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Thursday, November 16th, 2006
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1:12 am - The best day of my life!
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I'm so excited! I just had one of my best days in my life, if not THE best. I had a GREAT day at work. I got a promotion as a Project Manager on a very important project at Merrill Lynch. Had a very busy, productive day, got lots acccomplished. Best day at work I've ever had.
Came home, sat back in my computer chair and saw on my UltimateBuddy program that Annie Duke had signed on. Then I see her go into a poker room. Normally, its a high stakes game that I'll just usually watch and tell her 'Hi' as an observer. But she wasn't. She was in a new room, just created today, testing it out! $2 buy-in! I quickly hit the seat, they were filling FAST. I had to wait a few minutes and I suddenly found myself playing at a table... with ANNIE DUKE!
In case you don't know who she is and are curious: http://www.annieduke.com
And chatting with her while you're actually playing at her table is a totally different experience than chatting with her as an (OBS) observer. She chats more freely with you, talks to you like a regular person and getting her attention. After all, you're spending REAL money on her website. I was sooooo hapopy. If I wasn't such a manly-man, I woulda shed a tear. Here's a screengrab of when I went head-to-head with Annie... and won!
I'm too excited to sleep. Playing with Annie Duke... To me, it was like playing a pick-up game with Michael Jordan, or tossing the pigskin back and forth with John Elway, or playing catch with Mickey Mantle. What an incredible day!
current mood:  ecstatic
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| Sunday, November 5th, 2006
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11:26 am - Nimis, INC is Two years old!
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Happy Birthday to Nimbus, INC!
And....
Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder treason and plot.
I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot...
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| Thursday, September 14th, 2006
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9:58 pm - Quote of the Day
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"You can't really miss what you don't really remember." - Rock Ledoux
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(comment on this)
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| Wednesday, September 13th, 2006
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9:18 am - My cousin Cat
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Because you had a bad day!
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know, you tell me don't lie
You work on a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day, the camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day... you had a bad day
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| Monday, September 11th, 2006
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8:27 pm
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So, I woke up this morning with a headache. Took this new Excedrin Tension headache relief and it worked. I recommend it to all.
Yesterday, I was 4 of 5 correct in my NFL wagers. So that means I'm up. Not bad for the first week. Also, my side bet with Darth Irish was a success. The Jags astonished everyone by beating the Dallas "Brokeback" Cowboys. Sweet.
The TV repair people took my TV today. They are gonna fix an audio problem and an off-center picture. So I went to BestBuy and 'rented' a TV. I'm slick like Rick.
I cleaned my apartment. Did some laundry. Debating on whether or not I go into work tomorrow.
I want Jennifer Aniston. A lot.
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| Monday, September 4th, 2006
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9:46 am
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So Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin is dead today. Is it wrong that I immediatly laughed? It sucks for him and his family that he died and if there was anything I could do to have prevented it, I would. But I've been joking for years that when (not if) he gets killed by one of the beasts, everyone would shocked, sorry and surprised. Sure enough, in a thread in The Nightly Cantina, everyone in there is all surprised. Like I said in there, you can roll the dice only so many times before you crap out. It was just a matter of time. One slip up, one momentary lapse in concentration and it's game over.
Brother spent the weekend at my place. We watched 3 movies and played darts. It was his first time playing darts and he did well. I got lots to do today. Shopping, cleaning and reorganizing my series 7 schedule. And I have a headache.
current mood:  contemplative
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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| Tuesday, August 29th, 2006
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11:16 pm - What a Week
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This week was pretty shitty. Adum's father died last Sunday. I drove to Orlando that day to pick up Adum & Celeste from the airport, thinking he was just hospitalized for heart problems. By the time I got to Orlando International, he had died. I stayed the entire week to help the family out. It really was a horrible ordeal. Not only losing Harold, but all the problems the family had with arranging his wife's living situation. It was pure misery. I got drunk twice though, which provided some comedy relief.
A few days before all this had happened, I fell on my big toe. Big deal? Apparently, yes. I killed the damn toenail. It's been hurting the entire week, bleeding off and on. So I went to the podiatrist today and he removed the fucking nail. It didn't hurt too much. He numbed it up with a few shots of good stuff. It was more gross than anything. I have to change the bandage after I finish this update.
