Cell Phones in Bathrooms

I started this post on April 21st with every intention of finishing it within a week or so but, as weeks often do, time slipped away from me. Inspired by Sarah's recent post, I felt compelled to finish my thoughts on the subject.

I don't have a shy bladder. I have no problem using public restrooms and have never been afraid of germs or conversations in bathrooms or any other frequent nuance that others may experience. But I do have adversion to people who talk on their cell phones in the bathroom. For some reason that just bugs the heck out of me. It's one thing to have to use a public restroom where others are privvy to your body functions, it's quite another to have some unknown person, male or female - you never know, on the other end of a cell line listening in on the goings on in a public bathroom. Not only is it disgusting it's just plain rude and screams trashy.

Certainly there is an empty hallway, an outside location, your office, your car - someplace you can go to carry on your conversation without disrupting the privacy of others on a restroom break. Now, I'm all about efficiency and carrying on two tasks at once is awfully appealing, especially in the hustle and bustle of today's world. However, there is a fine line between efficiency and laziness.

Have some couth. Hang up the cell phone before you enter the restroom. Don't pick up the phone if you are in there doing your thing and wait till you have washed your hands and exited before dialing.

Dane's Hair

Here is a picture of me and Dane taken about two years ago. His hair was long and he had about 50 extra pounds on him.






Now here's a pic of Dane taken recently after getting his hair cut and losing over 55 pounds!

This blog is to take note and give credit to the man for all his efforts to lose the weight and update his look to his current tastes and his place in life. He's done such a great job, I'm so proud of him. Right away I could tell a difference in his attitude and self esteem. He has always been a good looking man but now you can really see it shine. Albeit he's more "mainstream" now but I think it was about time to do that. He'd had long hair pretty much his entire adolescent and adult life up till now. It's been such a difference. Many people almost didn't recognize him.

We've been getting along better recently and I think that has to do with quite a few variables, his weight loss and haircut to name a few. I think we've both matured and become more comfortable in our marriage and what that means for our relationship and our roles within the relationship. I can honestly say, from personal experience and from my recent dealings with Dane, that when your partner feels good about themselves, it shows in their attitude all across the board. Not just in day-to-day circumstances or the bedroom but in general and far reaching.

I feel Dane needed this confidence boost, especially as he embarks on finding a new job. While long hair might not be a big deal in Seattle, he is expanding to a much broader geographic location with his job search and talented as he may be he can't afford to be judged by his appearance.

I think his new hair makes him look younger yet more mature and definitely manlier. Instead of looking like the softy pony-tail guy, he looks like he could hold his own. I always knew he could despite his appearence.

I loved his long hair - hell - it was one of the reasons I was attracted to him. But that was almost 10 years ago and we are different people now. I'm glad to be witness to Dane's transformation to a beautiful butterfly. :-)

Fail

This wont be a long post but enough to say that I know without a doubt that I failed my first exam. I thought I was prepared but ended up leaving the exam in tears.

Update: I started writing this post several days ago. And while I still feel like I failed the exam, I was told by several of my classmates and teacher tonight that I should not completely give up hope. They maintained that the tests are weighted or "normalized" and that I could very well pass. I still feel like an epic failure though. I'm quite sure I failed.

I say this because over 1/3 of the questions I felt like I didn't even know what they were asking let alone how to answer them. Of the questions I thought I knew how to calculate I would go through the motions and arrive at an answer that wasn't even listed. I studied the material extra hard and gave little thought or attention to comprehension or how to pass the questions on this exam. Sounds silly but hear me out. I felt like I had a good handle on comprehension and the trickery that the CPA exam pulls. I'm a critical thinker so I felt I didn't need to focus on that as much as the material. Boy was I wrong! It does NO good to know the material if you can't even decifer what is being asked!

I've spent the past week in a funk. A depressed funk. I was actually crying during the exam and barely got out of the testing center before having a complete meltdown in the bathroom and again in my car. I managed to drive to Mark and Angela's and took a 20 minute pout nap before rallying to go out for the evening. Then I didn't do a lick of studying on Sunday and have spent the past week briefly going over the FAR material but not really caring because I've resigned to not passing the BEC or FAR exam (I take the FAR exam this Saturday).

What would be hysterical is if I passed BEC and failed FAR because I lapsed on my studies from being hurt over life. I would definitely deserve that! I will go to this exam on Saturday with the intention of playing to win but with the reality check of knowing that I will probably be going to this Super Bowl again.

I've Googled some great resources and feel like I have a new understanding of the exam and study techniques I can employee to pass the final two: AUD and REG. The clock resets this Saturday and there's still hope for these exams. Then, in Fall, I can take the BEC and FAR exams one at a time and pass.

Having said all this, Dane was able to put things in perspective for me. He has been laid off from his job (the same day as my failed exam actually - guess Dane wanted to out-do me, hee hee) so we have much bigger fish to fry. He's got a few things lined up so it should work out but it definitely put a damper on our spirits and put the brakes on moving forward with any big plans like purchasing a house, even though interest rates are AWESOME right now. It's okay - we need to pay off more bills anyway before we can do anything like that.

Work is going well, the weight loss has stalled out a bit (see above depression) but I'm getting back on track. I'm excited to go to Colorado in May and see all my CO buddies and as an added bonus I get to see Peck and Amy - whoot whoot!!!

That's all for now, folks!