So, I just finished taking my GMAT.  I’m pretty excited about my score.  Probably won’t get me into Wharton, but I did plug my GMAT in along with my undergraduate GPA to a calculator that shows how competitive I am with certain schools.  The only schools I was “less competitive” with were Harvard and Stanford. SNUBBY!

Originally when I was thinking about going back to school, my first thoughts were CHEAP and EASY.  But now I’m thinking oooh, where could I go?

Now I just have to decide how many times I feel like dropping $80 to find out if I could get into _____________.

1. renew driver’s license  I am a licensed driver again!
2. pay parking ticket  I am no longer in trouble with the city!
3. find gainful employment  I start my new job on Monday!
4. buy a parking pass for school  Wow this was expensive!
5. buy groceries  Hello, Ramen!
6. unpack my stuff  New room looks good!
7. figure out how to still graduate in December  Consider me done December 13th!

Yeah.  All done.  I should also mention that every single one of these items was completed by Wednesday afternoon.

I’m having some trouble getting off what they call “island time.” Last week I came back to Knoxville and proceeded like I was still on vacation. And it was worth every penny and minute, not gonna lie.

Tomorrow is Monday and I plan to make a fresh start at transitioning back into my life in Knoxville. I told my brother Allen today that I was going to have my life in order by the end of the week. Then I made a to-do list:

1. renew driver’s license
2. pay parking ticket
3. find gainful employment
4. buy a parking pass for school
5. buy groceries
6. unpack my stuff
7. figure out how to still graduate in December

I know it’s a tall order. I’ll let you know on Friday how I did.

Last Thursday I went with a group of students from my program to a Mexican restaurant to drink margaritas and such before our last class of the semester. And no Mother, I did not have an alcoholic beverages… just the other kids… erm, I mean adults!

We cut it close on time getting our checks and paying, so we decided to call our professor to tell him that we would be 5-10 minutes late.

Once we got to class everyone was fine, besides our professor referring to use as “The Margarita Girls!” But I mean really, what major besides hospitality could you get away with drunk dialing your instructors?

I just got back from Pittsburgh, which I am kind of in love with right now, and I have many things to say about my visit, but first I need to talk about the second most exciting thing that happened to me last week.

I went to Dollywood! For free. For class. How did I do it, you ask?

Just go to UT and major in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism… that’s how! If you do that, I can guarantee you will have to opportunity to go to Dollywood for free at least 2 or 3 times throughout the duration of your studies. Last Wednesday was my second time, and I’m guessing I’ll get another opportunity to go before I graduate this December.

After a day full of rollercoasters, water rides, and Reysheid posing just like this for almost every camera on every ride, my classmates and I relaxed with a quiet little dinner at a small, unheard of local joint called Dixie Stampede.

And if you were wondering, the South rose again!