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Igor

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Woah [Apr. 22nd, 2009|02:39 am]
Last entry in 2007? For real? Bahahaha.

Well erm lets see. 1st year in Toronto went by, now 2nd year is 3 days away from finishing. During that time:

2007-2008 year
Bought a Nikon D60 using my unspent student loans. thx Canada <3

Went to Montreal for 3 days and walked about, during summer right after end of school year with a friend, good times.

Did survey camp... a mandatory 2-week course up in northern Ontario, where alleged bears roam free. Typical work day: Wake up at 6am, learn how to do and then do lots of laborious work that's typically involved in site surveying, eat, do work, eat, do work, sleep (usually around midnight - 2am). 1 weekend of fun was had involving canoeing and the like.

Attempted to get a research internship in Germany... failed due to 800 applicants trying to grab 100 spots or so. :/

Instead got an IT job at Legal Aid Ontario in Toronto... which is completely unrelated to civil engineering, but it let me stay in Toronto and earn some cash. The manager is an alleged former Israeli army officer of notable rank. Also, he is Russian... gotta love Toronto. Had a couple of busy weeks, and the rest involved me sitting at my desk playing java games on my work PC.

Onwards to 2008-2009...

Continued to hover just above class average (73-75%) during both years... regardless of level of effort. :S

Moved places at start of 2008-2009 year. The new place is on Bloor/St George, a much more studenty/cozy/non-million-dollar-condo area in the northern edge of downtwon. Bloor is all crowded with people in the evenings which is awesome.

Mid-school year: got an innterview for a one-year internship for a civil engineering software company in Alicante, Spain. Didn't get it :(

Late-school year: got an interview for a one-year internship in Boston/Seattle/Toronto. I applied to all three locations, but ranking Boston/Seattle higher in preference. I got an offer from the Seattle office. ^^ The company is IBI Group, a city planning/architectural consulting firm mostly specializing in ITS (intelligent transportation systems) in urban areas... definitely something I am considering specializing in, so it's a good fit. They pay quite nicely, but it's not like I'll be swimming in cash as I will be forced to pay off my loans as soon as I start working, even though it's an internship. :/ I'll be in the Seattle office May 09 - May 2010, then do 4 months in the Toronto office, then finish my last year at UofT. I'll be graduating with the younger class, not my current one... but that's ok since most of the guys from my class are annoying anyway. Except for a few, most of whom are also doing 1-year internships, woot.

I'll probably be updating this thing more often once I start the whole transition thing since I'll probably have oodles of time on my hands. It's hard to imagine actually coming home after 5pm and not having to study or solve problem sets til bed time. :/ I'll probably spend the majority of my time taking pics with my beloved D60 during the first months.

Hm, still undecided about what to do regarding housing. I'd definitely prefer to be near the downtown area, but that's so very costly :/ My current place in Toronto costs me 510 CAD, whereas most of the decent places in downtown Seattle start at 800-900 USD, which is more like 1000-1125 CAD. It's just crazy when I think how much extra money I will be spending on housing, so I just don't think about it too much other than that I will be able to afford it.

Granted, my place here is ridiculously small, and the kitchen and bathroom serves an entire floor, and most of the places I find in Seattle are some polished condo-like apartment building, with full studio apartments with kitchen/bathroom/workout area/pool/etc. That's actually part of the problem, I think. Toronto has all these old (=cheap), cozy places in awesome locations, but Seattle is too clean and polished for its own good, at least from what I have been able to see so far without actually having been there.

K so it's 3:40am, and I'm still awake - but the fire alarm just started to ring, so I kind of win. Take that, moron who is cooking at 4am.

As for the reason why I'm awake at 4am - no idea, but it might have something to do with the fact that I just wrote 3 exams in the past 24 hours or so, and just 1 more left on friday.
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comfort vs freedom [Dec. 30th, 2007|04:11 pm]
It seems I've discovered a contrast. In Toronto I have a place that's cramped-tiny with barely enough room for a bed and a desk, with papers lying about everywhere like casualties after a major battle, without the time to clean up. In Ottawa I have a huge room in a huge house that's overlooked by a huge park, all of which are clean and well-kept. In Toronto I take orders from no one and have my own important matters to take care of, namely school. In Ottawa I sit with mostly nothing to do and must always comply with dinner times, be careful not to wake people up at night, etc.

