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I am waiting. Waiting for a job, waiting to move, waiting to settle in a new place, waiting to start a new phase of my life, waiting for my real life to begin. Luckily there has been some movement on that front, and by the end of August I hope to be moved, settled, and employed.
In other news, Happy 4th!
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
It's Been Awhile
I apologize for the time that has passed since I last posted, though I do believe my readership has significantly dropped off. No worries; I do this more for myself than anyone, though I do appreciate the loyal readers who have continued to follow me.
In the last month, I have:
- received my Master's degree (!!)
- moved into a new place for the summer
- begun to look for a job in earnest (though I was before too)
- made new friends
- seen old friends move away for good :(
- opened a Netflix account, which is my new consuming hobby
- had far too much fun drinking/going to pubs
Additionally, my family is officially moving from New York. That will be interesting. I never developed an affinity for the place we've lived for over a decade, but it will be weird to have no ties to my parent's new home. Forever after, I will always be a guest; there will be no memories tied to their house, no marks I've made in the past to call it mine in any way. I also won't have a clue as to how to get around the town. I'm happy for them, however, and excited that they're opening a new chapter in their life. I hope to do so with mine as well, and soon!
I've also been rather introspective of late, as tends to happen when a big change occurs in your life. I know that I won't be going back to school for several years, if ever, and starting my career is both exciting and terrifying. Some recent experiences have also pushed me over the edge in desiring to settle somewhere; I've been on the move for a year, and have felt like I was in transition for over 2. I want a place to call my own, and to grow some roots. Not that I don't have roots here in Pittsburgh, but they are inexorably tied to Carnegie Mellon and the people there. My life has now gone beyond the university, and while I love it and always will, it's time for me to expand my network and make new connections. It's tough when I don't plan on being in Pittsburgh past the summer though: everything is transient, every one I meet I wonder "will I ever see this person again?". I'm frustrated that this is where I've placed myself, but I suppose it's better than being at home, with nothing to do.
I hope to do more writing here during the summer, and finish my Australia series before I forget it all. Cheers!
In the last month, I have:
- received my Master's degree (!!)
- moved into a new place for the summer
- begun to look for a job in earnest (though I was before too)
- made new friends
- seen old friends move away for good :(
- opened a Netflix account, which is my new consuming hobby
- had far too much fun drinking/going to pubs
Additionally, my family is officially moving from New York. That will be interesting. I never developed an affinity for the place we've lived for over a decade, but it will be weird to have no ties to my parent's new home. Forever after, I will always be a guest; there will be no memories tied to their house, no marks I've made in the past to call it mine in any way. I also won't have a clue as to how to get around the town. I'm happy for them, however, and excited that they're opening a new chapter in their life. I hope to do so with mine as well, and soon!
I've also been rather introspective of late, as tends to happen when a big change occurs in your life. I know that I won't be going back to school for several years, if ever, and starting my career is both exciting and terrifying. Some recent experiences have also pushed me over the edge in desiring to settle somewhere; I've been on the move for a year, and have felt like I was in transition for over 2. I want a place to call my own, and to grow some roots. Not that I don't have roots here in Pittsburgh, but they are inexorably tied to Carnegie Mellon and the people there. My life has now gone beyond the university, and while I love it and always will, it's time for me to expand my network and make new connections. It's tough when I don't plan on being in Pittsburgh past the summer though: everything is transient, every one I meet I wonder "will I ever see this person again?". I'm frustrated that this is where I've placed myself, but I suppose it's better than being at home, with nothing to do.
I hope to do more writing here during the summer, and finish my Australia series before I forget it all. Cheers!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Oh Joe!
I work part time for a small nonprofit in East Liberty. Most of the time I work from home, but occasionally I have to go out to their office. At those times, I also go and grab my groceries from Trader Joe's. I just went today.
Every time I shop there, I am impressed by the store. It doesn't have as wide a selection of products as traditional supermarkets, but that makes it much easier for me to manage my purchases. I don't buy those foods that I know I shouldn't (like sweets and junk food), and even if I want to splurge, their snacks are made from healthier ingredients. Buying the Trader Joe's brand is also about the same price as Market District - and tastier - and they have a large selection of organic produce and other foods. And their prices are much more reasonable than Whole Foods.
What sets this grocery apart from the rest is their service. The cashier's are so friendly and talkative, and all the workers are very helpful. They make sure that you've found all the items you needed for the day, and chat about the weather, etc. I always feel happy after I leave.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
My Love Affair
Like most love affairs, this one started slow and halting. In the beginning, I actually hated you: you made me tired and sore, and were more of a drag than a source of joy. But I stuck with you, hoping that we'd get past this bad stuff and on to the good stuff soon. I was right!
I'm still tired and sore, but that is a welcome rather than dreaded effect. I've increased my confidence, and I miss you when I can't see you every day. Oh my treadmill, I love you so!
About a month ago, I decided that I needed to get off my butt and start working out again. I was very regular with yoga in Adelaide, and campus was a 3k walk each way. I didn't realize how much of a workout that was until I came back to Pittsburgh and an apartment just minutes away from everything I needed to access. So, after a month or two of nothing (I tried Bikram, but it's just too much of a hassle to get to the Strip and back consistently), it was back to the gym!
I've also had this dream of training for a marathon. Running has never been my strong point and I've never liked it. It's also caused me many physical problems (twisted, ankle, sprained knee and other ligaments) which have prevented me from developing a rhythm. This spring, however, running seemed to click. It's still hard, and I'm not very strong yet, but I've been increasing my speed and endurance gradually. In the near future I plan on running in a 5k - I figured I'd start out small. Marathons are tough!
