What's Next for Ryan!

Thoughts on the Chevy Volt

2010-11-25T08:46:00.000-05:00

Drove the Chevy Volt yesterday and a couple people asked what I thought of it so here you go (originally a reply to my status):

Size and general niceness seemed like a higher tier Civic. The touch screen interface was a nice touch (although I would expect nothing less from a $41,000 car.) The only interior gripe would be that the back seat is a little small and the seats are quite high (you sit on top of the back of the battery pack) so not a ton of headroom for me. It only seats two in the back so at least you have enough room laterally. It is quick off the line, feels planted and decently nimble in the corners. Nothing like the jumpy and floaty feeling you sometimes get in the Prius. That's probably because of the considerably larger battery and heavier car. The silence when driving around town is fantastic and again the cabin is nice and insulated and well appointed especially for a smallish Chevy.

All in I think they have done a good job making compromises addressing the concerns about the range of electric cars (real or perceived) with the serial hybrid system. This is a car that could be used as your only car in super efficient and quiet electric mode in daily use (if you drive like most of us do less than 40 miles a day) and then you can fill it up and drive to Tahoe/Maine/New York/Yosemite/Canada, whatever constitutes a road trip for you.

Only time and sales figures will tell what the rest of the country thinks about it and if anyone not already in the market for a hybrid will even consider it. I think it is very interesting and dare I say it cool from a technology standpoint. That's a pretty impressive thing to say about a car made by GM.

That went on longer than I thought but there are my thoughts.

flag.in.need

2010-08-28T14:59:00.001-04:00

After breakfast this morning Rob and I noticed just how sad the flag in our front yard looks. Probably should replace it.

Now to look up flag disposal protocol.

I am also quite fond of the fake flowers planted at the base.

nice.to.know

2010-01-20T20:50:00.000-05:00

Heading.home

2010-01-20T17:02:00.000-05:00

Saw this on my way to the car today.

Off I go to CA...

2008-07-22T06:59:00.001-04:00

Off I go to CA...

tickets.purchased

2008-04-21T12:44:00.001-04:00

I'm heading down to NYC on Wednesday and I have my tickets! It's been too long and I am taking the train, which will be a first. I am hoping to get to do some grading on the train and avoid the whole tense drive from Boston to NY.

spring.fever

2008-04-20T14:12:00.002-04:00

The high today is only in the 60's and with the breeze you can't exactly call this warm. Being the adopted New Englander that I am and a certified "white person" I am maximizing my opportunity to be outside on this spring day. To be fair I also really enjoyed wearing my shorts to work on Friday with highs in the 70's! My Dad, of course, still calls to remind me that it is, "76 and sunny at Calafia Beach and the carne asada burrito is delicious". At least I got to call him for once and remind him that I was outside enjoying spring while he was still at work (one of the benefits to the time zone thing). The warmth and sunlight has brought me out of doors and I am about to take my first vacation since Christmas. Ahh, the power of the change of seasons.

sunday.afternoon

2008-04-20T14:11:00.002-04:00

middle.of.july

2007-07-17T16:03:00.000-04:00

The idea that the fourth is long gone and the start of school at the end of August is fast approaching is almost paralyzing some moments. Still onward I press. I am working nights this week and I can only describe the experience as confusing. As I look at the clock now shortly after 4pm it is impossible to really understand that I will be awake 12 hours from now heading into the last hour of an 8 hour worknight. At least I have the work I say to myself when I pull up into the driveway after the sun is up and wave to my roommate just heading out to work. OK, so I didn't actually wave and he was actually already on his way to work but this is a more poetic image. I suppose I should figure out a way to sleep all day and work all night but is no way to spend a summer. Is it?

optometry?

2007-06-04T11:05:00.000-04:00

Almost as a way to remind myself I say this now. I am planning on becoming an optometrist. The road is long and not entirely smooth and yet my heart is filled with excitement. What does the future hold for me and those around me? "God knows the plans he has for me..." Here goes the next step.

map.to.your.head

2007-04-18T16:03:00.000-04:00

"I need a map of your head translated into English so I can learn to not make you frown."
- Clean (Make Yourself) - Incubus

That line always makes me laugh and then think about how true it is that we just don't really understand what goes on in the minds of the people around us. He is singing about the mind of a woman but I think it applies in a much more general way. There is so much that we don't understand and most of it seems to be trapped in the minds of the people around us. How much more do we wish we had a map to the mind of someone who knows all and understands the whys and hows for every action and circumstance in our lives.

the.low.fare.customer

2007-04-13T18:32:00.000-04:00

In recent years the "low fare" airline has come to dominate the airline industry news. As it turns out this has had several consequences. The most obvious result is the current affordability of air travel for most middle class families and individuals. That has drastically changed the demographics of the passengers. Certainly the middle class families that saved to fly and see Grandma seem to make up a large portion of the flying public today and their frequency of travel has increased. Now the groups who would have never considered the ability to fly will save up and fly to visit Grandma. This has intensified the number of angry passengers who feel that they are paying good money and deserve something. Don't believe me? Just watch "Airline" on A&E with their coverage of Southwest passengers. Southwest is of course the airline that pioneered the low fare, no-frills, airline. They have maintained profitability where others have failed but air travel will never be the same. You can always tell which people fly often and know that this time they will have to put up with the insanity the "low fare" creates.

Some might say that it is far too easy to split people into groups and we are certainly all guilty of classification based on preconceived notions. I for one am grateful for the low fare trend especially when it come to convenient and reasonably priced travel between Boston, Long Beach, Oakland, and Washington DC. Those just so happen to be the cities I travel to. I don't know if that is because JetBlue flies there or if I want to fly there and JetBlue has obliged.

Speaking of JetBlue, there is an airline that gets what today's price conscious but feature focused consumer wants. I am loyal for now. The only thing that could sway me is the launch of Virgin America (that assumes of course that I can afford to fly them).

no.april.fools

2007-04-04T16:11:00.000-04:00

Here I am on April 4th sitting in the only Starbucks I can really stand to spend time in watching the snow fall. San Diego sounds better and better every minute.

carne.asada.bol

2007-03-31T13:51:00.000-04:00

So little sister, this is for you...

It actually saddens me that life in Boston has turned Chipotle into a delicious Mexican treat. I suppose that is what happens when you can't get the real thing.

well.that's.how.it.goes

2007-03-31T13:44:00.001-04:00

I just had a conversation about the mid to late 90's trend of using no spaces, no capitals, and straight lines as a design aesthetic. That got me to thinking about this blog (neglected since last summer though it may be) and the way I have designed it. I suppose the holdover from the 95-99 design style stems from the fact that the last time I really designed anything was during high school and specifically for LHHS MUN and a particular square program and other documents. We all thought they were fantastic (and I might add that the current LHHS MUN design is certainly inferior, regardless of taste) and I still think it was. The logos, the promotional videos, the over the top production values (ok, so production value may be pushing it...) and the assurance that we were on top of our game.

