As I sit here on a Sunday night, wondering what I should blog about, it occurs to me that everything was pretty much normal this week...perhaps too normal.
It was midterms for the past 3 weeks and I still have one left to do and I'm not too worried about it. I have lots for reading to do and to catch up on but I'm not too worried about it. The ward soccer team is into tournament time and I'm not too worried about it. It was the 5th sunday and the Bishop talked about Dating in a combined meeting today (which I missed) but I'm not too worried about that either. Rent is due, a new month is upon us, Stake and General Conferance is coming up in a few weeks, again, I'm not too worried about it.
I will tell you what is of minor concern though...the up coming mission reunion. Not because of the fact that I've been home for 3 years and I am still unmarried, in school, and no real career that I can speak of. It's because of the fact that I don't know whether or not to wear the black paint and whether or not I should wear my System of a Down shirt or my Anarchy shirt. If the reunion is on Sunday, should I keep the nails black and wear the black button up shirt to match or keep my sunday attire on but wear the baby blue tie that will go with the black pants and the black nails. And at the end of it all, should I try to avoid those annoying comps that I had and be true to how I really feel about them, or should I do the charitable thing and talk to them for a minute, try to act interested, wish them a happy life and never talk to them again. Decisions, Decisions. At least this is the last mission reunion that I will have to attend and fake interest and hide social awkwardness while those there show off their wives/ kids, rehash old mission stories, and act like they are on top of the world with their carpet cleaning job or major in Chemical Bio-Engineering Computer Technology with a minor in Business Language Information Systems with an emphasis in Latin Bible Jewish Culture studies while supporting their family and planning a trip back to Iowa over the summer to see all the families that they have baptised and kept in touch with over the past 3 years while staying with ward members that they are close friends with. Me, I'll just show them my black nails, tell them I'm majoring in I.T., and waiting for a cool band to come through town. That should impress them...shouldn't it ?!? At least there will be free cookies and punch there. And I can try to find my name on the mission quilt again. I keep forgetting where it is.
February 29, 2004
February 22, 2004
What I learned last week:
1) While doing a Java program that involved making bank accounts and writing my own classes for them, I got stuck on writing the Transfer method. So I called the TA over to help me figure it out. After examining the code, explaining the logic, and then helping me write it, he told me to compile my code often so that I could check for mistakes and such. This was all well and good and could have ended there...but he didn't. As he stood in the middle of the room, he talked about 'compiling' our own lives so that we might catch the mistakes in our own lives. Rather than 'compile' yearly or monthly, we should 'compile' weekly so that we can say on the strait and narrow. And after his sermon, his final comment was 'We should all compile often'. Then he sat down at his computer and started working again. All I can say is...Only at BYU, could you get something like that and everyone would understand what he was really talking about.
2) In another Java relates events: as I was in this weeks help session, the TA used as his example algorithm a program about pigs. Much like the concept of Tamagotchis, this program determined the pig's breed, weight, and you could feed him, exercise him, steal food from another pig, and kill him if you wanted to. As he explained the code, it was very apparent that he worked with pigs as a child and that he was most likely from Idaho. When I thought on this, I could only shake my head and laugh ...Only a Java programmer could get excited about a pig program. Other TAs used algorithms like Barbie or dating as example algorithms.
3) I really can do good in calculus. After all the studying and rereading sections and working sample problems and being in the Math lab for hours on end, I really can get a good grade. In the past, when all of the aforementioned was undertaken, I would go to the Testing center, take my test, do a *not so well* job and then leave super *not happy* cause all the time and effort I put into studying would not be reflected on the test. But this time, it was different. I actually did good on a calculus test. There IS hope for me yet. I was so excited that I had to put my head phones on, turn my Heavy Metal on full steam, and keep myself from skipping all the way to my apartment from the testing center. I was so *very* happy.
4) Ghetto movies are the best. Just to name a few that I have on my "Coolest Ghetto movies of all time" list.
Barbershop
Barbershop 2
Friday
Dangerous Minds
Undercover Brother
White Men Can't Jump
Sunset Park
Just to name a few. Why?, you may ask, I give this list. As cheezy as it may sound, some have been instramental in my motivation. Such as Dangerous Minds keeping me motivated about school. Sunset Park I watched during HS for soccer and kept me going during games and practices and such. And others are just plain hilarious, keeping me going throught this little thing they call life.
I hope this next week was as good as the last. Hope you have a good week too.
1) While doing a Java program that involved making bank accounts and writing my own classes for them, I got stuck on writing the Transfer method. So I called the TA over to help me figure it out. After examining the code, explaining the logic, and then helping me write it, he told me to compile my code often so that I could check for mistakes and such. This was all well and good and could have ended there...but he didn't. As he stood in the middle of the room, he talked about 'compiling' our own lives so that we might catch the mistakes in our own lives. Rather than 'compile' yearly or monthly, we should 'compile' weekly so that we can say on the strait and narrow. And after his sermon, his final comment was 'We should all compile often'. Then he sat down at his computer and started working again. All I can say is...Only at BYU, could you get something like that and everyone would understand what he was really talking about.
