Ninety-Second Entry
I thought of something funny that I could have added to the end bit of my last entry about the Mardi Gras. I could have just modified that last entry, but then this would not have come through as an afterthought.
Jeff Murdoch(Coupling): "It's brilliant! Naked women and breasts! Breasts! Breasts, breasts, breasts!"
Thank you.
2.24.2003
Ninety-First Entry
As written in bed last night...
I am lying here in bed feeling defeated.
This weekend was Mylinh's birthday party in San Luis Obispo. I was not invited. This did not surprise me at all. I really would have liked to have been invited, but as better judgement prevailed(if it was even a thought!), I wasn't. It is too soon. To be honest, I think that seeing her anytime before she leaves for Vietnam is too soon.
I knew today was the day my(invited) friends would get back from SLO. Like a soldiers' mother, waiting to hear news of her son from the warfront, I sat around nervously all night waiting for a call I was not sure I would get, with news about the weekend trip. I was actually rather excitable. I pounced on the phone only to find it was a wrong number. I was so sure I would get a call.
I didn't get a call.
"They hate me." "They are tired of all the drama." "They could care less."
Of course, I talked myself into believing that these are unreasonable thoughts.
"If they hated me, they would show it."
Although there is no obvious connection, my last thought led to the realization that I am miserable about the whole Mylinh thing. And the only reason I wanted to hear about the weekend is to hopefully confirm that Mylinh is as miserable as I am.
I think about her all the time. At work, at school, at home. She is in my dreams, visions, nightmares. The more I try to forget, the harder it is. At times I am "in regret". How could it have turned out? Could it have worked out?
But then my brain says, "Shut up heart, you ol' softy. You know the real reasons it ended." And to say that it is my brain saying that, is a stretch.
So when will my heart stop reminding me of what could have been? I don't know, and can't even begin to guess an answer.
Is someone trying to tell me something with all these feelings and thoughts? Perhaps a higher power trying to steer me down the correct path?
Its disgusting isn't it. This is the first time any of this has ever happened to me. I have never had these feelings, and I don't want them ever again.
Apparantly, the party was a huge success, complete with (poisonous?) fog machines and (contaminated?) tri-tip, according to Lisa's livejournal.
She seems to be moving on, so why can't I?
I need to do some intense thinking. I'll probably go "radio silent" for a few days.
I still, today, the day after yesterday, feel the same as I did when I wrote the above on my pad of Calvin and Hobbes paper.
And although, I like the idea of isolating myself for a few weeks and reflecting and possibly picking off the pieces of shit that landed all over my heart, I made a happy realization today: Mardi Gras is next weekend!!! Who wants to go? Parade is on Sunday at 2:03 pm. And you all know me, if I can't find anyone to go with, then I just won't go....sniff, sniff.
As written in bed last night...
I am lying here in bed feeling defeated.
This weekend was Mylinh's birthday party in San Luis Obispo. I was not invited. This did not surprise me at all. I really would have liked to have been invited, but as better judgement prevailed(if it was even a thought!), I wasn't. It is too soon. To be honest, I think that seeing her anytime before she leaves for Vietnam is too soon.
I knew today was the day my(invited) friends would get back from SLO. Like a soldiers' mother, waiting to hear news of her son from the warfront, I sat around nervously all night waiting for a call I was not sure I would get, with news about the weekend trip. I was actually rather excitable. I pounced on the phone only to find it was a wrong number. I was so sure I would get a call.
I didn't get a call.
"They hate me." "They are tired of all the drama." "They could care less."
Of course, I talked myself into believing that these are unreasonable thoughts.
"If they hated me, they would show it."
Although there is no obvious connection, my last thought led to the realization that I am miserable about the whole Mylinh thing. And the only reason I wanted to hear about the weekend is to hopefully confirm that Mylinh is as miserable as I am.
I think about her all the time. At work, at school, at home. She is in my dreams, visions, nightmares. The more I try to forget, the harder it is. At times I am "in regret". How could it have turned out? Could it have worked out?
But then my brain says, "Shut up heart, you ol' softy. You know the real reasons it ended." And to say that it is my brain saying that, is a stretch.
So when will my heart stop reminding me of what could have been? I don't know, and can't even begin to guess an answer.
Is someone trying to tell me something with all these feelings and thoughts? Perhaps a higher power trying to steer me down the correct path?
