chaz720.net - journal

March 04, 2003

Bat your eyes girl, be otherworldly, count your blessings, seduce a stranger. What's so wrong with being happy? Kudos to those who see through sickness. When she woke in the morning, she knew that her life had passed her by. And she called out a warning, "Don't ever let life pass you by." I suggest we learn to love ourselves before it's made illegal. When will we learn? When will we change? Just in time to see it all fall down. Those left standing will make millions writing books on the way it should have been. When she woke in the morning she knew that her life had passed her by. And she called out a warning, "Don't ever let life pass you by." Floating in this cosmic jacuzzi we are like frogs oblivious to the water starting to boil. No one flinches, we all float face down.

Ah yes March, and it's no warmer... The days, however, have steadily been getting longer and it's no longer dark at 5pm anymore, that's always a plus. I sometimes feel the best thing about the summer is that on weekends you can sleep in until noon and still have 8 hours of daylight ahead of you.

Last weekend was pretty crazy, after having taken my ece340 test on Thursday (more on that later) I went out to celebrate David's 21st. We went to Murphy's and had a great time drinking and playing cards. I even managed to get to sleep by 1:30 so I made it to all my classes on friday. The next night was more of the same, but with around three times as many people, it going on twice as long, and we had a keg up at Dave's place. And this just kidna went on like that.

Well anyway, Monday I got my ece340 test back, I got a 66, with the mean in the low 50s, so not too bad. I noticed, however, that on one of the questions I had done it correctly, gotten the right answer, and even included the proper units with my answer, but got almost half the points deducted anyway. Obviously disgusted with that, I talked to my professor and I'm pretty hopeful at getting at least some of the points back. I wouldn't normally mind but they never did anything like that when grading my homework, and I think the least they could do is be consistant. Not to mention the fact that someone, who shall remain nameless, screwed up one of the values and got the answers wrong, but recieved more points on the problem than I did.

Later yesterday, I took my first cs225 test, and it went very well. The only part I didn't breeze through was a section where you were supposed to repair a couple code chunks that weren't functioning as they were supposed to. Well anyway, after going through one of the functions, not only did I confirm it was not working, but I was also completely bewildered by how what they were doing even resembled the code's intended function. So I just crossed the whole thing out and re-wrote it. I have a feeling that wasn't what they had in mind though, I dunno, I'll have to see.

After a less than interesting/spactacular third of a semester in ece340, I took the time to reconsider a couple of my course selections to take next year. I need to take two elective labs, one I'd already decided was going to be ece320 (digital signal processing) and the other was going to be ece344 (theory and fabrication of electronic circuits) But the latter draws on 340 pretty heavily, and any friend of 340 is no friend of mine. So I found ece386 (control systems) which sounds immensly cool to anyone dorky enough to be an engineer. Essentially it involves using computers to dynamically control physical devices so that they could perform some particular task on their own in the real world. For example, you could program a robot to have a "sense of balance" or make a car follow the lines on the road and maintain a safe following distance on the interstate. Those are some more advanced goals, but it gives you an idea of where the course is coming from.

Next semester looks like it will be the trusty old 3 ece classes and 1 cs class for a total of 13 hours again. Sounds like fun if I've ever had it.

March 13, 2003

Freak out and give in, doesn't matter what you believe in. Stay cool, and be somebody's fool this year. 'Cause they know who is righteous, what is bold. So I'm told. Who wants honey? As long as there's some money, who wants that honey? Hipsters unite, come align for the big fight to rock for you. But beware, all those angels with their wings glued on. 'Cause deep down they are frightened and they're scared if you don't stare. Who wants honey? As long as there's some money, who wants that honey? Let me out. Tell me all of your secrets. Cannot help but believe this is true. Tell me all of your secrets. I know, I know, I know, should have listened when I was told. Who wants that honey? As long as there is some money, Who wants that honey? Let me out.

I could have sworn that I had Siamese Dream at some point or another because I love this album, but maybe I was wrong. Oh well, all I know is I didn't have it when Joel was in town this weekend, so I got it from him.

The feeling of spring is definitely coming around. It's getting steadily warmer, and we even had our first thunderstorm last night. I can't tell you how welcome it was to see a form of precipitation that wasn't in some way frozen.

Ah... it feels really good to have a slow week for a change. A combination of being between tests, having assignments skip a beat because of Engineering Open House, and starting to use VHDL in ece249 (resulting in a rather easy, tutorial-like lab) has made for very little actual work I've had to do. It means I'll have some more things I have to do next week, but I'm not too worried. Besides, next week ends in spring break, which will be fun no matter what I do.

