Hardware

This month's class consists of designing logic circuits. It's actually more interesting than I thought it would be, and much more difficult. I"m getting the hang of it though so that is good.

Next weekend the twins turn five!! The idea is to leave on Wed for Phoenix and be back on Monday which is the beginning of my AI class. Oh and the hardware class doesn't actually end until the end of May. May is going to be really really busy but I can do it.

The trick will be to get a big portion of my paper for the hardware class done next weekend, one less thing to worry about in May. I'm doing it on solid state hard drives, the kinds you have in the iPhone etc. They're great, small with no moving parts so less heat etc but they're also really really expensive. That is one of the reasons my iPhone cost as much as it did, the hard drive.

If I can get that to a rough draft status this next weekend (inbetween Twin's stuff) that puts me ahead for May giving me a bit more breathing room.

I have a midterm on Tuesday and I want to get my next lab in by that day also. That way I have lots of time to do the next week's assignments without stress over getting things in on time.

No word yet on any internships this summer. I'm so torn over that, I want the experience, I'd love to be working in an office again with people! But the idea of having the whole month of July off is so appealing. So to compromise I've only applied for two internships and am only actively perusing one. If I don't get that one then I"ll just be poor =) The experience would be invaluable so I am actively trying to get it, but the silver lining would be a whole month off to work on the garden and stuff around the house... and to play WoW!!!

It's all about who you know

I may have mentioned this but I'm applying for an internship for this summer. I applied, among other places, my old company of Sony Online Entertainment. I am on very good terms with the CEO, he's a great guy and despite the fact I quit quite a few years ago we've been friendly every since.

So I emailed him tonight telling him that I applied for an internship, I figured it could only help my chances of getting the job. I heard back from him and apparently his father got his degree from my University. He isn't in charge of the actual hiring but he's going to 'put in a good word for me' with someone else who I was also friendly with all those years ago.

I feel my chances are good. No guarantees of course, for all I know they have multiple applications with much better resumes, but I feel pretty good about it.

Made my night!

Wrists and such

Well my wrist has been hurting for about.... 7 years. I've pretty much ignored it when I can, just careful not to use it too often and look like a complete wuss as I can't lift much of anything. When I couldn't empty out the cast iron pan last night I decided to do something about it and went to the doctor today.

I'm in a brace. I'm supposed to 'take it easy typing'. I can't type with the brace on (I took it off to type this). This isn't going to work with work and school. I do haver some nice pain killer/anti inflammatory drugs that I'm on for a month or so but I'd have an easier time not walking then I do not typing. I guess I'll just wear the brace when I can and see what happens.

On the good side these pain killers should help my hips too.

Anyway it's not carpel tunnel and it's not a cyst though I am going in for an x-ray tomorrow. I'm supposed to go to physical therapy also but I can't call them till Thursday. I may be getting a new keyboard though, and I really like mine!

Going to be a long month

Woot! Did well again

Got an A- in Algorithm Design!! That brings my gpa back up to a 3.4, I want a 3.5 but this is in the right direction. I was a bit concerned as I really had no idea what my grade was in that class, but I'm very happy with an A-!

Trying to remember to update more often

Week one of classes so far so good. I have 2/3 of my homework due Tuesday done with an email into the professor with questions and the item I need to do Thursday's homework will be here on Wednesday. So far it's just doing math in other bases besides 10, not very exciting but ehhh it works.

As it turns out I do have another class in May, and as long as I can take her final a day early I can do all three of them. I really really want to keep this AI class so hopefully I can get it worked out. Going to go hermit again in May but it's all good.

It's HOT here all of a sudden. I miss my '70 with a breeze' weather, almost 90 really isn't doing it for me. Bleck

Time off of School

I moved a class around and I'm taking July off from school. I've been going non stop since last March and will from Aug to next March so I figure a break will be helpful. Don't know what, if anything, I'm going to do but it will be nice to let my brain just kind of be empty.

