Technically, I’m on my vacation. Since Monday night, I’ve been home in Chattanooga. In reality, the professors of my two online classes missed the memo that not only are online classes supposed to be easy, but summer classes need to be a joke. They’re expecting actual work from us. How dare they!

Did anyone catch the debates last night? I contemplated it, and then realized that Housewas on. Hugh Laurie beats 10 guys who aren’t going to win the presidency anytime. Until Thompson officially declares, I’m struggling to get excited about anyone. Well, I like Huckabee, but does he really have a shot?

With that, I’m taking a few days off to enjoy the Scenic City, friends and my family. I think I need a break from the blogosphere and sitting in front of a computer.

One thing I’ve enjoyed doing in grad school is taking the Myers-Brigg and other personality tests. Last semester we took the MBTI as a class to identify our personality types and then talk about how those types work best together. It’s a good exercise that I wish professional settings would do more often. It does a lot to help teams understand how members interact.

Last night I did a bit more research on my personality type and found it errily accurate. It seems that I’m the perfect picture of an INFJ. We’re really rare, making up only 1% of the population. It seems that we’re rare jewels:

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Yesterday, after wrapping up the hardest semester of my life, I picked up my cap and gown from the bookstore.

It’s. Very. Blue.

It’s not navy blue, light blue or even the official U.S. blue. It’s bright, royal blue.

My hood, has red, white and blue chevrons, and there’s a big AU logo patch on the front yoke of the gown.

When I tried it on at home, my first reaction was, “I either look like a smurf or a blueberry.”

If I’m overwhelmed by all the blueness, what’s the entire arena going to look like?

I do have to give AU credit. They’ve taken the concept of branding to heart. Everything has the school colors and logo.

As of 5 p.m. tonight, I’m a free woman. Well, until Monday when my online class starts. Right now, it’s 8:30 a.m., and I’ve been up since 6:30 finishing up two papers, a presentation and throwing together a proposal for an independent study friend R and I brainstormed last week.

 You could feel sorry for me, but I haven’t been the most diligent student. Last night after turning my thesis in, I went out to dinner and a celebratory drink with friends. Then I proceeded home with every intention of finishing up early and getting a good night’s sleep. But no, R called and convinced me to go on a Target and Krispy Kreme run. There’s just something about end of semester stress that makes Krispy Kreme that much better. KK now offers just a cup of doughnut holes for $1.80! It’s the perfect sugar fix when you’re stressed.  

Next week, I’m hoping to make some big changes here. I have a great idea for GFTS that I’m dying to start working on. Until then, check out a new blog that I’m supposed to be contributing to once I get a full night’s sleep–TechRepublican.

*Below are the six best practices that I noticed from my analysis of netroots sites on both the left and right. The ten web sites analyzed were Moveon, Democracy for America, Democrats.com, Democratic Underground, Michael Moore, TownHall, Free Republic, Media Research Center, American Family Association and American Conservative Union.

Analysis of these ten web sites revealed six best practices that benefit online activist web sites, which in turn help political parties and social causes. While the most powerful movements are spontaneously built from a true grassroots movement, it is possible for existing organizations to pushmovements forward. As the Internet becomes more powerful in the American political process, online activism is likely to play an integral role in most campaigns.

(The Obama campaign should pay attention to #5 & 6, which were written before the Myspace incident.) 

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Be happy that I don’t vlog. The pasty complexion and dark circles that are now etched under my eyes aren’t pretty. But I’ve been planted in front of Edmund of Dell for the past two weeks when I wasn’t at work sitting in front of the computer in my cube. My goal this week, aside from writing a 3-year PR plan, group dynamics paper, and a proposal for an independent study this summer, is to catch up on my sleep. I’d actually like to look decent for commencement services on Sunday.

Did I mention one little thing? 

At approximately 1:50 a.m. on Monday, May 7, 2007 my thesis is completed! It still needs to be printed and bound, but some things can be left for tomorrow.

So 75 pages, 44 footnotes, 25 graphs, 2 appendices and countless blog post later, I am finished with the project that I’ve obsessed over worked on for the past five months.

