July review
This feels like it's been the fastest moving month of my life
I waste time, but tend to consider that needed downtime
On the 4th I fixed the flat tire I've had on my bike for the past few months, put on the new tire that I had ordered from performancebike.com (26x1 slick) - then rode down to the parade; later went to a BBQ and played a lot of volleyball. There was a heavy rainstorm that came through late in the day. The fireworks were still on, but I didn't feel like taking any more time, I had homework to do on my India project.
On the 14th, drove up to Ohiopyle, PA and spent the afternoon rafting with Georgetown MBA classmates. That was a fun time, we hung out at a local pub and camped at a place a few miles down the road. Sunday morning a few of us visited Fallingwater, which was my first time there, spectacular. The photos for the weekend are on facebook.com - the easiest way to get them online.
I'm really enjoying the classes I have this module, the professor for 'Economics of Strategic Behavior', Arthur Dong, is excellent. All case studies, with clear analytical methods and conclusions to be drawn from them. He's visiting from Columbia University. One of the stories he told was that Calvin Klein recently gave a talk there, and stated that 'fashion is dead' - meaning that the most popular fashion items are no longer the clothes you wear, but the personal electronics you carry, ipods, cell phones, etc
Much of my homework this month is work on the topic of 'stimulating and measuring innovation' - a research project we are doing on behalf of Philips Electronics India - the topic is very interesting and there is a lot of published material available. We interviewed the author of a book on innovation management and have had or about to have interviews with innovation consultants and industry managers.
I finally made myself do the usual routine medical stuff that I've avoided for a long long time. I'm generally healthy, and have a strong aversion to needles and many things medically related - so I don't like going to the doctor. But for this trip, I made myself have my first 'annual' physical since high school - clean bill of health. Getting my blood drawn was a bit of a ordeal for me. I was physically nervous just making the appointment. Walking into the lab, the technician said I looked very pale. The procedure went fine, was faster and easier than the ones I remember having growing up. But as I got up to leave and was walking past the nurses station, they said, no, don't leave, come back in here and sit down, you are way too pale. They thought I was about to pass out, and called a triage nurse to take my blood pressure. Of course it was low, but after some juice and talking for a bit I got my breath back and they let me go home.
That was the first appointment. The second was the physical. 5'10.25" 180 lbs . Good health. Needed a tetanus booster, the current concoction inoculates against whooping cough also. Didn't get as shocked with that one.
The third appointment was for the rest of the recommended vaccinations for India. I had been trying to make that appointment with Kaiser for weeks, calling once a week since the end of June. I had just about given up, but made myself call again this week and they finally scheduled it. Three vaccinations in my left arm and 4 weeks of malaria pills.
Also for the trip, I bought a new camera and a new laptop. (I can't bring my work laptop.) The camera is a Canon g7, a lot smaller than my DSLR, and much more practical. It doesn't have much a wide angle on the on-board lens, so I also bought an adapter with a wideangle lens that goes over top of the built in zoom.
The laptop I originally bought was a Gateway with a 12" touchscreen. They have gotten a lot of quality awards recently, so I wanted to try them out. A week after I ordered it, they said it was delayed for several weeks, and wouldn't get to me in time for the trip. I canceled. Ordered a similar HP - which was also available with a AMD dual core chip, which I'm both happy to support and it was several hundred cheaper. It shipped from China this week, got here in two days (though time shifting may have helped the travel time checks).
So, still a lot of work left to do before I leave, in under two weeks.
The plan so far is to arrive in Delhi late Saturday. Go to Bangalore and back on Monday. Do school-related activities through Saturday. Fly to Goa on Sunday and hang out with a classmate, and return to Delhi Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening to my flight home late Thursday is still unplanned. I need a hotel (or hostel?) and a plan for things to go see, I'll be on my own for those two days.
--
Otherwise, my marathon training hasn't gone so well, I'm at school three days a week or more, so the time isn't available to keep to a schedule. I'm running 1-2 days a week, and not running well, I've been doing intervals at the track on Tuesdays fine, but my Thursday and weekend runs I'm quitting half-way through and walking after only about 3 miles.
I got confirmed for 2 seats to the Rounds 1 & 2 NCAA Basketball Tournament next March at the Verizon Center in DC. No seat numbers, won't find out until January.
