It's been a bit since posting, much has been going on. However, the biggest news in my little world is that I ran the Wineglass Marathon yesterday at a 3:55 pace for the whole thing. Several pictures (not posted here) show me running next to the 3:55 pacer at the 8 mile, half, and 18 mile mark. It was ridiculously consistent. And ridiculously cold. And wet.
The course starts in Bath and ends in Corning. See the map below.
View Larger Map
Overall, very fun. Onwards to the next few this year!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Naked, in the Kitchen
Sometimes you stumble across advertisements that catch your attention for the wrong reasons. Take, for example, this display for a kitchen remodeling store in Leipzig, Germany. I'm not quite sure what they are trying to get across, but it almost seems like women should be naked and in the kitchen with their legs spread. Very odd choice of display.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Day 2 – An Empty Atlantic
One day I will upload images to go along with these posts.
I spent much of the remainder of Day 1 on the internet primarily watching Netflix at my Gate in Boston. The highlight was a raspberry heffewessien by Harpoon Brewery and a meek cheese Panini. They really advertise the fact that in Boston, they are just across the river from Logan Airport. Just across the river might as well be across the world when you are trapped in a mile-by-mile landmass, in between where you were and where you are going. There really is no escaping from travel once you start.
The flight to London is very uneventful. Less than half the seats of the plane are full which means I can stretch out and relax. The luxury of dosing into odd dreams is interrupted by watching Sophia Copalla’s Somewhere and eating a pasta meal provided by Delta. I have to say, Delata’s pasta disappointed less.
Getting off the flight in Heathrow, collecting my baggage, and venturing through customs went by with little incident. At the customs booth, the agent was more interested in my research that I would be conducting in Germany than as to why I was staying in Cambridge. Sometimes looking harmless (and unshaven) has its benefits. The last time I went through customs at Heathrow, I was carrying a Cornell Campus Mail envelope, which, much to the amusement of the agent, looks exactly like the packages they hand over to those they are deporting from London.
A three hour bus ride awaited me. Mostly nodding in and out of consciousness occupied my time. The other was being caught up with images of the countryside and small towns. After a bit, it felt as if we had to stop at every small town from Heathrow to Cambridge.
At long last, arrival in Cambridge and my friend P is waiting for me. Successfully made it all the way! Not a small feet for someone who stressed about these things.
She insists on dragging my luggage (only one roller) through the back streets of Cambridge to her flat. Luckily, she is a triathlete so I do not feel so terrible. However, it amuses me that the bag is about half her size (P, if you are reading this, just think of me saying “bag” and I hope all is forgiven). Additionally, when you get into a walking pace with a rolling bag, you often can pick up a decent bass line for composing a song. Cobblecobblecobble-Curb-Cobblecobblecobble-Curb-Curb-Crackinsidewalk-Crackinsidewalk-Curb-Curb-Cobblecobblecobble and so forth.
Her flat is marvelous. She rents a small three and a half room one, minimally but very P like decorated. The view is fantastic, it overlooks King’s college and most of Cambridge. Overall, it looks like a comfortable home to be in for her two year stay there.
I am most impressed by the couch. The beast has no legs and rests directly on the floor. At first glance, it appears as if it has fallen or perhaps pillows constructed into seats. However, once I took a seat, I fell in love. A great piece of furniture apparently does not need legs.
She proved an adept tour guide as we wandered the streets and through ancient colleges. Pubs abound and she took me to one especially for the fish and chips. Well, they were out of fish, so we finished our pints and went on to an African restaurant (in Cambridge). Surprisingly good food was provided. The beer on the other hand, well, pales in comparison to the dark and strong American Beer.
From there, we ventured back to her flat through the windy streets. I was relieved to relax, a bit tired from the whole transition from the States to Europe. And thus concluded Day 2.
I spent much of the remainder of Day 1 on the internet primarily watching Netflix at my Gate in Boston. The highlight was a raspberry heffewessien by Harpoon Brewery and a meek cheese Panini. They really advertise the fact that in Boston, they are just across the river from Logan Airport. Just across the river might as well be across the world when you are trapped in a mile-by-mile landmass, in between where you were and where you are going. There really is no escaping from travel once you start.
The flight to London is very uneventful. Less than half the seats of the plane are full which means I can stretch out and relax. The luxury of dosing into odd dreams is interrupted by watching Sophia Copalla’s Somewhere and eating a pasta meal provided by Delta. I have to say, Delata’s pasta disappointed less.
