Author: nslyax

nslyaxhttp://www.nicholasyax.com/I am a Ferris State alum currently living in Holland, MI. My blog has been being neglected recently, but I hope to be posting more.
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The First Real Relocated Post

So, we have internet. I considered giving you a day or 2 to read the post below, but then I would forget stuff and it wouldn’t make it up. Not that there is much.

First a blog note: Ads are gone. It was going to take years to get a check, and it just wasn’t worth it. Besides, nobody likes ads. Also, the blogversary is coming up. And, I was found on google under national otter day, I love that.

I found a way down to the river finally. The problem is, having made it through the forest, I found a swamp, about 50 foot across still to cross. I turned around and went back up.

We missed all the Sunday shows, which I am very sad over. Fox is the only channel that doesn’t offer online shows. Bastards.

Last night I made yellowfin tuna, tonight was italian sausage and gnocci with tomato onion sauce (homemade sauce, of course).

I picked up the window screen today, so can clean in office without sweating hopefully now.

I have to start applying for jobs. I can’t find anything that I would really like, but have 2 that are semi interesting. May go to Manpower and MichWorks and tell them what I want, maybe they can help. Too bad no work-study until fall.

Jenn is Ok with job so far. Not saying a lot though, because is just orientation. She has learned the hell of Grand Rapids at rush hour though.

OK, thats all I got for now.

nick

I'm Back!

So, where do we begin. Let’s start with me not being connected to the internet as I write this, but more on that later.

Anyway, Saturday was Jenn’s graduation ceremony at SVSU. I didn’t really know anybody else graduating, and it was a little boring, but considering the number of people who were walking I was impressed with the overall speed. Afterward her parents, her, and I went to Krysiak’s (sp?) for dinner, then to Saginaw to their hotel and to develop photos.

Sunday we were running around packing all the rest of everything left. Everything but what I was wearing tomorrow was what I was figuring, Jenn left a little more till Monday, but she did have more than me to pack up. Dinner Sunday was a Mother’s Day special, grilled sirloins and crab strips, salad, roasted potatoes, cauliflower, bread sticks, and chocolate cake. By the end of the day I had 99.9% of everything I owned in boxes on our front porch waiting.

Monday morning (after not enough sleep, due to up late and nervous insomnia) we went to pick up the U-Haul at 9:30 and then loaded up my stuff, then over to Jenn’s to get all of her stuff. By 2:30 we were on the road with a few cleaning items and miscellany that didn’t quite fit left at Jenn’s apartment. Jenn drove the truck and I followed in her Escape. She had quite a bit of fun, as the truck had poor alignment, and the winds were rather strong, requiring her to keep about a 5˚ turn constantly in order to maintain a straight line.

After arriving in Big Rapids around 4:15, we left the U-Haul at our apartment and went to get the keys. On our way we called our parents to let them know we were safe, and Jenn’s parents response was “oh, we’re at the Quality Inn south of town, we’ll grab a pizza and be right over”. They had actually beaten us here. So, they helped up unload the truck, then headed home.

Tuesday was a lot of unpacking, and enjoying the cable the previous tenant hadn’t turned off. A little exploring town as well. Wednesday was much the same.

Overall impressions are people are much friendlier than in Bay City. Meijer cashiers certainly are anyway. There are just a few at the Essexville store that come off a little course. Snyder’s meat market has some pretty nice people as well. They kept offering us samples, but we had just eaten. We will return though.

Late Wednesday night, we headed back to Bay City. We actually made it in about 90 minutes, arriving at around 1 AM, thanks to very little traffic. We slept on my old futon mattress which we had left on Jenn’s bedroom floor for just this occasion. Come morning, Jenn’s Mom and Aunt arrived to kelp us clean the place up and hand over the keys, then accompany us to Rudy J’s for lunch. Jenn and her family then went shopping while I spent time at home.

