First week...

First week of classes came and gone, and it's the time again for my thoughts about this semester. Lol. I am still wondering why am I taking such a heavy load this semester. =/

First, I am taking Fin102, and the lecturer is Prof. Rozycki. After two classes with him, my impression for him is still good, and it has yet to evolve to the toughest professor everyone has been talking about. Well, I guess that will be tested again when the assignments and test starts to come. Till now, he is still a good lecturer, and he tries to make the class interesting with a couple of jokes or more.

Next, Fin150, and the lecturer is Prof. White. He is a new lecturer, and this is his first semester teaching here at Drake. With that said, there's not much history about him in Drake, except that his interview with DASS (Drake Actuarial Science Society) was conducted by the committee members of DASS, who happens to be students. I guess that's positive, since students know exactly what kind of lecturer is good for the subject. So far he still have a positive impression in my mind. =)

Acc165 is another subject I am taking, taught by Prof. Njoroge. She's from Africa, and she have an accent. Well, it is not a bad accent that I can't listen to, so it is fine with me. It seems that she have been teaching for quite some time at Drake, and I have not heard anything bad about her, so I will take it as she is a good lecturer. She teaches with PowerPoint slides and uses the textbook a lot, giving tons of homework, but I guess that's how we can learn accounting, which is through tedious practice and exercises.

I am taking Mgmt110 as well, and the lecturer is Prof. Reed. She isn't bad, and she can get quite comical at times. Cheerful and funny, and she keep stressing about how detailed this course is, which in terms translate to there's a lot of reading in this course! =( I have a hunch that this semester is extremely busy! Well, Monday is Labor day, and she have a conference on Wednesday, which means there's no Mgmt110 class for a week! =p Recharge and get ready before the work load starts coming down!

Last but not least, Acts151, taught by the funny and cute Prof. Judd. I had him last semester for Acts150, and I believe I have a little more experience dealing with him. No, don't get me wrong, he is a great lecturer, and he always tries to make his class funny, or at least his character makes the class funny. The material covered is just two chapters, which is bad, BAD! Two chapters for the whole semester (four months) does translate to this course is tough tough and tough. Since I got an extremely tough finals from him last semester, I will try my best to prepare more for finals this time around!

Well, there you go, 5 subjects, 15 credits this semester, and it seems like there's more work load as compared with last semester. I guess that's what happen when one climb up the course structure and starts taking higher level classes. It's the senior year for me this time around, and I have to balance work and study now. Fingers crossed, pray hard, and let's prepare for this semester! I want to at least get Dean's List once here at Drake, and let's make it this semester! =D

End of summer...

Another two hours and summer holiday will be over; and another 14 hours my first class for Fall 2008 semester will officially start. Time flies, doesn't it?

I have already been here for a year, and much has happened since my arrival here at the States. Well, I've met new friends, worked, learned how to be more independent, did mistakes, made dreams to reality, etc. Of course, I still miss home, miss my family and friends, miss the food, etc. But I must say getting an opportunity to study abroad is really something one should appreciate.

And my summer, spending an entire summer here in the States, I must say it isn't bad at all. Being able to get an opportunity to work allows me to learn more than just what is thought in class, and it also allowed me to earn some money, which I did splurge on a thing or two. Well, I must say those stuffs that I bought isn't something of a waste, though I can live without it. =p But then again, I earned it by working hard, so I truly think I deserve it. =D

Well, tomorrow is back to crunch time I guess, a whole new semester, and a whole new challenge in life. Let's get some rest and when my eyes open tomorrow it will be the first day of Fall 2008 semester here at Drake University. Good night folks!

Happy and crazy

I am happy now. I feel relaxed. =p Why you ask? The answer is simple: I have a vacation!! =D Yes, tomorrow I do not need to go to work, and on Sunday I will fly myself to the world reknown New York City again! =p I am paying NYC another visit, and this time it's going to last for 6 days. A much, much needed vacation after working for almost the entire summer. I said almost is because summer isn't officially over, though it will only last a few more weeks. =(

When I got off work today, it felt exactly like when I finished my finals. I know that I have to go back to work after the break, yet it is a great relief that my break have finally arrived. The same feeling as I finish finals: I know I have to get back to the books after the holidays, yet there is a period of time where I can just escape from it. =D Yeah, I know, I am just crapping a sh*t load here. Lol. Haven't done this for a long time I must say.

