OH the Anticipation… I Can Hardly Wait!!

I am anticipating so many things!! And I just have to say – happy anticipation puts me in a very good mood. I don't know why. It's almost better than getting what I was waiting for. Almost.

Let me share with you all the lovely things that are coming my way:

1) A vacation to Utah in only TWO WEEKS!!!! And we get to spend time out at a cabin with Ben's family. YIPPEE! And I get to see my family! And I get to meet my sister's new twins!! And I hope to have some time to see some good friends who I haven't seen in a long time! And I get to take a break from work! I get to go back and do some Bikram Yoga at the studio in Sugar House! I get to go out to dinner at Jean Louis' with my folks! I get to go hiking in the mountains! I get to go running in Sugar House Park! I get to! I get to! I get to! Was that all just really annoying to read? I felt like a little kid tugging on her mom's skirt, gushing over an upcoming trip to Disneyland, as I was typing. And as immature as it may be, it's a pretty accurate description of how I feel about it all.

2) The end of the quarter is coming, and it comes this time with a very long BREAK. HELLO SUMMER! I have been working on the MBA relentlessly since January 2010. With 3.5 hour long classes twice a week and all the coursework and exams, I am pretty sure I am swearing off collegiate pursuits indefinitely once I'm done. But, I still have more work to do. Regardless, I have managed to schedule my classes this summer so that I have absolutely NO evening classes. I have 4 full days of classes, 8-5pm, and the rest of my work is going to be done via independent study. I'll still have work to do, of course. But it's so nice to have control over my schedule for a little while. Just the reprieve I needed to make it thru the homestretch.

3) Did I mention I'm almost done with this MBA thing? At least, I consider 6.5 months equal to almost done. And all of my financial coursework will be behind me in just 2 short weeks. That means all of my upcoming classes are ace-able. That also means that there is a new phase of life fast-approaching for Ben and I with so many unknowns I can't even count. I can't even day dream about it because there are too many options. Will we be in Ohio or will we move? Where would be move to? (The answer: we have no clue).Will we buy a home or will we continue to rent? What new job will I get? What new job will Ben get? Will I start getting back into community theater? What other hobby might I pick up? I pretty much have no idea what our lives will look like once I finish the degree. And while I can't wait to have a clearer picture and see how things take shape, I am really excited for whatever it is.

All this anticipation might lead one to think I don't like my life just as it is. I don't mean to say that. I am actually quite content these days. I love having a gym on campus where I work so I can go running on my lunch breaks. I enjoy the people I work with and office life has been much less tumultuous lately than it was during my 1^st year on the job. I have met some great friends in my mba program and I have really valued what I have learned in my classes so far. Ben and I love our ward. Cincinnati itself is actually pretty cool. It's got great restaurants, theater, shopping, sports and all sorts of stuff to keep us entertained. I think the only thing we don't love is the apartment we live in and the fact that so many of our friends and family are so far away. And of course, despite the fact that I like everyone at work, I am looking forward to getting a new job at the end of all this. So don't get the wrong idea. I'm totally happy. And waiting for all that is to come only enhances that fact.