Now that I have completed a full week I figured I shall post a small update for each class.
Japanese: I love Mita sensei's teaching style and it really is too bad that NDSU isn't working with MSUM for language class schedules. I can only make it to half the classes during the week so for the other two days I am self-driven and work with Katrina as a sort of home-teacher. This may seem tricky but I am really enjoying it.
Environmental Design: Faulkner AIA is a pretty fun guy. I think this Design focused art class is more beneficial than the alternative art focused art class. As of now we are just sketching for sketching purposes which is the way most classes go. However, in addition, we also cover design professions and vocab. I definitely smile a bit in each class.
Physics: This class is mainly a broad science class which I enjoy thoroughly. I have been away from science for so long. It was one of my favorite subjects in school and I even thought about pursuing a science career...only I didn't since at the time science seemed to be well against religion. I see now that more often than not the two can co-exist. Plus, I like the way he does his notes. He posts incomplete notes online and then you print them off to complete during class.
Sociology: I loved this class both times that I took it with Patty Corwin. Well, do to times available I had to take it from Leretta Smith. She seems like an alright teacher but she does notes old school. She goes through notes on a power point faster than one can write them down. I was pretty much writing the whole hour and fifteen minutes of class. Since I haven't really been writing that much my hand and forearm was pretty sore by the end. Honestly this easy class may end up being the hardest since it is so tough to get notes. I guess I will just have to really focus on filling in the holes using the textbook.
All and all I don't think this semester should be too difficult, however, I am going to have to really focus since there are quite a few majors in the running to be the final 50-54 to be accepted into the program. I don't even want to think about actual number in the running but all I know is there is quite a few.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
A New Direction
Tomorrow I start a new direction in my life. Fall semester officially starts tomorrow. I have my books reserved, my financial aid figured out, and now I just need to go in and order up a new student ID since my 3+ year old ID probably isn't good. I wonder if I can find it...hmmm, I think I will search for it tomorrow for fun.
Since I am going to school I have also entered part-time status at work and will only be working Mondays and Fridays. I also will not be able to switch back to full-time since one needs to be able to work a 80 hours per pay period 6 months in a row in order to be considered full-time. School breaks are 3 months in the summer and 3 weeks in the winter. This means that even if I can reach 80 hours per pay period that my health insurance through Sanford will still be more expensive that if I were working full-time. Too bad good private health insurance is waaay too expensive for the average Joe.
In other news, vehicles are in need of repair before winter. My Blazer's yellow driving light on the left side is out and after going through a car wash today I found that the frame around the back window is fairly rusted out. If I do not fix that before winter I could end up with a messy issue of expansion damage. My bike's front left turn signal is also out. I can take care of the lights this week but since I just spent a little over 200 on tires for the car I think I may wait a bit on the window frame. I am kind of hoping that one can just take the glass out and replace the frame.
Since I am going to school I have also entered part-time status at work and will only be working Mondays and Fridays. I also will not be able to switch back to full-time since one needs to be able to work a 80 hours per pay period 6 months in a row in order to be considered full-time. School breaks are 3 months in the summer and 3 weeks in the winter. This means that even if I can reach 80 hours per pay period that my health insurance through Sanford will still be more expensive that if I were working full-time. Too bad good private health insurance is waaay too expensive for the average Joe.
In other news, vehicles are in need of repair before winter. My Blazer's yellow driving light on the left side is out and after going through a car wash today I found that the frame around the back window is fairly rusted out. If I do not fix that before winter I could end up with a messy issue of expansion damage. My bike's front left turn signal is also out. I can take care of the lights this week but since I just spent a little over 200 on tires for the car I think I may wait a bit on the window frame. I am kind of hoping that one can just take the glass out and replace the frame.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Quick update because I slept in and have things to do before work.
I was sick last night. Something I ate just did not agree with me. I felt it near the end of work but it didn't really hit me until I got home. Finally fell asleep around 1:00 and then slept in until a little after 11. Feeling somewhat better. Now just need to find some food.
Tomorrow is the day we may or may not receive our new entertainment center that we ordered last week. It is made of real wood and still somewhat has piers on both sides of where the TV goes. It saddened me a little when I heard that style went out and that most of the stands are basically expensive dressers. Also apparently wood working has really been outsourced and maybe only about 5% of the wood working is local. Just sad. I still aim to have a wood shop some day. With this addition to our furniture we are one more piece closer to having a home...at least that is the way I look at it. :)
Time to go and make a copy of a key. Weee!
I was sick last night. Something I ate just did not agree with me. I felt it near the end of work but it didn't really hit me until I got home. Finally fell asleep around 1:00 and then slept in until a little after 11. Feeling somewhat better. Now just need to find some food.
