In which I revive a blog long since dormant for the most exciting subject known to man: dry rot in tires.
Read MoreGrad School Life
Oh yeah, I still have one of these /
So, the last time I wrote to this, it was spring break. Two months ago.
Needless to say, I've been busy.
For those interested, the semester went well. All A's for the spring. When I return in the fall, I'll have a new GA job and, more importantly, begin my thesis hours. My thesis work, however, already began about a week after I got home.
As I continue my research for my literary review, I am already also preparing a presentation proposal for the Pop Culture conference in April, to be held in San Diego. While presenting at such things is critical for recruiting myself out to doctoral programs, it does feel a little weird. This past academic year has been a bit of a whirlwind, and a real crunch once Spring Break ended and big papers and projects started coming up due, but now it feels more real.
Not much to talk about right now, I just wanted to write something so I can try and get back in to the swing of weekly posts. I've got lots of stuff to talk about, my work, my parents leaving Seattle (!), my niece, and so on, but this isn't the spot for that.
I'm also noticing a draft post I began and promptly forgot when I got slammed with papers, probably should finish that.
Spring Break'd /
Man, it's quiet in here.
It's Spring Break at Oklahoma State. I'm sitting in the common room, staring at the wall where the entertainment center used to be, removed in secret by maintenance under mysterious circumstances.
I'm told the stain on the wall is from a spilled scented candle, but considering the odor is usually a mixture of popcorn and ass, I remain suspicious. Also, look at my foot.
It's sunny outside, crusing up to a forecasted high in the low 80s before an end-of-week front will knock temps back down in to the 50s, and trips to FedEx Office for some printing and shipping has fulfilled my "doing things" quota for the day.
As much as I loce my Surface, the type cover I got for Christmas is driving me insane. Some bug in the drivers that Microsoft refuses to fix still causes the thing to lock up coming out of sleep mode, forcing me to do a hard reboot. On top of that, the touchpad went out. I'm just glad I kept the old one while the new one is being mailed off for replacement...even if typing on it is like typing essays on a phone keypad.
Kitty does not approve.
Between procrastinating on my math homework, putting in SO many hours on Stardew Valley, and pondering the ethics of "Veganaise," I have to say...the most exciting thing going on here is finding Golden Crisp being marketed as a late night snack.
You laugh, but it's true.
Here's looking forward to an exciting and busy second half of the semester.
Workplace Personality /
It's something I never really dwelt on before, but it's surprising just how much more comfortable a workspace can be with even just a little personalization.
If it wasn't clear before, I have spent the last few weeks at home in Seattle for the holiday, and as I write this, it is my second day back at work for my university's IT department, where I work as a graduate assistant in video production, communications and, increasingly, marketing. While I was hired mostly to work on promotion and training for the rollout of the university's new BANNER Student Information System software (which is on indefinite hold because a critical person to that project was severely injured in the Stillwater Homecoming parade,) the department has been finding new ways to put me to use.
Otherwise, they pay me to spend four hours every morning to sit here and do homework...and write crappy blog posts.
I have a fairly roomy cubicle up near the front door of the building, wedged in between the department's HR rep and the student assistant secretary, near the CIO's office. It's not a bad spot, but last semester it felt kind of cold and sterile.
Another result of my placement up front is that to get to the restroom, water fountain or the vending machines, I have to walk through the entire building, which is basically a giant bullpen situated in a modern metal barn.
Let me tell you, some of these IT guys take cubicle decoration to the next freakin' level.
Now, one of my favorite hobbies revolves around Mobile Suit Gundam. Ever since I first saw Gundam Wing on Toonami, I was hooked. I especially love building and collecting the model kits made for the various mobile suits from all varieties of the show. I had a small, burgeoning collection of built models that I had left in a box at home, so I figured I'd grab it and bring it back with me over the break.
I couldn't find it.
I turned my room and my house upside down, but I couldn't find them. I could only find a half-finished model I started as a fully painted project which is on hiatus because some furry little bastard ate a critical part off of my work table.
Still, I was able to find some other figurines I had collecting dust, and along with a model my folks got me for Christmas (and another one bought with part of an Amazon gift card my brother and sister-in-law sent me), I was able to put something together.
Along with a Spartan, an ODST trooper, and Duke Nukem sitting on the edge of my partition wall, I've started to make this cubicle a little spot of home, adding a little personality (that thing that more than one person has accused me of not having. The Internet is full of jerks.)
Besides, when I'm freaking out over an assignment or staring vapidly at the render bar creep across my monitor, I can look over at Duke's smug grin and remind myself, even if it takes 10 years of development hell, I can still slog through it all and do something big. Even if it sucks.