"I'll Be Home For Christmas, If Only In My Dreams"

This will be the first Christmas in all my years that won't be spend with my family.

I've got a wonderful new job, and I'm really enjoying it (more details to come later), but it means I don't get much time off for the holidays. We had a half-day on Friday, and we get Christmas day off--but it's back to work on Tuesday morning. The same goes for the New Year, though I've asked for all of that Friday off. I need the money, it's the right choice. But still, it just won't be the same without Christmas eve and morning with my mom. It won't be the same without the big dinner with all the Soave's. It won't be the same without our crazy gift-giving game that no one can ever remember the rules of.

It won't be the same without my family.

I am, however, blessed with a warm welcome to the Christmas of my girlfriend's family. They're traditions are different, but their hearts are the same.

I feel both sad and happy at the same time.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to.....Work?

First day on the new job; you want to make a good impression, you want to show up a little early, you want to prove to your new colleagues and coworkers that you're the right person and deserve to be there....

....you want to do something.

I arrived at the building a good twenty minutes early--my first mistake. Getting up to the offices, there was no one around to let me in. (Little did I know, there's a receptionist on the floor below me who could have let me in.) So, I wandered around a bit, and conveniently ran into my new boss on her way in. She showed me my new desk (which is unfortunately temporary, as it's right by a window), gave me a paper describing how to setup my computer, and asked me to wait until another person came in to actually show me what to do. Well, the computer took a few seconds, and I've read all the papers that happened to be sitting on my desk (no idea if they're meant for me). Since then, I've just been waiting. Over an hour.

I met the guy who's desk is next to mine, he seems very nice. A few other folks have given me curious glances, but mostly the office is still pretty empty. It's 10:20am!

Maybe this isn't far off from grad school after all....

And Now For Something Completely Different

Yesterday did not start well. I slept in a little, and cut myself shaving, and couldn't find any hot water for a shower, and the glass was half empty, and cracked, and I cut my lip on it, and chipped a tooth.

However, once I was awake and moving, I had to get into the city for an interview with Conde Nast. Now, I know what you're thinking; "Conde Nast? The magazine publisher?" Yes, the very same. I was offered a position as a producer of the websites that accompany the magazines! I've been fiddling with websites for years, but never really considered it a career. Even in this job, though, I won't be coding much (there's a whole design team for that), but I'll be producing. What this means is a little unclear to me at the moment, but I think it mainly involves checking everything over to make sure it'll look right on the screen, clearing everything with the magazine, and finally taking the website live for the world to see.

Not something I ever would have thought I'd be doing. But, I do enjoy playing with websites, and getting paid for it hardly seems a burden! I'm starting as a temporary hire, until I can learn their system and gain some experience. With some hard work, I'll be able to step into a permanent position in a few months.

And all of this is because I sped across the country to meet my aunt for drinks. Go figure.

It'll take some time for all the paper shuffling to occur, but hopefully I'll be starting next week!

Oh, and I still haven't heard back from that other company. It's been almost a week. If they offer me more, I'll probably still go with them. But at this rate, I don't know if I'll ever heard back from them....

I Got a Job!!!

Details forthcoming....

The Suspense is Killing Me

I haven't heard back from that company yet, which makes me think it won't be today. They did say early this week. Well, tomorrow is mid-week, and I'm going crazy waiting. I really like these guys, and if they offer, I think I'll take it.

In other news, I have an interview tomorrow with a publishing corporation, and another on Friday. The one tomorrow isn't exactly for a permanent position, but it'll at least be money in the bank as I keep searching.

Anyone know any ways to retain sanity whilst waiting for a potentially life-changing event to occur any moment?

Holding My Breath

The second interview yesterday went wonderfully. I spent almost three hours there chatting with two partners, and the folks I would be working directly with should they hire me. I'm really trying not to get my hopes up, but I just feel so good about this firm. They are great people, and the office is so comfortable.

I have two more interviews next week, but there is this very real hope that I can cancel them. I'll know Monday or Tuesday.

The Good, The Bad, and The Utterly Classless

The Good:

Andrew:

Thanks so much the additional info. Can you come by this Friday afternoon, to meet with other members of the team?

Also, thanks much for your patience. I have been traveling extensively.

All the best,

D--- F----

|| Hooray! A second-round interview! I can't wait 'til Friday.


The Bad:

I got a phone call rejection from a prominent search engine. How nice of them to actually call me.


Completely Classless:

EXCITING FINANCIAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR RECENT GRADUATES!!!!
Cust#: 0
Internet reply

Dear Andrew Fleming:

Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at [company]. We strive to find the right person for the right opportunity. At this time, we will not be pursuing you as a candidate for the position but would like you to keep [company] in mind for future career opportunities.

