2005

Jan252005

More Walking Than Usual

Dad dropped me off at the mall this morning without any remarkable amount of time to spare this morning. Ms. Snell discussed chapter three this morning, which related to marketing ethics. She will finish that chapter on Thursday. After class I walked down to Poydras and Magazine to take a bus uptown. I met Melanie for lunch around 1:30. We walked down to a burger joint whose name escapes me. I do remember the sarcastic item descriptions on the menu though. After lunch I walked with Melanie back to the school and then took a bus back downtown. I got off on Canal St. in front of the Sheraton hotel and went in. I found a comfortable seat in The Pelican Bar and remained there until about 5:00. The hotel has wireless net access so I was able to poke around on the net for a while. I walked back to the mall around five, which took about 20 minutes. We finally made our way to the 1950’s in my history class this evening. After lecturing for a while, the professor showed some short video clips from the 40’s to the 50’s. I took the bus home after class. Later in the evening I started watching Red Beard but I got tired and went to bed long before finishing it.

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Jan242005

First Review Feedback

I woke up with an unusual pain in my left stomach this morning but it passed before long. Before leaving for work this morning I watched the episode of Enterprise that I missed from Friday. On the way to the office, Dad and I stopped at Dillards in the mall as he was looking for a particular pair of pants, which he was unable to find in his size. When I got to work, I had a little filing related work to do. Dad left the office around one for an appointment. I remained at the office until around five, when dad took me to school for tonight’s class. Most of this evening’s review writing class dealt with the book reviews we did last week. She went over a number of ours and pointed out numerous flaws in each, including mine. After that, we got some time to revise our work based on the suggestions we received. She also lectured a short while after that. We were dismissed about ten minutes late. Dad was waiting for me and took me home. He went back to the office earlier after he dropped me off this evening. I got something to eat after getting home. Later in the evening I watched the Carnivale episode I recorded on Sunday before going to bed.

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Jan232005

Johnny Carson Dies at 79

We stopped at Office Depot after church to pick up a display board for a project for Andrew. That was largely the extent of my activity for the day. The death of Johnny Carson was the extent of the circumstance for the day. I never got to see too much of him on TV, although I do recall his last show. It was a shame hearing of his death although it was a bit of a feat living as long as he did considering his smoking habit. It’s also kind of a shame that no other late night personality even approaches his gift for comedy. I spent the better part of the afternoon watching football, laptop in hand. It was no great shock seeing that the Patriots will be going to the Super Bowl again. Later in the evening I finished a book review for class on Monday.

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Jan222005

LPO Goes to the Movies

I wasn’t in any hurry to get up this morning. I didn’t have much to do when I did. I cleaned my room a bit during the afternoon. This evening, Melanie and I went to see the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra perform. Dad dropped me off downtown a little after seven. My family went out to eat after dropping me off. I went to an ATM before waiting outside the Orpheum, but I never did need the cash. Tonight’s concert, “LPO Goes to the Movies,” featured the music of several films over the years. There were selections from Silverado, Star Wars, Chicago and Indiana Jones among others. Melanie arrived around 7:30 and we took our seats in the second row of the first balcony. The performance was most entertaining. It was pretty cool hearing a live performance of the Imperial March by a full orchestra. There was a quiz included in the program. Carl Topilow, the guest conductor, asked questions throughout the concert concerning the movies whose music was being performed. Melanie did remarkably well, although not perfect as a couple people among the audience. The show ended with the Cantina Band music from Star Wars. That was pretty fun to see and listen to a reasonably serious organization playing such a fun song. It was bitter cold outside as we left the theater around 10:30. We had decided to get something to eat after the show and McDonalds was very close by so we went there. I had my usual and Melanie got some chicken strips. After we were there for about a half hour, dad called and offered us a ride home. We stayed at McDonalds a little while longer until he arrived to take us both home. After we took Melanie home we went home ourselves, I went to bed not long after.

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Jan212005

Sci-Fi Friday

I didn’t go to work today as dad was ill. Today was pretty devoid of activity, although it did mark the return of Enterprise, Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis to TV after a winter hiatus. I watched the Stargate episodes and recorded the rest for later. I think I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner this evening.

