Latest entries from kimee.blog-city.com

Perhaps I am getting old or turning into my parents...

kimee — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:44:00 GMT

This was a post I just posted in the discussion board of school...

The question was "Who can forget where they were or what they witnessed on the horrific morning of September 11th, 2001? I remember it like it was yesterday. While sitting in my office..."

My answer...

My family at the time were Good Morning America fanatics. I was just about to turn the TV off to leave for my hair appointment, as I was to attend the Northeastern Fall Graduation Ceremony for my Associates Degree, when I saw the first plane hit the building live. I too remember that day like it was yesterday. We never did get to walk & our degrees arrived in the mail with the date imprinted right on it. It took almost 8 years before I could look at the degree.

What I remember the most about 9/11 is the weeks after. The scared terror, but also the "cut off from the rest of the world" feeling, the sense of patriotism & the reconnecting to people since there wasn't any regularly scheduled TV programs for weeks. It felt like one of those feel good movies about the happy days of the 60s. I miss that part.

Maybe I am getting older & turning into my parents & perhaps this isn't the best forum to voice my opinion about technology but technology is going to be the death of us. We have cellphones up to our heads or clipped to our belts 24/7 making us sterile. No one leaves their house anymore. Why would you when you can order groceries online, shop for anything online, take classes online, work from home & meet potential dates online too.

Communication skills are seriously lacking with the newer technologies texting, instant messaging, quick responses from Crackberries, etc. The reason I bring this up as most of us our ending our education here at Northeastern & perhaps we will be planning new systems or working with virtual outsourced teams - just remember the human factor. Technology has made a lot of improvements in our lives, don't get me wrong. I am just scared where we will be in 5 or 10 years. Oh & I want my flying car they promised me by now :) I will get off my soapbox now.

A very poorly worded question

kimee — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:20:00 GMT

Companies decide to do business internationally for a number of reasons related to seeking markets for the factors of production and/or for customers. When making the strategic decisions to operate internationally, companies must consider many factors, including the firm’s value; its core and distinctive competencies; and its value chain. Based on this analysis, they may choose to source products overseas; outsource functions; or operate in other countries. Using a global or multi-domestic company of your own choosing, describe the strategic decision factors (value, competencies, value chain) for that firm. If the global firm needed to cut costs or the multi-domestic company to generate revenues, recommend a way for them to do that. Justify your response.

So what am I supposed to answer?

Final thoughts on MGT4452

kimee — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:28:00 GMT

Our company name, Aperture, was a very fitting one as it refers to a camera term, meaning the opening in a photographic lens that admits the light. This class and simulation has definitely shed some light on the decisions that need to be made in a business setting. It lived up to the description of being the capstone of my education at Northeastern University.

What did you learn about strategy and business through the simulation?

Through the simulation & the class material I learned that you need a solid strategy but that is only a part of the challenge. Monitoring the competition is just as important. Analyzing strengths & weaknesses inside the company but identifying opportunities as well as threats will keep you ahead of the game. I learned that to build a great company you need to have a great team. Dorothy & I worked well together.

When you reflect back on the readings, case analyses, current events discussions, what insights or learning did you realize through this course?

I really enjoyed the case studies because they were relevant & modern. They were real cases that I related to. It was very interesting to learn about Starbucks entry into the international market. I knew a lot about Oprah before but after reading her case study she is even more inspiring. Facebook & Jetblue gave me a solid example of the SWOT analysis methodology. It's one thing to read it & be tested on it. It's another to apply it. Those case studies really made this class for me.

I am not a fan of online classes but the interaction of a real live partner and the case studies really made this class come alive for me. Thank you professor for a great class. To everyone finishing in August - only 63 more days!! Hang in there.

Kimee

List of stuff I need to do - AKA Screwed

kimee — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:27:00 GMT

Yup. I am screwed. Last week I was on vacation & this week dental surgery really killed me. Although I did a lot on vacation it wasn't enough. This is what I got to do this weekend.

