Best of 2007

So here are the highlights for me for the year 2007.
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY 2008! I hope it's a great one!

• Kyle graduating with his Masters
• Me graduating with my MBA
• Ireland
• Yellowstone & Grand Tetons
• Going to NY to get my haircut by Nick Arrojo (From the TLC show "What Not To Wear")
• Chicago with my Mom
• Disney World
  

Update

I am sure you are all dying to know what I have been doing since I have been off work from the 24th. Spending time with Kyle and Mom. Kyle leaves tomorrow morning so I have tried to do as much as I can with him. He brought his Wii and we played it a ton. My arms hurt we have played it so much and with such intensity. We had a good Christmas, I got what I asked for (a vacuum, some towels & PJ's, a card for my digital camera, Pirates 3 - thrilling eh?) and it was nice. Played a lot of Wii, in fact I am going to buy one with the help of Dad and Laurie as a graduation gift. Well, when I can find one I'll get one. Mom, Kyle and I went to see Charlie Wilson's War (never realized the impact he had) and got tickets to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They were neat. More than I expected. Nothing really else other than I have gotten the chance to read books that I want to and for no real reason other than to enjoy them. Odd concept. In all honesty, I am waiting for next Saturday when I board a plane to go to Antigua for a friend's wedding. Sun, beaches and nothing to worry about... sounds about perfect after graduating with an MBA. What a way to celebrate two milestones!

Before It's Too Late!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! I hope your Holiday season has been wonderful and that you get to spend Christmas with family and friends. Safe travels and enjoy the time you have to spend with family. Kyle's back home from taking his girlfriend to South Bend, IN today. He brought his Nintendo Wii with him so we'll be busy!

Announcing....

Danielle Ford, MBA!!! Yes, as of yesterday, you can all now call me Master Danielle. I have diploma in hand and therefore I am much smarter than yesterday. The best part was Kyle came home and I didn't know. I guess everyone else did. Saturday morning mom called to say she had something to drop off before graduation. I opened the door and it was Kyle. It was awesome. It was the best gift ever. I had a graduation party and the weather did not cooperate, but it was fine. My closest friends were there and so was Kyle so that is all that matters!!

Me, Darren & Porscha

I Love Warm Weather

So leaving Florida yesterday to come home to wonderful Ohio weather leaves a little to be desired. I left warm, sunny 80 degrees for gray. Neat....

Disney was great. We went to MGM studios on Friday afternoon and the Magic Kingdom all day on Saturday. Crowds were not that bad and we only had to wait 40 minutes for a few rides. Overall it was a good day. I don't care how old you are, when you see that castle it makes you feel like a little kid all over again.
In the event you cared, I still remember the park layout like I was just there a week ago (yes I am a nerd). It was great to go back and for the most part we got everything done that the Magic Kingdom had other than the lame or really little kid stuff. I got to see the parade at night too which I totally remember from when I was a kid. I love Disney World and probably always will... Hard to believe I graduate on Saturday considering just a few days ago I felt like a little kid in a play land where everything is just fine and life is good.....

MICKEY!!!!

Yes I am a 29-year-old little kid. Does anyone have a problem with that?

I leave Tuesday for Orlando for training for Light The Night. (I wouldn't be going if I didn't have to. Give me a break, I have been doing this for six years now.) Anyway my two staff people and I have plans to stay the weekend and go to Disney World. It has been years since I have been and yes, I love it, I can't help it. We are only going to MGM Studios and The Magic Kingdom, but it is enough for me. The weather also looks like it is going to be nice so that will only add to the trip. I'm pumped, did I mention I I love it and yes I am 5.

I Have No Idea

I really have no idea what to say or how.... Tonight was my last presentation in my MBA program. I don't know what to do, what to say or how to feel. It's 100 emotions all at once... It's going to take me awhile to enter the "real" world again. I don't think it has really hit me what I have just accomplished or what it means, it may take awhile.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone. Regardless of how much I talked to you or you were around everyone in my life played a part in supporting me through this. You have no idea what it means to me and how much this has taught me. Thank you for understanding, yelling at me when needed, being there to listen and faith in me I could do it and do it well.

What in the world am I going to do and how am I going to handle this??

Houston

Was great the first day as it was nice, sunny and warm. We went to the Houston NASA Space Center for the day on Wednesday and it was pretty interesting. Different than the one at the Cape, not sure if it was better or not. After that it got cold. It seems as if we brought Ohio weather with us.

Thanksgiving was good. No instant mashed potatoes or StoveTop for those of you who know what I am talking about. We made dinner in Kyle's little apartment and it was fine. Ashely made a great Apple Pie and things were fine. Kyle crashed for a nap and the three of us planned our shopping outing. None of us had ever gotten up to do the after Thanksgiving morning shopping but we did this year. We planned on getting up to be at Kohl's at 4am when they opened.

We got up around 2:30 and were at Kohl's by 3:30. The thing about Texas is you can carry a weapon (neat). Kyle about threatened me with death if I made any smart comments. He and I crammed in the doors and got carts and then for added flair went running down the isles screaming. It was hilarious. We went because I got a 7 piece luggage set for $50 (originally $200) and my current set looks like it has been beaten several times. We also went because Kyle is building a house and we wanted to get him some stuff on sale. We were done with Kohl's by 4:45. Went home, ate breakfast and went to Target. Not a whole lot there but I did get more stuff for Kyle's extra bathroom. (I told him I would buy all the stuff for the spare bathroom for him - decorating is not really up his alley) Finally home at 7 and back to bed till around 10. I'm not sure I would do it again unless there were some things I really wanted. There is no way I would ever go to a mall.

