Ready

Thanks to my Mom's "Straight A" gift (it only took me 15 semesters!) I am now ready for football season.

Let the Tailgating commence!

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Money Makes the World Go Around

This past Friday I finally got around to watching Fahrenheit 9/11. It came in from Netflix about 3 weeks ago (after putting it off for 2 years... I guess I'm a bad liberal) and sat on the coffee table. I guess I knew it would be difficult to watch.

Sure, it's meant to sway you emotionally, and with that in thought everything that is presented must be taken with a grain of salt. Even so, the movie is incredibly moving. While mostly tastefully done and subtle, there were scenes from both 9/11 and the war that had me in tears.

I'm certainly not a fan of this administration and have done a lot of reading on the mistakes and corruption surrounding this administration, but some of the information in the movie shocked even me. Sure, Michael Moore spun some of it. But you can't spin numbers or the reactions of Congress people when asked if they would send their kids to war. It's easy to see the blundering military mistakes and how the U.S. is handling itself in an extremely insensitive manner, which only fuels the fire of hatred in the area of the world.

The take away story from the movie is that money is still what makes the world go 'round... and, absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's hard to stop those at the top, or even get a word in edgewise. The amount of corruption in politics now is astronomical and there are very few things unaltered by the current administration. Dishonesty abounds, from wiretapping to following bank accounts to altering Nasa's mission statement to not allowing the coffins of soldiers to be shown to ignoring the geneva convention to blocking investigations to accusing people of being unpatriotic for exercising their right to free speech, I wonder if anything will remain unscathed. Add to that a domestic agenda that cuts funding for educational programs while cutting estate taxes and a deficit that is out of control. In my opinion, 2008 won't get here soon enough.

It seems that "Dubya" has been surrounded by all of that so long he may actually believe the bs he promotes. I'd love to sit down with him and ask him how he sleeps at night, with the blood of thousands on his hands and the lives of many more ruined and altered, for the worse, permanently. But, I would congratulate him on his success in the war on the middle class.

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Joy!

There are a couple of "normal" girls in the new class. And by normal I really mean abnormal because they don't fit your typical aerospace engineering (ASDL) mold. Don't get me wrong, there are some that do, but some that don't. You know, those ones who can match and won't look the other way when you address them. And who like to be sociable.

We've been passing notes during class and girl-talking (ok, so it's gossip) outside of class. I can't begin to explain how starved I've been for some quality girl time. And in the past few weeks, I've been blessed enough to meet several women who I'm very excited to get to know better.

I've had some trouble with the female engineering types (what is it with them/us, anyway?) and my few good girl friends have since moved on to the next phases of their lives. While we still communicate by email (one in Hartford, one in D.C.), there's nothing like talking about shampoo and how to deal with the frizz and the crazy humidity. I'm hoping that I will have better luck with these girls, since they seem to be girlier (is that a word?) than the usual. In a good way.

I am overjoyed!

And so is Will. He's tired of hearing about my shampoo.

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New Additions to the Family

Ok, I'll be honest: I definitely covet when it comes to bikes. Probably every cyclist does. When I purchased my first bike, I wasn't sure what my commitment to the sport would be so I bought from a generic company to get a better deal on the components I wanted (I wasn't about to have any of this sore-thumb Sora stuff). It was a great first bike, even though I had some bad luck with the mechanicals. The components were awesome, and Will assured me that upgrading would only involve the frame and wheels.

So I did. Meet The Stig. Some say he can smell corners.

The Stig was purchased used for about half of what it goes for new. It features all of my old components, wheels, pedals, even handlebars. The Mercier got all the stuff that the Stig came with (mostly comparable quality) and was sold this past Saturday morning to a nice rich old lady. I thought I'd be sad to see my first baby go, but then again it's like the cars. The Stig is such a huge step up that I didn't think twice. Actually, that's not true. I spent about an hour deliberating about whether I should get it or not. I always intended to upgrade, but not before I was actually fast. After my Summer of Speed (recap to come), I've gained speed but am not exactly fast. But what better inspiration and motivation to train is there than an awesome bike. The frame is so much stiffer and stronger that I've effectively gained 2 gears, which is especially useful for a poor climber such as myself and have turned into a not so bad descender. I've gained a lot of confidence in my handling, which will certainly pay off in the future. So far it's just helped me have frequent "oh shit" moments and my first "real" crash.

I had to sell my first bike to make up the loses accumulated from buying two bikes in less than three months. Mid-May I bought a mountain bike.

Meet Jocelyn DaKontents.

With Jocelyn I again aimed for racing level components and my price range (which wasn't a lot, because I didn't think I would like moutain biking... I was right). Beyond that I didn't know what to get so Will recommend her. So far Jocelyn and I haven't gotten along so well, mostly because I feel like throwing up from all the jostling and I like to wreck her pretty frequently. Most recently I ended up in a tree. It wasn't her fault though, it's more operator error. But, the objective of learning to mountain bike was to become a better bike handler, and I can already feel some differences (coupled with the best frame ever) out on the road. As far as the mountain season goes, we'll see if I'm capable of not being a slow poke.