Then came the fun, would my $1000 car make it 100 miles on a freeway and highway? It had never been attempted, by me anyway. Recall, of course, that it doesn’t like to shift when the transmission gets warm, and refuses to go over about 45 once this occurs. Well, there were some nervous moments, but it did make it OK, though hasn’t been driven since to know how OK it really is.

So, our gift when we returned, was that the cable was out. Charter had come while we were gone and turned it off, so we missed Grey’s Anatomy and er, Jenn’s 2 favorite shows of the week. Grey’s is online, but er is a loss until it reruns in August or September before new season starts. Of course, we haven’t had any internet access since the guy took his cable modem with him, and now have no service at all. We called and they will be out to set everything up between 1 and 5 Tuesday. You should be able to read this shortly after.

So more unpacking and sorting, and moving and unpacking. We take breaks to go explore town, run to Meijer, get food, etc…

Apartment is nice, very roomy. No room is particularly big, but there is a lot of space between the rooms. It’s kind of hard to explain maybe. We did have a few problems. First, the toilet would not flush completely unless it came up to about 1/4 inch from overflowing, and even then would leave quite a bit behind. Second, the shower had very low pressure, and you actually spent about 10 minutes just trying to feel wet. Third, was some missing and broken stuff: torn screen, missing stove drip pan, 8 missing light bulbs… nothing major, but surprising for just moving in. Well, at some point Friday maintenance came and fixed the drain issue, which had affected the bathroom sink as well. We bought a new shower head at Menards that fixed the pressure issue Friday as well. The light bulbs and drip pan Jenn bought at Meijer Tuesday morning, as they were hard to live without. We are going tomorrow to get the screen fixed. We had considered turning all the receipts in for reimbursement, but they only came to a few dollars total, and aren’t really enough to make a big difference.

So, that is the past week, up to Friday night at 1:37:53 AM.

Will update on Saturday – Present when I get internet.

nick

Ramblings

So, what’s new? Nothing really. Spent time with Jenn, home in the yard, nothing real big though. Jenn goes for her physical tomorrow at Spectrum. We were going to go to the tulip festival in Holland too, but decided no.

After looking at what we will have to get, pay for, and when she will start work and get first check, we realized we will be very poor for the entirety of May, but situation should improve in June. Sadly, it means a very low chance of camping any time soon, which is related to the no tulip fest mentioned above.

Of course, I am looking for a job too. I think progress on that won’t really pick up until after we are moved. Car insurance, credit card, and car work all take money, and I need a source of some.

I began posting pics on Picasa. I can post higher quality and don’t need to pay for bandwidth or storage. I wouldn’t mind leaving on site if they were viewed regularly, but they just aren’t. It’s only like $3 a year, but still. Also, the ads will likely be gone soon, as it would take about 20 years for me to get up to the $100 needed for Google to send a check.

I went to Delta yesterday, which kind of made me upset because I had rather well convinced myself as I left 2 weeks ago that I would never be there again, not that I did or didn’t want that. Anyway, I was emailed by my counselor that I may need to bring in copies of a few things to get my degree through. So I go out there, go into Records, and they tell me my degree had posted as of about 10 that morning, an hour before I was emailed that it might not go through. There was a point to this paragraph about having to go back after thinking I never had to go back and then having not actually needed to go back, but it was lost. Instead, we will say the point is I do have my degree, on my transcript anyway.

Uhm…

Not as much progress packing as I should be making, though I really don’t have all that much. Jenn is finally packing now, and making somewhat decent progress.

Santa Rosa was launched by Intel today, which means laptop upgrades everywhere. Faster processors, flash-RAM assisted booting, 802.11n standard, and thank god, a replacement to the GMA-950. There are something like 400 new notebooks planned to be released within the next few weeks. Sadly, new MacBook(Pro)s will likely be included in that, with faster booting, better graphics, and more fun-ness. I say sad because I have about a 5% chance of a new computer by year end, with the chance before school starts being less than 1%. The only way I see it happening is if I get a REALLY well paying job, and MTP was as close as I have ever had to that. Then again, maybe it just seemed well paying because I didn’t have so many expenses.