Getting off the flight in Heathrow, collecting my baggage, and venturing through customs went by with little incident. At the customs booth, the agent was more interested in my research that I would be conducting in Germany than as to why I was staying in Cambridge. Sometimes looking harmless (and unshaven) has its benefits. The last time I went through customs at Heathrow, I was carrying a Cornell Campus Mail envelope, which, much to the amusement of the agent, looks exactly like the packages they hand over to those they are deporting from London.
A three hour bus ride awaited me. Mostly nodding in and out of consciousness occupied my time. The other was being caught up with images of the countryside and small towns. After a bit, it felt as if we had to stop at every small town from Heathrow to Cambridge.
At long last, arrival in Cambridge and my friend P is waiting for me. Successfully made it all the way! Not a small feet for someone who stressed about these things.
She insists on dragging my luggage (only one roller) through the back streets of Cambridge to her flat. Luckily, she is a triathlete so I do not feel so terrible. However, it amuses me that the bag is about half her size (P, if you are reading this, just think of me saying “bag” and I hope all is forgiven). Additionally, when you get into a walking pace with a rolling bag, you often can pick up a decent bass line for composing a song. Cobblecobblecobble-Curb-Cobblecobblecobble-Curb-Curb-Crackinsidewalk-Crackinsidewalk-Curb-Curb-Cobblecobblecobble and so forth.
Her flat is marvelous. She rents a small three and a half room one, minimally but very P like decorated. The view is fantastic, it overlooks King’s college and most of Cambridge. Overall, it looks like a comfortable home to be in for her two year stay there.
I am most impressed by the couch. The beast has no legs and rests directly on the floor. At first glance, it appears as if it has fallen or perhaps pillows constructed into seats. However, once I took a seat, I fell in love. A great piece of furniture apparently does not need legs.
She proved an adept tour guide as we wandered the streets and through ancient colleges. Pubs abound and she took me to one especially for the fish and chips. Well, they were out of fish, so we finished our pints and went on to an African restaurant (in Cambridge). Surprisingly good food was provided. The beer on the other hand, well, pales in comparison to the dark and strong American Beer.
From there, we ventured back to her flat through the windy streets. I was relieved to relax, a bit tired from the whole transition from the States to Europe. And thus concluded Day 2.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Day 1 : On Voyage
Travel.
Once again, I am travelling away from home. Unusual for me, I am actually staying in the new location longer. Leipzig for a research position for the summer.
I have the oddest times. Case in point, I woke up this morning in my friend R's house who agreed to take me to the airport. We had to drive to campus to pick up my suitcase, as I have been homeless for the past for months. As I said, odd.
The Ithaca airport is an over glorified bus terminal. I was worried that I was going to be late for my flight as I hectically was searching for a charger. However, on arriving to Ithaca, I realized that I was only one of six passengers making the voyage to La Guardia. Without thought, I brought on a bag that was two times too big as a carry on. Apparently, when there are only six people on the flight, they really don't care.
However, my Boston transfer was surprised to see such a large bag as a carry on and were happy when I suggested they check it for me. Note to self, confidence can outweigh any excess baggage fee. Also, I thank United for being flexible.
To Boston. I purposely scheduled a long layover so I could get work done. Work. Work. Work.
Which was interrupted. An elderly woman offered me a can of beer. Unfortunately, I decided to not take it as I was a little woosy still from wishing my labmate A off the night before. I should say, Doctor A now.
I was able to relax, for the first time in a month. Additionally, the specter of homelessness is gone. Things are changing once more for me. A new phase.
Much like travel, life comes with these phases. Todays is a new adventure, one I designed, orchestrated, and pushed an entire institution to obtain. Tomorrow means visiting an old friend, P. A few days after, Germany to work on a research project I have been integral in designing. Weeks later, returning to the US in order to resume life.
With a house.
And my car.
The basic luxuries of modern life.
Once again, I am travelling away from home. Unusual for me, I am actually staying in the new location longer. Leipzig for a research position for the summer.
I have the oddest times. Case in point, I woke up this morning in my friend R's house who agreed to take me to the airport. We had to drive to campus to pick up my suitcase, as I have been homeless for the past for months. As I said, odd.
The Ithaca airport is an over glorified bus terminal. I was worried that I was going to be late for my flight as I hectically was searching for a charger. However, on arriving to Ithaca, I realized that I was only one of six passengers making the voyage to La Guardia. Without thought, I brought on a bag that was two times too big as a carry on. Apparently, when there are only six people on the flight, they really don't care.