The years have passed (only two more until my 10 year reunion) and the confidence and ease have morphed into a cynicism and resignation to the daily grind. Sure I am far more confident that I can meet and handle myself in the urban social situations I encounter but the creativity and belief that everything was possible has wanned and doubts abound. I often wonder if I can make ends meet (interesting turn of phrase that is), what the future holds, will I lose my hair, what about my closest friends?

Don't get me wrong, these questions don't always consume my thoughts but they are there and from time to time demand attention. I am forced to comment, if only to myself what I truly believe. That there is a hope and a future. That regardless of situation there are still options. Even if I do lose my hair I can still have people in my life that I love and care about and who return the favor.

How can I be sure what makes this possible and why do I even bother? Ah, there is the rub. On my own it does look hopeless, a never ending descent into cynicism and depression. Am I alone, hardly! Do I know all the answers? No. Do I believe that there are answers? Yes. Nothing in my life has confirmed that there are answers (even when I don't see them right away - or ever) than all the upheaval and change that has happened since those heady days at LHHS. Hard times? Naturally. Happy times? There have been some of those too. Confusion, despair, hope, fear, love, hate...? Of course. All through that I have to say that the freedom to ask questions that I think I should already understand the answer to is more of a gift than I am worthy to receive.

Well, that's how it goes...

family.photo.day

2006-08-10T18:50:00.000-04:00

Well now that I am back in Boston I am looking through the pictures from my trip and there it was... a picture of the sunset that we looked at while we had our traditional beach family photo taken. What a nice place to spend the summer...

old.school.video.fun

2006-07-28T00:16:00.000-04:00

I recently got a new computer and decided to go through all of the video I shot when I was in school to see if there was anything fun I could do with it. Here are the first fruits of that labor.

illegal.fireworks

2006-07-05T00:31:00.000-04:00

As I sat on my parents roof to see not one but three professional fireworks displays (Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, and Aliso Viejo - for those who care) I was treated to another fireworks display. This display was so close I could feel and smell it. Why, you ask? Well that is just what happens when the next-door neighbors decide to fire off some illegal fireworks for the kids.

Now don't even get me started on the whole illegal fireworks thing. All of Orange County has a fireworks ban and as far as I can tell all of the cities around here have outlawed everything to the point of not even allowing sparklers for the children. I grew up here and am used to only having the occasional opportunity to fire off some good stuff (when I was a lad or when I am out of state somewhere like The South or Midwest) but no sparklers. Apparently the message we are sending is that the celebration of our nations freedom and history is best left in the hands of Professionals and I thought that we wanted to raise Americans who can take the responsibility of their freedom into their own hands and never be satisfied with the way things are and always strive for a better future.

day.at.the beach

2006-07-04T23:52:00.000-04:00

Treasure Island beach in South Laguna. Yeah it was a beautiful day and I understand why everyone is constantly trying to move here. Images like this really remind me of the beauty in the world around me and I just wish I knew how to appreciate it in all that I do. Wow!

This one is for all of you stuck in the muggy weather Boston has been so fortunate to receive this past week.

slingin'.and.slopin'

2006-06-30T14:06:00.000-04:00

What has Ryan been up to the first week of his vacation here in Southern California?

That's right, I helped my dad paint a house in Corona Del Mar. I guess some people would find this odd since I am supposedly on holiday right now (that's correct, I said holiday). In reality there is little I enjoy more that being outside on a sunny summer day near the beach spending time talking about life with my dad. I have to throw in a little bit of thankfulness that my dad and I have the relationship we do. I guess the years of haircuts, paint jobs, and Flamin' Hot Dorritos and Coke developed a bond that I really value and has affected my life in ways I will continue to discover as I continue to live.

polo.and.waterfire

2006-06-28T19:26:00.000-04:00

So on the 18th of June I went down to Rhode Island to watch the Newport Polo Club play in Newport International Polo Series against a Scottish team. Good times to be had by all. I have never watched a polo match before and lets just say I didn't know what I was watching most of the time. The Newport gents won and we all cheered. Of course there was the traditional stomping of the divots at the half. Fun for all!! You just have to be careful of the "steaming divots".

After the match we all drove over to Providence to enjoy waterfire an every-other-weekly event along the canals in downtown Providence with floating bonfires all down the waterways and street vendors and performers for the enjoyment of the visiting population.

favorite.flower

2006-05-08T21:49:00.000-04:00

A special post for someone special!

Images courtesy of the sisters.

air.and.space

2006-05-08T21:32:00.000-04:00

The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is my absolute favorite DC museum and I have included a few choice images from my slightly obsessive visit. I made a point to look at and photograph almost everything in the museum (see collage).

This entrance to the naval aviation gallery was photographed in honor of Evan my esteemed friend and Ensign of the US Navy and formerly stationed on an aircraft carrier.

I love this exhibit as it shows views of the earth from as close as the top of a hill to as far away as the voyager spacecraft at the edge of our solar system.

A classic inside look at the cramped quarters of early spaceflight.

vietnam

2006-05-08T21:06:00.001-04:00

This picture was taken by my sister during my DC visit. I don't know but I really like it.

dc.in.the.rain

2006-05-08T21:06:00.000-04:00

This picture was taken on April 17th in Washington DC when I was visiting my sister. It rained incessantly the first day but somehow that was perfect. We went to see all of the memorials. The rain and gloom in conjunction with the lack of tourists lent something of a more serious note to the monuments to the founders of this nation and the memorials to those who fought and died to protect the principles of our nation.

It seems like it isn't really the acceptable thing to lift our nation up as an example or praise our leadership these days. Especially if you live in Boston. I was privileged to attend a prayer meeting at IJM while I was in DC that pointed me to the fact that not all people in our country who are involved with policy making are greedy, self-centered, or even short-sighted. Here is a non-profit with all the integrity and professionalism you could imagine centering each day around hope for people who are treated unjustly. If that isn't the work of God than I don't know what is.