I waste time, but tend to consider that needed downtime
On the 4th I fixed the flat tire I've had on my bike for the past few months, put on the new tire that I had ordered from performancebike.com (26x1 slick) - then rode down to the parade; later went to a BBQ and played a lot of volleyball. There was a heavy rainstorm that came through late in the day. The fireworks were still on, but I didn't feel like taking any more time, I had homework to do on my India project.
On the 14th, drove up to Ohiopyle, PA and spent the afternoon rafting with Georgetown MBA classmates. That was a fun time, we hung out at a local pub and camped at a place a few miles down the road. Sunday morning a few of us visited Fallingwater, which was my first time there, spectacular. The photos for the weekend are on facebook.com - the easiest way to get them online.
I'm really enjoying the classes I have this module, the professor for 'Economics of Strategic Behavior', Arthur Dong, is excellent. All case studies, with clear analytical methods and conclusions to be drawn from them. He's visiting from Columbia University. One of the stories he told was that Calvin Klein recently gave a talk there, and stated that 'fashion is dead' - meaning that the most popular fashion items are no longer the clothes you wear, but the personal electronics you carry, ipods, cell phones, etc
Much of my homework this month is work on the topic of 'stimulating and measuring innovation' - a research project we are doing on behalf of Philips Electronics India - the topic is very interesting and there is a lot of published material available. We interviewed the author of a book on innovation management and have had or about to have interviews with innovation consultants and industry managers.
I finally made myself do the usual routine medical stuff that I've avoided for a long long time. I'm generally healthy, and have a strong aversion to needles and many things medically related - so I don't like going to the doctor. But for this trip, I made myself have my first 'annual' physical since high school - clean bill of health. Getting my blood drawn was a bit of a ordeal for me. I was physically nervous just making the appointment. Walking into the lab, the technician said I looked very pale. The procedure went fine, was faster and easier than the ones I remember having growing up. But as I got up to leave and was walking past the nurses station, they said, no, don't leave, come back in here and sit down, you are way too pale. They thought I was about to pass out, and called a triage nurse to take my blood pressure. Of course it was low, but after some juice and talking for a bit I got my breath back and they let me go home.
That was the first appointment. The second was the physical. 5'10.25" 180 lbs . Good health. Needed a tetanus booster, the current concoction inoculates against whooping cough also. Didn't get as shocked with that one.
The third appointment was for the rest of the recommended vaccinations for India. I had been trying to make that appointment with Kaiser for weeks, calling once a week since the end of June. I had just about given up, but made myself call again this week and they finally scheduled it. Three vaccinations in my left arm and 4 weeks of malaria pills.
Also for the trip, I bought a new camera and a new laptop. (I can't bring my work laptop.) The camera is a Canon g7, a lot smaller than my DSLR, and much more practical. It doesn't have much a wide angle on the on-board lens, so I also bought an adapter with a wideangle lens that goes over top of the built in zoom.
The laptop I originally bought was a Gateway with a 12" touchscreen. They have gotten a lot of quality awards recently, so I wanted to try them out. A week after I ordered it, they said it was delayed for several weeks, and wouldn't get to me in time for the trip. I canceled. Ordered a similar HP - which was also available with a AMD dual core chip, which I'm both happy to support and it was several hundred cheaper. It shipped from China this week, got here in two days (though time shifting may have helped the travel time checks).
So, still a lot of work left to do before I leave, in under two weeks.
The plan so far is to arrive in Delhi late Saturday. Go to Bangalore and back on Monday. Do school-related activities through Saturday. Fly to Goa on Sunday and hang out with a classmate, and return to Delhi Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday evening to my flight home late Thursday is still unplanned. I need a hotel (or hostel?) and a plan for things to go see, I'll be on my own for those two days.
--
Otherwise, my marathon training hasn't gone so well, I'm at school three days a week or more, so the time isn't available to keep to a schedule. I'm running 1-2 days a week, and not running well, I've been doing intervals at the track on Tuesdays fine, but my Thursday and weekend runs I'm quitting half-way through and walking after only about 3 miles.
I got confirmed for 2 seats to the Rounds 1 & 2 NCAA Basketball Tournament next March at the Verizon Center in DC. No seat numbers, won't find out until January.