Subpar Blogging at Its Best

Rain.

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:41:00 +0000

Yep! It's raining!

Rain is neat. I like rain. Many people like the rain, but this is my blog, so you're going to listen to me go on about rain for a bit. Got a problem with that?! Yea... that's what I thought...

Anyway, rain is a cleaning of the world, which approximately 4,534,643,642 people have noted before me. It clears out the air, but I suppose what I really like is the smell of ozone that goes along with the thunder. There have only been a few instances when I wish the lightening and thunder weren't there, and most of there were when I was outside in a field, holding a 20' flag pole (long story...). Other than that, I'm a big fan of the lightening.

I view rain in a few different ways, as I'm sure a lot of people do, even if they aren't aware of it. When you're laying in bed listening to it rain outside, sitting at work listening to the downpour bludgeoning the roof, or if you're in the car, where the sound could be so loud you don't hear anything else but the water from above.

This first picture reminds me of forest rain, or nature rain. Heavy rain when there is a lot plants, forest, or general foliage around, and the smell of the plants and soil permeates the air with the constant pounding of the water from the sky. I sometimes think I smell that odor when I am in certain wet areas, like mountain valleys that don't get a lot of sunlight. I associate that smell with the cabin in Tennessee, and the state park nearby. All of the rivers and waterfalls give that wet forest smell, although it lacks the nasty moistness that comes from a dreary rain.

Another view of rain I have is from the viewpoint of the soakin' wet pedestrian caught unawares. To be completely drenched, with no hope of preventing further wetting, and I just accept the fact that 1) I am very wet and 2) That condition can only get worse, and it probably will do just that.

When you've accepted certain conditions, you can look at it differently. If you are prepared to get nasty and muddy when working in the yard (or whatever), when it happens it's not as big a deal as if you slipped and fell in a puddle on the way to work or class. The same things happens in the rain. You accept the rain and it covering you, so you can see and hear the rained on environment more clearly, or at least in a different way. You can see and hear how the drops hit the yards, asphalt, or concrete, and smell how each of them differ. You can feel the drops bouncing off of the ground back up to you, which in itself reminds me of sitting down in the shower (a pretty unique experience in itself, yah?). You can feel the heat still coming off of the ground, and the steam that forms when the colder rain hits home, just as you can feel a chill set in when the ground's heat is lost, followed quickly by shivering of your own.

This type of rain experience usually occurs by mistake, such as when I'm waiting for someone to pick me up, and it starts to get cold and rainy. Waiting to leave or go is something I've had to do way too much of, and such circumstances I have somewhat grown accustomed to, unfortunately. However, that has helped me to appreciate such things as getting caught in the run with shelter being a good 45-minute walk away.

The usual view I think most people (and myself) enjoy rain from is from the comfort of the indoors. Hearing the rain on the windows and the roar of the water on the roof (preferably a tin roof), with the thunder shaking the walls and making you question whether you are indeed safe in that particular place. The patter of the rain easily lulls you to sleep, and brings images of bed, pillows, and blankets. Even if you don't sleep, it seems to fit right for a nice storm.

You can see the water trailing down the glass, and feel the cold permeating the window if you hold your hand up to it. Paths of water form in the yards and streets, and every now and again you may see an earthworm or a piece of litter float by.

Being nice, why, and why not

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:55:00 +0000

So, I had a chat session recently, and some comments resulted in my standing upon my digital soap box. I kind of liked the result, so I fixed it up (just a bit) and pasted it below. (sorry about the formatting)
_________

Being super nice isn't always a good thing... it can back fire, or cause trouble... But, I try, regardless. Because... why not? The world sucks. It's a horrible, dark, unforgiving place not meant for a sentient species, and it's the one "true" sentient species is trying to kill itself half the time. So, why bother even living or trying? Because, it's the one thing you can constantly strive for, because it goes against what seems to be the nature of man and nature, to control things, but to still make things good and nice and fair.

The world isn't fair, but it doesn't mean we can't strive to make it more fair for more people.

So, even if it SUCKS that's just more of a reason to do nice things and say nice things and to be a nice person. Even if you don't feel like one sometimes. When I see others suffer or in pain, it's then I'm reminded of it, which probably results in my nurturing nature.

I've worked with and known so many sad, lonely people that didn't try to make anything of themselves, and I worked to make their lives better. It's such a relief to know people and help people that will help themselves, and appreciate what's done for them. Anyhoo, you probably belong in the latter group, being independent, and certainly not helpless or anything like that.

Why any of us bother is the question, indeed. We bother because without good people the world falls apart. And I really couldn't care less about the world. It's the people I care about, and my friends, and the kids I see. Those are the people the world should be better for even if I'm fucked up and so in everyone else, if I can push and shove and punch the world into a better shape, even for just my nephews, it's worth it. If I can, maybe, do the same for friends, then the more power to it.

So, when things are bad (as we both know how that can get, in so many ways), I look at the fate, or destiny, or whatever it is making things hard, and "Fuck you," and push on, because I'd rather be beat up and trounced on my whole life trying to do something decent, then to just get through this life by just getting by, and making it worse for others.

Those people I referred to... an alcoholic mother whose daughters I watched grow up, and who I help take care of. The mother was nice, actually, but couldn't get the drinking under control, which I tried to help her get off of, and get to AA and stuff, and to help her daughters understand as much as one can understand such a thing, and in the end, the dad took the girls away, which was for the best, and only then did the mom get around to sobering up.

So, now the mom is missing out on her daughters' daily lives, and I never get to see them.

That's maybe not the best example, but the idea of "helping those who help themselves." That if there's two groups of people that could use help (in some way, even if it's just listening or cheering them up sometimes), so I'm scarred in some way by that, and rejoice when there are people I can help who try to help themselves. and, every now and again, there's someone who doesn't need help, and it takes so long getting used to that, because I rarely get to be around that kind of person.

(Definition of needing help is subjective, of course)

The truth about everything (copyright)

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:01:00 +0000

So, I like true things. I think that's because when things are not true, are lies, exaggerations, or concealments of some kind, it makes everything so difficult. Someone once said they like kids because kids have yet to learn to lie well. I get that idea.

Now, don't get me wrong. While frankness can be a virtue, there are some things that should always and forever remain unsaid, particularly between friends and family. Some things cannot be unsaid, so to speak, and once that comment has been unlocked, it can act as a dark shroud over a relationship from then on. THOSE things should remained locked away. There's nothing as annoying as those people that pull out those extreme things to say during a random argument: "I wish you wouldn't invite people over without telling me beforehand!" "Oh, yea? Well your father was a drunk and made you a coward, and that's why your first wife left you!" That? That's just inappropriate.

However, true, as a rule, I think should be present. Unfortunately, not everyone believes this, so it doesn't do me any good. It's sort of the idea that if you're the only sane one in a world of insane people, you're the one not fitting in. So, if you try to be truthful and upfront as a general rule, you're going to be shot down by those that are used to playing by some hidden sets of rules or politics. Ugh!

One reason I'm particularly fond of the truth is that I believe everyone can get along better. Gee.. that wasn't cliché at all! I mean that if people were open, then they could understand, if not condone, the thoughts and actions of others. That's something I believe I'm proud of: For almost everyone, I can understand why they do or say things, even if I personally don't think it's appropriate or a good idea.

