I think my Summer ended sometime between Thursday night and Friday night. Last night would've been a good ending point. Which makes today a bit superfluous- granted today was also a good beginning- massage, hair cut, good deeds... Hmm.
Regardless, I've been reduced in my room, drinking- god forbid- full sugar coke- to get my caffeine buzz. I hadn't had any today and I swear, I was going to fall asleep at 6pm. Well, I fell asleep at 6pm but at 8pm decided "enough is enough" and got up.
So- I just planned a general layout of what my brother and I are going to do while he's here. It's looking like:
- Go find some caffeine
- Drink caffeine/water
- Figure out healthworks hours tomorrow
- Work on doc for tom
- Facial? Sex and The city?
Schedule:
Sunday-
- Drive to Alewife
- T to Harvard: Bubble Tea, Food?, Harvard Natural History Museum
- George for bikes
- Anna's for early dinner
- Walk down Mass Ave
- Top of the Pru
Monday-
- MOS?
- MFA
Tuesday-
- Babson interview
-Aquarium
-Fanueil Hall
-hard rock cafe?
- Commons?
Wednesday-
- JFK museum
-Bartley's?
- Look at Bentley
or so. Thoughts? I need more ideas on places to eat and such. And things to do. Hmm.
So yeah... here I am, enjoying life in an oddly lonely fashion. Seems to be going well enough.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Useful reflection tool OR Most annoying blog ever
Andy suggests I keep a log of what I do each day- to see where my time is going. It may also help with book-ness.
Thus.
Today... I went to work from 8-4:30. Came home, napped until around 7. Phone w/ Tyler until 8. Dinner until 9. Talking to Evan, watching jibjab, making plans/meeting requests, and trying to organize.
Oookay! I really really need to call someone for next year. Rawr.
Thus.
Today... I went to work from 8-4:30. Came home, napped until around 7. Phone w/ Tyler until 8. Dinner until 9. Talking to Evan, watching jibjab, making plans/meeting requests, and trying to organize.
Oookay! I really really need to call someone for next year. Rawr.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Staying at home: a full time ...job? OR the biggest lie I've ever heard?
7/25
So I've started to come to the opinion that running a household really isn't *that* hard. People talk about it an awful lot. Yet... I do my own laundry, I do the grocery shopping weekly (and run out to buy more things I forget) I cooked two nights this week, and I work and take class. Really now, how can running a house be a full time job? Admittedly, I'm only doing all of that for one person. I just don't think it's as hard as people try to make it out to be. The house is pretty clean, too. it's all about maintaining as you go! (Just don't look at the clothes strewn across my bedroom floor. It's just because I change lots and then rewear things if I only wear them a few hours. Plus I don't want clothes with "skunking" from biking in the wash with my cleaner clothes.
So I've cooked twice this week so far:
1. Monday: despite being delirious, this was amazingly well planned out. Alyshia and I went to both CostCo and Stop-n-Shop and picked up everything we needed for the week. Then we decided to cook spaghetti and meatballs with mozerella tomato salad, fruit salad, and bread. Alyshia took care of hot food and I did cold food: I hate touching raw meat. If I lived alone there would be a high likelihood of me being a vegetarian. Raw meat is gross. But I really enjoyed making both salad. It was lots of fun. I like cutting up vegetables. The dinner went well, I even took pictures.
2. Last night: I had an appointment after work (after working overtime) and got home at about 8:30, having forgotten I was going to cook. Ben, my partner in crime (or at least chicken), got home around the same time and wandered into my room to suggest we cook. So we cooked! We looked through the fridge and found lettuce, and bell peppers, which are good for salad! We added feta cheese to stick with the Greek theme, and a little onion. So that was served with Grape leaves, and Erik's homemade bread! Erik makes awesome bread. It came out exactly like store French bread, but a little salty. We had it with olive oil and parmesean. Finally, we decided we needed protein. So going back to the salad, we managed to cook chicken IN A PAN! and added it to our salad. So whoo, successful dinner for six in less than half an hour!
Thus: being domestic, not so bad. Fairly easy! whoo!
Added 7/28
Tonight I made tacos. From raw taco meat. (Alyshia watched me with the raw meat) Take that. Oh yes, and Friday night I helped George and we grilled swordfish, made pasta with eggs, and salad. I am certifiably self sufficient. Living alone rocks. Everyone should have to do this sometime.
