Posted 20:52 by Tycho

Argh...yet another sucky day. Why the hell do I always feel so depressed?

Well, here it is, by the numbers. Woke up at noon. Showered/shaved, remembered to get dressed [I remembered pants, this time].

Ok, so I lied. I actually got up at about 11:00...but then a wave of feeling down and out and overall suckiness descended upon me and would not leave. I dunno what the hell is wrong with me. Actually, I do, but I'm not going to elaborate. It won't help. So I went back to bed until 12:00 hoping that the shit would go away. It didn't. Today sucked for a while, but pulled out alright in the end.

Ok, where were we? Right. Before I had showered and shaved, I had watched a couple bits from Enemy at the Gates and Independence Day. I can't but feel complete revulsion at what war is like...watching the Red Army charge entrenched German soldiers in the opening scenes of Enemy at the Gates is sobering, to say the least. Despite that, I still sort of want to join the military. I don't know...I guess I want to be an officer and a gentleman. But still, watching men get cut down as if they are grass is not a pretty sight. I do not envy the first waves of men to land on Omaha Beach (90+% casualties taken). Nor do I envy the conscripts of the Red Army, who were either cut down by the Germans, or by their own officers (victory or death...no retreat, else one would be shot as a coward and a traitor).

Independence Day was great because it's fighting an enemy, against all odds. Determination, courage, and a bit of recklessness is needed. All of which are qualities I want. Plus it has lots of cool special effects. Lots of them.

Then I got a ride to the Team HYPER robotics meeting [HYPER...heh...]. I felt better there. It's my home. I spent pretty much all of January and February there when I was in high school, during the Six Weeks of Hell. That was how I dealt with my social ineptness at the time. My feeling bad instantly went away in there. That's how much I love that place, and the people there.

Part of today, I mentored a student today who was making a sort of box car that was being powered by a mouse trap (who the FUCK would give these kids mouse traps to play with?!? Or rather, this kid?). With very few people I know. So I was a little out of place, but it's good to be back to help out. They try to weasel out of safety requirements (such as wearing safety glasses when using ANY sort of power tool). One student tried to drill a hole through a .75" square block of wood, using his hand to hold the work piece, with the drill exerting 22 in-lb of torque. Now, first off, one should NEVER use one's hand as a clamp, especially with a power tool...but if you're going to do it, only do it with a large workpiece. Secondly, you're going to seriously rip apart your wrist with that much torque (takes 6 in-lb of torque to break one's wrist). Thirdly, you're just asking the flutes on the drill bit to shred your fingers [NOT cleaning up that mess!]. I successfully caught him before he started. That was a damned close call.

And yes, I've done stupid shit like that before, and I've paid the price for doing it. I learn most things in life the hard way.


Well, what I described was exactly what the team was like when I first joined, back in 1998. Most of the team is new to this. They WILL come together by the end of the first week, and will be ready to face whatever comes their way. Sure, they don't all know how to safely use tools and what not [well, many of them do, actually, it's just that most of the team are newbies to this, and therefore don't].

Now, I've bitched about their shortcomings. Now, I will tell everyone the one good thing about them (well, there are many good things about the team, but this is the most important good thing). They work as a team. No one works alone. Everyone pitches in and helps each other. That trait alone makes them a contender.

I have utmost confidence in their abilities. They will make a good team. I look forward to working with them during the six weeks, when I am able to. They are exactly what a model team should be.

Afterwards, had a nice meal at Gennaro's...though they took their damn time bringing the food to the table [they are usually extremely quick, curteous, and efficient...something was going wrong tonight]. Got chicken cacciatore over fusilli pasta. Excellent stuff. I truely stuffed my face. Just gobbled it all up, and a little while later, I was hungry again. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy right now to scrounge something up that doesn't require cooking, so I'll have to make it until morning.

Came home, started packing to go back to school. I don't want to go back. I don't want to go to class. I don't want to see Worcester, ever again. Nevermind what I just said...it still hurts alot...

Alright, after I did some packing, I sat down and played TIE Fighter for a while. Awesome game. Then I got bored of it (the TIE Defender kicks so much ass that every mission is a turkey shoot...I mean, I have something like 536 kills), so I'm here whining again [some surprise, eh?].

Felt like shit today, for the most part, much like parts of yesterday [even when at the pool hall].

I will frequently "phase out", and someone will talk to me, then they realize I'm not quite there, and shake me and say, "Hey! You ok?", and I'll smile and nod and make a little white lie about how I'm doing just dandy.

I'm sick and tired of being depressed (if ANY of you touch my scally cap, you can ALL consider yourselves dead men...) all the time, so let's end this Blog on a good note, with a funny [if sinful] quote...I do not approve of it, but I really couldn't help but laugh when I heard it (Mr. Nick, you were a lifesaver today).

People these days will steal anything. Hell, they'd steal Jesus if he weren't nailed down.

And here is one from Penny Arcade:

Gabe: I once punched a baby.

Tycho: Yeah, that baby was being a dick.

Gabe: I don't know what the hell it's problem was.

________

Magic Hate Ball: Signs are unclear.

Tycho: Oh, Magic 8 Ball, is death really the answer?

Magic Hate Ball: SHUT UP AND DIE!

Ah yes, Mr. Tycho, maybe if you didn't use the blunt side of a butter knife, you might have better luck.