Beta Gamma Sigma

It's nice to know my 3.9 is worth something.

I know mom says I don’t really need someone to give me a pat on the back for doing well academically, but I took Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) up on their invite. I’m being inducted into the organization on April 20th.

I received a bunch of informational stuff about BGS as an undergrad. They kept sending letters saying you’re doing great, keep it up, and maybe we’ll invite you. As you know, you have to be in the top 10% of your graduating class (as an undergrad) to be eligible and my GPA was not good enough (due in part to my bulakbol days as a Comp Sci and Engineering major). Since they look at your cumulative GPA, I just couldn’t overcome all those bad grades the first time that I went to college.

I think my business GPA was a 3.8, but I ended up with a 3.2 cumulative GPA after you consider my 170-plus credit hours. Needless to say, a 3.2 is not good enough.

Anyway, the nice thing is I get to start over in grad school. So I have a clean slate. I don’t have to worry about those miserably unsuccessful Engineering and Programming classes. So far in grad school I’ve only received one B — but that’s okay, because it’s in Operations Management, and everyone knows that class is horrid. Hopefully, I will get an A in my last class and I’ll keep my 3.9. Either way, I’m being inducted into BGS so I’ll be okay if I get a B. I’ll be disappointed, but it won’t be the end of the world.

I got invited to Golden Key last year, but I had reservations when I read about some of the corruption that has tarnished the organization. I found out today that my invitation is still open so I went ahead and joined. What the heck. Why not?

So now I’m a member of both BGS and Golden Key. I’m $200 poorer for the membership fees and such, but I feel ten times special. Let’s hope the $200 will prove to be a good investment. Only time will tell.

March 30, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Flickr, Life, School

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Free Movie Day

When we watched Jumper last month, the server ended up spilling soda all over the place so we all got free movie passes. Brian’s parents, who went with us, redeemed their free passes last week for Horton Hears a Who. We redeemed ours today for 21. I must say that it is the best free movie we have ever seen. Jim Sturgess, who I haven’t really seen before (at least not that I can recall), did a fantastic job of playing the lead role; Kate Bosworth is always cute; and Kevin Spacey is always fantastic. He is good in all the movies I’ve seen him in.

Anyway, 21 is like the Rounders of blackjack. It makes me want to learn how to count cards. LOL. I’m kidding. I know it’s bad, but the movie makes it look cool. Of course, I would hate to run into any Lawrence Fishburn types. Sad to say, there will be no high roller suites in my future.

March 30, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Movies

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KU = Kettering University?

When Kansans think of KU, we think of University of Kansas. We think of the Jayhawks.

In Michigan, KU means Kettering University, the #1 university for industrial and manufacturing engineering according to US News Best Colleges. If you’re a soon-to-be high school grad and are thinking of going into the industrial, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering fields, Kettering University is the college that you should consider.

Kettering University, located in Flint, Michigan, was originally founded as The School of Automotive Trades. Then Kettering became known as the Flint Institute of Technology before being acquired by General Motors in 1926 and renamed General Motors Institute of Technology. In 1932 the school’s name was shortened to General Motors Institute. In 1982, GM divested ownership and the school became GMI Engineering and Management Institute. In 1998 the school changed its name to the current name, Kettering University, in honor of Charles F. Kettering, an early 20th century inventor, proponent of cooperative education, and early benefactor of the school.

Today the coop program is still the key to the success of Kettering students and alums. It is what makes the university special. Anyway, check out my favorite Kettering recruiting video below.

March 30, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Sponsored Post

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Happy Easter

This has got to be my favorite Easter photo. Brian looked so cute in his pastel green suit. Simply adorable!

Anyway, today will be spent at the Brubakers. Grandma and Grandpa went to church with Dave and Donna this morning and then we are meeting up at Dave and Donna’s for a late Easter lunch. I would have gone to church, too. Brian didn’t want to, though.

