Another quick post on another quick study break.

Madness. I've put off this 352 project for way too long - I'm essentially doing the entire thing in 24 hours. But it was worth it: this past weekend was a BLAST!!! Saturday was the first time I'd been out with my Purdue peoples in a long while - and the first time hangin' out with Kellen & Erin in an even longer while. Good food/beer at Laf Brew Co, SoCo shot at Nate's crew's appt, then home for shots w/ Kellen Erin & James, then off to a party, then back to my place for MORE shots, finally off to Jake's for the entire gang to chill. Definitely one of my last chances to hang out with Mandy now that she's moving to Kansas City so soon. Sunday: OZZFEST - I don't have enough time to talk about how sweet it was, but rest assured I got my rock on in a pleasant variety of intensity all day long. Also, Jonathan & his friend bascially entertained each other all day, so I had Stace to myself (good cuz I won't be able to hang out with her again until after finals...blah). The afternoon sets were mostly hardcore (only went in the pit to see Atreyu - awesome!), and the evening sets were the headliners (A7X sucks ass, but Lacuna Coil & S.O.A.D. were both in really top form). Didn't get home until 1, so I was zonked for Monday. Long story short - I didn't do any schoolwork the whole weekend.



Good news: I've basically got the programming in the bag - it's not done but I've figured out the solution method (hooray). Bad news: the programming is only the first 3rd of the project - there's a surprising amount of work by hand... nuts (which sucks because, unlike work by computer, if you make a mistake you have to start the WHOLE thing over...). The plan right now is to work at home until midnight-ish, and then trek over to the Math Building computer lab for my late-night concentration. I have a hunch I can get most of it done but there's no way it's going to be an impressive effort - but I'm not going to feel guilty at all when I have to turn this thing in at noon.... I'll probably just be exhausted and go home to bed (but I can't sleep too long because I have HW due in BOTH math and 352 thursday.... crackwhore teachers). I scored 15 points better than the average on the 2nd exam - so I think I'm in good shape.



So yeah - just this next 18 hours of hell, and then I only have to worry about my 2 finals (which are thankfully two days apart! AND!! two days after the weekend ends...so I'll be a moron if I don't study hard). I'm starting to get really anxious for this two weeks of vacation between finals and the fall semester starting - I have some high-quality goof-off time coming my way.

Wish me luck!

Just a quick post on my study break.

In general, everything is going really well. The next two weeks are going to be absolute hell, though. Tonight marks my first (and hopefully only) all-nighter of the semester. Last semester I had to pull one-a-week, so I'm kind of an old pro at this point; I still hate doing it, though. It's my own fault for not starting studying for this math exam sooner - but if I don't churn out some hardcore cramming I'm going to fail for sure. And considering that's exactly what I did last time, I can't afford a repeat F. This math class counts as a tech-elective, so I need the credits to graduate (if I fail, it means adding an extra 3 hrs of HARD material to my fall or spring semester - BAD idea). Looks like my Friday afternoon is going to be spent in bed.... but it'll be worth it if I just don't fail.....

hooray for coffee binges. wish me luck tomorrow.

I'm so happy right now I want to cry.

Dear, sweet everloving Jesus - I sincerely apologize for all the whining I've been doing lately - for you have given me a gift beyond my wildest dreams.

Just as soon as I'm here talking up new albums from two of my most favorite and diverse bands...they announce a huge North American Tour. Visiting a city I can drive to. Not only that, but a city where I can stay the night for free. Not only that, but it's on a Saturday night - so come hell or high water in schoolwork I AM GOING. Not to mention I received notice early enough that I can purchase tickets online. Hell. I already purchased tickets. I got that shit before AP.net even made the announcement.


Saturday, Sept 16th. Bogart's. Cincinnati. The Bronx opening for Mastodon.

I know this doesn't mean much to you readers - but trust me this is a very very VERY BIG F**KING DEAL!

I have a lot going on right now school-wise, but now I have no reason whatsoever to complain about ANYTHING..... man this is awesome. Back to work.....

Oh yeah! Ozzfest this weekend! Suite. I promise I'll write a blog entry reivew.... I'm sure there will be some noteworthy happenings....

Current Mood: Optimistic and complacent

**random Radiohead reference - thank you Mandy **

Reason: Although I can't buy them yet, I can now stream both the new Bronx album (one thumb up) and the new Muse album (two thumbs up!!), and one track from the new Mastodon album. Ha HA! God bless the internet - and record labels smart enough to know that this is a good way to help consumers know if they should actually buy the CD or not. Also, my math homework only took 2 hours 15 minutes and 5 pages of writing....which is REALLY short... really.

Also, I'll be in Cinci this weekend: riding rollercoasters and enjoying romance. And I'm done with all my required HW for the week. Beat that.