We appreciate your interest in [company] and wish you success in your future professional endeavors. We encourage you to stay current on our career opportunities by visiting [company's website].

Kind Regards,
The [company] Recruitment Team

|| Shameful. The email address this came from displayed the following: "****** DELETE, [COMPANY]/731 LEXIN" My mailbox thought it was spam! Oh, and I love how you would like me to keep your company in mind for the future. You turned me down, and you want me to come back asking for more? Most companies have the decency to lie and say they'll keep me in mind, but you won't even trouble yourself with that one. No, you want me to keep you in mind, to regularly check your website just in case there's a chance I might be of some use to you. I don't think so.

Alright, Who Didn't Keep Their Fingers Crossed?

Dear Andrew,

Thank you very much for meeting with us.

We have thoroughly reviewed your qualifications, and, although excellent, we feel they do not quite fit the position we have in mind at the present time.

We sincerely appreciate your interest in becoming associated with our firm and we regret that this response cannot be more favorable.

We wish you well in locating the opportunity you desire.

Sincerely,

L---- T-----
Recruiting Coordinator


||Well, L----, what can I say? Your company was the most attractive to me of all of them. It was also my first consulting interview ever. I had the energy, but was decidedly lacking in experience. This transition out of academia is tougher than I thought. Fortunately, you have been incredibly polite and kind to me through my interview process with your firm, and I really appreciate that. You've shown me that I was right about the atmosphere of your firm, which sort of makes the sting of this letter a little worse. I would have really liked it there.

Another Interview

Three, to be exact. I had an interview with a consulting firm this morning that consisted of three interviews with different people. Some parts felt very good, and others were a little awkward. I am very comfortable chatting with people, no problem there. But when they asked me to add two and two in my head with them watching--I answered five. (No, not really, just an oversimplification to get the point across that basic math escaped me under pressure.) On the one hand, they know this was my first consulting interview, so maybe they'll go easy on me. On the other, I'm afraid I won't mark very high in the "works well under pressure" category.

If you're reading this, I really do work well under pressure. Really. Look at my last two years of college....

I really like this company, we seem perfectly suited to each other. I just hope they see that, too.

Spent the weekend in Houghton, first time back in over two years. It was much fun. I got to see a lot of old friends, made some wonderful new ones, and really connected with some great people. Maybe you can go home again after all.

But I seem to have brought a cold back with me, so it's off to bed.

Networking

They say the key to getting a good job is knowing someone on the inside. Well, with one company so far, that's backfired on me. The folks looking at my resume decided I was getting too much help from my friend on the inside and so declined my application. But it is still true that connections more often help than hinder.

Two weeks ago, my mom and step-father went to his forty-year high school reunion. There they ran into an old friend of his who just happens to be a cardiologist living in Greenwich, CT. Greenwich is the next town over from Stamford (and even more wealthy). He told my parent's to have me call him, and so I did, thinking that it'd be nice to know someone else in this area. He then told me about all the high-profile patients he has and how he'd love to drop my resume to them. He asked me to email him my resume and meet with him for lunch last Thursday so he could get to know me.

Well, apparently, he forwarded my resume the same day he received it to a friend of his who runs a hedge fund across the street from his office in Greenwich. This guy then calls me to talk about how to apply my mathematical skills to the financial world. I'm thinking, wow, how wonderful of this guy to call and chat with me and give me all this information simply on the word of a friend of his whom I have yet to meet! But that's not all; the hedge fund guy then asks me to come in to his office and meet with him before lunch with the doctor on Thursday. He says he wants to talk about my resume, my experiences, and my skills.

It sounded like an interview to me, but I still thought perhaps he was just being helpful and preferred to talk in person. But I went, with extra copies of my resume, and met with him. I drove down to his office. He was incredibly personable and friendly, smiling and making jokes about the decor of his office. We talked about his hedge fund, how it works, and how I could fit into that picture. We talked about ballroom dancing, he's also a competitor. We talked about my schooling, my research, my interests. He even gave me a tour of the whole office, and introduced me to some of the other folks working there. Then he asked for some writing samples, and told me he'd talk to his team about hiring me! Could this possibly be true?

After my meeting/interview, I went and met the doctor for lunch. He was also very nice, and took me to a small seafood place for lunch (where he knew half of the other patrons there). We also talked about my past, present, and future, and he offered to help me in any way he could. He knows a lot of people working in and around Greenwich, and took some copies of my resume to hand out to them. He even offered to help my girlfriend land a singing gig with a wealthy, opera-loving lady in the area.

