graduation

Did you know that if you bribe enough people that you can obtain a Masters degree? honest, I did. I may be in debt for the rest of my life but gosh-dangit Ize got myself a Masters Degree.

Check out the pictures here.

Again it has been quite some time since I last posted anything to this blog, so here come the updates (in Order, oldest to newest).

Chris Graduated!!!

A while back chris graduated from his training at the State prison, he is now an official Prison Guard and can officially kick your butt. Although he may look tough in his uniform he ain't that tough later that day I pinned him with one armed tied behind my back. He's such a wuss.

MY Birthday!!!

Honest I had a birthday and Tina threw me a surprise birthday party. Heck up until all these people starting pouring into the house i didn't even know I had a birthday coming. Well OK, I did. Tina got me tickets to see Primus, my sister bought me travel gear and a new backpack and my parents hooked me up with a REI gift certificate which I have already used! ;) 

Whitewater River Rafting

Yet another trip with the Outdoor program at Portland State University. This time I went on a whitewater rafting trip. It was a half day trip down the Clackamas river in Oregon, which is a mild timid river. The trip was so-so, not because of the trip leader but rather because of the tameness of the river. I've seen bigger rapids in my bathtub, ok not really but still. OH and just to freak my mom out, when we hit one of the rapids myself and another guy fell out of the boat. Him and I had to float through the rapids with just our lifejackets and a helmet to protect us. I'm pretty sure the other guy didn't enjoy that part but except for hitting my booty on a rock, I Loved IT!!!  Next time I'm forgetting the boat and just using my life jacket to hit the rapids, so much fun!

Spring Wedding

My cousin has met the man of her dreams and she married him. The ceremony was held this last friday and it was rather nice. Her new husband seems like a great guy and I am sure that they will lead a long and happy life together.

Spring and Summer are going to be quite an experience for me. Most of you already know that in June I will be heading to France to finish my studies in the masters program of finance. What I haven't been so forthcoming with, as of yet, are my plans leading up to and after my trip to France. So without further ado here they are:

• The month of April
  • Begin the selling of unneeded items.
  • Move remaining items into a storage facility.
• May 1st to the middle of May, Moving!!!
  • Oh yes, this is going to be quite fun. My roommate is moving in with his girlfriend and the original plan was for us to move June 1st but due to her lease ending and their increased desire to move in together we are pushing this up to the middle of May or May 1st (depending on if we can prorate rent at our current place).
  • Where am I moving?  That's a very good question. I have no idea. If anyone out there has a couch, extra room or a place they'd like to let me sleep for a month and a week please contact me. ;)  I can cook and clean and I am very quite, I usually just study all day.  
• June 11th
  • My studies, in the states, are finished!!! Whoo Hooo!!!
  • Hooding Ceremony 4-6pm, Hoffman Hall on the Portland State University Campus.
• June 13th
  • Depart from PDX at 6 am bound for Vancouver, BC.
  • Vancouver BC to Heathrow airport, London
• June 14th- June 20th.
  • Travel from London to Marseille, France
• June 21st - July 9th
  • Study at the Business School in Marseille, France
• July 10th - August 9th
  • Travel Around Europe.
• August 10th
  • Depart Paris, France at 11:55am bound for Toronto, Ca.
  • Toronto Ca to Vancouver BC.
  • Vancouver BC to PDX Or.
• August 10th-13th
  • Sleep somewhere in PDX or up in Olympia.
• August 13th-September 1st-5th
  • Either a Rent-a-Car drive to Florida or a cheap round-trip flight to Florida
  • Travelling with my friend Ryan
• September 5th-6th
  • Get back to PDX and begin a desperate search for an apartment
  • Move into an apartment/hotel/under a bridge/friend's couch until I find a place
• September 13th
  • Begin working

As you can see I have a pretty busy schedule ahead of me. The only part that really worries me is the month of May. I'm not quite sure where I am going to be living and I really need someplace stable so that I can concentrate on my studies. I'm going to check on possible sleeper rooms on campus, as that would be ideal, or subletting with someone. All of this is quite a blur at this point and I don't have anytime to think about it right now. I must push my plan making back into Spring break as I have two REALLY HUGE finals coming up. One of which may be the deciding factor if I graduate from the Masters program this year or next year. If I fail this course (grade of C or lower) then I will have to retake it next year and by year I, unfortunately, mean a full twelve month period (not a school year). You can probably understand how much I DON'T want that.

Oh man.. I just found out today that the hooding ceremony will be held on June 11th.. It's a VERY good thing I found out today as last week Amanda and I had decided to depart for Italy on June 9th. Now we are going to switch our departure date. This friday Amanda and I are going back to the travel agent to determine when we will leave and where we are going. The decision is almost 100% based on the cheapest airfare we can get. I'll keep ya'll informed.