It is the first week back at classes for this graduate student. I started my new classes, was given my new job description, spayed my cat, and am continuing to research.
My new classes... My quantum class should be better than it was last semester. We are using an actual book this semester and it has been termed the "bible" of quantum mechanics by other graduate students. Since this is the first time this prof is teaching the second semester of quantum, he is requiring two books and recommending that we get four others. I don't really want to know six books worth of quantum. I am hoping to get away with just using the two that are required. It is unheard of to require six books for one physics class. My lasers class is going to be a real challenge. I don't know anything about optics or lasers. The prof is skimming through a review of optics this week. He draws very precise diagrams on the board that make it easy to understand what is going on with the idea he is discussing, the problem is that he has atrocious handwriting. So my notes have beautifully drawn diagrams with no captions to explain what the diagram shows. It took me two classes to realize that he abbreviates words on the board. They are not normal abbreviations either, yesterday he used the word "bet" to mean "between". My lecture notes at the end of this semester for this class should be very interesting. The third class I have is the second semester of Materials. I haven't taken the first semester yet and neither has half of the class. Yesterday was mildly frustrating because the prof was using pre-written overhead transparencies to lecture. He didn't seem to have a clear idea as to how long he needed to leave the transparencies up so that the students could copy down the information. I stopped copying about half way through the third one because I couldn't write fast enough. I then tried to studiously listen to his explanations of the lecture notes so I wouldn't be completely in the dark. He has a wonderful monotone voice that would normally put me right to sleep, it was such a battle to stay awake yesterday afternoon. As soon as class let out, I promptly emailed that prof to ask for copies of his transparencies so I could go over the information again. He got back to me this morning and said he would be leaving copies in the main physics office for our entire class. Apparently, I wasn't the only person who was having trouble yesterday. As always, this semester will be a challenge.
I am hoping that my new job will not suck too much. I'll post more about that after I actually start.
I got Zoe spayed on Tuesday. Tuesday night she ripped one of her four stitches out so now she has to wear the kitty cone for 8 more days. She really looks quite pathetic. She keeps bumping into things, she walks around like a 'bobble head' toy. She is affectionate right now though so that is nice, at least she isn't giving me the attitude that she normally does.
I am home right now, in the middle of a Thursday, because I don't have anything that has be done in the lab until this afternoon. I have a sample coming out this afternoon and I have to put another one in. I am trying to have my research precisely timed, so I can't do anything there until about 5 p.m. So I'll spend my afternoon reading up on Quantum and Lasers. I'll pick up the Materials notes and transcribe them into my notebook. It should be a good day. I am trying to stay on top of my classes and this is a good day to get started doing that.
My new classes... My quantum class should be better than it was last semester. We are using an actual book this semester and it has been termed the "bible" of quantum mechanics by other graduate students. Since this is the first time this prof is teaching the second semester of quantum, he is requiring two books and recommending that we get four others. I don't really want to know six books worth of quantum. I am hoping to get away with just using the two that are required. It is unheard of to require six books for one physics class. My lasers class is going to be a real challenge. I don't know anything about optics or lasers. The prof is skimming through a review of optics this week. He draws very precise diagrams on the board that make it easy to understand what is going on with the idea he is discussing, the problem is that he has atrocious handwriting. So my notes have beautifully drawn diagrams with no captions to explain what the diagram shows. It took me two classes to realize that he abbreviates words on the board. They are not normal abbreviations either, yesterday he used the word "bet" to mean "between". My lecture notes at the end of this semester for this class should be very interesting. The third class I have is the second semester of Materials. I haven't taken the first semester yet and neither has half of the class. Yesterday was mildly frustrating because the prof was using pre-written overhead transparencies to lecture. He didn't seem to have a clear idea as to how long he needed to leave the transparencies up so that the students could copy down the information. I stopped copying about half way through the third one because I couldn't write fast enough. I then tried to studiously listen to his explanations of the lecture notes so I wouldn't be completely in the dark. He has a wonderful monotone voice that would normally put me right to sleep, it was such a battle to stay awake yesterday afternoon. As soon as class let out, I promptly emailed that prof to ask for copies of his transparencies so I could go over the information again. He got back to me this morning and said he would be leaving copies in the main physics office for our entire class. Apparently, I wasn't the only person who was having trouble yesterday. As always, this semester will be a challenge.
I am hoping that my new job will not suck too much. I'll post more about that after I actually start.
I got Zoe spayed on Tuesday. Tuesday night she ripped one of her four stitches out so now she has to wear the kitty cone for 8 more days. She really looks quite pathetic. She keeps bumping into things, she walks around like a 'bobble head' toy. She is affectionate right now though so that is nice, at least she isn't giving me the attitude that she normally does.
I am home right now, in the middle of a Thursday, because I don't have anything that has be done in the lab until this afternoon. I have a sample coming out this afternoon and I have to put another one in. I am trying to have my research precisely timed, so I can't do anything there until about 5 p.m. So I'll spend my afternoon reading up on Quantum and Lasers. I'll pick up the Materials notes and transcribe them into my notebook. It should be a good day. I am trying to stay on top of my classes and this is a good day to get started doing that.
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