People want to keep things hidden from others, and even from themselves. I can accept someone explaining that they would not want to answer a question or explain something, but cannot accept it when someone lies to me or to themselves, only to have the results later be negative because of it. This paragraph is really randomly and not well-written, but I think you're getting the idea: I like to speak the truth and be told the truth, because that is the essence of who we are, and if we deviate from that, it opens up the possibility for bad things to happen.

Kids say the darndest things.

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:43:00 +0000

So, enjoy this little ditty of a movie. That's little nephew Heath. He apparently enjoys his pizza. There's nothing like being able to take a handful of delicious food and just shove it into you mouth, over and over again. He did the same thing with his 1-year birthday cake. He pokes and prods it for a bit, then someone shows him that the cake is actually edible. Then he proceeds to stuff fistful after fistful of birthday cake into his gaping maw. I think he must have put away half of that cake before someone realized that the cake is probably 13 times larger than his stomach.

He also enjoys books. A lot, apparently. His favorite hobby seems to be picking a book, and saying, "Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook..." over and over, while walking up to someone (often me, when I'm there). So, of course, I wish to oblige his budding desire for knowledge and the love for reading, so I sit down, open the book, and with a flourish begin the story, "At the far end of town where the grickle-grass grows, and the wind smells slow and sour as it blows, and..."
"Ook. Ook."
Yes, Heath. We have a book and we're reading it now. You don't have to keep turning the pages until I'm ready."
"Ook. Ook." Heath leaves to find another book. "Ook. Ook."
Well, okay, Heath. We can read that book instead. "Once there was a tree, and she loved a little boy."
Pay attention, Heath. This a good boo.."
"Ook. Ook."
Heath, we have a book. Let's read it, shall we?
"Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook. Ook."Heath leaves to find another book. "Ook. Ook."
FINE! We'll read THAT book instead. "OnceuponatimeblahblahTheEnd." Are you happy now? Are you? Huh??!?
"Ook."
(Chris's brain short-circuits, and he suffers a massive coronary of the brain. Yes, a coronary of the brain, and then slumps onto the floor.)
(A dog licks him)
(Heath laughs)
"Ook." (Heath goes in search of someone else to read a book with.)

Too much thinking!

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:07:00 +0000

So, I think a lot... probably too much. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for solid cognitive activity. Some kinds of intelligence are really attractive, and just make life easier to get through. Not necessarily just someone who knows a lot of stuff, because straight memorization isn't interesting at all, but the kind of intelligence that leads to unique thought, thoughtful responses and queries, and conversation that makes you think twice about something (see previous post about preprogrammed responses). That's the kind of intelligence I'm talking about.

But... I digress. Excessive thinking. It is not uncommon to hear about someone over-thinking something, or thinking too deep about it, or maybe even just thinking too long on something. I would count myself guilty of all three, although thank goodness I don't give in to the various thoughts and the emotions that were derived from them. Some day I will find a job or hobby or something where excessive over-thinking proves useful. Then it would be good to think about a choice, analyze each the probable consequences, then imagine an entire slew of improbably consequences, and the actions that lead to and result from all of those choices. Yay full brain!

I think that's why oftentimes I like simple things, because there is either little or no thinking involved. It is simply doing. Tasks such as some kinds of manual labor, or activities where I can let my mind wander, fade away, blob out, or maybe even just sort of lose control some. I think that's why some activities and situations are particularly enticing, because I can get lost in them.

I find it ironic that my over-thinking on a regular basis (as in, most waking moments, including conversations) leads to my actions and words being more convoluted than if I tired or impaired! If you want to get a pretty good conversation out of me, minus the mumbles, slurred sentences, rapid speech, and topic-jumps, then chat me up when I'm tired, drunk, etc. It will make for a good time for both parties, I'd wager.

Stretching Your Muscles

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:39:00 +0000

One of the things I love to do most is stretch my muscles. Unfortunately, my entire life I've been less flexible than around 92% of the population. Fortunately, stretching my muscles usually refers to a whole lot more. For example, I rarely get to use my Big Voice, the voice I need to use when someone is far away, or I need to get someone's attention immediately. Similarly, rarely is the Big & Charged Voice used, a voice I might use to rally an army (something I don't do as much anymore) or give an impassioned speech. I'm actually thinking about creating some podcasts of me reading or reciting passages, poems, etc., in the voices I never get to use, but would still like to. That sounds like an interesting project to do every now and again.

Physically, I do love to be active. I garner no pleasure pickings up things all over a yard or a living room, or scrubbing a shower down. However, to be able to swing an ax, rev up a chainsaw, or knock down a tree is a good feeling, where I can do a lot of Manly, Testosterone-Filled Activities. Fortunately, my brother's yard provides both the tools and the work to be completed. Hopefully next up will be continuing the terracing of part of his yard, which involves 1) moving giants hunks of wood 2) moving large piles of dirt and 3) sledgehammers.

I find it ironic (though it's no surprise to anyone) that completing such tasks is a lot more enjoyable when I have a goal to work towards. Jogging slowly for 30 minutes? Boring.... Running for an hour while chasing or being chased? Going to the gym? Ugh.... hauling around heavy things and operating destructive machinery that can kill or maim myself and on-lookers? Delightfully enjoyable!

I also thoroughly enjoy stretching my mental muscles, too. Everyone knows the mental fatigue associated with busy-work at school or one's place of employment, and I'm not different (mostly, at least). I would much rather think around corners than work within the box. I have realized, however, that I actually have trouble thinking in the box at all, which makes some of life difficult... My thinking is like those Rube Goldberg machines: Unnecessarily complicated, but still gets the job done. I like it when the situation calls for extreme thinking and creativity, but, like others things, there's rarely an opportunity to stretch those muscles.

If you've talked with me for any part of time, you can probably see the over-thinking in my communication. Whenever I interrupt, or go off on some sort of conversational tangent, it's my mind tapping into preconceived ideas, thoughts, jokes, or stories that were triggered by something someone else had said, and trying to speak those things. It can be a slightly enjoyable trick to do on command (or so I'm told), but is a handicap with real communication. How fun can life be that with almost every thing someone says, you have a "pre-programmed" response? Not fun.. unfortunately... perhaps entertaining at times, and useful with academics... but otherwise... eh!

Blog feeds now available

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:32:00 +0000

In my eternal quest to appear as conceited as possible, I have created a general RSS feed and a Google feed, in case you want to be updated immediately when I write more in my blog. Yay? If you don't know how to use feeds, there are plenty of directions (which should appear when you click on one of those links), or if you're bold just send me an e-mail asking. :)

Ass Exploits and Creepy Office Bodies

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:37:00 +0000

So, I work at the Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University, at the Research Building A which is just up the road from the School of Engineering and the Magnet Lab. It is a very standard, office-like place, with lots of cubicles and standard offices along the outer edge of the building. Even though there are different projects and departments on each floor, and on different floors, the decor is identical, regardless of where you are. Everyone is cordial, and dressed nice (although not as nice as business formal or whatever), and each area if very clean and quiet. That is the background for where I work, so you have a reference for the two following stories:

Story 1: Ass Exploits

It was my bosslady's birthday yesterday, so the office ordered out Bagel Bagel. Random, yes, and it did require me to hang out with my office people, thereby NOT allowing me to goof off on the Internet. However, I was being paid for that time, so it's forgiven. The Bagel Bagel delivery girl showed up, a standard college girl wearing shorts and a B2 tee-shirt. I helped her carry the food to the conference room, and walking about out she said, "Ouch."

