| Fish Flood |
[Jun. 23rd, 2008|12:03 pm] |
I haven't been on here forever, but last night was just too much (well actually it was early this morning).
My roommate and I have a 30 gallon fish tank that contains one fantail goldfish. This tank has a filter that circulates water and keeps the ammonia etc. levels acceptable. Normally this is supposed to take water out of the tank and put it back in. Somewhere around 4 am the outtake hose broke free from its holder and started pouring tank water all over the living room floor. I was sleeping poorly and woke up around 4:30. I'm trying to go back to sleep when I hear this really bizarre splashing coming from the living room. I go in and find the fish in an inch of water and the remainder of the 30 gallons ALL OVER THE FLOOR.
The fish was fine, although naturally stressed. The carpet was soaked, there was standing water, and I used every towel, spare sheet, pillowcase, and some of my more absorbent clothing to mop it up. It's slowly drying out. I think it will be ok. I really hope it dries by tonight because who knows what kind of bacteria are going to set up camp in a nice, damp, squishy carpet.
Meanwhile, I'm working from home so that I can keep the front door wide open and a good cross breeze flowing across the carpet.
Good Times. |
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| My luck |
[Nov. 3rd, 2007|05:50 pm] |
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I live in the safest city in America, and my locked bike was stolen. Go figure. |
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| I'm not dead! Just smoked. |
[Oct. 21st, 2007|09:40 pm] |
In case you hadn't heard, southern california is on fire. We've got one burning not too far away (far enough there is no safety concern or ever likely to be). There is so much smoke in the air. Weather report: current conditions smokey. My apartment agrees. We're sitting around one big campfire and smell accordingly. I made the mistake of watching the news to figure out where the fire within visible distance was located.
"The fires are affecting the wildlife, and we don't just mean peoples' pets. There were these horses in a corral..." I don't know about you, but nothing in that list classifies as wildlife. Well the horses kind of do now. Someone opened the corral so they could flee. We'll see if they ever manage to find them all once this is over. That was my favorite idiocy of the night, until I came back for more, like the idiot *I* am.
"...remember folks, you'll be gone for awhile with these evacuations, spending a few hours or even the night in your car as you head to the evacuation points or a friends. Bring warm clothing, grab a coat, maybe some blankets. It could get down to around 55 tonight so you need to prepare". Yes indeed, the nice Mr. Newsman told all these people evacuating their homes hoping there will be something other than cinders when they come back to 'put a warm coat on'. Yes mommy. And while we're at it can I have an ice cream? |
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| Holy crap SoCal 4th of July |
[Jul. 4th, 2007|09:56 pm] |
I went to Huntington Beach today. We didn't stay for the fireworks, but we spent a lot of time frolicking in the water. I had on SPF 50 Coppertone Waterproof Sport sunscreen...and I'm still pretty burned. I don't even want to think about what this would be like without the sunscreen.
Waves are fun, so is boogieboarding although I am very bad at it. I got smashed by this one wave when I wasn't paying attention (this isn't with the boogieboard) and got dragged along the bottom in a manner such that I scraped my knee. The second time I got truly smashed was even better though, being that it partially ripped my swimsuit off so when I came up I wasn't exactly completely covered. Pulled it back on quick-like, but still.
I officially want to go to the beach every weekend until classes start again. |
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| post quals slump |
[Apr. 4th, 2007|07:29 pm] |
I took them. All 9 hours over 3 days of them. I have finished my first pass at the PhD qualifiers.
There is no way in hell I passed the whole thing because I bombed stat mech. Ashamed of how I did bombed. It's possible that I passed 3 of the 4 though. Classical, Quantum, and E&M went ok. Whether they went ok enough, I have no idea. Nonetheless, I am not ashamed of my performance. I just don't know if it was enough to prove I'm worthy. I hope I passed some of it. I don't mind retaking parts, but I'd really like to put a couple of books on my shelf away for good.
