It's been quite a busy week between everything I have going on. In case you didn't see, my new room has fallen through, due to some unforeseen circumstances on the owner's end. So i'm scrambling to find a new place. I went to see one option last night, but it was just way too small. I have two more places to look at on Saturday, so hopefully one or both of those prove to be good options. Wish me luck, haven't found too many other options.
The group presentation went fairly well we think. Good feedback, nothing negative - just things we need to do and clarify really. Which obviously we know there was still a lot to do. So we're plugging away on it, ideally we are more or less finished with the designs by the next review on April 12th. Then we can finalise the report, poster, and incorporate comments that we get during the second review.
I hate my NCAA bracket by the way, having really only payed attention the ACC this year. Who knows what that means towards how the picks actually go though.
We did finally get to pick up our passes that get us into Silverstone for nearly any event (not MotoGP or F1 though) so that is exciting, hope to get over there soon as the season gets going.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Presentation Today
Wish us luck for the first group review presentation today. Presenting our basic concepts and ideas for the rally car and series. Hopefully the professors like them and we can continue developing them. Would hate to start over at this point! Then I'm sticking around campus for an initial Toastmasters meeting from 6-8. So a long day on campus. An attempt is being made at starting a club that meets on campus. I might keep going to the established one in Willen though. Bit easier access with the bus, and it won't require me to stay on campus if I don't need to be here. They will make sure there are experienced people at the Cranfield one, but I can't help thinking that the established club will be a slightly better environment.
Stupid loaf of bread started going moldy yesterday. It's such a pain to keep it fresh. Freezing is a hassle as is keeping it in the fridge because I just don't have enough space in there (another benefit of the new accommodations). I did make some banana bread on Sunday, and it's tasting great, really glad I decided to give that a shot. Now I'm looking around for other bread things to make. Maybe this will replace some of the calories I'm apparently not eating. I was all the way down to 91 kg (200 lbs) the last time I checked at the gym. Kinda crazy.
Stupid loaf of bread started going moldy yesterday. It's such a pain to keep it fresh. Freezing is a hassle as is keeping it in the fridge because I just don't have enough space in there (another benefit of the new accommodations). I did make some banana bread on Sunday, and it's tasting great, really glad I decided to give that a shot. Now I'm looking around for other bread things to make. Maybe this will replace some of the calories I'm apparently not eating. I was all the way down to 91 kg (200 lbs) the last time I checked at the gym. Kinda crazy.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Weekend
Obviously I've been working along on our project the last couple days. We have to present our concept to the professors on Tuesday, so we're not necessarily doing more work or design at this point - but putting it together for the presentation. I think our designs are coming along well and that we're on the right path so far. The team is working well together too, which is really nice and makes things much easier.
I've also picked up something else to do on campus that involves building stuff and hand tools (which I've honestly been missing since I don't have a car or house that requires me to fix things anymore). I can't really tell you what it is exactly though due to the non-disclosure agreement I signed. But I got to go work on that for a bit yesterday afternoon which I enjoyed.
Managed to watch most of the ACC tournament games so far too. Glad they are in the afternoons today and tomorrow, makes it much easier for me to watch! The end of that VT/FSU game was crazy. My first instinct on the Kitchen shot was that it was late. Honestly didn't think it was as close as it turned out to be though. The time difference does change to 4 hrs tonight though. That will last for 2 weeks.
I've been making porridge for breakfasts recently, and have started soaking the oats overnight, which I do think makes them taste better. Also makes it nice and easy in the morning, just pull the bowl out and pop it in the microwave. Supposedly it also makes the nutrients in them easier to absorb for your body too. I cooked them with some peanut butter this morning which was great.
Heading over to the gym for a workout soon. Then going to look at the market for a cheap, hopefully silicone loaf pan - been craving some banana bread recently. This afternoon I think I'm going to take a bike ride up to Wolverton, which is right about 5 miles. There's a beer fest going on (with next to no details about the beer, so fingers are crossed on some good ones) and they'll have the Six Nations Rugby matches on too, so that should be fun. Weather looks decent for the bike ride too.
