Hello!
I have finally managed to make it out of school and into the real working world (which I am enjoying). Right now I am going to TekSystems five days a week and training on Lotus Notes, Excel and Access. I have learned everything that I am supposed to know, but since they are paying me to come in for a month and learn I pretty much have to spend my days wasting time in front of a computer without looking like I am wasting time. I have tried an ebook but their version of Acrobat Reader flat out refuses to recognize protected media, so I am playing a lot of Solitaire and reading NY times. NPR is also a good use of time.

I am also working at AFNI part time three nights a week which is awesome because I am the only one in the support department there after 5pm. It's nice being able to complete work without anyone else there taking up your time and attention.

So far the real world isn't nearly as bad as all of the "grown-ups" in my life make it out to be. I mean money is tighter than it was in college (mostly because anything I made was just spending money), but with help of my well-planned budget, it's not that bad. Now I know that I am starting off with a tremendous advantage with not having any debt out of college, but if I had to, I could budget for that. I suppose my biggest difficultly with my dad and his girlfriend is convincing them that I really have been a frugal individual throughout college (for the most part). Also, the working schedule that I am on is WAY better than the amount of time I was spending on homework and lesson plans and grading etc etc in school. 52 hour weeks are actually a slowed pace compared to school.

This weekend I am going to Tribal Revolution in Chicago. Malum and his parents were nice enough to put me up for a couple of nights while I am there. I am thinking to should get them some sort of thank you gift for letting me stay at their place, but I am a little bit at a loss as to what I should give them. I am seriously looking forward to drumming, dancing, and spending quality brain time with Malum.