tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52337772024-03-23T14:29:36.939-04:00GarwoodSpaceCenterIn learning to ride a flying machine; if you are looking for perfect safety you will do well to sit on a fence and watch the birds, but if you really wish to learn you must mount a machine and become acquainted with it's tricks by actual trial.
-Wilbur Wright, 1901Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.comBlogger883125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-6372602453616582432014-04-29T12:44:00.000-04:002014-04-29T13:01:16.996-04:00Improv thoughts from an old man: a letter to the Ship of FoolsCurrent Mood: <span dir="auto">Corleone</span><br />
<br />
The class of 2014 graduates very soon (ugh olllld), and this marks the exit of basically the last batch of folk that I have performed improv with as a part of the Ship of Fools. Such is my bond with this band of yuksters that only now do I feel like I myself am leaving the group. I still know most of the current troupe, to varying degrees, but it seems like a logical point of departure in my brain. To that end, I wanted to do something special to let the group know how much I have enjoyed my time with them and how much they have and still do mean to me. So I wrote them this letter (below, slightly edited).<br />
<br />
It will also be one full calendar year of my own departure from the university, a year out in the real world and gainful employment as a productive member of society. Success! Also mixed feelings!<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
To Fools, <br />
former and especially present and future,<br />
<br />
Some of you might not quite know my background with the SoF, so first, a trip down memory lane if you'll indulge me-<br />
<br />
<i>I
started my Purdue journey in the fall of 2004. I was a freshman in
engineering, and I wanted pretty badly to be "different" than I was in
high school - more athletic, less awkward and dorky. I thought joining
the crew team (rowing) would transform me, but I failed the swim test.
So much for that plan. I found in my BGR Activities Fair bag a flyer
for a club that promised free no-commitment fun. My only exposure to
improv to that point were some reruns of Whose Line Is It Anyway? on TV
and seeing my older sister perform in a few shows at Miami, OH (with the
now defunct Tower Players). For the rest of that fall I fell in love
with open forum and tried some games - I wasn't very good and simply
being in front of others in Beering 2280 made me so nervous I almost
threw up - but Friday nights were the absolute highlight of my week (I
was pretty miserable in engineering). I kept at it, and in the spring
of 2005 the Fools took a chance on me and a guy named John
"Freshman/Tripod" and brought us into the fold. <br />
<br />My first show was the Santa Claus United Methodist (SCUM) Show in
Santa Claus, IN - hometown of our own Wes "Tab A". It was nearly
400 people, and we were the opening act for a religious comedian. I
thought I was terrible (I still remember being the last to join Space
Jump because I had nothing, so I panicked and just pretended it was a
Japanese monster movie - all I did was scream and make poorly-dubbed
subtitle jokes). Over the next </i>six<i> years I had the privilege of
improving, learning improv by participating in Tuesday/Wednesday
practice and Friday Open Forum just about every week, and we went from a
few shows a semester to almost two shows a month (!). We played all
over campus, took trips across the state and to spots around the
midwest. Tournaments, workshops, private and public shows, charity
events, carnivals, with audiences smaller than the troupe itself to </i>thousands<i>
in Elliot Hall of Music - some of them bombed (Sailor Show), others I'd
proudly put on my all time highlight reel (Towle Theatre). I've
watched generations (plural) of Fools grow from watch list prospects to
seasoned vets that can carry a show themselves and host a moment's
notice. I've been COMOFF, webmaster, President and Captain. I promoted
the first SoF Sergeant, negotiated four figure contracts and fought
with the business office, started and blatantly rigged the Hidden Hannukah Helper Gift
Exchange, and founded the Awards Ceremony. I also switched my major to
technology, prolonging my tour at Purdue.<br />
<br />In 2011 I "retired" from the SoF and took a spot with One Size Fits
All Improv (even though I wasn't done with Purdue yet). It was a
complicated and difficult decision, and stemmed from both a desire to
change and grow my own comedy, and also to ensure the troupe experienced
new growth, ideas, and leadership. I put retired in quotation marks
because even though I no longer performed with the Fools, I *</i>always*<i>
felt connected to and welcome within the group. I've had the pleasure
of watching an entirely new Ship form - through growing pains, evolving
and changing and still bringing the funny.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>I really can't emphasize just how big an impact the Ship of Fools and
Purdue Improv Club has had on my life. As cheesy as it sounds, it's
given me confidence (on stage and off), public speaking skills, honed my
wit and expanded my brain. I've met four of my college roommates
through improv, 3 of my 4 groomsmen including my best man, and probably
most importantly, my wife. For a good chunk of my life I've had my
Friday nights spoken for and I mean that in the best possible way -
knowing I always had a standing date with funny, happy, and energetic
people who wanted nothing more than to be silly and try to create
something new.</i><b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<br />
I meant to write this letter after my SoF retirement. Then I said
I'd finish it for my senior year, then after my own graduation. I kept
stalling because I wanted to write the perfect letter with profound
words and because I still procrastinate hardcore. It's only now, after
almost a whole year in the real world, that I'm thinking about my time
at Purdue and I can't sleep and I'm getting all sentimental that I've
got the gumption to finish this, imperfect and rambly as it is. If
you're still with me and don't mind, I have a some thoughts and
unsolicited words of advice to share with you all:<br />
<br />
<u>To the new Fools, the rookies, and those who still have a while to go</u>:<br />
Congratulations - you've been selected to join an elite group. Huzzah! Now get to work.<br />
You
won't have time to be every character and play in every scene, so every
time you watch improv- pay attention. Listen, think, and analyze on
stage and off. Play in every single game you can get your grubby little
paws on. Time flies when you're having fun, so chip in and build the
group at all levels - it'll be yours to run before you know it.<br />
<br />
<u>To the grizzled veterans, officers, and those who will be entering the real world soon</u>:<br />
Lead
by example and leave your mark. Play in every game you can - you've
earned it. Remember when you first joined? Mentor somebody. Mentor
everybody. Play all the scenes with confidence and gusto (or at least
fake it).<br />
<br />
<u>To the rest</u>:<br />
<br />
<div>
Everything I just said applies to you too. Probably double.</div>
<div>
<br />
<u>For the whole troupe:</u></div>
<div>
Take
this stuff seriously... just because you're an amateur troupe and
improv is silly doesn't mean you can't act like professionals. Show up
to meetings on time and get your practice in. Make your warmups count.
If something's not working, do some research and change it. Give your
fellow performers honest feedback and critiques. Take notes. Treat
your show contacts with respect, and follow up - you never know if
they'll want you back.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
...except don't. You're students first, and
this is a hobby. And a fun one at that. Lighten up, don't beat
yourself up. Bad games and shows happen (the audience sucked, I know).
Humor is subjective. Be nice to your friends.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div>
Don't change a thing... the Ship of Fools/Purdue Improv
Club formula is a process honed through more than a decade of trial and
error. You've got to balance so many things - burnout, saturation,
turnover, campus exposure, everybody's ego, a budget, and a thousand
other things. We built this (city on rock and roll) troupe a certain
way because it works, dammit.</div>
<div>
<br />
...just kidding. I love that you are
experimenting with long form, workshops, auditions, and collaborating
with the other local troupes. I've seen the troupe's web presence grow
by leaps and bounds (back in my day we didn't have your fancy Facebooks
and Twitters - we taped our flyers to the sidewalk with masking tape,
thank you very much) and you continue to find a variety of funny new
people. I only ask that you carefully consider those choices and how
they can impact things down the road. (Or don't sweat it, in 4 years or
so everything will be different.).</div>
<div>
<br />
One of my favorite parts of the SoF was when people would
ask me at the shows "so are you guys all seniors in theater, or
what?". I loved telling them that we had people from multiple states,
freshman to super senior, STEM to liberal arts and everything in
between. I hope it's obvious to you all that the strength of the troupe
is the people in it (what else would it be?), so please please please
keep connecting with each other. Spend time together, road trip, do a
show in somebody's hometown, toast each other's mothers, impersonate
each other at Halloween parties, stuff like that.<br />
<br />
I always started every workshop I did with a disclaimer -
I'm not an expert at improv, I don't have any formal training, and what
works for me may not work for you. I believe it was John "Cowboy" who once said "I stopped giving a shit, and sometimes I'm
funny". The best way to get better at improv is to do it, but if you
want improv advice here let me Google that for you: <a href="http://secondcitynetwork.com/15-reminders-for-every-improviser/" target="_blank">http://secondcitynetwork.com/<wbr></wbr>15-reminders-for-every-<wbr></wbr>improviser/</a><br />
<br />
In closing, thank you all so much from the bottom of my
heart. I wish nothing but the very best for each and every one of you.
