jeff

#4

So, I'm having lunch yesterday with Dave and someone who introduced himself as John, and we start talking about projects what were working on. The topic of patterns comes up, and I mentioned I really only was familiar with two... John then said to come by and pick up a book, he had plenty. He then got up and I saw his badge, and of course, it was John Vlissides. I didn't know it was him, but I did drop by his office for a book. Computer scientists are like radio stars, you don't know who they look like.

marc s.

Marc Salem is definitely a worthwhile show... see it if you can. That's all, I'm gonna go watch Seinfeld.

pubs

Publications? Well, I don't have many, and the ones I have aren't worth mentioning... My fellow labmates are doing quite well, a couple at icfp, some here, some there... My thoughts tend to come in the scrambled variety, which doesn't translate well onto paper... oh well. I guess this will ignite something to motivate me. I've been told my fellow PRL'ers hold my "lack of motivation" against me, which is unfortunate and unfounded. I don't lack motivation, it just gets overshadowed by passions for other things... it's still there.

random pics

Some random pictures taken by not me around New York.

therapy?

OK, why do people watch reality television shows... dysfunction, right? People are attracted to other people's problems, so where do people bring their problems... therapy! So why not have a show based on couples therapy or child therapy or child/parent therapy. Each week a new type. First week, a couple has stopped talking. Second week, a kid will only eat red things. Third week, you get the idea. This is gold.

nah

naaaaahhhh, nothing great, but certainly nothing bad.... a real fun evening, even though it rained in the *most* inopportune times. I do remember trying to convince people of the fact that walrus milk was 87% -- I meant 18%, and I'm pretty that's right, I saw it on National Geographic. I want to get a Taylor today, though I've wanted one for a looooooooooooooong time. I remind myself of Wayne in Wayne's World drooling over that white strat. The only difference is that this is the most delicious guitar in the world, and that was just a strat. We'll see what shakes down.

A nice long run to clear my head and veins, but more than the run, the music. I mean, if eating potato chips involved listening to music and getting a potato chip high, I'd probably do that every morning... luckily it doesn't.

Now, I just need to investigate the ladies that may have moved next door... we took a detour before heading down to the city last night, but that had gone by the time we got back. A really manly detour, too, as I was explaining; three guys, some Pringles, and 10000 Maniacs unplugged. But, anyway, hesitancy got me in the end...

f

hmmmmm.... I think I f'ed up? I guess my mind on one thing takes it off of the other...

turkish

So we left the city last night around 10pm... why? Anyway, good turkish food, good company, just shouldn't have left at fucking 10pm on a Friday, but it's cool. All this doesn't really mean shit, can't get in touch with my bro, hope the hurricaine didn't hit him too hard....

bs

OK, I just tried registering for some internal IBM thing, and they said the user name 'assnoodles' was taken... no, I don'y buy it.

?

Should I dress nicely today? To me that means not wearing anything that says "fuck" or suggests attacking other countries... Secondly, I just grabbed a minidisc labled "Minus, etc." and this is not Minus at all. OK, enough.

last day?

Well it's not my last day tomorrow, but it was going to. I'm glad it's not, I've actually started to enjoy it here. Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to visit people later next week then head back to Boston, but it's really becoming tolerable (and then some) here. I'll have to finish my poster, on which I've promised to put an octopus, keeping up the AOP theme. We'll see. I had some today, but they seemed contrived; I don't want to force an octopus to be here, it should fit, it should feel welcome.

It's funny, when Alkaline Trio played at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, Matt went on about their first song, and how they wrote it in San Francisco -- or he did, at least. Anyway, you would think San Francisco, but no, it's Nose Over Tail. What do you know?

I did reacquaint myself with how good a record Pretty Hate Machine is today. That was right before I played Scrabble for the first time in a long time... quite a pleasant game. I even had the chance to play 'qaid' which means caid, and I have no idea what that means. But, that's the best thing, meaning doesn't really matter, and for that, Scrabble is really a superficial game, in a good way of course. It's all about external appearance... I don't really know what that means, it's just a fun game.

For the record, I'm listening to San Francisco now, but not for long, I have to finish that stupid poster tomorrow, so it's off to bed for me.

frisbee

So, I played frisbee with the Hawthorne people for the first time today, it was fun, I just hate frisbee... I think it's because I'd play with horrible people at UF, and that turned me off. The other problem, I think, is that you can't touch anyone. At least in soccer you can nudge (or punch), and in football you can just lay someone out. It's a lot more fufilling to level someone, as opposed to just running around. But, that's just me. I used Alex's shirt, because it was wet and muddy outside, and I can't wait to see him when he comes in today, I'll for sure take a picture, he's going to freak out.

Of all the wierd searches leading to pages on this site, I think poop-deck endometriosis takes the cake... endometriosis is a plevic pain in women, and I'm assuming poop-deck is a bathroom, or maybe slang for ass, I don't know. Anyway, google returns one hit? ? ?

