Hello, all.  Long time, no blog.  I have been unbelievably busy since the last time I posted.  I’ve decided to take a break from homework and studying to do a tumblr update.

This past weekend was a fantastic weekend.  A couple friends from home came up to visit me.  We spent most of the day Saturday in Chicago.  There, I experienced my first time at the Sears Tower, 103 stories up in the air looking down on the city of Chicago.  It was night by the time we got up there and it was the most beautiful scene I’ve seen in my life (maybe).  I couldn’t believe it.  Overall, the time spent with my friends was awesome.

Of course, I did not get any homework complete over the weekend so I knew I was in store for a busy week.  Busy indeed.  I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already.  All I’ve done the past three days is basically homework and studying.  Today I met with the television center to discuss time I am able to do weather.  Fortunately, I will be doing weather. Unfortunately (totally my decision), I may have to miss all or just a little bit of my Calculus 3 class every so often.  As of now, it looks like I will be doing weather every other Monday or Wednesday.  I’ll find out Monday.

I am currently working on a Meteorology lab.  It is seriously the longest MET lab I’ve done (which I suppose makes sense since it is a higher level course).  I currently have to do “isopleths” which is basically what a computer can do these days.  It is kind of interesting, though, from a weather nerd’s perspective.  I actually get to see and analyze what is going on and what I think could happen.  I have to plot dew points, temperature, and pressure.  Needless to say it is a big mess.  A “good” big mess.  It’s supposed to be that way.

Tomorrow promises to be yet another busy day.  At least I can sleep in since class doesn’t start until 11AM!  After that I have Calculus homework to review along with  class and then I have another meeting to go to for the American Meteorological Society (NIU Chapter).  Come to find out, once I complete my degree, I will automatically be a part of the national chapter of the American Meteorological Society.  I believe you have to take the test if your degree does not satisfy the requirements for AMS.  Fortunately, mine does.  I guess there is good coming out of taking all these physics and math courses!

Have a fantastic rest of the week.  We’re over the hump! 

So much for a “daily” blog.  Looks like this is going to be a “when Kyle has time” blog.  Yesterday was pretty much devoted to school work.  I did take a break to go to the gym then headed to the library for a few hours.  After the few hours, I decided to not study anymore.  I basically took a phone call, talked to some friends and headed to bed around 12:30 (somewhat earlier than usual).  

It was fantastic to, once again, sleep in on a Thursday.  I feel so much better getting eight hours of sleep!

As far as the title is concerned; this is basically my life in for the next 25 hours.  I have two quizzes tomorrow: Journalism and Calc.  The journalism quiz is over the last 36 hours of news.  So, I have to read the Northern Star newspaper, watch CNN and read online news stories.  I should also watch/read some highlights from the State of the Union from Tuesday.  I go see my math tutor for the first time this semester.  I basically have the concepts down but he always has an easier way of explaining things.  He says I am one of the few that comes in and DOESN’T expect him to do the homework for me.  I have never understood the point of that.  In the end, it’s going to hurt you.  When you have to do these problems on a test by yourself, it shows you’ve learned nothing.

Tomorrow two of my friends come up for the weekend and I cannot wait!  It’s been really hard to concentrate this week knowing they are coming.  

Back to the news!

Happy Tuesday!

This will be my last happy Tuesday for a while, as “real” physics lab starts up next week.  We have weekly quizzes over the lab manual.  They are worth 10 points; one point for showing up and three points each for three questions.  The lab teaching assistant seems pretty chill compared to some of the horror stories I’ve heard about the class.  I am not worrying too much because one of the guys in my group took the course last semester and knows what to expect (that could also be a bad thing since he is in it AGAIN).  

Once again in my Meteorology class, there was no lecture.  We talked about the AFD (Area Forecast Discussion) for the DeKalb/Sycamore area, again.  For 50 minutes we talked about how today was going to be cloudy with broken sunshine and warmer temperatures.  This professor is awesome, though.  We are supposed to be in there from 11:00 to 12:15.  He says he is cutting it down to just 50 minutes and we get out at 11:50.  No complaining one bit.

The other classes are BLAH.  Lots of busy work.  Busy work that I feel like I should be doing.  I have done absolutely NO homework tonight (not that I have much).  I feel like I should have at least worked ahead in something.  Oh well.  I finished my two physics assignments that are due Monday.  Tomorrow, however, is going to be a different story.  I have a story for my journalism course due on Monday that has to be 750-900 words long.  Shouldn’t be a huge deal since I don’t need any sources (minus the website, I suppose).  So, tomorrow night after my work out, I will likely go get a coffee from Starbucks and head to the library for the night.  The good thing about being out late is that I don’t have class until 11AM on Thursday!

Well, I am currently nerding out and listening to news music.  Don’t judge and more importantly, do not get too jealous ;).

Goodbye, for now. 

Today was another one of those “blah” days.  The weather was crummy; freezing drizzle, blowing snow, chilly, foggy.  Not a great day.  I woke up, had my usual cups of coffee then took a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts for some coffee and breakfast.  Good stuff.

Every Sunday since the fourth or fifth week of last semester has been devoted to homework (minus Christmas break, obviously).  I’ve decided that worked well for me so I am doing it again this semester.  My plan is to have Friday and Saturday be my relaxing days and then just hate life Sunday (not totally, I love life!).  So, today’s work started around noon and ended about 5:30 PM.  I completed my Physics assignments that are due NEXT Monday as well as this week’s readings for the class.  Completed (almost) my lab that’s due Thursday for my MET class and then ended by reading for my journalism class.

Afterwards I watched Friends.  This seems to be a common denominator.  I love this show. 

Have a great week, all!

