Friday, April 29, 2011

Now, I can do SCIENCE!!

Yesterday, I finished all my marking, handed in all my exams and returned all my notes for "my" Water Management class.  It felt GLORIOUS!!
In celebration, I'm getting inked today; a little equation to remind me figuratively...and literally..what I went through and accomplished this term.  If you know ANYTHING about me, you've probably already figured out which one.  (Well, there's 2 possibilities, but one is more symbolic than the other....and prettier)
It feels pretty good.  Now I can focus on my project and try to pump out a proposal in 6 weeks....ewww.  Gotta find a way to squeeze 5 months of "research" and "writing" into 5 or 6 weeks.  After the last 4 months, I'm sure I can do it.  I just won't have time to procrastinate, that's all.  I'll do what I must, because I can. 

I guess it hasn't sunk in that I'm done exams and marking.....I'm still at a reasonable state of "busy-ness", although this weekend is the first weekend since February that I've had to myself...no marking, no planning, no assignments, no papers.  AWESOME!!  Just me and Chaos.  Likely sleeping.  AWESOME!!
Either way, I feel relieved, like after a really big poop relieved.  (First poop joke...)

I'm also out of creative juices if I have to resort to poop jokes.  I've been using all my "good" material in the physics basement I guess.  I'll have to stop showing up there, or I'm going to have to scrub harder to "wash off the physics".  I've been hanging out there lately, partly because physicists know how to have a good time, and also partly because Engineering has been really, really REALLY dead lately.  I'm sure it'll pick up next week, with the new summer students.  Honestly, I don't blame them for not showing up.  I don't want to be on campus any longer than I have to either. 

It'll be 9-5's for the next 4 months....if I have anything to say about it.  :D

Monday, April 25, 2011

I found this....it's awesome...

I collect quotes.  I have a few journals of them actually, and I usually have one or two good ones to put in at the end of every day....so if I say, "Can I quote you on that?" or something to that effect, I will and I do...as long as I can remember it, and most days I do.  I usually have a pretty good memory for important things about the people I meet, as opposed to remembering the scientific theory that I'm trying to master. 

Some of the quotes are funny, others are insightful, some witty and some really, really punny.  Some are cited, others not so much (oops, my bad).  Some I've heard, others I've read.  Each and every one of them is meaningful at the time which it's found.  That's what makes them special.  Some are long, others are short, some complex...like paragraphs long....others, maybe only three or four words.  Bottom line is that they are all important and I usually come back to them when I need a little boost or some inspiration.  I can tell when I wrote them in my journals too, the things I was going through at the time.  That's the weird part, because I don't date my journal....and that's on purpose.  I find that some of the most meaningful statements are the ones that are still relevant when I was younger. 

Tonight, I found a keeper:
Shes the girl
that believes that what comes around goes around.
The one that hopes for a better day.
The one that won’t give up on you.
She’s the girl that’s unlike the rest.
The one that spent her days smiling,
and her nights crying.
She’s the girl that would love to be loved.
The one that looks so damn strong, but feels so weak.
She’s the girl that picks herself up every time she falls.

Here's why it's meaningful:  (Get comfortable, could be a long ride)

People think I'm awesome. Some days I know why, most days I don't. I don't feel awesome most days, at least not on my own.  Obviously people see something in me that's pretty amazing.  You just don't go around telling people that they're awesome without proof.  That would be lying.  It's not nice to lie. 
Either way, I am the way I am because of the incredible and not-so-incredible people in my life. 

I am the way I am because of giggly, clicky teen aged girls.  To this day I'm deathly afraid of giggly, ditzy girls.  I'm almost 30 years old, and I still get paranoid that the annoying girls at the bus stop are snickering at me, because I'm a "loser".  It's sad.  I hope I never have a daughter, mostly so she won't have to go through the "You're a loser" phase...because if she's my kid, she's gonna be fucking brilliant.  She's going to get made fun of....poor kid. 
I think it started in grade 6.  I was dorky, I'll admit it.  Hell, I'm still dorky...it's part of why I'm awesome.  I wasn't one of the "cool girls".  I didn't get to sit with the pretty girls at lunch; I didn't get asked to go to dances; I didn't fit in. 
I know exactly what it's like to not fit in.  In fact, I don't think I finally "fit in" somewhere until I hit Engineering....I was 21.  I spent the first 21 years of my life bouncing around trying to figure out where I fit. 
Looking back on it, it's OK.  I turned out pretty OK.  I cared then, I still kind of care now, but I care less and less each day. 
My friend Dana calls it "Ugly Duck Syndrome".  I agree.  I'm still dorky, nerdy and a loser, but I've grown into it, and it's made me beautiful. 

Now for the analysis:

The first line is about believing what goes around comes around.  Totally agree.  That's why I try to be as nice to everyone as I can.  I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, only because I'd like to hope that they would do the same for me. 

I want to touch on "hopes for a better day", but it's late...and boy do I have a philosophy on "hoping for a better day"....I'll save it for another post.  Remind me in a week. 

