One Week

School is out. Work is out. I had one, glorious week to do as I pleased. I feel human again after spending time with my family, friends, and the tv. Yes, the tv. I zoned out to Season One of Heroes (two thumbs up), The Heartbreak Kid (two thumbs down), Marie Antoinette (two thumbs down, way down), I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (one thumb up), and Little Miss Sunshine (two thumbs up). That is a lot of time in front of the tube, but nothing is better than staying up to 2 a.m. watching Heroes with my mom.

Aside from bumming around my parent's house, I spent time with a handful of my best friends. I don't typically post personal photos, but I can no longer resist. I am too proud of them and miss them already. I had not seen some of my friends in months and even over a year. That was just too long.

This was Christmas Eve with my best friend since fifth grade. I have spent Christmas Eve with her and her family since I met her. That's about thirteen years now.

This was taken at a wedding I attended with a best friend from college. Although he was great to study with, it was even better to just have fun with him.

I also met his friend. He is a great guy too. This photo expresses their hilarious bickering with one another all evening. My friend's friend also works on a music website that I just discovered and really like. Check it out: http://www.betterpropaganda.com/.

This is the Cookie Party that I almost missed. I can be so lost without my planner. It would have been a shame to miss out on seeing four of my best friends spanning from high school to college. The cookies were incredible, and the company was top notch.

The good news is that I still have two more full days to spend my time my way.

Home of the Chiefs

Given the opportunity to attend three Chiefs games this season, I'm finding myself warming up to football. Having a team to cheer for has a lot to do with this change. I used to think I was gaining three productive hours on Sunday while the rest of the city halted to watch the football game. Look at me now. Conforming. That makes me cringe.

Then again, I do appreciate that the football team generates a temporary boost in the economy as out-of-towners drive into the city for entertainment. Games also encourages camaraderie among fans.

Here are a handful of the photos I took during the games. My favorite game is the one saluting the Veterans this past weekend. This tribute had the best half-time show, and nothing compares to seeing the B2 Stealth Bomber fly over Arrowhead Stadium during the National Anthem.

Burnt Out on a Night Out

I should have been home eating a bowl of ramen and falling asleep to PBS Friday night. This would have been better than witnessing the dynamics of people at the local bar. Tonight might have been an isolated case or I am beginning to view my world differently. Watching the Zeros play at Raouls was supposed to be guaranteed fun. No doubt I enjoyed the company of my dearest friends and the live music, but surrounding us were strangers with their own agendas. Women and men fronting confidence to hide their true expectations in meeting the right person.

The idea of the right person is often different for people. For most, it seems to be a short-term person and for others, it seems to be a long-term person. One thing remains the same, the evening often ends in uncertainty or disappointment if someone walks in with high expectations.

Tonight I left feeling that this bar scene is not right. This unsettling feeling is not new, but wavering. I am riding the downward slope in my view of people's trust and integrity. People should not be treating others the way I have seen them. Many people have accepted this behavior. Others have stood up against it and have found themselves in the same place. I wonder what it was like twenty years ago for singles. Courtship has lost its luster and few people are fighting for it.

Earth Club- Apply Now

In third grade, I sported a button on my backpack declaring that I belonged to Earth Club. This grassroots effort focusing on recycling newspapers and cans at my elementary school was led by my endearing, third grade teacher, Mrs. Hurley. My "Go Green" fashionable accessories did not stop there. My pink, blue, and white Reebok tennis shoes came with a tag that read, "SAVE THE ELEPHANTS" that I also attached to my backpack. Nearly 15 years ago, people and companies were already advocating environmentalism, and this advocacy has begun far before I was born with the inception of Earth Day in 1969.

Today, the "save the earth" mindset is booming. What took so long to make everyone care about the environment? Several factors beyond my knowledge play into this answer, but the most obvious one is the media. I wonder how much Al Gore contributed to this media push. He was a huge stakeholder in it after releasing An Inconvenient Truth and winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He is a great example of how I think politicians should handle issues more often. Focus. Gore has focused on one specific issue, which has resulted in worldwide awareness and the idea to change. Politicians often advocate solutions on multiple issues to appeal to multiple groups of people. Then, they do not accomplish any of their goals very well.

The environmental push is also generating ideas in new technology. The technology industry will benefit from this peaked interest and need to innovate alternative energy sources. This new green wave in technology could be as big and influential as the computer era.

3:10 To Yuma

Hollywood has put its cowboy hat back on. 3:10 to Yuma, originally a short story and now has two movie versions out, was my first full exposure to a westerm movie. Before tonight, the closest I got was City Slickers, and I doubt that counts. With a star cast, 3:10 to Yuma has successfully put western films back in the public light. The movie has western film fans out in the theaters as well as appealing to the younger audience.

