Thursday, September 30, 2010

Rain Like Snow


There was expected to be a crazy amount of rain today. Apparently much of it is still to come. Watching the weather for tomorrow, the map of the area showed rain in inches. The storm is to be worse the further you get from the city. The Philadelphia area is expected to get over 2 inches of rain. The more immediate suburbs are expected to see 3-5 inches, and the next layer 6-10. These numbers look more like a prediction of snow fall. I don't remember the exact ratio of snow-rain but I believe its 3 or 4 times the amount meaning that if this were a snow fall it would be a blizzard.

After an interesting day which caused me to work from home, I spent some time working out a list of everything I need to accomplish tomorrow. At the end of said newscast the anchor made sure to mention SEPTA. I had already predicted problems to a friend in jest but apparently this is no joke. The Paoli/Thorndale line is already suspended. While SEPTA has said they expect it to be running in the morning, they also said that several other lines are expected to be effected by the storm. The anchor ended the segment by saying, "If you typically utilize the Regional Rail to get to work, you should consider other options." Because I am without a car (which I hope to explain tomorrow) I worked out a way to get a ride to the train. Now that might not even be useful.

I am crossing my fingers that tomorrow when I wake up, like so many times as a child I found that no snow even fell by the next morning, the sun will be out and the streets will be dry.


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

It Will Take Some Time


On September 10th my sister got married. September 9th was the last night she spent here. She may come back time to time to crash for the night as years go on, but it will be as a guest. It's natural to be slightly upset despite the overtly joyousness of this occasion. This is not a long reflection on that or on my time with her and I living under one roof. Instead is just a comment on the little things that pop up, sometimes catching me off guard.

The week following her honeymoon I was talking to her online while we were each at work. The day was ending and we both had to run and I almost told her that we could talk about it when I got home, meaning in person. It's not that we cannot talk about it in person or over the phone if we so desired. It was just a momentary lapse where I forgot that she won't be home when I get there and if we are going to talk, it'll most likely be by phone now.

Another time I called her at work to ask her a question while I was out of the office and almost ended the phone call with a casual "see you tonight," but caught myself. And today, when I got the mail there was a few pieces of junk mail addressed to her. Now, this last one probably happens every day and I imagine will continue for a while as most junk mail comes from companies that aren't keeping close track of things like a member of the household changing an address. The reason I noticed it today is that I am not typically home in time to get the mail and it is already gone through, and the junk mail thrown away, before I am home from work.

Again, this is not to say that I am more upset than I am happy, and to be honest, because we talk several times throughout the day on the computer, to some extent I have not noticed a lapse in our interaction. It's just those odd moments where I catch myself expecting her to be home when I get there, or when she isn't at some point I might think she's got a late night tonight (which happened a decent amount of time) and just hasn't gotten in yet. These few-second moments will pass in time. For now, it's still nice to sort of pretend that she is still here.


Tuesday, September 28, 2010

A Piling Pile of Clothes


What happens when you don't grow in height or weight for 8 years or more? You accumulate a lot of clothes. Especially during ones youth when interests are changing, trends are changing, and so on one tends to end up with a lot of clothes. It's almost a link to the past and a literal visual representation of the wardrobe changes someone goes through. Tracking back as far as late grade school with some of these clothes I can follow bands I liked, my skateboard/baggy clothes phase, my punk/band phase which goes past t-shirts, baggy jeans to ripped jeans to skinny jeans, etc. As I said a few days ago, some of these pieces of clothing are as much memories as they are shirts or coats. Maybe this makes me a hoarder or maybe it makes me a sucker for "remembering the good old days" but part of me struggles to pass on some of these things.

I have a t-shirt from my first concert (Linkin Park, 7th grade), one from a kid who had me as a secret santa in 6th grade (Korn). Moving through grades and years and interests just in my dresser is a pretty cool thing. Even still, as times changes along with my interests and needs as far as my wardrobe is concerned, the space I have is finite. What ends up going are the articles that fall between when is new and what is a memory.