Tomorrow is the day we may or may not receive our new entertainment center that we ordered last week. It is made of real wood and still somewhat has piers on both sides of where the TV goes. It saddened me a little when I heard that style went out and that most of the stands are basically expensive dressers. Also apparently wood working has really been outsourced and maybe only about 5% of the wood working is local. Just sad. I still aim to have a wood shop some day. With this addition to our furniture we are one more piece closer to having a home...at least that is the way I look at it. :)
Time to go and make a copy of a key. Weee!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Rollercoaster Weekend
Boy, this weekend was all over the place.
First we will start with my bike. Travis brought his own tools in on Friday and replaced my bad gasket cover for my bike. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to put the clutch cable in because it was a few centimeters short and he tried all he could to get it to work. He suggested I return the cable. So, Saturday I forgot that I didn't have to go into work until 3pm which meant I had a couple extra hours where nothing was planned. That in itself was nice...but back to the bike. I decided to try to return the cable. I went into Wheels Inc. (the Kawasaki dealer) and before I was actually helped one of the older employees thought it would be good to bruise my pride while being completely oblivious to the reason I was there. If my needs would have been met and I didn't actually need something from him I would have caused a little scene. I was just little bit pissed off. Anyways, he eventually told me that the cable they ordered for me had to be the right one since everything on the computer suggests it. The old cable was a generic cable made by united parts where as the new cable is an actual Kawasaki brand. So I told him I would try it myself and if I still couldn't get it I would bring it in Monday (at that time I would engage in revenge for the treatment). Well I wired it through the bike and tried like crazy to get it to work. I tried pretty much all I could think of also with the same outcome as Trav. It seemed like if I had a few more centimeters that I would be able slide the cable over the catch and get it to latch. Luckily, I had Trav's bike in my garage as well so I had something to compare with. After a bit of brain work it finally clicked. I need to disengage the clutch in order to gain that little bit of length that I was required. Only issue was that I didn't have the right tools and the clutch is a pretty tough thing to disengage by hand. So, I grabbed a long handled ratchet wrench and used both hands to pull the clutch towards me. The only issue was that I was too weak to keep the clutch disengaged with one hand. It was as if the only way I could make it work was if I had a third hand. So, I called Katrina for assistance. Boy did that work like a dream. I put on gloves just in case the improper tool slipped. I disengaged the clutch and let Kat know when to slide the cable into place. I pulled away the tool and blamo! The clutch cable was installed. I made sure to test it out by driving to work and both the clutch and myself made it there and back in one piece...each. Positive!
I worked Saturday. Negative!
I ate lunch today with Justin after finding that we were all out of cereal. Positive!?
Katrina called me on her way back from the cities to let me know that she had a flat tire on the car about 162 miles away from Moorhead. Not so Positive!
I didn't accomplish much on my day off but plan on doing dishes before work or tonight while I wait to hear from Kat that all is well. Meh!
First we will start with my bike. Travis brought his own tools in on Friday and replaced my bad gasket cover for my bike. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to put the clutch cable in because it was a few centimeters short and he tried all he could to get it to work. He suggested I return the cable. So, Saturday I forgot that I didn't have to go into work until 3pm which meant I had a couple extra hours where nothing was planned. That in itself was nice...but back to the bike. I decided to try to return the cable. I went into Wheels Inc. (the Kawasaki dealer) and before I was actually helped one of the older employees thought it would be good to bruise my pride while being completely oblivious to the reason I was there. If my needs would have been met and I didn't actually need something from him I would have caused a little scene. I was just little bit pissed off. Anyways, he eventually told me that the cable they ordered for me had to be the right one since everything on the computer suggests it. The old cable was a generic cable made by united parts where as the new cable is an actual Kawasaki brand. So I told him I would try it myself and if I still couldn't get it I would bring it in Monday (at that time I would engage in revenge for the treatment). Well I wired it through the bike and tried like crazy to get it to work. I tried pretty much all I could think of also with the same outcome as Trav. It seemed like if I had a few more centimeters that I would be able slide the cable over the catch and get it to latch. Luckily, I had Trav's bike in my garage as well so I had something to compare with. After a bit of brain work it finally clicked. I need to disengage the clutch in order to gain that little bit of length that I was required. Only issue was that I didn't have the right tools and the clutch is a pretty tough thing to disengage by hand. So, I grabbed a long handled ratchet wrench and used both hands to pull the clutch towards me. The only issue was that I was too weak to keep the clutch disengaged with one hand. It was as if the only way I could make it work was if I had a third hand. So, I called Katrina for assistance. Boy did that work like a dream. I put on gloves just in case the improper tool slipped. I disengaged the clutch and let Kat know when to slide the cable into place. I pulled away the tool and blamo! The clutch cable was installed. I made sure to test it out by driving to work and both the clutch and myself made it there and back in one piece...each. Positive!
