"He’s a 7-foot-tall, ex-basketball pro, hindu guru drag-queen alien"
This is gonna be a long one, but deal.
This is Orientation week. we are signing up for grad classes and whatnot. It's not too shabby, really. I like the people I'm with, we have great equipment. The librarian was complaining because we only had internet access and backdate copies to the beginning of time for 8 of the 9 major german chem journals. Of course, the english language ones are no problem. Still trying to get my bus pass, the line, last time I was in it, had upwards of 700 people in it. Free food, nice profs, and surrounded by ubergeekdom's best and brightest. Campus is alive with undergrads. you guys look so little, (insert Nelson ha ha). Coolest chem grad student name: Shervin.
Allison and I took a trip with our friends from church to Ocean Beach. its on the west side of SF. Note to those unfamiliar. Ocean beach isn't much for swimming for a variety of reasons. First, is that when you see people talk about riptide, basically that translates to "water conditions like ocean beach." Second, a 15 foot great white was sited 30m offshore less than 3 days ago, and given the fact that 2 weeks back they ate a guy not 10 miles north of ocean beach, that makes people a bit wary. Also, its august. That means that after 6pm, SF temp is about, oh, say 58 on a warm day. the pacific is a big body of water, it doesn't warm up that much this far north. Therefore, in the pictures, which I will be happy to post later, you will note the winter garb, i.e. "Viking Booties", parkas, PomPom hats and scarves. It is necessary, trust me. The fog and waves weresuper cool. We had a huge bonfire, cooked smores, sang "If the queens english was good enough for Jesus Christ, its good enough for me" with our Kiwi friend, Dean. Two guys stripped naked and swam for ~2 mins. All and all a blast.
On the way back one of the coolest Oakland stories you will ever here was confirmed by the locals. George lucas got the idea for AT-ATs looking at the dock loading equipment there. He grew up in the area, and I swear, you put a english accent and a nazi uniform in those babies, you got one. I heard the blaster fire from the bay bridge. I resisted the urge to say, "Dack, you ok?"
They are training me to be a Teacher this week, in addition to other student stuff. We went through various exercises in how to properly lead labs, discussion sections, etc. This mainly involves various levels of trust breaking and elusive hiding behind bureaucratic policy. Makes me feel like John Kerry.
Homeless Update:
I have decided to include a new section in my post, which as mentioned above I will call the homeless update. For the first installment, I have only included one of my original favorites - Bicycle Dude with Pet Pigeon. First sited at Lower Sproul Plaza by the golden bear statue. Bicycle Dude is seen up and down University Ave., usually in the late morning. He is haggard, bearded, glasses-wearing and rides a mildly damaged ten speed. He has a pet pigeon, name unknown, who rides on his shoulder, which is draped in a pigeon-poo-proof towel stolen from an unknown dumpster. Claims to also have wife, but this is undocumented. Will attempt to find out more on Bicycle Dude with Pet Pigeon.
Our church is great. In addition to lots of fun grad students, and good sermons, they have an excellent band that is 25% PhD. This results in some suitable quirkyness, such as the fact that many of our hymns are sung in foreign languages...ya know, like Klingon. Thats right, they sing "Glory, Glory Lord" in Klingon.
Allison and the neighbors are conspiring against me. There is much skullduggery about. I will find them out and reveal their dark plot later...
That is all.