Less than two weeks...

I haven't updated recently. Work has been keeping me busy, which is entirely fine by me because every day that I go into work I know is one less day at those jobs. There are worse feelings.

My Praxis II MCK is in two weeks from yesterday. I've revamped my studying; my plan is to retrace each topic and focus on the stuff I struggle with. I am in fine shape I think, but regardless, I'm still nervous.

There isn't much else to update on. But here are some quick random things:

-I saw Sisqo at Best Buy. Thong Song Sisqo. Very hard not to laugh.
-The new Rocket Summer album is nice.
-I've lost track of my countdown until the big move, but it's somewhere in the 80s now.
-I'm drinking coffee and getting ready to go to see Shitty Jobs at the Upright Citizen's Brigade tonight.
-I'm trucking along with my Teach For America Pre-Institute packet. Half way through Exercise 2.
-I finished Lost Season 2. Where the hell is that show going?

Holiday

Just used a travel voucher to get a plane ticket to go here:

Because my little brother wants to look at going to school here:

First week of April, here I come.

Less than 100 days...

So, having picked a (95%) official departure date, I am pleased to announce that I have only

98 DAYS

until I start my trek to Mississippi. I will be departing on May 29th, if all stays on track. Other than that, there is not much to update on. Here's a short list of things I've recently done in preparation for Institute.

-Began pre-institute work packet. Ms. Lora's Story is actually a really enjoyable read...with only a few nightmare-inducing scenarios.
-Bought a tie for $9.99. I find it odd that getting a tie for 10$ is a deal...ties should be cheaper.
-Relished in the joys of the practice test I took two days ago. Gotta get back to studying though.
-Took some deep breaths.

Lent

Barely a day in to giving up chocolate and I'm already in need of some Nutella.

I feel like Josh Hartnett in that one movie.

GREAT NEWS

I JUST TOOK A PRAXIS II: MATH CONTENT KNOWLEDGE PRACTICE TEST AND MANAGED TO GET 45 OUT OF 50 QUESTIONS CORRECT!

(Now, let's see if I can do that on the real thing)

Hollywood ----> Mississippi

So, these past few days have been fairly mundane. Just lots of work and some studying on the side for those Praxis exams. This has given me plenty of time to think...and think...and think. Which, if you know me, you know that's not always good.

I'M GETTING RESTLESS!

I try not to count the days until I depart, but I can't help it. But then counting the days doesn't make it go any faster...in fact, it's been scientifically proven* that counting down days makes time slow by 213%. I'm just ready to go. LA has been fine. I've appreciated my bizarre time here. I've met some interesting people, done some interesting things, and had a homeless man hand me a live baby rabbit. However...it's time to move on. And these past few days have shown me that.

I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm looking forward to the location. I'm looking forward to meeting new and exciting people. And I'm looking forward to never having to wear a polo with a Best Buy logo on it. It's going to be great.

Now if it could just hurry up and get here...

*entirely made-up fact

Do me (and the world) a favor:

PEPSI is handing out some dolla dolla bills, and Teach For America can get 250,000 of those dolla dolla bills if you help me/us out:

It takes two seconds, and I don't normally do junk like this:

http://www.refresheverything.com/TFA

Thanks!

Register, Set, Go

Today I registered for the Praxis I. I've been registered for the Praxis II (the crazy math one) for a couple weeks now, but I figured I'd bite the 130$ bullet and register for the regular Praxis.

MARCH 29th. That means I'll have about two weeks between the Praxis II and the Praxis I to prepare. It'll be nice to have these out of the way. And then immediately after those tests, I'm headed to New Orleans with 3/5's of my family to check out schools for Sam. It'll be a little reward for beating myself over the head with standardized testing for two months.

I've decided (tentatively) that my institute departure date is going to be JUNE 2nd. Which basically means I have three days of driving, and a couple days of goofing around in Norman.

Then I become a big kid. Yikes.

Study, Work, Study, Work...

Alright...the title basically covers what's happened between my last post and now. My life is a timeshare, owned by three entities: Retail Job #1, Retail Job #2, and The Praxis II: Math Content Knowledge Exam.

I've been studying about 1.5-3 hours every day for this blasted thing. Relearning the entire subject of math in 7 weeks is many things, not one of them "easy". At the end of the day though, it's thoroughly motivating, and I'm well aware that this is just a minor obstacle in the grand scheme of things. Just for fun...here are a couple questions from my practice exams:

1. Given the recursive function defined by
f(1) = 1,
f(2) = 2,
f(n) = 2f(n-1) + f(n-2) for n >= 3,

what is the value of f(5)?

A. 5
B. 12
C. 29
D. 70


2. What is the product of complex numbers 2 + 3i and 2 - 3i?

A. -5
B. 13
C. 13-12i
D. 13 + 12i


3. The equation of the line tangent to the graph of y=2x^3 - x + 3 at the point where x = 1 is given by

A. 6x -y = 2
B. 5x - y = 1
C. 5x - y = 5
D. 5x - y = -1


4. Find the area enclosed by the curves y = 2x - x^2 and y = 2x - 4

A. 16/3
B. 32/3
C. 16
D. 64/3



Some are easier than others, but that gives you a general idea of the ridiculous test I'm about to take. Also, keep in mind, I can't even show you 75% of the questions because they involve strange symbols and charts and graphs that this blog won't even let me post. Anyway, if you got 100%, I bow to you, sir.

I take the test on March 13th. That being said, here's a system of equations for you:

March 13th = The day my head explodes
March 13th = My dad's birthday

THEREFORE

The day my head explodes = my dad's birthday

Sorry, dad.

Other than studying, I've been listening to some blues and watching O Brother Where Art Thou in order to get into the Delta state of mind.

Hope all is well.


ANSWERS: (1. C, 2. B, 3. B, 4. B)