2) In another Java relates events: as I was in this weeks help session, the TA used as his example algorithm a program about pigs. Much like the concept of Tamagotchis, this program determined the pig's breed, weight, and you could feed him, exercise him, steal food from another pig, and kill him if you wanted to. As he explained the code, it was very apparent that he worked with pigs as a child and that he was most likely from Idaho. When I thought on this, I could only shake my head and laugh ...Only a Java programmer could get excited about a pig program. Other TAs used algorithms like Barbie or dating as example algorithms.
3) I really can do good in calculus. After all the studying and rereading sections and working sample problems and being in the Math lab for hours on end, I really can get a good grade. In the past, when all of the aforementioned was undertaken, I would go to the Testing center, take my test, do a *not so well* job and then leave super *not happy* cause all the time and effort I put into studying would not be reflected on the test. But this time, it was different. I actually did good on a calculus test. There IS hope for me yet. I was so excited that I had to put my head phones on, turn my Heavy Metal on full steam, and keep myself from skipping all the way to my apartment from the testing center. I was so *very* happy.
4) Ghetto movies are the best. Just to name a few that I have on my "Coolest Ghetto movies of all time" list.
Barbershop
Barbershop 2
Friday
Dangerous Minds
Undercover Brother
White Men Can't Jump
Sunset Park
Just to name a few. Why?, you may ask, I give this list. As cheezy as it may sound, some have been instramental in my motivation. Such as Dangerous Minds keeping me motivated about school. Sunset Park I watched during HS for soccer and kept me going during games and practices and such. And others are just plain hilarious, keeping me going throught this little thing they call life.
I hope this next week was as good as the last. Hope you have a good week too.
February 20, 2004
February 17, 2004
Not a Wasted Weekend
Stats:
Movies: 2 - Barbershop 2 and Big Fish, both excellent.
Buffy the Vampire episodes: 17- A few more episodes and I have the entire 3rd Season. In the midst of my watching, I got my roommate hooked. Good ol' roommate bonding. Plus, I think I might be able to play the theme song from memory for the rest of my life.
psudo-Elimidates: 1, there was one Me and 6 them. Luckily I didn't have or want to elimiate anyone. Just a grand time spent in SLC. I think that continued to solidify my position as 'one of the girls'...again. I still haven't decided if that was a good or a bad thing yet.
General Authority bios: 3. In a continued effort to catch up with my Rel 333 class reading I got from M. Russel Ballard to Richard G. Scott. Plus some info on the Seventy. Good stuff.
Nails painted: 10. It's good to be back in the groove.
Pizzas: 1. Should be the staple when watching Buffy episodes.
Kisses: well, Zero, but the amout of Buffy episodes made up for it.
Dr. Peppers drank: 8- 12oz. cans. I need to refill my stash.
Miles ran: Zero. Again, Buffy episode made up for it.
Pork Chops cooked: 6. One of the best sunday meals I've had in a long time.
Hair cuts: 1. Pending.
As you can see, I've had a rather productive weekend. As one of my annoying Zone Leaders would say, "The numbers don't lie". I guess in this instance, they don't. I had a great weekend. I hope you did too.
February 2, 2004
I almost got embarassed today...almost.
Today began pretty normal: My one bowl of cereal..nail paint..you know, normal. Math class came and went. Then CS class. Now usually when the teacher leactures, it gets really really monotonous. Today was no different. So what is one to do in such a situation...sleep, of course. So I was drifting off in to neverland, not fighting it too hard. I was in the back of the room so I wasn't distracting anyone. Well, you know that felling when you are semi-consious and you feel like you are falling...maybe your hand falls off the desk or something. Well, that happened to me and as a reflex, I woke suddenly and jerked rather notice-ablely. Good thing I was in the back and the lights were dimmed. As I gained my composure, I know I startled at least the 2 girls that were sitting behind me (one was the married Math tutor). But I talked to her when class started and she knows that everyone falls asleep in that class, so she and the other girl chuckled and went about their business. I laughed at myself and then went back to sleep.
Moral of the Story: Get the new Incubus Album "A Crow Left of the Murder" on Feb. 3. It will be worth the investment.
Today began pretty normal: My one bowl of cereal..nail paint..you know, normal. Math class came and went. Then CS class. Now usually when the teacher leactures, it gets really really monotonous. Today was no different. So what is one to do in such a situation...sleep, of course. So I was drifting off in to neverland, not fighting it too hard. I was in the back of the room so I wasn't distracting anyone. Well, you know that felling when you are semi-consious and you feel like you are falling...maybe your hand falls off the desk or something. Well, that happened to me and as a reflex, I woke suddenly and jerked rather notice-ablely. Good thing I was in the back and the lights were dimmed. As I gained my composure, I know I startled at least the 2 girls that were sitting behind me (one was the married Math tutor). But I talked to her when class started and she knows that everyone falls asleep in that class, so she and the other girl chuckled and went about their business. I laughed at myself and then went back to sleep.
Moral of the Story: Get the new Incubus Album "A Crow Left of the Murder" on Feb. 3. It will be worth the investment.