Why Are the Classes So EASY?

It is so dry at this rig that the first turn from the rig has a puddle of dust. When I run I have a hard time finding solid ground to get around it. So every step I take makes a dust cloud worthy of a large explosion, and I have gritty toes for the next 3-5 miles.

Today’s Exploit:

I have been worried about one of my last classes for this Business program since I saw that it was worth 2 more points/credits/whatnot than the other classes. I was afraid it would be harder, take longer, require more effort.

And then it started. I had dreams about forgetting to write an essay for my high school English teacher. It was horrible. He pinched my arm.

I started one paper. It was less than a page. 

The next one was more than a page, but not by much.

The third one was 2 pages, because it used the second one as Part I. 

This class is easier than my introductory class that wanted me to set goals.

How is it worth more than the worthless English and Marketing classes I took?

The hardest part will be compiling 7 or so papers into a PowerPoint presentation.

I hate PowerPoint.

Business Law is definitely more complicated, but not by a lot. 

I suppose I should know by now that the class will not be particularly challenging, I have been doing this for over a year. Yet, somehow, I am always expecting a class more along the lines of those for Engineering. 

I wonder if all Business programs are this soft? 

I Saw a Monster

I’ve spent the past few nights having dreams/nightmares about forgetting assignments. They include my high school English teacher, Africa, forgetting homework over the weekend and papers that are supposed to require full reams of paper.  

I don’t know. 

Somehow this pertains to my worry over writing a 500 word paper about a “project”. I was never worried about the 1000 word paper on a subject that is completely new to me.

Today’s Exploit:

I have spent the past few years reading about Chupacabras and thinking that they are some version of the yeti or bigfoot. I don’t know why I thought that. I spend enough time complaining about the heat that I should have realized that a Texas ‘monster’ would not be covered in thick/extra long hair. 

But then I saw a doglike animal on my way to town from one of the rigs. It was extremely skinny, sort of Chihuahua-shaped but closer to 18inches tall, or so. Also, it’s ears were overly large and it’s ribs poked out.

I mentioned this to H. a few days later, because I’d come close to hitting the animal on my trip. The first thing he said was, “A chupacabra!” 

I was completely thrown, I thought it was a dog.

But evidently his version of the monster is a dog with extra long fangs, and mange.

Today I looked up some information on the chupacabra and found that, according to Wikipedia, they should be as big as a small bear, with vaguely alien looking eyes and spikes running down it’s spine. And they should have green lizard skin and three toes on each foot.

Who knows?

I may have seen a mythical monster.

Or I may have seen a sick dog with extra large ears.

Attack of the Sugar Ants

I just had to write a paper selling something. So, naturally, I chose Hello Kitty backpacks. Nerdy Hello Kitty, no less. When looking up reviews of this product I found some lovely gems that were something along these lines:

OMG! Hello Kitty is, like, so cool and I (heart) her so much! I totally, like, love this backpack and everyone should, like, totally get one to be as cool as I am now! OMG It's so exciting and I love it so much, everyone in, like, all my, like, classes is going to be, like, so totally jealous that I got this, like, totally awesome backpack. (;

Except with worse grammar, capitalization, punctuation and emoticons.

Today’s Exploit:

I had a nice long break between my last one and this one. Almost 2 1/2 weeks! In that time I worked on shelves (I’m ALMOST done), ran a long way WITH OTHER PEOPLE, and fought some ants that took up residence in my closet on my porch. I think I almost got rid of them, but we’ll see when I get back.

In the mean time. I arrived at the rig to find all my boxes piled up and ready to be unpacked. Which I did, in the heat, all by myself. I put the computers in the box, along with all of the cables and nonsense that needs to be hooked up. I ran cables to my sensor and a separate monitor, and I set up the satellite. By then I was nice and soaked from sweat and covered in dust from crawling around on the floor and sitting in the dirt to untangle some cables. 

My night hand arrived in time to run one last cable and set up his own computer while I showered and got some dinner. When I came back to the box, after a few hours, to set up some computer files I was assaulted by itty bitty sugar ants. These things like to bite. And then you feel all creepy-crawly with phantom ants for about 6.32 hours. 

After the one bit my hand I looked around to discover that they were EVERYWHERE! They were in Logan’s keyboard, on and under his mousepad, under all of the computers in mass quantities and hiding individually under cables. 

I killed 487.

Then I went and got some bleach, because I heard a rumor that they don’t like strong smells cause it means they can’t follow their neighbor’s trail.  

After about 2 hours of alternately killing mass quantities of ants and spraying the heck out of the counter and any possible entry space I started to feel sick from the fumes and gave up for the night. I still have to kill one or two every day, but it’s much better than being swarmed by them every time I try to work at any of the 172.6 computers. 

