Bazzle G Stratford

Summer 2008 - Update

2008-08-01T13:12:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone,

Sorry I've been gone! My work decided that blogspot was taking up too much time and banned it. But the people revolted! So now it's back, and I can start sneaking in some posts on my lunch break. Since MAY has been the last time I posted, I figured I better catch everyone up on whats happening this summer.

Campaign: Ryan won! By a very healthy margin of 22%. I'm excited my first campaign managing turned out so surprisingly well. Go Wilcox team!

School: I just completed my semi-brutal course on the Practice of Public Management. I actually learned quite a bit about how organizational structures and cultures effect operations. However, I was pretty disappointed that the class had such a Private company, rather than Public or Non-profit, approach.

Dating: Nada! My dating life sucks. I'm not even sure the last time I actually went on a date... Yikes! Maybe I'll just be like my big brother, Cubby.

Living Quarters: As you all may have guessed by now, I'm a little compulsive. So over the past year, I think I've moved 3 or 4 times. And I'm about to move again. I've got a hold on an apartment at The Village on Main Street in Bountiful. We'll see if it works out, but I cant afford the gas driving from West Haven to SLC every day, so, hopefully something presents itself!

So that's all for now. When I can get to some photos, I'll edit this post and add them in. Sorry, just boring text-information for now. Hope everyone is doing great!

Oh and come to my BBQ on August 9th yall! Call or text me for more info. DO IT!

DOOOOOOO ITTTTTTT!!!!!

-Bazz

Checking in... at 23!

2008-05-27T19:41:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone,

So I had my birthday this week. I rock! Actually, if ya dont know, my nephew totally stole my birthday from me last year. I'm 22 years older than him to the day. We rock.

I've been super lame lately and havent posted in over three weeks. Ya, I suck. I'm going to get some pictures up from Vegas, Lake Powell, and my birthday celebration real soon. I promise...

P.S. - Summer School SUCKS! My class is hard. (whhhhine)

P.P.S. - 4 weeks until the Republican Primary on June 24th. Maybe I'll be able to pretend to have a social life in a month or so, huh? Let's hope. Go Ryan!

LOVE YOU ALL!
Bazz

The Results Are In...

2008-05-07T10:59:00.002-06:00

- Grades
Term: Spring 2008

Graduate Semester FCS 5964 061 3.0 A
Graduate Semester PADMN 6323 001 3.0 A-
Graduate Semester PUBPL 6900 001 3.0 A-

- Summary
Term: Spring 2008

Graduate Semester GPA: 3.800

So I didnt fail my class. Woohoo! In fact, I even got an A-. Freaking Awesome. Gotta love lifes pleasant surprises!

Yea, I'm still here. What of it?

2008-04-30T14:28:00.003-06:00

Sorry I havent been posting everyone, things got a little crazy there...! But I'm back, at least, I'm 'more' back than I was previously. Does that make any sense? I'll totally start posting much more regularly. But I'm lame, and I dont have much to speak about!

So heres the current rundown on my life:

School- The semester is finished. It was hell. I've gotten two grades back, an A and an A-, and the jury is still out on the third. It's the class I may have gotten below a B in, which means I would need to retake the course. SO PLEASE LET US HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN!!!! Summer semester begins in two weeks, and yea, I'm taing classes. Cause I'm lame like that, and I pretty much hate myself. I'll be taking Practices and Policies of Public Management as well as Local Government Law. Exciting much, yes?

Work- Still working at SLCo. I dont know how much longer I'll be there... perhaps a while. We'll see! I'm being kept surprisingly busy and I love what I do and the people I work with, so things are great.

Love Life - Pretty much doesnt exist. Women suck.

Campaign - We're going strong! Our Campaign Headquarters are in the Exit Realty building on Washington. My candidate is super energetic, and I'm pretty sure were going to win in this Primary. But we need help... So if your really interested, come spend an afternoon with us or just throw a 5$ bill our way!

Allergies - I hate them, and I either want them to die or I want someone to put me out of my mysery. Benji, are you ready to be the P instead of the V.P.? We could arrange an assassination plot.

Thats pretty much it yo. Whats with the picture? Well, I'm taking the weekend off from life to go to Vegas this Friday-Monday. I'm seriously going to relax by the pool the whole time. That is, after I take in a few hundred from the blackjack table (yea, right). Hope everyone is enjoying the weather transitioning into summer, with the exclusion of the rain/snow that is supposed to happen today.