Please continue to grow the club and troupe, develop into smart
successful professionals, don't deny, and have fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yours,</div>
Ryan "T-Rex", "T-Muffy", "T-Sexy",
"that guy with the overly complicated scene suggestions", "that one week
where his nickname was suspended when people found out he'd never seen
Jurassic Park", "The Gar-Father", Garwood<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
P.S. Keep up the Gar-Father thing and in
approximately 30 years when young Leia Garwood walks down the aisle, I
promise I will not refuse a favor on that day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4L0PdldBsrgNYfjytkv4y2bYgalSRmulFqtItATect6KsVFezyggVskqEqXbFyZWnyGu0cQcVSRWJhJ4MaM68NNiON48bc1ac2zyQAamR65X2LPrCsDP8J__XfY1pRPitoGR/s1600/Gar+Father.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4L0PdldBsrgNYfjytkv4y2bYgalSRmulFqtItATect6KsVFezyggVskqEqXbFyZWnyGu0cQcVSRWJhJ4MaM68NNiON48bc1ac2zyQAamR65X2LPrCsDP8J__XfY1pRPitoGR/s1600/Gar+Father.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-88152231585614910682014-04-22T11:53:00.000-04:002014-04-22T11:53:30.251-04:00lumber/arCurrent Mood: sitting uncomfortably<br />
<br />
I deal with pain from my spine surgery almost every single day. It varies - some days it's a dull ache, a constant nagging twinge that makes sitting or standing uncomfortable and distracts me from the moment. Other times (mercifully, rarely) it's a knife attack, a moment of breath-stealing fury. Or it becomes the itch behind the scars, hidden beneath dead nerves that I've scratched until I'm bleeding without realizing. And maybe most insidious, the pain lies dormant during the day only to blossom as I'm winding down, keeping me awake as I toss and turn trying to find a way to get to sleep.<br />
<br />
All of them start in my core and get linked to any movement of my body. Sometimes I can <i>hear</i> the rods bolted to my bones <i>squeaking</i> and it's like nails on a chalkboard in my eardrum turned up to 11. <br />
<br />
But through all of that, it feels like mostly my personal, internal problem. Sure, my family and closest friends know I've had the surgery, but I work to keep it out of the day to day conversation. I don't bring it up to new people and I don't use it as an excuse. Blog post aside, I rarely talk about it* and if I do I make jokes about robot parts and floating like a compass in a pool. I plan ahead - stretches and bottles of aspirin at home, in my bag, in my work desk, in the car, and in Jenny's purse. Pretty much any day of physical activity guarantees I'll be sore the next day... is it worth it? I try not to let it dictate my activity.<br />
<br />
You can't really see it from the outside. I'm just a short dude. I don't have a hunchback and I don't walk with a limp. My shoulders are uneven, but you'd be hard pressed to notice. I have a scar, but it's hidden beneath my clothes and I rarely wear backless gowns. I don't even usually see it myself - it takes a camera or at least a set of mirrors to even catch a glimpse, which is a conscious effort that I rarely bother with anymore. I live with it every day inside me, stalking me, and if you can believe it sometimes I forget that the scar is there.<br />
<br />
So when Jenny told me the other day when I got out of the shower that my scar was starting to fade, I was really confused when that made me angry. Is it a part of my identity now? Do I need a trophy to justify how painful it was and is? Is it a badge of toughness that makes me look stronger than I feel? <br />
<br />
Why do I care so much about a stupid scar I don't even want?<br />
<br />
<br />
*Except to J, she hears about it plenty. Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-44878385215502025702014-04-17T11:52:00.001-04:002014-04-17T11:52:31.008-04:00stuck in limboCurrent Mood: retro<br />
<br />
I've got several large boxes of things in my apartment that need to be... dealt with.<br />
<br />
They're mostly from my high school years, and they're chock full of memories (good and bad and in between). From when my parents split, from when I had my surgery, from when I started college, from when our roof got damaged and my stuff got soaked. Stuff I should either get rid of or display, stuff I should donate or sell, stuff I should... process. <br />
<br />
Some of it's purely sentimental, and I lie to myself and say I've moved past it. Some of it's childish, and I lie to myself and say I want less material things in my life. Some of it's educational and I lie to myself and say I'll read this or use that some day. Some of the things are trophies and ribbons and I lie to myself and say I don't care about those accomplishments anymore. I feel like a hoarder, physically and mentally.<br />
<br />
I haven't really <i>used</i> any of this stuff in years. Hell, I've barely seen it. The pragmatist in me says if it hasn't seen the light of day in that long, get rid of it. It's weighing me down Literally and mentally.<br />
<br />
Instead, the boxes have been in storage, then other storage, then trucked to me and moved around from apartment to apartment, silent sentinels of a past life in stasis.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-17537133124521621772013-04-19T14:10:00.002-04:002013-04-19T14:11:19.579-04:00Pizza! Come get your mail!Current Mood: flannel <br />
<br />
My grandpa was an old school guy. He was tough, patient, quiet, and hardworking - cut from the "Dirty Jobs" mold, if you will. He served in the Army, worked nights in a paint factory and as a locksmith on the side. He had a rusting green Ford Bronco, a wood burning stove, a cuckoo clock, a police scanner, and a well worn coffee mug. When I was a kid, he used to show me old drawings and articles about B-17s and talk about engines (anything from WWII radials to the lawnmower in the garage). <br />
<br />
I wish I could tell you I soaked it all up, but as a kid I was more interested in Star Wars, Nickelodeon, and my Game Boy than sitting down to watch boring old black and white war movies.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I was thinking about how much has changed since he passed away years ago. I switched my major, and now I see and work on aircraft and engines nearly every day. I'm going to graduate from Purdue and get my mechanic's license from the FAA next month. Now I go out of my way to find movies like <i>The Flight of the Phoenix</i> and <i>Twelve O'Clock High</i> on Netflix. Even beyond technical things, I go to state parks and on camping trips and think about the leaf-identifying project he helped me with in 5th grade.<br />
<br />
I miss him. I wish he could see some of the stuff I get to work on - I think we'd have a lot more to talk about.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-90043989395978311182012-11-21T14:34:00.000-05:002012-11-21T14:34:09.681-05:00Grass is greenerCurrent Mood: somewhat garrulous in certain company<br />
<br />
When I'm working hard, I complain about wanting time off, and then when I have some, I don't always know what to do with myself. I'm bad at days off (used to joke about my dad like that), which is probably why I'm just now updating my blog since [checks] June. Well, here we are, Thanksgiving break, and I'm pacing awkwardly around the apartment like a nervous...thing, cleaning and organizing a few things, watching something half-heartedly for a bit before I'm onto something else. Even this post is taking me forever to write (he typed, out of order). <br />
<br />
I think it boils down to A) I always feel like I should be doing something else [mostly studying, working on school things, or cleaning because I'm somewhat neurotic], and so when I only have a little bit of time (for example, a few hours between dinner and bed) my options are limited, so there's not much to decide or even dwell on - priorities get lined up easily enough and I start at the top and go until I can't or won't. And B) when I actually DO get a break (a long weekend, time off from school, etc.) I'm reluctant to dive into something larger like tackle a video game I've owned for YEARS but never really played, because I know I won't finish before I have to go back to the routine, and even worse I've had times where I get so sucked into a project it becomes my all consuming focus and I start slacking on the things that MUST be done. I'd rather dampen my expectations and ambitions to ease the eventual transition back to the normal day-to-day stuff, how sad is that?<br />
<br />
I miss some of my college friends. Some of them long moved away, growing up and moving on, but some I haven't stayed connected with them beyond writing "Happy Birthday" once a year on their Facebook walls, which admittedly is more than some of my other friends but is a hollow, false approximation of friendship. Maybe I'm putting too much of it on my own shoulders - friendship is a 2 way street and people change over time, right? Others friends have more recently graduated, and I have squandered my more than fair share of time with them in the same city, geographical proximity being an apparently under appreciated or underestimated barrier to closeness. I'm woefully under prepared to soon become the person moving away myself, having been in a state of academic arrested development for nearly a decade (much more on that later).<br />
<br />
My family has recently undergone more upheaval and restructuring than I thought would ever happen, topping the previous high that was already nigh-unbelievable (to me, at least). Not all of it is bad, mind you, but when I tell people about our made up holiday (ThanXmus) that supposedly solves all of our travel and togetherness issues, it's a lie about something that works better in theory than in practice, at least with our family. <br />
<br />
Also, I am basically 5 months (a few more weeks, plus spring semester) away from finally (FINALLY) graduating. It's a mixed up set of emotions, thoughts, and goals, but I'm closing in. Unfortunately, it is really starting to take a financial toll on me and Jenny. I'm sure we'll get through it, but right now I'm a mood to take the first job that comes along, just to know something. Having flashbacks to right around our wedding, where we didn't know where we'd be living, where/if Jenny would have a job, and if I could even continue to go to school. Probably the best lesson to take from that was that things worked out pretty well, but those sorts of thoughts don't pay bills, write papers, or get jobs.<br />
<br />
Now it's time to ignore school for a bit and see my in-laws.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-37303787290163355042012-06-17T13:00:00.000-04:002012-06-17T14:13:02.938-04:00A holiday in fluxCurrent Mood: distant<br />
<br />
Today is Father's Day, so here's two memories about my dad:<br />
<br />
STORY THE FIRST <br />
<br />
My dad had some strange friends when I growing up- a motley crew from his hellraising days as a youth. One guy I don't ever remember actually meeting was a guy my parents referred to as "The Colonel". If it was at all connected to military service, I certainly never heard a word about it. Anyway, I always thought that was the <i>coolest</i> nickname and they wouldn't have given it to anybody that wasn't a super badass. That's all.<br />
<br />
SECOND STORY<br />
<br />
It's not really hard to figure out where I got my music tastes. Just about all of my favorite bands - Queen, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Foreigner, Sweet (to name a few) were the soundtrack of my youth courtesy of my Dad. He had milk crates full of classic vinyl albums, and I borrowed most of his cassettes to blast from my R2-D2 Walkman and later my car stereo all the way through high school.<br />
<br />
Some of my favorite memories are riding around in the car with him and my brother and sister, singing all the harmonies and air-guitaring/drumming/other applicable instruments-ing all the parts to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzUU7SRRsGo">Bohemian Rhapsody</a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6_a1woHD98">Ballroom Blitz</a> (like that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZkoJxQrlm0">car commercial</a>, but we were like, a million times better). Or how he'd make a big breakfast almost every Sunday, and crank some tunes to go along with (something I've started doing now that I'm living on my own).<br />
<br />
At any rate, at one point I asked him how cool it must have been for him growing up, going to record stores and concerts and playing 8-tracks from his first car... and he told me very somberly that most of his peers thought Queen was really strange and how "gay" it was to like them. How he had to hide his favorite band from his friends to not be made fun of.<br />
<br />