Life's short. Hurry up already.
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| Wednesday, June 7th, 2006
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10:29 am - Dude... I'm gettin a Dell!
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http://www.nightly.net/rock/dell
My old PC, that I built about 4 years ago, has been having some trouble. It would just reboot on its own in the middle of whatever I was working on and sometimes it would 'lose Ram' upon boot-ups. So I decided it was time to buy a new PC. I was going to go cheap and get a system for around $500-$550. But the Dell credit plan I qualified for was 29.99% financing... which is just incredibly wrong. But I did qualify for a promotion that did 0% financing for 18 months if I got an XPS system. Sure, that's $500 more than I had originally intended, but if I would have paid over $150 in just interest and got a way lesser computer. This computer is very upgradable and much more powerful with lots of extras & goodies.
There was no way in hell I was going to get a Celeron, but was going to be happy with the P4. But now, with the system I'm getting, it'll feature the Pentium D Processor 820 w/Dual Core Technology. I've only done a little research, but from what I understand it's a VERY good processor. Add 1 GB of DDR Ram to that and I'm pretty much set.
The best part is that this one came with a 19" flat screen monitor. I already own one, so that means I'll be able to run DUAL monitors. Plus, I paid $50 for the Digital Ultrasharp model. That way I don't have to get a separate vid card to run the dual system. That's going to be sooo sweet. Dual 19 inch flat panel monitors. It'll be like the Matrix.
This is gonna rock the shiznit.
current mood:  chipper
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| Thursday, June 1st, 2006
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10:15 pm - Update
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Long time, no update. That's a shame. I enjoy LJ and should try to make a better effort to drop a line or two.
What's been going on...
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I got a promotion at work. It's more of a lateral move, but a HUGE one. If I had my foot in the door before, I now have my entire leg and hip firmly into place. I'm now part of a small, elite team that handles all forms of electronic correspondence for the entire company. The position has its advantages (i.e. no more talking to clients!) but its the opportunities it presents that makes it great. |
| I'm now able to work on all kinds of projects that I wouldn't have been able to before. I've been selected to be the new FRS Quicken Subject Matter Expert. And the BIG news, I'll now be the Merrill Lynch Multi-Product Trainer! This is a huge opportunity as it brings me one HUGE leap towards my next goal of working in the LCOE department... to be a full time trainer. From there, I can go ANYWHERE. Unlimited potential at that point. It's about time I got a damn career. |
In my previous post, I announced that I have a new member of my family... Nimbus The Cat! She's the most awesome cat in the world. I come home to my apartment after working an eleven hour day and she starts meowing, jumping on my lap and purring. She's happy to see me and it's really cool. She's not destructive, not whiney and is just generally happy. If you would have told me 2 years ago that I'd end up owning a cat, I'd say you were cracking smoke. But I couldn't be happier. As I type, she's sitting on my lap purring.
Finances took a toll with all the expenses of the kitty, LASIK eye surgery and my truck repairs. I've been working a ton of OT to catch up, though. Plus it's all worth it. I've decided not to buy a house this year so I have the money to spend. That doesn't mean I can waste it, but what's the use in working if I'm not happy? I realize that true happiness if financial independence, but it doesn't mean you have to suffer along the way.
That's it for right now. I'll write more later. I'm pretty tired.
current mood: accomplished
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| Tuesday, May 16th, 2006
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11:14 pm - Meet Nimbus!
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At this time, I'd like to introduce you all to the newest member of the my Family: Nimbus Ledoux!
Here are more pics of Nimbus:
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_2.jpg
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_3.jpg
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_4.jpg
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_5.jpg
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_6.jpg
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_7.jpg
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_8.jpg
http://www.nightly.net/rock/nimbus/nimbus_9.jpg
Target had a clearance special on the LM700 for $77.77, normally $114.99. I got the last one in Jacksonville.