Anyway, I am really really going to enjoy myself for this vacation. Hopefully I won't get a call from my boss. Well, it's not that I will fly back to work during vacation, nor will I bring my laptop to NYC just for work, it's just that when he calls me I have to search through my memory and think of something to solve that problem, which will definitely waste my precious vacation time. Haha... I know I am lazy, I do admit that. Why not? =p

Anyway, I have quite a lot of jogging to do to catch up with my "mileage" target. Jogging made me do something crazy too! It was something which I very very seldom do I must say. What you say? I will tell you right here, right now. =p

I was jogging on Tuesday you see, from my place to Hyvee. On the way there, I happen to meet this girl who was walking the opposite direction. I know this may sound crazy, but I can't help to think that she is very, very pretty. People who live in Des Moines are generally friendly, so we smiled at each other when we passed by. She really do look so sweet and beautiful when she smile. How nice I thought. =p

And then came the crazy thing I did. It wasn't my schedule to jog again on Wednesday as I normally jog on alternative days, but I went ahead and jog the same route, just hoping that I will bump into her again. Ain't that crazy? Lol. But who cares? As long as I don't do anything illegal it will be fine, isn't it? Well, not much luck second time around I should say. Yeah, you guessed it, she didn't walk that day, or at least we didn't meet while I was jogging. =(

Well, the nice side of the story is, I did put in some jogging and I am a little closer to my target. I also get to explore another street, which is quite peaceful and nice for jogging -- Cottage Grove Av. itself! Yes, the very street I live on. It is a very nice street for jogging, and it is away from all the hassle of University Av.! I will be jogging on this very street more often I think. My 25 mile target is still a distance apart, and I will reach my target before school starts. =D

Alright, enough of crapping. I will have to excuse myself because I have a farewell partaaaaay of a friend to attend. Let's hope tomorrow's jogging will allow me to bump into her again. Wahahahahaa... Adioz!

Suprise!!

I promised something great, and now I deliver my promise.



On August 3rd, 2008, at 2015 hours, my hall looks like this:








And then on August 3rd 2008, at 2200 hours, my hall looks like this:

Can't see what is that? Need a closer look? Here you go:

How is that for a piece of furniture in my apartment? I finally got what I wanted! I guess staying in the States and getting a job for the summer isn't that bad! Or should I say it is amazingly wonderful? =p Yes, I am happy, very happy. Why shouldn't I be? After all, I have been wanting to have a foosball table in the place I live in. =D


Alright, that's all for now. Now I am gonna do some practice everyday if possible to prepare myself for an upcoming DYP right here in Des Moines! Let's hope Mr. Adrian will come along. =D Ciaoz...

Updates... Rantings... =p

Wow, I basically spend the whole day out today!! Amazing. I haven't been shopping for a while, and finally I got the chance to walk around the mall today at Jordan Creek. =p Yeah, I know. It does sound weird that a guy would like shopping and walking around in the mall, but I guess too much of routine makes one bored! =p But I seriously do enjoy shopping, not every single day though! =p

Suet dropped by Des Moines with her boyfriend to visit me! How nice of her. =p Finally met up with some old friends. She's still the same I should say, out going and funny... etc. Not much changes I should say. Haha... It was fun getting to meet her again here at the States. =) Thanks for visiting me Suet!! =)

Well, I watched another movie today!! Hahaha... This time I watched The Mummy 3. What do I think about it? Well, another mummy movie I should say, with the beginning a little draggy, and the story line is sort of the same as before. Not much suprise I should say. I would give it maybe a 2.5 out of 5 stars.

And now I would like to set a target for myself -- jog 25 miles in total before school starts. =p I have already made 6 miles in three days of jogging, and there will be this coming week and the week before school starts on the 25th of August for me to build up my "mileage". =p I am heading over to NYC on the 10th, so I guess that will stop me from jogging, or maybe not if I have the chance. =p

The three days of jogging allowed me to discover some pretty sights around Drake I must say. Well, not in Drake campus area I must say, but places around Drake like 42nd Street, Forest Avenue... Some houses there are just so nice and well shaded, which reminds me of my holiday in Australia way back then. =p And now I also know that University Avenue is an easier course than Forest Avenue (only apply from 25th Street to 42nd Street so far! =p). My next run will be 4 miles I hope, and most likely it will be more challenging because there is a big hill past 42nd Street! =p

Alright, that's pretty much about it for now. I will blog again on either tomorrow or Monday, because there will be something to blog about. Something nice, something fun. =p Adioz for now! =)

The Dark Knight

Guess what? I got to watch The Dark Knight yesterday! I watched it at an iMax theather in downtown Des Moines! Hey hey, some part of the film is specially filmed for iMax, so it's of course worth it watching at an iMax theather, don't think so? =p

Anyway, there won't be any spoiler here. It is a very good movie, and it surely lived up to its hype. Hey, the queue to enter the theather started building an hour before the show! Another thing, tickets are sold out in almost all cinema here! That's how many people watching it. Amazing. And I must say this iMax experience is way better than the first one I had in Omaha. Lol!!

