here's a hypothesis

I cannot reject the hypothesis that I suck at statistics. I'm writing my paper and have about 20 calculations done but don't know which one is the one I'm supposed to use. T table or Z table? Proportion or binomial? I've got them both, should I just include everything and let the professor sort it out? I would technically have the right answer buried somewhere in all the wrong answers...

can't trust oscar

Yago and I watched The Hurt Locker the other night. I was really looking forward to finally seeing it but was sadly disappointed. The movie wasn't that great but it won the oscar last year. If I remember correctly it also won best screenplay but I thought the screenplay was awful.

I feel compelled to disclose in all fairness that I'm reading The Good Soldiers right now which didn't help me enjoy the movie. The book is heartbreaking and true. The movie was hokey and over the top.

I'd be interested in other people's opinions if they saw the movie.

Yee-Haw!!

I got an A in my International Economics - Trade class. (This is not the Statistics class...) But still, I got an A!

idiot

I took my final, it didn't go very well. Here's what I did... We were allowed to bring a page of notes so I wrote as tiny as I could. Only problem is that I need reading glasses and after a while even the reading glasses don't help the eye strain. So after a week of getting up early to study, study, study, my eyes tire very quickly. Throw in a page full of minuscule letters written in pencil (the pencil also makes it harder to read because there isn't as much contrast) and it was a recipe for disaster.

I spent the whole test rubbing my eyes and trying to quickly find what I was looking for in the seven seconds I had before I'd have to look away and try again. So I took a couple of breaks to walk around in the hall for a few minutes. Anyway, I ran out of time. That stinks.

The professor gave us a couple of warnings that our time was about to expire. When he finally said he was getting cranky I turned in my paper even though I wasn't done expecting the other three or four people left to do the same. Nope. I handed in my paper and they were all still working when I left. I was a little ticked about that because I didn't finish and thought everyone else was going to follow suit and turn in their paper.

I poked around when I left because I was hoping to talk to the professor but 15 minutes later none of the other students or the professor had left. I should have just sat there and finished the dang test.

Oh well. I'll start working on the paper.

Tomorrow we're going to the Iowa state fair, you wouldn't believe how excited Yago is. Before bed we've been watching state fair highlights on Iowa Public Television. It'll be a two hour drive so we're leaving at 0630. Seriously. I can't even be annoyed because I think it's so funny.

special kind of deviation

I'm taking my statistics final today. I think I've been on the verge of tears all week. I was woefully unprepared for this class. I have so many formulas and greek letters floating around in my head that I feel nauseous. I have questions that I can't even articulate. This is awful. I'm in a class full of Economics majors, many of whom this is their last Master's class. And? I'm the only girl. I hate being part of a stereotype but I guess that's how stereotypes form. I should just embrace it. ;^) I mean there have to be some positives to being a blond girl... If I can't pull off being an airhead what's the point?

All I can say is that I'm tempted to stop by the store on the way home and buy a bottle of Asti Spumante because pass or fail the final, it'll be over tonight.

the unthinkable

I may have accomplished the unthinkable. I believe I've worn Yago down to accepting the idea of a Disney vacation. At this point he may be willing to do anything to shut me up about it. I know he won't get excited about it but I'm holding out hope he'll enjoy it once he's there.

I forgot to mention that I finally had my 10% VA disability reinstated and I got back pay for about a year and a half. When the check came Yago said I should do with it what I wanted. (cuz he's cool like that) I told him I thought we should do something with the family, perhaps put it toward our vacation fund for next year. HE suggested Disney. Since then I've been relentlessly searching the website for information and prices. I've gone to ITT on base... everything.

I think I've decided what I have my heart set on and if all goes well I'll be able to check "Nag Yago about a Disney vacation" off my list of things to do!

no fair

The boys all went to the county fair, I'm left here alone to study statistics. BOR-ING! Hopefully they'll call later and I'll be done reading 600 pages. Yeah, it could happen.

addendum: I just realized I'm also home alone with the chocolate cupcakes! Oh Lord!

hairess

I finally gave up on my home coloring experimentation and had a professional do it. SOOO much better! I got it all chopped off and highlighted, it feels great. I had a couple of girls that I know from bootcamp do it, one cut it and the other colored it. It's not yellow and orange anymore with thick brown roots!

much to do

I can't believe summer is almost over, I mean it's August already! Where did it go. I have mixed feelings about how this summer has gone. I've done most everything that was on my list but I don't have the warm fuzzy feeling I thought I'd have. We go to the pool, we've been to the zoo several times, we've played, we're working on the alphabet. I don't know... I just thought I'd feel more bliss, now it's almost over and I'm still searching for the bliss.