Trying to decide right now if I should work on the 352 project due soon, or just drink beer and play FFVII... I dunno. I did already spend like 2 hours on the project today... and I do enjoy beer... hrm.



Next week will suck - two exams plus all the regular bullsh*t. And I'm sure as hell not doing any HW this weekend, so it'll pile up. Maybe I should be smart and do Monday's 352 assignment today. I don't know. Perhaps tomorrow night.

Just to add random info-tainment value to this posting, check out this article on how demographic-specific video slot-machines have become. I'm instantly reminded of "fist fulla dollars" - Mandy's intense experience with a Clint Eastwood themed video slot machine.... but geez, doesn't anybody have time to learn craps or roulette anymore? Eh, personally gambling doesn't really do anything for me - it should be a form of entertainment, but it just always feels like a form of losing money for no good reason. If I wanted to be a real man, I'd learn how to play roulette like James Bond (perhaps why Stacey likes playing it so much?). Although pushing that "Ni" button does sound like a kick - it would certainly do the trick to convince me to spend more money on each roll....

Peace.

"this week's episode makes me want to die in a fire. Watch and you'll agree" - Dattebayo fansub

I do. Maybe it's time for me to pick a new obscure thing to be a fan of since my current (for 2 years) thing sucks now. Especially since it's no longer obscure - Cartoon Network regularly shows these awful dubs, and there's an apparently REALLY SHITTY video game for it now (at least according to the good people at G4, who's opinion I trust with infinite faith).


It's also more than plausible that I'm in a bad mood because I just found out I scored 55/100 on my first math exam....a full 15 points below the class average. And also, I'm going to be stuck in WL this weekend working on the 352 project instead of visiting Cinci. Urgh.

I'm out. maybe a bike ride w/ Craig will soothe my nerves.

Just to help assure my faithful readers that it's not just one band I care about, I thought I'd take this time to remind myself what an exciting time for new music this is! Yessirree, Bob there's more than one new album coming out soon that I can't wait to get my hands on.

the Mars Volta! Probably much more talented than the Bronx. The term "musical genius" really hits home once you start to appreciate how much thought and effort goes into this band's albums. It's basically frightening how good they are. I'd try to explain it in detail, but I'd probably just melt your brain. Amputechture will be released Aug 22nd. Bitchin'.

Mastodon Said it before, and I'll say it again. Heavy metal just makes sense when you hear it from these guys. There's something so primal, brutal, and cleansing about rocking out to this Atlanta foursome. "Blood Mountain" (their 4th album) has been finished - they have artwork and the single all picked out...but I can't find a release date.... I want it. **side note** they'll be playing Seattle in less than 2 weeks....again, Brian I'm so effin' jealous. **

the Format Wowsa. Another superbly talented group with an amazing & highly anticipated album. Extremely mellow, extremely catchy. Joey predicts they make it big with this album. "Dog Problems" in stores July 11th. AP.net has been pimping this one hardcore..... we all know that means stardom is just around the bend... ** they play Seattle Aug 25th....I don't hate Brian for this one because he'll be stuck in WL here with me :) **

Muse I was skeptical initially, but I withdraw any earlier disrespectful statements about this band. Yeah, they're popular, Yeah you can go eat a d**k while I go out and buy this CD and enjoy the hell out of it. July 11th. Black Holes and Revelations. 'Nough said. ** These last two don't count as much since they're so far away, but they're still on my Radar Screen and worth mentioning as long as I'm on the topic of anticipated new albums..... ****

Vaux - Beyond Virtue, Beyond Vice. These guys basically got screwed by their record label at the exact same time they finished their last album....so they've been selling home-burnt copies in CD jackets hand-spraypainted for the last few months. BUT! Now they've found a record label willing to agree to their terms, so they're officially releasing the album. I've had my "unofficial" official copy for a few months now - but come Aug 1st joe shmo will be able to get his!

The Black Keys - Magic Potion. Two young white guys who sound like two old Black Guys. southern. bluesy. soulful. A simple formula that works. I'm curious what I'll be hearing come sept 12th of this year. So THERE! ... I'm still counting down to the 20th ... at which point I'll run down to Von's only to be dissappointed that they don't have what I want - but THEN I'll find a way to get my hands on the new Bronx album. But even if it sucks and I'm totally dissappointed (which I WONT be) - there's plenty more to look forward to. That makes me happy.

Final Note on this entry: Both the new Moneen album (the Red Tree) and the new Saves the Day album (Sound the Alarm) have been two of the best purchases I've ever made. They both display some incredible songwriting and staying power.

final final note: Kenny's saying "hey - HEY YOU! Yeah YOU! If you don't start singing along I'm coming back there and I'm going to KILL YOU". Hah. Canadians are hilarious.