It is snowing on my paper!

Oh noes!

Who will shovel the theoretical perspective?!?!

My morning in music

At first, my iTunes library on random this morning was more of a genius than Genius could ever be.  Then it deviated into just random as opposed to genius-ly random.

John Hiatt - Georgia Rae

Whiskeytown - Yesterday's News

Ryan Adams - Follow the Lights

Rolling Stones - Rocks Off

Ryan Adams - Desire

Ray Charles - Careless Love

Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness

Catch 22 - Kristina She Don't Know I Exist

Pure Prairie League - Let Me Love You Tonight

Lonestar - Amazed

Well, then we have Pimsleur's Learn to Speak Italian III Unit 21.  I skipped that....

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall.

Trampled by Turtles - At Your Window

Edgar Winters Group - Free Ride

Eric Clapton - Love In Vain

Kinks - Destroyer

Jerry Garcia Band - Tough Mama

Berlin Symphony Orchestra - Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90: IV. Allegro

Rolling Stones - You Got the Silver


Well then I had to listen to a statistics consultant talking about missing data in datasets.  Thus ended my music morning.

I'm much more of an alt. country music fan than I let on to.

A Tomboy Walks Into a Bar...

I am not sure if it's because I don't get out much, but sometimes I get hit on very strangely.

Take this past Wednesday for instance.

Guy at the bar: I'm really attracted to you.  I don't know if it's because of your short hair or the fact that we're wearing the same shoes.

Mission Impossible

I tried to do some analysis in ATLAS.ti which sounded very promising and...

Blah.  But, creative.

Holidays

Gobble, gobble, folks.  The stuff-your-face holiday is almost upon us.  Which of course leads to the very important question of readiness.

Do you know what beer you are going to pair your Thanksgiving meal with???


BeerAdvocate has some suggestions in case this slipped your mind (heavens!).

In the October Issue of MAA (Mathematical Association of America)

Why does "her" have to be in parenthesis, a smaller font size, and un-capitalized?

More memories!

S found me on facebook! And sent this photo along.  Too funny.  Sometimes facebook comes in handy.

Modern Relationships

Susan Orlean, a summertime vacationer of Wellfleet*, at the New Yorker has written an article titled, "The Social Index" for her column, Free Range: Encounters with people, places, and things, by Susan Orlean.


In response to this article, The Atlantic Magazine picked up a modern relationship that is missing from the index, the one that exists when a person reads a post, article, book, entry, etc. that has been written by a human being, thus being social and thus being a relationship. The Atlantic tumblr post is here.
The Atlantic seems to be arguing that even sitting alone and reading is social.  I, personally, agree.  I probably wouldn't have two years ago, but I do now.


Is there anything that is not social?  Can thinking be not social?  If thinking is laden with intentionality, then it is, by nature, social?  Just thoughts for myself or for yourself.
Anyway, I'm still running a fever.  Maybe I'll pop some more Tylenol.
 
*I just had to add a plug for my awesome tiny hometown!

Language

Language is critically important; as many of us know.

In this graduate program, I am constantly finding myself refining, re-phrasing, and re-defining for myself, the words I use to express my thoughts (or attempts at expressing my thoughts).  A perfect example, and something I am struggling with in class, is the word "operationalize". 


You can think of operationalize in two ways:
1) to define a concept or variable so that it can be measured or expressed quantitatively

or

2) to put into operation, start working



I use operationalize regularly in the second way.  However, "operationalize" is extremely important in class (and in research) as it relates to the first definition.  I am having to re-define "operationalize" for myself so it is used in relation to the first way as opposed to the second; although both are accurate.  This is a very interesting thing, re-defining words, and something I find myself doing more of this semester, this year 2 of the program.  This is hopefully a product of thinking more scientifically and precisely however, I cannot make such causal inferences.



(Also, for some reason when I see the word "language" lately, I've been reading it as "Lagrange" as in Lagrange multipliers.  There's a calculus flashback.  Actually, I know the reason why.)

We have an activity involving a rocket simulation.  Boss insisted the Rocket be named "Challenger" in the activity.

I am often the person in the classroom when the teacher and students see this for the first time.  There are often a lot of comments and reactions to this name from both students and the teacher.  I am silently in agreement with them.

C:  Why do they call it "clash of the titans" when there are zero titans in it?

Me:  Isn't that the name of their football team?  The Titans?  And they clash with one another.

C:  The movie.  Its about zeus and poseidon, etc, but they weren't titans

Me:  wait, are you not talking about the football movie with denzel?

C:  No

On the Rally to Restore Sanity FAQ Page

 I kind of want to go...

Smiles & laughs

Ahhhhh hahahahahahahaha.  This was just sent to me in email.