Its disgusting isn't it. This is the first time any of this has ever happened to me. I have never had these feelings, and I don't want them ever again.
Apparantly, the party was a huge success, complete with (poisonous?) fog machines and (contaminated?) tri-tip, according to Lisa's livejournal.
She seems to be moving on, so why can't I?
I need to do some intense thinking. I'll probably go "radio silent" for a few days.
I still, today, the day after yesterday, feel the same as I did when I wrote the above on my pad of Calvin and Hobbes paper.
And although, I like the idea of isolating myself for a few weeks and reflecting and possibly picking off the pieces of shit that landed all over my heart, I made a happy realization today: Mardi Gras is next weekend!!! Who wants to go? Parade is on Sunday at 2:03 pm. And you all know me, if I can't find anyone to go with, then I just won't go....sniff, sniff.
2.20.2003
Ninetieth Entry
My computer works!! I had to uninstall "The Sims" and "Sim City 4". I guess I will just have to buy a new computer before I can play these games again. And, I guess that until I get a new computer, I will not be able to shut down my computer. It is going to be on forever!!!
But, I probably won't be able to get a new computer until late summer (Sept, Oct?).
Good news. We got our direct deposit pay stubs on Tuesday and our union contract went through! we got a 3% raise!! So now instead of making not nearly enough, I make so close to enough that its disgustingly annoying. Add on top of that my 6 month step increase of 5%, and I will be rollin' in it.
That should all happen next week. My 6 month probationary period will be over next Sunday. I have already filled out my vacation request for Boston in May, and the union application form. I will turn both in once my passing of probation is official from the 'brass' downstairs.
There is a tradition in the County that whenever something good happens to someone, they bring in donuts. Say it was someones birthday, bring in donuts. Say it was someones 30th anniversary of working with the county, bring in donuts. Say someone had a kid, bring in donuts. Say someone passes probation, bring in donuts. Next week I plan on breaking with tradition in favor of something a little more filling and marginally healthier...bagels and cream cheese(maybe Strawberry, Chive & Onion, Sun Dried Tomato). I like the idea. Another idea I was toying with was to buy like 4 pizzas for lunch and have like a lunch party.
I thought of a great name for my band on Tuesday at work..."Cool Commas". What do you think? We would be called "The Commas".
Or not.
My computer works!! I had to uninstall "The Sims" and "Sim City 4". I guess I will just have to buy a new computer before I can play these games again. And, I guess that until I get a new computer, I will not be able to shut down my computer. It is going to be on forever!!!
But, I probably won't be able to get a new computer until late summer (Sept, Oct?).
Good news. We got our direct deposit pay stubs on Tuesday and our union contract went through! we got a 3% raise!! So now instead of making not nearly enough, I make so close to enough that its disgustingly annoying. Add on top of that my 6 month step increase of 5%, and I will be rollin' in it.
That should all happen next week. My 6 month probationary period will be over next Sunday. I have already filled out my vacation request for Boston in May, and the union application form. I will turn both in once my passing of probation is official from the 'brass' downstairs.
There is a tradition in the County that whenever something good happens to someone, they bring in donuts. Say it was someones birthday, bring in donuts. Say it was someones 30th anniversary of working with the county, bring in donuts. Say someone had a kid, bring in donuts. Say someone passes probation, bring in donuts. Next week I plan on breaking with tradition in favor of something a little more filling and marginally healthier...bagels and cream cheese(maybe Strawberry, Chive & Onion, Sun Dried Tomato). I like the idea. Another idea I was toying with was to buy like 4 pizzas for lunch and have like a lunch party.
I thought of a great name for my band on Tuesday at work..."Cool Commas". What do you think? We would be called "The Commas".
Or not.
2.16.2003
Eighty-Ninth Entry
Friday the 14th
Valentines Day was as depressing as it always has been for me. I worked and drove home. I saw a really cool car fire on the 5. And I "caused a rift in deaths plan"(drink) as I was merging onto the 4-lane part of 580 near altamont. I got home like at 5:30 and went to dinner with my dad. We ate at El Amigo over here by my parents' house. Very good. Then I went over to Amy's house. I was the first one there for the "Alone on Valentines Day so lets everyone get together" party. We tried really hard for it to not be depressing, but I just couldn't help it. Oh well. This whole thing with Mylinh's birthday is throwing me into a massive shame spiral. The less I hear about it the better off I am. After the party, I went home and got drunk with Fred and Rouja. They are fun to drink with.
