The last week has been amazing and exhausting and busy and lonely and awesome. Time for a list! Mostly, but not necessarily in order: 1. I got a new job at work which will be either the beginning of something incredible, or the last straw before I quit. I'm pushing for the former. 2. I got to meet _refugee_ and greenitalics and we got to sticker the heck out of Penn. (greenitalics gives one heck of a good walking tour of the place). SUPER great night. 3. I GOT TO MEET thenewgreen! I highly recommend this to anyone who has the chance. 4. I got to talk to him and mk about important stuff happening in their future. 5. I ate a camel burger. 6. I got to meet b_b, OftenBen, jonaswildman while we hung out with ecib, tng and mk. What a cool meet up! Even if I didn't get to talk to OftenBen enough... 7. I spent some time in downtown detroit... more on this later when I have some time to process. I got a parking ticket... so I'm doing my duty in contributing to the city coffers. 8. I attended a conference that I look forward to all year. The presentations were incredible, and I didn't do too bad myself. 9. I made some connections at church on Sunday - some of those small world things. 10. I celebrated with my dad on his 73rd birthday. He has led an amazingly full life of just being a great guy and his phone NEVER STOPPED ringing from the texts, emails, calls, and Facebook notifications of birthday well wishes. 11. I visited the Edsel Ford House Museum 12. I'm watching the sun rise through the trees and the mist... holy crap this place is beautiful sometimes. . and I still don't get home until tomorrow.... so there's more time to do more. it has been a multi-faceted, amazing trip.
I would describe it as very similar to lamb, and if someone had told me that it was lamb, I would have believed it. The burger was flavored in a way that made it taste like chorizo, a strong flavor, which leads me to suspect that an unflavored camel burger might not be so good. But this particular camel burger was tasty. It was also a slider, which meant it was gone in two bites. Six bites might have been a lesser experience.
Ummmm camel burger. One of my best friends played for the Red Wings and his contract actually had a clause that he was not allowed to live within the Detroit city limits. Weird. So he lived in Grosse Pointe right near the Ford Estate. We actually meant to visit there two visits but ended up being too hung over both times. I have heard many good things about community building in Detroit in the last year or so. p.s. For anyone that knows hockey, it is funny that his first year, to stay out of trouble, he was told by the team to live with Bob Probert for the first part of the year. For those that do not know, Probert was a notorious alcoholic, druggie, brawler who loved the ladies so that did not do much to keep him out of trouble.
Ah I forgot it's Wednesday. Thought I'd update you all on the situation with my mother: She had her first, exploratory surgery finally, and it went well. The news wasn't good at all though. The main surgery is going to require removal of urethra, uterus, and bladder. To make matters worse, her job officially sent notice that, since she was on medical leave for more than two weeks, her job is terminated. Thus, so is her insurance. So not only can she not get her diabetes medication currently, she can't get the surgery. They apparently asked for $100,000. Not that it matters right now. She's considering just not getting the surgery because she doesn't want to deal with having to carry a bag around. So I'll have to talk to her about that, because I apologize, but that's a fucking stupid reason to die. She's coming to visit for two weeks starting next week, so I'll have plenty of time for that, when I'm not working,. Thanks again for everyone's support.
