Left Without Roommate

Well, I said yesterday that I would write up a blog today, and so here it is!

As mentioned, my roommate left. After my roommate left, I just sat on the couch for fifteen minutes, staring off into space. I don't know if Mintz (roommate's last name) and I were that close, but that does not prevent me from feeling lonely/saddened over it. I mean... I enjoyed our conversations, which ran the gamut of things happening locally to talks on mutual friends to discussions on economics and politics. I enjoyed the two of us swapping books all the time, and for that to be over is well... it makes me feel that a chapter has closed in my life. Sure, I still have Mintz's email and facebook info, but I no longer have direct contact, and it has been my experience with friendship that once direct contact is lost, friendships slowly fade away.

Anyway, that's pretty much it for tonight. I could write more, but I have work in the morning, and I want to get at least seven hours of sleep, so ~Night!

Another Notch on the Post Count

Well... the last month went by fast. In fact, I can pretty much say this entire year has been traveling at a break neck speed. It seems like a few days ago when I made my last post...

Finals have gone and went. I know I did not do well in my AI course, but since it is an elective, I am not too worried about it. I can always replace it with another elective, one that actually has relevance outside of academia (I'm considering database design to replace this one). I know I did well on my Interactive Graphics Course (gah, that had like... 15 hours of homework a week, all high end C++ coding =(.) I'm concerned about my system software course, but my Object Oriented Processes course I'm sure I did well in (And, I need to do well in, since it's one of the courses UCF demands me have a 2.5gpa in or better).

I am heavily considering dropping myself down to a part time student, and working full time. I don't think I can handle another semester where 3 of my classes (Graphics, OOP, and System Software) have 15+ hours of homework a piece a week on top of what I work. Until I took a month long sabbatical from my job in Orlando, I felt completely burnt out, with general feelings of depression and loneliness. Loneliness because I spent a good deal amount of time alone, working on crazy project things, and depression because, no matter what I did, I felt like I kept on missing key concepts of the classes. In fact, for about the first week of November/last week of October, I kind of gave up on everything and just spent what time I had curled up on my bed, feeling like a complete failure when I wasn't working. Taking the time off one of my jobs helped a lot, and I did get things done. Not as much stuff done as I would have like, but better than nothing.

Anyway, I want to get to sleep for work tomorrow. After work, I should post another blog about my roommate moving out on Friday, so ~Night!

BSG

Been watching some of the new(ish) Battle Star Gallatica episodes. I must say, it's like someone created a twisted, underhanded soap opera series and placed it on a space ship. Would like there to be a little bit more romance to it, but outside of that I am enjoying it heavily... Maybe a little too heavily, as one night I stayed up till 7am watching episodes. I'm watching this on netflix, in case anyone is wondering how I'm viewing it.

Just realized I don't talk too much about my friends on this blog. I spend most of my time in front of a computer screen, doing solitary activities like writing, reading (for those two things both academic and for pleasure), and occasionally gaming. I don't exactly know why that is. I enjoy time with my friends more than almost any other thing I could be doing (well, except reading certain books, but those books are few and far between, yet... I don't know. It just never feels like my schedules correspond to that of everyone else I know. I'm either working weekends, or in class, or at my other job. And so, some days, I feel like I'm completely isolated from the world I know. But, if I'm honest, it's probably because I don't make as much an effort to expand my friend base and to try to keep in touch with the people I know through means other than steam/In game chat, etc. And now I'm 24, and find out that my life revolves around a small group of people, and I'm afraid that group will only shrink. To top that off, I don't see of any way to stop being single. And out of everything, that depresses me.

Anyway, I've gotten sidetracked from this blog post (just spent the last hour online with a friend as they tried to find out as much info about me from nothing but my screen names.) That kind of derailed my thinking, and now I want sleep. So ~Night!

My second post in the same month \o/

Yes, the \o/ is required in the title.

This post is not so much to cover what happened between today and Saturday, it is more to cover everything between now and the previous post in September...

As I have said, I have taken a month long sabbatical from my job up here in Orlando. I'm hoping that such a break will allow me to catch up on my school work, and maybe my writing and independent programming, though I doubt I would be able to catch up on anything more the former (though, maybe a few additional blog posts). I make enough money, barely, from my job back with my parents to pay for my food, car insurance and possible car maintenance, and to make payments to my credit cards. Not much more though, so I'm hoping that nothing goes horribly wrong financially with me.

