School's out forever!

Love the song by Alice Cooper! But, anyway - grad school is officially complete! I have fulfilled all that is required of me to earn that MBA from Thunderbird! Woohoo! Yesterday at 5:30 p.m. (well, more like 5:45 because our class was running late thanks to a few groups that did not follow instructions), I finished up my last class, last presentation, and handed in my last deliverable!

Can you believe it?! Two years... DONE! And, man - what a wild ride! I've had so much fun, met so many amazing people, got to experience so many different things - and even learned a lot too ;)

There will definitely be a "best of" edition of my time here at Tbird - so definitely stay tuned for that... but for now...

SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!!!

Wait for it.... Wait for it....

So I feel like I can't quite toss up my hands and jump around screaming "I'm done, I'm done, I'm done with MBA." Almost, but not quite yet....

Today, I attended the last class of my MBA!!!!! So, now all that stands in between me and my degree from Thunderbird (who coincidentally for the 14th consecutive year is ranked number 1 by US News & World Report for international business graduate programs), is ONE MORE PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday at 5:30 p.m when I hand in my report and do a quick presentation, I will have officially fulfilled all that is required of me for the MBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, until then... wait for it.... wait for it....

But... check this out.... click here for the story or just see below :)

Crunch time!!!

Tonight is dinner with the clients!!
Tuesday is our big presentation to the Chilean government
Tuesday - I also have 2 other classes, and my final paper for marketing is due
Wednesday - Analysis for Strategic Marketing Final
Thursday - Spanish final and presentation
Friday - Case Study for Energy
Saturday - Present the above case study

If I can get through this week... on Saturday afternoon, I will be officially done with ALL of my deliverables, finals, exams, projects, papers and presentations of my MBA career! In the words of Larry the Cable Guy (appropriate for Glendale)...

"Let's git'er done!!!!"

I LOVE the 80's!!!

So what is NOT to love from the 80's. I mean seriously, you had rockin' music like the song playing on my blog by Cyndi Lauper and other goodies like Madonna and Billy Idol, you had leg warmers, shoulder pads, acid-wash denim, mini-skirts, neon stuff, big hair, big bows, wild outfits and even slap-it bracelets!

So, paying tribute to this classy decade, hehe, Thunderbird decided to party in "style" with an 80's-themed night at the pub. This week was rough with projects and group work, but slap an 80's-theme to something, and people will not only make time for it, but go ALL OUT in the process!! Check out the pictures below. It was a totally tubular night, we rocked the look pretty well with the outrageous outfits, and managed to have yet another fantastic Thursday evening at the good ole' ThunderPub...

I missed my workout!!!

Ok - I've been good about working out everyday - a little cardio, a little kickboxing, a little yoga a little core stability or strength training, or even some tennis. BUT... today, being near the end of the semester when just about every deliverable for every class is due around the same time, I had to miss my evening workout!!!!!!!! Ugh! I'm not happy - so thought I would take a break to eat my dinner and vent!

I just finished working on a paper that is due on Tuesday next week, painstakingly scrutinizing EVERY decision our team made for the last 9 weeks in this marketing strategy simulation game. What a nightmare! Now, I have to run to a group meeting to which I will have to present tomorrow afternoon an abbreviated version of our group's results. I also have a fricken Spanish test at 9:40 tomorrow morning that I will need to study for - not too much though, I just need to memorize some vocabulary stuff pertaining to automotive crap - that I have forgotten! Exciting - let me tell you! See, who knew that in grad school you'd get to consult for Latin American governments, write feasibility plans for foreign companies looking to enter the U.S. market, work on exciting branding and marketing projects for companies across the globe... AND, get to memorize exciting Spanish vocab! woo-hoo!

Tonight, will most likely be an all-nighter, as I attempt to finish all the deliverables due tomorrow - but, I must finish, because tomorrow night is the 80's party at the pub - lord knows I can't miss a Thursday-night pub night! hehe. Pictures sure to come this weekend!

Camel Camel Camelback!

Wow - so for some reason, I remember Camelback being a LOT harder than that! Maybe it's because of those INSANE krav maga classes I've taken where for an hour a day, we are tortured to death with these hideous boot camp type exercises - or maybe it's because I actually had enough water with me this time! In any way - it was a good hike - beautiful day, nice to be outside!


Camelback is pretty intense due to the steep nature of the pile of dirt smack dab in the center of 3+ million people. Nah, I'm just kidding - Camelback is more than just a pile of dirt - it's small, but it's short and sweet. It's a hell of a workout to the top with non-stop stairs to scale, poles to climb up, and rock falls to scramble over - but the views from the top are absolutely worth the climb!