The third line is what hit me, "She's the one that won't give up on you".  Maybe that's why I'm awesome.  I don't give up on people, and mostly I don't give up on myself.  That's why I'm awesome. 

The rest of the poem cuts deep, mostly because I do put on a good front and spend my days smiling.  I come home and yeah, I may spend my night crying.  It's OK.  I'm the crier.  I'm cool with it.  That's why I'm awesome. 

I'd love to be loved....and I know I am....thanks.  I love you guys too.  Thing is that I'd love to be loved romantically, I think we all would.  That's why I'm awesome.  (I'm purposefully repeating this.  You have to hear something 9 times for it to sink...I figure "hearing" and "typing" are the same thing here.  I may not hit 9, but I'll come close)  That's also why you're awesome. 

I look pretty strong....and I am pretty strong (physically at least)....but I feel really vulnerable and weak too, which is why I put up the titanium shield.  Last time I let it down, I got burned pretty bad.  It's gone back up.  I'm still weak in behind it. 

Either way, every time I fall, I do manage to pick myself up.  Sometimes it's instantaneous, other times is takes a little time.  That's cool.  I manage, because I'm awesome.  

I am the way I am because of all the people in my life, the bad ones....and the good ones.  I'm awesome because you all are awesome. 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Black and Tan Week - Day 6

I'm glad I'm only making this a week, not only are my knees giving out on me, but my guts are none too happy.  Oh the things we "must" do for SCIENCE!  On the plus side, my liver will be well-prepared for anything and everything that could be thrown at it this summer.  I like to think of it as "intense training". 

Today was Stella Artois and Guinness.  I had one of these at Andy and Timmy's party on Friday, but I was pretty loaded when I made it, so I couldn't make a fair assessment at the time.  Tonight's a little different.  It's my first drink of the evening. 

Visuals, I give it a 9/10.  Definite division.  Beauty.  I am going to have to change my pouring strategy.  I'm pouring the Guinness so slowly that it starts to run down the side of the can and the outside of the glass, not really what I intended (and it makes a mess of my countertop).  I'm wondering if it's too cold....

Tastiness, I give it an 8/10.  I'm not a huge fan of Stella to start with, it's too smooth.  Yeah, I'm complaining about a beer being too smooth.  I like my booze to bite back, and not just the morning after.  Call it aggressive, but I like to live on the wild side.  The Guinness gives it a little bite, but not enough.  Still pretty tasty.  Something worth trying again.  

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Black and Tan Week - Day 5

Well, I found a little gem in a blue can in the back of my fridge when I was restocking about a month ago.  I brought it to the front but never drank it, because like Lays potato chips, one GW Premium is never enough.  I only had one.  Had.  One.  I haven't restocked "Old Reliable" yet.  This coming week, I'll have to.  After this experiment I'll have to restock on quite a bit, but I'll have enough to get through the end of my take-home final. 

I specifically saved the GW Premium for Saturday night, simply because I didn't have any plans (I think it was the first Saturday since January where I didn't have an offer to go somewhere or do something....I blame the long weekend and exams).  I knew this drink was going to turn into something to enjoy, something special.  I was right.

Layering and visuals, I give it a 9.  No vortex like last night's disaster.  I'm finally getting good at pouring this stuff.  The chilled glass may have had an effect too.  There wasn't a clear line, but like the Pil, there was a definite break. 

Tastiness, I give it a 9.5.  I think I'm biased because I'm using "Old Reliable" and honestly, there's nothing better tasting than GW Premium after a long day of procrastination. 

Well, even if I didn't have a "hot date" booked for tonight, I definitely had something worth coming home to.  This drink had the brain, the brawn and the beauty to keep me interested.  A rare treasure. 

I think I found a keeper.  Cheers!


Friday, April 22, 2011

Black and Tan Week - Day 4

Well, today's weapon of choice was a test in patience.  (...and after revisions, a test in keeping my mind out of the gutter.  Ok....GO!)

I found a stray Boddington's Pub Ale in the back of the fridge today.  I don't think it had been there for long, 2 or 3 months, tops.  I thought for a moment:
Light color - check
Tasty - check
Loads of head - not good, but I think I'm up for the challenge (Yes, in this case "loads of head" happens to be a bad thing.  When I talk mixology, it will be the ONLY time I will consider "loads of head" as a hindrance.  Now that we have that covered, get your head out of the gutter.....)

So I poured...slowly and waited 4 mins for the foam to settle (should have been a sign).  Nothing like trying to pour along the side of the glass when it's full of foam.

This was the weirdest mixing experience I've had yet.  The reason a B&T works is because the stout is considerably less dense than a pilsner, lager or ale (and has more anti-oxidants than red wine....another neato factoid from my new buddy John..which kind of started the whole B&T week idea to tell the truth).  Unfortunately, it's about the same density as a pub ale, which is a little thicker and creamier, like a stout.  Shit.  Forgot about that detail.  Life's an experiment, right?
Gotta make a few mistakes to get it correct I guess.
 
