Andrew Underwood

Worst Acronym Ever

I just received an email newsletter from the Faculty of Science at the University of Alberta. One really has to laugh at this. The following was taken right out of it:

WTF?

The Dean of Arts, in conjunction with the Office of the Provost, established in September 2005 a joint Arts/University Task Force to complete a thorough assessment of writing instruction and writing competencies at the University of Alberta. As a result of its work over the last year, the Writing Task Force has made recommendations (see www.arts.ualberta.ca/wtf/) about writing at the U of A and is now asking for input from students, faculty and staff. Make your voice heard at the upcoming WTF Open Forum on November 23, 2006 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm in Education North Room 2-115.

Loud sound of fun while I’m trying to sleep

The last two weeks have been very busy for me school wise. Mostly just a formal lab report due and midterms. I also went to the Crowsnest Pass to drop off my car and got a ride back with my Dad. I haven’t realy done anything relaxing or fun for a while.

My two midterms yesterday, to be described in a single word: frantic. The first one started late because the class before ours was also writing a test and they went over the allocated time block. The delay was about 5-10 mins, which was a lot for how long the test I had to write was. Close to the end my prof, seeing that everyone wasn’t close to finishing announced that he would give us extra time to finish the test. I then told him that I had another midterm right after, to which he announced “well I was going to be nice and give you extra time but I guess I can’t.” Everyone else then looked at me and went “Uhhhg.” Sure, make me the ogre.

So we ended up writing all the way until 3:00, which is the time my next midterm started. The prof personally collected my test papers, which was nice. Even though I hadn’t even READ what the last two questions were yet. At which point I ran, RAN to my next test that is usually about a 7 min walk away.

One hasn’t truly experienced university until walking into a midterm late with 200 other students already furiously scribbling away. Arriving I get a wide eyed look from the prof, who heard me opening the doors to the doubled back enterance hallway and thus had an exam ready to hand me. I was only about five mins late but I was sure the last one to get there. Of course there were no seats along the aisle so I had to wade through one of the skinny rows to the very middle. I bumped a couple of people causing calculators and erasers to fall to the floor. Sitting down I discovered that the fold out wooden table was broken so I just rested it on my lap and began the test. I had to write until the very end and wasn’t allowed any extra time. I finished it alright but didn’t have a chance to go over it or recheck any of my answers.

The prof from my first test was courtious enough to give me his card to give to my next prof incase there were any problems but I didn’t ever do this. All in all I think I did well on the tests, as long as the people also taking the first test stopped writing when I shoved all my stuff into my backpack and ran to the next test. As Aaron would say “have faith in the curve”.

Convincing ourselves it’s summer

This week Adam, Meaghan and I ate lunch outside and did homework a couple of times. This was in quad, the grassy area at the centre of the University. My face actually got a bit red from the sun. Most of the snow is gone but the grass is still brown unlike Lethbridge. The first day we sat at a picnic table. The second day Adam got smart and brought a big blanket, which attracted friends. To conclude, the weather here is great!

And a short video from the day before.

Last day of class

Yesterday was the much celebrated last day of class. Allan, Ben and Adam came over for some BBQed hamburgers. We played bomberman while they were cooking, such a classic game. Anyhoo, now I have to buckle down and study for finals, I have two on Monday.

Monday

It was really really cold in our apartment for the last week or so. About 14 degrees all the time, except when the sun came in. We had ideas of placing rocks in the sun to collect the heat in the day so it would be released at night. We were wearing our dressing gowns all the time, sleeping in them with sweaters. This morning I woke up because I was too cold, and I almost never wake up for anything. We also had a dilemma because we couldn’t get the land lady to fix it because we have the puppy which we are not sure if we are allowed to have here. I didn’t know if it was just our apartment or if it was the land lady trying to save on heating costs. Our thermostat did nothing, I thought it was just a decoration to trick us into thinking that we actually commanded the temperature. In any case, tonight I took it upon myself to see if I could fix it myself. After taking off the register panel, wiping away a few thick layers of dust, I found two loose wires in the rats nest. Not knowing how this worked I took a chance and touched the wires together. There was a spark. Seconds later, gurgling. The hot water was flowing! I rigged it together and was so glad that tomorrow I’ll get to wake up pleasantly.

This morning it was cold in our place, but I still had to go to school. First class - 9:00am - I am never there on time. Since I woke up early from being cold I was ahead of schedule and was delighted at the fact that I was going to have a leisurely bike ride to university and have time to spare before class started. It was cold outside, as you can imagine an Edmonton winter. I gear up, trudge outside through the new snow, get to my bike only to discover I couldn’t open my bike lock because it was frozen shut. I had some lock de-icer upstairs in my room… somewhere. Never having had to use it before I didn’t really know where it was. “Should I cut my losses and just start walking?” I thought to myself. No. I went to look for the lock de-icer, and tore my room apart in the process. After finally finding it, I used it, set my bike free and I was on my way.

The trip was quite perilous as the snow impeded my bikes natural movements. My front wheel slipped out twice on my way resulting in a couple of near -suretobecomical- face plants. I was riding hard enough that the cold air caused my asthma to flare up, worse than it has ever been in recent memory. Arriving in class late, I sat though a lecture on linear algebra (which incidentally isn’t so linear anymore) wheezing away like some old man. The wheezing was really loud and my focus was keeping it minimized. This passed by the end of the class. After that I had two more lectures to attend and an assignment to do. Being really tired it really, really sucked doing that assignment, it’s a good thing it was the last one for that class.

Anyways, positive thoughts, positive thoughts.

Just two more midterms left

Just two more tests, and it will be Halloween, yay! The books are killing me right now but not more than my lack of sleep. It would be better if I studied during the day instead of at night. I need to get studying.

Going to eBaum’s World: bad idea
Picking up my guitar: bad idea
Blogging: bad idea

I should go work now.