I was robbed this past Monday, or mugged maybe. I AM OKAY. (There is no way to say "I was robbed" without causing a lot of alarm in people. I really appreciate everyone who's reached out to me and who reads this who has a similar reaction. It is alarming. In the interim I can only tell you, I am okay.) The guy did not physically assault me, the cops actually already recovered my cell phone, I'm basically out a wallet and an inconvenient number of cards. As I have been telling people around where I live locally, if I had to be mugged, I've had really the best version of that experience. I'm anticipating someone's gonna want to hear the story and I can't blame you, so the condensed version of it is I was walking home alone at night from the bar, on a relatively well-traveled and lit path maintained by the local university. I was listening to my music and didn't see the guy approach; I think he'd been waiting for someone to come his way. He had a bandanna over his face and a gun. He got my wallet and cell phone. I could barely comprehend what happened as it was happening. There are actually police phone boxes on the trail that I could have used immediately, but all I could think was that I needed to go home and cancel all my cards. I threw up an angry/warning Facebook status, my sister and dad saw it, contacted me, got me to contact police, dad came over, we did the cop thing that night. And yesterday they got my phone back to me and I got a new license already. Several people who live nearby have reached out and told me if I ever am alone at night walking home again that they will come get me no problem, or if I need anything ever let them know, etc. And, thankfully, I'll be out of this place in a month. I honestly feel as if living here at this place has just been one shitty thing after another just piling on. I went to the basement today and it looks like a pipe is leaking in a fairly significant way. Except I'm leaving on a flight to Georgia in less than an hour. I'm going to take a video, text it to my roommate, and hope he deals with it seriously. On the bright side, maybe the water in the basement will prevent any dryer fires while I'm gone. Right? It's weird, it's like the most I can say about the experience (was i mugged, or robbed? I feel like mugging implies physical injury) is I came out of it with more XP. I guess I generally try to be positive about things but really, the most positive things I can say is that, having experienced something like this, I'll be a little more aware of "what to do" if anything similar ever happens in the future, and, "well, that was an experience. I guess I've lived a little more now." On the flip side one of my poems got nominated for a Pushcart Prize last week which was really, really flattering and encouraging. I did kind of tell you guys that in the loneliness thread, I confess.
I got mugged last year so I know how you feel. There were four of them (2 guys and 2 girls in their 20s; the main aggressor was my size and one guy was way bigger). I am a brawler historically but for some reason I just had a really bad feeling about the situation. They took a 12 pack of beer I had just bought and some $900 headphones. But not my iPod or phone? I was on a bridge so all I did was walk to the end of the bridge and called 911. One cop showed up at my end and another showed up at the other. Busted. It turns out I was right about the main guy. He had a record for pretty much every violent offense short of murder. Assault, sexual assault, assault with a deadly weapon, assaulting a police officer, etc. My favorite is that the caretaker of a cemetery showed up one morning and the chapel had been broken into and trashed. But there the guy was passed out on a pew. He got three months. And is probably back in again. Glad you are OK and congrats on the nomination!
Firstly, glad you're okay and are putting a positive spin on things. Secondly, I can't believe people risk getting caught for armed robbery, over robbery, when the maximum they are getting is a phone and a wallet. I don't know how it works where you live, but I think this automatically increases the standard minimum sentence in the UK from 1 year to 4 years - and it doesn't matter if it's a real or imitation firearm. Also, the level of police response and effort is going to be significantly different so they are far more likely to get caught.
What breed is your dogg? My building doesnt allow dogs or cats, so a large part of the reason I talk to one of my friends is so I can go to their house and chill with their malamute. That dog is the man.
I have always wanted a dog, but as I'm unemployed at the moment it would be even better. I would make a great owner until the point I find a new job and abandon it at home for 12 hours a day. I would seriously take a job on significantly less money if it gave me the flexibility to have a dog.
I had to go to an Apple store to pick up a new work laptop yesterday. Despite having worked at an Apple shop for 7 years, I had never set foot in an Apple store before and, in my ignorance, wore a grey shirt. People kept asking me questions, and it took me a good 15 minutes to figure out that they thought I worked there. I'm a little disappointed not to see any negative Yelp reviews this morning.
Last week in pubski I mentioned an interest in yoga, and following up on suggestions, I started using some YouTube videos and have been enjoying it.
Figure I'd pop into Pubski for once. I went to a PT for the first time ever this week in preparation for my powerlifting meet next weekend. I had dry needling + electro therapy done and my god, my back hasn't felt this good in a long time. I'm stoked, going to kill it. On another note, its finally getting a bit cooler in Tucson and two of my favorite bands are coming to town soon. I could not be more excited for these next few weeks.
Yeah? Who're you seeing? Also, powerlifting is awesome. Therefore, you're awesome.On another note, its finally getting a bit cooler in Tucson and two of my favorite bands are coming to town soon. I could not be more excited for these next few weeks.
