I graduate again this May from my second degree. I am now left with many options and have had phone calls regarding job opportunities in other cities and other states. I’d prefer to stay in the south on a coast somewhere since I love the beach. I’ve thought about Florida, Georgia, and Texas. I’ve even considered going back overseas if I could find something. The key is finding a good job to be able to afford to move and then find a nice neighborhood to move into to.

People keep telling me that I should go ahead and purchase a house but I am not sure. That’s a big commitment. Sure the home prices are way down as well as the interest rate but I would be responsible for all the upkeep. I have to say I am pretty handy but that won’t get me but so far in home repair. Looking at some of the Kolter Homes Communities I could potentially stay in this state but move to Myrtle Beach. That’s a pretty good deal if I could find work up there and I do know quite a few people that live up there so it would not be like I did not know anyone.

Kolter Homes also has communities in Georgia and Florida so I really have a large selection to choose from should I move to any of those states. Right now I need to stay focused and finish my final exams for this semester as well as a Cybersecurity competition that is tomorrow. We have 15 minutes to secure 4 servers and 3 clients before the red team starts hacking our machines. Then we have 8 hours straight to keep them up and running. I don’t think we’ll be the last team in the points race but I also hope we are able to keep all of our systems up and running even if they are able to get in. We already found out one of the colleges that was entered has dropped out because they could not secure 6 people for the competition which is sad. This is a great opportunity to get networked into the companies that are sponsoring it and the other companies that are there looking for talent. We will all have copies of our resume just in case.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Vipre for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

VIPRE Internet Security is actually used at the college I currently attend and work at so I was thrilled to be able to install it on my home computer as well.  This program is great for the not so knowledgeable computer users. 

VIPRE Internet Security runs in the background just like any other antivirus or firewall program I hope you have on your personal computer but comes with so much more.  There is an option that is already checked upon installing that will install Adobe, Java, iTunes, etc updates.  Java has updates about every 3 days or so there are so many.  The Java especially is an important one to keep up to date especially when browsing the internet. 

VIPRE Internet Security was easy to download and install.  You just have to be sure that you uninstall any other firewall and/or antivirus program you normally run as there may be a conflict. If you happen to be browsing on the internet and run across a questionable website VIPRE will inform you of the possible infection you could incur should you continue to that website.  Along with VIPRE you have free access to US technical support. That alone is well worth it in my opinion because I cannot understand 99% of what some of the support staff I end up talking to with other companies. 

I had just a free antivirus program running prior to installing VIPRE. It worked well as just an antivirus but I still had another program that I used to scan my computer about once a month just as a back up because one can never be to safe.  There is a nominal cost for using VIPRE but well worth the protection it offers as you do not have to keep on top of updating a lot of the programs.  When VIPRE finds some sort of malware it will pop up with a box that tells you what the threat is.  You really will not notice that this is running in the background either.  After I installed and rebooted my machine the scan automatically started as it will do this to make sure your computer is clean right off the top and it didn't slow my computer down at all.  There is a free trial if you would like to test it out and you can visit vipreantivirus.com for more information if you would like to read up on the program and view some screenshots before you decide.

Okay, I gotta admit, these Star Wars/animal/car commercials are good. Here’s VW with the new Bug! Wish my dog would take the initiative and self exercise herself lol

I present “The Dog Strikes Back”

Presenting the Coca-Cola Bears in The Catch!!

They even have part of the Seinfeld crew in here now for Acura NSX

Last semester ended two weeks ago. Classes started back today. Just from looking at the schedule I’m going to be scarce even more so than usual. At least the software is updated to using Windows 7 this time around. Last semester they were still having me fix Windows Vista which I don’t even own. That’s the second worst operating system Microsoft has put out. ME was the worst. I’m on Windows 7 Ultimate now for some time. It’s even a legit version this time around.

Financial aid effed up my account again this semester and good thing I went there first before going to the bookstore because it would have been a waste of time and still essentially was. I sat and waited in line for 2 hours for about 2 minutes of an answer. To the dude: I would like to make sure I have money allotted for my books this semester and next. Dude goes on his little computer and says: Your tuition is going through now you can pick up your books on Monday. Me on the way out the door: WTF? I was actually going to start reading some of the chapters to get ahead but noooo. I go pick my books up today – money is there – YEAH – 1 book not in – BOO. Now I have to call everyday until it does come in so I can pick it up and it has come in by September 2nd or else I cannot use my financial aid anymore. Of course that would be 2 weeks INTO classes already so really, hows that going to play out when assignments are due next week? Ugh

I have one professor I remember from one of my other courses. You should read her syllabus – TONS of spelling errors and such. I don’t understand how this got put out there. Drives me batty. She loves using a lot of weird symbols too as well as fonts.

Guess I need to download and import my calendars from the classes to my personal calendar and actually keep up with it this semester lol Just wish my calendar would sync properly with my phone since I don’t open my laptop every damn day. *sigh*

Edited to add: Good grief – I just exported my calendars and the crazy professor never bothered to change the dates on the assignment schedule so it is all back from spring of 2009!! WTF?

FYI: Song I can’t get enough of these days Bruno Mars – Marry You – listen to it, snappy little beat.

Just one more year and by next spring I should have my degree in hand. Honestly, the only way that that is possible is due to the fact that I can take online college courses. Having accredited online schools is probably the deciding factor for more people than we realize. Due to the hours I keep there is no way I have time to physically show up for classes much less be able to get all of my classes in the evening to begin with. I’d never have a life, not that I don’t have much of one now, but it will pay off in the long run once I get a better job and have a more stress free life. Plus with a lot of people being laid off from work this is the best opportunity to get back in school and obtain a degree because once you start applying for jobs they might pick people who have a degree instead of you.

The best thing about these online courses is that you can be accepted to essentially any college around the country and still obtain the same education for whatever degree you are pursuing. I happened to be lucky enough this and last semester to obtain a pell grant. The first couple years I was paying out of my pocket when I could because I refuse to get a student loan. I have already been approved for a pell grant this coming fall and spring too so that is a load off of my mind. Now I just have to buckle down and get things finished. I’ve been missing deadlines this semester for whatever reason. I’m so used to all assignments being turned in on Sundays and this one class requires assignments to be turned in on Fridays. I only have a month left so hopefully I can get my act together fast lol I did turn in all the assignments and just have left the second part to a project I think but that’s not due until the end of April I know for sure.