Academia Hits Hard

We're three or so weeks into the spring semester and now the pressure's starting to build. I've got a number of projects coming up due (and not easy ones, mind you) and multiple homework due every week. I've spent most of the weekend (save a break on Sunday) trying to get things figured out and finished. My progress is slow and every now and then I run into something (a problem or a concept) that I just can't figure out. I've been bouncing e-mails to my professors and TAs (Teaching Assistants) almost daily. All I really want is to lay down a sleep for a whole day.

But I'm muddling through it. I'm determined to make this my last semester. I mean, I filled out my graduation contract and everything! :-)

Interested in what my classload looks like? Here you go....

I start the day with CS460 (Embedded Systems), which is teaching me how to program the circuits that you find in Game Boys, PDAs and cell phones. I sometimes think I need more circuit design experience to really understand this class, but its still interesting.

Next I have CS457 (Networks/Internet), which tells me everything I could ever want to know about networking. I'm fortunate to have an instructor that I've had before (Dan Massey) who is an excellent lecturer. The class is very fascinating (and I'm sure will be useful), but Professor Massey does like to push his students - with lots of reading and homework each week.

Next I go to CS454 (Principles of Programming Languages). My faculty adviser recommended this class for me as a programmer because it would "stretch" my understanding of computer languages and challenge the way I think about coding. Boy howdy was he right! I'm learning a functional language called Scheme, which certainly doesn't work like the Java and C++ that I'm used to!

Lastly, I finish up the day with CS451 (Operating Systems). Having finally made it through the first part of the OS courses, I'm inflicting the second one on myself. My rationale is that it'll be useful in my hoped-for career as a systems administrator. On the plus side, I'll be learning a lot about UNIX programming.

So that's all from the scholastic side of things. I expect that my blog posts will be few and far between until the end of the semester, especially as midterms, advanced projects, and term papers start piling up. :-)

Two quick notes first:

1) A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother-in-law Heath! Hope you had a great b-day, bro!

2) Props to my lovely wife Kate, who has had to fall into the role of major housekeeper and my moral support through school. I don't know what I would do without her.

Thanks for reading and, as always, I hope you're having a great day!