Saturday the 15th
Valentines Day came and went, with no casualties. Lucky me. I went to go see Final Destination 2 with Jen, who, incidentally, is the person I saw Final Destination with. It's all part of deaths design. Muahmuah. After that, we picked up Amy and went to Szechwan chicken. Very good. Then we went to pearl tea in Newark. It was very good, as usual. Then we hit Rasputins and I bought some rockin' records. And then we came home. I was supposed to go out to dinner with my family, but my mom was asleep and there is no waking her up when she is sleeping. So I slept. For two hours.
Then, Amy, Jen, Lisa and I went to karaoke with Fred and Rouja. It was a lot of fun. Then we went to Walmart where we did quality assurance checks of all the patio furniture and living room furniture. Jen was being stalked by a dirty old man. hahaha. I got home it was like at 3am and did not get to bed until 4:30. Infomercials are great!! I neeeeeed the FoodSaver vacuum sealing system!!
Sunday the 16th
Dayni calls me at the buttcrack of 10AM to tell me I am going to OSHA(thai cuisine place in SF) with her, Jen, Lisa and Carolyn. I had agreed to it the night before, so I went. Dayni drove. She absolutely hates driving in the city. We actually, seriously almost died in the car. But the food was really good. I had Pad Thai. After that, we decided to walk on down to FAO Schwartz toy store which is going out of business soon. I wanted to get some legos, but I didn't. The ones they had left sucked. After that, we noticed that there was an anti-war protest on market. So we joined in. It was really cool. Its hard to put into words the sensation of the cheers of the crowds getting louder and louder until finally we were cheering ourselves. It was very 1984, two-minute hate-esque.
Tonight
Tonight I am supposed to go to dinner with my family and go bowling after with friends. We'll see how that goes.
Friday the 14th
Valentines Day was as depressing as it always has been for me. I worked and drove home. I saw a really cool car fire on the 5. And I "caused a rift in deaths plan"(drink) as I was merging onto the 4-lane part of 580 near altamont. I got home like at 5:30 and went to dinner with my dad. We ate at El Amigo over here by my parents' house. Very good. Then I went over to Amy's house. I was the first one there for the "Alone on Valentines Day so lets everyone get together" party. We tried really hard for it to not be depressing, but I just couldn't help it. Oh well. This whole thing with Mylinh's birthday is throwing me into a massive shame spiral. The less I hear about it the better off I am. After the party, I went home and got drunk with Fred and Rouja. They are fun to drink with.
Saturday the 15th
Valentines Day came and went, with no casualties. Lucky me. I went to go see Final Destination 2 with Jen, who, incidentally, is the person I saw Final Destination with. It's all part of deaths design. Muahmuah. After that, we picked up Amy and went to Szechwan chicken. Very good. Then we went to pearl tea in Newark. It was very good, as usual. Then we hit Rasputins and I bought some rockin' records. And then we came home. I was supposed to go out to dinner with my family, but my mom was asleep and there is no waking her up when she is sleeping. So I slept. For two hours.
Then, Amy, Jen, Lisa and I went to karaoke with Fred and Rouja. It was a lot of fun. Then we went to Walmart where we did quality assurance checks of all the patio furniture and living room furniture. Jen was being stalked by a dirty old man. hahaha. I got home it was like at 3am and did not get to bed until 4:30. Infomercials are great!! I neeeeeed the FoodSaver vacuum sealing system!!
Sunday the 16th
Dayni calls me at the buttcrack of 10AM to tell me I am going to OSHA(thai cuisine place in SF) with her, Jen, Lisa and Carolyn. I had agreed to it the night before, so I went. Dayni drove. She absolutely hates driving in the city. We actually, seriously almost died in the car. But the food was really good. I had Pad Thai. After that, we decided to walk on down to FAO Schwartz toy store which is going out of business soon. I wanted to get some legos, but I didn't. The ones they had left sucked. After that, we noticed that there was an anti-war protest on market. So we joined in. It was really cool. Its hard to put into words the sensation of the cheers of the crowds getting louder and louder until finally we were cheering ourselves. It was very 1984, two-minute hate-esque.
