Plans for the Future…

I’ve been Photoshop-happy! I love it. It’s a great program that’s SO much fun to play with…

 
See?
I’m starting to really wake up from the haze. I’m looking forward to this week—except for all the cleaning and packing, of course. I have tons of things to do, but the prospect of a week of things to do and the emotional capacity to do them is a refreshing change from the emotional turmoil I’ve been in for the last few months with my job and the up and down of the possibility of Grant’s leaving. I’m done with my job, Grant has a semi-definite date/plan, and my medication has been adjusted (and I’ve adjusted – mostly – to the change). My spirits are definitely lifting, which helps with the coping.
We’ve been talking about my ‘options’ for my continuing education—and there are options. There are a lot of things to consider… primarily that we don’t know how long Grant will be gone. The contract that Grant was supposed to be going to Afghanistan on hasn’t actually been granted to GDIT. He’s going over there to help ensure that GDIT will get the contract (people just like Grant—he works hard and he is considerate of others… rare qualities these days). If GDIT doesn’t get the contract, Grant could be back in less than 3 months. Or he could risk switching companies to stay on the sight and continue working on the contract without GDIT. Or, if GDIT gets the contract (they’re reasonable sure – to the extent that they’re willing to fly Grant out and train him for 2 – 4 weeks and then set him up at a different base), Grant could be working there for a year or 3. It just depends on how long he wants to stay, what the circumstances are (living conditions), and what financial goals we manage to reach.
So, options for my continuing education include:
1.       I can take correspondence courses from TSU-SM (my old college) to finish my 150 hours (CPA requirement), take a CPA review course, and then sit for the CPA exam.
a.       Cost:     
                                                               i.      $3k for classes
                                                             ii.      $3k for review
                                                            iii.      $2k for exam (assuming I may have to sit twice to pass)
b.      Time:
                                                               i.      6 – 9 months for classes
                                                             ii.      6 months review
                                                            iii.      3 – 6 months taking tests
2.       I can start my MBA (12 courses) through University of Phoenix online.
a.       Cost:     
                                                               i.      $24k for classes
b.      Time:
                                                               i.      9 – 15 months for classes
3.       I can do my MBA through UoP, take a CPA review, and take the exam.
a.       Cost:     
                                                               i.      $24k for classes
                                                             ii.      $3k for review
                                                            iii.      $2k for exam (assuming I may have to sit twice to pass)
b.      Time:
                                                               i.      9 – 15 months for classes
                                                             ii.      6 months review
                                                            iii.      3 – 6 months taking tests
4.       I can start my MBA with a focus in Accounting (16 courses).
a.       Cost:     
                                                               i.      $32k for classes
b.      Time:
                                                               i.      10 – 24 months for classes
5.       I can start my MBA with a focus in Accounting (16 courses) and take the CPA exam (may not need a review course).
a.       Cost:     
                                                               i.      $32k for classes
                                                             ii.      $3k for review
                                                            iii.      $2k for exam (assuming I may have to sit twice to pass)
b.      Time:
                                                               i.      10 – 24 months for classes
                                                             ii.</font>      6 months review
                                                            iii.      3 – 6 months taking tests
 
So… fun stuff. Assuming Grant is overseas for a while, and I have the time and funds available, I’m looking at option 5 (most expensive and time consuming, but also most beneficial). Until we have concrete confirmation that he’s staying and all (we’ll know in 6 months or so, I figure), I think I’ll go with option 1 (least expensive, but I still end up with a CPA).
If Grant decides to stay over for longer than 2 years—which I don’t actually think will happen—I may get a second BS in Criminal Justice. Forensic accounting and auditing are specifications in this field that I find fascinating. I love the idea of making sure people are following the rules, making sure the bad guys pay for their actions, and protecting innocent stockholders and investors from corrupt business practices. This kind of accounting incorporates the very essence of who I am: honesty, integrity, dependability, and trust. These are the things I strive to be… and these are the things I feel are essential for our businesses if we are going to avoid another economic depression. We’re on the brink of economic collapse because business were shady; I’d love to be part of the move to make sure this crap doesn’t happen this particular way again (let’s face it, crap is going to happen again at some point to screw with the economic growth/health of the world). It’d be nice if we didn’t have this particular problem again.
So, a BS in Criminal Justice if Grant stays over for a long time (or when he goes back next time – because let’s be honest here, he’s a cowboy – just like his dad – and likes to travel around the world and work in cruel conditions) and perhaps even a Masters in Administration of Justice and Security. Those credentials would be really nice to have going into an auditing interview… or even open up the possibility of joining the FBI or other governmental agency. Imagine tracking drug money or terrorist operations through their finances. Al Capone was brought down through tax evasion charges, not murder indictments. It’s good to have goals… and I like this one.
I doubt I’ll be a bestselling author anytime soon. Frankly, I’m not that amazing a writer, and there are so many people who write every day, who work constantly to be the best, and who still never get published. Writing will most likely never be a career for me… but I might be able to have a really interesting time with this accounting thing.
But, like everything else, it all depends. “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”
I want to do a lot of things, but timing and finances and stick-to-it-ness are going to be obstacles to overcome. I’ve never been huge on the sticking-to-it crap… and the other two are really not up to me (at least not on a grand scale. Another BS and Masters… thousands of dollars and years of work. It all depends… story of my life—my marriage. All the plans, all the ideas, all the dreams… it all depends.
For now, I’m content with the knowledge that I’ll be home in Texas in under a month, that Grant and I will enjoy our remaining days watching Stargate SG-1 and cuddling with kitties, and that my life seems to be heading in the right direction. For now, I’m content. I plan to work on that whole ‘finding happiness’ thing…