What else…

Apparently I passed 125,000 words a while back. I missed that somehow.

The 4th year of blogging begins soon. Anniversary is May 27th. Then I can add a 4 years back to the sidebar. Seriously, how many people have been blogging for 4 years?

Both counters combined, I am at 12243 visits total.

I need a new poll huh? I just don’t know what to ask really. That will be another loss, I think having the same IP, it won’t let me and Jenn both vote. I will need to mention in a post and give Jenn the poll vote I suppose.

I wonder how long this is? I realize it’s not the 1071 words, but is getting up there. Hmm, only 642 so far (at period of last sentence). I kind of wanted to break record, but I’m not sure I can do 500 more words.

I sent out an email a few days ago with my new address on it, if you didn’t receive it and would like it, let me know.

OK, I think I will leave it off here. See you all later.

nick

Un-Homeless

We have a home now, yay!

We went to Big Rapids yesterday morning and started Silvernail Realty’s office. They took us first to an apartment that was in a rather crappy house, and the apartment had just been left by the previous tenant. It was very dirty, and just not up to out expectations anyway. The next apartment was the best we had seen yet, though still had a few issues. It was an older house, and had a rather small kitchen, but was certainly a possibility. The third apartment was north of town, but only about 5 minutes to Ferris. It was in a newer building designed as an apartment building rather than a converted house. It’s a little bigger that Jenn’s place now, and seemed to have real potential. We told the realtor we were going for lunch and would let her know.

Before lunch though, we went looking for other options. We drove around town looking for Hillcrest-Oakwood’s office, talked to them to find out where Hillcrest was (they are 2 bedroom, Oakwood is 4), stopped at what looked like a converted motel, then went to Hillcrest, which we found behind K-Mart. Hillcrest was quite nice, big apartments and some other things we liked. Time to go make decisions.

So, off we went to Applebee’s for lunch. We debated the pro’s and con’s of the 2 frontrunners. Hillcrest was cheaper, but looked like party central, and we didn’t really want that. The Silvernail building (something bluff’s, I can’t remember) is near the river (can see out window, 200 ft away?) and is out of traffic area. Both offer Jenn good freeway access, and both are far nicer than others we had seen.

Following lunch, with some leaning but no clear answer, we decided to go have a look at a house we had planned to see on our first trip, but had gotten car sick and skipped. It was south of town and right on the dam pond. We pulled up to it and realized it was small, the size of an average garage. The single bedroom was 8×8, barely enough room for a bed, and certainly no dresser in there with it. There was a small living room with a wood stove, a small kitchen, and a small bathroom. There was a closet, but we were not sure if it was for clothes, or the water heater/furnace as we were just looking through the windows. Why is this house worth $600 a month, or buy for $100,000+? The view. It sits 30 ft above the shore of the pond, with a walkway going down. We could have stood on the deck for a long time just staring out. It was a gorgeous view, but still not enough to make up for the very cramped quarters inside.

So, we drove back through town and looked at the Silvernail property again, and decided on that. We went back to their office and signed the lease, and it shall be ours by the 14th. There is currently a guy from Midland in it, whose lease lasts till August, but he wanted to move back to Midland for a summer job and end lease, so he will be out about the 7th. We may get sooner, but 14th latest.

So last night, we were looking at maps, and resolved one of my tiny issues with the place. Being off the highway out of town, biking was looking difficult. But, it turns out, the White-Pine Trail crosses over the river just half a mile or so north-east of apartment, so that means easy access to trail and riding without fighting traffic on Northland.

In other news, Todd had a bon-fire last night. Sadly, as always, he kept throwing in crap so it was hard to sit close and enjoy. He put an airbag in at one point. That was cool to watch, but took 5 minutes to go off, and you had to stand 50 ft back while waiting so as not to be hit by burning debris whenever it did decide to deploy.

