**My Blog-- Week 5**

Okay, I know you all have been waiting I.M.P.A.T.I.E.N.T.L.Y for my new blog. Heck I know the feeling! Hello “MY” friends. Here I am sitting at my desk finishing up what I have started, updating my daily planner so I can have something to tell you by the end of the week. Only that this week, I have decided to go ahead and break my weekly blog to one day at a time thing. So let’s try this out! Let’s add some spice to the mix. Shall we? =D

             Monday, June 23, 2008:
So I came to work as early as 8:43 ((YES I was checking my time!)) and came in to work all refreshed and ready for a new day. This Monday from all others was a bit busy and annoying. You know when you get that feeling of getting stuck on something that is so simple and cannot figure it out for the life in you? Yeah well that is exactly what happened. I had to take a break a break! I was sweating it SO much until ((ding ding dinnnnng! Lunch time!))((Goodness yes I am Starving!!)) We went out to lunch to a Thai Restaurant. Different food, good stuff, nice break. Time is up. Now back to work! This Drag and Drop assignment sort of got on my very last nerve. I knew what the problem was but was too silly and blacked out to figure it out. Yet again, thanks to Evie ((My HEROOOOO!)), with her help the DnD was a “Mission Accomplished in no time!” I was so happy, It was great!
I went home that night and relaxed. The thought that my part was over is a big relief. But guess what, I have a quiz to study for. Amanda ((the PhD student in case you forgot)) allowed me to help them teach little Girl Scouts, that came to visit explore at UNCC, how to make a simple game using Game Maker 7. So that was something I had to look into.

            Tuesday, June 24, 2008:
Along came Tuesday. I woke up early, made myself some coffee and some breakfast and relaxed before getting dressed and heading to school. My day was about to start by heading to a computer lab and setting up the machines along with Amanda and Katie. ((Katie was the one to lecture this time. Amanda and I were helping out)). After Katie walked them through the tutorial, the girls ran their programs and were amazed. Such a great way to introduce girls to the simple concepts of CS.

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By the time the Girls Scouts tutorial was over it was lunch tiiiiime! Yay FOOD! I had lunch with Lauren and Cherisse downstairs on the third floor, in the Human Computer Interaction lab (HCI). And I met Denis, a guy that the lab brought from Lebanon. We had lunch and talked. It was a good break from work. After that I headed back to the gaming lab to do work. By the end of the day, I went home and laid down. Lauren then wanted to go to the grocery store. I went with her and we shopped for more groceries. It was fun. I know I have said this before, but really, this summer “internship” or “experience” is a lot of fun. Aside from the idea that you are on your own trying to be as independent as you can, you meet a lot of nice people and make a lot of good friends, all of which came here for the same purpose you have. To learn! So if you are out there reading this, you should apply to the DMP CRAW! It is really worth it. Chances are you will have fun!

            Wednesday, June 25, 2008:
Mmmmm do I love the sunshine! New day has come! Yes and I wake up every morning happy and refreshed. I did my morning routine then had gotten dressed and headed out. Yes earlier than everyone else. I even beat Kent this time! ((Kent is an REU student that works in the lab too)). I checked my email and I had mail notifications! My packages came!! Oh didn’t I tell you? I am an ebay junky! LITERALLY! And YES I can get mail delivered here YIPPYYYYY! So I dropped off my bag and headed to the post office and got 4 packages! One from home too. What a great day to start your day right? After that I hurried back to work more on UML diagrams. Not before long it was lunch time. Lauren and Cherisse, here I come. I had lunch with them again. Then we all headed out to a seminar presented by Dr. Lipford and Dr. Wu. The seminar lasted an hour was very interesting. After going back to work and by the end of the day, I had a UML diagram working! Click here to check it out! The day was short and sweet after that. I went home that evening and relaxed then joined the girls and hung out… Oh yeah I almost forgot to mention that I have met the new girl on the block! Kelly! She comes from Hawaii but goes to school in California! Yes the best of both worlds right! Awesome! She is cool and she was with us hanging out with Lauren, Cherisse and I. We laughed so much! Great friends I made here! We called it a night around 11 and headed to our rooms to go to bed.

            Thursday June 26, 2008:
I woke up to the alarm going off. Looked outside my window and seen the sunshine. A new day is about to start. I got up and did my thing ((you know the drift!)) then headed out. I came here an hour earlier so I can get my presentation together. ((It is Thursday did you guys forget?!)) So I came here and Jasamine and Kent, both, were here already. I pulled my notebook out of the bag and started. By 12, it was time for presentation. I went first again. It went alright. After that, Evie met with Jasamine and I. It was time we planned starting the main DanceTool Project. She sketched out the plan for the week, and we each knew what was required. We went along reading documentation and looking up design elements. I cannot wait for this project to be playable. It seems like it is going to be great! I stayed at work till 5:30 then headed home. Lauren wanted to go to a new mall she found! ((Shopping?! COUNT ME IN!!)) Lauren, Jasamine, Cherisse, Andrea and I headed out. The mall was nice. We had fun and we bought the best chocolate in the worrrrrrrld! It was so good and I will definitely be back for more! ((Don’t give me that look I know what you are thinking!)) It was after 10 when we got back. It had stormed on our way back to the dorms and we were soaking wet! LOL I guess that is what makes charlotte so special. The weather can be so nice then pour rain for a couple of hours, then after that become all nice again like nothing happened. I'm calling it a night! Goodndight!

            Friday June 27, 2008:
Today is a beautiful day. Lots of sunshine and singing birds! I woke up and realized..It is Friday! It is the last day of the week. ((Whooptie Doo!!)) I came to school earlier than 9 a.m. as usual to get set up and start doing some early work. I walked in and looked over some files Evie had uploaded in the shared drive for us to look over. I studied a starter technical design document and power point presentation that were provided, and now is the time to rock! We will be working on designs for the next couple of days. I have always wanted to learn Maya and 3D modelings. Now is my chance and I am very excited. I visited the HCI lab on lunch hour and ate with Lauren and Cherisse. They asked me to be their first subject in a study they want to launch. Why me? ((Because I am amazing!)) well because they can use everyone that is willing to participates that meets the criteria. Anyway, Now I am back at my desk working on uploading my week 5 blog block.. ((This one you are reading)). I will continue to do that then I will start working on sketching a draft design for our DanceTool. Okay well I better get back to work if I want to get anything done today. And no, I have no plans for the weekend. I do know I have to clean and wash cloths..((Does that count? ?))

Now you have it. A new update on my journey at UNCC. I will be peaking in every once in a while to tweak and update. I might end up uploading some images as well. So, keep your eyes wide open before you miss out! Chao