The rest of the trip was good. We saw Kyle's lot of dirt and the model of the house he is building. It rained a ton, I have never seen storms like that. We went to a Texas Two-Step bar on Friday night and I have never laughed so hard in my life. We all sucked, badly. It was hilarious. We saw where he works and basically hung out. Played some games, had a fire and watched football. It was a good weekend. I hate being home and having him so far away. At least he will be home in a few weeks for Christmas. Here are some pictures of the house and the space center.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. We are off today to Houston to see Kyle. Never been to Texas, not a huge fan, but I will have to get over it. I am crossing my fingers that our flights will be ok and this won't be too much of a hassle. I'm taking my camera, we'll see what I come back with.

Oh yea - in the event you are also counting - I only have three more classes. As of last night there will be no more classes of learning. I am all learn-ed. Only presentations left. YIPPIE!!!!

No Matter What

No matter what happens this weekend in football, Michigan still sucks. Regardless of how either team plays or who wins, Michigan still sucks. I plan on wearing my Appalachian State shirt tomorrow and again on Saturday under my OSU jersey. Moral of the story - Michigan still/always sucks.

Tuesday we leave for Houston for Thanksgiving. While it may be warmer as of now it looks like it is going to rain. Never been to Houston so we shall see. I'll report when I get back with my thoughts. The worst thing is no leftovers and usually I eat Thanksgiving dinner for weeks after. I guess mom will have to make it again.

Travel Pics

So you can see I like to travel. Here are some pictures from two recent trips for you to look at!

Ireland - June 2007
Yellowstone & Grand Tetons - August 2007

What To Do After School?

While having extra time on a daily and weekly basis that I am going to have to find something to fill, I am excited that I am starting my monthly trips to the airport as I did before school started. (Ah, what memories....) Anyway I am going to the airport at least once a month through May. In the event you care where I'm going:

• November - Thanksgiving at Kyle's in Houston
• December - Orlando for training for work.
  
• January - Antigua with a friend for her wedding! (WARM & SUN!)
• January - San Antonio for training for work.
  
• February - Houston to visit Kyle.
  
• February - Maryland to visit Grandparents.
  
• March - England with Mom!
• May - Zion & Bryce National Parks in Utah with Kyle, Ashley and Aaron.
  

If you want to be my visit in April, or are close enough for a weekend visit let me know! Might as well make up for lost time! Who hoo!

Ladies & Gentlemen

Yes, I'm at work but I just realized this. I have SIX, count them SIX more classes until my MBA program and school is over for good! Holy cow..... Am I dreaming? This is unreal. Now the big question is.... what do I want to be when I grow up now that I have this degree?!

Motivation

Is currently a HUGE issue for me. The fact that the end is so close for school does not make it any easier to do the work I need to do. This week I have a lot of stuff due and would rather do anything, include clean my apartment from top to bottom and then some, before do it. I have a lack of motivation and any ideas you can give to help me get my butt in gear for these next few weeks would be appreciated. I already have a countdown to the number of weeks I have left and thought that would help, maybe not. Also, Kyle was here this weekend and I couldn't spend all the time I wanted with him because of stuff for school Boo.

On a high note, OSU won and we saw the team and coaches walk into the stadium. We have a picture on our phones, but I have no idea how to get that on here. Mom and I had awesome seats in C deck. They were actual seats, not hard, cold cram 800 people into one row seats. Nice!

Who!

Fatty (or Kyle) is coming home from Houston this weekend! He is coming home for the OSU vs. Wisconsin game and a family friend got mom and I tickets! The game is at noon and Kyle is so excited he wants to get down there at 9am. Wow.... Oh well, spending the day with him and mom won't be bad and at least it's not a night game. We're gonna freeze but not too badly. GO BUCKS!

It's Almost Over!

Today I got my cap, gown and hood for graduation. I cannot believe that on December 15th I will graduate. Let me tell you, I am TOTALLY READY!!!! Two and a half years later and I will have accomplished one of the hardest things in my life. I have learned so much both from my classes and those in them. I have no idea what I am going to do with myself as I am so used to always having something to do for school and it always being on my mind. Overall it has been a good experience and I wouldn't change it for the world. It has taught me more than I even probably realize. I've been counting down since this semester started and now I can really see the light!!!

BOO!

I love pumpkin carving. I think it is great to do stuff like you did when you were a kid. Here are our pumpkins. Aaron had to have an easy pattern to do so his is the smiley face.

My pumpkin. It was a little hard to get all the details but I like it. Maybe if I wasn't a perfectionsist it would be easier. I like mine the best.

I Just Have To Tell You...

That after six years, although hard to believe, I still love my job. I love the people I work with, why I do what I do and the impact it makes on the lives of others. I had to tell the top teams I work with in Zanesville tonight that I was going to be handing the Walk over to the other two people in my department. I's sad because they are friends, they have personal connections and because of the relationships I formed with them. I loved every minute of the past two years working and building the Zanesville Walk from nothing to $85,000 this year. It's my baby and the people are wonderful. I will miss them deeply and won't fully be able to disconnect from them because of who they are and what they mean to me. Say whatever you will, it's just how I feel...

After being convinced.....

So I am finally in this weird world of blogging.... why I'm not really sure. One reason is so Micah can now not bug me about doing it. I guess once I really think about it it could be a way for me to keep in touch with friends I hardly see or talk to. (I'm really good at that). I guess I was afraid of creating a blog because I really don't do a whole lot other than work and school. Maybe I will find my life is more exciting, or more dull than I realize. Since mostly friends are going to ready it at least I can let them know what is going on in my life. I'm constantly checking the blogs of friends I know about and probably know more about their lives than they want me to. It gives me a chance to stay connected. OK... for now I'm done, I have to think of something creative to write or post next I suppose. Maybe it will so thrilling you won't know what to do! Doubtful....