Almost

So I've definitely been MIA for the past few weeks, but I have never been so busy! Grad school + full time job= really really hard. I think I've already said that once, but after these 4 weeks I'm pretty sure it warrants being said at least 100 more times. But, somehow (I really don't even believe it myself yet- definitely hasn't sunk in) I'm almost there. I think over the course of the semester I read about 1500 pages, wrote 4 big papers and 25 article summaries, did 2 group projects, and one case study. I made it! Now we'll just see if I actually learned anything...Ask me about tax exemption and the nonprofit environment and I'll probably seem pretty smart. Ask about marketing or organizational behavior, the odds are not as good....

I've had to turn down fun in favor of work way too many times in the past few weeks, and I'm completely shocked at this change of personal character. I'm not sure I like it. I really can't remember ever doing that before. Ever. I've always convinced myself that no matter what I would find time to do the work after I had the fun. But this time, as hard as I tried, I simply could not convince myself that there were enough hours in the day to get it all done. Horrible! But I'm glad I have some common sense, because I was, indeed, basically working up to minute things were due (or the minute I had to go to bed for work the next day...) so it's probably a good thing I neglected to have a little fun sometimes.

Oh gosh don't worry though- you didn't think I wasn't having any fun did you? Don't be absurd...I have continued to enjoy the last few hot ciders at the farmers market and always turn the corner away from the beautiful white lights that look blue at Lincoln Center, bracing myself for disappointment if the farmers are not there and winter has truly set in...I'm obsessed with hot cider at Starbucks too...I'm also obsessed with Whole Foods. I think I have a problem...I love to walk around and take in all the Christmas decorations. It's still about 50 or 60 degrees so it's hard to imagine that it's Christmas in New York, but it is and that's pretty exciting!...When my mom and sister were here we had a few adventures. Most importantly we went to the Rainbow Room and it was intense. I'm not sure they really wanted us there. But Eric said that he had talked to "Saul" and somehow that got us a table, even though the boys weren't in jackets and had to borrow really really pretty ones from the coat closet and we had been waiting in a really long line for the elevator and were getting a bit cranky. We also went to all you can drink brunch again, but this time managed to have only 3 margaritas each, and refrained from making a plastic monkey sculpture or ordering extra bacon....in all my time writing for school lately, I've found some really great places to go on campus. I love going to the study lounge on the 7th floor of our student center. You can sit by a window and look out over the city, and see Washington Square Park, the Empire State Building all lit up in its green and red Christmas festivity, the Chrysler building, and many others that I don't know the names of but that look really great. It's really inspiring, even when you are thinking you can't possibly type another word or have another group meeting...We found a competitor (or an imposter...) for NUTS FOR NUTS. It's called Nut 2 the Nut and I really don't think it can possibly be as good as NUTS FOR NUTS...Today we went Christmas shopping in Herald Square (you know Macy's... Miracle on 34th street...that kind of place...) and while it's good to go there maybe, it's basically just a really bad idea. That was too many people. Too much pop Christmas music. Too much yelling. Too much shoving. Just a little too much. Probably I won't have that idea again...

I'm going home WEDNESDAY and I'm so excited I could pee my pants. I just have to make it through 2 days of work and I'm getting on that plane with my favorite hon-hon and going home for vacation. So great. I'm basically 100% positive that my Christmas Spirit will be in full force the moment I get off the plane. Maybe even the moment I get off work that day. Maybe even when I wake up tomorrow because as soon as I print and staple my case study- NO MORE SCHOOL (for three and a half weeks...but let's never talk about that....)