As for the picture of me in homage to "Singin' in the Rain" in front of the WWII memorial. I think there may be some truth here a man enjoying a rainy day and a memorial to men and women who fought with hope that a rainy day might be our biggest worry. Their dream may not yet be a reality but what a noble dream it is.

catching.up

2006-05-07T12:32:00.000-04:00

I have recently been told that I tend to start a sentence or new topic by saying, "So, ..." I have a couple of theories where I got that strange habit. (By the way I am currently listening to Fall out Boy and in a Mexico T-shirt I got for my birthday and feeling far closer to 18 and just graduated from High School than 25 and just about to watch my first class of 18 year old seniors graduate). So, back to the topic at hand (see, I even do it when I type (which is really what I do as I don't even pretend that people can read my handwriting)). That is just too many parentheses! I can trace the first instance of starting with "so" in a note written to me during freshman year oh high school from someone who refers to his/herself as "-who else" and the recipient as "so-" after all, it was explained, I know who I am.

New paragraph because I can! There is a significant time gap (in the development of my "So, ..." Speech patterns) which I will now refer to as "the-lost-years" fast like that because I think it makes it sound more dramatic! The year is now 2004 and I begin to notice this girl and start actually conversing with her. I don't notice it then (whether because we are always careful and precise with our words when we begin relationships or just because we had everything to talk about ahead of us and there were no pauses or even because we were mostly face-to-face and that is better than the phone for eliminating strange pauses and continuity problems. So there you go, jump ahead 20 some months and here we are now.

So, I have some other stuff to say but that's for another post...

(I did it again!)

sister.and.friend

2006-04-18T23:26:00.000-04:00

I am currently visiting my sister in our nation's capital and enjoying a few of my spring break days as a tourist and guest of two fantastic women who are a blessing to everyone they cross paths with. I am so pleased to see what my sister is up to and even more excited to see her interactions with her roommate and dear friend and even the housemates they met when they moved here.

I have been lavished with hospitality and a chance to hear my sister explain and ponder her takes on life's challenges and opportunities both personally and globally. From her work with at risk youth and her roommate's job with IJM. I can't help but be inspired that there is so much more to life than I often notice or admit.

There is much more to say but I am not really there yet and it is late and I am tired.

flotsam.and.jetsam

2006-04-02T17:14:00.000-04:00

Just a little community service announcement. If you were not aware of the definitions of the titular words here you go:

Flotsam :
flot·sam
n.

1. Wreckage or cargo that remains afloat after a ship has sunk.
2. Floating refuse or debris.
Discarded odds and ends.
Vagrant, usually destitute people.

Jetsam :
jet·sam
n.

Cargo or equipment thrown overboard to lighten a ship in distress.
Discarded cargo or equipment found washed ashore.
Discarded odds and ends.

reading.again

2006-03-21T18:29:00.000-05:00

I just picked up Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour an Introduction again after a month long hiatus and I must say I am enjoying the whole sitting on the couch and reading thing. If you have never tried it I highly recommend it!

anachronistic

2006-03-21T18:19:00.000-05:00

This picture is two weeks old but I like it!

I had the opportunity to make breakfast for some friends who came into town for a visit. As it turns out I love the making and eating of buttermilk pancakes with real Maple Syrup. Now that is what Sunday mornings were made for!

skating.failed

2006-03-18T15:46:00.000-05:00

Sadly we missed the last day of skating by one day! March 17th. Well there is always next year... Besides, one out of three years ain't bad.

last.chance.skating

2006-03-18T14:48:00.000-05:00

So outdoor ice skating on the frog pond in Boston Common is in its last weekend. Which also means that the first day of spring (the day skating officially ends) is fast approaching. What a mild winter we have had so far. Only one real snowstorm to speak of and several days of near springtime temperatures. In fact it has been so long since I have seen snow I am beginning to wonder if this whole New England winter thing is just a joke. OK, so it is still cold and the last two winters have proven that winter is indeed intense in this part of the country. I am eagerly awaiting the dawn of spring and the end of school and all that comes with that. Here's to spring!

guinness

2006-03-17T23:16:00.000-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Boston!

only.in.boston

2006-03-11T16:42:00.000-05:00

fun.with.dessert

2006-03-02T00:37:00.000-05:00

So I got all excited to have my new squeeze bottles and sauce pan so I whipped up a new batch of caramel and made some sugar doodads for decoration. Nice!

darfur

2006-02-28T14:08:00.000-05:00

Today we had a presentation from a man who has been to Dafur in Sudan on a couple of occasions and his talk and pictures were certainly moving and disturbing. The facts, most of which are readily available are appalling. I just wish the awareness movement would offer more in the way of practical ways individuals can get involved. Well here are some links I thought were useful when I was researching the topic to inform my students.

Wikipedia
Save Darfur
Darfur: A genocide we can stop
Darfur Information Center
BBC Q&A Story

ode.to.the.canceled

2006-02-19T21:34:00.000-05:00

Humor on so many levels
and a chance to laugh each time.
Awkward yet confident you lived.
Belly laughs you inspired.
Looks of confusion and disgust too.
Entertainment!
Brainchild of Michael Hurwitz
And blessed by Opie.
Star studded and filled with fresh blood.
How we waited for you to return
Each time you teased us.
Twenty minutes a week,
Scarcely sufficient.
Brilliant!
Inspired!
If only rupert and neilsen were so enlightened.
You will live on in DVD form:
So static.
Unchanging.
Missed.

weekend.in.connecticut

2006-02-19T16:50:00.000-05:00

I spent Friday night and Saturday in the postage stamp size state of Connecticut visiting my girlfriend's Mom and both Grandmothers. Her mom has an amazing new house on a lake that is so full of random crap that it is almost painful to spend time there. Mind you this is not the normal accumulation of 50 some odd years but a true sentimentalist/packrat if I have ever met one. There is enough furniture to make the 5 bedroom, 9 room house she moved out of feel on the verge of cramped and downright overwhelms the 3 bedroom 5 room open floor plan lakeside cottage she now calls home. Despite comments from her kids that range from encouragement to pair down the collection to outright threats to never visit until something is done about the mess things persist. Fortunately for me, the house has a state of the art kitchen that was clean and usable (after I sorted through the 40+ knives and dozens of miss-matched pans and lids) with a great dual-fuel range and pristine granite countertops that could bring a tear to your eye.

Oddly cluttered lodging aside the weekend was a great time to relax and just enjoy some time off together (have I mentioned that I don't have to be back at work until the 27th!?!). The views of snow flurries and sunshine over the lake out of the large windows certainly has the power to refresh and renew the spirit.

