Two tricks.

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The furnace is still tweaky. I cannot stand that stupid thing. I would usually keep it cool, say 66-68 F, but turning it down that low has always made it click off if it at least used to be simple matter of turning it up to get it back on, if I had to brave getting out of bed in 50’s F temps to do so. Now, however, the chance of turning the thing back on is in question. So, I keep it at 70 F and hope it stays lit. I do not dare turn it up to help me wake up in the mornings. Though it will warm to that, when I have it try and cool back to 70, it shuts off and stays off. Unless, of course, one of the three tricks (different tricks than in the title, hold your horses, I am getting to those) works to bring the furnace back online. I have already had four incidence where the furnace would not relight and I had to have the repairman visit. Every time, however, the furnace relit before he got here (even after, one time, being down for a week before he came by, and with me doing nothing to relight it). It is something I will not miss. If I were a paranoid man, I would be looking for a malefactor, one with two legs. Actually, I am paranoid. I just do not care enough about some things.

Ah, back to the main course, the two tricks. The two tricks are what I have finally decided work the best when studying for finals. After my time in college, one would have thought I would have chanced upon them before now. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I have studied notes, done all the homework again as time allowed, read the book, done the tests and quizzes, and worked myself to death, often with little added benefit. All the time, worrying so much that I ate little and became tired throughout. The first trick, pick a small section of material to cover. I would go for the tests and quizzes, at this point. Ignore homework, notes, and the book unless stuck, then look to the notes first, homework second, and completely ignore the book and go to the professor or a TA if those do not do it. An email will work, if it is a simple thing. The book is a paperweight and problem source, not a solution almost ever. The second trick is to eat well. Eating well, and perhaps a little more, may add a few pounds to my lean frame (ha!), but it gives me energy to work, work hard, work consistently, and concentrate. I eat what I feel like eating, as well, not what a doctor would recommend specifically to me or even generally. Lots of protein, a goodly lot of fats, and carbohydrates if easily available. Sure, chew on fruit if you want, but that is not what works for me. I can buy a dozen pieces of fried chicken, a couple of jars of pickled pig feet, (I am on my second set of both of those), chocolate, bread, and cold cuts which allow me to feast without every having to leave my dungeon… for a few days. With milk (whole, and I wish unadulterated but sadly settle for homogenized and pasteurized), Coke with Splenda, and reverse osmosis filtered water for drinking, coffee, or tea, I am set to work.

The test score for physics is already posted, though the course letter grade is not out yet. I only got a 17 out of 20. I have 64 out of 75 points for the class, giving me, what would appear to be, a B (85% to 87%, depending on how you do it). However, with the lab averages being 90% and change and the lecture section average being just under 70%, I am not sure how that will work out. I suppose a large part of that depends on what portion of the class took the lab section and what their scores were in the lecture section. Or, something like that. In any case, I did not fail. I did a bit better and far more easily on this test than the previous tests. I will see if these tricks works on my other final. The study is easier, by far, so far, for this last final. I am excited to see if it works. Bummer though, to finally figure out how to study only to be leaving school. Is that not how it often works though? Ha!

I think I will do a few more quizzes then call it a night, a day, three and a half kilotons, or a smorglofish loughish. Whatever. But I think I will hit the hay and see you in my dreams. Best be nice in there, because if you are in them I can turn you into a newt (though, you could get better). Good smorglofish loughish!