books, coffee, and vacation

You guys posted some great suggestions for books to read yesterday. I think it even set a record for the most number of comments for a single entry. Of the suggested works, I have read Lewis' Narnia series and part of the space trilogy, selected works by Frank Peretti (they seemed formulaic after a while), the first and second books in the Dune series, all the Tolkien basics, and An Arrow Pointing to Heaven (Rich Mullins bio). I have started Dracula, but never finished it. Fahrenheit 451 was one of my favorite SciFi books when I was younger, and I also liked Bradbury's collection of short stories called "The Illustrated Man." I have tried something like 4 times now to read "The Brothers Karamozov," but have continually hit a brick wall around page 100.

Here are the suggestions I have put on my fiction reading list for the summer (I might even actually get to read them) in no particular order:

Stanislaw Lem - Solaris Stephen King - Green Mile, his writing book J.K Rowling - Harry Potter series Philip K. Dick - The Divine Invasion (been meaning to read some of his stuff for a while) Richard Adams - Watership Down Neal Stephenson - Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon? (been curious about this guy too) Douglas Adams - HGTTG (better read it before the movie comes out)

A lot of the other books mentioned interest me, but some of them I know little about. Adam, if you want to expand on the ones I did not mention here, would be cool. Ooh, or write a blog entry about it. (: You guys can check out Adam's blog here.

On an odd sidenote, I have also put together an Amazon wish list with a bunch of books and other random things. This is not meant so much to ask you guys to buy the books for me, but more meant to be a resource for those that were already planning on getting something for me for whatever reason and just don't know what to get. Good books are always a good gift. Especially ones with library binding. (: Of course, the timing of this could not be better with my impending birthday a month and a half off. I'll try to keep the page updated and see if anyone ends up using it.

Upon my descent into the working world, I have found one valuable resource - coffee. I am still quite the amatuer, as I have not yet delved into brewing it myself, but I have tried a good deal of coffee by the cup. My favorite is Dunkin Donuts, with Seattle's Best a close second. I take it with cream and sugar (known as 'reg-yah-lah' at DD in Boston) as I cannot yet take it black. I have weaned slowly off some of the sugar, but I don't think I could ever do without the cream. Coffee is a valuable asset to my day, as I find myself slighly asleep until my first sip.

So I ask you these questions. Do you drink coffee? Why or why not? Do you brew it yourself or buy it by the cup? Who makes your favorite coffee?

Next week I am taking Tuesday through Friday off from work. I am meeting by brother-in-law in NYC, and we are staying with some old friends. It should be great, but it is only from Tuesday to Thursday. I have two 3 day weekends I really want to take advantage of on either end of the NYC trip, but need some suggestions for what to do. Hopping a random flight or two is totally possible, but I need to make some quick decisions. The biggest issue to think of is that I really don't want to go somewhere and be by myself. Maybe that limits me a bit, but checking out Paris or England (actually that sounds like a really good option...) might be pretty cool even by myself. Maybe LA or Missouri. Ideas? I just don't have a ton of time for the travel itself.

Entry posted by byscuits at 12:55 PM | Comments (3)

library binding

I have recently discovered the beauties of purchasing books from Amazon with library binding. I decided to plunge into some good ole classic SciFi and read Asimov's Foundation series. As I read the first novel, I am reminded of how library books felt in my hand as a child. They seem easier to hold, and I expect them to last quite a long time, certainly much longer than a paperback. And they only cost $3-$4 more per book.

Yesterday was a very good day. Perhaps the best day in a couple of months. I spent some very good time in the Word and was really renewed. For the first time in a while, I feel genuine hope.

I have been going out of my mind lately trying to figure out what I am going to do with all my free time this summer. I played video games for a couple of days, but found that, as always, they numb my mind. I find it harder to concentrate and find that my motivation in general is sapped. They are enjoyable, but for me, all too addictive.

Instead I have decided to spend my time reading. There are so many books I have wished to have the time to read, and now I really do have the time! I enjoy reading non-fiction to an extent, but not the way I love fiction. So I ask today's please-respond-with-a-comment question: What are your favorite fiction books and fiction authors? What non-fiction books do you especially recommend? It has been mentioned here before, but my favorite fiction book, bar none, is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.

Non-fiction books on my list to read: The Purpose Driven Life, How People Grow, The Four Loves.

Entry posted by byscuits at 12:37 PM | Comments (12)

Got my grades

Well, I was hoping for a C and a B, but I guess this will do. I finished Thermo with a D and Electronics with a C. Apparently I didn't do too bad on the Thermo final either. Here is a quote from an email from a TA:

Even though your total grade put you on the bottom with failing people your final exam grades were significantly higher than them and Mats and I gave positive feedback on your participation and the great project so you did pass :)

So it looks like my participation and final project made a difference after all. Thermal Fluids Engineering II is definitely the hardest class I have ever taken at MIT.

