IT Grads
Uploaded by peachy92.

Well, I finally did it. I finally earned a college degree. I have a Bachelor of Information Technology, pending on grades from this semester being posted. I have no doubt I have that degree. I only have one project for one class left to complete and turn in next week. The class doesn't even matter for my degree, but I want to get an A in that class and make the Dean's List. Joey says my life is shaped on how I perform academically, and he's right. I am not satisfied with Cs. I want those As. My other classes, the ones that really matter for my degree, are complete. I didn't get a degree today; instead, I got a diploma cover stating I'll get my degree in a few weeks. At practice yesterday, they said it would be February before we get the diplomas in the mail. I was the only one in the School of Computing to graduate Magna Cum Laude. A few others, like sweet Daniel, graduated Cum Laude in the School.

This picture highlighted is one taken before the ceremony began. The graduates lined up in two different lines that would snake into the arena. With the way seating and presentation of departments went, I was second in line, overall, for line A. The IT department was split up into the two different lines. 5 of us were in A. 6 were over in B. So, as we're waiting to start the ceremony, Joey came over and snapped this picture of Will, Sean, Duy, and me in line. I like how it looked. Believe it or not, the IT department is a very close department. We may hate each other and want to kill each other, but we're a big family. We help each other when needed. I'm going to miss them all.

The pictures from today are okay. The ceremony ended just after 11, so the pictures from after it are hard to see. The sun was directly overhead and even using my circular polarization filter couldn't stop washout in the photos. I have the Dean of the School of Computing asking me for photos. He could see me from the stage and saw I was taking pictures during the ceremony. He wants a few from them. He was also glad to see me graduate. He had me 9 years ago during my failed attempt at college. He knows how far I fell and how far I came back. My Computer Ethics professor told me she was sad to see me leaving Armstrong. I wasn't just a great student, but I'm a pleasant person to have around the department. My Data Com professor asked me when I was going to start the graduate program. I told her I needed a break. However, the department was so glad and proud to see me and the others graduate.

After the ceremony and the after ceremony talks, my family, Matthew's girlfriend Jessica, Joey, Lindsey, and Chris all celebrated my graduation at lunch. We went to Cracker Barrel and had a good time. Lindsey got me a gift for birthday/graduation. She got me Hymns For The Journey, a compilation of Amy Grant hymns from Rock of Ages and Legacy… Hymns & Faith.. It's funny she chose that CD, and that's where we had lunch. When I was there with Joey last week for lunch, I was looking over the CD and thinking of getting it. Those two know me well. I will miss seeing them everyday like I got use to since June.

Post jacking - there is a PupPup sleeping with me. She usually gets with me when Nicki and Beth aren't home. They are at work. They won't get off until midnight. I treated PupPup the other day with a squeaky hot dog toy. I do spoil her. I like bringing her home bones and squeaky toys. She's always so happy to get them.

Yesterday, my birthday, was good, too. Lunch was spent with Joey and the Writing Center people. It was their end-of-year get together. I didn't know most of them, but I did know Dr. Reese and her grad assistant, Donnette. Donnette worked with me there back when she was an undergrad. We were in Business Tech English together, as well. I went to lunch with them because it was my birthday. When Joey told Dr. Reese it was my birthday, and we were going to go have lunch to celebrate it, she said for me to come along.

Last night was the Wesley Foundation Christmas party. Melissa had her Armstrong and Savannah state folks get together. We Armstrong people may have been outnumbered, but we had fun and enjoyed the company of the Savannah State people. We played Apples to Apples, which my partner and I won, and exchanged gifts. I ended up getting a pomegranate and mango soap set from the exchange. Melissa even had the traditional southern party food, a huge plate of Chick-Fil-A nuggets, alone with Lil' Smokies, chips, dip, crackers, brownies, and cake.

The past 48 hours have been a flurry. I survived the hard part. I think I'll go watch a movie. I TiVo'd Guys and Dolls a week ago. I should go watch it. Pictures from yesterday and today are on my Flickr account.

[♪ Listening to: "Pinball Wizard" - Elton John]

I'm 29 today.

This is probably my last post as an undergraduate. I'm off to get ready for practice, and later tonight there is a Christmas party. In between those, I have to go shopping for an outfit to wear under my robe. What else I'll do, I don't know.

Update 10:31 AM: Just found out at graduation practice that the graduation ceremony will be streamed on the Internet. It starts at 10 AM tomorrow. I am the second female overall getting her degree. Tune in early. Armstrong Atlantic State University's website.

