![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
A'ight. Fred tagged me a while back, and I'm super-bored, so here goes.
( some questions and some answers )
( some questions and some answers )
This Weekend.
Apr. 8th, 2008 01:40 pmDetour was good. I enjoyed myself. Avoiding the crowded places helps. My wonderful roommate helped me get my costume finished on time. There will be pictures when other roommate gets them off his camcorder.
Of to class!
Of to class!
New curtains.
Jan. 2nd, 2008 04:21 pmYesterday, Immediate Future Roommate Andrea and I made curtains for the living room to try out my new sewing machine. They turned out relatively well.
I also broke my first needle. On my finger. Ow.
It looks like it poked me twice, once trough the nail, and once into the pad. (This could also have been caused by going all the way through, but for various reasons, I do not believe this to be the case. Unless my assumptions about complete piercing causing more damage than actually occurred are incorrect, in which case, maybe it did go all the way through.)
In any case, I think Immediate Future Roommates were more worried about it than I was. I just turned the machine off for a while (injury being a pretty good indicator that one needs a break), played some picross, then changed the needle and finished the curtains.
In a month or two, my fingernail should grow out to the point where it no longer appears injured, and the puncture wounds and bruise should be healed long before then. From now on, though, I will be much more careful about where my hands are when sewing.
I also broke my first needle. On my finger. Ow.
It looks like it poked me twice, once trough the nail, and once into the pad. (This could also have been caused by going all the way through, but for various reasons, I do not believe this to be the case. Unless my assumptions about complete piercing causing more damage than actually occurred are incorrect, in which case, maybe it did go all the way through.)
In any case, I think Immediate Future Roommates were more worried about it than I was. I just turned the machine off for a while (injury being a pretty good indicator that one needs a break), played some picross, then changed the needle and finished the curtains.
In a month or two, my fingernail should grow out to the point where it no longer appears injured, and the puncture wounds and bruise should be healed long before then. From now on, though, I will be much more careful about where my hands are when sewing.
Cookie time.
Dec. 29th, 2007 02:50 pmNow that I am back, and can't move out because of people being slow, I have little to do besides make cookies. I think I will make sugar cookies with windows made of hard candy. Yay! I get to smash things! They are going to people as a thank you for letting George park in front of their house. Though maybe I should make some extra for myself.
(no subject)
Dec. 15th, 2007 12:32 amFrozen pomegranate pips are delightful.
Also, damn do I need this semester break. I've been way too high-strung and stressed out lately.
Also, damn do I need this semester break. I've been way too high-strung and stressed out lately.
Damn You IEEE
Nov. 30th, 2007 06:13 pmSo. IEEE decided that membership renewal is to be done entirely via Internets this year. And as a "courtesy" to members who didn't feel like making web accounts (i.e. me), they made everyone who didn't have one before sometime in June temporary accounts. And then they mailed the information via USPS to said members.
Now, most of these members probably weren't expecting web account information to show up randomly in their post boxes in September, and probably threw it away (like I'm sure I must have, since I can't find it).
The problem with these temporary accounts is that they don't have security questions, the answers to which are required to retrieve *either* username or password. So here we all are, with random usernames and random passwords and no way to get at them. And we can't *make* a web account because "one already exists for this membership number". Yeah, well fuck you, too. At least we can change our usernames once we're logged in.
Sometimes engineers fail at common sense.
Ah, well. I filled out a form telling them I need this information, so maybe I'll be able to pay my dues sometime in the next month.
Now, most of these members probably weren't expecting web account information to show up randomly in their post boxes in September, and probably threw it away (like I'm sure I must have, since I can't find it).
The problem with these temporary accounts is that they don't have security questions, the answers to which are required to retrieve *either* username or password. So here we all are, with random usernames and random passwords and no way to get at them. And we can't *make* a web account because "one already exists for this membership number". Yeah, well fuck you, too. At least we can change our usernames once we're logged in.
Sometimes engineers fail at common sense.
Ah, well. I filled out a form telling them I need this information, so maybe I'll be able to pay my dues sometime in the next month.
Dear Other People In My Building,
Shut your damn windows; it's boiling in here.
Sincerely,
Me
Shut your damn windows; it's boiling in here.
Sincerely,
Me
Damn it all.
Nov. 27th, 2007 12:26 pmA semester's worth of lab work... completely down the drain.