Blood Diamond also made it in my schedule this weekend. Oddly enough, 3:10 to Yuma and Blood Diamond have a huge parallel in story lines.

My Opinion About Opinions

As the 16th most visited site on the planet, Facebook has attracted an enormous crowd... of youngsters. The WSJ published an article discussing Mark Zuckerberg's (facebook founder) options in dealing with his business's finances. The article revolved around David Bohnett's (founder of GeoCities) advice. Bohnett comments on focusing on a young audience. He says, "Those kids tend to get older and maintain some connection with an online community. You've got to capture that early adopter, young audience."

EARLY ADOPTER. I know I studied this in Marketing. There is even a graph to go with it.

Look at the size of that gap between early adopters and early majority. It shows the large margin of people willing to try new things versus the ones who do not.

The early adopters are typically the young audience. That is probably why I saw IPODs in college years before they hit mainstream and why I was playing DDR years before Brian Williams did a story on this "new" craze. Marketers know who to target.

This made me wonder what happens to people when they grow up? Their mindset changes, and often closes slowly without them realizing it. Why would this happen?

As people grow older and begin working in a profession, they are expected to always have an opinion. Now, they are the decision makers. People are trained to have opinions ALL THE TIME. It has to be this one way. Opinions are different than a point of view. It seems that a point of view is open-ended. It acknowledges that other viewpoints exist, whereas, opinions are mostly associated with my personal opinion. Negative effects can stem from this opinion syndrome. People become so engrossed in their opinions, they stop listening and experimenting. When those two key mindsets of listening and experimenting freezes, the learning process also ceases.

I used to have a sense of pride being known as part of the early adopters, but the Marketers are no longer chasing for my business. I am 25 now. Apparently, that is the cutoff into adulthood. So, adults, I have a mission for all of us. Have the mindset of an early adopter. Have a viewpoint, but listen to others. Try it out before all the young'ens have all the fun.

Einstein Bros. Not So Smart

... not with their lunch menu, at least. I can't speak for their bagels, but my first lunch at Einstein Bros. Bagels was a disappointment. The empty seats should have given it away, but I was excited to try something new. Their selection was much more extensive than I expected, but the food was over-priced for its quality and quantity. I felt robbed actually. $7 + tax for a tuna sandwich and small side of potato salad. Its sandwich competitors offer much fresher food. Well, now I know. Their food was average and not worth the money. For that same price (actually a little less), I'll stick with Panera.

Juniors 16-24

Law contracts are vague. Relationships have grey areas. The answer to any academic business question is "it depends." So, why does the Juniors section of a Macy's department store need to be so definitive?

As I browsed through Macy's this weekend checking out their fall clothing selection, I found myself in front of a sign hanging from the ceiling that read, "Juniors 16-24." What? Let me read that again, "Juniors 16-24." I planted myself right in the middle of the aisle and wondered should a 25-year-old dare cross that sign into the section that she had been so familiar with all these years or is it time to move on?

I did the 360 visual scan of the area, partly to see if anyone was standing guard to check my ID before entering, but mostly to see who else was shopping in that area. One woman was combing through a nearby clothing rack. I would estimate she was in her early 30s, so I bravely cross the line into the Juniors section, and life was normal again.

I couldn't shake the thought that an age range was assigned to the clothing section. Stores don't put height limits on the Petite signs. I admit the age range is fairly accurate. I rarely discover good finds in the Junior section anymore. My clothing tastes have transformed and matured since I started working full-time, but I still check out the Juniors section. As far as defining age ranges for types of clothing, similar to many situations in life, it is not the age that matters but where a person is in life that determines ones tastes.

I propose the lower limit to change from 16 to "when your parents think it's okay to wear this" and the upper limit to change from 24 to "be careful what you pick, but take your time... you look great no matter what you wear."

Macy's, I think it's time to take the sign down. I don't think you understand what it feels like to grow up.

I <3 Cake

My friend sent me this link after giving me a HUGE slice of carrot cake. What a great day.

The Floral Shop

Building the financial statements and identifying business risks for a fictional floral shop is one of my projects this semester. I could have chosen any type of business to model and several ideas did pass my mind, but one idea came as a Blink and stuck with me.

A floral shop. A place that sells expensive things that die. That is what practical me would have said five years ago. One conversation with a friend completely changed my view of flowers. I never understood why people would spend so much money on something that wilts within a week. Actually, that is how the conversation started...

