The Good, the Bad and the Lucky

Good evening folks.

I know it’s been a while since I posted, and to be honest there has been a lot going on. School is good. Time for the checklist:

Quantum Mechanics and Relativity- this class is going well, and nothing noteworthy to report. Just lectures and homework. With an interesting course title like that, you would expect more, and I’m sure there will be.

Thermodynamics- more of the same from above. Just without the cool course title. Oh, and the bookstore finally got my book in after taking their sweet ass time, so studying will be a great deal easier.

Theoretical Electromagnetism- is a growing pain with no relief in sight for now. My ‘getting through this course’ can be exemplified with a multiple choice question. So here we go, quiz time! What should Professor T do to get through this class?

1) Read, study until I can count my IQ points with my shoes on.

2) Read, survive on Caffeine.

3) Read, burn Midnight Oil.

4) Have Panic Attack, Crap Pants, Read.

5) All of the above

Correct Answer: 5.

Tonight I have tickets for Choke. For those of you who do not read Chuck Palahniuk, you will not like this movie. For those of you who do, I will tell you how on earth they managed to stay true to the book and keep it under NC-17 (or the failures of). This movie is also premiering at Sundance, which is a large step away from the other Chuck Palahniuk novel-to-movie Fight Club, which had a huge theatrical release and such (and larger budget most likely). As long as they have the “essence” of Chucky P. the movie will be a hit (at least in my book, no pun intended). They also do not need a large budget for this movie, the story not requiring any huge effects.

And now for something completely different: the sad news, or why I didn’t do my photo page yesterday. We got word yesterday from our corporate offices that there will be layoffs. In my department. I managed to scrape by with my job. The hours may change, and duties may shift, but I will still be here for now, sans 2/3 of my friends. When I say “for now” I mean that it is only a matter of time before something is more 'cost effective' than myself. However that does not bother me, because there are two things that I am hoping will last me through college- this job and my car. Both have been very near extinction, so just a little longer please. They at least gave every one 3 months notice, which was nice. Much nicer than my last job.

To cheer myself up, I went to my buddy Dr. MookieLove’s place and we just hung out and watched great cartoons, and hilarious movies. Hopefully with another addition of cinematic greatness tonight.

T

School and the Attack of the Dissapointing

Well everyone, I know it’s been a while since I posted. I am going to keep up on that more now that school is in. So first off is the checklist:

Quantum Mechanics- this class is getting more interesting. And I’m not goona lie, I am taking a break from the home work to type this. I just couldn’t handle any more probability integrals for the time being.

Thermodynamics- still waiting for the bookstore to get the stupid book in. that frustrates me to no end. It’s a new edition, so finding one used is terribly unlikely, and I have it on order, just taking forever. The class itself is covering molecule behavior with different pressures and temperatures for gasses.

Theoretical Electromagnetism- is quite interesting. I have to do more reading to, well, “understand” a lot of what is being said. Moreover, it’s complicated and I need some review.

Movies:

Blair-Zilla. I mean Cloverfield (sorry, my bad). I did not really care for this movie. When I first heard the premise, which is a giant monster of sorts attacks New York and the movie is basically the home video recordings of a group trying to survive the attack, I was disappointed. I went with the vein hope of being surprised with something new, or there being some other reason that this movie was made other than to re-hash the done-before and re-package it as new, and was disappointed again. The home video angle was done already with the Blair Witch Project, and they did not even try to put another angle on that, just home video stuff. That and the giant monster was a reptilian looking thing that busted up buildings and such. Sounds like Godzilla to me. So, Mr. Abrams, what is better that ripping off one movie? Ripping off TWO movies. The movie was well acted, had good effects, and yada yada yada, but the lack of originality was staggering. Just mixing things already done before with no new elements. Wait for the dollar theatre everyone.

That’s my evenings 2 cents.

T

Scholasticism and Mysticism

Well, I’m here at work till 1am tonight and back at 1130am tomorrow. But after that there are a few days off. The weekend is going well (what is outside of work). School is good so far other that I still do not have my Thermodynamics book (stupid bookstore is sure taking their time on getting it in). I had a tarot card reading from my friend Bubbles here at work about the outcome of the semester. It was a 3 card reading, so here are the results of that:

Card 1- Ten of Swards

This card is supposed to represent the past. Or with this specific question asked, is how I got to this situation. And the card is a bad one. Basically it is “Ruin”. Well, yes I have had problems at school, maybe wasted some time, and had less than desirable grades at times, and study issues etc., but I would not call it “Ruin”. More like I’ve learned a few lessons the hard way.

Card 2- Seven of Swards

This card is supposed to be danger or a challenge, and represents the present. It basically is stating the obvious, that if I slack off, and with classes like these that is a big “No-No”, so the point of this one: study. And work I guess, because I am at a point in school where I am not going to get by on the skin of my teeth anymore. How would Harry Potter say it? “Lazy-us be gone-us!”