So I've started to come to the opinion that running a household really isn't *that* hard. People talk about it an awful lot. Yet... I do my own laundry, I do the grocery shopping weekly (and run out to buy more things I forget) I cooked two nights this week, and I work and take class. Really now, how can running a house be a full time job? Admittedly, I'm only doing all of that for one person. I just don't think it's as hard as people try to make it out to be. The house is pretty clean, too. it's all about maintaining as you go! (Just don't look at the clothes strewn across my bedroom floor. It's just because I change lots and then rewear things if I only wear them a few hours. Plus I don't want clothes with "skunking" from biking in the wash with my cleaner clothes.
So I've cooked twice this week so far:
1. Monday: despite being delirious, this was amazingly well planned out. Alyshia and I went to both CostCo and Stop-n-Shop and picked up everything we needed for the week. Then we decided to cook spaghetti and meatballs with mozerella tomato salad, fruit salad, and bread. Alyshia took care of hot food and I did cold food: I hate touching raw meat. If I lived alone there would be a high likelihood of me being a vegetarian. Raw meat is gross. But I really enjoyed making both salad. It was lots of fun. I like cutting up vegetables. The dinner went well, I even took pictures.
2. Last night: I had an appointment after work (after working overtime) and got home at about 8:30, having forgotten I was going to cook. Ben, my partner in crime (or at least chicken), got home around the same time and wandered into my room to suggest we cook. So we cooked! We looked through the fridge and found lettuce, and bell peppers, which are good for salad! We added feta cheese to stick with the Greek theme, and a little onion. So that was served with Grape leaves, and Erik's homemade bread! Erik makes awesome bread. It came out exactly like store French bread, but a little salty. We had it with olive oil and parmesean. Finally, we decided we needed protein. So going back to the salad, we managed to cook chicken IN A PAN! and added it to our salad. So whoo, successful dinner for six in less than half an hour!
Thus: being domestic, not so bad. Fairly easy! whoo!
Added 7/28
Tonight I made tacos. From raw taco meat. (Alyshia watched me with the raw meat) Take that. Oh yes, and Friday night I helped George and we grilled swordfish, made pasta with eggs, and salad. I am certifiably self sufficient. Living alone rocks. Everyone should have to do this sometime.
"How I learned to love the troll" or "Trolls: Misunderstood or Misanthropic or just Missed?"
7/25
So earlier today, a blog post, was released to the student blog, dealing with the ever controversial issue of our beloved mailing list, therapy. I am proud to say I was present at the birth of therapy. I walked into my room, covered in pizza boxes, paint, CORe candy, and my roommate, who was shockingly awake (for once).
And then she told me "I'm giong to do something." I don't think anything else that year had quite surprised me so much. I was very excited. I thought maybe she'd joined a committee. No such luck, I was still the only committee joiner of the room. Amy informed me she was going to start a mailing list to keep everyones annoying behavior off of the taboo mailing list. And she informed me that I was going to join it. Because "I'm doing something! You should be happy! Be a supportive roommate! Tell all those people that you know!" Around the same time, Ryan ran into the room and told Amy about a bunch of things she'd posted on the sex list. I'm not sure she even noticed I was in the room, or that my eyes got wider and wider as she went on. Regardless, she became co-mod of therapy.
As the designated joiner, I subscribed to therapy. Along with everything else I was subscribed to. I didn't want to miss anything, obviously. As far as I recall, it started out a little slow- nothing too exciting. As time went on, therapy became more interesting. Except... I didn't like it. Half of therapy was exactly what I hated in my room. People whining about people who...did things. Here I was, thinking people on therapy would be joiners, and whine about all the lazy people, but nope, they whined about me.
Sure, they technically didn't name names, but it was almost always clear. "People who send really peppy emails" "people who join things" "people who go to CORe" "people who try to hard" "people who try to plan the class party" and other various things. It felt like everyone in the world hated my life mission and what I was trying to get done. I worried when I talked to people, I wondered who was posting all the terrible things. I got upset everytime a new therapy thread came out. Amy kept telling me it didn't matter, everyone else kept telling me to unsubsribe if it made me upset, but it was no use. I wanted to know what people really though.
Then, it gradually stopped. Therapy started being LESS mean, and became much more silly. Most of the trolls just insulted other trolls, in merry little troll wars, and made up complete nonsense. Very rarely are there therapy posts actually directed to an individual. There was one more time I feared a therapy post was about me, and became very upset. The fact was that it wasn't. It took me a bit, but I realized it. The trouble with vagueness is that if you're looking for someone to bully you, or looking for a putdown, you'll find it. However, if you take it light heartedly, there's simply nothing wrong with it.
added 7/28
So, after a weekends worth of discussion the issue (albeit only a few serious conversations for me) my opinion rests with therapy should stay. I think that it's well within rights to have it, nor do I think it's good to decree that "GOOD PEOPLE WANT TO GET RID OF IT" and that everyone should want to. It could be more useful, sure, but in terms of things I want to see fixed about Olin... this is incredibly minor.
