Needing Some Order

I'm sitting here in my apartment reflecting on the day, wasting time on Facebook, listening to iTunes, and waiting for the next load of laundry to get done.  As my thoughts are gathering a couple things become clear: 1) I haven't devoted time in a long while to writing forecasts and 2) I've consistently stayed up later than 3 am which usually leaves me waking up after 10 or 11 am.

Okay, now the first justification that comes to mind is that I don't have any plans on any given day.  I'm not sure I can accept this as an excuse anymore.  I know there's a lot more I can do with my time.  Afterall, there is that trilogy I've been working on.  Thus it's time to formulate a plan.  A real doable plan for every day that I can do that is within my skill set.  So here goes.

I want to set myself a goal of spending my mornings writing forecasts.  I've had a blog for some time that I've used for meteorological purposes and in the past has filled empty hours and I have to say that I've begun improving my forecasting skill.  Nonetheless, I think now is the time to start posting weather forecasts on a more frequent basis.  Must also note too that this past week has been busy with chasing storms around Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa and this has also prompted me to start thinking about publishing forecasts online again.

I'm thinking this is a good place as any to start feeding my recent craving to begin ordering my day.  So we'll see how it goes.  So I guess come Monday morning I'm going to get my feet wet again in forecasting and spend the rest of the day checking up on job applications and writing.  Of course I may have plans with a friend, but if I don't have plans then I'll try to make myself busy until late afternoon/early evening.

Taking Up Writing Again

Okay, so some of you may already know I've had a futuristic/science fiction trilogy in the works for some time.  After over a year of writers block (mainly due to focusing on school) I think I'm ready to start writing again.  This comes after being asked to co-write a couple of projects with a couple of friends.  Lately I've been intuiting a flow of creativity and I might as well ride the wave as long as possible.

In other news, for the past several weeks, if not months I've been reacquainting myself with two of my favorite TV programs.  That's right I've been going on Cheers and Frasier binges.  So far favorite episodes are "Abnormal Psychology" and "Dinner At Eight-ish" (Cheers season 5 episodes 4 and 20 respectively) and "Adventures in Paradise" (Frasier season 2 episodes 8 and 9).  I will just say that if you're looking to laugh for hours to the point of hyperventilating both Cheers and Frasier will not fail to satisfy.

I guess that's all that's happening at the moment, besides the realization that I'm turning 29 in a month.

My Godfather, Two Years Later

I can't believe I'm finally writing a post about this but, here goes!

Two years ago today, I lost my Godfather to cancer.  It was sudden and shocking and sometimes the events of that 10th day of April two years ago seem to come and go in a flash, and yet so vivid.  There was my Godfather, a man I was hoping to invite to a wedding, a graduation, to the Baptism of whatever children I have in the future.  Gone.  Today though my thoughts are on the good times both him and I shared.  So I guess here is my eulogy and final goodbye, and hope to one day spend some quality time with him.

Earlier in life my Godfather used to skip school.  He'd walk down the street and would wait for my grandmother to leave the house, where he'd spend the day slacking off.  He was always good about leaving the house and locking the door before my grandmother would return home and would return "from school" at the usual time.  One day my grandmother, while reading the paper, asked him why he didn't go to school that day.  My Godfather asked how she knew this to which she replied, "You left the toilet seat up."

As a Marine during the Vietnam War my Godfather sketched scenes from the country.  Later he would turn this into a career as and artist!

When I received my Holy Baptism in the Roman Catholic Church on July 27, 1984 my Godfather was there.  He came dressed in a black pin striped suit.  When people asked him who he was he simply replied, "I'm the Godfather."  His sense of humor and wit would very much rub off on me over the years as I grew.

Ten years later at my brother's wedding, my Godfather and I walked around the reception hall sucking in helium, raising our voices several pitches.  My mother was not thrilled to say the least, but hey like Godfather like Godson right?

Summers were spent at our family's campsite where every now and then I would spend time fishing with him.  My Godfather would show me everything he knew, and even the best places to fish.  Of course there would also be pep talks where he would impart to me his wisdom.

In 2009 a friend and I journeyed to Chicago for the day and found ourselves at this really awesome sushi place on Michigan Avenue.  As I walk in the door I noticed a familiar looking man seated, enjoying his lunch.  It was my Godfather!  Oh what a happy reunion after not visiting him for some years!  Of course I had to brag to my sister and dad that I ran into him.  Think of it... of all the hundreds of thousands of people in Chicago I run into a relative!  So cool.

The next year I was on retreat and took up lodging with my Godfather for the duration of the weekend.  After the events of the retreat were over he and I would sit and he'd crack open his favorite tequila and I would sip scotch (never much of a tequila lover myself) and just like old times he'd impart his wisdom.  I remember fondly the words he spoke to me that weekend.  "It takes real courage at the end of the day to look back and say honestly, 'Yeah I did that.' 'Yeah I should've done that better.' 'No I'm not perfect.'"  Real words I live by every day.

