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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Untitled 10

Way back, on January 7th, Jenn made the 5000th visitor mark, at 10:45 AM.

I just upgraded WordPress to version 2.1. You don’t see any difference, and other than perhaps a slight speed increase you probably wont, and that’s OK. There is a difference on my end, but I won’t get into that.

School is still doing OK, still a little boring though.

Still no job either, suck.

Tomorrow I have my graduation audit, to make sure everything is OK for me to be done at the end of April.

At the former tech staff meeting Friday only 4 of us showed up. That was rather sad. Jeremy was broke and Dan had just worked that night. No idea where Dave Rivet was.

I think that’s all I have.

Song Poll

Regarding the new poll (which you should try voting in please, and comment on this post if you care to express further detail/reasoning), I often receive comments along the line of “you have …? Why?”. Or sometimes just flat out “WTF?”.

So, which of those would you say is the worst? Those are probably the top 6 of the 36 hours I have now, though there are probably a few more contenders.

Let me know.
nick

Number 435

Somehow, by a stroke of strange luck, I managed to get sick for a second week in a row. After finally getting over my flu in time for school last week, I managed to pick up a cold late last week and am still in the end of it.

My classes aren’t quite as bad as I though initially last week, but having an 8 A.M. class today really doesn’t excite me. Only 13 weeks left though.

Still no job yet, which is pissing me off. I am close to deciding to just stick it out till I move and use my refund money that I should get mid February, but I would much rather be making some money.

This morning Delta’s weather station reported a low of 4, and MBS reported a mere 1 degree. I thought it was cold when I went out to start my car in the morning, but didn’t realize that low.

OK, that’s all for today. I will try to update soon. I know I say that and don’t, but I really will.

A Belated Happy 2007

Hello all, and sorry for the posting lapse, hopefully not a sign of the year to come.

OK, lots to cover, so where to start…

1. Happy New Year

Yes, though it is the 9th already, perhaps 10th or 11th by the time you read this, I haven’t said it yet so there you are. A new year’s post just wouldn’t be the same without resolutions, so lets get on with that. I learned to aim low, so I said I would buy a car, bike more, and keep up my grades. Well, I bought a car in June, I raised my GPA by 0.5 since then, and I did fairly well at biking. For next year, I propose the following:

  • Bike more
  • Keep up grades
  • Survive move and not freak out at all the changes

That would be pretty impressive.

I will post a 2006 in review next time.

2. The Gap

So, why did I not post until today? Well, Tuesday I caught one hell of a flew, becoming actually sick around 2 am Tuesday. I spent almost all day Tuesday in bed or the bathroom, getting around 20 hours of sleep. Wednesday I was supposed to go to the Christmas party for work, but thought eating wasn’t in order yet. It wasn’t until Friday I felt I was near healthy. Saturday I went to Saginaw for a family picture that my grandma wanted. Sunday I realized I had to be in school the next day and vacation was over, so I did nothing, and I have been in school since. Also complicating matters was that 20 hours of sleep I mentioned, which had me screwed up to the point of waking between 3 and 5 PM and not going to bed till between 9 AM and noon. Anyway, I was sick, lay off.

3. School

So I went at 7:30 Monday morning and set up my independent study for Industrial Safety, that took about 10 minutes and I woke up for it. At 2:00 at was back to school for physics that was quite boring, then a 2 hour break that was boring, then CNC that was boring. Hopefully that doesn’t persist. Today I had Physics, that was slightly less boring. Tomorrow I will have strengths of materials at 8, that will be very early and I predict boring, and on Thursday I have Physics again, with a good chance of boring. On the non-boring front, I managed to only need 1 book this semester. For my IS the professor borrowed me his book, in CNC we were told the book wasn’t necessary and he didn’t plan to use it (it had been assigned by the previous instructor, who isn’t teaching it anymore apparently), and in Physics I asked and was told my old book from 3 years ago would work fine.

4. MacWorld

Hmm, the first MacWorld keynote I have ever seen with no Mac introductions, disappointing. The Apple TV was released, which is cool if you have an HDTV, but would be better with a built in 802.11n router maybe, or DVR functionality. as a box for the sole purpose of streaming from my computer, why spend $299 when I can get a $29 cable to connect laptop to the TV? Hell, if I had an HDTV I could just get a DVI cable and be done. The iPhone I admit is very cool, but more than I would ever need or could ever afford.