I worked Saturday. Negative!
I ate lunch today with Justin after finding that we were all out of cereal. Positive!?
Katrina called me on her way back from the cities to let me know that she had a flat tire on the car about 162 miles away from Moorhead. Not so Positive!
I didn't accomplish much on my day off but plan on doing dishes before work or tonight while I wait to hear from Kat that all is well. Meh!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
MotorGuardSchoolWorkFamily
For those out there wondering what happened with the motorcycle class...I passed the written and course exam by 100%. I then proceeded to the ID card place to retake the written for the permit and found quickly that you need to answer exactly with what is in the book instead of what would be the best answer. So I am waiting to go in and retake that. Once I pass that permit test and can turn in this little card and get my license.
My bike is still in my garage waiting for the clutch cable to be installed. I was thinking about doing it myself but Trav said he could do it for me. I trust him slightly more with motorcycle repair than I trust myself. As soon as the clutch cable is in I can then set up an appointment to have my gasket cover put in.
I am now officially out of the National Guard. I attended my final drill this last weekend and turned in the gear that was needed. I now have 9 months where I sit on a national call list. Apparently I can avoid the letter for 2 months before they start becoming very persistent. Hopefully I won't have to worry about it. Although, if it happens then it happens and I serve just a little longer. The benefits of being deployed are not too horrible. Plus, with Katrina in the states, we will be able to save more than last time.
School starts soon. Unfortunately, now that I am not attached to my unit I no longer qualify for Federal Tuition Assistance and State Tuition Reimbursement. I do qualify for chapter 33 which still pays 60% of almost everything school related and even housing. So I guess this is the military's way of letting me down gently. Chapter 33 only lasts 3 more years so for the last 2 I will be paying for school like everyone else...with loans.
Work is being work and I am really glad to be going part-time. There is way too much of a mess looming above our heads and they are expecting us to do more than we have the people for. The last few days we have been consistently working 2 hours of overtime and that isn't even including what they expect us all to add into our processes yet. I feel sorry for Justin. He works so hard and he was already fairly worn from installing carpet this last weekend.
Speaking of, a good friend of mine told me that this city steals people's souls and they become very self-centered and money oriented with very little sight for family. After some thought I realize how true that is. At first I thought it was NDSU since I noticed it happening when I first started there in 2004. However, I now see that it is the city and the convenience of it all. Things were so different growing up in the country. Family was important as was the time spent with them. So in honor of regaining some family connection Katrina and I have decided to make Sunday "Family Day". I am pretty excited for this and trying to recapture my heart and soul.
Good Luck all on your upcoming endeavors!
My bike is still in my garage waiting for the clutch cable to be installed. I was thinking about doing it myself but Trav said he could do it for me. I trust him slightly more with motorcycle repair than I trust myself. As soon as the clutch cable is in I can then set up an appointment to have my gasket cover put in.
I am now officially out of the National Guard. I attended my final drill this last weekend and turned in the gear that was needed. I now have 9 months where I sit on a national call list. Apparently I can avoid the letter for 2 months before they start becoming very persistent. Hopefully I won't have to worry about it. Although, if it happens then it happens and I serve just a little longer. The benefits of being deployed are not too horrible. Plus, with Katrina in the states, we will be able to save more than last time.
School starts soon. Unfortunately, now that I am not attached to my unit I no longer qualify for Federal Tuition Assistance and State Tuition Reimbursement. I do qualify for chapter 33 which still pays 60% of almost everything school related and even housing. So I guess this is the military's way of letting me down gently. Chapter 33 only lasts 3 more years so for the last 2 I will be paying for school like everyone else...with loans.
Work is being work and I am really glad to be going part-time. There is way too much of a mess looming above our heads and they are expecting us to do more than we have the people for. The last few days we have been consistently working 2 hours of overtime and that isn't even including what they expect us all to add into our processes yet. I feel sorry for Justin. He works so hard and he was already fairly worn from installing carpet this last weekend.
Speaking of, a good friend of mine told me that this city steals people's souls and they become very self-centered and money oriented with very little sight for family. After some thought I realize how true that is. At first I thought it was NDSU since I noticed it happening when I first started there in 2004. However, I now see that it is the city and the convenience of it all. Things were so different growing up in the country. Family was important as was the time spent with them. So in honor of regaining some family connection Katrina and I have decided to make Sunday "Family Day". I am pretty excited for this and trying to recapture my heart and soul.
Good Luck all on your upcoming endeavors!
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