Love you all. Keep it real!!

This semester sucks...

2008-04-14T15:50:00.001-06:00

Seriously. How can I describe it to you? Remember that time in my life I got vertigo and puked everywhere for days? Yea, it's worse than that.

I just wanted to complain to everyone.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me to do when the semester is over (in 3 weeks!) and I get a brief 2 week intermission before Summer Semester begins?

Thanks!

Booya Grandma this, Lindsay!

2008-04-07T14:26:00.003-06:00

So my delightful sister posted on her blog about how amazing she was at typing. Then however, she made the mistake of challenging me. I, unbeknownst to her, am part of the Millenium Typing club at Rocky Mountain Jr. High. So I pretty much rocked her world.

105 words

Speedtest

Oh man, attempt #3:

114 words

Speed test

Yea, I'll have my cake and eat it too.

I'm Back! and Look what I Got...

2008-03-18T14:20:00.005-06:00

Hey everybody!

The 2008 Legislative Session has adjourned Sine Die. Congratulations to the Legislators, Lobbyists, and everyone involved! Another memorable session, to be sure. Now I have to re-focus on school. It would be pretty bad if I didnt pass my classes... yikes!

On another note, check this out:

My man Dave giving me the keys to my new toy!

Here I am in my baby!

Driving away. Isn't she pretty?

So heres the real question: What should I name her?

AWOL on the Blog

2008-02-08T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Just wanted to let you know I probably wont be posting on the blog for the next little while. The Utah 2008 Legislative Session is going on, so I'm incredibly busy. Hope all is going well for everyone.

Talk to you in 6 or 7 weeks,

Bazz

I'm Officially a College Graduate

2008-01-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

Yup, it is true. After Weber State University's screw job and about 9 months, I've officially got a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in History under my belt. So needless to say, I am forever... and ever... and ever... and ever... done with Weber State!!!!! In addition, I am now a bona-fide Matriculated Graduate Student at the University of Utah and have been able to register for all my Spring Classes only two weeks after the Semester began. I can't begin to tell y'all how much of a weight off my shoulders this is, and extend my appreciation and patience to those who were unfortunate enough to witness my wrath regarding WSU.

I'm seriously considering sending out those graduate announcements again, what'd'ya think?

Who wants to give me a loan...?

2008-01-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

Here is my (current) dream vehicle:

So.... who wants to front me $25k?

Starting the New Year right

2008-01-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Hope y'all had a wonderfully fantastic New Years. I got to go to the Jazz game that night to watch them knock down the ol 'Blazers. Go Jazz! Afterwords we couldnt decide what to do, so we just went to my place. I busted out some sweet DJ moves. DJ Ole would be jealous.

Well with the New Year, I thought it would be appropriate for me to try something, ya know, new. So I've picked up the sport of Snowboarding. It's a lot of fun, AND it's a workout too! How awesome. I'm still pretty bad at it, but this last time I got down the mountain without crashing! So hopefully I can actually start carving soon, and then I'll pretty much be on my way to beating my bro Pat.

On another note, Spring Semester of school has officially begun. I'll be attending my first class tonight, but here's the tentative schedule (assuming I can get Weber State University to stop being A-holes!): FCS 5962 Basic Mediation, PADMN6323 Policy Analysis, and PubPL6900 Policy Research. It'll be a light load, but thats because as of January 21st the 2008 Legislative Session begins, and as such my work kicks into ultra-high gear!

Christmas '07

2007-12-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

I thought everyone should know that I now, officially, own all seven seasons of the West Wing. And I LOVE IT...! It was really great to see all the family for the Holidays. Oh, and congratulations to cousin Karl's and Curti on their engagement! April 12!

Hope the elves that came to visit we're as cute as this one...

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to everyone!!

Results are in...

2007-12-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

FAll 2007 Grades:

Undergraduate Semester
Geo 1030 Earthquakes & Volcanoes: A-

Overall: 3.675 GPA

Graduate Semester
ECON 6300 Public Finance: A-
PADMN 6290 Quantitative Methods of Public Administration: B+
PADMN 6320 Public Policy Theories and Applications: A

Overall: 3.677 GPA

Overall, I suppose I am satisfied. The A- in Pub Finance makes me angry, since that class was so ludicrous including the expectation of material to be tested on, but it is what it is. The B+ in QuanMethods is sort of anticipated because of my 'bungling' of my last project (an accidental inversion of the dependent and independent variable foils me for the last time...).

