glibberish.

Jam earlier went very well! My classmate, who has most experience in classical music, is practically starting out on jazz. But he has already made good progress from today’s session, I think. (I taught him John Coltrane’s Equinox as exercise.) We will jam again next week, this time at the band room. I am also hoping to get some exercise by playing some drums.

Almost forgot that the project proposal for my object-oriented programming class is due on Sunday! I haven’t written a thing yet. I borrowed Object-Oriented Sofware Engineering from the library, to help me get realistic ideas. For some reason all I could think about are projects that mostly involve the use of TCP/IP – probably very hard to do.

While we are required to learn Java programming, the course and project’s focus is on the design, not the implementation. Good, because I don’t need to acquire some hardcore programming skills (although I prefer to – I don’t like my programs not working). Hard, because the project as a whole should be clever and adheres well to the object-oriented designing concept.

Wow, actual software engineering stuff! After this I will finally have reason to look down on those pure coder drones 8-}

I’m not sure, but I think the on-campus McDonald’s is cheaper than anywhere else. Also, I had one of the best double cheeseburger meals ever! Apparently they take the “cheese” in cheeseburger very seriously.

The first Cantonese class was interesting, although weird. Weird seeing a whole classroom of grown-ups follow after the teacher every single word she says, in chaotic unison, as if in a pre-school. I almost wonder how the teacher can keep a straight face.

We are required to learn Java in our object-oriented programming class! I very much prefer to start with Python, but prof says course assignments will be in Java even if the course project can be in Python. I guess I start with Java, then.

I borrowed my first stuff in the library – not books but DVDs! They are: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (the original BBC miniseries) and Slaughterhouse Five. THGTTG is almost an exact transcription of the book, as far as I can recall. And, I don’t know about comedy back in the eighties, but in today’s standards, the timing and delivery of jokes are way off. I laugh mostly because of the brilliant writing. Slaugherhouse Five I have yet to watch.

Forgot to mention that a week ago I impulsively acquired (er, with the help of a fellow financer) a mini-amp to plug my lonely telecaster in. (It’s an absolute bargain I swear!!) And, I got a book from Page One, a local bookshop, AND bought a 10% off membership card.

After a couple of weeks of practice, the activity of frying stuff has become comfortable. So now there is no shame in showing what my latest egg, bacons and sausages meal looks like.

Tonight marks that line crossed one step further. Man does not live on bacon and sausages alone, but also on…

BEEF STEAK!!!1

First try, and got the look right! It’s too salty for my tastes, but my companion here loved it! (And it didn’t look like she was just being polite :D)

Let’s consider this one a semi-success. One chocked up to experience, and hopefully my next steaks would improve tastewise.

To infinity and beyond!

I am totally worthless today. Woke up really late, ate greasy lunch, and did a Cowboy Bebop marathon (I’m starting to love the show). I planned on going to school today to take photos for a school contest thing, but decided to do that tomorrow because of the gloomy weather.

Well, I guess it’s not too late to be productive. I know, I’ll open my books and catch up on my studies!

Right.

Today is the first day of the subject Object-Oriented Software Development for Enterprise Systems. Apparently, this looks like the hardest subject for this semester. It requires some Java programming (although I would try to use some other language if I can – such as Python), and lots and lots of reading and research. I need to start going to school early now, and maybe even on the weekends (if only to enjoy the school library’s vast amount of fiction books and movie collections, hehe).

Yesterday I got to talk to some of my classmates during a short “tea ceremony” activity sometime during the networking class. They are a friendly bunch, both the Hong Kong locals and the mainlanders. And a week ago I thought making friends seemed harder than I expected… as usual, my bashful geek persona takes over whenever the need to meet new people comes up.

I also got to meet a couple of students NOT in my class, by some luck of timing and opportunity (I was dining with a classmate who already met more acquiaintances than I did). One of them is an avid anime fan! What a good start – someone to talk geek with.