I am worried about my parents. The station is breaking even... and not much else. Also, the bank is trying to force a refinancing of the station. Technically, it is at a lower rate, but they want to make it from the current 20 year loan to a 5 year loan, meaning a net increase of payments. Not too sure what my folks can do against that. Then my dad also went independent. Although he's doing more trades per month, the group he's processing his trades with are giving him a lower commission, and taking more out for his medical insurance, resulting in a significantly less paycheck per month. My mom is worried he may do something drastic...

On a positive note, I got the 500 dollar deductible from my car accident back in August (ya, it took that long.) Since I've been looking at ereaders for the last year plus (since the release of the Kindle 2), I used some of that money to purchase a Nook (the rest I used to pay off debts I owed). So far I'm really liking the device, and I really love the eInk screen. The interface is a little... slugish though. Though my primary reason for picking it up wasn't book reading. My zune died about four weeks ago, and my car's CD player died about two weeks ago. Since I'm in my car more than I am in class/at one of my jobs, I thought picking up something to play music might be worthwhile.

I'm considering writing some sort of scifi/pulpy story thing. I would try to update it weekly if I did. Still undecided on it though.

Anyway, I need to log. Have some homework that needs doing.

November's Post!

Well... it's been a while since my last post =(. Been fairly busy with school, work, and minecraft (ok, the last one is not a legitimate excuse, but it still is something I've been busy with).

I can not say school is going as well as I would like it to. I do not think I am doing too well in System Software course, or in my AI course. System software because I keep devoting time from that class to Graphics, and AI because it's in Lisp, which is a horrible programming language, and I can not find an interpreter for that that will run on any OS made since 98. Overall, I don't know how well I'm going to do this semester.

In an effort to do better, I've requested a month off from my Orlando job in the hopes that I can catch up. Though, I return to work a week before finals start. Hopefully that won't be as bad as I think it will be...

I'm going to try to write more. At least, based up anecdotal evidence and my own, skewed opinion, I have full faith that I do better academically and in a working environment when I write. By write I mean anywhere from blogposts to fiction to overly gothy/emo poetry that makes people question my mental state. I'm hoping that the writing will help me get through this semester... Instead of blowing up in my face and resulting in less productivity.

Anyway, I know it's a short post, but I do need to get some sleep. So ~night!

A long, rambling post about rambling things

Wow... 5 comments! Sure, 3 of them are spam, but the other 2...

Ya... In 4 months I have not manged to add to the story thing I was/am writing. Still, I have a few things written for it, so I'll post the first section after the long winded rambling section of my blog. Please note that it's not even in the rough draft category yet, so it is not that great. I have a decent amount of it planned though, so at least I will not be flying blind with it. Hopefully I can stop being lazy and actually finish it one day... along with all those random programming projects of mine. I will make it a different color though, so it is easier to find.

So.... four months have past. A lot of things happened. Well... I would at least like to think a lot of things happened.

The biggest event to have occurred in that time frame was my car accident. The accident occurred on the first of August, while I was driving down to a Kira's place to play a round or two of Munchkin with her, Megan, and Thomas. A person turned in front of me, and I slammed on my breaks to avoid hitting him. Unfortunately, the person behind me was not as able a driver as I, and he rear ended me (I was almost completely stopped). The damage to my vehicle was enough to total it. I missed a week's worth of work due to not having a vehicle, and the guy's insurance (eSurance) still has not reimbursed my insurance company for the reckless damage of my vehicle.

It was not a fun event. I think the worst part about the event though, was that it was MY vehicle that got totaled. My vehicle, paid in total with my funds (as opposed to the Station Wagon I drove at one point, which was a combination of my funds and my parent's funds). I mean... I'm not one of those gear heads who could tell you the stats of their vehicle, or freaks out if the windshield gets smudged. But it was more than a vehicle with the amount I drive. A good part of my time each week was spent in that vehicle. Some weeks it was more time spent in my old Volvo than I spent waking hours in my dorm. In a year I put something like 40k miles on the car (Ok, might have been closer to 25k, since I got it at 80k in Feb of 09, and lost it at 130k miles on Aug 1st, but that is still a lot of time spent behind the wheel). I mean, it was less of a vehicle, and more of a home. I felt safe in it. I felt comfortable. It was my world in there... and now it's gone. All because some person couldn't pay attention to the god damn road.(And yes, I'm physically uninjured... Just taking this more personally than is probably healthy to do).

