The only thing more costly than education...

...is ignorance.

Or so they say. So as I sit here tonight, tired, apathetic and wanting to do anything other than studying for yet-another-stupid-test (YaST for you SUSE Linux Nerds) I have quotes like that running through my head. I'm trying desperately to convince myself that I want to work on this test.

But really I just feel like this


I'm starting to get senior-itis which isn't good. Cause I still have darn near to a year left to go. :P

Summer vacation.

After 22 months of straight of trying to work full time and go to school, I finally get a break. 2 months of 40 hours weeks sounds like heaven.

Who knows I may actually have energy to post here and there now.

What me Post?

Well I haven't been posting. But it hasn't been for lack of material. A lot has been going on, good and bad. Here is a rundown of it all.

The Good: The family. If it wasn't for the wife and kids I don't know that I could have slogged through the last month. The kids are growing well. Tank, Cakes and Cookie Monster are as fun and as adorable as ever. I love spending time with them, when I can. I am gone 14 or so hours most days, so I never feel like I get enough time with them. I was worried little tank wasn't going to know who I am. But he grins and smiles with me any time I get to spend time with him. I've decided I'm going to take the summer off of school so I can spend some precious time with them all.

The Bad: School and Work. I can't seem to get ahead since Christmas. I feel like I'm always behind in something. I've been sick a lot so I've been behind in hours at work. If I miss much more I could lose my insurance, so I've been working come hell or high water, and there seems to have been a lot both lately (see below). In school I have never felt so behind. Up until now I've been able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average. I'm worried I'm going to lose it with the test I take this weekend. (I really should be studying now) Spring break is next week. Hopefully then I can catch up a little in both school and work.

The Ugly: I've had a sinus infection for over a month. It has sucked. I have had a headache every single day, but I can't just lay in bed and get over it. If I miss any more work I'll be in serious danger of losing my insurance, if I miss any more school I'll be in serious danger of failing. I've just had to muck through it, its been a little miserable.

The first round of antibiotics didn't knock the infection out. I went to an ENT and he wanted me to have the antibiotics out my my system for 2 weeks, followed by a CT scan of my sinuses (I guess they want to see my sinuses in their most hellish condition). I finally had the CT scan today and I'm back on antibiotics. Hopefully the infection will clear up in a couple of days. I should also know by then if I need another surgery to open up the sinuses. Hopefully I can get by w/o surgery, but right about now I'd do just about anything to stop having infections. I've been averaging one a month for the past year.

But life isn't all bad. I feel like I'm through the worst of it (I hope I didn't just curse myself). I can't wait for summer. I am really looking forward to warm weather, working 40 hour weeks and spending more time with Superwoman and the kidlets.

Wooo HOOO

Finals are over, that means I can enjoy the experience called sleep again.

The final I had today I feel like I did well on. The one I had yesterday I feel alright about too.

I've got a real post in the works. Look for it in a couple of days.

Tank is home and doing good. His newborn sleep patterns are 'fun' to deal with but we are making it through, if only just.

I have less than a week left of this semester. Since the baby has come I've had a hard time concentrating. But I'm hoping I can stick it out long enough to keep the Grades I've been working so hard on up until now.

I'm writing a game of Pong for my final project in one of my classes. If you have a Mac (writing it using UNIX system calls which Mac OSX is built on top of) you can send me a e-mail if you would like a copy. I'm going to get all the requirements for the project out of the way, then add a few features just for fun.

I don't expect I'll blog too much until my finals are done next week. Wish me luck!

Weekend Recap

We got through the thanksgiving weekend alive. That's always good.

We had a full house on thanksgiving day. My cousin and his wife came by with there five kids. And my in Laws came by with 4 of their kids. 7 + 6 + 4 = One very full house! It was a lot of fun. My cousin and his wife brought pies. My Mother In law brought a turkey, potatoes and stuffing and we provided ham, green bean casserole with french fried onions, stuffing and gravy.

I did all cooking for our part. I followed Dave's advice and didn't serve any Turkey Tartar. And no one came away with food poisoning! A Success! I was thinking about making a Korean thanksgiving rice-ball but ran out of time and ambition. Maybe next year.

