Highlights of the trip to AdTran:

1) I really dig this place. All the employees get their own office with their own window.
2) The people are REALLY nice there. It has a very young atmosphere too cause they really bloomed in the last 5 years.
3) OMG SO MUCH SHINY NEW TECHNOLOGY *drools profusely*. They had this HD TV, widescreen, giant, AMAZINGLY perfect picture, with surround sound. They were using it to show the things they could do with their triple play IP feature. 30-50 mbps line~

and they're talking about FIBERGLASS, TRENCHED TO YOUR HOUSE, IN THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS!

...despite the fact that my best friend's mom had a piece of fiberglass when I was like 8 and showed it to me and told me about how this is the future...taking its damn time

4) They fed us and gave us a really nice tumbler. I will treasure it.

5) The University of Alabama REU was there too. I got to talk with this really really cool guy from their REU who goes to Southern Polytechnic, who likes concerts as much as I do. Going to try and figure out a way to meet up with him at the Ben Folds concert.

6) Really got to know David and Toni really well.

David:
- I knew he had 9 brothers and sister beforehand, but I understand the dynamics of his family better. Man, his mom must have been like a uterus with legs. Christians WILL overpopulate the world.
- I also knew he was homeschooled before, but I also learned some more about this.
- I...also knew he was Christian for that matter, but the man is amazingly devout without looking down on people whose opinions differ. Mad props.
- He can take a joke, even if he dislikes being mean to people or profanity.
- He's a really, really nice guy, someone you'd want to have in your corner even - but I get the feeling he doesn't know how to let his hair down.

Toni:
- Also has good christian values, but far more relaxed about them.
- Gives time to good causes
- LOVES gadgets and shiny things
- Totally knows her old school games and appearently had a giant The Sims addiction.
- Likes art, and draws really well, but not as well as she'd like. It's still enough to impress me, but I can understand where she sees a need for improvement.
- Totally in to the Japanese scene. Reads manga, knows a decent amount about anime but isn't one of those hardcore people, listens to Japanese music, is taking lessons in speaking Japanese, and is trying to study in Japan next Spring. Very cool.
- I guess I should mention she's EXTREMELY good looking (*cough*)
- Alright, fine, for once in my life (amazingly rare occasion indeed) I think I might be a little smitten.

I was able to convince her to go see a movie with me the Monday after we get back. Doubt anything will happen because it's one of those things where I REALLY get the feeling like I'm not her type and I'm going to get shoved into the friend zone (Such familiar grounds) again, but we can always hope.

I also found three Intial D...manga novels?...for sale at Radio Shack at the mall (Don't ask me, I don't know why it was there either) for 5 bucks. You know me. Can't pass up a good deal.

...besides, sometimes you make stupid purchases to impress the cute girl, ok?

I also think I'm going to spend this last weekend here at Auburn. Maybe it'll give me time to finish (start) my paper, as well the math REU wants to go camping and white river rafting. While the camping sounds right out (IT'S FUCKING 95+ DEGREE WEATHER WITH 80+% HUMIDITY) the rafting sounds like fun.

...I keep getting this picture in my head of my weight sinking the boat though...I know, I'm not the same 420 pound monster I once was, but I still am amazingly insecure about my weight at 250 (ok, 260, it kind of fluctuates between 255-260). You'd think I'd do more to fix this, but then I find myself apathetic about it 80% of the time and insecure about it 20% of the time, and 20% won't get you anywhere.

(Gee, a short talk about insecurity after talking about a girl, HEY LOOK HERE PSYCHOLOGISTS THIS IS WHERE YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE MY MIND IS. DOESN'T HELP THAT I'M TALKING LIKE EVANGELIST, THE KING OF THE INSECURE HERE!)

The entire point of this update is that I'm putting off finishing touches on my presentation.

Despite the fact that I am making it in about 3 hours. GO ME.