I'm currently driving the Camry. It was what I was driving before the Station Wagon. Ended up buying it from my sister with the check my insurance gave me after the accident. It just... doesn't feel the same as the Volvo I guess. It doesn't feel like my vehicle. It isn't my car. Well... I guess legally it is my car, but it doesn't feel like it. It was initially my parent's car, and that's what it feels like. With regard to transportation, I feel that I am once again entirely beholden to family, and at their whim and mercy. I know that is not the case, at least logically I know that, but... Anyway, Christine (the sister I bought the Camry from) used the money to make a down payment on an Aveo...

I ended up canceling my EvE Online subscription again... this time to do something that doesn't eat up so much of my life. Truthfully, I think MMO's in general give me a dose of melancholy. Not anything to do with their mechanics or how they operate, but because I tend to go overboard when playing MMO's (or at least when playing EvE), and spend an ungodly (like 20) number of hours in the game each week. I think I need to be around people to be happy. Actual, physical people. And as realistic or immersive or interesting they make an MMO, that part still is not there. So I end up feeling like some sort of shallow, empty shell when playing them for long periods of time. Well, that and I also feel significantly less productive when I play an MMO. I mean a sense of real productivity. Not the hallow feeling for gaining a random level or building a fake object. Still, if I could discipline myself to spend no more than ten hours a week on an MMO, I would probably go back to it.

The thing I'm doing instead of an MMO? NetFlix. It's pretty cool. Not the getting movies mailed to you via snail mail. But the whole being able to stream their collection straight to your PC is cool. Sat down and started watching a TV series on Netflix called Sanctuary. It's pretty good... Though it has some fairly large-ish or weird-ish plot holes and things that just don't seem to add up. Still, it's an enjoyable diversion every once in a while.

I ended up getting B's in both of my Summer classes. That made me feel pretty well... or maybe pretty swell... or maybe just a general, vague sense of accomplishment/pride. Yes... I know. It was only 2 classes. But damnit, it was the first semester that I was "Full Time" and that I passed all my classes (2 classes over the summer is full time, as opposed to the standard 4 classes in fall/spring).

This semester though, my load is a little heavier than it was in recent semesters. I'm taking a System Software course, a Process and Design course (ie, the process of making software), an Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, and a course on Graphics Rendering in OpenGL (curse you spell checker! OpenGL is not misspelt!). The AI course and the Process and Design course are both... well... I'm not sure how to describe them, except that I do not look forward to attending the rest of those classes.

I took a look at the miniatures wargame Warmachine, and I have to say, it looks pretty cool. Going to try to get into it with an elf army (err... Retribution of Scyrah army), since very few people play that at the local game store. To sum up the game real quick, it's mages controlling steam powered warmachines that wail against each other.

Anyway, I need to call it a night. But before I do, see below for the opening sequence thingy. Anyway, ~Night!

---

Chapter 1:
Valnerstadt. Last trade city of the north. Its buildings towering over the cobbled stoned streets below, blocking out what weak sunlight could penetrate the thick clouds overhead. To the east lay the Issen river, winding along the city's west side like a python constricting its prey. Its deep, murky waters teeming with boats and barges carrying goods to and from the more pleasant Southlands.
The warehouse area was subdued. Workers and townsfolk were intentionally avoiding the area, giving two people plenty of room. ---NOTE TO SELF:: ADD MORE HERE::---
“Care to explain to me why one of your clerks were found here, Helios?” came Valner's voice.
Helios looked down at the cobbled stones beneath them and saw what was left of one of his clerks. The body had been savaged by animals, and what remained was a horrid sight. Its throat had been violently ripped out, and parts of it had been been torn and rent, till it was barely recognizable as human. The face remained though, but around it blood had pooled. It had thankfully frozen over sometime in the night, but the frozen crimson contrasted sharply with the cobblestones beneath.
“I assume the torn throat made it somewhat difficult for him to be found elsewhere, High Valner.” Helios responded.
“And what was he doing that would have gotten his throat torn out?” the Steward asked.
“Probably going home after a drink, I'd wager. During his stroll home, he fell, froze over, and became food for the animals that roam your streets.” Helios replied.
“Would you then please explain why the only men to have been victim to animal attacks in the past 3 months were your clerks, Helios? And also elaborate on how there can be so many stray animals in the city to present the Artificer's Consortium such problems, yet not be seen by the guards?”
“My Most High, I have people looking into it as we speak, and I am sure I can give you an answer-”
Valner's stern voice cut the Consortium member's reply short. “May I remind you that it is my duty, as Steward, to defend and protect the people of this city, and if that means replacing clerks who can not do their job adequately, then I shall send a request for a replacement to the chapter in Arine Proper.”
The steward looked over the grizzly remains, his tone softening. “Honored Helios, I have been Steward of this city for as long as you have been alive. In that time I have made mistakes that have cost uncountable lives. I will not make those mistakes again. I have no desire to involve an outside chapter of the Consortium, but if it is warranted, I will bring in an outsider to run your chapter. If another clerk of yours dies by animal attack, it will happen.”----NOTE TO SELF::FINISH THIS SCENE AND MAKE IT TIE INTO NEXT SCENE::----"