I am so lucky to be meeting such genuinely good people.

Keep Your Fingers Crossed!

Dear Andrew ,

We are in receipt of your resume and would like to invite you to interview with us in [location]. If you are available, our November interview sessions are:

[dates and times]

If these are not good dates for you, we will be finalizing December dates in late November, and, if you wish, we will forward those to you.

[details relevant to the company]

All interviews will be conducted in our [location] office. All your interview-related expenses will be reimbursed to you promptly upon presentation of valid receipts. All expenses should be submitted to my attention.

Please let me know which interview session you prefer. Also, email me or call me at [phone number] if you have any questions. Please note that I will be out of the office on November 2nd and 3rd.

We're looking forward to meeting you!

Best regards,

L---- T-----
[company name]


|| Woo hoo!!

FOAD

Back at Michigan Tech there is a tradition of posting FOAD letters proudly on your door for all to see. For the uninitiated, FOAD letters, or Fuck-Off-And-Die letters, are those wonderfully vague and somewhat vapid little wastes of paper that companies send to applicants to inform them that the company has no interest in giving the applicant an interview. There are various reasons for this, most of them lies. Of course in this day and age, why waste the paper? A simple email will suffice, it costs nothing to send and all you have to do is copy and paste the poor applicant's name to send the same letter to everyone you want to FOAD. An even more cowardly trend these days is not to reply at all.

In my years at Tech, I've seen several of these letters up on friends' doors. Some of them were on quality paper with embossed letterheads, and some were nothing more than post-cards (hang your head in shame, Toyota). Now that I'm looking at jobs in the real world, I'm beginning to understand the subtlety that is the FOAD letter. Since no one will see them on my door, I will post them here, for your enjoyment.

Company names have been omitted, and people's names changed, to protect the guilty.

#1

Thank you for taking the time to apply to [company name]. Unfortunately, we will not be able to extend you an invitation for a first round interview. Please be assured that this is not a reflection on your fine achievements, rather, that we can interview only a very small percentage of the large number of highly qualified candidates that apply. There is a team of [company name] consultants and recruiting staff that review all incoming applications. I can not tell you specifically why your application was not selected, however, I can share with you a few of the things that we look for in screening candidate applications: leadership, commitment, academic excellence, analytics, and knowledge of [company name]. I hope this is helpful.

Best of luck with your employment search,
N-----

|| Well, N-----, I appreciate your taking the time to send me a stock letter in which you didn't even bother to write my name. Unfortunately, all of the things you look for were specifically addressed in my resume and cover letter. So no, not helpful in the slightest.

#2

Dear Andrew,

Thank you for your interest in -----. Although it is clear that someone with your qualifications has much to offer, we have
been unable to identify a good match between your particular background and experience and our immediate requirements. However, we will keep your resume in our files on the chance that a suitable position should become available at a later date.

We appreciate your taking the time to contact us and wish you the best in your job search.

Sincerely,

Strategic Growth
[company name]

|| Well said, anonymous person from the Strategic Growth department. Your letter has just enough flattery that I still feel warm and fuzzy inside, and I have absolute confidence that you'll call me the very second a suitable position becomes available. And hey, thanks for actually looking up my name.

#3

We appreciate the time you spent interviewing with us and thank you for the interest you expressed in [company name].

We have now had an opportunity to review all of the candidate's credentials. Although your educational background and skills were impressive, we believe we must consider other candidates whose experience will more closely match the needs of the organization.

We regret that at the present time we do not have another position available to utilize your skills and training. We shall keep your resume on file should this situation change in the near future.

Thank you for your interest in our organization and best wishes for continued success in your career endeavors.

Very truly yours,

L---- B----
NY Recruiting Coordinator
[company name]

|| L----, the reason I contacted you was to get an interview, so while I appreciate your appreciation of my time interviewing, there was no interview. Does that mean there really is no appreciation? That makes me sad. However, now you're in a race with anonymous from above to get in touch with me when another position opens. The ball's in your court, L----. By the way, unless I was the only candidate, you misplaced the apostrophe in the second paragraph.

The Big Update, or, How I Learned to Pronounce "Quinnehtukqut"

Just for you.

After two wonderful years in NYC, I've moved--temporarily, mind--to the suburbs. Yes, I'm staying in Stamford, CT to avoid the exorbitant rents in the city until the job search reaches a successful conclusion. (Call me a Nutmegger, and face the consequences!) Friday morning I moved most of my furniture up to my dad's place in the Catskills, and spent the rest of that night and following morning hanging out with him and my uncle. Saturday I moved the rest down to Stamford, but quickly ran back into the city for a very important birthday party, making Sunday night my first night in CT and yesterday my first day as a suburbanite (the horror!).