Card 3- (I don’t remember the number) of Hearts

I really don’t remember the number of the card, but I do remember the meaning. This card represents the future. And the point of this one was reflection and re-organization or a re-evaluation of sorts. It fits well, considering I will be starting another semester in less than two weeks after this one.

And I have not seen any note worthy movies lately, nor read anything other than text books, so I have nothing new to post about that.

Today From Russia with Love and I went to the Mayan to watch people try out for the new diver positions that opened. Some of them were servers that had the attitude of “that’s easy. Any one can do that!” and we watched them shake in fear and back away or land painfully in the water. One girl was actually on her way off the rock (about 25 feet high or so) when she slipped and into the water she went anyway. I felt bad for her, because she was a kitchen sweeper and wanted to do something more fun, and when she had the chance, got so scared she decided to quit, then fell ass backwards into the water. When you have an opportunity to reach out for something better, the worst thing is quitting, that will sit in your conscience for a long time. Even if you do not get it, when you have the chance to reach for a better anything, grab it and hold on as long as you can. If the opportunity passes, make sure it knows it was in a fight.

I haven’t been shooting much with my new camera (haven’t had the time) but I will post the pics as soon as I can. I know I say that a lot, and I was thinking about getting another site just for those (still may happen), but other matters are more pressing.

T

First Post of Spring Semester

Good evening every one!

The new semester of school has officially kicked off, and is it a doozie. The classes are interesting, and the professors good (so far). So how about we start the new check list!

Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, and Intro to Quantum Mechanics and Relativity- I have lumped these two classes together for the time being, because they have both started out the same, with the behavior of molecules and the ideal gas equations and such. Pretty boring actually, because this is a throw back to General Chemistry 1.

Theoretical Electromagnetism- this is going to be hard. A course that I took a while ago, Physics 2210, the hardest problems in this section of that course are the easiest in this one. Not only that, the professor is covering them as a review. I am going to need a lot of reading and studying for this one. I have a feeling that this is the new “Modern Optics” situation last semester.

Ther things- have been going well. Except for car inspection places. You know, to get the safety and IM done. I have yet to see a competent one. There was one that I quit going to because they flunked my car because the automatic seat belt track on the door was not working. Well, it was working, they just did not turn the car on. Go figure. Then From Russia with Love had problems with another place yesterday. They flunked her car for having window tint over the brake light in the back window. Apparently, she cannot have that, however it has been there since she bought the car, and it was the same place that passed her last time with no problem. We spoke with the grease monkey retard, who was ridiculously overweight, and had one of those faces that you know you are going to have to speak to in small words about the problem. He was of course no help, but thankfully his name was on his shirt so he knows how to spell it.

From Russia with love is also taking classes this semester, and she is really excited about them. She has a full load of Chemistry, Math and Biology (her possible major). I will keep you all posted on her classes as I can.

That’s pretty much it for me today. See ‘ya tomarri.

In With The New

Happy ’08 everyone.

I haven’t updated in a while, but mostly there has not been much to post until recently. This will be the “all-holiday post”. Christmas was fantastic. It was a quiet day with the family and From Russia with Love. I got myself a fantastic new toy, wich I have spent most of my free time playing with. And what is it you may ask? A camera of course. What else? A made out with a bunch of other loot as well, thank you everyone. Other than that, it was quiet time with the family, something I do not get much of these days, and something very needed.

New Years was the more "interesting" of the holidays. Every New Years I try and do something new, whether it be on New Years eve, or the following day. This New Years eve, From Russia with Love and I decided to spend the evening in Wendover, AKA the "armpit of the west".

We boarded the “Fun Bus” in Orem. We met up with her friends Blondie and Cowboy. The reasons for the nicknames are simple. Cowboy because he used to do rodeo once upon a time, and Blondie (who is actually a brunette) because, well she behaves like a stereotypical blonde. Once we got on the bus, we sat down, and others passed us looking for seats, stowing bags etc. and all I have to say about that is this: it was a parade of the genetically disadvantaged. So, needles to say, the ride to Wendover on our “Wal-Mart on wheels” was rather uneventful.

We arrived in Wendover at the Montego Bay casino, checked our bags at the front desk, and went straight for the buffet (after From Russia with Love and Blondie had brought two dresses each to change into throughout the course of the evening, don’t ask me why, it just involved a lot of waiting by the bathroom and they ended up in their normal clothes at the end of the night anyway, but fun is fun I guess). The buffet was fantastic. Steaks to seafood to a whole pig that you carved yourself (I was disappointed not to find an apple in it’s mouth) and more desserts than you could shake a fork at. We dinned and laughed and good times where had. Up until the bad news that is.

