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Hello everyone who is still reading my blog. I am not dead, although it has felt like a possibility a few times lately. I would apologize for not posting, but I doubt anyone really is bothered all that much. I will use the standard excuse that life has been quite busy. Busy in good ways as well as stressful ways. I prefer not to complain about the frustrations online, and the personal things are, well, personal
But a few things I can mention that have happened in the last few months. The biggee, I guess, is that I graduated. I am now the proud owner of a Master’s degree in Computer Science. It only took 6 years. My final project is available online here: Improving NAT/Software compatibility through Flexible NAT Emulation Software. It is odd how I have mixed feelings already about being done. On one hand, I am thrilled to be done with the degree (and have the degree), but on the other hand, I think I am going to miss being in school just a little.
I have been traveling pretty extensively for work. In the 3.5 months since I started at Swisslog, I have been to Minnesota twice, Florida twice, and Texas once. This is really helping me get through my fear of flying (with the help of choice pharmaceuticals). I will not say that I will ever enjoy the process of flying, but it is becoming a smaller obstacle to my life. I am hoping to use this new-found freedom to actually go on vacation one of these days, I hope.
Other random things:
Cya!
I can’t believe it has been almost 6 months since I last posted an update. Our vacation to Atlanta does not seem that it was that long ago, but such is life when you are having fun or when you loose time through the frustration of banging your head against a wall repeatedly. So lets cover the major topics, shall we?
School. School is good. I am taking Advanced Compiler Construction this semester which is no really as exciting as it sounds. I know, sounds thrilling, something that you would think would be on the top of everyone’s list of "must take" courses. It is no way a bad class; the professor is one of the more senior members of the department and has a great attitude towards the class. He knows exactly what he wants to talk about each day and if it takes 80 minutes, fine; but if it only takes, 40, well he is done. Being a seasoned CS guy, he intersperses many amusing anecdotes within his lectures that keep things amusing (for me at least).
Work. This has eaten up more mental energy than I thought possible. Much I could say, but I won’t. Progress still seems to be being made, but much is left to be done. Change is harder for some people than others. It amazes me that the human spirit attaches so much fondness to the comfortable, the known that it is unable to let go of outdated information or processes even with overwhelming evidence that they are detrimental to their own survival. I realize that this is somewhat ironic coming from me and my tendency to avoid change in the mundane items of my life, but I like to think my love of consistency in simple things does not impact my ability to be flexible based on persuasive argument.
Life. You mean there is something outside school and work? Right. Elizabeth, with the help of others who shall not be name (KT, Justin, and I’m sure others), convinced me to start playing World of Warcraft, and as I expected, I am now hooked. I won’t start talking about it here; you probably don’t care. It has been a rough couple of months for me as the work items have not stayed as contained in the work "box" as much as I would like. Lots of stress is never good and requires that one be flexible and open to change in one’s life to smooth things back out. Elizabeth has been great especially given that she has taken on a lot more responsibility at the office too.
So that is the quick and dirty update. At the rate I’ve been posting, another will be September. Until next time.
I’m an official real student again. I got my acceptance letter and have returned the “yes, I will register” paperwork. Master’s degree, here I come (albeit slowly).
As part of the final exam for my CS class, the undergrads were asked to rate each of the three grad students on our management skills. This included providing comments to some questions regarding our ability and worthiness as managers. I just got copies of my evaluations and I thought I would pass along some of the more choice comments.
Question: “Would you recommend that this manager be placed in leadership positions in the future? Why or Why not?”
[Removed at the request of the writer. See comments ::chuckle::]
Question: Please comment on how you think this manager can improve his or her management skills.”
“Be a little less anal, maybe. Take people less seriously.”
[And my all time favorite]
“*shrug* Lay the smack down on negative workers with more prejudice.”
These are just some of my favorites. The class really did a great job and I am happy to have worked with all of them (well almost).
I’ve been in academic limbo for the last year and a half. I have been taking graduate CS courses, but I was not actually in the graduate program. That had been the plan, but I needed to take the GREs first. Initially I had wanted to take time to study and prepare before taking the GREs. Monday I realized that that was never going to happen.
So I have taken the plunge. I am scheduled to take the GREs on May 11th. That would be the day after my final exam for Software Engineering; I might as well get all the pain over with quickly. I have my application to grad school in my bag as I type this and will be dropping it off today (once I figure out where it needs to go). Last night was spent honing my answers to the fluffy questions that schools seem to want to know about. I even found 3 suckers kind individuals to write me recommendations.
A part of me is really wondering: “What the hell am I thinking?” I guess we shall see.