Those are my new kids. You're supposed to love your kids equally, but let's face it, everyone has a favorite. I'll give you one guess about which one I prefer.

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Newly Oriented (orientated?)

Yesterday I attended ASDL's new student/1st year orientation. Why would I do such a thing, since I'm not a new student? Well, being different than most and having started in January, I'm partly a member of last year's class since I've taken the 2nd and 3rd semester classes, and partly a member of this year's class since I'll be in the 1st semester classes with them this Fall. And, I didn't attend it last year.

I was excited. Pretty much as excited as I was at FASET or maybe even the first day of Kindergarten. The new class has 40-50 new people, and from the looks of it about half of them break the normal engineering student mold and actually have personalities and social skills. Imagine! I can hardly contain myself. People who actually have stuff to talk about besides how many binders they have at their desk or how they know powerpoint way better than you? Or, during the introductions, when having to provide an interesting tidbit, actually provide an interesting tidbit besides stating (asininely... is that an adjective?) that they are "one of the few people in the ASDL capable of getting an insurance waiver." I'm sorry... if that's your interesting life tidbit, you're pathetic. All the others talked about sports, hobbies, travels (several served in the Military), jumping out of planes, living in other countries, studying other subjects. Although Will did point out that the longer the person had been at ASDL, the less interesting their tidbit was. Which means I have to get out. ASAP.

I'm hoping this new crop of potential friends, along with the previous first years that I've been hanging out with, make my remaining semesters more bearable and help me to keep my negativity in check. After all, I did choose it, so according to my own theory I can either change my situation or shut up about it.

Being that I am 6 classes away from another degree, 4 of which I'm taking this fall, I'll shut up about it.

But my RE has another thing coming if she thinks I'm going to put becoming one of her little coding monkeys above my health, fitness and grades.

And guess what? There's no way I'm staying for a Ph.D.

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The Tie that Binds

One week ago today I tried my second group ride. We left early because will overestimated my slowness. We arrived at the parking lot of Atlanta cycling about 15 minutes early and just tried to stay tucked away in the corner until it was time to get started. After a few minutes, a guy asked us (because of our jerseys) if we went to Tech or if we were alums. We told him that we were grad students but did undergrad there also, in AE and he told us he was an architecture major, bs in 82 masters in 88. He mentioned that at one point he had to take a materials class from an AE professor... did we by chance ever have a professor named Virgil Smith?

Virgil Smith... aka the Devil Himself. Brought out of retirement to teach AE Dynamics in the Summer of 2003 because there was no one else to do it. The one who failed 23 of 26 people. The one where my 46 on a test was actually one of the highest grades in the class. The one that told us that the homeless people out on North Avenue would make better engineers.

The Devil, apparently, is timeless.

But, I do credit that class with introducing me to Will.

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Sign on my forehead?

I attract stupid people. Or, rather, people with lazy brains who can't think or figure things out for themselves. So much so, that it even happens on the street.

The other day I was on my way home from a bike ride (same day as the crash, slightly before). I am pulling up to the intersection of Ptree Battle and Howell Mill to get in the line of cars making a left when a woman in an SUV (didn't notice which kind it was) rolls her window down and flags me down.

Me, I'm thinking she needs directions. I couldn't have been more wrong. What she needed was the ability to figure stuff out for herself.

She seemed very distressed, so I became concerned. Then she started talking. She said there was a "poor little dog" running down Howell Mill "looking tired and lost" and she wanted to know what to do.

Seriously? And me... about to get caught in a bad storm out on my bike, I'm supposed to 1) know and 2) care? Actually, I do. When I'm not out on my bike in the evening trying to hurry home.

I asked her if the dog had collars. She said yes.

Hm. If it were me, I'd look to see if the collar had a phone number, and if it did I would call it and tell them I had their dog. If it didn't, I'd take it to an animal shelter or something. If I could, I'd keep it for a few days and put up signs. But, then again, that's me. The one who tries to use their brain and logic on a daily basis and who has some initiative. I guess that's abnormal, these days.

I told her that, after which she said she thought I might live around here and know something.

I apologized and said that I didn't (an apartment complex a few miles up the street doesn't count, does it?) and also said that I would help if I could but at the moment I was just trying to get home. After which the light turned, thankfully.

Just one of the many (almost daily) occurrences in which I think "WTF?!?!" I must give out some signal or have some sign on my forehead that says "hey, you know what? I don't feel like I think enough for myself day-in and day-out, let me do some thinking for you, too!"

And then I go home and complain to Will about it.

