Winter Break

I'm not really sure how that math final went. I know I got the last question wrong. Otherwise, I just don't know.

On the bright side, I'm done for the quarter! I already have my SOSC grade, I have my raw grade for computer science, and I have no idea what's happening with math or history. On the plus side, I get to go home and forget about it all.

I need this break. With school there's been little time to work out, and even the time I set aside for going to the gym just isn't enough. I'm going to be hitting the gym hard this break. My wrist has started bothering me again (and I can't figure out why) and my ankle makes these great cracking noises sometimes, but I think I'm mostly recovered from whatever was bothering me before. So I can start running, jumping, and lifting. Of course I won't push it too hard, but I think I need to get something done.

I also want to learn Python over break. Not all of it, of course, but a good deal of it. The debate was Java, C, or Python, and since we're doing C and Python in class next quarter, I figured I'd get started on one of them early. I decided to go with Python because it's supposed to be simpler. And most people recommend Python over other languages for beginners. Surprisingly, I've come to really like Haskell as a language. But as someone with very little experience in other languages, I can't really say anything worth listening to, and I should probably learn another one soon.

I also want to learn some math over break. This quarter was really a struggle for me, so I need to get as much of a head start as possible on the next quarter.

Finals Week Student

It's the holiday season, and I'm in my room studying.

That's good thing, by the way. Studying is good, especially when I have finals coming up. My schedule for the week is very front-loaded. Computer science 8 AM Monday, SOSC paper due Tuesday by 5 PM, and a history paper that I must complete in 24 hours (have to check it out) due before Thursday at 4 PM. So in all likelihood: computer science studying tomorrow (probably not any more today), writing SOSC paper right after exam, check out history paper right after SOSC paper gets turned in. Then I have my math final Friday at 10:30, and fly out later that day.

The bad news: I can't watch the Hobbit. I really, really, really wanted to see the midnight opening. But it's during finals, and I will be responsible with my sleep. In fact, I usually sleep more during finals than at any other time. Might not be a good idea, but it keeps me sane. Missing the Hobbit in Chicago means that when I get back to Portland I will be going with a gang of my high school friends. Should be fun.

I got a new hard drive. 256 Agility 4. I have a case ready to go for the one I'm currently working on. But... I don't have time to replace it. And I don't want to risk anything going bad right as I'm about to write a paper. So after I turn in my history essay I might make the switch. But I also have to finish a food video (filmed before I came to college... ouch). So I will put it in my computer before the 30 day money back guarantee to make sure it works, but it won't get a full spin-up till after I get back to Portland.

So that's my life right now. My ankle has been making popping/snapping noises but a quick internet search has told me that it's alright. I'm still worried (and the little fucker still hurts at the edges of its mobility), but I think it'll be alright. I have some ambitious goals for over winter break for both my mental and physical self, so we'll see how far I get.

Before I forget: I've been waking up close to 7 every morning. Though it's always cloudy these days, I'm up before the sun. What a great feeling.

In the meantime, keep your stick on the ice!

On the Subject of Infinite Work

It's that time of season here in Chicago. The leaves have left the trees. The temperature has dropped. The days are shorter. And UChicago students huddle down in preparation for finals and midterms.

I, for one, embrace the new weather. It gives me the chance to sit my butt down and get some work done. But the problem is that our professors also think like this. And so we, the students, are left with almost infinite work. Now, it's not that bad. I could stay up all night tonight and tomorrow and the day after and have a chance at getting all my work done, but that won't happen. Instead I'll have to half-ass it because the quarter just goes by too fast.

I really wanted to get in a workout a day. But that just won't happen. I've come up with a pretty good modification that makes it work: every night that I go to sleep before midnight, I'll wake up at 7 for a workout. At this point, that means I won't ever be working out. But I won't feel so bad about it either.