Due to the winter, I've been running inside on a treadmill (it's also easier to maintain a consistent speed too), but with the weather perking up and my strength increasing, I've taken to running outside in my neighborhood. Let's hope, with baby steps, that I can keep this up!!
------
In other news, Pittsburgh and Oakland particularly have been filled with police from all over the country! They all came for the memorial services of the three police officers that were killed last weekend in Stanton Heights. Both Forbes and Fifth Avenue were impassable; cops came from as far as California and Ontario. My room has been filled with the noise of police sirens blaring down the street all day. It's a moving sight (and sound).
I'm still tired and sore, but that is a welcome rather than dreaded effect. I've increased my confidence, and I miss you when I can't see you every day. Oh my treadmill, I love you so!
About a month ago, I decided that I needed to get off my butt and start working out again. I was very regular with yoga in Adelaide, and campus was a 3k walk each way. I didn't realize how much of a workout that was until I came back to Pittsburgh and an apartment just minutes away from everything I needed to access. So, after a month or two of nothing (I tried Bikram, but it's just too much of a hassle to get to the Strip and back consistently), it was back to the gym!
I've also had this dream of training for a marathon. Running has never been my strong point and I've never liked it. It's also caused me many physical problems (twisted, ankle, sprained knee and other ligaments) which have prevented me from developing a rhythm. This spring, however, running seemed to click. It's still hard, and I'm not very strong yet, but I've been increasing my speed and endurance gradually. In the near future I plan on running in a 5k - I figured I'd start out small. Marathons are tough!
Due to the winter, I've been running inside on a treadmill (it's also easier to maintain a consistent speed too), but with the weather perking up and my strength increasing, I've taken to running outside in my neighborhood. Let's hope, with baby steps, that I can keep this up!!
------
In other news, Pittsburgh and Oakland particularly have been filled with police from all over the country! They all came for the memorial services of the three police officers that were killed last weekend in Stanton Heights. Both Forbes and Fifth Avenue were impassable; cops came from as far as California and Ontario. My room has been filled with the noise of police sirens blaring down the street all day. It's a moving sight (and sound).
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
My friend sent me this, and I found it hilarious (and very accurate at times). However, he revised the interpretations of the lines for men, and I like them much better. So here is the edited version:
9. There’s a slight difference in our ages. (You are one Jurassic geezer)
8. I’m not attracted to you in ‘that’ way (You are the ugliest dork I’ve ever laid eyes upon)
7. My life is too complicated right now. (I don’t want you spending the whole night or else you
may hear phone calls from all the other guys I’m seeing)
6. I’ve got a boyfriend (who’s really my male cat and a half gallon of Ben & Jerry’s)
5. I don’t date men where I work (Hey bud, I wouldn’t even date you if you were in the same solar system, much less the same building)
4. It’s not you, it’s me (It’s not me, it’s you)
3. I’m concentrating on my career (Even something as boring and unfulfilling as my job is better than dating you.)
2. I’m celibate. (I’ve sworn off *only* the men like you.)
…..and the #1 rejection line given by women (and what it actually means)
1. Let’s be friends. (I want you to stay around so I can tell you in excruciating detail about all the other men I meet and have sex with.
Top 10 Rejection Lines Given by Men (and what they actually mean...)
10. I think of you as a sister (I've thought about doing you, but I just can't picture it in my head. As I tell you this right now, I'm thinking about doing you...it still ain't workin' out)
9. There’s a slight difference in our ages. (I can't picture you as a MILF)
8. I’m not attracted to you in ‘that’ way. (You’re ugly)
7. My life is too complicated right now. (You talk too much)
6. I’ve got a girlfriend (You’re ugly) - I dunno why a guy would ever say this if the girl was hot
5. I don't date women where I work (You're ugly)
4. It’s not you, it’s me (My girlfriend is on to us)
3. I’m concentrating on my career (You talk way too damn much)
2. I'm celibate (No man would ever use this)
…..and the #1 rejection line given by men (and what it actually means)
1. Let’s be friends (After many attempts at thinking about doing you, in a variety of different positions, and scenarios, I have failed on behalf of my gender and must now place you into the un-doable category) - also see "I think of you as a sister"
Top 10 Rejection Lines Given by Women (and what they actually mean..)
10. I think of you as a brother. (You remind me of that inbred banjo-playing geek in “Deliverance”)9. There’s a slight difference in our ages. (You are one Jurassic geezer)
8. I’m not attracted to you in ‘that’ way (You are the ugliest dork I’ve ever laid eyes upon)
7. My life is too complicated right now. (I don’t want you spending the whole night or else you
may hear phone calls from all the other guys I’m seeing)
6. I’ve got a boyfriend (who’s really my male cat and a half gallon of Ben & Jerry’s)
5. I don’t date men where I work (Hey bud, I wouldn’t even date you if you were in the same solar system, much less the same building)
4. It’s not you, it’s me (It’s not me, it’s you)
3. I’m concentrating on my career (Even something as boring and unfulfilling as my job is better than dating you.)
2. I’m celibate. (I’ve sworn off *only* the men like you.)
…..and the #1 rejection line given by women (and what it actually means)
1. Let’s be friends. (I want you to stay around so I can tell you in excruciating detail about all the other men I meet and have sex with.
Top 10 Rejection Lines Given by Men (and what they actually mean...)