Now, being the caring, thoughtful individual I am, I inquired as to her painful problem, and she said that she had just gotten a tattoo last night. Oh, really? Of what?, I inquired.

She answered, "A street sign."

Now, I'm "hip" to a lot of the things people get tattooed on themselves, so I figured it was a Bourbon Street sign or something. But, no, she tells me it's a Murat sign. I have no idea what that refers to, except for the old, sleazy Prince Murat Hotel here in Tallahassee. No, she replies, it's not that.

"Why did you get such a tattoo?" She answers, "Bad decisions." So, she apparently decides to exercise further bad decisions by pulling your shorts down to show me this wonderful street sign tattoo, which happened to be printed on her ass.

Now, normally I have no problem with random strange college girls wanting to show me their asses (because I'm sure it happens to me a lot, right?), but I am in the middle of the LSI FSU Research Building A, and my very serious, very not-humorous boss is just now walking out of the nearby office. Excellent timing! I'm waiting to see how long it is before the bosslady decides to talk to me again.

Oh, and the food was delicious!

Story 2: Creepy Office Bodies

So, in one of the random hallways, there are many empty offices and rooms. One of these seemingly innocuous doors is labeled "315 Human Resources Lab" with the neighboring door labeled "315A Observation Room." These are two doors that, like many of the others, remain closed, and I never see anyone come in or out of them.

However, one day the door to 315A Observation Room was open, and inside was.... a human body. And by that, I mean it was a guy sleeping in a bed. Apparently, the 315 Human Resources Lab room is some kind of testing/examination/disorder lab, and the Observation Room is next door for, well, observation (hopefully). The two rooms are connected by a one-way mirror, and that's what I was looking through when I saw the door open that one time.

An interesting tidbit of information, but, really? A sleep disorder room (with only a single bed) in this kind of office building? Nothing around here is about psychology or sociology or anything like that. It's all education, or energy systems, or Homeland defense contracts. So now, of course, I *have* to get into one of those rooms to see what's going on.

The final odd fact is that the door has been left open on different occasions, sometimes weeks or months apart, and as far as I can tell, it's the same guy on the bed sleeping...

(cue ominous music)

Life Changes: Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:40:00 +0000

So, it is January 25th, and I have been single for around a week and a half. On Thursday the 14th, my live-in girlfriend of 3 years and I broke up, and she moved out. If this is news to you, then you don't really need more personal information, but if it's not, then you already know most of the pertinent information. Regardless, it was a very, very hard thing to do, as some people may already know. Doing something like that goes against pretty much every fiber in my being, and I have talked to many people and did a lot of thinking about it all. And if you know how much I think and over think generally, then you have an idea about how much I have thought about this extensively. While it was something I did not want to do, I did feel that in the end, at this time, it was the best thing for both of us. I can only pray that I am right. Unfortunately, only time will tell.

So, now the next part of life begins, as life has a happen of doing. Things are different, and in many ways they are the same. I think having so many things stay the same (or at least seem the same) is one of the hardest parts, because your mind wants to fall back into the same patterns it was become accustomed to for years. Alas, you can't let it, because that is not the reality of the next part of life.

So, I will do what I do best: adapt. Effectively adapting to situations is something I do very well (in some fashions), but it often proves difficult, because to adapt to a good or positive thing means you can become inured to it. Familiarity breeds contempt (although "contempt" wouldn't be the right word at all to use). I continue with school, which has gotten out of control (see next posting), and trying to keep up with it fills much of my time and mental energies.

I will try to spend more time with my family, whom I would have (and still eventually might) neglected in my pursuits of school, careers, and all the garbage that goes with it. I will try to expand my social circles. No... I will try to create my own social circles, to meet new people through the few new people I am lucky to have met, so that I can appreciate the good friends I do have now, and increase my exposure to more of the good kinds of humanity. I will try to do things properly, and to follow the very old, very tired, very over-played, very worn out, and very true cliché of trying to find myself. Then I can do what is right next.

Cross your fingers, wish me good luck, and introduce me to some of your friends. That's what you can do if you want to help me on my way, reader. And I will do the same for you, if I am able.

School begins; everything else ends

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:27:00 +0000

So! First week of school! Actually, the first week of the usual full school week schedule. I had hoped I would have more time available this semester, but after reviewing the work for my two online courses, I do not foresee that coming true.

Online classes, so far at least, involve more work with fewer results. The endless reading and writing in the online discussion boards take up so much time, and I retain very little of the information. I find that in face-to-face courses I ask more questions, get more relevant answers, and somewhat enjoy the material. Online courses... ugh. It's a matter of completing work so I can get a grade. Hopefully I will get more out of my 2 current online courses because both involve working in groups. Luckily, my group members are other students in town, so we can actually get together to complete projects, which is an activity that helps me greatly in keeping all that book learnin' in my skull.

Those two online courses are complemented by two face-to-face courses. One I am not looking forward to, and the other will be an easy (though possibly time-consuming) computer courseware class. Either way, it's a semester more full than I wanted. Fitness has taken a back seat to the cold (even I won't go out there when it's literally freezing), and my hopes of attending the gym may fall to the wayside (wherever that is). My current hope is that I am overestimating the workload for my courses, and I will find time for my various ventures. Changes that may be coming soon could also result in more time available, although it comes at a significant cost.

So, it's cold. I know every person, newspaper, and news show is talking about it, but it's still cold. Each morning I scrap off my windshield with an old credit card, and each morning I wish I had bundled up the shavings, made a snowball, and stored it in the freezer. Then, sometime later in this season, I could hit people with them. It is a dream! And a dream that may come true if I have time to save those Snowy Shavings of Entertainment!

Also, I have a Twitter account now I'm apparently using? Weird... I get and understand Twitter, just not to the level that the rest of the world has.

2010!: 1 Day Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:33:00 +0000

So, rumor has it that it's now the year 2010. The first order of business is to determine exactly how we're going to say that. Is it, "Twenty-Ten?" or maybe "Two-thousand ten?" Of course, we'll have a similar problem years from now when referring to the year 2012. Saying "oh-twelve" is simply wrong, but just saying "twelve" just doesn't seem right. Hopefully our top scientists will be working on a solution to this, foregoing additional important project such as the pill that gives mice erections for up to 6 hours, and pills that will block up to 15% of the fat you ingest. Thank goodness they're not wasting their time on a cure for cancer or a good looking, easy to apply car wax (top priority!)

I never quite felt the hype presented for New Year's. I don't recall every having a New Year's that I thought was "great." It has always been a regular get-together, except maybe with hats and things that made loud sounds, in addition to shows on the TV that I don't really care about watching. Nothing is quite like the underwhelming feeling that follow, "3!....2!....1!.... Happy New Year!!!....... Let's go home." It is always slightly humorous to see Time's Square practically empty 10 minutes after the ball drops, with they exception of the army of street cleaners that pick up the tons of trash left over from the event. Nothing like celebrating the New Year being extremely cold, crowded, and unable to leave if you want to! Maybe some day I'll understand why people go there for the new year celebration...