On our trip back to Boston we stopped in to visit both grandmothers. One in a retirement apartment complex and the other in assisted living surroundings. Both remarkable women and well into their 90s. I don't know about you but that is impressive no matter where you are from. Then a nice drive back listening to a little of this and especially some of that to cap off the night re-watching the final episodes of the most brilliant TV comedy in recent memory. I think that qualifies as a brilliant start to a week of vacation.

couting.down

2006-02-17T14:01:00.000-05:00

We are talking minutes now, about 15 according to the clock on the wall. Unfortunately that is about 5 minutes slow compared to the actual time but that is how the school likes it.

matter.of.hours

2006-02-17T08:16:00.000-05:00

It is 8:16 am on Friday February 17 2006 and I only have a matter of hours left until I am released into the wild for a full week of "whatever I want, gosh!" That's correct Midwinter Recess as it is so lovingly named is about to begin. I have no firm plans and I am thrilled by that. 5 hours and 51 minutes to go!

fun.with.light

2006-02-16T15:36:00.000-05:00

I was just reading an post on one of my favorite tech news sites and saw this link to a page describing the building of a small device known only as the "throwie". I may have to embark on a manufacturing binge this week.

the.day.after

2006-02-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

I know the title makes it sound so ominous. As if I were about to discuss the aftermath of a horrible big budget Hollywood movie or perhaps the outcome of an event to important as to require a wrap up show or constant network news coverage that bumps the Olympics. That last statement is a reference to the recent snow storm we had here in New England. As is turns out the local CBS affiliate here in Boston chose to run coverage of the storm from 5 am to 1 pm. Yes that's right 8 solid hours of coverage! All of this for people who spent the day inside their homes watching the snow fall outside through their windows. What is it exactly that prompted NBC's affiliate to bump Olympic coverage for storm coverage. Just imagine yourself as someone who actually only has the major networks over the air. You are trapped inside all day because a few feet of snow are accumulating.

Here is the scenario: You turn on the TV to entertain yourself since you have some extra time and what is offered to you? Nothing but storm coverage. You can hear how the storm is affecting your town and the town next door. You can hear what happened to the idiots who decided they needed to drive around during the peak of the storm. There are stimulating pictures and audio of reporters out in the storm (the self-same storm that the Mayor's office announced previously and warned against travel unless absolutely required) being pelted by winds and snow. OK so you get the point that it seems completely absurd to bump the most anticipated sporting events in years off the air only to show footage of the snow. It wasn't just NBC, CBS and ABC either! The local WB affiliate, the FOX affiliate, and the UPN affiliate also spent the whole day dedicated to the snow. One of the stations even kept their entire meteorology team on the whole day. Really! I know it makes no sense.

The real reason that I titled this entry as I did was in reference to V-Day. I am so blessed to be surrounded by the love of friends and family that the day has taken on new meaning as each year passes. I also want to point out that I enjoyed a delicious meal of duck breast, oven roasted potatoes, and green beans with toasted pecans and shallots. Thanks go out to my special someone for that and the delightful evening we had.

So in the end the title that loomed ominous initially turns out to be a petty rant followed by a fond memory from a holiday with heart.

after.work.work

2006-01-24T17:40:00.000-05:00

After work listening to the decent soft jazz at Panera. Sure there are things I'd rather be doing than grading homework but it's not all bad.

espresso.royale.cafe

2006-01-22T12:25:00.000-05:00

So nice to sit in a coffee shop on a sunday morning.

post.gift.playtime

2005-12-25T21:36:00.000-05:00

merry.christmas

2005-12-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

warm.and.happy

2005-12-21T17:45:00.000-05:00

So I'm in southern california for the week of Christmas with my family and I am thrilled. I got off the plane last night (jetBlue Boston to Long Beach) and was greated by the warm balmy air of December in Orange County. I just can't express how nice it is to sit outside in the sun and be warm on the shortest day of the year. Don't be jelous boston friends I promise to come back...eventually. Well, more soon but I have to go eat some Pedro's!

concerts.and.other.weekend.activities

2005-11-07T10:28:00.000-05:00

As you can see from the four previous posts, I attended a David Crowder concert last night in Worcester (pronounced: Woo-ster). It also featured Shane & Shane and some other opening act I can't remember the name of. Evan knows but isn't here to tell me so that's just too bad. The concert itself was a fairly good time even if the vocals were a little muddy (at least where we were sitting). The hard part was heading out to Worcester for a Sunday night concert. You know how Sunday nights are. All you want to do is space out and maybe watch some TV but once on the way all was well. It rained on the way out and the drive home and Erin and I ran into a couple of people we knew but didn't know were going to the concert so that was fun. Evan had to leave early because he had to drive all the way back to Coltsneck, NJ so he could get up and go to work at 6:30am. Good times but today looks to be a long one that will leave me tired.

david.crowder.four

2005-11-06T21:46:00.000-05:00

david.crowder.three

2005-11-06T21:45:00.000-05:00

david.crowder.two

2005-11-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

david.crowder.one

2005-11-06T21:16:00.000-05:00

cinema.science

2005-11-03T11:57:00.000-05:00

I must first credit others for the title of the blog post. I am not nearly clever enough to go around coining phrases at random. Today was one of those days where you sit down during your prep period and realize that the day is almost over and you hardly had to do anything. No major discipline problems arose, lessons went smoothly, they seemed to get it, and I get to show a video in my last class of the day.

For those of you who think it is lazy and ultimately irresponsible to watch movies in class I submit the following argument (and that is where it will end): In science there are a multitude of real-world examples of the principles and concepts that we discuss in class. There are only so many demonstrations that can fit on a tabletop or even in a room for visual reinforcement. Many examples simply cannot be performed of observed safely or at all in a classroom or high school laboratory setting. The budget just isn't there to afford much of the lab equipment and demos that would be useful for instruction. Enter the video. A recorded discussion or journey into examples and topics that simply cannot be visited otherwise. I don't think I need to go into specifics but suffice it to say you just can't take a field trip to the moon (yet).

In other exciting news, my students spent most of the day doing group work and problem solving in preparation for various quizzes and tests next week. Always a nice time. Made even more so buy the prospect of a test and rest day as it is known in some circles. I have of course scheduled the tests to coincide with the day I leave for California so as to not burden myself the night before with preparation and perhaps forget to pack something.

I also get to chef it up tonight as I will be preparing dinner for a group of BU students. Always a fun way to spend the afternoon. The only damper on that fun is the strange dietary requirements of some of the students. Gluten free this and non-dairy that. I can't keep it all straight in my head!

