This is a long overdue update... A ton has happened in just the few months since I last wrote. I'll try to make this as chronological as possible:

Patti came up to visit in mid-October. She spent 9 days here, and for the first time she got to meet my other best friend who lives here. They got along great (of course they are practically the same person, so why wouldn't they)...

So right on to November... the first weekend of November Patrice, Brian and Megan all came up for the Boston College/Florida State game. We had a blast and we got to see FSU upset the #2 team in the country! Woohoo! I felt a little bad for the BC fans, but it still felt great over all... Patrice was absolutely miserable because it was in the low 40's and pouring rain and her feet got wet on the walk over the the stadium. Megan had a blast though!

For Thanksgiving I flew out for a week's vacation at my grandparent's lake house in Homer, Louisiana. Lots of my family also went which was awesome. I was feeling really homesick at this point. Even more exciting though, was Mike, one of my best friends while growing up, decided to fly out and spend the week there as well. His sister Tatiana also drove in from Tallahassee. It felt great to catch up with him. It's always fun to hang out with Honey and Papa as well.

On to a very sad and depressing thing: my friends lost their baby Wesley so I only had the title of god father for less than a day. The whole situation has really brought me down during the last few months, so to avoid thinking about it, that is all I'm going to say... at least for now. On the brighter side, I'm flying to Australia in May for their wedding! 9 days in Sydney and 4 days in Fiji. I'm extremely uberly excited about it!

Now, in December I flew home for the holidays. My PTO expires at the end of the year, so with the combination of holidays, I was there for almost 2 weeks. While I was there I got to see my god daughter Ashlyn! She makes me happier than anyone on the face of the planet! It is so hard not being there while she grows up. I spent 2 days with her though... Man, those were two very tiring days.

During the holidays my dad, my grandma and I decided to do a three way car swap. My grandma got my car, my dad got her car, and I got his car. It's been a major ordeal, but it is finally working out. I was tired of paying $400 a month in car payments when I was only driving 30 miles a month.

Dmitri was kind enough to drive my dad's car up to me, and my car down to my dad. Of course, he got a free trip to Boston out of it. He spent a little over a week here, and during that time we went skiing in New Hampshire with my neighbor's brother Doug and my co-worker/friend Josh.

Of course, not everything is wonderful... I have horrible elbow pains from too much computing (of course, I'm using the computer to write this, which probably isn't the best idea). I've been to a Dr. who says I need to see a specialist... I also talked to her about my knee pain that I've had for nearly 3 years now... It hurts a ton to run/ski/hike/walk/ride my bike, etc. It most likely is going to require some sort of cartilage manipulation surgery, but hopefully not.

For new years I quit soda again... I drank no Dr. Pepper all of 2005 and absolutely no soda for 2006, but then I rewarded my self with a Dr. Pepper to ring in the new years 2007... well, that was a bad way to start a new year... so after getting in the habit of drink way to much soda again, I am forcing myself to quit it... for good this time... I'm 32 days sober... go me!

Well, I think that covers everything, although extremely briefly... but I'm suppose to stay off the computer, so that's all I'm going to write.

Labels: allie evans, ashlyn pinner, best friend, boston, boston college, brian and patrice mankowski, dmitri sokgobenzon, florida state university, homer, josh kolash, megan folts, mike smith, mike treffehn, papa and honey, patti botero, tatiana treffehn, wedding

Work is still kicking ass... the new version is super cool, a few little things to do yet, but the main design is pretty much done. Been a busy month, I got to see my friend Alana Rush, who I haven't seen in over a year. She had been traveling the world doing cool stuff. When she finally moved back to the states, it just happen to be 45 minutes from me. I just found out another one of my high school friends moved to Florida, MA as well. Hopefully we'll get back in touch as well.

I've been really happy with my decision ever since I moved here. I love my job, my neighbors, the weather... pretty much everything about it. I am wickedly stoked about the weather... Fall starts in a few days, but it already feels like it... today was the first day this week to hit 70 degrees! The smell of the air brings back wonderful memories of days before Florida. I don't know how I made it nearly 9 years there... It completely and utterly sucks...