Friday I hung out with my cousins and got to bed late.

Saturday we went to Labor & Delivery on a false alarm. See Superwoman's blog for details on that. Superwoman was effectively told to stay in bed till Tuesday.

Sunday I took the kids to church by myself. The kids were good for me, I was thankful. Sunday evening I was hurriedly trying to squeeze the most out of my 4 day weekend, playing an excess of Lego Star Wars, I'm tired now, I think I may regret that :(

Now, I need to turn in some homework and take a quiz. Those are both scheduled for tomorrow but hopefully I'll be holding our new baby about the time the quiz starts. I'll post pictures when I can.

Tagged By Big Sis, and the big weekend.

Well the weekend went all right, as in I survived it.



Now on to a meme that BigSis wanted me to do a while ago, but I had forgotten all about till just now. So here goes.



The Bucket List---- place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not. This is for your entire life.


(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
( ) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
(X) Been on the Opposite Side of the Country
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only?
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
(X) Made prank phone-calls
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Went Bungie Jumping
( ) Went Sky Diving
(X) Ever been Heart Broken
(X) Went Skiing - cross country
(X) Climbed a Mountain
(X) Played a Sport - Soccer and Basketball in middle school.

A second meme? ah well, here goes.

1. Any nicknames? Dad and Honey, Those count right?

2. Mother's name? Mommy, Miss you Mom!

3. Favorite drink? Coca Cola

4. Body Piercings? None

5. Tattoos? Nope

6. How much do you love your job? I like it. I get to write in code to a computer all day.

7. Birthplace? Denver, CO

8. Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere that isn't school or work.

9. Favorite place you have ever been? Northern Wilderness.

10. What is the Craziest thing you have ever done or want to do? Trying Haggis comes to mind, haven't tried it yet but would like to.

11. Ever been on TV? I think I was on the news when I was a kid, sitting in the front row of some school program. My family has been in the Newspaper many times because of the work my mom did with the mentally and physically disabled.

12. Ever steal any traffic signs? Uh... when I was growing up in Oregon a teenage kid pulled out a stop sign and waited till it caused an accident. The accident injured a mom and killed at least one of her kids, I was eight at the time and my memory is kinda shaky on the specifics, but not the horror of it all. I've never had the desire to remove any traffic devices because of that..

13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes

14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? Family vehicle is a minivan 3 door. Normally I'm on the bus.

15. Favorite number? 4 soon to be 5 as our family grows again.

16. Favorite movie? LOTR trilogy is pretty good.

17. Favorite food? Sushi.

18. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

19. Favorite Season? I don't have one.

20. Dream Car? Lincoln Town Car

21. Number of Places you have lived? HMmm.... 1, 2..... 18.

22. How do you relax? Playing Wow while walking on the treadmill, reading, hanging with the fam.

23. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully enjoying life to the fullest.

24. Favorite Smell? wow, I'll have to think about that. I dunno.

25. Favorite Sound? The Cacophony that erupts after I say, "Daddies Home"! Both kids go nuts and the bird does too. I love that. Superwoman is happy to see me 99% of the time, but she doesn't tend to make as much noise about it (as we grown ups tend to not yell as much), but sometimes after I shut the door, she'll tell the kids, "I think Daddy is home" and that leads to the same eruption.

26. Favorite Color? Purple

27. Who will respond to this the fastest? One of the two people who still read this blog after the scandal gate post. LOL.

28. Furthest place you will send this message? As far as the internet will take it.



(Edit moved down from above) I didn't get the 'A' I was hoping for on my test. Hopefully the professor will have a bit of mercy on us. I doubt it, but I'm hoping anyway since I studied about 20 hours for this test alone. (It was too many details to get down in any amount of time. From what I understand, the professor who made up the tests {and used to teach the course} would give a lot of hints at which details would actually show up on the test. The professor standing in for the class doesn't do this. But insists on sticking exactly to the old professors grading system. So we get all of the drawbacks and none of the benefits to the old professor's style, it sucks) (Edit, I got the high score for the class, and the test will most likely be curved instead of grading off of raw score. Hooray!)

