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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Hello Summer!

Hello all, obviously I am not a dedicated blogger, I could simply blame my busy schedule, or perhaps something fancy like so much time spent studying leaves me brain weary, but the truth is I just kind of moved the blog to the back burner and forgot it was there. BUT I DIGRESS. Summer is in Full swing here in KC, lots of grilling, and working on the lawn, but so far I have been so busy I really haven’t had much time to enjoy it. Busy doing what you say? Well I am taking Statistics during the 4-week summer session, that means 2 hours a day 5 days a week spent in a classroom from 1-3 PM, right smack dab in the middle of my day. I admit I was dreading taking statistics, and so many people talking about how much they hated it, but I actually like it! All the manipulating numbers, analyzing data, graphing and quantifying actually has a calming effect on me. I think its because with math there is one answer, and as long as you follow the equation you will always get that answer, and so much of my schooling has been the exact opposite! You see Urban Studies is one of those Cross-Disciplinary fields, we learn Economics, Political Science, History (lots of history), and Sociology and blend them all into a Science of trying to determine the best way for humans to live. I think of myself as a master of Systems. Everything you encounter in a city we think about and how changing one effects the others i.e. if you allow for bigger lot sizes, then it takes more roads to connect those lots, which requires funding for upkeep, and means people living in those lots have to drive farther, which means they emit more exhaust which then effects our environment and on and on and on. There are no right answers, everything is subjective in my world, a world of cost vs/ benefit. A world that was like math would be nice, but unfortunately I am limited to basic algebra, as anything beyond forming parabolas I find impossible. I also am doing an internship (unpaid) with a local suburban Property Owners Association. This community is Huge it has two lakes, both large enough for boating, 2 clubhouses, 1 regular pool, and one pool that may as well be a small waterpark, and a Golf Course. There are a dozen other amenities but listing them would be….boring. I have developed a Survey for their +2000 homes to do three things. Collect Demographic information, discover which amenities are the most popular, and last to get some general feedback from the population on how good of a job the Board of Directors is doing. After we get our results I will have just a few weeks (while my fall semester starts) to give them a quick analysis, and will probably spend the next month really crunching the data. I am enjoying it immensely, but I have to admit you get to see the real petty side of people when working in such a “rich” community. It can be amusing and sometimes a little terrifying, but am almost getting two separate experiences. I am learning a lot about quantitative research, big thanks to my friend Phil who has +30 years of experience in this area. I am also the “in’s and Out’s” of political maneuvering from my Coordinator Steve, he manages to ride the political tide, while not taking it all too seriously. He is a consummate professional and makes keeping your cool look easy, even when people are arguing over something as ridiculous as the color of roofing tile you can use. The rest of my summer I hope to be spending time at the pool, doing some reading, and studying for the GRE. AND BLOGGING! I think I’ll probably sit down and change my site, and maybe start actually joining the Blog-ster Community.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2011 in Repose

Much has happened since my last venture into the blogsphere. I have decided to do a year in review to catch us all up. Lets start with School, I took an enormous class load (18 hours) It was rough going, especially the last 1½ months, but I powered through and gathered the amenable scores of A, A-, A-, A-, B, C. Not too shabby, especially since I worked quite a bit.

As the semester came to a close, I made a trip to San Antonio to see Miss Kelly and Noland (Godson). We had a terrific time, Kelly Graduated from Kelly that Saturday after finals (WOOHOO!) and we spent lots of quality time with Her sisters and Aunt Stevie. We did get a day to spoil Noland a little we took him to the Alamo (he loves it), walked up and down the riverwalk, went to “Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’ odditorium and the 4-D Interactive Movie. Finished by a trip to an authentic German Deli and finished with a stop to the Mercádo. After Returning from Texas, I worked a ton and did Christmas (Family, Family, Family!) and survived New Years (drinks, drinks, drinks).

In other news there have been some changes on the home front, My dear sweet Cousin and Roommate Janna has moved in with her man, leaving me in the house alone, its taken some getting used to, but so far I think I am going to really enjoy this. Its been a few days of tough work but I think I’ve gotten the house all put together, at least the pieces visible to the world I have some touches to do to the office, and the Dining room, and I want to do some minor changes to the kitchen, then get the back porches cleaned and tools put back where they belong.

I do have a new project in mind concerning the kitchen, but have not gotten to it yet, though it seems inevitable. I have had some issues with the patching of the walls from the patching of the holes from the previous wall hangings. I painted the wrong green in the living room- which was easily fixable, as I just got out the other can of paint and re-did it. But when fixing the dining room I realized I used the paint from my bedroom, but had forgotten I mixed the dining room from leftovers and was out, so I have some discolored spots. Not sure what the next step will be, but we shall just see.

With only two more semesters of school left, I am finishing up this part of my life, next is it a Masters Degree? Or a Job? We will just see. 2012 here we come!