Survey says...

As a follow up to my last blog post, I have a confession to make.  I never finished my undergrad degree.  The reason I bring this up is that on over half of the surveys I've taken, they inevitably ask what level of education I've achieved.  This annoys me in that my choices are: never attended college, some college, graduated with and undergraduate degree, post graduate studies and graduate degree.  It's the words "some college" that sticks in my craw.

Which best describes your highest level of education?

Less than high school

Some high school

High school graduate

Some college

College graduate

Some postgraduate work

Postgraduate degree

Prefer not to answer

"Some college."  That gives no distinction between the person who has withdrawn during their first term and the person who only has six credit hours to complete.  I, embarrassingly, fall into the latter category.  "What?!?  How is that possible?" you ask.  Well, there are several reasons.  The foremost is that the lack of funds is the primary reason for the elusive sheepskin.  Busy life (three year old at home and full time job) comes in a close second.  All these are reasons/excuses that aren't entirely insurmountable, but damn if I can figure out how to make it all work.  Maybe the key is just to do it without thinking about it.  If it works, it works.   If not, then I'll be exactly where I am now, just poorer. 

The fact that I will have to do a journalism internship is also a major, MAJOR issue for me.  How do I work to pay bills and do an internship at the same time?  Will I be the world's oldest intern?  Will anyplace even offer me one?   I realize that it's not legal for anyplace to ask my age, but I'm pretty sure that they can get a figure in the ballpark once they get a hold of my transcripts.  Hell, even in the interview they'll get a pretty good idea that I'm not a typical dewy skinned college student.  And no amount of Grecian Formula (is that even manufactured any more?) will cover all the gray on my head. 

But, the first step has already been taken.  I've found out that all I need to do is apply for re-enrollment.  I've already was accepted for graduation during my last stint at BSU.  The next step is figuring out how to pay for it.  Hopefully I'll be able to find some sort of financial aid to help.  I've just paid off my original student loans last spring and I guess I can borrow again.  At my age, it'll be a race to see if I can pay one off before retirement!

Someone asked me if I intended to walk commencement.  Um, hell yes I do!  After all this time, I think my friends and family will insist on seeing me on stage.  If nothing else, just for the proof that I finally got my degree.  Robbie says we will have a big party.   At the rate I've gone with my college career, we can combine that party with my retirement party!

Online Surveys - The Answers to Life's Burning Questions

In my spare time (ha!) I do online research polls to earn "e-dollars" to redeem for SkyMiles on Delta.  I've not earned enough yet to redeem for a flight or even an upgrade. But the good people at Delta don't take unused miles away from you as long as you have account activity within a twenty four month period unlike some other un-named airline (cough - Southwest - cough) who only lets you keep miles/points for a year whether you add to them or not.

Some of the polls are pretty quick - usually because they have enough answers from my demographic group or the answers I've given don't qualify me for further participation.   Some of the polls don't fit me at all (why would I know or have an opinion about tampons?) while others have me guessing at what they are really trying to get information about.

I did one tonight on health.  There were a series of questions ranging from Acne to COPD to Diabetes 1 and type 2.  Here's a sample of what they ask:

Alzheimer's
	I suffer from
	Someone in my household suffers from
	I provide care for someone who suffers from
	Not Applicable

Here is an example of how twisted my mind is:  Shouldn't they have another option to check such as, "I don't remember?" or "How would I know?"    (Yes, I know it's a horrible disease.  Yes, I've seen first hand the affect it has on a family.) Like I said, twisted mind.  And it just occurred to me that what they are really finding out is what kind of person actually answers those surveys.  Scary.

Celebration!

It's been sixteen years since I've been able to say this... I'm free of a car payment!  I made my last payment online tonight on the Cruiser.  It's completely mine.  And now, something will go horribly wrong.  Like finding another car and ending up in another loan.  Let's hope it's a while.  Got my eye on the Chevy Camaro convertible that is due out next year.


It's a great feeling though to have a car paid off.  The student loans were finally paid off last summer. And now that we aren't paying for storage on a "pile of crap" (click here for Time Capsule) maybe we'll be able to spend some money on landscaping that we've been wanting to do.  First is a privacy fence between our back yard and the neighbors driveway.  We have no privacy on that side of the backyard and it makes me a little crazy sometimes. 

Next would be taming the wilderness at the back of our property.  It's overgrown with honeysuckle bushes (considered a noxious weed in Indiana) and takes up15 to 20 feet of our yard.  A yard that we'd like to add a playset and playhouse for Riley.  The only downside is that the birds really like the cover when hitting the feeders set up back there.  Maybe the best thing would be to remove them a little at a time and replace them with something a little more tame and not so rambling.

So there are the possibilities now that I don't have a car payment going out every month.  Fencing.  Playsets. Playhouses. Shrubbery.  Or I can just go crazy and get lipo and then drop the gym membership.  More money saved.