Speaking of spring break... Hans, David, and Dave had planned for some time to drive to New Orleans for the week. Recently, however, that idea got shit-canned due to problems getting a car that would both make the journey, and carry with it permission to do so. After that fell through, Hans was discussing his hard luck with John, who then wanted to ressurect the idea with his car, and He, Hans, and I making the trip. I had no problem with that as I wasn't really doing anything. But once again, the plan failed to hold water, John couldn't get enough time off from his work to make it worth while.

So now I have no idea, I'll probably stay down here for the first weekend and hang out with people. Then maybe go back home monday after I pick up the new Zelda game, so that way at least I'll have that to keep me entertained.

March 22, 2003

One, two, three and I come with the redneck style. Because you know I get paid by the mile, like Avis. I pave this, Fast save this, everybody smile, and act gracious. See I rob banks, I pull pranks, sometimes I eat franks and knishes, best wishes, I'm vicious and here I am again like CNN. Delivery my friend. Stick 'em up punk, it's the Fun Lovin' Criminal. Yes we bug a lot and my friends is loud and, I'm more freaky than Disco 2000. I scream, I yell, I bark, I bite, I'll hit you with an egg on a hot summer night. I never let the cops get wind of me, and I never ever ever say die. I never take myself too seriously, 'cause everybody knows fat birds don't fly. Stick'em up punk, it's the Fun Lovin' Criminal. Means with the green, murder on your spleen, living in a dream do you know what I mean? Goateed indeed, smart like John Steed, I'll steal your girlie and I'll steal your weed. I got so much flavor that I always leave you chewin'. I got so many styles you'd be thinkin' I'm from the U.N. I broke into the White House and never got caught, and I'd be Neil Armstrong if I was an astronaut. We're always optimistic about human relations, we've got more friends than my man Peter Gatien. We're always fun loving, so don't start bugging, if your girlie comes up and starts kissing and hugging.

Stupid Lousy Notre Dame...

Ah well what are you gonna do? The Freshmanness of the team showed as we weren't finishing anything we started. Dee Brown created and was dished I don't know how many fast breaks but was putting too much on it for the finish and it just wasn't going down for him, and ss soon as I saw Sean Herrington start driving the lane in desperation to get some buckets, I could barely watch. Brown, Williams, and Augustine should be formidable next year as sophomores, however, as well as "Big Nick" Smith, Head, and Ferguson who will return.

In other news, we are apparently stomping Iraq into the sand, and there is constant propaganda talk of whether or not Saddam is even alive anymore. And really that's great and all but I really don't like the speculative reporting I keep hearing, and would rather just not hear about their guesses until they know for sure. I watch the news and, although I'm by no means a dirty anti-war hippy or anything, but I think the reporters on MSNSC and HN are a little too chipper to be reporting war events. I dunno, maybe they need to drink less coffee.

This week was fun as they always seem to be right before breaks involving two ece340 assignments, an ece249 VHDL design, an ece310 assignment, a cs225 mp, and an ece310 test. But now it's all done and I'm on spring break, woohoo!

Right, as I left you before I was going to spend most of the break lolly-gagging around and/or playing the new Zelda game. Now don't get me wrong, as much fun as the new Zelda game is going to be, I believe, and as David points out, it would be much better speant as a past time when I actually have better things I should be doing, not as a primary way of passing time. I suppose this is true about most video games, I can almost never sit down and play them unless I'm procrastinating on something, otherwise they don't seem to hold their value to me. When you get right down to it, ain't nuthin like puttin things off.

But I digress...

Rather I will be spending my time in New Orleans for four days with John and Hans, as Hans wasn't doing anything anyway and John did manage to get himself some time away from work. I have been to New Orleans once before as a port of call during a cruise I went on right out of high school, but we were on somewhat budgeted time, and it was with (no offense intended towards anyone here) my entire family. I'm sure you can all appreciate the opportunities one affords themselves when not in the immediate vacinity of the parental units as opposed to otherwise :D

I will definately be bringing my camera so expect lotsa photos when I get back, that is of course, if I can bring myself to take any pictures that my webhosting company wouldn't object to me hosting here :D :D

And, supposedly Kristen and Sam are going to be floating around god knows where in the south over spring break as well so we may run into them at some point... ...and probably continue drinking very much unphased by the concept of it being a small world.

March 30, 2003

The world was on fire, and no one could save me but you. It's strange what desire will make foolish people do. I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you. I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you. I don't wanna fall in love. No, I don't wanna fall in love with you. What a wicked game you played, to make me feel this way. What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you. What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way. What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you. The world was on fire, and no one could save me but you. It's strange what desire will make foolish people do. I never dreamed that I'd love somebody like you. I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you. Nobody else loves no one.