All things considered, it would make sense if my time in Ottawa was more enjoyable. It is not. I much prefer to be in the densely-populated Toronto despite all its dirtiness and crime and homework and stress. I even find it easier to be social over there.

It is strange. Why would I care about that last bit? I'm supposed to have an introverted personality. Maybe I was born to be extroverted, but something happened along the way? Funny, I actually remember being the centre of attention back in early elementary years, until we started moving from place to place.

Oh yeah, as to the topic at hand, I prefer freedom.
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Newness [Aug. 10th, 2007|11:08 pm]
http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=415+jarvis+st,+toronto&sll=43.663089,-79.376803&sspn=0.00098,0.001808&ie=UTF8&ll=43.662501,-79.379482&spn=0.007839,0.021501&t=k&z=16&om=1

Is where I'm at as of September 1st. Air conditioning (free electricity :D), squeaky clean, spacious room, ~20 min from UofT, only 2 bedrooms in the apartment. There will be 3 people living there in total including me (the third one will be living in the living room, that was converted into a bedroom).

aside:
If you are an "internet predator" and are thinking to yourself, woohoo, I have a target!, all I can say is: bring it on.
/aside

Pictures will have to wait till September 1st, as I did not bring my camera with me when I visited.

So yes, I am moving to Toronto. The city with the tallest man-made structure in the world, longest street in the world, largest Russian community in the world (outside of Russia), 2nd most vibrant theatre community (after Broadway), will be attending university with the 3rd most extensive library network (after Harvard and Yale), and will be living in the middle of it all in downtown Toronto.

The thing I'm looking forwards to the most, though, is change. I've been going through change all my life, and it seems recently has been the first time I've stayed in the same place for... 6 years? Wow. Shattered my old record twofold.

And yes, I DID get the job at Black's Photography, and it seems to be going well. I sold three cameras today, heh. I love that job because of it's central location and the people that come there to develop photos... during the FIFA U-20 World Cup, a Nigerian player came to develop some photos of him playing the match, as well as some team group shots. The thing I don't like about it, though, is that I get teased everyday by the most beautiful cameras in existence (and I have to sell them to other people, too)... and I know that with the recent development, I will most definitely not be able to afford the camera that I want. Perhaps I should sacrifice 3 months' worth of food and buy the D40x.

Food... D40x... food... D40x... hmm. Maybe if I get the camera, I can take some shots of food and admire it from afar. Maybe not.

Yes, I will need to count my dollars to make sure I have enough for food and clothes this year. Bloody expensive downtown Toronto. But it'll be awesome.
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RAWR! [Jul. 5th, 2007|11:21 pm]
Today I have received my admission to 2nd year engineering at U of T! I have full credit to all of first year, even though I haven't taken two of U of T's 1st year engineering courses. I was, however, advised to do some personal reading over the summer so as not to be disadvantaged in my 2nd year.

And as always... you solve one problem; three more pop up. Since I am a 2nd year student, I will not get guaranteed residence at U of T, so I must go and seek out my own place to live. Although, I hope with some convincing the right people I can still get into residence, but I fear it is too late for that (damn you high schoolers).

AS IF this wasn't good enough news... today I also got a call for an interview at Black's Photography... if I will also get this job, my life WILL be complete (at least for the summer). *crosses fingers* MUST NOT SCREW UP INTERVIEW
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Rain [Jun. 9th, 2007|12:11 am]
This afternoon saw some heavy downpouring rain and a thunderstorm. I stood under it. It was fun. There was also a tornado watch; the clouds were interesting and rather pretty.

Playing tennis in this weather would have been more fun, but Jason wasn't around. That bugger.

Still waiting for a response from U of T.

