College Years - The End of an Era

After my disasterous summer as an Intern for Georgia Pacific, I was convinced that a degree in Forestry just wasn't in the cards. Looking around, the Agronomy program was able to get me out with the least amount of additional classes. For those of you who never wandered into the agriculture side of your local A&M university, Agronomy is the science of Soil. Yes, Dirt.

My into to Agronomy course was a 7am, Monday, Wednesday and Tursday, with a lab somewhere in the week. It was run by a crusty old coot who had been the Dean of the school of Argiculture twenty years previous, and was too mean to quit teaching. All I remember about him is that he woke up every day at 4 am and he collected bicycles.

In one of the first lectures, he was explaining that soil density was measured in Kilograms per square yard. I could see that it was going to be a long year.

I don't remember too much else about that year, except that I helped out with a Merit Badge University hosted by our chapter of Alpha Phi Omega for the area Boy Scouts. I had been spending a lot of time in the computer labs in the basement of Parker Hall. If it wasn't for the fact that my only access to the Internet was through the campus network, I probably wouldn't have been in school then. During MBU, I overheard one of the adult leaders talking about starting an Internet Service Provider in Birmingham, and how he was looking for an admin to help out. This eventually led to my first gig in IT.

In the summer of 1995, I started working for Southern Network Services, who had by this time bought out the smaller business that I had been working for. I moved to Birmingham for the Summer and worked in an office, wore a tie and everything. I had a good time working, but eventually I realized that I wasn't making anything close to a fair wage (I was making about $7.50/hr), and that if I was going to continue in the field I needed to get a higher paying job. To me, this meant going back to school, so I took off back for Auburn and hung out at the parents house until winter quarter.

In 1996 I changed my major to Communications, and applied myself to school like I had never done before. The Engineering Secretary, who was apparently in charge of admissions to the program, was convinced that I wasn't smart enough, despite having been accepted to the program once before. She did let me take once CSE course and one EE course, both of which were open to non-engineering majors. I kicked ass in the CSE course (of course), but barely passed the Digital Logic course. This was the beginning of the end for my college career. At the end of that summer, I received a letter informing me that I had failed to maintain the grades necessary to remain enrolled, and that I was on suspension.

It was time to start over.

GoGo In-Flight Internet on Delta

I've used this service a few times and I've got to say that I'm impressed. I was afraid that the concept was good, but the execution would suck. GoGo is doing a good job, and has excellent customer service.

For my trip home from Atlanta, I signed on and started checking my work email, since there were still co-workers on-site who needed help. My seat neighbor signed on too, and I noticed that he had a lower price. Never one to let it alone, I contacted GoGo customer service and complained. They checked my flight number, verified that I was charged the wrong price, and gave me a coupon code for a free connection on my next flight.

Lesson learned: GoGo has different rate plans for different routes. Shorter flights are $5.95, medium length flights are $9.95, and coast-to-coast flights are $12.95. If you see the wrong price, wait a minute and refresh the screen - you might get a better price.

Interlude 2 - Indianapolis, IN

I am of the opinion that very few things should be illegal, but the deep-fried biscuits from Squealers BBQ in Indianapolis, IN should definitely be on the no-fly list. Why? Anything that good in unholy. Try the St. Louis style ribs, and be prepared to pay for it the next day.

Interlude - Indianapolis, IN

I spend about 12-15 weeks a year on the road. Sometimes it's more; sometimes less. Since I've started working out, I've started paying attention to the gyms in the hotels that I stay in. I've got to say that it's hit-or-miss. The resort we stayed at in Florida was awesome, as is the Embassy Suites that I'm staying in now.

I was also impressed with the YMCA here in Indy (the one on Westfield Blvd. is awesome). If you live in Indy and you're looking for a place to work out, check out the Y's in your area, there's one near you.