That's a good question. I think I heard them first on some random playlist on 8tracks and then started following them on Spotify. It's been awhile. Bit of a bummer they're having a show in the middle of the week for you but one lost night of sleep isn't the end of the world.
I mean, I'll be on Thanksgiving break, so I'd probably be up that late anyway! I have a tendency to stay up until 4am when I don't have obligations the next day.Bit of a bummer they're having a show in the middle of the week for you but one lost night of sleep isn't the end of the world.
WWPJ is more approachable(?) I would check out It's Thunder and It's Lightning by them. And for Modern Baseball I'd recommend really anything off their Sports album See Ya, Sucker might be your best bet. I feel like the folk punk genre doesn't appeal to many.
You're right. Defiance Ohio, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra, Ramshackle Glory, Beans on Toast, The Violent Femmes, This Bike is Pipebomb, The Whole Camel, Stick and Poke, The Taxpayers and many others are all talentless hacks and no one should listen to them. ;) Yeah. That's right. I just name dropped a bunch of bands to show off my hipster cred. Wanna fight about it? (Please say "no" bro. I don't even lift.) Edit: Also, if you're on reddit, you should check out r/folkpunk. It's a great way to discover new artists.I feel like the folk punk genre doesn't appeal to many.
Awesome list of bands. NSSTomato I'm hoping to catch Modern Baseball, at least. Both bands are coming through here on tour in the next week and I might be willing to give up a night of sleep to make it happen (work at 5am is terrible). Dammit, wish I worked with anybody who had even a somewhat similar interest in music.
I feel you on that. I'll have to be going in then as well after Modern Baseball. Initially it was between driving to Phoenix for Born Ruffians or staying in town for MB. I'll take the extra hour or two of sleep though. Not sure if the same bands are going to be opening for MB in your city but they're great as well. Definitely worth losing some sleep over.(work at 5am is terrible).
Are you seeing her with Palehound and PWR BTTM? Because honestly both of those bands are near her level. Especially Palehound. Love Ellen.
High five to that great band list! And yeah people shouldn't listen to them so I can claim to be more hipster. I like that haha. But seriously some of the looks I've gotten from friends after trying to introduce them to this genre made me start putting out a general warning each time.
I feel you on that. My wife actually listens to more punk than I do and even she thinks some of this stuff is a bit out there. That said, a lot of my friends are huge music fans and Folk Punk is a great bridge genre. It allows me to slowly introduce punk to my friends who are more into country, blues, and bluegrass and it allows me to introduce country, blues, and bluegrass to my friends who like punk. It really helps that both Punk and Americana music have a lot in common thematically, as they're both genres mainly by and about the working class.But seriously some of the looks I've gotten from friends after trying to introduce them to this genre made me start putting out a general warning each time.
What a great week I've had. I was in MI for some meetings for our startup and they went VERY well. After the meeting I was able to meet up with b_b, mk, steve and OftenBen among others. It was a blast. Now this week I have several meetings lined up as well. -Big ones. On top of that, I have closed my first really big deal with my day job. It was awesome. Crazy thought: If I owned a sushi restaurant, I would have a fried bologna and mustard roll. -Don't knock it till you've tried it. I guarantee it would be popular.
caeli - Yesterday one of my profs asked me how I was doing, and I told him, deadpanned, "Everything is on fire." He grinned and said, "Yep, that's grad school." So I hope you're having a better semester! :)
Hey am_Unition. Keith, a glazier I knew in the 1980s, worked installing windows on high-rise buildings. "Back then," he said, "some window jobs were so difficult that I had to remove my safety gloves to get the glass in just right. In those cases, my hands got cut. I had to bleed to get the window in. There were no other choices." That's how I felt about grad school.
Sesame Street Goes to Graduate School has decreed the word of the day to be "atrophy", brought to you by the number B*exp(i(kr - wt))
My Dad said that about 95% of his grad students wanted to quit and the urge got stronger the closer they got to the end. I never understood that until I did my LL.M. thesis and about 50 pages in I realized that my assumed end point was completely not not going to work so I had to start all over again. ugh Roofing is a hell of a job. You only have narrow windows in spring and fall where the weather cooperates to not make your life miserable.