The only thing I miss about Florida is my friends and family... Nithin has already come to visit, he was the first, and he gets many friend points for that (note to all you other friends who haven't yet). Patrice, Brian and maybe Megan are all coming up in early November for the Boston College/FSU game. Patti plans on coming up sometime next month as well. YAY visitors!

When Nithin was here we did a lot of the touristy Boston stuff, so now I know what to suggest to people when they come up to visit me... I'll still use the next few as guinea pigs, but at least now if I have to work, I'll have something to suggest to people...

On the 1st of this month I helped my best friend move. I had to carry heavy furniture down 3 flights of narrow stairs, walk it 4 blocks, and then up another 4 flights of stairs... it took 3 of us 4 hours to get everything, and she claims to have already moved "the majority of it" before I started helping... I was sore for a week...

Not much else besides hanging with the neighbors, waiting for visitors, moving friends, and catching up with old friends has happened as of late, so not much else to blog about...

Labels: best friend, boston, boston college, brian and patrice mankowski, florida state university, megan folts, nithin sathyamoorthy, patti botero, work

Florida State University's circus is celebrating their 60th anniversary, and for the first time during my attendance here I went to see it along with Nithin and two of his friends. I was amazed at how well the students performed... The entire show was put together by students of FSU. They made a few mistakes here and there, but if you saw the things they were attempting, you would be amazed just at the attempts. Growing up I only went to one Circus because my mom is highly allergic to, well... everything, but in this case animal dander. I forgive her though, she at least took me to one!

On the job front: I seem to have done well on my first technical phone interview, because now the company wants to fly me out for another one. I really have to find a way to relax during these things! My heart rate skyrockets, I start sweating like a dog, and I can't process words very well. No matter how much I try to calm down, I just can't do it. Interviewing has always been a huge fear of mine, one that I have tried hard to overcome by mock interviews etc... Nothing seems to work... During this interview I wasn't sure what to expect... I had read some websites about what to expect, but I hadn't been in the situation yet, so maybe that made me more nervous... I totally went blank on some very easy questions, so thought I was bombing it. I guess I got the point across that I really like to program, and that, when I get into a project, I own it completely.

On this upcoming Tuesday I have a second interview with another company that I have dreamed about working for since high school. I am very nervous about it, after this last interview I went out and bought books about technical interviews with big companies such as this one, and plan on reading as much of them as possible before then. The only problem with that is that I have a huge Compiler's program due Wednesday, and an Analytical Methods assignment due Friday (these "assignments" take anywhere between 60-100 hours to complete, and I have so far only had time to put a good 15 into it). My favorite e-store has also contacted me about a potential job and wants my availability for a "technical phone interview" that I should be "prepared to code" for... Well, how do you code over the phone? I guess I'll find out.

On top of my school work and job search, I am trying to find renters for my house, and on top of it all this next week I have to work extra hours because the Computer Literacy II class has their tests to take. OH! And it seems that my whole family thinks this next week is a perfect time to visit!

Labels: family, florida state university, grad school, lori folts, nithin sathyamoorthy, work

This Friday I am being awarded the "Outstanding Teaching Assistant" award at the Computer Science award ceremony. Pretty cool! I have worked my butt off; I even taught a new class this semester. I am quite honored by it, I'm going to miss working here at FSU.

Labels: award, florida state university, work

This weekend twice as many people came to the BBQ as did for the Miami game... nearly 30 people... lots of fun... After the game Micah, Dmitri and I went with two of Dmitri's friends (Megan and Josh I believe) to Village Inn for breakfast/dinner... it was a blast there... I'm glad FSU won, it was getting scary for a while there... the only exciting parts of the game all happened in the first two minutes... but at least there were lots of people to socialize with... This time people actually brought beer as well... I bought hot dogs for everyone and Micah cooked them up on the grill... Hamburgers take way too long with such a small grill and so many people... so we decided not to make them this time... nobody seemed to mind...