I'm about to start a statistics course and need to pull my head out of my rear and get busy. I'll work on it.

My last professor was quite a character, and I'm not just saying that. He had a distinctively 80s look to him and was always using weird numbers for his problems (like the diameter of the moon, distance to the sun, and a bunch of wacky ratios I'd never considered). He told me he and his wife just opened a dance studio, he's a ballroom dancer and she's a ballerina. When I emailed him my final paper he sent me a link that I was reluctant to open but it was he and his wife dancing at some competition or exposition. Anyway, looking at his bio reminds me of the Dos XX guy, the most interesting man in the world. It's seriously ridiculous. I can tell my next professor will be nothing like the former.

I'm going to do a whole bunch of housework today and then study. I think. I'm definitely going to study but I haven't been too motivated on the housework stuff lately. Who is?

peter paper

Well, just paper. I have a paper due and it's kind of kicking my butt, mainly because I've never had to write a real paper. The university I went to wasn't exactly stellar so my rambles passed as work and I did fine, well actually. I feel like this is different though, I should at least be able to produce a good paper if I'm going to finish this program.

I've had the topic decided for a while but have had trouble finding the trade model that my problem fits and then figuring out how to prove it graphically. (graphically = with a graph, not in a bloody or XXX kind of way.) I've imposed a deadline of today so Yago can get on with his course instead of trying to make sure I have time available to work on my stuff. (He's very thoughtful like that.) I will have it done today and it will be the best I'll be able to produce (for better or worse). Tomorrow we'll be back on track with our Library Wednesdays. I plan to start our week of the letter "Aa" tomorrow.

I need some new blogs to follow but I'm a little lazy on the busqueda. I had a few that I followed but most of them have been abandoned or update monthly instead of daily now. I enjoy following people, not writers. I'd prefer to read about someone's encounter with an a-hole at the grocery store instead of a polished philosophical piece on "love at first sight." Ya know? Actually, I don't need more blogs to read. My time could be better spent doing other things...

On to other things.

nummer vier

Yesterday Yago and I celebrated our fourth anniversary. We'll go out to dinner and a movie Saturday night to mark the occasion, but yesterday wasn't celebrated with jewelry or a dozen roses. That's okay with me because when I made my coffee I found a little note from Yago that made me smile all today. This morning when I woke at 5 am for bootcamp he said something about starting our fifth year together. He's a good, good husband. ;)

brilliant

I'm watching the local news, there's a petition filed to recall the mayor of Omaha. The mayor is proposing additional taxes to cover a significant budget shortfall. His proposal increases property taxes by an average of $60/year and a 4% restaurant tax. The guy that filed the recall, Mr. Fasthorse, listed unfair taxation as a reason to remove the mayor but the brilliant part of the story is that he previously filed a petition to have the mayor recalled because the mayor wanted to close a library as part of a budget cut. So there's a huge shortfall but this guy doesn't want his services cut or to pay any additional taxes. I'd like to hear his solution...

unbelievable

I stumbled uoon a new (to me at least) reality show Sunday afternoon. It stars RuPaul and is called Drag Race. It's a bunch of drag queens competing for a chance to be a spokesperson for some products and an LGBT something or another. It was interesting but boy was I embarrassed when Yago caught me watching.

novelty

On Saturday I started my first master's class working toward a degree in International Relations. It's exciting and fun to be in a classroom again, I'm sure the feeling will dissipate shortly but Saturday and Sunday were good.

Yago got up early Saturday morning to pack my lunch and make me homemade, from scratch, whole wheat pancakes with fresh raspberries to accompany. We ate our breakfast outside and read the paper. Did I mention he also packed a thermos full of coffee for me take? Is he the grooviest husband or what? He's so funny too!

Since I went to bootcamp this morning I need to go take a shower. We were outside running sprints so I smell like sweat and bug spray. Mmm.