slash emo...

Well... I am now the least educated person in my family. This past weekend, my 2 younger sisters graduated with their 4 year degrees. So now my dad and my sisters each have 4 year degrees, and my mother has an AA with some certificates. Leaving me at the bottom with only an AA. Though... I guess if you were to consider number of years in school, and number of scholarly books read, I'd be in first place... though that doesn't make me feel much better.

I guess I'm probably the black sheep in the family. I apparently take forever at school, can not find a date to save my life, and am the anitsocial person in my family. On top of that, I'm probably the one who is least likely to succeed. I mean... both the jobs I hold I have only because of family ties. Catherine got a job with one of the mid-western universities, and Christine was a member of enough student organizations to constitute at least one non-family job. Me though... the last job interview I had didn't even have a call back.

I know I shouldn't be so emo... I know I should be happy for my sisters... I mean, I'm not angry or upset with them or anything like that. It's just that I am extremely disappointed in myself and my own incompetence. I *should* have a 4 year degree now... I should be independent of my family now. I should be engaging in my own life, having at least some sort of romantic interest, and maybe doing something of importance. Instead, I feel like I'm the poster child for mediocrity and ineptitude. And the worst part of it all is... I only have one person to blame, and that's myself.

I did quit EvE Online again. At least I have some willpower. I made the decision about 2 weeks before finals. I don't know how much it helped my final exam grades, but I did pass both my classes. I don't think I'll go back to EvE Online anytime soon though, not because the game isn't fun, but because I want to do more with my life than virtual space ships.

For the last few... months? weeks? Year? I've been working on a novel... thing. I'm only putting a few hours into it per month, though since I've made the conscious to lower my video game addiction traits thingy, I've been working on it a little more. Also been working on some short stories as well. When I get something finished, or a chapter written on the novel thing, I'll post it here. Until then though, it'll be TOP SECRET!!!!!!!!! (Ok, the exclamation marks weren't necessary, but the capitalization was).

On a minor side note, I'm now 24... Which makes all I wrote above even more depressing...

Finally, Ryan... turned down? rejected? denied? my offer to date each other. Said something about being bipolar, and stress, and how those two things don't mix well with relationships. I don't know how true that statement was with him, but he was the most recent thing I had to the potential of... something more meaningfull than friendship. Been 3? years since I last went on a date. So... now I'm kind of emo about it.

Anyway, I have work tomorrow morning, and I need to find a way to figure out how to fund my summer classes since I might not be able to get a federal loan, so ~Night!

More than 09

Well... this post should officially put me at more posts this year than last... which is either a good thing, or it means I was a lazy bum last year when it came to writing. I have a sneaking suspicion that it is the later, and not the former. Still... I've been trying to write a little more this year than last, and I even kind of have a story/book thing in the works. Once I get an actual chapter written, and not the tons of random, semi-connected sections I currently have, I'll post the chapter here.

Anyway... Didn't really have too much to post outside of that. Will try to add another post maybe tomorrow... Well... I did finish reading A Feast For Crows by George RR Martin, and that was a great book... and tomorrow brings the next dresden files book... and I have the most recent Mercy Thompson book on my shelf that needs reading.... gah! Too many books to read!!!!