I've also picked up something else to do on campus that involves building stuff and hand tools (which I've honestly been missing since I don't have a car or house that requires me to fix things anymore). I can't really tell you what it is exactly though due to the non-disclosure agreement I signed. But I got to go work on that for a bit yesterday afternoon which I enjoyed.
Managed to watch most of the ACC tournament games so far too. Glad they are in the afternoons today and tomorrow, makes it much easier for me to watch! The end of that VT/FSU game was crazy. My first instinct on the Kitchen shot was that it was late. Honestly didn't think it was as close as it turned out to be though. The time difference does change to 4 hrs tonight though. That will last for 2 weeks.
I've been making porridge for breakfasts recently, and have started soaking the oats overnight, which I do think makes them taste better. Also makes it nice and easy in the morning, just pull the bowl out and pop it in the microwave. Supposedly it also makes the nutrients in them easier to absorb for your body too. I cooked them with some peanut butter this morning which was great.
Heading over to the gym for a workout soon. Then going to look at the market for a cheap, hopefully silicone loaf pan - been craving some banana bread recently. This afternoon I think I'm going to take a bike ride up to Wolverton, which is right about 5 miles. There's a beer fest going on (with next to no details about the beer, so fingers are crossed on some good ones) and they'll have the Six Nations Rugby matches on too, so that should be fun. Weather looks decent for the bike ride too.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I'd Write More Often
But really there just isn't that much to keep you guys updated on right now. We are just working away at our project. Our first review meeting is next Tuesday though, which will get here quickly I'm sure.
I did manage to ride my bike to and from campus on Monday, as the sun was out all day and literally no clouds in the sky. It was a good ride, but I didn't bring enough for lunch or snacking, and wound up having to make a stop for some food and drink on the ride back home. The route I took made it about 18 miles round trip I think. Ironically though, I left the house about 30 minutes after I would've had to for the bus, and I passed the bus leaving campus as I was getting there! I averaged about 11 mph, the off-road tires make it hard to maintain much more speed.
Sainsbury's finally had scallops left on Sunday, which I'd had a hard time finding for some reason. So I made a salad with them, using some other vegetables and some sauteed scotch bonnet pepper. I used a bit too much of the pepper though (they have the same heat rating as habanero's - didn't realize this when I purchased them) and wound up having to cut some of the heat with blue cheese dressing. Still a good dinner though. I used the second portion of them last night sauteed with some tomatoes, mushrooms and peppers and served them over rice. Came out pretty good, but I think I put in a little too much salt - either in the tomato mix or the rice.
That's kinda my update for now, been trying to organize some things in the room a little to make packing and moving easier too, not sure how much that will help though.
I did manage to ride my bike to and from campus on Monday, as the sun was out all day and literally no clouds in the sky. It was a good ride, but I didn't bring enough for lunch or snacking, and wound up having to make a stop for some food and drink on the ride back home. The route I took made it about 18 miles round trip I think. Ironically though, I left the house about 30 minutes after I would've had to for the bus, and I passed the bus leaving campus as I was getting there! I averaged about 11 mph, the off-road tires make it hard to maintain much more speed.
Sainsbury's finally had scallops left on Sunday, which I'd had a hard time finding for some reason. So I made a salad with them, using some other vegetables and some sauteed scotch bonnet pepper. I used a bit too much of the pepper though (they have the same heat rating as habanero's - didn't realize this when I purchased them) and wound up having to cut some of the heat with blue cheese dressing. Still a good dinner though. I used the second portion of them last night sauteed with some tomatoes, mushrooms and peppers and served them over rice. Came out pretty good, but I think I put in a little too much salt - either in the tomato mix or the rice.
