Jumping on the Blog Wagon

Well I've put it off for as long as I could, but everyone else in the family seems to be throwing out blogs for the world to see, so I figured I'd join in the fun.

Things have been pretty tough this semester for Bethany and I. We've both been on a roller-coaster of illnesses and injuries. I've missed more school than I care to admit, but I'm working hard on my classes to get good grades this semester. Beth is doing well in her classes, but has been very ill lately and is having a hard time balancing school and work and home.

I'm loving the program I'm in (computer science). I find the school work very challenging but at the same time very interesting. There's something very rewarding about finishing a program, after hours of crying, cursing, and a 64oz Mt. Dew, and seeing the proverbial gold star on your assignment when it's handed back to you.

This may come across as very arrogant and asinine, but while I am very much enjoying learning programming and the like, I've come to the decision that I don't like the conventional classroom setting. (Here comes the arrogant part) It's frustrating being in a class and eagerly wanting to absorb as much information as possible, when the majority of the students in the class care more about what kind of hardware would be best to run the latest video games than actual programming. Oh well.

It's been a pretty rough winter up here in the 'burg. We haven't had this much snow since I was a child. Bethany and I both managed to rear end someone within two weeks of each other. Both of them were minor fender benders, and luckily our Explorer held up to the "Built Ford Tough" motto, and doesn't have a scratch on it from either accident. Snow just isn't as fun when all you get to do is drive in it. I wish I could go sledding or skiing, but time and the condition of my fragile little (well not so little) body don't allow for it. I can't wait for spring.

I'm currently working for Melaleuca as a call center rep. The job itself is rather monotonous, but I love the people I work with, I love the free products we get, and I'm getting a free X-Box 360 in a month, so I can't complain. The last day of every month I have to work a 12 hour shift. The system is not the best, but we get free food, so I'm happy. Last month end shift was pretty bad, I made two grown women cry. Not by being mean, just by not being able to help them. I'll probably burn in hell for it.

Aside from work and school, I spend alot of my time reading. I finished Edgar Allen Poe's entire works recently, and I'm about halfway through Sir Arthur Canon Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" stories. I'm working on an idea for a video game set in the 19th century, that is based on an actual plot and intellectual challenges, and not just button mashing and big explosions. I doubt it will ever be fully realized, but is fun to work on. My secret wish is to bring video games back in to the world of good story lines, and away from the cookie cutter first person shooters boasting the best graphics. One can always hope right?

Well if you've read this far, I applaud your ability to stay awake through complete monotony. Hopefully future blogs will be shorter and more meaningful.

~roO