penn

Random Thoughts

I apologize for the stark lack of posting. School and procrastinating by playing Tony Hawk 3 on my x-box has taken lots of time. I've also been busy being an extra-curricular nut. Here's some random thoughts to make up for it:

I will say that, the darker it gets outside, the harder it is for me to wake up in the morning. Sun, I miss you! I'm sorry that I said I enjoyed the rain. I wish I could have sun in the morning for wakeup and rain during the day for the aesthetic fall-like beauty of it.

Fall here was not long enough . . .hopefully it keeps going for a little while. It's already starting to get quite cold, and I've got to remember to pick up my winter jacket when I go home next weekend. I've been wearing beanies around -- wonderful warmth -- and several people have said that I looked like a cancer survivor.

Speaking of what people say, I think it's funny that I have a uniform, and when I deviate from it, it means something must have happened. Yesterday, I wore wool pants and a dressy long-sleeved shirt. I got no less than 6 comments over the course of only a few hours about my clothes; I know it doesn't seem like much, but no one ever comments on my clothing. My molecular professor asked me if I had a job interview ^^ Apparently, if I'm not wearing cargoes and a hoody, people start to wonder *shrug* go fig.

I've got to leave for work in five minutes, so I guess I'll go get ready for my day now. It's wonderful to work somewhere that's a scant five minute walk away.

Of Chicken and Rice

My $5.50 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon went beautifully with the wonderful chicken paella that my good friend, Viola, cooked for me tonight.

My Happy New T-shirt

This is cool

I'd like to announce the most awesome DDR machine, internet cafe, and coffee bar in Forest Grove, OR. It's called Eaton's. It's so cool that I'm going there RIGHT NOW before I go to a movie with my roommate.

UPDATE: I played DDR, watched Bourne Supremacy, and played more DDR. Again, it was awesome. My roommate and I are definitely going to play more DDR. It looks like I will no longer have enough quarters for laundry.

Resist the Urge

Please, I beg of you, do not get married at a transitional stage in your life, say, after graduation. It will make your life way more difficult.

Today, I ran into yet another friend who got married right around graduation; he now works at Fred Meyer because his wife is in grad school and "one of us has to work." I remember this friend having great ambitions of being a scientist. Now, he looks worn out and tired. For the love of all that's holy, man, go to grad school! Get your master's degree in biology. Follow your passions!!

I admire his dedication to his wife. They seem to make a great couple. I hope he's happily married. But, still, it's really sad to see someone put aside their dreams for another person . . . I just don't understand. Maybe I will, someday, when I find that "special someone" . . . maybe. Hopefully, I find someone I want to marry after I've achieved my academic dreams.

Stark Reminder

When I was a sophomore in college, I hung out with a guy named Jake during spring semester. He wasn't a student at my university, but he was on campus all the time. Mostly, he hung out around the University Center and played guitar.

I saw him a couple of times in the fall of my junior year before I studied abroad. He had lost a lot of weight, but he looked okay . . . I just assumed that he was more stoned than usual or perhaps hitting some other drugs occasionally. I studied abroad in Europe, and I hadn't seen him since. Today, I ran into him while walking across campus.

He looks like a member of the living dead. There is no other way to describe it. The great Jake I used to know was a chunky, jovial guy who liked to joke around, sing songs, and just generally have a good time. Sure, Jake smoked a lot of pot, and he didn't do much with his life . . . but he always held things together decently well. He had various jobs, each one "promising," but each job ended up in yet another failure on his list. This really disappointed me, because I always felt like he could achieve something if he just tried.

Today, when I saw him, I actually exclaimed, "Wow, you're still alive!" And, honestly, I am surprised. He's gaunt and hollow looking. He's stick thin. His eyes are dull; it doesn't look like there's anything behind them at all. He just did not look like he'd make it through the winter.

I hope he pulls through this and comes out okay. He's got a job right now, and I'm sure that helps. But I'm really worried that, one of these days, he'll do one drug too many and drop dead. I'm sure I'll never hear about it . . . but it's still sad. It's days like this that I am so grateful to be where I am.

Excitement for today

Back in the day, Kottke posted a recipe for tator tot hot dish. I found it today. Yum! I know what I'm cooking for dinner next week.

Bummer for today

I tried to give blood, but it didn't work. Apparently, I'm border-line anemic.

Wow

There's nothing I can say that won't be repeated three trillion times in the "blogosphere" so . . .

wow. Go Bosox. You've made history; please keep going.

PS I apologize that I chose to go to a geothermal energy presentation instead of watching your game. You'll thank me when geothermal energy saves the world.

A huge vote for Kerry

The New York Times has endorsed John Kerry for president. What an excellent day.

Noting that many of you may not have access to the NYTimes article, it is included below the cut: