long overdue
just to get the ball rolling again...
In general, life's been pretty good in the bay area... Daylight savings time seems to have brought a number of quality-of-life increases: A new quarter, sunlit evenings in Potrero Hill, spring intramurals, and warmer water. The only really negative thing we've had is a late-season virus she caught from one of the kids that has Colleen feeling a bit under the weather, but she's not letting it slow her down much; it just means being subbed in and out of the soccer games a little more frequently.
With respect to school, this quarter has shed some of the frustrations of last quarter's classes and has potential. So far, I've really enjoyed leading sections in "Intro to Cognitive Science", pontificating on epiphenomenalism, Turing machines, and other nerdy stuff. Also, my advisor's seminar on imitation learning is interesting and relaxing. Now I've got to resist some of the non-academic opportunites of the spring and focus a bit more on my eye-tracking research. For now, I'm going to enjoy the spring a bit more, and as long as I'm scoring goals in the intramurals games I don't think my advisor will mind. However, I am realizing that losing is not an option for my academic carreer... Luckily, our two intramural teams are doing well, 2-and-0 and 1-and-0 respectively, and actually outplaying the other teams, a fact I enjoy much more than winning. Being captain is good; I feel like I'm successfully managing the delicate situation of having a large range of talent and ambition. Even our less experienced players are definitely pulling their weight, and are beginning to play a pretty game.
Meanwhile, softball is all about BBQ and drinking in the sun. While the department isn't always perfect, they certainly understand the subtleties of softball, even if we're 1-and-2. Almost makes me want to go to a Giants game.
One other slight disappointment is that the skiing season is coming to an end. Tahoe had one of the best winters in years, and despite the fact there is still fifteen feet of base on the mountain, the resorts are closing this weekend. However, I did get a number of epic days of riding in, and without a single concussion! Colleen also adapted surprisingly well to the snow, tackling serious slopes on her second day of skiing, but our Corolla didn't fare so well. One trip resulted in $1200 in repairs when it simply died at the resort, and in the middle of the next trip, the passenger window decided it had enough of the snow and mud and decided to simply drop into the door. Soon thereafter on the way home, the tire chains broke and wrapped themselves around the CV joint, stranding us on a snow pass with out of control SUVs slamming into snow embankments to avoid our crippled car. Everything turned out fine, but that was the last time the Corolla goes to tahoe in the snow.
Taking the place of snowboarding is surfing. I've only been out a few times now, but it is really exciting to be getting to know the pacific. Although colder and much less convenient than the atlantic, it is remarkably different and generally more powerful. I have a lot of implicit knowledge that just doesn't apply here, making it very alien and exciting. There is also a ton of weird crap floating about, some alien flotsam which I've decided is interesting and doesn't make me involuntarily shiver. The main impetus for finally borrowing a board and getting out was the excitement of going to Maverick's a few weeks ago and watching the once-a-year contest. I'm pretty sure NBC is finally broadcasting it this sunday afternoon. the waves were pretty amazing; check it out.
Finally, Colleen and I are looking forward to my parents' visit in a couple weeks. We've realized we need more visitors, and since we're never going to be able to afford living in San Francisco again, hit us up before we're somewhere like Pittsburgh!
that is all for now. hopefully i can keep in touch a bit more often...
In general, life's been pretty good in the bay area... Daylight savings time seems to have brought a number of quality-of-life increases: A new quarter, sunlit evenings in Potrero Hill, spring intramurals, and warmer water. The only really negative thing we've had is a late-season virus she caught from one of the kids that has Colleen feeling a bit under the weather, but she's not letting it slow her down much; it just means being subbed in and out of the soccer games a little more frequently.
With respect to school, this quarter has shed some of the frustrations of last quarter's classes and has potential. So far, I've really enjoyed leading sections in "Intro to Cognitive Science", pontificating on epiphenomenalism, Turing machines, and other nerdy stuff. Also, my advisor's seminar on imitation learning is interesting and relaxing. Now I've got to resist some of the non-academic opportunites of the spring and focus a bit more on my eye-tracking research. For now, I'm going to enjoy the spring a bit more, and as long as I'm scoring goals in the intramurals games I don't think my advisor will mind. However, I am realizing that losing is not an option for my academic carreer... Luckily, our two intramural teams are doing well, 2-and-0 and 1-and-0 respectively, and actually outplaying the other teams, a fact I enjoy much more than winning. Being captain is good; I feel like I'm successfully managing the delicate situation of having a large range of talent and ambition. Even our less experienced players are definitely pulling their weight, and are beginning to play a pretty game.
Meanwhile, softball is all about BBQ and drinking in the sun. While the department isn't always perfect, they certainly understand the subtleties of softball, even if we're 1-and-2. Almost makes me want to go to a Giants game.
One other slight disappointment is that the skiing season is coming to an end. Tahoe had one of the best winters in years, and despite the fact there is still fifteen feet of base on the mountain, the resorts are closing this weekend. However, I did get a number of epic days of riding in, and without a single concussion! Colleen also adapted surprisingly well to the snow, tackling serious slopes on her second day of skiing, but our Corolla didn't fare so well. One trip resulted in $1200 in repairs when it simply died at the resort, and in the middle of the next trip, the passenger window decided it had enough of the snow and mud and decided to simply drop into the door. Soon thereafter on the way home, the tire chains broke and wrapped themselves around the CV joint, stranding us on a snow pass with out of control SUVs slamming into snow embankments to avoid our crippled car. Everything turned out fine, but that was the last time the Corolla goes to tahoe in the snow.
Taking the place of snowboarding is surfing. I've only been out a few times now, but it is really exciting to be getting to know the pacific. Although colder and much less convenient than the atlantic, it is remarkably different and generally more powerful. I have a lot of implicit knowledge that just doesn't apply here, making it very alien and exciting. There is also a ton of weird crap floating about, some alien flotsam which I've decided is interesting and doesn't make me involuntarily shiver. The main impetus for finally borrowing a board and getting out was the excitement of going to Maverick's a few weeks ago and watching the once-a-year contest. I'm pretty sure NBC is finally broadcasting it this sunday afternoon. the waves were pretty amazing; check it out.
Finally, Colleen and I are looking forward to my parents' visit in a couple weeks. We've realized we need more visitors, and since we're never going to be able to afford living in San Francisco again, hit us up before we're somewhere like Pittsburgh!
that is all for now. hopefully i can keep in touch a bit more often...