The new year brings nothing new. Classes begin in less than a week, but that is about it. While the beginning of the new year is merely a human observation of when we restart out monthly Gregorian calendar, it is just another day later in time. The same thing applies to turning a year older, I suppose. If you're turning 30 or 40, it's just another day later. January 1st signals the onset of teleporters and flying cards just was much as turning 40 signals an instant switch in one's body and appearance.

(I'm still hopeful each year for the flying cars.)

I do find fascination with resolutions, however. If nothing else, it's fun to mock those that create their resolutions, and immediately falter on them. :) That's a sadistic part of me, I suppose. I guess I feel that way because I try not to set goals or resolutions for myself unless I intend to follow through with them, or to at least give it a pretty strong shot over a long period of time. I do understand the idea of using the new year as a time to say to oneself, "Well, I have been meaning to (lose weight/exercise more/eat better/learn French/spend more time with my family/go back to school/stop masturbating at the aquarium/be nicer person/quit smoking)." The change to a new year gives a fresh start of sorts (even if it's just on a paper calendar), and reason to act on those changes you've been meaning to make.

For me, the closet things to a resolution would be those that I find are easier to begin or accomplish with the extra time that (sometimes) comes with the holidays. Currently, I have been running every day! (since starting 3 days ago) Not a bad start, but I hope to continue until school starts, so I can be caught up enough, fitness-wise, to begin running regularly my 'usual' distances 3+ times a week. With possible extra time available this semester, I may try to take advantage of the services available since I do pay all of those student fees. Namely, the free instructors and equipment at FSU's gym. I'm not looking forward to the crowds, or the wearing of sunglasses inside so I can stare at the co-eds in their spandex, but if the time is there the exercise would do me good.

The next month or so should produce a lot of changes, but whether they will be for good or not is, as always, to be determined.

Christmasy time

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:17:00 +0000

It's almost the 2-month anniversary of my last post! You should probably buy me a present. And put a bow on it for the season.

November was busy. Lots of schoolwork. Lots. For the last week, I was aware that I had a lot of large papers due, but it wasn't until after the fact that I realize I was turning in a paper every few days. And then I would realize that each of these papers were 12-30 pages long. All of a sudden, I feel tired and lazy and want to sleep more.

November was also Thanksgiving, I guess? Not my favorite holiday. I'm not much for stuffing my face. I also can't appreciate beginning to prepare a meal at 8am, cooking for 7 hours, and then having it all ingested an hour later. I had to watch the nephew Torin again this year. Last year, his little brother was being born, and this year my brother has some serious jaw surgery, which required a trip to Shands in Gainesville. He started a blog about it, found here. He is recovering nicely.

December heralded the end of school for the semester. Good thing, too. I am in serious need of some no-responsibility time. Of course, when I submitted my final paper, it wasn't the end of the day before Laura wondered if I should get on putting up the lights. Nice?? Regardless, it has been nice to lose track of what day it is, and when I do forget, I remember that it doesn't matter. The only day I have to worry about is the 24Th, when I have to start hanging out with family, being merry, having a happy holidays, etc.

Of course, New Years usually follows Christmas by a week or two. We're heading to a condo for the weekend after Christmas, and coming back before the 1st. The famous Josh Simpkins will be in town, and we'll try to avoid burning anything down before work and school begins in the 4Th and 6Th. School will hopefully be much easier this spring semester. Two online courses and two face-to-face courses are scheduled. Luckily, I am anticipating that 3 of the 4 courses won't be a problem, so I can use my free time to avoid accomplishing stuff.

There! The recap from the last 2 months. Maybe there will be another posting before another 2 months go by, and may actually include something other than a step-by-step of what I've been up to.

Oh, I almost forgot. While working on my papers I discovered my new favorite font, Footlight MT Light! Yes, I have a favorite font now. I'm not sure if that goes under the "Nerd" category, or the "Geek" category, but I would take either. It's that great a font, truly.

OCTOBER! (and stuff)

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:33:00 +0000

So, it's October.

Yep. It's time for costumes and candy, what is perhaps the best holiday season of the year. I suppose most other people don't consider the holiday seasons starting until Thanksgiving or so, but I view Thanksgiving as just another holiday between Halloween and Christmas.

Halloween is definitely up there on my list of favorite holidays, even though calling it a holiday is similar to calling ping-pong a sport. It would definitely be #1 on my lists, except that, calendar-wise, it has a very short duration. Usually a day or two. Perhaps three, if you get lucky. Unlike Christmas which lasts from approximately Sept. 17th to January 12th, Halloween is limited to Oct. 31st, and any other weekend day nearby where people want to have costume parties. Either way, I also look forward to dressing up in costume and seeing what other people manage to put together. The time of days-long masquerade celebrations would have definitely been my cup of tea. Putting on a different persona (or at least the outfit) is something always look forward to. Of course, all of the ladies taking the opportunity to wear a costume that could be described as "costume idea + whore" is also a big plus.

It should go without saying that October is a great month because the fall season really starts to kick in, and the month also contains my birthday. Two great reasons (other than Halloween) to view October and the best month ever. Rumor has it that I'm turning 30 this year. Thirty years old! I don't really care about the number, but just what it means. I think I have to stop watching cartoons, and starting watching football games and the stock market. Also, because 30 is a big milestone, people have to get me greats gifts. That includes you, by the way!! You can't slack off just because, technically, we may have never met and I may not even know who you are. I can set up a PayPal account if necessary. Else, you could always arrange for a special surprise of some kind. Use your imagination.

Even if October wasn't special because it's the birth month of the great Chris, the weather itself gives October its own merit. The crisp air and cooler weather makes everything better. When I feel like sleeping or being lazy, wrapping up in a blanket or jacket and blobbing out is excellent. But, if I feel like actually being productive or going out-and-about, then the weather makes me feel energized. Unfortunately, in certain cases (usually while doing boring work or listening to a lecture) neither the sleepy nor energetic moods work out. Nothing like itching to just run out of work or class, or in the next moment, fighting off sleep like it's a giant, warm, woolen blanket intent on smother me with its soothing, restful presence.

By the way. Candy pumpkins? Awesome. You disagree? Fight me!!

Procrastination, peanut butter, and the end of life.

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:55:00 +0000

I bet if you thought hard enough you could link procrastination, peanut butter, and the end of life without too much difficulty.

Everyone procrastinates. Everyone. It's a scientifically proven fact. Yeah, it's on of those "fact" things. However, not everyone procrastinates often, or so often that it affects their lives. Around 20% of people procrastinate badly enough for it to actually be noticed. The scientists have all sorts of reasons for the nature of procrastination they just came out with. (I'm pretty sure they would have been done years ago, but they kept getting distracted by positrons orneurkinetics or some other silly thing.) Anyway, they believe that our brains were wired back in the Cave Man Era (a little while before the 60's, I think?) to think short-term, because who knew if they were going to live long-term. Food spoiled in 3 days or less, and while trying to figure out the whole food-shelter-not dying thing, our ancestors' minds were trained to think "now!"

