I made this list for Heather's farewell party one morning while waiting on hold:
This was a more formal list type doodle.
I was in the physics mood one afternoon while looking at my cell phone:
Feel free to ignore the work related notes.
5.28.2004
pen.and.paper
Sometimes I sit at my desk and write stuff on the pad in front of me. Here are some examples:
I made this list for Heather's farewell party one morning while waiting on hold:
This was a more formal list type doodle.
I was in the physics mood one afternoon while looking at my cell phone:
Feel free to ignore the work related notes.
I made this list for Heather's farewell party one morning while waiting on hold:
This was a more formal list type doodle.
I was in the physics mood one afternoon while looking at my cell phone:
Feel free to ignore the work related notes.
5.24.2004
location.location.location
No, this will not be a lecture on the fundamentals of real estate. As suggested by the incomparable Alexis I will now do my best to describe my current surroundings.
You already know the proximity of my apartment to Harvard Square and the river so I will spare you that. The apartment itself in contained in an old brick row house facing a similar structure across what can only be described as the resident's do -- the lane. Parking on one side and barely enough space on the other to drive through one way. The two-story, ivy-drenched, red-brick structure is topped with steeply sloping roofs and the doors open onto small stoops sheltered by tin gables. As one end of the lane lay larger but just as sheltered homes and at the other Mt. Auburn Street, a green belt, Memorial Drive, and the Charles River.
I know, a picture is worth a thousand words and I will not even attempt a thousand here nut I refuse to promise pictures that I may not be able to provide so I hope to bring you pictures at some point.
You already know the proximity of my apartment to Harvard Square and the river so I will spare you that. The apartment itself in contained in an old brick row house facing a similar structure across what can only be described as the resident's do -- the lane. Parking on one side and barely enough space on the other to drive through one way. The two-story, ivy-drenched, red-brick structure is topped with steeply sloping roofs and the doors open onto small stoops sheltered by tin gables. As one end of the lane lay larger but just as sheltered homes and at the other Mt. Auburn Street, a green belt, Memorial Drive, and the Charles River.
I know, a picture is worth a thousand words and I will not even attempt a thousand here nut I refuse to promise pictures that I may not be able to provide so I hope to bring you pictures at some point.
5.23.2004
questions
There is no shortage of information that can be conveyed about my life. This is true even when including only the post cross-country move stage. In light of that fact I submit for perusal some of the questions people ask me. they are collected from those who I am meeting for the first time and those who I have failed to keep in contact with as well as I probably ought.
q: Where are you living now?
a: A lovely apartment in Cambridge, MA just minutes from the historic Harvard Square and within sight of the Charles River.
q: Where are you from?
a: California
q: California is a big state, where in California.
a: Southern California.
q: What city?
a: Laguna Hills.
q: Where is that?
a: Orange County.
q: Oh, like the OC?
a: Yeah, sorta.
Note: The where are you from line of questioning is obviously attributed to the people I meet and of course does not always follow this course exactly. I am just providing a middle of the road example. Sometimes it is far worse with the intimation that I lived in a house on the beach and drove an H2 or at they very least a BMW. Occasionally it goes better.
q: So why did you move here? (Usually asked with a tinge of skepticism and not the least attempt to hide their shock.)
a: To get out of my parents garage.
q: (strange look of confusion and something to the effect of this is kinda far to move to get away from the parents)
a: I will be attending grad school here in the fall.
Note: Depending on my mood, how much explaining I want to do, and present company I may reverse my answers to obvious differing response
a: Ahh, I see
q: Yes, after all there are quite a few great schools here.
q: What School?
a: Brandeis University to pursue a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics.
q: Here responses range from the reverent: That's impressive and just plain WOW to the more constructive what exactly does that entail and/or what do you hope to do with that?
a: 1)Basically it involves the physics of things that are not gases and is most often associated with superconductors, semiconductors, and more recently superfluids.
2)I would like to do research full time either in industry or in a basic science research capacity.
q: What are you doing in the meantime?
a: I am working at a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration company in Wakefield as the dispatcher.
q: How is that going?
a: It's a job.
OK this has gone on long enough and I have laundry to do so:
To be continued...
q: Where are you living now?
a: A lovely apartment in Cambridge, MA just minutes from the historic Harvard Square and within sight of the Charles River.
q: Where are you from?
a: California
q: California is a big state, where in California.
a: Southern California.
q: What city?
a: Laguna Hills.
q: Where is that?
a: Orange County.
q: Oh, like the OC?
a: Yeah, sorta.