That's kinda my update for now, been trying to organize some things in the room a little to make packing and moving easier too, not sure how much that will help though.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Weekend
Has been good so far. Watching a spring training game from yesterday since the Duke/UNC game was not on ESPN3 - didn't realize it was on CBS. But glad the right team won ;) Yesterday I took the bike out for a bit of a ride. I won't go into all the details, but the landlord has now made it a total pain in the butt to use the bike on a day to day basis. So seriously glad I'm moving in a few weeks now. I started by riding over to a wine store to look for a wine that Jessica is looking for but did not find. Then went to a PC store to look for some new headphones and a screen protector for my laptop, but again unsuccessful. I really want to find just a headphone plug that I can splice back onto the ones I have that I broke on the plane coming back over here. I need to find the Radio Shack equivalent store, not sure what that is. Then I went to try and find some of the local Concrete Cow brewery beer, at a few pubs that were supposed to have it on regularly. But none of them did. Oh well, so I didn't find any of the things I was looking for all afternoon, but it was ok, the ride was fun and it was nice to be out and about.
Got back home and watched some basketball online with dinner and my really indulgent dessert and beer combination. Nicole and Adam were nice enough to bring me a bottle of Dogfish's World Wide Stout. Background - Jessica got to try this in DC recently, and I might've made it well known that I was a little jealous. So I found a chocolate banoffee pie to go with it, and slowly enjoyed the beer and pie. Most of you probably don't know the beer is about 20% alcohol, so it took me around an hour and 45 minutes to drink all 12 oz!
Today I'm doing a little laundry, and need to do some grocery shopping this afternoon I suppose too. My produce box apparently got stolen from the front door, so I need some "veg" as its called over here for the week. I'll probably head to the gym once my laundry cycle finishes, get back here for a shower and lunch and then out for shopping. Fun stuff I suppose.
Got back home and watched some basketball online with dinner and my really indulgent dessert and beer combination. Nicole and Adam were nice enough to bring me a bottle of Dogfish's World Wide Stout. Background - Jessica got to try this in DC recently, and I might've made it well known that I was a little jealous. So I found a chocolate banoffee pie to go with it, and slowly enjoyed the beer and pie. Most of you probably don't know the beer is about 20% alcohol, so it took me around an hour and 45 minutes to drink all 12 oz!
Today I'm doing a little laundry, and need to do some grocery shopping this afternoon I suppose too. My produce box apparently got stolen from the front door, so I need some "veg" as its called over here for the week. I'll probably head to the gym once my laundry cycle finishes, get back here for a shower and lunch and then out for shopping. Fun stuff I suppose.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
It's Official
I'm moving at the end of March to Newport. Hopefully it turns out to be as beneficial as it seems like it will be. Not really looking forward to packing everything up though. Mark, the house owner is cool with me moving some things before the move date, so I'm going to try and do that with some things.
Yesterday was pretty busy, we had a presentation on promotion from the guy who started TTXGP - an electric motorcycle racing series that has really grown very quickly. It was very interesting, I really wonder though if he was just in the right place at the right time. They launched the prototype vehicle in 2008 when oil prices were so high because of the strikes, so that no doubt helped them out. He thinks there will be no combustion engine racing by the end of the decade. Well, I think he meant no top level, international type racing. I don't think there's anyway it's completely gone that quickly. Either way, it's very sad to think about, but I suppose it's a necessary reality that we'll all have to adapt to.
My thesis stuff is still coming along slowly, I do wish I could've gotten more settled while we had nothing going on at school, but our professors seem really busy and it really slows down getting things done for us.
We did finally get our jackets yesterday, which look quite nice and should be good at races and whatnot throughout the year.
I got to the gym early this morning for a workout which was good. I always enjoy the morning workouts, yet it's still hard to get out of bed for them! Finalizing a few thoughts about the project for a meeting at 3:30 this afternoon, and doing some thesis thinking and research too.