I'll know in roughly a week and half or so.
And thus I really begin 3rd quarter. |
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| I passed my classes....somehow |
[Mar. 26th, 2007|11:28 am] |
I passed E&M, QM, and Stat Mech!!!!
Not only did I pass, I pulled off the necessary gpa to keep my TA-ship. Now I just have to study for quals which are in a week *eep* It is my first chance, but the person I want to work with was all, "let's see how quals go". I have this fear that since I didn't do the chem/physics program he thinks he has to invest extra time in me to make me a good experimentalist. Thus, will not take me on unless I have a good shot at being a PhD and not a masters.
I also have my TA schedule for next quarter: I have 3, 3 hour, 3LC labs all on the same day. The 3 series is the premed physics class, and the C is the optics part. Ummm, optics...yeah, about that, I sort of, skipped optics...mmm yeah. I have to grade this quarter, bleck, and there is no room for error, they're premeds...tenths of a point are crucial to them. My Wednesdays start at 8 am with a lab, then a discussion section of mine, then another lab, then another lab and it's 9 pm and I get to go home. Then I'm back on campus Th at 9:30 am. Before you feel too bad for me though, I don't have classes on M or F, just a TA meeting on Mondays which will really serve to get my ass out of bed. So, 4 day weekends, every week. Much time within which to study. Fun fact for those who know the MHC job: I had 4 3 hour labs, plus set up and management and that was a full time job that I got paid roughly 2x as much at. Yes. They don't overwork us at all. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 14th, 2006|07:50 pm] |
I was trying to get back to my apartment today, and got lost in Middle Earth. It was blocking my view of the sidewalk overpass I needed to reach in order to go home. No, I haven't started doing some bizarre role playing game or god only knows what...the undergrad housing is called Middle Earth. I went past a dorm called Oakenshield and saw a group of people being taught I don't know what in Gandalf's classroom. I will never understand this town.
In other news, I switched cell phone providers because Verizon drops over half my calls in my apartment. Consequently, I also changed my phone number. If you want my new number email me. Oh, and since it matters for free calling anytime, I switched to Sprint.
I took my car to the mechanic on Monday. My catalytic converter is burned out. So is my wallet, but I have to replace the cat or the car, and the cat is cheaper. *sigh* |
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| Irvine, I pledge allegiance to thine pavement |
[Sep. 8th, 2006|03:41 pm] |
So, quick recap. In July my boy and I drove from MA to OR, stopping in WV and Yellowstone on the way. I fumbled around OR and WA until Sept. 1, at which point my boy and I drove (rather my boy drove, I watched the scenery. I hate to drive) from OR to Irvine CA.
I am now at UC-Irvine. Irvine is disturbing, my roommate is awesome, I have the kind of desk I always wanted, I need to buy a bed, and my car failed the smog check.
( Irvine is disturbing... )
( Roommate, desk and bed )
( My car failed the smog check )
Clearly I have moved, email me if you want my address and I will probably have a new phone number here shortly. I have to decide whether or not to keep my cell. |
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| It's got chicken legs! |
[Jul. 31st, 2006|12:55 am] |
So, I imagine you physics people out there have gotten this reply to the 'what do you do/study' question before:
"Wow, you do physics...you must be so smart"
What the hell do you say to this? I'm half tempted to reply with:
"Don't take this as an attack, but what exactly do you expect as a response to that? Implicit in the statement is that you think you are an idiot in comparison, and I know that's not true."
My apologies to anyone who has asked me this, but really what do you say in reply? I can deal with questions about string theory (I know very little about it and leave it at that). With this one I just sort of smile awkwardly and try to talk about something else.