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Jan202005

Short Class

Before leaving the house this morning I watched the important parts of the presidential inauguration. Dad dropped me at the mall at 11:30. I bought a couple books for my history of rock and roll class before today’s started. Ms. Snell just finished up chapter 2 during this afternoon’s session. Class was dismissed at 12:30. I called Melanie after class as she said she might meet me for lunch today, but I think I woke her up when I called. I had lunch at McDonalds and then took a bus to work. I didn’t have the same lunch with the wait as I did on Tuesday. When I arrived at 1:30 I had a couple reports to do. After I finished those I continued working on the patient database project I had been working at over the last week or so. I finally finished it today. Not too long after doing so, mom picked me up to go home. On the way, we stopped my some lady’s house whose name escapes me. Anyway, she’s the lady my mom buys her glasses from. She stopped by to get new frames and have a lens replaces on Andrew’s pair. We were there for a half hour, after which we made it home. I cooked some soft tacos for dinner. I typed up a short essay for Ms. Snell’s class this evening.

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Jan192005

The Hero's Journey

I went to work with dad for a little while this afternoon before class this evening, but I really didn’t do too much in the line of work. I cleaned up a bit and did two reports though. Dr. Stevenson bought us lunch before we left the mid-city office for the day. Dad dropped me off uptown around three. Before class started I was in the Richardson lab for a while. I stopped by the laptop station to speak with someone about a problem with mine, I didn’t learn much. It did lead me to fixing it myself later. I was in the drawing board caf for a little while as well. I went to the classroom for tonight’s class about a half hour early. It was as good a place as any to surf the net, and it was quiet. Tonight’s class was ok. We discussed some basic elements of a movie and “the hero’s journey.” The professor showed a few minutes of Excalibur before the end of class at 7:50. I went to the Hebert building to meet Melanie after her class but it wasn’t even in that building anymore. Dad picked me up at 8:20. Before heading home, dad stopped by the office to pick up pay checks and a package. We also stopped at the bank so I could deposit my check at the ATM, as I was slightly overdrawn. On the way home we listened to the ongoing Tulane basketball game versus UAB. Tulane held a lead through most of the game but the score was tied by the end of regulation. We continued to listen to overtime after we got home. Tulane won with a three pointer at the buzzer by freshman Taylor Rochestie, putting Tulane on top 76-73. Later in the evening after I got home I read a little of the book for my review writing assignment before bed.

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Jan182005

Pizza For Lunch, Pizza For Dinner

Dad dropped me off at the mall without too much time to spare this morning. This was the first day I was able to try using wireless internet access on campus with my laptop. It worked fine, for a while anyway. Marketing class went alright. Ms. Snell discussed competitive advantage among other things. After class I met Melanie uptown for lunch. I took the Magazine St. bus down to Napoleon to meet her at a school she’s doing some kind of work at. She picked out a pizza place for us to have lunch at but they were filming there so we walked further down Magazine to Reginelli's, another pizza place. We split a large pizza and some breadsticks. There were plenty of leftovers after we finished, which was fine since that would do fine for dinner. After we finished I walked her back to the school and took the same bus back downtown. I took a seat in the Hyatt for a short while and typed up some back entries for the log and then walked to the mall and eventually got back to the school for my evening class, the history of rock and roll. I was told I really missed nothing during the first week of class. During this session, the professor discussed the earliest roots of rock and roll, discussing events as far back as 1718. Dad picked me up after class. It took a short while for him to get there as he was coming from uptown. I didn’t really do much after I got home.

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Jan172005

Day Off at Home

The office was closed today with the holiday so I was at home with the family. I did practically nothing today. Mom and Dad went shopping this afternoon so Andrew and I were home most of the afternoon. I watched the Carnivale episode I missed while I was out last night. Later in the evening I watched Being John Malcovich.

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Jan162005

Paul Varisco at the Rock-n-Bowl

After church I did a handful of chores in the afternoon. Dad and I also got a little work done on the car. He took it in for an oil change and checkup. We also replaced the alternator belt, air filter and battery this weekend. This evening, Dad and I went to see Paul Varisco and the Milestones play at the Rock-n-Bowl. This was my second time seeing them here, the last time was in August I believe. Melanie was going to come with us but she had a cold and couldn’t attend. That may have been for the best as it wa rather loud, although the music was good. It was also rather cramped, although that wasn’t much of a problem. We left around nine and went to Copeland’s Cheesecake Bistro for some dessert before heading home. I had the banana’s foster cheesecake. This being my third time, I guess I can call it my usual now. After getting home I think I watched a movie but I’m not sure.