Things seem to, relatively, be coming together for time before school starts back up. I'll probably make the usual rounds to places I've lived before to see people I haven't seen in some time. Then it's back to Boston, which I'm looking forward to. I can't wait to be settled, at least for a little bit, and Boston is great in the fall.

Nothing meaningful said today, not for a lack of it, just for no desire to write it down.

I learned a new word today, countermand, not a big deal, but it marked to first time in a while I sat down at just read a paper, rather than feverishly coding or feverishly reading a paper for quick understanding. Another thing I look forward to upon returning. I had told my advisor I'd like to come up with a thesis by the end of this year, he suggested that I propose by the end of the academic year; either way is fine by me. So, I've said it, hopefully it works out.

change

So I updated my CV a little -- because I had to -- and changed my about and other pages a little. I don't know why, maybe it was the cow-lady... Probably that I called my buddy the other day and his voice mail said "this is so and so, graduate student at ...", and I thought about what this page said, and it went on and on about school and work etc... and that's not really what I identify with myself. I mean, when I think to myself, I'm Jeff, _________, that blank shouldn't be filled with school and work and papers and projects. I should contain the holy trinity -- guitar, snowboarding, and scrabble. Really, the holy quintuple of the previous three, beer and cereal, but you add the last two and people start to talk. Yeah, people talk now, but we'll keep it at three.

I found out the other day I'll probably have to instruct a course on my own in the spring, it's fun and deathly-scary, but in a very cool way.

sleeping with cows

man, I am having an f'ed up dream... I'm being stalked, then that person turned into a cow, after we assembled the top portion of a bunk bed. And, a bunk bed very similar to the one I used to have. Then when we were done, she kept trying to hit me with her hooves. Before that it seemed pretty normal, I guess, for a dream. Maybe it was the wasabi-covered chick-peas I had today, I haven't had those in a while? I doubt it. It could be the peanut butter Puffins.... I usually get regular? I don't know, I guess back to the cow-lady for a couple hours...

forgetfulness

Badge...	check
Wallet...	check
Keys...	check
Change of undies after biking...
Phone...	check

moving day

P.S. Does anybody want to change office, today is the perfect day to move in here. Jeff is not going to be in we can just dump his stuff somewhere and he won't even notice. Anyone?

natalie

Still in New York City. Good show Thursday, Natalie Merchant ruled. Some woman from the crowd got to come up and sing and almost fell off... good times. I'm just checking my mail from someone's laptop who was nice enough to let me -- for another cup of coffee, but that's fine. Thanks, Julie. (I just vocally thanked her). I think there's a Puerto Rican parade everyday in NYC, there's one today, of course. Listening to Postal Service.

spiam

jesus gets angry
cindy screams with all her might
vultures overhead

with an angry scowl
carol fills her bowls with blood
such lovely red blood

winter turns to spring
angry jan flies through the air
like meat left to rot

don't wanna work

don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work
don't wanna work

hashnyc

So, hashing in the city is more fun, in my opinion, than in westchester. Not as much the course or the run, but the people. There are far more in the city and they seemed a little more fun-loving. This is a snap judgement and I could be wrong, but who knows? I'm not sure I'll do the westchester one again, but I'll definitely do the city one again, and I really look forward to trying the Boston one. Another plus of the city one, was that was quite a bit more beer at the end, and no one can argue with that. We ran around (where I don't know), and ended up at some bar (where, I don't know), and I got lost and went the wrong way most of the time... I can only say this, never, never, never, never follow me.

I was informed last night my original accompaniment to see Ms. Merchant tonight cannot show, so I have a quest to find a replacement.

I put one or two more Dispatch pictures up... I may have a few more today.

I was thinking about going to visit a friend in a couple weeks, but that's off now... too bad. I may go to Colorado to head up a couple 14ers, I haven't done that in a while. I've seem a mountain this summer, Mt Marcy, a mountain if you call it that. I don't really have any desire to hang out in Boulder all that much, mainly just go into the mountains. Unfortunately my partner in crime just went up Mt Elbert and Mt Massive, my #1 choices, but there are plenty others.