Well time to grab some lunch.

boston

2005-10-31T00:47:00.000-05:00

As I was walking back to my car after watching Domino (decent story and fun cinematography and good rythm) the other night. I had to stop and grab this shot of Lansdowne st. behind Fenway Park. Every now and then I am taken aback at where I live and what I take as everyday occurances and happenings. How truly blessed I am to live and experience all that I do on a daily basis.

first.snow.in.october

2005-10-31T00:42:00.000-05:00

Flowers in the snow! What is that all about? I mean it's still October! Oh well at least it melted today.

an.outrage

2005-10-31T00:39:00.000-05:00

The following picture was taken on the 19th day of October, 2005. I am not making anything up, nor is this a doctored photograph. Indeed as you see, the city of Malden has seen fit to outfit its commuter parking structure with a giant wreath and bow to celebrate the Christmas season. How nice this would be had it appeared on November 27th or 20th or November anything other than October! I mean honestly! How can we be expected to have anyting close to the right perspective about the holidays with this kind of blatent disregard for the meaning of each.

half.a.day

2005-10-28T11:22:00.000-04:00

The title speaks for itself! Half day for preparations for open house. Too bad I have to be here on sunday but at least I don't have to teach any more classes today.

on.changes

2005-10-27T14:49:00.000-04:00

Do you notice?

What you don't see it!?!

I changed the title!

Yes, I did!

It used to be "What's Next for Ryan?" and now it is "What's Next for Ryan!"

You don't see a difference?

Well I'm sorry if a complete perspective change is too subtle for you.

Yeah, so there!

grading.and.discipline

2005-10-27T14:05:00.000-04:00

I am currently taking a grading period. AKA, quiz and group work! Yeah! After all if they want their lab reports graded by monday when the grades go in I have to work on them today. Tonight will be full again with BU stuff, meeting with students and seeing the girlfriend for a little bit. Thank God for sleep! Only five minutes left to go and then freedom. I often wonder if the students have any idea how much teachers enjoy the weekend and time off. If only they knew how often sick days are really sick-of-school-days. Well, back to the grading and the disciplining of students who can't keep their mouths shut.

golden.keys

2005-10-27T12:31:00.000-04:00

My roommate has this uncanny tendency to misplace his keys and for the last month or more he has been without. Every time we try to have new keys made the Home Depot is out and claims they are ordering new blanks. So far, nothing! So I finally broke down and stopped into a combo shipping, fax, laundry, and key making shop on my lunch break. The roommate is pleased.

look.what.i.found

2005-10-24T20:13:00.000-04:00

Gotta love the Cinnamon Altoids!

now.playing

2005-10-24T18:15:00.000-04:00

ok.so.yeah

2005-10-23T16:26:00.000-04:00

I guess I didn't manage to keep up even a semblance of consistency in posting but that is the way life is sometimes. Has there been some tragedy in my life that has stemmed the tide of my blogging? Has some unknown evil overthrown my ability to communicate? No, on the contrary good things have created for me a sense of the overwhelming complexity of life.

What is this guy talking about?

Well I will endeavor to explain. I recently was hired as a full time employee of the school where I have up to this point been essentially a long-term sub. There was a resignation of a teacher and apparently, from the praise of the principal, they were quite pleased with my and whatever it was that was happening in the classroom under my watch. The only real downside to all of this is that at some point I will be transitioning from the Science Department and teaching Physics & Chemistry to the Math and Social Studies Departments to teach cultural geography. Maybe I will find that article about the Indian (I think) woman and her sassey red shoes - If you had Victerson you understand if not don't worry. Also Algebra and Business Math. As my Dad says in High School the easiest class to teach (in terms of preparation required) is math after all it's just homework, quiz, test, final with lecture and maybe a single project worked in there somewhere.

That's all good you might say, but what is causing the craziness?

Fine, I was just coming to that. So, it seems that the Physics guy for whom I am currently filling in is not ready to come back yet (Another 2-3 weeks they say) and that adds to the indefinite stay in the Science Department that began that fateful day in September. So the uncertainty ends but is yet prolonged. Let's just say that the day I signed the contract turned into one of those days. I suddenly felt trapped by my good decision to stick with a job that was in line with what I am currently considering as my goals.

I think that God has been teaching me for so long now (2+ years) how to trust Him and let go of everything I want and accept that I don't know what is happening tomorrow much less 5-10 years from now that it was time for a new lesson. It seems that we are now learning to trust and work through a period of time where a commitment has been made. My life now seems filled with commitments (small and large): A job with a contract until June, A girlfriend, volunteering with the BU Navs, A 1 year lease on an apartment to name a few. How to live a free and inspired life in a time of commitments seems to be the question du jour.

At this point it is mostly ramblings and a deep sense of gratitude that I have people in my life who care enough to ask and listen and even to wait while I attempt to ponder...

and.again

2005-09-10T15:21:00.000-04:00

the.cape.sans.tourists

2005-09-10T15:20:00.000-04:00

day.two

2005-09-08T15:08:00.000-04:00

It really is amazing how much better things can be after a good night's sleep and a bit more preparation. I like my AP kids now and I think they just wanted to see if I knew anything and what I was going to expect from them. For anyone out there who has forgotten or never knew - class after lunch is always the worst. It's too warm and all anyone wants to do is sleep or talk to friends. I remember! After all that was the best thing about Honors Econ with Mr. Barnes In-n-Out in the back of the class. Oh how I miss those fries!

Pile of stuff to grade!

first.day.of.school

2005-09-07T14:34:00.000-04:00

I just can't believe how tired I am right now. I mean, I am really beat. The first day is over!!! I made it this far. It's funny I thought the younger kids would be the most dificult but as it turns out, it is the AP physics class that looks like it will be the most challenging. I guess the combination of them being closer to my age and them actually wanting to be in the class and having far higher expectations of the class than other students makes it all that much more intense.

now.employed

2005-08-31T20:15:00.000-04:00

This is a picture of a man with a job!

she.was.right

2005-08-30T18:10:00.000-04:00

Just when you think you may have to take a job you really don't want...Just when you get locked into something that could throw everything off...But you think you can get through it...All the interviews come.

Yeah so I have another interview tomorrow at 2pm at another school for another Physics teaching position. Oh, and I have also, essentially, been offered a job as a contract tutor for high school math and science students.

What do you know.

fall.lineup

2005-08-29T13:13:00.000-04:00

Here are some fall network shows of note. All are continuations of shows that I have watched the entire season at least twice except where noted.

Arrested Development - Mondays @ 8pm
Season 2 Premiere 9/19/2005

House - Tuesdays @ 9pm
Season 3 Premiere 9/13/2005

Family Guy - Sundays @ 9pm
New Episodes Start 9/11/2005

Lost - Wednesdays @ 9pm
Season 2 Premiere 9/21/2005

My Name is Earl - Tuesdays @ 9pm
Series Premiere 9/20/2005

The Office - Tuesdays @ 9:30pm
Season 2 Premiere 9/20/2005

*Scrubs - NOT ON THE SCHEDULE
NO PREMIERE DATE

Note: Italics indicate a new show and therefore my recommendation is based on pre-season clips and interviews and does not necessitate that I will watch this show consistently.

