You know I sleep, I know you dream

Gobblefest: Ben and I
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Went from almost cashing in the chips at 11:00pm to almost 2.5 hours of straight productivity. Nothing like the motivation of a To-Do List. Many lines were crossed off, though many were added for tomorrow. Postponed a couple, too. People should operate at the same hours as me, that'd make life a whole lot easier. So would a dish washer. Alas, apparantly I'm not the pre-Galilean Earth. I'm developing some pictures from this past summer, surprises loom.

She don't come and I don't follow

Cheers
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

Thanksgiving was good to this guy. I return rejuvinated & with new-found motivation. I received some of the best advice from an olde associate:
"Just get straight A's"

Cheers.

Flew by Night

9:06pm Ouch. All those hours were definitely worth the 50% I may have just achieved (if lucky). Best comment on how this is actually good for my life gets a prize.

Fly by Night.. by Day

11:56am Slept longer than scheduled. The sweet melodies of the church across the street getting torn down wrecked any semblance of solid sleep at 8am. I remember before bed last night there was a raging debate as to whether eat the kaiser roll like a sandwich or as two separate pieces. The sandwich option won out, less effort. Five hours and 49 minutes until detonation. The song that would be playing during this post is Runaway Train. Chow time, then more centroids.

1:31pm I have officially seen all the material, with 4 hours and 14 minutes left to do practice problems. That's about 2 hours a chapter, which isn't anything to tear up about. I have determined the test could be a little rough if the Boss felt sick and sadistic while writing it. Or if he had a few scotch in him. The construction workers decided today would be a great day for deployment of jackhammers. Little do they know that the natives grow restless and are plotting. I must now exit the homeland and pursue a quiet grove in order to practice finding equivalent loads and- you know what, whatever, it's all bullshit.

Fly by Night II

5:06am Second newspaper arrived. I bet that was the NY Times.

Fly by Night

12:33am I have a test tomorrow at 5:45pm. That is 17 hours and 12 minutes. I have been studying for ~1.5 hours so far. I am going to take you through my journey this evening as I prepare for it. In order to have a chance at doing 'well' in the class, I must make a perfect performance. The class is Static Analysis. My test is on trusses, centroids, and fluids. I have to learn 2 chapters this evening.

1:56am One quarter of the way through the material. Morale among the natives has yet to plummet, though they could use a respite. I think I got it covered. Sometimes it seems counterintuitive to my no-longer-engineering-oriented mind. Then it works out. It's bad, but I try to just remember the method, not how to deduce it. The problem is then they give you a problem that takes some thinking and you can't do it because you only know straight methods. That's a bummer. We'll work on that issue on the morrow. Now I got to learn machine analysis.

3:01am It's three a.m. and I want to go to be-e-ed. Morale is still pretty high. I hit a slight 2nd or 3rd wind this past shift, which is nice. A constant sipping of coffee is being maintained, for warmth. Machine analysis will require no new skills, just the synthesis of those learned prior. It's the capstone of understanding, requiring significant concentration and effort. All engangements before the test have been cancelled, giving me 14 hours and 44 minutes to think of nothing else. "Appalachian Trail" a.k.a. "my soundtrack" is playing, lots of fiddle. Alas, more machine analysis. Sometimes I think about what a class on fluids would be like.

4:55am Alas, the giant is falling. Morale plummeted when coffee drinking infact became endothermic, sucking the life out of me. There is considerable less reading to do than hypothesized, so sparring (practice problems) will come sooner. Repetitious reading of paragraphs slowed output, so did the cheese break. Our hero is a bit confused about the difference between centroid and center of gravity, but their governing equations show striking similarities, so he thinks he can manage. It's all about uniform thickness. What ameteur mathematcians they must think we are. I appreciate it. Contrary to the cheese break, output could have been worse, but nomadlife received few updates.
A short break, and then this glorious tale of fighting for Good shall continue. The first newspaper of the day just arrived.

Burbs, Kelly, and Me.

Burbs, Kelly, and Me.
Originally uploaded by Mike W..

The debut into Greek land was a resounding success.

All Hallow's Eve

Those of you who haven't been to Madison for Halloween aren't reaching your full potential.
http://www.ofoto.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=348006308105&page=1&sort_order=0

Enjoy.