As you can see, I went a lil crazy with my Chase Visa. I bought the Cat Tower of Power, which costs a good chunk of change, but as I thought was well worth every penny. Nimbus loves it. She's right now sleeping on the middle floor. She's the best cat in the world; extremely affectionate and playful. She had a rough 2 weeks too, being found abandoned in some apartment, being in a foster home for a few days, moved to the Rescue facility, then sent to PetsMart and now to our home. She loves it though. At first, I did as suggested, opening the cat carrier in the bathroom and let her explore at her own pace. But Nimbus is a brave one and she ventured out into the living room and meowed her head off, purring, rolling around, jumping on the tower, my recliner... just having a great time. No adjustment/confinement room needed. She's a happy lil kitty with a new home.
Nimbus is a grey, short haired tabby cat. She's estimated to be 1-2 years old. So I compromised and said she was a year and a half old. I've decided to choose a birthdate for her. Nimbus will celebrate her 2nd birthdate on: November 5th, 2006. Remember, remember the 5th of November. She's the Gunpowder Treason & Plot cat.
I bought the LitterMaid. Tower of Power. Bag of Science Diet food. Clumping litter (which Nimbus just used! She took a piss! Yay!). Water/food dish. Catnip. The adoption agency gave me her blanket that she was using, a little scratching pad which she loves, a fine-tooth cat comb and a few little toys (balls with bells in it and a toy mouse). I think I'm pretty much set. I haven't had a pet since I was 12. I'm really happy. 
current mood: ecstatic
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| Saturday, April 29th, 2006
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10:55 am - I CAN SEE!
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Yesterday, at 8:35am, I have undergone a transformation of immense proportions. I bit the bullet and had LASIK eye surgery! Since the age of 9, I've had to wear glasses to correct my awful nearsighted vision. But no more! 24 Hours and $3000 later, I now have 20/20 vision in both eyes. It's a little blurry, but that’s to be expected over the next few days. They say over the next week the eye sight will go through a few adjustments, but will stabilize shortly after that.
Here's how it went down.
My buddy Adum drove me to the LasikPlus vision center at 7:45am. We get there and pretty much wait for like 15 minutes. Then I sign all the paperwork needed to relieve them of all liability and responsibility in the unlikely event of making me a permanent member of the Stevie Wonder fan club.
They give you a valium to calm any nerves you might have. But they gave it to me like 10 minutes before the procedure, so I'm not sure it had taken effect in time. I was still pretty anxious.
So I walk into a little room and meet with the doctor. He tells me what I can expect and a few details about the surgery that I didn't need to know. Then he said, "Put on this medical hair cap and let's go!"
So, I walk into the next room made with a glass wall where everyone can see me. Hell, there's a TV on the wall facing them so they can see the procedure up close. Anyway, they lay me down on a table facing up. Then the doctor and his assistants start doing their thing. They first put a patch on my left eye, closing it. Then, they had me look up and they insert this retractor thing below and above my right eye so I can't blink during the surgery, which you can imagine is quite important. That's not so bad, really. But before you can even start to feel weird they put numbing drops in the eye and it works. You can't feel a thing. No needles! Just drip, drop, plop. Then it begins.
Here's a really easy to follow image of the procedure:
I won't bother outlining the procedure because from the first person perspective, I have no clue what was happening. When they applied this suction thing to my eyeball to open the flap in the cornea, they said I'm going to lose total vision momentarily. At first this raised a concern, but actually it was comforting because I couldn't see a thing and let them do their thing. Completely painless, couldn't feel a thing. They just said keep watching a red light and that’s what I did. Then they did the actual laser cutting while a nurse called out a some type of a countdown I guess she was reading from the computer guidance system. I just saw all these weird shapes and colors and stuff, which was more interesting than scary. The weirdest thing is you could smell a slight burning smell. That was the laser cutting into the eye!!!!! Then she said "5, 4, 3, 2, 1... procedure complete." It had only taken like 90 seconds.
They took out the eye holder retractor thing, switched eyes. Same exact thing, but now that I did it once, this one seemed to go by faster and easier. No sweat. Then after she said, "procedure complete," it was over! They took the patch off the right eye, dropped a few more drops in my eyes and they had me stand. It was VERY blurry, like looking under water. They had me sit down at the normal opthamologist thing where you out your chin in the holder and he looks at your eye with the light. The surgeon said with great confidence, "Absolutely perfect! Good job." They slapped some shades on me and sent me on my way.