Something went wrong on the last photolith step. And it only happened to my wafer. This has happened before, to three other wafers, but since that was only a step to make the alignment easier, it was non-essential. However, this time, it was defining the contact windows. It was like the wafer wasn't exposed or was under-developed, as the oxide wasn't etched AT ALL. But since I know I performed the exposing step correctly, I wonder whether the machine is having a problem. On the other hand, I think mine was the first one developed (to set the timing for the rest of the wafers). Maybe it wasn't immersed long enough. But it looked developed under the microscope. Argh. Maybe it was just a tiny bit too short. Since we increase the developing time for each subsequent wafer developed.
In any case, we metalize tomorrow, and I don't have time to re-do the last photolith step. Unless I manage to convince the professor to stay after 5 today to supervise me. (This isn't a lab where I can work alone, sadly). And even that's assuming he believes simply re-doing the step (a process that takes at least two hours) will help.
To translate that last paragraph, once we deposit the metal, I can't go back and remove the oxide under the metal so that the metal touches the right places, and therefore nothing will work. I know it's probably not my fault and all, but, still...
*cry*
Something went wrong on the last photolith step. And it only happened to my wafer. This has happened before, to three other wafers, but since that was only a step to make the alignment easier, it was non-essential. However, this time, it was defining the contact windows. It was like the wafer wasn't exposed or was under-developed, as the oxide wasn't etched AT ALL. But since I know I performed the exposing step correctly, I wonder whether the machine is having a problem. On the other hand, I think mine was the first one developed (to set the timing for the rest of the wafers). Maybe it wasn't immersed long enough. But it looked developed under the microscope. Argh. Maybe it was just a tiny bit too short. Since we increase the developing time for each subsequent wafer developed.
In any case, we metalize tomorrow, and I don't have time to re-do the last photolith step. Unless I manage to convince the professor to stay after 5 today to supervise me. (This isn't a lab where I can work alone, sadly). And even that's assuming he believes simply re-doing the step (a process that takes at least two hours) will help.
To translate that last paragraph, once we deposit the metal, I can't go back and remove the oxide under the metal so that the metal touches the right places, and therefore nothing will work. I know it's probably not my fault and all, but, still...
*cry*
I do not want to be awake.
Nov. 21st, 2007 07:35 amEarlier tonight (last night?) I imbibed copious amounts of caffeine in order to finish homeworks of doom. Now that homeworks are done, I cannot sleep. Fuck you, Dr. K.
...and I'll be playing more tonight.
Oct. 29th, 2007 01:43 pmOw. I have bruises on the fingers on my left hand from playing too much Guitar Hero III. I suck, but damn, it's addicting.
I am feeling rather bleh at the moment. If this does not improve soonish, I may have to take the day off. This is not something I have ever done lightly. Even in high school, I still went to class even though I likely had a stomach flu (and on at least one occasion, I actually did...)
A shame, that. If it were just class I'd feel less bad. But I also have lab to teach and an IEEE meeting to acquire food for. *grumble* At least I wasn't sick *yesterday*. Missing IC Fab is not something I want to do. Ever.
Speaking of IC Fabrication, it is full of awesome. For all you Cornell CS people (and anyone else aware of the origins of my userpic), I would like you to know that I am, in fact, working with the bare silicon. Is that not sexy?
Also. My living arrangements may be changing in a couple of months. Anyone this affects is already aware of this. I'm a bit nervous, myself, as I haven't lived with anyone else since freshman year as an undergrad, and I'll suddenly be living with four other people. Watch in wonder as my parents flip out: "but... but... you *have* to live alone!"
A shame, that. If it were just class I'd feel less bad. But I also have lab to teach and an IEEE meeting to acquire food for. *grumble* At least I wasn't sick *yesterday*. Missing IC Fab is not something I want to do. Ever.
Speaking of IC Fabrication, it is full of awesome. For all you Cornell CS people (and anyone else aware of the origins of my userpic), I would like you to know that I am, in fact, working with the bare silicon. Is that not sexy?
Also. My living arrangements may be changing in a couple of months. Anyone this affects is already aware of this. I'm a bit nervous, myself, as I haven't lived with anyone else since freshman year as an undergrad, and I'll suddenly be living with four other people. Watch in wonder as my parents flip out: "but... but... you *have* to live alone!"
I very much dislike Thursdays. Six hours of class with no food break, four of which are the same class, not to mention that this'll be the preferred exam day for all my professors. Kinda sucks. I don't think I'll be able to get the hang of Thursdays. I am going to require some tea.
Excitement!