Also, thinking about asking Ryan out... or at least if he's single. I'm just afraid that doing so might be a mistake. I don't know... I really don't have much experience in the realm of romance. Hell... I don't have a lot of experience in the realm of dealing with people in general, which is one of the major regions I'm a CS major (decided to change majors back at the end of 09) and not something that requires more person to person contact (ie, psychology or sales or something.) On the one hand, he's kind of cute, and he doesn't like apple products, and he's fun to hang around. On the other hand, he seems some what immature...ish. Not in conversation per se... but in his listings of priorities, his understanding of things like history and personal economics, and things like that... though, to be fair, I seem to have an issue prioritizing as well, otherwise I'd have already gotten my 4 year degree, and not be about to start my 6...ish year.

Still... I want someone to be able to hold me. I want to be with someone, love someone, and try out some of the things in some of the... ummm.... fiction I've read with someone. Yet... I don't know. I know waiting around for the right person would be a major mistake, I'm just afraid that choosing the wrong person would be a mistake as well... And also, if he had any interest in me, he'd probably ask me out or something by now. The last thing I'd want to do is to ask him out, find out he's not interested, then have things be awkward between the two of us. I don't really have a lot of friends, and I have no wish of loosing one.

Anyway, I have to be up in six and a half hours for work... so ~Night!

EvE: Dominion

Well... I have done something horrible... I have renewed my Eve Online subscription. Since my Eve Online renewal, my productivity in my classes have gone noticeably down. So, I either need to significantly cut back on Eve, or re-quit it all together.

Parents took me to go see Wicked on Sunday. It was pretty entertaining, though it's nothing like the book. I would go so far as to say the book's plot, and the play's plot, have almost nothing in common. But the music is very enjoyable, and the costumes were well done. But I do feel sorry for my sister, who was sitting next to me in the theater and had to put up with the occasional exasperated arm waving when things were too different.

Ryan and I have grabbed a few lunches together (well... 2). He's kind of cute, and he's smart. Just... more book smart's and applications of logic smart, and not so much application of history smart or common sense smart. (Yes, that's right, I've expanded the types of smart from 2 to 4!). I mean, if he's grabbing food with me, that means he at least likes listening to my random rants and raves about the world, right? Like... we grabbed lunch today at a pizza place on campus, and we talked for about an hour and a half, till I had to call it quits to get back to my dorm (So I could get ready to help out my Boss with some work related things, but that got canceled). He seems nice enough... though he can be a little apathetic...

Anyway, I need to get my stuff packed to head off to my parent's for the weekend, and maybe part of spring break. I'll try to write another post when I have more time... ~Night!

I hate being sick

Well... just got over being sick. It was more like a 48 hour head cold then anything serious, but still annoying. Overstuffed nose, headaches, sore throat, constant tiredness, and random cold/hot flashes. Actually missed class because of it (instead of a random skip of class). Still, I'm glad I'm feeling better now.

Going to try a few new things with my finances. Set up a second checking account because SunTrust is offering up to 150 dollars if you set up a new checking account with them and do online bill pay. Going to try to divide my funds into 2 accounts... one for bills and one for misc. The new Suntrust account will be for bills, while my old account will for misc things, since I also have my old account linked to my savings account to allow easy transfer into savings. I also plan on doing one or two other things with my old checking account, though I'm not going to get into it to I enact those ideas.

There's this kind of cute guy in my CS2 class. He hates macs almost as much as I do. His name's Ryan. Been talking with him before the last 2 classes... Maybe I can finally stop being single?

Glargh, my brain isn't up to the complex task of writing a blog at the moment... so ~Night!

Happy Make single people feel worse than normal day

I do not like Valentines day. It's not anything against the day in general. In fact, I love the idea of romance, of being able to have a day where I could be close to a person I love, spend time with them, give and receive gifts, and all together feel cherished. The problem with Valentines day is, I have yet to have a Valentines day come out like that. I have never seen this holiday without being single. So I end up seeing a bunch of happy couples, and television and the internet is full of ads for happy couples, and what to get him/her ads, and such things. So, not only do I end up feeling left out, I end up looking back at my life, seeing my long, single, loneliness, and feeling like some sort of human defect for my inability to find a guy to be with. It's not the worst feeling in the world, but it doesn't help.