Where was iLife, iWork, Leopard, updated computers, updated software, anything mac related? I don’t know. With Vista approaching, Apple should have had something. WWDC may have the final OS 10.5 preview, as it could land as early as May and be in time to preview Leopard and still give a 30 day shipping announcement, but otherwise some sort of “Special Event” would be necessary. I have been afraid since the iPod began to grow that Apple may start to move too far from the Mac and get over-focussed on other devices, and this mac-less MacWorld brings that fear back all too strong.

OK, thats all from me today. I will try for something during the weekend.

nick

It Comes to an End

So, this is my last post this year, and the last post at the library. It’s a little depressing, but I will see everyone occasionally.

Still, this was a great job, and I will miss it.

Next post I will do a year-in-review and resolutions update. Until then enjoy your new-years.

nick

Christmas

So, late friday night, or more precisely 2 AM Saturday, Jenn and I were bored so we left for Alpena. We arrived there a little before 5, after making a stop at Wal-mart in Tawas. Saturday Jenn’s sister came over and we opened presents then had a small dinner. Sunday we went over to Jenn’s grandma’s for dinner there, then headed home a few hours later. Monday we had Christmas dinner here, then went over to my Grandma’s for presents there.

Tuesday Jenn and I went to Saginaw to spend our Christmas money. I bought 4 shirts and a down throw blanket, and she bought another for me. Wednesday I worked for the 2nd to last time. Thursday Jenn, Chris, my Mom, and I went to Genji with Scott who is in town for Christmas, then we came back here and played Super Mario World and watched Office Space. Then Friday was my last day at the library. Today I again sat around and did a whole lot of nothing.

Total Christmas gifts:

  • $140
  • 2 new pair of pants
  • 1 new shirt
  • BBQ tool set with apron
  • Chocolate covered pretzels and peanuts, snickers, mixed nuts, hershey kisses, and a fruit cake
  • Silver necklace
  • Flashlight
  • Leatherman clip
  • Candle
  • Robe and slippers
  • Folding camp table

Tomorrow I am going to the Library for the last normal day. They will be closed for 2 weeks, then go to the new reduced schedule, so most all tech pages are going to be showing up for that.

I hooked up out Super Nintendo last week and the Nintendo early this week. I have been playing Pin Ball on the NEW mostly, though it doesn’t always like to work. It is nearly 20 years old though.

We don’t really have much for plans for tomorrow night, just going to wing it I think.

I made some small updated to the site earlier today, namely the partial re-posting of the Library and the addition of a comment-spam blocker. At just a day old, it has already caught over 500 comments. Its sad that I got more comment spam in a day than I get real comments in 3 years. Maybe you guys should comment more?

I’m not sure what else. I think that about covers it all. I may update at some time tomorrow, just to get in my final post of the year and last one at the library most likely as well.

Merry Christmas

I promised you an update by the end of the week, so here it is.

I got my grades on Tuesday, I received an A in Fluid Power, Psychology, and Intro to Business, and an A- in Blueprint Reading. Once again, the A- was from a specific professor who has a strange grading scale that I have griped about before (and likely will again as I have her for winter semester). Wednesday evening Delta called be to let me know my Industrial Safety class was canceled due to low enrollment. The issue here is that I need the class to be able to graduate at the end of the semester, so I left the professor a voice mail and hopefully (I am 99% sure) we can set up an independent study.

Tomorrow morning I will be going with Jenn to Alpena until probably Monday morning or afternoon. We will visit all her family and do the Christmas thing on Saturday. When we get home my Mom and Brother and I will do our Christmas thing, and then at some point I will go visit my Dad and Grandma for their Christmas thing.

Today being Friday, I have today, next Wednesday, and that Friday left of work. Just about 2 and a half days left, 11.75 hours actually.

Jenn and I watched Talladega Nights, Cars, and My Super Ex-Girlfriend over the last 2 days. All were quite good, especially Talladega Nights and Cars. We still have 3 of 4 movies we want to see over break.