Tonight
Tonight I am supposed to go to dinner with my family and go bowling after with friends. We'll see how that goes.
2.09.2003
Eighty-Eighth Entry
Today I thought of a great storyline for a movie.
I tried to do my taxes today. It is so hard filling out the 1040 form. I have always just used the 1040EZ, but now that I have Student Loan Interest I can deduct, I have to fill out either the 1040A or the 1040. I really dont know what the difference is between the two, but it must be something. Itemized this, credit that. It's all Czech to me.
My cousin Rodrigo is spending the night at my house tonight. We went out and ate at Togos in Visalia. It was as good as I remember. Last time I ate there was like two weeks ago in San Leandro...right around the last time I saw and heard from Louis. I am convinced that his disappearance has to do with either his election to the School Board or Jen. I'm glad he has found happiness. But that doesn't mean he can ignore 3 messages! Just kidding.
We rented Goldmember tonight. I was reluctant to rent it because I had already seen it, but my cousin hadn't. It was still funny. Lots o' Laughs. My cousin pointed out something in the movie that I hadn't and should've noticed before. In the scene where they are chasing Goldmember and accidentally run into Godzilla(but not really) there was a Pokemon character running in front of it. Charmander! I was surprised to see that.
I was supposed to practice piano today, but I didn't. Shame on me. The longer I don't practice the piano, the nastier things will get for me in class. Yes, I said nastier. That is one quirk(of the many) of the professor in Piano. She likes to say nasty. Not in a nasty way(like "Ms. Jackson, if you're nasty"), but in a more innocent way(like "Gee Rose-Marie, that sure was a nasty twister.")
I got a call from Lisa on Thursday. I was glad that she called. I'm always glad when she calls. I sure am going to miss her when she goes to China.
Amy called me on Friday night. I too was glad to hear from her. She still hates work(I can totally sympathize). She told me how to peel an avocado. I am always glad when Amy calls too.
Last night, my cousin Paula had a BBQ. I was there, my aunt and cousin were there. It was a lot of fun. I took a green salad(with avocado). We played an interesting game called gender-bender. It was a fun game, but it is definitely for an older crowd. A 15 year old and an 11 year old should not be playing. After that we played Pictionary and loved it.
I have noticed that most of my blogs have some sort of squishy thoughts and stuff. So, I have decided to warn you when the blog entry is about to get squishy with this disclaimer: "WARNING: This blog entry is about to get emotional. Any similarities to any events or persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental. Any harm or damage done to a readers emotional and mental state is not the fault of the blogger because IT AIN'T HAPPENING TO YOU!!" What do you think?
"WARNING: This blog entry is about to get emotional. Any similarities to any events or persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental. Any harm or damage done to a readers emotional and mental state is not the fault of the blogger because IT AIN'T HAPPENING TO YOU!!"
I have been thinking a lot about how I am, yet again, going to be alone for Valentine's Day. Depressing, depressing, depressing. Depressing, depressing, depressing. Depressing, depressing, depressing. I can't help thinking that I could have had a special someone to share Valentine's Day with. Picture it...
I would call her the night before Valentine's Day and tell her to pack for a little road trip. Nothing special, I would say. I would pick her up from her house at 7am the following morning and present her with a dozen red roses. I would tell her, "There aren't enough roses in the world, to express how much I love you."
We would get into my car and she would ask, "Where are we going?" To which I respond, "It's a surprise."
I would make the drive up to Lake Tahoe where the air is a crisp 35 degrees and there is still snow on the ground. I turn off the highway and head down a dirt road through the heavily wooded forest to a remote, yet well-kept lakeside cabin. The view of the lake and mountains from the cabin is breath-taking.
I would help her out of the car and tell her that the luggage can wait. I would produce the key to the cabin and slowly open the door. Inside, a fire is already going in the fireplace, and there are hundreds upon hundreds of red roses in various locations throughout this two room cabin. The scent of roses strong, yet not overpowering. She is extremely happy and instantly starts to tearup. I shut the door and lead her to the sofa across from the fire. We just lay there in each others arms, telling each other how much we love one another. We both fall asleep peacefully, comforted in the thought that we will always and forever have one another.
Depressing, isn't it. This is a little fantasy I had at work this week. And notice there is no sex in it! Depressing, depressing, depressing. I could cry.
Today I thought of a great storyline for a movie.
