As some of you know, one of my hobbies is Model Railroading. Over the yrs, I've accumulated some stuff (magazines, "locomotive equipment", etc.), that are either duplicates or no longer wanted - there was a time where I would put this unwanted stuff on eBay, but haven't done that in the recent few years. About a month or two ago, I became aware of a local MRR flea market that was being held … [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...]
Lailah visits the ‘night trains’ at Bandana Square
January 18, 2015 By
We took Lailah to see the "night trains" at Bandana Square on Saturday night (Energy Park Drive, between Snelling & Lexington - close to the state fair grounds). If you've not heard of this place, it's a former railroad locomotive engine servicing facility originally built in the late 1800's (not a typo), and now since converted into offices, etc. Within this building complex, there is the … [Read more...]
Movie: The Imitation Game
January 18, 2015 By
I had the opportunity to see the movie "The Imitation Game" tonight. Do not be put off by the subject matter. Just go see it. There is no violence (ok, maybe one short scene), no "F-words", no sex, and not a whole lot of "action" (like cars chasing each other, etc.), it's just a true story about someone who lived during the World War II, and their contribution toward ending that war, as well as … [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...]
Class #4 at Saint Thomas: Software Process Management
March 30, 2014 By
Tomorrow is 4th class session of seven sessions (alternating Saturdays, started mid Feb.), so it's mid term exam tomorrow, just not ready for it. Course is Software Process Mgmt, which, I know most of you would find it to be a snore, but, this semester, I have a great instructor, and he really knows how to teach - just has a ton of energy and a great teaching style (quite unlike the instructor for … [Read more...]
Toastmasters Speech #3 – Inspire the audience!
February 5, 2014 By
I’ve been a late bloomer in some areas of my life: ok, a late bloomer in most areas of my life. But, a really late bloomer when it comes to my home life. I figure this was partly due to not having a father figure after high school, as well as not becoming a home owner until my mid 30’s. I never thought I had the skills to do homeowner type projects like the usual improvements of painting, … [Read more...]
U/ST class: Software Analysis and Design Tools – OVER!
December 11, 2013 By
Last night of class (System Analysis and Design Tools) was last night, submitted my video presentation on time (via YouTube, will share the link - haha - later), had a cold so my voice was pretty raw and didn't follow my script as much as I should've, but overall, I think I did a pretty good job with it. Still have a 2 page writing assignment due by next Tues. Although the class was on an … [Read more...]
Web Page Updated: Library / Model Railroading Books!
November 11, 2013 By
Check out this webpage of mine - I've just updated it with a list of duplicate MRR books that I'm trying to "get rid of" - either by sharing with my fellow MRR's, selling on e-bay or donating to the Kalmbach Library (NMRA). Contact me if you have any interest in owning one or more of these vintage MRR books. Includes Famed authors such as Edward Beal and Louis Hertz. … [Read more...]
The start of a new era – creating my own website/blog.
September 20, 2013 By
Sometime, in the late '90s, Microsoft (MSN?) had a very simple tool that allowed a person to create their own website - I did it and created several pages, listing various things about myself, such as my education, where I lived, it even included a list of [...]. Anyway, One I created it, I didn't keep it up or went onto something new and then MS stopped supporting those 'free' websites. I … [Read more...]
Class #3 at Saint Thomas: Systems Analysis & Design Tools
September 11, 2013 By
Well, I started my third Masters course at U/Saint Thomas last night: SEIS620 – Systems Analysis and Design Tools – 14 evening sessions, a bit more than 3 hours per session. So far, the instructor is a hoot and based on the first night, he should make this topic quite interesting. There are almost twenty of us, this time about 2/3s male and 1/3 female – unlike last semester where it leaned … [Read more...]
Movie review – Superman
July 9, 2013 By
Well, as some of you may know, I’m an avid reader. I started “early” in life, biking down a couple of times a week to the local drug (& beer) store on Harper near Frazho (i.e., downtown SCS - what was the name of that place – Leonards??), to buy the latest comic books while in elementary school. My favorite comics were Batman and Superman – I just couldn’t get enough of them. I don’t … [Read more...]
Toast Masters 2nd speech results/feedback
June 27, 2013 By
My 2nd ToastMasters speech was today. Overall, I did a pretty good job, but still "read" too much of the speech, instead of just "speaking" to the audience, but this "speaking" will (hopefully) come with more practice. People commented on how passionate I was with the topic, as well as how i provided vivid descriptions for them to visualize what i was trying to convey. I also spoke about 90 … [Read more...]
2nd Toast Master’s speech tomorrow! [on Model Railroading]
June 26, 2013 By
Tomorrow is the Big Day! I'm giving my second Toast Master's speech at noontime. The speech assignment is "Organize your speech". The "topic" is "Building new worlds". Building New Worlds! 1. Opening/Intro 1A. Capturing the audience’s attention: If you are a creative person like myself, and are looking for something fun to do that doesn’t involve a mouse or screen, you’ve come to … [Read more...]
Bicycles…and bicycling
June 17, 2013 By
So, I bought myself a new Bike over the weekend. The Companion had taken their's to the local bike shop for a so-called beginning of the season "tune-up", and I was "elected" to pick the bike up after the shop called, saying it was ready... Sorry - let's backtrack a few steps and give you some background of my bicycling history: My first bike was a Schwinn "Sting Ray", you know, one of … [Read more...]
Final Grade: SEIS 610 Software Engineering Spring 2013
May 28, 2013 By
So, I went onto the Saint Thomas website today, looking for my final grade - I did this last week but apparently may have been looking in the wrong place, since Dr. Lai doesn't use the "Black Board" tool where grades were posted in our Technical communications class last Fall. Anyway, I found my grade and I was pleasantly pleased to see it was a "B+". One of my project group members received … [Read more...]
U/Saint Thomas – Fall registration, etc.
May 5, 2013 By
Second to last class session today. Working with classmates on group project tomorrow afternoon, and again next weekend each time for a few hours. Then, 5/18 is final class, 30 min presentation for group project, 2 homework assignments due AND the final exam. Group project is 25% of final grade and I think final exam is 35%. Registered for two classes in the fall, and will make final decision in … [Read more...]
