The weeks of work and school

*pant pant* It's not February yet! I can still make two posts in January. *cough*

*wheeze*

Anywho, about three weeks ago, I started my new job. For the last three weeks, I've been reading through quality assurance documents, documents describing the design process, documents describing the technology that goes into the machines created at my work... you name it, I've read it. It's been fairly boring, but I've gotten the chance to talk to quite a few people at work and shake some hands and learn some very interesting technologies. Now that school has started, I'm going to be working about 20 hours a week. With 20 hours a week, I'm able to enroll in benefits and start accumulating vacation time. Also, it means that I can actually start working on real projects!!! I'm excited. However, I'm also a bit disappointed as it seems I will only be working on software for the upcoming project as the hardware has already been designed.

I'm finally in my last semester of school (at least for the time being). I'm taking 11 grueling credits... just enough to finish up my master's degree. I even filled out the graduation forms and had them signed by the Dean of Graduate Studies. He kept asking me why I was only doing a master's degree and not a Ph.D. as I had initially intended. Apparently he remembered me from a presentation I gave in his lab group regarding my research my first semester as a grad student. He asked me why I hadn't come to talk to him sooner... he told me that he could have found me a TA position and possibly a new adviser. He sighed as he signed my forms. He told me that if I passed the qualifying exam, I could take one class a semester to keep my graduate student status and he'd help me find an adviser to do a thesis. I told him I'd think about it, even though I know I don't have time to properly study for the qualifying exam. So it goes.

Last semester is going well so far. My classes seem relatively easy... we'll see if I say the same thing when I have time to make another post in 3 weeks. Heh. Well, back to homework, I guess.

100th post, First day of work

This is my 100th post after a long hiatus.

Today is the first day of my new job.

After a nearly sleepless night, thanks to the "help" of my cats, I am awake and ready to start a new chapter in my life. I am starting the transition from school to the workplace. One more semester of classes + part time work, and I'm cleared for a full time position in electrical engineering. I'm excited... and scared shitless.

I went out yesterday to try to find some appropriate attire for my new job. The dress code states that traditional business and business casual are okay. However, it seems like most of the people I've met have been wearing the more traditional business clothing: Button-down shirts and slacks. I have several polo shirts, but my 2 or 3 button down shirts have been through the mill. I bought my current business attire at Old Navy. Upon visiting there, they apparently do not carry anything for women in the workplace anymore. They did not even have polo shirts. So instead I bought overpriced button down shirts and a pair of (mens) dress shoes at Target! They don't look very good, but so it goes. It's better than what I had in my closet previously.

So I'm wearing my new clothes... Waiting until 8 am to travel the 2.6 miles to my new job. I'm hoping I get there too early for my 8:30am appointment... I'm not really sure how bad the roads are. Hopefully, other than the usual ice, the roads won't be too congested.

Anyway, I know I said this before, but I'm going to try to get this blog active again. I think it helps me unwind a bit to post my thoughts and goings on here. Hopefully, I can keep up with my busy schedule next semester.