I think that is about all I have to report. Will update you all on Christmas Day, or maybe the day after.

nick

Grand Rapids

So, with school out and some last Christmas shopping to get done, Jenn and I decided we needed a little vacation, and that is what we took over the weekend.

Friday I went to the staff meeting, and then Rudy J’s with everyone (for the last time) after which Jenn and I left. We arrived in Kentwood around 2:30 for our 2 night stay at the AmeriSuites Grand Rapids – Airport. I was rather tired so I took a nap, but Jenn ordered a pizza to tide her over as she didn’t get Rudy J’s (her choice, I offered but she didn’t want to wake up early). When I got up, we decided to go find some food, so we drove down 28th street, the Bay Rd. of Kentwood. We drove and looked at the offerings and wound up several miles down at US-131, which is quite a ways down from where we started. So, we got on 131 and went up to downtown (yeah, that makes alot of sense) and looked at Spectrum for Jenn some, then got on I-96 and went back toward the hotel. We again headed down 28th and decided on BD’s Mongolian Barbecue, it was a very good choice. We also stopped at Meijer for a few things we had forgotten or just hadn’t thought of, and partly just to browse. They have a much greater selection than the Meijers around here. That was about it for Friday, we watched some TV and sat around, but nothing very exciting.

Saturday we got up around 9:30 to go try the free breakfast, it was better than most: sausage, scrambled eggs, bagels, waffles, english muffins. They weren’t keeping up with it real well though, there was no waffle batter left and the eggs were overcooked and getting cold. It was free though. After showering, we headed up to Howard City, to see the city we would probably have moved to, had we not seen it. Wow. To call the town a little hickish would be an exaggerated compliment to the trailer park, bar, and dollar store that somehow managed to get on the map. It’s not horrible, I suppose there is still a chance, but we are definitely exploring other options now. After that, we went to downtown Grand Rapids and went to the VanAndel Museum. Lots of cool stuff there, from the whale to the $1000 bills, a piece of meteorite, and wildlife exhibits of Michigan. We even got some astronaut ice cream.

Following that fun, we drove back toward Kentwood and stopped at Panera for lunch. We headed back to the hotel for a nap, then went out to the mall to finally get in some Christmas shopping. We went through the entire Woodland Mall finding nothing, so we headed over to the slightly crummier CenterPointe Mall. We still were finding nothing, and decided that the bar back in Woodland could be a good idea. Right after this decision, we found the first gift.

We went back to Woodland, and went into Bar Louie. Jenn had the Pom Peche Martini, and I the Riptide, and we shared some loaded tater-tots. While sitting there, I saw Dragon’s Milk on tap, and we tried that too, freaking awesome beer, and made in Holland, MI too. So following our refreshment break, we went on to find the remaining presents we needed, and head back to the hotel for some time in the hot tub, followed be a failed attempt at a good nights rest.

Sunday we woke up at 10 ish, packed, and headed out right at checkout (which is 11, we left around 10:59, really). We weren’t realy hungry so got on the freeway and started our way east, getting off in Lansing so Jenn could show me around. We ate at IHOP (my first time, as was it my first time at every restaurant we stopped at this trip) which was pretty good. We then headed to Perry, because we have a connection to the village, then headed home.

So, that was our weekend. We had fun.

That’s all for now, a smaller update before the weekend.

nick

Happy B-Day iBook

Back on Tuesday my iBook turned 4 years old. A few more months and I will be replacing it, but it has been quite good to me.

I was cleaning up my room some and started to go through my old textbooks. Looking through them, I really wondered why the hell I decided to keep them. Most have information that is easier to access online, and the rest are largely just of no use. Granted, I have a few that are useful, but most are not. Now, of course, Delta has moved on to a newer edition and they are useless as far as selling them back, so I don’t really know what to do with them. I wonder if I can donate textbooks to the library? That or I can take them camping, that’s always fun.

Anyway, I cleaned my room some, that is an accomplishment. Not like “Wow, your room is really clean, Nick”, but more of “Wow, you have a floor? I never knew.”

Yesterday I took a nap on the couch before class. The problem occurred around 4:30 when I woke up and it was dark out, and I realized I went to sleep at 4:30, and it was 4:30 both times I woke up and checked what time it was. So, it was actually about 6, and my class was beginning, and I decided screw it.