Saturday, 25th of August, 2001
Ah! No! Toyota has more new info (but bad) on the new Matrix coming out at the beginning of next year. It's still such a tight car, but they seem to have messed up the drivetrain. The 4WD system is only available on an automatic transmission. That gives me suspicions as to what kind of bad 4WD system it has to begin with. The fact that the top-of-the-line XRS trim with the 6-speed, 180bhp, and 17" alloys doesn't even have 4WD as an option tells me something. But it had so much potential! I dunno, I haven't give up yet, but being a transverse-mount engine, there can't be any 4WD system in there worth gawking over. But it was a cool dream while it lasted.
Friday, 24th of August, 2001
I had my auditions for the St. Louis Youth Symphony this afternoon. In spite of the bad timing of that going along with starting school and stuff, I think I still managed to prepare close to as well as I would have anyways, so it's cool.
Thursday, 23rd of August, 2001
Yesterday's one class was psychologically misleading, I actually have a normal amount of class hours today. Things like Computer Science 101G, Probability and Statistics SSM326A, Macroeconomics 104B, and a Freshman Engineering seminar. Beth threw a party tonight at her house, and so I dropped by there and we had fun. We got to view Paige's movie project too.
Wednesday, 22nd of August, 2001
It just so happens that the first day of classes is a Wednesday, and that on Wednesdays, I only have one class, Intro to Psychology 100B. I think I'm going to like this, I haven't really taken any Psychology classes before. And of course, Chamber Orchestra rehearsal tonight on the West Campus. Apparantly, that's where they have a real orchestra-room, cause I didn't really see one in any of the music department buildings here, but the orchestras here usually just end up rehearsing in Graham Chapel or something? (no complaints there) So I'm playing first violin, and we're playing a lot of cool stuff. A bunch of Handel, including an arrangement of the Queen of Sheba. Going along with the "H" theme of composers, we're playing Serenade by Howard Hanson, and Londerderry Air, by Hamilton Harty, also arranged. So it's all pretty cool music. Oh, and BTW, the parking garage at the West Campus is awesome! It's got one of those spirals to get between floors, totally cool.
Tuesday, 21st of August, 2001
Today was not too full of activity, as we get ready to start classes tomorrow. They played Charlie's Angels outside on the swamp tonight, and so I appropriately invited Beth and Andrea over.
This afternoon, though, there were auditions for the Washington University Symphony Orchestra. I played a solo piece, and there was some sightreading. Right after, one of the ajudicators told me they wanted me to play at the first Chamber Orchestra concert this coming Monday (!!) and to come to rehearsal tomorrow night. Cool!
Monday, 20th of August, 2001
Today is my turn to register for classes. I'm signed up for CS101G - Computer Science I, SSM326 - Statistics for Engineers, Intro to Psychology 101, and Intro to Macro-economics 102. I'm also taking a seminar along with the Psychology, and a freshman Engineering seminar. Then I went to buy books for my classes. Some of the "used" books were actually in very good condition, so I went ahead and saved the 40% or so on used books.
Sunday, 19th of August, 2001
Pastor invited the college class over to his house today for a BBQ lunch, so that was really nice. Back at school, I met with my faculty advisor, and at night the Engineering students "inducted" us into the Engineering department, where we got our official hard hats.