I had to go buy more bread and milk yesterday, and forgot to look at the date on my bread, which is today, so I've put half of it in the freezer and the rest in the fridge, so hopefully none of it goes bad. I did find that Sainsbury's had 24 piece packs of Belgian chocolates on sale for 1.99, down from 5.99, which is a great deal and the two I tried were tasty. Might go back and pick up another one or two!
So wow, I kinda jumped all over the place in this entry. I'm sure you guys aren't picky though.
Yesterday was pretty busy, we had a presentation on promotion from the guy who started TTXGP - an electric motorcycle racing series that has really grown very quickly. It was very interesting, I really wonder though if he was just in the right place at the right time. They launched the prototype vehicle in 2008 when oil prices were so high because of the strikes, so that no doubt helped them out. He thinks there will be no combustion engine racing by the end of the decade. Well, I think he meant no top level, international type racing. I don't think there's anyway it's completely gone that quickly. Either way, it's very sad to think about, but I suppose it's a necessary reality that we'll all have to adapt to.
My thesis stuff is still coming along slowly, I do wish I could've gotten more settled while we had nothing going on at school, but our professors seem really busy and it really slows down getting things done for us.
We did finally get our jackets yesterday, which look quite nice and should be good at races and whatnot throughout the year.
I got to the gym early this morning for a workout which was good. I always enjoy the morning workouts, yet it's still hard to get out of bed for them! Finalizing a few thoughts about the project for a meeting at 3:30 this afternoon, and doing some thesis thinking and research too.
I had to go buy more bread and milk yesterday, and forgot to look at the date on my bread, which is today, so I've put half of it in the freezer and the rest in the fridge, so hopefully none of it goes bad. I did find that Sainsbury's had 24 piece packs of Belgian chocolates on sale for 1.99, down from 5.99, which is a great deal and the two I tried were tasty. Might go back and pick up another one or two!
So wow, I kinda jumped all over the place in this entry. I'm sure you guys aren't picky though.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Morning Quickie
Don't have long, because, well, I think you know what's coming - the bus was 15 mins late this morning, so I have a little less time before our group meeting at 10. We're just presenting preliminary findings from each of our topics. The goal is to narrow down some focus areas for the directions we want to go in our designs.
Yesterday was good, the weather was decent in the morning so I wound up going out for a long bike ride. Was heading north towards some lakes I'd seen on the map, but never got there as I got a little turned around looking for a path. So I accidentally wound up in Newport, probably between 4-5 miles one way, and then about the same back home is my guess.
For lunch I had a coupon for 2 P off an Indian buffet, so I did that. It was good, the chicken Jalfrezhi and vegetable curry were the best, and both were actually spicy, which is harder to find around here. Lots of milder, sweeter sauces. The rest of the day I spent doing more reading for the most part while watching some of the rugby on TV. I also watched some spring training with my new MLB.tv subscription. Video quality was pretty good, and no real buffering or streaming issues either. I think I will really get my money's worth out of it this summer. And I can finally watch Orioles and Nationals games, if they are worth watching this year!
Well I should get going, don't wanna be late for our meeting.
Yesterday was good, the weather was decent in the morning so I wound up going out for a long bike ride. Was heading north towards some lakes I'd seen on the map, but never got there as I got a little turned around looking for a path. So I accidentally wound up in Newport, probably between 4-5 miles one way, and then about the same back home is my guess.
For lunch I had a coupon for 2 P off an Indian buffet, so I did that. It was good, the chicken Jalfrezhi and vegetable curry were the best, and both were actually spicy, which is harder to find around here. Lots of milder, sweeter sauces. The rest of the day I spent doing more reading for the most part while watching some of the rugby on TV. I also watched some spring training with my new MLB.tv subscription. Video quality was pretty good, and no real buffering or streaming issues either. I think I will really get my money's worth out of it this summer. And I can finally watch Orioles and Nationals games, if they are worth watching this year!
Well I should get going, don't wanna be late for our meeting.
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