Of course, now we all suffer for those fools! If only they used their schedules and Blackberrysefficiently enough... Now, our mind wants us to accomplish short-term needs, such as eating and sleeping, instead of long-term needs, such as writing for school work instead of writing in a blog. There are some main factors that goes into this. The big ones are the need for instant gratification (including how much time will pass before rewards are given and how bad you want the reward), a person's expectancy for succeeding, the value of the tasks, and the person's impulsiveness. Needless to say, I probably fail on most of those accounts.

Regardless, the wise-guys actually came up with an equation to determine a person's tendency to procrastinate. That is: How likely one is to delay = (one's confidence x the importance/fun of the task) / (how bad you need the reward X how easily you are distracted)

If you'll do the math, you'll see that you probably want to do something else instead of figure out numbers to plug into a formula that won't actually give you real answers.

Also, I found this psychology magazine at the drug store, hence the three long paragraphs about something that I, personally, never researched.

Peanut butter? No idea. I thought I had something about peanut butter, but don't remember what I was going to say. So, as far as peanut butter goes, it's some good stuff, and it's hard to have too much of it. Pretty sure peanut butter makes everything better.

My grandfather hasn't been doing too well lately. A usual spattering of late-age symptoms, and recently was staying in a memory health place, where the patients have a tendency to forget a lot or want to wander off easily. Each door leading to the outside has a pass code, which you must punch before you can either enter or exit the building. A tad disconcerting, but it also has a neat inner courtyard, and at least it doesn't have that overall permeating hospital-like odor.

He wasn't expected to last much longer, as his body began to shut down, and certain functions (such as digesting) stopped, so eating and most drinking stopped along with it. Luckily, most of the closer family had already gotten into town, before Granddad passed this morning (Sat, 9/19). Plans are currently in the works for the memorial service, as he will be cremated and the ashes eventually spread in the ocean. Granddad was in the Navy in WWII, and the Navy guys will be there, at least with a trumpeter, if not with the rest of the pomp and circumstance. Ceremony will be held next weekend sometime, to give the extended family time to arrive. You would think that was already the case since there was 20-something people there today, but more are on the way.

So, now I'll sum it all up for you: Procrastination is good (at times), but don't delay because some kind of end may come sooner than you think. And before whatever that is arrives, be sure you have enough peanut butter to feel satisfied. Smooth or chunky, it's all good.

McDonald's Breakast: When you know it won't be a good day.

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Breakfast is the most important part of the day.

Especially for me. I grew up eating cereal and milk every morning for pretty much my entire life. Sure, there were pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, etc., every now and then on a weekend, and the breakfast's out in various restaurants, but other than that, cereal all the way. This of course ingrained a strong sense of urgency in making sure that there was adequate milk and cereal of some kinda at all times. Nothing quite like waking up, getting ready, opening the 'fridge door, and then being surprised at how light the milk just was. So very sad.... Do you remember those "cute" commercials for paper towels where the kid leans over and dumps out a jump of milk on the floor? Those commercials make me angry. Such a waste of milk....

So, (in case you were slow) today there was no milk. Downside to having a roommate: He doesn't drink milk enough for me to judge when we'll be out. The moment I realize I do not have the two requisite items for the creation of breakfast cereal, I panic, staring at the 'fridge/cupboard, lost as to what I should do next. Make eggs or waffles? No time. Oatmeal? I get hungry an hour and half later. Fruit? I don't think so. Also, there is no fruit... This requires that I somehow force my mind to wrap around the concept that today's breakfast choice will require thought.

So, of course, I think of McDonald's. The great thing about a McDonald's breakfast is that I know one is on the way to anywhere I'm going, I know what to expect, and I know I can get it quick. The downside (in the event you haven't thought of a half dozen reasons already) is that you can actually feel part of your soul dying as you eat it. Ever see a movie where the demon/devil character touch a flower, and the flower shrivels and dies before your eyes? It's very similar to that. But of course the psuedo-deliciousness of it fools you into continuing your mistake, cruising along the road, getting rid of the hunger but feeling your soul slowly slip away into the McD hell.

Why, milk jug, why do you bring this upon me? Cereal box retains its honor and integrity, always being ready to provide grain-filled goodness that's packed with 11 vitamins and minerals. Yet, it is always you, milk, that is found lacking. Sure, you don't always turn up empty, but if you can't provide enough of what I need, then it isn't enough. You have failed me, and in doing so, led to my own failure in visiting the earthbound hell that is McDonald's breakfast. I shall never forgive you. NEVER. As soon as I return home, I am replacing you with a full jug of milk. It is my hope, my prayers, that this milk jug will not fail me as you have, and as so many jugs before you have failed.

Movie "9," Fall, NC, and TN

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:00:00 +0000

9/9/09

Interesting date. Although I am sure I can conduct the research necessary, a lot of people were getting married that day. Good luck? Tradition? I dunno. Maybe I'll have to get a bride soon so I can get married on 10/10/2010, which I think is a cooler date. Regardless, it does make it easier to remember in the future!

The animated movie "9" came out that same day. (Spoiler alert!! Skip this paragraph if you're planning on see the movie later.) It focuses around this post-apocalyptic world where the humans created great machines that eventually fight back, destroying all the humans. Usual post-apocalyptic stuff, don'cha know. I am a HUGE fan of post-apocalyptic worlds and story lines, so I had to see it, which I did that afternoon. Anyhow, in this war-torn world there are these small puppet-like critters, each having its own number. To shorten things up (and ruin the plot completely) a scientist found a way to split his life into segments and put them into these puppets, giving them life. They end up accidentally activating this giant war machine, and then destroy it. They eventually figure out how to put the soul-bits of the dead puppets into a device which rains life back on the earth. Weird stuff. Really reminds me of "The Secret of NIMH." Now THAT was a good flick! Very classic, and you must watch it if you didn't absolutely hate "9." Even if you didn't see "9" rent "Secret of NIMH." Do it.

Fall. Gosh-darnit, fall is coming! The briefest hint of a slight coolness was in the air. Fall is freakin' awesome. If it could be fall all year around, I would totally take that. Well, 8 months out of the year, with 2 months for full summer and 2 for full winter. The other night I got a whiff of something that reminded me of burning wood in cold weather, like a bonfire in winter. Both of those things reminds me of North Carolina, where I used to visit my grandparents during Christmas, and Tennessee, where my family has a cabin by a great state park (more on that later).

The feeling of cool fall weather puts in a dual-nature (much like everything does, it seems). I feel very energized. I love opening the windows and getting stuff done around the house, while also getting outside, enjoying the parks, or even just going shopping (weird...I know). Unfortunately, if I'm feeling energized in such a way, if I can't find the right activity then I get depressed somewhat. If you can relate, it is similar to a weekend day when you want to accomplish something, or a weekend evening when you just want to go out and have loads of fun, but you can't make it happen. It is like wanting to run but finding yourself on a treadmill. Bummer, indeed.

