and I received 27 points so, on I am on my way to receiving an A in this class. I am so excited about the possibilities and at times it is hard to believe.

Since the class is a web based class and our form of communication is comments to posts, as well as posting the assignments for all in class to see. The instructor posts comments to all students about there submission and I am surprised at the comments. My fellow students are not referencing and citing the minimum for the assignment and they are not proof reading what they submit for grammar and spelling. It makes me wonder if they will pay attention to detail when grading their students assignments since the majority want to teach upon completion of the DBA.

Tired of taking classes

I'm sure I will muddle through the thoughts I am having now of not really wanting to get back to the nightly grind of sitting in front of my computer to complete assignments for class after having worked all day. Now that I have officially start the class I'm in B7630 Contemporary Accounting Theory I have complete my first year of doctoral class work and beginning my second year. It is hard to believe the year has passed. But, I look at it again an see I won't finish my course work until the end of the spring semester in 2009, ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh two more years of 2 to 3 hours a night, 4 to 8 hours on Saturday and Sunday. Then another year or two researching and writing the dissertation not to mention having to complete comps prior to the dissertation. I know I can do this but right now it seems so far off. Especially when my husband has been able to complete his course work in about 14 to 15 months, because he has the time since he is an adjunct professor teaching two courses each semester.

I ask God to provide me the stamina and perseverance to complete the goal I have set for myself.

Back to the daily grind

Well, we've been back from Hawaii since mid afternoon on Friday. I've spent the past couple of days copying the information from my class website for this 7 1/2 week term so, I do not have to access the internet every time I want to work on class.

I have seen my GPA rise to a 3.46, I am glad to see the GPA move up the scale.

This term I am learning Contemporary Accounting Theory I have read the first two chapters of the book and actually feel as if I have learned something although I'm not sure I can tell anyone what that is at this moment.

It sure was nice to have two weeks off and to not think about class or work. I will post photos from Hawaii in a few days.

Hawaii for fun and sun

Sunday begins a two week break between the spring and summer semester at Argosy University (where I am pursuing the DBA) http://www.argosyu.edu/ and http://online.argosyu.edu/. So, my husband and I are taking a long overdue vacation to Hawaii for two weeks. We will not be taking a computer, we will only have the cell phones on for emergencies (this is a huge challenge for us) but since we are both pursuing our Doctorate's in Business Administration at the same time. This has been an interesting year with both pursuing the "terminal degree" much of our time has been spent working on class with trying to catch time together when we have finished our class work and when we have finished our day at the office.

So, I am really looking forward to spending some quality time together.

Even though I just started this blog, unless I post tomorrow do not expect a post until after the middle of May.

Spring 07 finished

The Spring Semester Session II 07 has just ended today and I completed my fifth class in this quest for a Doctorate of Business Administration in Accounting. There are days I cannot believe I am actually pursuing this degree, but then there are other days in which I am glad to be pursuing this goal.

The two classes I took this past spring were probably the most frustrating ones I have ever taken. The one I just finished was on qualitative research which really stretched my learning boundaries. I lean heavily toward quantitative, so thinking about non-numbers oriented research was a different experience.