At Gull Pond.  The summer we had Japanese exchange students.  This was a great summer!

I'm just about to start watching Season 4 of Northern Exposure when RUINED!

 

Honestly, how cute are these three though?




Adorable.

Dutch Brown Ale

This beer label is one of the most interesting labels I've seen.  I can't find an image large enough to do it justice.  But if you see it in a store, look closely.

Waiting for scroll bar to load...

There's a sex joke in here somewhere.  ;)

On An Uber Dylan Kick

Just implant speakers in my head.

Have purchased:

• Jerry Garcia Band Covers Dylan
• The Byrds play Dylan
• The Village - A Celebration of the Music of Greenwich Village
• Nashville Skyline

NBC - Jimmy Fallon: History of Rap

Justin Timberlake and I are roughly the same age, so this resonated with me as part of my youth as well.

Must stop playing with calculus grapher.  Must read and write stuff.

I've almost got facebook right where I want facebook.

Dress Options

I've got a wedding to attend the weekend after this one.

To the left are my two dress options.  I'm still deciding.
I'm excited about this wedding because it is taking place in the Berkshires -- so there will be foliage to see, cider to drink, fresh mountain air to breathe in, a drink or two to be had at the Moan and Dove, and hikes to go on. Maybe I'll pick the brown dress.  It goes better with my trail shoes.  :)

Hey Ya!

I did not leave enough time to read this article on epistemology...

... and am more confused about reality than ever.

I knew my grandfather died in a fire on the military base in Quantico, VA.  Or at least I thought he died in the fire.  I learned yesterday that he survived the fire and actually died in the hospital just after his wife, my grandmother, arrived to his side. 

Love this song -- Volume UP

For the record?

Person who asked: So, how come you're still single?

Me: Well... I'd like to be in a serious, committed relationship, but right now I just really don't want to go through the hassle & drudgery of dating to get there.

Person who asked: That's pretty insightful.

Me: No, it's not.

Couch.

I want to go to there.

Set List Wish List

The following is best with a British accent (Boss) and a heavy Polish accent.

Boss: Look at my new Fingerprint Secure Drive!

Polish Visitor: What? What is that?

Boss: It's a USB external hard drive and you need my fingerprint to gain access to it!

Polish Visitor: Now we figure out how best to cut off your finger.

Boss: You're going to cut off my finger?

Polish Visitor: Yes. To get your files. Wait! I don't need to cut off your finger, just knock you out and make photocopy of your finger. Photocopy will work.

Boss: A photocopy will not work!

Polish Visitor: It will.

Boss: I'll have Sara test it tomorrow.

Where is mathematics?


















(Image from MA State Science Frameworks document, page 81)


Oh, I found it.

















(Construction note: I created the regular tetrahedron first and the circles were created using vertices of the tetrahedron (which were on the same face, in the plane shown) as center points of the circles.)


Okay, issues:

• I do not mean to imply that mathematics is a singular point of 1 dimension where S/T/E are two dimensional; math is the tetrahedron;
  
• However, I do not mean to imply that mathematics is in a higher dimension thus possibly implying it is "not for everyone" and "hard"

Geesh, representations are hard.

What are you going to do when you wake up at 5am and can't sleep and aren't interested in being productive?



Give yourself bangs of course.




Photo taken much later. About 7:30am when I got to work. Ugh.

Come Go With Me - The Beach Boys

To get you (me) dancing in your (my) seat.


Come Go with Me - The Beach Boys




:)

This is a Google map street view screen capture of a bar in Prague.

I'm about 90% sure that this is the bar where I watched Italy win the last World Cup title in 2006.

Funniest moment of the July 4th weekend...

Traffic is being held up by a building dancing in the street to this kid playing Jimi Hendrix on electric guitar.


A cop steps in and the building walks away...

Middle School Flashback

Arrested Development - People Everyday (Everyday People)

I started this post a couple weeks ago shortly after I had this dream. Am posting now because I chuckled.


Earlier this week (a few weeks ago at this point) I had an intense dream. It wasn't a nightmare - it was a stunt. Here's how it went... A few of us* went up into a blimp like thing (except it wasn't a blimp nor was it a small plane). We weren't skydiving - that would be just to amateur for a group like us. Instead we stood on the edge, lit the aircraft on fire and waited until we literally fell because what we were standing on broke due to the fire. Upon which we fell (without any sort of parachute device) into a mostly enclosed body of water. This body of water was somewhat like the Bay of Fundy and we had to time the fall just right so we fell into the water as it was withdrawing from high tide so as to, you know, not die. We would then land safely on our feet (ta da!)

