Congratulations, Daniel!

Daniel graduated with a Masters of Accounting on Tuesday. The program, which is normally a two year degree, was condensed into one year with more than a full time class schedule. He accomplished this while working full time and assisting a professor part time, and graduating with a 4.0. He was one of four out of sixty Masters of Accounting to graduate with with a 4.0, and one of two to receive the Internal Auditors Association scholarship.

It was a tough year: classes three nights a week and studying the other four; group projects with classmates who left him to do all the work; and two days off work just to get caught up.

Now that he has graduated, he will be co-authoring with the professor he assisted during the year, learning to play the upright bass, and passing the Internal Audit exam. In a few more years he hopes to get a doctorate and become a professor.

Thrifted China

Greta found eight place settings of Mikasa Cameo Platinum at the thrift store. They didn't get any of their wedding china, so she was thrilled to find the pattern that had been their second choice.

Thank you, Gram!

New soap dispensers for our bathroom from Gram. Daniel picked green, and I picked yellow

Daniel's Busy Year

In July Daniel started a new job with PRGX. Don't worry, no one else has heard of them either. They are a profit-discovery firm (in plain English, they look at companies' contracts, see where they're overpaying, and get the money back). Sounds perfect for an accountant, right? Except Daniel is not in the accounting department, he's in HR! They hired him to help with updating a bunch of reporting things while the head of the accounting department makes room for Daniel.

After a month to get settled into his new job, Daniel started an accelerated Masters of Accounting program at KSU to be finished in one year, with classes two or three nights a week. He is thoroughly enjoying being back in an academic setting

In Which Daniel Takes Matters Into His Own Hands

We had a surprise visit from Greta and Daniel this evening: we weren't quite ready to eat, it being so hot and all. Eventually dinner made it's way onto the table and, truth be told, it looked a bit sparse. I don't know where my brain was.

But Daniel really did take matters into his own hands. He rooted through the pantry and decided on nachos. Soon a piping-hot platter appeared on the table to supplement the meager offerings I had made. It was a good thing, too, since the cucumbers for the cucumber boats were nasty bitter.

Do note the tidy grid of chips laid out on the baking sheet. The refried beans topping the cheese was similarly tidy. That's an accountant for you.

Thanks Daniel! I'm pleased that you're comfortable in my kitchen!