Make no mistake, Freddie Mercury was a <a href="http://2pep.com/funny%20pics/worlds%20funniest%20weird%20pics%20cool%20images/strange%20weird%20funny%20pictures%20of_freddie-mercury.jpg">very strange man</a> - I won't deny that for a second. But I suppose there was quite a shift in attitudes by the time I was his age, and I have never worried or cared for a moment what my friends thought of my favorite music. For that I am grateful, but also a little sad for him having to deal with that growing up.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I still listen to those bands a ton, and a lot of times I think of him when I hear certain songs.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-9231113142635600722012-06-03T23:53:00.001-04:002012-06-03T23:59:57.233-04:00the backside of 20Current Mood: grateful<br />
<br />
I promise I will write about my internship soon, but I wanted to type this one up before it fell by the wayside.<br />
<br />
I was never a big birthday kinda person. I mean, as a kid, I loved getting stuff. I liked getting some special attention from my family. I went to a couple of birthday parties of <i>other</i> kids, and for my 16th birthday my mom let me take a few of my very close buds to (I think) laser tag. Other than that, not really a big fanfare - I don't set my alarm extra early, I don't know or particularly care what *time* I was born, and while I don't mind people knowing when my birthday is or celebrating it, I don't really go out of my way to announce it. I don't hide it, but I won't bring it up in conversation, does that make sense?<br />
<br />
Plus, on top of that, I kinda like to sit at home and do my own thing most nights. I mean, yeah, I like to go out sometimes and do <i>things</i> but when I do, I much prefer them to be scheduled in advance with a set start and end time. I realize this probably makes me sound like a robot or a huge introvert or both, but that's just how it is. Deal with it.<br />
<br />
So when it comes to birthdays, especially now that I'm older (ugh this is making me sound like an <i>adult)</i>, I think my ideal celebration is probably just going out to a nice dinner someplace I like to eat with people I really like - like Gold Star Chili with my family or Triple XXX with the Ship of Fools, something like that. I don't even really care that much about presents - I know plenty of college students who really can't afford it, I'd prefer something personal instead of generic which can be tough (ask Jenny), and I don't like it when I have to guess what level of friendship I am with somebody and feel reciprocal gift obligation. Plus I don't want a bunch of things that I can't use (I still move too much these days). And now that I have a summer birthday (K-12 I did not, now I do and summer birthday people get totally ignored, haha) I've been at Purdue for the past few years when my birthday rolls around.<br />
<br />
SO anyway, with that all in mind, this year was a little different. I'm in Texas for my birthday, and at this point I've been here all of a week and a half. I don't really know many people around here, I don't know many cool places, I'm broke and I have no car.<br />
<br />
The night before I got kinda bummed. I was feeling homesick, missing my wife, and feeling stupid that I suddenly wanted my birthday to be a bigger deal.<br />
<br />
Well, at midnight I started getting some text messages. Then more when I woke up. When I got to work we had a meeting with our whole intern group, and 97 interns kicked it off by singing Happy Birthday to me (probably the largest group I've ever had sing that to me!) [the meeting was not for my birthday, FYI]. Several friends and family called me and left me birthday wishes on my phone.<br />
<br />
Facebook blew up with birthday messages, and I used to not think it was that big of a deal. This year, I can honestly say I've never been so happy to read those messages. I wanted to give every single one of those people a hug. So much birthday love when I was feeling homesick, and each message gave me a smile.<br />
<br />
When I done with work, my friend Andrew (and his new gf Kimberly) took me out to a local brewpub/steakhouse/sports bar where we got to watch hockey (Stanley Cup game 1) and baseball (Reds!). I got a plush T.Rex and some Hulk gloves, and ordered a giant steak. Got a free dessert, and they insisted on paying for me.<br />
<br />
Then, when I got home from that, I found out that Jenny had arranged for a local dessert company to deliver 2 dozen freshly baked cookies (and milk) to my apartment! She even knew that even though the company had several varieties of cookies to pick, I would only want chocolate chip and M&M ones. Love this woman.<br />
<br />
So when it was all said and done, I had a pretty killer birthday, and it happened exactly when I needed it!<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh, I will also mention that Jenny got me a super cool gift. Some backstory (as if this post wasn't long enough): at some point around when I was in middle school, my mom let us pick if we got presents, or she would give us a fixed amount of money and take us shopping for whatever we wanted. Me, being the kid that I was, did not take this opportunity to go wild and purchase whatever suited my fancy, no, it became an exercise in planning and careful calculations, using the most recent Toys R Us ad from the Sunday paper, and later a bit of internet research (yes, at that time, the internet was a fringe thing).<br />
<br />
This once a year opportunity was the one chance I had to purchase some big ticket items that otherwise were hopelessly out of my reach, allowance wise. For three straight years, this included going after a large Star Wars Micro Machine playset that went along with all of my various Star Wars space ships and figurines. The first year I got the Hoth playset, the second year I got the Death Star, and by the time the third year rolled around...the Yavin playset was gone. Nowhere to be found.<br />
<br />
I don't want to be melodramatic, but I was devastated. I pined for it in a way that only a child and collector could, and as the years wore on I looked for it, but I never saw it again. Heck, the Star Wars Micro Machine line really died off not long after that, and it appeared that that chapter of my life was closed.<br />
<br />
You can probably guess where this is going, but I'm gonna tell you anyway. Fast forward to this year, where on a bored weekend Jenny watched the entire Star Wars Trilogy (OT of course) back to back to back with me. While we were hanging out, I got out ALL my old Star Wars toys and she patiently humored me while I explained that the differences between the different TIE fighter models (the Empire chose to specialize their fighters based on mission profile rather than develop a true all purpose craft), and that it wasn't until just before the Battle of Endor that the Rebel Alliance had the resources to develop the B-Wing starfighter, things like that. I also told her about my childhood-defining tale of never managing to find the Yavin playset...the one that got away.<br />
<br />
Well, just before I left for Texas Jenny gave me my birthday present, and lo and behold it was the Yavin playset, custom ordered from a specialty toy shop! She remembered my story and figured out *exactly* which one it was (which, given the dearth of options when it comes to Star Wars toys, trust me, there's plenty of opportunity for confusion). It was a total blast from the past (I didn't know any still existed!) and was yet another example of my excellent wife getting me a great gift that was very personal and meaningful.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-35129545254870689712012-06-01T17:51:00.000-04:002012-06-01T22:40:21.704-04:00roll (pitch, yaw) callCurrent Mood: hov'ring high in the sunlit silence<br />
<br />
Let's shake things up a bit, shall we?<br />
<br />
Here's a list of all of the significant airplanes in my life and career. Not a list of my favorites (that would be a very long list) - but the ones that I have flown or worked on or otherwise interacted with. They are near and dear to my heart, and even though there are faster or bigger or more dangerous planes out there, they will always be special to me. With any luck, this list will get a whole lot longer before I'm done.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_152">Cessna 152</a><br />
In high school I started taking flying lessons, after school and paid for with my part time job. I flew out of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clermont_County_Airport">Clermont County Airport (LID)</a>, home of <a href="http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop">Sporty's Pilot Shop</a>. I completed most of ground school and my first solo flight (which I will never forget so long as I live), but unfortunately I ran out of time and money and didn't finish my training. Some day, I would love to go back and earn my pilot's license. This little plane was a single engine, high wing, tricycle gear GA classic and it was perfect - very forgiving, easy to handle, and fun to fly.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_727">Boeing 727</a><br />
<a href="http://www.purdue.edu/uns/html3month/2006/060919CelebrateFedEx.html">FedEx donated this aircraft to Purdue University</a> so that students in my major could beat the crap out of it learning to fix things, break things, turn things on, and turn things off. It will probably never fly again, and some of the systems on there are <i>disgusting</i>, but boy if it isn't a hell of a lot of fun to mess around with. I have crawled in, on, and around this thing all over and just seeing one in the sky makes me smile.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_SR20">Cirrus SR20</a><br />
Last semester I took a special maintenance course, and my primary job was taking care of 16 of these very new, very shiny airplanes. They have an all glass cockpit with new digital displays, the engines have yet to be completely overhauled, and our highest priority was maintaining these to the highest standard - because they were used as the <a href="http://www.tech.purdue.edu/AT/about_us/facilities.cfm">training fleet for our university's flight program</a>. I got to learn from some very skilled mechanics working on them and they are beautiful!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_737">Boeing 737</a><br />
This airplane is <a href="http://www.southwest.com/html/about-southwest/history/fact-sheet.html#fleet">the flagship of Southwest Airlines</a>, where I currently intern in the Maintenance Department (Technical Publications) as a technical writer. I've flown <i>in</i> one a few times, and currently all of my work has to do with the systems and structure of these planes. It is a workhorse, and I suspect most people would not believe the amount of work it takes to approve and ready these for flight every single day. Gotta keep an eye out for any of the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/-jon-/sets/1154371/">special paint jobs</a> (called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_airlines#Special_liveries">liveries</a>) that Southwest is famous for.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwdYIDMkxZOxaKwEnRuw70_VWQmTYfQ93nx6rZa6gOdynJqWPDf4CIz5euyvcGrqGi_pkAQ374h18RqXuOmnUlzu8Na6WoJNa0SodRgsCKO5kDDAh6A7XmqeD_VOOgziO2MHP/s1600/shamu1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://burisonthecouch.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/shamu1.jpg" border="0" height="200" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwdYIDMkxZOxaKwEnRuw70_VWQmTYfQ93nx6rZa6gOdynJqWPDf4CIz5euyvcGrqGi_pkAQ374h18RqXuOmnUlzu8Na6WoJNa0SodRgsCKO5kDDAh6A7XmqeD_VOOgziO2MHP/s320/shamu1.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do not ask me to board this plane.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-9190996328212215812012-05-28T13:57:00.000-04:002012-05-28T19:52:08.576-04:00proving groundsCurrent Mood: what if?<br />
<br />
We just passed Armed Forces Day, and it's almost Memorial Day. In addition to several new relatives (that officially became a part of my family when I married Jenny last July) that currently or have served in the military, I'm proud to say my little brother is an enlisted Airman in the United States Air Force. I've been told it's not cool to post specifics about his service, so I'll just say he joined this year, he's been in Texas (I got to see him recently for the first time since he left), and he's in contracting (not a <i>contractor</i>, per se, he doesn't hang drywall, but he's more about the paperwork).<br />
<br />
At some point he'll be leaving for a far away place to do Air Force things. He's always been a few hours drive away from me, so having to think of Skype as the easiest way to see him isn't easy to get used to. It will definitely shake up our family holidays (like we haven't had enough of that!) and I think my mom's taking it the hardest (like I said, totally allowed). I think he'll enjoy it, though, and I wish him all the best. <br />
