So that I don't have to keep typing this out over and over to everyone, I'm just sending this address now about my trip to Oklahoma to work this summer.
I accepted an intern position at the National Petroleum Technology Office (NPTO) in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the summer. The project I've been working on is creating the backbone for a newsletter (as well as the first publication) dealing with Downstream projects funded by DOE.
Downstream is a term used in the oil industry. Basically, it covers everything from refining the oil all the way to getting it out of the exhaust pipe in the car (Upstream, the opposite of Downstream, is getting it out of the ground). I'll be working on was to put in articles relating to the chemical, biological, and environmental aspects of Downstream work. I also need to come up with a title, so if you have any ideas, please send them to me at work.
This is a work in progress. As I have time, think of it, and new things come up, I'll try to update all of this, so check back periodically for more. I'll try to do stuff at least once a week, every weekend, probably.
Update as of 7/2/00
I'm beginning to think they like to keep me in the dark. But work on the newsletter has been forward moving, if not continuous and not understandable. I have a copy of QuarkXPress to use for layout. I have three articles, and am hoping for more info to write more this week. I'm ready to go home. I think I've decided quite well that though petroleum refining interesting, it is not something I want to do for the rest of my life. But that's what co-oping is for, right?
Update as of 7/5/00
Working title for the newsletter is Downstream Detail. It's a catchy alliteration with a bit of cerebral quality to it, but suave and sophisticated. Or, something like that. Layout is getting fun. I need maybe one more article...maybe two if the second is really short (like a highlight), but I think I'll have that. I'm annoyed with the fact that I have to deal with two bosses in a way. Dexter is my real boss, but then he's not here a lot so I deal with David who keeps throwing stuff on me and confusing the ever living crap out of me. It's frustrating. But I keep trying to confirm with Dexter and my life becomes easier again. The only thing left to argue with David (at the moment) is this stupid issue with dashes in the phone numbers. I say phone numbers need dashes, he doesn't like them (he wants spaces). It's insane.
Update as of 7/14/00
Today was my day off. It occured to me while Anna (one of my roommates) and I were coming back from a movie that I should probably include stuff that goes on in my personal life out here as well. Well, to start, you can view some pictures I've taken. You can find them in the pictures section.
First, though, work. I think I'm nearing completion of the newsletter. I shouldn't need any more articles, though perhaps a bit of editing may still be in order. I've reshuffled layout several times already to try and make it all fit. There is still a small space on one page that I don't know what to do with yet. A picture would be nice, but I really don't have any more for that article. Yesterday I finished a first draft of the report I will send back to Tech so I can get (some) credit for this co-oping (interning). I also began the presentation I will give to the department before I leave and to a group of students and officials during the week I am in Washington, D.C.
Personally....where to catch up from? Today Anna and I went to see X-Men and then ended up randomly seeing The Kid as well. Both are great. It's been getting REALLY hot out here. And I think Tennessee is about 8 degrees cooler, which I'd love to have right now, so live it up, guys!!
I've found a gaming group out here. There's another intern from a different program that I work with, Noelle, who lives out here and goes to school at the University of Tulsa. Her boyfriend is the GM for a World of Darkness game and she found out I liked gaming, so invited me as they needed people. I've been having so much fun, and it's a good release for me and a way to relax on Thursday nights. It's about the only real chance I have to get away from my roommates.
Speaking of, I guess I'll address that issue. My roommates and I get along well. The real problem is that we work together, and live together, and I even share a room with one of them. So it's hard to find some down time away from each other, which can be rough. After a while it starts to grate on you. It's hard enough living with people you know and love on a consistent basis, so you can see that this gets a bit tiresome after a while. We manage to stay out of each other's way when needbe, but there are just times you can't do that. Overall, we do get along. Just wish we didn't have to spend nearly every waking moment nearby each other. I guess I also wish I didn't have to be the one to drive all the time, but I did kind of expect that, so I guess I won't gripe too much on that issue. I don't plan on going anywhere tomorrow, so maybe that will keep me from driving until Sunday (tomorrow I'm thinking of the pool to cool off some....)