In hindsight, I’m glad we didn’t commit to going because I’m achey all over. Brian and I decided to renew our gym membership last week. My first workout back was Pam’s step class on Wednesday. Rightfully so, because she is my favorite instructor. Several years ago, when I got addicted to working out, I went to her fitness classes religiously. Religious is appropriate here because she had a step class on Sundays that I attended every week, rain or shine whether or not I was feeling well.

I decided since I am completely out of shape, I better take it easy. I did a step with no risers. So I was pretty much just doing floor exercise because a step with no risers is not that much higher off the floor. Step was pretty energizing. It was great.

I stayed for core express too. Core express is 30 minutes of sit ups and other exercises for your core muscles. We used a ball (or a bosu, depending on your preference) and a mat. Golly! That kicked my butt. While step made me feel good, core class made me realize how very out of shape I really am. Read more

March 23, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Family, Life

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Last Night on the Drive Home

Last night on the drive home from Carrabba’s, we played a game. It’s like the movie game (game where you say a movie title and the other person has to say another movie title that begins with the last letter of the movie title the previous player named) except we modified it just for words period. You have to say the word and say what it means. So it’s like a vocabulary game to help Brian build his vocab. Although, it’s not his vocab we really need to work on but his spelling skills. That’s a whole other topic, though.

Anyway, I started with “pedestrian” because I was thinking the conversation at that point had been so, until I cleverly devised our game. Brian patiently played along. Usually, I can never get him to go along with my games and other antics. Surprisingly, he did. He seemed to be enjoying the game, too. That’s the impression I got anyway, since I didn’t have to force him to play.

So half a dozen words into it, I asked him if he liked my new game. He said, “No. I’m only going along with it because it amuses you. I’m hoping that it will get me laid.”

There’s a lot to be said about an honest man.

So girls, remember this when you are out on a date with your new (or old) beau. He’s probably not having a good time but he will fake it just so he can get into your pants. =P

March 22, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Life

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Charter High-Speed Internet for Life

Click Here for a Chance to Win a Nintendo® Wii™! Besides the “Win a Wii” sweepstakes, Charter Communications is also auctioning off high-speed internet for life. Can you believe it? It’s probably the wackiest idea I’ve ever heard.

Bidding started at a meager $10, but when I checked just a moment ago they were pushing $25K already. Isherring is really persistent! Go check it out.

I’d love to have high-speed internet for life, except I don’t have $25K. That’s probably not the max price that the offer will go for — I suspect that it will go for much, much more than that. The winning bidder gets: the fastest internet speed in their service area FOR LIFE, a cable modem and wireless router, and professional installation.

Plus registered bidders get a chance to win a Nintendo Wii! The sweepstakes winner will get a Nintendo Wii console, Wii stand, five sports games (boxing, baseball, tennis, golf, and bowling), one remote controller, one nunchuk controller, one sensor bar, one Wii AC adapter, one Wii AV cable. Everything you need to make the most of your new Wii!

March 17, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Sponsored Post, Web

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Not This Again

I got invited to OMA’s Academic Achievement Recognition Ceromony again. I’ve decided I’m boycotting it until they have an academic recognition ceremony for white people. Just kidding!

Although, I have wondered about that… If you look closely at WSU’s demographic, white people are as much a minority as anyone else. It’s pretty much a melting pot with all cultures well-represented. Do we minorities really need that much encouragement that so much more attention needs to be given to us? Can we not succeed otherwise? These are some questions to ponder. I’m not in the mood to wax philosophical right now, though, so let’s save that for another time.

The main reason I’m skipping the event this year is (a) I don’t really need someone to give me a pat on the back, and (b) it was so disorganized last year that it was painful. The ceremony last year left me feeling like I had just stepped out of a bad movie — I’ll never get those two hours of my life back!

March 17, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Flickr, School

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The Day’s Events

Brian and I had our couples massage today at Serenity. Then we met Jan, Bree, Rob, and Jen at Granite City for lunch. After that, Brian took a nap while I watched “The Number 23.” It wasn’t spectacular, but it wasn’t bad either.

