Work

Changes Continue

I finally remembered the secret to updating the look of a site: Don’t try and change your old theme, just throw it out and start over. Well, I made some progress on that last night and the results are obvious. There is more to do, and I will try and keep on it.

Yesterday Dane, Conrad, and I went to Schuberg’s for lunch. It was a nice change form mexican, not that anything is wrong with El Burrito. I learned that sambuca is pretty good.

We rented Rayman Raving Rabbids and Trauma Center: New Blood for the Wii, and both are pretty cool. We rented a few movies too, including Bourne Ultimatum and 300, but haven’t watched them yet.

At our last SME meeting we discussed fundraising, and are looking at doing a pancake breakfast. We also decided to have an elementary school do our sales, since nobody can say no to a kid, and give them a share of the profits.

Jenn got the results of her MRI, and the professional opinion was that her knee is “messed up”. She was referred to an orthopedic surgeon and has an appointment Tuesday.

I applied at Trek Bikes, Cannondale, and IBM for internship positions this week. Cannondale sent me an email thanking me for my interest and noting my qualifications are impressive, but they are not currently seeking interns. I don’t know if that means they already hired them, haven’t hired them yet, or just don’t have interns, but at least I am putting myself out there.

That seems like about it. Not sure what else there could be.

OK, till next time then.

nick

Snowday 3!

So, what have we got this time…

As cool as Northrop Grumman sounded, their deadline for for intern applications was already passed and they weren’t really looking to mfg. eng. anyway. The job fair went a little better. I talked to a few companies and handed out my resume, will see if I hear anything back. The problem I saw is a lack of employers looking for manufacturing engineering, they come for welding, mechanical, facilities, and electrical, and talk to us because we force them. Over the weekend I sent thank you emails (right after the job fair actually) and applied for a few more positions online.

Friday was El Burrito day with Dane and Conrad, plus Jenn and Conrad’s fiance. Was pretty good. Not sure if I want it again next week, maybe something different.

Saturday was Meijer’s shopping, and laundry later in the evening. Sunday was the start of dishes, and some relaxing.

This morning, Jenn woke me up to let me know that I didn’t have school, due apparently to ice. She went out to her vehicle and left, but I heard her alarm go off as she went to vehicle, must have hot on accident. I checked that I really didn’t have class, then called to say hi to her, and found out her alarm went off because she slipped on ice and hit the button on her way down. She also twisted her knee around pretty bad, and was hurting. She considered going to hospital here, but decided just go to work and see how it goes, and f it gets worse se is at a hospital. Well, about 3 hours later she was home, MRI scheduled for Wednesday and a slip for no work today or tomorrow. hopefully it’s just a sprain and not a tear.

Between waking up at 5:30 and Jenn getting home around 8:30 or 9, I worked on the site a little. The calendar and comment links are AJAX now, which is cool, and obviously the colors are changed. I have more, but I am closer. Maybe over the coming weekend.

I think that’s all. More some other day.

nick

Four Years

Four years. There has been good, and there has been crap. Thanks for reading through it all. It works out to about 3.6 words every hour by the way.

So, what’s been going on…

Today was sit around day, which is nice to do on a Sunday.

Yesterday Jenn and I went to Muskegon to get a book for her nursing exam from Barnes and Noble. I also picked up the Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z, both by Max Brooks, son of Mel Brooks. Of course, I then came home and found I could have ordered them from Amazon and saved $15, which is enough to cover shipping, and with gas added in even more. Still, we were going there anyway and it was a mostly fun trip.

Wednesday through Sunday was mostly picking up and moving stuff around. I went Thursday to mail my applications to the DNR because I had missed the mailman, only to get them back Friday morning due to insufficient postage, so had to go to the post office for the second day in a row to get them out.

Jenn and I went for a bike ride Friday night after dinner. We went about 3.5 miles, which isn’t much but a start, especially having left at 9 PM. We around to the White Pine Trail, over the bridge, into a city park, then back. We will maybe do more tomorrow as the wind is supposed to die down.

Once again, I waited too long to update, and that’s about all I can recall right now.

See you all in a few days…

nick

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

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

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.

Insert Title Here

For some reason, my comment span ended. I certainly don’t mind, but its kind of odd. I received like 900 in a week or so, then nothing.

