The beginning of the end

Currently listening to: Dropkick Murphys - Tessie

I filled out and faxed in my application for graduate student graduation for May 2008.

While that is quite a ways off, I only have one class left to take and I'm starting in a week and half. So, I should be done by Xmas and can sit pretty until May to collect degree #2.

I'm pretty pumped. It has been a long hard road for the MS. Between being told I was going to TA for Norton, then losing it, switching back to BS/MS, then running out of money and switching to part-time so that I could work, finding a job, and now doing classes at night for 3+ years, it has been quite a journey.

I figure that I'll spend spring semester focusing more on FIRST and applying for MBA programs and then start in the summer or fall of 2008. But that I'll figure out when I get there.

Speed Record Broken!

Currently listening to: Styx - Come Sail Away

Since I've moved to the other side of town I have developed a new set of bike routes. I hate riding through Clinton because there's always construction or the evidence of previous construction going on and has caused me many popped tires.

One of my new favorites is one that takes me on 62N into the edge of Leominster, through Lancaster and Sterling, and then back down 70S to my condo. Part of this route includes a brutal climb up Legate Hill Rd. in Sterling. It's horrible. When I told my sis that I ride up it, she couldn't believe it. It's that steep and it's a long way up (It's actually a two-stage hill to boot, just to drive you nuts when you think that you've finally made it, you get kicked in the butt again).

However, as most hills do, this puppy goes down just as steeply on the other side. And it's one slope, not two medium ones like the way up. Previously, my fastest descent was 42mph on a hill in Berlin. As I raced down the other night, I saw my speedometer grace 43mph. I smiled, and tucked down lower. I then watched it climb up to 44, 45, and cap at 46mph.

I don't know if you've ever gone that fast on a road bike, but if you haven't, you should try it. It was intense. From what I can remember, I didn't pedal for a short stretch at the top as I was trying to settle into a tight tuck, and I could have also lowered myself a little more earlier on. I'm going to try it again on Sunday and see if these little additions will help me break the 50mph point.

We are the Champions!

Currently listening to: Styx - Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

So, between reading kids on Delphi bragging about their wins and hearing Andy talk about driving for some God-crazy amount of 99 wins, I was curious as to what my record was. Thanks to 126 being cocky bastards, we put a shamrock on the robot for every win. From my examination of the 2000 and 2007 robots, I came up with:

2000 - Driver

• UTC Regional - 7 Qualifying Round wins and 2 wins from winning the quarter-finals. We lost in the Semis.
• Nationals (Orlando, Fl) - 6 Qualifying Round wins and 7 more from working our way through the bracket. We ending up losing in the finals and being 2nd in the country.

2007 - Coach

• Boston Regional - 8 Qualifying Round wins and 6 wins from the finals rounds. We won.
• BAE Regional - 6 (and a tie) Qualifying Round wins (we then lost in the quarters).
• Championship (Atlanta, Ga) - 3 Qualifying Round wins and 2 from winning the Divisional Quarters. We lost in the Divisional Semis.

I'm pretty happy with that record. 22 wins as a driver and 25 as a coach. If I thought hard about how many matches I actually played, I could come up with a win percentage, but, that's for another day.

Yah!

Currently listening to: Coheed & Cambria - In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth:3

I made a playlist last night with all of my favorite Co&Ca songs. Thanks to the fact that most of their songs are 8 minute rock-ballads, the list is 1.3 hours long and will provide me with much entertainment.

Simple things can make my day sometimes.