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We have to design a system for my systems class, and we are talking to TWU about a project.
However, they use FileMaker Pro, a database management system I know NOTHING about!
Does anyone know anything about it, I'd like to help them come up with a way to have a central entry point for their acquisitions, that could then be exported to the various formats each department uses to track their collections.
However, my expertise is in Access...
You know I wanted that china, I asked you for it when I got married and you told me I'd get it when you are dead.
I don't want it when you are dead. I want it now, so my family can add to the memories I already have of it. If you wait to give it to me when you are dead, I don't want it because we will have made memories on the stuff I had to buy for myself.
One thing I don't ever seem to be able to get across to people is the sacrifice...
Spend your money where it counts, where it gives you the most value, and remember what your are sacrificing!
I'm glad my mom raised me to recognize quality, so I don't need to buy all my stuff at the department store (or its equivalent), and can buy things second hand...my favorite recent item (besides my nifty cool dining room table) is the $200 coffee table I got for $60--and it's perfect for my house!
I have a paper due tomorrow that I feel utterly unprepared for...I guess I'd better get some actual work done...
The essential thing about accountants, is that we like to track things, we like things to be right (the first time), and we like double checks of our work, because everyone is human and no one is perfect.
So, we do these little things called, "Account Reconciliations." These are not cross word puzzles or fill-in-the blank games where you fill in the numbers that make the totals right.
The ENTIRE point of them is to highlight any possible areas for correction or concern.
It's a bit frustrating when you keep finding problems that should have been caught on the reconciliation....and they were done...but there are never any errors, and never any corrections...EVER.
No one is that perfect, as evidenced by my findings...I've so got to finish my degree so I can leave this mad house!
- Mood:
annoyed
Now she has 24 settings of china and the serving pieces, which she promised my sister & I could share when we got married. Now she has decided to pack it away in west Texas, where she has already sent her silver (Craig's mom gave me his grandmother's silver plate, which means I'm less worried about the silver).
It really pisses me off that I gave three baby showers, and they were all on paper plates, when I could have had nice china. I'd like to have romantic dinners with my husband on nice china. I'd like to have Thanksgiving dinner and create family memories on china, rather than only have "Christmas" dishes (which she did give us, why she won't part with the other is beyond me).
My husband doesn't care, and I get that, but I do. I'd like to have nice things....and because she had always promised them to me I didn't register for them, and now it's too late. It's something I want, and I'm going to get it, even if I have to buy it for myself. If I have to buy it for myself, my family will create new memories with it, and I won't care about getting her dishes, even when she is dead, which makes me a little sad.
What makes the maddest is that my mother truly seems to think that her kids would stop spending time with her if she didn't have stuff that we want. My sister and I just think, "Didn't you raise us better than that?" She doesn't seem to really know or understand us. Just because we disagree politically, she seems to think we lack a moral compass and any values. I say, we think exactly the way she taught us...for ourselves...she's just forgotten that.
So, I've picked out my own pattern. I found a nice set on Craig's List, and I've asked my husband to get it for me for our anniversary. Then I'll match the pieces. If, in the meantime, she coughs up the set I really want, I'll be happier than ever, and resell the set on Craig's List!
1. The air is DRY (it's the desert), so my skin turned to paper, I'll bring flax oil pills next time (slathering lotion didn't help).
2. The air is DRY (it's the desert), so my contacts dried up...it felt like bits of paper in my eyes...so I got more tired (keeping your eyes shut makes you sleepy...). Next time I'll bring the extra strength cleaner and an extra pair so they can soak 24 hours before I put them back in. And eye drops...
3. In order to drink, but not spend much money, we went downtown to Freemont street, and we took the monorail and bus. I'll get a bus schedule next time...we seemed to hit the bus stops right after the last bus had left, and spent 20 minutes waiting!
4. I'll wear good shoes for walking...all the time. Night one we were going to dinner at the Venetian, so I dressed up and wore heels...HIGH heels. Then we decided to walk the strip...my calves got quite a workout going up and down little hills and tramping all over in 4 inch heels...I'm just lucky they were comfortable heels and my while my feet hurt while walking, I didn't get any blisters.
