Just Around the Riverbend

So I just finished a float trip down the Chena river earlier this morning. Sure it wasn't anything major, but it was so much fun. Some of my coworkers and I entered ourselves in the Red Green Regatta here in Fairbanks and made our own raft and then floated it for about 2 hours and just let the current do its thing (we paddled when it looked like the bank was creeping up a little too close to us though).

The whole thing was awesome though. There were over 70 entries in the regatta as well, so seeing everyone with their own homemade rafts was quite the spectacle. Really it was a big water fight that just so happened to take place on a river on rafts, but you know, it was still fun nonetheless. My friend Noah was part of a boat that had a grill on it and gave hot dogs to other passing rafts. I mean, how cool is that?

On to the bad news though...

So Res Life may have messed up my housing. And by may have, I really mean "They did. For sure. Damn it." Normally, when you apply for housing, you get to make three choices for hall and room type and they assign you a room based on that information. Previously, I was slated to be a Resident Assistant again, so my room assignment was totally covered. However, they had me turn in an application anyways so I just put down the hall I was going to be working in without a room type. Here's the kicker. Now that I'm not being a RA, they decided to use that application anyways. Now I have a roommate (which is no bueno) and I'm working on getting that fixed.

I'm sure there's other stuff going on in my mind, but maybe its best to leave it be for now. Thinking is hard.

Success!

So work has been going pretty well so far. By pretty well, I mean freaking amazing.

I really enjoy where I work. I wake up in the morning (early enough to call myself a normal person), eat some breakfast, shower if I didn't the night before, and then make the 10-15 minute commute downtown to work. When I get there, I sit down and say my good mornings before just getting to work. For those who don't know, I do tech support for Golden Valley Electric Association/AlasConnect over the phone and I really find it to be one of the most rewarding jobs that I've ever had. I basically spend all day working with a great group of people and helping others with their computer problems. And that's just it, its fun. I'm there doing what I love to do, doing well at it, and learning in the process.

I just had my 30 day evaluation the other day too and even that went really well. So occasionally I come into work with my shirts being a little too wrinkly and sometimes I socialize too much, but I'm still doing well and having fun. It's also nice to hear that they like me working there as well. So much, in fact, that I got my level 3 security clearance 5 months earlier than I was supposed to. Now I can get into my part of the office without someone having to let me in! I work in the NOC, or Network Operations Center, which has quite a lot of information and responsibility in there so it requires a level 3 clearance to get in. So does our massive Data Center, but unless I'm escorting I don't really have a reason to be up in there. Plus its cold. Stupid cold for how warm the Fairbanks summer is.

Now to just keep up what I've been doing and continue enjoying myself there all the while.

A Whirwind of events

I feel like its been too long since I've had time to be on here... I guess that means I've just been busy though. So some fun things have been going on recently, so I really think that this summer is going to be INFINITELY better than last summer... (We don't talk about last summer anymore...).

So first things first, a couple weeks ago I had the chance to go back to Valdez to see my brother's graduation and my family which was pretty nice. I don't get to see them all that often now that they've moved to Ohio. But I didn't just sit around while I was there. I arrived in Valdez (just barely due to weather) on Thursday night and the first thing I did was visit Doug and Kasey. Why? Because Iunno. The next day I spent the entire day helping with graduation setup for the live streaming that the tech department does and helping the band practice for Pomp and Circumstance. Yep, I played with the high school band again! Then that night at graduation I played with the band and had a surprise solo... Because I had agreed to sightread their piece that they chose to play before Pomp and Circumstance and I quickly found out that the horn part had a solo halfway through the song as I was playing it.... Oh well, I didn't really mind and I didn't screw it up so pluses all around! The rest of the weekend was spent with family and friends around town until I left Sunday afternoon.

But then the fun REALLY started. Because a couple weeks ago on a Tuesday morning I started work at Golden Valley Electric Association as a Computer Student Intern - Helpdesk. I think I enjoy this job the most out of any job I've had in the past. Basically what I do is I answer phones, help our customers with whatever issues they have, and occasionally escort people into our Data Centers at work (which, by the way, are super awesome). Sadly enough, I can't take pictures of it to show anyone (its Data Center policy) but take my word for it when I say its totally worth seeing if you ever had the chance. For me it was my first view of a REAL server room. ANYWAYS, I really think this job has made me happier than any job I've had in the past. I get to do tech work, be social all day, work with a great group of people, and I really feel like I'm appreciated with the work that I do. Maybe they'll let me stay during the school year.... But that's a question for later.

