so what's next?
It's been a long time since I updated here. Major world events (a huge
earthquake which caused a nuclear disaster in Japan, the final destruction
of Osama Bin Ladin, massive political unrest in Egypt and other countries,
and the misprediction of the Rapture [alright scratch that last one in terms
of major world events]) have all taken place since I last updated. I suppose
Japan was the one which seemed most relatable to me. It was an awful
tragedy, and I know someone who had a daughter in Japan at the time. For
the most part though, these events had very little effect on my day to day
existence, and life became routine, accept when it wasn't and for those
times, I didn't write.
But here I am again.
Another quarter ended in my teaching job. I'm supposed to teach again in
the fall. If any students complained about my performance as an instructor,
I haven't yet heard about it. This makes me happy. I still love teaching.
This also makes me happy. I want me to teach the same course, which means
that I won't have to spend the entire summer learning a new topic. This
also, yes you guessed it, makes me happy.
I finished my algebra course (the equivalent of the last year of high school
algebra) with an a. I got an a both in the course, and on the final. I am
now working with the U of M to take their placement exam to see if I now
have enough ,knowledge to start taking math at the college level.
I feel spectacularly unmotivated to do anything. I finally
got frustrated enough with my self-image that I decided to change it a bit
by joining the YWCA. So far, I've worked out every day but one since last
Friday.
I purchased a waterproof mp3 player 5 years ago, but it seems not to work
anymore. I'm wondering if I can exchange it for a new one. The Y has
wonderful staff, but they aren't always present when I'm swimming. I can't
read the clock, and can't tell how long I've swum. Since I am not yet
consistently swimming back and forth, I can't count laps. An mp3 player
preloaded with a set amount of audio would let me know how long I've been in
the water.
I am supposed to go to the acb convention this summer. I won
a contest which gives me seven nights in a hotel. This is the only reason I
can afford to go. I am very excited about it, as I haven't been to a
convention since 2008, and this year is the 50th anniversary of acb. There
is a 5k I am going to do. I should ask all of you to help sponsor me, but I
haven't yet registered, and anyway, most of you are trying to raise money
yourselves for the same 5k I bet, so acb will just have to be content with
the fact I'm walking.
What else am I planning for the summer? Not sure. There is a Java
certification I should probably get, and if I'm going to try and get it,
summer is the best time for me to study for it I believe.
If I qualify to take math at the U, I will see if the text can be made
available in Braille by this fall. I refuse to use anything other than
Braille for my primary interaction with math. I'll accept audio in addition
to Braille, but not in replacement of Braille. If I can't take math in the
fall, I may see if I can find some undergrad computer science courses to
take. I know fall isn't that far away, but for the moment, I'm pretending it
is.
It's the memorial day weekend coming up. I think I'm getting together with
a friend to drink and eat chicken wings. Patti and I may be going to a
party. Beyond that, I have no clue.
Here's hoping I write another update or two before the summer ends. This is
the ten-year anniversary of my keeping this blog. Some years have been
better for updating I'm sure. When I'm dead, people will probably read this
and say
"Wow, I remember lots of cool stories that aren't in here." So be it. Life
goes on, and I don't usually have the energy to write about it. The time I
spent a couple weeks ago smoking flavored tobacco at a place in Fridley
designed specifically for hookah smoking was fairly amazing, but not
something I intend to do often. It was a great night with friends, and
reaffirmed my love of middle eastern food. It was something rather out of
the box for me, as I never have smoked before. My lungs felt very strange
the next day. The flavor of the tobacco was quite enjoyable.
Oh well, enough for now. I need to work up the energy to go walking on the
treadmill. Today, I'm going to work out at home. I heard somewhere if you
do the same exercise every day, your body becomes used to it. Not sure if
it's true, but it sounds good, so no swimming today.
earthquake which caused a nuclear disaster in Japan, the final destruction
of Osama Bin Ladin, massive political unrest in Egypt and other countries,
and the misprediction of the Rapture [alright scratch that last one in terms
of major world events]) have all taken place since I last updated. I suppose
Japan was the one which seemed most relatable to me. It was an awful
tragedy, and I know someone who had a daughter in Japan at the time. For
the most part though, these events had very little effect on my day to day
existence, and life became routine, accept when it wasn't and for those
times, I didn't write.
But here I am again.
Another quarter ended in my teaching job. I'm supposed to teach again in
the fall. If any students complained about my performance as an instructor,
I haven't yet heard about it. This makes me happy. I still love teaching.
This also makes me happy. I want me to teach the same course, which means
that I won't have to spend the entire summer learning a new topic. This
also, yes you guessed it, makes me happy.
I finished my algebra course (the equivalent of the last year of high school
algebra) with an a. I got an a both in the course, and on the final. I am
now working with the U of M to take their placement exam to see if I now
have enough ,knowledge to start taking math at the college level.
I feel spectacularly unmotivated to do anything. I finally
got frustrated enough with my self-image that I decided to change it a bit
by joining the YWCA. So far, I've worked out every day but one since last
Friday.
I purchased a waterproof mp3 player 5 years ago, but it seems not to work
anymore. I'm wondering if I can exchange it for a new one. The Y has
wonderful staff, but they aren't always present when I'm swimming. I can't
read the clock, and can't tell how long I've swum. Since I am not yet
consistently swimming back and forth, I can't count laps. An mp3 player
preloaded with a set amount of audio would let me know how long I've been in
the water.
I am supposed to go to the acb convention this summer. I won
a contest which gives me seven nights in a hotel. This is the only reason I
can afford to go. I am very excited about it, as I haven't been to a
convention since 2008, and this year is the 50th anniversary of acb. There
is a 5k I am going to do. I should ask all of you to help sponsor me, but I
haven't yet registered, and anyway, most of you are trying to raise money
yourselves for the same 5k I bet, so acb will just have to be content with
the fact I'm walking.
What else am I planning for the summer? Not sure. There is a Java
certification I should probably get, and if I'm going to try and get it,
summer is the best time for me to study for it I believe.
If I qualify to take math at the U, I will see if the text can be made
available in Braille by this fall. I refuse to use anything other than
Braille for my primary interaction with math. I'll accept audio in addition
to Braille, but not in replacement of Braille. If I can't take math in the
fall, I may see if I can find some undergrad computer science courses to
take. I know fall isn't that far away, but for the moment, I'm pretending it
is.
It's the memorial day weekend coming up. I think I'm getting together with
a friend to drink and eat chicken wings. Patti and I may be going to a
party. Beyond that, I have no clue.
Here's hoping I write another update or two before the summer ends. This is
the ten-year anniversary of my keeping this blog. Some years have been
better for updating I'm sure. When I'm dead, people will probably read this
and say
"Wow, I remember lots of cool stories that aren't in here." So be it. Life
goes on, and I don't usually have the energy to write about it. The time I
spent a couple weeks ago smoking flavored tobacco at a place in Fridley
designed specifically for hookah smoking was fairly amazing, but not
something I intend to do often. It was a great night with friends, and
reaffirmed my love of middle eastern food. It was something rather out of
the box for me, as I never have smoked before. My lungs felt very strange
the next day. The flavor of the tobacco was quite enjoyable.
Oh well, enough for now. I need to work up the energy to go walking on the
treadmill. Today, I'm going to work out at home. I heard somewhere if you
do the same exercise every day, your body becomes used to it. Not sure if
it's true, but it sounds good, so no swimming today.