So, what have I learned about this tiny little state? Well, it only takes about half an hour to get "upstate," it's the most densely populated state in the union, and has the highest per capita income, making it the wealthiest state as well. It's been home to Michael Bolton, Ann Coulter, and President Bush the Younger--but despite all this, still seems to be a pretty nice place. There are a lot of parks, and the rolling hills and forests make it downright beautiful, especially now that the leaves are changing. Of course, we mustn't forget the F4U Corsair, official state aircraft of Connecticut.

All in all, though, things are moving along. Job interviews are rolling in, all scheduled for later this month. The family I'm staying with is beyond wonderful, and I'm only a 45 minute drive from the ol' Manhattan neighborhood where friends and loved one still reside.

The summer past was, for lack of better description, busy. Two weddings in Michigan and one in North Carolina were a blast. It's wonderful to see so many of my friends find such happiness. A trip to Wisconsin was a lot of fun. My last (for now) observing run at Kitt Peak was wonderful (especially my rental car--brand new Mustang!). Lots of traveling, indeed, but it was all worth it. Should I expand on this? Probably, but knowing me, I'll never really get around to it.

These days the goal is to get back into the city as quickly as possible, so all you potential employers out there, hire me! Second to that, I've just got to put together a good group for playing Killer Bunnies....

....oh, and I have to look for a plane ticket to Houghton. More on that later. (If you're lucky.)

And There It Is, Sir

This man continues to be my hero. (Link for you Facebookers: Click here.)



Updates on me will come, soon. Really.

May This Country Forgive You - Video

May This Country Forgive You

As many people as possible need to read this, if they didn't see it on television last night.



The Nation
Mon Sep 11, 9:49 PM ET

The Nation -- Keith Olbermann is without a doubt the best news anchor on television today. Two weeks ago, echoing the spirit of the legendary Edward R. Murrow, Olbermann took Donald Rumsfeld to task for comparing critics of the
Iraq war to Nazi appeasers. Tonight, broadcasting live from above a desolate and still demolished Ground Zero, Olbermann delivered a stirring eight minute commentary indicting the Bush Administration's shameful and tragic response to 9/11. The entire speech is worth watching and reading, so I'm posting the full text below.

Half a lifetime ago, I worked in this now-empty space. And for 40 days after the attacks, I worked here again, trying to make sense of what happened, and was yet to happen, as a reporter.

All the time, I knew that the very air I breathed contained the remains of thousands of people, including four of my friends, two in the planes and -- as I discovered from those "missing posters" seared still into my soul -- two more in the Towers.

And I knew too, that this was the pyre for hundreds of New York policemen and firemen, of whom my family can claim half a dozen or more, as our ancestors.

I belabor this to emphasize that, for me this was, and is, and always shall be, personal.

And anyone who claims that I and others like me are "soft,"or have "forgotten" the lessons of what happened here is at best a grasping, opportunistic, dilettante and at worst, an idiot whether he is a commentator, or a Vice President, or a President.

However, of all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast -- of all the nightmares that unfolded before our eyes, and the others that unfolded only in our minds -- none of us could have predicted this.

Five years later this space is still empty.

Five years later there is no memorial to the dead.

Five years later there is no building rising to show with proud defiance that we would not have our America wrung from us, by cowards and criminals.

Five years later this country's wound is still open.

Five years later this country's mass grave is still unmarked.

Five years later this is still just a background for a photo-op.

It is beyond shameful.

At the dedication of the Gettysburg Memorial -- barely four months after the last soldier staggered from another Pennsylvania field -- Mr. Lincoln said, "we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."

Lincoln used those words to immortalize their sacrifice.

Today our leaders could use those same words to rationalize their reprehensible inaction. "We cannot dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground." So we won't.

Instead they bicker and buck pass. They thwart private efforts, and jostle to claim credit for initiatives that go nowhere. They spend the money on irrelevant wars, and elaborate self-congratulations, and buying off columnists to write how good a job they're doing instead of doing any job at all.

Five years later, Mr. Bush, we are still fighting the terrorists on these streets. And look carefully, sir, on these 16 empty acres. The terrorists are clearly, still winning.

And, in a crime against every victim here and every patriotic sentiment you mouthed but did not enact, you have done nothing about it.

And there is something worse still than this vast gaping hole in this city, and in the fabric of our nation. There is its symbolism of the promise unfulfilled, the urgent oath, reduced to lazy execution.