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Jan142005

Three Day Weekend

Martin Luther King’s birthday allowed for a three day weekend. I worked for a short while on Friday but I don’t remember accomplishing much. Some friends of mine got into town that night but I didn’t see them. This evening I watched the series premiere of Battlestar Galactica and a new Episode of Enterprise, which returned after a winter hiatus. I had an appointment with an eye doctor on Saturday morning. It was my first time seeing one in a few years. I was told I have a ‘slight excavation of the right eye,’ but the doctor may simply be trying to pay for all that expensive equipment. I was at home all afternoon while my eye dilation returned to normal. Later in the evening I was to see Andrey and Khadijah for the evening but that didn’t work out so well. Kali was in a bad mood and I wasn’t up to dealing with it. We had words while in the Blockbuster trying to rest a video game. I asked Andrey to take me home and he did. That evening I watched O Brother, Where Art Thou, which was funny and enjoyable. Later that night I had a rather unproductive phone conversation with Khadijah.

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Jan132005

Intro to Marketing

Shortly after waking up this morning I dropped the PR class and enrolled in Intro to Marketing with Ann Snell, a professor my Dad has had and recommended. I doubt this class will be more valuable but I hope it will be more tolerable. I got dropped off at the mall with plenty of time to spare. I wandered around the mall for a little while before going to the computer lab for a short while before class. I also checked up on the textbook I’d be needing, which I learned is $140 new. Class started promptly at noon. The day’s noted were already on the board. I had my laptop with me today to try my hand at typing my notes. Keeping off with conversation may be troublesome though. I guess time will tell. The class itself seemed nice, given my disinterest in the subject matter. This professor seems to have a bit of a fan club, as many of the students had taken her classes more than once. Ms. Snell gave a short lecture introducing marketing. Class was dismissed early at about 12:45. I spoke with her briefly afterward during which I introduced myself. She gave me the e-mail address of someone selling their textbook. Having been let out early I had some time before I was to meet Ann for lunch. I stopped at the Gap and then sat down in the food court and finished a log entry before Ann arrived at 1:15. I got a shrimp po-boy. Having eaten I walked back with her to the bookstore so she could show me something. I left shortly after so I could go to work. I caught the Tulane bus, which arrived just after I got to the stop. The ride to work couldn’t have been more than 15 minutes. When I arrived I did the three reports that were waiting. A short while later I resumed work adding discharge dates to a patient database. I didn’t get far with that though. Dad picked me up around 5:30 and we went home. Later in the evening I started watching Throne of Blood, but I was tired and I was talking to a couple folks online so I didn’t get far. I was going to watch O Brother, Where Art Thou but the disc from Netflix was broken.