So earlier today, a blog post, was released to the student blog, dealing with the ever controversial issue of our beloved mailing list, therapy. I am proud to say I was present at the birth of therapy. I walked into my room, covered in pizza boxes, paint, CORe candy, and my roommate, who was shockingly awake (for once).
And then she told me "I'm giong to do something." I don't think anything else that year had quite surprised me so much. I was very excited. I thought maybe she'd joined a committee. No such luck, I was still the only committee joiner of the room. Amy informed me she was going to start a mailing list to keep everyones annoying behavior off of the taboo mailing list. And she informed me that I was going to join it. Because "I'm doing something! You should be happy! Be a supportive roommate! Tell all those people that you know!" Around the same time, Ryan ran into the room and told Amy about a bunch of things she'd posted on the sex list. I'm not sure she even noticed I was in the room, or that my eyes got wider and wider as she went on. Regardless, she became co-mod of therapy.
As the designated joiner, I subscribed to therapy. Along with everything else I was subscribed to. I didn't want to miss anything, obviously. As far as I recall, it started out a little slow- nothing too exciting. As time went on, therapy became more interesting. Except... I didn't like it. Half of therapy was exactly what I hated in my room. People whining about people who...did things. Here I was, thinking people on therapy would be joiners, and whine about all the lazy people, but nope, they whined about me.
Sure, they technically didn't name names, but it was almost always clear. "People who send really peppy emails" "people who join things" "people who go to CORe" "people who try to hard" "people who try to plan the class party" and other various things. It felt like everyone in the world hated my life mission and what I was trying to get done. I worried when I talked to people, I wondered who was posting all the terrible things. I got upset everytime a new therapy thread came out. Amy kept telling me it didn't matter, everyone else kept telling me to unsubsribe if it made me upset, but it was no use. I wanted to know what people really though.
Then, it gradually stopped. Therapy started being LESS mean, and became much more silly. Most of the trolls just insulted other trolls, in merry little troll wars, and made up complete nonsense. Very rarely are there therapy posts actually directed to an individual. There was one more time I feared a therapy post was about me, and became very upset. The fact was that it wasn't. It took me a bit, but I realized it. The trouble with vagueness is that if you're looking for someone to bully you, or looking for a putdown, you'll find it. However, if you take it light heartedly, there's simply nothing wrong with it.
added 7/28
So, after a weekends worth of discussion the issue (albeit only a few serious conversations for me) my opinion rests with therapy should stay. I think that it's well within rights to have it, nor do I think it's good to decree that "GOOD PEOPLE WANT TO GET RID OF IT" and that everyone should want to. It could be more useful, sure, but in terms of things I want to see fixed about Olin... this is incredibly minor.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Bluebin Lids
They make shockingly good laptop trays for when you want your laptop in bed in front of you, but don't want it on bedding where it will overheat, and want it to stay relatively flat.
Monday, June 30, 2008
More post ideas
- Self presentation
- Six Flags/Larry
- Upcoming trips
- Threadless
- Cleaning
- Home improvement
- Meeting people in odd locations
- walle
- too many things, not enough time
- rocky horror
- financial incentives
- new headphones
- my room/room decor
- current forms of transportation...
- CLI
Painting
So, I'd never actually painted before. Yet when you move into a house with a purple and orange living room, an intervention is necessary.
One day, I went out on an expedition (okay, I was watching Top Chef Season 4), and Erik and Alyshia went out and bought primer, paint, and painting supplies. The paint was supposed to be beige. It turned out to be a rather pleasant light yellow in daylight, beige at night, and really ugly at twilight. You win some, you lose some.
However, I did get the chance to learn about:
One day, I went out on an expedition (okay, I was watching Top Chef Season 4), and Erik and Alyshia went out and bought primer, paint, and painting supplies. The paint was supposed to be beige. It turned out to be a rather pleasant light yellow in daylight, beige at night, and really ugly at twilight. You win some, you lose some.
However, I did get the chance to learn about:
- painters tape
- newspaper
- paint not smelling *that* bad
- eggshell paint
Grocery Shopping for Eight
There are a lot of things you take for granted when you're home. Like groceries. Food in the fridge. The way if the milk runs out early more magically appears when one of your parents comes home from work.
This doesn't happen in a house of eight college students. It's remarkably difficult to get the right amount of groceries. Interesting discoveries:
I think one definitive thing you need to know about yourself before moving into a house is how you like to shop and eat. I'm fine with sharing, but I also have my weird, specific (and sometimes expensive) things that I want. I do not want to have to do that with everyone living here.