Note: The where are you from line of questioning is obviously attributed to the people I meet and of course does not always follow this course exactly. I am just providing a middle of the road example. Sometimes it is far worse with the intimation that I lived in a house on the beach and drove an H2 or at they very least a BMW. Occasionally it goes better.
q: So why did you move here? (Usually asked with a tinge of skepticism and not the least attempt to hide their shock.)
a: To get out of my parents garage.
q: (strange look of confusion and something to the effect of this is kinda far to move to get away from the parents)
a: I will be attending grad school here in the fall.
Note: Depending on my mood, how much explaining I want to do, and present company I may reverse my answers to obvious differing response
a: Ahh, I see
q: Yes, after all there are quite a few great schools here.
q: What School?
a: Brandeis University to pursue a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics.
q: Here responses range from the reverent: That's impressive and just plain WOW to the more constructive what exactly does that entail and/or what do you hope to do with that?
a: 1)Basically it involves the physics of things that are not gases and is most often associated with superconductors, semiconductors, and more recently superfluids.
2)I would like to do research full time either in industry or in a basic science research capacity.
q: What are you doing in the meantime?
a: I am working at a heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration company in Wakefield as the dispatcher.
q: How is that going?
a: It's a job.
OK this has gone on long enough and I have laundry to do so:
To be continued...
5.16.2004
move.complete
Yes it is true I am now lying on my bed in what will be (for the next few weeks at least) home. It is a quaint 1bdr apartment in Cambridge just a 10 minute walk from havard square. I'm glad to be moved of course and I have discovered some new things.
First of all, small apartments in the city scream out for laptops which my computer is not even remotely. Even the keyboard seems large in here.
Laptop now added to list of grad school must haves.
I still have some boxes to unpack and it's raining so I have at least some motivation to finish.
First of all, small apartments in the city scream out for laptops which my computer is not even remotely. Even the keyboard seems large in here.
Laptop now added to list of grad school must haves.
I still have some boxes to unpack and it's raining so I have at least some motivation to finish.
5.14.2004
on.moving
Even the short distance from Arlington to Cambridge seems infinite when you don't really want to pack your junk. It is unavoidable.
OK so here I am almost everything packed up. Only the refrigerator and pantry to clear out and throw in bags and my computer is still connected and up and running. What a strange world I live in. I'm lying on the floor at my keyboard writing a blog entry with iTunes on shuffle. I think that most people would pack up the computer first so it wouldn't get damaged in the move. Oh well.
Today was much more than my day to move. It was a day of overcoming circumstances.
I awoke after insufficient sleep after subconsciously disabling my alarm. Rushing to pick up a moving truck for all the stuff. I see I have to back up. Not my stuff. I only have enough to fill a midsize car (after all that's how I moved here from California). My apartment was a sublet from a guy is now of rather poor health (sad story implied but overlooked for now). So as his lease has ended he must move everything out but since he is living with friends he has no need of it. Now this guy has touched many peoples lives to the point that several people offered parts of their basements to house his things. So a truck was rented, the crew was assembled and the destinations plotted out. Now I return to the procurement of the moving truck.
The temperature at 8:30am was already in the 80s but a nice breeze rustling through the lush trees of springtime new england put a smile on my face. Halfway to the rental place I encountered what else but a small-town parade complete with high school marching band, boy scouts, little league teams, and several fire trucks and other large impressive city vehicles. I was stuck behind one of the aforementioned fire trucks for 30 minutes until I could resume my journey.
Arrive I did only to learn that the 24 foot truck I was to procure was twenty-four feet internally and much larger outside but a diesel and a manual transmission. I became a truck driver for a while. For anyone who has used large vehicles to move people in or out of small apartments in the city you understand the challenge that followed.
Once loaded off it went with words of I'll move your car to the rental place after I help move some of the stuff in another truck (this time a pickup with a dubious history) a shorter distance. The drive started ominously enough with a couple wrong turns and a strange smell from the engine compartment. When the steam started to billow I knew it was only going to continue. We made our delivery but didn't make it back.
So here I sit having been rescued from the side of the road by a generous friend done the car swap (painless compared to so much else today) and hungry. I need to eat and finish moving.
OK so here I am almost everything packed up. Only the refrigerator and pantry to clear out and throw in bags and my computer is still connected and up and running. What a strange world I live in. I'm lying on the floor at my keyboard writing a blog entry with iTunes on shuffle. I think that most people would pack up the computer first so it wouldn't get damaged in the move. Oh well.
Today was much more than my day to move. It was a day of overcoming circumstances.