2 weeeks o discussion board (for 2 classes!)
Case Study
Retake Quiz #2
Presentation
Final

And that is just for school. Seriously.

Dental Surgery

kimee — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:22:00 GMT

So I had the surgery. Today it hurt like hell. I had my 3 teeth (or non-teeth) worked on. The bottom right side couldn't be done because they think there is something like a cyst or something in the jaw near a nerve? I don't know I was out of it. So it doesn't look like posts were added. I am not sure what was done. I remember being in the chair doing the work. I have no idea how I got home. Well I *KNOW* how I got home, I mean I don't remember. My second mother drove me. My best friend (R)'s mother drove me. I am lucky to have two moms :)

So I didn't go to work Thursday or Friday. Pain medicine wiped me out. I still have WAY TOO MUCH homework to do. I am sooooo screwed.

Drugs

kimee — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:18:00 GMT

OK I like the escape & the sense of "whee!" it gives you but I can't see living like this. I know some people that "wake & bake" on a daily basis, then smoke some more in the afternoon & then at night. Smoke, take pills, all the same. Last weekend I drank for the first time in a long time. It felt good, freeing even. But not how I could live my life. Like now with these pain medicine. They are GOOD. But to the point where I can't do anything. I feel lazy & stupid. I'm going to take a nap to see if that helps with the pain. I don't want to take any pain medicine just yet as I have a lot of work to do.

I got voicemail

kimee — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:38:00 GMT

So I asked (J)'s opinion & he said it wasn't bad if I called him. I did at 8:20pm. Not too late, not too early. I got voicemail. So now I wait.

On the homefront

kimee — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

So speaking of Irony, (D) called on Saturday morning, while I was still on vacation. He wanted to see me that night for a movie. I said I wasn't sure as I wasn't sure what time I was getting home & I still had some deadline stuff to do. Well I let him know that it wasn't going to happen that I was completely swarmed & couldn't make it. We planned on the next day (today) after 7pm. So today it was even worse with the stuff that had to be done. So I tried to call him about 6:20 but there wasn't any answer. He never called to see if I was available. I don't know his address or anything we needed to plan this. So how come he didn't call? I tried to call him, why didn't he return my call. I was just going to watch a movie. I mean people say don't put all your eggs in one basket & one of the baskets is 3 hours away. I just don't get guys.

Waiting

kimee — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:53:00 GMT

Ok so last week I was on vacation & I met someone. I lost like two days because I had to come back to go to school & bring the parents home & stuff. So when I came back on Thursday night (midnight), it was too late. But he was "looking at the beach" just when I went out onto the porch. (R) said that was kinda stalker-ish (I like it!) :) He met (R). (R) thought he seemed like a good guy. So I spent the day with (R) relaxing, going into town, in the hot tub & then split up.

So he comes over & we drink & talk. Now I haven't drank in quite awhile. I was feeling it & I was hornier than hell. He is hot! Think smaller Kevin Smith without the glasses, or a little bit fatter Steve Perry without the long hair. Yea that is what I am talking about!!! So we are talking & it's going very good. I got to learn more about him & then he says he would like to see me again socially. He asked if that was ok. I said yes & he said ok great. A couple of minutes later he got up (he had a tent going *smile*) & said he didn't want our first time to be drunk. He wanted to take me out & spoil me like I deserve. Before he left, we kissed. Sigh, it was very very good.

I am very shy. VERY shy. I don't make the first move. I mean it's good that he didn't want to rush things, but the ironic part was that I did. I never do. This whole blog is me complaining about guys just wanting one thing. So here I meet him & he is gorgeous & wants to wait. Fucking irony. Seriously.

We left the next day before I had a chance to say goodbye. I left a message. He didn't call to see if I made it home safely. He didn't call to see when I was planning on coming back. He said he would check on me to see how I made out with the surgery. But the thing is, how likely is it that I will have the opportunity to see him again :( I am just thinking I will have open, healing holes in my head for a while. I can't go out to eat because I can't eat until November. I don't think I can kiss because of infection. So I am sad. I hope he calls on Wednesday.