On the upside, you can get some pretty awesome meals when you have a few people cooking for eight. For instance, last night we had homemade chicken tortellini with crushed tomato sauce a, salad, and garlic bread. We had Mike's canolis for dessert, too, courtesy of Erik's parents.
On the whole things are finally settling in, but food is definitely one of the more complicated house issues.
This doesn't happen in a house of eight college students. It's remarkably difficult to get the right amount of groceries. Interesting discoveries:
- The first week you can spend $372 on groceries. Language censored for small children. Though I think small children can handle swearing... but I think Greg will feel better if I fix it. =)
- Cost co cards are very valuable.
- The fourth week you can be down to $80.
- Toilet paper goes by more quickly than you'd like to think.
- No one likes bananas or ham
- Christina drinks more orange juice than anyone i know
- Two gallons of milk a week isn't enough. Three might not be either.
- I simply will never be home enough for dinner. I've only been to three house dinners so far.
- Anyone can cook. Even Andy Barry.
- Grocery shopping is fun. Less so when you can't just buy whatever strikes your fancy.
- I give up on meal plans quickly and revert to my diet of hummus, taboule, and salami or turkey sandwiches.
- Ben really likes peanut butter and jelly.
I think one definitive thing you need to know about yourself before moving into a house is how you like to shop and eat. I'm fine with sharing, but I also have my weird, specific (and sometimes expensive) things that I want. I do not want to have to do that with everyone living here.
On the upside, you can get some pretty awesome meals when you have a few people cooking for eight. For instance, last night we had homemade chicken tortellini with crushed tomato sauce a, salad, and garlic bread. We had Mike's canolis for dessert, too, courtesy of Erik's parents.
On the whole things are finally settling in, but food is definitely one of the more complicated house issues.
Life Unchained
Last weekend I watched a pretty awesome documentary: It was about David Gorman (?) and his trip across the United States. He decided to try to drive from coast-to-coast without using any chain products, and not giving any money to the man. He wanted to get a chance to see the real America- and the little guys- not just the big chains.
This meant: no chain gas, no chain food, no chain hotels. The most difficult part of this in the documentary was the no chain gas. I think no chain gas is a little extreme seeing as the original oil comes from big companies, but on the whole I really like the idea.
As a result I'm generally avoiding chain food and trying to keep my eyes more open to see interesting and quirky little things. It seems more interesting and more creative for the world. I think a good LOA project is making sure to try to do the oddities I wouldn't normally get to do.
Thus far I've done this by not making googlemaps. I go to googlemaps, and write down directions, and try to figure it out myself. I don't always get it right, but I tend to end up interesting places, and my sense of direction is getting far better, so I'm learning something. Improving directional ability is something I've wanted to do for a long time.
I also decided local chains (think Anna's, or Original Pancake House) are okay. So some of the more interesting places I've seen lately:
1) Trombetta Farms in Marlborough: Minigolf + Ice cream + wooden toys! = awesome
2) Random Diner in Marlborough: I swear, we screwed up their morning. Everyone else knew everyone.
3) Black Ink: I still love this place. It might be a chain. Doesn't feel like one though.
4) 1369: really cute espresso place in Central. I need to check out more of the interesting coffee in the area.
5) Harvard River Festival: It was a one time thing, but lots of fun. Lots of independent art, free food samples, and lemonade!
6) Blissful Monkey Yoga: Really. It's just that cool. I wrote a separate blog on it- go read that.
7) Olive Tree: Cute place with hummus and taboule and grapeleaves in Central.
8) Downtown Brighton! I really wanted to go look more at this.
9) Sunset Grill and Tap: It's in Allston, and open until 1am. With really good root beer and ice cream. What more could one want?
That's just a sampling- I'm going to strive to try for more interesting places like this this year!
This meant: no chain gas, no chain food, no chain hotels. The most difficult part of this in the documentary was the no chain gas. I think no chain gas is a little extreme seeing as the original oil comes from big companies, but on the whole I really like the idea.
As a result I'm generally avoiding chain food and trying to keep my eyes more open to see interesting and quirky little things. It seems more interesting and more creative for the world. I think a good LOA project is making sure to try to do the oddities I wouldn't normally get to do.
Thus far I've done this by not making googlemaps. I go to googlemaps, and write down directions, and try to figure it out myself. I don't always get it right, but I tend to end up interesting places, and my sense of direction is getting far better, so I'm learning something. Improving directional ability is something I've wanted to do for a long time.
I also decided local chains (think Anna's, or Original Pancake House) are okay. So some of the more interesting places I've seen lately:
1) Trombetta Farms in Marlborough: Minigolf + Ice cream + wooden toys! = awesome
2) Random Diner in Marlborough: I swear, we screwed up their morning. Everyone else knew everyone.
