That Fall I took four classes, CS 60C, Math 50B, Math 55, and Physics 7C. Physics 7C I didn't really have to take, although it did fulfill a science requirement. But Jim and Darren were taking it so I wanted to take it. This was the hard class for me. Electromagnetism and Maxwell's Theorems, ending up with nuclear physics. Lots of math, lots of high level multi-variable calculus that we were learning at the same time in Math 50B.

I remember the midterm. Four questions, one of which was an exercise that was in the book and that we had practiced, and I still only got 50% Clearly I was out of my league and that's a problem with me. I can understand high level concepts in a general way, but when it comes to actually implementing and doing the specifics I mess up. I suppose it's a common problem. In any case, it does say here that I got a B- in the class, must have been the homework.

To go along with the Physics classes there is a three hour lab once a week. A bit less than Chemistry lab which was four hours. I don't recall the Physics labs too well. You paired up with a partner and followed the lab book. At least Chemistry I can recall mixing things.

Math 55 -- Discrete Mathematics. A fun class. It's split up into two main themes: probability and set theory. I did great when we studied probability and blew it on the set theory to end up with a B (in fact, this is the semester where I got all B's). I remember that class was held in Bechtel Auditorium. Very posh and elegant. Carpeting and comfy in a hushed environment. It's like a really nice office building.

Math 50B -- Multivariable Calculus. A hard class that I got a B in. Matrices and Laplace functions and Fourier transforms, derivatives and integrals. Calculating things like the volume of an object that is this curve rotated around the x-axis. Occassionally I hear things that "all that math and physics I took in college were a waste of time in real life." All I can say is that's not really the point. Having a smart citizenry, an informed people, is very important. Even if you never really use the knowledge, you can still converse with people and at least have an idea of what they're talking about. And the answer is yes, occassionally I do read materials where having this background is useful. I can't do the proofs or follow the details, but at least I know what they're talking about.

Computer Science 60C -- Data Structures and Advanced Programming. The last of the introductory CS courses. Everything after this is just a rehash of the 60A-C series, only with more math and proofs and details. I got a B+ in this class, much to my surprise. Somewhere along here we also learned about machine language and architecture. Hmm, I think that was 60B. Which means this was the algorithm class.

This is the semester when I really started gaming. Somehow Eric convinced me to join his Erzo game, already at least a year old. Most of the guys I had already met last semester. Dave Sweet wasn't there yet. I think he started during Winter Break or another break because when I got back there was this new guy and everyone was familiar with him. Anyway I made my throwaway Gabter Xopdnas, who refused to die and made it through the rest of the campaign.

Back then I think they had the Friday Ars Magica and a Saturday night game too. But I only wanted to play Saturday day games and I'd always leave after the first game as the guys talked about the next game. Admittedly I was a bit jealous or sad, but too shy to ask to join. It wasn't until next semester or maybe Fall of 1991 that I was invited to join the Saturday night game, which at the time was Pendragon.