<br />
Bradley's now an Airman. My friend Brant just joined the Army. Another friend (Benji) almost joined several branches. It makes me think about how at one point, I almost joined ROTC to help pay for college, and how differently my life would have turned out.<br />
<br />
Even beyond that, though, there's a deeper significance I put on being in the military, and I wish I could tell you it was purely a noble, self-sacrificing, guarding your country and fellow man kind of thing. Really, it's a pretty stereotypical guy kinda thing.<br />
<br />
Ugh. I know I'm not going to explain this well. <br />
<br />
Let me back up. Growing up, I sometimes felt jealous of other people who had a strong sense of identity. They played sports and loved their team/school (I did not - at least not until I got Purdue, I think that's part of why I love this school so much). They had some sort of ethnic heritage and celebrated unique holidays (I did not). They were religious and had special ceremonies (I did not). They had groups to belong to and rites to go with them. Basically, growing up, it seems like boys around me had plenty of opportunities to "prove" themselves to be Men with a capital M. I'm talking about Eagle Scouts, Bar Mitzvahs, Mission Calls, stuff like that. Some sort of rite of passage they took on to emerge on the other side as...I dunno, as adults, as men. They were confirmed, they were sports guys, they went hunting with their dads... something they could point to as accomplishment.<br />
<br />
The military? Well, that's definitely one of those things. I consider that one of the oldest and truest tests of self, of confidence, of courage, and of manliness. I dunno, it's strange - I never really want to be in combat, to fear for my life, to have to risk everything, to have to possibly take another person's life - and yet, I wonder if I would ever have what it takes. Does that make any sense? On some level, I wonder if I could do it, if I could stand up and face that.<br />
<br />
Mom suggested my back surgery as a test that I passed, and I shot it down - I didn't pick that. That experience was something that happened to me and I dealt with it the best I could (still do, even). Getting married and being a husband didn't make me feel like any more of a Man. Don't get me wrong, I love my wife and I will do my best to provide for her and take care of her, but most days it feels just like when we were engaged (or dating)...and honestly, she's the one who provides for us right now.<br />
<br />
<br />
I dunno, maybe this all comes back to feeling like I'm never going to be done with school. I never finished engineering - I never got the diploma or the ring. I don't feel like an engineer. I never finished my flight lessons. I don't feel like a pilot. I don't have my A&P [yet]. I don't feel like a mechanic.<br />
<br />
Some days, I wonder what to call myself. UGH, that sounded so stupid.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-56798481557966047252012-05-27T13:54:00.000-04:002012-05-27T13:54:00.250-04:00closing inCurrent Mood: removed from the bubble<br />
<br />
Another semester finished (around the first week of May) at Purdue, which means I am down to just 2 semesters. One more school year. My "senior" year, for real. One last summer break (during which I am happy to be busy with my internship!), one last set of holidays, one last winter break, one last spring break - the familiar school routine I've had since grade school. Only 2 more sets of finals!<br />
<br />
I learned a ton of new stuff. I'm really glad I took my extra 490 classes - I gained some unique experience doing hangar maintenance, as well as some confidence doing hands-on work in my field. My fuels class really let me gain a rapport with one of my professors, and I learned some things about the industry that are outside the books, stuff they don't test you on but I feel like helps me understand the big picture. I even managed to get my best grade in electronics yet, which has always been a struggle for me. <br />
<br />
My senior year will be somewhat front loaded, with something like 18 credit hours in the fall and probably about 13 in the spring - I wanted to try and take Air Traffic Control classes, but my schedule would not allow it. This includes senior design (both semesters), which I've heard horror stories of in terms of time commitment. I'd like to balance that out a little, but hopefully this way I can spend more time (especially in the spring) on job searching (and A&P prep)! That's right, honest to goodness, college graduate, real world, time to be an adult and look for gainful employment job searching. I can't wait!<br />
<br />
After 8 years of Purdue (with one more to go), it's<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4uvS9l-FcQ"> time for me to fly</a>. I have to trust that just like retiring from the Ship of Fools, this is the right move. There's definitely part of me that's somewhat institutionalized - I <i>love</i> Purdue, and I <i>love</i> knowing exactly where everything is, where to go and who to talk to for anything I need or want, knowing where the best food is, the quickest routes, stuff like that. Feeling like a king around campus, because I have insider knowledge and my finger on the pulse of what's important. I have family and friends close by, we have an awesome apartment filled with all of my favorite things - why would I go anyplace else?<br />
<br />
Of course, if I go someplace new, I'm sure I can recapture those feelings - it just takes time and effort. And let's be realistic, when I finally graduate, more than likely we will be moving. Most of the jobs in my field are in Washington, California, Texas (ugh), Florida, DC, places like that. As awful as it would be for J to leave her school that she loves and fought so hard to get, the reality is that she'll have an easier time finding a school near my job than vice versa. I'm not opposed to staying here - if I could find something, or somebody would pay for my grad school, sure, I'm just not sure how plausible that scenario is.<br />
<br />
That all said, I'm feeling surprisingly optimistic about the job search (ask me again in a year, haha). I'm doing very well with my new major, especially grades wise. My cumulative grades (including that debacle half decade in engineering) have finally been pulled, kicking and screaming, to the floor of acceptable. My major GPA is rockin'. My professors like me and know me (one of my professors asked me in March if I had anything lined up for the summer, and when I told him my internship was pending, he told me if it didn't work out he'd "find something for me"). I see my professors in the hall and they say hi to me, and they know my name, which is a great feeling. Something I didn't even consider when I switched to this smaller program, but definitely something I like.<br />
<br />
Some of my classmates have gotten internships at some places I'd love to work (Lockheed, Rolls Royce, Gulfstream, etc.). So it can definitely be done! I just have to buckle down, put my head down and power through. One more year of classes, books, and exams. One last year to do all the Purdue stuff I've put off (not that much), and then graduate. Oh, and take my A&P test *shudder*. Plus, I have <i>got </i>to stop paying for school and start paying down loans. That's...that's all I'm going to talk about that subject for now.<br />
<br />
This May has been so weird. Seniors in my major are leaving, and I had <i>just </i>started to feel like I was getting to know them. Now I'm going to be those seniors. Another group of people (all majors, lots from the improv club and Ship of Fools, little siblings of people I started college with) graduating, some of which started schools <i>years</i> after I did, and now I've watched the grow up and now it's time to say goodbye. I'm extremely proud of them and happy for them, but there's a tiny bit that stings. Something about seeing them come and go, instead of being the one leaving. Seeing Facebook blow up with statuses and pictures of caps and gowns and sappy goodbyes. I have plenty of great stuff to take from my time at Purdue already, and I'm sure I will look back on my time here fondly, but right now I see a lot of frustration, wasted time and opportunity, and spinning wheels on my part. Never, never thought I'd be one of those old guy students who spent more than 4 (even 5) years to finish his undergrad degree.<br />
<br />
<br />
UGH. Gotta push those stupid feelings away and get down to business.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-33625905790310212852012-05-26T15:47:00.000-04:002012-06-01T17:53:02.645-04:00which is worse - messing with Texas or the Sasquatch?Current Mood: frankly, a bit confused<br />
<br />
With the caveat that I haven't really gone off the main roads (from the northwest corner to Dallas/Ft. Worth, Austin, then San Antonio), here are some thoughts about Texas so far:<br />
<br />
-In my experience, everything <em>isn't</em> bigger in Texas. I've seen smart cars, green fueling stations, and eco-houses. Buildings are normal sizes, portion sizes are the same, and the roads are large in big cities, just like anywhere else.<br />
-The state, however, is enormous. Things are <em>far apart</em> in Texas, because you could fit most of the Midwest in here.<br />
-After Hispanic, I think the most populous minority I've seen here is Czechoslovakian. Did not see that one coming. Props to the Czechs out there with billboards like "Check in at the Czech Inn" and "Czech and Loan".<br />
-I wonder how the Dallas Zoo stacks up to, say, a world class zoo like Cincy's.<br />
-Warm. Hot, actually, to me, but I've been told by reputable sources that I ain't seen nothin' yet (dun dunnn, b-b-baby I ain't seen nothin' yet). Probably less humid than Indiana, but it's no Colorado. Also the weather has been messing with my sinuses something fierce. I've been told I'll get used to it, but I forsee an uphill battle with that one. I'm allowed to wear shorts to work, thank god.<br />
-I saw a billboard advertising a show by Clint Black. Couldn't tell you what he sounds like, but I know he was in <em>Maverick</em>.<br />
-I cannot get used to an area that lives in perpetual summer. Some of the rest stops here are open air bathrooms, like at a campground. The roads - oh, the roads - there's stuff on all of them, little raised bumps and reflectors and knobs that would get destroyed by a snowplow, plus the drainage slopes and runoff drains are way different [I took a road design course at school, okay? cut me some slack]. <br />
-This Dallas building ( <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infomart">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infomart</a> ) was based on this building ( <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystal_Palace</a> ). They may look the same, but boy does the original sound a whole lot classier.<br />
-I saw a hotel proudly advertising an "indoor heated swimming pool". WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE??<br />
-Thankfully, my fears that everybody would be speaking with a deep southern accent and I wouldn't be able to understand them have not come true.<br />
-Texarkana is both a region AND a city, much to my chagrin.<br />
-Colorado has King Soopers, Texas has Tom Thumb. Strange, strange world.<br />
-I returned my car to DFW airport and got seriously lost. Not a pleasant experience, and it may take some time before I'm comfortable driving there again.<br />
-Texas roads have these tiny little exit ramps on the left side of the road. Normally, this would not be a problem, as we have left side exits in Ohio sometimes. It becomes a problem when I don't know where I'm going, so I drive a normal speed like 70 mph, and to avoid upsetting people going <em>90</em>, I drive in the right hand lane. Then my GPS says "keep left", which I always assumed to mean "ahead, there will be a choice, and you want to take the one that is not on the right" but apparently is code for "go left right now, seriously, do it". Now I'm forced to either ignore my directions and get lost, or force my way into a much faster and aggressive stream of traffic just to immediately dive off the road and screech to a halt, because the tiny exit is completely full of cars.<br />
-Very glad I did not try to drive down here in a car without A/C.<br />
<br />
-New burgers! <br />
Jack in the Box: okay, a little too big<br />
In and Out Burger: delicious, would eat again<br />
Whataburger: TBD<br />
<br />
I remember as a kid driving to Florida on a family vacation. When we reached the state line, I was extremely disappointed to learn that it looked a lot like the highways of Alabama, that is to say a divided freeway with a grass median and deciduous trees on either side. I was expecting a literal line of sand, palm trees, perhaps a hammock with a crab wearing sunglasses and holding a Corona. Or maybe orange juice.<br />