I tried to do my taxes today. It is so hard filling out the 1040 form. I have always just used the 1040EZ, but now that I have Student Loan Interest I can deduct, I have to fill out either the 1040A or the 1040. I really dont know what the difference is between the two, but it must be something. Itemized this, credit that. It's all Czech to me.
My cousin Rodrigo is spending the night at my house tonight. We went out and ate at Togos in Visalia. It was as good as I remember. Last time I ate there was like two weeks ago in San Leandro...right around the last time I saw and heard from Louis. I am convinced that his disappearance has to do with either his election to the School Board or Jen. I'm glad he has found happiness. But that doesn't mean he can ignore 3 messages! Just kidding.
We rented Goldmember tonight. I was reluctant to rent it because I had already seen it, but my cousin hadn't. It was still funny. Lots o' Laughs. My cousin pointed out something in the movie that I hadn't and should've noticed before. In the scene where they are chasing Goldmember and accidentally run into Godzilla(but not really) there was a Pokemon character running in front of it. Charmander! I was surprised to see that.
I was supposed to practice piano today, but I didn't. Shame on me. The longer I don't practice the piano, the nastier things will get for me in class. Yes, I said nastier. That is one quirk(of the many) of the professor in Piano. She likes to say nasty. Not in a nasty way(like "Ms. Jackson, if you're nasty"), but in a more innocent way(like "Gee Rose-Marie, that sure was a nasty twister.")
I got a call from Lisa on Thursday. I was glad that she called. I'm always glad when she calls. I sure am going to miss her when she goes to China.
Amy called me on Friday night. I too was glad to hear from her. She still hates work(I can totally sympathize). She told me how to peel an avocado. I am always glad when Amy calls too.
Last night, my cousin Paula had a BBQ. I was there, my aunt and cousin were there. It was a lot of fun. I took a green salad(with avocado). We played an interesting game called gender-bender. It was a fun game, but it is definitely for an older crowd. A 15 year old and an 11 year old should not be playing. After that we played Pictionary and loved it.
I have noticed that most of my blogs have some sort of squishy thoughts and stuff. So, I have decided to warn you when the blog entry is about to get squishy with this disclaimer: "WARNING: This blog entry is about to get emotional. Any similarities to any events or persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental. Any harm or damage done to a readers emotional and mental state is not the fault of the blogger because IT AIN'T HAPPENING TO YOU!!" What do you think?
"WARNING: This blog entry is about to get emotional. Any similarities to any events or persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental. Any harm or damage done to a readers emotional and mental state is not the fault of the blogger because IT AIN'T HAPPENING TO YOU!!"
I have been thinking a lot about how I am, yet again, going to be alone for Valentine's Day. Depressing, depressing, depressing. Depressing, depressing, depressing. Depressing, depressing, depressing. I can't help thinking that I could have had a special someone to share Valentine's Day with. Picture it...
I would call her the night before Valentine's Day and tell her to pack for a little road trip. Nothing special, I would say. I would pick her up from her house at 7am the following morning and present her with a dozen red roses. I would tell her, "There aren't enough roses in the world, to express how much I love you."
We would get into my car and she would ask, "Where are we going?" To which I respond, "It's a surprise."
I would make the drive up to Lake Tahoe where the air is a crisp 35 degrees and there is still snow on the ground. I turn off the highway and head down a dirt road through the heavily wooded forest to a remote, yet well-kept lakeside cabin. The view of the lake and mountains from the cabin is breath-taking.
I would help her out of the car and tell her that the luggage can wait. I would produce the key to the cabin and slowly open the door. Inside, a fire is already going in the fireplace, and there are hundreds upon hundreds of red roses in various locations throughout this two room cabin. The scent of roses strong, yet not overpowering. She is extremely happy and instantly starts to tearup. I shut the door and lead her to the sofa across from the fire. We just lay there in each others arms, telling each other how much we love one another. We both fall asleep peacefully, comforted in the thought that we will always and forever have one another.
Depressing, isn't it. This is a little fantasy I had at work this week. And notice there is no sex in it! Depressing, depressing, depressing. I could cry.
2.08.2003
2.07.2003
Eighty-Sixth Entry
I have decided that I do not want to be engaged by the end of the year. Whatever happens, happens. I can't force anything.