5. I'll gamble more, but I'll go during a down time. We actually had the most fun playing blackjack at a table, but I'm sure they wanted real gamblers (we were betting $5), so they made things as difficult as possible. We liked our dealer, so they switched her. We were winning (SMALL amounts)...our new dealer ignored most of what we said...I think her JOB is to empty a table...my sister called her "Butterface."
As in, "she had a great body, but her face...."
I was a bit surprised there weren't any street preachers...frankly it was less decadent than Bourbon street, except maybe for the giant billboards of half naked girls...and the "sex" sellers were more glamorous. Freemont street reminded me a lot of New Orleans!
So my mom sent me a forwarded political email today.
What I don't understand about my parents is why they believe everything they receive via email or hear from Rush Limbaugh.
I mean, they are intelligent people. My dad is an attorney, and my mom has a masters in social work. If I said, "If it's in the paper, it must be true, they wouldn't let them print anything that wasn't true." They'd laugh at me.
Yet, if it's disseminated via email from a friend, or heard from Rush Limbaugh, it must be true. Without question, never checking. They had me in a panic over something they heard on Rush Limbaugh and my house, until I checked it and found it wasn't true! There is always some grain of truth, probably so Limbaugh can say, "Well, that's what's next, just wait and see!"
The email they sent today had at least one error that I traced in thirty seconds. Which makes it a pretty sure bet that the email was full of more errors.
My mother and I are speaking again, we just aren't talking about her faux paus from last month. I'm wondering if she'll still do it. I'll have to ask my dad, if she decides it was a mistake, she'll NEVER admit it. Because of that, I am not sending out the scathing email I composed, my sister said there wasn't any point. I have added the text of my reply, but not the original email.
I'm glad I'm a libertarian. I don't like democrats because they are so anxious to spend my money, but aren't willing to pay any themselves (witness the multitude of tax evasion problems found when Obama was trying to fill cabinet posts, etc). I don't like republicans because they no longer believe in small government, but also believe in government to put forward their social ideals (hello, isn't that why they always criticized the democrats for doing?).
As a libertarian, and I suppose, as an accountant, I approach everything with an amount of skepticism, which means I doubt and I question. Something more folks need to be doing.
I would just like to point out that there is at LEAST one error in the email, which makes me doubt the veracity of the rest as well:
Daschle says, "Health care reform will not be pain free. Seniors should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them," while former Colorado Governor Dick Lamm says seniors have "a duty to die."
The quote from Dick Lamm is from a speech he gave in the 1980's, whether or not it's appropriate, it is unrelated to today's debate.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/s
I'm not saying that people are not racist, because there are still plenty of racists around. I was surprised by the number of racist emails I received after Obama was elected.
However, to say that the primary reason Obama is having trouble, or that people are disagreeing with him is because they are racist is wrong.
That may cause some people to stop commenting, and others to stop listening.
Which, my husband says, was the point., and he may be right.
100_0023, originally uploaded by angelasaban.
Playing with our new camera...
Just wanting to see how it shows up in the blog!
Not sure how I feel about the couple who chooses to stay married, but pursues relationships outside of marriage. To me, that defeats the entire purpose of marriage, and sets a horrible example for their children.
The rest of the piece I found interesting.
I posted this yesterday on the message boards we keep for our friends.
Surprisingly little comment, other than to say that if people want to have an "open" relationship, then they have that right.
I disagree, especially if they have children.
I'm very liberal, and happy for two consenting adults who want to get married to do so. However, if you want to me MARRIED, it is a commitment between two people. Otherwise, why bother? If you're just going to do what you want, and agree that you are married, there isn't a commitment involved. In addition, I wouldn't want to marry (or have my kid marry) someone who was so cavalier about marriage.
It is serious, it should be FOREVER. I cried all the way through my wedding...it was serious to me...it wasn't something I could just change my mind about the next day!
Marriage should be a safe haven, a place that you are with someone you trust completely, and (especially in this day and age) your partner is sleeping around, with or without your consent, you no longer have a safe haven!
So, I ran across this today, and it irritated me a bit.
I feel for the COUPLE of jobs that are legitimately on here, otherwise, get a grip!
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-1
Surprisingly low paid jobs:
1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), I do think this is legitimate, but then, the article points out they get raises as they get time under their belts, ever watched Nick Cage in "Bring Out Your Dead"? You don't want people who can't handle the job!
