About 90 credit hours down, 40 more to go.
4.0s in mathematical analysis I (3 credit hours), mentoring techniques III (1 credit hour), and history of western civilization II (3 credit hours). Interesting. I never thought I'd make it this far in school, let alone continue getting grades like this. For the first few semesters, it felt like some kind of fluke that I did okay, and that I'd fuck up the next semester. Now... I'm terrified at the end of each semester that *gasp* I'll get an A- or something.
I've finished most of the generic prerequisites (still need to do speech and English comp II), am halfway through my secondary science requirements, 3/4 through pure math. One more mentoring class and I think I'm done with that (filler classes, really, but required for one of my scholarships). I need to start picking up my computer science classes; ought to be interesting, coming from a proficiency in programming Commodore 64s two decades ago to high-level C.
And for one more brag-- I think it says something that, as each semester closes, I'm asked to consider majoring in one of my teacher's fields because I've shown proficiency-- English, Spanish, religious studies, history, philosophy, communication, mathematics, physics... I've focused primarily on the latter two, but it's difficult to settle; every good guidance counselor will suggest looking at which subjects are your strong suit to determine degree paths, careers, etc. So far I'm good at... all of them. I definitely wouldn't be averse to a degree in, say, religious studies, except for the understanding that a career would not be likely before earning a doctorate. At least with mathematics or physics, I can get research or teaching work while pursuing a doctorate.
I'm seriously drawn to a minor in philosophy; though I feel my primary "talents" lie in the science(s), I need a balancing influence. In reading some science history for fun over this last week, one of the primary things I've noticed has been a distinct lack of understanding among scientists of the principles of logic and reasoning, with the premier scientists (and/or discoveries) rising specifically because they balance the lure of data (and the influence of their peers) with underlying principles of reasoning.
Not to mention that, in plain terms, I just like to learn stuff, and I'd hate to limit myself to just science.
Other stuff:
ShutTheFuckUp is no longer a woman, but an "it." Spayed on Thursday morning; I was taken aback by how... impersonal the whole thing was. I guess vets configure their practices around the needs of the average wage earner; drop-off at 7-8 am, post-surgery phonecall in late morning, pick-up after 5. She wasn't too thrilled with me when I picked her up.
ShutTheFuckUp is recovering, but I'd hope this is an atypical recovery-- at 5 pm, 7 hours after the post-op call, she was still reeling and woozy from whatever anaesthesia they had her on, and ended up urinating on herself during the drive home. I washed her off as best as possible-- can't get her wet with the stitches, of course-- but she still stinks of urine despite my attempts. She staggered around for a full day, looking distinctly dishevelled, a dehydrated look to her eyes. She's much better today, though, running and doing antics that freak me out (rule #1 of post-op is not to let kitty romp).
Christmas passed with nary a peep from the supposed girlfriend. I think it's time that I understand that things are probably over.
One of my Christmas traditions, ever since my divorce, has been to have a midnight dinner at Waffle House with the other unhappily single men of my acquaintance. Borne of the need to get my friend Tony out of the house and away from suicidal thoughts in 2000 as he coped with his own divorce, it's become a ritual to which we look forward, and has expanded over the years to include temorarily single friends, friends living far from family, etc. It's a cliche version of that "you create your own family" thing. Anyway. We had the meal Christmas eve/Christmas day with an acquaintance who now lives in Kansas City, MO, but was in Indiana for the holiday. He invited a female friend with which I immediately clicked; nice considering I'd spent the day in a funk over not hearing from Heather. Anyway-- this woman is 28, single, no kids, just got her master's, and is working for the state doing environmental impact studies of the proposed I-69 extension corridor. Yep-- another highly intelligent woman working on engineering/environmental issues.
It was an awkward dinner, as we were all crowded into a tiny Waffle House booth, and she and I mentally separated ourselves from the others to talk. We both felt weird about it, having to consciously break the barrier and involve ourselves with the others, instead of just gazing into each others' eyes over waffles for a couple of hours.
Anyway. Tony asked afterward if I liked her, and mused loudly a couple of times that she and I would be great together; I tried to be (and probably fucked up by being) somewhat noncomittal-- I don't have 100% confirmation of what's going on with Heather, and it feels unfair somehow to leap at the chance to date someone else. Of course, since I can't get ahold of Heather, I'll continue to remain in the dark. I could take the chance and ask about this girl... but I feel constrained. If I say anything to Tony about her, it will set everything in motion; nice if i knew I was single, but without knowing for sure... I play dumb. Whee.
Still... nice to have that possibility out there.