Going through these clothes I see things that I remember buying once and really thinking was so cool. I also see things that I bought or were bought for me that I can't ever remember wearing or maybe only wearing a few times. Sometimes I can even recall a look of excitement my mom had when she brought home one item or I unwrapped another for Christmas. I feel guilty getting rid of it now, especially in instances where I know I never really even wore it. I imagine when she sees it end up in that pile she may remember that moment too, or the moment she found it and maybe feel like she failed on that one. It's silly, in a way. They are just clothes and for most of the things I have that is definitely true. Still, with so many things, we are reminded of certain moments by the most mundane objects.


Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sunday's Don't Have To Paralyze


I decided to override my mental thought process of "It's Sunday, its after dinner and I am staying in." I don't have Showtime and don't have the money to get it but I love and have been following Dexter for a few years now. Instead of missing the season or finding some other way to watch it I decided that 8:45 pm is not too late to leave the house on a Sunday with work tomorrow. I went over a friends and watched the new episode. I think most of us, once we get into this 9-5 routine, have the same mentality we were instilled with while growing up in grade school - you don't go out on Sunday, especially not after dinner.

I am glad I did. It was a good episode, and looks to be a interesting season. I am about through all of the premieres for this fall. There are a few I missed last week and a couple left to air. So far, this is looking to be a pretty decent fall for TV.


Thursday, September 23, 2010

Uprooted


When I was prepping to come home I had an idea of creating my own space in our basement. I made a lot of switches, moved a bunch of things around and purchased some furniture to make that happen. Then, out of laziness among other things, I stopped using it. Maybe this fall I can revert to my original plan. For now, behold:


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Working After Hours


The onset of the blackberry and smartphone is not responsible for work overflowing past the 9-5 work day. People have been working outside of the office/after hours much before these inventions. It's a complaint/fear people cite when they explain why they have not upgraded from their normal phones. I am not saying everyone should, and I believe that the "always connected" lifestyle has several downfalls. But, I don't like missed blame.


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

How Many Before It's Not Coincidence?


I meant to write about this last night, but I got in bed and decided I was more comfortable that I expected to be. Also, coming off the terrible night of sleep that I had Sunday night, I was ready to close my eyes when I walked in the door from work.

Yesterday morning I missed the 7:10 train and was waiting on the platform for the 7:22. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a woman in a short skirt and small top. She initially caught my attention because it was 55 degrees outside and she was dressed like it was 80. As she got closer I realized that she and I went to grade school together.

On the way home, I took an earlier train because I needed to get home to let my dog out. As I got off the train, a man about 4 people ahead of me turned half way around, just enough so I could make out his profile. I realized he, too, went to grade school with me.

After my dad came home from work, the two of us went to the gym together. We have not been to the gym in 2 or 3 weeks now. At the traffic light before the gym someone turned in front of us. This person also went to grade school with me, but not the same one that the first two did. This person went to a school I only attended until 5th grade. I don't think I have seen him since, meaning this was the first time I have seen him in over 12 years.

Then, to top it all off, on a film site that I read they keep a list of the most recent stories commented on. Sure enough, the commenter was someone else that I went to grade school with and have not spoken to in over seven years.

I have no idea how to explain that.


Monday, September 20, 2010

Low Light


Tried taking a picture outside when it was pitch black using just the light on my camera. Not great but not bad.


Saturday, September 18, 2010

Two Concerts, Two Weekends


I have two pretty enjoyable weekends on the horizon. After about a month of staying local, I am heading back to NY this weekend. Saturday is the homecoming event day at Fordham and I am seeing Titus Andronicus that night.

The following weekend, Mike is coming here and after helping in the Autism Speaks walk we are going to see The Tallest Man On Earth (musician, not some weird side show act at the local carnival) play in Philly.

As for this weekend? Well I saw Penrose play at the docks today, got to play some video games, bought a new shirt and am hoping to tryout my dual screen setup for the games tomorrow. Not bad.


