Still Heading to Waterloo...

Hey All! I guess I best keep posting to keep my faithful readers coming back (considering the time between some posts..)! So, I have made a decision even before waiting to hear more from the graduate office at U of A and scholarships. I am still going to head off to Waterloo for the MBET. I have decided (and THANK YOU all for the words of advice) that if I don't take this opportunity right now I may very well not get the chance again in the future and would regret it, and we don't want that!

I went ahead and found a place in Waterloo which I am really excited for, I have an awesome landlady who is already doing everything to try and accommodate me from here, and I will be living with two other female graduate students, so I think it's going to be an awesome time! I also took out another student loan from the bank because the government one was not going to completely cover my expenses (for example they are giving me $550/month and my rent alone is $425). They say that education is good debt, so let's hope that it really pays off!

Nothing else is really new with me, this week is my "holiday" for the summer, I am off on Thursday and Friday (anyone guess why I chose those days?!) and really looking forward to taking a break and relaxing, hanging out with good friends and family. I am done work officially on August 24th (although might take that day off, or just work a half day..) and heading home to Saskatchewan for the big road trip out to Waterloo on the 25th (yup, we are going to drive!).

All in all, I went back and forth a bit, but I am now getting super excited and can't wait to be standing on a stage in a year graduating with my Masters' degree! :-D

Hope everyone is doing well (and those in Edmonton are checking out all the summer events..)!

What To Do?

Look at all the updates now!! Lol. Anyway, I have a bit of a dilemma and am wondering if anyone has any advice or words of wisdom. I recently got in contact with the Computing Science Graduate Studies office at University of Alberta; I was inquiring about whether I would meet the requirements for their PhD program after completing my MBET. It turns out that I will not, because the program is a Masters' in Business and because it is only 12 months it does not meet the U of A entrance requirements for a PhD in Computing Science.

Now this is a huge deal to me (and I am trying to arrange to go in and meet with the chair of this department to learn more), but eventually completing my PhD is my goal, and I'm not sure I am prepared to complete another Masters' program in Science before doing that. I am really excited about the MBET program and think that it's an excellent way to broaden my knowledge rather than focus it on a smaller area; reading about others' experiences in the program has gotten me excited for all the opportunities and experience it has to offer.

I guess I'm just confused about whether to continue on the path to complete the MBET or look into other Masters' programs in science. MBET in only one year and it is feasible to complete another Master's after that, however, even now Student Loans are starting to drown me and will hardly cover this year, so I wonder what they would be like after 1 Bachelor's Degree, 2 Masters' and a PhD??? I have so many things pulling me in both directions, I know I want to go to school, but the cost is a real factor right now, and I have had a couple job opportunities recently (with much better pay then I currently get) that are tempting, although doing jobs similar to what I currently do and I am finding this position fairly mundane and not challenging. So do I work through another year (trying to save some cash) and apply for a different Masters' program which would qualify me for the PhD program, or do I continue on the original path of the MBET and see what kinds of new opportunities present themselves afterwards???

A Picture Diary from the last few months...

Look at us matchin..lol


Wedding in Etown












Canmore with the family




The BEAUTIFUL sisters at Cathy's convocation


Mini golfing with the kids on Mother's Day


My $20 BBQ..


Got my Mom to eat ugali with us :-)


Cookin'






Time to Eat :-)


Hanging out after the move..


Limo night with the girls!!






Trip Home with the boys..


Chillin with the girls..


Dancin' the night away..


Me and my honey

Summertime..

Sorry it has been such a long time since I posted. I keep meaning to make a post when I am on my laptop so I can upload some pictures, but it seems I never find the time when I am at home. I guess a quick message with have to suffice for now. Summer has been going all right, the new place has been great, although Eric and I are hoping to find him a place starting in August and get everything moved and organized before I leave for Ontario. So far the plan is to drive out with some of the family and we'll be leaving around August 24th.

I am still really excited about going to Waterloo, but (and as always) stressing about the cost. I got my student loan approval back and it's going to be VERY tight, I'm searching for the cheapest living options so I have enough money left to eat lol. At points I go back and forth about going, but when I think about work and the kind of career I want to have I just have to go back to school now, if not now, then I don't know if I would ever do it.

So far this summer I haven't done too much, went to Canmore with the family for a weekend, which was a blast. We went white water rafting and took a gondola ride in Banff, had a fun night out with my sisters and cousin. Other than that I have pretty much been hanging around Edmonton, a couple trips to Camrose, nothing too exciting. I am taking a couple days off after my birthday (I think) but not sure if I'm going to do too much, probably just the same old, or possibly be moving stuff if Eric finds a place.

Can't think of much else to update you on, work is work, can't really complain. Hope summer is treating you all well and it's full of fun and exciting things! Take care..