I think the reason I was wanting to get married is cuz I was really lonely. But now that I have school to worry about, I have a great diversion from the empty pit of darkness in my heart.
Later
I have decided that I do not want to be engaged by the end of the year. Whatever happens, happens. I can't force anything.
I think the reason I was wanting to get married is cuz I was really lonely. But now that I have school to worry about, I have a great diversion from the empty pit of darkness in my heart.
Later
Eighty-Fifth Entry
It has indeed been a while since I posted anything in my blog. I dont blame you all for not reading. But, as you have probably heard, I am rearry busy with work and school.
Work
Work has been especially busy this week. I made the final push on my overlay projects(Contract 2), and it still wasn't enough. Probably just another half of a day on Monday and it will be done.
We had a bid opening on Wednesday for Contract 1. This particular contract was a giant headache for everyone in the Design division. It consists of 11 projects. One of which was mine, Avenue 224, or as I like to call it, "My Quarter Million, Quarter Mile." The opening went well; five contractors submitted bids. Our "Engineer's Estimate" came in right where we wanted it to, about one third lower from the highest bid.
But, apart from the actual work we do, something very extremely interesting happened on Tuesday.
The Story:
Bill, a 55-ish engineer, is sitting at his desk getting things ready for Wednesdays bid opening. It is his responsibility to get these things done because he was the Project Engineer on Contract 1. Phil, Bill's supervisor(also mine), went to check up on Bill and tell him what he wanted for the Bid Opening. Background: For the longest time, those two absolutely hate each other. I often find myself on the listening end of one of Bill's vents about Phil. While Bill is very vocal about his dislike of Phil, Phil just doesn't get into it. Phil is a much calmer(dare I say...professional!?) person than Bill is. I really like them both, so choose not to take sides. Phil goes into Bill's cube and starts to tell him that he needs to be present for the bid opening and write down the bids as they come in(which, by the way, is the way it is done all over the world). Bill goes on the offensive and tells Phil that he does not have to go to the bid opening because Marcia said he didn't. Phil (calmly)"Yes you are." Bill (louder)"No I'm not." Phil (still calmly)"Yes you are." Bill (even louder)"No I'm not. Marcia said I didn't have to! Let's get her in here!" Phil (remarkably, still calmly)"We don't need her in here. You need to go to the bid opening." Bill (yelling)"Get her in here!! Get her in here!!"
Now, for those of you who work or have worked in offices with rows and rows of cubes full of people quietly working it is easy to understand how unsettling hearing something like this is. Our office is normally very quiet, except when I go into Janes office(she makes me laugh), so this unusual yelling was shocking. And it wasn't polite yelling like your parents did to you in a store. Everyone on our end of the building on our floor heard it. It was definately an odd way to start the work week. Since then, they haven't so much as looked at one another.
Now, no offense to Phil or Bill, but their relationship is that of a Jock and Nerd. Bill is a jock. Phil is a nerd. Bill is an atypical engineer. Phil is a stereotypical engineer. It was bound to happen someday.
At least we have a new topic to discuss at breaktime.
School
School is going great. I actually ditched my first class of the semester this week cuz I wanted to work late on Wednesday. Yeah, Spanish had to take a backseat to Bid Results and cramming for Psych.
Schedule of classes:
Spanish 1 - MW 5-7
Cinema 32 - M 7-10
Portuguese 1 - TR 7-9
Psychology 1 - W 7-10
Music 20 - R 5-7
I really like all my classes. Here is a little on all the classes I am taking at COS(College of the Sequoias).
Spanish 1: The teacher is white. Even I can tell his accent when he speaks Spanish. But he also teaches at one of the high schools in Visalia. And he is a good teacher. The material so far (numbers, alphabet, greetings) is basic and easy.
I got a B on the first test. The tests are stupid though. Most of the questions are "Choose the one that does not fit with the rest." 6 of the questions of this type were just lists of numbers. Now, anyone who has at least an 8th grade education can come up with any reason for why any of them dont fit. Apparantly the teacher didn't pass the eighth grade. I got like 3 wrong out of those. He does give us an opportunity to challenge his answers, but only in writing. I should just tell him I am an engineer and he'd back off.
Cinema 32: All we do in this class is watch movies in the first Stadium Seating theater in the state. Its that old. So's the teacher and all the movies we've seen so far.
