Access, 2007, the Final Frontier... well, not really

I'm taking an Access 2007 course at the local community college.  I'm rather impressed with the book, though I did NOT pay the $150 new book price.  I purchased an electronic copy for only $53 smack-a-roos.  The book is well written:  clear, easy to follow, great examples, and lots of pictures of "how to...",  who knew Microsoft had it in em?  The same appears to be true of the Excel 2007 book (which I also purchased an e-copy of).

Both Access and Excel have new features that the previous models do not.  Great features that I really like and are easy to use.  Of course, my employer still has 2003 for all Microsoft programs so these fabulous things I'm learning won't be of much use to me at work... yet.  I'm ever hopeful they'll upgrade.  If not, hopefully potential future employers have the newer programs.

My Saturday mornings are now all about homework.  And, I'm enjoying it?!  I guess that's a good thin.  I'm hoping by the end of the semester to know enough to create a Fantasy Football thingy for the hubby.  He's really into that stuff, and I figure, "hey, why not let Access do all the heavy lifting?  Import some data, run a few queries, and presto:  it'll spit out the names of who should be played that weekend."  And next year, hopefully this little database will assist him in drafting his team.  I don't pretend to understand all the ins and outs of this Fantasy Football stuff, but luckily I don't have to, that's they hubby's passion, I just want to put my schooling to good use.

Baking... just not posting

I have made a few items over the last few weeks, mainly banana nut bread and brownies.  I did manage to remember to take a few photos, but haven't loaded them yet.

Then, horrors of all horrors, I ran out of baking soda?!  I don't know what's happening to me, last time I ran out of Bourbon.  At least with Bourbon I can easily swap Brandy or Rum or whatever... but baking soda, nope, no sub for that.  The banana bread was very pale and somewhat dense, but fortunately it tastes fine.

The previous batch of brownies were coffee toffee, but heck if I could taste either of those flavors.  I need to kick that up several notches. 

The most recent batch: peanut butter brownies.  Mmmm, the peanut butter taste is present and good. 

However, the hubby's and Kelly's favorite are still the orange brownies.  I have nothing against orange, but I'd rather not have that mixed in with my brownies, hence the attempts with other flavors.  Next I want to try something with marshmallow and/or caramel.  Wish me luck, seems I need it these days.

Homework

Homework is consuming more of my time than I imagined. Fortunately, so far, I'm enjoying the course work, but the idea that it's cutting into my baking time is a bit saddening. I'm taking Access 2007 and Excel 2007 courses at the local community college. These classes will be good for work, but mainly I'm doing it for me. I've always liked Excel and once I started dabbling in Access I just knew I had to learn it in more depth. Up until now I've been self-taught in both these areas, but realized that the programs have so much more to offer and I goofing off on my own wasn't the answer if I really wanted to have a full understanding of what each program truly has to offer. So, until the classes end, in December?!, I'll probably not be baking as much. On the one hand that's probably good for my waistline, however, sitting in front of a computer for hours and hours on end isn't.