10. I think of you as a sister (I've thought about doing you, but I just can't picture it in my head. As I tell you this right now, I'm thinking about doing you...it still ain't workin' out)
9. There’s a slight difference in our ages. (I can't picture you as a MILF)
8. I’m not attracted to you in ‘that’ way. (You’re ugly)
7. My life is too complicated right now. (You talk too much)
6. I’ve got a girlfriend (You’re ugly) - I dunno why a guy would ever say this if the girl was hot
5. I don't date women where I work (You're ugly)
4. It’s not you, it’s me (My girlfriend is on to us)
3. I’m concentrating on my career (You talk way too damn much)
2. I'm celibate (No man would ever use this)
…..and the #1 rejection line given by men (and what it actually means)
1. Let’s be friends (After many attempts at thinking about doing you, in a variety of different positions, and scenarios, I have failed on behalf of my gender and must now place you into the un-doable category) - also see "I think of you as a sister"
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Scuba Training - Days One and Two
A long-overdue continuation of the travel tales...
Scuba Training – Day One
Monday dawned bright and already warm. We woke up individually, and all scattered to find some breakfast before we walked the short distance to the Cairns Dive Centre (CDC), where we’d be doing our training. After meeting our trainer, a swarthy red-headed South African named Renaldo, we filled out paperwork and waited for everyone else to trickle in. The group numbered about 15, mostly Brits with a smattering of Germans, a Norwegian, an Aussie, a Dutch girl with whom we made great friends with, and a few more people. The morning was spent in theory, the afternoon in the pool, where we got into gear and had our first play underwater. I wasn’t sure if my ears would hold up; I was getting pain when I tried to dive past a few meters. Luckily, I learned to equalize quickly, and the problem subsided.
Scuba itself is a great experience. The gear is relatively simple to use, and while heavy when you first put it on, obviously loses its weight on your shoulders when you enter the water. The pool was tiny and cramped with 15 people in large metal gear and fins trying to swim around in it.
After a long day in the pool and classroom, we were able to get back to our hostel, take a kip, and then head out for dinner. A local pub had a nice deal for hostel-goers that provided a free meal with purchase of a drink. The food was plain but good and plentiful, and the vibe was just right. It made it a great and inexpensive way to eat dinner in Cairns while we were staying there.
Scuba Training – Day Two
Tuesday started even early than Monday, with more classroom and pool training. We learned new skills, and ended the day with a written exam (I passed) and diving physical to make sure we were healthy enough to endure the rigors of a dive. We ate at the same pub as the previous time, meeting with Berdien, the Dutch girl who was also doing the training course. We went to bed early again, as the next morning we were heading out to the Reef!
Friday, February 13, 2009
H.Res. 110
This is kind of amazing. While it's fairly common for Congress to pass hundreds, if not thousands, of resolutions in each session, this one is particularly wonderful. I do love the "Steeler Nation".
Full text below (read it, it's a hoot!):
Full text below (read it, it's a hoot!):
111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 110
Congratulating the National Football League champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and becoming the most successful franchise in NFL history with their record 6th Super Bowl title. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 3, 2009 Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. ROONEY, and Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
RESOLUTION
Congratulating the National Football League champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and becoming the most successful franchise in NFL history with their record 6th Super Bowl title. Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27 to 23 in Tampa, Florida, on February 1, 2009, winning their second Super Bowl championship in 4 years;
Whereas with this victory the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise has set a new National Football League standard for most Super Bowl victories with their record 6th Super Bowl championship;
Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers went 15-4 against the hardest-ranked 2008-2009 schedule in the NFL and defeated the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Arizona Cardinals during their record-setting post season run;
Whereas linebacker James Harrison returned a goal line interception 100 yards for the longest play in Super Bowl history;
Whereas quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 21-30 for 256 yards and led the team down the field for the 19th and most important 4th quarter comeback of his career;
Whereas wide receiver Santonio Holmes won the Super Bowl MVP award with a 9-catch, 131-yard performance, including the game-winning touchdown in the corner of the endzone with 35 seconds left in the game;
Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers new `Steel Curtain' defense, including stars James Harrison, Ryan Clark, Troy Polamalu, James Farrior, Ike Taylor, Larry Foote, Casey Hampton, LaMarr Woodley, Brett Keisel, Deshea Townsend, and Aaron Smith were ranked first in the NFL in overall team defense for the 2008-2009 season;
Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers defense during the 2008-2009 season allowed the least points scored, lowest average passing yards per game, and the least overall yards per game in the entire NFL;
Whereas head coach Mike Tomlin is the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl championship and has continued in the legendary tradition of head coaches Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher by bringing a Super Bowl championship to Pittsburgh;
Whereas linebacker James Harrison was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2008-2009 season;
Whereas team owner Dan Rooney and team President Art Rooney II, the son and grandson, respectively, of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney, have remarkable loyalty to Steelers fans and the City of Pittsburgh, and have assembled an exceptional team of players, coaches, and staff that made achieving a championship possible;
Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base, known as `Steeler Nation', was ranked in August 2008 by ESPN.com as the best in the NFL, citing their current streak of 299 consecutive sold out games going back to the 1972 season; and
Whereas, for 76 years, the people of the City of Pittsburgh have seen themselves in the grit, tenacity, and success of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, and they proudly join the team in celebrating their NFL record 6th Super Bowl championship: Now therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates the National Football League Champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and setting a new championship standard for the entire NFL.
(http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.RES.110:)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Lessons
This semester, well, year really, has been one of the most commitment- and responsibility-free of my life. Having graduated out of every extracurricular organization that defined my undergraduate existence (and for a time moving across the world), I now have more free time than I know what to do with. This semester I'm enrolled in class three days a week; four days out of seven I literally have NOTHING scheduled in my calendar. In a nutshell, I'm bored as all get-out.
This was not necessarily a problem last semester; I was living in Adelaide and surrounded by people; finding company and activities was pretty easy. All I had to do was walk into our common room. It also helped that I engrossed myself in my surroundings whole-heartedly; new experiences can do that, and I didn't have much time to fully enjoy them. Still, I certainly felt the lack of busy-ness.