3) Black Ink: I still love this place. It might be a chain. Doesn't feel like one though.
4) 1369: really cute espresso place in Central. I need to check out more of the interesting coffee in the area.
5) Harvard River Festival: It was a one time thing, but lots of fun. Lots of independent art, free food samples, and lemonade!
6) Blissful Monkey Yoga: Really. It's just that cool. I wrote a separate blog on it- go read that.
7) Olive Tree: Cute place with hummus and taboule and grapeleaves in Central.
8) Downtown Brighton! I really wanted to go look more at this.
9) Sunset Grill and Tap: It's in Allston, and open until 1am. With really good root beer and ice cream. What more could one want?
That's just a sampling- I'm going to strive to try for more interesting places like this this year!
Life Beta: Episode I
Morals:
As the story opens, Ellen and Evan were at Olin with a U-Haul, trying to get the last of the things from Olin to Mauna Loa before the truck was due... they actively packed things into the truck, including lamps and blue bins and various other things. They worked steadily and visited friends at Olin, and checked mail. They also set off on an epic adventure to transport a grill. Word to the wise: lay the grill down to transport it. It doesn't work standing up.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Alyshia has started to get a headache. Being a relatively small person, she's also not that great at moving furniture. Thus, she decides to go pick up some things she left at Paul's apartment during the nomadic phase. She drives up to Boston to grab her stuff- parking haphazardly as she's just running in for a minute. Gets out of the car, and realizes that she has locked the keys inside.
...Five hours pass as our heros continue through their moving and cleaning proccesses...
Ellen eventually realizes that Alyshia is still in Boston, still has a migraine, and still has her keys locked in her car at Paul's apartment. She decides that she'll drive over and get Alyshia to drive her car back with Christina for navigational support and a ride there...
When the arrive at the house it becomes clear that this is far from an ideal situation. Alyshia is fairly delirious, and throwing up from her migraine. A series of unfortunate events and their solutions ensue
1) It's Paul's apartment, so we call to see if the car can stay, since the locksmith doesn't seem to be calling... but oh no! Paul calls his landlord and it turns out the tow truck is already on the way.. duh duh dunnnn...
2) The landlord calls Ellen. Speaking to him, she convinces him to send the truck home, since a locksmith is calling. Meanwhile... Christina becomes distressed at being left outside alone in the dark on a gravel road. All of this except her hate of gravel roads makes sense.
3) Phooey. He calls back and demands the locksmith's name. Since this is unknown, Ellen provides the phone number for the locksmith... upon calling the landlord decides that this is not sufficient. He calls the tow truck again.
4) Tow truck is v. slow- but it turns out it can unlock the car! For... $50. Cash. Ugh.
5) In the car! Except... have to get Alyshia in, too. Manage to convince her to carry her pants and shoes, and wear a blanket...
6) Alyshia proclaims "the car has no gas." The gas guage confirms. Luckily, a gas station is next door!
7) Alyshia proclaims "you need two people to get gas..." while making no sign of moving. Luckily, a cell phone works just as well when wedged in the lever as another person.
8) We get home! Whoo!
9) Except Alyshia has lost her shoes. And needs to be carried inside. And all the boys are out. So Ellen tries to carry her inside... until... the door is blocked with furniture! It all went to the curb for trash before Ellen, Alyshia, and Christina had returned. Alyshia gives up on being carried and runs inside to throw up more.
10) Ellen leaves to try to fulfill a migraine perscription because it might help. Leaving Christina with Alyshia.
11) Christina, after a very long day, tries to inflate her air mattress and realizes that there is no pump. She leaves the house. Ellen, Evan, Marco, and Ben come home to a delirious and alone Alyshia, and a very upset Christina. Everyone goes to bed, mostly on floors.
... it was a very long ordeal of life beta.
- Fill your prescriptions ahead of time
- Friends > Furniture. Always.
- Don't lock your keys in the car (reprise to be had later)
- Keep your front door clear!
As the story opens, Ellen and Evan were at Olin with a U-Haul, trying to get the last of the things from Olin to Mauna Loa before the truck was due... they actively packed things into the truck, including lamps and blue bins and various other things. They worked steadily and visited friends at Olin, and checked mail. They also set off on an epic adventure to transport a grill. Word to the wise: lay the grill down to transport it. It doesn't work standing up.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Alyshia has started to get a headache. Being a relatively small person, she's also not that great at moving furniture. Thus, she decides to go pick up some things she left at Paul's apartment during the nomadic phase. She drives up to Boston to grab her stuff- parking haphazardly as she's just running in for a minute. Gets out of the car, and realizes that she has locked the keys inside.