Friday, September 17, 2010

We Close When We Say


Tonight I ran into two situations where despite posted hours, places closed on their own terms. First was at the King of Prussia mall. We had gone there, my family and I, to celebrate my sister's 20th birthday by having dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. After we finished eating, we rushed back over to The Plaza to hit a few stores before the mall closed. At 8:50, with 10 minutes left until the mall closed, the owner or manager of Old Navy locked up. Despite the store and the mall hours being listed as a 9 PM closing time, this store shut its gate 10 minutes early. I am not going to gripe too much because I had no intentions of going in there, but there has to be some monetary loss there as well as a just a poor business decision. Shoppers are typically more spontaneuous and stupid when short on time. People are much more likely to buy something without taking much time when they are given the "10 minutes until we close" warning. Closing early means you miss out on that family that was going to run in a just buy something without spending much time thinking about it. Sure this isn't going to grately effect the company's profit margin, but it's still money lost.

Later, friends of mine and I met at a bowling alley. We knew we only had until 11:30 and it was already 20 after 10. This is not a terrible amount of time, but it was enough. We walked into the place and went to pay for a few games and shoes. We were met with a slightly rude "you know we close in a little over a half hour." The hours are hanging right behind this employee which clearly say that the place is open until 11:30 Monday through Friday. I responded by pointing this out to the kid. He responds by saying, "we only stay open late if we have a league." Essentially saying - look, it's late and since there is nothing official going on, we are closing up shop early so I can get home." Again, they place lost business because what would have been 2 games per person switched to one. In the long run, like with Old Navy, they don't notice. But it is not good practice to advertise your hours and then neglect to tell people about the clause that says "these hours are only valid if the people who pay more to be here show up. Otherwise, we'll kick you out when we get tired."

Maybe the angle to take is the vauge hours. Parks typically go with "park hours are sun up to sun down." Or "we close in the late evening." If you don't tell people an exact time, then you can make your own call on when to close. But if you have posted hours, you should honor them.
b


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Early Bird

Around lunch time today, I went into the kitchen to get my lunch from the fridge. Because there is a problem with the bread tasting stale after the roll is thawed, refrigerated, carried to work, and then refrigerated again, I have been putting my sandwich in the communal toaster oven.

Today, however, that toaster oven was blocked by 3 "box-of-joe"-like containers. In addition, on the remaining counter space in the kitchen were two circular trays. The one tray was filled with donuts and danishes. The other was filled with a variety of bagels and cream cheeses. This was a problem on two levels. First, I was in there to toast my sandwich and there was no way to get to the toaster. Only after strategically balancing the three coffee containers on top of a variety of places could I eventually get to the toaster. Second, and more importantly, I was just going for lunch. On top of my snack and sandwich I did not have the appetite for a bagel or donut, even though several people in the kitchen were commenting on how fresh everything was.

I had a plan. I would eat quickly and come back around 3 for a snack. You know what is more popular than new office supplies in a 9-5 atmosphere? Treats, platters, or any other tray/catered food brought back to the floor after a meeting. The picture below shows what remained after only 3 hours. Need I remind you that I work on a small floor. This is not some large corporation with hundreds of cubicles per floor. There are maybe 30 people on the floor total. Because the food came back to the floor, it means some of these people were in that meeting and had already eaten this food.

None of that mattered. After only a little over two hours, somewhere around 12 bagels, 10 donuts, and several danishes were consumed as well as 2, at the time - 3/4 still full, coffee boxes. Never again will I underestimate the appetite for free food in a 9-5 business setting. IT was like they all knew how quickly it would go anyway and decided, regardless of hunger, they should just grab it right then.

Next time, I might just take a whole tray back to my lab. From what I learned today - you snooze, you lose.





(don't let the flowery paper fool you. there was nothing cheerful about this site.)

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Ticky Tacky


So my goal of reading every morning has been slightly put on the back burner. I do like my new book, but this week I just have not yet felt motivated enough to put in the effort so early, or after a full day. The combination of said laziness and netflix on my phone has brought me back to Weeds. Today I was able to finish season 1 between my two trips.

