inbetween

This is it. First entry in the new weblog system. This is exciting, only not exciting.

CSC349a, "Numerical Analysis I", is a cool course. I find it interesting. I like it. I doubt everyone does. Today, the course webpage reads:

The MATLAB portion of 21 submitted assignments for Assignment #5 was identical (or differed trivially only in spacing or comments) to other submitted assignments. This is completely unacceptable. All 21 have received a grade of 0 on this assignment. Those involved will receive a letter of reprimand from the Dean of Engineering and can expect much more severe penalties for any further infractions in any course.

Wow. How stupid are some twenty-one people?

Forgotten memories are one of the reasons that I have been wanting to start a diary/web log thing.

I have been thinking about memories lately, trying to recall now distant events. Even major upheavels in my life are difficult to remember. When did I go to South Africa? What happened the next year? Things in recent memory are easy. I took five classes last year, started a website this year, and quit a job last year. Is that all? I'm no longer sure.

Recently, I was reminded of a few events. I thought I had a good recollection of those few days, but I don't. There are reminders everywhere, from the chip in my car's windshield and the lingering thoughts of Darryl and other choiristers I haven't seen in too long. This all started when I saw my own handwriting in a guest book from five years ago. I still don't remember writing in it, although I do remember being there.

Perhaps this will turn into a place to record memories as they surface, and a place to record new memories as they happen.

But then who am I writing for? The first thing Susan taught is in Technical Writing is to write for your audience. I don't have an audience. I haven't told anyone about this site. Sure, someone could guess the url, but that isn't too likely. Maybe I'm writing to myself, maybe I'm not writing to anyone. Or I could be writing to my teddy bear. Or, a long lost friend.

I've always been a city boy. Camping has never been a big success when I'm near by. I can't even light a fire. I just can't take care of my self in the woods. I'm not rugged at all.

I feel better having admitted that.

Jeffrey and I went on a small vacation this weekend. We went to Denman Island, one of the beautiful Gulf Islands. We stayed at Eagledown, and had our own cabin for two nights with a wood burning stove, bedroom overlooking the bay and sunrise. It was heaven. Like any good vacation should be, it was too short. It was lovely. I've never eaten so much in three days.

He makes me so happy. I just don't know what else to say. It was magical and relaxing. I really wish we didn't have to return home.

I think the technical writing project is going to be the end of my university life. My partners are uterly useless. It would be easier without them. One doesn't seem to be interested in doing anything at all. The other doesn't know how to do anything, including interact with other human beings.

I don't think I have unreasonable expectations. I would like partners that show up to meetings. I would like partners that don't interrupt each other (or me). I would like partners that do not smell like nasty laundry. I would like partners that have the ability to maintain a single topic of conversation for thirty seconds. I don't think any of this is unfair.

I am enjoying the class a little. The prof is a lot of fun. She obviously knows what she is teaching. She is very organized, and seems to care that her students do well. Profs like this are quite rare. So are the students in the class. Perhaps half-baked would be a better description.

There are 20 people in the class. Half of them talk. Half of them don't. The half that speak don't understand the subjects they speak about or blurt out every meaningless uninteresting thought that crosses their tiny little minds.

Not such a good week. I think I failed a midterm (or probably only got 65%) and I might just have a stalker. yucky.

Someone I new many years ago died this week. I don't know how I feel about that. Perhaps indifferent. Does that make me a bad person. I don't think so; perhaps heartless.

I gave up on linux this week. I'm back to windows. The entire thing has made me realize just how much time I really spend in front of a computer. Probably about eight hours a day, maybe more. No wonder my hands hurt.

I am rapidly loosing interest in classes and the like. I've got some really interesting ideas for projects and such, but I don't have time. Course work isn't something I enjoy anymore. I would like to work on things that will actually get used, not "give a recursive description of inserting in a binary tree" that has already been done to death. I'm going to see a counselor on Thursday. Maybe he'll have some ideas.

There are some good things going on. Because of the funeral/memorial service, I got to see two of my friends from far away. I did much better on a midterm than I thought. I'm quite happy with the UVic Pride web pages (Dreamweaver. It is the way to go!), and of course, classes are nearly over (one month to go!)