Funkweiler in the Dell

OK, lots to write and little time to do it. I just finished Mod 3. It was quite a killer. Not only was it a complete overload of assignments and such, but it was also when the big recruiters came to campus. Each class was really challenging and they all required a lot of homework. The cases aren’t easy anymore… They are really tough. They require a lot of thinking, calculations and everything you recommend has to be supported by quantifiable data. Ugh.

I spent a lot of time perfecting my resume over the break (the Boyer’s will probably remember me in their basement on Christmas Day working on my resume…) in anticipation of the recruiters coming to campus. I applied for just about every opening thinking that I could play the odds and get a handful of interviews. I ended up getting an interview offer for every position I applied for. (Thank you, Career Services, for all of the resume workshops.) Trust me when I say interviewing is very time consuming – it requires the interview, online applications, dinners, info sessions, researching the company, etc.

By the middle of the Mod I was overwhelmed school and interviewing and I decided it was more important to get an intern than it was to get good grades. I got 2 offers in early Feb – both of which were good, but not exactly what we wanted. I kept approaching other companies and got 2 more offers – from Dell and ExxonMobil – that were both exactly what we wanted. Dell’s offer was in Operations and Exxon’s was in Procurement. (Exxon has A LOT of money, believe you me…) I flew to Austin last week to visit Dell and signed papers with them while I was there. So we’ll be in Austin this summer. Intern starts May 19^th and ends August 1^st.

My brain really hurts right now because I just finished 2 finals and had another one yesterday. I don’t know what my grades will be like, but I have an internship. Melba is really sweet – she drove me to school today (eyes hurt too much for contacts so I couldn’t drive…) and when she brought me home there was a big bunch of green balloons in the living room with sayings like, “YOU ROCK!!!” and “Me loves You.”

Now I’m off to Istanbul for a week and then Spring Break and then Mod 4 starts. I’m glad I’ll time to sleep on the airplane – because I really need some. I’ll write more later and try to give a better update. Sorry there’s nothing really funny in this blog. It was more of an update –I have been way too slammed than to do anything but study, study, fly out to interviews, study, do more interviews, and study.

Indiana Jones

I clearly remember my 6th birthday when my Dad took me to my favorite restaurant, McDonald's, and then took me to see my favorite movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. I remember ordering a cheeseburger, chocolate milk shake and then when we were at the movie I closed my eyes during the 'spider' part and asked my Dad to tell me when it was over so I could watch the rest of the film. I had no clue what was going on over the 2-hour movie, but I loved every minute of it. Well, except for the spiders on the guy's back at the beginning.

It's now almost 27 years later and I'm just as excited to see the new Indiana Jones movie as I was back then.

I have a new recipe blog! Come try it out at

http://www.somethingsmellsgoodinmelbaskitchen.blogspot.com/

Peppermint Patties not so innocent after all

In case you don't know Sammie and me very well, we are faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As such, we don't drink alcoholic beverages. Neither of us have ever had a drink in our lives. Until yesterday.

I finished my institute class at the church (similar to Bible Study) and had an hour before I had to be at work, which is just down the road. I took myself and a good book to Ruby Tuesdays for a quiet lunch. As I was finishing up a sensible lunch of salad and chili, I started fantasizing some hot chocolate to sip on while I read. I picked up a dessert/specialty menu and found a "peppermint patty." The menu described a cup of hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps, whip cream, and chocolate sprinkles on top. Now, I've heard of schnapps before, but somehow it didn't register. I was thinking along the lines of the peppermint hot chocolate I love to order from Starbucks. I thought, "Oh! So that's what that peppermint flavoring is called." I ordered the drink (The creep didn't ask for ID. Would it have killed him to flatter me by asking me to prove I was over 21? Not to mention it would have tipped me off...) When it came, I decided the peppermint flavoring was way too strong. I didn't like it and only drank 1/2 a cup. When the bill came, I gaped at the $6 cup of hot chocolate. (Shoulda gone to Starbucks!)
It wasn't until I was at work, feeling sick to my stomach, and getting a headache that it dawned on me what had happened. I asked a coworker what "schnapps" is and she explained. How stupid did I feel? At least I know alcohol is not for me. I felt so crappy, I had to leave work early and go home.
I'm sure you can imagine the jokes that have come out of this. My boss warned that if I come to work under the influence of alcohol, she'll have to let me go. Sammie's worried that the stress of his busy MBA schedule and his long days on campus are driving me to drink. When I slept in this morning, it was, of course, a hangover.