The upside: I am interested in the show once again. The down side: I might not be reading any time soon. We shall see what tomorrow brings.


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

What Do You Do?


That question always gets me. To most people I will answer to, the simple response of "Research Coordinator" is not enough. If someone comes up and says, I'm a doctor, I'm a lawyer, etc. it is not met with further questions, typically. The term is common enough and conjures up a familiar enough image that most people won't ask for futher clarificaition. Someone more interested or more familiar with the field might want to know what type of medicine or law the person is involved with, but it's more rare.

For myself, I find that I am asked the following question next, "What does that mean, exactly?" or, "So, what do you do?" The latter of the questions is not a sign of a lack of competence or hearing capability but instead the persons more literal intention of the phrase as opposed to the initial context. Again, explaining to a person what I do is not easy. I can explain the big picture study, or I can explain the population, but that is only a percentage of my job. Often times I find myself responding with something like, "Something different every day," or, "So many different things, it's really hard to narrow down." The truth is that for anyone, even a doctor, or a lawyer, people who are rarely asked for further clarification, explaining what they do on a daily basis is impossible in 20 words or less. The amount of tasks a person does under the job title can exceed hours of conversation. For some, a few major responsibilities can still sum it up. For others, however, finding that right set of sentences is not easy.

We go to work every day. We know our jobs, we know what needs to be done. It's funny how trying to explain what we do when we are there can be so difficult to articulate.



Monday, September 13, 2010

Summer Finale's


This week wraps up summer TV. Lie To Me finished tonight and Covert Affairs starts tomorrow night. It's an overlap for fall, though, as Parenthood premiere's tomorrow night. Unsure of which I will watch. Excited for fall TV though. For so long we have had constants like Lost and 24 on tv. It will be interesting to see if anything stands out this year with all of the new shows on every network.


Sunday, September 12, 2010

Adjustments


Tonight I had a quick mistaken thought. I turned to ask my mom, "what time are we expecting Alicia tonight?" Then I dismissed this thought when I realized she is away for a week. A whole week before that question would be applicable.

Maybe about 10 seconds passed after that thought before another one entered my head. A second correction. Yeah, she is away and won't be coming home tonight. But even once she is no longer away, even once we get to next week, she still won't be coming home. I know that sounds like I'm acting like she is dead, and I do not mean it to be. But, when the realization settled in that whether she is on vacation or not, she won't be coming back to here, that she doesn't call this place "home" anymore, I kind of just sat there. This might be harder than I would like to acknowledge.


Saturday, September 11, 2010

At The Fair


If you were to go to a fair, what would you look forward to the most? The rides - probably not (although everyone loves the Gravitron). Maybe the games - they can be fun, but they tend to be expensive for little reward.

The best part of a local fair/carnival is the food. Fair food is never food you pursue outside of the fair, nor does it ever feel as appetizing as it does while walking around there. But, once you are in that atmosphere, corndogs and cotton candy just sound perfect. But above those foods, the most important fair food is the funnel cake.

Tonight Alex and I were headed to the diner to grab some late night grub when we passed a fair in Upper Darby. We both had a look of 'why not' on our faces and Alex swung the car around and headed into the fair. As I expected, it was filled with kids. Most in groups ranging from around 5th grade to high school, leaving Alex and I officially in the out-of-place limbo between being too old and not old enough to have our own kids there.

As soon as we walked up we both decided, most importantly, we needed to get funnel cake. The problem with this being something so universal is that the line for funnel cake was probably 30 minutes long. It was a small fair and so there was only one stand selling it. We, unfortunately, decided to pass on the delicious fried food and circled the fair, played one game (won a prize) and then headed on to the diner. The entire excursion took about 15-20 minutes but it was worth it.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Hit Me


Tonight I said to someone, "Either I am totally ok with this major change in our lives or it has not hit me yet, but I don't seem at all phased by this."

Maybe eventually I will be able to process the meaning of my sister being married, no longer being home, etc. But after the past 24 hours, the only thing I can process is the desire to lay down. It was one hell of a wedding.