The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.

Those who did not belong to his party -- tabled that.

Those who doubted the mechanics of his election -- ignored that.

Those who wondered of his qualifications -- forgot that.

History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics. It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage.

Terrorists did not come and steal our newly-regained sense of being American first, and political, fiftieth. Nor did the Democrats. Nor did the media. Nor did the people.

The President -- and those around him -- did that.

They promised bi-partisanship, and then showed that to them, "bi-partisanship" meant that their party would rule and the rest would have to follow, or be branded, with ever-escalating hysteria, as morally or intellectually confused, as appeasers, as those who, in the Vice President's words yesterday, "validate the strategy of the terrorists."

They promised protection, and then showed that to them "protection" meant going to war against a despot whose hand they had once shaken, a despot who we now learn from our own Senate Intelligence Committee, hated al-Qaida as much as we did.

The polite phrase for how so many of us were duped into supporting a war, on the false premise that it had 'something to do' with 9/11 is "lying by implication."

The impolite phrase is "impeachable offense."

Not once in now five years has this President ever offered to assume responsibility for the failures that led to this empty space, and to this, the current, curdled, version of our beloved country.

Still, there is a last snapping flame from a final candle of respect and fairness: even his most virulent critics have never suggested he alone bears the full brunt of the blame for 9/11.

Half the time, in fact, this President has been so gently treated, that he has seemed not even to be the man most responsible for anything in his own administration.

Yet what is happening this very night?

A mini-series, created, influenced -- possibly financed by -- the most radical and cold of domestic political Machiavellis, continues to be televised into our homes.

The documented truths of the last fifteen years are replaced by bald-faced lies; the talking points of the current regime parroted; the whole sorry story blurred, by spin, to make the party out of office seem vacillating and impotent, and the party in office, seem like the only option.

How dare you, Mr. President, after taking cynical advantage of the unanimity and love, and transmuting it into fraudulent war and needless death, after monstrously transforming it into fear and suspicion and turning that fear into the campaign slogan of three elections? How dare you -- or those around you -- ever "spin" 9/11?

Just as the terrorists have succeeded -- are still succeeding -- as long as there is no memorial and no construction here at Ground Zero.

So, too, have they succeeded, and are still succeeding as long as this government uses 9/11 as a wedge to pit Americans against Americans.

This is an odd point to cite a television program, especially one from March of 1960. But as Disney's continuing sell-out of the truth (and this country) suggests, even television programs can be powerful things.

And long ago, a series called "The Twilight Zone" broadcast a riveting episode entitled "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street."

In brief: a meteor sparks rumors of an invasion by extra-terrestrials disguised as humans. The electricity goes out. A neighbor pleads for calm. Suddenly his car -- and only his car -- starts. Someone suggests he must be the alien. Then another man's lights go on. As charges and suspicion and panic overtake the street, guns are inevitably produced. An "alien" is shot -- but he turns out to be just another neighbor, returning from going for help. The camera pulls back to a near-by hill, where two extra-terrestrials are seen manipulating a small device that can jam electricity. The veteran tells his novice that there's no need to actually attack, that you just turn off a few of the human machines and then, "they pick the most dangerous enemy they can find, and it's themselves."

And then, in perhaps his finest piece of writing, Rod Serling sums it up with words of remarkable prescience, given where we find ourselves tonight: "The tools of conquest do not necessarily come with bombs and explosions and fallout. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, to be found only in the minds of men.

"For the record, prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own -- for the children, and the children yet unborn."

When those who dissent are told time and time again -- as we will be, if not tonight by the President, then tomorrow by his portable public chorus -- that he is preserving our freedom, but that if we use any of it, we are somehow un-American...When we are scolded, that if we merely question, we have "forgotten the lessons of 9/11"... look into this empty space behind me and the bi-partisanship upon which this administration also did not build, and tell me:

Who has left this hole in the ground?

We have not forgotten, Mr. President.

You have.

May this country forgive you.

What if things were different?

I've come to a very difficult decision. I am going to take some time off from academia and explore something new. There is a lot to say, and a lot going on, but now is not the time. I love astronomy, and I'll come back to it again someday, but I need to do something else for a while.

Drove Through the Desert in a Car With No Name

Ok, so it had a name. The gloriously trendy, painfully yellow Chevy Cobalt with a spoiler practically begged a name. And so one was granted. For two weeks, I drove the Baby Bumble Bee all around southern Arizona.

