Spring quarter has ended and I haven't posted any updates in a while, so here is a mass-update. XP

I've gotten grades for 4/5 of my classes. Not as good as they should be, but I admit, I did slack just a bit this quarter, if you can even call it that, lol.

ARCH 353 // B
ARCH 342 // B+
ARCE 223 // C
ARCE 351 // A-
ARCE 227 // TBA

Sadly, my GPA continues to drop. I just want it to get up to a 3.0, but that seems impossible right now. x_x

So yeah.. I wish I worked harder in studio, but I didn't even go to class for the second half of class, so yeah... I forgot to take pictures of my model, but I'll take some when I get back in SLO and will post them up then.

Anyway, that C in 223 kinda sucks, but whatever. On the final, I thought I did better than my score, but I don't really care to check up on it when I'm back in SLO 'cause I'm lazy. C is passing and that's pretty much all I was hoping for in that class, since I thought I'd fail for the longest time.


During finals week, I actually did not study as much as I should have. On Wednesday night, I cleaned for hours instead of studying for 227 and yeah.. Good news is that my room is almost semi-clean. Bad news is that I pretty much sucked at 227 final -- hopefully I can still get a good grade in there -- probably not the A- I wanted anymore though... =/

I bought a bookshelf on E-Bay last week -- it was like, $50 including shipping, so not too bad -- now I just need to rearrange my room so I can the bookshelf into it. XP Then I can finally unpack the boxes in my room that are still filled with stuff, since there was no room to unpack it at the beginning of the year. Sucks that my room is smaller than my old one -- and has less closet space to hide stuff that I can't unpack. x_x But yes, looking forward to having lots more shelf space! XD And since my roommate isn't gonna be there during the summer, I won't feel as bad moving half my stuff into the living room to make space to rearrange. XP


Headed home on Thursday night -- or should I say Friday morning? I left with Teresa and Jeff -- they were heading to Riverside, but were gonna drop me off at Union Station. We left around 12:45AM and yeah.. The cats were being super troublesome in the car. x_x One of them threw up on Jeff and then we had to stop at a gas station and clean up -- 20 minutes wasted. Then about 15 minutes after that incident, the other cat (who was in the carrier) decided to poop and pee in the carrier, so we had to stop at another gas station and clean up -- almost an hour. x_x So gross, 'cause I was sitting NEXT to the carrier, so I felt some pee go on me when Jeff kinda made a sharp turn and yeah.. Afterwards, the carrier smelt like pee. Ewwww!

Got to Union Station around 4:15 in the morning, and just sat there and read Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon while waiting for the earliest train to San Diego (which was at 6:05AM). Got half-way through the book before the train came, then got on the train and had a debate on whether I should continue reading or go to sleep -- sleep was the victor, so about 2.5 hours of sleep in total, but woke up a bunch of times, 'cause yeah, super uncomfortable sleeping on the train. x_x


After I got off in SD, went on the trolley and took it to the station that is near my house and aznearthdragon picked me up. Unfortunately, she took me hostage and wouldn't even drive me home. x_x Instead, we went to UCSD 'cause she had a final and had to finish studying in the library. So yes, was at UCSD in the library for hours waiting for my sister to while she took her test. I got most of my CSI scholarship essay written during that time, thankfully, so not all was lost. XP

When aznearthdragon finally finished, we went and hung out with three of aznearthdragon's friends. After that, we got some frozen yogurt and went home. Must say that taro frozen yogurt is TEH SHIT! XD I love taro froyo. XD Too bad there is none to be had in SLO or I'd be all over that. XP Sadly, I will be deprived of taro-flavored stuff when I head back up. =( Except at Quickly's, but I don't go there often, so...


Anywayz, didn't do much the few days I've been here in SD. Mostly just stayed home -- I'm so boring, lol. And yeah.. watched basically the whole second season of Greek -- I love that show, lol. I especially love Calvin and think he deserves more air-time. XP But yes, today was the season finale and yeah.. CLIFFHANGER! WHY?! I hate when they do stuff like that, and now we'll have to wait until the next season. =( And I don't even have TV, so more suffering for me. =/


So, not sure if I mentioned it before, but I'm going to CONSTRUCT 2009 in Indianapolis! Flight leaves at 6:40AM -- hope it's super fun. XD I'm gonna get a bunch of free stuff at the product show! XD And hopefully make a lot of contacts so I can get a job/internship later, lol. XP I'm not really good at networking, 'cause I'm a quiet person, but hopefully it goes well.

