Sitting. Waiting. Wishing.

As you may or may not know, I work in the world of public accounting, more specifically as an external auditor.  Along with long hours and the need to constantly explain to people that I have nothing to do with taxes, one of the joys of my job is taking and passing the CPA exam [i.e. a series of four 4-hour tests to become a certified public accountant]. 

As you can imagine, this is not a fun process.  On top of my full time job [which at times, has me working 55-60 hours a week], I have spent countless hours studying for these exams the past 6 months.  I've passed up more opportunites to play with friends than I want to count because I was too busy memorizing methods of depreciation, components of a personal income statement, the different types of opinions rendered in an audit and other mind-numbing topics I won't bore you with.  It's been rough, but I have now taken all 4 parts of the exam.  While you may think this means I'm done and officially can have a life again, you are sadly mistaken.  For reasons I don't fully understand, it takes weeks upon weeks to get your score back for each exam.  I am pleased to say I have officially passed 2 parts [REG-92 and BEC-86], however I am currently still waiting for the last 2 scores to roll in. 

I have never been a patient person, and all this waiting is killing me.  I took FAR on July 1 and still have not received my score.  Yes, you read that correctly, I took it July 1, which means it has now been 73 days and I still do not have a score back.  I am terribly nervous about this test in particular [it was brutal] and it's getting so hard to keep waiting [I'm fairly certain I passed AUD, so waiting on that one isn't as bad].  I'm expecting scores within the next 2 weeks, so keep your fingers crossed for me!  Until then, it looks like I just need to keep myself busy [with isn't hard when I work so much].


I just want to know if I'm a CPA or not!  Is that so much to ask?

Flashback to High School.

My life is starting to slow down a bit and as it does, I intend on posting much more frequently. One day I'll take the time to give a little recap of my life the past few months, but today is not that day.

I do not have the energy to put my own thoughts into writing, so instead I'm going to do this silly list I stole from the beautiful Alex. 

Here's 100 things.  Bold for the ones I've done, [] for comments.  Enjoy [and feel free to judge me for a post that is probably eerily similar to one from my high school livejournal.  Ha.]

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band [does 5th grade orchestra count?]
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain [how about a hill?]
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo [not even in karoake]
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill [not a whole day, but a couple hours]
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Went skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon [nor will I ever]
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice [I took a picture of one]
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community [I've seen an Amish group of people...that's a community right?]
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling [granted, it was only in a swimming pool]
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen [I've fed the homeless, but it was under a bridge]
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone [fingers crossed I never do!]
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle [No thank you]
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous [Chelsea Handler, what what!]
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person [I'm from San Antonio...and it's overrated]
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Cross My Heart.

It's no secret,

I am a TERRIBLE Blogger.

I've been a busy little bee the past few months with working all day, studying all night and traveling a lot on the weekends. My life is a constant juggling act and unfortunately, my poor blog was one of the balls that fell to the ground somewhere along the way.

I'm so sorry Blog,
You didn't deserve this neglect and I truly apologize for the lack of attention I've shown you lately. I promise to make it up to you in the very near future. Please forgive me.
Sincerely,
Emily