Then there's the apartment. The front door sticks constantly and takes a lot of force to open. I know that one day we'll be trapped in here and have to climb out from the balcony door. On top of that, when the people got us furniture and cooking supplies and such, the provided us with a stereo. This is nice, but what gets me (all of us) is this. They give us no microwave, which we could use more than a stereo. They give us no phone, which we had to buy to be able to make or get calls. They give us no TV, which it seems would be more likely to find use than a stereo (well, not with me, but it's mostly logical). Yet they give us a stereo....hmm...
We have yet to find a microwave and are managing without it, albeit a bit unhappily. But they do have microwaves at the office, so at least we can do a quick heat on lunch if we bring leftovers from dinner. As for the TV, one of the guys at work had an old Black and White one that he gave to Marqi (my other roommate) so we've been working with that. It's very staticy and VERY VERY small (we call it our big screen), but it works and I can pick up voyager, at least some, so I'm happy.
Coming back from work each day, we find there is a tradition in one part of down that goes on every single afternoon. We have taken to calling it the Tulsa Downtown Honkfest 2000. Every time we pass this one intersection leaving downtown, cars are honking all over the place and we don't know why exactly. We think it's all coming from this one parking garage we pass by, but we're nut sure and we really don't know WHY they do this EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!
Generally, we try to do something on the weekends to entertain ourselves. We have been to see a few movies and to the nature center in town. We also went to the very small amusement park here, but by small, I mean SMALL. There is a water park we are thinking of going to sometime and Anna and I want to go see Oklahoma one weekend, but we have to reserve tickets. We're thinking perhaps next weekend would be good. If time allows, we may also look into doing some horseback riding, if there is any in the area.
Update as of 7/21/00
Two more weeks, at last! I'm getting final reviews on the newsletter and the paper will be ready to be sent probaby by this afternoon. I think I've filled up most of the space problems in the newsletter, and then it's a matter of getting it in a web version which I hope to do this afternoon, but that really depends on if this has been finalized or not.
I also FINALLY got my itenerary for DC yesterday. I'm working on switching my plane tickets for returning to Tennessee so I can fly on Friday as opposed to Saturday. Looks like it will be a busy week and I'm hoping to make a little time to meet up with some people. My friend Amanda is going to meet me when I get there and hopefully I'll get to see Aunt Susan and Uncle Jose, too.
Personal life...not much has happened this week worth noting. Anna and I are going to see OKLAHOMA! tomorrow evening. Dang, I'll be so glad when you people quit singing that at me. I called Jason yesterday for his birthday and who got serenaded? Was it him with "Happy Birthday"? No, it was me with that song.....anyway, I'm getting "culture" for being out here, so all of you afraid I wouldn't can settle easy now. (ahem, RYAN!!) :-)
Tuesday we're taking a field trip (wow, havn't had one of those in a while) to one of the drilling sites south of here. It'll be an all day trip and it should be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to that, something different for a bit.
Update as of 7/24/00
Quote of the day: "OK, in this fire I want to see an ice cube form, then melt away. Slowly, while turning the flames blue."
Does it get any more annoying? Okay, no one probably gets that. Let me just simply say that if it weren't for the fact that I don't have to deal with David the rest of the week I'd probably go postal. He's a nut case.
Update as of 8/3/00
This is likely the final update while I am in Oklahoma (unless something TRULY odd happens tomorrow). I have finished what I will do of the newsletter and printed up color copies to take with me to show off in DC. I will have a lot of these copies when I come home, so if you're incredibly (un)lucky, look for them as stocking stuffers...
My presentation is ready and though there are a few things from here that I'll miss (like the World of Darkness game...those guys were so much fun and it was so cool), I'm ready to be out of here. I'll be in Washington, DC for a full week and then will be going back to Tennessee and meeting up with Jason. From there we will travel back to Tech and move in. I may put one more update once I'm home just to say how the Washington trip was, but that will probably be all the modification I do to this page (except for eventually moving it somewhere else on the site....be watching).
My final tasks here are to create a moving picture of a refinery. Guess who assigned that one? If you said David, you're right again. I have completed this obsene task (amazingly enough) and have decided that I only need one more miracle to become a Catholic saint when I die. My first was completing this pic. The second was putting up with David for a summer and not attempting his assassination.
I just know one day he'll find this and read it....