As for the rest of the summer, its really good to still have some free time in which I can hang out with my friends. Some of them I barely saw during the school year, so its really nice to be able to see them now. And other than that I just kind of relax. Its nice having little to no stress over deadlines or homework during the summer. I actually feel like I have a break.

Summer is a great thing.

In Closing

Finals week was one of those weeks where I wish I could have seen the sun, the people, and the sanity in my life. Needless to say, that didn't happen. It was a little painful and I literally spent two whole days in my room writing finals. From Monday to Wednesday night I wrote over 10,000 words in essays, exams, and other assorted documents for my classes. But I still managed to make it through with a pretty good GPA, so it wasn't all bad.

Then came closing for Skarland. That was insane. So many checkouts, goodbyes, projects. It consumed my life. But then everything stopped for a moment. Nothing to do, no expectations, just waiting for a call on my job and then doing whatever I want on top of that. Its been pretty good. Yesterday I was really, REALLY sick though to the point where I couldn't stand up for more than a few minutes at a time due to the pain in my kidneys, but I think I'm almost over it. I'm pretty sure there is nothing that Gatorade can't fix.

So now here I am waiting for that call still and hoping that this summer stays as fun as I hope it does.

The waiting game

So I was trying to wait to write this until I had heard back about the job I applied for (so I could have some exciting news), but that obviously didn't work. Maybe I jinxed myself... Because last Thursday I applied for the Assistant Resident Director position here at UAF for Nerland Hall and then I was told "You'll know the result early next week." Needless to say, that didn't happen. Next came "Well, you'll hear this week" (again, didn't happen), followed by "You'll hear in the next 48 hours" (see where this is going?), and now it has hopefully stopped at "You'll hear on Monday." Now this doesn't seem too strange at first, but tomorrow we have RA Rush. Its the time when all the new and returning RAs come together and find out what hall they're placed in and meet their new (or old) pro staff member. That confuses me because someone who applied is going to be pulled and there are several halls who won't know who they're working for. Now, I know I'll find out eventually so this really isn't anything to get too worked up about, its just a minor inconvenience and a stress tester. I guess tomorrow I'll just find out where I'll be working if I don't get the ARD job.

Now for some old news.

Last week on Thursday I had my soccer finals for the first Spring quarter league and we won the championship! Hopefully we will have our shirts at some point this week to go with our team shirts that we have already, because we are just that cool. I really enjoy soccer, so I'm really glad that its offered here at UAF (but it would be better if it were a Varsity sport).

And now I'm just cleaning my room and then hopefully getting some more Subway later tonight before crushing Robert, Andrew, and Skye at Mario Party again :P

Break? What break? I didn't see any break!

Thanksgiving is one of those times to sit back, relax, and take some time off with the family. Unless you're me and you're an RA and most everyone else wants to leave for Thanksgiving. In that case, you work, work, and work some more. I think I'm having over 30 hours put on my paycheck this week (when we normally only get 16 per week) because of all the extra holiday hours and time that I've put in. That's insane!

Plus I have to go do a key audit at some point... But I can do that later. I'm feeling a bit lazy. Other than work, I've spent all of my time doing homework or playing video games. When you're tied down to a building that's about the best you can do. I did manage to go to Fred Meyer and Wal-Mart for Black Friday though and shop a little bit for presents and for fun. Matt and Amber are terrible people for making me buy those things... Terrible, terrible people... But oh well. What's done is done.

But now I can start Christmas shopping for people! I love shopping for presents. Not so much the spending money part, but mostly the challenge of picking something unique for each individual that suits them best.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

I take a lot of pride in the gifts I get for people. They don't always have to be expensive, but I'd like to think that I do a pretty good job of picking out things that people would like and that reflect my relationship with them. It's a lot of fun! Plus I also get to go window shopping (online of course) at the same time which is fun.