<br />
Apparently my notions of US geography and climate are entirely founded on a very simple puzzle I worked ad nauseum at my grandmother's house. Y'know the one, where Idaho's entire identity is a giant potato, and Maine is a lobster, and I'm pretty sure both Dakotas are Mt. Rushmore.<br />
<br />
Another example - when I went to Seattle, and it <em>didn't</em> rain, I was pissed. That's like... the Seattle <em>thing</em>. It didn't feel right until we got soaked.<br />
<br />
What the hell does this all have to do with Texas? Well, when we got to the state line of Texas I expected sprawling ranches of cowboys driving longhorn steer around. I expected giant cities full of gleaming neon signs of boots with spurs. I expected every gal to have giant blonde hair and say "y'all" (I actually have met a few of them, actually, but not enough to fit my world view) and every man to look like Clint Eastwood. I expected everything to be a brown desert, with cacti and tumbleweeds and saloons.<br />
<br />
I know it's not football season, but I would have thought that after a week here, I would've seen more than ONE Cowboys jersey (thank you, mail room guy).<br />
<br />
Am I missing something? Do I need to go to like, Amarillo? Lubbock? Odessa? A movie set? I am craving the Texas experience, and so far, this place looks like Dayton, OH.*<br />
<br />
So far, Texas, I am disappoint.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*not really a complimentRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-57356958675142161462012-05-25T22:43:00.000-04:002012-05-25T22:43:00.543-04:00A Limited WindowCurrent Mood: I remember it!<br />
<br />
We'd finally gotten to San Antonio, where Airman Bradley had been enlisted in the Air Force since early February. I narrowly missed seeing his graduation from Basic Training due to my class schedule and the expense of flying (I contemplated driving, what an awful idea that would have been). Then he started Tech School there, and we found out afterward he'd be leaving to go to Germany for his job! My visit to Texas for my internship happened to provide the perfect opportunity for me to see him for possibly the only time before he left!<br />
<br />
I was so happy to see him when we finally arrived - in part because it was the end of the trip, but also because doggone it I missed him pretty bad! For a day and a half we enjoyed San Antonio - stayed in a hotel to get him off base. We ate barbeque, we swam in the hotel pool, we had some drinks, and he told us hours of stories about military life and Basic shenanigans. I really loved hearing his stories - he's got a little different demeanor after enlisting, but especially hearing him tell jokes about the little screwups and victories, it really felt like he was still my brother. He did awesome at Basic, if you're wondering - I'm super proud of him.<br />
<br />
We toured his base - got to see the areas I'd seen in pictures where he did PT, took test, trained with his rifle, things like that. Saw the parade grounds, Airman's Run area, even some static planes on display (although when you've seen WPAFB...nothing compares!). Brad insisted that seeing his dorm buildings was no big deal, but our family has always had a thing about seeing where people live and work- I know it helps me picture that person living there and being happy. We also got go to a <i>cool</i> Base Exchange (BX) store and check out some military gear. The whole time Bradley shared some little bits of military lingo... I couldn't always remember it all, but I think it's super neat.<br />
<br />
We explored San Antonio a little bit. We saw the outside of The Alamo (apparently it closes at like, 4?) and I saw enough of the plaques outside to move on. Kinda...underwhelming? Didn't help that it was sandwiched between giant skyscrapers - I felt like that detracted from the historical aspect. Anyway, we went down to the Riverwalk. I got another bent penny for my collection, and then we waited a bit to take a boat tour. The tour was great! A good mix of things to learn, like how I had completely forgotten that Miss Congeniality takes place there.<br />
<br />
Nabbed a <i>sweet</i> riverside table at a mexican restaurant in part because the waiter liked Brad's Reds hat! His favorite player was Joe Morgan of the Big Red Machine. We had dinner and people watched for a bit, and we waited hours for the christmas lights strung ALL over to light up...nothing! <br />
<br />
The end of the visit was bittersweet. Bradley and I were pretty businesslike, but mom cried a lot (as moms are both wont and allowed to do). I don't know when I'll see him next, but I bet he'll be a little more grown up and a lot more worldly!<br />
<br />
The next day I dropped mom off at the San Antonio airport (she had an awful trip home, with delays and hours and hours of flights/airport waits - thanks for going with me, mom!) and drove 4 hours back to Dallas. After being surrounded by family for about 3 straight days, it was a lonely drive. SICK of being in the car. <br />
<br />
My apartment check in was surprisingly smooth. I picked it completely sight unseen, working with an unknown roommate (Nick, also an intern with me) - so I'm glad it played out okay. Probably my only complaint was that I couldn't show proof of income [my internship was still 3 days from starting at this point], so the company insists on holding a massive extra deposit while I'm here. I will make enough money to cover it just fine...over the course of the 3 months I'm working! Cash flow priorities, for sure.<br />
<br />
Moved my stuff in - place is nice, probably somewhere between my current place and our last one. Big, and especially with my meager offerings, feels very empty. Still, it's in a nice area, has central air [does any place in this heat scorched landscape not have central air?], a pool in the complex, isn't too far from work, and is close to food and groceries and stuff.<br />
<br />
Picked up roommate from the airport on Monday with my rental car. We went to some stores and bought some essentials, but as my "you stupid idiot, how could you forget _____" list indicates, there remains some items to be had. For the most part, I've tried to lay low, beat the heat, not spend a lot of money by going out, and get ready for my internship!Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-1060251141384306122012-05-24T22:14:00.000-04:002012-05-24T22:45:45.461-04:00Highway CompanionCurrent Mood: as if there were few, if any, limitations on my current situation<br />
<br />
A week ago today I left to drive down to Texas for my internship. I'll write more about that soon, but first I wanted to share some thoughts about my big trip to the Lone Star State.<br />
<br />
I had originally planned to leave Wednesday morning. When I went to pick up my rental car Tuesday afternoon with my friend Taylor, the rental car company gave me all sorts of hassle - wanted a credit card not a debit card (noted), didn't like my insurance, and balked at the idea that somebody would rent a car for 91 days. Yes, guy at the counter, I need it to get there, to work, to the store, to place and people and things, and then to come home. He said if I wasn't being backed by a corporate insurer, the required insurance would almost double the price, placing the already probably out of my price range into "and monkeys might fly out of my butt" range. So...lovely.<br />
<br />
We settled on a one week rental, enough time for me to get where I was going and then get set up, before I had to return it. Once we worked out the details and I explained my plight, the rental company actually cut me a deal, so I managed to get my car early Thursday. Taylor was once again my driver, and I had packed out what I felt was a balance between the absolute bare minimum (basically living out of a suitcase) and backups and extra things for every contingency (what if there's a chilly evening? flannel lined pants!). Had to leave room for other passengers, though.<br />
<br />
Got a really nice silver Toyota Corolla, with about 2400 miles on it - practically a preemie for that brand. Also, air conditioning! (something Jenny and my car does not currently have). So I took off from Indy to Cincy. Stopped for some Gold Star before trailing mom to the Louisville airport, where she would later fly home to. Everything was goin' smooth, weather was great, I was good to go.<br />
<br />
Then mom takes over the driving, and we drove to Nashville, then to Memphis. Hit some bad stretches of traffic (including one freaky stop where the other side of the highway was completely empty and a single police cruiser started driving against the flow on our side...combined with the setting sun and the scenery, was <i>very</i> The Walking Dead). Stopped for dinner at the Crack B, then made it all the way to just outside of Little Rock. Stopped at an okay hotel, then zonked out.<br />
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Back up again early. Continental breakfast, then we were on the road by 7:30am. Got to Texas (finally) around 10:00am. Ate Jack in the Box for the first time. By this point mom and I had basically run out of things to talk about, and we were rockin' out pretty hard to Warrant, Firehouse, Cinderella, stuff like that. Also, it wasn't boredom that got to me, it was the soreness in my back. We finally got to Dallas...and then continued on to San Antonio to see Bradley.<br />
<br />
Austin traffic was awful. The whole drive, though, mom and I planned our stops very well - she drove fast enough that the GPS time saved "paid" for our stops, and we combined food, stretches, and gas at each break. We hit more traffic in San Antonio and I was about ready to claw my way out of the car. We finally, FINALLY got to Bradley's Air Force Base at about 5:40pm, not long after he'd gotten out of class for the day. Despite the delay at the rental car station, mom and I managed to cover 1,400 miles in about 25 driving hours (about 34 real time hours). Not bad! Not something I'm looking forward to doing again in August at the end of my internship, for sure. At least I have a few months to worry about that - plus I'd need to find another car, and maybe another driving partner.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-42352861363295491992012-01-18T14:01:00.003-05:002012-01-18T14:45:29.558-05:00be careful what you wish forCurrent Mood: still somewhat aghast<br /><br />Yesterday afternoon I was at work. I had just completed a routine lay up (layers of composite materials put under vacuum) and was mixing the two part resin to inject into the part which would complete the process. My boss (Prof S) came up to me with what he called "bad news".<br /><br />He's a pretty sarcastic, joking kind of guy so I didn't even stop what I was doing. Then he proceeded to tell me that the higher ups, the powers that be, have stopped our research project.<br /><br />I laughed, and asked him what new project we'd be switching over to. That's when he told me that was it. Funding stopped, project canceled, done. Zip, zilch, bagel. Nothing to switch to, no warning, scale down, or trail off, just stop what you are doing and go home, because there's no more research to be done here. No hours to be worked or money to be made, because it's all gone.<br /><br />When the job was first presented to me (about a year ago) I was told it was dependent on funding, but I thought once the semester started we'd be in the clear until probably summertime? Apparently, not. Felt like the rug was pulled out from beneath me.<br /><br />I can look at this from a few different angles- <br /><br />Projects in aerospace can be somewhat ephemeral. Especially small budget college research groups in a time of defense budget cuts. Even larger programs can and do get canceled, sometimes with little or no warning. Better get used to that, if this is supposed to be my field. I've never had a job vanish like that- I always quit on my terms, usually because I was moving or for school.<br /><br />All that time and effort I spent re-arranging my schedule and rides to fit in 20 hours of lab work? SUDDENLY FREE TIME. My classes are getting harder, so I should have more free time to study and do group work. Still, do I fill that free time with sleep, video games, and flex time for school (I picked up extra classes this semester, so that's helpful...)<br /><br />Or do I immediately look for another job? Not much at the airport now, and I don't really have transportation to get to a more normal job (cashier, waiter, etc.), even if I could find one and if they were flexible with my schedule. Last time I job searched, it was pretty bare bones (although, in a roundabout way, not having a job helped me have time to do well in school which led me to this job...)