MMM night out

So a little while ago I remember writing a post about Charity Auction Ball. I don't remember if I mentioned that all the MM girls (all 9 of us) decide to auction off a night with us. The MMM guys, being really nice, each put in $5 and bid $250 and won the night.
We decided to go out with them tonight. We went to Nevins, a local bar. I kept on getting my beer refilled and i lost count of how much i drank. I think i had more than i planned. Oh well, it was a fun night and a sweet thing for the guys to do. We started at Nevins, did a bit of karaoke and then ended at where else but the Keg. Overall a fun night was had by all. Here is a picture of the MMM girls tonight.

Ah Classes

So classes started on Monday and I realized this semester is going to be hell. My one class, Financial Decisions is going to be super busy. We have to write up 12 cases in the 10 week period. So far my group has spent 5 hours on the last two days on the first case and we haven't even written it up yet. But i think overall it will be a good class, and I will learn alot.

My marketing channel strategy class is also going to be interesting, but busy. I think the class will be good but I don't really know my group that well so it might be very interesting. The professor seems to be great though, so far i like all my professors, which is great.

My new product innovation course is another interesting one but i don't know how i feel about the topic we have to innovate around- residential sustainability. I know this sounds awful, but while i agree it is a good cause, it just doesn't interest me.

I have two mini courses I am taking. One is on Enterprise Risk, and so far it seems okay. The old dean of the school is teaching it so i thought it might be a good class, but i don't know yet. We only have project due and it is to make up a sample case, which could be interesting.

The other mini course i have it Innovation Effectiveness and so far i love the class (which is good because it is the second part of a six hour block of classes). The way that we learn about innovating is so different than anything I have ever done at General Mills. The prof claims that the companies he consults with have a 50-80% effectiveness rate on new product introduction. He defines success as meting ROI targets, so that is a pretty awesome rate. But I don't know if i totally agree with all he has taught so far but it is kind of cool to learn how to do something that i used to work so closely on in a totally different way.

Anyway, classes are going well but things are picking up. Between classes, the Manufacturing Business Conference, and Casino Night it will be a busy quarter. I think once May 12 (the night of both MBC and Charity Casino) is done I will feel a little better. And plus my two mini courses will be done by May 2 so I will have more time on my hands. Tonight I am going out to dinner with an old friend from Grosse Pointe, i can't wait!

Europe!

So rather than think about classes starting tomorrow i am practicing avoidance and thinking about summer of 2008. My parent's 30th wedding anniversary is in Feb '08 and to celebrate my sister and I are taking them to Europe. We are trying to decide what we want to do. We have already narrowed it down to two options:
1) Tour of Southern Italy
2) Mediterranean Cruise
My parents have never been to Europe (well besides London and maybe Paris briefly) and we want to show them around. When my sister and I went, we both loved Italy so that is why we would do the tour of Italy. My parents want something very well planned which is why we would do a booked tour a cruise. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. With the cruise you get to see more places, but you really don't get to see anywhere in depth. You have a short amount of time (I think in some cases 1/2 a day) in most cities. We would be able to see Spain, Greece and Italy which would be pretty cool. However, with a cruise you don't really get to enjoy the local cuisine (a big plus in Europe) and you don't get to really explore places since you are in each place for such a short time.
With a tour you are in places for longer and you get to explore the local cuisine. However you get to see fewer places. Also, you are stuck with people you don't really know, although i guess you could meet some cool people that way too. We are also trying to get some family friends to join for the tour. Like i said, positives and negative points to both. For me personally it doesn't matter what we do because I will probably spend at least two weeks afterwards visiting Europe and i can see what i want to see, I just want what's best for my parents.
Dave is planning on coming once the family trip is done and my friend Athena might join too and take me Greece. It would be awesome to see Greece with her since she has family there and can actually speak the language. And it will be really nice to have at least a week with Dave in Europe since for all the travelling we have done together we have never really travelled alone.
Anyway, I am getting pretty excited planning this trip and I have spent the past few days looking up tours etc. I don't know how i feel about the whole tour thing, if it is was up to me, i would just go to Europe, book hotels, travel by rail and do my own thing, but i know my parents would like the tour. Anyway, what are your thoughts, tour or cruise?

