What the hell?

So it's been a while

I don't know what was wrong with me, but I slept like a log the last three nights. Down for the count and entirely devoid of thought process for a minimum of 8 hours at a shot. By the time I'd be organized enough to do anything, it felt like the day was gone. Between wrapping up class, looking for the next 'thing' and running errands - poof!

I think I've been trying to do too much at once. I found a few type of courses that I'd be interested in taking...this is kind of confusing. But part of my weakness in the SD gig was my lack of product development knowledge. A combo of industrial design, manufacturing and quality management. Even though I poo pooed the opportunity (largely b/c I like New York and don't want to move away from everything that's here) I would have gotten a kick out of an offer. The job itself was a dream job within a dream company. Fine.

Sensing that applying and investing in an MBA program right now doesn't make sense, I was sussing out one year masters locally and in europe. Europe being more interesting b/c of the lower cost. (Not thinking abou tliving - just the tuition). Leaning more towards an MBa type I found a product design program in Umea. Sweden that's free for the few non EU students they accept. Same deal in Copenhagen. Actually, Copenhagen had a 2% admission rate for non EU. When I first saw that number (when I was in Finland and doing research) I said," Yeah, right. Slim to none." BUT here's what I'm thinking. Slim to none were the odds I had for the SD gig. And you don't know if you're going to fail until you do. AND the associated application costs for EU schools are significantly lower than they are in teh states. (The application fee for the Copenhagen school is 20 euros.) The paperwork is different and I need to demonstrate a skill in another language besides English.

Got that?

Hence the desire to test out of Spanish. But I've never had a formalized course in grammar. I have fantastic reading and listening comprehension, but need to work on the other stuff. Good. Bad thing is the DELE exams are offered only a few times a year. There are three levels: Intro, Basic, Superior. There are five sections. If your fail one section you fail the entire exam. So it makes sense to only take it when you know you're ready to pass. Fine. BUT Passing an Intro course isn't worth anything to me. I need a level III. The cost for taking level one is $87, level two $107 and level three $127. Feh. So now I have a workbook at home to study from.

Going back to the MBA thing, I still want to take the GMAT to see where I'd place. The other thing that would potentially have been part of the SD job would have been marketing research. Although not directly responsible for standard deviations, the job would have required a working understanding of the subject. Which I had years ago. I can't tell you what a p- factor is right now. which is why I want to enroll in a stats class. I was good at it, and enjoyed it, so hallo, let's sign up. Plus it'll help me practice math for the GMat. Have I found where I want to take the class? And how much it will cost? or when I need to register? No. The spanish I plan to handle at home with the family. Seems logical.

The product design is where I'm stumbling. If I shoot for a manhattan based math, then i'm committing myself to travel from the island. Which is good and bad. Yes, you all heard about fare hikes. That will make a difference. But if I stay local and find some kind of PT work then low/to no rent makes sense with a local class. Are you following me here? This is what's going on in my head right now and I'm not sure what I'm doing. (Obviously)_Another option is to find a menial job with this big company that's literally a stone's throw away from my house. They handle product design of lots of 'stuff'. They also have 'real' jobs that are similar to the SD job. Concern: I know noone who works there. Intimidated by sending the resume throught hte regular HR channel online. Bleh. Procrastinating there. I had planned to do that tomorrow morning. BUT now I have to worry about something else.

An interview Friday for freelance work that's specifically wireless. Yay. Cool. But the first interview was AGES ago. Right around the time I had the first phone screen for the SD gig. Blah blah blah. We like you. We need to finish b/c we have a meeting now. We'll call. They didn't. Then I did. Then they sounded sincere in saying the budget was kind of on hold. Whatever. Then there was the interlude to gambling. Ahem.

In the mean time the class has been busy. And I had this j@ck@ss who wanted an extension. Then the lazy thesis student reappeared, as well as the smarter engineering student. Great. But at the same time the director of the program asked for "Vintage" me. That is, please be as mean asyou have been with prior criticisms to another FT faculty member's student's thesis. How funny is that? They need ME to be honest b/c everyone else is afraid to contradict the big dude. Since I have no day to day interactions wtih him I'm the perfect guinea pig. Wonder what the next meeting will be like? Snicker.

I'm excited to see the girls tomorrow night. We're combining drinking, credit cards, and shopping. Oy. But I'm geared to go. Last year I was all excited and forgot to buy the tickets to Shecky's Spring Fling in time. They sold out. But not this year. E was on top of htings and we all purchased tickets in time. Anyhoo. Fun. Lots of the goils doing something everyone loves to do. Yippee!

AND then Friday is still there. more socialization. Which brings me to the normalization of sex toy shopping. I laughed my butt off reading how a woman by the name of Shannon Mullen is attempting to create the "ann taylor of sex" with her Sex-Ed Salons.

Alison: I told you should have jumped on your idea of becoming an expert on sex....where it's not deemed sleezy. Look at this article from last year

.... opening up career opportunities for women in the sex industry, roles that steer clear of the illegal and only occasionally veer into sleazy. Among the jobs are the staff at the new Museum of Sex in Manhattan, sex columnists and sex educators who work way beyond the classroom. In the past year or so, Tamara Kreinin, president of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (**Did YOU know this council existed???***), says she's been hearing from an increasing number of young women interested in careers in sexuality education, therapy, counseling and public policy. There are no revenue figures for the educational part of the industry, though adult entertainment rakes in an estimated $10 billion to $12 billion a year. (Those billions exclude proceeds from the oldest profession!)

But before I read the naked city, I read this disheartening tale of wall streeters suffering PULEeze. Do I feel bad you can no longer afford 20K vacations? Or the lavish summer house rentals? Or the multimillion dollar apartment you have on Park? Uh, no. Kind of an interesting mix of stories in this month's new york, but right on the money that jobs are tight as is money and security. So having interview offers (regardless whether I land them) is still a remarkable thing. And that's all I have to say.

posted by irene @ 3/12/2003 03:56:00 PM