I am THIS || close to buying a digital SLR.

Federer will beat Nadal.

The Sens got their asses kicked.

I want to go to Europe. Nothing new.

French girls are pretty.


Yeah, I couldn't follow that line of thought either. How did I write it down, then? Life is full of mysteries.

Mine in particular. One day I will sit down and write it all down, classified stuff and all. Hah. Maybe when I'm eighty. Or tomorrow? Tomorrow would certainly be easier - being only one quarter of the age of eighty and all - but it also wouldn't be as fun. It seems as if a compromise is in order; I will write it sometime between tomorrow and sixty years from now. Enjoy the wait.

I know I will.
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stolen from Amanda [Apr. 25th, 2007|01:11 pm]
Interesting:
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In preparation for today's programming exam... (and also outlining my present thoughts) [Apr. 16th, 2007|12:48 pm]
#include
[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<stdio.h>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

#include <stdio.h>

#define linear_algebra 7
#define calculus_I 9
#define chemistry 4
#define vector_mechanics 7
#define technical_writing 8

float overall_grade(float marks[5]);

int main(){
int i;
float marks[5];
char *array[5]={"programming","calculus_II","physics_II","drafting","environmental_sci"};

for(i=0;i<5;i++){
printf("\nEnter %s final grade:",array[i]);
scanf("%f",&marks[i]);
}
printf("\nAfter all the exams, my CGPA is %f\n",overall_grade(marks));

if (overall_grade(marks)>=8.5)
printf("Woohoo! $4,500 scholarship here I come.\n");
else if (overall_grade(marks)>8)
printf("Damn, good grade but no scholarship :(\n");
else if (overall_grade(marks)>7)
printf("Grade is good enough to have some hope to transfer to U of T...\n");
else if (overall_grade(marks) > 6)
printf("Grade is just barely good enough to have any hope of transferring...\n");
else if (overall_grade(marks) <=6)
printf("I might as well drop out and take a general arts degree now.\n");
else
printf("You screwed up your program, have fun failing today's exam.\n");
system("pause");
}

float overall_grade(float marks[5]){
int i;
for(i=0;i<5;i++){
marks[i]=(marks[i])*3;
}
float CGPA = (marks[0]+marks[1]+marks[2]+marks[3]+marks[4]+3*linear_algebra + 3*calculus_I + 3*chemistry + 3*vector_mechanics + 3*technical_writing)/30;
return CGPA;
}
/*------------------------------------END------------------------------------*/
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Stuff to do this week [Feb. 20th, 2007|09:50 pm]
[Current Location |Milky Way]
[music |various frequencies ranging from 20 to 20,000 Hz]

Woo, it's reading week. Time to relax do work at a pace of my own chosing, for a change.

Things that need to be done:

1. Five two drafting assignments in AutoCAD

2. Send various documents to the U of T

3. Huge assignment in physics

4. Assignment in calculus

5. Figure out what the heck the programming prof has been talking about these past two months

6. Buy a good table tennis paddle

7. Buy a watch

Yeah, I'm in the uOttawa table tennis club, and I've been owning people. A tournament is coming up, so a good paddle is a must. I heard it will also involve people from the Chinese Student Association, though... so winning will be hard :P

Walking around watchless is getting really annoying.
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stuff [Jan. 20th, 2007|10:05 pm]
[music |Ron Van Den Beuken]

I used to write a lot about my past in here... but here's a change. I have plans and I'd like to write them down before forgetting about them.

1. Find out more about what it is I actually need in order to get into a prestigious engineering post-grad program. If it means transferring to a more prestigious undergrad school, then...

2. Work my ass off like I never have before on the second semester and through the next year, hoping that it will somehow increase my chances of a successful transfer to a better university (that is, if that is actually possible to do). It's too bad cause I actually have friends at uOttawa, but if it must be done... then oh well.

3. I have a guaranteed job in a construction site... for a company that specializes in foundation building. Approx 10 hours a day, 12 bucks/hour, this should cover the extra cost of living elsewhere. This could be done every summer to cover the year's expense (unless there will be co-op of course).