Strange and dangerous indeed. It was all so clear and detailed. It surely did not last long but I woke up with a memory of the orange & red scorching flames burning the aircraft, and the deathly fall which triggered thoughts of my life, regrets, and possible death. Sigh. I awoke exhausted.


*The us was never fully clear to me.

Worthless things you know from work...

How do you evict knowledge from your brain space?

Someone on twitter made a comment about an "i" button (imaginary number key) on the TI-84, wondering when that happened.

Immediately I thought, the TI-82 never had an "i" button. The TI-83 was the first calculator to display an "i" button on the faceplate.

I need help.




Note: TI-82 not pictured. I have one, but for some reason it isn't in the photo.

My Version of a Basically Perfect Day

Today was a perfect combination of productive and relaxing. I hope to have many more days like this.

• I woke and put together a breakfast of coffee, oj, berries & yogurt and watched the Men's final of the French Open which ended earlier than I anticipated so I watched 2 episodes of Peep Show.
• Then I went for a long walk.
• I ran some necessary errands which were mostly boring but included purchasing a basil plant and two tomato plants. I am very excited about this purchase and am looking forward to making Bruschetta this summer with fresh basil.
  
• I returned home and made myself an omelet for lunch while looking around online for farmer's markets in the area, and where to get local cheese, fruits & veggies.
  
• I then went for a swim. It was cool but refreshing and doing laps felt really good.
  
• Back home for a hot shower (first of the day).
• Popped open a Victory Pilsner and have sat down for some quality time with the sewing machine.

Bluegrass Fast & Dirty

My brother had an extra ticket to see Trampled by Turtles at the Middle East last night. I was hesitant about going; not because of the music, these guys are fantastic, but I wasn't in the right mindset nor was I feeling 100%. I went anyway. And despite waking this morning tired and feeling like I'd been punched in the head, I was happy I went. They rocked. And even though they didn't play two covers that I love (which they played last time), "Dead Flowers" and "Don't Think Twice (It's Alright)" I was happy to hear new stuff and dance. How could you not dance? It's fast paced and full of energy.


I've embedded a music video for "Wait So Long" below and although it does not do Erik on the mandolin justice (he's fun to watch)... I urge you to, get trampled!




Source

The Brimfield fair is this week & weekend. I had wanted to go this year and purchase one of these for a wall decoration:



It doesn't look like that is going to happen this year...

Tis the season for Eatin' Cookie

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms.

My new apartment building with a cherry blossom tree out front. I've been waiting and waiting for it to blossom and then one evening I arrived home to find it had popped! This is my first Springtime in the new place. I am enjoying it.

Also, the outside of the building was just recently painted within the last month!

This is symbolic & still creates meaning. But is it effective? Those who know about LOST may have created a mental image of the above that differs from the image I've uploaded. The mental image is probably iconic.

Is one sign superior to the other? Or am I just too lazy/busy to Photoshop Locke's face into the photo?


Image source: Discover Blog

Maybe I'm amazed easily

I have a braided rug in my new apt. that I took from my mother's basement. It was hand braided by my great-grandmother. And now, over 50 years after her death, it lays in my NB apartment. This amazes me.

I am transcribing.

Which bullet will win?




Also, I love numbers.

Things don't usually turn out this way but I'd just like to share 3 very surprising stories.


Story 1
In high school a neighbor had a renter who had a cat and worked lots of hours. Because of her schedule she was looking to pay someone to come by daily during the week and spend some time with the cat and feed the cat. The neighbor recommended me. I agreed. I love cats! And earning money in high school was always a plus. I think we agreed that she would pay me $40 on a monthly basis or something. Anyway, I went daily after school and played with the cat and fed the cat. The cat was really sweet but that's not the point of the story. It was the end of the last week of a month; I was supposed to get paid the next day or something. I stopped by after school as usual, but found no cat and the apartment was empty! I talked with the neighbor and she said the woman moved out that morning having given no notice. It was all around strange. My mother was mad because the woman did not pay me for that month and I had been very responsible, often visiting the cat after school and in the evening. I was more upset at not having said goodbye to the cat. The neighbor did not leave a forwarding address or anything; so there was nothing left to do but learn a lesson.

About four or five months later I received a very late Christmas card in the mail. It was from the woman and included an apology for not telling me she was moving as well as a check! My mother was shocked. My naive high school self was not as shocked but was happy to know she and the cat were okay and, of course, to have the $40.