Blondie said that her throat was itching, and now her arms were as well. We were all eating crab, shrimp, clams and the like, and she announced “I am allergic to shrimp, do you think that has anything to do with the itching?” needless to say, I did everything but actually slap my forehead with my hand. If you are allergic to one shellfish, you are allergic to all of them, and thanks for eating an entire plate of crab legs. I told her what was happening and told From Russia with Love to keep the Sudafed near by incase things got bad, which they did later.

After dinner it was over to the Nugget to check out the party. They had a pretty decent band, and not enough tables. We sat down with a guy who looked like a trucker Sana Claus compleate with a mullet and everything. He was a very jolly fellow, and the table was filled with empty beer bottles, all were his. He was an oil field worker from Houston who had been at the hotel for a solid month, so of course he wanted to talk- he had no life. The Cowboy and I chatted with him, and From Russia with Love & Blondie went and hit up the gambling (mostly for the free drinks, neither are gamblers-From Russia with Love lost $20 in only a few minutes). The Cowboy, Mr. Housaton and I watched the coolest old man dance. The dance floor was filled with about ten pretty young girls, and he was the only guy out there shaking his booty. We all had a good chuckle over him, he had to be in his mid 70’s, and a head that was a dome with large glasses and nothing else but teeth. Blondie and From Russia with Love hit the dance floor a little, then back to the card tables.

It was nice, lounging as far back in a nice chair with a novelty hat pulled over my face, feeling the base from the band under me, watching the party groove on in low lights and cigarette smoke, and screens on either side of the stage showing women in bikinis. Then, out of the party a rather good looking blonde girl sat on my lap, and said “are you ready?” then pow- the flash of a camera. Now I know every one would like their picture taken with me, but the point here is that I do not have to be alone for more that a couple of minutes before I am covered with good looking women. It’s just a talent of mine. And at that opportune moment, From Russia with Love came by, with a look on her face that said: “who’s she?!?”. Of course she is not the jealous type, nor am I, and we all thought that it was rather funny that of all the time she had to come by, it was then.

She was also bearing the bad news for the evening: Blondie’s face had swollen and she passed out. She was in an office receiving first aid (shots of Benadryl) and may have to go to the emergency room. We rushed to the front desk of the Montego Bay to get our stuff, and at the front desk, we heard the ruckus. It was now 2008. We had a quick kiss, wished each other a happy new year and then dashed back over to the Nugget. Blondie was doing well, and we had to just keep our eye on her, so luckily no trips to the emergency room.

It had gone from a wild party to a quieter romantic mood now, and everything was slowing down. The dance floor was no longer the booty shakin’ pad, now a waddling pad for couples. Unfortunately due to the previous events, none of us were in the mood to dance. We went over to the Montego Bay and caught the bus home finally at 2am.

The ride back was much better, after the “professional” gambler stopped talking to me. From Russia with Love fell asleep in my lap, and I looked out the window the entire way home, looking at the stars and moon and the pitch black landscape of the salt flats. What is it about the desert that I love so much? The miles of meditating nothing? The hot wind and cold nights? All of the above I think. Even though it was freezing, and we spent a fantastic time in tight rooms of smoke and neon, the desert is the best place for an escape of any type. Even at night, out the windows of the bus, when there is not much to be seen at all, the stars are at the brightest, and you could see them reflecting on the water outside, it looked like you could walk off into space and never bee seen again. The desert is different. Just go there and think about nothing. You will know what I mean.

The only other thing that I have been up to is watching movies, and plenty of. Maybe my next blog will just be movie reviews. And school starts up soon, so I will have a new check list to go through with all of you soon.

T

A Clip Show Trip

Hello folks! I’m back from the trip. Actually I’ve been back for a few days but the Christmas shopping has taken its toll on my blogging time. So, without further adieu, here is my trip in blog form (a very quick rundown):

Day 1: at the airport and Half Moon Bay, or A.K.A. celebrities and a lost boy

First off, I hate the security at the airport. If I had to take any thing else off I wanted tips. Any way, we were waiting for our plane and then the girls started to screetch and shout and in that painful noise were the words “Todd” and “Survivor”. So I guess Todd from Survivor walked by. That drug all the girls across the terminal for a while. Amongst all for that noise, there was the announcer voice saying: “we have a lost child, wearing…” and lucky us, he was sleeping under the chairs right by us, so we waived the police over and all was right with the world for the time being.