4.0s in mathematical analysis I (3 credit hours), mentoring techniques III (1 credit hour), and history of western civilization II (3 credit hours). Interesting. I never thought I'd make it this far in school, let alone continue getting grades like this. For the first few semesters, it felt like some kind of fluke that I did okay, and that I'd fuck up the next semester. Now... I'm terrified at the end of each semester that *gasp* I'll get an A- or something.
I've finished most of the generic prerequisites (still need to do speech and English comp II), am halfway through my secondary science requirements, 3/4 through pure math. One more mentoring class and I think I'm done with that (filler classes, really, but required for one of my scholarships). I need to start picking up my computer science classes; ought to be interesting, coming from a proficiency in programming Commodore 64s two decades ago to high-level C.
And for one more brag-- I think it says something that, as each semester closes, I'm asked to consider majoring in one of my teacher's fields because I've shown proficiency-- English, Spanish, religious studies, history, philosophy, communication, mathematics, physics... I've focused primarily on the latter two, but it's difficult to settle; every good guidance counselor will suggest looking at which subjects are your strong suit to determine degree paths, careers, etc. So far I'm good at... all of them. I definitely wouldn't be averse to a degree in, say, religious studies, except for the understanding that a career would not be likely before earning a doctorate. At least with mathematics or physics, I can get research or teaching work while pursuing a doctorate.
I'm seriously drawn to a minor in philosophy; though I feel my primary "talents" lie in the science(s), I need a balancing influence. In reading some science history for fun over this last week, one of the primary things I've noticed has been a distinct lack of understanding among scientists of the principles of logic and reasoning, with the premier scientists (and/or discoveries) rising specifically because they balance the lure of data (and the influence of their peers) with underlying principles of reasoning.
Not to mention that, in plain terms, I just like to learn stuff, and I'd hate to limit myself to just science.
Other stuff:
ShutTheFuckUp is no longer a woman, but an "it." Spayed on Thursday morning; I was taken aback by how... impersonal the whole thing was. I guess vets configure their practices around the needs of the average wage earner; drop-off at 7-8 am, post-surgery phonecall in late morning, pick-up after 5. She wasn't too thrilled with me when I picked her up.
ShutTheFuckUp is recovering, but I'd hope this is an atypical recovery-- at 5 pm, 7 hours after the post-op call, she was still reeling and woozy from whatever anaesthesia they had her on, and ended up urinating on herself during the drive home. I washed her off as best as possible-- can't get her wet with the stitches, of course-- but she still stinks of urine despite my attempts. She staggered around for a full day, looking distinctly dishevelled, a dehydrated look to her eyes. She's much better today, though, running and doing antics that freak me out (rule #1 of post-op is not to let kitty romp).
Christmas passed with nary a peep from the supposed girlfriend. I think it's time that I understand that things are probably over.
One of my Christmas traditions, ever since my divorce, has been to have a midnight dinner at Waffle House with the other unhappily single men of my acquaintance. Borne of the need to get my friend Tony out of the house and away from suicidal thoughts in 2000 as he coped with his own divorce, it's become a ritual to which we look forward, and has expanded over the years to include temorarily single friends, friends living far from family, etc. It's a cliche version of that "you create your own family" thing. Anyway. We had the meal Christmas eve/Christmas day with an acquaintance who now lives in Kansas City, MO, but was in Indiana for the holiday. He invited a female friend with which I immediately clicked; nice considering I'd spent the day in a funk over not hearing from Heather. Anyway-- this woman is 28, single, no kids, just got her master's, and is working for the state doing environmental impact studies of the proposed I-69 extension corridor. Yep-- another highly intelligent woman working on engineering/environmental issues.
It was an awkward dinner, as we were all crowded into a tiny Waffle House booth, and she and I mentally separated ourselves from the others to talk. We both felt weird about it, having to consciously break the barrier and involve ourselves with the others, instead of just gazing into each others' eyes over waffles for a couple of hours.
Anyway. Tony asked afterward if I liked her, and mused loudly a couple of times that she and I would be great together; I tried to be (and probably fucked up by being) somewhat noncomittal-- I don't have 100% confirmation of what's going on with Heather, and it feels unfair somehow to leap at the chance to date someone else. Of course, since I can't get ahold of Heather, I'll continue to remain in the dark. I could take the chance and ask about this girl... but I feel constrained. If I say anything to Tony about her, it will set everything in motion; nice if i knew I was single, but without knowing for sure... I play dumb. Whee.
Still... nice to have that possibility out there.
Happy New Year!
Forget cliches - the "you create your own family thing" rules!
So are you for sure planning to pursue a doctorate?