Goodbye Uncle Mike.  While I will miss your words of wisdom, what you have imparted to me I will carry and pass on.  I will miss greatly sitting and talking with you about anything and nothing all the while sipping scotch and you sipping tequila.  While words cannot describe how much you are missed by all, let me at least say thank you.  Thank you for everything.  I hope to make you proud one day by following your example of pursuing my dreams and persevering until all is accomplished.  Take heart however, I'm okay.  I thank God that your battle with cancer is over, and for you there is no more suffering.

Joyeux Noel!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

XKCD Accurately Describes My Life

This is pretty much my life at the moment!

Source: https://www.xkcd.com/844/

Weekend Away From Campus

I will be taking a break from studying this weekend to visit family, and maybe a few friends.  I will be supporting my brother-in-law and sister, both very active in the deaf community, by attending one of their events.  Other things that will be getting done (not homework!) are getting some office supplies for school, oil change for the Honda, and celebrating the birthdays of both of my nieces birthdays.  So happy birthday to my nieces Emily and Hannah!

I will also be able to spend time with my goddaughter, which because I'm away at school I don't have many opportunities to visit.  It'll be good to see how much she's grown in the last year and I'm sure she'll look forward to seeing her godfather.

So this weekend is already turning out to be a relaxing weekend with the family.  Hopefully I'll return to campus rested and ready to tackle the end of the summer term!  It's the home stretch and I'm ready to dominate!

Apartment Plans?

Alright well... since about February this year (technically since March 2011) some friends and I have thought about leaving dorm life behind and getting an apartment together.  This would mean the ultimate freedom.  Being able to cook our own meals, have our own beds and furniture, have parties without limitation on how many guests we can have, and really more fully independent would be nice.

There have been ups and downs along the way, but it looks like slowly and surely we're all sort of piecing together what needs to be done and deciding on where to live.  There'll be a lot to do once a place is decided on, and some funds to move around of course, and arranging our schedules to make sure transitioning to our own place will go as smoothly as possible.

It may seem a little late in the game of course however there is assurance that there are still apartments available.  The main thing at this point is staying focused and on top of what we need to do to assure our independence.

So hopefully this next school year we'll be able to say "come hang out at our place" without having to add, "meet downstairs in the lobby so I can sign you in."  Best part will be not being tied to a meal plan and being able to eat what we know we'll eat.  Of course where we live will be a place of study!  But hey, you must have fun once in a while.

Solar Eclipse 2012

On May 20 I got off work and couldn't have been more excited.  Why?  Cause there was a SOLAR ECLIPSE!!!  I admit I do get a little psyched up over stuff that most people probably don't pay attention to, but I did manage to snag a photo of the solar eclipse as the sun set.  So anyway, here's the solar eclipse...

So How Is The Semester Going?

With final exams coming up on May 12 the semester is coming to its end.  It's been a very fast paced semester.  Papers and projects are coming due in the next few weeks and so far I'm thinking I'm going to pull off at least a 3.0 GPA for the semester.  I'm very excited for the semester to be over, because I must admit I need a few weeks off.

Unfortunately my research project, and mainly school in general has kept me away from the blogging world.  The blogs that I normally try to contribute to on a regular basis are suffering to the point where I'm contemplating shutting them down.  Never thought I'd say that!  Needless to say I'm also working a side project designing a website to post all of those fancy pictures of tornadoes.  I guess the only thing holding me back from that (besides school) is motivation and restraint.

I'm restraining posting my storm chases and accompanying data because as of now my data really isn't that reliable because I still haven't figured out the best interval for taking data.  I currently rely on an informal method of setting up scientific instrumentation and manually writing down data in intervals of 5 minutes, unless conditions dictate otherwise.  So until I nail down a few "standard operations" I will not be relying on data that I collect, but will mention interesting data as cases arise.  Any website that ends up becoming published will be more of a documentation of weather events with some commentary.

Until next time, stay tuned to my Twitter and Google+!

Spring Break is Almost Here

Next Friday I start spring break.  What a relief!  I finally get a vacation from the drudgery that has become the two weeks leading up to spring break.  I have this on my to do list prior to spring break:

1. 2 quizzes


2. 3 midterm exams


3. 1 paper


4. More reading on my research project (12 sources so far and growing!)


5. Begin formulating my project outline and bibliography


6. Complete my tax return


7. Make an appointment for an oil change


8. Finalize plans for spring break


9. Laundry


10. Read another chapter in Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel

So the next week is already going to be busy!  I enjoy it though.  Granted, yes it's not easy, but with any luck this semester, which is already flying by quickly, will end on a very positive note.  So far I've been managing A's and a couple of B's so I can conclude that I'm doing alright going into midterms.  Just have to keep going.  It's been a lot of work so far, but in the end it's worth every minute of study I've put into all of my classes.

Stay tuned to my Twitter @enderscousin for updates over spring break!