Sep. 24th, 2007 11:35 amI get to do some photolithography today. It's gonna be awesome, guys.
Also, the color of the photoresist appears to be a deep red (at least in the yellow cleanroom light), if the splatters on the inside of the clear cover for the spinner are any indication. It makes that part of the lab stand out a bit.
Also, the color of the photoresist appears to be a deep red (at least in the yellow cleanroom light), if the splatters on the inside of the clear cover for the spinner are any indication. It makes that part of the lab stand out a bit.
Six hours of class straight. Followed immediately by a meeting with the Digital Design prof to discuss what I'm supposed to do with the students tomorrow. Blue Valkyrie needs food badly! T.T I hope I can get out of embedded networking lab early enough to eat dinner before meeting with Dr. Zhang.
Hooligans.
Aug. 28th, 2007 02:51 pmSome hooligans broke into George's car at some point last night.
We can tell they're hooligans because, while they took the stereo, they left the change in the center console and also his wallet.
They need a few horrorshow tolchoks to the gulliver, I say. Or maybe one to the yarbles, if they've got any yarbles.
We can tell they're hooligans because, while they took the stereo, they left the change in the center console and also his wallet.
They need a few horrorshow tolchoks to the gulliver, I say. Or maybe one to the yarbles, if they've got any yarbles.
Class Again.
Aug. 27th, 2007 03:22 pmThe good news is that none of the classes I am taking are before noon or on Fridays.
The bad news is that I have to teach a bunch of Sophomores at 8AM on at least Wednesdays, if not also Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also teach some Juniors on Friday.
On a separate note, IC Fab is going to be really fun, although a bit time-consuming. I get to work in the school's cleanroom, and I have to wear a bunny suit.
The bad news is that I have to teach a bunch of Sophomores at 8AM on at least Wednesdays, if not also Tuesdays and Thursdays. I also teach some Juniors on Friday.
On a separate note, IC Fab is going to be really fun, although a bit time-consuming. I get to work in the school's cleanroom, and I have to wear a bunny suit.
The local pirate paid for my drinks. We have a pirate here in Winona. His name is Steve. He's Polish. Also crazy. When he was 13, his parents went on vacation without him. So he told them he wished they'd die in a plane crash. And they did. Now he's crazy. And that's my story about Steve, Winona's very own pirate. Or, really, the man who dresses like a pirate every single day.
Woo! One more day, then I don't have to work with Mike anymore!!! See... Mike's a very stubborn old man who thinks that anyone who disagrees with the way he programs just "doesn't get it", despite the fact that he only has an associate's degree, his professors told him he'd never be good at programming, and he constantly defends practices like iteratively searching through an array of (thousands of) strings, just because "it always worked well before". Bah. My patience with this man is wearing very, very thin. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but... He really just doesn't know what he's doing. And I'd be willing to bet my next paycheck that when I leave, he'll just tell everyone that his test system was just too complex for me to comprehend.
And now... time to play some more Brave Soul. It's a bit like Diablo, only with sex.
Woo! One more day, then I don't have to work with Mike anymore!!! See... Mike's a very stubborn old man who thinks that anyone who disagrees with the way he programs just "doesn't get it", despite the fact that he only has an associate's degree, his professors told him he'd never be good at programming, and he constantly defends practices like iteratively searching through an array of (thousands of) strings, just because "it always worked well before". Bah. My patience with this man is wearing very, very thin. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but... He really just doesn't know what he's doing. And I'd be willing to bet my next paycheck that when I leave, he'll just tell everyone that his test system was just too complex for me to comprehend.
And now... time to play some more Brave Soul. It's a bit like Diablo, only with sex.
So. I have an apartment in Mankato and one in Winona. Both cities hit by flooding this weekend. Luckily, as far as I know, both apartments are dry. Though the one in Winona was about 50 feet south of getting flooded, and it was supposed to have rained more since the last time I heard about it.
Because of flooded roads, I'm actually still in Wisconsin. Which is okay, since work's closed anyway, due to being only accessible by boat. (Correction. The waters have receded enough that they decided to reopen the plant. But since they told everyone it'd be closed, we all get paid anyway.) I can probably go back tomorrow if I can get to Winona. But the busses might not be running. Mrf. I'll have to check on that.
Anyway, just letting you all know that I wasn't harmed by the flood.
