So, this past weekend has been good, actually. I am a part of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock competitive robotics team. We are the first University level robotics team in the state of Arkansas. We went to a competition in Houston, Texas this past weekend.
It went pretty well. We ended up getting seventh, though I am positive that we had the fourth best robot there. The reason we got seventh instead of fourth was that we got screwed over by the judges. The way the programming works, the judges can cut your communication to the robot. This makes it so that you can not move your robot before the timer starts or after it ends.
What happened with us is that our side of the field started experiencing a loss of communication. To be clear, it was not our fault, but the playing field's fault. After a while with us unable to move, but the other team being able to, the power went out to both sides. The judges decided to call the game and score it as it stood, rather than doing the proper thing and doing a redo. So, we lost the match.
We protested quite a bit, and were told that we would have a rematch at the end (it was a weighted round robin style). At the end, we never got the rematch, because they said they didn't have the time. So, instead of doing things properly in the first place, and instead of fixing it later, we got screwed over by the improper running of the tournament.
Regardless of that, we still won an award. We ended up getting the "Judges Award". Think of it as a mix of "best in show" and "sportsmanship". The judges liked our design, and the fact that we were helping out another team by literally doing their programming for them. So, that's something, anyway.
I've decided to stay in the teaching program for now. I figured I'd through that out there, since I mentioned in my last post that I was thinking about dropping it.
- Sapper Woody
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Friday, February 24, 2017
24 February 2017
This post is coming in on the heels of my very first post. I just recently got off the phone with the veteran's crisis hotline. Talked to a nice woman. Shaundra, I think her name was. If not, that's what I'm calling her now. It was something close at any rate.
The veteran's crisis hotline uses the same phone number as the suicide hotline, but when you get on there, there is a button to press if you are a veteran or calling about a veteran. Only my wife knows this until this blog post is read, but I call the veteran's crisis hotline about two times a month. I wear a bracelet on my right wrist at all times that has the hotline number printed on it.
I called the hotline because I needed to talk to someone, and it was 2 AM. I was on my way home from building a robot at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for an upcoming competition we're having. We're leaving in less than twelve hours from now.
I called because I'm unsure of what my future holds. I am stressed about the direction my schooling is going. Right now I am a dual major in Physics and Math, with a minor in Secondary Education. Problem is, I don't think that I can do it. I can barely make my own classes, much less teach day in and day out.
I'm thinking of dropping my two teaching classes that I am taking this semester. I'm taking more than a full course load at 20 hours this semester. In addition to my two teaching classes, I'm taking Physics I with the associated lab, Calculus III, Linear Algebra, and Composition II.
I'm contemplating dropping my teaching minor altogether, actually. At this point, I am sure that I won't be able to teach, as most high schools won't keep a teacher around who is frequently absent; even if it is due to combat related mental issues. So, I'm thinking of dropping that minor, and leaving those hours open to my majors and possibly some electives.
I like music. Maybe I'll take a music course. I heard tonight that you can actually make some money by taking band, and playing in recitals. I play the piano; not good enough to play concerts, though. I play the Baritone. I could possibly play that in band. I am also a tenor, and could sing in a choir. I may try out for one of those next semester.
I did find out that Calculus III is the highest math needed in order to apply as a college math tutor at UALR, working in what they call the Math Lab. I'd like that. I could help people with their math, make money, and work and go to school at the same place.
Speaking of school, I have to leave my house in about an hour to make it to my first class. I've been up all night. I stayed up so late, that I knew that if I slept, I wouldn't wake up in time for class. I have some mild insomnia. And by mild, I mean that it is severe when it hits, but it doesn't hit too often. The longest I've ever stayed up unable to sleep was roughly 78 hours. At that point, I started to hallucinate. I was sure that I had played Kerbol Space Program for over an hour. I 'woke up' to find that it was five minutes later, and nothing I had thought I did in the game had been done.
Well, I'm out of time for this morning. I'm sure I'll rant some more later.
- Sapper Woody
The veteran's crisis hotline uses the same phone number as the suicide hotline, but when you get on there, there is a button to press if you are a veteran or calling about a veteran. Only my wife knows this until this blog post is read, but I call the veteran's crisis hotline about two times a month. I wear a bracelet on my right wrist at all times that has the hotline number printed on it.
I called the hotline because I needed to talk to someone, and it was 2 AM. I was on my way home from building a robot at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for an upcoming competition we're having. We're leaving in less than twelve hours from now.
I called because I'm unsure of what my future holds. I am stressed about the direction my schooling is going. Right now I am a dual major in Physics and Math, with a minor in Secondary Education. Problem is, I don't think that I can do it. I can barely make my own classes, much less teach day in and day out.
I'm thinking of dropping my two teaching classes that I am taking this semester. I'm taking more than a full course load at 20 hours this semester. In addition to my two teaching classes, I'm taking Physics I with the associated lab, Calculus III, Linear Algebra, and Composition II.
I'm contemplating dropping my teaching minor altogether, actually. At this point, I am sure that I won't be able to teach, as most high schools won't keep a teacher around who is frequently absent; even if it is due to combat related mental issues. So, I'm thinking of dropping that minor, and leaving those hours open to my majors and possibly some electives.
