Because sometimes words just aren’t enough:
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The Quenna shoes from Ninashoes.com
This book, which after Pat made fun of me for never having taken physics I definitely need to read. Plus Glory hasn’t taken physics either.
American Apparel’s search for the Best Bottom in the World. Hilarious? Ridiculous? Should I submit?
Steve Woodruff’s post about corporate culture and utilizing your employee’s assets/personality. Perfect fit for me this week.
Marketing Prof’s reminder about the Decade’s Top 10 Viral Campaigns.
Took part in my first #u30pro Twitter chat tonight. For any non-geeks my best explanation is that it is basically like an old school AOL chat room, but much more fast paced, and where everyone is actually talking about a particular topic rather than just “a/s/l?”
Tonight’s topic was Grad school versus real world experience – what’s worth more? Like I said, it was face paced, lots of commentary, lots of discussion, and in the end no real, agreed upon answers (which is kinda how I prefer it).
I remember my senior year at UT there were many times I thought about the possibilities of grad school. Even in the past two and half years since then I’ve toyed with the idea. Here’s why I’m glad I didn’t go:
1. In these two and a half years I’ve gotten nonprofit experience in development (by working for a fundraising and management consulting firm), in marketing (by doing donor recruitment), in volunteer management (by being a teams coordinator), and most importantly in social media and tech. Working for a small-medium nonprofit often means you have to do a little bit of everything. I’ve gotten to try out and get well-rounded experience by both learning from those around me AND by simply doing it on my own. I am not sure I would’ve had the same opportunities in an academic setting simply because the options for focused nonprofit grad school programs are limited.
2. Not being in grad school has nevertheless pushed me even more to continue learning. Webinars, reading blogs, reading books, attending events, finding conferences, participating in chats, and going to classes, like the Volunteer Management Academy at Rice that starts in a few weeks. I have learned more about how to be motivated to fit learning into a full time job and life and I think that skill will serve me well as I move forward.
Does that mean I’ll never go back to grad school? No. There may come a day when I decide to fit it into the rest of my life. I don’t think I could be a full time student again though. For now I’m happy where I am. I appreciate the real world experience and opportunities that I never would’ve had if I would have forged ahead with it three years ago before I knew more about who I am.
Until next Thursday …
(photo thanks to Schlüsselbein2007)
Of today:
- Apple announced its new tablet device, iPad. Immediately welcoming period jokes. Do they not have any women working at Apple or do they just not care? Oh well. I still want one, although I want a new Macbook Pro even more.
- Tomorrow I start drinking coffee again. Over a month of detox and I think it’s time to fall back in. Sorry tea – you are back to afternoons only.
- I’m playing with moving my blog to WordPress. No one probably cares but I’m excited about it. Stay tuned.
- I added 6 new blogs to my Google Reader. I like being overwhelmed.
And the best for last: State of the Union.
- I liked that Obama didn’t shy away from pissing people off. He also didn’t shy away from using his thumb and forefinger pressed together to make gestures.
- It was the appropriate mix of hopeful and realistic. Much different than his campaign speeches. Less sound bites and more details.
- Direct calls to action that didn’t leave anyone out. And direct finger pointing at those who needed pointed at.
- Included references to how the internet can be used for better transparency and to help with some of the challenges we face. Would’ve liked to see more but then again I did just download the WhiteHouse iPhone app. *nerd alert*
- Definitely renewed my sense of hope that our entire government, both parties included, will step up and fix things without letting themselves get in the way. I love that Obama talked about perpetual campaigning. Stop campaigning and start winning victories for Americans.
- Best decision ever: turn the tv off after the speech was over. I’m enjoying just letting my own thoughts soak in before being bombarded with the opinions and criticisms of all others. I should do this more often.
My mom got mad about my last post. Let me clarify – we are only slightly annoying, definitely not stupid, and have only gotten weird since passing adolescence. Although I guess putting a lamb in diapers in your minivan might qualify as weird so perhaps I should say fourth grade. Which when I think about it might also qualify it as a zoo. More like a petting zoo but still.
This apology should serve to subtract at least 25 cents off the 50 cents I owe you for half that avocado.
love,
Ash
Cold hard truth.
weekends with good friends and familybeautiful, sunny weather
walks with my mom and the pups
long swims
yummy food (SOMA, Empire Cafe, mom’s cooking)
sleeping in two days in a row
seeing Pat next weekend
happy hedgehogs
walks with my mom and the pups
long swims
yummy food (SOMA, Empire Cafe, mom’s cooking)
sleeping in two days in a row
seeing Pat next weekend
happy hedgehogs
Let’s just say that seeing Stephanie and two week old Jacques after work and then hitting the hall for some good ol’ fashioned $6 pitchers and BINGO is one great way to spend a Thursday evening. Now let’s hurry up weekend!
There were a few break-ins in the neighborhood today. My first thought was “I hope they didn’t steal my laptop”. How lame am I? Perhaps I should purchase this laptop cover that disguises your laptop as an old leather book. Because that would really blend in with my paperbacks by David Sedaris and AJ Jacobs, my Guerilla Bridesmaid book, and the famous How to Win a Fight with a Conservative (which I may need to reread given the last few days).
Speaking of being more appreciative, yesterday was Penguin Appreciation Day and apparently today is Squirrel Appreciation Day. Where does it end? Sometimes I feel like it’s acceptable to just make up these appreciation days. In fact maybe I’ll make one up for myself. I’ll declare February 18th as Ashley Appreciation Day. You all have less than a month to prepare.
It’s National Penguin Appreciation Day. Ya I didn’t know that existed either. Penguins are pretty much the only bird I’m not afraid of. It may have something to do with the fact that they cannot fly and they look like mini maitre d’s. If you think about it penguins are pretty high up on the “liked birds” list. I mean what other birds get Morgan Freeman as their official narrator?
In case you want to know more here‘s a blog post about eight penguins you should be aware of. Actually make that nine penguins because they left out the one that should be most on your radar.
Poor Wallace and Gromit. There’s nothing scarier than a penguin pretending to be a rooster, using a gun and stealing diamonds. Especially one that rides around your house on a model train. Nothing.
I just was looking at some Facebook friends’ travel photos and have serious travel envy. My thought – plan a super fun adventure for my birthday this year. That way I have 8 months still to figure it out. GO TIME.