I saw Lord of War (the Nicolas Cage movie)... it was pretty slow moving, but really made you think... scary I guess... not like horror movie scary, but "damn, that sucks" scary... if that makes sense... I forgot to take pictures once again... I should really start so that I can fill my photo section of this site... I spent $600 on the stupid camera...

Labels: bbq, dmitri sokgobenzon, florida state university

I can finally finish school because we (FSU) finally beat UM! It wasn't an amazing game, but it was still great to see... I can't believe it! YAY! I have always hated the Hurricanes because they are cocky, big headed, and mean... and finally we beat them... I had about 15 people over to watch the game and have a pre-game BBQ... I cooked hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn on the cob using both my grills... Before the game they played two-hand-touch in my backyard while they waited for the food and the other guests to arrive... It was a ton of fun... Miami finally got a taste of what it is like to have a crappy kicking team... wide right, wide left, and bad snap... Hopefully we will win the rest of our games and go on to win the national championship... but even if we don't, I am satisfied now that we beat Miami!

Labels: bbq, florida state university, football, miami

Well, I just checked my UCF application status online and it says I have been admitted... yay... pretty cool... this is not for the gaming school, only for the Computer Science department... which is still pretty cool... I see it as the best CS program in Florida, so that is exciting... and they actually PROGRAM there, which is something we sort of lack here at FSU... I am still in Homer, Louisiana... middle of nowhere... he he... I might head to tally tomorrow but I haven't decided yet... maybe I'll wait till Sunday...

Labels: florida state university, gaming, grad school, honey folts, papa folts, programming, tallahassee

I have pretty much finished applying to grad school 90% there anyway... I still have to order transcripts and get all my letters of recommendations sent off, but besides that, everything is paid for and sent off... I am pretty much garrenteed a spot at FSU since I graduated there near the top of my class... even if I were at the bottom I would have a really good chance... I applied to the Computer Science department at FSU, UCF and Guildhall... also FSU's College of Information... I picked UCF and Guildhall because both are up and coming "Gaming" schools... Guildhall is more there than UCF, but EA wants to get a lot of grads from UCF for their Orlando division... UCF has the best Computer Science program in Florida (in my opinion)...

I went to a "Grad School Meeting" to learn all about the programs my department has to offer... I already knew, but I went just in case I found out something that I didn't know... well, during the meeting I was complaining about how FSU's Computer Science degrees are all research and theory based... I have the choice of getting a security degree as well, but that doesn't intrest me... Well, the lady giving the presentation over heard me saying this, and that I really want to get a Masters in game development, and she told me that I couldn't want this at a better time... She told me how they are looking for new programs to offer students right now and how they really want the students from the undergraduate to continue in their graduate programs... well, she went on and told me how I should bring it up with the head of the department and see what he says... She also said that if I were to help set up the program it might be able to count as my thesis or my project that I have to do... She also said that since it is only one extra year for a PhD, that I should stay for it, he he yeah right, I don't want to teach or do research so that is out of the question, but I would like the title... anyways... I am really excited now and I plan on talking to him next Tuesday about all this...

Oh well, it looks like I am more likely going to grad school then going into the real world... I am kind of excited about grad school because it will be more speciallized in my intrests hopefully... if I stay at FSU I am also likely to be assured of having my current jobs as well, and they both would earn me more as a grad student... everything would be paid for... and hopefully I could get a scholarship as well...

Labels: florida state university, gaming, grad school

Chris Rix Sucks... we'll never beat Miami... B(

Labels: florida state university, football

My family is probably going to come up here to out run the hurricane that is coming... FREE FOOD! yay... they said they will most likely be here Thursday night. Depending on where the hurricane is headed of course...

I still love my job, it is the third day now, and I get to sit here and do whatever I want... super... I am at work right now.