I spoke, (gave a mini 15/20 minute sermon) in church on Sunday. I didn't have time to prepare as much as I would of liked, but all things considered I think I did OK. Or so I hope.

I finished my programming assignment and a bunch of other random un-notables, and helped Superwoman get the dog off to a better home, where she would actually get the attention she deserved.

All in all I didn't do anything up to the standard I like doing things, but considering I got everything I needed to done, I'll take it.

I hate weekends like this.

Right now I'd really like to blog. Politics, humor, food or anything! But I don't have the time.

I'm stuck studying for a test that is sure to be woefully nit picky. (Like; name the main difference between the 802.3 and the Ethernet II Frame Headers. I have 17 pages of other fun little distinctions like this to memorize by tomorrow, shoot me) Normally after a Friday test I can look forward to a relaxing weekend. Not so this weekend. After the test I have assignments and other obligations that will swallow my weekend. :P blech, I just keep hoping this school thing will be worth it.

As a side note - Wrath of the Lich King, a World of Warcraft expansion, comes out Tuesday(Edit: Thursday, boy I'm out of it). On Monday (Edit: Wednesday) night I was gonna stand in line with some of my buddies to get it at midnight, but the more I think about it the less appealing it sounds. I think I'm gonna stay home and get some sleep instead. ... I'm getting old. (Edit: I can't even keep the days of the week straight anymore, I think I'm definitely choosing sleep over Midnight releases)

Autum weekend.

I took a test Friday. The first Midterm for me this semester. After the exam I wasn't feeling quite right. I came home and went to bed. Next day I was sick. Sick Saturday. Sick Sunday. REALLY Sick Monday. Still-sick-but-on-the-mend today.

Today Superwoman's kind mother came down and helped us out in the yard. I was at work and school and didn't see the results until I got home. She mowed the lawn (that I didn't get to Saturday) and got the garden ready for winter. Lots of work. Thanks Super-Grandma!

When I got home everyone wanted to go on a picnic. I wanted to stay home, but spending time with Superwoman and the kids comes few and far between lately, so I went cold and all. We went to a local pond and ate fried chicken and chips and then fed the ducks day old bakery bread.

The ducks -the bigger ones who are about the size of Cakes- were a little aggressive tonight. There were two white ones in particular that kept charging the kids, I would drive them off, but the kids kept getting scared, and dropping the bread, instead of throwing it, which encouraged the ducks to come closer.... which scared the kids etc... Well eventually one of the big white (almost goose sized) ducks had enough of waiting, and decided to take Cakes for all the bread she was worth. It charged her from close range. Instead of dropping the bread, she ran off screaming with the bread in hand trailing behind her. The duck bit her hand and Cakes was very upset. (she is fine, no skin was broken, but I do think it hurt a bit) She sat on my shoulders the rest of the time.

About that time Cookie Monster caught on to the idea that ducks/geese are cowards and that if you charge back, they will run off. He spent the rest of the evening chasing down the ducks and geese. Pretty much tormenting them (not physically). The geese looked like they were getting a little sick of it. I was sure if he kept it up that the geese were going to mount an uprising. We finally managed to convince him there were better things to do before he got flocked. :)

I've got another test this week. Tests, to a student like me, are sources of a lot of stress. People laugh because I always get good grades, and wonder why I get worked up about them. But in my case the stress helps me to do well, I'd rather have that stress with the good grade which comes with it, than earning a bad grade and being stressed about that after the test. Hopefully I don't give myself an ulcer.

Who has the time?

..... Not me. I was meaning to post over the weekend. About what? I have no idea, I had an idea floating around but it has since left me and I'm not sure there is room enough in my head for it to return. It ended up being a busy weekend.

Friday Superwoman and the kids picked me up to from work and we to a case lot sale. Which is when a store sells a case of cans/pasta/whatever at a discounted price. A great way to get the essentials like spaghetti, ketchup, canned veggies and the like.

After that we went to the mall to pre-order Wrath of the Lich King which is the next installment/expansion to World of Warcraft. While there we also looked for a tv wall mount, to mount a computer monitor (old crt) to the wall. We didn't find one, but I did find an updated version to a classic old game, Payday. I played this all the time as a kid.