Me: I never understood why people would spend so much money on something that wilts within a week.

Friend: (smiles) Yeah. Flowers can get expensive, but guys will do it.

Me: I still don't get it. Isn't that just a waste of money?

Friend: I guess, that's why you buy flowers. When you care for someone enough that you buy something you know is a waste of money.

My friend's statement completely changed my perspective on flowers. For the record, this was a male friend who brought this profound concept to my attention. Impressive, indeed. This perspective made sense, and I never recognized it on my own. Fortunately, I do have a memory where I can pull out all the instances I did receive flowers. Oddly enough, I appreciate those flowers more now than during the time I received them knowing what I know now. For your entertainment (and for my personal recordkeeping), here is a synopsis of my memorable flowers (in order of occurrence):

1. I received my first flower as a Valentine's Day gram during gym class in eighth grade. It was from my Navy best friend (not the color, but the military kind). I was so surprised because I was not expecting anything. Just when I thought it wouldn't get any better, I realized that she had given me two carnations, not just one.

2. It was the first time on my own, for the summer at least. My family had just finished moving me for my summer internship and left to go home. That's when the realization of not knowing anyone in the new city hit me. Just then, the phone rings. My friend calls to get ideas on indoor plants so she can send one to a friend. I give her ideas. The next day, I find a bouquet of peace lillies at the front door.

3. College graduation is over, and I'm packing the last boxes to leave Stillwater. My "Wicked" best friend calls to come over. She walks in with a bouquet of flowers, one for each year we've known each other.

It may have been a male friend who made me realize the importance of flowers, but it was all my female friends who got them for me. Interesting.

As a gift, flowers are classic, classy, and unforgettable. You can't go wrong with flowers, well, unless you give black ones. Don't give black ones.

Now that I have shared my most poignant flower experiences, I am convinced that I will have fun with this floral shop project. A huge part of business is doing something you are passionate about, even if it is a school assignment.

Six Months

Yes, time flies, but people often forget how much change can happen as time is flying by. Take a six month snippet of your life (think back to February), and I bet some event, some decision, or some experience in this short timeframe of your overall existence to this point has transformed the way you think or act today.

The past six months have been interesting for me, but I stumbled upon a website that one person has had a much more impacting life snippet. Go to www.mynameisbill.com. Bill Bowles traveled around the world for six months documenting his experiences. Sounds quite trite at first glance, but a handful of his approximately three minute videos are something to think about. I recommend watching The Coffee Shop, Just Another Brick, Suvdaa's House, and Believe in Dreams. I think he offers a great perspective that so many overlook and an eloquent way of communicating it. I am impressed with his ability to befriend so many people in different cultures and different ages.

I originally saw a video sample of mynameisbill on CNN. All this stir from just one man who decided to do what so many others say they wish they would do.

So, the next time you hear someone say "time flies" or you catch yourself saying it, don't follow it with a deep sigh admitting your defeat against time, but think of all you have gained in the past six months. Be glad someone reminded you that time does fly and take this moment to reflect on how you have invested your time in the six months.

Stuck in Reverse

I'm not a fan of posting song lyrics left and right, but here I go... posting lyrics. I don't feel like challenging people who write for a living, so I'll copy and paste and call it a night.

Artist: Coldplay

Title: Fix You

Footnote: It's one of my favorite songs.

When you try your best but you don't succeed

When you get what you want but not what you need

When you feel so tired but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace

When you love someone but it goes to waste

COULD IT BE WORSE?

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below

When you're too in love to let it go

But if you never try you'll never know

Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace

Tears stream down your face

And I

Tears stream down your face

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes

Tears stream down your face

And I

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you.

Sicko

Sicko, written and directed by Michael Moore, asks the question, "how does America treat a dying health care system?" Certainly, not the way the American health care system has been treating its people. This system is so overwhelming and complex, I would consider solving this issue similar to solving homelessness or global warming. It's possible in reality, but impossible with today's politics.

As the movie unfolds, Moore exposes other health care systems in France, Canada, Cuba, and the United Kingdom. He shows that this is not an issue the U.S. citizens need to solve because it has already been solved for us; in these other countries. It makes me think of themes from the Ishmael books. The answer is right in front of everyone, yet we don't see it. We think we need to invent something new, but we just need to look to the past or abroad for the answers.

For my first Michael Moore movie, I absolutely enjoyed it. His movie is convincing, well-researched, informative, and entertaining. Moore gets people thinking, whether people agree with his views or not. Some people hate his work, but I still consider that a success. His movies and books are influential enough to even drum up debates among groups.

