F is for F-A-I-L

For the first time in my life (or at least in my memory), I failed a test. I knew just 95% of the information I needed in order to pass...

My morning started beautifully: I exercised (down 5 pounds this past week, thank you very much), ate a healthy breakfast, showered and packed up the car. I hit the road one hour prior to my exam for a typical 20 - 30 minute drive and then... there they were.. the flashing red lights, the miles of tail lights... a traffic jam. I was late for my exam by nearly 10 minutes. It went down hill from there.

Needless to say, I will be re-taking the exam in 30 days (there's a 30 day lock-out). Hopefully, the second time will be a charm. I've sent a scathing e-mail to the study material company for all of the technical difficulties and have made arrangements to "borrow" the old-fashioned practice exam disc from a colleague.

To top it off, the big boss announced that the three company trips for which I qualified have been cancelled by the company due to the fall-out from the AIG debacle. Even though we've accepted no TARP funds and are in an incredibly strong financial position, the top performers in our company are being punished and having our rewards snatched out from under us.

I'm just in a pissy mood tonight -- nothing that a good shot of Irish Whiskey and several good Ales could not cure.

Tomorrow is D-Day

At 9 am I will sit down for a six hour examination to become a General Securities Representative, which - along with 79 cents will get me a cup of Joe at the 7-11. The Universe has conspired against me this weekend. My home computer crashed and, along with it, the study interface for the practice exams. I've been relying on the old-fashioned method of studying: reading. I decided to take my ONE online practice this morning and the results were less-than-stellar -- not even a passing grade. That's frightening, given that the exam is just 17 hours away.

I printed out the results and trouble-shot the areas where I missed the most questions. Then, I decided to take another break to see if I could get the #&&"*#(% computer to cooperate with me. I have it running again, but I am unable to access any of the program files associated with my corrupt version of XP. Happy, happy, joy, joy.

So, it's back to the BOOK with me... all 781 pages of it.

Wish me luck!

59 More Days...

Today, I got my 60 Day Notification Letter. I have until May 4th to find another position within the company, or I will be terminated. The severance package: 2 weeks pay.

There you have it!

Now, I just have to decide which of the whopping THREE jobs I want. Country-wide, there are 21 jobs available and 84 people applying for them. While my leaders are all behind me, they all keep saying "there are NO guarantees." Without a Series 7, two of the jobs are out of reach - so I will be sitting for the exam on Monday, March 16th.

Wish me luck. I'm going to need it!