...Five hours pass as our heros continue through their moving and cleaning proccesses...
Ellen eventually realizes that Alyshia is still in Boston, still has a migraine, and still has her keys locked in her car at Paul's apartment. She decides that she'll drive over and get Alyshia to drive her car back with Christina for navigational support and a ride there...
When the arrive at the house it becomes clear that this is far from an ideal situation. Alyshia is fairly delirious, and throwing up from her migraine. A series of unfortunate events and their solutions ensue
1) It's Paul's apartment, so we call to see if the car can stay, since the locksmith doesn't seem to be calling... but oh no! Paul calls his landlord and it turns out the tow truck is already on the way.. duh duh dunnnn...
2) The landlord calls Ellen. Speaking to him, she convinces him to send the truck home, since a locksmith is calling. Meanwhile... Christina becomes distressed at being left outside alone in the dark on a gravel road. All of this except her hate of gravel roads makes sense.
3) Phooey. He calls back and demands the locksmith's name. Since this is unknown, Ellen provides the phone number for the locksmith... upon calling the landlord decides that this is not sufficient. He calls the tow truck again.
4) Tow truck is v. slow- but it turns out it can unlock the car! For... $50. Cash. Ugh.
5) In the car! Except... have to get Alyshia in, too. Manage to convince her to carry her pants and shoes, and wear a blanket...
6) Alyshia proclaims "the car has no gas." The gas guage confirms. Luckily, a gas station is next door!
7) Alyshia proclaims "you need two people to get gas..." while making no sign of moving. Luckily, a cell phone works just as well when wedged in the lever as another person.
8) We get home! Whoo!
9) Except Alyshia has lost her shoes. And needs to be carried inside. And all the boys are out. So Ellen tries to carry her inside... until... the door is blocked with furniture! It all went to the curb for trash before Ellen, Alyshia, and Christina had returned. Alyshia gives up on being carried and runs inside to throw up more.
10) Ellen leaves to try to fulfill a migraine perscription because it might help. Leaving Christina with Alyshia.
11) Christina, after a very long day, tries to inflate her air mattress and realizes that there is no pump. She leaves the house. Ellen, Evan, Marco, and Ben come home to a delirious and alone Alyshia, and a very upset Christina. Everyone goes to bed, mostly on floors.
... it was a very long ordeal of life beta.
Nomads
So... from May 19th until June 1st I was almost homeless. I had home in Michigan- but I was working in Framingham, so the commute from Michigan wasn't going to go too well. I decidedly to idly move around and live with friends until we could move into to the house, Mauna Loa, for the next year.
So there are two types of reactions to this introduction
1) oh my gosh, that's so much fun, I don't mind not being home and I love friends
2) oh my god, I'm so sorry, that's terrible
The reality is somewhere in between. It's extremely nice to not have any specific roots or ties. It's nice to know that everything you own fits in one automobile (that you also own) and can keep with you. It's nice to see a bunch of your friends in a short period of time. It's nice to get to eat out a lot.
It's not nice to not have laundry. It's not nice to have one hour-one and a half hour commutes everyday. It's not nice to have it be hard to get to all of your things because you're not *really* sure where you packed them, even when you thought you were. It's not nice to be sleeping on floors. It's not nice to feel like you're imposing on your friends. It's not nice that it gets expensive.
As such we moved a lot. It went about like:
One day RI
Two days CT
One day MIT
One day MI
Two days Canada
One day RI
Two days CT
One day Paul's Apt Boston
I'd never moved so much before. I have to say, after doing that, and realizing I could sleep in my chair in the car if I *really* wanted to, I feel pretty comfortable being an adult. It was a nice firm realization into "life beta."
Thus- I propose everyone should at some point take a stab at being homeless. Even with all the resources available to you, and probably a fair degree of funding, you'll realize that it isn't so easy, but you can get by.
So there are two types of reactions to this introduction
1) oh my gosh, that's so much fun, I don't mind not being home and I love friends
2) oh my god, I'm so sorry, that's terrible
The reality is somewhere in between. It's extremely nice to not have any specific roots or ties. It's nice to know that everything you own fits in one automobile (that you also own) and can keep with you. It's nice to see a bunch of your friends in a short period of time. It's nice to get to eat out a lot.
It's not nice to not have laundry. It's not nice to have one hour-one and a half hour commutes everyday. It's not nice to have it be hard to get to all of your things because you're not *really* sure where you packed them, even when you thought you were. It's not nice to be sleeping on floors. It's not nice to feel like you're imposing on your friends. It's not nice that it gets expensive.
