Because I haven't writting in a while.

So I'm already beginning to neglect this blog. Sorry. I'm working on it and I feel guilty not writing but... you know... stuff happens. Lots of stuff actually. So since last time I've given my first paper presentation for my classes here. Not a paper I wrote but a paper I was supposed to read and rip apart. Which was very interesting, I think I actually learned something from it which is always cool. Also I think my presentation went really well, the feedback from the prof was mostly positive and the class seemed to enjoy it. I felt it was a bit short but much better than being too long. Seriously, 30 slides in 15 minutes is not possible if you are trying to explain complex mathematical functions. Anyways. 

Other happenings, we finally met the other person in our office. He was here for only 10 minutes to clean up his crap and then he told us to have a nice life cause we wouldn't be seeing him around. He was very strange... I think he was very happy to not be in the program for one reason or another, lets hope its because he graduated. 

Also, the light in the office is now fixed... of the 4 lights above my head 2 of them used to be burnt out. Which wasn't too much of a problem for me but it made the other half of the room very dark. Finally my office mate got fed up and call maintenance, an hour later the light miraculously started working, 3 hours later maintenance showed up. 

Its cold. Apparently its snowing in MN already. but here its just very cold. I can't seem to get my heat to turn on, I think its probably my landlords fault but I just can't figure it out. The kittens have very full and fluffy coats now tho. Also this means I had to go shopping on the weekend (oh darn). I bought among other things new boots and a new vest. I finally understand vest since I don't have a fall jacket and my winter jacket is still overkill for the weather. I have to say I think I looked pretty cute yesterday in my vest and toque and scarf. And I was finally warm. 

Last night I proctored my first exam. Which was interesting, I read the whole time. The class was small and the prof didn't seem to mind... he was on his laptop the whole time. Only one person in the class left early. Which is always a bad sign. Today we marked the exam and it was pretty rough and the grades are probably going to get curved slightly. I also got to mark one of the harder questions that was slightly open to interpretation by the student... shit. So I felt bad but I was trying to be fair.... I got some very creative answers. 

This week I have to write a 10 page paper with 2 other people, trying to define a research area within AI. This is a very interesting problem. Hopefully it will all become coherent when we put our parts together. Also I've started my independent project for this class, I've made a risky decision to do my work with the same focus as the profs research area... could make things very tough for me. But I'm tough. I can take it. 

Overall, I'm happy. I'm enjoying what I'm doing and I'm pushing myself on each challenge. I still miss things and have my moments. But I'm generally more positive about life. Research and computers however, I get very passionate (read: angry) when discussing; but that's what its all about.