MBA Experience

I've been robbed... on the subway... in Chicago.
Oh well, such is life. I'm only cashless and credit card-less with no forwarding address and no means for money. It could be worse, right?

Actually, I'm just kidding because it's not that bad. Still have a few credit cards, my ID and I only had $40 in the wallet (thank god for being broke).... and the thieves only used my card at 5 or 6 places in, oh, an hour.

OK, I'm resuming my trip now. I think I will stay off the red line for today though. BYE!!!

So, last night, I had another dream about this MBA thing... I dreamt that I recently bought a condo in a crappy neighborhood - Compton. I was happy to have purchased an overpriced, sketchy condo in a more sketchy neighborhood until I realized that I wouldn't ever be living there because I was moving to New York. (I'm so glad my real-life logic surpasses my dream-life logic)

So I frantically went down to the loan office and begged to cancel this purchase when the loan officer lady told me that it already went through and this place was mine and I could move in whenever I wanted. NOOOOOOO!!!!!! Although I enjoy a few songs by Snoop and Dre, I surely do not want to hang out with them or their buddies.

Then I woke up and realized that I'm actually going to Chicago for three days and I'm really psyched now. Yay!

My last paycheck was received on July 7th.... that makes it 18 days since I've been paid and, finally, today I felt the pinch. I had $25 in cash on me and the light went on that I won't be getting any more paychecks for a loooooong time. No more bi-weekly direct deposits into my checking account. No more steady income. No more wasting money on $5 lattes either. Damn.

I'm in Milwaukee tonight... we've been on the road for 8 wonderfully HOT days now. There is some epic heat wave following us around the country. I'm serious. There's nothing like camping when it's 95 degrees at 3 AM. Good thing we're going for some free cold beer at the Miller Brewery tomorrow.

This is awesome though, not working. I could get used to it.

Have to get off this Debbie Gibson thing, right now. Ok, here it goes...

<--- So I got this gift the other day.

I know, I know. I'm not going to win any friends in New York by owning this Red Sox lunch box, but isn't it so cool?!??!?! It's also insulated and, again, just so cool. It was a gift from a genuine Bostonian at a genuine Boston bar.... the only bar I really go to. This guy also owes me $180 for me beating his ass in backgammon, but I'll just take the lunch box as payment. I guess I have to make room for this as part of the move. dang.

And I have to move out of my apartment today. Today. Today as in 1) I'm not done packing, 2) I've got shitloads to do 3) I need to find us places to stay before we get to NYC for half the trip and 4) our stuff is still not going to fit in the truck... hmmmm maybe I'll post a picture later of the failed, but noble attempt.

And I really should not be on the computer right now. ok, bye.

I am seriously trying to throw as much crap away as I can... like, furiously. However, I came upon a GEM as I was going through some old papers. Folks, I am about to transcribe a letter I wrote to Debbie Gibson 17 years ago. I almost threw this sucker away, but it is truly priceless:

"Dear Debbie,

I want to know if you would send me an autographed picture of you. I think you are the greatest person in the world and I like ALL of your songs. I am 10 years old and have your tape; and if another one comes out, I will be the first one to get it. My friend Jon says he loves you and he's 11 1/2.

I want to know if you are friends with Tiffany and if you are not too busy would you come to my house so Jon and I could take some pictures of us with you? Or, if you could come to my school? If you are gonna come to my house or school, write and tell me when you're coming so I can send some pictures of you to my cousin. She would like that."

I'm so glad I'm not 10 anymore. I don't have her tapes anymore, as I've upgraded to CDs and MP3's, but I did buy her greatest hits album within the last year... by the way, that's 1/2 the songs from her first album and 1/2 the songs from the 2nd.

How am I going to fit alllllll this stuff into the back of a truck on Friday? This is what I am trying to figure out today.

Now, if I could show you a picure of the bedroom, it would be even more pathetic, but I already feel overwhelmed.... don't need to bring you guys into this.

So, I'm on the waitlist for housing; more info will be available on... August 15th? Ya? Too bad I'm leaving this Saturday, July 16th. Hmm, that puts me a month in the hole. I've never been homeless before, so this should be an interesting experience.

Thanks for your votes. If I ever make it to 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,' I will definitely ask you guys.

Well, Friday COB is that when I learn my housing fate with Columbia. Personally, I don't think it's meant to happen for me... what do you think? Take my poll?

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Columbia's meal plan... who dreamt this baby up?

Had I not been a stellar soon-to-be-MBA-math-wiz type, I might not have noticed that 'new math' that Columbia put into their meal plans:

• Best Plan ('A'): 150 meals for 1 semester: $1,545. OK, that works out to be $10.30 per meal. Do I look like I was born yesterday? Are they serving caviar over there or what?!?!?? Dude, I don't eat this well now. There's no way I'm going to pay $10 at a cafeteria. Really, come on.
  
• Worst Plan ('D'): 30 meals for 1 semester: $375, which works out to $12.50 per meal. Seriously now, I must be missing something really fabulous about the Columbia meal plan that they forgot to mention in their handy brochure. This plan gets an 'F' in my book. Booooooooooo!!!!!!
  

How sad am I though? I literally 'studied' the dining guide they sent me in the mail. I think I was really just psyched to be getting anything from them since it's been quiet in Columbia Land lately. I did learn that they sell Starbucks in Uris Hall (the business building), which perked my spirits.

I recycled my body weight in paper this morning. 2 more days of work left after today. Actually, today is almost a non-work day because there is only one other person from my team here. And I thought some sadness would set in now that my end date is so near, but no, I am purely excited to be leaving my job. I am excited to take a vacation. I am excited to move to New York. I am excited to be a full time student. I am excited to not be working for The Man anymore.

I also received an email this morning from CBS Housing that they have almost no spots left, even for people from California. I am in some lottery pool now but I don't expect too much from that. Either way, I should know my fate by Friday. Finally! I was starting to seriously dislike their automated message guy telling me every day that my application was still being processed. If I ever meet him, we are instant enemies.