Then we went to The Home Depot where I did find the a CRT (instead of flat panel) TV wall mount. They are getting harder and harder to find. By then it was late and we got the kids home for dinner and bed.

On Saturday we went for a drive around the Nebo Loop for a picnic and to enjoy the mountain scenery with the leaves changing colors. Then Big'Sis and Grizz treated us to a Teppanyaki dinner, MMMMM. I had a program due to be turned in online the next day and I was up till 3 AM working on it. I didn't get it done.

Sunday was no less busy with church and a family get together. I worked on my programming assignment during every spare second of the day, at midnight I finally had it right, but I stayed up another hour and a half trying to help a friend that was also having problems with it.

Between all that I completely lost my topic for post. :) So Monday instead of blogging I started working on my program due next week, in case it was as intense as the last one. It wasn't, I had it done in about 3 hours.

So I'm through 4 weeks of the current semester. I have the option of finishing two of my classes early, if I can handle the added workload of getting ahead. That would be nice as the baby is due to come about 2 weeks ahead of the end of the semester. So far I'm about a month ahead in one class, a week and a half ahead in another, and right on schedule with my third.

This year I've...

Today I saw a young woman and her mother on the bus on their way to the university orientation. Although I wasn't a freshman (I went back to school as a senior credit-wise) I was new to the institution and attended orientation last year anyway. I remember feeling really old. There I was 30 years old (yes I know that's still young) in a room full of 18 year-old's who were so excited to be 'in college'. I found someone with a kid and a stroller and sat with him. We were both going back to school after long hiatuses. Together we weathered a rousing round of shouting the school initials and other activities targeted to the students over a decade younger than I am. I wasn't sitting there thinking, "this is so stupid.", but try I as I might I just couldn't get excited. I sat there wondering what in the world had I gotten myself into, but I was determined to do well. I felt like, and I still do, that this is my last real chance to finish my degree and have it really help my career. That was a year ago, give or take a day or two.

Since then I've....


Completed 19 credits of coursework. Engineering Analysis (basically Linear Algebra and Differential Equations), Embedded Systems (i.e. how to design a computer system for a car, cell phone or alarm system etc), Computer Organization and Architecture, Digital Design II, Ethics and Values, and Statistics.

I've been undertaking 6 credits a semester, but I took 7 over the summer.

So far I've maintained straight A's.

This February I worked myself into the ground. I was really sick for two weeks and my work was kind enough to let me go into negative vacation and sick time. I'm still not out of the hole 6 months later.

I gave up caffeine for two months after I got sick. It seemed to help. Now I'm as addicted as ever. I think its time to give it up for a while again, if not for good.

I dropped from 40 hours a week to anywhere from 40 to 32 hours a week at work. Usually closer to 32 hours. I miss the money, but it is a lot better on my health and nerves and everything else. At 32 at least I get to keep us insured. Paying for gas about bankrupts us, and we only have one vehicle to fill. I ride the bus, if I didn't I don't think we would be able to afford the cut in paychecks.

I've found out that I am still a competitive student. I thought I might have a hard time competing with the younger, single, unemployed, childless students with more free time to study and all of that youthful energy. If anything I'm a better student now than I ever was before. I think it is because I am more motivated, I see my wife and kids and I can't help but be motivated to do well.

I needed 55 credits to graduate, depressing, considering I had around 100 transfer credits and a lot of other stuff didn't transfer. Now I'm down to 36 credits and have two full years left. I'm not quite halfway, but I'm pleased with how much I got done this year, if you can spare some prayers, I could use them on my behalf for the coming two years.

Last night I was up till 4 in the morning just wasting time (playing Klondike solitaire on my iPod of all things). I didn't want to go to bed, it felt like if I stayed awake my vacation would last longer. It seems like the two week vacation that I have had from school has gone by in a blink. I don't want it to end. But it will end, and soon. Come to think of it this entire year has gone by quite quickly, I've been so busy that it wasn't until this morning, when I saw that young lady excitedly anticipating the opening of this chapter of her life, that I really realized how much has happened in the last year, and how much time has passed.