They told me to go straight home and sleep for 3-4 hours with this mask thing that protects your eyes so you don't touch them inadvertently. So I wake up and it's pretty damn cool! Just VERY sensitive to light, so I had to wear sunglasses indoors for 24 hours and couldn't drive. It's now been more than 24 hours and I feel great. I drove to the doc's office for them to do the one-day checkup. I have another checkup in 10 days, one at 3 months, 6 months and one year.
* * * * *
What a great feeling I had waking up with perfect vision with no glasses or contacts to put on. Plus now I can wear my Oakleys! I'm going to see United 93 and this will be the firts movie I've seen without any vision
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| Monday, April 3rd, 2006
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9:09 am - Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
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Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
"Ozzy Osbourne says he's not going to make any more episodes of the reality show 'The Osbournes' because he doesn't like having cameras around all the time. Unfortunately nobody has the heart to tell Ozzy the show was cancelled two years ago."
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(comment on this)
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| Monday, March 27th, 2006
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12:21 pm - Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
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Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
"Here in New York, federal agents busted a $12-million dollar marijuana operation that was operating across the street from a public school. Police became suspicious when the school's bake sale raised $40 million dollars."
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(comment on this)
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| Monday, March 20th, 2006
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9:32 am - Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
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Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
"Yesterday at the Michael Jackson trial, jurors were shown a porno magazine taken from the Neverland Ranch called, 'Over 50.' When asked why he bought the magazine, Michael said, 'I thought they meant months.'"
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(comment on this)
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| Wednesday, March 15th, 2006
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3:05 pm - Best. Picture. Ever.
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| Monday, March 13th, 2006
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8:17 am - Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
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Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
"This week suspended Philadelphia Eagle Terrell Owens threw a birthday party for himself and one of the people on the guest list was Paris Hilton. When asked why Paris was invited, Terrell said, 'Because like me, she knows what it's like to be screwed by the NFL.'"
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(comment on this)
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| Monday, March 6th, 2006
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8:02 am - Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
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Conan O'Brien Quote of the Week
"This week, the company that makes Teflon coating was found guilty of creating environmental hazards and fined $10 million. The people at Teflon are shocked, but they thought the charges would never stick."
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(comment on this)
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| Wednesday, March 1st, 2006
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11:14 pm - Series 7: Day 2
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Completed Chapters 3 & 4
Time: 21:00 - 23:04 = 2:04
Notes:
Got off to a late start tonight as I was burning the DVDs that I borrowed from work. I'll be using them through out this course and needed to be done. I have them all except 4 & 5, which cover options.
Everything was quite easy, learned lots of stuff I didn't know. I had no idea that a company could do a reverse stock split. It makes perfect sense, though. The dividen pay, record and ex date left me with a question. If on March 2nd, the company announces a dividend is going to be paid on March 30th with a record date of March 15th, wouldn't it be smart to buy shares on the 3rd, reap the dividends then sell on the 31st? Why doesn't everyone take that sure thing? I must be missing something.
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Tuesday, February 28th, 2006
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3:10 pm - Series 7: Day 1
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Completed Chapters 1 & 2
Time: 11:00 - 13:01 = 2:01
Notes:
Pretty easy stuff. Since I don't have a financial background, I find myself lookibg up terms like 'principle'. I wonder if they make a finance glossary/dictionary as a supplement? I'll ask Adum. Pretty good so far. I'm not looking at the clock, I just do the lesson plan in its entirety. If it takes an hour and a half, fine. If it take 3 hours, so be it.
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1:26 pm - Series 7: The Journey Begins!
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The NASD - Series 7 General Securities
This registration qualifies a candidate to sell all securities products, including corporate securities, municipal securities, options, direct participation programs, investment company products and variable contracts.
I am now studying to pass this examination. It's bascially a test you must take in order to be a stock broker - to buy, sell and advise on stocks, bonds, funds, etc. From what I gather, it's a very difficult exam. Merrill Lynch places a lot of importance in it. If you want to move to any type of important job within ML, you need this certification.
