Second things first.  Blogging is frigging hard.  First things second.  Today was the first day of the semester for us Boilermakers, unlike the poor folks in high school and those at Rose Hulman.  Christmas break was nice, especially the 10 days in California and the three with Laura, but I’m definitely happy to be back.  I get to use my desktop again, which you really don’t appreciate enough until you use a laptop for three weeks.  I get to use my comfortable computer chair instead of a mediocre one I pilfered from the dining room.  There aren’t parents bothering me once an hour with some request or inquiry.  The parents (since they are reading), to their credit, weren’t unbearable at all, but adjusting from near-total independence to semi-subjugation wasn’t easy.  Anyway.  Over break I somehow lucked into moving my French class from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, right into the spot in my schedule I left open should such an opportunity present itself.  This turned a pretty bearable schedule into a really, really nice one.  On Tuesday and Thursday, I’m in class from 10:30 – 12:20, and then done.  Pretty nice right?  Monday and Wednesday I’m in class from 12:30-4:20 with a one hour break at 1:30, which is also very doable.  Friday is the only full day, with classes at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 2:30, and 3:30, but I can deal with that.  Really anything that doesn’t require me to ever wake up earlier than 9 is a huge break from last semester.  Sadly I doubt my next 6-12 semesters will be this relaxed.  Better enjoy it while I can.

So far I’ve had my Intro to International Relations class, American History 1, and Modern Weapons and International Relations.  All 3 of them are heavily reliant on tests for the final grade, which I think is a good thing.  Busywork is much more of a challenge for me than essay tests.  At least that’s what I’m hoping.  For example, the Modern Weapons grade is made up by 2 30% tests and a 40% final.  High pressure? Maybe, but the subject matter is fascinating.  In class today we watched a 20 minute clip of The Last Samurai, looking at the way the improved weaponry of [whoever was fighting the samurai] completely nullified the decades of training in swordsmanship and combat.  One hour of training with what looked like a primitive Gatling gun and a fresh recruit can overwhelm a huge number of highly skilled samurai.  This bodes well for the rest of the course.  The Intro to Int Rel course is taught by the same guy, who seems interesting and competent, so it should be good, if slightly less interesting than the Weapons class.  It’s a requisite, so I’m taking it.  Though it’s possible I should take government instead.  I didn’t learn much in my AP Gov class in high school.  That’s a long story involving a wacky teacher and a tired senior.  Anyway.

I thought my history teacher was British, because I read it on RateMyProfessor or whatever that site is.  Turns out he’s from Iowa.  Kinda disappointing, because I was looking forward to learning about the revolution from a Brit, but he’s hilarious all the same.  Part of me wants to drop this too, though, because if I had gotten a slightly higher score on the AP US History test I’d already have credit, so how much new am I really going to learn…  But I really didn’t learn much in APUSH and it seems like knowledge I should have.  Granted I could read a book, but what are the odds I’ll actually do that?  That was one of my New Year’s resolutions actually, read more.  Meh.

Got my laser printer today.  It is awesome, as far as I can tell.  That’s about it.  Sorry this was totally and completely uninteresting.

Oh, I forgot.  Laura gave me an idea for a story today.  It might be funny.

No I’m not posting it here, you thieving bastard.