I like his movie style. Moore presents a U.S. social issue, shows how other countries handle the same issue, and lightly proposes ideas on how to change a falling U.S. system. He does all this while mixing in humor and connecting with the audience. I am impressed how he criticizes the U.S. health care system and still shows his strong patriotism. Of course, he is probably criticizing and advocating for change because of his patriotism.

Moore talks about change. I agree that the U.S. health care system needs to change. Moore works to discover how other countries have transformed. It will probably take the same for the U.S., an event that effects the majority of Americans and a great leader with a vision.

Sicko (among many other media) has made me realize how ignorant I am about global culture. For having a French Pen Pal since high school, I have no idea how France operates. It would be odd to strike a conversation about health care in a letter after talking about my favorite bands and television shows, but I could be so close to all this information that I learned from an American movie. I could learn first-hand if I chose to.

I would definitely recommend this movie.

Flight of the Conchords

Albi- The Racist Dragon

Business Time

Marketing Magic

Reservation for one, please.

A fresh copy of the last Harry Potter book has my name on it. At the stroke of midnight, the fate of Harry Potter will be in my hands, but where will I be? Will I be at the Grand Hallows Ball at Borders or the Midnight Magic Party at Barnes & Noble? Or should I overcome my interest in children's literature and hit the bars with my twenty-something peers (though I doubt I'll be the only twenty-something there)?

The marketing geniuses at Borders and Barnes & Noble is making this an interesting decision.

Here's what each store is offering:

Borders- Grand Hallows Ball
- Potter spelling bee
- Great Snape debate
- Costume Contest
- Stupendous giveaways
- Limited edition poster (just announced!)
- And, of course, more!

Barnes and Noble- Midnight Magic Party
- Enchanting activities
- Spellbinding prizes
- Photo opportunities with favorite characters
- Unique items for sale
- And, of course, more!

Which store will score the most sales? Although each store has done their fair share of marketing, no store stands out in their advertising. The price is the same at both places. Both stores offer prizes, people will dress up whether there's a contest or not, and having games is a no brainer. It comes down to, do you want a poster or do you want a photo op with your favorite character. Even at that, I am somewhat indifferent and would be happy to hang a poster in my office or a photo of me standing next to a 16-year-old who resembles Harry. I do admit, Borders wins for crafting up the better party name.

What's a store to do then? I think both stores are missing another major target group: Adults. Children may be the main focus, but the Harry Potter series is a phenomenon that has appealed to everyone in a large range of ages. The stores could incorporate activities that would appeal to all ages to mirror the audience, such as hosting a magic show. I wouldn't mind seeing a rabbit being pulled out of a top hat. For a more focused activity for adults, set up a presentation or display about the "science of Harry Potter" discussing if any of the magic in the books would be possible or parallel Harry's adventures with sighted paranormal events.

Luckily, the Grand Hallows Ball begins at 7 p.m. while the Midnight Magic Party begins at 9 p.m. I may be doing a little party hopping afterall.

Quote of the Day

I wish people would find cures for all diseases because I'm tired of walking 5k.

- Someone funny from Comedy Central

The American Culture

I've been intriuged with a blog I've linked and named "A Real Glimpse Into Vietnam." This person has captured the essence of everyday life in Vietnam with colorful photos and stories. It has made me wonder, how do I capture the everyday American life? The Vietnamese culture seems so distinct and interesting in the food they eat and in the jobs they perform.

What is so different about our culture? We are surrounded by excessiveness in so many aspects of our lives, but this excessiveness has allowed us the ability of not only fulfilling our necessities, but others too. One characteristic my cousins in Vietnam complimented on is the honest nature of Americans. They mentioned this after I told them I usually bring my lunch to work. They asked, "where do you put it?" I said, "in the fridge." They asked, "do you put your name on it?" They were surprised that I didn't and that my sandwich would still be sitting there once noon rolled around untouched and uneaten.

Because Americans have more than they need, we are more likely to donate, volunteer, or simply not steal. I think the general mindset and desire is to help others, despite the money-hungry stigma Americans carry (which is true, but it's really true anywhere). If I took photos of the strangers that help me when I get lost on the road or all of the people that donate their time or money for what they believe is a good cause, I think I've captured one major aspect of the American culture.

Kansas City Zoo

Today was my first trip to the Kansas City Zoo. Although this zoo does not measure up to the ones I have been to in the past (some tough competition against the Omaha and San Diego zoos), I had a great time. The weather was warm, the company entertaining, and the animals were active.

The visiting animals this summer were two koalas from the San Diego zoo.


This is one of my favorite photos from today: The Captain Morgan Elephant.

