Thursday, July 14, 2005

AAAI over; Book done; Room moved into

I had a good time at the conference, which I'll try and write about later. I went for a quick spin around Pittsburh this morning, on my newly tuned bike (Thanks, D!). Then I got on the Pike and crossed PA and MD. I missed the 70 turnoff I wanted to take, but then that allowed me to finish Summerland as I was cruising down Connecticut Ave. Summerland was a fun read/listen, good not great.
I arrived at the International Student House of DC in pouring rain, which fortunately abated after dinner, before I moved my baggage in.
ISH seems a very social place. Most everyone is eager to meet the new guy and introduce themselves. It helped there was a going away gala for a half-dozen Italians tonight, so they had a punch and a small keg of Yuengling.
Get set up at the internship tomorrow, which reminds me, the crowd of international-minded individuals looked askance at me when the word "Naval" appeared in the name of the lab. Usually looked slightly reassured when I explained about Thomas Alva's head and developing technologies, not immediate applications.
The houses themselves are a lot like living in a row house, especially upper row international focus houses, for you ex-Farmers in the audience.

Friday, July 08, 2005

Made it to Washington; Passed through Pittsburg 2 days back.

Washington, PA and Pittsburg, TX, that is. After two solid days of driving, here I am at the
Super 8 Motel in Cannonsburg, PA. It is two better than the Motel 6 in East Memphis: Free wireless and a bigger room. No sign of super powers yet though.
First day of driving, I enjoyed mp3 CD's on my self-installed, yet miraculously working new stereo. Today I enjoyed the first two-thirds of Summerland, by Michael Chabon. Kind of a "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" meets "Shoeless Joe" (the book that morphed into "Field of Dreams".). A nice light read/ listen, and especially appropriate for driving into Pittsburgh, a Chabon home. I forgot I had it until I heard Michael and his wife on NPR this morning as I was looking for coffee and breakfast.
Off to AAAI tomorrow, the workshop I'm sitting in on, not the workshop I have a paper in.