The other half is that that fall, much like winter (and Christmas for some) inserts a melancholy mood into life. The "death" of the world as summer transitions into winter is felt, and I'll feel just like curling up in some blankets, getting a big bag of candy corn (oh, yes!), and watching movies or playing games for the entire day. Not a bad thing, really. The serenity (woo!! gotta watch that movie again...). Sorry.... The serenity of the cool, breezy days as they pass to darkness seems to last forever. During fall, twilight seems to last forever. Much like the movie Twilight, which seems to never, ever end, except that's a bad thing in this instance.

The cabin in Tennessee reminds me of all of these, in some ways. It's in the middle of the woods, atop a small mountain. Perhaps you could call it a very large hill. Either way, there are excellent views all around. I can't recall the last time I was there in winter, with no leaves on the trees, opening up new vistas across the hillsides, and the wood burning stove burning away. Is it just me, or are you surprised that there are so little accidents involving those? My brother has one; it's 3 feet from a big-screen TV, and my nephew used to crawl around nearby. No injuries, though... Anyhoo, usually the visits to the cabin in Tennessee are during the summer days, when we can enjoy the state park nearby. Free entry, which is quite nice, to a good deal of hiking trails, cascades, waterfalls, and rivers filled with large rocks and boulders. Lots of claims to fame, but the only one I can recall is this: Did you ever see the live action "Jungle Book" movie? It came out like 10 years ago, or more, maybe. In one scene Mowgli jumps off of a waterfall into a lake below. That scene was filled at the park, as were a lot of other less exciting scenes in the movie. People actually still jump off of that waterfall, but with the relatively low water table in the SE US, they don't do it was much anymore. I'm looking forward to going back. Want to join me? (If you said, "yes," you're probably a stalker considering I don't think anyone really reads this.) (That may not be a bad thing).

Enjoy your weekend, reader. Unless it's Monday, in which just zone out until Wednesday or Thursday.

Transition: August to September

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:30:00 +0000

So, apparently it's September? September was always a weird month for me. In my head, the calendar sort of just went from August to October. It probably has something to do with streaming major events together, which this example being a jump from the start of school in August, to my birthday and (more importantly) Halloween. September doesn't have much in it for me right now, so it's always some kind of bizarre shock when I realize there's another month to go before I get to get presents and play dress up.

School progresses, as I predicted. My astounding soothsaying abilities have proven accurate in that time itself did not stop when the semester began. The overall schedules and occurances of class, walking, buses, eating, and workouts (with or without Bootcamp) are still influx, but that's half the fun of it. The moment I get adjusted and work out a relative schedule is the moment I'll get bored and wish I were doing something else. There is an instructional systems (my master's subject) in Louisville at the end of October. Rumor has it that Louisville is far away, but Google Maps verified it for me so that I now know that I will not be driving, and the cost for tickets and for a plane flight are prohibitive. $300 for the conference ticket, and $250 for a plane ticket from Jacksonville. I may have actually thought about driving up and making a road trip of sorts out of it, but there's so many things happening in October (as opposed to the oft-forgotten September) that driving would take too much time.

Speaking of October, you get to hear me think aloud via the format of typing the various October events: Sis-in-law Edna's birthday, my birthday (10/24), my brother's big Halloween party, and Halloween itself. Please note I turn 30 this year, so extremely special gifts are in order. (Take that phrase however it applies to you).

I visited FSU's Thagard Health Clinic for the first time this past Monday. I'm still alive, so it can't be that bad. It was one of the first health institutions I've been to that had a "Sick People" section separate from a "Well People" section. You would think this would be obvious any place sick people may congregate. I situated myself in the "Well People" section as they did not have a "Sick, but not Contagious People" section, and only had to wait a couple of minutes before being let in so that the poking, prodding, and probing could begin. Good times.

I received a call from a guy at Excel (my old work place) who wanted to go over some stuff that I handled, for which he was now responsible. I don't mind at all because he's a nice guy who tries to help out. The only problem I have is that both he and I brought this up to the manager the day after I turned in my resignation, which was 3-4 weeks before I actually stopped working. That was 3-4 weeks of potential training time, a lot of which I didn't have much to work on anyways. Le sigh. Yet another reason to remind me why I'm not working there anymore.

Hey, I think this was one of the first times I referenced someone's name. I suppose I could look back and check, but I count that as editing, which I don't go back and do once I've written in this blog (see blog #1 for that rule. maybe it was blog #2. whatever). Queries about names? Then ask.

Rest of the week

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:40:00 +0000

Eh. I'm bored. Let's get through the rest of the week, shall we?

Friday: Work until noon. No school! Time for a haircut. I got all of them cut this time.

... That about sums up Friday. I suppose I could mention that various cousins were in town, which is rare to happen at once. My mother has 3 brothers and 2 sisters, and at one point all of them lived in Tallahassee with their sons and daughters. Quite a large brood related to me in Tallahassee at that time, and even now. Grandfather isn't doing so well; at this point any day could be his last day, so there's lots of visiting going on.

The Family gathered at someone's house, and various good visiting occurred. We thoroughly enjoy the idea that if we wanted to started our own organized crime syndicate, it wouldn't be that hard as we've infiltrated so many venues of the world already. It would probably be a good idea to start getting on our good side and donating money as a down-payment for your protection. I'll put in a good word for you to Da Boss.

Saturday was busy. Nice. An ISSA BBQ at MP (Myer's Park. I wanted to thrown in another acronym). Lots of people showed up, including some instructors and various peoples' children. Luckily, no one saw me push any of them over. Suckers. A family-modified kickball game took place. Unfortunate Highlight: My water rockets were placed on dirt, so when they launched mud splashed up on shoes of Laura and I. The "highlight" part was that the water bounced of the ground and onto an instructor. His entire front was covered in remarkably nicely dispersed mud globules.

Movie that night: "Hitch."

Sunday: Visits with Laura's dad, helping my Mom move (in jeans and while raining...ugh), the homework. Yay stuff?

Next posting: Random school things, and maybe an original idea or two.

Thurday, Aug 27th, etc., etc.

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:19:00 +0000

Thursday: I will, over time, but cutting down severely on the blow-by-blow accounts of my courses, limiting my digital written reserves to somewhat interesting, humorous, or just plain different for whatever reason.

So..Thursday class. Megan's the assistant to the professor, so she went over the syllabus with the class. All 5 of us. I think there's 7 total. I am still not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Another big project in this course, and there was in the 3 classes I had Mon-Wed of this week. Luckily Megan missed lunch, so everything ran quick, which, of course, lead to Momo's after class. Most of life would be better if you could say it ended with, "So, of course, we then went to Momo's." Great. Now I'm hungry again. I hope you're happy, as I've sacrificed my non-hungry state for a hungry state so I could bring to you the fore-mentioned sentences.

Thursdays at 7 are now officially ISSA Bowling Nights at Crenshaw Lanes. I know that some of you (or maybe just "you" if you're the only reader, a distinct possibility) are not what we would called a "fan" of bowling. Indeed, you may have just skipped this paragraph after reading the first sentence, and are now trying to convince yourself that maybe I'm not as interesting or whatever as you previously thought. Trust me: I'm WAY MORE AWESOME THAN YOU REALIZE. This is evidenced by the fact that I wrote the previous state with the purpose of complimenting myself, in all caps, and using the phrase "way more awesome."

