Smile...like you've got nothing to prove!

It's been over a week since I left Beloit for Sunny California. It's been a crazy week. My project at work is great. I have a lot of autonomy, but it is still creating something that I know people will use.

One thing about my professional career (in terms of Computer Engineering) is to create software and systems that work and that make people's lives easier. It is also to create things that serve some greater purpose. For instance, in my work at the Sexual Assault Treatment Center, my work helped the nurses with the way that they gathered information about their patients -- which made their jobs easier and allowed them to focus on quality care for their patients.

Let me draw that same thought process for the system I'm making here. I'm designing a website that will make the lives of all of the Residence Life staff much easier. So that way they can focus on the things that aren't keeping track of programming or advertising -- but rather focusing on the needs of the residents.

Anyway, enough blubbering about my project. It's going well.

This week has been entertaining, getting to know the area, the town, the people, and everything Arcata, CA.

A couple of things I would like to recount for you.

Friday night, I went into town for dinner, after going through campus with my camera. I ended up at a restaurant called "Hey Juan's Burritos." The place had come with recommendation from many people, so I figured I would give it a shot. As I walked into the place (which is about the size of the Captain's Galley in South Beloit, for those of you who understand that reference), I noticed the transient in the corner and then the smell hit me like a load of bricks. It wasn't the smell of burritos or mexican, no, it was definitely the potent smell of marijuana. Immediately my plans to eat there switched to a "to-go" order, but my interaction was all but over.

As I approached the counter to place my order, I realized that the guy taking my order was less than sober, but the girl making the food was even more chilled out than he was.

Coming into this experience, I knew at some point I would encounter a situation similar to this one, and quite frankly, I'm surprised it took almost a week to come across it. I was also surprisingly proud of how well I handled it. (For those of you not in the know, Click Here!)

And in case you were wondering, the burrito tasted like burrito and it was fantastic. I will definitely be returning soon.

Saturday, I had a big day planned. First, I checked out the Farmer's Market on the Plaza. It was quite the experience. So much more than a market, this is clearly a community gathering. I found some strawberries which are awesome, and I actually ran into the head of housing at Humboldt there. He is a really nice guy, and remembered my name. (You all know how that feels when someone remembers your name...)

After the market, I came home to look up my route to Eureka to see Pixar's Up. Eureka is a town about 10 miles south of Arcata and it contains franchises! The locals of Arcata joke that you have to go to Eureka to buy a pair of pants -- and it's the truth. I took the bus to Eureka and found my way to the theater, placed conveniently right on the bus route.

As I got on the bus, I knew that something amazing was going to happen. Just one of those gut feelings that I get. Sure enough, about 2 stops down an old man in a wheelchair is waiting to get on the bus, except he's heavily intoxicated and it blabbing on about this, that and the other thing. It was HILARIOUS to listen to. Of course, besides the fact that this man was so intoxicated at 230pm.

As usual, the movie was INCREDIBLE. I got to see it in 3D and I recommend that to anyone who wants to see this film does it this way. The animated short before it was probably my favorite one yet (yes, even better than Presto!) and the montage at the beginning of the movie was awesome and sets the tone for the entire movie.


Today was more a chill day, that started off with a round of frisbee golf round with Jeremy and his girlfriend, Mallory. It's been a while since I have thrown the disc around, but it was still a fun time and a good chance to meet Mallory and also see Jeremy in a non-business setting.

I went to Safeway today for groceries and plan to cook this week! I made Sloppy Joes tonight with enough left over for lunch tomorrow, so that is pretty exciting.

This is a complete side-note, but I have been watching 30 Rock and have fallen completely in love with it. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin are absolutely hilarious together, and Tracy Jordan just complements them so well.

Coming up this week:
1) Meeting more of the Res Life Staff as they come back from vacation!
2) Will the roommate ever come? Does he exist?
3) More cooking adventures.

Pictures to come by way of You-Tube video.....to be embedded right between these lines. :-)

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Until next time,
Matt