The prof gives us a questionnaire at the beginning of class to fill out as we watch the movie. So we watch the movie(last week was "The Adventures of Robin Hood") and fill out the answers to the questions. There's a catch...we have to fill up all the white space on both sides of the sheet. Usually there are 9 or 10 questions per night. It really takes a lot to write(in ink...or else) 9-10 questions on two sides of a paper in a reasonable amount of time. I usually stay after for like 30 minutes filling the white space with mindless drivel that somewhat has something to do with the question. No tests!!
Portuguese 1: This class is fun. It's the funnest foreign language class I have ever taken. I hate getting up in front of class and swatting a fly swatter at the projection screen, but I am getting used to it. The prof makes the class a lot of fun with activities like the fly swatter one. We've played bingo too.
This teacher was actually born in the Azores one village over from my Dad's. Pretty cool.
He also teaches at Tulare Union HS in Tulare. My cousin Igo is in his class. One day the teacher asked me if Rodrigo was my cousin. I said yes. Oh, lord I thought. But he didn't drag it out or anything. Last night he asked me who my father was. It was like the twilight zone or something.
Last night we also had a test which I absolutely killed.
Psychology 1: I love this class, I love this class, I love this class. We took a test on Wednesday and I got a 95% on 2.5 hours of loose studying. The test was really easy.
The prof is an actual psychologist and has a practice somewhere in Visalia. The class is fun because the prof is really fun. He is extremely go with the flow and his lectures sometimes turn into a class discussion where it seems like the discussion is really a stream of our collective consciousness. It is really cool.
He is a good teacher because he presents the material very well and in a way that anyone could understand. Not that he dumbs it down or anything, but the way he explains things is good.
Music 20: Beginning Piano is a really fun class. The teacher told us at the beginning that by the end of the semester we would be playing like someone who had private lessons for three years. Although I would love to believe that, I just don't think it is possible.
This teacher is just a spaz and a half. She is just all over the class. Full of energy. And she has the funniest laugh. I'll imitate it for y'all next time i go home.
Right now in class we are starting to learn how to read notes. This class is pretty fast paced without seeming so. Its weird. We are all picking it up pretty fast. We've already learned all the five finger patterns, major chords, the Key Circle thingy, and all the theory behind it. I really like this class.
So that is it. Five classes in four days. Its fun. It keeps me really busy. I have a test in Portuguese next week.
And on the seventh day, he rested.
It has indeed been a while since I posted anything in my blog. I dont blame you all for not reading. But, as you have probably heard, I am rearry busy with work and school.
Work
Work has been especially busy this week. I made the final push on my overlay projects(Contract 2), and it still wasn't enough. Probably just another half of a day on Monday and it will be done.
We had a bid opening on Wednesday for Contract 1. This particular contract was a giant headache for everyone in the Design division. It consists of 11 projects. One of which was mine, Avenue 224, or as I like to call it, "My Quarter Million, Quarter Mile." The opening went well; five contractors submitted bids. Our "Engineer's Estimate" came in right where we wanted it to, about one third lower from the highest bid.
But, apart from the actual work we do, something very extremely interesting happened on Tuesday.
The Story:
Bill, a 55-ish engineer, is sitting at his desk getting things ready for Wednesdays bid opening. It is his responsibility to get these things done because he was the Project Engineer on Contract 1. Phil, Bill's supervisor(also mine), went to check up on Bill and tell him what he wanted for the Bid Opening. Background: For the longest time, those two absolutely hate each other. I often find myself on the listening end of one of Bill's vents about Phil. While Bill is very vocal about his dislike of Phil, Phil just doesn't get into it. Phil is a much calmer(dare I say...professional!?) person than Bill is. I really like them both, so choose not to take sides. Phil goes into Bill's cube and starts to tell him that he needs to be present for the bid opening and write down the bids as they come in(which, by the way, is the way it is done all over the world). Bill goes on the offensive and tells Phil that he does not have to go to the bid opening because Marcia said he didn't. Phil (calmly)"Yes you are." Bill (louder)"No I'm not." Phil (still calmly)"Yes you are." Bill (even louder)"No I'm not. Marcia said I didn't have to! Let's get her in here!" Phil (remarkably, still calmly)"We don't need her in here. You need to go to the bid opening." Bill (yelling)"Get her in here!! Get her in here!!"