As such we moved a lot. It went about like:
One day RI
Two days CT
One day MIT
One day MI
Two days Canada
One day RI
Two days CT
One day Paul's Apt Boston
I'd never moved so much before. I have to say, after doing that, and realizing I could sleep in my chair in the car if I *really* wanted to, I feel pretty comfortable being an adult. It was a nice firm realization into "life beta."
Thus- I propose everyone should at some point take a stab at being homeless. Even with all the resources available to you, and probably a fair degree of funding, you'll realize that it isn't so easy, but you can get by.
Cards
So this was going to be about shopping cards. However, I've realized it can be three-fold: shopping cards, business cards, and writing cards.
- Shopping Cards- for some reason I've always been really reluctent to sign up for them. Mostly because my parents were always really reluctent. However, as a college student and trying to buy groceries, etc, I've come to the conclusion that it's good to have store cards. You save 1% or whatever, and it doesn't take any time to sign up. Supposedly they will mail me coupons, too. I also just enjoy having them on my keys- it makes me feel more independent.
- Business Cards- I'm starting to realize more and more the value of having business cards. It seems professional to hand them out, and makes me feel more credible. It's also a good way to give people my contact information. I definitely need to make some more of them. I tried to get some from Bose, but apparently that's bad for keeping costs down.
- Writing Cards- I've learned that I'm much more apt to send mail on pretty and expensive cards than I am on loose leaf. I've been going to Black Ink in Harvard Square whenever I'm down in that part of town. It's such a cute store! I like papyrus too, but it's just so expensive, and not quite as unique. We'll see how my card writing goes.
Software Testing
So one of the things I've been spending most of my time on is my 4o hour/week internship at Bose Corporation. Bose is mostly known for their Home Entertainment division- exciting things like Wave Radios, Acoustic Wave Radios, Sound docks, Lifestyle Systems, and 3-2-1 systems. I spend about forty hours a week testing the new software updates for these systems.
I hadn't known much Software Testing before I started working in the Software Test Integration Group. All I'd heard was that it was boring and you pushed buttons and had no fun. I have to admit, I've found quite the opposite. Though there is a lot of pushing buttons- quite a bit can be learned from that. For me, I didn't know how to use a remote control, let alone hook up a Home Entertainment system. I've gotten much more comfortable with the controls over time, and more at ease with the entire system. It's a lot of good general electronics knowledge that may be helpful later.
Additionally, I've done some work in Test Case Development and learning how to change a Designer's list of requirements into statements that an individual can use to execute a test on a software build. Working in test case development helps demonstrate how important it is to be explicit so you know the proper things are being tested, and also how to make sure a test isn't inefficient.
Past that, Software Test has close ties to a variety of different departments. It's a good place to see how all of the aspects of the company work together. I particularly like learning about software test cycles and how it's important to make sure you're fixing the thing that needs to be fixed without breaking even more software.
It's also a great work environment-
1) People are interesting, friendly, helpful, and engaging
2) Everyone goes out of their way
3) It's easy to ask someone to talk to you about their job: I've talked with people in a variety of different departments about what they do in order to get a more clear idea. A sampling:
X, a usability designer told me about her work on a particular product as well as her general time there. She went out of her way to talk to me for a couple hours and also introduced me to other designers.
Y, another designer also sat and talked with us about her work.
Z, a quality assurance engineer talked to us about project management and explained how he wished things would work.
A, another designer, agreed to have coffee with us. She helped point me in a better direction of how to eventually break into design.
This is just a sampling of all the great individuals that I've gotten to interact with. There are of course people in my department that I love talking to about our products, their history, their trajectory through the career-o-sphere, and where I want to get to in life.
Overall, I really appreciate my time in Software Test. I think it's one of the most valuable experiences I could have had this summer, and I wouldn't trade it for another one.
I hadn't known much Software Testing before I started working in the Software Test Integration Group. All I'd heard was that it was boring and you pushed buttons and had no fun. I have to admit, I've found quite the opposite. Though there is a lot of pushing buttons- quite a bit can be learned from that. For me, I didn't know how to use a remote control, let alone hook up a Home Entertainment system. I've gotten much more comfortable with the controls over time, and more at ease with the entire system. It's a lot of good general electronics knowledge that may be helpful later.
Additionally, I've done some work in Test Case Development and learning how to change a Designer's list of requirements into statements that an individual can use to execute a test on a software build. Working in test case development helps demonstrate how important it is to be explicit so you know the proper things are being tested, and also how to make sure a test isn't inefficient.
