"We'll be watching your career with great interest..."

The above quote is the last thing the bad guy says to little Skywalker at the end of "The Phantom Menace." Something similar was said to me yesterday and that's the first thing I thought of. Fortunately the comment to me wasn't from an evil person.

Anyhow, now that the semester is over I believe it's time for the obligatory "What I Learned this Semester" post.

What my classes taught me

• Mein Deutsch ist viel besser als ich habe gedacht.
• Flowers are pretty
• It's easier to punch a hole in a wall than one might expect
• Normalization makes databases play nice. Too bad they can't normalize database teachers...
• Need more time? Toss a bubble in there!
• Everything is trivial.

Other Knowledge I stumbled upon

• Getting a chick really can improve a guy's disposition.
• Sometimes doing your job well is all it takes to make people dislike you.
• Hard work is always worth it in the end.
• No matter how many times you can tell a person something the message won't get through unless they want it to.
• It is, in fact, lonely at the top.
• You never know if the next thing you do will be the most significant moment in your life.
• There are people out there who believe in making a difference and, if you find them, will work hard toward that cause.
• Making the unpopular choice can be necessary. All you can do is hope it works out in the end.
• Horses are big.
• If you give them time the people who don't matter end up weeding themselves out.
• I may be as good as everyone tells me I am, but part of why is because I don't tend to listen to them.
• I have a new sense of pity for people who can't stand on their own two feet.
• We all get played every now and again.
• Being nervous is good. It shows you care about what you're doing.
• What goes around comes around.
• Watching the sunset from the air is amazing.
• Driving ten hours in terrible traffic to make your parents smile is more than worth it.
• Spending a day doing nothing can be some of the best medicine there is.
• The beach at night is still great therapy.
• Some people get far more credit than they deserve.
• Being in a position of power can change some one in ways you would never expect.
• I don't care what Douglas Adams said. In the end it all comes back to 41...at least it does for me.
• You can't have it all and you can't pick which of the "all" you don't get.
• Many people who claim to know themselves are pretty far off.
• The quicker you learn to see through the bullshit the better off you will be.
• It is possible to learn patience.
• I now know what it's like to try and teach some one to drive a stick.
• The best of intentions can have the worst of delivery.
• I'm still getting by with a little love and luck.
• In the end all will be as it should.
• There is something to be learned from every person and every situation.

Captured At:1928

I'm Not the Dumb Kid!

So the results for the semester are in:

Graphical User Interfaces: A
Database Systems: B
German I: A
Analysis of Algorithms: B
Computer Architecture: A
Computer Projects 2: A

Total Credits: 18
Semester GPA: 3.66

I'm so happy right now I can't even begin to express it. Not only did I nail this semester, but once I get my forgiveness policy in for Database Systems my cumulative GPA will cross that 3.0 mark. Talk about an event four and a half years in the making.

:: grins ::

Now to figure out how to celebrate...

Captured At:2032

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I've always loved wrapping Christmas presents. There's just something about it that makes me happy.

I went a little overboard with the wrapping today considering how much paper I used on so few objects. I'm hoping I did okay this year. I never know what to buy anyone.

I have to admit that it was a bit lonely today sitting in my living room with the Christmas music on and wrapping presents by myself. Once we got old enough to be trusted with tape and scissors Liz and I used to wrap presents next to the Christmas tree in the living room. The music would be coming from upstairs or downstairs, maybe there'd be a fire in the fireplace or snow outside. Everything around said it was holiday time.

While it's cold down here I can't say I'm feeling the holiday spirit. It was great to walk into Tom and Derek's place the other day to the smell of pine. It made me smile.

Liz says Mom and Dad put lights on the tree and they're waiting for us to come up this weekend so we can decorate it as a family. I've missed that.

I hope that if someone out there decides I'm supposed to have a family when I get older I'll be able to give them all of the experiences I've been so fortunate to have. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Captured At:1650

In a week I'll be in Albany...

I've spent most of the day trying to conjure up the motivation to get ready for the trek home. I've now watched Toy Story 2 about 1.5 times on Toon Disney.

Derek left for St. Pete today. He was originally going to leave Monday, but after I innocently asked why he had to leave that day he decided to stay the rest of the week. It was really nice, especially since we're both always going when school's in session and don't get to see eachother too much.

Somehow among all the lounging around we actually accomplished some things too. We got his room re-arranged to make it more open and space efficient. He cooked one night and we did dinner a few nights with Liz and TJ which was cool. We made it to the beach, went flying with Tom, saw Danny's band, and caught the new LOTR.

He was so happy with the masher utensil I bought him for Christmas that he had to make mojitos the night we exchanged gifts just so he could use it. I'm now the proud owner of an adorable little teddy bear dressed up like a pilot in a scarf, goggles, and a leather jacket. I was picking on Derek and telling him that giving me stuffed animals that are like him in some way is narcissistic. He claims that he wants to make sure I know where they came from and that he's being thoughtful. ::shakes head:: Silly pilot.

Also worth noting is that we both bought eachother a copy of Disney's Robin Hood. I was very amused. It seems we've been sharing a brain lately and that really didn't help our case.

I got a call back from some one up at NASA today. They want me to get in touch with them when I get back from vacation so I can schedule another trip up to talk a little more seriously about some things.

It's funny to step back and take a look at myself. I've got a great family and a wonderful boyfriend. My academics are probably the best they've ever been. I've excelled at my job and I have possibilities for after graduation. I've been slowly achieving success in every way imaginable. From the outside it must look like I've got it all, and I'm trying very hard not to take it for granted.

Captured At:2140

"See the false horizon fade away like bison"

I think the first thing I noticed when we got back was how beautiful it was outside. As we removed our baggage from the trunk I commented to Liz that I would've gone to the beach right then if I'd had some one to go with. It was that nice to be back.

It was nice out today too. It felt a little chilly, but after my week in <=40 degree weather I wasn't about to complain. It felt a little like spring. It felt a little like every time I've come back from Christmas vacation, but a little different.

Some members of my family were making a big fuss over all of my NASA stuff. I hate to hear they're talking about it and spreading it around like it's going to jinx me somehow. Laura was saying today that everyone knows it's going to happen and that I probably won't let myself believe it until I'm there. I told her that once they're handing me a badge and saying "go nuts" I might be able to believe it. I have a hard time believing things that seem too good to be true.

I got to see Kylie over break. I miss being able to hang out with her and it was wonderful to see that she's doing so well. We swapped boyfriend stories, she told me a little bit about what some people up in that area are up to, I drank a whole lot of coffee...what could be better than that? We're both doing pretty well and are so much better off for having gotten out of Burnt Hills.

I'm not sure what prompted it, but I randomly decided to do a google search on my name. It turned up stuff from Ambassadors, senior design, Student Government, The Crimson, and Florida Today. I was also amused to find that my name showed up in an a random livejournal post from a student here. Silly.

Anyway, I'm so bored I can't even post anymore. I suppose I should go to bed. G'night all.

Captured At: 017