Monthly Archive for June, 2005

I’ve been busy this week. I can’t explain on what, of course, but I’m finally getting my feet planted in the ground. What’s strange is that my internship is 25% complete. It doesn’t seem like it should be already. Am I sad? A little. It’ll get worse as the end approaches I’m sure.

Today I’m going to a cookout. Let’s see if I can get there without getting lost.

Hmm, what else have I accomplished this week? RSS feed works on here now, as you know, and it also works at ManageYourPC.com (I turned it on). P.M. Fowler is doing such a great job at the news articles, I felt it was appropriate to turn on the syndication module. Before I was only publishing a few things here and there, but now there’s a lot of important news streaming through. I’ve signed up for the feed myself.

Forth of July is approaching, and I’m thinking of going to watch some fireworks in the area. Alcohol prohibited. I have yet to go ride any coasters in the area. Some of my friends from Cedar Point sent text messages to my cell phone, and while I liked receiving them, the first arrived at 6:30 am, so, send ‘em later if you would. Also received a picture from the park, thank you for that one. I laughed at that, and I’ll have to show the guys at work. I do miss the park big time. If I am lucky enough to have the honor of working for Microsoft after I graduate in December, I’ll have to figure out how to hit the park during the summer months. I miss hanging out with my friends there, including the Magnum crew. I miss the laughs. I miss the coaster. I miss those few seconds of pure 100% freedom I feel just dropping off the first hill on Magnum. What I need to do is plan on a day to head down there when I get back, and coordinate it so I can see everyone while I’m there.

I’ve driven all of about 210 miles in the rental car so far. Had to buy 12 gallons of fuel. Strange not being in the car for long periods like I used to be. Hopefully my car at home is enjoying its break. When I get back, we’ll be rolling on again, I’m sure. The semester starts on August 31, so that gives me 2 days back (I get back Sunday August 28 around 11:45 pm) to get ready to jump back in. I would have preferred a week, but this was the only way to set it up. I usually don’t get my books until after I know the ISBN for each when I get the syllabus for each course, and then I either grab them at the bookstore, or order them online. I can’t wait to get my degree. It’s been a journey getting there, that’s for sure. For the curious, my degree is a Bachelor of Science with my major being Computer Engineering, but you probably figured that.

Another week has come and gone. Work is going well. I can’t really talk about it, of course, so I’ll leave it at that. Went to see Star Wars Episode III last night with some other interns. The movie was ok. It accomplished its goal: link movie 2 with movie 4. Tonight I’m going to see Batman Begins or whatever it’s called.

There are no BP stations here. Since BP owns ARCO, another station here, they sold off their BP stations. They’re 76 stations now. Now that I’m without Amoco Ultimate, I guess I’ll just go to 76. ARCO doesn’t take credit cards, but they’ll happily take your debit card and add 35 cents for processing, and my bank will add a bonus $2.50.

Weather’s a little nicer now. We’re in the 70s for temps, with 80s approaching this week. Finally I won’t feel so cold in the 60s. Yeah, I know, why am I cold in 60-degree temps, but I am. I’m supposed to be at Cedar Point in the upper 70s, remember?

Speaking of that, I’m looking around for some amusement parks, and there’s one south of here maybe 30 minutes that looks, well, boring. There’s another about 300 miles to the east in Idaho, so maybe that’s a weekend one if I get ambitious.

Well, I’m here now. Was a little interesting to accomplish, however. There were some storms that brewed up east of Chicago (I had to switch planes there) and it caused an hour-and-a-half backlog on the runway, so we waited and waited and waited our turn to take off. My favorite was when they’d spin up the jet engines and we’d get a blast of cooler (not cold, but cooler) air, and then they’d be done moving and back to just the hot air blowing at us again. It was 90 F in Chicago while we waited, so that should explain that one.

I arrived at SeaTac Airport and my bag magically fell inside the conveyer belt area, so I had to ask for an employee to get it. Had I done it, I imagine lots of yelling, followed by TSA personnel coming to visit, followed by lots of questions under the spotlight or something, so I asked an employee to play it safe. But all was not bad at SeaTac. I walked up to the Avis counter and, oh darn, out of Grand Am vehicles that I was supposed to get, so yay free upgrade to a 2005 Grand Prix. Sound is decent, too, so I’m happy.

Followed my directions and grabbed my key to the temporary housing, came in, and Jeff (my roommate during the internship) beat me here, so he claimed the bedroom with the walk-in closet but that’s fine. Jeff seems really cool and even offered me some of the food he brought so that I can eat before adventuring out today (today? tomorrow? soon?) for some groceries or what not.

I’ve unpacked everything into the dresser and closet, and have settled in it seems. I just need to find a grocery store so that I can begin eating, and hopefully avoid fast-fooding it during my stay. The broadband Internet isn’t installed yet, so I’m connecting via my cell phone for short bursts. You know, long enough to check my email and make this blog entry.

Saturday I helped with the siren test in Oakland County. George (K8GEO) ran the subnet for the area, and I monitored my assigned siren for proper operation, which it did. Afterwards, several from the testing, including George, and I went to eat at a restaurant named Loui’s (I think that’s the correct spelling) just north of downtown Rochester. It was nice to hang out and to meet some of the other hams that were involved with the test. I look forward to working with them again starting in September when I get back in the area.