Weekly Update

Technically, it's Sunday and I have 5 days until I take my first section of the CPA test - BEC -Business Environment Concepts. I've been studying for this pretty non-stop, but it's still a little difficult because you really just don't know how to approach something this important when you're going through it your first time. Hopefully, I'm studying effectively and well enough where I will only go through this whole process once. I expected it to be tough and tiring, but I must admit that even with this "accelerated" course I'm dealing with more than I expected. It isn't healthy or productive to dwell on it much, just gotta lower my head and give it my best shot.

I took a trip out to Chicago last week to visit my girlfriend. Instead of driving this time, I took the Megabus - a double decker bus - filled with people from all walks of life going for tons of different reasons. It was $45 dollars round trip to go (which isn't bad at all ) and all in all it was a decent ride. We hit some thunderstorms the way out there and my window was leaky, so that was a bummer, but I made it to Leslie without having the fatigue from driving for 6 hours and paying for gas. When I actually have some income coming in, I'll probably fly out every once in awhile, but for now, this seems to be the best mode of transportation.

I'm also really excited to go home on the 3rd. It will be Mike's 20th birthday (although he has to work for 8 hours) and I still have some clothes to get and bring down. Overall, I'm excited just to be back in Douglas County. I haven't really been home for an extended time since my freshman summer (SJU sophomore, internship junior, and now the real world), and it's made me come to appreciate the simplicity, quietness (well...I guess not always!), and overall comfort of home. I'll only be there for the 3rd, I'm going to Leslie's house on the 4th and my third CPA review course starts on the 6th.

I'm getting into weight lifting again, a passion I haven't really visited since high school (being a runner and all), so I'm excited to add some bulk. Not a lot, but I think it's a shame my kid brother has biceps 2 inches bigger than mine! It doesn't matter, I could still push him around (not), but I might as well try to see if I can narrow that gap. Running has been a bit of challenge as of late - partly because of studying and also because I don't seem to be 100% yet. My IT band is a little inflamed, so I have to try and calm that down.

Biggest regret of the CPA test so far - no time for getting ready for Fantasy Football. I'm pushing to have the draft take place after all my tests are done, I think I can get that accomplished. Ha, I don't mean to make this CPA stuff seem all doom and gloom, I'm really glad I'm doing it and I know it's the best time for me to try and pass it. It's only going to get harder the longer I wait and it is something that will really boost my career...especially if I can get it done before I even start working. I'm excited, nervous, and ready to do this. Most of all, I'm glad I get to take it in 4 parts. Not one big 2.5 day test like the good old days.

5 days!

Update Tonight

I've been a bit busy with traveling and studying lately, but I'm going to set aside a little time tonight to write on a few things!

Sleepy

Tomorrow I have my last CPA review course for FAR. It'll be the 9th review class. I don't take this one until July 21st, but I still am getting a little anxious about it. After tomorrow I'll probably stop looking at that stuff until I'm done with my BEC test which is on July 2nd. I figure the best way to go about this is to give myself the best shot I can at passing the tests is to totally immerse myself in that section and not worry about the others.

I'll talk more about this later when I have some more time, but right now I'm just really tired. I'm looking forward to some sleep before midnight for a change!

Fort Snelling

As many of you now know, I just recently moved to St. Paul Highland Park area. I'm actually about 3 blocks from where St. Paul's "Highlands" begin, but I think I'm still considered to be in Highland Park.

Regardless, I live practically right across the river from Fort Snelling. I can go for a run and be going across a bridge that will take me to Fort Snelling in less than 5 minutes. I'm already viewing this as a blessing. Not solely because this terrific Minnesota Historical Site is so close, but because I can go for a great run next to the Mighty Mississippi without having to finish my run going up a painfully long uphill stretch (as I did last summer when I lived about 50 yards from the highest point in St. Paul). Of course, if I do choose to run by the river I will have to run some sort of hill to get back to my apartment, but these are minor compared to what I had to do last summer.

I've only lived here for two weeks and have already marveled at the mystery that is Fort Snelling and the Mississippi Floodplain down below. In a way, it almost reminds me of running Wildcat (a run in the deeper part of Saint John's forest for all of you unfamiliar with the SJU Cross Country lingo) at Saint John's. Not only do you have that ever so slight freeway noise in the background, but you have trails upon trails, many of which are nothing more than sand or trampled grass. There are of course some asphalt trails, but I don't seem to find myself staying on these too long.

I've always had that underlying desire to explore when I run and I feel this area will only cause me to follow this pull even more (especially because I have no immediate racing plans). I've already found a few caves, stumbled upon a few deer with fawns, some angry wild turkeys, a marker showing the various flood levels through the years, and been able to explore Fort Snelling itself for a little bit. Certainly nothing dangerous (nor is that what I'm looking for), but the idea that I can very easily discover something new on every run does have me pretty excited about getting out the door everyday (well...most days).

I have no doubt I'll post more about my discoveries running around here in the future, but right now I'm convinced I'm living right next to one of the best running and training spots in all of the Metro (I'll admit, I may be biased). I have Fort Snelling and the Fort Snelling Park, Crosby Farm, Hidden Falls and the entire Minnesota River Boulevard at my disposal. It really is something else. I guess it's one of the perks about being a runner!

I’m Back!

Well, in a sense. I guess one could argue I'm really not coming back to much, just a picture I put on this blog last summer so my Fantasy Football team (The Garfield Thundercats) would have a picture. The picture is of a toy Garfield I got one my 8th (I think) birthday cake next to Garfield, MN Population sign. Garfield, MN is of course where I'm from and if you're wondering why I still have that Garfield toy...the easiest way to explain it is to say I find sentimental value in almost everything I receive. In addition, I have a tendency to think I'll be able to use almost anything I get at some point in the new future.

As to a sudden revival of this "blog", I actually stumbled upon one of my friend's blogs (Chris Erichsen) detailing his last summer's travels in Ireland and Europe and it reminded me that I had one myself (albeit a ragged looking one). I thought I'd make an effort to try and make my own blog where I might be able discuss some of the happenings in my life.

This is kind of a work in progress, so don't be surprised if you see the layout, format, and/or content of this blog change over time. I'm pretty new to this, but I'd like to think I could make this something of a routine thing! I'll also be getting some pictures into this in a little bit (anyone who knows me knows I love taking pictures), so maybe I'll put a few of my new apartment on here shortly.

I also just noticed that my fantasy football pic isn't working anymore. I might have to repost that picture at some point this summer...