Multiply that tenfold now. I'm back in a city I know very well, albeit one that I still love, and it's the dead of winter. Potential for activity abound, but it's hard to rustle up the people to accompany me. Actually, I take that back; my levels of social activity would be more than adequate to satisfy me if I had more work to do. Spending most of my day inert does not motivate me well. In fact, I think having more free time negatively affects my work ethic and the quality of what I do produce. Monotony leads to lethargy and ennui, and ultimately procrastination. It also doesn't make me the greatest companion when I do get out, I think, because I'll seize that person with all the force of a reluctant recluse.
Luckily, however, my sorry and workless state might be at an end. I have an opportunity to once again become a productive member of society at a local not-for-profit adoption agency. If I do, I'll have much less free time, but I think will be happier as a result. Is it unusual for a person to look forward to working more and relaxing less?
I think this past year has taught me a valuable lesson. I ended my senior year worked to the bone, exhausted, and dispirited. I was rejuvenated by exposing myself to a society that enforces a better work-life balance and giving myself more personal freedom. In doing so, I realized that while life can't be all work and no play, it also can't be all play and no work (at least for me). Keeping those thoughts in mind for my future career, I hope to strike a good balance that leaves me happy, healthy, and satisfied both at work and beyond.
This was not necessarily a problem last semester; I was living in Adelaide and surrounded by people; finding company and activities was pretty easy. All I had to do was walk into our common room. It also helped that I engrossed myself in my surroundings whole-heartedly; new experiences can do that, and I didn't have much time to fully enjoy them. Still, I certainly felt the lack of busy-ness.
Multiply that tenfold now. I'm back in a city I know very well, albeit one that I still love, and it's the dead of winter. Potential for activity abound, but it's hard to rustle up the people to accompany me. Actually, I take that back; my levels of social activity would be more than adequate to satisfy me if I had more work to do. Spending most of my day inert does not motivate me well. In fact, I think having more free time negatively affects my work ethic and the quality of what I do produce. Monotony leads to lethargy and ennui, and ultimately procrastination. It also doesn't make me the greatest companion when I do get out, I think, because I'll seize that person with all the force of a reluctant recluse.
Luckily, however, my sorry and workless state might be at an end. I have an opportunity to once again become a productive member of society at a local not-for-profit adoption agency. If I do, I'll have much less free time, but I think will be happier as a result. Is it unusual for a person to look forward to working more and relaxing less?
I think this past year has taught me a valuable lesson. I ended my senior year worked to the bone, exhausted, and dispirited. I was rejuvenated by exposing myself to a society that enforces a better work-life balance and giving myself more personal freedom. In doing so, I realized that while life can't be all work and no play, it also can't be all play and no work (at least for me). Keeping those thoughts in mind for my future career, I hope to strike a good balance that leaves me happy, healthy, and satisfied both at work and beyond.
Monday, February 09, 2009
The Answer
For those who read my last post, the answer is not, as you might have thought, George Washington.
Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut, was the first President under the Articles of Confederation (and Perpetual Union). He shared many commonalities with Washington; born into a modest family, raised with little formal education, and was a life-long patriot. However, Washington never signed the Declaration of Independence, as Huntington did.
After his time in the presidency, he became Lieutenant Governor and then Governor of Connecticut, until his death in 1796.
Cool, huh?
Samuel Huntington, of Connecticut, was the first President under the Articles of Confederation (and Perpetual Union). He shared many commonalities with Washington; born into a modest family, raised with little formal education, and was a life-long patriot. However, Washington never signed the Declaration of Independence, as Huntington did.
After his time in the presidency, he became Lieutenant Governor and then Governor of Connecticut, until his death in 1796.
Cool, huh?
Sunday, February 08, 2009
The First President
The First President in United States history: think you know who he was? Let's see.
He was born in a rural colony of Britain in the early 1730s. His formal education was limited; he was mostly self-taught. His family owned and operated a farm.
His wife's name was Martha. They had no children of their own.
He was elected as a delegate to Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence. While not known for an extensive education or brilliant speech, he was highly respected and esteemed by his fellow patriots for hard work and a steady character.
He did not own slaves, and was outspoken against slavery his entire life. After his death, he had a city named after him.
Who was he? I'll post the answer tomorrow, but guesses are welcome.
He was born in a rural colony of Britain in the early 1730s. His formal education was limited; he was mostly self-taught. His family owned and operated a farm.
His wife's name was Martha. They had no children of their own.
He was elected as a delegate to Congress. He signed the Declaration of Independence. While not known for an extensive education or brilliant speech, he was highly respected and esteemed by his fellow patriots for hard work and a steady character.
He did not own slaves, and was outspoken against slavery his entire life. After his death, he had a city named after him.
Who was he? I'll post the answer tomorrow, but guesses are welcome.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Work without Hope
All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—
The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!
And I the while, the sole unbusy thing,
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.
Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow,
Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow.
Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may,
For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away!
With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll:
And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?
Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Oz Travel Journal - Adelaide to Cairns
This begins my travel journal for the 2+ weeks I journeyed through bits of Australia. My exploits will be documented here in the next few weeks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My last days in Adelaide were filled with fun and friends. They gave me a great send-off (even though I was coming back for a few days in December before my final departure). We took a tour of the Adelaide pub scene; at least, our favorites. The next day I went to Glenelg Beach for the last time with some friends. Even though it was cold, they still tried to throw me in.
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| From Last Look at Adelaide |
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| From Last Look at Adelaide |
Our flight to Cairns was early on Sunday morning; I had been planning this trip for several months with some of my American friends, and we all boarded the same flight. It was long, but direct, and I was able to sleep most of the way, not getting much the previous night due to last-day goodbyes. It seemingly instantly went from chilly at around 15C to hot and humid at 35C when we got off the plane at our destination.