I got my new hard drive yesterday and I am getting my new RAM today... my computer will be super... I already have Linux up and running and now I need to install Windows... At least I will have something to do this weekend... either hang out with my family, or work on my computer to get it just right...

The Sims 2 comes out soon, I want to preorder it... They have a DVD edition so you don't have to have a million CD's...

I have maintained my goal weight of 180lbs... I am going to try and loose more though... I use to be 206ish before my diet, and I peaked at 213... my ring doesn't even fit me anymore... my fingers probably weighed 10 of those pounds I lost... he he... I have lost all this weight on a CARB ONLY diet... which I think I should start marketing... I could make millions...

My History teacher is leaving for 2 weeks.... she is going to China to pick up her newly adopted baby (16 months)... if we go to class when she is gone we get extra credit on our midterm... and on this Thursday class is canceled... (we have to do some stupid online thing that takes five seconds instead of doing class) My history textbook is actually interesting, it isn't really textbookish... it is more novelish... and all the questions that she is going to ask us are opinion questions with short answer/essay answers...

Miami/FSU game is this upcoming Monday at I think 8:00... going to be exciting... hopefully we will win for the first time since I became a Seminole.

I have been asking around and it turns out that most people in my major don't have over a 3.0 GPA, they all have like 2.8s and stuff... so it is really looking like I am a strong contender for the National Security Agency scholarship that I want...

I might be a TA next semester, but I am afraid of looking stupid... but if I am a TA I get paid at least $10 an hour and no matter how much you work you get paid for 20 hours a week... so if I did that, and this, and the website I would be a full time employee and might be able to get a faculty decal...

I might be getting Gmail in the next few weeks... which is an invite only thing... so I am excited... (Gmail is Google's new mail thingy that is all the rage) I will be able to invite some people after I have had the account for a while... if anyone is interested let me know...

Ok, I am boring so DONE

Labels: electronic arts, florida state university, football, hurricane, undergrad, work

I am getting a modem for my computer that lets me have caller ID on my computer... I know that doesn't sound that great, but with the amount of calls my roommates get, I will know without running to the phone who is calling... I can also set it up to automatically hang up on certain people... I am really excited about it...

I totally have fixed my computer up in the last few days, instead of studying... it is running better than it did when I built it...

I can't decide if I want to go to grad school or not... I decide I am going to apply for this scholarship that is just for FSU students... FSU's Computer Science department is one of 36 Universites that is NSA (National Security Agency... A government agency) certified... Being certified the CS department alone gets over $1,000,000 a year to give to their students that will promise to work for them for 2 years (work for the NSA for 2 years)... well, FSU actually has barely enough people applying for this scholarship... so they say it is pretty easy to get...

Benifits: All food, books, housing, tuition paid for, plus $8,000 a school year (2 semesters) spending money... (that is $1000 a month spending money)... and $55,000+ starting salary... (which isn't quite the average starting wage getting out of college with a masters, but they paid for it, unlike others... The starting wage is more like 65,000)

I just don't know if I am interested in the security... but that would be a great opertunity whether I liked it or not... I don't know... the two downfalls about it is 1) don't get to choose where I would move... most likely would be DC, which isn't bad... but still... 2) sign 4 years of my life away... (2 years for masters, 2 for job)

Oh well, give me your opinions if you have any...

Labels: florida state university, grad school, work

HA, just because I am known to be the dumb one in the Posse, doesn't mean I am... um... yeaah... I got accepted to the Computer Science Honor Society... meaning I am top 5% of my major... (yes, I know it is only FSU, but it still looks good) It is a national Society too (Upsilon Pi Epsilon aka UPE) I am one of 8 people... I am trying to drag Francisca to the initiation ceremony... I don't know, but it really makes me feel good because I am actually trying in college... not sleeping in class like I did in EVERY highschool class, or just plain skipping and going to Mrs. Russo's class instead... I have studied more in any given semester of college than I did my entire time in high school... he he... oh well... just thought I would share my excitement... Happy V-Day everyone...

Labels: acm, florida state university, francisca amunategui, high school, the posse