Thursday Threesome:

Onesome: Chocolate-- The joy of the Christmas season? Boxes of See's and Godiva and other "Food Pron" showing up at the office? How do you feel about chocolate at the holidays? Yeah, really! Lindsey's been spoiling us in the IT department with her jar of chocolate. I like chocolate this time of year. I just don't need to pig out on it. One or two pieces at a time isn't going to kill me.

Twosome: Pop--ping into your mind as the next thing that you only find this time of year? What are you looking forward to/forgot to go by to check on/oh, heck, it's time for? Pick one and go for it! Cracker Barrel used to have Coca-Cola cake this time of year, but they no longer do it. I never can keep up as to when it is now. That is some good chocolate cake! I would have gone for some at Cracker Barrel the other day if they had it.

Threesome: Tarts-- ...and is it also "candle time" around the place (work or home)? ...and do you use those 'tarts' to make the place smell nice? (Google it if you aren't familiar with them <g>.) No, never been one to warm tarts. Haven't been burning candles at the home. I guess I should pick one up after graduation to add a holiday feel to the house when I'm home.

Yesterday was the 2^nd anniversary of my mother's death. This week, I've been too busy to grieve. It hit me yesterday at dinner that yesterday wasn't just the 5^th, but it was the 5^th. I have been crying a bit this past week, with the big gusher being last Friday. But, I think my mother would be glad to know I was actually busy this week.

Tuesday afternoon was spent with Lindsey. We had lunch at Sticky Fingers. As a member of its mailing list, I had received a coupon for a free half slab of ribs meal. So, we went there to take advantage of that coupon. After lunch, we headed to T.J. Maxx so Lindsey could buy Christmas crackers. Christmas crackers are a holiday tradition in her family. I had never seen one until she bought them. They seem to be a Commonwealth thing. Lindsey's grandmother is British.

That night was spent helping Joey with a presentation he had to give today. He wanted to work on it, and wanted my feedback on the project. He values my input, since my grades are good. The assistance on the Power Point goes back to spring semester last year and we worked on that group project. I was the one that developed the presentation, and it looked nice. We got an A on it. My payment for the help was dinner. We ended up using my laptop because his desktop was giving him trouble. He liked using my laptop because it made the editing, especially the graphics, easier than if he did it on his computer.

Yesterday was spent pretty much with Joey as well. We had lunch before my first class. Between my classes, and after he finished other important items, we went to the gym. He didn't have to drag me, but he didn't allow me to use the excuse that I had no shirt in my car to use at the gym. He lent me one to use. He didn't have to drag me because I knew going to the gym was good for me. I will not allow him to push me into doing something that I know is wrong, and he knows that, too. And he made me work out in that hour spent at the gym. I hurt now from that work out. Shame he waited 3 days before I graduate to take me to the gym. Had he suggested this earlier in the semester, it probably would have been better for me. After classes had ended for the both of us last night, he showed me a job search before dinner. Seems the past month or so, I've been going to dinner with him on Wednesdays, along with his uncle and a family friend. I wasn't expecting to have dinner with them yesterday, but I guess it became a habit. I ended up going to dinner, and browsed the mall.

Today was Lindsey's day to have me. No, I'm not a kid to be shared between divorced parents. It just looks that way at times. We had my birthday lunch today. I'll say Applebee's tomato basil soup was delicious. It was her treat. She also offered a hair cut or nails being done as a gift, but I turned her down. My hair is the perfect length and my nails are going bye-bye after graduation. I just couldn't justify the expense. I did go with her to salon so she could get her hair done. After lunch, I saw the counselor again. I really needed to see him after Friday's breakdown. He told me something I needed to hear: take the rest of the month one day at a time.

In other news, a grade for my Senior Project, better known as a capstone project, was posted to SHIP today. I made an A in it. That A will go along with the one I made in E-Commerce (that isn't posted yet), and the one in Golf. I'm waiting on my Meteorology grade. I don't know how I did in it. I was border line A/B last time I did the math for it. My classes required for graduation are finished. I only have one project for Digital Photography to do post-graduation. That class, I don't really care about, except I want an A to make the Dean's List this semester.

It starts in a few minutes here on the East Coast. Well, at least in Savannah. It may have already started up north.

Don't know what Hanukkah is? Well, look at the Wikipedia page about it. From what I understand, it's a minor Jewish holiday compared to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Jewish professor in the IT department didn't take today off, like he has for some holidays in the past. He's teaching class at the moment. The holiday was brought to the importance it is today to be an equivalent to Christmas. It's still important.

Actually, I enjoy hearing the story behind Hanukkah. When I was in 2^nd grade, I won a book. I loved that book. The book was about Hanukkah. My mother found it funny that I had this book considering I was Catholic and attending a Catholic school.