So from June 28th to Aug 5th I have no classes. Can't afford a trip overseas really but I am not looking to just stay home and play WoW. It's kind of funny as I live where most people go for vacation, makes it a bit harder to plan one of my own!

Might be a moot point if I get an internship over the summer but then it will be a month of much less stress either way. Then it's Aug to Christmas break straight through and then three months left!

I still have to take Physics in there but I'm not doing it this summer since I'm taking July off, if I'm going to take a month off I want it OFF. Hopefully there will be a five week version offered next January so I can be really done by the end of March 09. Yeah me!

Schedule Conflicts

Ok this sucks.

I'm currently enrolled in AI for May and I've been really looking forward to that class. Now apparently it seems the class I'm in right now runs for two months so if I stay in AI I get to double up again. So really don't want to do that thanks.

I emailed the Faculty Lead to see what's up and if they'll offer AI again. I even have the textbook!

I'll double up in May but that is also the last month on my Sun Internship so that will be kind of nuts. Bleck!

Price of Food

I know I'm a bit behind the curve here, and I also know that there are others who are in much more dire straights than I am, but today the price of groceries really hit me hard. I spent 150, after 'saving' about 25 by not buying almost anything that wasn't on sale, and I didn't splurge or buy a bunch of stupid stuff.

A gallon of milk was almost 5 dollars, eggs were just as bad. Juice was five bucks for a quart or whatever it was. I don't cook much so there were frozen foods involved and my diet coke addiction got a bit pricey, but I didn't buy any alcohol, ice cream or chips. I got one chicken breast and one lb of hamburger. My junk food consists of bagels, my extravagances beyond the diet coke are the weight watchers frozen dinners. I can't imagine buying groceries for a family of four, let alone bigger.

Gas prices are insane, which is what the food prices are being attributed to, and I don't really go anywhere and it effects even me. I saw 4.05 for Premium in Bakersfield this weekend. Yes that is a tourist trap but it's the first time I've seen it break that four dollar threshold. The only plus lately is that my home equity loan's interest rate is dropping dramatically. Unfortunately my student loan is in a fixed rate a full two points above the home equity loan.

Home prices are dropping and gas prices are rising. I understand the whole supply and demand concept and what a bubble is and what happens when it breaks, consumer confidence oh and that little war driving up prices, but knowing these things intellectually and actually seeing the results are two different things.

What happens when wages drop and yet the price of a gallon of milk is still five dollars? I don't have children depending on me, I have resources the 'average' person doesn't have and it's kind of freaking me out, what happens to that family that can't afford to feed their kids and drive to work and pay the heating bill all at the same time?

I read an article today that basically talked about how mortgage companies are just abandoning foreclosed houses to avoid paying the taxes on these empty houses as they can't sell them. This is causing whole neighborhoods with scores of empty houses where crime and drugs just move in further lowering housing prices and causing a viscous cycle.

Honestly I don't know what to do, I don't have very much sympathy for people who got 'teaser' rate loans counted on equity to bail them out. They bought homes they couldn't afford and are now paying the price, but that price is effecting the whole country. There are people who were duped, lied to and taken advantage of, and those people deserve help a hell of a lot more than some bank does, and honestly how do we tell the two apart? How do we know if this person bought more than they could afford banking on equity to pay it off later and how many people thought they were getting this amazing deal and could live in a home they never thought they could afford.

It's hard to say no when the 'American Dream' is dangled in front of you especially when there is a fast talking banker saying 'oh don't worry the rates won't REALLY go up, just sign here!' Those people I do feel sorry for and this administration is just watching it happen.

Spring Break Done

Vegas was great. School starts again tomorrow which I'm kind of of two minds about, but it should be good, I hope =)

The dog is still digging, apparently he didn't do it when I was gone just when I left today. I'm kind of at a loss there.

Beyond that I'm back to 'normal', the weather is amazing as usual and I'm just kind of hanging out, playing video games and trying to learn stuff at school. It's all good!