First Week at UT

Wow what a week. My brother and I moved all my crap to my apartment on Monday night and I'm still trying to finish unpacking. I managed to leave my wallet in the truck when my brother drove back to Montgomery, leaving me around $40 to live off until I get it back. I did all the basic 'back to school' stuff - learned to use the bus system, found my classes, bought textbooks, etc. Unfortunately, after meeting with an adviser today all but one of my classes were changed and I lost any sense of rhythm I had developed. I was also told several times throughout the week that the architecture program is extremely difficult to transfer into and that applicants should have a 4.0 GPA. (gulp...)

I'm not really phased though. The classes I swapped into better meet my transfer goal as well as the requirements to receive GI Bill money. Now that I've turned in all the paperwork, I should start receiving GI Bill funds in 4 - 6 weeks. Also, I maintained a really hardworking routine this week and have confidence that I will be able to achieve a 4.0 this semester. My main goal now is to get this damn UMUC pre-calculus final over and done with.

Cutting Board

I cook often and use a cutting board nearly everyday, but when I moved to my Austin apartment I quickly realized that I had been using other people's cutting boards for >3 years and needed one of my own. Today I used my dad's shop tools make a cutting board out of some lumber that had washed up in the aftermath of hurricane Ike. It's nothing special but I know I'll enjoy using it everyday, plus a board of this quality would probably retail for at least $50.

Registered

Well I'm all registered for classes! Since I get poor internet connection in my apartment I went to JP's Java this morning to ensure I'd have no problems being the first to register when the system opened up at 0900. This proved to be a good idea, because by 1100 about 95% of the classes were closed or wait listed.

Right now I'm majoring in Asian Studies, so in order to receive GI Bill money I have to take courses that go with that major. Because of this, I had to get into the few courses offered in the spring semester that fulfilled requirements of both Asian Studies and Bachelor of Architecture majors. Luckily I was able to register for just enough and maintain a workable schedule. This semester I will be shredding it up in Architecture and Society, Engineering Physics I w/ Lab, Integral Calculus, and Rhetoric & Writing. I can't wait to go shopping for a sweet new Trapper Keeper emblazoned on the front with a fluorescent wizard flying a large dolphin over a rainbow and/or waterfall.

Orientated

This morning I woke up early and made the three hour trip from my dad's house to Austin so that I could attend spring orientation. The sky was clear and the near-full moon hung low in the western sky, illuminating rolling cow pastures and guiding me the whole way. Overall it was a very pleasant trip, except that once I neared Austin I hit the morning traffic rush. Orientation at the university was interesting. I sat in various auditoriums amongst a surreal wash of young kids, with the realization sinking in that I'm really here and about to do this.

Passed Inspection

Huzzah! The Suby is street legal and I'm feeling pretty good. I've been going to the gym with my brother about every other day for a month now, and I've gained like seven pounds or something. I also saw Will Smith's movie Seven Pounds on New Year's Eve, and it was one of the coolest movies I've ever seen. Monty, my dad's dog, is getting better at retreiving and has been a little less destructive lately, and next week I'm moving to Austin and taking my last UMUC final exam. I have been keeping up with my art practice and posted some of my work on my deviantart.com page. Huzzah!

(sigh) Another failed inspection