Trying to immortalize my gun before it is gone...

Education

So it's the start of another semester and this semester seems to be no where near as hellish as the last. I may actually have time to write a blog or two during this one. So I have some pretty interesting classes that have already got me thinking about a few things, mainly about my education and future endeavors in industry. I think it is interesting how that the more I begin to understand as I go through school, the more I realize that I know absolutely nothing. My perspective of what my education is and has meant to me is ever changing, but I can say that my point of view as to why I am going to school has changed a lot since I began my studies at the U back in Spring 2007. If you would have asked me in Junior High or High school why I was considering a career in engineering, I would have simply stated that, "the pay is good and what I get to do seems cool to me." Altough this same fact still stands as one of the motivating factor as to why I am in school, there are more reasons now that have unfolded. If you asked me today why I am still pursuing my education in engineering I would say, "I am here to understand and hopefully contribute. Engineering is probably the best place I can be to help society reach toward its full potential." Sounds idealistic right? I know, but it is the developing view that has become my true motivation for school. I want to contribute and understand better the world we live in. Part of this view is helping me understand that I need to not only seek for knowledge in today's writing, but in the writing of past scientists and philosophers. It is astounding to me how much earlier generations understood about our world, both socially and scientifically speaking. I think we live in a day and age of slothfulness. We seek after the 'quick buck' and so long as we have our personal entertainment, whatever that may be (television, vehicle, house, vacations, etc.), we stop our personal progress because we think we are content and we cease to further our understanding of our occupation or the world around us. This doesn't mean we can't nor shouldn't indulge in the entertainments that our lives may afford us, but above all, we should commit to furthering ourselves as individuals and how we can contribute to the rest. In other words, do not let self-acheivment be the method of meter, rather self-advancement be how we measure our lives. This is just the thought that has been going through my head today.

and her name is Juliette...

On May 29, 2009, a new and beautiful life was created. Her name is Juliette and yes she is a snare drum. BUT NOT JUST ANY OLD SNARE DRUM! She is a 14" x 6.5" stainless steel Dunnett Classic with mirror finish, R2 swivel throw-off, and Hypervent I adjustable air vent! She is beautiful, but more than being beautiful is the real reason she became part of my family... THE SOUND! It is responsive beyond belief and resonates so clearly it is insane! And boy is she loud! She will bite your head off if you let her! And yet, for a stainless steel drum, she is warm which is just crazy for a metal drum. Anywho, I am sure glad I made the decision to make this purchase!

School's Out for.... SUMMER!

Well, officially my summer has begun! I have to enjoy this now because I will never again have summers where I don't have to work 40 hours a week like any normal person. So I am going to live it up while I can! So what has happened since my last blog is that I actually have taken that instructor position with the Navy. It has been great considering now I can truly focus on school which makes it a lot more enjoyable. So there are a few things I would like to do this summer. The first is I need to review up on my electrical circuit principals because I will be taking a more advanced class in circuits and how to solve them. Second, I want to write an application for my iPhone. I have the SDK to do it and now I just need to learn some objective C. This will also help me for my program design in C class. So I am hoping I can in fact get at least those two things done. Oh, and it looks like that I may be going to Texas also for a few weeks. My PI at the University wants me to become the resident expert with a software package called Freesurfer. The software is an open source software that gives the user the ability to create different 3D surfaces from brain MRI scans. So we will see if that happens. If not, I will just learn it when Dr. King moves from Texas to here at the University of Utah. Well that is all for now!

A day in Charleston, South Carolina

WOW! So it has been forever since I have written in this thing. But really, let's face it, my life is not THAT interesting and there is a reason why it is titled 'semi-interesting stuff.' So anywho, I am sitting here in a hotel room in Charleston, SC on a VIP trip (paid for by the US Navy) seeing what my life would be like as a Navy Nuclear Power Instructor. Up until this point, I am sold heavily on this program! The benefits are amazing and the experience I will gain will be priceless! So anyway, I will see how the things happen at the Navy Power School, which I will be touring tomorrow. Today has just been a lot of seeing the town and such and it has been great.

On a different note, I thought I would embed the following video... Apple thinks of everything! I am not trying to dis' Macintosh (because I own one) but this video is way too funny to pass up!

Waiting to move

So, it has been like 5 months now that Maquel and I have been looking to move into my old, great grandpa's house. We are excited to get into the new place especially because of the increased room and the decent rent. However, with the house will come more responsibility like taking care of the lawn, paying ALL utilities, and more space to actually take care of. But it's cool because we were going to have to move up sooner of later. Here's the problem with this whole thing and a big portion of it is my fault. So, when I called Sheree (who is the current owner of the house and my grandpa's sister) I didn't really discuss a timeline as to when Corwin and Jeana (current tenants) would be out of the house and into the new house they were building. So, I tell our landlord that we will be out some time in August. Well, now it is August, Corwin and Jeana are just getting occupancy in their new house this coming week and my landlord wants us out by the 14th of August. So what I have done is created a mess mainly for Maquel and I. We now are probably going to have spend some time living with either's parents and we may not get everything fixed and up to par like Sheree wants to for the house. This is what happens when you are impatient I guess. Oh well though, you live and you learn. This will definately be a lesson to me for the future.

I feel kind of lonely

So, my wife Maquel left this Sunday on a business trip to Wisconsin. She and a group of others are to man a booth advertising UVU's online aviation degrees at the Oshkosh airshow, which is the biggest in the world. I would assume it is a pretty big money generator for the school because otherwise, they wouldn't be sending such a large group and paying them to do this. She says she is having fun, which I am sure she is, but one thing is sure, I miss her a lot. You know, you take for granted those things in life that are always there until they leave for a period of time or are gone forever. But I guess things like this are good to remind you how much you care and love that person.