The power was apparently off...

It's always good to double check things when you're working with electricity, because you can never be too sure. Take my last day at work for example. We had been working in the Tanner Building running some wire down a few conduits to put a new circuit in for the power hungry administrators. That went smoothly, at least until my boss told me to start putting the outlet boxes back in the wall. We shut off the breaker, so he assured me that I shouldn't be worried. So I put a few in no problem, and was assured I had nothing to worry about.

However, I did forget that as we were looking for the right circuit we opened up an outlet that was on another breaker, that was on. So as I shoved the wires back in the wall, I failed to realize that even though the contact screws were covered, a small section of wire was still exposed on the hot and return. The next thing I knew, I had the most wonderful tingling feeling running up both of my arms. It took me about a second to realize what was going on, when I ripped myself away from the wall. It sure did give me an adrenaline rush though.

So, let's see what we learned today: 1) Always check for power, even when you "know" the breaker is off. 2) Only use one hand at a time. and 3) 120V won't kill you, unless it goes through your heart.

Testing Center

Well this seemingly harmless building is actually the cause of most suffering on Campus, and the cause of my stress this week. I've heard the horror stories of finals here, and how depressing this place is, but I never believed it until I actually lived through it myself.

Basically my Physics teacher decided to have a midterm one month into classes. It's sad when midterms aren't even mid-term anymore. But it's not like I had a choice, so I went to do it.

Long story short, 2 and a half hours later I left the room full of countless rows of students racking their brains to try and remember what they heard in class last week. Although I did have a huge feeling of satisfaction as I left, knowing that I finished, under the average 3 hours that she had told us.

I guess this is just a preview for the future, but who cares, that's college right?

F-f-f-freezing!

Well since a certain someone was getting on my back for not "getting out and running" more often now that school has started, I thought I'd finally do what someone said, so I went running this morning.


The first battle was getting out of bed. Our apartment is already abnormally cold, and who wants to step out of warm sheets into the brisk morning air anyway? But my conscience got the best of me and I got ready.


But it didn't end there, because the blast of sub 32 air as I opened the door really wasn't too inviting. But I endured. All 19:32 seconds of it, woohoo. So what I felt sick afterward and I had a wicked runny nose, at least I was the first one to the shower to steal all of the hot water from my roommates!

Table for two?

Well, it's funny how cooking for two instead of one can make dinner fun. Normally I don't enjoy cooking, I see it as time that I could be using for other productive things, like homework, or socializing. Even though I ate Spaghetti way too much over the last few years, it never tasted as good as it did tonight. Isn't that what friends are for? Good times and a lot of laughs, especially when it's with someone with an exceptional sense of humor. This week may have been the hardest yet, but it still somehow had a happy ending.


Empty Stomach + Dry Pasta + Water + A Good Friend = A good end to a bad week.

Hey, new helmets this year!

It's a matter of fact in the Hampshire family that we will be on the back of a snowmobile at least once a year. It's been this way almost my entire life, and will most likely proceed for quite some time. We always make a winter trip to our slowly changing cabin in Idaho/Montana. I remember as it started out in 3 small rustic cabins, which changed to one modern/rustic cabin, which upgraded to two large cabins with indoor plumbing. Now we find ourselves in probably our last upgrade, The Pines at Island Park. At least here we have Sat TV, a Hot Tub, and WiFi at the lodge.

Whether summer, fall, or winter we always have our time in the great spaces of the northern US. I love this place, and look foreword to it every year. The only thing that would make it better would be bringing my friends along with me. But for now, I'll make the sacrifice. Because who wouldn't pass up the opportunity to drive 60+ mph on the back of a small motorized vehicle? I know I wouldn't.

A cause for Celebration

Even though it may be backwards, that is a perfect score on my Physics homework. Indeed a great cause for a celebration. Like most people know, I didn't get physics, but apparently now it's coming to me. Who knew?!
The only thing I have to worry about now is the people giving me weird looks because I'm taking pictures of myself with my homework in the library. We all have our obsessions people, just lay off for a while.