Most of the time, observing runs occur strictly on whatever mountaintop your telescope happens to be located. However, when you've got a rental car, an adventurous companion, and two weeks of telescope time, there is room for a little exploration. Let me tell you a story:

The setting: The Sonoran Desert, home to the Tohono O'odham people, packs of coyotes, wild horses, and the ubiquitous saguaro cactus--the state tree of Arizona.
-MDM Observatory, located on the southwest ridge of Kitt Peak.
-Tucson, part cowboy town, part artsy city, all dusty and brown.
-The Mexican border, or, the wide open gate in the barbed wire fence miles and miles from nowhere.

The characters: Two students from the big city, exploring the far bigger desert.
-The grad student, desperately trying to get work done, but constantly distracted by better and more beautiful things.
-The undergrad, the ex-Marine/astronomer/journalist/photographer/composer/race car driver/etc.
-The Baby Bumble Bee, cutest little car in the west.

As our story begins, our two heroes meet in the Tucson airport. They pick up a rental car, a beautiful white Monte Carlo, and begin their adventure. Spirits are high as they head off into the sunset, quite literally, up to Kitt Peak to begin their observing run on the 1.3-meter telescope. Settling in, they begin working on their observations.

One fine day, they decide to go for a drive. For reasons not likely to become clear in this narrative, they stop at the airport rental place in Tucson and trade in their wonderful car for the Baby Bumble Bee. It took quite an effort to stifle their laughter, but they managed, and continued on their drive. West of Tucson, they were startled by the beauty of the desert. Rolling foothills, with cacti of all shapes and sizes peaking up through the dirt and rocks. "Wanna take a walk?" one asks the other. The Baby Bumble Bee obligingly pulls over to the side of the road, and off they go. They didn't have much water, and so figured they'd only walk for a bit away from the road, and then turn around. But as they crested some small foothills, and lost site of the car, they decided to just continue exploring. After all, they could always summit one of the hills to find the car later. It's quite hard to miss in the middle of the desert. Their walking took them all the way to the nearest full-grown mountain and turned into hiking. Along the way, they encountered numerous dead saguaros, and discovered their tree-like secrets. Continuing higher, the hiking turned into climbing, as they grew nearer the summit. Finally, reaching the top, they surveyed the desert around them. It was stunning. They had climbed a mountain without water, but there was no question about the worth of the climb. When the vultures started circling, however, they decided it was time to head back.

On another day, they decided to drive through Tucson and up the mountains to the east. They stopped briefly in town to experience a little of the local culture. Finding little indeed, they continued up the mountains. Once again they were entranced by the beauty of the place. So harsh an environment with so much life that survives despite. About 5,000 feet up they stopped at an overlook. But they never made it to the overlook itself. Rather, they started climbing the rest of the way up the mountain. Surely, they thought, the view would be even better from up there. This climb was a little more difficult, but all the more worth it. When they finally reached the top, they were rewarded with a full view of the valley below, and more mountains to the east. They felt on top of the world, and as the ground fell steeply away from them on all sides, justifiably so. They agreed that there is simply no other feeling like reaching the top of a mountain on your own power and surveying all the Earth below you.

Not all days and nights were grand adventures, of course. In the more calm of times, the grad student quietly worked on his research while the undergrad etched out the details of a libretto he was writing for an opera. They drove up to the Kitt Peak summit for dinner, meeting other visiting astronomers and sharing stories. They stood on the western cliff of the mountain and watched the most lovely of sunsets every night before opening up the telescope dome for observing.

The last adventure of the trip was mostly a road trip, no mountains on this particular day. This time, our two friends decided to explore the Native American reservation on which Kitt Peak sits. The reservation belongs to the Tohono O'odham, or Desert People, who have lived in the Sonoran Desert for over two thousand years. Our heroes first drove west to Sells, the capital of the reservation. A sleepy little town, they almost missed it entirely. Here, however, they turned south in search of smaller communities and the Mexican border. Smaller communities they found, three or four houses grouped together in the middle of vast expanses of desert. As the road turned to a dirt two-track, they encountered a pack of coyotes, cattle roaming free, and drove alongside wild horses in full gallop across the desert valley floor. After seemingly endless miles, they finally reached a small barbed wire fence with a gate. The gate was wide open. They had no map with them, but they had measured the distance to the border on a map, and they had gone further than they thought they had to to reach the border. At first, it seemed odd that an unguarded gate should be left wide open, allowing anyone who likes to walk right into the US. Looking around, however, they realized that no one walking through this gate could have come from anywhere close, nor would they reach anywhere soon. The vastness of the desert would certainly forbid any human from walking through this gate.

