An update.

It's late, but I desperately want to update my blog!

This past week has been very good, for one thing, I bought a house and have been living in it. I have really enjoyed that and I can't exactly explain why. It's just good to own a place.

I have not really had the opportunity to meet any of the neighbors since I moved in and I hope they don't think I'm unfriendly because of it, I just get home later in the evening and leave early and I've not seen anyone. Well, I take that back, I did see one guy walking around so I went out and introduced myself but he said he just used to live in the neighborhood when he was a kid and was coming back to see it and a friend.

But because of all of this, my week has been somewhat busy. Monday morning I was scrambling around trying to finish up some things that I needed to have taken care of for classes, setting up a checking account so I can pay my bills, and trying to set up an appointment for Internet access (which I do have and it's great!). I also set up a wireless network in the house, moved things around and got it set up, put my books on the shelves that my father built me for my birthday (and I love 'em!) among other things. I sometimes feel like I don't have enough time to eat (come to think of it, the last two days I've had one meal each day). But I'm staying strong and healthy and thankful to the Lord because of it (and when I do eat, I eat a lot).

On Wednesday I was supposed to meet the W's to show them the house. On my way out from class at 5:40, I realized that I didn't have my keys, so I walked back to the computer lab where I had been using them (attached to my keychain). It was about a half mile walk each way I think. Well, my keys weren't in the lab. I searched frantically around and found a janitor and we went up to the office (which was locked up by now) to see if someone had turned them in to lost and found. He told me that normally they leave them in the computers because the guy who lost it will probably be looking for his keys quickly. So I figured that
a) someone wanted the jump drive and stole the whole thing
b) someone picked them up to turn in but forgot about it.

Needless to say, things looked rather bleak. After fruitless searching (but not fruitless prayer) I went to the car and used a plastic spare key I had from AAA to get inside and then gingerly started the ignition. I went to the house and since I just moved in, the only spare key was in the house. So I managed to "break inside" by discovering that a window did not latch. Kind of good at the moment, but something I need to fix. I then went to Bible study and made it there on time and explained what had happened. The sermon was very good, about anxiety and how it really is a display of unbelief and it was good for me to hear that because at the moment, I was a bit concerned about my keys. But by the time I got home, a fellow TA had e-mailed saying that the keys had been taken to a building that was halfway across the campus. It turns out that the computer lab I was using was run by CEAT and they periodically go around straigtening chairs and such. And anything they find, they take to their lost and found. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me (you'd think they would at least let the keys stay in the same building) but I was glad to get them back and stop using the plastic key.

Thursday I was invited to an IEEE banquet. Most of the college students congregated around eachother, but I purposely went to another table and met some sponsors from Garmin (who make GPS systems) and Ditch Witch and IBM. They provided some of the door prizes and I think were something of scouts. I took the opportunity to drop in a line about my current work with MyLaptopGPS (oh, hey Dan) and how it works. They sounded impressed with the idea but I didn't get any sign-ups ;)
I enjoyed talking to them but after a while I noticed that the conversation was rather superficial. Eventually it was just talk about the weather and nothing deeper than that. The speaker for the evening was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy and she showed us some very interesting things the Navy is doing in the field of engineering.

They also announced scholarship winners and I was excited that I was awarded two scholarships by the department, one for $500 for the year and the other for $2500. They will certainly help me with tuition!

Friday I was pretty busy also, trying to finish up things for the weekend. I had finished grading and there were three of us left and we needed two to enter the scores, so I volunteered to stay and help with that. We were doing that when Vignesh got an e-mail which said something about an internship in Stillwater. I told Vignesh (offhandedly) that I would be interested in that and he said "Really?" I said "Oh yes." He said "Okay, I'll call him." So he grabs his cell phone and as he's dialing says "You're sure about this?" I emphatically said "Yes!"
He talked to the guy who had put out the add and told him where I was in my coursework and highly recommended me to him. So I sent in my resume yesterday and we'll see what happens. God does provide though and I'm excited about the possibility!

Today (Saturday) Philip and I took a trip out to Tulsa to visit Evelyn. We went to the Gilcrease Museum which had art galleries of western scenes. I really enjoyed it a lot. They had some really interesting paintings, and a lot that were fun to make fun of :) I really enjoyed it. We also took a look at the gardens and then we went with Kevin, Holly, Spencer, and Jenny to a sushi place in town. I guess I can say I've had real sushi now, but I still can't say I find it particularly tasteful. It was fine, it just wasn't my favourite.

Evelyn had to go to orchestra practice and Philip and I stayed around for RUF talent night. It was supposed to start at 8:00 but it was only 7:00 at the time so we fenced in the parking lot (I had my gear) for a while, I was instructing him and giving him pointers. We went inside and helped set up a bit then hung around until 8:25 (when the event finally got underway) but had to leave immediately afterward at 8:30.

That seems like a very quick overview but it will have to suffice. Sorry for the long wait in between updates but sometimes I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off and barely getting the things done that I need to :)