System.out.println ("Wickedosity");

Today has been so wonderful, which isn't that normal for someone like me. I only had one class to go to, and I totally rocked the homework that goes with it. I guess the real reason that I'm loving today is because I had another one of those moments when I couldn't stop smiling on my way home. I don't know why this happens, but for that short 10 minute walk from Campus to the Apartment, I love my life.
Whether it's writing my first program in Java for my Computer Science class(and having it work without bugs), or having my best friend give me a list of famous people that share my physical traits to make me feel great, it all works out somehow. It's the moments like these that make all the struggle worth it, especially the part when I was compared to Hugh Jackman. I only wish I could be closer to the one person that means the most to me, who happens to be 40 minutes away.
But I'll have to take it one hurdle at a time, even if I want it now. I suppose I really should just figure out why :
public static void main(String[] args) is so important, that would be useful at the moment.


Wickedosity: Don't bother looking up the definition, it's me.

Late nights and long papers

As 1:30 rolled by last night, or this morning I suppose, I really was fighting the urge to collapse onto my keyboard. Late nights seem to be "the thing" in college, or at least for Engineering majors. Realizing that in two years I'll be working on finals that take 10+ hours, I really hope I have a more comfortable bed than I do now.



Sleep and I have always had a wonderful relationship, she was always there for me. I love Power Naps, those wonderful little jump starts got me through many a day last summer. You'd be surprised how much energy you use just by walking around all day. But yes, I'm pretty sure I'm going to marry sleep some day. Then I'd be truly happy.

I'm Wrong, Right?

Oh how I wish that I wasn't right for once. Normally it's usual that I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit that I don't get too many things right on the first try. The other thing that I most often do is not accept things that I don't want to see. A deadly combination if you ask me. I really wish life was easier to understand, and had less to do with emotions. All they seem to be good for are tying your insides up in knots. Why do I never seem to be good enough? I never have been able to grasp the things that mean the most to me. Maybe I should just accept the fact that I'll never measure up. Or should I keep striving for that seemingly unreachable goal that's always one step ahead...


I'm no quitter, I'll always finish what I start, no matter how long it takes. But like I said before, the real question is if I'll ever get what I'm reaching for...

One Week

Well I made it through the first week of college, and yes I do feel proud of myself. I will admit that it was harder than I had initially expected, as most things are. Math and Physics will most likely be my biggest problems this semester. I'm lucky I forgot my calculator at home because it could have very well ended up like the one you see. But now I'm happy because I was able to do my math assignment by myself, without someone telling me what to do every step of the way.
I know it will only get harder and I can kiss my social life goodbye for the time being, even though some of you will argue the point that I'm here to have a social life, when in actuality I'm here to get an education. I suppose all I can do is keep plugging away and hope for the best. Life has gotten me this far in one piece, and I have faith that it'll get me the rest of the way in at least two.

The Physics of Eggos

After spending more than 7 hours in the library yesterday, I think I got a better look at what I'm in for in the next 4 years of my life. For more than 2 of those hours I was preoccupied with one of my least favorite subjects: Physics. I'm pretty sure my high school teacher cursed me for the rest of my life with the subject. I read and read but just couldn't seem to grasp what the book was trying to tell me. Then I spend 45 minutes on one single problem that I could not understand if my life depended on it. In frustration I packed up my things and began the cold lonely walk home. I called my Brianiac sister who seems to know everything and would hopefully know what I should do. What I found out next made me feel like the dumbest person on the planet. The problem itself was as simple as inserting a value. I had just drawn it out into the complex function that I thought it was supposed to be. I realized that most of our problems in life are this way. If we just stepped back and looked at them from another point of view, we'd see how simple they really are. I hope I'll be able to learn this soon enough, because I'm not looking foreword to spending that much time in the library.


I also had an Eggo Waffle for the first time this week. Who knew you needed to toast them instead of sticking them in the Microwave? I sure didn't. It was soggy, not much for a breakfast of Champions.

I thought it was supposed to be FUN!

Well for those of you who told me that school was going to be fun, I'm having a really hard time believing you at the moment. It is an interesting thing being away and completely on my own, and fun to a certain degree. But I really want the friends that I already have back. Many of which are here, but school is kind of a roadblock to them. The others are just chillin in SL, which makes me sad. (You know who you are...)

Sitting in class today hearing about the hours of homework that I'll be doing does not thrill me, nor does the idea of standing outside in the snow helping replace lights for the Electrical Shop. But I take what I can get, so there's no room in complaining. I guess the next hurdle to face is figuring out what to eat for lunch: Salad? Hamburger? Ramen?? There's so much to choose from. Thank goodness my Mom gave me enough food to last a month...what would I do without her.