Don't it feel like tonight might never be again?

It's the evening of reckoning. Tonight I trudge into the unknown glories of the sorority formal. I need to come up with some sort of gauge, figure out if sorority girls are what they're not cracked up to be. I got a 5 minute walk, that's enough time to design the experiment.
Shall report back upon return.

In the immortal words:

Well yeah I might have chased a couple of women around
All it ever got me was down
Then there were those that made me feel good
But never as good as I feel right now
Baby you’re the only one that’s ever known how
To make me wanna live like I wanna live now!

Mix.

Frozen in real time

After several evenings of experimentation, I now know why beds have headboards...

Well, my hellish way of life caught up to me today and I got sick. Apparantly sleeping and eating only when you have to isn't the way to go. I scratched my afternoon classes, popped in to work to get a data run going and then hit the sack from 3-7pm. Sore shoulders, neck, & throat and a pretty dece headache had me sitting on the couch silently staring at the wall for 1.5 hours. Straight Chilling, as trent woudl call it.
Went over to kristi's for a homely atmoshpere. I watched part of the Apprentice and ER with her roommate. I forgot how much I despise most TV. The Apprentice (and donald trump's lameness) represent just about all I despise in the world. TV in general just isn't my thing. Mindless...

Maxim, on the other hand. There's some quality journalism.

Some time in my life I'm going to have a house that has more function than having large capacity for hookah patrons and parties. Some time my room will be comfortable and I will go there for more than sleep and computer. Getting to my bed won't require acrobatics, either. Some time I will be come a civilized citizen. Probably not too soon though.

It is interesting that @.ws is hanging up the cleats. I think it was only a matter of time. It had such potential. How is it that nomadlife can survive (or thrive) where .ws failed almost miserably? What kind of resources (or lack thereof) was AIESEC putting into it? Reading finely crafted entries on events abroad can achieve a certain amount of the impact AIESEC is looking for.
On the plus side, we have a supreme venue for those nomads to continue their meanderings. How can we promote nomadlife to those who had blogs? Post it on the .ws homepage? nomadlife can explode in amazing awesomeness now that all those folks are displaced. On the 'updated blog' section can we get a 'time updated'?

A headboard would prevent my pillows from falling off my bed and causing discomfort in the upper torso region.

Jesus on the land line, tell him what you want to

UW - Madison remains a BSD
I've always been slightly interested in biology, maybe more so in biotechnology or biophysics. Nature has a small fractoid of my heart and with a few different influences I could be going down a life science route instead of whatever I'm doing right now.
My sleep schedule has been pretty messed up lately and a headache has resulted. I'm tapping out early in hopes of getting up early and finishing part of my math assignment.
The formal draws closer as excitment culminates.
Our BOA meeting was tonight. I sat in to talk about hosting ROKS this semester. We have a new faculty advisor who is an ex-trainee and LCP of Belgrade. He seems extremely interested in actually helping us, which is sweet. He runs a master's course on Motivational Leadership. I'd like to take it. I also want to chat with another BOA member who does consulting for High-tech small to medium businesses. I could do something like that... maybe.
I read selected parts of Malcom X's autobiography the other night. Such an inspiring and moving book. If you haven't read it, check it out immediately and start reading it over a cup of tea or after raking the yard or after the reunion.

Out.

P.S. Kai & Cat rule!

My sight was poor but I was sure the sirens sang their songs for me

5 O'clock
red sweatshirt
--> major crush freshman year
(I think)
"Katie 318 Chadbourne"

Good call.


Nights like this past Saturday night only happen before days like this past Monday. That means a night like next saturday night is going to have to happen before a day like next monday.

I got about 11.5 hours of sleep last night. Man that was glorious. I'll get about 4.25 tonight.
My current fancy is fluid mechanics. I think I could squeeze out a program for it, though it would come from multiple engineering departments. I've always been a wanderer.

they dance above me as I sink
I see them through a crystal haze
and hear the sweet sound bouncing round
the neverending coral maze

Hip, lock, up so tight you drive me crazy

I am going to a sorority formal next Friday. It is my rookie debut into the Greek scene. Me and burbs are going with another member and her roommate. I think it will be fun. It's a dinner and a dance.
Me and burbs are like the anti-christ of Frat boys, but I figure I'll check out this sorority thing. At the worst it's a 1:1 ratio.
I think it will be fun. I like dances.
As for this evening, I've got a cocktail party to make an appearance at.
Better get in the 9's...