Story 2
For three years in high school I had the same summer job. I worked with this woman, Carole. She was in her late thirties or early forties. She was very nice and we were work friends. She worked there for the last 2 summers that I did. At the end of each summer, she (along with most people who worked summers on the Cape) left the cape to go elsewhere for work. And I went to school. Sometime during the fall of my second year of college, I received a collect call from Carole. I hadn't heard from her in over a year and did not know who it was at first. She told me her car ran out of gas while leaving the Cape and heading to Western Mass and she was stuck at a gas station with no money and could I drive to meet her and loan her some money to get gas and some food so she can get back to Western Mass. I was really surprised but agreed. (I know, I know. This is the part of the story where the hand hits the forehead and you might be saying, "Sara, are you kidding me?")

Anyway, it took me about an hour to drive to where Carole was. I loaned her some money, bought the both of us coffee, we chatted for a bit and then parted ways. Carole told me she'd mail me a check when she got to Western Mass. Off she went, and back to school I went. My mother was furious when she heard what happened. She thought I was smarter than that. I told her I trusted Carole and believed she would send me the money and I became my mother's stupid child.

It took somewhere between 10-12 months but I did receive a card in the mail from Carole with a check for the money she owed me and a grateful thank you. I was still the stupidest child, just also lucky.

Story 3
I recently had to move out of my apartment because the building was headed for foreclosure. I wasn't given a lot of notice, but I found a new place quickly and was able to move with only some minor disruptions (no water, ahem). Anyway, when I left the old place I had paid the last month's rent twice (when I first moved in and before I knew I had to move out) and had paid a security deposit. I tried several times to get this money from the landlord before I moved out. I set up meeting times and offered to swing by and pick it up but each time was in vain, she forgot or lost the check. After I moved out I called her several times about the best way to get the check; she never answered my call or called me back. So finally I left her a message telling her I was sending her a self-addressed stamped envelope so she could just place the check inside and drop it in the mail. I figured this would be the easiest for her and she didn't have to see me or talk to me. I thought if anything would work, this would work. So I was disappointed when I had not heard anything 2 weeks later and figured it was a lost cause 4 weeks later.

This past week (6 weeks later) I received a familiar looking envelope in the mail -- the self addressed stamped envelope I wrote. There was a check inside with an apology note. Am I surprised? Yes. But then again, this sort of thing has happened before.

Ides of March looking towards the ides of July

It's the ides of March. In four months I turn 29. For the first time. As a birthday present to myself, I would like to be 10lbs lighter on that date.


I know this won't be easy. But I plan on trying hard. And making it public here might serve as some encouragement for me.


I am currently 20 lbs heavier than when I started college, but about 15 lbs lighter than my heaviest weight not that long ago. While I really want to get back to the weight I was at when starting college, I'd be happy with losing just the 10 pounds.


I plan on eating less, eating healthier, and most importantly being more active: walks and possibly Pilates. If necessary, I will resort to leaving berating messages to myself in the bathroom mirror and putting up old photos of myself on the fridge. I'm serious folks. Really, serious.

Grenoble to Marseille: 2 hours 55 mins
Grenoble to Zurich via Bern: 3 hours 57 mins
Grenoble to Milan via Torino: 3 hours 59 mins
Grenoble to Paris: 5 hours 17 mins


Weekend trips would be amazing.


Just sayin.

404

From: http://www.dilbert.com/404

Yup, another video

I ache.
Physically and emotionally.


I hope it's just the season.

Kate the Great made #1 on Beer Advocate's Most-Wanted Beer List

Kinetic Sculpture

Theo Jansen

Audi RS5

Beauty.

















Speed.

















Power.

















WTF?
















But still....

Can I borrows this for a second? I'll bring it right back. Okay?


Images from: http://www.luxist.com/gallery/audi-rs5-3/

Kate the Great!

Next Monday, 3/1, is Kate the Great day at Portsmouth Brewery in NH. I really want to go and have a taste. I've never had this impeccable Russian Imperial Stout that folks wait in line for hours and hours to taste. Three years ago I was supposed to play hooky and head up there with some friends. Instead I acted responsibly and went to work.

And it looks like this year will end similarly.

Sleep

I recently shared this item on Google Reader.

I've wanted the Sleeptracker watch for a while now. But the Zeo sounds really neat! Altho it is expensive and the lady on the website looks a little silly with that headband on.

As a child I had sleep apnea. My poor mother; so many nights sleeping (not very well) in my room waking multiple times during the night to scream at me to breath. I can't imagine. Anyway, since then I have been interested in sleep patterns & REM sleep.

Childhood was interesting

I got an email from my dad recently. The beginning went like this: "Hi Sara, how's life? I'm still in Bali treasure hunting. Got 5 ants, 5 feet tall, a giraffe 16 ft, a 4 foot elephant mermaid, and an 8 foot frog holding an umbrella."

And I've been wondering what the heck an elephant mermaid looks like ever since.