And now I have the creepy-crawlies again.  Gah.

Final Score Freak Out

Today’s Exploit:

I finally found out what my score was for my first REAL English class. I was panicky for a while, because my instructor took far longer than I thought should be allowable to post grades. Then, after posting one of the two final scores, my overall score was 75% because the site automatically puts a 0 for NA scores after 72 hours.

Freak out time? 

But I was nice and didn’t send any nasty emails freaking out about my C in class, when I had been getting 100% most of the class. (Most of the class being 3 out of 4 previous weeks.)

But now I know. And I was relieved. I was strangely worried about my final paper. But I got full credit. 

This means I get a 99.2% in the class. 

Yay.

English Essays are Boring

I should be writing a persuasive essay on an academically disputed subject. Which means that I could write about anything from abortion to why a bumble bee can fly. 

It’s just too big a pool to make a selection!

Today’s Exploit:

When I was working on my engineering degree I welcomed the, mostly pointless, classes that were required outside the engineering field. It meant that I had an easy A with minimal effort. I mean, it’s hard to get a bad grade in an Economics class with a teacher that can’t do math and uses mixed drinks for all his examples. 

Now that I’m trying to take some business classes I hate the extra “cultural” nonsense. Seriously, I have to take more English classes than I do classes that pertain to business. I also have to take psychology. I have to take all these classes because my prior credits didn’t transfer. Naturally all the math classes transferred, so I don’t even get to take some easy and fun classes. It’s just easy and boring and tedious English classes. Also, I feel like I’ve been demoted to high school, and the teachers are actually more lenient than my high school Humanities teacher.

I get four credits for each of these classes. That means that it’s supposed to take me at least four hours of studying each week to be successful in this class. 

I can write an essay that will get 97-100% in an hour: five paragraphs, five sentences per. The only difficult part is the choice of subjects when they say things like “defend a position that concerns you”. My only boundary is that I should avoid personal attacks on other people. 

I think that means that “people need to learn to take the consequences of their actions” is probably a poor topic choice? I plan on finding some obscure argument that I find entertaining and no one else will have a clue what I’m talking about.

I Am a Student, Again

I have named my phone Indy.  Short for Indestructible.  This phone has lived through 3 years of my clumsiness, without a name no-less.

Today’s Exploit:

I did it.  I really applied to go back to school.  All online this time, too. 

I don’t even know what my first class will be.  The curriculum lists an English class as one of the first ones, but hopefully my previous credits will transfer over and I won’t have to take any more of those classes.  I want to get through these classes as soon as possible!  

That means I’m just a little closer to my bakery goal.  I’ve already reached the monetary goal.  Now I am on my way to the business knowledge goal.  

All I have after that is to find someplace I want to live and work and DO IT!

Ack.

Scared.

I Like Recreational Math, Don’t You?

I just read The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. It was very good, I recommend it.

Today’s Exploit:

Last night I was talking to the new DD. New, as in, this is his first job as a DD new.

He is doing homework and takings tests to qualify for his classes. Part of that is a math section. He said he hates math.

I was appalled. Math is amazing.

So he asked if I’d help him. Naturally I jumped at the chance to do some recreational math. I even went through all the practice tests I have on my computer and answered all the questions to refresh my memory last night. It was a good way to waste a couple hours of the never-ending night.

When I gave him the papers for reference he was rather shocked. And WAY overly grateful.

I think he thanked me 27 times for the notes to use as examples.

I thought it was really funny, I felt like I should be thanking him for the nice diversion.

I got someone to run with me ONE other time, I miss Catherine

Last night I had ice cream and hot cocoa powder for dinner. And a roll.


The roll was homemade, so at least it might almost be somewhat healthy, right?

Today’s Exploit:

Matt has told everyone on the rig that I tried to kill him the other night. I want to take this time to say that I was just running along, minding my own business. He could have stopped at any time he felt like it. Also I asked him if he was sure he wanted to go another two miles. Really, deciding to run 4 miles after six months of nada… I will accept no blame for this.

Running with Matt reminded me of another time I had a running buddy.

It was during my last school. Pretty much every one there knew that I ran every evening. So I would tease them about going with me. They all claimed that they were in shape, or trying to get there. I would tease the ones who claimed they ran a lot about being scared that I’d be faster than them. And I challenged the ones who were trying to get in shape to keep up with me.

Mostly it was all talk, and I never thought I’d be faster than any of them.

Finally one of them decided to give it a shot. He claimed he ran about four miles, regularly. Actually he said 10 kilometers. But I didn’t believe him because he translated that to 4 miles, and everyone knows 10k is about 6 mi. Or everyone SHOULD.

Anyhoo, we decided to go to a park and run. And I convinced some other people to come too, but they decided to play football on the grassy area, instead of heading for the track.