The kangaroos were surprisingly not enclosed. A little boy even ran up to them creating an alarmed crowd, but the mother finally stopped the kid. The kangaroos were afraid of him anyway.

I couldn't stop laughing when I saw these three camels standing side by side as if they were about to race.

First Class

Summer school started today, and I always find the first day of class so refreshing. I'm excited to see familiar faces (as much as meeting new people), meet my professor, and learn something new.

As I walked into session 1 of Leadership and Organizational Behavior, the professor had music playing. That, right there, set the tone for the class. The professor was upbeat, yet not overbearing. As students trickled in and began writing their names on the name tents, the professor started talking about the markers he had laid out. Before class even started, I learned something new. He said that he liked getting the scented markers for his office because (1.) they're great conversation starters and (2.) they write the best on paper. He transitioned into dry erase markers. He recommended getting scented dry erase markers too. That way, people don't pass out during your meeting from the fumes of regular markers AND always bring your own markers. Details are so important and make all the difference.

Of course, the class had introductions. He wrote everyone's name, occupation, and fun fact (what makes you different from everyone else fun fact) on the whiteboard. Yes, typical, but he added a twist. He asked everyone to write on a piece of scratch paper 3 names of people you would follow. He then tallied the votes and came up with 4 people. He asked these chosen 4 to be leaders for today only. They were responsible for dividing the class into teams. Genius! What a great way to empower the class with responsibility from the very beginning.

Looks like another great course.

Your Life is Better Than Reality TV

Remember, your life is better than reality TV. It's real! I don't care what the producers say, but the characters of reality tv shows are being fake, even if they claim they're being real. Apparently, over dramatic and stupid is entertaining.

I stumbled upon one of the worst shows I've seen in awhile on E! called Sunset Tan. It's a reality show about a ritzy tanning salon in L.A. Two scenes in particular made me want to vomit. The first was a mother who was bringing in her grade school daughter to get a tan for school pictures. The dialogue went something like this:

Employee: What kind of tan does your daughter want?

Mother: Oh, something to make her stand out from the other children. She wants to look like Lindsey Lohan. (looks at her daughter) Don't you want to look like Lindsey Lohan, sweetie?

Daughter: (enthusiastically and smiling) Yes! I want to look like Lindsey Lohan.

Employee: I know exactly what you need. (And lays out a $1200 session of products and services)

*Vomit*

The second scene were these two bleach blonde girls who couldn't do anything right at the salon because they were too...well, over dramatic and stupid. When the two got fustrated, they asked (in a pouty face) can we just go shopping? The fustrated co-worker said sure, go shopping, and the camera shot shows the two girls skipping away to buy clothes and shoes before breaking to commercial.

*Vomit*

I didn't watch tv for the rest of the weekend. I know these shows have phenomenal editors because they can make an ordinary situation into a tv show, and it can suck you in if you let them. Be strong and stay away. Remember, your life is better than reality TV. Participate in something you can control.

Is Golf Your Game?

In WSJ's article on "Business Golf Changes Course," the emphasis is that golf is still important in some realms of business and obsolete in others. Although my workplace does not have the golf club mentality and is not a part of the business, I wonder if it will be in a future career. One woman in the article cited that it took her two years before becoming comfortable playing golf in business dealings. It doesn't seem too bad of an idea to start now.

The photo above shows women taking a golf lesson from the Harvard Business School. I do like the idea of having a course like that in a M.B.A curriculum. During my undergraduate career, I did have a chance to take golf. That would have been a fun course to take.

Slow Down for Slow Turtles

Beware for turtles crossing the streets and highways. I've seen 3 turtles crossing highways in one week! One didn't make it, and it wasn't me. The other two I took photos of, and my friends moved them out of harms way. I can only hope the turtles didn't go back into the roads.

This is a Lake of the Ozarks turtle. It had lots of pretty colors.

This turtle was crossing the highway. It was a big one too.

One day, the turtles will get their revenge.

Build-A-Bookcase

Today was the delivery day for my new bookcase. A friend graciously helped me design and build this oak bookcase. It took us exactly one and a half weeks to complete with three additional days for it to completely dry.

The first two photos show the shelves drying from the wood glue after we had cut the wood and installed the shelves.

This is after the back board and top and bottom of the bookcase were installed.

My friend did an amazing job of finding stain colors that matched my existing furniture. He even made a sample palette for me. We decided to go with the sample in the bottom right corner of the photo, which was one layer of ebony and one layer of bombay mohogany satin.

This is the bookcase going for a drive in the back of the pickup truck. I remember those days. Riding in the back of the truck is always fun. It even has a blanket and pillows! I'm so jealous.