Half Moon Bay was amazing. The resort was spectacular and the view right out my window was the beach and cliffs. Very picturesque, so what did I do you might ask? Took pictures, and loved it. We went on the hotel tour and talked with every one and did all the work business, then it was time for dinner. The first thing that I will say about this is that I was very nervous about my manners and such. That was not a problem however. The food was spectacular. After dinner we went out to the patio area of the hotel and had a sort of informal meet and greet with some of the hotel staff. And that I had to be there for, so unfortunately I did not get to see my Aunt L. that evening, but it was still fun. Lots of crazy stories circulated about with every one, some about things that were over heard in the club lounge (including a former Adult Film Star having inappropriate conversations and a girl that was actually from my Optics class there screwing the boss at her work). So the next thing that we did was go to the Club Lounge to get in on some of the interesting happenings, but sadly they were done upon our arrival. So we hung out there until close and had some wine. Then it was to one of the rooms to watch a movie. That lasted approximately 10 minutes. Every one was so tired that the movie had just started and then the party died. I went across the hall to my room and went to bed.

Day 2: Half Moon over to Frisco

The next morning I woke up, went to the Club Lounge for a bite to eat then I went to the patio area to just watch the waves all morning. A very leisurely start to the hectic day. We departed Half Moon Bay and drove to the hotel in San Francisco. The ambiance there was much less laid back, and not as much fun at the property as the other. We had a few hours of free time, and the hotel being only a couple of blocks from China Town, that is where we went. Walking and laughing and buying useless and gross and fun souvenirs. I bought some good tea as well. Fantastic tea in China town. Then it was the usual business of meet and greet hotel staff and tours and the like. After that dinner. The food I was a little disappointed in. Not as good as Half Moon, but still an excellent steak. The free time that evening we went down to union Square and most every one was running and screwing off, spreading the Christmas cheer (or annoyance, either/or). The stores were closed, but the walk/adventure was compleate with pictures and pot smoking bums and a waterfall of piss left by an embarrassed fellow who didn’t know we were about to walk up those stairs.

Day 3: the tour and to home

When we awoke we all met in the club lounge for breakfast. Sometimes I think fancy can get ridiculous. I ate oatmeal out of a martini glass. ‘Nuff said. After breakfast we went on a bus tour of San Francisco. There is not much to say, because most every one reading this has been there done that. The walk on Fisherman’s Warf was fun, and also the home of the next celebrity sighting. The guy was apparently on some rap show on tv that I have never seen, so I will spare you those details as well (just the gardener from “Desperate Housewives”).

Then it was pretty much uneventful all the way home. Now I’m tired, so that’s it. I will fill in more details as they come, but that’s the trip in a nutshell. I will have pictures up soon, and this site looks like it may not provide what I want, so I may just have a link to another site with them.

Good night all.

T

The Dust Settles

Well every one, finals are over. The tests have been taken and the dust is yet to settle. By that I mean the grades have not been posted, so the results are still unknown. They should be good from how I felt about the tests, but I have been tricked before. The Optics test went well I think, and there was miraculously enough time to finish this round. I feel decent about that one. The Calculus test went fine as well, but there were a couple of solutions that popped into my head on my way to the car, but the professor is pretty liberal with partial credit.

I’m here at work till 1am today, then it’s off to San Francisco and Half Moon Bay tomorrow. This is going to be a welcome break. Though it is a work trip I actually have to take tours and learn things about the hotels, but there is free time. Those latter two words are rarely in my vocabulary, so I plan on using it to its full extent. I am going to bring my camera so there will be a new round of pictures to show every one on my return. At night I plan on reading, then some reading and after that more reading. I am currently working on Beowulf. I am a little ashamed to admit that it was the movie that made me want to read it. Now you are probably thinking the same thing. “What a poser” are probably your thoughts right now; but let me explain. I did enjoy the movie, although when I was watching it I was thinking “this is good, but if the poem has been around for hundreds of years, this can’t be all there is to it.” And I was right. The book is fantastic. Much better than the movie (of course). There is one thing that you will have to keep in mind though; it is very quick and not much detail (it is technically a “poem”).

And most of you (who care) are now also wondering “weren’t you just reading Don Delillo’s Falling Man?” The awnswer is yes, so let’s do a book review now shall we:

Falling Man by Don Dellilo. This book was great from cover to cover. As I have said before, Delillo’s books are not to be read for action or plot, because frankly both suck. The best thing is the way he writes. The term “wordsmith” is rarely used, but perfectly fitting here. The book is about the changes in peoples lives after 9/11 and that’s all. The book however discusses the concept of individuality and how we go from a collective group to the outside of that group, and the steps we take back and fourth. Also the routines and repetitions that we do on a daily basis, that bring us to a sense of normalcy, and the breaking or changing of those. The two concepts are most heavily contrasted by the character Keith, one of the survivors of the falling towers, and Hammond, a fictitious terrorist that hijacks one of the planes. In addressing the two issues he points out the loss and gain of the “self” or individual that we have when we are part of a mess of information and just manes and numbers, to being outside of that and what we find in ourselves there. Fantastic read if I don’t say so myself, and I do.

T