After Indianapolis, gonna fly back to SLO for summer school. Hopefully it'll be a good summer -- taking studio, so might be kinda stressful. =/ And my CRP 336 class got canceled, so I'm super pissed. x_x LAMENESS! Hopefully I get into this Intro to Shakespeare class for my last GE, or else I have to rearrange my whole schedule I planned out for the rest of my time at Cal Poly. Yes, I'm one of those lame people who have every class and quarter planned out. XP But it was based on taking 336 this summer and if I don't trade in the GE this summer for that class later on, then I'm screwed. I'm basically at 20-ish units each quarter, so I can't just not take the GE this summer and add 336 and the GE in during the year. x_x 2nd on the waitlist, so hopefully I get in. XD


Gotta sleep now, so more updates later! I will totally do a convention report next! And probably be crossposting that into my Cal Poly CSI blog, since I've been neglecting that too...


Laters!


~Remula

Dream Width
I have a Dream Width account! XD I've been seeing people post about it for the past few weeks and it seems pretty cool, so yes. Here I am!. I made it yesterday -- I've imported my entries and changed my colors to be similar to my LJ, but that's about it... I will work on making it pretty and stuff later, when I have time. XP


CSI
The last time I really posted, I was talking about AIAS and CSI stuff -- elections have already passed for both, so I guess I should go into results first...

CSI 2009-2010 Board
President // Teresa
1st Vice President // Me
2nd Vice President // Joanna
Secretary // Grace
Treasurer // Tara

It kinda sucks that I got VP, 'cause I was really running for president -- we did president and vice presidents as a pool with everyone getting three votes, so yeah.. Teresa was really aiming for a VP spot, but I guess people liked her speech. Kinda annoyed that I didn't win, but Teresa is like my best friend, so whatever. We're mostly on the same wavelength, so it's all good.

On the other hand...

AIAS 2009-2010 Board
President // Sarah
Vice President // Ben
Secretary // Marcella
Treasurer // Nick

Just as predicted, it was the line-up. x_x I knew I had no chance of winning, with all those second years there voting for all their second year friends, but still.. Super annoying. >O I mean, I don't really have a problem with each as a person (except Ben -- Ben will always be an ASS), but it's just... ARGH. Whenever I think of AIAS now, I will always remember what they said at the "board meeting" and get super annoyed and I will think of Ben and all his BS and yes. Much anger to be had.

Anywayz... Forgetting about AIAS now...


I was working on the CSI website and I finally uploaded it over the weekend. Please go check out Cal Poly CSI. I know the layout is kinda plain, but I think it looks good that way. But then again, I'm really into the simple and clean aesthetic, so... It's still under a lot of construction, but I figure it's good to get it out now -- it has the most important things up for now, which is the about page and the join page. The other pages aren't as important right now, since the new school year hasn't even started. XP

We also have a BLOG! Wheeee! It's powered by Wordpress, so I'm not really used to it, since I obviously blog on LJ (and now DW, which is based on LJ, so same dif), but I figure that WP would be the best bet since I could install on our host and I could make it look exactly like all the other pages on the site. XP On a side note, does anyone know of a good free desktop application for posting to WP? I mean, I use Semagic for LJ, so I would like something similar, if anyone knows.


But yeah.. SUPER EXCITED about next year -- I mean, now me and Teresa are are in charge and we have a lot of plans, so yeah. XD Hopefully it'll be a good year -- I mean, the only thing I"m worried about is the membership numbers in the beginning, 'cause I feel like we'll be losing a lot of people since all those AIAS people don't like us. x_x I think we have a lot to offer though, and we're better organized and prepared, so whatever. And we have money to support our cause!

Also want to say, we decided to still meet on Wednesdays @ 6:00 PM, which was our joint time and we've already turned in the paperwork to get a room and everything, but I feel like the new AIAS board will try to compete with us. I don't know if they know we took the time yet, but whatever -- it's freakin' first come first served and we went and we already have it. It's not our fault they're not fast enough! And they can't take the same time as us 'cause we voted on it during the "board meeting" that we wouldn't have conflicting meetings. >O So annoying that some people are saying we took AIAS' time -- Mary-Alice said that CSI always had Wednesdays @ 6:00 PM, so I think we have precedent over them anyway -- CSI has been here longer than them anyway!