Turning around, they headed back northward. Along the way, they cut eastward and found themselves heading up the base of Bobaquavari Peak, the most sacred ground of the Tohono O'odham. It was here, according to their beliefs, that L'litoi the Creator lived, and from which he created the universe. They stopped at the base, and stared up. The large rock dome on the very peak certainly struck a sense of awe into anyone who would be looking up at it. They could understand the holiness of the place, and left it in peace.

Eventually, the undergrad had to leave. The grad student was left alone on the mountain for the last five nights. He worked, he read, he played with Google Earth far more than he should have. His last night was plagued by bad weather, beginning with hail and ending with a humidity level to high to risk exposing the telescope mirror to the air. So he reflected, he smiled, and he wrote.

The end.

A Few Thoughts.

Once again, I'm motivated to update simply by too many people noticing that I haven't. Ah well. Where to begin?

This blog turned one year old last month, with little fanfare. It still feels like it doesn't have much of a purpose, but then even in the beginning I never stated a purpose. Poor little blog, lost in the wilds of the internet searching for meaning in life.

Onward.

I had an observing run at the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico. Pictures can be found here, for those of you who have asked.

Weddings. So many weddings this summer. Why do you people all have to get married? Sheesh. Truly, though, I'm very happy for my friends and family members getting married. And hey, they are more excuses to travel. The current list has two weddings in Michigan, one in North Carolina, one in Florida, and possibly another in Iowa. Add to that a trip to Wisconsin, another observing run, and possibly a conference in Canada, and my summer already seems completely full.

This is the perfect time of year to be in New York. All the trees are in bloom, the weather is warm--but not so warm that you over-heat walking around town. I wish it would stay in the 60's all through the summer.

Work needs to be done. This needs to be updated later.

Fluffy Pillows

An all-balboa weekend taught by Joel and Alison Plys. Great dancing, great people, and a great band on Saturday night. I'm a little sore, quite tired, and still recovering from being sick, but happy to be dancing again.

Mmm...Balicious.

Catching Up: Part III

Why not?

It has finally snowed in New York! Nearly two feet fell in 24 hours, in a snowstorm that has been hailed as "one for the record books."

Please.

Times like this that I really do miss da UP, and it's 20+ feet of snow annually (for a mild winter).

It is now in the 50's again, and all the snow is melting away.

Catching Up: Part II

A week after the ball, I flew to glorious, sunny--er, Denver. My cousin is a photographer, and at some point I can barely recall, I had promised to be at the opening of her first show. Keeping my word, I flew out to be there at her opening.

Now, I have technically been to Denver more times than I can recall. Each and every time I've flown to Kitt Peak observatory to work on a telescope, I've connected through Denver. It's even one of my favorite airports. This trip, however, marked the first time I've ever left the airport. I must say, the terminal is even better than the concourses.

Denver. What an interesting place. A city, to be sure, but not like New York is a city. It is half conservative republican cowboys, and half long-haired dirty hippies. And everyone, cowboys and hippies alike, smokes a lot of pot. Sort of a strange atmosphere, when you can walk down a crowded street filled with ten-gallon hats, and then step into an all-organic restaurant with local, um, art(?) filling every inch of wall space. The best part of the city? There's an enormous blue bear peering into the windows of the convention center. At least they have a sense of humor, right?

It was a good weekend, a very laid back weekend. Lots of quality time with one of my closest relatives.

Catching Up: Part I

Once again, life has gotten in the way of updating this thing. I suppose that's a good sign, indicative of my freedom from the bonds of my computer. Or it's simple lethargy. No, surely it's the former. Surely.

At any rate, the Viennese Opera Ball has come and gone. (Check here for background information.) It was magical.

I arrived at the Waldorf-Astoria at 3:30pm, having taken a cab down there with some fellow waltzers. The girls ran off to start the costume/make-up process, while another leader and I cruised the neighborhood for some food. Ah, cheese steaks on Park Ave. We then had to dress in our tailsuits and be ready by 5pm for some more rehearsing (we had rehearsed at the Waldorf every day that week but one). We had to wait for the debutantes to rehearse their polonaise, which was finally starting to pull together, so a few of us snuck out of our green room to see the ballroom. It was beautiful, centerpieces of roses and long-stem candles on every table, all the places set for dinner, and the whole ambiance of the grand ballroom lit only by candle-light.