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| From Diving the Great Barrier Reef |
After collecting our bags, we hitched a ride with a van that our hostel provided; it was a joint operation between several of the hostels in the area, so we made multiple pickups. The driver was insane; he seemed to take it as his personal mission to drive as fast and recklessly as possible around the streets of Cairns, to scare travelers or something. We arrived at our hostel, Jimmy’s on the Esplanade, in one piece and took a look at our surroundings. Conveniently located on a major thoroughfare, and not 10 meters from a pool, a park and the ocean, the hostel was perfect. We had also managed to a get a room just for the four of us, so it was very nearly like a hotel. Ditching our bags in the room, we quickly got into our bathing suits and headed for the beach.
Cairns itself, we soon realized, doesn’t have a lounging beach, but a deserted and muddy expanse of dirt that borders the ocean. Instead, people swim in the pool directly beside it and set up their towels on soft grass, a very pleasant alternative. The afternoon was spent thus, swimming and sunbathing in the warm and strong summer sun. Australia gets much more powerful rays than I have ever experienced in the States, so it is imperative that you wear sunscreen or else you’ll get burned fast.
After showering and getting presentable, my friends and I decided to scope out the Cairns scene. It’s a very small, touristy town, and reminded me excessively of Myrtle Beach or a small coastal Florida town. Souvenir shops everywhere, cheap places to eat, hotels and hostels in abundance, and people in Bermuda shorts with accents give it all away. We wandered around for a while, and unfortunately, no place was open for food (many eateries in Australia close for the slower afternoon hours). Instead, we decided to park ourselves at a local bar and ordered several pitchers of beer until dinner time came. We ate at the same pub, and then took ourselves to a very large and wild hostel with a poolside bar to swim and enjoy the DJ.
That evening, exhausted by the day, I spent sleeping in our air-conditioned room. It was rather depressing for me that every hostel I stayed in during those few weeks of travel provided better beds than what I’d been sleeping on for the last several months in Adelaide, but it made me appreciate the comfort all the more. The next day we had to wake up early for our first day of scuba training.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Resolved
New Year's resolutions can be pretty, let's just say overly idealistic, and forgotten a few weeks after they're made. I'll make a few anyway so I can return to the list in the future, and see if they've stuck:
- never feel like a day has been wasted
- cook more for/with friends
- strive for optimism and good humour, and impart those feelings to others
- stay in contact with friends, however far away they may be
- apply myself in my work with rigor, force, and determination (i.e. don't shirk)
and a final, practical, one:
- be neater!
- never feel like a day has been wasted
- cook more for/with friends
- strive for optimism and good humour, and impart those feelings to others
- stay in contact with friends, however far away they may be
- apply myself in my work with rigor, force, and determination (i.e. don't shirk)
and a final, practical, one:
- be neater!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Alice Springs
I'm going forward before I go backward, but I want to document my observations of Alice Springs before I forget them.
Alice is incredibly silent.... if it wasn't so noisy. While that sounds completely impossible, it's the easiest way to describe this small Outback town. There is no noise on the roads or sidewalks, few people are walking around, and the only noise made is by insects, which are deafeningly loud. It's already pretty hot here, which I expected, about 38 today, with temperatures dropping in the next few days. Trust me to arrive just when they get lots of rain and flash flooding, but it means that the land is surprisingly green, even if the Todd River is still dry as a bone (which it is most of the year). The flies here aren't as bad as I expected, nor are the mozzies. The neighbourhood in which I'm staying reminds me a lot of home in the summertime, strangely enough. Quiet, with a park in the center that was deserted all day. I've missed summer and the heat, and am lapping it up.
The town is surrounded by mountain range on two sides, hills really, as there are no true mountains in all of Australia. There is also a significant Aboriginal presence here that I hadn't experienced in any other city, including Cairns. Most anyone else walking around will be tourists, either arriving for their Uluru tour or just returning. I will most likely venture into town after I return from my tour, to take in dinner at a pub with the people I've met, as most people do, but otherwise I don't think I'd feel entirely safe wandering around at night. It's a different kind of discomfort that I felt in a city or in King's Cross (a strip club and gay mecca in Sydney that, by both day and night, is a mixture of seedy and gentrified). You can't blend in with the locals like you can in a city, and since it's not a busy place in general, I stick out way more.
The hostel I'm staying in is quite lovely, though certainly not at first glance. It looks rundown, but the rooms are spacious and clean, the beds new and incredibly comfortable, and a back patio with a pool that is perfect for outdoor barbecues. Several people were grilling burgers in the Aussie style tonight for dinner that smelled unbelievable. Their kitchen is also incredibly clean and well-equipped, so I cooked dinner for the first time in a long time, and loved it.
Tomorrow I leave bright and early (6am) for Uluru. I'm really excited, as most of the people I've talked to today have said good things and mentioned lots of hiking. There's also cliff-jumping possible in the Garden of Eden, at the bottom of King's Canyon (since they've gotten so much rain recently), which will be welcome after a 4-hour hike down. I cliff-jumped in Cairns before I left and loved it, so I'll be glad to repeat the experience (I have pictures of that I'll post later).
Cheers mates!
Alice is incredibly silent.... if it wasn't so noisy. While that sounds completely impossible, it's the easiest way to describe this small Outback town. There is no noise on the roads or sidewalks, few people are walking around, and the only noise made is by insects, which are deafeningly loud. It's already pretty hot here, which I expected, about 38 today, with temperatures dropping in the next few days. Trust me to arrive just when they get lots of rain and flash flooding, but it means that the land is surprisingly green, even if the Todd River is still dry as a bone (which it is most of the year). The flies here aren't as bad as I expected, nor are the mozzies. The neighbourhood in which I'm staying reminds me a lot of home in the summertime, strangely enough. Quiet, with a park in the center that was deserted all day. I've missed summer and the heat, and am lapping it up.
