TheStudent,<P>I came across these today and thought is this what TS is talking about with regard to social life in the engineering department? <P> Two engineering students were walking across campus when one said, <BR>"Where did you get such a great bike?"<BR> The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday<BR>minding my own business when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike. She<BR>threw the bike to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take<BR>what you want."<BR> "The second engineer nodded approvingly, "Good choice; the clothes<BR>probably wouldn't have fit."<P>Or perhaps this is the problem <P>To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is<BR>half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to<BR>be.<P>Given our conversations, these seem to hit it pretty well. Don't worry in my field the engineers seem normal . <P>Have a Happy Y2K, May you have many problems to fix .<P>God Bless<P>JL<P>PS. Your only problem is that you are one too. <BR>

JL,<BR>That's pretty cute LOL <P>Us "geek" girls are a pretty odd bunch too. My ex thought it was real cute that I'd rather shop the tool aisle at Home Depot than the clothes aisle at the mall. Some of our favorite "bonding" moments occurred at Home Depot. He confessed he couldn't enter a Home Depot for months without welling up with tears. <P>Another problem with the engineering dept. guys is that they are usually 10 yrs. younger than me. I can hear it now "Hey, whats wrong with that?" It's pretty tough listening to 80's songs I danced to during my high-school graduation, while alot of these pups hadn't even graduated from elementary school yet! <P>Get this... I was recently reading a campus newspaper that was trying to give engineering guys some dating tips. The guy writing it actually recommended that they don't date "geek girls." Why? Well, they'll be too busy doing their own geeky thing and they won't have time to give you all that stroking, cleaning, cooking and general good-lovin' that another more "traditional" type woman might do for you. What you need (he continues) is a woman who will let you do your thing and not get in your way, but is there waiting for you after a long night in the lab. No joking!! See what I'm up against. Honestly, though. I'm beyond being upset about it anymore. I've got a plan now. I'm going to finish my PhD. Perhaps start my own little consulting company, adopt a child (maybe two), and basically go on with my life as though dating didn't exist. I'm not waiting for Mr. Right to pop into my life and I'm not going to be bummed about it anymore!!!<P>Thanks for the jokes, JL. You gave me a nice laugh. Have a wonderful New Years! I'm hanging out with the work crew, watching sports and whatever. Well, that is after I do somemore writing on this paper entitled: The influence of coefficient of friction on fretting fatigue analysis. Fun, huh? Thanks to you all, I'm able to actually concentrate on this darn paper instead of being so depressed!<P>

TheStudent,<P>I have another joke, but it is not really appropriate considering the board we are on. However, whenever I tell it my wife just nods her head in agreement. Weird is the word I keep hearing from her. Glad you liked the joke. <P>It is interesting to me, how the Geeks are viewed by the general population. I actually sat at a baseball game, and got to listen for the entire 9 innings as a woman behind me gripped about the hours she was having to put in school to keep up with Geeks. She thought unfair that she could not have a life and go to school, because of these competitive, SOB's. I just bit my tongue. <P>It seems to me the only difference between the Geeks and everyone else is we know what we want to do and how to do it. My observation is that when someone starts running a company or gets into finance or many other fields where there is competition, they become Geeks also.<P>TS, don't worry you will do well. <P>Have a good one.<P>JL<P>PS. If you adopt, forget about running your own company. Whether you realize it or not you will have another child . The company takes a lot of time. Been there, doing that.

Hey you two,<P>Hope you don't mind me butting in. Just had to say "hi" and best-of-wishes in the New Year.<P>Oh, and btw...some of my BEST FRIENDS are GEEKS! LOL. ('tis true). Several have PHD's, my Dad's an ME and our BESTEST friend works in... ummmm... destructive modelling? Some dotgov thing he can't tell me about. I swear he's on an X-file. <P>Anyhoo, keep the jokes flying. The one about the bike is particularly good. Even seeing it again. I'll see if I can dredge up some good ones from our archive as well.<P>All the best you two gems.

JL,<BR>I'm planning on working for a design/consulting company for awhile, when my child(ren) are young. When they get a little older, and after my I get some client base/reputation, I could strike out on my own. I do understand the time constraints in having your own company. Many of the places I've worked were companies less than 10 employees. Thanks for reminding me though. I would never adopt a child unless I was willing to give them lots and lots of love and attention.