Thursday, September 9, 2010

Full House


Tonight is our last night home together, the five of us. I'm not going to allow myself to get upset over this. Tomorrow is going to be a lot of fun. So much to remember for the mass portion. Congratulations Alicia and Leo!


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Out To Lunch


Today I met my sister for lunch. We met at Reading Terminal Market which was about 6 blocks away, total. Despite being that close, it was the first time I had gone there since starting my job. I have been to Reading Terminal Market before but only briefly and never for lunch. We split a turkey steak and mashed potatoes and then headed over to Old City Coffee (still inside RTM) and got a cappucino.

For a place so close, I have no excuse for having not gone there before. I told myself, and the person I replaced, that I would try to get out of the office as often as possible. Three months later and I have gone out during the day only a handful of times. Part of this is due to my desire to save money. I have been bringing lunch and avoiding buying/eating out. But another part is due to sheer comfort/laziness. It is much easier to stay in my office and surf the web than it is to go outside for a bit. Maybe this is partially influenced by the 53+ days of over 90 degree weather this summer, but I cannot claim that as my only reason.

I am hoping to revisit the RTM many times in the future. It is not cheap, but an excursion once every few weeks is not out of the question.



Tuesday, September 7, 2010

A Weight Lifted


Since coming to my job I have been aware that eventually I would have to write a proposal and submit it to a national conference. That time, somehow, seemed to be far off in the distance - as most things can for me. Now, submissions are due in one week and I for the most part I am done. It is a small and brief relief. I have written my final draft. I have sent it on to my grad student editor who will then send it on to my boss. After that only a few (hopefully) edits will need to be adjusted before submitting next Wednesday. As of now, the paper is written, the results have been calculated, data run, and discussion laid out.

It is not a complete relief because I still have to actually submit the paper. Additionally, once (if) it get's accepted I will then have to create the actual presentation or poster for the paper, laying everything out in incredible detail. So, while the idea, the findings, the first steps are all major progresses, there is much still a head of me. Even still, it is nice to have the first leg of this project behind me.

Tomorrow I am meeting my sister for lunch as she will be in the city to get her ring cleaned. Then tomorrow night my dad and I are going for last measurements/adjustments for our tuxes.


Monday, September 6, 2010

The First Reminder


There have been hundreds of times, more so in recent years, where it has just been a few of us at home for a given night. We are definitely the family who averaged, when we grew up, 5-6 dinners together in a week. Sure each of us had a span where we were involved in things that kept us out a night or two during the week. As the years have continued and we have each become more independent, have our own schedules, and jobs - dinners at home are more infrequent. Sunday nights are spent figuring out which day or two we might all be home.

To be eating home tonight with just my parents was not completely out of the ordinary. Yet, with the wedding on the horizon, tonight's meal was a clear reminder of how every day life is about to be. Dinner just felt empty. There have been plenty of nights where I have eaten alone for dinner, or just with one other person, and yet tonight felt different. Tonight, the feeling of finality started to set in. On all of those other nights, there was nothing permanent about the decline in attendance to dinner. It sometimes was fun, a change of pace that meant we might have breakfast for dinner or try something different. Instead, there was a clear void present at dinner tonight and it was there for everyone. Even before and after dinner, the house just felt quieter. I keep telling people that to some extent it won't be much different because of how infrequently we are all home already. Maybe tonight I realized that, at least a little bit, I might be fooling myself.

(this is a picture from my sister's new house. I went over with her today to help her arrange some more things, set some more stuff up, and clean up from the big move this past Saturday. Her place is pretty great. I hope I make good on my promise to myself that I will visit them and not be lazy about that.)

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Falling Whistles


I got my whistle in the mail a few days ago. I bought 2 and gave one to a friend for his birthday. I did not want to post anything online about it until I gave him his. I have worn it every day and hope to tell more people about it. It is a really great cause and I am happy to contribute to it even just by telling people about it.

