Omg, so much to share, don't know where to start. (Maybe, we'll only share one story right now) FYI: If you bring your 4 year old granddaughter to a one-time event, such as someone's college graduation ceremony, don't let them play with the camera before taking the pics. Camera "setting" icon was supposed to be on "green/auto". Ended up set on an icon of a "track/field runner". Which, if you're … [Read more...]
Memories about a couple of classes at St. Thomas
May 29, 2016 By
Out of the ten courses I took for my recent degree, this was the most favorite of mine (software process Mgmt) - the instructor was the most engaging person I've ever met (in "recent" life). I really, really enjoyed learning from this guy (Syed Ali Naqvi). I cannot believe two years have gone by since I took this guy's class. The second class mentioned, while I loved learning web design / … [Read more...]
Grad ceremony and Senator Amy Klobuchar
May 22, 2016 By
I neglected to mention yesterday that US Senator Amy Klobuchar was the commencement address speaker. Senator Klobuchar gave a pretty awesome speech, sharing with the grads a short version of her life story of simple beginnings (grandfather was an Iron Range miner, parents were a newspaper writer/columnist, and a elementary school teacher), and her starting a career in law and eventually getting … [Read more...]
Master Degree and College Graduation
May 21, 2016 By
I want to thank everyone for your awesome support and comments today - it was a very special day for me. Usually, participation in a college graduation ceremony happens only once or twice (and, in rare cases, three times) in a person's life. I never wanted a Master's degree until I watched my best friend Kelsey graduate with a similar Master degree in software at the same school, back in 1991, … [Read more...]
Prepping for the Gard ceremony
May 20, 2016 By
As mentioned weeks ago, I received a series of three different emails (on the same day) in early April from my graduate school program director regarding graduation, the ceremony, grad announcements, etc. One of the emails had a link to the U/Saint Thomas bookstore, where you could order your cap/gown, grad announcements, thank you cards, address labels, etc., along with the option to order … [Read more...]
Picking up the Cap and Gown
May 13, 2016 By
Going to U/Saint Thomas, to pick up the Cap and Gown, etc. Been more than a few months (December) since I was last on campus. I'm not an easily excitable guy, but I'm getting "Kinda excited" right about now. [Wish my mom was around to watch the graduation ceremony.] … [Read more...]
Question on Application to graduate form causes an issue
November 8, 2015 By
So. I'm sitting in class Friday evening, next to one of my project teammates, and she is filling out a Saint Thomas form, before the evening's lecture starts. I recognize the form since I filled it out myself in early Sept. - It's a declaration of your intention to graduate (she's filling it out a bit early since she apparently still needs one more class, spring term - no matter). Anyway, there … [Read more...]
Middle of my final semester at Saint Thomas
October 28, 2015 By
It's now the middle of my final semester. Just six more class sessions to go, then the final exam - there is no mid-term exam. i was just looking at my "grade history", and noticed two different and distinct patterns: It seems I always receive "A"s in my Fall semesters, and "B"s in my Spring semesters. My two summer sessions were a mix, one summer session I received an "A", the other was a "B". … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous thoughts
September 12, 2015 By
Such a nice day out there today, my favorite season is fall - the temp is "just right". Too bad it only lasts 4-6 weeks here in MN. (Lol) I've got a few (good) stories to write about but I'm not doing it today. But, I'll preview them for you: First one is about my (accidentally) providing some excitement and joy to a person in my life by introducing them to something a few months ago. Maybe more … [Read more...]
Excitement over school!
September 8, 2015 By
Excited. Blah, blah, blah. Last course ("I.T. Infrastructure") at Saint Thomas starts this Friday evening - never had a Friday evening course before (it's probably going to ruin my very exciting social life - ha ha). 14 weeks/class sessions, final exam, no mid term exam, not sure if there is a team project yet, but apparently weekly individual and team assignments. Two text books and then a PDF … [Read more...]
U/ST Final grade for Object Oriented Software Analysis (“UML” class)
July 21, 2015 By
i'm just one lucky SOB [son of bob?]. Been logging into U/St. Thomas almost on a daily basis. Grade was posted today for the summer class: "A-", giving an overall GPA of 3.52. Last course starts after Labor day. … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – Summer class final exam
July 13, 2015 By
So, the final exam tonight (for my "Object oriented software analysis & design" class) was closed book, but we could bring a double sided cheat sheet to use. I got there, and the whole row behind me (4-5 people) were poring over copies of someone's cheat sheet - font size 6, double column - I laughingly made a comment about the font size, so one person handled me a copy. I showed them that I … [Read more...]
BusinessWeek devotes double issue to “computer programming”
July 1, 2015 By
Not my quote: “It’s no longer acceptable to be ignorant about the ways it <BSW: "software"> works,” he said. “If everybody brought the same ignorance about software to medicine, it would be insane, we would be mocked.” “Software is a completely different discipline and we wanted to help to demystify it for the world that doesn’t think that way. What if you explain code in the same way you … [Read more...]
Mid Term for Summer Session
June 23, 2015 By
School-wise: As mentioned last week, I had my mid-term exam (for "Object Oriented Software Analysis and Design" - which is always a mouthful to say) a week ago. I don't do well on tests, I blank out, I don't study as much as I should before taking the thing, I can't remember "crap", and did I mention, I get exam taker's/writer's block?? Well, after taking it last week, I guesstimated I would be … [Read more...]
Summer class project assignment
June 2, 2015 By
Crap, got a school project team assignment due tomorrow night, having to create a VISIO diagram(s), not having the MS software on my machine (long story), running out of steam (due to spending 4 hours in the blazing sun, and not getting a good night's sleep last night), and last but not least, I'm being babysat by Lailah tomorrow so I won't have time to work on it during the day. Must. Do. Class. … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – Classes – Spring/2015 – part two
February 4, 2015 By
Had my first class session for both of my two evening courses this week: SW Architecture was on Monday, and Advanced web app development was tonight. Since I'm also taking a Saturday class (which is a required class), and not wanting to take 3 classes at a time, I must decide on which evening class to "drop". [the plan has always been to only take two classes this semester]. The SW Architecture … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – classes – Spring/2015 – part one
January 31, 2015 By
It "dawned" on me a couple of days ago: Spring session at Saint Thomas is starting (where the heck did January go??) My evening class starts this coming week, and my Saturday class is starting two weeks from today. I had previously (in November) registered for "Software architecture" for Monday evenings, but today I hedged my bets by enrolling in "Advanced web development" (on Wednesday nights). … [Read more...]
UHG interview (via U/Saint Thomas)
October 23, 2014 By
Had a 45 minute Interview at U/ST, with a VP/Technology at UnitedHealthGroup (Optum div.) this morning. Very very smart gentleman - felt at ease with him and the majority of the time was able to directly answer his questions without any hemming/hawing. Only one question stumped me... I didn't ask how many openings there were, but it seemed that this was for more than just one position, since the … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – selected to interview with UHG!
October 14, 2014 By
Learned tonight after getting home from class that I am lucky enough to be one of ~10 interview candidates at UHG (United healthcare group) next week Thursday, due to my being in the U/Saint Thomas Graduate Program in Software (GPS). UHG apparently went to the U/ST MBA program first, but no one (or not enough MBA students) applied, they then went to GPS. Apparently my cover letter/resume piqued … [Read more...]
Final grade for Software Process Mgmt
May 29, 2014 By
Unofficial final grade for "Software Process Mgmt"...B+. (Course #4 down, 6 more to go). Tonight, I start course #5, "Web app design and development", two nights a week, for next 8 weeks — at University of St. Thomas. … [Read more...]