2. Pharmacy Technician, not sure about this one, I've known pharmacy techs....
3. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), if only because they are often caring for those in most need of assistance, they probably deserve better.
4. Preschool Teacher, we get what we pay for...I wish I could pay for better myself...
5. Amusement Park Ride Operator--HELLO? These are mostly kids working summer jobs, they don't even support themselves, who cares if they are low paid? Hopefully, this is exactly the sort of job to make them want to get that college degree!
6. Line Cook--HELLO? Most of these are in places like Chili's, they are probably illegal anyway, and don't make any decisions for themselves!
7. Lifeguard--HELLO? Again, high schoolers, they don't have a mortgage, so whatever they get, it's usually plenty!
8. Nanny--HELLO? Ditto above!
9. Automobile Mechanic--seems like I pay PLENTY...maybe they just aren't very good. Seems to me, a good mechanic should make plenty...
10. Tax Preparer--HELLO?? As your resident accountant, DON'T PAY THESE PEOPLE! They just use software, and haven't a clue...paying them more won't make them any more qualified! If you have complicated tax returns, use a real CPA!
I love my table, but someone messed up one small spot.
My mom suggested I try to paint the grain to match, but I just don't think I have that kind of talent!
So, I went and found some removable stickers with sunflowers on them. I am using sunflowers in my kitchen and this would tie the two rooms together.
This isn't normally my style, and maybe someday I had thought of using stain to make a pattern to cover the problem spot, to create an "inlaid" look. I've seen it done, and it can look fabulous. I still think that may be the way to go, especially since I doubt I'll use sunflowers in my next house (I only have them in my kitchen to match the blue and white of the decor to the almond yellow of the appliances--I don't want to spend the cash to replace the appliances in a place I don't intend to stay in much longer!), so I don't want to do a permenant fix...
Since I didn't figure anyone would want to slog through that, I sprinkled it throughout the years.
I am wondering about a quick way to get the photos off the site. I don't know that I have those pictures stored anywhere anymore, and I'd like to keep them. A few are from when my mother was in the hospital with breast cancer, and I'd like to save them. I don't ever want to forget that her words to us as she trundled off to surgery were, "Try the chicken strips, I hear they're great!"
Do I have to download each one, or does someone know a better way?
I thought this was ridiculous! I don't tell lies! I'm an honest and forthright person!
Then I was going to ask for business cards.
Not because I need them, because frankly, I don't. I have to go to a professional meeting for one of my graduate classes, and the only one that is at a time that I can attend is the Association of Management Accountants. This is pretty much what I do right now, although it is not what I WANT to do in the future.
Anyway, I thought that my company business cards would be better than my bookkeeping business cards, and I started thinking of what I would be saying.
I'm sure I'll talk about what I do, and I'm sure I'll gloss over that what I want to do is Systems Auditing, or forensics, not Management Accounting. After all, they are Management Accountants, they think it's "fun" or something.
Then I thought of all the other little "white lies" we tell. Half the time it's because it's just easier! Examples of the lies I tell on a pretty constant basis:
"My niece has cancer." Actually, she is "much better now." And she is my brother's wife's child by a previous marriage, so a "step" niece? Who cares, and who wants to bother with the explanations?
"I'm dating a friend from college." Okay, now I'm married to him. But when we started dating seriously, it was easier to tell the other people I had been dating that I was "back with" a college friend. The truth is that he was a friend of my sister's from college, but we both went to the same college, so I figured I could let it slide. Again, who wants to hear the long drawn out explanation?
"She is in a meeting." When I don't want to talk to someone. When Daniel was a baby, I'd hold him as close to the phone as possible, and he'd eventually give some sort of noise...so I could say, "I'm sorry, my baby needs me!"
Come to think of it, I HATE when people get bogged down in irrelevant details. Like my aunt who would spend ten minutes determining the day something happened on, when it didn't actually relate to the story! "Last Tuesday...or was it Wednesday? No, it was Thursday...no, I tell a lie, it WAS Tuesday." Who cares? Does it matter? Move it right along, people!