I'm still not sure about the summer job... since I had plans to go work part-time in Holland (through a program of the Netherlands Embassy). Living in Europe for a few months is very tempting... but the money is tempting as well. I guess I will decide as I go through the documentation process and maybe something will go wrong and I won't have a choice :D

Okay, time to start with item #1. Maybe the uOttawa site will provide me with some info.
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...What? [Oct. 16th, 2006|06:58 pm]
I really don't feel like elaborating on my life... but I'll just mention some stats.

Calculus mid-term: 90%
Linear Algebra mid-term: 97%
Chemistry mid-term: 74%
English mid-term: 80%

Chemistry has never been my thing... but I'm only taking one semester of it so I don't care. Yeah, I just decided to post that before thursday's second lin. algebra and engineering mechanics mid-terms... so they don't spoil the nice numbers.

I went to an information lecture about international experiences today. If all turns out as planned, within a year or two I will go study in Europe, and later will hopefully do co-op in developing countries for Engneers Without Borders.

But we all know that things never go as planned...
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What the... [Aug. 12th, 2006|11:36 am]
Hey look, I have a livejournal!

Oh wait...

Hey, who wrote all these entries in my name?
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Commencement [Jun. 29th, 2006|12:14 am]
[music |In the Jungle (Lion King Theme)]

So yes, grad ceremonies were held today, which I think went quite smoothly (or rather, smoothly enough). Something told me (it must be my KGB instinct) not to dress up all fancy for today, and it seems it has done me well. It was mighty hot in that auditorium, under all that intense light, in that black grad gown... but I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts under it, so it wasn't that bad. Unlike some other people. hehehe :D They were even nice enough to leave us some water bottles under our seats. Which would be very helpful and refreshing... had I not knocked it over with my feet. The damned thing rolled away beyond my reach, unless I was willing to reach for it and knock over all the nearby grads, creating a domino effect. Tumbling grads, yessssss! I can just imagine what Novak would have to say about that.

I got some weird music award, which is just basically an envelope with a $275.00 cheque in it... yay! I can use it to buy myself a clarinet. w00tness. Very fitting, to use music award money to buy a musical instrument. Yes.

And as to the previously mentioned air vent idea, well... Seb didn't show up. Damn him! It would have been so much fun. But it's ok... We'll come back to the school soon to try it for sure :D

Oh yes, a bunch of us helped Andrew move, which was fun, as it involved lots of barefoot soccer on the way from old home to new home. I haven't played soccer for AGES, I feel my skills thinning... noooooo... but it's ok. I think Seb, Victor, Mauran, etc are playing at the Greenboro fields, so I might join them there.

Now if you guys will excuse me, I will go back to listening to the best song ever...
aaaaeeeeeEEEEEEEooooeeoooooeeeemomamoeeeee...
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last day of school! [Jun. 16th, 2006|06:13 pm]
So, today was the last day of school, and i'm done for sure as even my volunteer hours are complete. I'm more or less prepared for prom... all I need is a tie, shoes, and a haircut. and a girl... kidding, lol

On a less happy note, to add to my broken bone, I am also sick :S I hope I will feel well enough to study for my math exam soon.

The Netherlands aren't doing as well as they should, given the quality of their players... but they are still winning, so I am not complaining. Go Netherlands!

Seb and I discovered, while playing wall ball, that the air shaft at the corner can be opened and climbed into. We're thinking of sneaking into the school and changing some answers to our exams... cause we all know they keep em in a secret room, which can only be accessed by a fingerprint scanner, or by the air vent. The only problem is that the air shaft is about 1.5 meters high, so climbing out of it with only one working hand might prove troublesome. Getting into it however will not be a problem, which is all that matters.
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randomness [Jun. 9th, 2006|11:16 pm]
Yesterday, Jason and I woke up at 6:00 am in order to go for a jog. Nothing exciting... except for the fact that I can go jog! Yay! Running felt soooooo good, oh man. I'm still going to walk around with the sling at school, just in case of a sudden movement or something.

