Since I was so tired last night, I didn't stay up late, and got a great night's sleep. I got to class bright and early so that I could hook my laptop up to the network and download the software we were going to use in class exercises today. But my luck was out again - for some reason, my laptop was the only one that couldn't connect to the network. I spent forty five minutes at the technical support desk, while they worked on it and ultimately pronounced it fixed. Once back in the classroom, though, it still would not connect!

The help-desk people promised to send someone. In the meantime, though, I was helpless, so I twiddled my thumbs and watched everyone else. I noticed that the English language continues to die - one of the teachers said "Everything is done so separate" and nobody even noticed. Meanwhile, the other teacher was making sexual innuendoes about "getting it up".

Software developers foraging for lunch in their native habitat

I got back early from lunch, and the guys from the help-desk , two beefy young football-player types, were working on my laptop. Meanwhile, every single other member of the class was browsing the internet while sucking lollipops in some kind of bizarre ritual.

Shortly after lunch was over, the football players took my laptop away somewhere, promising to return soon. But by two- thirty, as the class blissfully began to disintegrate early (although for something to disintegrate it implies it was at one time whole, which could not be said about this class), there was no sign of my laptop being returned. I called the help-desk, and it was returned to me five minutes later. The guy explained to me that there was nothing wrong with it after all, but that the network in the training lab was different from the main network and you're not supposed to be able to access it. This was the most ludicrous answer possible since every other member of the class was on the network, and so many different parts of the class depended upon getting onto the network! Oi veh.It had taken, all told, seven separate people, and the whole day to get that answer!

By three o'clock, I was back in my hotel, playing my two laptops like a virtuoso, while talking to the help-desk about yet another problem! Information overload perhaps? I also got told by the teacher for Thursday's and Friday's classes that the class was too advanced for my javaless soul. Not quite sure what I'll be doing instead - probably browsing the company intranet for two more fun-filled days.

The one indisputably nice thing about being here is that I have lots of free time, with few distractions. I can take my time over working out and running - I can get enough sleep. I can even watch television if I want! It's a real luxury, and I intend to take advantage of it. No rushing about, no trying to squeeze too much in.

So after I'd finished "work", I went over to the gym on campus and did a short chest workout. Then I went for a great run on the running track next to the gym. I found it more difficult than normal to motivate myself for the run since, unlike on my other runs where I usually run a certain distance then turn back (which makes it hard to quit part the way through!), when you're running laps, it's easy to quit anytime. I set myself the goal of twelve laps and I was really proud of myself that I did it, considering the heat and the fact that my legs were still stiff from working out yesterday. It was also the first timed run over a known distance I've done - four miles in 37 minutes. I have no idea, though, if this is way slower than everyone else or not :)

I guess this company does treat their employees well - they supply them with everything - kind of like the Toyota of software development. There was even a graveyard next to the running track, which I tried not to think too hard about :)

After a room-service dinner consisting of a chicken-caesar salad and a beef-burger pattie, I started writing my journal while watching a sports movie about some guy called Rudy who worked his short little butt off to get onto the Notre Dame football team. I just love movies like this, if they're well made. You know exactly - EXACTLY - what is going to happen, but still, the resolution always fills my eyes with tears. I almost feel like I'm on vacation again!