However, my Boston transfer was surprised to see such a large bag as a carry on and were happy when I suggested they check it for me. Note to self, confidence can outweigh any excess baggage fee. Also, I thank United for being flexible.
To Boston. I purposely scheduled a long layover so I could get work done. Work. Work. Work.
Which was interrupted. An elderly woman offered me a can of beer. Unfortunately, I decided to not take it as I was a little woosy still from wishing my labmate A off the night before. I should say, Doctor A now.
I was able to relax, for the first time in a month. Additionally, the specter of homelessness is gone. Things are changing once more for me. A new phase.
Much like travel, life comes with these phases. Todays is a new adventure, one I designed, orchestrated, and pushed an entire institution to obtain. Tomorrow means visiting an old friend, P. A few days after, Germany to work on a research project I have been integral in designing. Weeks later, returning to the US in order to resume life.
With a house.
And my car.
The basic luxuries of modern life.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Immortality
From time to time, I am bothered by the concept of non-existence. By being a creature, an observer, that has always existed (from my viewpoint) to know there will be a time that I will not exist slightly disturbs me. Which, undoubtedly it should, or else I would by bungee jumping daily. (Conversely, acknowledging that there was a time that I did not exist sometimes is equally bothersome when you really think about it.)
However, I think the alternative would be far worse: immortality. At first blush, it seems like a grand idea to not face a biological death. We would have unlimited time to travel the earth, learn new ideas, and meet hundreds of thousands of people. We could live out any and every dream that we had, especially if we are able to stop aging when we are the prime of our youth.
Yet...
I am horrified by the possible outcomes that this would do to humanity. We are free from the natural course of death and let's assume that we also are able to conquer all bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases. We would only have to face each other and more dangerously, ourselves. We would face the atrocities of humans more fully and each face an 'unnatural' death in the end if we keep at the current pace of violence.
But suppose immortality eliminates violence as well (which, after a time, it would seem logical that it would fade). Imagine a life without urgency, it would be similar to playing a favorite video game without the possibility of death. For a time, it will be exciting to be able to do as you want. However, the removal of the challenge of survival allows for monotony to creep in to the game play. Eventually, it will grow tiresome.
What would be our motivation to do anything? Procrastination would dominate our daily life and most likely pleasure would reign supreme. The necessity to reproduce would fade, eventually we would be consumed by ourselves.
The exciting thing about life is that it is indeed finite. Every choice we make defines who we are and who we will become. We are observers of a very limited space and are champions of a very small portion of time. But for those precious years, we are truly alive. Death is a fact that we all must face in our own way, but as with any successful project, there must be an end.
So, all though I am uncomfortable with the concept of non-existence, in the words of a co-worker:
"It is a relief to know that one day (in the far future) this all will end."
Monday, May 16, 2011
Dirty Jobs to Congress
Mike Rowe makes a very concise argument to the Commerce, Science and Technology Committee about the need for support for specialized services. A good point he makes is that as we age, our curiosity about how things work begins to fade. If you would like to combat that, I would recommend checking out The Works by Kate Ascher. The book summarizes in page after page of infographics how New York City operates. I am a Civil and Environmental Engineer and even I was stunned by how beautiful and organized the book was.
Yes, it is a link to Amazon. I would recommend going to your local independent bookstore first. If you are in Ithaca, I recommend Buffalo Street Books Coop.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A Year's Worth : Homelessness
Returning to Ithaca, I realize that truly this is home. The people I hangout with are here. My job is here. My current life is here. However, one major aspect is missing as I arrive : a home.
That's right, I am facing about three months of homelessness in the great Ithaca, NY. By the virtue and graces of my friends, I will not have to face the cold and lack of shelter as many have offered me places to stay. But, still, not having a home has already taught me how spoiled I was with my previous life and makes me appreciate smaller things. So, the homeless engineer has a few suggestions and pieces of advice.
Always Wear and Bring Extra Socks
Feet tend to get stinky. They are sweaty and moisture from the ground gets in them fairly quick. A simple recommendation for everyone is to keep an extra pair of socks with you at all times (or at least when you are carrying a backpack or purse). Although you may never need them, if you get a foot wet a couple of hours before a meeting, you may be paying the price later.
Shower, often
If you are feeling funkified, take a shower. Hygiene, as we all know, is extremely important. People judge you off the first impression. If they can smell you (or your feet, see above) even before you introduce yourself, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Take. A. Shower. Especially college nerds, you can't get a girlfriend if you don't respect and take care of your body first.