The town is surrounded by mountain range on two sides, hills really, as there are no true mountains in all of Australia. There is also a significant Aboriginal presence here that I hadn't experienced in any other city, including Cairns. Most anyone else walking around will be tourists, either arriving for their Uluru tour or just returning. I will most likely venture into town after I return from my tour, to take in dinner at a pub with the people I've met, as most people do, but otherwise I don't think I'd feel entirely safe wandering around at night. It's a different kind of discomfort that I felt in a city or in King's Cross (a strip club and gay mecca in Sydney that, by both day and night, is a mixture of seedy and gentrified). You can't blend in with the locals like you can in a city, and since it's not a busy place in general, I stick out way more.
The hostel I'm staying in is quite lovely, though certainly not at first glance. It looks rundown, but the rooms are spacious and clean, the beds new and incredibly comfortable, and a back patio with a pool that is perfect for outdoor barbecues. Several people were grilling burgers in the Aussie style tonight for dinner that smelled unbelievable. Their kitchen is also incredibly clean and well-equipped, so I cooked dinner for the first time in a long time, and loved it.
Tomorrow I leave bright and early (6am) for Uluru. I'm really excited, as most of the people I've talked to today have said good things and mentioned lots of hiking. There's also cliff-jumping possible in the Garden of Eden, at the bottom of King's Canyon (since they've gotten so much rain recently), which will be welcome after a 4-hour hike down. I cliff-jumped in Cairns before I left and loved it, so I'll be glad to repeat the experience (I have pictures of that I'll post later).
Cheers mates!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Cairns
I'm currently in Cairns, QLD, reading to get to the Great Barrier Reef and see some amazing things. I will be traveling for quite some time, so I won't get to update this blog until I'm settled somewhere probably. Look forward to tons of pictures and stories. :D
Onward to the Reef, Sydney, Alice Springs and the Outback, Adelaide (for the last time), LA and the Palm Desert, and finally, New York!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Election Day
Today is Wednesday, November 5th. I am at least 15.5 hours ahead of you, America. I will be watching, with the rest of the world, as the results come in from this historic election. (Most likely I will be in a local pub for the whole of the afternoon, drinking a pint with the bartender bribed to tune in to CNN.)
I never fully realized, until living on the other side of the world, exactly how important we are. As I've mentioned in these previous months, the people I've met here are well-versed in American politics, culture, current events, and history. I don't think it's just because I'm surrounded by educated people; the general interest of the nation is palpable. There was an excellent post that summed it up very well on Daily Kos today, which I highly recommend reading if you want to know how they feel.
Americans have influence they know not of. Sure, we say we "know", but truly you don't until you witness it firsthand. People have come up to me and asked me if I've voted. People who, with trepidation, ask me if I voted for Obama, worried that I will say no. People who tell me they wish they could vote too, and that my vote is also for them.
Our politics is no longer confined to ourselves or our shores. We have come to a time when our vote counts for more than just us, but for Aussies and Brits, Indians and Iraqis. They hope, as I do, that our country will finally be put on a new path, a better path, one that respects, aids, and collaborates with the world. One that can finally break loose of the confines of the isolated past, and move into a 21st century, global society. Our vote matters most to us alone and always will, but increasingly, and forever, it will matter to them.
You are more powerful than you realize. Do it for yourself, do it for you family, do it for your country, and do it for the world. VOTE.
I never fully realized, until living on the other side of the world, exactly how important we are. As I've mentioned in these previous months, the people I've met here are well-versed in American politics, culture, current events, and history. I don't think it's just because I'm surrounded by educated people; the general interest of the nation is palpable. There was an excellent post that summed it up very well on Daily Kos today, which I highly recommend reading if you want to know how they feel.
Americans have influence they know not of. Sure, we say we "know", but truly you don't until you witness it firsthand. People have come up to me and asked me if I've voted. People who, with trepidation, ask me if I voted for Obama, worried that I will say no. People who tell me they wish they could vote too, and that my vote is also for them.
Our politics is no longer confined to ourselves or our shores. We have come to a time when our vote counts for more than just us, but for Aussies and Brits, Indians and Iraqis. They hope, as I do, that our country will finally be put on a new path, a better path, one that respects, aids, and collaborates with the world. One that can finally break loose of the confines of the isolated past, and move into a 21st century, global society. Our vote matters most to us alone and always will, but increasingly, and forever, it will matter to them.
Election Day, November, 1884
If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and
show,
'Twould not be you, Niagara--nor you, ye limitless prairies--nor
your huge rifts of canyons, Colorado,
Nor you, Yosemite--nor Yellowstone, with all its spasmic
geyser-loops ascending to the skies, appearing and disappearing,
Nor Oregon's white cones--nor Huron's belt of mighty lakes--nor
Mississippi's stream:
--This seething hemisphere's humanity, as now, I'd name--the still
small voice vibrating--America's choosing day,
(The heart of it not in the chosen--the act itself the main, the
quadriennial choosing,)
The stretch of North and South arous'd--sea-board and inland--
Texas to Maine--the Prairie States--Vermont, Virginia, California,
The final ballot-shower from East to West--the paradox and conflict,
The countless snow-flakes falling--(a swordless conflict,
Yet more than all Rome's wars of old, or modern Napoleon's:) the
peaceful choice of all,
Or good or ill humanity--welcoming the darker odds, the dross:
--Foams and ferments the wine? it serves to purify--while the heart
pants, life glows:
These stormy gusts and winds waft precious ships,
Swell'd Washington's, Jefferson's, Lincoln's sails.