Sergio and I left Alex and David with their football and set off at a moderate pace. I thought it’d be a nice little run at that pace. But after about a mile the pace had slowed considerably. After 2 I was almost walking.

That was when Sergio thought we should turn around. So we did, and I wogged back (that’s half walk, half jog. I read it in a book once).

About half a mile from the car I thought Sergio was going to pass out. He had to stop and hold his side and gasp for a while. He decided he’d walk the rest of the way. After I was sure he wasn’t going to die I ran back to my car, at a normal pace. Then I turned and ran back to Sergio. I did this a few more times, until David and Alex came over and started playing catch.

Gradually this moved to the parking lot, and I sat at my car and watched them pretend to be great athletes.

After that I couldn’t get any of them to run with me again. The closest I got to company was the class soccer match. Nearly everyone played, and those who didn’t refereed.

Then I got hit in the head 2 times. A soccer ball is not soft.

A Meeting Over Dumbbells

I find the following quote suits my dad, and my sister, and sometimes my mother.

A pun is the lowest form of humor, unless you thought of it yourself.
-Doug Larson

Today’s Exploit:

I met a boy.

I suppose technically he was a man, but I find that awkward to say.

But on to the details…

I was staying at a hotel in Louisiana for a class on Drilling Optimization. (I believe this was before the entire city shut down for the cold.) To avoid feeling lazy and as an excuse to escape my room I went to the gym, a room that consisted of a bicycle, two treadmills, an elliptical and a bench for free-weights.

On this particular night the room was inhabited. A guy was using the weights and I had to interrupt to get to one of the dreaded treadmills. After about 20.4 minutes of silence I did the unthinkable and initiated conversation. It was nothing terribly interesting, mostly about the weather and our respective reasons for staying at the hotel. But we talked off and on for the rest of the 39.6 minutes we were both in the room.

Not an extremely exciting event, but I was very proud of myself for overcoming my social awkwardness and talking to someone I’d never seen before and probably never will again.

Next step is talking to someone I might see tomorrow.

A History

For a moment there I almost had a hope of being off for the holiday. But that almost hope was quickly dashed away when I looked at a larger version of the well plot. Probably I still have 2.84 weeks, just because I was hoping.

Today’s Exploit:

I was looking up some useless trivia and stumbled over a fact about Dracula. I am currently reading the book, and was rather intrigued. So I did some more research, because the gory facts were too disgusting to pass by.

Turns out Count Dracula may be loosely based on a real person. A person who actually lived, and existed, and murdered people in history. This person was Vlad the Impaler, a prince of Wallachia. He lived in the 1400s.

He fought very hard for his throne, and somehow ended up having three different reigns. Throughout his life he killed thousands of people, mostly Turks. Most of them were impaled, thus the title.

Eventually he was killed in battle, or possibly had had his eyes burned out and then was buried alive. And the next day, or a few years later, when they opened his grave he wasn’t there. The death scenario depends on the source. But they agree that his remains weren’t in his grave.

Woooo…he was already a vampire!

The end.

Something's Wrong

I have recently discovered cowboy boots. I always thought that they were silly, but these crazy southern people convinced me to get some. And now I am completely in love. They are so comfortable. I’m tempted to wear them every day for the rest of my life. Or until I find something more comfortable, whichever comes first. Probably I’ll sleep with them tonight. Maybe tomorrow, too.

Today’s Exploit:

Something is wrong with my classmates. Other than the fact that they are all engineers and far smarter than I. Which is tragic, because I never understand anything that they say.

It appears that I am the social person in this group of 21 people. I am the one that talks to everyone in the class. I am the one that makes friends with other classes, and invites them to join our outings. I am the one that calls everyone in the class to invite them to parties.

What is the world coming to? That I am the most outgoing person in this group?

Onward to more learning.

Until later, my friends.

Extra Excited!

Naps are the cure for everything. I think they should be mandatory.


The end.

Today’s Exploit:

Last night I was sitting on the floor, watching the crazy foreign guys (plus one from Missouri) play billiards. The extra crazy Scottish guy then decided to maul me:

Mike: Good Morning, Woman! What are you doing!

Me: Good Morning! Sitting.

Mike: Perrrfect!

Sits on me.

Me: Ack.

Mike: Woman! You make a comfortable chair!

Mike: Woman! Move your leg so you’re a more comfortable chair!

Mike: That’s better!

Later, when he finally decided that I was no longer a good chair:

Gets up and opens the door.

Huno: Where are you going!

(All these guys have one speaking pattern: Extra Excited.)

Mike: Out to tend my sheep!

Huno: What!

Mike: I’m going! Out to! Tend my! Sheep!

Apparently this means going to smoke. Learn something new every day, right?