Sushiboy A to Z

First with the A's

I recieved my final grades for the summer and I earned an A in Stats. I'm very happy about this A as I worked very hard for it.

Second I have been tagged by the sexy and wonderful Superwoman with the ABC's of me. So here goes:

Attached? Very. To Superwoman and extra glued by our two (soon to be three) rugrats.
Best Friend? Superwoman.
Cake or Pie? Uh, yuck. I like meat pies. I don't really go for sweet cakes and pies.
Day of Choice? Saturday. My day off. I try to have everything, homework, work, church stuff, all out of the way so I can have Saturday with my family or to myself. Occasionally yard work creeps in.
Essential Item? A large supply of cola.
Favorite color? Purple
Gummy bears or worms? Worms are a lot more fun to eat.
Hometown? Born in CO. Live in Utah.
Indulgence? Sushi, Cool Ranch Doritos, Bratwurst, Steak, Coca Cola, Salmon/Tuna
January or July? July, its hard to grill in January
Kids? Yes. Cookie Monster, Cakes, one in the oven.
Life isn't complete.... alone.
Marriage Date? Thirteenth of May.
Number of Brothers and Sisters? 2 Brothers, 1 Sister. My sister is the only one still living.
Oranges or Apples? Uh, tie.
Phobias? That Superwoman will die.
Quote? The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. -- Albert Einstein
Reasons to Smile? My wife and kids, home in general, good grades, a good meal, a good book and a good friend.
Season of Choice? Er uh, .... hmmm I'm not sure that I have one. I think it would be early winter and late fall. I love the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas. I love curling up by the fire with a warm blanket and good book and hot chocolate listening to festive music. That time sucks in college cause I usually have about 50 projects due, but if I can take the time to savor it, I think I like that time the best.
Tag Seven People? No .... I don't care to tag anyone right now.
Unknown Fact? I'd rather do something creative than I would math or science. I think that is why I like engineering because I get to build things and be creative, and I still get to use some other skills I'm good at.
Vegetable? Winter Squashes.
Worst habits? I can be really annoying. I have a sharp tongue, I can say some really cutting things.
X-Ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound, lotsa happy memories there (very fun to see my babies). X-rays memories are mostly painful, (but it is cool to see my bones)
Your favorite food? SUSHI
Zodiac sign? Taurus - Not that it matters anyways.

There you have it! thank you and good day!

The funeral and work.

The funeral was a bit exhausting. We drove around 24 hours in two days time, but the services were good, and worth all the driving. We dropped off the kids with my cousin and his wife. Big Grizz and Big Sis' rode in the van with Superwoman and I. I'm sure they are sick of us by now.

I missed work Monday and I'm trying to make up hours so I don't have to work very much on Saturday. Not what I had in mind to do with my vacation from school, but again, going to the funeral was worth it.

I haven't unloaded my camera, so pictures will have to wait. My Grandmother and Grandfather (on my mothers side) ran a ranch in the high country of Idaho near Salmon Idaho and the Montana border. It is beautiful up there, even though the weather can be harsh. It's been more than a decade since I have been up there and it was nice to go back.

I took my final for Stats Thursday of last week. I'm a little nervous that I didn't do as well as I would like and that I will no longer have a 4.0 Grade Point Average. Its nice having the class out of the way, but I hate waiting for the results.

Stuck in Math Seminars

Its my Birthday this week, so last Friday Superwoman took me out for a wild night on the town. We went to see Forbidden Kingdom, and it was AWESOME. Even Superwoman (who is not a fan of the Kung Fu genre) really enjoyed this flick. Its not your typical Jet Li or Jackie Chan movie, go check it out if you get the chance.

Saturday I got to spend the entire day with the family. This was heaven. It seems like I rarely get to spend time with Superwoman and the kids like that. I spent the morning playing Rampage with Cookie Monster, then we all went out to lunch together and went to the mall. Superwoman got a new watch battery and her rings cleaned, and we won a nights stay at a bed and breakfast in a drawing (how cool is that?). We found Cakes a Barbie that is beautiful and fully clothed, (a rare combination) she is enjoying it. Cookie Monster found a cool space shuttle and rocket play-set which he is enjoying. We were thinking about getting a model rocket but decided it may be a bit advanced/delicate for a five year old. (and I didn't want him getting injured from the rocket engine).