So I am done with the semester. One more to go, and I WILL GRADUATE. :D

Entry posted by byscuits at 06:26 PM | Comments (1)

End of the semester

Well, I am done with the spring semester at MIT. My Electronics final on Monday went quite well, and with a little generosity on the part of the TA I might even be able to pull down a B in that class.

Thermo, however, was a nightmare yesterday morning. After walking out of that final, I was doing a bit of calculation in my head to see if I could even pass the class. I sent an email to the TA, and she said I actually did pretty well on the first half of the test. So that is good news. But it was the second half that I was worried about. It was ugly. I mean ugly. It reminded me of the last time I took the final in that class. The time I flunked it. At least this time I did decently on the tests and the final project. I think I might have some wiggle room if things go badly.

Assuming I pass both of my classes, I plan on having a celebration at some point for those still around for the summer. Perhaps we will play mafia, one of my favorite games. Might also be a good way to get to know the new people that are moving into the Wilson House.

My first year in the Wilson House was definitely the most significant of my life. But then again, I like to make superlatives. With that in mind, I think this past semester might have been the hardest of my life, for several reasons. And MIT was the easy part.

I know this whole process is for the best, I just don't feel that right now. I know God is breaking me to make something better in it's place. I know so many things to be true in my head, but there is a disconnect with my heart. Maybe I disconnected it. Stuffing is often so much easier than dealing.

Sometimes things happen in life that are hard. You can choose to persevere and grow, or you can lay down and die. I recently chose to lay down and die. I feel I have forgotten so much of what I once Knew.

Yet somehow in all this, I know that's just crap. This cloud around me can be removed, and I Know exactly how. I Know it is not me that has to do something, that has to be good enough, that has to accomplish. I just have to currently accept what has already been offered, and what I have in the past accepted for all time. I'm just not quite there at the moment.

Entry posted by byscuits at 12:00 PM | Comments (2)

finals week

I have my Electronics final today at 1:30 pm, and my Thermo final tomorrow at 9 am. I am not too worried about Electronics, but I am going to be studying my butt off tonight for Thermo. I am doing okay in both classes, so the final isn't do or die. I would love your prayers if that's your kind of thing to do.

I ordered another book by Cloud and Townsend called How to Grow. It was recommended by a friend who has made good recommendations in the past, so I look forward to reading it.

More paragraphs erased today. Too much in my head right now. Unsorted, cluttered.

Entry posted by byscuits at 11:04 AM | Comments (1)

Thermo final project grade...

I just got word that our final project for Thermal Fluids Engineering II received at least a 95 out of 100. Could be higher.

Still waiting to hear what class ave was.

Entry posted by byscuits at 06:30 PM | Comments (0)

Think Less

I was told today that they are now officially looking for my replacement here at work. But it looks like they will be replacing me with someone here in the office. Funny thing is, no one wants the job. :) Means whomever takes my job will have to spend the next 3 months being trained. Most people like where they are. Also means that there will be no trip to India for me. Oh well, I really never expected that one to happen for some reason.

This morning, I went to my last class at MIT this semester. Two finals, and I will be done for the semester. I am not even in danger of flunking either class.

On Monday night, I went to the Bible study I helped lead during the fall semester. It was really cool to see the guys again, and I think I am going to lead a group there again next year. In my efforts to have plenty of time to study this semester, I cut off something that was vitally important to me - spending time with younger brothers.

There is a photo contest here at work. We get to submit 3 photos in a variety of categories. The photo will be used in the company screensaver on all the desktops, which is pretty cool. So that means they should be of the "shiny happy" variety. If you all have suggestions for which to use, I would love to hear them. Currently I am thinking of using these three:

 
 

As I look back over my blog this past year, I see that I rarely write when I am feeling peaceless. This blog is not a real representation of my life, as I only tend to write when I feel like it. And I only feel like it when things are good. I am writing today in spite of not feeling particularly well, and I certainly don't feel like I have anything insightful to say. Yet I still write, and I still desire to say something meaningful.

I write paragraphs here only to delete them. They say little. I wish I thought less and did more.

Entry posted by byscuits at 03:44 PM | Comments (1)

Thermo and India

Yesterday I had just sat down for Thermo lecture. One of the TA's was passing out handouts, and as she hands one to me, she says, "You guys had a good project. I liked it." I was a bit stunned. She actually likes our project. Which has got to mean that puts us in the top half of the final projects, so that means at least a B. After lecture I went up to her and asked when we would get the grades for the project. She said they could be done by Friday, and then she added, "But you guys had a really good project." Whoa. We just bumped up to "really good." I like the sound of that.