The past two weeks...

I realized I haven't' posted for a while, but i have seen most of the people who read this.

I had a wonderful break, and classes are quickly approaching... so sad. I took my last final exactly two weeks ago. To celebrate being done i went to friends house and had a fun night of games and wine. It was a little too much fun since he had to walk to me home since i couldn't drive but it was a good time. Before i left for Michigan i had a dinner party in my small apartment (it is possible to fit five people in here) and then left for Michigan.

I visited my parents house for two days and then we went on a family trip to the Bahamas. It was a great time, I wish i had pictures to show you. My sister and I spent lots of time hanging out on the beach, and we worked out every day. I wish she lived close by, I do miss her ;-). We saw old family friends while we were there so it was really nice. Unfortunately i forgot the #1 rule of laying out in the sun-- do not wear sunglasses. I have a really interesting tan, hopefully it will fade soon.
I left the Bahamas on Monday and flew straight to Minnesota to see Dave. I had a great four days in Minnesota, i didn't want to leave. I got in kind of late on Monday night so Dave and I just ate a late dinner and hung out. I spent Tuesday during the day running errands since Dave had to go to work. Later in the day we went over to Nick and Karin's and started a game of TP before heading off the Granite City. We went to Granite City and met up with a few other people and had a fun time there. Although there were certain people who had some really lame excuses for not showing up...
Dave and i hung out on Wednesday during the day since he took the day off. We went to see a movie (Zodiac) during the day and we were the only people in the theater. We then went out to dinner to celebrate our six year anniversary. We went to Jax Cafe, I would highly recommend it. Probably in my top five places to eat in Minneapolis. Reminded me of my favorite Ann Arbor restaurant, the Earl.
Thursday was a lot of fun too. I woke up early and started cleaning and cooking since we were hosting poker for that night and I was determined to have a St. Patrick's Day poker, even if it was late (St. Patrick's Day isn't a big holiday in the Bahamas so i never got to celebrate it). Dave spent most of the day packing and running errands. I went out to lunch with a couple of people who i used to work with, which was fun, it was great to see them. Then I came back home and prepped for poker some more. Poker night was great. I think i saw almost everyone who i wanted to see while in Minneapolis, i just missed out on a few people from work. I can't wait to be back in the summer and get to hang out with everyone for longer. I really like the friends i have met at Kellogg and i did miss them, but its different with my Minneapolis friends, it feels like I am home there. I didn't do great at poker but i didn't really care. However, I did win the third game of Omaha (forget it was against just Paul and I don't think either of us cared who won, i can still say i won a game).
So overall I had a really fun spring break but it now back to reality. I got back to Evanston last night and i was too tired to plan anything. Then i was on a "lets get things done" kick today so I didn't plan the Saturday night i was going to have. Its okay, I am sure there will be plenty of fun Saturday nights this quarter. I did go to dance class though today which was awesome. I can't wait to go to classes with Katie this summer, it will be great to have someone to go with again. And i look forward to our fun Borders session :-).
Right now i just feel kind of sad and overwhelmed. I miss Dave, I miss break and i don't want to start classes. And i have so much to do before summer. I am logistics chair for two events (Charity Casino Night and the Manufacturing Business Conference) both happening on May 12 (coincidentally a day after Minnesota's 150th birthday). I need to figure out where i am staying this summer. I need to call all the people i have been behind on calling the past month. Oh and in there i need to take classes since it will be the toughest workload and my most interesting classes this quarter. Fun stuff. I promise to post pictures soon from the Bahamas when my mom posts them!

In Flux

So my Spring Break starts next week and I'm still not sure where i wil be. I asked Dave over two months ago to let me know the plans for the next two weeks so i can split up my Spring break to match his travels. I originally was going to go on a GIM trip through Kellogg to either South Africa or Russia, but I decided I would rather spend the break with family and Dave. Well, we decided that he would probably be travelling my first week of Spring Break and the second week I would visit him. SO i talked to my parents and booked a family trip to the Bahamas over the first weekend and then i was going to be in Minnesota from the Monday night- Sunday after. Well now Dave is going to Australia and due to poor planning they have to leave on Friday. So I am still not sure if it is worth going ot Minnesota for Monday night- Friday afternoon, especialy since everyone will be working so I would be going there for a few nights. A friend is going to Boston and staying in a condo and has said i could go with him for the week. I have never been to Boston. I might do that instead. Although I already made plans with work people for the week I was supposed to be in Minnesota, so I just don't know. So frustrating, I hate not knowing my plans ahead of tim e(as in two weeks before). Well I guess I remember now why I left G-mills R&D. I hated the fact that i never knew where i would be. So many thoughts going through my mind right now about everything and i have two finals to worry about so i guess i should concentrate on that. Finals first, Bahamas next, then i will figure out plans!