*A note on Scrubs: This show is one of the funniest shows on television. In fact, prior to House it was the best doctor show on TV and this is not just on my authority but also on the authority of many medical professionals who say that the dynamic and the whole hospital environment as portrayed on the show is a better representation than anything else before it. Regardless I hope we get another season out of it and at least get a real finale.

sunday.recreation

2005-08-09T18:05:00.000-04:00

Erin and I went for a bike ride along the Charles River on Sunday afternoon including a stretch of memorial drive that Cambridge closes to vehicular traffic for such purposes on Sunday afternoons in the summer.

It's been quite a while since I went on a bike ride with another human being. Of course I don't wait until some crazy hour at night to ride so as to avoid all humanity but I mean intentionally. I suppose it is a very different thing to pass and be passed by the hundreds to people out and about at any given time than to be consciously aware of a fellow rider. The biggest differences come as with any caravan situation whether it be automobile or pedestrian based. You have to be aware of passing and direction change decisions. To fast and your companion can miss the turn, collide with the passee, not make the pass, or in the case of stopping, crash right into you. While this is a fun game where you try to loose people while riding around at the age of 10 or so, the dynamic changes with time and company.

Like any collective endeavor the group or couple bike ride requires communication. After all it can be equally bad to lead too slowly (thereby causing the competitive and aggressive personality endless frustration) as too fast (leaving a slower companion into exhaustion and anger at you the leader). The communication difficulty is compounded when, as was the case on Sunday, you are forced to ride in a line and side-by-side or pack groupings are impossible. Lots of head turning in involved and I don't have to explain how that can lead to it's own problems.

bleach.101.uses

2005-08-03T08:25:00.000-04:00

So many uses as it turns out and yet so acrid.

I was doing a bit of bathroom and kitchen cleaning in preperation for the move-in of two new housemates and started to read some labels of common cleaners. As it turns out more than half of them seem to contain bleach or to be more precise some chlorine containing compound. So on that note I decided to make a list of 101 uses for bleach but then I realized that 101 is quite a few uses and I only had about five in mind. Oh well at least my white kitchen towels are clean and the shower floor doesn't look like it is made out of dirt.

sat.night

2005-07-30T22:12:00.000-04:00

Saturday night in boston!

four.languages

2005-07-29T16:24:00.000-04:00

A friend just got back from Germany yesterday night. I had forgotten but he is fluent in three languages and can understand at least two more. Spanish, English, German, French, and Italian. I can barely speak English well enough to get by. It's funny but my parents have commented that they wish I would have learned Spanish at least as a child when the language learning centers of the brain are soft and moldable like a lump of clay. Of course I like to remind them that it was probably up to them to find me situations that I could be exposed to other languages. Regardless it is good to see friends returning.

At the same time I had to say farewell to another friend as she heads off to London for two weeks on a trip to spend time with the Muslim women in the city. My prayers are with her and I can't wait to hear stories and see pictures.

roommates.found

2005-07-28T10:37:00.000-04:00

I was recently in something of a frustrating housing situation. I realize that this is nothing compared to the standard housing crisis experienced by the average San Franciscan but I'm going to tell the story anyway. First the background.

It was cold and stormy night...No, but I'm sure the weather wasn't all that nice. My friend Tom mentioned that he was planning to by a house much closer to Boston to cut down on commuting and be closer to friends in the city. At the time there were passing remarks that if we we're looking for a place to live we could possibly live with him. Months went by and he announces that he has found a 2 family place in Somerville and that he is going to rent out the 2 bedroom apt and live in the 3 bedroom himself. At this point he mentions that one of my current roommates is planning on renting the other apartment from him. That was news to me.

Meanwhile, Ernie got into Medical School so he was going to be leaving as well. So Rob and I talk to Tom and he says yeah it would be great to live with you guys. And all seems right with the world. Then we begin to realize that Watertown is much more convenient for us in terms of getting to work, parking, not having to move, that sorta thing. So we begin to entertain the idea of staying put and winding two new roommates. Mind you that at this point our lease is up in less that a month and we haven't even decided to start looking.

That just about brings us to the present. With less than a week left to find two people to live with for the next year craig's list comes through and he's not even a psycho. So now my moving weekend will consist of (potentially) changing rooms, helping the new guys move in, and helping Tom and Carrie move into their respective new places. Much nicer since I still get to come home to my house essentially as I left it.

is.it.required

2005-07-26T15:29:00.000-04:00

This will now be my second post dedicated to the topic of posting. I logged in just now wondering if I should post something when in fact I had nothing to write. I guess I am now experiencing the other side of the coin. Now that I have several days of back-to-back posts I am feeling somewhat obligated to write something even this drivel about post frequency. Hmm...

new.england.beach.snobbery

2005-07-24T18:08:00.000-04:00

So I am sitting at a beach in South Boston called Pleasure Bay which as you can see from the picture is quite a nice place with a couple beaches and a protected cove which keeps the water smooth and clean. Naturally I would prefer some real surf and a SoCal taco stand or two but that isn't possible today. I am astounded by the fact that in my two years of living here nobody has ever brought me to this or the other beaches I have seen today in Southie (as Bostonians like to call it). Let's compare this beach to the beaches I have visited recently.

The beaches I have visited in the past are for the most part: Far away - It is not uncommon for a trip to the beach to require an hour or more just to arrive. Expensive - Yes that is right. Parking has cost between $10 and $25 per car. A long walk - even with paid parking, most of the beaches still require a 10-20 minute walk from the car to get down on the sand. Exclusive - The only people who can apply for a parking pass at many of these beaches are residents of the community and only then can you park nearby. Small - most of these beaches have had miniscule sandy areas packed with people.

Here there is a long curved sandy beach that can accommodate what I estimate to be thousands of people. In addition there is plenty of FREE on street and lot parking. How far away is this wondrous location, you ask. Well it is all of 30 minutes from Watertown and a mere 15 or so from Brookline (where I spend a great deal of time). In fact you can take the T and only have a 5 or so minute walk. Paradise you say? Well, I wouldn't go that far, but it is a very nice place with patrons of all backgrounds enjoying the outdoors just minutes from downtown Boston.

air.traffic

2005-07-24T17:53:00.000-04:00

As I sit here enjoying my Sunday afternoon at pleasure bay I found a great spot right under the landing approach of Boston's Logan International Airport I snapped this picture of an arriving plane. At the same time, I pulled up the flight arrival tracker and tried to guess what flight was arriving each time. I doubt I was right and it is quite difficult to tell but I did get to see what I believe was JetBlue flight 466 from Ft. Meyers, FL land. So that was cool.

ministrations.of.moving

2005-07-23T22:30:00.000-04:00

If you live somewhere long enough eventually you are called upon to help with a move. At first you just show up at the house to help unload and eat pizza but in no time at all you are practically scheduling the whole procedure.