OK, that’s all for now folks.

nick

Still Homeless

First, I want to mention that if anyone is discouraged about Jenn getting most of the blog records due to being obsessive about checking my blog, don’t be. Since I don’t include my own IP address, and Jenn will be living with me in a week or 2, she will no longer be counted either. This will also, however, mean my visit count will drop to about 50% of what I get now. My mom will now be counted though, and my dad is starting to check in now and then too.

The apartment search Tuesday had rather poor results. We started at Ryan Creek, where we were supposedly accepted. The manager in her vast wisdom claimed that we were incorrectly accepted, due to me being a full-time student and us not being married. We knew this was bullshit, the state only requires that at least one person on the lease has to not be a full-time student, but doesn’t care about relation of the tenants for state-assisted apartments. We moved on to Harry’s Rentals, who showed us a rather crappy apartment that they claimed to be very nice. We also stopped for some information from the tourism/commerce department, a tour of Meijer, and drove by a few other apartments before heading home.

We were called by Ryan Creek this morning and told exactly what we knew, that we were accepted and the manager was wrong. Either way though, we have had about enough of them.

Friday, we are going to look at 3 or so other apartments from Harry’s hoping that they are significantly nicer, as well as looking at Hillcrest apartments. Failing all that, we still have some backup plans, though we are hoping it doesn’t come to any of that. Heck, there are some really extreme options we have discussed.

Uhm, anyone remember Lauren? Yes, no? Search, I have mentioned her. Anyway, she graduates from NMU Saturday, congratulations to her.

Jenn’s symposium is tomorrow, whatever that is. It has been explained as a pre-graduation ceremony kind of. Whatever it is, I am going to it with her family, then actual graduation ceremony next Saturday.

Is there anything else right now?

I don’t think so.

Ok, later,
nick

Yay Summer!

So, here is the latest.

As of 9:30 AM Wednesday, I am on break. I never need to go to Delta again. Final grades are supposed to be up tomorrow.

Saturday Jenn and I went for a walk around State Park, and had a corn dog at Muscle Beach. I had heard they hand dip them, but it wasn’t as good as I had hoped. Walk was still fun. And, I set up my hammock and enjoyed that in the back yard Saturday night and a while yesterday.

Jenn accepted a position in the GIGU at Spectrum this morning, physical and all that is next week. We are going tomorrow to look at apartments.

I stopped by the library Friday. Yeah, they miss us. They had a 250+ computer day, we used to get maybe 200 in the summer. With the other branches closed, book check outs may be down, but certainly not computer use.

Jenn broke the counter record with 6058th visit, beating old counter currently at 6057.

I signed up on facebook. I was kind of bored Tuesday evening and decided what the hell.

My room is looking more and more empty. I have a ways to go but am getting there.

Camping should be soon. Not sure exactly.

OK, I am sure I forgot some. I meant to update Wednesday night but put it off, then forgot, then lead to this. Updates will probably remain rather sporadic for a couple weeks.

Ok, later.

nick

The Final Week

My last week at Delta, so sad.

So, the party went well. Fifteen people including myself, and loads of fun. Sadly, I do have quite a pile of leftovers though.

My physics professor made us the deal that if we get 100% on the last 3 assignments we don’t need to take the exam. Well, I just submitted the third and have 100% all around. Honestly, with a 91.9%, the exam is more likely to hut me. We have 3 lab grades coming back, but the chances of an A in the class are pretty much nil. A 4.0 semester would have been nice, but it doesn’t look like it will happen at Delta.

I had last CNC today, last Physics tomorrow (since I don’t need to show for exam I don’t need to take Thursday), and last Materials will be Wednesday. Quite exciting.

Scott earned the honor of 6000th visitor on Saturday morning. 6058th will break the old counters record later this week I hope.

Tulip festival starts May 5th, I think Jenn and I will go to that. Maybe get some camping in around there too.

Jenn has 4 interviews tomorrow at Spectrum and Saint Mary’s in GR.

