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google ranking

[Listening to: Gira Con Me - Josh Groban - Josh Groban (4:42)]

Looks like I'm moving on up the google ladder of searchdom..lol It's not much but my page rank is now 2/10. Not bad :-). My last blog was rated 4/10 took me about a month or so to do that. This day couldn't get any better...or could it???

Thanks to all who are linking me.

{2 FiNgErS}

neci acceptance

YEAH!!! Got a call early this morning from K. over @ NECI and she informed me that I was accepted into the program. I was hoping that I would hear before Friday and that's what happened. Very excited right now. I should receive a phone call from the Financial Planner in the coming days...right now I'm filling out the Scholarship application. I'll write more later. :-)

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gmail

[Listening to: Get to know ya - Maxwell - Now (3:34)]

I was reading over at and saw that people with activate blogs are getting invites to Gmail I headed on over to blogger and bam...there is was. I just signed up for the 1 gig Gmail. I'm hot sh*t now...lol. So those who have blogger better get on over there.

[Listening to: Lifetime - Maxwell - Now (5:32)]

Also...there is a Gmail tutorial for Gmail created by the author at Laibcoms check it out.

ice ice baby

[Listening to: Trouble In Here - Howie Day - Stop All The World Now (5:57)]

That's ICE as in The Institute of Culinary Education I received their information packet. The school looks very interesting, though and living in NYC would be totally awesome I think. A country southern boy in the big city :-).

There are a few things that I REALLY like about ICE and some things I DON'T like...

[Listening to: Howie Day - Sunday Morning Song - Howie Day - Stop All The World Now (3:57)]

work-study program - for students who wish to work in exchange for tuition. Workers are required to work 1,400 hours in exchange for taking either the Culinary Arts or Pastry & Baking Arts Diploma programs. An interview is required, three-day OJE, and 2 years of working or college work. I bet this program is pretty attractive to a lot of people...or may not.

[Listening to: Come Lay Down - Howie Day - Stop All The World Now (5:52)]

ICE doesn't provide housing but they do have referral services, yada yada yada. The facility looks great (in the view book). I haven't heard much about ICE but I've been reading Pastry Elf she offers some good insight into the program. She's on fire :-)

[Listening to: I Wanna Be Where You Are - Jackson 5 - (2:58)]

The ICE Baking & Pastry program is about 20 (610 hours) weeks plus one externship all for about $20,000 not including housing. I'm concerned though...is that enough to prepare me for real pastry kitchens?? Compared to NECI you spend 75% of your time in real kitchens for 6 months and then your externship...then another 6 months @ NECI in real kitchens and then another externship for about $38-40,000. Total time @ NECI is 12 months. Total time @ ICE is about 6-8 months.

[Listening to: Strawberry Bounce - Janet Jackson - Damita Jo (3:10)]

If I'm totally focused on my bottom line...ICE looks like the best bet. The Work-study program would save me a nice chunk of green backs...but then I like the intense nature of NECI. I'm not confused...I just want to make an informed decision and think more long long term than short. $$BILLS$$

[Listening to: Island Life - Janet Jackson - Damita Jo (3:53)]

I think I'll apply to ICE just in case I don't get accepted into NECI program. Doesn't hurt to have a Plan B.

speechless

[Listening to: This Woman's Work (unplugged) - Maxwell - Now (4:26)]

There's a fair going on up town and I drove my grandmother up to take a look at the arts and crafts. I didn't want to stay so I dropped her off and headed back to the house and I'd return to pick her up in about an hour and a half. So on my drive back this woman stops me and ask if I would drive her 15 miles to her home...I couldn't because I didn't have enough gas in my jeep to do so. So then she tells me that she'd give me a BJ, not her exact words but you get the idea, and I'm totally blown away...no pun inteneded. It through me for a loop though. I told her no thanks but gave her a couple dollars to get gas for her car.

[Listening to: Now At The Party - Maxwell - Now (5:44)]

Then she ask for a ride to a friends house...so I say yes. She looked like she was strung out on something and eehh...I'm not one to judge. So I drop her off and she says thanks and that she really appreciated me giving her the money and the ride...she sounded very sincere and she got out and went into the house.

This happened about 2 hours ago but I'm thinking...did I do the right thing?

Changing subjects...I'm thinking heavily about moving to MT or something. I would like the ability to have different types of categories on blog for post like this.

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neci interview today

WOW!. I knew something good was going to happen today. Around 1:30 p.m. went out to check the mail and there was a package from NECI and it contained the Financial aid information and the interactive cd I requested...I really like that they are so on target with their mailings.

After I got in the house...opened the package...the phone rings...it's K. from NECI. She called to let me know that they received my reference letter which was mailed about 2 days ago and my transcript from high school that was mailed last week on Monday. Cool beans...so then she asks me if I want to schedule an interview for later or would I want to have it done today..right now. Of course I'm excited I say right now...

The interview went great I think. K. asked about why I wanted to attend NECI, if there are any other schools I'm thinking about, and why do I want to major in Pastry and Baking, yada yada yada. We even got off topic for a bit to discuss Angels & Demons by Dan Brown, which she has on her night stand. So all in all, again I think it went great. K. said that I would hear from her this time next week and I should receive an acceptance package 2 or 3 days after that day or even before! So this gets me totally excited.

After reading over the NECI Fin. Aid booklet...I realized that there are really grants and scholarships that I qualify for. Some range up to $5000! One is a Diversity scholarship and the other is the James Beard, and other is....ahh I forget.

It's late and I'm about to pop in a DVD...

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