- Walt Whitman
You are more powerful than you realize. Do it for yourself, do it for you family, do it for your country, and do it for the world. VOTE.
Monday, November 03, 2008
The Great Ocean Road: Day One
Continuing from Melbourne...
Tuesday dawned overcast and cold. And by dawned, I truly mean that I arose at sunrise. For the next three days I would be travelling back to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road, a stretch of coastline that is famed for its beauty, and we started early. Because it is incredibly popular, many tour groups routinely take this route back and forth from Melbourne to Adelaide, and I joined one run by Groovy Grape. It turned out to be a great decision, because the size of the group was smaller than other tours, and the people I went with were amazing. Everyone was young and international: I met people from Holland, England, Belgium, South Africa, Germany, Austria, and Quebec (she was adamant about that point). My friend and I were actually the only Americans. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been missing the camaraderie of people in their early-to-mid 20s until I was surrounded by them again; Adelaide as I’ve known it really lacks the 20-something crowd.
As we left Melbourne I knew the weather would not be on our side; it started to rain before we even got very far. We stopped at a small diner for some breakfast and continued driving until we hit Bell’s Beach.
Bell’s Beach
Bell’s Beach is internationally known as one of the best surfing spots in the world; it is home to the Rip Curl Pro Surf and Music Festival, the longest running surfing competition in the world. One glance and you can see why; the waves seem perfect for surfing, and this is coming from a person who has never surfed.
We continued driving, and the ocean front that opened before us was beautiful. We arrived at the entrance of the Great Ocean road by mid-morning. The road was built in memory of the “Diggers”, or Australian servicemen, who died during World War I. The construction of the road, starting in 1919 and lasting until 1932, also provided much-needed work to those returning from the war. The road also opened the coast to the rest of Australia. Previously, travel between the coastal towns of Victoria was incredibly difficult, relying mostly on water commerce and travel. The road made these towns accessible to the outside world.
Sign
We made a short stop at a nature preserve, where we saw koalas hanging out in the eucalyptus trees and colorful and very gregarious birds.
Can you find the koala?
Koala
Birds
After eating lunch in the town of Lorne, we drove into the rainforest of Otway National Park. It’s surprising to find a rainforest in this part of the country; I’d expected them to be confined to the more tropical northern and eastern coasts. We took a short hike through a bit of the place, and I learned that this temperate rainforest is home to the Australian mountain ash, a species of tree that grows to a massive size, and some of the largest ferns in the world. Lovely place.
Rainforest
Driving again down the coast, we made our way to the first of the coastal rock formations we would visit on the trip: The Loch Ard Gorge. The gorge itself was not incredibly impressive, though interesting. However, the story of its naming made the visit worthwhile. I won’t relate it here, but for those who are interested...
Loch Ard Gorge
At that point, the clouds that had been threatening us intermittently all day finally released, and we got soaked. Rather than going to our next destination, the Twelve Apostles, and freeze while we waited for sunset, we decided instead to stop and unload our things in Port Campbell, our accommodation for the evening. After doing so, we hauled ourselves back into the bus to watch the sun set on the Twelve Apostles, the world famous limestone rock formations on the coast.
It was bitterly windy and cold, and the group of us huddled together for warmth and a respite from the biting wind. Because of the heavy cloud cover, the Apostles didn’t get a chance to “do their thing”; the rocks change color during sunrise and sunset, and it is supposed to be stunning. Despite this, they were still very impressive.
Twelve Apostles
We returned to our accommodation, a small house very near the water, and ate dinner around the fire we had built. The evening was spent in good conversation with my new friends, followed by a warm and comfortable bed; the next day we’d be getting up early to go back to the Twelve Apostles.
Sunset
Tuesday dawned overcast and cold. And by dawned, I truly mean that I arose at sunrise. For the next three days I would be travelling back to Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road, a stretch of coastline that is famed for its beauty, and we started early. Because it is incredibly popular, many tour groups routinely take this route back and forth from Melbourne to Adelaide, and I joined one run by Groovy Grape. It turned out to be a great decision, because the size of the group was smaller than other tours, and the people I went with were amazing. Everyone was young and international: I met people from Holland, England, Belgium, South Africa, Germany, Austria, and Quebec (she was adamant about that point). My friend and I were actually the only Americans. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been missing the camaraderie of people in their early-to-mid 20s until I was surrounded by them again; Adelaide as I’ve known it really lacks the 20-something crowd.
As we left Melbourne I knew the weather would not be on our side; it started to rain before we even got very far. We stopped at a small diner for some breakfast and continued driving until we hit Bell’s Beach.
Bell’s Beach
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
Bell’s Beach is internationally known as one of the best surfing spots in the world; it is home to the Rip Curl Pro Surf and Music Festival, the longest running surfing competition in the world. One glance and you can see why; the waves seem perfect for surfing, and this is coming from a person who has never surfed.
We continued driving, and the ocean front that opened before us was beautiful. We arrived at the entrance of the Great Ocean road by mid-morning. The road was built in memory of the “Diggers”, or Australian servicemen, who died during World War I. The construction of the road, starting in 1919 and lasting until 1932, also provided much-needed work to those returning from the war. The road also opened the coast to the rest of Australia. Previously, travel between the coastal towns of Victoria was incredibly difficult, relying mostly on water commerce and travel. The road made these towns accessible to the outside world.
Sign
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
We made a short stop at a nature preserve, where we saw koalas hanging out in the eucalyptus trees and colorful and very gregarious birds.
Can you find the koala?
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
Koala
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
Birds
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
After eating lunch in the town of Lorne, we drove into the rainforest of Otway National Park. It’s surprising to find a rainforest in this part of the country; I’d expected them to be confined to the more tropical northern and eastern coasts. We took a short hike through a bit of the place, and I learned that this temperate rainforest is home to the Australian mountain ash, a species of tree that grows to a massive size, and some of the largest ferns in the world. Lovely place.