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Jan122005

Movies In and Out of Class

I went to work with Dad this morning but never really did much as I wasn’t there long. I got lunch from the deli shortly before leaving. Dad took me uptown around noon. I had over five hours to kill and I did my best. I first stopped at the bookstore to have another look at my textbooks. I also browsed the rest of the store and some other books. After leaving there I walked to Richardson to use the computer lab for a while. I was there for a couple hours, doing nothing of circumstance. I left there around four. I got a sandwich from The Drawing Board and sat outside with a magazine for a while. After taking a short walk I went back to the lab for a few minutes and then walked to the Norman Mayer building for my evening class, Art and Craft of Film. Melanie stopped by briefly before having to go to her class. While we were speaking I realized I lost the little case for my headphones. She walked with me to Richardson where I found it at the desk I was using earlier. We then went to our respective classes. When I got back to Mayer there was a problem with the room assignments. There was also an Intro to Media Arts class scheduled in the same room. As it turns out we were in another room. As I recall, there was the exact same mix up when I took Media Arts last semester involving the same rooms in the same building. The film class was interesting at least. The professor has a rather high pitched voice that I think I will find distracting throughout the semester. After a brief over of the class and a short pre-test, we watched Bonnie and Clyde, an unimpressive film in my opinion that the professor said she likes to show at each first class. The session was dismissed after the movies abrupt ending. Melanie had walked in to my class after hers finished. We had planned to see a movie after class and we did. Melanie’ dad was waiting for us when we got out, he gave us a ride to the Elmwood Palace. This was my first time meeting her father, who seems like an easy-going person. I would have expected some sort of conversation as I am dating her daughter, but he didn’t have a single question for me. After getting dropped off we found the movie we were going to see wouldn’t start for a while so we went to see Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events instead. The movie was just about to start as we walked in. The theater was sparsely occupied so I think we lucked out. I like to arrive early to get a good seat but that was no problem tonight. It was an interesting and amusing movie with a nice story and a unique environment. After the movie Melanie called a cab home. We both rode to her house. I had intended to take the bus the rest of the way. The buses were not running; hardly surprising as it was after midnight. I walked to St. Charles Avenue to see if the streetcars were running but they did not seem to be in service late either. I called a cab and waited at the steps of Gibson Hall. I was talking to Khadijah on the phone when the cab arrived but I didn’t try to talk over the music that was playing in the car. I wanted to pay by credit card when I arrived. There was some hassle with it but I was able to. During the cab ride I learned that I left my keys home. I was lucky to find a hidden key, as I had never looked for it before. I was just given general directions. I was also lucky to get inside as the key to the back door isn’t very useful as it’s hard to unlock the door, the knob is generally jammed but I was fortunate to have little trouble. When I got in I found the wireless internet card that I won on eBay. I had no trouble getting it to work in my laptop. I called Khadijah again when I got home and we talked for a while before I went to sleep around three.

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Jan112005

History and Public Relations

Dad dropped me off at the New Orleans Center before heading to work this morning. I had two new classes today, the first of which is Principles of Public Relations. I only signed up for the class as it pertains to my major of Media Arts. I was rather disappointed with the first session. While the professor seems like a nice person, she seems to take herself and the subject matter far to seriously. The class was kinda crowded with about 18 other students. Hopefully I’ll be able to replace this class. After class ended early around 12:40, I wandered around the mall for a bit before taking a seat in the food court to meet Ann for lunch. She showed up around quarter after. I last saw her when last semester ended in early December. From what she told me, thing were rather unchanged since we last spoke. With over a month gone by, I did have some things to say myself. After lunch I walked back with her to the bookstore and then went to wait for the shuttle bus to go uptown for this evening’s class. As always, I had lots of time to kill. I went to the ATM and then the bookstore to check up on the books I’d be needing. The history class had five books including a textbook. The PR class has one textbook for $120. There is no textbook for review writing and Melanie already provided me with the text for Art & Craft of Film. I didn’t buy any books today, there was no way I was going to stand in the enormous line to pay for overpriced books. Having left the bookstore I walked to the Richardson building to pass the time in the computer lab for a while. I was in there for a few hours. While there I won a slip case for my new laptop on eBay. I left the lab about a half hour before my evening class started, US History 1865 to present. This class was the most crowded I had seen yet, although not so bad compared to a lot of colleges. There were 32 other students. While history is a casual interest of mine, I was very disappointed with this particular class. In short, it was rather boring. The professor, who I assume is a nice person, did a poor job in conducting the class in my opinion. The format of the proceedings seemed unusually dull. Thirty minutes of class time was spent by the professor conjuring typed of primary sources of historical information from the students. For a half hour, things like court documents, speeches, film and other such things were mentioned. Later in the class he had us read the Declaration of Independence, after which we ‘discussed’ things like Thomas Jefferson’s biases and agenda. Class was not exactly dismissed early, we were released shortly after eight o’clock. I met dad at The Boot. After I finished the drink that was waiting for me, we went home. I got home around nine, after which I used the computer for a while. I talked to Khadijah on the phone in the evening. Ami also called tonight to tell me she purchased plane tickets to New Orleans so she will actually be coming to town to visit for Mardi Gras after having been in Arizona for well over a year. I was pretty surprised because I was never entirely convinced she’d ever come to visit. Late in the evening I tried to start to read a novel ‘assigned’ to me in review writing class, but I quickly grew tired and went to be shortly after one.

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2005

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