I awoke after insufficient sleep after subconsciously disabling my alarm. Rushing to pick up a moving truck for all the stuff. I see I have to back up. Not my stuff. I only have enough to fill a midsize car (after all that's how I moved here from California). My apartment was a sublet from a guy is now of rather poor health (sad story implied but overlooked for now). So as his lease has ended he must move everything out but since he is living with friends he has no need of it. Now this guy has touched many peoples lives to the point that several people offered parts of their basements to house his things. So a truck was rented, the crew was assembled and the destinations plotted out. Now I return to the procurement of the moving truck.
The temperature at 8:30am was already in the 80s but a nice breeze rustling through the lush trees of springtime new england put a smile on my face. Halfway to the rental place I encountered what else but a small-town parade complete with high school marching band, boy scouts, little league teams, and several fire trucks and other large impressive city vehicles. I was stuck behind one of the aforementioned fire trucks for 30 minutes until I could resume my journey.
Arrive I did only to learn that the 24 foot truck I was to procure was twenty-four feet internally and much larger outside but a diesel and a manual transmission. I became a truck driver for a while. For anyone who has used large vehicles to move people in or out of small apartments in the city you understand the challenge that followed.
Once loaded off it went with words of I'll move your car to the rental place after I help move some of the stuff in another truck (this time a pickup with a dubious history) a shorter distance. The drive started ominously enough with a couple wrong turns and a strange smell from the engine compartment. When the steam started to billow I knew it was only going to continue. We made our delivery but didn't make it back.
So here I sit having been rescued from the side of the road by a generous friend done the car swap (painless compared to so much else today) and hungry. I need to eat and finish moving.
cd.sales
Just saw an interesting story as one of my favorite websites ars technica about cd sales and the RIAA the actual article talks about actual cd purchases being up and the RIAA's claims that they are down and that online music downloads are to blame. Interesting read.
5.13.2004
home.agian
As with so much about work things are unpredictable. Just as I was getting used to having my boss call in to give me a huge list of things to do. As I was warming up to the fact that he just stopped by for the briefest of minutes only to be frustrated and give me five different and conflicting answers to the only question I had for him. Today he is in the office almost all day and he is good natured and calm. He asks questions and gives me projects that are easily completed and answered. Hmm... The ups and downs.
In much bigger news, I am moving this weekend into an apartment in Cambridge. It is a very nice place and the rent is reasonable. I will be closer to where my friends are although farther from work. I will finally have a roommate (I know strange comment but if you know me you understand) so that will be nice.
In much bigger news, I am moving this weekend into an apartment in Cambridge. It is a very nice place and the rent is reasonable. I will be closer to where my friends are although farther from work. I will finally have a roommate (I know strange comment but if you know me you understand) so that will be nice.
working.for.the.man
While sitting at work I am often reminded of a song. Today it was the CCR song referenced above. Rollin' on the river baby!
What is it about the majority of the population that ends up working at jobs that they don't enjoy? I may be pursuing a job I will enjoy but not yet. That seems to be the plight of the twenty somethings of this country. I would say the world but sadly I have little experience outside the confines of the US. I must say (having moved from one coast to the other by car) this place is big and there is water on either side.
When it comes to work interesting anecdote: I was going through a drive-through at lunch today and the girl at the window was in state of mind that could only be called disgruntled. I must say I found it amusing to say the least. Sure the car in front of me had taken sit-down resturant time to pay for a fast-food meal. Sure her manager had just yelled at her for holding up the line. I just wondered how much of her identity she was allowing to be wrapped up in the "McJob" that was her current state.
tbc...
What is it about the majority of the population that ends up working at jobs that they don't enjoy? I may be pursuing a job I will enjoy but not yet. That seems to be the plight of the twenty somethings of this country. I would say the world but sadly I have little experience outside the confines of the US. I must say (having moved from one coast to the other by car) this place is big and there is water on either side.
When it comes to work interesting anecdote: I was going through a drive-through at lunch today and the girl at the window was in state of mind that could only be called disgruntled. I must say I found it amusing to say the least. Sure the car in front of me had taken sit-down resturant time to pay for a fast-food meal. Sure her manager had just yelled at her for holding up the line. I just wondered how much of her identity she was allowing to be wrapped up in the "McJob" that was her current state.
tbc...
5.12.2004
thoughts.for.the.night
Many have said that when my family jumps on the bandwagon for a technology it has truly achieved universal penetration. But it usually starts with me so Mom & Dad, if you ever read this, when you get blogs it will no longer be a new phenomona and I will have to move on to something else.
I have no great aspirations for this blog but it seemed as good a place as any to air some thoughts.
I have no great aspirations for this blog but it seemed as good a place as any to air some thoughts.
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