Soccer World Cup is under way. Even though they beat Costa Rica with a score of 4-2, in my view Germany has embarrassed themselves by letting 2 goals in. Costa Rica is not the kind of team that should be able to win against Germany. On the other hand, Poland was playing exceptionally well, even though they lost 2-0 to Equador, who aren't usually any good at all. They got lucky way too many times. But it matters not; if Poland continues to play in the same manner, except with a bit more luck, they will easily overcome Germany and secure a spot in the next round. That is if they beat Costa Rica, which of course they will.

I've decided that I'll bet my imaginary money on the Netherlands to win gold this time. I was going for England at first, but everyone else seems to be cheering for them, including Henson. I envy his jerseys though... damn things must be so expensive. Anyway, it won't be as fun if a team wins and there's no one to go "I told you so!" in their face, so I'll take my chances with a less popular team. Besides, they looked really promising in a friendly game against Mexico.

In other news, I've been playing Minesweeper, but with disappointing results:
Beginner: 13s
Intermediate: 96s
I blame it on my collar bone. I shall keep trying.

Hey, if I can jog without my sling, maybe I can start playing tennis soon? *super hopeful* I've been playin ping pong without much pain, so I predict full functionality in the near future. w00t.
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World Cup Soccer!!!!one1eleven [Jun. 6th, 2006|09:24 pm]
http://soccer.sportsnet.tsn.ca/tv/
I forsee a whole lot of skipping in the near future... starting with Friday

(nobody ever read that)
(or else)

My predictions:
Brazil owns. Ronaldinho, Kaka, Roberto Carlos, Robinho, Ronaldo, sooooooooooo many superstars, it's just not funny.


However, there are other teams I'd like to win, cause Brazil just has too many wins already.
-England: Beckham is expected to work some magic
-Spain: Torres and Raul... damn, so good.
-Ukraine: Shevchenko, only the best soccer player in Europe...
-France: Zidane, who used to be the world's best soccer player is getting a bit old, but his soccer instinct is as good as ever.

It's pretty impossible for me to narrow down as to what my favourite team would be... England, Ukraine, or Spain.
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the clavicle [May. 26th, 2006|11:04 pm]
[music |Bush - Glycerine]

I can now move around, yay. As in, walk around... my shoulder is still out of service.

Must... get... mind... off... tennis... Almost two weeks done, four more to go! Bone, go go go! You can do it!

By the end of this month I will have taken the bus more than I ever did in my life... seeing how walking hurts (it requires slight movements of the shoulder, even when it's strapped in) and biking... well I haven't tried that yet. Don't think I will.

Not doing anything at all feels so crappy... I hope I can start jogging soon. Getting out of shape in the summer is super lame.

I think I messed up my calculus test and got zeros for a number of english assignments.

Oh yeah, when I went to the hospital, they were obviously completely useless. They seem to have got this new X-ray machine; the X-ray operator couldn't operate it. He had to ask all these questions... "How do I get it to focus on this area?" and he points to my broken bone, I was about to kill him with my other arm for poking it... but he didn't. "You can move it manually" replies the girl that was helping him. "But... how..." he looks at the buttons behind the X-ray camera. The girl just goes up there, grabs the camera, and moves it to point at my broken bone. I also had to ask if I was supposed to walk out of the X-ray room in my armored skirt. That sounded wrong...

Anyway, I think he was an intern, so I forgive him.

"We can't do anything to treat your broken bone other than give... I mean sell you this sling, and perscribe some pain-killers." I didn't take the pain-killers, cause I figured it hurts when it moves... and moving it is bad, therefore pain is good.

Now, who's willing to let me borrow their left arm? It would be useful, as I came to realise that it really is a two-handed world out there.
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auuuuuugh [May. 17th, 2006|02:44 pm]
For those that still don't know, I've been completely owned in rugby. That is, my left collar bone now looks like and will heal as:
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Yup, my shoulder will now be ~1 cm shorter, but should still be 100% strong once healed. It's pretty painful and all, so I will probably miss a day or two of school.

