What's new lately? (Been damn lazy to update)

Finished UNIVERSITY

I completed my Master's in July. The whole experience was rather odd: I actually talked to many of my classmates and made a lot of new friends in the process. This is actually pretty weird considering that everyone had their own little groups and there was little interaction/a lot of competition between the groups. I guess the thought of "never seeing these people again" (even though we all work in the same circle) made people friendlier. Academically, it was a lot of friggin work and research, and I had a few sleepless nights... but it wasn't all that difficult. The life lesson that I learnt from this is that nothing is hard as it seems - I honestly didn't think I would make it this far when I was in first year. Oh well, it's done and I don't want to be doin' no more degrees for the next while.

Studying for the Uniform Final Exam (UFE)

For those of you who are not in accounting, the UFE is the last educational component (besides on-going professional development hours) in order to become a Chartered Accountant. I'm currently studying for this exam in Waterloo at the moment, and I'll be here until I finish writing the 3-day exam on September 20. While I can't really stand being in Waterloo that much longer, I figured that I should study and write the exam in the surroundings in which I wrote all my other university exams. I hope that I'll be considered "competent" by the licensing board (you basically fail the UFE when you're labelled to be of "nominal competenece").

Moving Downtown in March

Now THIS is exciting news ! My parents lent me a down payment for a condo near the Rogers Centre/Skydome. It's not big at all (1 bedroom, 580 sq. ft.), but the building is really nice and it's in a good location. However, the catch is that I can't live there until March. Clara's landlord sold her unit, so she and her husband are getting kicked out at the end of August. They bought a new house up in Markham, but it's not built until March. Since it's hard to find a half-year lease from August to March, they are going to live in my unit until their new house is built. While it kinda sux not being able to move in immediately, it gives me some time to save up some money before my monthly cash flow is drained by mortgage payments. Oh well, it gives me time to plan and drool over nice furniture.

Joined facebook

This isn't really a big deal, but look what I found there:

I don't look all that different even 18 years later. I still remember that I looked over because someone opened the gymnasium door - I was NOT checking anyone out !!

Finally... an update !!

It's gonna be another lonely nite...

So here I am, 9: 30 pm on a Friday night at the Student Centre studying Business Valuations by myself. How crappy it can get sometimes... geez. Not to mention Valentine's Day is coming up, and I'll be lucky to even get a phone call from anyone (much less do anything romantic with a real person). I have an exciting Business Valuations midterm on that night... geez.

I'm taking a break right now and watching the music video for one of my favourite songs: Michael Gray - Borderline, featuring Shelly Poole. I think that the music video, song and lyrics embody a lot of characteristics that I would classify myself as being similar to. Namely (picture me in my aviator leather jacket with a scarf), these include:

• Stylish and sleek
• Suggestive and slutty in a subtle way
• Untouchable
• Slightly adult
• Classy and preppy
• Rockin' and pumpin'
• "It's gonna be another lonely night... one more and I'm gonna die... Wired out, waitin' for the sign... cuz you're a risk and I'm borderline......"

Here's the actual music video (I might be a bit delusional, but aren't we all a bit idealistic?):

Yet another hilarious situation

I was checking out naked pictures of the Carlson twins one day, and then decided to share it with Housemate #1 so that she could check them out too.

A few weeks later, Housemate #2 is on Housemate #1's computer and sees the naked picture...

Housemate #2 asks in a curious tone: "What's THAT huh?" (They have known each other since they were like 5 years old.) 

Housemate #1 quickly brushes it off by saying: "It's NOTHING, that's just something that someone sent to me..."

Housemate #2: "SURE that's just something someone sent to you huh..."

When Housemate #1 told me about this, we both agreed that Housemate #2 probably thought that she was a horny slut that needed to download material to masturbate to, and then would get all embarassed when she was caught.

Time to turn a new leaf

School at UW started on Wed. Jan. 3, so I have only had 2 classes out of my 4 courses so far. The two first classes I had so far were, let's say, INTENSE. Here's my homework for the 1st week of M.Acc. classes (homework was assigned even though I haven't even attended some of these classes yet!): 

ACC 611: External Reporting

1. CICA HB Section 1000
2. CICA HB Section 1100
3. EIC 20 - Reacquisition of Troubled Franchises
4. EIC 32 - Gold Loans
5. Accounting Standards Evolution, 2nd Edition - Preface, Chapters 1, 4, & 5
6. External Reporting homework problem: Apply HB 1000 to HB 1100, EIC 20 & EIC 32

ACC 621: Systems Reliability

1. Computer Control & Audit Guide, 13th Edition - Chapter 1 & Appendix A
2. Article: AICPA Top Ten Technologies
3. Two case studies: Music Inc. & Stay Home Care

ACC 607: Tax Issues Integration

1. One case study in Tax Issues Integration

ACC 606: Business Valuations

1. Module 1: Introduction to Business & Securities Valuation
2. Canada Valuation Service: Information Circular 89-3
3. Canada Valuation Service: Purchasers Who Perceive Post-Acquisition Net Economic Value-Added
4. Canada Valuation Service: Value Terms Through Fair Market Value
5. Canada Valuation Service: Principles of Business Valuation
6. Canada Valuation Service: Overview of a Typical Valuation Assignment Through Types of Financial Statement Analysis
7. Canada Valuation Service: The Liquidation Approach Through the Going-Concern Value Approach
8. Half of Module 2: Overview of Valuation Techniques & Approaches
9. Canada Valuation Service: Overview of the Asset Based Valuation Techniques Through Developing Liquidation-Based Values
10. Canada Valuation Service: Property & Equipment Valuations Through Factors Affecting the Value of Real Estate & Property
11. Canada Valuation Service: Overview of the Earnings/Cash Flow-Based Valuation Techniques Through to Dual Capitalization of "Normalized" or "Indicated" Earnings
12. Canada Valuation Service: The Dual Capitalization of Earnings Approach
13. Business Valuation homework problems: 1.4 to 1.6 & 2.1 to 2.5