Here it is... resting in its new home. The shelf looks black, but it's not (as you saw in the sample palette photo).... and yes, I do own books to put in the shelves.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

Contemporary art is more than just finger painting. I went to the Kemper Museum for the first time this weekend expecting to see circles and triangles on canvas, but I was surprised to see art work that was tangible for the amateur art critic like myself. I had the misconception that contemporary art was abstract art. In fact, it simply refers to art that has been currently produced.

Below is the Crying Giant. I like this one. My friend thought the giant was crying because his feet are swollen. I can understand that.

Below is a rendition of various views of the Grand Canyon. I wasn't as crazy about this one as the Crying Giant, but it was interesting.

The art exhibit that changed my view about contemporary art was Jennifer Steinkamp's video/audio exhibit. At first, I was not impressed. I walked into a near empty room with about 4 or 5 projectors on the floor. Each wall had psychedelic visualizations on them. I felt like I was walking inside a Windows Media Player visualization. As I walked out of that room, a lady working at the museum explained to me that the artist's intent is to have the audience play with their shadows. So, I went back and gave it a try. It made sense now! The next room was even better now that I know to manipulate my shadows. This room had walls of flowered vines. By watching my shadows, it looked like I was walking into and disappearing into a garden only to reappear on the other side of the foliage.

I only wished the museum was larger with more art work. However, the Kemper Museum complements the Nelson-Atkins Museum across the street very well. It also seems the Kemper Museum changes out art work more often than the Nelson-Atkins. I will definitely check on upcoming exhibits at the Kemper Musuem.

www.kemperart.org

Babies "R" Us, Not Me

I learned something today. Babies "R" Us is not as fun as Toys "R" Us. Not even close. My ten minute experience in the store was quite surreal. It's like in Texas Chainsaw Massacre when the car breaks down and the characters go into a town that just doesn't feel right. I didn't feel right in Babies "R" Us. It was a bit eerie to be surrounded by so many pregnant women and couples. I did take a moment to laugh. I thought about how single men go to Hobby Lobby Friday nights, single women go to Lowe's Friday nights, and it hit me that couples probably go to Babies "R" Us Friday nights.

I'm not anti-baby. I am very happy for those couples, and there's obviously a need for this store. I just realized how foreign all this is for me. How little I know about it, so I find it intimidating. I also realize that while a good portion of my twenty-something peers are getting married and popping out babies, I don't at all feel left out. I feel that I am far from being ready and happy where I'm at. I am on a different path as Robert Frost might tell me to take the Road Not Taken. So here I am, taking the road out of Babies "R" Us and heading straight to Lowe's.

To my dear friends who read this, please register to other stores (I recommend Target) when your time comes for a baby shower.

Marketing

Three articles, a group presentation, and a final paper later, I have finally completed my spring semester of Marketing. I have had a tough time maintaining focus throughout the eight weeks of this course. Now that it is over, I have lots of great things to say. Life can be great in retrospect.

Do you remember the excitement of the first and last day of classes? I am wrapped up in the last day excitement. I am proud of the work I put into the course and satisfied with the material I learned. However, my excitement is wrapped around a bigger thought, idea, and feeling. It is how impressed I am with a handful of my classmates. Everyday I hear people have meaningless conversations (i.e. radio shows) and see people who are rude (i.e. drivers). Unfortunately, this is what the general population hear and see on a daily basis. I am so fortunate to be exposed to people with innovative ideas and who are passionate about what they do. It is truly motivating. Only if people can show that side of themselves more often...

I was not impressed with my professor. She is my least favorite out of all the professors I have had in the M.B.A. program. I will, though, give her credit for selecting excellent resources. I already talked about The World is Flat in a previous entry. I find Faith Popcorn's Popcorn Trends as very accurate marketing concepts. My professor also did an excellent job of selecting cases to review in class.

The most beneficial assignments were the portfolio articles. The difficult portion of those papers is the marketing consultation. This required me to give suggestions on alternative marketing methods. This allowed me to think like a marketer.

My biggest take-away of this course are the concepts I have learned through reading The World is Flat and listening to lectures on Popcorn Trends.

Spring Fever

Spring has won me over. Do you like the photo? I do. Too bad I didn't take it. I had to steal the image from someone else, since I am still living without my camera.

I have spring fever, and I cannot wait for my school semester to end. I have two more weeks of school assignments before I can really have fun. My schedule is becoming jam-packed, but it is full of activities I enjoy.