I must say this movie deserve 4.5 stars, or maybe 4.8 stars, out of a 5 stars scale. Yes, it is truly a good movie, one worth watching. Heck, the whole theather clapped once the movie ended. Everyone was in awe how good the movie is!! Go watch it for yourself, don't wait till they stop screening it! Dig up your piggy banks and look under your couch for money if you have to, just make sure you watch it at the cinema, or a surround sound home theather system! =p

Truly a good movie. And now let us all remember the person who gave his all for this movie, Heath Ledger.

Ironman

I think I missed out a movie review on this show. I happened to watch Ironman on the day it was released. I guess too much of assignments and finals coming up, that's why I didn't write a review on this movie. Well, since it is so late, this post will contain spoiler. Don't read if you intent to watch the movie! =p

This movie set out by showing this successful guy making high-tech weapons for the US government. Then he went over to the Middle-East to showcase his latest and most powerful bomb, or superweapon I should say, the Jericho. It was broadcasted live on TV, and the whole world knew about it. It was a successful broadcast, and its main purpose is to cast fear to enemies.

While on his way back, his convoy was delibrately ambushed. Admist all the chaos, he found himself staring at his very own company's bomb before it served its purposed in front of him. Fortunately, he was saved by another specialist. But, due to the nature of that bomb, his body is contaminated with metal shrapnels. In order to save him, this specialist created a 'heart' for him, a 'heart' that will hold the metal shrapnels in place in order for him to survive.

When he woke up, the heart was already planted in him. After some explanation, he and the specialist became allies. Forced by the commander who bought his company's weapons, he agreed to make the Jericho. Yes, it is a disguise. He secretly made himself a suit of armor, armed with a flame thrower, and able to fly with booster on the armor's feet.

Sadly, to escape, the specialist sacrificed himself. With all the sound effects and screen effects, Ironman was born. He destroyed the whole hideout of the terrorist group, and started to fly out of the area. Well, it wasn't tested before, so I should say it didn't flew very well, which was quite a funny sight.

After he got back to US, he decided to stop making weapons. Of course, his company's board was not happy. He went on with his decision, and secretly in his underground lab, he continue to refine his suit, his Ironman.

Able to get whatever technology he needed, he successfully created Ironman. He flew back to the Middle East, destroyed the whole terrorist camp, and met two Raptors on his way back. Needless to say, he came home safely, and that is when Ironman is near perfection.

Well, guess who is selling the weapons to the terrorist? Yeap, definitely the company's partner. Profit. Which wide-eyed monster don't go after profit? After he found out this truth, he was angered and he continued to add power to Ironman. Meanwhile, the suit which he made during his escape was found by the terrorist leader and later made its way to the traitor. Making that junk more powerful, making it a more sophisticated weapon, and making it stand against Ironman was what the traitor did.

The fight was nice, though as usual, good guys win in the movies. Well, being overpowered, Ironman can only outwit his opponent. With a little help from his beloved secretary, evil is being destroyed by a burst of technology itself.

With all the fight going on in the city and a crescendo finale to the fight, it's to no suprise that the press, also known as paparazzi, was interested. Headlines of the fight came out, with the name Ironman splash over the newspapers. After reading the papers, he thought the name Ironman was perfect. Being told to hide the truth and given alibis, he stood facing the press. He was asked: "Can you tell me what happened in your power plant last night? Are you involved in the fight? Are you Ironman?" After a little thought, he said:

"As a matter of fact, I AM Ironman!"

What a way to end the show. A line to remember, a line which enables a sequel if they consider making one, and a line which I call killer line. =p I had say this movie is worth 4 stars out of 5 stars as well. Considering the fact that I just wrote another movie review about 45 minutes ago, these two movies stand out for itself, and certainly have its own moment. A great movie, and a movie worth watching another time.

Now, if only I have the chance to catch the next most anticipate movie... The Dark Knight anyone? =p