Mechanical engineer, material scientist. Loves to run, play billiards, swim, and be outdoors.
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Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Anyways, just got back from Vale Tudo (meaning "anything goes"...with a couple exceptions). One hell of a workout. I don't remember feeling this tired excepting after the UMass Dartmouth race last year. On the downside, it was my first full class, so I sucked big donkey balls and so was a little slow picking things up, but pick them up I did. After about 2 hours of pure conditioning hell (imagine doing 3 minute sprints with 30 seconds rest between...for 2 hours), we played a version of "King of the Hill". Instead of trying to push someone out of a circle, it was whomever took the other guy down. Some vicious fights. I got tossed most of the time, but I did manage to take one guy down, which felt damn good. But right now my body is battered, aches, and generally just hurts. Strangely enough, I've never felt better in my life. Would be nice to get a girlfriend somewhere along the line, though. Ah well, all in good time.
Time to shower. And slather on that blue gel formula. It feels good to have that stuff numb your muscles. It feels like a cold rain of icy goodness.
Edit: The blue gel stuff can wait until tomorrow...back to reading the Foundation series...
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Monday, November 28, 2005
Got back to school yesterday after another far-too-short (TM) break for Glutton Day. Talk about having more desserts than people! I definitely gained a few pounds.
Quick report today, as I have more work to do...finished the 5 page paper, but was informed that an executive summary was needed (sans split infinitives), so I'm working on that now. At 8 I'm heading over for martial arts (Tae Kwon Do tonight), and hopefully will be able to finally have supper at around 10 or so.
I'm kind of looking for and finished reading "Dune" for what has to be the best chocolate pie at the restaurant at the end of the universe got started with the big bang and the guy fell over dead and we then burned the building that has true glass windows that break when people used eggs to make omelettes for the elephants from the zoo who had stampeded through a slew of McDonalds much to the consternation of many customers as they ran out of fries.
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Sunday, November 27, 2005
This is also known as "don't leave the writing to the last minute" syndrome, and affects nearly 99,999% of college students (0,99999 for those who don't appreciate percentages). Oh, and yes, by the way, people, get up to speed. Ten thousand is NOT 10,000 -- it is 10 000. On top of that, three point one four one five nine is NOT 3.14159...it is 3,14159. International standards people! They're international, which means they are 100% correct because the French pulled it out of their asses! (Only if the poor French could somehow pull a victory out of that instead).
You know what you need to do? You need to take your coefficient of performance, turn it sideways, and ram it up your candy ass!!! <-- cause that is what the rock is cooking. As a side dish to complement his delicious chicken pie.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Plastics took another good big chunk of time to finish today. I feel bad at having to fudge things a little bit, but we weren't given enough information to solve the problem, nor could we find the information needed. By "fudging" I mean making assumptions to values of things. I hope we get our exams back tomorrow. I've got a bad feeling about it.
Anyways, back tomorrow night, but need to do research and writing. Same for Wednesday and Friday. At least it is fairly interesting--it would be very cool if I built my own wind turbine/generator setup. Very, very cool.
I should get some sleep. And let's hope I remember to bring my history notes to the exam tomorrow/today.
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Sunday, November 20, 2005
Woke up, went to mass, then went and did a quick warm up and lifted for just over an hour. Then came back and showered, shaved, etc. Now trying to summon up the motivation to take notes. I'll start in a few minutes.
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Got back from someone's 21st b-day party a short while ago. They're going to either a.) Really Feel It., b.) Have a Big Hangover, or c.) Think its their birthday when they wake up. Good times though.
Finally got started researching for the paper. Woo-hoo. Scotty doesn't know.
Now, it's off to watch a movie, and I'm trying to resist the urge to shadow box/IM a friend and sprint up to Bancroft Tower.
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Saturday, November 19, 2005
Other than that, pretty much swamped with work that I'm too exhausted to do and have a slight cold. So, to bore you all back to sleep, here is tomorrow's schedule:
12-3: MQP. It's getting close to being finished, just need to write a few more sections, revise it, and submit it.
3-8: Plastics homework. We did 2 more problems today in an 1,5 hours. Damn we're good. Only 9 more to go.