Now, for those of you who work or have worked in offices with rows and rows of cubes full of people quietly working it is easy to understand how unsettling hearing something like this is. Our office is normally very quiet, except when I go into Janes office(she makes me laugh), so this unusual yelling was shocking. And it wasn't polite yelling like your parents did to you in a store. Everyone on our end of the building on our floor heard it. It was definately an odd way to start the work week. Since then, they haven't so much as looked at one another.
Now, no offense to Phil or Bill, but their relationship is that of a Jock and Nerd. Bill is a jock. Phil is a nerd. Bill is an atypical engineer. Phil is a stereotypical engineer. It was bound to happen someday.
At least we have a new topic to discuss at breaktime.
School
School is going great. I actually ditched my first class of the semester this week cuz I wanted to work late on Wednesday. Yeah, Spanish had to take a backseat to Bid Results and cramming for Psych.
Schedule of classes:
Spanish 1 - MW 5-7
Cinema 32 - M 7-10
Portuguese 1 - TR 7-9
Psychology 1 - W 7-10
Music 20 - R 5-7
I really like all my classes. Here is a little on all the classes I am taking at COS(College of the Sequoias).
Spanish 1: The teacher is white. Even I can tell his accent when he speaks Spanish. But he also teaches at one of the high schools in Visalia. And he is a good teacher. The material so far (numbers, alphabet, greetings) is basic and easy.
I got a B on the first test. The tests are stupid though. Most of the questions are "Choose the one that does not fit with the rest." 6 of the questions of this type were just lists of numbers. Now, anyone who has at least an 8th grade education can come up with any reason for why any of them dont fit. Apparantly the teacher didn't pass the eighth grade. I got like 3 wrong out of those. He does give us an opportunity to challenge his answers, but only in writing. I should just tell him I am an engineer and he'd back off.
Cinema 32: All we do in this class is watch movies in the first Stadium Seating theater in the state. Its that old. So's the teacher and all the movies we've seen so far.
The prof gives us a questionnaire at the beginning of class to fill out as we watch the movie. So we watch the movie(last week was "The Adventures of Robin Hood") and fill out the answers to the questions. There's a catch...we have to fill up all the white space on both sides of the sheet. Usually there are 9 or 10 questions per night. It really takes a lot to write(in ink...or else) 9-10 questions on two sides of a paper in a reasonable amount of time. I usually stay after for like 30 minutes filling the white space with mindless drivel that somewhat has something to do with the question. No tests!!
Portuguese 1: This class is fun. It's the funnest foreign language class I have ever taken. I hate getting up in front of class and swatting a fly swatter at the projection screen, but I am getting used to it. The prof makes the class a lot of fun with activities like the fly swatter one. We've played bingo too.
This teacher was actually born in the Azores one village over from my Dad's. Pretty cool.
He also teaches at Tulare Union HS in Tulare. My cousin Igo is in his class. One day the teacher asked me if Rodrigo was my cousin. I said yes. Oh, lord I thought. But he didn't drag it out or anything. Last night he asked me who my father was. It was like the twilight zone or something.
Last night we also had a test which I absolutely killed.
Psychology 1: I love this class, I love this class, I love this class. We took a test on Wednesday and I got a 95% on 2.5 hours of loose studying. The test was really easy.
The prof is an actual psychologist and has a practice somewhere in Visalia. The class is fun because the prof is really fun. He is extremely go with the flow and his lectures sometimes turn into a class discussion where it seems like the discussion is really a stream of our collective consciousness. It is really cool.
He is a good teacher because he presents the material very well and in a way that anyone could understand. Not that he dumbs it down or anything, but the way he explains things is good.
Music 20: Beginning Piano is a really fun class. The teacher told us at the beginning that by the end of the semester we would be playing like someone who had private lessons for three years. Although I would love to believe that, I just don't think it is possible.
This teacher is just a spaz and a half. She is just all over the class. Full of energy. And she has the funniest laugh. I'll imitate it for y'all next time i go home.
Right now in class we are starting to learn how to read notes. This class is pretty fast paced without seeming so. Its weird. We are all picking it up pretty fast. We've already learned all the five finger patterns, major chords, the Key Circle thingy, and all the theory behind it. I really like this class.
So that is it. Five classes in four days. Its fun. It keeps me really busy. I have a test in Portuguese next week.
And on the seventh day, he rested.
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