At this point my roommate and I can tell how easy a move will be as soon as we pull up in front of the apartment. The signs are always there. The size of the moving truck, the number of boxes (in this case more is always better since that means people have already packed most of the stuff), whether the roommates are helping or just standing back, what time the move starts, what food has been procured for the helpers, the number of helpers present - that sort of thing.

So with my wealth of experience and knowledge I offer these tips for your own move:

When reserving a moving truck from U-haul (other truck facilities are exempt from this because they charge more and aren't always overbooked), especially if you are tempted by the online reservation system, go into the local office and get your name on the list (or at the very least call the local office). As it turns out, the online reservations are only printed out the night before and they have no time specified that the truck is to be available. So, if you want the truck in the morning go in and talk to the guy and get your name on the list and then go in to pick it up when the office opens. If all that seems like too much, just rent from budget or something.

Pack up everything you can the day and week before so that there are boxes to load immediately. A good comment to hear is something like, "You don't even need us..." that sort of thing. There is nothing worse than having people stand around while you try to find something for them to put in the truck. Remember they are helping you out and they probably have other things they need to get to eventually.

Big furniture first! Or not. This seems obvious but it is actually too formulaic. If you have people who can lift you probably also have people who can load a few boxes. Be flexible and you will accomplish more with fewer hiccups.

Feed the help! Donuts, bagels, coffee something like that. It gives your friends something to do and an excuse to not tire themselves out. It keeps people who don't have anything to do from being in the way and helps them feel like they aren't wasting time.

Those are a few tips which if followed will help you have a less stressful and more successful move.

confections.and.baking

2005-07-21T17:41:00.000-04:00

I am the first to point out that despite my passion for food and cooking I just dabble in baking. My girlfriend, on the other hand, makes a mean lemon pound cake (among other delectible desserts). The irony, therefore, is hardly lost on me that the one request she has made of me for her birthday tomorrow is a chocolate marble cake. The pressure of preparing a cake for someone accomplished in the art of baking is obvious.

Fortunately I have Alton Brown of Good Eats on my side and of course the whole internet thing. At this point I am pleased with the result and all that remains is storage, transport, and service.

trapped.inside

2005-07-20T08:57:00.000-04:00

A look out of my window as I lament my current task of job searching.

wagner.under.the.stars

2005-07-19T20:48:00.000-04:00

If you've never listened to classical music performed by a professional orchestra conducted by one of the greats like James Levine, I reccomend a trip to Tanglewood. Not only were we able to sit out under the stars and listen to the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform two peices by Richard Wagner the German composer but we did so for less than I have paid to see some local bands in a cramped bar. To add to the experience the music lasted almost 4 hours as compared to the 45 minutes a good set in the bar might offer. Granted I'm comparing apples and oranges here but my point is: If you are in New England on a weekend this summer consider a trip to Tanglewood for the experience of a lifetime.

meet.the.president

2005-07-19T20:44:00.000-04:00

So that's my sister meeting the president with her NCAA championship H2O polo team. Sweet! Nice work sister!

philosophy.of.posting

2005-07-19T19:50:00.000-04:00

When sitting down to post the question must be asked, "What is better to post once in summary or many times in particular." I often fail even to post once so the question may seem strange. When I do post it seems that I post in bursts several times a day or even hour only to neglect posting for the next month or more. Is this acceptable to me (I ignore here anyone who reads the posts for obvious reasons) or is a daily or semi-daily post scheduled by discipline and duty more desirable than the sporadic postings brought on by a passionate desire to say something? A question for the ages? Perhaps not. Yet there it remains hanging over my head hinting at deeper symptoms or something else entirely.

For what it's worth I will probably post again today.

new.look.time

2005-07-19T19:10:00.000-04:00

It is more that time to get a new look for this crazy thing. After all the old look was designed with my previous life path in mind(You know, the whole grad school physics thing leading to a PhD). I suppose the dark look also fits well into my current position of unemployed job seeker wondering what exactly is next. I think the next long-term look will have to coincide with my next job. "And what will that be?" You ask. I don't know, stop asking, I will tell you when I figure it out OK!

Right so all that to say I am hoping to work in some field relating to physics. Possibly: teaching high school, working in a lab, working as a tech for a university. Something like that. In fact I am avoiding working on my resume and cover letters to write this post and some of you (ok, only 2 people ever read this) don't care because now you don't have to remove me from your links section (you know who you are).

spring.has.sprung

2005-04-20T14:18:00.000-04:00

I suppose once a month isn't the worst update frequency I have had for my blog.

Regardless I am inspired to post due to the weather we have been having. I love spring in New England! It is such a drastic change from the winter. Things that have been dead finally come alive and the sun that was mostly hidden for months (and even if visible gave almost no warmth) is back with a vengance. The budding trees and the beautiful lilies and dafodylls are up and reaching for the sky. The best way I can describe the last week weather wise is San Diego summer and that is a good thing (to borrow from Martha).

On the other hand spring in New England, while the best time to be outside enjoying the weather, is finals and quals time for us grad students. So this entry will be the last until May when all of that is over and I have something to report.

winter.and.other.irritations

2005-03-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

It snowed last yesterday. Now that in and of itself is not really strange, in fact that is quite normal for Boston. Of course it is tough to deal with when you get calls every so often from friends and family who complain about the 65 degree weather and clouds as very cold. So I have accepted that even here in the second week of march winter is still very much in full swing and dumping frozen water from the sky from time to time. Braving the weather and going out to eat dinner with some friends I stop at Panera to pick up a couple of loaves of bread.

Fast forward to ice covered windshield and slippery driving conditions and I finally arrive at my destination sans my phone. I search the car with the light on and while calling the phone to see if it disappeared into one of those cracks you don't realize your car has until you lose something. So it is gone. I guess this would have merely been comical or irritating had this occurred at the end of January when I was about to get a new phone but now it means I signed a 2 year contract and have no shiny new toy to show for it. A pain, yes, but certainly not something to get overly upset about.

