We have Control homework due both class periods this week. The one due Thursday has two problems. The first problem I finished this weekend. Until I realized I did it completely wrong because the outlet concentration was a function of the inlet concentration, inlet flow rate, and height. So today I did it over again using all those variables. Then I went on to the second problem and looking back, realized I'd done the first problem entirely wrong yet again--because outlet concentration was a variable in its own equation. So I've officially done that problem three times.

I've been using a lot of erasers this year.

The foreign grad student in my bioprocess class asked what I had registered for next semester and said he's going to take that Drug Design and Delivery class too. He's entertaining so that'll be nice. I also found out what country he's from because the teacher was saying that commercial-scale centrifuges are only made by two companies, some unpronouncable place in Germany, and some other unpronouncable place in Sweden and the guy cheered, so he must be from Sweden. He's been growing muttonchops lately.

We got our Separations tests back yesterday. That class sucks, horribly, but at least I got a 48/50 on the test (and when the TA said how hard the test is doesn't matter because if everyone does bad the teacher has to curve, some annoying people in class yelled back "Yeah except for that one person who gets it all right!" and I didn't get the highest score, that was a 49 so ha! it's not me! they can't blame me for that one!).

At the concert last night I could've smacked Texas. He and I were in a group of mostly rat trombones at one point and someone made an obscure Family Guy reference and Texas had an excited fit, saying see! I did that at Board Game Night and no one knew what it was! and there were blank looks all around and Texas was all, you know how Abby had a Board Game Night last week, and I had to go, Chris, I didn't sent that to the trombone header (email list). Incidents like that and there being a rat trombone who follows me to wherever I stand in rehearsal makes me wish our school could institute a mandatory class for all freshman about Social Skills 101. It would teach things like:

1. When someone turns their back to you and won't respond to what you're saying or responds only in gruff, one or two word answers--stop talking to them. They don't want to talk to you.

2. When someone seems to be trying to walk away from you, don't follow. That isn't going to help.

3. Accidentally catching your eye does not mean a person necessarily likes you.

4. If someone seems to be ignoring you or avoiding you, that does not mean you should try harder to get them to talk to you.

Et cetera.

Most of the school probably wouldn't actually need the classes, but I think everyone would benefit from those people who do need it getting taught the basics they seem to have so inexplicably escaped learning before.