I must admit I feel as small as dust lying down here

Today was all the way around completely unfulfilling in many ways. Didn't do any work last night. Went out to see a friend's band play at 9, or so I thought. Then they didn't go on until midnight. Productivity out the window along with my mental awareness (notice how I spelled "write" in one of the previous posts.
Slept until 11ish, didn't get the questions I needed answered in math. Work was blah. Not too motivated right now and feeling like I am constantly walking uphill, falling down, and then repeating.
Something sweet needs to happen.
Massage happens.
I can make it happen.
I am running a session on setting individual AIESEC vision tomorrow. I think it is going to turn out well. I guess we'll see how motivating I can be. I don't like to script things like this too tight, so i'll be sailing in the open wind. Just how I like it.
My to-do list is huge. I have math test on thursday. Why am I not studying. I couldn't concentrate after my delightful evening.
Two tests on Monday.
What a great weekend I have ahead of me.
Oh yeah, I'll be in the lab friday evening again. Not sure if I'll be there as late though.
Maybe not, maybe so. Maybe yes, maybe no.
I am seeking the radiance of a smile. Just for a moment.

spoon and spoon, stirring my coffee...

There is a callipygian young lady.
She defenestrated me.

The road opens up before me as I turn to it alone.

Several things to wright about:
-What I did tonight
-why you were wrong for voting republican
-why I hate what you think of me (or the general american)
-why I have pent up anger right now (see above)

MM

Here I stand, head in hand... turn my face to the wall

It rains. Everywhere.
They both feel it. Well, no. It registers, nothing more... a cold reminder of what now is. They are both lost outside themselves, hiding from what lies within. Adrift, they seek solace away from all that is home. The past has been written, the future blurred in clouds unknown. Let History's pen find the manuscript. Watch it dance lightly across. Watch whisps of smoke drift up and whither into nothing.
Coming here was not unforseen, like a rain drop finding harsh reality shattering on the bridge, centimeters from the soft golden splendors of pond.
But still, their steps continue. One forward, one backward. The dance goes on...

Come in from the cold for a while...

It's funny how the soundest advice or most comforting feelings come when you aren't watching... usually while looking inside yourself.
You get reminded to not let the candle burn down while looking back the other way.

Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then

Looks as if my departure will be 25 minutes late. It's been good getting a full run of the spectral lines done in one day. I'll be moving to the 300-400nm range next. Those runs will probably have to be done overnight. I put the speakers in the lab and now I can listen to music while finding knowledge. "Ich mochte deine hand..."
I made up a story in my head. I couldn't post it because I have to run back and forth between this office and the lab. It's just one doorway, but it's hard to keep continuous thought going and then I'd ruin the story like a puppy on your new couch.
OK, I think the pump is done winding down. It's time to head out.
Well, after this song. It's a good one.
Bask in the sweet radiance.
Norwegian Wood.

Sounds so similar...

WINNING THE GOODWILL OF ORDINARY MUSLIMS represents a small front in the U.S. war on terrorism, but a crucial one. On this unheralded battlefield, the State Department is taking a gamble: Bring a few dozen bright Muslim students from Arab and South Asian countries and show them America. Have them live at American universities for five weeks over the summer. Give them classes on U.S. history, politics and society. Show them everything from a local soup kitchen and Fourth of July parade to Ellis Island and Ground Zero.
The two-year-old program, which costs up to $18,000 per participant, is aimed at students like Ovais Ali, a 21-year-old from India's Kashmir region who'd always dreamed of studying in the United States. America beckoned with a popular culture that intoxicated him, he says. He'd watch CNN just to hear how the presenters talked. He'd watch Tiger Woods just to see how he walked. He'd watch American movies to cloak himself in the vibe of America. (full article)

Here comes the sun..

It's been kind of a long day in the lab. I took a break when my mom came down. We went to Noodles and Company. I think I'll eat the left-overs when I get home. I hope to be out of the lab in 40 minutes.. that'll put me at home right around 11:15pm.

Yea, it's Friday..