8-10: Take notes for thermofluids research paper. This is turning into a major pain in the butt. Especially since I have a history exam Tuesday.
Hopefully we'll only work on MQP for an hour or so, which will give me some time to do some form of cardio workout followed by lifting before we start busting out the plastics homework.
Quote of the day: Volunteering for something is just asking for trouble.
I've also go to fit in some history reading.
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Thursday, November 17, 2005
Muscles were still sore today, so I didn't lift, though I did do a couple drills to work on rhythm and speed. Damn, I spelled rhythm correctly. I kick ass.
Anyways, I now have a cold/sore throat which is definitely affecting my ability to work. Attention span is lower, tolerance for frustration is lower, and there I feel no driving force to get work done. I'm hoping if I can get 10 or so hours of sleep tonight I'll wake up tomorrow and feel all better and be able to just concentrate on what needs to get done.
Umm...I started research for my thermofluids paper (half hour or so), and got some information I needed straight off the bat, which was rewarding.
But yes, I feel like shit, so I'm going to probably not take anymore notes tonight and just hit the sack and try to get to sleep despite the pounding bass in the other room. And tomorrow, regardless of how I feel, I plan on grinding through what needs doing. So let's make a list, so I shan't forget:
1. Do more plastics homework. It's about as fun as...nevermind, I'm not going to say it. It involves a cactus. Use your imagination.
2. Fill out minor registration form, and get it signed. Bureaucracy at its finest.
3. Thermofluids research. Because every design course should involve writing a history paper.
4. MQP -- write one section, then create Pro/E models. As if a normal courseload weren't enough.
5. E-mail PTS advisor about date for induction ceremony. I'll remember not to order 17 pizzas for 6 people this time. I promise.
6. Drink whiskey in moderation, you know, to get rid of my sore throat. Kind of wish I bought the Irish cream instead, as it tastes far better*.
7. Catch up on sleep. I've been getting far more sleep than I've gotten before at college (6-8 hours per night, in comparison to 3-6 hours per night), but that's because I'm forcing myself to do so. If I did everything I wanted to do in a day, I'd be back to zombie land. The last 2 weeks of the term does look like 14 straight all-nighters, but we'll see.
*I've never understood this fascination with alcohol that I see at school. Maybe it's because I'm Irish and Russian and therefore have alcohol for blood. What's the point in spending money on shit beer that smells (and tastes) like chinchilla feces smeared all over a dead squirrel? All in the name of poisoning yourself to the point of throwing up, going into a drunken stupor, and getting raped by muggers on your way home. I don't know about the rest of the population at school, but getting raped by muggers is NOT my idea of a good time. Why can't every relax with GOOD tasting drinks that they can sip and enjoy fully, instead of drinking themsevles to a retarded frenzy?
I am a proponent for going over your limit every once in a while, just so you know how bad it feels, and hence not wanting to do it. But this obsession with cheap beer and alcohol is pretty damn scary. It scares me almost as much as Richard Simmons scared Wayne on "Who's Line...".
Speaking of alcohol, WPI is mandating that the Cross Country team NOT fulfill their annual tradition of a chunder mile. Quick description: drink a beer, sprint a lap, drink a beer, sprint a lap, drink a beer, sprint a lap, drink a beer, sprint a lap. If you throw up, you have to drink another beer and sprint another lap (cumulative effect). This year we're made to do it without alcoholic substances, so it looks like chocolate and dyed milk is a favorite, as well as large servings of slightly undercooked eggs.
Mmm-mmm, now that's home cookin'.
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Wednesday, November 16, 2005
My plan was to do research for my paper for thermofluids, but I just lacked the necessary motivation to do so. Eventually I ended up going to the library and picking up a few books, and then writing a general outline, so I guess the day wasn't a total loss, though I probably could have done enough research to write a page or two without too much of a problem.
I felt really restless today, and had no will to be active (which is very weird). Got plenty of sleep last night (8.5 hours?), and I've been "off" pretty much the entire day. I've also been relatively sore, especially since the afternoon, though. Was too lazy to even go out and exercise today. Probably over-exerted myself last night, but it was well worth looking like a Brazilian kickboxer (albeit an amateur) when I was firing off my stuff.