The World is Flat

Reading a good book leaves me with an amazing feeling. I am much more impacted by reading a book than watching a movie. Forcing my imagination to work its gears is more rewarding than passively having a story fed to me. I don't want to bash on movies, and I know I'm getting all Reading Rainbow on everyone, but The World is Flat is the second book I've read within a year that concisely summarizes a mess of thoughts and questions that run through my head.

After reading only 115 pages, I am discovering that The World is Flat reveals a perspective that is helping me understand what is happening to the U.S. economy and the world. The World is Flat refers to the leveling of the United States with the rest of the world. The changes involved in outsourcing and other globalization activities are contributing to this flattening, or evening out the playing field.

At this point in the book, there are a few ideas that struck me the most:

1. Competition is becoming fierce. Not only am I competing against my U.S. peers, I am now competing against my peers around the globe. These overseas peers are highly and technically educated and have an extremely strong motivation to excel, considering their often proverty stricken background.

2. Accept the changes and lead the way. Outsourcing is a non-stop evolution in U.S. businesses. To stay competitive, companies are submitting to outsourcing technologies to other countries. We're not the only ones. Japan outsources to China, for example. The U.S. is paving the way on how this outsourcing business is handled. General feelings of the U.S. losing control of our technical expertise and job opportunities are still a large concern for me, but the U.S. has the opportunity to lead this outsourcing evolution in a positive direction that could benefit all countries involved.

2.5 Accept online networking. This is a spin-off thought from #2's point of accepting change and leading the way. I am coming to terms on online networking. I have been a strong and stubborn advocate for people meeting the traditional way, face to face, not pc screen to pc screen. I still believe meeting people face to face is the best way to go, even if it's at the bar, but the world is changing and people must adapt. I use online sites to keep in contact with existing friends, but recently, I have realized online networking tools, such as facebook, myspace, and blogger itself, play a HUGE role in social interaction. This means a HUGE change in the way we communicate. I laugh like this, "lol," instead of like this, "hahaha," or simply saying, "I'm laughing" now. In some cases, my friendships would not be as strong or in existence without one of the networking tools. Realizing this strong impact, I have lightened up on my skepticism on online dating. If I resist this change, I would only be holding back progress. I suppose it's better to meet someone online than not meet someone at all.

3. You and I are a part of this change. I remember cassette players, typewriters, gas for $0.79/gallon, record players, and Atari. The pc changed everything. Fiber optics and wireless changed everything. We are riding this big wave, and this book is helping me understand it.

I'm not finished reading The World is Flat yet, but I already have some thoughts brewing. That is a sign of a good author and a good book.

Quote of the Day

"Dating is one of the best examples of marketing."
-My Marketing Professor

AIM

I'm click-clacking away on my laptop, checking my e-mail, facebook, myspace, blah, blah, blah, but then I realize something I wasn't logging onto. AOL Instant Messanger. When did I give that up? I didn't decide to give it up. It just faded out of my routine. Is this a sign of growing up? Not to deem instant messaging as a "college thing," but it's a college thing, naturally. College requires so much computer time and collaboration with other students. Work is the same way, but using AIM at work probably isn't allowed in most companies.

So, I've cut it out of my routine. I've spent more time on developing other skills and doing other activities I've always wanted to do without realizing it until now.

On another note, what's this yellow AIM guy doing? Is he running towards something or running away from something? What's this thing's background?

I Am Without...

I am without... my camera. I wish I could take a photo of me not having a camera for this post. I loaned my camera to my brother for his overseas trip. Now that my camera will be gone for three weeks, I miss it already.

"My camera." How did I not ever name my camera? Perhaps, I can call it Digi or Digimon! I like "Digimon!" and that includes the exclamation point.

Yes, I can't wait to get Digimon! back. I might get one of those ancient disposable cameras that use film in the meantime.

Risks and Returns

The higher the risks, the greater the returns. This statement holds true beyond the basic principles of finance. This concept is true in our daily life.

Year of the Boar

Alas, my year is over. Year of the dog was a good one for me. I moved to KC, started a job, and began grad school. Last year could have gone two ways: good or bad. Luckily, it went well for me, and now it is time to move on to a new calendar year.

Similar to most Asian-American families, my family only had a small timeframe to celebrate Tet. I was fortunate enough to make it home to enjoy a home-cooked meal and spend time with my family.