CONSTRUCT 2009
I'm going to Indianapolis for CONSTRUCT 2009 -- the annual CSI convention. Super excited about it! It's gonna be from June 16-19, the week after finals, so yeah. I'm flying out from San Diego on the 16th and then gonna fly back to SLO on the 20th, since I'm taking summer school. Second time flying! YAY! And I've never really been anywhere (except Arizona in October for the AIAS West Quad, but I don't really count that, since I didn't see much of it), so yes. I'm excited! XDDDD And I signed up for some pretty interesting lectures too. XD

My Education Sessions:
TUESDAY
4:00-5:30 // Energy Efficient Glazing Material - Multiwall Polycarbonate

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:30 // Concrete Sustainability - How Green Building is Enhanced by Cement Sustainability Initiative
4:00-5:00 // Better Lighting for Less Energy

THURSDAY
8:00-9:30 // Quality Assurance for Sustainable and Energy Efficient Masonry Construction
10:00-11:30 // Global Megatrends and Next-Generation Architectural Glass
4:00-5:00 // I'm a PC and I'm a MAC - Winning Results for Product Reps and Architects

FRIDAY
7:30-8:30 // Specifications for Project Architects, Designers and Interiors; How to Protect Your Design Intent
9:00-10:00 // GreenFormat in Practice: How Manufacturers and Designers Communication about Green Products

Fun stuff! I'm really interested in the energy efficient glazing and the concrete sustainability ones. XP


LIFE
It is nearing the end of week eight and I still haven't really worked on my winery project. What's wrong with me?! I feel super guilty and dude! Project is due in two weeks! OMG! Gotta work and gotta work on making a model, damnit. x_x Hopefully my project turns out okay.. =/

I bought Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon. XD It's totally sittig on my other chair (which is located in the center of my room), so I see it everyday when I move around my room and I WANT TO READ IT, but I can't! ;_; So much ARCE to do and wineries to be working on and yeah. ;_; But dude, first priority when I get a chance! XD

This weekend is Memorial and yeah.. I will be super lonely. =( Can't go home, since it's too close to the end of the quarter, and no one to visit me. =/ Usually, [Bad username: bobbleheadvi"] would come, but now we're not together so... I asked aznearthdragon to come, but our parents won't let her. ;_; So yeah.. I'll be lonely and I don't want to go to the 5th year show all by myself, but I guess I have to. ;_; And I guess this weekend I should probably get working on my winery.. *sigh*

I'm taking summer school again this year. =/ There's gonna be a summer studio, so I'll be taking it and trading it for winter quarter studio. It kinda sucks 'cause studio will be MTWR 1-6 with Doefler, who is pretty demanding. I've had pretty laid-back studio professors this year, so I think I'll be a big change for me. =/ Hopefully it'll be okay -- we're gonna be designing a yacht ((how is this architecture?)), so it should be fun, hopefully. The only problem I have for summer is that now I have 9 units and it's ~$500 more than if you had 8 units or less. x_x This means I need to find another class to take to make summer worth it! >O But because of all the budget cuts and stuff, there aren't that many classes to take in the first place -- also, PASS is closed until the 1st for summer, so I can't even waitlist for things. x_x But yeah, I was thinking of taking Linear Analysis (from the course description, it looks like it's Linear Algebra and Differential Equations combined) just 'cause that one is still open and I need units. It'll be kinda weird 'cause more math "for fun", but aznearthdragon said it was easy, so yeah. Plus, I've already put myself through the torture of the other two calculus classes that I didn't even need, so what's another math class? And one that is supposedly WAY easier than calculus (according to aznearthdragon). I dunno... I wish there were more classes, but there aren't and the ones I would want to take interfere with studio or have a bazillion people on the waitlist, so yeah... We'll see, I guess, but right now, I think that will be the best option.


Okay, super tired of typing -- haven't blogged in so long that this is a workout for my fingers! -- so yeah... Will update again soon (hopefully).