Now everyone needs to read it. Well, I’m only going to force those who are bound by blood or life-long friendship to thoughtfully analyze all 75 pages. Therefore, if I share your genes, have been in your wedding, attended your wedding, listened to relationship problems, listened to complaints about your own thesis, and/or made sure you weren’t passed out drunk in a ditch (EVER), you’re reading it!

Actually, if you want to read it, shoot me an e-mail. I’m also working on an executive summary to send to a few people who are interested but don’t want to weed through the entire thing.

Maybe tomorrow later today, I’ll post a few excerpts. For some reason, whenever I blog about politics or communication, my hits practically triple. Either my insights into the world of political communication are just that amazing, or my life is boring. I choose the former, because well, I have quantitative data that shows only 6-7% of Americans blog and those people are much more interested in politics than the general public. Plus, I’d hate to think that my life is dull, and my writing about said life is stale. 

Even though it’s now 2 a.m., I’m too giddy to go to sleep. However, by the time I arrive at work tomorrow, I probably won’t be that giddy. What’s it like to go to bed before 2 a.m.? I really can’t remember.

Oh! I just realized that I graduated from college 3 years ago. Good thing college me can’t see what happened to grad school me. She’d still be at a party somewhere on Frat Row with Mrs. M., who probably also would have freaked out to see where her life is now. Actually, most of the Gamma Sig crowd would probably be there too.

Thesis due in 6 days.

2 a.m. Every night. Crosstabs. Content Analysis. Statistics.

Stress. Everyone around me freaking out.

Sixty pages. How can I proof 60 pages?

Reconnected with client last night after 2 months of calling an e-mailing.

Entire strategic communication campaign and web site to write in one week.

So tired. Just want to sleep. Need vacation.

AU just received another $80 from me when I ordered my graduation regalia. That school has more ways to squeeze extra dough from students, and they don’t even have a Big Orange Screw here!

AU requires you to order your cap and gown before you can get tickets. At least there’s a ticket system. Commencement at UT was always a nightmare.

What gets me is that the $80 is a rental fee, as in I must return it by 5 p.m. that day. My undergraduate regalia cost $20, and I got to keep it.

Then there’s the color.

As much as UT loves orange, they are *tasteful for commencement services and have everyone weara black gown and mortarboard. AU is sure proud of their blue and red because we get to sport royal blue gowns with an AU badge on the shoulder. Just look at that sea of royal blue. I’m not sure what color my hood is. It’s either white or red.

*Tasteful to a point. They don’t care what you wear with your cap and gown. My undergraduate class had 3400 people in it. How do you control that many people? Mrs. Calvert probably would have found a way.

Today, we had to write down ten of our values in life for practicum. I came up with eight before I started delving into theology or politics, so I ended with two Monty Python quotes.

1.Broaden your horizons.
A Maven Momism that I heard frequently growing up.
2. Look for the adventures in everyday life.
Another Maven Momism that she’s always exemplified.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or ask stupid questions.
It seems that I ask a lot of stupid questions.
4. Always believe that everything will work out because you are a Child of God.
Based on two of my favorite verses, Romans 8:28-29 and Phil. 4:6-7.
5. Build a support system and nurture it.
This is a lesson that I’ve learned over the past year.
6. If overwhelmed, stop and make a list.
The only way that I survive. I make a lot of lists.
7. It’s ok not to have all the answers.
It only took a very expensive graduate degree to teach me this.
8. Find a dream and pursue it.
This list needed at least one inspirational poster quote.
9. Always look on the brght side of life.
One of my favorite MP songs.
10. No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.
Another fabulous MP quote.

I also found out that this was the last day of class, which makes me sad. There’s still a ton of work to do, but grad school is quickly ending. Most are taking online classes or doing an independant study this summer. I’m really going to miss school when it’s over.

With the final draft of my thesis due on May 8, I’ve been a little consumed by it. This weekend, I finally made myself read three books that I’ve been putting off for this project. Yes, I read three entirebooks–Trippi’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, The Influentials and Godin’s Unleashing the Idea Virus. All three are excellent books that I should have read long ago. The Influentials should be mandatory reading for anyone in the marcom, political or business fields. The bad thing is that these books keep referencing other books that I need to read. The cycle never ends.

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