This week the Math department at my college is giving me a headache. They have some asinine policy which requires you to take a prerequisite refresher seminar if you took the prerequisite for the course more than two years ago. A good idea in theory, but they made this blanket policy without any provisions for any math you may have taken since then. I need to take statistics this summer. The prerequisite for this is college algebra. Since I took college algebra (in my first attempt at college 10 years ago) I've take a litany of math. I can do college algebra blindfolded, with both hands tied behind my back, and the pen in my teeth. I use it in my career and in pretty much every course I have taken since then. Does the math department care? No I have to take this stupid seminar anyway. Yesterday I sat in the back of the classroom played World of Warcraft the entire time and still could answer any question (big or small) with ease. Can I get out of this? No. I'm stuck wasting my evenings (my birthday and my sisters birthday included) being babied by the math department. It just rubs me the wrong way. I'm responsible for my education. I'm glad they provide the seminars for people that need it. I'm not at all happy they forced me to take it. It seems pretty High School to me. At least the teacher of the seminar is a decent guy.

Did I mention Superwoman is the coolest? She got me 6 golf lessons for my birthday from the local club pro. She said everyone is the clubhouse was saying she is an awesome wife, and she is. I recently took up golf, I suck at it, but I enjoy hitting the ball around the scenic courses anyway. I thought this was a really thoughtful gift.

Since its my birthday, feel free to send gifts, money, compliments, cards or insults my way.

One Test Down

I have two tests to take this week. I just took the first one. It was 2 1/2 hours long and was a beast. I think I did very well on it, but it seemed more like a final than a midterm. I am mentally exhausted and having a hard time getting anything done at work. I'm also starting to come down with some kind of cold, but I can't stop to rest until tomorrow. Wish me luck. I'll need it!

I'm a lucky guy.

If you go over to Superwoman's, blog you can see the pictures of the kids and the pets that I never got around to posting. If you do, you may find out why I consider myself such a lucky guy.

BTW, I've been flat out sick for the past two weeks. Today I finally feel like a human again, well as close as I ever feel. (I still have a bit of a fever, cough and a really runny nose). This is good, because I've now missed about two weeks of work and school. I shudder to see the state of my desk when I get into work (I didn't exactly leave it in great shape) and I have a test (a big test) coming up in school next week. Whew! I've kept up on my homework, but that is about it. I can't wait to read some blogs and see what everyone is up too.

Happy Weekend!

Finals

I finished my finals today, and I'm just trying to unwind after a few months of hardcore studying. Right now the snow is really coming down, it should make for a picturesque evening as the Sushiboy family heads to the city to see the Christmas lights. Its our yearly tradition to ride the light rail up to down town Salt Lake City and see the lights, I can't wait!

I'm now free from school for a little over 2 weeks. It feels great.

At least the view is nice.

Studying, I will admit, isn't my favorite thing. But, I have found a quiet breezeway with electrical outputs, study desks, WiFi access (of course!) and the view, well the view can't be beat. I can't believe more people don't study here. I suspect they are interested in other views.


(Sorry the picture sux, its hard to take a good photo with a laptop.)

The other side of the breezeway has a great view too, I'll post it sometime if I get around to it.

Monday

It's the second week of the school schedule. My second week of 5 AM wake ups (quite a bit earlier than I'm used to), 10 to 12 hour work days, classes and homework. I'm handling things better than I thought I would. That's encouraging, and due to lack of time, that is all.

Oreintation

For the record I am straight. Heh.

I just got back to work after sitting through a college orientation indented for bran' spankin' new high school grads. It felt like a high school senior sitting through Kindergarten. Everyone else was stoked to be there, I just want to graduate and be done. They were chanting college cheers and were so exited to be college kids (er adults...) I just wasn't in to chanting U-V-U, and 'giving it up for' the dean of general education. Heh. I'm old (well at least compared to 17/18 year old gals behind me; busily taking about boys, dances and general ed classes). Despite feeling a little babied, it wasn't too bad. Its good to be doing something about that degree I've been meaning to get.