But it's done, it's done! Wooooooooohhhhh!!!

Too Funny

2007-12-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

I thought this was too good not to share.

Fall 2007 Comes To An End...

2007-12-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

Well my first semester in Graduate School has come to an end! And even better, I seem to have survived it. Since we are fast approaching the close of another year, I think it best that I take a moment to reflect on some of what I've experienced and what I've learned.

It was definitely rocky at points, as I'm sure nearly all of you heard me say 'I'm just going to drop out and be a bum' more than once in the past few months, but overall I think it's been worth it. But it hasn't been fun.

One quick interjection: I've also endured a move down to SLC, a distance from the comforts of the parents nest, but that's been pretty good too. I didnt really think that the social aspect of roommates was that important to me, but thats because I've only had good ones. I went through a bad set there, but now I'm back to some good, fun people. So while the drive to Ogden to steal supplies from my parents, visit family, and see friends is worth it, its great to not do it daily!!!

Back to that whole school thing. First, I'm a little suprised about how much easier Graduate School was than I first anticipated. I don't know if its because I'm in an area of study that I am actually interested in. Also, while there was certainly a lot of work to do it wasnt as hard to get done. Don't get me wrong, there were still a number of things that got finished the day of... but thats what college is all about! But in regards to the work, it was mostly meaningful; that is to say, there wasn't a lot of busy work. There was purpose behind most everything. Now I say mostly and most here for one reason: Public Finance.

Public Finance was a wreck. I wasn't thrilled about this class from the beginning, but at least I knew it was something I would find useful. Except it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, knowing how governments operate, tax, bond, and generally fund themselves would be good to know... but I didn't learn that from this class. I didn't really learn anything from this class, except that bad professors exist at all levels of schooling. Would it be too much to ask my program to reimburse the $700+ I spent on that colossal waste of time?

My other two grad courses, Quantitative Methods of Public Administration & Policy Theory/Application, were great. I learned a lot from both classes. And yes, they probably are as boring as they sound... so it's a good thing I'm a nerd. See, the Lord works in mysterious (and beneficial) ways!

Here is the most important thing about this semester though: I've met some great people. My cohort (or members of my program that entered the same year as I did) is small, only four of us. But it's a powerful little group. I have to give a BIG thanks for Andrew (one of the most intelligent, analytical, and witty individuals I've met) knowing I wouldn't have done even close to as well as I did this semester without his help. (P.S. When do I get to take the Cannon fam up to experience all that O-town has to offer?) Brad and Daisy have been great too. I really think that we've all been there for each other, which is why some wise individual long ago gave out the little title of 'cohort'. I just dictionary.com that, and I'm not sure which definition fits best for us: 4) any group of soldiers or warriors. 5) an accomplice, abettor. or 6) a group of persons sharing a particular stastical or demographic characteristic. My money is a mix of 4 and 5! So Thanks to my cohort, and to those of the '06 group that welcomed us into the program!

Lastly, E&V. Earthquakes and Volcanoes. As a lot of you know, the fact that I had to take this class made me angrier than anything I've ever experienced in my life. In fact, I didn't think it was possible to loathe someone or something so bad. (Congratulations, Weber State University, you've made my list.) But this class actually turned out to be a little consolation gift in surprise. There was a lot of busy work here, like tracking all major earthquakes around the world for 6 weeks... yea, thats useful. But in all seriousness, I learned a lot about the earth and it's system. I'll probably never use this... except when the big one strikes here along the Wasatch Front... but I still found it interesting. I guess that just comes down to the point that I love to learn, so again the nerdyness factor comes in handy.

All in all, I'm glad its over, but I'm glad I did it. The regret for not attending Georgetown University hasnt faded (at least until I consider the monetary implications), but it's getting closer. There's always Law School, right?

GO UTES!

Cutest. Nephew. Ever.

2007-12-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

I believe these pictures pretty much say it all.

(Oh, and thanks sis for letting me steal these!)

Welcome to the wonderful world of Bazzle

2007-12-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

As the trend for blog posting seems to be on the rise, I've decided to throw my hat in the ring too. I've had a couple (failed) attempts at blogging before so maybe, just maybe, I can stick with it and keep you all appraised of my life.

Anyway, take a look around, make a comment or two, and enjoy!

Bazz