Past that, Software Test has close ties to a variety of different departments. It's a good place to see how all of the aspects of the company work together. I particularly like learning about software test cycles and how it's important to make sure you're fixing the thing that needs to be fixed without breaking even more software.
It's also a great work environment-
1) People are interesting, friendly, helpful, and engaging
2) Everyone goes out of their way
3) It's easy to ask someone to talk to you about their job: I've talked with people in a variety of different departments about what they do in order to get a more clear idea. A sampling:
X, a usability designer told me about her work on a particular product as well as her general time there. She went out of her way to talk to me for a couple hours and also introduced me to other designers.
Y, another designer also sat and talked with us about her work.
Z, a quality assurance engineer talked to us about project management and explained how he wished things would work.
A, another designer, agreed to have coffee with us. She helped point me in a better direction of how to eventually break into design.
This is just a sampling of all the great individuals that I've gotten to interact with. There are of course people in my department that I love talking to about our products, their history, their trajectory through the career-o-sphere, and where I want to get to in life.
Overall, I really appreciate my time in Software Test. I think it's one of the most valuable experiences I could have had this summer, and I wouldn't trade it for another one.
Blog Skin
On that note- the reasoning for this blog skin is that I like the color scheme, and also tend to take notes using lots of arrows for organization. It reminds me of that.
I also like how clean it looks- I'm going to have to look at this a lot later to be able to see what I've written and keep track of my LOA experience.
I also like how clean it looks- I'm going to have to look at this a lot later to be able to see what I've written and keep track of my LOA experience.
yoga!
So I finally decided that I *need* to have a blog entry. I've started a few and never gotten a chance to finish. This one will be concise so I won't have that problem.
I went to yoga with Jessi today. I'd tried yoga before- but never in a class, just from a video. Usually I get bored and impatient with it, and get annoyed that someone is trying to *make* me relax. However, I really enjoyed the class environment. I went to a mixed levels class even though it was my first one, and it was definitely a challenge. Jessi says it was easier than the class she did yesterday, but it was hard enough for me for now. It was good- started slow, accelerated, and then went back to slow. The philosophy of the studio - blissful monkey- is to move quickly enough not to be boring and still to be enjoyable.
I think I liked it for a few reasons
1) It was trying something new: that's a lot of what I want to get out of this year, a wide variety of new experiences.
2) It was a combination of relaxing, physical, challenging, and mental
3) It was something that I previously didn't like that I've grown up enough to appreciate
Afterward we went back to her apartment and made a delicious dinner: chicken sausage, tomato & mozzarella salad, and sweet potato fries. Overall it was a really refreshing evening. Enough so to keep me up to work on some homework now- just as long as I caffeinate tomorrow!
I went to yoga with Jessi today. I'd tried yoga before- but never in a class, just from a video. Usually I get bored and impatient with it, and get annoyed that someone is trying to *make* me relax. However, I really enjoyed the class environment. I went to a mixed levels class even though it was my first one, and it was definitely a challenge. Jessi says it was easier than the class she did yesterday, but it was hard enough for me for now. It was good- started slow, accelerated, and then went back to slow. The philosophy of the studio - blissful monkey- is to move quickly enough not to be boring and still to be enjoyable.
I think I liked it for a few reasons
1) It was trying something new: that's a lot of what I want to get out of this year, a wide variety of new experiences.
2) It was a combination of relaxing, physical, challenging, and mental
3) It was something that I previously didn't like that I've grown up enough to appreciate
Afterward we went back to her apartment and made a delicious dinner: chicken sausage, tomato & mozzarella salad, and sweet potato fries. Overall it was a really refreshing evening. Enough so to keep me up to work on some homework now- just as long as I caffeinate tomorrow!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Topics to Write Down (before I forget...)
Momentous Occasions in my Life (lately)
- Being nomadic/homeless
- Moving
- Cleaning!
- Painting
- Working
- Working more.
- Motivating yourself to do all the exciting things you want to.
- Normal college life.
- Shopping for and feeding 8 people
- Never being home (and fun alternatives!)
- Disclaimer about the blog
- Staying on top of things
- Using a calender even in summer
- Membership cards
- Life unchained
- Long distance relationships (ew)
- Women's Studies Literature/Class
- Various struggles with and for Olin
- Development!
- Being nomadic/homeless
- Moving
- Cleaning!
- Painting
- Working
- Working more.
- Motivating yourself to do all the exciting things you want to.
- Normal college life.
- Shopping for and feeding 8 people
- Never being home (and fun alternatives!)
- Disclaimer about the blog
- Staying on top of things
- Using a calender even in summer
- Membership cards
- Life unchained
- Long distance relationships (ew)
- Women's Studies Literature/Class
- Various struggles with and for Olin
- Development!
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