<br /><br />Is it too late/do I want to try and find a class to TA? I don't particularly like teaching. I would have to TA a full semester for credit before I could get paid at some point in the future.<br /><br />Those summer internships I applied/want to apply for? Here's hoping they pan out! Could/should/would I go back to summer conferences if not?<br /><br />I wasn't making a TON of money, and I'm not in danger of becoming homeless or anything, but it sure was nice contributing to the finances and being able to go out to eat and buy gifts and such without worrying. So here comes the money worry (again). I just want to be done with school so I can get a job and make real money, full time.<br /><br />I was getting a little burnt out at work from the work, and at the same time really starting to like my coworkers. Former problem solved, latter - well, at least I'll still see these guys around school.<br /><br />In the past months, I usually had not worked the full 20 hrs/week possible, usually because I was too tired, had too many classes or studying or exams or improv or places to be to really hit that mark. And I was okay with that, again, a little bit of burnout. Now...now I'm done. Do I regret not working those hours? Would that little bit of money made a difference? Am I going to need it later? Would I have learned something in those hours? Could I have done more?<br /><br />*headdesk*<br /><br />Can't imagine what my life would be like right now if I was single, working a real job, and suddenly had no job for reasons beyond my control. I would be a basket case. Whole lot more respect for people out there who have to deal with this kind of crap.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-12298925389875299532011-12-06T23:25:00.006-05:002011-12-06T23:29:16.549-05:00a little respect, and a fresh candleCurrent Mood: still laughing, seriously look at them<br /><br /><a href="http://laughingsquid.com/evolution-portrait-series-of-people-and-the-fish-they-look-like/">A series of fishes and the people who look like them.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/ted2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 776px;" src="http://laughingsquid.com/wp-content/uploads/ted2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I am dying over here, would you look at themRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-74778582530980989172011-11-26T23:30:00.003-05:002011-11-26T23:30:00.651-05:00BACK IN MY DAY...Current Mood: is it okay to get all reflective about college, when I'm still in it?<br /><br />The summer before my freshman year of college I got a form letter from Purdue letting me know who my first roommate would be. I didn't know the guy, he was randomly assigned from a pool of people that (from what I was told) matched my preferences on smoking, sleeping and study habits, stuff like that. I was so excited for school that I super geeked out and emailed the guy <span style="font-style: italic;">that day</span> to make sure we <span style="font-style: italic;">both</span> didn't bring a microwave, stuff like that. He seemed pretty laid back, and I was pretty optimistic.<br /><br />Sidebar: guy's name was Jason Lee, and it seemed like everybody *but* me assumed he was an asian guy. I never thought that until everybody started saying something. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Lee_%28actor%29">I guess I watch too many Kevin Smith films?</a><br /><br />At any rate, when I first met him he was this giant all-american wrestler from a rich suburb of Chicago. A lot of the first week of school we hung out and got to know each other, which was pretty cool.<br /><br />I only bring this up because I think if that happened now, I probably would've gone and found him on Facebook that day. I would've known what he looked like, what kind of music and movies and sports he liked, and we probably wouldn't have had anything to talk about that first week. How the times have changed...Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-71366491230737356642011-11-25T22:03:00.000-05:002011-11-25T22:03:00.937-05:00I can see the lightCurrent Mood: crankin' these out while I can<br /><br />I'm juuuuuuust about done with half of my "junior" year. Scratch that. I have 1 and a half years left before I (hopefully) finish my first undergrad Purdue degree and then I plan on being done with school. For good. Forever. Until I can convince a company to put me back in school and get an advanced degree :)<br /><br />Classes are going pretty well. My first few semesters were straight As, and now I've dropped in a few Bs. Still pretty good, though. And the classes are getting harder and I have work, so I'm not beating myself up too bad.<br /><br />I don't feel like the classes are fluff anymore, either. I'm starting to really get into the "meat" of the curriculum, and I feel like I already know 1000% more about airplane stuff than I did. Granted, I still have a ways to go, and I'll have to recall it all for my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_maintenance_technician#Applications_based_on_education">FAA A&P exam</a> at the end that costs like $600 and is a 5 day oral/written/practical...but more on that later.<br /><br />Because I had so much transfer credit from my previous life as an engineer:<br /><br />A) I am a super duper senior with a victory lap, so I get to schedule first, awesome<br />B) I'm super old and married and sometimes that's weird<br />C) I don't have to take any more than about 13 credit hours (12 being the minimum) from here on out*<br /><br />*so what do I do? I'm working, for one, plus I'm probably going to end up being a TA at some point, PLUS I've decided to sign up for an additional course on aviation fuels, another experimental course where I get to job shadow airplane mechanics at the nearby general aviation repair facility, and next year I might take Air Traffic Control classes...just because?<br /><br />I think I have more desire/interest in EVERYTHING about this major than any one thing. I'm not the best riveter or wrench turner, but by the time I'm done I'll have had a little bit of everything. Here's hoping I can translate that into some job, somewhere, for somebody? Ideally a big aero company like Boeing or Lockheed.<br /><br />This major is so much smaller than engineering, and everybody is so nice (nobody's graded on a curve, and I think that's part of it? Plus with work, I'm there ALL the time and see students and professors more than I would normally, methinks). And, strangely, the other day I felt a little strange thinking about how people will soon be graduating! Rabon, for instance, only has one more semester, geez. Where does the time go? Here I am, complaining about being so old and yet, everybody's supposed to stay the same? Ugh.<br /><br />I'm way more connected to my professors than I ever was in engineering. Again, probably partially because of work, but it's pretty cool when they say hi to me by name in the hallways. And I get to use work with my hands and rivet and weld and light stuff on fire in lab. So that's pretty cool too.<br /><br />For the most part, I'm pretty happy with my major switch. I just wish I had done it sooner...Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-31423119575128462952011-11-24T21:44:00.001-05:002011-11-24T21:44:00.833-05:00aaaand sceneCurrent Mood: call me butter, baby, I'm on a roll<br /><br />I always make myself guilty about not writing here more. So I get here and the only thing I can think of at the time is about what I've been doing. And the only way for me to avoid writing 800 pages is to break up tiny little sections of my life and write about those.<br /><br />Improv!<br /><br />So I'm done with the Ship of Fools, and I miss those idiots like crazy. I went from practicing Wednesday and Friday nights (7-9pm) with shows about twice a month to one or two shows a month with practice just before. Old group, everybody was a student who lived nearby, new group everybody is older with family and lives around the state. Old group, people missed a show and we all got worried - usually it was because of an exam. New group, people sometimes are free for some shows, but mostly it's a small core of locals with a rotating group of others. Not that that's better or worse, just different.<br /><br />Fools are about to do the holiday gift exchange - a tradition I started - for the first time without me. About ready to bring in the first new members since I've been gone. In six month's they'll do the first Awards Show without me, another thing I started. I'm happy for them, I really am. But boy howdy do I miss some of it.<br /><br />I went back for an Open Forum meeting/practice, and after 5 months it seems like everybody is new! I mean, sure, part of that is I stuck around <span style="font-style: italic;">way</span> longer than anybody else, but still...<br />Halloween party, where Jenny and I met? Older Fools were mostly nowhere to be seen, and I wonder if I was sort of the connection point between the old and the new?<br /><br />That would make sense. Renee went to Maryland to go to school and be with Paul. Andrew moved to China to teach. Eric's moving to Indy. Stu moved to North Carolina. Taylor moved out of my apartment. Gavin/Becky are still on Co-Op, so I hardly see/saw them anyway. Brant is working strange hours/raising a baby! Not improv, but other Andrew moved to TEXAS to get his PHD in AEROSPACE ENGINEERING - he's going to be a friggin' Doctor of Rocket Science, how cool is that? Still, I feel like I'm hemorrhaging friends. I miss them, even though we didn't hang out all the time.<br /><br />Improv! Focus. Anyway, it seems like the group will be okay, at least for now, since I've left, and above all that's what I wanted. Some interesting group dynamics developed but it sounds like they've worked out their problems. Steven told me he finally understood my intense passion for finding new blood, because you roll up and join the group and then before you know it you're a seasoned vet, ready to graduate, and wonder what happened. And that's even though I stayed for like, 7 years.<br /><br />My sendoff was epic, and I really am happy for every second I was with that group. And my new group is great too, but I think I'm still finding my place with them. I went from respected elder to just...a performer. And in some ways, that's nice, because I don't have to arrange shows or handle conflicts or worry about money or advertising. I just show up, make with the funny, and make a few bucks. Which, admittedly, is sweet.<br /><br />Would I ever do improv for a living? Probably not. I wouldn't want my hobby to become a job, and I doubt I could do it at that level, anyway. But when I leave Purdue, I think I'll be searching for some kind of outlet - whether that's improv or stand up or even some sort of podcast or webshow. I've had too much fun to quit now.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-85152322412105411652011-11-23T20:54:00.005-05:002011-11-23T21:43:12.831-05:00worky work and the funky bunchCurrent Mood: *headdesk*<br /><br />Trying to take a bite out of the backlog of "one post a month" goal...<br /><br />In just a few short weeks I'll have been at my research assistant job 1 full year. Yay! No more "rookie".<br /><br />Things are a bit different than what I expected. When I first started I was pretty worthless, mostly cleaning the lab and doing gruntwork for the upperclassmen that already worked there. I tried to find ways to be useful, but scheduling problems and lack of access (seemed like I was the only one who didn't have a lab key?) made progress very difficult. I felt a little bit like a loner, to be honest.<br /><br />Then after gritting things out for a semester, it seems like everything changed. I didn't apply for a University Residences job (breaking a 5 year streak) and instead worked full time at the lab for the summer. Most of the older students left, and three new guys (my age, sort of) joined. I knew them a bit from class, but I wasn't that close to any of them.<br /><br />Summertime, we busted our asses. We gutted the lab next door, cleaned and re-tiled it, moved equipment, and painted everything. Got some funding for new machines and got some donations/expert advice from a company in Indy that does composites. Made a ton of projects and some of them were great, others crashed and burned. Working there M-F 9-5 was a different beast - much more productive but very tiring. Got to know my coworkers a lot better - we all get along quite well and don't have problems like the previous employees did, apparently (I heard there was a girl involved, and things got messy...).