Pay day...

Yes it's true. Now with all my money I can pay bills. Wrote the rent check today just before I hit my book shelf to do some research. Don't worry, I'll go to the library the books I have are just to help me flesh out an idea to write the proposal. Once I have an idea of what I'm going to look into and I get some feedback then I go to the library (or the web site :-).

In other news, I had read an article in the student news paper about concert venues in the area. It alluded to the fact that many people go to other places in NC for music. From what I can tell the couple of inexpensive shows that look good to me are outside of Raleigh. But hey, they are close. Check out Cat's Cradle for yourself.

Anyone figure out why it is I keep writing 'in other news'? It's like I'm reporting on my life...

Morning meetings...

It's actually more like a whole day of meetings. Need to leave for one in a few and then another this afternoon. I guess that means I'm really an academic. And then of course another trip to the library - this time to reserves. Figure I'll stay there to read. In other news, it turns out that I'm not crazy, just a little slow. No surprise there. Anyone doing anything fun for the holiday? Me I'll be writing and thinking about how expensive gas is going to get. Seems sort ironic that with all the news story destruction they make sure to get in the $ of damage and price of oil. Ah, people lost their homes and families. Clearly the distraction worked on me. Reminds me a of Jack Johnson song.

Help I can't find my eyes...

It isn't good to read on screen for so long - with a bad pdf it is even worse. I have one of the two things I need to read for tomorrow done. They are each three chapters long. I have a meeting tomorrow morning so I need to make sure to have it all set before that. Then there is class, a brief break, and another meeting. Plenty of bus riding and breaks in between to do all the other reading. Do need to get to the library some time tomorrow too. Mean while I'd better find my eyes. I guess the reading is one of the things I can actually take care of.

Sunday morning...

Well, I've downloaded the reading for tomorrow. It's longer than I thought it would be, but looks interesting. I think I'll be heading out around 5 or 5:30 so I have plenty of time to read and get work done. Pretty rested and thinking with the last of the meetings this week things should fall into a pretty good pattern. I finished the book I needed to have done for wednesday so I'll have extra time to write and such. Really would like to do something with the long weekend next week, but I'm not sure what. Looks like another nice day outside - it'll be good to go for another walk. Just a few more things to do and then it's reading time.

Reading...

I think I'm about half way through the book I'm working on. Other than that I just must say that one of my favorite things about the web is still finding new and interesting music. Years ago I would have had books as one of the new and interesting thing, which is still true in the academic sense, but with all this reading who wants more? Not that it isn't good reading.

So here is a list Destroyer, The New Pornographers (don't ask me about the name - just check them out), and one more whose web page you'll have to visit: Immaculate machine.

On a less musical note (boo bad pune, know) you ever not know what to do/say?

Finally...

I was able to stay up. It took caffeine, but at least this way I don't feel like such an old man. As I walk toward bed with my cane in hand ;-)

In other news, if you could call it that, I found the book that I thought was trapped in the maze of a library here. Apparently, and if I hadn't missed the signs earlier, there is shifting in progress. So the poor little book had ended up a shelf over and several below where it should have been.

This even I know from my little knowledge of the great numbering system used to designate all books and their corresponding friends. I wonder who Dewey was anyway? I always thought he was one of the ducks, you know, Huey, Dewey, and Louie from that cartoon Ducktales. Hey, there is also a robot that shares the name in Silent Running. I think at this point I'm getting link crazy and well, giving away why graduate students shouldn't stay up late unless they are working or away from the computer.

Up up and away...

Ok so I don't fly, but I am away this morning. Waited to post once I was on campus. Ever had one of those days were you have to get out of the house? Strange I'm not really home that much as it is. Today is going to be a long haul so I may regret getting out of the house. With the sun and not to warm outside I can't say that for sure though :-) Presentation today so I'll be going over notes for that - should be fine. As for podcasts I might just have to wait until tomorrow. With the trial time on one app gone and the other soon to come I might go MIA podcast wise for a while. I could always hand code stuff - boooo. Hope everyone gets some sun. I'll see if I can send some.

A maze of books...