New York's definitely getting better... it just took meeting the right people, because they were non-existent when I got here. And, of course, the place, and I was was in the wrong one. Next year, the city. A little frustration towards the end I thought I'd avoid, but oh well... got to have a little of that, right? The absense of it felt a little wierd. Anyway, if I can just get Jonah Matranga to sing one song with Alkaline Trio... pipe dreams. And, on the topic of dreams, I'm turning in.

blue oreo

I just heard an interesting point. I said the reason I didn't want to get ice cream was because the ice cream was blue and I dislike blue foods. At which time, someone responded "what about oreos, they're blue." I thought to myself, "good point." Oreos are blue. Yes, they're blue? Yet, again, I went without pants for most, or some, of the morning. It's definitely the way to go, you feel so dry and assertive for the rest of the day. Sam gave a talk to all of the company today and used the word "bifurcate" twice or three times. Not as many times as Paul Horn, but it makes me think maybe I should start using that word. They're big dogs, so if I start saying bifurcate, maybe I'll start being a big dog.

fear the puffin

Fear the puffin... USA basketball sucks.

paper

ahhhh, my mentor here referred to the ph.d. I'm supposed to be getting as 'a piece of paper'. Quite a nice thing to hear, quite a nice thing to hear. That's all. Off to celebrate someone's wedding... he wouldn't let me throw him a bachelor party, at least he wouldn't attend it, so I guess this is as close as we'll get. Two more weddings this month, hopefully neither skimp on the booze or bridesmaids, after all, what are weddings for?

lunch

I just shared my previous post with others at lunch, and they were sceptical... they better knock in the morning... I can't get enough of the postal service. I'm bound to over-listen to them as I tend to do. Hopefully not, but back to work -- fully-clothed.

shorts

I get up in the morning, do my little programming exercise over coffee, then run or skate or work out or something, then ride my bike to the lab every day, so I'm prety hot and sticky when I get here. Hence, I take a shower, but my body temperature is still really high. I've figured that this is probably why I start to smell kind of funny by about 11am, so I'm trying something. Since, the problem is my pants trapping all the heat, the natural remedy is to lose the pants. So, I'll try closing my door and working in boxers for an hour or so until things start to cool down. Hopefully this works.

asparagus

I was thinking about a site rehaul, but no ideas, really. My friend did take a picture of me holding asparagus on my couch, it was her idea, not mine. I would never opt to take a stupid picture. I've included a sculpture of mayonaise I made at the museum the other week. Wow, nothing, really right now. It's still really hot here, not as hot as in New Orleans, but still pretty f'ing hot. At least Elimidate is on -- Allstars, too. Finally, I'm getting a tax refund, I think this is the first time ever, at least that I can remember. Someone I went to grammar school with died hiking in Colorado, well, he was ahead of me, but his sister was in my class. This is too bad. I mentioned her the other day because I had bumped into her in Boulder a little while back... that's kind of a coincidence. I need more minidiscs... I made the latest ultimate disc yesterday with Death Cab, Postal Service, a little Cure, NIN, and some other random stuff.

rashing

I think hashing for me is more aptly-called rashing... thanks poison ivy. I gotta quit playing pussy shit on my guitar and find something that'll put hair on your chest. You know, like the crust on bread. That's what my mom used to say, but it took no convincing for me, I love the crust. Not quite much as I like slightly-burnt food, but it's up there.

no storrow

The crowning achievement, according the Dispatch, was closing Storrow. Granted, the DNC did that all last week, but it was nice to see a band who never made a video and never had a song played on commercial radio close that street. I didn't care, we walked it, as did most people, probably.

The show was correct, they played all the songs people love, a few more, and played for a loooong time -- over 3 1/2 hours, and almost straight through. There was a little lull in the middle when they took turns singing their cowboy songs on the accoustic. But, no worries, any Dispatch show has that, this was just a little longer, it was still great. But, the one thing that showed through, which was no surprise, but was that they aren't great skilled musicians, they made tons of mistakes, but that's not the reason I love their music. It's simple and catchy and resonates in your head all day.

Keeping up the tradition of never walking out of Newbury Comics empty-handed, I picked up Rock Against Bush vol. 1. There's an Alkaline Trio some on there, come one, you have to get it. Though, that song's definitely not one of their best, it's good, but not the best.

I had a vision, which is a party consisting of nothing but corn -- and booze et al., of course. But, food-wise, we start out with a huge stack of corn, and one would walk over, pull the husk on, plop it on the grill -- make small-talk with the grill master, and wait for the corn to cook. It seems like an attainable goal. We're talking lots of corn, I want the cops in the choppers to be able to spot the stack on the roof.

I finally met, Ali, my subletter. We had apparently met the last time I was in, but I wasn't in a state where I could really see faces. So, I re-introduced myself. Natalie Merchant this Thursday, I have officially renamed that day "The Day of Natalie". The minidisc will play all things Natalie, Rhapsody will play all things Natalie, then, of course, the show. At Town Hall, too. That's a cool place for a show, I saw Bela and Edger Meyer earlier this year, they were great.

Ah, it's off to bed for me, though it's hot as nuts here...

last dispatch

A few pictures from Dispatch's last show... a very, very cool one. Although, they just weren't made to play big crowds, hopefully all their new bands stick with smaller venues. Still, a great, one-in-a-lifetime show. I found this poster put up near my place... it's humorous. I'm starving, more later.