OK, that’s all I have for now.

nick

Sad

So, with only a few weeks left in Bay City, I decided it was time to start saying goodbye. Last week I went to BACC to see Mullin, but he wasn’t there, I might try again though. Yesterday, I went to Central to talk to Mr. West and Mr. Fitch. They are in the midst of a big renovation, including moving the library and computer labs, new windows that are original size rather than the screwy ones now, new classrooms and science labs, and more. After that, I called Tim Paradise at GM and stopped there.

I have to say, GM was a little depressing. The plant used to be very exciting and busy place, but it’s a little sad now. They finally had my alert system working, has been up for 3 years and just took it down around the 1st of the year. They moved it over to a new box and are adding to it to include door sensors, control for the scrolling marquee outside the door, temp and pressure sensors, and anything else Tim can come up with. The projects are still mostly the same. The nutcracker is temporarily discontinued as they work on the sensor system and a dowel conveyor that replaced the pencil sharpener. Also, since Harvey has little time with MTP, the tool box has been discontinued too. The dustpan is still a project though.

Harvey is no longer full-time apprentice coordinator, as no apprentice has been hired in 6 years, and all apprentices have moved up to journeymen by 2 years ago. He is mostly with planned maintenance now, and as I mentioned has little time with MTP.

Tim says he has about 4 years left till retirement, and is hoping he can retire from that plant. Unless some new contracts come to it, it could shut down around 2010. MTP funding was cut a few years ago from corporate, and now comes from the plant budget, and although they are trying to keep it going, it looks a little grim sometimes. When the plant budget gets to the point they need to cut MTP, the plant itself won’t have much time left anyway.

Tim let me in on what most MTP students were up to, and I let him in on what I knew. Rob went to Ferris for Welding Engineering and left state. April and Erica are both at CMU on and off. Erica I talk to now and then, so knew parts of that. Mike has been unheard from. Aaron is a journeyman plumber, but quit to become a meter reader for consumers. The only way to get in is a janitor or meter reader and work your way up, which he is hoping to do. I told Tim about Scott and Jim in the Navy, and Lupe at Delphi. He wished me well at Ferris and that was about all.

So, that was my fun yesterday.

nick

Mmm, Mr. Hot Dogs

So, the BBQ is shaping up. I have 12 confirmed, 5 maybe, and 3 I haven’t heard from. Nobody has said no yet though, which means it must be a good idea. Expected high for Sunday is now up to 62, up from 57 yesterday. Rain moved form Wednesday all the way back to Monday though, but I think it will leave us alone.

This Friday night on Jimmy Kimmel, Ferris’s Rube Goldberg team will be showing their national championship rig, with around 140 steps to juice an orange. I somehow thought it was last week, but it is in fact this coming Friday (technically Saturday morning, as after midnight).

I found this on Wikipedia

Nearly ninety percent of the black widow bites reported in the medical literature of the first 4 decades of [the twentieth] century were inflicted on the male genitalia by spiders lurking underneath the seats of outdoor toilets.

Rather scary, huh?

Only a week and a half of school now. Is really sinking in and feeling like exams are tomorrow. Right now I have a Physics test and exam next Thursday, a materials test next Wednesday, and a CNC project to finish up Monday. That’s actually not all that bad I guess.

OK, that’s all you get for now.

nick

Testosteroni and Macho Cheese

I told you it wouldn’t last. Eight days, I was doing so well too.

My internet and TV are acting a little stupid tonight, but it is nearly bed time anyway.

This Friday is supposed to be tech meet-up, but I think instead I am going to have a BBQ on Sunday. Not that anybody who reads this is near enough to come, but you are invited none the less.

This is the second from last week of school. Nearly done, I can’t believe it. In January it seemed forever away, now January seems like just a week or so ago.

Easter went well. Nothing real great, but nothing bad either.

I found out I cannot register at Ferris until I speak to my advisor, however I seem to have not been assigned an advisor yet. An email has been sent and response is awaited.

OK, that is all for now. New poll soon.