So yea, I'm having problems finding a book again in the library. Lucky for me I have some idea of the trials each little book has to go through. Once a little book gets returned then it ends up on little rolling shelves before it gets reshelved with all it's friends. Somewhere in all that tribulation I'm going to intercept one and give it a safe home for 90 days.

Night time...

Well I was thinking I'd relax with all the reading done, but I'm too sleepy to watch tv. So here I am going to bed and I don't have class until after 1 pm. The article I will be presenting for class wasn't too shocking, but I can see how it might be interesting to computer scientist considering interaction. I think that is it for now. Good night.

Writing...

Started writing again after I get up. Helps me to just put all the stuff that is going through my head and heart on paper. Not that I have any answers, but it's a start. Did good on reading yesterday and I figure after all the little stuff I need to do this morning I should have a good amount of time before I need to catch the bus for class. Figure I'll start the other reading that way I might have tonight and tomorrow night to work on thesis stuff. Well, time to move.

Good morning...

Well it's the first full week. Just one short class today and then I work my way up to a full day on thursday. I have some reading to do for tomorrow that I need to print out. Good thing I have read over two of the things. I think they may be it, but I need to go check out the web page. Looks like another pretty day and I bet it's warm. Hope all of you out there are having a good day too. Off to it.

Safe and sound...

Well, been back in Raleigh for amost a half hour. Just made a little food and now it's time to sleep off the driving. Not a bad drive to DC and back. With no classes Friday I should be able to make it pretty often. I forgot my camera so no pictures :-( I do have one that my aunt took, but you'll need to email me if you want to see it. Time for dream land.

Just got back from dinner

Just got back from dinner with my aunts in Maryland. Now we're back in DC.

Day two...

Yesterday was good class wise. I got turned around some finding one of the new engineering buildings, but got to class fine. So far I think things will go fine. Learned about some new web based citation that should be useful. Outside of that I'm really excited to go see family in DC this weekend. Need to drop off some identification stuff for work documentation. Hope to hit the road around 11 am. Oh, and I need to find my camera.

Next week is my first full week and though I've started reading I have plenty I need to do this weekend. I should be able to finish the one book and if I can get back Sunday at a good time I'll be able to get other reading and some writing done. That's it for now.

First day...

My first day of class was today. It went well. I had a chance before class to walk by the post office to mail some insurance stuff and stop at the library. I found the book I've been looking for so that's good. In other news I met the last person in my program I hadn't met yet. Seems like a cool guy. So final count: 2 guys from michigan, 2 guys from ohio, 1 guy from west virgina, and three women from north carolina. Should be getting a book I need to read this evening - though it seems late for UPS. I've had dinner so I think I'll work on podcast stuff.

A day of sitting...

I think I've got about as much information about being a graduate student, teaching, and otherwise being involved in academia cramed in my mind. Lots of important stuff that I'll need to look up again online or on the cool cd they gave out. Tomorrow is the first day of classes. I've done my reading, but I may look over it this evening if I don't go to sleep. I don't have class until after lunch, but I've got plenty I need to get done on campus tomorrow. I think I've sent all the job related email I need to, but there is some stuff I need to mail. Hope everyone one out there is doing well.

Busy weekend...

So not only did I get invited to dinner by one of the guy in my program Friday night, but while I was there I found about a barbecue that was yesterday. Both gatherings were great fun. The food was good and it's nice to meet new people. And of course I got advanced warning of some reading. What's that you say? Reading already, but classes don't start until Wednesday? It's true, but that's graduate school and when you like what you're doing it's like weekend reading. Yea, I'm a big geek - but I'm having fun so far.

I've spent podcast time working on my other 'professional' cast. I may still be able to get things up and running here soon.

North Carolina at last...

So at this point I was pretty thrilled to be so close to getting out of my car. The hardest part of the drive was after this point of course. The sign was on a curve, but taking a picture while driving can be blamed for most of the interesting pictures.

Did you know they dug a tunnel to Virgina?

It's the East River Mountain tunnel. I'm not sure where Virgina starts, but the sign is on the other side of this tunnel. You can see that picture here. It isn't very good.

And on to West Virginia...

I really liked this bridge it was very pretty. I was a little worried about the guy on a motorcycle in front of me though.