I need to start stabilizing my sleep schedule. Right now, between work and class, I'm alternating between waking up at 11, and waking up at 7, and going to sleep between 11 (this time pm) and 3 (this time am). It leaves me feeling tired the entire week, and I don't think that's a good thing. Especially because I have, on at least 1 or two equations, overslept my 1:30pm class. So I need to start stabilizing the time I go to sleep. May try to do it at 11:30pm, but that would involve me missing the Colbert Report, and it is one of two shows I deem worth watching (the other being the Daily Show). Yet if I don't do something about it, well, I'll probably just end up feeling worse. (The other issue is trying to go to sleep at that time on the weekends. Some nights I don't even get off of work until 11:30...)

Need to also start focusing more on my writing, and on my independent programing projects. Both have fallen by the wayside (curse you Modern Warfare 2 and Sins of a Solar Empire! Curse you both for your hours of pointless, yet entertaining... enterainingness.) So I need to look into doing more of the programming and writing, and less of the gaming (I'd also include NetFlix in that less than, but after getting over the initial How awesome it is, I really only watch about 2 hours of movies a week.)

Anyway, that's all I have at the moment. So ~Night!

UCF...ness

Well... I wanted one last post for January 2010, so I guess this will be it. Though, given that today is the last day of the month, I would find it extremely difficult to add another post this month.

Been holding off on buying one of my textbooks for class. I'm not the type of person who refuses to buy books. In fact, I'm probably in the opposite category. But... when a book costs 150, its for 1 semester, and it doesn't seem to have much use out side of the the class it's for, I have a problem buying the book. I mean... if I was planning to go into research and the like, it would be a good book to own. Though, with the way the class has been going, I may need to pick it up as a substitute to the course. Not that the teacher is bad, just that I may need something better to study off of then my notes and the teacher's original slides... especially since I tend to be a little fuzzy on some of the stuff from Comp Sci 1. (The course the book is for is Comp Sci 2).

Truthfully though, I don't know if I like the current setup of colleges. The programs are all designed around the idea that the students have large blocks of free time in the middle of the day. Classes are often overcrowded, taught by teachers who are more interested in research then teaching. Not that research is a bad thing. Still though, there should be more efficient ways of doing higher education... or at least, higher education for people who work 2 jobs. This semester, I was trying to schedule my classes in such a manner that would allow me to work 40+ hours a week... even only taking 2 classes it was almost impossible. And, to make matters worse, all but 1 class offered in the Computer Sciences program was before 5pm, but after 9am. I mean... how is a person suppose to hold a what many people call a normal job while in school, when schooling isn't setup to allow it? A better model, or at least, a more accessible model, would be something like a subscription set up for classes. Pay a monthly fee, get unlimited web access to online material, and so many hours access to in-person TA's and professors, while, to receive credit for a class, you pay an extra fee to either take a comprehensive exam, or pay a fee to submit a paper/project thing. But... I guess I'm just babbling now.

I think I need to get out more. Just seems I'm going stir crazy in my dorm. Though, most of the people I know in the Orlando area seem to be busy with either class or work =(. Still, I should probably consider joining a school club or something... though the last time I joined one I really didn't feel like I fit in with it too much. Still... may rejoin it, since odds are the old officers of the club are no longer involved.

Anyway, I have an assignment to finish up... and I may start looking into devoting more time to being at the UCF library for study purposes... but anyways, ~Night!

Brakes.... Just Don't

Well... apparently brakes break. Yesterday I went to have new brake pads installed on my vehicle, only to find out that (according to the mechanic) my rotors on my brakes are beneath factory specified levels. I ended up having to get the rotors replaced, which, although I budgeted 140 for my brakes, it ended up costing me 340. So now I need to save up 250 by January 31st so I'll have enough money to pay rent. Guess I won't be picking up any more books for a while.

Probably also need to continue putting money away for car insurance as well. I believe my 6 months of insurance is up in March, which will mean that I will need 500 dollars by the end of March, so it seems I'll have no money in February or March as well... And then I'll probably have to do a tax payment as well. Stupid finances...

Been trying to write some fiction, though that's not progressing as fast as I would like... though that may be because I'm not writing as often as I would like. It's not that I don't enjoy writing (if I didn't, I probably would have deleted this blog a few years ago), just... when I want to relax, banging my head against writer's block isn't my idea of doing so. Though, I would probably experience less writer's block if I wrote more often, then what I currently do.

