The Scrooge of Halloween!

We didn't have any candies tonite for Halloween, I dressed up as Scrooge - No Candy for You! Fortunately for us, we also didn't have anyone stop by. It might've been the dog barking everytime she heard someone on our steps out front, or it might've been the actual steps (not safe at the best of times!)

Someday we'll do the Halloween thing, not because I believe in ghosts, ghouls or goblins. Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings is about as close as I get to that stuff, but mostly because I think it'd be a lot of fun to build some kind of themed, automated Haunted House :-)

So. I'm feeling a tiny bit Emo tonite, I hope you can forgive me. Today was mid-term #1, Friday #2. This semester is limited in it's midterms (thank goodness), but still it makes me think. I love learning, there is just about nothing in the world I'd rather do, but I'm not sure I like school. It's odd, being in classes, learning to start a life that I feel I've already started. I know, I've done it bass-ackwards but still, it's harder going back then I expected. When I'm at work I'm where I am happiest (almost all of the time), when I'm at school I'm just sitting, listening, not doing anything. I enjoy learning, and, granted, there are lots of times I'm learning at school, but sometimes I feel like something is not right. So what to do....

I've already changed from a business major to computer science. That was definitely a step in the right direction, but is it right? I don't like learning without doing anything. I can read from a book all I want, listen to yet another theory lecture, but I'm at the point where I want to build, play, make. So where does that leave me?

School isn't going to be quick, I'm not going to give up, that's for sure, but it's going to take a while. My four year program might take five, but that's ok. (I need the time to learn the math!) That won't stop our lives. We are still going to SoCal next year (again!), we may be going to NY even, and who knows where else. Kids are coming, they can't wait too long! And we just need to enjoy our lives more. So what do we do?

Right now, that's the big question, we've spent so much time worrying about the future that we have, in some ways, missed out on life in the day to day. We need to figure that one out, and once we do I think we're set. Just how to do it is the question? That is to be seen....

We'll keep you filled in :-)

- E

I don't know what it is about space, but it's one of those things/places I find very cool. Must've been something from being a kid, or maybe just the sheer challenge of getting something to travel that far, through that harsh of conditions just to get it up there. But one of my favorite movies is October Sky, I love looking at High Altitude Rocketry, and anything just outside of the bounds of earth absolutely fascinates me.

So seeing the HALO project by Canadian Natrium42 was downright awesome. (Sorry, corny wording, but I can't think of any other way to say it!)

Check it out!

-E

What I read...

I've had a day. So to procrastinate/try and feel better I thought I'd blog. Of note, it is exactly one month since the last one!

I read lots of blogs (even though I don't blog often) such as the following:

I read lots of tech stuff, like:

• Coding Horror - A great blog with lots of interesting articles (at times rants) about stuff that I do quite often (ie: work). Lots of good architecture and design info...
• Joel on Software - Another one of those overall interesting tech blogs (though slightly boring at the moment now that he's on a promo tour).
• Scott Hanselman's Computer Zen- A M$ employee, but I did read him before then. Really great reading, especially the Weekly Source Code. Just goes to show you can be a programmer and be cool! (It's ok Mom, I've come to accept my uncoolness....)
• WebmasterWorld - This is how I know of stuff so soon that goes on, on the web. I've let out my secret. Though there are actually a lot of other places that are quicker to post news, this one is usually pretty good, and usually right on the money.
  

And when I'm feeling like I need a laugh:

• XKCD - But be careful ~
  

  Warning: this comic occasionally contains strong language (which may be unsuitable for children), unusual humor (which may be unsuitable for adults), and advanced mathematics (which may be unsuitable for liberal-arts majors).

And to feed my Arm Chair Model Railroader hobby:

• CNJ Bronx Terminal - Tim Warris, of FastTracks fame, has lots of good tips on modelling in general. I remember the first time I saw his article in Model Railroader, it had to be one of my favorite layouts!
• Blood Sweat & Tears Railroad - The site showcases a great railroad (which unfortunately no longer exists) as well as links to many other great railroads.
• Carl Arendt's Micro Layouts Site - My current favorite, he showcases trackplans that squeeze a lot into small spaces. Not all of the micro layouts are the craftsman quality of some of the others seen here, but they are all very creative!
  
• Also Dan's Train Blog, The Körschtalbahn and the Clearwater Valley Railway. All very good, and interesting reads, though some aren't updated as often as I'd like
  

And to feed my other creative impulses:

• Makezine Blog - Art and engineering from all over the world. A great read, some of the coolest things I've seen shows up here! And the Faires are even better!
• Brass Goggles - My tiny foray into the real art world. Some very amazing stuff, my only complaint is that it isn't updated nearly often enough!

Last, but definitely not the least, is family (and friends who are family):

• Mom & Dad Bouwsema - A great way of keeping up when it's hard to keep up! Also, I regularly read the Train Station Saga's....
• Ambling Ramblings - A great name, from B&K, brother and sister-in-law, joint MST3K partakers. I don't know if I should link them though, they don't link me ;-)
• And Emma - The beautiful Miss Grose! Unfortunately no longer updated, too busy with a new little brother I think.
  

So, that's pretty much what I read. When I need a break, I look at most of theses blogs/sites and it makes me feel good again!