We rehearsed a few times ourselves, whilst mingling with the debutantes, a ballet couple from Austria, and the Met Opera singers who were also performing that night. It seemed to go on forever. Finally, at 9pm, the evening began. There had been a reception in a salon since 8pm, while we were rehearsing, so we didn't get to see that. As all of the guests, wealthy patrons, and UN Ambassadors took their seats, we watched the opening ceremonies from our staging area. A merchant marine bugle corps announced the procession of dignitaries (mostly members of the Austrian government). The debutante polonaise followed, and then the Austrian ballet couple with their minuet. Then we were on. Our performance went very smoothly, and was very well received. Over too soon, we bowed before the applause of the ballroom and started the Alles Waltzer (Everyone waltzes) to, of course, the Blue Danube Waltz. It was amazing to be dancing in that ballroom, in tails, at the Waldorf. Unbelievable.

During the Alles Waltzer, my dance partner and I were joined by our guests on the floor. (Each member of the waltz performance group was allowed to bring one guest.) My date looked beautiful, and seeing her for the first time on the floor I nearly tripped. (Well....) After the dance, we all went to our tables for dinner. Our table was on the balcony, overlooking the entire ballroom. We enjoyed the opera performances and an exquisite meal before the orchestra took up again and we danced some more. This went on until 1am, when the ballroom finally closed for the evening.

Far from from being over, everyone moved to a couple of salons--each with its own music, drinks, and snacks. Here we mingled, and danced to a jazz band, until nearly 5am. Finally, exhausted but overjoyed, we took a cab home. Parting gifts included a bottle of nice wine, some Austrian chocolates, and $1,000 off my next private jet charter of $10,000 or more.

What an amazing night. Quite literally, a dream come true.

Um....Winter?

Dec. 25th, 2005
High 54
Low 40

Jan. 5th, 2006
High 50
Low 38

Jan. 9th, 2006
High 60
Low 43

Jan. 21st, 2006
High 63
Low 37

Jan. 28th, 2006 (Predicted*)
High 53
Low 38

*From the Weather Underground (www.wunderground.com) website.

Doesn't this seem a little warm to you? Normal high temperatures for New York this time of year are in the mid or low 30's. I feel like I'm in an animated in-between scene from Monty Python.

"And autumn gave winter and spring a miss and went straight back into summer. And there was much rejoicing. Yay."

A Random Walk

Looks like I've yet again let this thing sit for a while without posting. Ah well. I'd like to say that I try, but the truth is, it's still just a diversion from work. So on the rare occasion that I am actually working, it doesn't get updated.

So, since the last post, I've gone skiing at Killington, had Christmas in Michigan, New Years in NYC, gone observing at Kitt Peak, and ran a 420-couple ballroom dance competition--in which I also competed. How's that for a run-on sentence, eh?

The ski trip was wonderful, the perfect end to a semester. Granted more time was spent being lazy by fire (and not being lazy by the fire) than actually skiing, but that was fine with me. I needed to relax and unwind, and I couldn't have asked for a better time.

After that, it was a whirlwind 4-day trip to Michigan and back for Christmas. Not much to report there, beside the usual huge Italian family craziness.

Back in NYC, I met up with a friend from swing dancing to go to a New Year's party not far from Times Square. (No, I did not actually go to Times Square, that would be silly.) It was a nice party, sort of low key, but lots of good people. For the actual count-down to the new year, we went up on the roof to see/hear the Times Square crowd. They fired off fireworks in the square. I couldn't believe it; fireworks being shot off between skyscrapers, exploding next to windows, and raining ash down on the crowd. No kiss on the dawn of the new year, though, as the only one I would have was far, far away.

Then it was off to Arizona for an observing run on a 1.3-meter telescope partially owned by Columbia. For the most part, we had perfect weather, and got lots of good data. As usual, I met some great people there, as well. I love meeting people on observing runs, it's one of my favorite things about what I do.

When I returned, I had only three short days to finish the preparations for the Manhattan Amateur Classic 2006 ballroom competition. I've been on the organizing committee for this since last spring, and preparations began back in June. While there were, of course, major crises every ten minutes, we were able to quell most of the problems and work out reasonable solutions. It was a lot of work, a lot of effort, and long hours. But in the end, the event came off well, and we received a lot of positive feedback from competitors and audience members. When the competition ended, the other members of the organizing committee took me out to nice dinner. Then we went to the hotel room of one of the organizers for an after-party. Oh, and in the competition, my partner and I placed 5th in Silver, which is the highest we've achieved thus far. Good times.

And now it's back to the grind. Today is the first day of class (I like to emphasize that I'm only taking one--and it's the last class I will ever have to take!). Though my class actually starts tomorrow. Nonetheless, there's much work to be done on my research. Data from the observing run to analyze. Officemates with whom to catch up on things. And of course, all my webcomics to read!