Saturday was not a very eventful day.  At all.  I woke up around noon, ate some oatmeal, and just vegged out for a few hours.  I did do a load of laundry, which was much needed.  I could barely fit all of my laundry in one machine.  I still have no received the package my parents sent out last Wednesday, so I still only have four pair of sucks socks.

Later in the day, I made a trip to Walmart to get a few things.  I generally don’t come out of that place without spending 30 or 40 bucks.  I walked out only having spent $20.00!  I was proud of myself.  This never happens.  I even used a coupon, which I normally don’t do but I definitely should especially not having a steady income.  Speaking of which, I really need to look for an extremely part-time job.

As I’ve mentioned before, it seems I have been a pig this week (aside from the fact that everything in the food court has gone up in price).  So, I decided to use some of my Subway gift card and bought Subway for dinner.  It was delicious, as always.  Along with Subway I watched the news and then eventually I watched Friends, for a long time. Probably the remainder of the night.  I got a LITTLE homework done during the day yesterday but overall it was a very lazy day.

Today Everyday this week: Homework, homework, homework. 

I’ve discovered that I really am not a fan of getting out of class at 4PM on a Friday.

The day started out at 7:45 with no snow.  I was a little upset, but I was thinking the snow wasn’t going to start around 9AM anyway.  In actuality, it didn’t start until 9:45, so I was close.

The first two classes went by fast, as usual (even though it was only the second meeting).  After class, I grabbed some lunch and checked the weather.  By this time the snow had begun to fall!  In between lunch and checking the weather, and my nap, I read the first two sections of my Calculus because of a stupid quiz.  The quiz was two questions.  I REALLY need to brush up on my trig skills using the Unit Circle. 

Class ends, and it was really snowing out.  I enjoyed the walk home aside from the soaking wet feet.  I grabbed some dinner (early dinner, I suppose) and a few people came into my room and we just had some casual conversation.  Instead of going to the gym, I decided I was going to do stares.  A few other people decided they wanted to as well.  It was REALLY hard.  I got up to the fifth floor (out of 14, including the basement) and I felt like I was going to fall over.  Two of us ended up going up and down 4 times, and then instead of taking the elevator back to the fifth floor we took the stairs.  It was a great workout.

A friend who lived on the floor last year took an amazing opportunity to participate in a co-op program.  Yesterday was her birthday, so as a floor we decided to skype her and sing happy birthday to her.  It was nice to see her.

After that, things got interesting, as a whole floor.  It was an enjoyable time.  I finally called it a night around 2 or 2:30.

I’m going to try and do a little homework today.  Not sure yet. 

…to see what this weather does.  All day the the models and the National Weather Service have been going back and fourth between amounts of snow/duration of snow for Friday.  In my Meteorology class, we were supposed to start our first lecture.  This is an hour and 15 minute class.  Not that I am complaining, but we did not start the lecture.  We spent the whole time talking about the impending snow storm set to hit the area Friday morning.  We read a forecast discussion that said the area could experience sleet, which cut back on the snow totals a couple inches.  That looks like it might go a little south, so that’s good news (or bad if you hate snow).  Then, it looked like the storm track was going to go a bit north, only leaving DeKalb with four to six inches of the white stuff.  Now, indications show we could be back in the six to eight inch range.  We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.  It is driving me crazy though.

I am also anxiously awaiting my Calculus quiz tomorrow.  He drops the lowest two, so if I screw up it’ll be no big deal.  However, it scares me because I think I figured it out on my own without my tutor.  We’ll see.  I’ll do some last minute studying tomorrow (usually I do better under pressure, especially when it comes to math).

You don’t need a meteorologist (or one in training) to tell you it was cold outside today.  Absolutely brutal.  The walk home from the gym was rough.  I probably burned more calories shivering on the way home than I did during my workout.  Expect the cold to only last a couple more days.  Looks like we could be back in the 40’s next week with a chance of rain (mixed with snow at times).

Lunchtime arrived and I got a sub sandwich from “Dog Pound Deli” and it was absolutely delicious along with a bag of chips.  When I received my receipt, I noticed that I only have about $11.00 to last me through Sunday.  Woops.  I must have been a pig the last three to four days.  My bad.  So, it was Ramen, Tostitos and water for dinner.  

After dinner I did some reading for my classes; no homework as of yet.  Just lots of reading.  I think this Sunday I’ll be stuck at the library for most of the day doing school work.  Oh joy.

Until next time, under a blanket of snow.  Adios.

We’re half way through the week!

I am going to keep this short as I have now accumulated a little reading for school.  Speaking of accumulating, we’ve got ourselves a snowstorm coming for northern Illinois!  Looking like a solid 5 or 6 inches for the DeKalb area.  QC folks should get 2 to 4 inches.  Looking forward to it, mostly because I don’t have to drive :).  Just kidding, mostly because I love snow.  The no driving thing is just a plus.

Today was the first day of the dreaded Physics class.  Thankfully the class is lead by the department chair, at least I think that is something to be thankful for.  She seems to be very helpful and willing to answer any question that needs to be answered.  However, I had to buy this stupid online homework in order to do the homework for Physics.  Ugh.  It’s costing me $20.00 for 10% of my grade.

Journalism went great.  The syllabus seems endless and he talked the whole 50 minutes.  He is kind of boring, but the class itself is very interesting.  I am still considering a double major, as I would only have to take a few more journalism courses after my minor to get the major.  We’ll see what happens.

My Calculus professor is a fruitcake.  He has a very different personality and sense of humor.  But, he seems to know what he is talking about.  I am going to have to do some major reviewing tomorrow because what he said today made no sense.

I took a nap, just hours after saying I wasn’t going to take naps this semester.  Ah well.  Naps are good.  Did a little bit of reading then a bunch of us went to the Recreation Center and ran around the track.  Now, I feel great and I am ready to get some work done.

Happy snow and cold!