Thursday, July 24, 2008

And the Studying Continues...


So this week, I have been living in my Becker CPA review book for the Business section. Sorry I could only find a pic of the auditing book. Same thing though, just a red cover... Oh and for the non-accountants out there: CPA = Certified Public Accountant.

I can say that I cannot wait to be done taking the CPA exam. I'm almost entirely burnt out on studying and memorizing the material. The only thing keeping me going is that if I pass this next exam, I should be done with the exam portion of my CPA requirements.

I often wonder how those who are working and studying to take the exam do it. I can't imagine working 8 hours a day doing accounting then finding the energy to study. Given - I did work earlier this summer and found it hard to study. I was in an office where I could study some at work and the work wasn't all that challenging for me, so I still had some brain power left at the end of the day.

Good news though: I have for sure passed 2 of the 4 tests. I took one on the 14th of July and will take one next week. Assuming I pass, I'm done after next week (HOORAY!!) I've heard rumors that the grading time will increase so I hope to find out about the scores by Oct.

On the family front: my sister, Grace, and her boyfriend just got back from Mexico on Tuesday then were both in the ER last night from either Ecoli or Salmonilla... so G is home today sleeping and I'm playing the caretaker role of fetching prescriptions, turning on movies, and occasionally getting water for her. Not sure where they got it from in Mexico cuz we've never had an issue in the last 13 years or so of going down there...

Back to the great red book now.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Heading Back to Colorado

While we've been in Austin, Matt and my Mom split kitty watching duty. THANK YOU!! It was such a huge help to us.. and I know the kitties appreciate being fed daily.

This morning they wrapped up the conference and I packed up and prepared to head back home to Colorado. While Austin was fun to visit, I'm ready to be back home. I think next time I travel to this part of the country, I will be doing so November.

Yesterday I managed to leave the AC of the hotel and explore a little (pics to come). I headed over 3 or 4 blocks to a little Mexican restaurant that was highly recommended by locals for lunch. I sat down and asked for a coke. nope no coke served there, but they do have Blue Sky soda. So I had that but I think a coke would have tasted better. I had the enchiladas rojas - chicken. Good food. A great lunch if you're in a hurry as the food came out very quickly. After lunch I strolled another few blocks away from the hotel and walked back another the river front. They call it a lake here, but really it's a river. The previous night, Rich and I walked down to the river front by Congress St. Bridge to see the bats. At dusk these bats who live in the bridge by day come out to hunt. Amazing! We must have seen 150,000 bats, and they don't just all come out from the bridge at once. They flow out in a line at the banks of the river and fly just above the trees. Then eventually they spread out to eat. I'm so glad we took the time to do that.

Dinner last night: Fogo de Chao. Much like Rodezio in Denver and as we called it: Meat on sticks! Amazing dinner, but also a little more expensive then expected. But well worth it. It was Richard's and mine celebration together since we haven't really done that since our engagement, along with 5 others joining us. Fillet mignon wrapped in bacon would be the favorite. YUM!

Okay time to socialize with the other bloggers around.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Austin, Texas

We're in Austin this week..... and well that being said... it's HOT!! I know it's Texas and supposed to be hot, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it. Really its the humidity that kills me. I can handle the dry 100 degree temps in Colorado, but add 85% humidity and I'm not a happy camper.

We arrived yesterday with no issues and took the bus from the airport to our hotel for a whapping $0.50. Probably the best money spent. We only had to walk about 2 blocks from the bus stop to the hotel and if I weren't wearing jeans, it would have been fine. Given the whole wearing jeans part, I was warm (see above) and thrilled once we hit the AC. How people live without it in the south, I'll never know. We checked in at both the hotel and the conference then decided that food had to be in our future. From many recommendations, we tried Iron Works BBQ. It was good BBQ but they didn't have AC and I overheat quickly so couldn't fully enjoy the meal. Walked back to the hotel and spent many hours online in the lobby. Much of which was spent talking with other bloggers attending Netroots Nation. I was interviewed for an XM type radio. I tried (HARD) to get them to interview Rich since he's really the blogger and I'm not so much but they wanted to hear from me. I don't really get involved with the political blogging, but the guy wanted to hear about the blogging I do, which led to this site, which led to me reading this post. Hopefully, I don't sound like too much of a dork.

Today, I spent most of the by myself while Rich was attending sessions at the conference. I joined them for lunch at a local mexican food place but otherwise stayed inside. I went to workout and was shocked that they charge to use the gym here. So I opted for the $15 for the whole trip instead of $10/day usage. I'm hoping this will motivate me to use the gym daily since I am paying for it. I also got chapter 1 of the BEC Becker CPA book studied. My goal is to get a chapter a day done so that I'll be ready for the exam on the 29th. Now, I think I need a martini...

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Weekend of Fun...

So this weekend, we made our down to Larkspur, CO for the Renaissance Festival. We chose a great weekend to go as it was only in the upper 70's and low 80's and found some great buys. We also found out some good friends of mine also just got engaged!! Congrats to Malea & Clark.

To start the day, Rich and I drove the 1hr-ish drive together and got to spend some time together just the 2 of us. We were able to talk about life and start discussing wedding details. Even though we have agreed that I'll plan the wedding and he gets the honeymoon, I still want his input on things as it is his wedding as well.

We found this great little stand: Garlic Festival, where they sell amazing spices made with... GARLIC. We highly recommend the jalapeƱo pickled garlic. Then made our way over to the steak on a stake place for lunch :) Yummy!! I also enjoyed cheesecake on a stick dipped in chocolate for lunch. While it was yummy, I don't recommend eating it in the heat of the day.

