It's Been Awhile

       So it's only been about six months since I've posted....oops.  I should have posted during winter break, but clearly that never happened.  As for this semester it's been hectic, all classes have major assignments due alternating weeks, so I've been working on homework 6 nights/days a week.  For those of you starting school set aside one day a week to relax and have fun, it definitely helps.  Anyhow I've decided that you could make an engineering BINGO card depending on the school you go to.  Free space would be if you have an assignment from every class due in the same week; another space would be a saying that a professor says a lot (or multiple spaces), etc. Just hand it out at freshman orientation, see how many people complete it.  This BINGO card would vary between each subset of engineering of course, but it could work.
       And now for something completely different.  I was hanging out with one of my friends at the bars last night and as we were walking back he said "so-and-so told me that you were a lesbian."  I had one of those moments where I forget that people do talk about me when I'm not there, and it's interesting to see how this is slowly spreading in my circle of engineering friends.  I can't really blame So-and-So since he was drunk at the time, and I usually come out to people after I've had a few.  I should start to map it to see how long it takes to get to a certain number of people through gossiping.  Anyhow I hope you all had a great holiday season and safe spring!  I'll post later (hopefully not six months later)!

Question Time!

       So for those of you that regularly read my posts, or those of you just passing by I will answer any questions that you may have.  Ask in the comments or send me an email.  I would like to know what you guys want to hear.  I realize that I am inconsistent in the posting of things.  I will take all questions and answers and compile them into a post when finals are done.  Talk to you later!

Travel

       So I travel quite a bit, mainly through airports, since home and college are in different states.  I happened to find this handy dandy calculator that shows you what the best option is, flying or driving.  Link here: http://www.travelmath.com/  It allows you to look at halfway points, food, hotels, etc.  It also breaks down everything into simple terms such as price of gas, average wait time, etc.  So if anyone travels a lot, give it a try.  Semester has been busy, lots of projects, but that's good.  Catch ya later.  Stay safe and enjoy the fall colors!

Good Times

       Last night I went to a party with a number of friends and had a really good time.  Got a bit drunk sobered up, had a cigarette (yes I know cigarettes are bad), talked to a lot of people I have never met before.  Later on in the evening a girl needed a walk home, so Chad (Same Chad as last post) and I walked her back and then headed back to the party.  We had a really nice 20 min. chat about my sexuality.  Last year when I came out to him I was pretty drunk, and he said that the next week he had wondered if I had even remembered, which I did.  Apparently he hasn't told anyone else, although he has really wanted to tell his roommate (whom I'm also really good friends with) that I'm gay; but he hasn't.  He said that he doesn't feel like it's his right to do that.  Then we talked about women and what we like, and how he enjoys talking about that to me.  He also asked how many people knew, which is a few, and he's glad that I can trust him that much.  It was just really nice to be able to talk about my sexuality down at school, all the people who know are back at home, except for Chad.  But I had a great night last night, hope you all did also.

Hey All

       Life has been interesting lately.  School is going well, however I just reached the point of the semester where I have zero motivation, and a lot of stuff that's due in the next month, but I just don't want to work on it.  I'll get over that though, and go back to my usual productive self.  I have realized some things in the past few weeks that are different.  One is that I'm ready to be lower my walls, and I have no idea how to do so.  I had a relationship end pretty badly 5 years ago, I trusted someone a lot and they turned their back.  So in defense I put up some really strong emotional walls that were already there to begin with.  Now I have a really hard time telling people what is truly on my mind, at least emotionally.
       In the last month I've been hanging out with two of my guy friends a lot; one of them knows I'm gay and we talk about it occasionally (we'll call him Chad).  I trust them and it's nice just to be able talk to a guy (amusingly enough we have the same type that we tend to fall for).  However I realized that with Chad I wouldn't mind being in a pseudo-relationship.  What I mean by this is that he's like a brother I guess, I wouldn't mind just chilling and falling asleep next to him, just as long as nothing sexual occurred.  I'm not used to actually craving physical contact, so it's kind of new to me.  The only time I get physical is when I've had a few drinks, then I'll put my arm around someone's shoulder or hug them, but nothing excessive.  Also one of my friends told me that I was the nicest drunk that he has ever met, so I guess that's a good thing.  Hope all is going well with you guys, enjoy the wonderful fall colors and the pumpkin flavored everything!

Trust, or Just Lucky?

       So lately there has been this article floating about (http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/09/emma-sulkowicz-campus-sexual-assault-activism.html) the internet.  It focuses on a young woman named Emma, who has started a movement by carrying her mattress around campus as long as her rapist is still on enrolled in the same school.  It's actually pretty cool how much media this has gotten.
       Now being in engineering 90% of the people I seem to hang around are guys.  This past weekend I went to a party and had a blast just hanging out, but I also had a lot to drink.  Way too much to drink.  But never once did I fear for my safety.  I trust my engineering friends, either that or I am really lucky that I chose them as friends.  I don't think any of them would attempt anything sexual with a woman without her consent.  I'm just really glad that I can trust them, I wish that all women could feel that safe.
      Arguably I don't really go to parties where I don't know people.  I also am extremely private, and have a difficult time getting emotionally/physically close to people.  Anyhow stay safe, have a great fall, enjoy the pumpkin flavored everything!

College - 4th year

       My fourth year of college has started, I have another to go.  It's a weird mixture of feelings about staying a 5th year.  A lot of my close friends at home are going to graduate on time, and a lot of my good friends here are going to either stay an extra year, or graduate.  I enjoy learning, but I would also like to just get out and work for a few years.  Working over the summer was nice because I didn't have to do anything work related after work, school you always have homework and projects.  However, staying an extra year gives me an extra summer to get an internship, so far I've only had seasonal positions in non engineering jobs.
       I'm taking a really fascinating biosolid mechanics course, talking about bone strength, and how different joints have different forces, etc.  And a CAD course, where we'll get a project and need to design it, then present it to the class.  I've also somehow managed to go through two semesters in a row without buying textbooks.  PDFs are a college students best friend, except when the class has open book, open note exams.
       Hope you all have a good semester or quarter (if you're in school).  For those of you working full time have a blast.  Have fun and work hard!