Additionally, it shows a sign of mutual respect/trust when you are at a friends place. Taking a shower is much different than simply using the restroom.
Lockers
My last tip of the day is rent lockers or store extra stuff in your office. Now some may say that you can verge on a pack mule, but don't over due it. Store essential items. Backup toothbrush, a pair of pants, etc. If you have a safety stash, you can recover from many things and feel more comfortable.
These points are mostly made in jest, but in truth if you strive to take care of yourself, people are more likely to like you. Mostly, I'm just blowing off steam in response to my new lifestyle. However, I think this will be an interesting endeavor.
That's right, I am facing about three months of homelessness in the great Ithaca, NY. By the virtue and graces of my friends, I will not have to face the cold and lack of shelter as many have offered me places to stay. But, still, not having a home has already taught me how spoiled I was with my previous life and makes me appreciate smaller things. So, the homeless engineer has a few suggestions and pieces of advice.
Always Wear and Bring Extra Socks
Feet tend to get stinky. They are sweaty and moisture from the ground gets in them fairly quick. A simple recommendation for everyone is to keep an extra pair of socks with you at all times (or at least when you are carrying a backpack or purse). Although you may never need them, if you get a foot wet a couple of hours before a meeting, you may be paying the price later.
Shower, often
If you are feeling funkified, take a shower. Hygiene, as we all know, is extremely important. People judge you off the first impression. If they can smell you (or your feet, see above) even before you introduce yourself, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Take. A. Shower. Especially college nerds, you can't get a girlfriend if you don't respect and take care of your body first.
Additionally, it shows a sign of mutual respect/trust when you are at a friends place. Taking a shower is much different than simply using the restroom.
Lockers
My last tip of the day is rent lockers or store extra stuff in your office. Now some may say that you can verge on a pack mule, but don't over due it. Store essential items. Backup toothbrush, a pair of pants, etc. If you have a safety stash, you can recover from many things and feel more comfortable.
These points are mostly made in jest, but in truth if you strive to take care of yourself, people are more likely to like you. Mostly, I'm just blowing off steam in response to my new lifestyle. However, I think this will be an interesting endeavor.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
A Year's Worth : Homeward
Tonight, I pack once again. Nothing special, I have done it hundreds of times before. Road trips, bus rides, and airfare have all whisked me across the globe as I chase after something that resembles life. Each Christmas, though, I make the trek home to visit and spend time with those people that helped to make and define me. However, more and more, it feels like just that, a visit.
As the world shrinks, the more adventurous and explorer types tend to find it easier to maintain relationships with those that you love, even when they are half a globe away. However, it is impossible to supersede the distance, relationships thrive when the person is half a block away. Shared experience, face time, moments that do not feel forced or limited are important. And above all, the most important thing for a relationship is time. Time to laugh, to love, to hate, to hurt, to grow, and to do the none too important things.
How we spend our time defines us (a very "duh" statement, but I'll say it to sound smart). As I have aged, I spend less and less time with my family, my base and more with the world at large. I have developed an intricate social network with some of the most interesting (to me) people in the world. They are my family away from my family.
But why should I develop another family in the first place?
As I get ready to leave home once more, I am hounded by a guilt that I have abandoned those that mean the world to me. My mother, my father, and my sister each propelled me into the future. However, I have a nagging suspicion that I just used them and now have left them behind. A balance must be struck.
I suppose, mostly the shift in internal thought process has come about by simply getting older and maturing. Will I continue to abandon the relationships that mean most to me for the next exciting challenge? Will I be content to return home someday? Is this nothing more than being fearful about being homeless, car-less, and soon country-less?
Questions. The answers are the stuff of life.
-Nomad
Friday, November 19, 2010
Success: Bizarre Attempt at Tomato Soup
{from thekicthn.com}
Long time no posting. What writing a paper means. I was pulled out for a moment and had the chance to try a very tasty Tomato Soup Recipe. Although I failed horribly at emulating what was on the recipe, I did manage to create an interesting onion-garlic-tomato-pimento stew. Note to self, inversion blender needed. For my efforts, I was awarded half an unbeatable homemade apple pie. Fair trade!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
At Top of Ithaca Falls
Summers in Ithaca, NY are very rarely beat. There is a relaxed atmosphere, the great outdoors, and an unmatched scenic beauty. As an ode to summer, I just wanted to share another of my hiking adventures. Although it was not as far as my Six Mile Creek adventure, a friend an I returned to Ithaca's Gun Hill for a quick walk around, completing my July 4th hike.