I started thinking when I ordered the whistle about the point of something like that. I think from the company's side there are two reasons (they may be obvious to you). I think when someone gives a certain amount of money, they feel better when they have something to show for it. Even though they know it is going to a good cause, having something physical as a reminder of that good act they did is helpful, especially if the alternative is just having the money essentially disappear from your bank account.

The second part of it is the word of mouth. If you donate to a cause, how can you tell people about it? Telling other people about a cause you monetarily contributed to is not a great start because it feels like your pushing a burden on them. You fall into this uncomfortable area where you are telling someone how to use their money. It's also not a conversation that occurs naturally. Instead, you have to approach someone and say - hey there is this cause I donated to and you should to and here is why.

The physical representation that remains after you donate breaks that barrier. And the whistle, in this case, does so in a better way than the countless number of rubber bands do. Every so often someone will ask me what one of my rubber bands are for, but because so many people have them, they do not stand out as much. The whistle, however, is noticeably different. If it is under a shirt, it still stands out because it does not lay flat and is heavy enough that it moves around as I do. I don't typically wear something around my neck either, and so people will ask what I am wearing. When they find out that it is a whistle I am asked to explain. It is not common for someone to be wearing such a thing and so it is a really great way to tell people about the cause.

I know that there is a countless number of causes and it is unfair to claim any one as more deserving. I don't expect everyone to donate or get involved, but at the very least, I want them to know about the situation. If you don't know what Falling Whistles is, please visit the website. It won't take more than 5 minutes of your time to read the story behind it. From there, it is your decision to get involved. Even reading it makes you a part of it. Now you can tell someone else. Even if you don't send them a thing, you are helping by reading, becoming aware, and having the potential to tell someone else.


Saturday, September 4, 2010

A New Home


Today we packed up my sisters stuff and moved her into her new house. It was an odd dynamic because its that time of the year to be moving people back to school and considering similar sites like the uhaul and that couch, it felt like I was moving someone in to school. It hasn't settled in that in a week from now she will be married and no longer be living here. It was definitely weird to use phrases like "your house" today. Her place is awesome, though.

I remember taking many a nap on this here couch. I would say my roommate could say the same. That thing would catch you off guard. You would sit down and all of a sudden, whether you knew you were tired or not, you were out. Wrestling it up the stairs in their house was fun. This time, it was not me involved. Also, it only had to go up one, very straight flight of stairs. Not to the third floor, having to pivot every 8 steps - so I did not feel so bad for those who did move it this time.


Friday, September 3, 2010

The Fine Print


Borders has a programs call "Plus". What separates it from their regular rewards is an extra 10% off of hardcover books and free online shipping. Those are the big ones. When I thought about how most of the graphic novel collections I purchase are hardback and The Hunger Games series is all hardback I figured - why not? It's 20 bucks for the year and that right there is almost going to have me break even before I buy much else.

Then I reread the deals. the 40% off is actually not on all hardcovers but on those considered Best Sellers. While this still might apply for the Hunger Games series, I doubt it. The policy is probably that it is for books currently on the best seller list, meaning that only the most recent of the series would still qualify. Additionally, none of the graphic novel collections would count. I am typically not interested in the books that end up as best sellers. More often than not, the books that become popular are not what for me. I am more likely to read a novel about some dystopian future or a book by David Eggers. While 20 bucks is not a lot and I could potentially break even, I am now less likely to jump at the offer. I should have figured the sales pitch of "if you sign up you get 40% off of hardcovers" was too good.


Thursday, September 2, 2010

Picture Perfect (More Like A Painting)


Tonight I went to the preseason game for the Eagles who were playing the Jets. As it was week 4 and no starters even took the field, there is little to comment on. It was nice to be back at the stadium and I cannot wait until next week.

Shortly after the game started I went to snap a picture of the field to post tonight. I posted a picture of the first game I went to last year as well. Over my shoulder I saw the sunset out of the corner of the stadium and it just looked amazing. Similar to the scene in Vanilla Sky where the sky is so surreal it stands out like it has been painted and not natural, so too was this sky.


Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Like The Vocabulary


These sights can become nauseating through their association with the 9-5, office style, repetition.