Fair enough, physics isn't easy, but most things aren't. I couldn't philosophize my way out of a paper bag, O-chem makes me want to wet myself, etc...physicists aren't all Einsteins and the vast majority of us just fumble around in the dark and occasionally, if we're lucky, hit a light switch. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 16th, 2006|08:03 pm] |
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My car and I made it to the West Coast. Now I just need to fill out lots of forms and stuff for Irvine, go to a wedding, and beyond that I can be a bum until I head to Irvine at the end of Aug. |
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| When you get bored... |
[May. 26th, 2006|05:12 pm] |
A friend and I were bored, so we challenged each other to come up with what Dan Quayle was doing *right that minute* I thought my answer was very funny.
Dan Quayle is currently pondering how it is that he lost the 2000 primaries, not because he is on record as being dumb (the reason he expected to lose), but because he wasn't dumb enough. |
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| Facebook...?? |
[Apr. 26th, 2006|10:48 pm] |
So, for anyone who cares I will be attending UC-Irvine come September, attempting to educate my brain even more within the confines of the physics graduate program. I intend to get my PhD, but I refuse to say anything definitive until the qualifying exams have spoken.
Also, I was informed at lunch today that I have a fan club on facebook. I wonder if I can put that on a resume...
Toodles |
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 15th, 2006|06:00 pm] |
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I got into UC-Irvine! I have somewhere to go next year! YAY!!!!! *BOUNCE SPIN SKIP WHIRL TWIRL* |
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| Money Money Money |
[Feb. 11th, 2006|05:45 pm] |
I'd been waiting for this call. It was only a matter of time. Reed has finally hit me up for money. They didn't get any seeing as I'm working on an annual fund of my own at the moment...you know the one, the keep Fawn fed, housed, clothed fund. They can have money once I'm done paying off my student loans. So you know, 15 years from now.
Next question, how long will it take for them to call again? |
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| And they tease... |
[Feb. 5th, 2006|10:12 pm] |
because it wouldn't be a Seattle team if they didn't manage to give you hope when you were sure you were doomed, only to take it all away in one bad play. The Red Sox had the curse of Bambino, whereas with Seattle we're not allowed to have a team that doesn't break our hearts.
Although to be fair, we did get the WNBA Championship in 2004. |
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| Back in MA |
[Jan. 20th, 2006|08:41 pm] |
Well, I'm back in Massachusetts. I have been for almost a week actually, but hadn't gotten around to informing the internet of this.
I flew into Boston and spent a couple of days there. Boston and Portland are so different. I knew I was back in Boston when I was on the T watching these three women with makeup on so thick you could get a grant to perform an archaeological dig on their cheekbones, talk about each other's boyfriends. That in and of itself isn't unique to the east, but the one with a Coach bag and matching Coach shoes was. I picked up a snippet or two of their conversation, the real highlight being when Ms. Coach said something along these lines regarding her ex-boyfriend: "If the judge saw him now, he'd know that those bruises on him weren't my fault."
Boston is so designer, you can't go anywhere without seeing people in Burberry headbands and boots carrying a Burberry umbrella (or whatever other brand, Burberry is the only one I can ID). Meanwhile in Portland the only brand I see in abundance is Gore-tex...I got to see people in Portland, that was very nice. I really miss everyone. I just wish I could have hung out with everyone longer. I had my last good cup of coffee at the airport. The coffee out here is so bad. When the local weekly newspaper came out with their "Best of the Valley" issue, I nearly cried when the best Coffehaus was Starbucks.
In other news, all my graduate applications are in. Now it is time to sit back and wait...wait and wring my hands about how my awful awful physics GRE score will mean no school wants me.
Oh, I saw a great card the other day...on the front "Why I work: A short essay" on the inside "I like food"...this is what I will tell myself when I don't get into grad school. |
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| Blah |
[Dec. 9th, 2005|10:04 am] |
I am beginning to think that someone has it out for the people I graduated high school with. First Jerrod, and now a guy in my class (the valedictorian actually) has been injured in Iraq. Luckily only injured, but still. I pull up the news page and expect to see horrible things happening to people I know.
