//Desiderata

## Another Sunday

This will just be one of my fragmentary posts. I am finished with math homework for the night. When I say it like that, it sounds so trite. The fact is that Differential Equations is much more challenging than calculus 2. Everything I’ve ever learned about math comes into play. The professor’s constant warnings about “our algebra has to be perfect, and fast” is not for his amusement. If you do not recognize right away that an equation can be made homogeneous by use of trigonometric identities, you’re in for a long afternoon of beating your head against the wall.

## For example

$\\ \frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{x^2 +t\sqrt{t^2+x^2}}{tx} \\ \textbf{the substitution v=x/t only works because}\\ \frac{\sqrt{t^2+x^2}}{t}=sec\Theta \;\textbf {and}\\ 1+sec^{2}\Theta=tan^{2}\Theta \\ \textbf{so, }sec\;\Theta=\sqrt{1+\left ( \frac{x}{t} \right )^2} \\ \textbf {giving us }G\left ( v \right )=v+\frac{1}{v} \sqrt{1+v^2}$

I’m trying not to count down the days until certain milestones pass; like x number of days until my sober anniversary, y number of days until graduation. Although I am really hoping that this week brings me closer to something. My transcripts all went out last weekend, but only one school has reported them – I will follow up with Advising on Tuesday, in case I have to resend them (I am not sure of some of the addresses I supplied).

I have to finish my letter of recommendation for W. to sign. If I can get someone else to write one that is fine, but his endorsement should be enough – I should really get my math professor to write one too, but he’s a very busy guy and I hate to impose.

In case you are not following it, here is the link to a site I enjoy called Starts With A Bang by astrophysicist Ethan Siegel https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/#9d290a92c5ec

The new roommate is a colossal slob! He’s only been here a couple of days, but he has managed to make a huge mess out of the room. Why does one person need to lug around so much crap? I see it time and again. I have moved so many times that I can dispense with the superfluous stuff and keep what’s important – my baseball glove, my laptop and math books, and maybe some clothes. That reminds me that I really need to get some winter gear before it starts getting cold and I’m caught unprepared.

Here’s a little piece of my essay for Bridgewater State:

Normally, when asked to “tell something about myself” I halter and have difficulty finding any words all, let alone the right ones. To overcome this I do research, take notes, and prepare as if this were an exam. However, that will only give you an idea of my academic preparedness and study habits, but not insight into what motivates me or what goals I may have. In order to give you an indication of “who I am” I need to begin in December 2015…

Thank you to my dad for reminding me about a poem entitled Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann. It reads, in part,

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.