About 10 minutes after arriving we get a call asking for a pickup from the T stop and I go out in what is now borderline blizzard conditions (I would include a picture but you see my camera phone is probably somewhere in a drift of snow in Boston) pick up my friends. In the hop offering their thanks and appreciation. As we head back to the apartment, brake lights, panic stop and bang! So I rear end some guy driving his daughter home, excellent!

So that was my evening yesterday. It's amazing because the previous conversations about my day had included such words as good, even great and that I had accomplished a good amount. Hmm... Certainly I was being watched over as both vehicles were barely scratched and no injuries were reported.

Well, back to Soft Condensed Matter...

the.genius.of.ray.charles

2005-03-02T20:37:00.000-05:00

After watching "Ray" I commented that I hoped there would be a legitimate soundtrack released with all of the music that was included in the movie. I also almost spent about $100 on iTunes to buy some significant Ray Charles music but I resisted. This afternoon my flat mate comes home and says, "Here, I got you a present." He tosses me a Trader Joe's bag surrounding something and closed with a rubber band in my lap. I open it to find not one but two CDs and they are none other than Ray- The official motion picture soundtrack and More Music from Ray. Indeed, two compilations of Ray Charles music and a couple of non-Ray selections that were in the movie. An interesting addition on the second CD are a couple of tracks that were recorded by Ray specifically for the movie in 2003 before he died. Very cool to say the least. There is also a "bonus" DVD in the "more songs from" package with a couple of old TV appearances which were fun to watch.

Anyway here is the list of songs now neatly tucked in iTunes and parked on the iPod with a 1 in the play count field.

Leave My Woman Alone

Lonely Avenue

Rockhouse Parts 1 & 2

I Believe To My Soul

Losing Hand

I'm Movin' On

But On The Other Hand Baby

Baby, It's Cold Outside - With Betty Carter

The Danger Zone

Busted

Makin' Whoopee

Let's Go Get Stoned

Drifting Blues

Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand (2003 Version)

Drown In My Own Tears/You Don't Know Me (2003 Version)

Every Day I Have The Blues (New Recording) - Chris Thomas King

America The Beautiful

Mess Around

I've Got A Woman

Hallelujah I Love Her So

Drown In My Own Tears

(Night Tiime Is) The Right Time

Mary Ann

Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)

What'd I Say

Georgia On My Mind

Hit The Road Jack

Unchain My Heart

I Can't Stop Loving You

Born To Lose

Bye Bye, Love

You Don't Know Me

Let The Good Times Roll

Georgia On My Mind

Nice!

someone.told.me

2005-03-01T23:31:00.000-05:00

... that straight white men don't watch the oscars. I am assuming that there needs to be a qualifier added to that statement like, "on their own" or, "all the way through", or "including the pre-show". Anyway I just saw Ray and I must say Jamie Foxx really earned that oscar. Talk about a great performance and a great movie.

skiing.and.back.to.work

2005-02-28T17:47:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of being off of school last week for what Brandeis so affectionately calls, "February Recess". I enjoyed the time to regroup and get some much needed perspective on the whole grad school thing before heading into the home stretch of the semester and for that matter my first year. The weekend in New Hampshire skiing and the like was a great way to cap it off. Of course the reality hit last night that there are homework assignments and tests looming that won't be letting up until spring begins to give way to summer. So on that note I dive back into the quantum mechanics books hoping that I may make it through.

lying.in.bed

2005-02-07T22:23:00.000-05:00

Nobody likes to be sick. I, of course, am no exception to that rule & would much rather be working on Quantum Mechanics than lying here with a headache hoping to sleep through the night.

On a lighter note, I am enjoying posting this wirelessly on my new palm. Well best to at least attempt & sleep.

sick.and.tired

2005-02-07T15:29:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I returned from a delightful weekend in upstate NY with some of the Boston University students I meet with. Snow on the ground, clear skies, and sunny afternoons typified the weekend. That was a decided relief from the recent dreary but warmer and clear but bitterly cold days of the last few weeks. What? You say I have completely avoided tying this post into the title in any significant way? Well I'll have you know I was just getting to that...

I returned home to order pizza and lay on the couch as the events of the superbowl unfolded (Go Pats!). A few friends dropped by including someone in particular who made the evening quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, as we settled in for commercial critique and some dynasty making football, I began to notice a scratchiness in my throat and some heat and pressure from my head. Orange Juice and water flowed into me and sleep followed shortly after the goodbyes were said. Still I awoke with a dried out and raw throat, sore muscles and that same head condition. So here I am, sick and tired.

I trust that satisfies the title as well as a glimpse into my day. Until next time...

peace.and.quiet

2005-02-07T15:19:00.000-05:00

The neighborhood certainly looks peaceful in the snow and as long as everyone is staying at home it is really nice.

new.england.blizzard

2005-02-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

Snow covered cars after what they call a genuine blizzard! (38" of snow)

beginning.again

2005-02-07T15:17:00.000-05:00

So I have once agin been chastized for my sporadic blog updates. Regardless I decided that now that picasa and hello link with blogger I should put up some of the pictures from the now storm we had a couple of weeks ago. This first one is from my window on that sunday afternoon. The only reason one of the cars isn't covered is that my flatmate had to be at work durring the storm and came back after most of the snow had fallen.

Enjoy!

game.one.red.sox

2004-10-24T02:40:00.000-04:00

They won!

the.first.month

2004-10-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

As you can tell from this post title and date, I was supposed to write something about my first month in grad school and how my perspective of what was required changed from just an, if you can excuse the expression, academic one. I guess the failure to write is just a symptom of the true nature of the whole grad school situation. Talk about late nights and long days of wavefunctions and electrostatics. I guess the real issue is one of time. It takes time to understand exactly what it is you need to do and what that means to really understand the material. So I have finally, one more month removed, figured out and come to terms with the studying and the homework and the cutting of my free time more than in half. Am I completely on top of it all? No. Is it all easy? No.

updating.the.blog

2004-09-23T23:25:00.000-04:00

So, my friend just yelled at me to update the blog. So, here is an update. Grad school takes way more time than I wanted to admit so here I sit late at night pretending to do homework and resolving to start earlier on the next problem set.

inside.photos

2004-07-09T14:01:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of the apartment:

This is the Living Room featuring the "view" out of the front window.

The Dining Room. I really like the built-in and the wall color. It says to me, "Formal Dining Room."

Finally, the most important room in the house. Gotta love that color.

Well there you go.

new.home

2004-07-09T10:41:00.000-04:00

Excitement and relief just begin to describe the feelings I have after writing a deposit check for a 4 bedroom apartment for August 1st move-in! Amazing how it all came together.