Because of flooded roads, I'm actually still in Wisconsin. Which is okay, since work's closed anyway, due to being only accessible by boat. (Correction. The waters have receded enough that they decided to reopen the plant. But since they told everyone it'd be closed, we all get paid anyway.) I can probably go back tomorrow if I can get to Winona. But the busses might not be running. Mrf. I'll have to check on that.
Anyway, just letting you all know that I wasn't harmed by the flood.
Oi, you kids get off my lawn!
Aug. 14th, 2007 05:22 pmThere's a bunch of creepy fucks outside my apartment. They're standing (and at least one of them is smoking) on my "lawn" (If you can call it that. It's about a 4-foot-wide strip of grass that goes in front of my door. There's a sidewalk between my door and the grass. About a foot wide. So these people are literally less than 5 feet from my door.) And one of their cars is parked in MY parking space. The one with my apartment number painted on it. And the other car is in the spot for the people directly above me. they've been there for at least half an hour now, and haven't left yet. They're kind of scaring me. I had to walk right by them to get home.
Er... I guess that's all. >.>
Oh, and if any of you happen to be headed to Valleyfair at some point, Renegade's definitely worth a go. It doesn't beat out Dueling Dragons as my favorite coaster, but it's certainly in the top five.
Er... I guess that's all. >.>
Oh, and if any of you happen to be headed to Valleyfair at some point, Renegade's definitely worth a go. It doesn't beat out Dueling Dragons as my favorite coaster, but it's certainly in the top five.
*excitement*
Aug. 10th, 2007 08:54 amIt's about 9AM on a Friday, and I haven't been at work for an hour and a half! Hooray for sleeping in!
George will be here in two and a half hours, and then I'm signing off for the weekend. Interceptor's not coming with me. He's staying here and acquiring some Doctor Who for me.
George will be here in two and a half hours, and then I'm signing off for the weekend. Interceptor's not coming with me. He's staying here and acquiring some Doctor Who for me.
On formal occasions.
Aug. 7th, 2007 10:47 pmFriday I will be expected to wear a dress and makeup, and to put my hair up in some sort of elegant fashion. That first bit I've already taken care of. I'm rather pleased with it. Though let it be known that the one I *wanted* was not available in sizes smaller than 10.
The makeup part... is taking some getting used to. I've been experimenting with it for the past week for the purpose of training myself not to touch my face. This has the added benefit of practicing application as well. I have not gotten any "omigawd what happened to your face??" comments, so I'm assuming I'm doing an okay job with that.
That last thing, however, is going to take some doing. I'm not used to doing more with my hair than putting it in a ponytail, and this lack of proficiency means that I tend to feel like I either need four hands or someone to help me. Unfortunately, I have neither of these things. On top of this, I need whatever I do to it to hold almost literally all day. (12-ish hours...) So, armed with bobby pins and elastics, I've come up with a couple of options. However, 12 hours is a long time, so I should try these out. I also have two days to work with. This means that I'll be wearing option number one to work tomorrow. If it holds, I can do something normal to it Thursday, with the confidence that I'll be okay Friday. But if it doesn't, I'll have to run a second experiment.
With any luck, I'll make it through the day with little to no ridicule from my coworkers.
I'm an engineer, dammit! I shouldn't have to know how to do these things!
The makeup part... is taking some getting used to. I've been experimenting with it for the past week for the purpose of training myself not to touch my face. This has the added benefit of practicing application as well. I have not gotten any "omigawd what happened to your face??" comments, so I'm assuming I'm doing an okay job with that.
That last thing, however, is going to take some doing. I'm not used to doing more with my hair than putting it in a ponytail, and this lack of proficiency means that I tend to feel like I either need four hands or someone to help me. Unfortunately, I have neither of these things. On top of this, I need whatever I do to it to hold almost literally all day. (12-ish hours...) So, armed with bobby pins and elastics, I've come up with a couple of options. However, 12 hours is a long time, so I should try these out. I also have two days to work with. This means that I'll be wearing option number one to work tomorrow. If it holds, I can do something normal to it Thursday, with the confidence that I'll be okay Friday. But if it doesn't, I'll have to run a second experiment.
With any luck, I'll make it through the day with little to no ridicule from my coworkers.
I'm an engineer, dammit! I shouldn't have to know how to do these things!
Crickets are keeping me awake...
Aug. 7th, 2007 12:03 amFucking crickets. GTFO my living quarters. All of you. You big-ass ones, and you tiny ones, too. Out. Let me fucking sleep. Also, please to not be looking at me when you are huge and creepy. Kthxbai.