The rest of the day was spent at BCPT. I had fun even though I didn’t make any money. I got all the way to the final two tables. A pretty good outcome considering that I was short-stacked the whole way. It was a shame that Linda objected to the 16-way split. I would have gotten about $90 out of the $1500 prize pool.

Altogether I had two really memorable hands that helped me last as far as I did. I went all-in with pocket dueces and they actually held up. I really didn’t want a caller. Thus, the all-in bet. It worked out, though, because I ended up doubling up.

Then I was down to my last $5500 at $3000-$6000 blind level so I couldn’t even complete my big blind. I was all-in, blind. I didn’t want to look. When all was said and done, I flipped my cards over to reveal pocket kings. That tripled me up.

Anyway, we are invited to next month’s tourney. Legitimately, this time. Brian took fifth last night and I took sixth the week before. We’ll get them next time.

March 15, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Poker

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Dymo Labels!

My husband told me that today at work the Inside Sales people met with the Outside Sales Managers. One of the conversations that they had was about the sales guys that went to all the locations and how the Inside Sales people could assist in getting their information to all the customers. He said that one guy made the suggestion to include the business cards for the reps in the area. However, I had the idea of printing labels and sticking them to the books that are mailed so that the customer does not loose the information.Personally I thought this was a great idea (since it was mine), then I thought about how they could do this without tieing up the printer all day long. Thats when it hit me! Why not set up a Dymo printer that could not only do the printing of the business cards but they could also do the printing of their postage for the envelopes.

This would work great for the reps because they would not have to print off a bunch of labels and keep them on hand waiting to use them, or keep getting up to put labels in the printer to only print off a few labels then take the them back out so that the team could print normally. All-in-all the idea would only benefit the team. I told him that the printers were not very cheap and they were very simple to use. We looked at the Dymo web site and found several models available all with a wide variety of abilities.

He seemed very interested and decided that he would take this information to his business and see if they would be interested in purchasing the label makers.

March 12, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Sponsored Post

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I Am So Spoiled

After walking from the Bank of America building to the AMPCO parking garage next to the Protection One building (our old location) I realized how very spoiled I am. Walking is not fun. To top it off, I wore the wrong shoes. Thankfully, I don’t have another dental appointment until September 25 and our parking lot will be completed by then.

This is the location of the North parking lot. It’s not quite ready yet but they demolition is underway and they’re making pretty good progress. The parking lot should be ready by May, hopefully. In the meantime those of us assigned to the North parking lot have to continue parking at the old parking garage. It’s quite a walk. I didn’t realize it until I had to walk it today in heels. =P

I haven’t had to walk because Brian and I have been carpooling. Being dropped off next to the East entrance is pretty nice. The elevator is only a few paces away.

Brian and I are really enjoying working downtown together. For the last couple of weeks we’ve been able to lunch together. It has been really wonderful — and expensive at the same time. We agreed that we need to cut back on lunch spending so we’re going to start brown bagging. That starts tomorrow. It’s not too bad because it’s supposed to be rainy anyway.

By the way, my new dry-erase board was installed today… And my new coatrack (bought from Amazon) arrived today. Brian assembled most of it already but it is in three pieces. He said he’ll come up on Friday and put it together in my office. I am excited.

Something that isn’t so exciting… I found out that I owe $400 to WSU for some Perkins Loan they provided to me in Summer of 2004. That’s on top of the thousands that I already owe on Stafford Loans. Ugh.

Then we had to pay tags and taxes a couple of weeks ago… And we have to make our first house payment on our Wells Fargo refi… And we racked up quite a bit on BOA this month because of buying clothes for work (both Brian and I) and cellphone overage (mostly Brian). It’s very, very sad.

I’m ready for a normal month.

March 12, 2008 | Posted by Ching under Life

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