I pretty much divided the climb into 4 stages... (who needs to mile markers when you have my highly technical climber jargon below)...

Stage 1: The Stairs winding up and around the head of the camel....

Stage 2: Flat rock one with pole, and flat rock 2 with pole to assist climbers so they don't careen down the mountain....

Stage 3: Rockfall 1. This is pretty short and sweet actually - it's steep, but the climb is short, and then you are rewarded with some cool panoramic shots of the Valley (but don't stop here - there's still more climbing to do)...

Stage 4: The Finale - Rockfall 2. This is insane. It's like 3/4 mile of near vertical rockfalls. Its the final push to the top of the mountain, and its the longest and most difficult of the stages.... but it is well worth the effort!

I still contend however, that it is much more difficult actually descending down Camelback then climbing up it! Anyway, now that the hiking is over for the day, I can get back to doing some work.. like my taxes! Ugh!

Squaw Peak

Happy Easter!!!

So, I know I told my father that I would "stay off the goddamn rocks" - but he knew, and I knew that that was one promise I would NOT be able to keep. So, after church (yes, I went to church - can you believe it), this morning - it was SUCH a beautiful day outside that I couldn't fathom being indoors on a day like that!



So, I took off for Squaw Peak! It's a pretty easy ascent to the summit - so tomorrow, I am going to do Camelback for a little (actually a LOT) more of a challenge - but for today, the hike was just what I needed. There's nothing more relaxing to me than being outdoors on a sunny day. (well, other than being on the beach) - but this is the next best thing :)

Ok, enjoy the pictures below. The hike doesn't exactly compare to the amazing lush beauty of the rugged Oregon coastline hikes, but there's something to be said for the "beauty" of the desert (i think)...

Off to play some tennis (and then off to find some Mud Pie)....

LENT IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so what better way to celebrate the end of Lent than wine by candelight, followed by some amazing chocolates at midnight :) :)

Woohoo! Cheers to me for keeping my lent committment of no sweets, chocolates, chips or soda for 40 days!!

Love it!!!

Now... where to go on Easter to find a nice Mud Pie as a reward :) hehe...

Thursday nights at Thunderbird

And with the blink of an eye, or rather a swig of vodka cranberry, yet another Thursday at the pub came and went. Thursday nights at Thunderbird bare resemblance to Thursday nights at just about any college campus around the country. Classes are finished (usually), meetings are over (for the day), and students are ready to leave the stressful week behind them, and kick off the weekend by having a few (or more) drinks at the pub with classmates.

This Thursday night commenced with a wine tasting event of Australian, Latin and South African wines.



Five or so glasses later, we all migrated to the pub....

Just three more Thursday nights left to party at the pub before everyone heads off in different directions all over the world! So sad!!!

Prom Night!

I know, i know. I did not wear a dress. I attribute that to the horrible weather (it was windy and cold - it had to at least be 60s)! - that's cold for people in Phoenix!

So, 10 years after my first prom, I found myself getting ready to go to another one! Funny how circumstances change... I wish I had a scanner so I could scan a picture from my highschool prom. Pure comedy!

Dress:
10 years ago: Big blue Cinderella dress with matching blue shoes (I even had the horrible swim suit tan on my back - although not much has changed today) haha. Still sporting the tan lines!
Today: I had a black dress, but decided not to wear it because I was cold, so went with slacks with a nice top and strappy sandals



Hair:
10 years ago: Up-do with string of pearls through my hair
Today: Just got out of the shower, running late, so just had my hair down and curly



Group:
10 years ago: There were 16 of us, and a stretch limo. My date was a senior at another high school. Met at the Old Poway park before hand to have all sets of parents take an endless array of pictures.
Today: Date to prom - which i also had to work at being the good campus ambassador that I am (as this weekend was hospitality weekend in which 150 prospective students from all over the world are touring Thunderbird), followed by drinks at the pub, followed by yet another Indian Party, followed by more dancing at the pub... then it was time to go home.... I didn't even have a curfew this time around ;)


Dinner:
10 years ago: Tom's Lighthouse in San Diego nice group dinner with a virgin drink because we thought we were so cool ordering those!
Today: Waiting in line with 200 other students to get scoops of food from different cultures throughout the Americas and Europe (free alcohol) followed by Vodka Cranberries at the pub ;)