Posted 6:57 AM by Mike
I'M DONE!!!!!!

Yesterday my thesis was approved for printing. I sent it to the printer downtown here in St. Paul to be printed. A couple of hours later I got the phone call from the printer that my three copies were ready to be picked up. It felt so good to drop them off at the campus. When I was there, an orientation group was coming through. I remember how nervous and scared I was when I was part of that same orientation group almost a year ago. Although it was hard work, my nervousness was for nothing. Although I didn't make my goal of 4.0 (one A- short), I exceeded all my expectations for my performance. I realized a couple of things in this program.

One, I found out I have a great writing ability. Not sure where that came from. In high school and during my undergrad days, I was never that great of a writer. But I got an A on every single paper I turned in except one (that paper was an A-). The edit guy at the college said I was one of the best writers he's seen since he started editing thesis's for the college. Kind of made me feel good.

Two, I realized that although you don't like somebody you can still work with them and succeed. There was really only one person in my cohort group I didn't like, and it just so happened that we were on teams together often. We always did well, but I still think he's a dink!

So it's over. What's next? I'm not sure. I've sent a couple of resumes out, but I'm really going to start fanning them out soon. Not sure what direction I want to take my career, but I'm sure the journey ahead will be interesting to say the least. All I know is that my next career move will not be with AgriBank. I've been burned too many times for me to accept another position here.

The annual family campout is this weekend. Football and festivities. Should be fun. Heading up north next weekend for the final time this summer. I didn't make it up too many times this summer with all my time being taken with school.

Baby is growing. Kristin's belly is really popping out now. Our first official ultra sound is next Friday. I'm so excited to actually see that little bugger!!

On the sports front:

Penguins making a big splash in free agency. Made a couple of HUGE signings. Sergie Gonchar, probably the best offensive defenseman in the game; and Ziggy Palffy, a much needed high scoring winger. Things are shaping up. Hopefully Evgeni Malkin can be bought out of his contract in Russia to come over and play with Sidney Crosby.

Cubs are done. There are 7.5 games out of the Wild Card. They just look out of gas. The only thing to root for is Derrick Lee's attack on the Triple Crown.

Florida State......not sure how this team is going to be. They had a rough off-season with arrests and school issues. Maybe they'll suprise me, but I'm not too optimistic. The open up with Miami again in few weeks.

Nascar...........AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Kurt Busch signed to replace Rusty Wallace in the 2 car. YUCK!!