Though I don't feel all that materialistic. There are very few *things* I really want in life. Most of the time I just like gifts with care. Even if it's just a card that someone wrote something special in; that's my favorite kind of gift in the world. Because things are just that to me: things. Care is something you can only get with something handmade or with a lot of thought put in to them. Not that I mind getting things, but it's not my primary 'want' for Christmas.

So now for shopping! :D

And working more....

So I heard you like training....

So here I am at UAF with (GASP) free time! Now what in the world is that?

For those of you who don't know, I'm currently in training to be a Resident Assistant (RA) up here at UAF and I'll have my own batch of freshmen on the 3rd floor of Skarland Hall. I have been since last Wednesday and if I didn't know that fact I would have NO way of knowing how much time has really passed... It's been very long. Most days, including the work I have to do for my floor, last from 7:30am when I wake up to 11pm when I finally stop working on door decs and other assorted tasks.

That's a LONG time! It isn't necessarily hard though, most of it is just listening to presentations and then taking some tests. Like today, for example, I took my RA final exam and my Desk Attendant final exam and yesterday I took my policy final exam. Sure the presentations aren't the most interesting things in the world, but at least I'm learning some things? I think? Anyways... My door decs are going to be pretty amazing, I love my staff, and actually getting to do this RA stuff is pretty interesting.

I feel like I fit well in this Residence Life community.

Also, here are a few of the funnier pieces of information that I've learned while in training:

-Res Life does not like children or dirty people.
-A squirrel running around inside is WAY more interesting than Equal Opportunity training
-Iris and Amber should never be allowed to fight EVER.
-Running around drenched in whipped cream is fun
-Driving a UAF van really isn't that difficult.
-Ergonomics are EVERYWHERE (and a part of 5 different safety tests we had to take) GAH!
-Fire hoses are fun
-Crystal meth looks really interesting....
-Playing in vomit is frowned upon by staff
-I'm looking forward to actually having a life

And that about sums up my life since arriving at college. Training, more training, MOAR TRAINING, sleep, repeat.

Yup. Delicious sugary Quinn was delicious.

A Feeling of Dread

This week is going to be one of the longest weeks ever.... So in addition to the 8 hours of work I do for the school district each day, I will be running (including planning and leading) a soccer camp for little kids here in Valdez. So that's another 3.75 hours a day for Monday - Thursday this week. And as much as I would like to say, "Well I can just take a shorter day right?" I can't. The school pays REALLY well and if they will give me the hours, I will be more than happy to take them because I know I'm planning on a lot of travel expenses this summer. So if I skip lunch by bringing it with me each day this has me working:

7am - 8:30am at the school
8:30am - 12:15pm for the camp
12:15pm - 6:45pm back at the school

The sheer number of hours there is rather intimidating.... And then there is the stress of, "Oh man.... I'm planning a camp that at the moment only has 6 registered kids and I have never done this before and holy crap I am going to be tired by the time Thursday comes around."

I mean, how do you keep 6 kids entertained with soccer for 3 hours in a row for 4 days in a row? That really isn't enough kids to do anything with... At all. Even scrimmages have incredibly few people at that point (assuming none of the kids have hurt themselves or are having temper tantrums and can't/won't play).

Welcome to Hell Week.

And my countdown reads: 18 days, 15 hours, and 22 minutes....

Please Wait - Experiencing Technical Difficulties

So I work IT for the school district here and I love most of it. Sure it's a job and it has its ups and downs, but all in all it is totally fun. I spend most days working through the Kbox (our imaging/software updating server) help desk tickets and doing computer repairs. Yeah, its my job to take apart little laptops, mess with the innards, and then put them back together. What's cooler than that???

 

And we have some massive projects for this summer. Like fixing up over 300 laptops (including repairs) for all of the students who are going to have them next year after a year of use by students. That ought to be good. Also, I think we are going to be moving most of the district to Windows 7 from Windows XP which will be AWESOME! I love Windows 7 :D

Also I move into my first house-sitting place tomorrow. It has a doggie! Which makes me laugh because its name is Denali and one of my best friends is named Denali and I'm just going to laugh the entire time about that because I am a mature teenager like that :P

Plus I have a fantastic visitor coming in 6 days, 17 hours, 1 minute, and 10 seconds (at the time of writing this). But who's counting really?

Also I'd like to say thank you to Elika for giving life to my love of countdown timers.