- 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
Monday, June 30, 2008
More post ideas
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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