A few things of note for me so far this week. - came out officially on my old facebook. Directed people to my new facebook. Pretty darn positive response, but I also primed the pump by getting a couple of friends in the know to post early positive messages (in an effort to discourage bad ones). It was probably unnecessary, but I've learned in life that for important things it's good to control your message. - met Hubskiers last Saturday Had a grand time. Got as close to drunk as I've been in over a decade. - Met the person I want to do further grad work with. She's amazing. It might be complicated to work with her directly, but It will be worth the effort. - Got an orchestra gig. End of the month in Northern Ontario. Looking forward to it, I've played with them before, but it was a long time ago. It will be fun to show them how much I've improved.
humans are tricky. you run into that in the soft sciences on the regular ;)
Wednesday! My Classical Lit class was cancelled, so I just showed up to my friend's astro class. Sat in the front row. It was really cool! When I was younger, I was super into astronomy, but I hadn't really dealt with those concepts for a while, so it was fun to sort of dust off all my old knowledge and add to it. I'll definitely be taking Astro 101 next year. Speaking of taking classes, registration for next semester is tomorrow! I love my classical lit class, and my professor's convinced me to start on a potential classics major with intro to Ancient Greek. I'm super excited! I also got to see the Medea on a classics dept. trip on Saturday, and I definitely feel like classics majors & professors--particularly at Colgate--are "my people," which isn't something I've really felt with other potential majors. I'm also gonna be continuing German and knocking out some more required courses. Anyway, I miss you all (still). I wish I had more time to give to the site, but I'm also glad to be as immersed as I am in Colgate. Hope everyone's doing well.
That meetup was too much fun, I wish we could have them more regularly. There were so many topics that we only got to touch on in brief that I wanted to really dig into. For example b_b really added and expanded on my perceptions of the brain, especially with regards to how memory works. Started the week rather slow, all the docs were out of town for an American Heart Association conference in Florida. I could have gone along, but considering that the conference wasn't going to pay for my anything, I elected to hold down the fort here in Mi. What that means for me is lots of quality time with my Data Capture system, various data-quality/sanitation queries, and buttloads of coffee. Meditation class tonight, appointment with my counselor the day after, then somehow it's the weekend again. Also I got Fallout 4 yesterday, played it from roughly 5:45 to 11. IT'S GORGEOUS AND (kinda buggy) FUN AND I GET TO FINALLY BUILD MY OWN POST-APOCALYPTIC SURVIVALIST COMMUNE! ZOMG! I already have two auto-turrets and a really respectable farm :] I'll cut myself off here unless somebody else is drinking the radioactive koolaid with me.
kleinbl00 -How goes the transition? Last I heard you had secured a lease. When do you get to set up shop? Is the kiddo still loving it? Any regrets about getting out of LA?
Getting over some kind of viral crud this week. Back on exercise this morning. Reading and getting caught up on some homework for a couple certs we're working on. Dividing my time between too many projects it seems. Doing my best to stay in motion. Stay motivated. Without heroic measures, this region can empty your soul. Certainly getting colder and less sunlit in these parts. Time to give a thought to shuffling off to fairer climes for sake of health in a couple months.
Still sick, which means no exercise. Also means no work today. Trying to use the time to get healthy and clean up the apartment. Why the fuck is my bank refusing to transfer funds to another financial institution...guess a phone call is happening soon. Fuck banks, credit unions are infinitely more satisfying.
This week I reveled in my commute. I go just a stop or two on the train and then bike to the remote campus where my lab lives. I had been taking a bus that gave me this institutional malaise. Blah. Now I go when I want and leave when I want without a 45 minute cycle each way. And then there is this thing happening with my project at work. It is starting to be shared between a lot of us. A collective is forming. I'm really exicited.
Not much interesting. I woke up last night in a coughing fit. I have no clue why this cough won't just go away, but I really can't get to a doctor all that soon. The thing that sucks is I was suppose to record some music for a Christmas album my friend is assembling, but now I can't add my contribution.