Jenn is in GR for her interview at Spectrum. Hopefully it goes well.

I have applied for 2 internships for the summer. One at Parker Hannifin and one at Federal-Mogul. I will try for more as I find them.

We had another former tech staff meeting today. almost everyone showed up, including Beth’s husband and Dan’s gf. Only Dave and Kyle missed out. Well, and Leticia who moved away and Brandon who joined the air force and is apparently stationed at Applebee’s, but they weren’t invited.

The League of Michigan Bicyclists released their 2007 schedule, and the One Day Ride Across Michigan will be on September 8th. Now 1, I would rather like to ride that, and 2, especially on my birthday. But, I am standing in Todd Stevens wedding that day, so I can’t, and even if I wasn’t standing I would still need to be there (not need like I have to but need like he is a friend and want to except that there is something really cool happening same day). The ODRAM is always same weekend of September though, and my birthday will surely fall on Saturday again.

I took Jenn to Kingfish for Valentine’s Day. The plan was that she wanted lobster, but they had a special 2 for $30 buffet with alot of good stuff on it. King crab legs (huge), broiled fish, ribs, cocktail shrimp (also huge), roast beef, roast pork, mashed potatoes, and really good gravy. It was enjoyable.

Uhm, …, …, …
Ok, that’s all I guess.

See you all whenever I remember to do this again.

nick

Semi-Linky

Just in case anyone is unaware, Woot!

Yeah.

So, I skipped my class Wednesday, partly due to a complete inability to sleep, and partly because when I realized I had over slept, I considered the situation and decided I didn’t really give a shit.

My site currently consists of about 60 megs, over 50 of which are photos. I am on and off considering moving them to flickr or webshots or something. Not saying I will, but it has been considered. Then again, $0.01/MB/Month x 55MB x 12 Month = $6.60, so not really a huge deal.

I received my financial aid rebate, so I have money for a while. I will absoltely need somthing around Big Rapids though.

I found a camping/backpacking hammock at Wal-Mart a few days ago for $9. I bought it, as thats WAY less than most I have seen. It isn’t great, definately not the mosquitto net wrapped one I wanted from Campmor, but I will be happy with it for a while. I am still trying to figure out how to hang it in my room.

Ok, that’s all I have for you tonight.

Later,
nick

Oops

I slipped again huh. I hate doing it, but it’s hard to blog real often, though I did do stuff to blog about.

Last Sunday, Jenn and I went to a dodgeball game at Delta. An actual, inter-college dodgeball game, against MSU even. There are rather few teams still, as MSU and Delta, along with an Ohio university were cofounders in 2005, but there are championships and everything now. Anyway, it was really different than what is played in the movie, and Delta creamed MSU.

School is still going, nothing real eventful. I talked to me counselor and applied for graduation and all that seems set.

I did my taxes and will be getting a huge $34 rebate from fed, and owe $2 to state. Oh wow. Did FAFSA too.

Jenn and I went to the newish mexican restaurant on Friday, that opened in July-ish on Saginaw, across form the planetarium. We were waiting to go to their lunch buffet, but were never making it so decided to just go for dinner. Well, we must have waited too long because they looked quite closed, and the “For Sale” sign on the door really hammered that point home. So, we went to the one on Broadway instead. I had been in there once before, but that was 10+ years ago when Rudy J’s had just opened there, not as the mexican restaurant. Anyway, it wasn’t bad, but not real great either. The meat was unseasoned, which may me authentic for all I know, but it isn’t what my “Old El Paso” accustomed taste buds were looking for. You simmer your meat with either taco seasoning or salsa, or it can’t go in a taco, its the american law of taco meat, I’m sure it is on record somewhere. Anyway, I would be willing to go back, but only if somebody else was buying.

I receive my Financial Aid refund Tuesday, which Chase will be happy about, and will ease the jobless situation, but I still should find something. It sucks having $0 income. Especially when your car acts up and decides it refuses to idle.

The weather is outright cold right now, huh? Calling for wind chills around -15 tonight, -20 tomorrow, and – 30 tomorrow night. I guess camping is a no.

I think thats about it. I should go work on homework or something.

Try and stay warm, and enjoy the game.

nick

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.