On the menu:
Crab and shrimp soup
Stir-fried noodles
Egg rolls
Mushroom, shrimp, bamboo stir-fry
Several candies and dessert

CPK

California Pizza Kitchen in the Plaza has a comfortable, yet, classy twist to its atmosphere. I like the wide open spaces, where I can see the cooks create my food. The bright lights reflecting off the white tables also offer an upbeat mood. During this visit, I ordered a Chipotle pizza. It tasted just like a Chipotle burrito. It makes me wonder why I didn't just go get the actual burrito, instead of eating it in pizza form. It was a wonderful re-invention of something that already exists.

http://www.cpk.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm the heart that got away.

Game Over?

Dress to impress. This is the rule for going out, among other rules if you believe in them. Dress to impress and meet new people that I won't talk to past the next day. I don't even believe what people say anymore. After a weekend and a half of going out with the idea of dressing to impress, I'm starting to believe it's doing more damage than good. I think my GAME might be over.

Or perhaps, I'm trying too much too fast. The bottom line is that I'm not the bar-type girl and I don't want a bar-type guy, so what am I doing in a bar? It's fast fun. Unfortunately, that is what the average American demands. I wouldn't classify myself as average. I wouldn't classify my friends as average. We are better than average, so why would I demand anything less from someone I date?

The next step: Find a new destination.

The Places I Go

People glaze over the most obvious details. I just realized I've never questioned the name of a popular bar in Kansas City. It's called the Granfalloon. I thought it was strange the first time I heard it, but by the third time of hearing it I no longer wondered what it meant. I just knew it was a bar. Who knew a granfalloon is a community in which people PRETEND to have associations with each other, but really don't? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granfalloon

I do like the bar, though I feel a bit foolish for going there now because of its name. Is the bar meant for people to put on a false impression of themselves? This is true for every bar in existence. It's just that this one is being blunt about it. Of course, 98% of the people in the bar probably doesn't know what a granfalloon is anyway.

Despite what I say, the Granfallon is a fun bar/restaurant. Check it out:http://www.thegranfalloon.com/default_plaza.htm

Bill Nye the Science Guy

He is one of my heroes.

The good news: He'll be speaking in Tulsa!
The bad news: I'll be in Kansas City.

THE Event
Where: Tulsa Community College
When: Thursday, Feb 8
Time: 7:00 pm
The event is free and open to the public.
http://www.tulsacc.edu/page.asp?durki=120

I am so bummed out I don't get to go. Will someone book him in Kansas City? Here's the link: http://www.billnye.com/. Just go to Bill info, then to booking Bill. Do this and you could be my hero too.

Go Chicken Go

As I walked out of class, I always smell this aroma of fried chicken. There is a Go Chicken Go next to the Rockhurst parking lot. Tonight the aroma was stronger than usual. So strong it got me thinking that I should eat there, despite the questionable health codes. I figured I recently got my HepA and Typhoid shot, so what do I have to lose? Well, it was late and not safe to walk in, but wouldn't that be great if Go Chicken Go had a drive thru? It turns out that they do, but it was too late. I already drove past it.

Okay... I just did some googling, and now I feel like I really missed out. The first sites I hit were reviews of Go Chicken Go, and the ratings are very high. Then I find their website: http://www.gochickengo.com/. They have a website!!! That is fantastic. I can't wait to go.

Facebook

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook:

"According to Chris Hughes, spokesman for Facebook, 'People spend an average of 18 minutes a day on Facebook.' "

Wow. That is so me.

I stumbled upon this link... while I was on facebook looking at a friend's profile. I'm glad I don't have to wiki facebook to know what people are talking about. That got me thinking that one day I will lose touch on what's up and coming. Since many products and services hit college campuses first, students have the edge on technology. Everyone else reads about it or hears about it on the news. Now, I just laugh when I hear about what college students are doing on the news. I think, "That is so 2 years ago." I remember ipod advertisements hitting hard on campus during my early sophomore year. That was 4 years ago. Until then, I'll enjoy the perks of being young.

No Excuses

"The only thing holding you back is you." This is my realization after returning from Viet Nam. I'm not suggesting America is perfect, but this country offers something special and easily overlooked. It is our freedom of choice. People here can be poor and grow up to be a millionaire if they choose. America strives to help the poor. There are very few excuses of not becoming who you want to be in a country like this.

The Swing of Things

It's late, so I don't have the time or the energy to say what I want to say about my trip to Viet Nam. That will be a later entry, but today was a big day. I'm finally getting over jetlag. It's been a tough battle going straight into work, school, and socializing non-stop since I've been back into the states. I did choose to handle my 13 hr jetlag by going about my business here, and I think it finally paid off.

I started classes tonight. Although I enjoy my classes, it is a drag to come home at night to realize it's time for bed. This is when I need tv the most. Just 10 minutes of tv right now will kick my sanity back into place. God bless Conan O Brien.