<br /><br />From the way Professor S. talked about things when I was hired, I thought I might be doing some engineering type things, working on papers and equations. Reality? Not so much. I pretty much do the same things as everybody else, and I guess that's okay, I don't know that I would really be qualified to do composites engineering stuff right now anyway. Sometimes I get a little hesitant at work because we change what we are doing so frequently, it's hard for me to get used to a routine. Our projects are very iterative, but with small changes, and sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of it all.<br /><br />Because of my class schedule I don't work as much as my supervisor and Professor S would like, and sometimes I can't tell if they're just joking with me or not about a lot of things. Also I missed the chance to TA for our composites class (the very class I took last fall that led to me getting this job), though I may be a part of an Advanced Composites class in the works next year?<br /><br />At any rate, most of projects are progressing pretty well. I like my teammates a bunch, even though they're much different than me (totally guy's guys, waaay different music [dubstep??], things like that). There was talk of trying to patent one of our projects, but the fervor of that seems to have died down...<br /><br />Anyway, unless something majorly unexpected happens, I should have this job next semester as well. Beyond that, well, I'd love to have an internship, something different for the summer. I'll be applying to a few places, but if not, I'll try to work there again in the summer. I don't know that composites are what I want to do for the rest of my life, but it's a big area of development for aviation so I know it'll be great for my resume when I graduate. Also I think my mechanical/shop skills have improved simply by being there, which is good too.<br /><br />I am getting pretty worn down some days, though. Between class and work I'm at school pretty much from 8am to about 6 or 7pm most days, sometimes longer. I feel like I live at the airport! Now I have a bit of spending money, but the apartment is a mess and I don't have the free time I would like to relax at home. Good thing I retired from the Ship of Fools, eh?<br /><br />Not a very coherent post, but for anybody trying to keep up with my life maybe that's something.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-34268203746203146662011-06-26T19:36:00.004-04:002011-06-26T20:01:20.840-04:00start with the corners, then fill out the borderCurrent Mood: waiting/anticipating<br /><br />What a whirlwind week it has been. Well, weekend, really.<br /><br />First off, the big news - after weeks and weeks of applications, applications, scanning and writing, more applications, and a few interviews, Jenny was offered a job on Friday. She will be teaching 2nd grade in her own classroom at a school here in town. That is pretty much the very best case scenario that either of us could have hoped for- no co-teaching, not on the other side of the state, not even moving grade levels. She likes the principal, they have a Science Club, and did I mention it is seriously close? Closer than her current school. I know she will kick ass there and I'm not an especially sunny optimistic guy but I have to believe that the two years she has spent at her old school has helped her prepare for her first year on her own. It'll probably be tough in the fall, with lots of extra time spent at the school, but we got through student teaching okay so I think we'll be okay. This school does not have the extra school hour her old one did, and it's in a different district - old school was high poverty, high mobility and lots of intervention... new school is likely to be overeager parents and professor's children, so I think things are about to be flipped upside down.<br /><br />Many many thanks go to everybody who helped Jenny look for job openings everywhere, and I can't believe how awesome her old bio professor has been going to bat for her with the local administrators.<br /><br />ANYWAY. Now that Jenny has a job and it's in town, we are green lights for finding a new place to live. We have to be out of current apartment in 25 days, so looking for a new place ASAP. So we're moving, losing a roommate, and moving some of Jenny's teaching things to her new room.<br /><br />Wedding stuff is getting crazy. Yesterday was 4 weeks until wedding and we still have a checklist of just about 95 things to do. Take a day off work to go to the courthouse and apply for a license. Get rings, tuxes. Finalize rehearsal dinner plans. Pick songs to get to DJ. And so on. If you've been married recently, you probably know *exactly* what I'm talking about. I'm sure we'll get it all done, but geez. I'm not nervous to get married, but I'm hoping everything goes well the actual day of the wedding. WEDDING WEDDING WEDDING. Feels like that's all I talk about sometime.<br /><br />We were so worried about job stuff that we'd put off really doing stuff like getting the a/c fixed in our shared car, or planning a honeymoon, so that stuff is back on now. Y'know, like we don't have enough going on...<br /><br />This weekend Jenny's family threw us a cookout/bridal shower. I guess co-ed showers are becoming the norm these days but it was really great - she has a giant family and they all pitched in to get us some really nice things. My mom and grandma were the only ones who could make it, so I felt like my family was a little under-represented. But I guess in 4 weeks it will also be my family too, right?<br /><br />Job stuff has settled down somewhat, which is good. I feel like I'm kinda getting into a groove, getting used to the hours and the tempo and stuff. I don't know that I've made any world-changing discoveries (yet) but I think I'm pretty consistently working through the assignments and projects my boss gives me. It's very different than working there in the summer - during the spring I was trying to grab a few hours here and there and it felt like it was hard to get anything done. Now, I have 8 hours in a row plus 4 other guys there so it's much more productive. We goof off a little bit and Fridays are mostly clean-up days, but I get along pretty okay with the other dudes. I'm pretty sure I will keep working there in the fall.<br /><br />Super ready for football to start back up again. I hope the CBA talks continue in time for the offseason to get back on track.<br />Pretty ready for school to start in the fall, too. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 4 more semesters. 2 years. Gonna try to find an internship for next summer, too. Building my resume up so that hopefully when I'm all done here somebody will look at me and say "that's the guy I want to design/invent/maintain/repair my airplane/rocket/spaceship". Or something like that...Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-17823687994080418122011-05-29T10:26:00.005-04:002011-05-29T11:04:52.210-04:00welcome to the rest of your lifeCurrent Mood:<br /><br />I like to think I'm a pretty mature guy, pretty grown up in my actions and deeds. But the truth remains that many days I still feel like a kid. I get the feeling that might change this summer though.<br /><br />Tomorrow's my 25th birthday. Now, around my mid teens my birthday started to feel like much ado about nothing, in that the day itself didn't mark any sort of significant change in my life. I never felt any older than the day before. Other than the big milestones (18, 21) nothing *really* changed and even when it did, I rarely took notice. I didn't go out on my 21st (not that I'm complaining - I just don't care that much about alcohol I guess). And tomorrow's not much different, but I'm now halfway through my 20s, and that marks me as a quarter century old. That <span style="font-style: italic;">feels</span> pretty old to me. Not OLD old, but certainly not a kid anymore, right?<br /><br />I'm about to start my 8th year of college. UGH. I'm getting "Adult Continuing Education Plans" emails in my inbox instead of "Beware the dangers of drinking". I don't stay out late and today - A Saturday of a Three Day Weekend - I got up before 8 am, voluntarily. I try to eat better and sleep regularly. Just about everybody I started school with in 2004 is graduated, dropped out, gone to grad school, has a Real Job, and/or has a family - something different than perpetual undergraddom like me.<br /><br />I'm getting <span style="font-style: italic;">married</span> in a little less than 2 months. That's a grown up thing, right? I've been with Jenny for five and half years, so long that the idea of getting married doesn't really seem like that big of a change (which is something I like, means I'm not freaking out or worried about it). We're just gonna keep on doin' our thing after tying the knot, I imagine. Still the same people you guys like, I hope. If I completely change and become a different person that sucks, tell me please? Most of the wedding details have been settled but we have more work to do... just about every weekend from now until then is booked with some kind of wedding thing so I have my summer pretty well planned out.<br /><br />Last summer I "worked" "40 hours" at a "full time position" but to be honest I was in a salaried position and got my work done just fine by being in the office from about 1-4pm. I wasn't slacking, but it wasn't a very demanding job. It was pretty rad. Now? Now I WORK forty hours, Monday-Friday from 8-5 at the Composites Lab. Like clockwork. And it is exhausting. I'm not trying to say I have the worst job or anything (far from it) but I don't know how people work 60,70, or 80 hour workweeks without going crazy.<br /><br />All in all, baby steps, methinks. But I get the sneaking suspicion this is a turning point in my life, and I may look back on this summer as a blurry jumbled "line" dividing something resembling adolescence/early adulthood with the next vague and uncertain stage of life (adulthood? mid-life?).<br /><br />*Edit* ^ugh. that sounded really dumb, didn't it?Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-63404394322886818752011-05-29T08:51:00.004-04:002011-05-29T10:25:59.489-04:00A Photo Essay on Cincy's Baseball MascotsCurrent Mood: Santa<br /><br />Let's go ahead and get this out of the way. I get a big kick out of good SportsCenter commercials (e.g. most of them), I really like the Cincinnati Reds, and I *love* Mr. Redlegs and his crazy laudanum eyes.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oc_N0kFFq0M" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />and for the record - in the era I grew up in, Mr. Redlegs looked like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyidHt1abdMKTiq8LSONNlo0O1KZIqpvd7uB6cafBuIero6uqiGy7wA8M8nXd_twXLUqht90OH6zrwTYRrIG2y8DXykZTKGK1XRffEXgd7dD0wWCc-cZEzLDNkqd5o1RB3_AQ3/s1600/mr+redlegs.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyidHt1abdMKTiq8LSONNlo0O1KZIqpvd7uB6cafBuIero6uqiGy7wA8M8nXd_twXLUqht90OH6zrwTYRrIG2y8DXykZTKGK1XRffEXgd7dD0wWCc-cZEzLDNkqd5o1RB3_AQ3/s320/mr+redlegs.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612143636438473858" /></a><br /><br />but I recognize the one true original Mr. Redlegs<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_5N5gBv_R7iV0bdGcngnSg2zXwnCaU3WGgVCCprswJd6LHz4LMvOQDKBDQTkRz_M72WiVZdSzoDmH_nmYTYrOjKrC_ri3zIhmnWA9mMCmRYrmfBu2Shyphenhyphen3V4-onsmHtil4GBK/s1600/mr-red-legs.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_5N5gBv_R7iV0bdGcngnSg2zXwnCaU3WGgVCCprswJd6LHz4LMvOQDKBDQTkRz_M72WiVZdSzoDmH_nmYTYrOjKrC_ri3zIhmnWA9mMCmRYrmfBu2Shyphenhyphen3V4-onsmHtil4GBK/s320/mr-red-legs.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612143797225363202" /></a><br /><br />and know in my heart of hearts he's destined to forever be with Rosie Redlegs<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfj6ZxB-fmhkZeJ4Zpx324Sjp46l98gB9zlzchH28WqSkrxK2JVA9EYpVge-Ms1aDrxtivLza1JwvnWJQco2hgu1n4NTobwu-ZyMUFTslo9Wo0DzrDoFk8CoW7o8ztxNRHc6iQ/s1600/09redlegs%2526rosie.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfj6ZxB-fmhkZeJ4Zpx324Sjp46l98gB9zlzchH28WqSkrxK2JVA9EYpVge-Ms1aDrxtivLza1JwvnWJQco2hgu1n4NTobwu-ZyMUFTslo9Wo0DzrDoFk8CoW7o8ztxNRHc6iQ/s320/09redlegs%2526rosie.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612143914317292258" /></a><br /><br />just like Mickey and Minnie Mouse were made for each other.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2qAvFALJcvypdo3wM9tNorYAZRvGvmv2VYjbvarw6bvyS2jiWlyrZKzgCKFaqqzrHbyZOCjfjmS1kXITqz9eIY1QHPyLGF9dOsoZyW9cNr4jPiGjeGNeySZpHPfCpmNrTXug/s1600/gapper2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2qAvFALJcvypdo3wM9tNorYAZRvGvmv2VYjbvarw6bvyS2jiWlyrZKzgCKFaqqzrHbyZOCjfjmS1kXITqz9eIY1QHPyLGF9dOsoZyW9cNr4jPiGjeGNeySZpHPfCpmNrTXug/s320/gapper2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612144064085834962" /></a><br /><br />Gapper? He can get the hell out of my city.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-28579033310391605142011-03-11T11:11:00.003-05:002011-03-11T11:23:53.861-05:00shelter from the stormCurrent Mood: made it to Spring Break!