I have to finish this 6 page essay tonight. Then I have a math problem set due Wednesday. Also on Wednesday is a math midterm. Wednesday at midnight I have computer science lab due. Next monday I have a book review due on a book I haven't started yet because I've been working on other assignments. Thankfully the libraries are open late.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yeah, that's about it for now. I need to go make some pie.

Workout Regimen

Yeah, not a great update, but whatever. I've decided to work out every weekday morning. Not a big deal, but because I've written it on the internet I have to follow through.

Goals: get in shape. I have to recover from my injuries (ankle still not at 100% yet) so this isn't as trivial of a task as it sounds.

Schedule: 7:00-8:00 at least, every day before class. This includes stretching, meaning I will almost certainly go past 8:00. That's fine, but I want an hour workout a day to be a minimum.

Following my rough workout schedule from high school, and based on which classes I'm willing to be tired in, I have constructed the following workout plan:

Monday: core/arms. Why not start the week with something lighter? Core can mean a lot, and this gives me a chance to start the week however I feel that day. Arms mostly because I need to do them some day.

Tuesday: baseball activities. I will split up this into two categories: throwing and general. Tuesdays will probably be throwing focused. I need to re-learn how to throw. This is a pretty light workout but a very important one, so I'm putting it on my longest day of the week (with computer science lab due at midnight and math due the next day) to make sure I can focus through the whole day.

Wednesday: back/shoulders. Tuesdays are long nights, so I'll go for a little lighter of a workout. Also makes me reinforce my baseball exercises and builds up throwing strength.

Thursday: baseball activities. Focused on whatever I want to do that day. Hitting and throwing are the only two I can think of right now, though.

Friday: legs. Again, reinforcing my baseball exercises with muscle workouts the next day. I'm not the guy who can do legs forever, so this will include a lot of running/biking/box jumps.

We'll see how long I can keep up this regimen. I might have to update to keep myself motivated.

Good Day Yesterday

First, if anyone reading this knows Haskell and would like to explain why my program doesn't work, that would be much appreciated.

Yesterday was a pretty good day. Class was meh but done by 10:30. I got a lot of work done and studied pretty effectively for my computer science midterm today. My math problem set looks really easy. I even got a reasonable amount of sleep.

But there are two big reasons why yesterday was a good day. The first is that I ordered a new phone and signed up for a new service. If you don't know about it, I really recommend checking out republic wireless. Basically, if you're willing to go for a weaker, older Android phone but want to save a bunch of money, this is the thing to do. I ordered the single-band version because I don't want to wait for the double-band, despite the greater coverage. Anyway, I've been on the waitlist for a while and it feels good to finally place my order.

The other good thing was that Barack Obama was just reelected to be President of the United States. I can't say I'm really into politics like some people, but I was very surprised that the election was decided in one night. I thought it would be closer (aka I thought Romney would win Ohio + Florida and there would be a recount). I'm just glad that nightmare is over and I can get back to watching football without the annoying political ads.

Need to Stop Procrastinating

Says the kid writing up a blog post...

But actually my procrastination has gotten pretty bad recently. This is exactly the time when I don't want to be procrastinating. I have a big paper due on Monday that I haven't even started and a midterm on Friday that I'm not prepared for at all. Analysis is only getting harder and harder and I don't know if I can keep with with my SOSC reading with all of this going on. To top it all off I've gotten really stressed about my future in the past week.

It's not a good feeling at all. The worst part: I'm perpetually tired. And not even from a lack of sleep. I've been sleeping plenty. I've been getting some exercise. I've done most of my work. And except for my recent surge in self-resentment and worrying I've been a pretty happy person. I've even been healthy and avoided getting sick. But if left to my own devices I would probably sleep for about 10 hours every night if I could.

In short, I'm not happy with myself. With Fall Formal tomorrow night and a football game on Saturday I have no time to waste. I can't imagine what life will be like when baseball starts up. Maybe then I'll convince myself to go into the library and actually get work done. Instead of blogging and spending all my time thinking of ways to procrastinate.