Rainforest
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
Driving again down the coast, we made our way to the first of the coastal rock formations we would visit on the trip: The Loch Ard Gorge. The gorge itself was not incredibly impressive, though interesting. However, the story of its naming made the visit worthwhile. I won’t relate it here, but for those who are interested...
Loch Ard Gorge
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
At that point, the clouds that had been threatening us intermittently all day finally released, and we got soaked. Rather than going to our next destination, the Twelve Apostles, and freeze while we waited for sunset, we decided instead to stop and unload our things in Port Campbell, our accommodation for the evening. After doing so, we hauled ourselves back into the bus to watch the sun set on the Twelve Apostles, the world famous limestone rock formations on the coast.
It was bitterly windy and cold, and the group of us huddled together for warmth and a respite from the biting wind. Because of the heavy cloud cover, the Apostles didn’t get a chance to “do their thing”; the rocks change color during sunrise and sunset, and it is supposed to be stunning. Despite this, they were still very impressive.
Twelve Apostles
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
We returned to our accommodation, a small house very near the water, and ate dinner around the fire we had built. The evening was spent in good conversation with my new friends, followed by a warm and comfortable bed; the next day we’d be getting up early to go back to the Twelve Apostles.
Sunset
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Best Picture Ever
What does this picture show? It is not just that, if trends don't markedly change in the next 48 hours, Obama will be winning the Presidency by a huge margin (touch wood), nor the more novel fact that Virginia is going blue...
It is the fact that Arizona is leaning Republican. McCain's home state isn't even a strong bastion for the candidate. Two more days...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Melbourne: Part Two
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
The last full day I had in Melbourne started out just as cold and overcast as the previous one. We got up early (to clarify, I took this trip with my friend Christie) and spent part of the morning at the American Consulate, an unassuming office in a large building on St. Kilda Road. (Christie had lost her passport, the motivating reason for the visit in the first place). Luckily, it didn’t take long, and I was able to have a leisurely breakfast of… a bagel and cream cheese! While there are bakeries everywhere in Australia, very few if any actually sell bagels. Yet another craving satisfied.
One of the more frustrating idiosyncrasies Australia has is that shops close incredibly early nearly every day. In Adelaide, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a retail store that stays open past 5pm; in Melbourne, they’re open until 6pm. This presents a problem, because virtually everything else you would want to see as a tourist holds the same hours, so you end up rushing to fit everything in. We decided, due to the restricted shopping hours, to visit more stores in depth and look through the Magnificent Seven – the seven major arcades in the city center.
Block Arcade
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
By midday the sky was clearing up and it was slightly warmer, which made for much more pleasant city walking. We had lunch at an Indian place, after scoping out the dismally small Chinatown and finding nothing appetizing (disappointment). At this point we were on the west side of the CBD, close to some of the older buildings like the State Library and Parliament, and both of us wanted to see the two major cathedrals of Melbourne: St. Patrick’s and St. Paul’s.
Parliament
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
Spring Street
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
St. Patrick’s was far more magnificent than St. Paul’s; photographs can’t really capture its size. The inside was a true-to-form cathedral, with small alcoves and chapels ringing the inside, and a lovely organ and choir pit. Technically, I wasn’t supposed to be taking pictures inside, because a mass was about to start, but I didn’t realize that until I was leaving anyway. St. Paul’s was under construction, unfortunately. A lot of unsightly scaffolding marred the beauty of its interior.
St. Patrick's
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
St. Paul's
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
Some of my friends had told me that I couldn’t miss the National Gallery of Victoria, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It is the oldest, and largest, art gallery in Australia, boasting some very fine works from all the major periods, including those famous artists like Rembrandt, Picasso, and Rubens, along with Aboriginal and modern Australian pieces. We took a tour of the gallery with a knowledgeable docent, who gave us more information than we ever could have gotten of both the pieces and the building’s history.
National Gallery of Victoria
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
The building itself would have been worth the trip. It was designed by the Australian architect Roy Grounds and completed in 1967, and renovated in 2003 by Mario Bellini. One of its main features is a water wall as you enter the building, flanked by steel sculptures of an entire town of people (8 in total), from Arnhem Land in the Center. Another is a large stained glass ceiling, designed by Leonard French.
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
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| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
After spending time at the gallery, we made our way to the Chapel Street Precinct, a hip shopping place where you can find both upscale stores and trendy, bohemian boutiques. After spending time shopping in both the city center and Chapel Street, we now know why Melbournians are so well-dressed. Dinner was at a Mexican-fusion restaurant on Chapel Street, where the food was excellent, if not very authentic.
Chapel Street
 |
| From Melbourne & the Great Ocean Road |
By this time, Christie and I were even more footsore than the day before, so we stopped back at our hostel to recuperate before heading back into the city for drinks with friends from Adelaide who had just arrived in Melbourne. Before we left, however, I needed to make a stop at the famed Monarch Cake Shop to see if their desserts lived up to their reputation. And with a slice of flourless chocolate cake, I got a little bit of heaven.
Walking to the tram stop that night on the Southbank of the city, we passed by a fire show that happens twice each night. There are huge columns placed down the river that shoot up fireballs, synchronized with one another. I so wish I had brought my camera. To stay warm while we were waiting for the tram, we jumped in to the Casino quickly, a massive place that is fairly busy even on a Monday night. We couldn't stay to play (not that I would really want to), because the next morning we had to get up bright an early to catch our bus for the Great Ocean Road, where we spent three glorious days....
NEXT UP: The Great Ocean Road – Day 1
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