We did more than eat too.... Rich found a ring that he has been looking for to go on his middle finger. Somehow the cats have managed to steal his old ring and a replacement was needed. Rich also found a black cape. Another item which has been on his to get list for a while.

Sunday was spent studying for my exam on Monday. I don't feel confident that I passed, but I don't think I bombed it either... I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Anyway, now we're off to Austin TX for Netroot's Nation over the weekend.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The Proposal

It was a perfect proposal!

When we first started dating we would take walks in the afternoon at work. It was on these walks that we really got to know each other. As we would walk, he would always point out cool spiderwebs, flowers, butterflies, or other things that he wanted to make sure I saw. Over the years we've continued to take these walks in the afternoons when its nice outside.

So on July 7, Rich came by my office to take our afternoon walk. It was a little later than usual, but I'm always up for spending quality time with him. So we walked over to the park and sat under the gazebo for a while. He was being extra tender and sweet which wasn't all that out of sorts since he does that some days. Well it was starting to rain, so we decided to head back to the office. As we're walking back and he stops and bends over and says "hey Sara look at this" as he typically does when pointing out something and I'm thinking okay its raining, we're getting wet, and I don't see what your pointing at and have no idea what I'm supposed to be seeing, so I say "what am I looking at?" A typical response from me when I'm not sure what I'm supposed to see. So Rich is down on one knee "pointing out" this cool thing and then all of a sudden he turns back towards me and flips this gorgeous ring around and says "here" to get me to look at this "cool thing." I started freaking out.... he'll have to fill in the details, but breathing in shock, crying, smiling, etc.... Rich has this great speech prepared and of course I'm freaking out too much to really remember it all, but I got good parts and of course said YES!

Note: The pic was taken from my phone, so not the best quality. I'll try to get a better one posted later

Final Days...

So not only did we get engaged this week (!) but it is also my last week as a student assistant. I've been working here for 3 years and it seems odd to close this chapter. It has been a GREAT student job: pick my hours, study when needed, and no weekends or evenings. Really it couldn't have been better. I met Richard here and have been able to see him almost everyday during the day since his office is about 50ft down the hall from my cube.

I've been looking forward to this day for some time now. I think I was really ready to be done here last summer after my boss left. I was left training both her replacements and then worked on an interesting project where I learned some linux and other useful skills to put in my toolbox. I had some projects to wrap up and did so last week, so now I'm just cleaning things up - my computer, desk, files...etc.

I will miss my friends here and really will miss lunches with the boys and randomly poking my head in Richard's office just to say hi. But this marks my step into the "real adult world." I'm done with school and am ready to begin my career. Before I do so however, I'm taking 7 weeks to myself of which I have to following plans: STUDY (2 more CPA's this month), pack and move back to mom's house for a year or so, travel to many places, relax, read a FUN book since I haven't had to opportunity in a while ... any suggestions? I loved the Vince Flynn series... anti-terrorism, CIA , could never really happen but an interesting story none-the less.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

FAQ's

Why start a blog?
I have been threatening to do so for a while now and this seems like a great way to start. Hopefully family and friends will be able to keep up on what's going on in our lives and with the wedding planning.

Who are you?
I just got my master's in accounting. I'm working on passing the CPA exam before starting my career as an auditor (I know, a scary word). I've already passed 2 of the 4 parts surprisingly and take the next 2 this month.
Richard does scientific research and LOVES his job. He is always pointing out cool weather things and is trying to teach me a little something about the thing he loves. His passion for life amazes me.

Where did you meet?
At work! I've spent the past 3 years working as a student assistant right down the hall from Richard. We met my first day there. My supervisor, Kim, was showing my the files where we kept all the information I would need and Richard was walking into work with his tray full of breakfast: eggs, bacon, and hash browns. I was immediately attracted to him and he says that I "was the hottest thing to hit the division" or something like that.

When did you meet?
March 2005

How long have you been dating?
Since June 2005

How did Richard propose?
Perfectly! When we first started dating we would take walks in the afternoon at work. It was on these walks that we really got to know each other and he would always point out cool spiderwebs or other nature points of interest that he wanted to make sure I saw. Over the years we've continued to take these walks in the afternoons when its nice outside. So on July 7, Rich came by my office to take our afternoon walk. It was a little later than usual, but I'm always up for spending quality time with him. So we walked over to the park and sat under the gazebo for a while. He was being extra tender and sweet which wasn't all that out of sorts since he does that some days. Well it was starting to rain, so we decided to start walking back to the office. So we're walking back and he stops and bends over and says "hey Sara look at this" as he typically does when pointing out a spiderweb. I'm thinking okay its raining, we're getting wet, and I have no idea what your pointing out, so I say "what am I looking at?" A typical response from me when I'm not sure what I'm supposed to see. So Rich is down on one knee "pointing out" this cool thing and then all of a sudden he turns back and flips this gorgeous ring around and says "here" to get me to look at this "cool thing." I started freaking out.... he'll have to fill in the details, but breathing in shock, crying, smiling, etc.... Rich has this great speech prepared and of course I'm freaking out too much to really remember it all, but I got good parts and of course said YES!

When is the big day?
No idea yet.... we haven't talked those details but we're thinking Summer 2009-ish

Just Gettin' Started

Rich just popped the question on 7/7 and now we're starting our journey together. We both have known this day was coming for a while and have been anticipating our life together for some time. I could not be happier to get to call myself his fiance, knowing that I'll be his wife and he, my husband!

I've been threatening to start a blog for a while and this seems like the perfect opportunity. I've never been good at keeping a journal or diary, so we'll see if I actually keep up on things here. More to come later... promise. Perhaps an FAQ as requested by a friend.