24 weeks fromtoday is November 23rd

kimee — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:35:00 GMT

So since I can't eat anything because of my teeth I am going to drink weight loss shakes for the next 24 weeks. According to the calculations I will loose close to 1/2 my size now. Going to start today. Need to buy another blender though.

Vacation over. Continue with stress.

kimee — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 06:16:00 GMT

OMG, I am completely stressed out. Seriously. I have discussion boards & quizes & finals & case studies & group project to do. Ahhhh. Not to mention bills & paperwork & stuff. Then there is my dental surgery. Perhaps I can get a lot of work done while on pain medicine :) Oh & did I mention I need to get my car fixed. I am driving with a Rejected sticker. And it is all on me. It's not like I can ask someone to fix the car while I get a rideto work, I am the only one that drives. It's like all these problems & stuff to do & I am the only one that can fix it. Feels a little overwhelming.

how ironic. only me. what do I do now? wow.

kimee — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 00:47:00 GMT

I don't know what happened. Everything was great & then it was even greater! But how ironic. I mean WTF?!!

Last time eating foods

kimee — Wed, 27 May 2009 02:56:00 GMT

This is going to probably be an ongoing post while I countdown the days until my dental surgery & the last day that I can eat food for at least 4-6 months. For those that don't know & to record this myself... I have 3 missing teeth (one of them is my front tooth!). It's been missing for a long time since it cost a FORTUNE to get replaced. I could have went with a bridge but my history of soft teeth, I don't think it would have lasted. So because it has been forever in getting an implant, the bone has eroded away.

So in 14? more days I'm...

getting a tooth extracted (Root canal gone bad. Post was too big for the root & it completely fractured the root.)
getting bone grafts in top 2 missing teeth, as well as the bottom where tooth is being extracted (fracture really messed up the jaw bone)
getting 3 implants (they need to wait until the extracted tooth/bone graft heals before implanting that)

A lot of people are like you can eat. I was told I couldn't. It's not like I can eat on the other side, I am getting ALL SIDES, TOP & BOTTOM done. There isn't a side I can eat on without the danger of hurting something. Plus it is going to be a good thing. 6 months - nothing but protein shakes (medically supervised I might ad) - you do the math.

Tuesday, May 26 - Friendly's Reese's Cup sundae.

Wanting to do something but don't do it

kimee — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:58:00 GMT

So tonight, one night only there is a Labyrinth sing-a-long in Coolidge Corner. I don't know the parking situation & taking the T seems so far away. I want to go, but I don't. I feel so overwhelmed with the stuff that I need to do, that I can't seem doing anything else, but yet the stuff I need to do always gets pushed aside doing other things for people & nothing gets done, then I am stressed as well as overwhelmed.

I don't know what I feel

kimee — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:18:00 GMT

I am in sort of a mood. I can't describe it. Part laziness, part sadness, part depression, part overwhelmed, part loneliness, part needing to be left alone. I don't know. Hopefully next week will be better.

Misquito bites

kimee — Sun, 24 May 2009 03:38:00 GMT

So I am not going to discuss it because I have Kimeepower & it will not be a problem for long. I've avoided it for a little while now & it hasn't been a big problem. Once I have my dental surgery, it should solve 80% of the problem, so I am not 100% worried but I have already gotten my share of misquito bites & it is not even summer time!!! OK, nuff said.

Catching up

kimee — Sun, 24 May 2009 03:31:00 GMT

So I have an opportunity to go to the BBW dance tonight. It's a holiday weekend so it is more likely more/different people will be there than a regular night. I was planning on going but it's 7:46 now. Kinda too late to get ready. I'm not in the mood to stand around looking dumb either. I kinda go there with the intent to talk to someone, not meet them & start dating (although that would be nice too). I should go there with the intent to just have fun, but dancing isn't fun, the music isn't my kind of music to dance to.