My immediate goal is simple: Get off the phones. That's my goal and also my motivation. I setup a workstation in my apartment called the Seven Command Center (SCC) that serves no other purpose than to study for the 7. No distractions, no computers, no TV... just my books and a headset hanging on the wall. Why the headset? Visual Motivation. Keeping my eyes on the prize. I'll have Tony O'Connor music playing low in the background, which is great for studying. And that's it. Just my lesson plan, books, highlighter, pencil and Irish eraser.
The Seven Command Center (The SCC)
The journey begins. It's Seven time! Here's the Battle Plan:
Week 1
Day 01 - Tuesday: Chapter 1 & 2
Day 02 - Wednesday: Chapter 3 & 4
Day 03 - Thursday: Chapter 5
Day 04 - Friday: Chapter 6
Day 05 - Saturday: Chapter 7
Day 06 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 07 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 2
Day 08 - Tuesday: Chapter 8
Day 09 - Wednesday: Chapter 9 & 10
Day 10 - Thursday: Chapter 11
Day 11 - Friday: Chapter 12
Day 12 - Saturday: Chapter 13
Day 13 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 14 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 3
Day 15 - Tuesday: Progress Exam 1
Day 16 - Wednesday: Chapter 14
Day 17 - Thursday: Chapter 15
Day 18 - Friday: Chapter 16 & 17
Day 19 - Saturday: Chapter 18
Day 20 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 21 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 4
Day 22 - Tuesday: Chapter 19
Day 23 - Wednesday: Chapter 20
Day 24 - Thursday: Chapter 21
Day 25 - Friday: Chapter 22
Day 26 - Saturday: Progress Exam 2
Day 27 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 28 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 5
Day 29 - Tuesday: Final Exam 1 (Q & A Method = Read Q, Select A, Read Entire Explanation)
Day 30 - Wednesday: Final Exam 2 (Q & A Method)
Day 31 - Thursday: Final Exam 3 (Q & A Method)
Day 32 - Friday: Final Exam 4 (Q & A Method)
Day 33 - Saturday: Final Exam 5 (Q & A Method)
Day 34 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 35 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 6
Day 36 - Tuesday: Final Exam 6 (Q & A Method)
Day 37 - Wednesday: Final Exam 7 (Q & A Method)
Day 38 - Thursday: Final Exam 8 (Q & A Method)
Day 39 - Friday: Final Exam 9 (Q & A Method)
Day 40 - Saturday: Final Exam 10 (Q & A Method)
Day 41 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 42 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 7
Day 43 - Tuesday: Final Exam 11 (Q & A Method)
Day 44 - Wednesday: Final Exam 12 (Q & A Method) Municipal Bonds Progress Exam
Day 45 - Thursday: Final Exam 13 (Q & A Method) Options Progress Exam
Day 46 - Friday: Progress Exam 3
Day 47 - Saturday: Final Exam 1 & 2 (Closed Book = Read Q, Select A. Grade the Exam)
Day 48 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 49 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 8
Day 50 - Tuesday: Final Exam 3 (Closed Book)
Day 51 - Wednesday: Final Exam 4 (Closed Book)
Day 52 - Thursday: Final Exam 5 (Closed Book)
Day 53 - Friday: Final Exam 6 (Closed Book)
Day 54 - Saturday: Final Exam 7 (Closed Book)
Day 55 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 56 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 9
Day 57 - Tuesday: Final Exam 8 (Closed Book)
Day 58 - Wednesday: Final Exam 9 (Closed Book)
Day 59 - Thursday: Final Exam 10 (Closed Book)
Day 60 - Friday: Final Exam 11 (Closed Book)
Day 61 - Saturday: Final Exam 12 (Closed Book)
Day 62 - Sunday: Off Day
Day 63 - Monday: Weekly Review
Week 10
Day 64 - Tuesday: Final Exam 13 (Closed Book)
Day 65 - Wednesday: Review Final Exams
Day 66 - Thursday: Review Final Exams
Day 67 - Friday: Review Final Exams
Day 68 - Saturday: Progress Exam 4
current mood: accomplished
current music: So Far Away - Staind
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