Game Room

Torture:

Lack of sleep
Computer problems
1 Exam, on the offending computer
3 PowerPoint Presentations in the dark

Today’s Exploit:

Yesterday we had a party, to celebrate everyone passing our first exam. The “organizer” bought four cases of beer and invited everyone in the class. Only 8 people came. We have 21. So we invited some other classes. They brought a case of beer each. I think we still have about half left. And the party lasted at least until 2:00 am, I’ve heard.

Not that I was there that long. I left at midnight. Because I woke up at 4:12 that morning, or the one before, whatever. I was tired. And delirious. I didn’t need beer to feel tipsy and dizzy.

We played foosball, air hockey, ping pong, pool and some wii games.

I have acquired a coach for ping pong. He says I’m improving very quickly. Probably it was because I didn’t care if I played well or not. But we won’t tell him that until I actually try to play seriously.

It is time to resume the presentations.

Good Day.

Studying Hard

I wasn't lying to my father.  I was at school when I wrote that.  Gosh, mom.

Today's Exploit:

School will be the death of me.  I studied until 10:30 pm. then I coudn't keep my eyes open.  And when I got to bed I couldn't go to sleep.  Then, naturally I woke at 4:00 am. So I studied some more.  I'm still not ready for this morning's exam. 

Wish me luck.  I'm really going to need it.

UPDATE!  I got a 91%  Woo hoo!

Tomorrow I Will

My first order of business is this: Which of my parents posted as Bill and Tahna, and which posted as Anonymous? And something is wrong with the one that wants Goldfish tacos. Goldfish are meant to be eaten head first. Or occasionally tail first. But not in taco shells.

Today’s Exploit:

I have been bored out of my mind tonight while procrastinating. I need to take some tests for my next school. But I don’t wanna. So I read 100 pages of my book. And I found some new music. And I organized some files. And I watched a movie.

I will be productive tomorrow. I will!

In the mean time I have found a new singer that I love. Missy Higgins. Very relaxing music. Mmmmm…

Tomorrow I will take my tests. Tomorrow I will prepare for class. Tomorrow…

Tomorrow I will fortify myself to deal with Bob the Company man.

Tomorrow I will tell you about him.

Tonight I can’t’ think of him anymore. He frustrates me. He makes me want to smash plates. And he invades my office space.

But that’s for tomorrow.

PS Dad: Tonight you should make Beef Stew.

Run the Rig

Today has been a bit stressful.  I went to bed knowing that the Safety guy would be out here to do "Commentary Drives" where we have to tell him everything we're doing as we drive along, and he grades us.  I did get to go for a run, and make some Manicotti, but then I came to the box to discover Miranda trying everything she could think of and some other things to get our tool to work. 

The tool sends a signal through mud pulses, and we were getting enough interference that we weren't receiving the signal. 

We re-wired some stuff, and moved cables around, and restarted computers countless times, and basically made a royal mess.  Finally something we did worked and we got the signal.  Woo hoo.

Miranda left to do her commentary drive, and I fought with the computers to get them to communicate with each other.  Luckily the two primary computers are working properly, but the back up doesn't want to cooperate.  I spent an hour trying to figure it out, then called the IT guys, and they spent another couple hours on it. 

Finally they realized that it has to do with the way I logged on.  At least that's what we think right now.  I haven't logged off to see, yet.  That is for a future post.

Today's Exploit:

While I was near College Station I spent a lot of time on the rig floor, because they spent most of the time tripping in and out.  When they do this, I am not needed.  The driller was thoroughly sick of tripping by the time he got to go home.  And he got the easy job of controlling the hydraulics, the poor rig hands had to do the heavy lifting to move the pipe. 

The last day before he left the driller told me that if we had to trip for any reason before he left he'd make me run the rig.  That means sitting in his chair and ordering the guys around, which would be fun.  But it also means controlling the top drive, and that is very scary. 

He then decided that I could have a choice:  run the rig or pull slips. 

Slips are REALLY heavy metal wedges hinged together to go around the pipe and keep it from slipping when adding a new stand. 

Picture from Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

I told him I'd pull slips, all by myself.

Apparently they weigh about 200 lbs.

Catfish

Today I talked to my mom and my sister.  I was doing some math problems to refresh my memory.  My mom asked why, and told me that she enjoyed doing math also.  My sister said "ew".  Thanks for your support, Cupcake. 

Today's Exploit:

Today the Day MWD finally got around to cutting his fish to be ready to fry.  This is the first rig that I've been to where all the people cook for everyone on a regular basis.  It's kinda fun, and sometimes scary.  Like today.  They are frying catfish.  Um.  I guess I'll try it, but I'm a little apprehensive about eating fish.  And I really am not a big fan of fried food, or rather my guts are not. 

Picture from Google

Wish me luck.  I think I'll need all I can get.