~Remula

The courses I'm taking this quarter, in case you wanted more information on why my life is so hectic all the time. XP

Time Schedule
ARCE 223 // MWF // 1210-1300
ARCH 353 // MWF // 1310-1800
ARCE 351 // T // 0810-1100
ARCE 223 // R // 0810-1100
ARCH 342 // TR // 1310-1400
ARCE 227 // TR // 1410-1500
ARCH 342 // TR // 1610-1800
MLL 103 // Credit By Eamination


ARCH 353 // Architectural Design 3.3
Catalog Description: Development and exploration of architectural theories, building systems, and design processes involved in creating appropriate architecture with an emphasis on socio-cultural and space planning/life safety concerns.
My Take: This is the class I usually refer to as "studio". As an architecture student, I have a studio every quarter, fifteen hours a week. We also get a key to our studios, so I can be in studio at any time, depending on what I have to due and stuff like that. This quarter, my design project for the quarter is to design a winery on a site located in Paso Robles (Central Coast, California).

ARCH 342 // Architectural Practice 3.2
Catalog Description: Concepts, methods and processes pertaining to the preparation of outline specifications, production of design development drawings, life safety, systems integration and cost estimating.
My Take: Another core architecture course. It's broken up into a lecture component and an activity component. I usually refer to the lecture component of this class as either "lecture" or "practice". The lecture portion is just that -- a one-hour lecture two days a week. The activity portion this quarter is with the same professor I have for studio. Usually when this happens, practice activity turns into just a continuation of studio, and that's not any different this quarter.

ARCE 223 // Mechanics of Structural Members
Catalog Description: Advanced topics of stresses in beams. Plastic bending, unsymmetrical bending. Combined stresses. Stress transformation. Buckling. Deflection of beams. Material test laboratory.
My Take: Taking this class for my ARCE minor -- I'm not so hot at ARCE and I haven't taken a real ARCE class for a year, so lots of troubles. There's a lecture and a lab component to this class. The lecture has homework due every Friday with about eight problems per week. For me, eight problems DEFINITELY take more than eight hours. =( 'Cause I suck at ARCE hardcore. =/ Also, another issue I have is that this an ARCE core major class, so all those ARCE students will definitely bring up the curve. =(

ARCE 351 // Structural Computing Analysis
Catalog Description: Computer calculations, programming basics and technical reporting. Emphasis on use of spreadsheets as a tool to analyze structural elements.
My Take: Lab class that is attached to ARCE 223. We're mostly working on Excel in the class, but the labs seem to be super long. =( Also, we have homework excel projects to do every week, so I'm kinda worried it'll take a lot of time. =/

ARCE 227// Structures III
Catalog Description: Advanced topics in two-dimensional and three-dimensional equilibrium of structural building systems.
My Take: Another ARCE major class. The thing is, I'm retaking this class 'cause I failed it last year. x_x I pretty much know most of the information for the class (since I learned it last year, but messed up on the two tests in the class), so I'm hoping that I can do really well this time. The bad news is that the homework is still long, so lots of time will be devoted to this class as well. =/

MLL 103 // Foreign Language III -- Chinese
Catalog Description: Organized group instruction arranged for students who wish to acquire basic skills in a foreign language indicated by subtitle. Laboratory drill required. Language taught in its cultural context.
My Take: The third quarter of Chinese class. I'm taking this credit by examination 'cause the times interfere with my studio. x_x Kinda bad taking it by exam 'cause you don't learn as much as you would in class -- especially since this is a language class. But the thing is, I've gotten through the other two quarters of Chinese, so it would be a waste if I can't even say I completed a year of Chinese. Last quarter, I also took Chinese by examination, but this quarter is super busy with architecture and ARCE, but hopefully I can still do well self-studying Chinese on top of that.


So yeah, there is is. The only major problem I have with my schedule is that I'm taking ARCH major core classes and ARCE major core classes at the SAME TIME. There is obviously problems with the workload because of that, since people from either of those majors would just have the core classes (read: intense workload since it's your major) plus one/two GEs or side classes. I, on the other hand, have double the hardcore workload. x_x Let's just hope I survive with adequate grades.