So I want to go but I don't. I have a ton of stuff that I have been neglecting. Things that I probably won't have another opportunity to take care of for another 96 more days. 13 more days until major dental surgery & I will not be able to eat anything but those liquid shakes for at least 6 months. Then I get to deal with the hanging skin (nice mental image),but lets hope I loose weight & not have too much skin.

I am probably going to be hoping back on throughout the weekend because I miss blogging. There is soooo many stuff that I have missed. Need to blog more.

Update - 101 days left!

kimee — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:25:00 GMT

Well I "graduated". Technically I just walked. I am finished with all my classes in exactly 101 days! At the time they were not sure if they were going to have an August graduation, so I didn't want to miss the ceremony, since I missed my Associates Degree ceremony due to 9/11 :(

It was LONG! I feel bad I walked out after getting the "degree", it was going on almost 4 hours, not to mention the 2 I spent waiting in line. More pictures are here.

So now they are having an August graduation. I'm soooo awesome I will have TWO graduation ceremonies :) Which is ok because everyone else can go to it this time. My brother was the only one who attended this one.

Today is the first day of the next 6 weeks of classes. For the next 6 weeks I am finishing a 12 week class online & starting 2 classes (1 online & 1 on campus with the 12 week online teacher). Hopefully I can show her how awesome I am & how much online classes don't work for some people. So after Spring classes are over (6 weeks), I have ONE MORE SEMESTER LEFT!!! I only have one required class left, History :( but I have 12 credits (or 4 classes) of electives. So I am taking Digital Photography, Intro to Creativity and Designing Web Graphics 1 & 2 :) So for the summer, minus the History, I will be playing & creating & counting the days:)

Was sick this week

kimee — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:35:00 GMT

I was sooo sick towards the end of the week. I called out "almost dead", that is how sick I was. The first day I slept a little late but then worked, the second day I worked a little & then called it quits & just slept. Saturday I felt worst. Today I am little better, just in time to go to work. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow. Lots to blog about lately. Beware.

Graduation Spring 2009

kimee — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:17:00 GMT

Off to graduate! Kinda.

Withdraw & take later?

kimee — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:18:00 GMT

I am toying with the idea of withdrawing from a class and taking it in the summer. The deadline is today to withdraw. The class is DIVERSITY. Not the best subject in the world. It is taking up too much of my time & I am not spending enough time on the other classes I am taking.

Now this is a blended class, which means we meet once a week for two hours. Then we use the online discussion board as a class participation thing. Problem is we meet on Monday, our assignment is to read three chapters & write a 1-2 page discussion board comment BY THURSDAY at 5PM! THEN comment on two others BY SATURDAY, & then blog about your weeks reading & questions or thoughts by Sunday. If this was a traditional class, or other blended class I've done, we would have a week to finish the assignment. It is too much pressure.

But I have already completed 2 weeks; there's only six weeks. Should I suck it up or should I drop it? I have a case study due on an article that I don't understand. It's worth 20% of my grade :( I want to drop it, but I am torn.

Check out my schedule!

kimee — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:16:00 GMT

142 more days until you see me again. Check out my schedule. http://www.kimeepower.com/

Goodbye Summa Cum Laude :(

kimee — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 04:06:00 GMT

At this moment, my grade point average is 3.73, not bad! However to graduate with Highest Honor (summa cum laude) you need a GPA of 3.750 to 4.000. I can still graduate with Honors though. High Honor (magna cum laude) from 3.500 to 3.749 & Honor (cum laude) from 3.250 to 3.499. Keep fingers crossed.

Goodbye Winter 2009 semester!

kimee — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:47:00 GMT

That was a very tough semester for me. As tough as I can remember any semester being. I don't know exactly why. I had 4 classes. 3 online & 1 on campus. The upcoming Spring semester I will be taking SIX classes. 2 on campus & 4 online. They are going to be very tough classes. :(

So I got my grade, FINALLY.
Leadership - A
History - B+
Finance - B
Applied MIS Project - A-

Been neglecting my blog :(

kimee — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:38:00 GMT

With Twitter & Facebook status updates, it's hard to get to this too. I feel bad. So I will better. Sorry.