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Helmets are good

All cyclists crash... that is inevitable. Which is why I believe in always wearing a helmet. Myself, I was waiting for it to happen. I didn't count the two times I ended up horizontal before. The first time was the first day I rode my new road bike, back in October of 2004. I was learning to use "clipless" pedals. Clipless is a funny name since you actually clip in and out. Anyway, I came to a stop, unclipped my right foot, and fell over to the left. No biggie. The second time was at the Silver Comet, after I switched from one pedal and cleat system to another. Once again, came up to an intersection, slowed, unclipped my right, fell over to the left. Not "real" crashes. I think my c.g. may be a little off to the lleft.

Well, now I can no longer say that I am dreading the day that I will crash. That day was today. I was following Will out to one of his rides. The weather was bad, my left hip flexor was bothering me, and I was having trouble shifting. About 1/2 mile away from the apartment it started storming and pouring rain, the kind that hurts when it hits you. I was happy to be turning into the apartment complex, then the next thing I am horizontal and right in the way of incoming traffic.

I always thought my first "real" crash would involve other people. This one can be attributed to the extremely slick pavement at the complex and the torrential downpour. And the fact that my new bike makes me more prone to "oh shit" moments than the previous one. I guess there is a downside to the handling and confidence I get with my "new" wheels.

At least it didn't hurt... that badly. The slick pavements means I only got a few scrapes instead of a lots of road rash. And a few bruises.

Now I'll reset my counter... Will says he crashes every 4000 miles, the last one being a few weeks ago, but through no fault of his own. Me, this one happened after 2200 miles... let's hope the next doesn't come sooner.

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The Little Things

I made "the switch" and purchased my first Apple computer last October. To this day I am discovering things about the os that makes me one of those fanatical "mac people." Which is hilarious when you consider how much I ragged on my friend Lucas for being one... although he can be credited (along with the god-awful Windows XP Tablet PC edition I was using) for inspiring me to take the plunge.

The other day I wanted to zip up a folder of music to send to Will's sister via Bluetooth (which is awesome in itself). So I'm googling to figure out what program I need when I stumble across the answer: just hit right click (yes, it exists!) and select archive. I was overjoyed. Nothing extra needed? Just like the fact that macs have the ability to convert to PDF embedded... simple, easy to use.

When Google Calendar came out I switched from iCal since I could share my calendar with Will, so that he could attempt to keep up with my usually-running-around-like-a-chicken-with-its-head-cut-off schedule. This past weekend I switched back to iCal after learning that there are ways to publish my calendars via WebDav without having a .mac account. Google Calendar is great, but really it's almost exactly like iCal with the exception that I can't change the window sizes/view options as easily, which is why I switched. Well, that, and you need an internet connection.

Even though I share my calendars with him, Will likes to get my agenda via email at the beginning of the week. I was doing this by hand with Google Calendar open. Switching back to iCal gave me the opportunity to use my mac in ta manner for which it was intended. I started by setting up my gmail account for pop access in Apple's Mail (I don't use Mail, I use Thunderbird and like to use GMail in the browser, but that's another story). Then I opened up Automator and created a workflow to grab my next week's calendar events, compose an email to Will, and mail them off. Now this will automatically occur at the beginning of every week. Show me a PC that can do that...

Lastly, I have a bunch of videos of Alden and Kaya that Kaya loves to watch. Instead of searching through and clicking on them, I decided to stich them all together in iMovie. Great! Now Will used his Macbook (he converted after playing with mine and listening to me gush about how much I loved it) to burn a DVD (my ibook doesn't have the combo drive), including gorgeous looking title menu feature scrolling pictures of the kids. Sure you can do that on a windows machine... but how much does that software cost?

Now I will stop blabbing about my nerdiness. I just was so delighted I couldn't help it!

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Talk Nerdy to Me

I am completely geeking out right now...

My first day off happens to coincide with the WWDC, where Steve Jobs makes his famous Keynote speech every year covering what's new with Apple. I'm sitting here (when I should be cleaning my apartment) refreshing the feed like I do with the Tour.

Mac love... it's contagious.

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Me

How to make a livia

Ingredients: 5 parts competetiveness 5 parts ambition 1 part empathy

Method: Layer ingredientes in a shot glass. Serve with a slice of curiosity and a pinch of salt. Yum!

Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

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Notice: Temporary Suspension

Due to my just having finished this horrendous semester/past two semesters and that this afternoon marks the beginning of my first significant number of days off since I can't-remember-when, all training and dieting activities will be temporarily suspended until Friday, August 4, at 12pm to allow for celebration activities.

The end.

Upcoming

T-minus 24 hours until I am free of this semester and free of classes and work for a wonderful but not nearly long enough well overdue 12 day vacation. That will leave me with time to pretend like I'm going to catch up on everything I've been meaning to do but really I'm just going to run around like a crazy person as usual. And here is a list of upcoming posts that I've been collecting notes on mentally and on paper for the past few weeks:

Benefit of a Doubt - Floyd Landis' Drug Test
Summer of Speed update
Year 3 Review
Movie Review: The Devil Wears Prada
ASDL Women/Big Red Carpet Heart
Movie Review: The Motorcycle Diaries

and probably more, if I get around to clearing the cob-webs out of brain.