The abandoned site offers many great views of industrial remains, natural beauty, and impressive grafitti. Additionally, it is a technically challenging hike (and slightly illegal) but very rewarding.
You can take a peak into the famous Ithaca Gun Stack...
Or some of the additional abandoned structures...
Overall, a great way to spend a waining summer afternoon.
Friday, September 24, 2010
...Leipzig...
Via Flickr by totallyunknown
So, this is what I am slightly anxious about. Four months living in Leipzig. Good thing I speak German.
What to do with a pen...
What to do at 2 AM, can't sleep, and procrastinating from work? Simple! Draw on yourself with a ballpoint pen. Not only that, draw an entire landscape. When I get nervous/anxious about something, I tend to draw... often times on myself...
What I am nervous about will have to be detailed in a later post...
Thursday, August 12, 2010
On transitions...
Being involved in academia yields a yearly reflection around the end of August as the warm summer months cool into the beginning-of-the-school-year fall. As yet another year ticks off the calendar, I realize that I have been in school for 19 years. A long, long time if you ask me. Many things have changed along the way, most noticeably in my friend group. Several friends took the plunge and got married, one of my closest friends is having a child, and several others have finished up and moved on to other institutions.
I'm feeling old.
But, slowly I have begun to accomplish things as well. Working on getting my first publication out as well as taking a major milestone exam on my birthday this fall. I am also now head of our graduate student organization, training for marathons, and possibly moving to Europe in the spring. Life is busy.
I guess my year of distraction is ending, I am beginning to focus on what I want out of grad school and life in general. If you are just starting out in grad school, there are many blogs and books written about a successful PhD or masters experience. However, in my experience and witnessing my friends triumphs and tribulations, I can tell you that each experience is unique. Seems like a cop out answer, but the experience you have in grad school depends on department, location, advisor, friend group, research focus, etc.
If you are looking for broad advice, the best you are going to get is that the experience will surely challenge and try to break you. A balance between personal issues and academic will continuously be challenged. Overall, if you enter grad school directly out of undergrad, you will experience many pains of growing intellectually as well as just simply maturing into your mid-twenties. If you come back after entering the workforce, you have to strike a balance between advancing in academics and starting a family. The pursuit of a degree is highly time consuming and at times, mentally exhausting.
So why do it?
Because I am in the process of publishing a paper, prepping for a marathon, and maybe moving to Europe shortly. In essence, it is a part of me now, and I would not change my experience, the good, the bad, and the ugly, for anything in the world. Once you reach that peace, you know you are where you are supposed to be.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Meerkats, Penguins, and Zoos
When I travel, I enjoy visiting the local zoos. I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Seattle last week and snuck away to visit the Woodland Zoo in the Northern suburbs of Seattle (a long walk). I am always interested to see how the animals are displayed differently. Two of my favorites to visit happen to be the meerkats and the penguins.
Meerkats
The right image is of Seattle, the left is of London. Note, you are able to get incredibly close to the meerkats in the London zoo whereas in the Seattle Zoo, you stand behind Plexiglas. Interesting.
Penguins
Again, Seattle is on the right and London on the left. The Seattle zoo had a much better penguin display. You can even view them swimming as below.
Meerkats
The right image is of Seattle, the left is of London. Note, you are able to get incredibly close to the meerkats in the London zoo whereas in the Seattle Zoo, you stand behind Plexiglas. Interesting.
Penguins
Again, Seattle is on the right and London on the left. The Seattle zoo had a much better penguin display. You can even view them swimming as below.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Chinese Fold Out Print
Ithaca NY is famous for the plentiful and eccentric used book and clothing stores found on the Ithaca Commons and elsewhere scattered throughout Tompkins County. I personally frequent Autumn Leaves myself and often am surprised at what I find. Being a pseudo local, I have had the opportunity to collect a good portion of graphic novels, science fiction, records (from the now dubbed Angry Mom records), odd old magazine clippings (a friend and me sat through laughing at how sexist, racist, and obnoxious our society used to be, imagine when future generations look back at us!), and numerous, numerous books. One of my most recent finds was a Chinese Print. When outstretched, the image is about twenty feet long and depicts an average day in the life of local Chinese residents along a river. Overall, an awesome find. If you ever are interested in finding unique items, look up a local used bookshop in your neighborhood and stop by. You never know what you may find...
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