Blargh! Being sick is the pits. But, on a much lighter note, New Orleans was incredible. I don't have my camera cable here at home so I'll have to upload some of the photos when I get back down to school, for now I'll just recap the week for you as best I can.

For the drive down John took Illinois, Hans drove Missouri, Arkansas, (please note these are easily the worst and most painful miles of road ever concieved by man, and then laid down in a straight, un-interrupted, never-ending, never-turning, exit-free, hill-less, tree-less, light-less, hellhole.) and Tennessee, and I took Mississippi. Our original plan to drive in short shifts ended up being kinda dumb as each of us would rather just get our share over with in one go. It seemed retarded to just switch practically every rest stop.

Monday afternoon we had lunch at Mulate's. Our waiter was a dumb-ass, but at least he got our orders right. The food was alright, but it was a little too touristy/expensive/etc. We figured we'd look harder next time. Afterwords, we checked into our hotel and fell asleep for a while because we'd been driving all night. That night we made our way to Bourbon Street and to the B.S. Blues Company where we all bought Hurricanes.

[scene missing]

Tuesday we woke up, got some quick lunch and bought a cooler and some beers to keep in our room. In the process we accidentially cut through a shitty neighborhood and got told by a cop it was in our best interest to leave. Strange, I thought as we were only a couple blocks off of Canal (the main road downtown.) Anyway, we picked up some quick dinner (I guess quick food was a theme this day or something) at our hotel and played some cards for a while until it was time again to return to the French Quarter. We got Hurricanes again (god why...) and brought some beads up to the balcony to throw. Around 1:30-2 I got a call from Sam saying they had made their way into town, so we went back to the hotel and met up with them. We brought them back to the Blues Company and I shoved them through the door even though they didn't have IDs. I got lectured by the bouncer about that but he didn't do anything. I ran into Debbie and Sarah who I know from Fremd. They go to U of I, which I knew, but I don't think I've seen them there. Anyway, later we went back to the hotel, drank some more, played some more cards, and eventually passed out with people all over the room.

Wednesday it rained a lot, but that didn't really hinder us much. We went to the Riverwalk cause John wanted to look for a pair of sandles. We ate at a sports bar there that I can't remember the name of. Good food though. We decided that we'd meet up with Sam and the others around 9. The rain was ridiculous at this point so we sat around on the boardwalk under an awning and talked about the future of world energy. After the rain calmed down, we walked back to our hotel room, got our shit together and went over to the Ritz to meet the girls (yeah, they were staying at the Ritz) we [attempted] to play with a hacky sack for a while but deciding we'd rather not break the nice room, we played cards instead. After we ran out of beers, we figured there'd be more to drink in the F.Q., and man did we call it or what. This night involved a lot more wondering, more various jazz clubs, live performers, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, and more drinking. This particular night drinking was an uphill battle as the girls kept ordering drinks they later decided they didn't want and I was made to finish them. Eventually I managed to crash back at the Ritz with the girls because I was really in no condition to walk all the way back to the Days.

Thursday I got up early and hung out in the room with Sam, Kristen, and Ginny until they had to check out. They went on some funeral tour or something ridiculous like that so I just went back to the Days where I found John and Hans passed out. John somehow managed to wake up so we played yet more cards. We then went over to the F.Q., a little early this time, and found a great little place called Cafe Maspero. I can't say enough good about this place. My catfish (mmm catfish) was excellent, there was around 4 metric tones of it, and it was really really cheap. We did some shopping and relaxed until the time came to start hanging out back on Bourbon St. I felt a little bit of a cold coming on (the one that is now consuming my very innards on which, in any other circumstance, I'd rely to live. However, at the present juncture, I've handed those functions over to Vicks inc. and their wonderful, wonderful 'Quils) so I just wanted to sit somewhere and have a couple beers. So we went to a strip club. Besides the usual goings on of a strip club we were also entertained by the japanese business men there who were spending large amounts of money. We headed back over to the Blues Company, found a nice table, and listened to the band play. This was fun, but after my cold started creeping up on me and I had my left nipple nearly taken clean off by an over-zealous shot girl, I decided it'd be best to call it a night.

Friday we did some wrap up eating and shopping while I started my DayQuil usage. Then we got on our way. This time Hans drove Mississippi, I took Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri, and John drove Illinois again. The most miserable part of this (aside from the illness and the having to leave such a great vacation) was stopping at each gas station only to find the temperature had dropped by another 20� all the way up here. Hopefully spring will be around the corner. I kinda enjoyed wearing sandles.

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