Point is, these lies often involve truncating data that other people don't care about, and that doesn't actually add to the information. But I suppose, on a literal level, they are still "lies." I wonder if they'd make me nervous on a lie detector test, or if they are told often enough that my brain thinks of them as "truths." I roomed with a guy in college that I was pretty sure was living in a different reality than I was, he seemed to believe things that we KNEW weren't true!
Today one professor sent us a message actually meant for HER from the administration.
It was reminding people of how quickly the H1N1 spread (which is the real trouble with it, it isn't any worse than normal flu, but it spreads so quickly that more people get it...which means more people can die simply because of numbers), and asked they consider that when setting attendance policies.
I was obviously sick last night, blowing my nose through class and such.
The thing that annoyed me about this email, was the professor's complete lack of information. She just forwarded a message sent to her. That was it. No, "in light of the recent outbreak, please contact me to make class arrangements when you are sick." Nothing, just a "here is what I've been asked to do" no word on what her policy will be.
Thanks, thanks so much, for exactly NOTHING.
So, I've decided to go on a "Slim Fast" diet.
Not because I like it, or am in such a hurry to lose a few pounds, but because after the last semester of eating too much fast food on the way to class, I can't GAIN any more weight!!
So far I have ended up eating my dinner after class is over at 9:30...not matter how healthy I attempt to eat this is BAD!
So, I decided to have a shake for breakfast, and a shake for whichever other meal I need, instead of trying to take dinner to class.
I expect to be a bit tired as my body adjusts...
The part of me that knows nutrition is also appalled...
Dinner out with our best friends (my sister and her husband), sushi, sake and conversation...
Cake, coffee and games...
And gifts...
Well, sort of a gift.
My husband bought me a new digital camera because ours is on it's last leg...the battery cover is broken and has to be held on with a rubber band and the memory card slot cover is also broken...
I open it up so I can charge it up to take with us to dinner...and I can't get the stupid battery into the camera!
I had to my husband, because I'd had a glass of celebratory wine at this point...thinking I was just being stupid...
Turns out some JACKA$$ returned the camera, probably thinking they were getting themselves a deal by returning a CHEAPER camera in the box!
My only consolation is that they don't have the right battery...I hope it cost them a freakin' fortune to replace...
I HATE people who want something for nothing! If they worked as hard at real work as they do at ripping people off, our economy wouldn't be in the shape it's in now!
So, here is my dilemma...when I return it, do I tell them the problem, or keep my mouth shut? I've heard stories about people not being able to return items when they admit the problem...but I hate to think they might put the camera back out on the shelf as it is...
If you have ever read any of this before, you may recall the tears of the two months of wedding planning...
In addition, when I got married I didn't register for silver or china because she had always promised me that when I got married I would get half of her silver and a set of china (she bought a set of her wedding china for her mother). I received neither and was told I would get them, "when she was dead." Which kind of defeats the purpose, after all, I want to have china to serve on special occasions, NOW!
Today, she met with my sister and brother and I to go over their wishes after they pass away. I've been asking them to get all this in order for years, because I didn't want to be coping with grieving for my parents and making all these decisions.
They finally do it, and mom decides to tell us that she is setting aside $10K for "whichever of her children she believes has followed most her ethical values."
My mother and I disagree on a lot of things, but I'm not going to pretend to be something I'm not, just to get some money.
That would go, it seems to me, entirely against the way I was raised.
It really, really, really, pisses me off.
I really enjoy "The Simple Dollar" blog, because it usually reinforces my own ideas...I guess it's the accountant in me! We've been pretty bad this summer. We've spent up all our savings trying to get our house fixed up, and while we've been working we've often eaten out because of the chaos. So, back on track now!
Today's article had a section that really hit home. After arguing with one of my husband's friends about him going back to school, I've really wanted to find some people with more ambition to hang out with! For every single person who has been sucessful without a degree, there are ten who haven't. Yet she will insist that Craig doesn't need to go back to school...drama degrees just aren't much in demand right now!
Mistake: Surround Yourself with Unhelpful People
Now, these people are evil, they are not just people we don't like, but my mind just kept drawing a blank when the conversation lagged...
This is one of the draw backs of a taking a "media break" this summer.
I've only been listening to books on tape, not any news...so I'm mostly out of it.
NPR usually gives me great conversation starters!