It wasn't a tragedy, but it definitely wasn't "Great Success".
See for yourself:

  

This was the weirdest mixing pattern I've seen to date.  Kind of swirly, kind of not.  Not a definite line like the Pil, but not a total disaster.  Looks-wise, I give it a 6.  Not impressive, but not ugly either....I'd tap that I guess.  Just satisfactory.  (I'd tap that...hee hee....double-pun/double entendre intended.  Does this make it a quadratic pun?)  It looks better than the Smithwick's, that's for sure.

Tastiness....I give it a (take a sip).....8.  I give it an 8.  It's pretty damn smooth with a little bitter-sweet punch about 4 seconds after the swallow.  (OK, now it's my turn to take my mind out of the gutter :S)  Either way, it's not bad.  Not a total disaster.

I have no idea what to call it.  I could call it the "Black Boddy"..???  Actually, I kind of like that, seeing as I've just finished writing a quantum paper.  I'll call it the "Black Boddy".  Kind of suits the mixing pattern too.
(I'm going to go "wash the physics off" now.  :$  Damn basement....you go in there once for lunch and it all goes to shit.  As long as I don't smell like physics....right?  When I start smelling like physics, you'll tell me, right? Right?)


Lesson learned:  In this case, 2 rights make a tasty, but don't make a pretty.  Sounds like my sex life.....
(OK.  That's it.  I'm done.  That's 4 tangents related to my non-existant sex-life.  I'm apparently still thinking about the "Baby Making" conversation from yesterday....shit, I'm done.  Stopping before I can no longer climb out of the hole.)

Over and out.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Best. Meeting. With. Adviser. Ever.

I had a meeting with my adviser again today.  I always dread having them, simply because I usually feel like I'm never doing enough work.  For some reason or another, he thinks I'm doing just fine.  Cool. 

Why was this the best meeting yet, you may ask....
Well, I sent him a schedule with the goals and such that I want to accomplish this summer and where I'd like to be at what date.  He said it was do-able, a little aggressive, but do-able.  We finalized that I should be able to easily finish in 18 months, as long as my Committee doesn't rip my project to shreds.  That's why I planned 18 months.  I'm expecting my project to be ripped apart 3 ways from Sunday.  That's not the awesome part. 

This is the awesome part:

He showed me his calendar and how he organizes stuff.  One version with actual deadlines, another with lists of stuff to do.  He scrolled down...."see, you can see how I've kind of partitioned stuff....ignore the two weeks marked 'Baby Making'...and how I have 1 deadline, and then it coincides above...."
"Whoa, did you just say 'Baby Making'?"
"Yeah"
"OK, so I should ignore that?"
"Yeah"
I said "OK, cool, that's awesome.  So when you decide to take a month or two off about 10 or 11 months from now I know what you're up all night and changing diapers.  Neat!", when really I wanted to stand up and scream "Awesome!" and high-five the guy.  Who puts "Baby Making" in their work calendar?  That's amazing! 
We all know that I was totally thinking about the lead-up to baby making instead of the result of baby making right? Right? 
After the diapers comment he replied with, "Yeah, I guess when you put it that way....sure, I guess"
I know he was totally thinking about the lead-up to baby making too.....we both had some pretty ugly smirks on our face. 

This is why my adviser is awesome.  In all honestly, I kind of wish I could schedule "Baby Making" in my calendar....but without the baby outcome of course.  Awesome. 

As far as my goals, we never really got to them.....but as far as we're both concerned, I'm on track. 

BLACK & TAN WEEK

Tonight I tried Keith's Dark Ale and Keith's Premium Ale.  This is the second time I've tried it.  Taste-wise, I give it a 7.  Nothing I'd call home about.  Tastes like dark ale mixed with pale ale.  I did pour this one better than last time.  It's tougher pouring a dark ale as opposed to a draught stout.  Pours too fast.
Here's the picture:
Turned out OK.  It's not as delicious as the Guinness and Pil, sadly. 

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Black and Tan Week - Day 2 v.2

I know it's only been an hour or so, but I sat down to start grading the Water Management final exam, and I needed another beer.  Yeah, that bad. 

So, instead of my usual "Oh shit fuck, I should have never gotten out of bed" routine when I get home after a supremely shitty day and sip a Guinness and shotgun a Pilsner, I decided that I might as well try it together and see what can become of it......

I hate to say it, because it's Pilsner.....but SUCCESS!!

It turns into a reeeellll smooooth operator.  I give it an 8/10. 

Also, the pour went well, very well.  I used the full can of Pil, poured slowly.  Waited for the Guinness ot settle for a minute or two and poured reeeaaalllllyyyy  sssllloooowwwwlllyyyy. 

Ta Da!





Third time's a charm.  Too bad it ended up being with Pil.  I think I'll call it the Little Black Pill. 

Last time I talked with my new buddy John, I explained my really, really bad day routine with the whole sipping Guinness and shotgunning a beer. 
He added, "Seriously?  Is it a Pil? Please tell me you sip your Guinness then shotgun a Pil." 
I replied, "Yeah, lately it's been Pil.  I'm emptying the trash out of my fridge."
He replied, "That's my girl.  I'm starting to like you more and more."

How do you like them apples now John?  How do you like them apples?