I think the dreidel and the chocolate coins are a fun thing. I wish I had played with one with my Jewish friend Jessica when I was a child. When it came to December, we didn't really see much of each other that month, other than my birthday. She had Hanukkah, and we had Christmas. We never really spoke to each other about it, except for me saying I was jealous of the 8 nights of presents when we were about 8/9-years-old. I forgot what she said she wished she had from Christmas. In fact, Easter and Christmas were the only times our faiths seemed to collide. And even then, it was never a big deal.

Today was my last Wesley lunch. It's not the last time I will see some of these people. My last big Wesley event is Friday night's Christmas party. I am sure going to miss this part of my life.

After the meal, we went over this pamphlet entitled Waiting. Melissa read us the entry for today. She didn't have enough copies for us, so I went without. It's all about Advent. We also little candle #1 of the Advent wreath. After the Advent sermon, she read us The Crippled Lamb.

I did not cry during the book, but I did get up to get a napkin to wipe away the tears forming at the corner of my eyes. For some reason, the book reminded me of the Serendipity books I had as a child. There was on particular one, called Morgan Morning. Morgan Morning is this book about a little foal named that goes exploring a place against his mother's wishes. Morgan falls and end up breaking his leg. Well, you know what happens to horses that break their legs. At the end of the book, the little foal becomes a unicorn, but must never see his mother again. Now, the The Crippled Lamb had nothing in common with Morgan Morning except an animal with a gimpy leg, but it brought back that memory I have forgotten about for years. I always hated Morgan Morning. I always sobbed at the end of the book.

Well, The Crippled Lamb had a happy ending. The young, little crippled lamb that couldn't run, jump, or play with the other lambs and sheep due to his injured leg did get to do something the other lambs and sheep didn't do. The little lamb in this book got to meet the baby Jesus. Yes, it's a happy book, after all.

After my class for today, I went to the bookstore and picked up my cap and gown. Yes, graduation is getting closer and more real for me. And to tell you the truth, I am damn scared. Does anyone know of any job offers in this town I would be qualified for? That's my big fear at the moment - not being qualified for any job. I know things will happen as they should be. They usually do. I'm just scared as hell.

WSAV Newsroom
Uploaded by peachy92.

Yesterday afternoon, I toured the WSAV studios as part of my Meteorology class. The tour was mainly for us students, friends, and family, to see just what goes into producing the weather maps and information we see on TV. One student brought her entire family of husband and 3 sons. Another student brought her 2 daughters and a friend. A third student brought her friend. I think we all enjoyed the tour. I know the youngest boy on the tour was obsessed with the green chroma key screen. He actually asked my professor if the professor could tell the little girls to quit getting on the screen with him. The child may have found his calling in life.

Yes, we saw the green screen used for the newscasts. One of the students on the tour wore a green shirt similar to the screen's green coloring. The professor had him get in front of the screen to demonstrate what happens when you wear the same color as the screen. While in real life, the screen is just nothing but a green wall, after being fed through the camera and the computer equipment, what is displayed on TV features a weather map behind the TV meteorologist. So, when this student appeared on a TV screen, he had only a head, legs, and arms on the TV. His torso included a weather map. In addition to the screen, we saw the part of the studio where the meteorologists work. Their workstation is actually on the news set. They have plenty of computers and TVs showing what's going on in the studio and what's going on the station's airwaves. Being a techie, I was impressed by the computer system used to monitor the weather and create weather maps. I asked my friend Robert about the computer operating system used on some of the computers. We think the studio uses a proprietary system from a vendor. It looked similar to Linux. I had a chance to draw a weather map on it. Robert was in awe of all the networking components in the studio. It was interesting to see another field that needs our IT skills.

Besides looking at the meteorology specific items in the studio, we toured the rest of the set, which isn't very large. The green screen is behind and off to the side of where the meteorology tools are at. The set they use to perform interviews and demonstrations on the morning show is very shallow and caddy corned to the main set. I couldn't believe how small the studio was. They will have to build a new one out on the Westside if they want to expand anymore. The Victory Drive location is limited with all the other businesses around it preventing expansion. We also toured the panel room where the producers, directors, sound people, and graphic artists are during a newscast. Our final part of the tour included seeing the news room and looking into one of the editing bays. It was not just a tour of meteorology tools, but a short tour of video production. It was something I haven't done since I was 14. Had I not heard growing up that video production is a cutthroat job with low pay, I probably have gone into it.

[♪ Listening to: "Something Like You" - *NSYNC]