I like music. Maybe I'll take a music course. I heard tonight that you can actually make some money by taking band, and playing in recitals. I play the piano; not good enough to play concerts, though. I play the Baritone. I could possibly play that in band. I am also a tenor, and could sing in a choir. I may try out for one of those next semester.
I did find out that Calculus III is the highest math needed in order to apply as a college math tutor at UALR, working in what they call the Math Lab. I'd like that. I could help people with their math, make money, and work and go to school at the same place.
Speaking of school, I have to leave my house in about an hour to make it to my first class. I've been up all night. I stayed up so late, that I knew that if I slept, I wouldn't wake up in time for class. I have some mild insomnia. And by mild, I mean that it is severe when it hits, but it doesn't hit too often. The longest I've ever stayed up unable to sleep was roughly 78 hours. At that point, I started to hallucinate. I was sure that I had played Kerbol Space Program for over an hour. I 'woke up' to find that it was five minutes later, and nothing I had thought I did in the game had been done.
Well, I'm out of time for this morning. I'm sure I'll rant some more later.
- Sapper Woody
Who is Sapper Woody?
Hello.
My name is Robert Presswood. I am the oldest of my siblings. I am married, and have three children. I go by the handle "Sapper Woody" on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Twitter. You can search for me on those sites and find some of my fun stuff.
This blog however, is not one of those fun sites. I am sure there will be fun to be had, but that is not the point of this blog. The point of this blog is for me to collect my thoughts. To talk to no one, expect no one to listen, and to get things off my chest.
So, who am I? I am a medically retired US Amy soldier living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression.
At the risk of sounding like Lemony Snicket, if you are looking for sunshine and rainbows, this isn't the place for you. However, if you are looking for the words of someone in pain, stick around. I will be sharing my innermost thoughts. These will be ugly to some, surprising to some, yet familiar to many. If you want to read about the struggles of someone like you, be my guest.
This will be a documentation of my struggles. My struggles with PTSD, with anxiety and with depression. Hopefully, in the end, it will be a triumphant story with a happy ending. But the ending hasn't been written yet. In fact, I have only been out of the Army for a little over two years. My story is just beginning.
I make no apologies for grammatical or spelling errors. These are my thoughts as they come into my head. You are welcome to read along, to sympathize or empathize at your leisure. Enjoy it if you will. Be uplifted if you will. At the very least know that you are not alone.
I am not a therapist. Far from it. My own experiences with therapists have not been pleasant. I've been through three different types of therapy programs, in addition to my regular meetings with therapists. I've tried several different medicines, none of which I have enjoyed so far. The only medication that I like to take is some Trazedone. My prescription gives me 50mg pills, but I'm sensitive to medicine, so I usually take only half of that to sleep for eight to ten hours.
So, welcome to my blog. I can't promise daily updates, or weekly updates, or monthly updates. I'll update it when I feel I have something to say, or something to add. Who knows? Maybe I'll even share some good words to help you, the audience, out. Only time will tell.
If you're still reading this, good for you. Keep reading if you want. Or don't. This is for me. Hopefully it'll help someone out later. But for now, it's for me.
- Sapper Woody
My name is Robert Presswood. I am the oldest of my siblings. I am married, and have three children. I go by the handle "Sapper Woody" on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Twitter. You can search for me on those sites and find some of my fun stuff.
This blog however, is not one of those fun sites. I am sure there will be fun to be had, but that is not the point of this blog. The point of this blog is for me to collect my thoughts. To talk to no one, expect no one to listen, and to get things off my chest.
So, who am I? I am a medically retired US Amy soldier living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression.
At the risk of sounding like Lemony Snicket, if you are looking for sunshine and rainbows, this isn't the place for you. However, if you are looking for the words of someone in pain, stick around. I will be sharing my innermost thoughts. These will be ugly to some, surprising to some, yet familiar to many. If you want to read about the struggles of someone like you, be my guest.
This will be a documentation of my struggles. My struggles with PTSD, with anxiety and with depression. Hopefully, in the end, it will be a triumphant story with a happy ending. But the ending hasn't been written yet. In fact, I have only been out of the Army for a little over two years. My story is just beginning.
I make no apologies for grammatical or spelling errors. These are my thoughts as they come into my head. You are welcome to read along, to sympathize or empathize at your leisure. Enjoy it if you will. Be uplifted if you will. At the very least know that you are not alone.
I am not a therapist. Far from it. My own experiences with therapists have not been pleasant. I've been through three different types of therapy programs, in addition to my regular meetings with therapists. I've tried several different medicines, none of which I have enjoyed so far. The only medication that I like to take is some Trazedone. My prescription gives me 50mg pills, but I'm sensitive to medicine, so I usually take only half of that to sleep for eight to ten hours.
So, welcome to my blog. I can't promise daily updates, or weekly updates, or monthly updates. I'll update it when I feel I have something to say, or something to add. Who knows? Maybe I'll even share some good words to help you, the audience, out. Only time will tell.
If you're still reading this, good for you. Keep reading if you want. Or don't. This is for me. Hopefully it'll help someone out later. But for now, it's for me.
- Sapper Woody
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