Going to work on some writing, and maybe wast some time... ~Night!

EDIT: Stupid google and needing me to close my /span tag...

First day of semester

Well, it's the first day of the semester. Currently only signed up for 2 classes, though considering signing up for a third before the end of Add/Drop. Currently taking Comp Sci 2 and Discrete Structures (again).

I think I really need to start looking for another place to live. Not that I don't like my dorm, but an apartment would be more permanent. Also, depending on how I could get rooming to work, it may be cheaper then my dorm. Currently pay 480 a month at my dorm. It's not too bad, but considering that I share my dorm with 3 other people, if I can find a 2 room apartment for 700, divided between 2 people would be 350, a full 130 less a month than I'm currently paying (though I'd have to provided the utilities). A new place also has the benefits of not having random inspections, then getting a notice of not being in compliance because we have unwashed dishes in our sink.

I also seriously need to look into getting either a second part time job here in Orlando, or a full time job and quitting both the job with my parents and my Orlando job. Though, that will be harder than it seems, since apparently the UCF only places CS classes in the middle of the day. One of the reasons I'm only taking 2 classes is because the other classes I could take would end up preventing me from being able to work. I mean, seriously, shouldn't school work with in my schedule, and not the other way around? In fact, I could go on a huge rant on how the university system currently works... but I currently lack the time for it.

Also, decided to create the (preliminary) stuff for my own software company. Linky here! I'll need to save up some funds to pay the LLC cost so I can be my own company. The main driving factor in this is so I can write off all the programming and tech books I buy, but if I do sit down and create a game, well, this would be my springboard to do it.

Anyway, I need to log. ~Night!

Blorg

Yes, Blorg is a word. I don't care what spell check's opinion is on Blorg.

Christmas went... ok I guess. Spent it with family, though I spent the week of Christmas working. Pulled about 55 hours in that week, though technically it was divided amongst 2 pay weeks (stupid Wednesday being the divider day). Did get a new set of tires on my vehicle for Christmas, so that made me happy, though I was kind of unhappy that day since my father decided that the family should spend Christmas day at Bush Gardens... I mean, seriously, why?

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Sorry... started writing this Tuesday Night, but ended up going to sleep. Now it's Friday, and I haven't had a chance to do anything on this blog...

New Year's Eve went well. Jury duty for me got canceled (was scheduled for it at 9:00am on 12/31/09, but the automated message number I had to call stated that all jurors were relieved of duty on the 31st), so that was good. Ended up taking apart my 360 that day, since it had stopped showing video and was a year or two out of warranty. Ended up finding a capacitor on the board that was damaged, which is where I'd place the most likely cause of the problem (though I'm surprised that that's only interfering with the video).

Afterwards, I had a few friends over for some gaming and game-related video watching to celebrate the New Year's. Kira didn't come since she had plans for Sea World. Tim (this boy I've been flirting with since Jacon, though only really over phone and steam) got called into work. But Chris and Ryan showed up, and we even had a round or two of Brawl going on (Chris has a wii... my sisters have a copy of Brawl that they let me borrow). Felt nice to have friends over, especially after having to spend the week of Christmas with my family. I do love them, but somehow they always manage to raise my stress level by about 700%. The Sunday before I was suppose to leave back for Orlando... well... I wasn't a person you would have wanted to talk to.

Also, if you haven't checked out Unskippables, and you like Mystery Science Theater 3000, then you owe it to yourself to view it. Also, another good thing that website does... worth the watches.

Thinking about starting up my own game company thingy. Largely to act as a tax shelter for my love of purchasing programming and game design books, but also to actually produce a game. Currently mulling over how to do an Escape Velocity Nova clone-type-ish thingy game. I would write it in XNA, with the target platform being the 360, even though I currently don't have a working 360 (yes, I see the flaw in that plan). I'd also write it using XNA for how easy it would be to port it to the computer, and vice-a-versa. Been learning XNA through some books I have (in fact, I may have too many books, not just XNA but in general... or not a large enough bookshelf. There's one foot of clearance between my bookshelf and the ceiling, so maybe I could put more books there...) and so far I'm liking how easy it is to do media... though writing up something to do typing in that game looks like it'll be a PAIN IN THE ASS!!!... at least until I write up some sort of library for it.

You know... it feels good to have an actual direction. Anyway, ~Night!