What have I done!!!???!

Tomorrow is May 1, 2009. It just so happens to be the day that prices increase $10 for GRE registration. Not that I'm THAT hard up, I just figured it could be a great motivator to commit to a test date. Not to mention, the sooner I book I have more options of picking my desired test location, date and time. I'm officially registered for Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 12:00. That date is between my scheduled volunteer gigs and it's just before the beginning of the fall semester.

So yes, I'm registered for the GRE. My grad school needle has moved away from "Nahhh" and is slowly creeping past "Ehhh?" to the gradual realization that my current path has it's limits and graduate work could give me some new direction.

Now, I have one of those GOALS I've read so much about! Something concrete to which I can apply some motivational/productivity principles I've read about.

The next 3 months MUST be about studying and it officially begins tomorrow. My current morning routine is to hit the snooze button SEVERAL times and curse the sardine can of an N-Judah that doesn't seem to care that it's making me late for work. Ideally, my new routine will cover multiple goals: I'll leave the distracting comfort of my home and get to work 1-2 hours early, get some studying then clock in consistently on time. At some point, I'll require to myself to remain at work after hours for more studying.

I need to work a lot more organizing my study plan. Setting up my microgoals. I've got to strike a balance between pushing myself and not making the plan so rigid that I don't follow through.

I want to do 2 essays per week. I've never been adept at timed essays, so I need to practice.

I've got lots of prep materials from LSAT and GMAT. I also want to start with reading comprehension in LSAT, because I'll probably pass the materials along to someone who wants to go to law school. Also, getting used to reading such passages should help with my writing.

The GMAT materials will be used as my math and grammar foundation.

I also need to set goals in regards to vocabulary. I should try to set a goal for the amount of words I'll work on per week. There are many word lists on line. I need to set up a consistent way to

I think today I'll swing by ... no....well...? I want to swing by a book store to review GRE prep materials (so I can buy the stuff I want cheaper off Amazon). I WANT to go to Green Apple which is pretty far away. They also sell used books which are very tempting. I'll also pass cheap places where I can find some other wants, that could be helpful...I need a trashcan for my room, perhaps a huge calendar I can put up, index cards for vocab. All good stuff, I just don't wanna get carried away buying things I don't need or won't use yet.

If all I want to do it review prep books, I should go to Border's downtown. It's closer, wider selection and it's all retail, which means I'm less likely to purchase. I'd have to pass my favorite clothing stores to get there...which are easier items for me to pass up (unless they are having sales...)

Interestingly enough, in both scenarios, I'm tempted to spend money on anything but the specific items I'm going to look at. :) Just an interesting observation.

OK. I've rambled enough. I guess I'll run through a reading comp example and decide what I'll do offline. I'm sure I'll let you know what I did :)

Late!