Where was I again? Yes, bowling. Thank you for the reminder, though you wanted to forget. We (the great leaders of the ISSA) realized that a weekly meeting of some sort would be an excellent way for IS students to have a standing-date so that whenever they got around to wanting to check things out, we would be ready. The games are cheap there (incredibly cheap compared to the others in town), but more importantly there's the opportunity to purchase adult beverages, play inexpensive games of billiards, and have tables ready for various board games for those that take enjoyment with such (as I do). Come on down. The invitation is open. I (probably) will prattle on less in person.

That's all for now... (I guess I could have left this paragraph out, but I felt it all needed some closing statements.)

Wed, Aug 26

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:08:00 +0000

Wednesday: Work is starting to fall into place. We'll see how my random skills and knack for shaking things up fits into this quiet and proper workplace. I'm thinking of instituting my own personal Hawaiian Shirt Friday, Hot Pants Wednesday, and Masquerade Mondays.

You know what's amazing? I was completely kidding about the dress days, but.... Masquerade Mondays? AWESOME IDEA.

School continues. Another class, many familiar faces, another nationally-known instructor who will probably be in history books. Awesome university to go to for this program, and it's one of the top 3 or so in the country. It's interesting learning about a theory that's integral to the field as a whole, and then your next class is with the guy who invented that theory. It's like having a psychology professor say, "Well, before he died Freud and I worked at FSU together. He was a crazy guy; he liked his tea without sugar."

ISSA meeting today. My program (in case you're slow, forgetful, or just a random visiting stranger) is Instructional Systems. I am also a newly appointed treasurer for the Instructional Systems Student Association. I figured that if I'm going to do this school thing full-time, being part of clubs and stuff is a great way to meet people and network.

Although I'm pretty great with numbers (yep, pretty great, indeed), I have yet to see any financial information or files. No complaints from me. I just enjoy being on the board, since I can use my overpowering intellect and undying enthusiasm to bring about vast changes to the political and educational environment that makes up the instructional systems department. (Please be aware of some slight exaggeration in the previous statement). Either way, we're planning an ISSA BBQ for this Saturday at Myer's Park. Previous ISSA incarnations were not terribly active, but one resolution I've made for myself is, if I'm going to be involved in something, it's not going to suck. We'll see how that little venture turns out.

Tuesday, Aug 2

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:46:00 +0000

Tuesday: Work? Same, thanks goodness. However, upon returning from class I was told that one of the other graduate students that is also working with my project wouldn't be back for a bit, which was inconvenient because she was the one that was supposed to be showing me various things around the office. The reason for her delayed arrival was that her parents were in a pretty bad car accident in Washington state. She had to fly up there immediately the previous weekend.

Even though she has 5 siblings, they can only take a small amount of time to visit before having to return to their regular lives. My coworker, therefore, is going solo in the responsibility of being the family representative. She's been given power of attorney, sits with her parents during the day, and even takes part in feeding them. A pretty rough requirement for anyone. Here's hoping things improve soon.

While waiting for my 2nd bus (stadium to classroom route), a different route bus arrived. After a quick glance I noticed this bus, too, passed by my building so I hopped aboard. Despair set in when the bus continued its travels further and further away from my building. It was then I realized the route direction for this bus was counter-clockwise around campus, while I had thought it as clock-wise. The result of this was that instead of my stop being the, say, 4th stop, it was the 4th stop from the very end of the loop.

A lovely addition was traffic, since the bus passed in front of Ruby Diamond Auditorium, and the 4-way stops around there are ideal breeding grounds for traffic snarls, yielding a beastly delay and animal-like driving behavior (too many animal-term usage in that last sentence, if you ask me). Luckily, I have swift feet and long legs, and managed to get to class less than 10 minutes late. A good way for the first day of that class to begin. I appeased the professor by challenging the largest male in the class to a death match, and besting him in the blood-thirsty Paperclip Impalement Ritual. Good times.

Classmates and subject matter are getting a little muddled at this point. So much of my course material overlaps into other courses, and anywhere from 50-75% of the students in one class are also in other classes. Once everything settles down I can take full advantage of both of these situations.

Tuesdays are, apparently, trivia night at Bird's Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack. Megan from school invited us, so we went. I've only been to Bird's once before, for a Sarah Mac Band show, but in my opinion this was more entertaining. Every seat is usually taken, and participation in the trivia is free, and lively. The questions are certainly challenging, which reminds me that whenever I want my ego dropped a couple of notches down, I should attend a trivia night somewhere. Nothing like trivia night to remind me of my lacking knowledge in sports, pop knowledge, television, and geographic comparative facts between US states.

Not a bad Tuesday, I suppose. The week seems increasingly long already, and I am referring to events that happened on Monday as if I've been performing them for weeks, as it feels like I have. All part of the changing lifestyle, I suppose. Let's keep it going for now, shall we?

Day 1b: Monday, Aug. 24th

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Class starts at 12:35. Buses are between me and class. Time to get hiking at 11:30 to make sure I get this bus thing down. It arrives soon, and takes me to the stadium, as planned. Good. The campus loop bus took me near my intended building, then a little further away before I realized it was not going to pull a u-turn for my benefit, so I hopped off and took a little walk. Class was as expected, with a teacher, some new classmates, and some familiar ones. Class time itself, as I've found out since then, it usually the least stressful part of my courses.

I dropped by my department's offices for a second, left, and got on the same campus loop bus. Now, here's where my logical took an obvious fault: If there's, say, 30 stops on a loop, and my building is around the 5th stop, logic dictates that the same bus on the same route will have about 25 stops to go before arriving at its termination point. So, I had a nice 20 minute ride, wondering about which bus I should take next time.

Riding the bus gives me a good chance to observe the natives of the university. A good example (though is was not a bus phenomenon) I thoroughly enjoyed hearing a one-way conversation from a guy talking on his cell phone. While he was shopping for an overly-expensive FSU hoodie, he was chatting about how his mom won't buy him a new controller. That in itself is humorous to me. Of course, this are many other instances I personally don't know about, but I'll go ahead and presume this guy also was not living at home, complains about not having money, but in the next breath complains that he won't be able to go out drinking a particular night. I do presume, but these thoughts are a compilation of various conversations I've heard.

Another favorite is the girl on the the phone trying to get her e-mail changed in some account she has. Changing it from "Chik234@hotmail.com" to "Pink2343@hotmail.com" is something I find very interesting and love to hear about. Apparently the customer service representative was unfamiliar with the word "pink" and had to have it explained to her. This got annoying, but then recalled that everyone around me paid a lot of money for the opportunity to better themselves and their minds, which will hopefully lead to a decrease of e-mail addresses that include the word "pink," and will hopefully also lead to a decreased in the amount of people who are unfamiliar with such a bizarre concept such as "pink." ("A color!" the girl of the phone exclaimed.)

An easy bus back to the Learning Systems Institute (LSI from now on, mostly), and after goofing off a bit (by which I mean "working" if someone asks) it's a drive home. No worries so far. Tomorrow should be the same schedule, but of course things never turn out that way.

