Um.. so we're just going to do this on a timeline basis and we'll see if I can't get you all caught up..
My last few weeks in California were spent tying up projects, tightening friendships, and trying to delay the inevitable. Mom and Tim came out to visit (she's got pictures), Tom came out for the Google company picnic and to hang out with Cesar and I, and I avoided work.
When Tom came out we took a day trip to San Fransico. For pictures of the whole weekend, visit his Picasa site here. We also played games at Google, hung out with my Google buddy Chris, and drove around the valley. Tim's got some more pics that I'll link to eventually, he just doesn't have them up yet.I returned to Colorado on August 5th and then spent the next four days unpacking, getting my traditional after-work-cold, and sleeping in. Then on August 10th I flew to Charlotte for a conference. There I presented a poster (pretty poster link), gave a presentation, and talked it up with the people I worked with last summer. My poster received first place in the research division and I got a few ideas on what I'm going to do for my grant this year. Also, mom flew out and watched me present, as well as just hung out with me. The trip was overall great, though the weather in North Carolina could have been so much nicer..
August 15th found me back in Colorado, yet again, and getting ready for the big freshman orientation and move-in here on campus. The 16th was the big day and I spent all of it helping herd freshman into their correct rooms, as well as finding their classes and whatever else they need.
Also, we found out that mosquitos prefer the taste of my blood over everyone else at the front office. Oh joy. Abby's happy to be back, I think. She had some trouble at first getting used to Megan and Sophie again, but she's getting there. I learned this summer that when I do move out, I'm going to have to get Abby someone to play with while I'm out of the house. She's a very needy kitty.. but only when you're not paying attention to her. Or when she's sleeping..After freshman move-in I took the weekend off to relax and sleep, then spent the next Monday with Caitlin purchasing books and new bike parts. Caitlin had a great summer, apparently, and we've already fallen back into our old ways.
Our first batch of baking went over well with the lab today, as you can see from the picture of Tim to the left there. Classes started on the 21st for me and I'm already living in the lab. Part of me's glad to be back in the trend and the other part of me just wants to graduate. The good news is that unless I can't hold off until then, I will be graduating in August of 2008. Not sure on dates yet, but I'll let you all know. Class breakdown is as follows:- CS314: Object-Oriented Design. Basically a class on testing and how to design your code. I pretty much learned this all at Google so it's just another snooze fest for me.
- CS414: The more advanced version of the course above. Don't ask why I'm taking the basic and advanced at the same time.. I'm not happy about it either. Worst part is it doesn't seem to be anymore than what I did at Google either.
- CS430: Database Systems. Yeah.. I've taken a course like this already and I've taught a course like this already.. but of course I need to take this one to get the credit I need.. (Bet you can't guess which course I'm writing this blog post in..)
- CS440: Artifical Intelligence. This is the one course I'm actually interested in this semester, as well as am enjoying. The work load is a little high but it's all good. The professor is great and the material actually new and interesting.
I guess the upside of these courses is that I'm busy enough with easy homework assignments to not get too bored. That and they're all on Tuesday and Thursday.. hello four day weekends..
This class is over, so I'm going to go ride through the rain to my next adventure in computing.. oh joy.. why can't the classes be over and I can just go back to doing homework?..