Looks like my job will be over at the end of this summer. I think they are looking for my replacement in India. Since I am the only one that does my job, my boss asked me today if I wanted to go to India for two weeks to train my replacement. From one perspective, that's pretty low. I might have to go train the guy that is taking my job. But, in all honesty, it would be fun. I've never been to India. Might be cool to stay an extra week and be a bit of a tourist. But, it might be a little lonely. Of course, it would be perfect for a week of photography.

Maybe after I graduate I should look for a job in Mechanical Engineering. It really is the area which I am best trained (not necessarily experience), and I love group projects. I guess if I am honest about my current job, it is pretty boring, and I rarely work with people on anything. There are just so many factors that weigh in on my post-graduation plans. Whatever happens, I will be so glad to be done. To be able to move past that part of my life. To stop feeling, in some ways, like I am still 18.

All I have left now is two finals next week. Hoo yah. And a friend that has been in Niger this semester gets back today.

Today I play.

Entry posted by byscuits at 11:59 AM | Comments (7)

couple of photos

I am finally making my way through the rest of the photos I took on my trip to LA (I am almost done working on yours, Mr. Kawai). This is a photo I overlooked from our first outting to the Getty.

This one was taken on the Cambridge Common, a park near my house. It is a statue remembering the Potato Famine in Ireland of the mid-1800's.

More photos to come after the semester finishes. I have a paper due today and a lab to finish tonight. After that, I just have two finals next week. Electronics should be no sweat, and I really want to do well on my Thermo final.

Entry posted by byscuits at 11:04 AM | Comments (3)

Even better

Okay, this is even better than my last post. I just got test #4 back in Electronics. I got 66. Class ave was 67. That's right folks, I got right at class ave. That's a middle of the road B.

Hoo yah. Bring on the final.

Unrelated: Sometimes the only way to see clearly is with blurred vision.

Entry posted by byscuits at 03:29 PM | Comments (2)

Ripe

Well, I just finished binding the final project for Thermal Fluids Engineering II. All I now have left in this class is the final. I have not slept yet, and am surprisingly quite wide awake. I cannot believe how much work I did last night. Final page count: 38. We designed a system for needleless injections powered by a CO₂ cartridge, sort of like the hypospray on Star Trek (sorry for all you non-dorks who don't know what I'm talking about). Anyways, here is the final product, a result of me being assigned creation of the solid model.

   

Now that it's all finished, I don't know that I could tell you how it works. Okay, maybe I could. But my right hand is sore from mousing all night. And I don't want to type. And I still have two classes to go to. And I have to be back into work at Fidelity.

As Damien would say, "Whiners are wieners." Indeed. Notice how I did not delete my attempt to garner sympathy and pity.

Oh, and I smell bad. Quite ripe.

Entry posted by byscuits at 12:32 PM | Comments (1)

Another Test

Overheard at MIT today:

"Okay, check this out. I got class ave on that last test. I rock!"

And speaking of tests, I had one today in Electronics. Based on peoples' reactions, it looks like the class average will be much lower. This is always a good thing. I know I got all the points on two of the problems for 40 of the 100 points, and I think I picked up a good amount of partial credit. I felt good going into the test because I worked hard yesterday, and I got up early this morning and did quite a bit more work.

I also have a paper due in Electronics today, but I was able to get an extension until Monday! Totally awesome. I can spend plenty of time finishing my Thermo final project due on Friday and not have to worry about this paper till the weekend. Very nice.

I still have a lot to finish this week, so if you could actively keep me in prayer, that would be cool.

Entry posted by byscuits at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)

Choices

The semester is over in a couple of weeks, and I will finally be able to go back to full time at Fidelity. The only problem is, I will still only be allowed to work 25 hours a week on this one project. I will likely be able to work on other projects, but it doesn't look like I will be able to go back to the full 40 hours a week. This is a real bummer, as I am still paying for this past semester. Sure is an employers market right now.

The good news, however, is that I will be able to take entire weeks at a time off this summer. Definitely spend a full week in Missouri with my new niece and maybe a week in LA with some old friends. I might even be able to take a full third week off and shoot a short film.

I haven't really taken any photos in the past month. Today, for the first time in a long time, I really want to go out and shoot. This is a good thing.

I have been thinking more about the condition of our heart and the choices we make. I believe that we need to be concerned with taking the proper path more than the outcome of the following that path. But I tend to be more focussed on what I am feeling than what I choose. I have been thinking more of the importance of the choices I make. Solaris was a beautiful movie because of this. The plot makes very little sense, but the movie is about the choices that were made. The way to follow the proper path is through my choices. And every choice essentially comes down to this: will I submit to God or choose to do my own thing?

I want to read James. Will I choose to?

Entry posted by byscuits at 01:03 PM | Comments (1)