Day 1a: Monday, Aug. 24th

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:44:00 +0000

So...first day of school. (Get used to dealing with the "Dear Diary" crap at the beginning of these. It's how I sum up and get warmed up, writing-wise.) I'm getting ahead a bit, though. Back to the information gleamed from orientation: Originally I was signed up for 4 classes, 12 credit hours. I'm told by some that this is a heavy load, and the reactions from some students and instructors leads me to believe that this is so. Two of the courses are known to have a lot of deliverables (read as: assignments and projects) which in itself could lead to problems. I chose this particular path of self-torture so that I could be considered a full-time student, leading to more financial aid money and to have the option of earning an assistanceship (mini job with some pay). It was at orientation that I heard you may only have to have 9 credit hours, 3 classes. This potentially true fact lends itself to more investigation.

After asking around (a lot), I found that, yes, indeed, it is true that if you have an assistanceship THEN you can have only 9 hours and be considered full-time. Luckily (another flashback) I arranged for an assistanceship with a teacher. She had a position that paid a few bucks and hour, and it was to last half the semester, and requiring 20 hours of work a week. Not a bad deal considering some students never find a paid position of this sort, and considering that I wanted to sign on due to the experience I would get. Plus, I get paid some.

Now, apparently I've done something right in the universe because I ALSO got an opportunity to have a similar "job" at the Learning Systems Institute, where I would not only get paid more per hour, but I would also get a tuition waver for 9 of my credit hours, which equals out to roughly $3000 a semester. Nice. I bowed out of my first assistanceship, interviewed for the second, and I started today, Monday, at the LSI, the same week I begin my further school full-time.

So, it's Monday, the first day of school. I arrived at "work" and begin shuffling papers and organizing pens. This is partly because no one else had arrived, and partly because I'm neurotic about such things. A complete surprise, right? Please stand up and leave the room if you didn't see that coming. Seriously. Have you not been paying attention anytime you've spoken or been around me? Probably not. The rest of us don't really like you, to tell the truth. Please leave.

Well, now that the readers who don't pay attention are gone, I finished organizing my desk a few hours later (...yes, I exaggerate a bit). I work in a large office, where maybe 1/10th of the people are somehow related to what I do. The rest are also part of the LSI, but are involved with different projects that simultaneously invoke curiosity and a sense of being very unimportant (one of the titles includes the term "national security.") My specific co-workers are older, teacher-type of women who all work on the same project, the very project I have been summoned here to assist with.

Project Description Begin:

Florida has standards for K-12th grade education, called Standards. These are modified some for students with cognitive disabilities (like ESE students, for example). However, some students have severe cognitive disability, so they require even more modification to the required standards so that they can handle it. These are Access Points created by my office's project. They create and compile the new Access Points (which are specific modifications to the traditional Standards) and create training modules for teachers around the state so they (the teachers) know what Access Points are and how to use them.

Project Description End.

It's an okay gig. Pretty slow, but the moment I get caught up is the moment I get bored, especially since I work and think are a pretty good pace. My coworkers are of course intelligent, but simply work at a more meticulous pace. It is not stressful, with the hardest thing being that I have to be here 20 hours for all the rules and regulations to work out, and I'd rather be doing homework. I would actually rather be doing other things (insert imagination here), but if I had to choose, I'd rather accomplish school work so I don't feel so far behind.

A little before noon, and it's time for class.

Day 0: Orientation

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:42:00 +0000

So, I'm starting this blog. A few days late, yes, but you never reminded to get started. So it is all your fault, slacker. I'm not even sure if I want a slacker reading my blog. You should probably think about your life and your priorities before judging me...

Where was I? Ah, yes... blaming you. But even before that, my Starting School Full Time Blog.

I quit work 3 weeks ago from my decent paying job that had decent perks and benefits. However, it was a dead-end position and I was literally be going nowhere until one of the owners died or they sold the business to a third party. My last official day was this past Friday, August 21^st. Let the poverty and worries begin!

Orientation was the day before, for which I took a day off of work (why not? It’s not like I had anything better to do there…) There were the usual hodge-podge of other programs, instructors, and speakers. A veteran student did a Q&A after the staff left, which was actually pretty good. Onto the small group session, where I was marked as a Veteran Student there to just listen in. Good thing, because it 1) made the ego boost a bit and 2) gave me more standing. The orientation was over after that. A quick 3 hours or so.

One of the big reasons (as I may have mentioned in a previous post) for starting school full-time is to get integrated into the school and courses better. I want to actually get networked and socialized, meeting fellow students and getting to know instructors. This in itself is useful, as it is quite difficult to meet friends (although I do have friends and they are awesome, though I’m sure they owe me money). However, I need to break out of the shell.

An additional reasoning is so that I can become The Guy in the program. You know The Guy: He’s the one the teachers know, the one everyone (except maybe new students) knows and will asks questions to. Not necessarily the Big Man on Campus, but someone that is known for knowing stuff and who can be relied on, etc. Thisisn’t (completely) for my ego, but mostly so that when it comes time for a job, my name will be on the lips of instructors when good jobs offers come through.

I have never really been “networked,” so it’s a difficult thing. I get along with people well enough, but not so much that I maintain ties with them. Lots of acquaintances that are left by the wayside, so the speak, and I wanted to get networked for both personal and professional reasons. Getting networked will help the career too, of course, and I’m relying on my super awesomeness to have such an effect on the instructors that they can’t wait to find me the Best Job in the World (which includes all-you-can-eat Whoopers and various dancing girls)(edit: I meant Whoppers, but I'd take a bunch of Whoopers, too, probably).

I did pick up more information during Orientation, in conversations there, and the day or so after that. I will summarize those in the next posting. These blog postings, as I have said, will remain informal, so suck it if you have any issue with my syntaxes or sentence structures. Also, if you are reading this than you have a reason to, even if it’s just because you’re bored out of your skull. With that said, if something written here causes you to think or question, feel free to let me know. I do take requests, and pander to them.

A final note: I rarely proofread my postings. This isn't work, after all, and it's often humorous to leave mistakes as-is. Problem with that? I doubt it; if you read this far them you probably don't care. ;) Until next time, my loyal reader(s)

-cpk

Starting school full-time...

noreply@blogger.com (Pretentious (Now Graudated) College Student) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:41:00 +0000

Well, I have finally come upon the best way to complete the following list:

1) Become more poor
2) Increase my stress level
3) Open myself to increased ridicule in a face-to-face format, instead of bearing it in my standard digital format.

My genius plan to finish my list is to resign from work and being school on campus at FSU in the fall.

Being my extremely loyal readers and fans, I'm sure you are aware that I (along with being very humble) began officially at FSU in the spring, taking courses part time in the Instructional Systems Master's program, and also working towards the Human Performance Technology certification.

It is my intention to blog about my efforts, and the subsequent successes. If you find this completely uninteresting, feel free to stop following this blog's feed or drop me as a friend on your list. I won't be insulted at all.
Don't worry, though, as I'm sure there will be plenty more failures which I'm sure will be more entertaining. Perhaps I will also post pictures of myself, distraught and defeated, head lowered, ashamed at my failure. If you look forward to that, you are a twisted individual, but also have an odd sense of humor that may appreciate my future writing.
If you have any requests or want additional specifics for this little journal, feel free to let me know. That just means less unique thoughts I have to conjure up on my own out of this dark, bubbling cauldron that is my mind.
Enjoy the future! I hope to have a pre-semester blog before orientation on the 20th, but the first may be about orientation.