Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Cramming for the FE


As you know, or are about to find out, I am a recently graduated engineer, but unfortunately I have not taken my Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Bummer. I was signed up for it last April but due to the tragedy I was unable to take it at that time. So instead I get to spend this Saturday taking a 180 question test from hell. If you'd like a small smattering of the topics it covers here they are as follows:
  • Calculus (damn how do you integrate again?)
  • Physics (*I wonder if I can chuck my physics book far enough to hit the dumpster*)
  • Chemistry (I know some of you hate chemistry, but I don't think its that bad)
  • Thermodynamics (I can barely use an oven much less figure out the heat transfer theory behind it)
  • Electrical Theory (My entire gameplan for this section is fill in the bubbles to make a pretty design, I kid you not)
  • Statistics (The probability of me passing is like a snowball's chance in hell at this point)

Sounds like a real dream doesn't it? So I've been attempting to study for this thing for weeks, but that really means that I've had my books on the floor unopened. Outside of studying though work and knitting have been going well.

The picture of me at right is part of my company's United Way fundraiser. For like 5 bucks you could force someone in the office to wear this charming little bunny outfit (I at least look cute in the thing). You're only forced to wear it for about a half hour so it really isn't so bad, unless you're male and wear camo like its your job. A 6'6" man wearing this is unbearably funny!


I've also been in the field a lot lately doing things like test pits and drilling for a new bridge. It's actually been a blast the last couple of weeks since I'm finally starting to get the hang of my job! The picture below is of a cleared path between test pits. The equipment used was a track-hoe CAT 330C. Its big, yellow, and has a massive bucket on the front that rips away topsoil, root-mat, and pretty much anything else short of partially weathered rock and mass rock.

They unfortunately wouldn't let me drive it *sheds a tear*.

Anyhow, I was working on all of these great projects until all of sudden the skies opened up and we got rain for the first time in what seems like months. I looked like a drowned rat to say the least! Anyways , I really must get back to my studying. I hope everyone has a great weekend (you all need to have the time of your lives since I'm going to be stuck in a room for 8 hours on Saturday!) Oh and virtually no knitting is being worked on right now, I'm sorry!

Until next time, push the envelope because great things are out their for those who reach for them.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Time flies when you're...

Having fun at Durham's World Beer Festival! I went with one of my best friends and we had a great time trying out different beers, ciders, and mead. For those of you concerned I did walk out of those tents completely of my own volition. I think I tried nearly 20 different brews but my friend I think topped out at over 30! This is an image of one of the tents aka beer gardens:


Sadly there were not loud beer chants from other cultures. There was an awesome food stand with bratwurst and sauerkraut (completely necessary for the experience!)


Oh look a picture of me!!


When not exploring new cultural tastes I have been working my butt off on a huge project due this Friday...Deadlines are APPROACHING people!

My personal computer is also trying to commit suicide through Blue Screens of Death so it is going to be completely wiped for a clean install once the project is submitted. Oh look speak of the devil one of those blasted Restart Now or Restart Later (5 minutes later) windows. What about restart in an hour or tomorrow? Five minutes from now is really not going to be much better!


On the yarn front:

I have been steadily getting closer to completing the body of my first fair-isle project (the fair-isle is in the yoke so uhm it's not been done yet, but I am confident it will be awesome!)

I promise pictures will be coming this way as soon as I get the rest of me and the chronically disturbed laptop in order. Until that enjoy or catch me on Ravelry!