Back in the saddle again

Oh, how I love business school. After a few weekends of being out of town, sick or busy i finally went out for a night. And how much fun it was. The night started at Thai Sookdee with dinner with friends. Good food and fun, what else could a person ask for? Then we moved the Nevins, the Kellogg bar, and had drinks and good conversations. After a few Malibu and Diets (my new drink), a round of Irish Car Bombs (I actually did it before it curdled) a round of some other shot(if only I knew what is what, maybe soco and lime) and of course lots of Miller Lite. Hopefully the "Liquor before beer you're in the clear" line is true. I hadn't hung out with my Kellogg friends for a while and they could tell I was in a bad mood and needed a night out. Of course no night is complete without a trip to the fine establishment known as the Keg and a nightcap at the BK Lounge (also known as Burger King). A fun time was had by all and now I think it is time to go to bed. Ah, Kellogg.

In Minnesota

So I did make it to Minneapolis yesterday morning. When United cancelled my flight they booked me on a 9 AM flight on Friday. Dave's surgery was at 11 AM the next day so i wanted to get here earlier than the 9AM flight would get me here. Dave refused to let me take megabus the night before, so instead i got to the airport at 6AM in hopes of catching an earlier flight. In the end, all the other flights were booked, so i took the 9AM and then took a cab to the hospital to get there right as Dave went into surgery.
He is back home now and doing okay. For those who didn't know, he had a surgery to fix a hernia. He is still in a lot of pain and i am so happy his mom came because taking care of him is a two person job. I might end up skipping classes on Monday and Tuesday so i can stay here through Wednesday (no class on Wednesday) night. We will see. I have to be back by Thursday for the last day of classes and since i have a final on Saturday, a Bargaining Games paper due Thursday, a marketing final case write up due by Sunday. Yes i know, you wish you could be me :-)
Anyway, thanks for all the concern about Dave, he should be doing better soon, once the pain subsides!

Weather Delays!!!

Sometimes I wonder... why am i chosing to live in MInneapolis again? This is one of those times. Aparently Minneapolis is getting bombarded with snow which means that my flight that was supposed to leave tonight was delayed until tomorrow. So i will be getting to Minneapolis right after Dave goes into surgery, oh well...
Today was a super busy day. I started off the day at 730 AM working out. Then I went to my 10AM Bargaining games class where we had the final day of our Collective Bargaining Negotiation. It ended up going okay, our group reached an agreement, which is better than a lot of the other groups. And i think we reached an agreement that is favorable to us, also good. But that negotiation went from 10 AM- 1:30, so it was super long and super intense. I have realized that i have a lot to learn about negotiating. I think I get too emotional and take things personally. Luckily we had someone in our group who was a great cheif negotiator, and great at keeping their calm. If i was chief negotiator i don't know that we would have made an agreement.
After my negotiation, i went straight to my Microecon class. I am actually enjoying that class, it is more numbers based so it make more sense to me. We are discussing game theory right now which is really interesting.
After MECN I had to go straight to my Factory Physics exam. I am so happy I never again have to take a class with Physics in the name. What was I thinking? The exam was okay, there was only one difficult problem. I spent 30 mins total on the first 5 problems and 1.5 hours on the last one. It took me a while to get it, but the answer suddenly clicked and I was good to go.
I met up with a friend at Flat Top afterwards and it was sooo good. I wish my flight wasn't cancelled because i would be in Minneapolis right now.
Sorry for the boring post, i will be more interesting later. And for those of you who I owe a phone call to, I am sorry, I will call you soon, things are just so busy with this quarter almost over!