<br /><br />Not all is doom and gloom in the land of Ryan, despite the tone of the previous posts. <br /><br />I just spoke with Professor S, and he was remarkably okay with my most recent time card being significantly deficient in hours. Almost as if he runs a lab full of student workers who regularly experience exams and projects right around spring break? So that eases some of my immediate concerns.<br /><br />And I didn't even write anything about how excited I am for next semester. I will be married by then, so all the craziness of that will be done. I'll have much more experience at work, so I'm hoping things there will be relatively smooth sailing in the fall as well. Especially if things (namely funding) pan out for me to work in the composites lab in the summer as an internship from the higher up funding/govt. think tank that sponsors some of our projects - that would be great! It would be my first summer since 2005 I would not be working for University Residences (in fact I already applied but turned down an SA Billing spot with them last week - time to take the plunge!).<br /><br />But maybe the most exciting thing is that I'll drop from 18 credit hours (currently) to 12. From 5 labs (currently) to 3. That means less 12 hour days, more time to fit work in without working super late most nights and weekends. Plus I think I've finally decided to retire officially from the Ship of Fools/Purdue Improv Club, which will free up a significant amount of time (though I expect some of that to be filled up again with improv if I follow through on my plan to join One Size Fits All). <br /><br />So, the big stuff like where I'm going to live and how I'm going to pay for school and bills remain unanswered, but I should be less busy!Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-89913464720679786792011-03-06T04:04:00.001-05:002011-03-06T09:05:49.438-05:00what makes you think this would be any different?Current Mood: aggravated<br /><br />Still can't sleep, so I'll start this one too.<br /><br />So my classes are pretty crazy. But that's only half the story. My boss wants me to work 20 hours a week and I don't know if I can do it. I get to school every morning at 7:30am and I try to go to work between classes and then after classes but I get so fed up or frustrated or tired or hungry that I usually can't make it past 6pm or so.<br /><br />Still, I usually end up needing to work on the weekends to get to 20 hours. And I'm rapidly running short on time to study for tests, to make up classes (occasionally I have missed classes for a funeral, sickness, etc. - normal life stuff). I don't want to let my professor down - he did <span style="font-style: italic;">hand pick me</span> for this position, but my god, how does anybody do this?<br /><br />Mentally, I'm spent. I was spoiled last semester, I had all sorts of time to come home and just relax and dick around on the internet and decompress, read comics and watch Modern Marvels and clean up the apartment until my neurotic brain was appeased. I knew it was a little excessive, but now I've had to cut so much of that crap out just to stay on top of it and I still can't let go some days that I'm not caught up on reading every post from some website.<br /><br />I've always had that problem, trying to make sure I've checked and read and understood and explored every nuance of a site or magazine or whatever is in front of me. Probably helps explain my capacity for details but seriously, when you're worried that you're missing out on some Facebook updates, does that mean it's time to ask for help?<br /><br />Anyway, work is physically draining, too. I carry heavy things, I have to use all my weight to close or open certain latches, and some of the rolls of material take every bit of arm extension and muscle to cut through. I sweep and mop, take out trash, move things, lift things, and some days it's friggin' hot in there. I'm losing weight (probably doesn't hurt that my schedule seriously has cut down on the time I have to eat, no joke) at a noticeable pace.<br /><br />Ironically, being exhausted from a 12 hour day actually does help me get to sleep, sometimes! But I still have sleep issues. If I don't get to sleep (not get to bed, actually get to <span style="font-style: italic;">sleep</span>) by like, 10:30pm, I can barely get out of bed. I'm amazed I haven't fallen asleep in class yet. I dread any day I don't have Mt. Dew because I feel like I need it to get going.<br /><br />But I haven't really said anything about work yet.<br /><br />I'm the new guy, the Rookie, so I get teased a little bit and get assigned to do a few undesirable things like cleaning and copying things. But it's not that bad, and I generally try to do it with a smile because honestly I'm glad to have this job, I really am. I didn't even apply for it! Don't tell my boss, but I would probably be doing this for less for the experience.<br /><br />But I'm older than most everybody there. And I don't act like a hot shot know it all, so a lot of times they continue to haze the previous "new guy", which is somewhat amusing to me. I spent the first few weeks shadowing everybody, getting to know how to operate a lot of the machines in lab and getting to know certain procedures.<br /><br />After a time I got assigned my first project, with is a legit science assignment. I am doing research. Without getting too technical, we have a process to make composite panels. My job was/is to build a device to purify the liquid resin we put in with vacuum pressure, then run a series of layups to see if the panels have less air pockets in them. If it works, this would be a way to increase the strength and decrease the defects in the repairs we make. Maybe it sounds boring, but I think it is super cool. And it's <span style="font-style: italic;">*my*</span> project, warts and all. And just the other day the professor wanted me to start designing and modeling a new inlet port.<br /><br />He said maybe I could get a patent. And a coworker said some of my research could be published in a journal - somebody last year got to fly to Paris on the University's dime to present a paper.<br /><br />How fucking cool is that?<br /><br />I don't know if I will get that far - there's been some budget rumors floating around (great, <span style="font-style: italic;">another</span> job in jeopardy, like there hasn't been enough of that going around lately). Try not to get my hopes up, but it shows how much potential there is where I'm working, which is definitely a good thing.<br /><br />For now I will keep trying to stay positive, stay on top of my hours. My prof. said he thought I had a different skill set than some of the other guys in the lab, that he thought I had great potential and could do some special things for the program. I can't tell you how much that helps to hear, but now I just have to make sure I live up to the hype.<br /><br />I think my goal when I started typing was to type and put words onto screen until I was too exhausted to stay awake. That was probably a dumb idea.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233777.post-58613277933967417772011-03-06T02:07:00.000-05:002011-03-06T02:07:00.731-05:00he's still right, folksCurrent Mood: blech<br /><br />Work is exhausting. Actually, let me back up. This <span style="font-style: italic;">semester</span> is exhausting. I'm taking 18 credit hours. Minimum full time is 12 credit hours, and I think I only ever had 1 other semester that was this many. I don't remember which one, though, all my semesters are seriously blurring together because I have been in school a long time at this point.<br /><br />I have 5 classes, and each one has a 3 hour lab (one is 4, actually). Every day of the week. I've never had this many labs and it's grueling. To be fair, I don't actually have as much homework in the typical sense, and unlike some classes I have taken the lecture material and the lab work match up pretty well most of the time. We talk about timing magnetos, then we time magnetos, for example.<br /><br />The level of hands on-itude in this major is blowing my mind. There is a very good chance by the time I am done here that I will get my A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) Certificate, meaning I am qualified by the FAA to repair and inspect airplanes and their engines. Not what I want to do for a career, but that's still pretty great. And it is a ton of practical knowledge for anybody in my field, knowledge that I'm honestly surprised is not required for engineers (my former major), even though there's a part of my brain that is telling me that's just a cop out justification for my switch to an easier program.<br /><br />Well, maybe academically easier. I feel like my math skills are starting to atrophy from lack of use. There's just not much theory going on, which is what I was told going in but seeing it day to day is somewhat shocking from the viewpoint of where I was. Every component we need to look at and touch, install, take apart, repair, test, and reinstall. Some of it is very difficult just from a motor skill perspective. I have never welded, never soldered, never riveted before. Some of it feels almost...outdated? But despite what you may hear about sexy composite structures, there are aluminum aircraft flying today that are 40, 50 years old with plans to be in service another 30 years. So this is relevant knowledge.<br /><br />Some days I am stunned by how long we spend on a subject. Something that would be assigned as light, almost trivial reading for homework in engineering is explained over and over in technology. They hold our hands like and avoid the <span style="font-style: italic;">word</span> "formula" if they can.<br /><br />Other days I'm bowled over by the brevity. Professors will mention some aspect of an airplane, or how something works, and we get the cliffs notes version, when in engineering that entire theory, concept, whatever was an entire month's worth of work. And I'm left there with my mouth hanging open, wondering when we're going to get an assload of problems working out the enthalpy of a closed system carnot cycle efficiency heat engine with a partial properties chart. Nope! Just point to the right colored box on the diagram!<br /><br />I'm doing pretty well, and it feels <span style="font-style: italic;">great</span> to be "smart" again. My counselor was gushing over my grades last semester. It made me feel smart. And at the same time, not? Does that make sense? Or one of my professors will make a comment about "those engineers". "Those engineers don't understand that we need X" or "Those engineers won't bother to check for Y". I cringe on the inside. <span style="font-style: italic;">I was one of them. I was set to be one of them. And I still wish I was, until I think about my 301 final and how badly I cried when I realized I couldn't understand the first problem after an entire semester of trying.</span><br /><br />I've taken flight lessons, but I'm not a pilot. I've taken engineering classes, but I'm not an engineer. I'm in a technology program, but I don't think of myself as a technician. I do research but I'm not a scientist. I'm not a mechanic, or a manager, or a salesman. I'm a little bit of everything and some days I wonder where I fit in. Or where I will fit in.<br /><br />Now they're redesigning the AET curriculum, and I'm hearing rumors it's trying to be molded to more of a core curriculum for the rest of the campus, the A&P will become optional, it's going to be more engineering minded, whatever. I don't know. I want to be done, I want to get my degree, get my certifications, and get a job. Get money and fix some of the crap I have going on. I don't want to worry that the class I'm in will be the last of it's kind and if I fail it won't be available again.<br /><br />I hate that I'm somewhat desensitized to failing a class. I couldn't fathom that until I got to college. Now, it's still an awful thought, but it's happened so many times it just leaves me with a numb feeling. Engineering has really screwed me up.<br /><br />Gosh this is a clusterfuck of thoughts pouring out.<br /><br />I do like my major, I really do. It's super cool when I get to the airport in the morning and the runway lights are on. The other day an F-18 landed 50 feet from where I go to work. I inspect and service actual aircraft engines. I'm doing very well and I'm in such a better position than I ever was in engineering. I just still have so many semesters left, and this routine is starting to grind me down. A week until spring break and I am exhausted.<br /><br />Here's a good analogy: I feel like I'm an athlete that couldn't cut it at a big school and transferred to a junior college. Now I'm doing better, but I wonder if I can make it to the pros?<br /><br />I'll get to my thoughts about work soon enough, this is enough for now. I just can't sleep and I figured typing this is better than nothing.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01100214534271300219noreply@blogger.com5