I saw a new spelling of ciao from a Spanish speaker the other day on fb, it was chau. Entonces, chau.

rainy fourth

Our neighborhood is supposed to be having a huge block party today but it looks like it may be rained out. It's been raining since about 7:30 this morning and is forecast to rain all day.

The Vietnamese neighbors are rumored to have bought 100 lbs of meat for grilling and have a shipping crate full of fireworks. The Venezuelan neighbors said they were buying 50 lbs of meat and boy can they cook! I don't know what Carlos was planning on making today but I'm positive it will be delicioso! (If you recall, last year the Vietnamese people gave Carlos a shark they caught on a fishing trip in Florida and he made some spectacular empanadas.)

We'll see how this all turns out but it's not looking good right now.

fb

Is it wrong that I'm tempted to correct people on Facebook? Just now I was reading a comment that read, "It looks like your having a good time." and I wanted to comment directly underneath, "AND it looks like you're having a good time." Of course, I would never actually do that but I do have the urge. Oh. And what is it with "shld of"? That throws me every time.

Don't get me wrong, I make my share of mistakes. ("Whose" gives me trouble for some reason.) But seriously. I also find it interesting that the people who make these errors all seem to be friends with each other. You know what I mean? I can count on regular errors from the same five or six people and they are always commenting on the other four or five's updates.

Hmm.

warden

This past weekend we sentenced Schmitty to 24 hours of solitary confinement except for meals. He spent Friday afternoon and evening giving me plenty of lip and yelling at everyone. Yago was so angry he couldn't even talk to him. We decided to make up the guest room and put him in there with nothing, no books or toys. He's been charming since 7:30 Saturday night. I think it was way more effective than any lecture or other punishment we could have given.

I can't believe the 4th is coming up already. My in-laws will be here Saturday evening and leave Tuesday morning, they're troopers for driving up again. They came a couple of weeks ago for a wedding. There's supposed to be a huge block party including homemade fireworks. I've been told it's amazing (we're usually out of town on the 4th so we've never seen it) but I anticipate Ralphie hating the noise and becoming a quivering mess.

I think this morning we'll head to the zoo and then go to the pool after lunch and naps. Maybe I'll get some studying done this afternoon, my class starts in a week and a half.

a good laugh

I had a good laugh this morning with Yago and we all know how much I LOVE a good belly laugh! We were talking about our honeymoon and some of the funny things that happened. I was still giggling and holding my side when he pulled out of the driveway. Then it occurred to me that we were on our honeymoon four years ago and planted a little Ralphie seed. That's funny too for some reason. Anyway, it feels like more than four years ago, it feels like life has been like this for much longer but not in a bad way.

We are currently suffering without our Jura-Capresso maker, it's in the shop. We had to part ways for a couple of agonizing weeks to get him fixed up. I called to check the status the other day and told the customer service guy that I missed that lil' fella, referring to the machine. I bought some folger's single bags but those are really a poor substitute.

Yesterday we had another realtor come over to look at our house and give us some advice. I feel more optimistic now, this lady seemed to really know what she was talking about. She gave us advice that made sense and was definitive. I almost wanted to hug her when she left. I mean our situation and the market are still not ideal but at least we have a little hope of not losing our pants next year.

Ralphster is up, gotta go!

in stitches

I haven't updated in a while. Earlier this week I posted a rant that was over the top and deleted it the next day.

I've been trying to start a project where I journal for the kids every night but it lasted one night. A short paragraph for each of the boys about something they said or did that day, maybe even with a couple of pictures pasted to the page. Like I said, it seemed like a great idea but my follow through is lacking.

Last night as I was finishing up the preparation of dinner Ralphie took a header off the deck. Yago and Ralph were covered in blood, I may have panicked a little bit... We wound up rushing him to the ER for stitches, staples actually. Schmitty was so squeamish he couldn't stay in then room when the doctors or nurses were there, he had to step out.

We topped off the evening with a trip to Don & Millie's for burgers and margaritas.

help me

Help me understand exactly what was SOOOO deplorable about Helen Thomas' comments. The "go home" part was a little over the top but I kind of agree with her. I think if I lived in the Middle East I'd be annoyed with Israel too. I know living in the US I get annoyed that we defend almost everything Israel does when I lot of it (settlements) I strongly disagree with. Anyway, any parcel of knowledge that would help me understand I'd greatly appreciate.