In less melodramatic/depressing news, it's snowing very hard outside. They are saying something like 1"-2" are falling per hour! Oh, an almost justified use of an exclamation point, although I suppose since I italicized hour it's redundant. Le sigh.
I retake the physics GRE tomorrow. I still haven't really studied. I come home from explaining physics concepts to people taking intro and the last thing I want to do is go over more physics concepts. I don't mind doing physics all day, but I do mind doing basic physics that I should understand but often don't all day. Explaining things can be exhausting, and I don't have energy left to explain things myself by the time the day is over. Needless to say, this makes studying a wee bit hard. Grad schools are just going to have to live with my awful score. I'll probably end up no scoring it tomorrow unless I answer significantly more than I did when I took it in Nov.
Tomorrow should have two m's because I always spell it that way.
I am writing my statement of purpose, because applying to grad school is kind of in my job description. I am so lucky. If someone wants/would be willing to read it, please let me know.
In closing, everyone stay safe, I'm tired of seeing you all in headlines involving injury and death. If you get hurt, I may have to kill you ; ) |
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| Unsettled |
[Nov. 14th, 2005|12:58 am] |
I have this odd habit of still perusing my hometown newspaper. I always avoid the obituaries because they pose the potential for getting a nasty surprise. I looked today for some reason.
A guy I graduated high school with is dead.
He was 8 days older than me. I have no idea what happened. The obit kind of makes it sound like it was a snowboarding accident, but the mountain opened two days after he died, so I don't know. He was a nice guy, class clown, actually someone I would have enjoyed talking to at a reunion who would have probably kept the thing from being horribly boring and awkward.
You know this will happen. That you will leave high school/college and never see some people ever again. It's very unsettling when the real reality hits in because you look at the obituary page and see someone that you expected to run into again staring at you from a pixelated black and white photo where they are smiling and radiating youthful health and exuberance. I bitch about all my classmates getting married, but I admit, I prefer seeing that Amy got married to reading that Jerrod is dead. |
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| Stuff n' Things |
[Oct. 18th, 2005|01:17 pm] |
I have a new apartment. I'm moving this weekend, and should be happily living across the street from work when all is said and done. The new place is more expensive, fairly comparable in other aspects, but doesn't have a particular person living in it. The story is pretty funny actually, but I'm not about to post it out in the open. I probably will still have a roommate, although part of me really wants to live alone...sadly, heat is really expensive and I don't want to be up a creek with an overdue bill. If anyone wants my new address, ask and you shall receive.
I took the general GRE. It went fairly well but my computer crashed during the experimental section, and kept crashing. Thus, I' not going to believe the scores I'm quite happy with until I see them on paper. I need to start studying for the physics GRE. I haven't really started to yet, aka the Nov. one will turn out poorly. Not much I can do about that, but I'll take it again in Dec.
I think I know where I am applying
Northwestern, UC-Irvine, Brown, Penn State, UMass, UC-San Diego, UCLA...and maybe Stanford and/or UChicago. I'm really not sure about those. I don't know how I feel about the list. It was so clear where I wanted to go to undergrad, now its all muddy and confusing.
Damn this is boring...hmmm funny story...another homeless man proposed to me while I was in Boston. He was selling newspapers.
( Here is the dialouge )
What is it about me that tells homeless men to propose? Does anyone else get this alot? |
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| mmmm wedding cake |
[Sep. 20th, 2005|05:44 pm] |
I had two very good friends in high school. We made up a trio of weird. I am the only part of the trio that remains unmarried. One was married about 1.75 years ago, the other saturday.
I just got back from the wedding yesterday. I took the red eye in, and then prompty taught two labs. I didn't get home until 11 pm. I came to work late this morning because I just couldn't get up. All that really means is that I had to park in the 2nd least desirable place on campus.
The wedding was amazing. It went so well and they are the cutest couple ever. I also got to eat the most delicious flourless chocolate torte ever, plus much good wine.
Now I am back in Massachusetts. |
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