Ugh...now I have to take care of business that absolutely needs to be taken care of. Goodnight.
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Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Of course there's got to be some genius who hands in her paper just as I'm finishing reading over the exam. *Sigh*
Anyways, no homework has been posted for plastics yet, nor for thermofluids. Actually we fixed out homework just before class, as we made a couple of assumptions that we shouldn't have. Thank you, TEST! Without you, we would have been Class-A asshats. TEST is mine, my own...my precious...
I should probably do history reading, but that can be done later.
Oh, also went to my first martial arts class of the year. Not Hapkido...this time it's MMA (mixed martial arts), you know, the kind you see on the Ultimate Fighting Championships. It wasn't as hard as I had expected--I came on the wrong day. Tomorrow is the day where they have a puke bucket handy. Unfortunately I have mass tomorrow night, so I won't be able to go (I do miss the days of exercising beyond the point of puking, though).
'Night.
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Monday, November 14, 2005
I'm not looking forward to the end of the term...I had best stock up on caffeine pills...
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Sunday, November 13, 2005
Anyways, back on track. Tomorrow looks like going to mass, thermofluid design work, then once my homework partner gets back in the evening, we're going to bust out the last 4 problems for plastics. It's not so much the questions being posed, its the scrambling around looking in the million possible sources there are to get information from (including a 5 000 page book). That means I should be done with doing homework at 10PM or so, giving me a good night's sleep. We're all royally fucked for the exam Tuesday. Far too much material, and far too many equations. If I'm lucky, I might get time to workout tomorrow (Sunday).
It is now far too cold for me to run outside without tights, which I don't have with me. At least the rest is good for the muscles, seeing some good improvement.
If all goes well, I'll be going to an archery range at some point this week. $15 for bow, arrows, and 1-2 hours of range time...not bad. Probably cheaper if I had my own bow (which I might get, if we start to go). Probably should go shooting with another guy at some point. I want to try out his Karbine-1898.
On top of that, need more Diet Pepsi. And sanity. I could always use more sanity.
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Friday, November 11, 2005
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. ANZAC day. Remembrance Day. Veteran's Day. Remember them well. Lest we forget...
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Today I was to work and not relax until the work was done, but I slacked off for much of the day. Go me.
Thermofluids is going ok, though this new homework assignment seems to be massive (analyzing a power plant of our own creation)...though it will get much more involved once we have to design one from the bottom up.
History involves far too much reading, though I've kept up with it so far. Plastics is just a damned pain because the homework is lengthy and there is far too much of it.
Haven't been running due to the cold. Nor have I been lifting, as I haven't had the time. If I stopped screwing around until the end of the day (read after 10-11 PM), I'd have time to improve my physical condition. I have half a mind to go talk to the professional fighter (UFC quality) I know and say, "Pedro, I want you to make me into a fucking machine. I want you to make it so I can be thrown through hell and high water and be begging for more." He could probably make me tougher than nails, steel, or however that saying goes by spring or so. And stronger, as well as having a shit ton of endurance to boot.
Possibly going to an archery range at some point next week. We'll see. Depends on how much designing and other kinds of homework I have.
Things seem to be flying by. Plastics exam Tuesday, which I'm going to most likely fail due to the massive amount of pretty complicated material it is going to cover. To make it worse, it is multiple choice. Multiple choice is great for history and stuff like that, but in engineering it ends up being: (a) 2.99843, (b) 2.99842, (c) 2.99844, (d) 2.998425, so on and so forth. So they really, really, really suck...probably more than a Hoover. And they suck pretty badly.
One thing I can't wait for is for all the leaves to finish falling...then I'll be able to walk to the top of Bancroft Hill and look out from Bancroft Tower and see all of Worcester and the surrounding cities. Plus some time to spend in Higgins Gardens.
By the way, Chris, if you catch this, I think I'm qualified to teach/be councilor for the Space Exploration badge, as well as for a good portion/most of the Metalworking badge, and would most likely be able to do so over Christmas break. Not sure what my schedule would be like, but if Mr. J. wants, I think I'll have the time to do so.
Good night all. I have to be up far too early to finish up a project, and then start looking for sources for my paper for thermofluid design. Fun stuff.
I think I broke my finger.
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