Obviously, the whole Judo deal will have to wait.

Anyhow... typing with one hand is veeeeeery slow and annoying, so i will now stop.

Edit: I can still feel the two parts rubbing against one another when i move... it's actually pretty interesting.

Caaaaaan't wait till i can stretch that shoulder again.
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Hmm [May. 15th, 2006|08:40 pm]
[music |106.9 The Bear]

Summer is coming up, and I will likely have no competitive sport to play now that school tennis is over forever. My tennis evaluation with the OAC was totally ruined by the volunteering event; the coach doesn't seem to think that it's worth calling back to reschedule... and I can't blame him, I only told him one day in advance. I will still be playing lots of tennis with Jason of course, and possibly some games with Mr. Novotny, but nothing competitive.

Sooooo... I've been thinking. My dad claims I'd be very good in Judo wrestling, Mr. Laggis thinks I'd be a good wrestler (from watching me play rugby), and I think it'd be SUPER fun... so I think I will try and join a competitive Judo club. After some searching, I found Judo Canada that is located at the intersection of St-Laurent and Smyth, which shouldn't take more than 20 min by bike.

The best thing about wrestling in general: weight categories! It feels like I'd have an advantage in my height-weight ratio.

The not so best thing about Judo: awkward situations such as these:
.......
Yeah, that's wrestling for you. So yes... tomorrow is the rugby tournament, so I wouldn't be able to do anything in that regard... but Wednesday will be when I will go bike after school to this Judo Canada place to find out what I can about joining.

Speaking of rugby, the team we're playing against are said to have tied with Osgood... and Osgood OWNED us even back when we had our full set of players. But that's ok... the Spartans fought back thousands with only an army of 300. Yeah, never mind :P
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rugby/band trip [Apr. 26th, 2006|06:24 pm]
[music |Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia]

Monday's rugby tournament: amazing fun! Nothing beats drilling an ex-best friend into the field (not tha I have a grudge against him or anything). Got a few bumps and bruises (and a cut), but it was all worth it.

Interesting development in the tennis department: I may be able to get into the OAC Tennis school for cheap or free, because my dad works there. When I was playing there with my dad, one of their senior coaches checked me out, and said he would see if he could arrange something... which would be super cool. If all goes well, I could participate in tournaments and all. *fingers crossed* I would have found out this Thursday, but because of the band trip I will know on Sunday.

Speaking of which, that should be pretty fun. Messed up principal said we can't use the pool cause Guy doesn't work for the board (right, like the board hires freaking lifeguards), but I don't expect there to be much of a problem using the pool anyway. Even if some sneaking in would be involved maybe... Some excitement is always nice. Maybe my KGB skills will come in handy to pick some locks or something :D

Now I just need to figure out what it is I need to bring with me... other than ping pong rackets of course. There BETTER be a tennis table this time...

Oh, and look at this: http://lifestyle.sympatico.msn.ca/Pets/Articles/Boy+or+Girl+Cat.htm <--- my cat's a celebrity!!
...either that, or somebody's made a clone of my cat. Hmm...
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YAAAAAY [Apr. 21st, 2006|03:32 pm]
I am just going to save myself the trouble and post last year's entry:
http://igorius-maximus.livejournal.com/2005/04/21/
yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes (to emphasize just how much this is good news, I typed the above without copy+pasting).

Yesterday in bio, the class was able to convince the student teacher to let us go do our work outside, since the weather was so awesome. Amanda, Andrew, Cam, and I went to climb a tree in hopes of doing our work from above, but since I got there first, I got the most comfortable spot and eventually was the only one who remained up there. That is where I got my lab done that was due on the same day. It is amazing how productive it is to do homework on top of a tree... I wish there was a tree in my backyard. Maybe I should just go to the park and find a nice tree to do homework on (it's only 30sec away)...

OR MAAAAAYBE...

I will just go practice some serves 'till Jason arrives. Yeah I think I'll do that.
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