~Remula

School has been pretty busy, so I've slacked on the updating business. ^_^;; However, I'm still trying to make the effort, so first I'll just try to cover the highlights of the past couple of weeks. Then, I'll do another post on my classes. XD

SPRING BREAK
Spring break was pretty laid-back for me -- just sat around and did nothing mostly. Besides the one unhappy event, I hung out with friends on one of the days and we just went around UCSD to do stuff. First, had fried ice cream, then went to blacks beach (nude beach next to UCSD) and climbed all the way down the steep hill to get to the beach. I was super tired 'cause I'm SO not athletic at all. XP

After climbing back up, went over to the Salk Institute and hung around the plaza area. XD For all people into architecture, I'm sure you've probably heard of the Salk Institute by Louis Kahn, but I don't see what the big deal is. The building itself doesn't seem TOO impressive to me, but I'm not a big fan of his. ^_^;; The only good part, IMO, is the plaza, which is amazingly cool. Go check it out if you're ever in San Diego. XD

Besides hanging out with friends, me and aznearthdragon watched LOTS of Taiwanese drama. XD


DEVIL BESIDE YOU
As stated in a previous post, me and aznearthdragon watched Devil Beside You, starring Rainie Yang, Mike He, and Kingone. Overall, I have to say that it wasn't really all that great -- I had a lot of issues with it, lol. But yeah.. It was okay, but I do think the end was kinda lame and stuff. I dunno what else to say without going too in-depth on stuff. XP


WHY WHY LOVE
After finishing Devil Beside You, we watched Why Why Love -- we are super lame, haha. I don't know how it was possible for us to start watching another drama starring the SAME MAJOR ACTORS. Yeah, Rainie Yang, Mike He, and Kingone AGAIN! =O And still a love triangle with the same end-couple outcome. XP But I actually liked this one better than Devil Beside You. XD Still super cheesy and cliche, but if had to recommend one of these two, I'd say watch Why Why Love -- yes, it's predictable and stuff, but still cute.


CSI FORUM
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had our annual Construction Sciences Forum. It's put on by CSI, which I'm a part of. Anyway, there was a keynote speaker on Tuesday night, but it kinda sucked 'cause not many people showed up. =( Also, the lecturer read from his notes half the time, so it wasn't as interesting. =/ When he was just talking though, without the notes, it was way better. XP

On Wednesday, I had to get up super early (after sleeping super late from doing homework) to go help set-up and stuff. Helped product reps unload and drove the electric cart to shuttle them to the parking lot and back. XD Driving the cart = super fun. XD Also, first time driving in almost three years, haha. XP

Anywayz, there was a product show during the day, then dinner in the evening, followed by a roundtable discussion. Dinner was awesome -- but it probably tasted SUPER GOOD because I basically didn't eat all day, lol. The problems with waking up early and then working all day and stuff. x_x

The theme of the forum this year was Integrated Project Delivery, so the roundtable discussion was about that. There were more attendees during the discussion, but I wish more people showed up 'cause it was pretty interesting. I think one of the speakers, Barbara Jackson (Cal Poly professor and in DBIA), said a lot of interesting points about the future of the industry and how IDP fits into it.

After it was all over, had to clean up and stuff and yeah.. didn't finish and get home until 11:30. @_@


WINERY FIELD TRIP
On Wednesday, my studio also had a field trip scheduled. I had to talk to my Chinese professor to push back my test so I could go. Also missed out on most of the product show for forum. =/ But seeing the wineries was pretty cool. The reason we went to see wineries is 'cause our design project this quarter is to design a winery. I'm kinda excited about it. XD But yeah, we went up to Paso Robles and visited Robert Hall winery and Eberle winery. Both of them are cool and have caves. The Robert Hall winery was pretty big. The Eberle one had cool caves -- seemed very maze-like, lol.

Didn't do any wine-tasting though, haha. I don't drink, but I kinda want to go wine-tasting one day 'cause it seems like a cool thing to do. XD I dunno if I'd really appreciate the wine though, lol. But we'll see -- maybe someday I'll actually go and try it out. XP

After visiting those two wineries, we went to my professor's vineyard and got to look around. It was pretty cool -- kinda out in the middle of nowhere, but there was a really nice open space on his vineyard. His vineyard is pretty secluded, so it was nice and quiet out there -- and great view of the mountains and stuff. XD


ARCE
I'm taking three architectural engineering classes this quarter and they're totally kicking my butt. =( Major reason for not updating -- 'cause I have so much homework to do! x_x I don't know if ARCE is really for me, 'cause it's hard and I never really get it the first time around. =( Takes so much out of me just to grasp how to do things. Sucks. =/ But hopefully I can pass all my classes this quarter without going super crazy trying to survive in ARCE with architecture. @_@


Next up, a post about all my classes.

~Remula