Yearly Archives: 2012

Saturday night – deprogramming

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I just realized that I spent the whole day not thinking about work. I was not thinking about work when I woke up.. I was not thinking about work when Diane and I went for a hike.. I was not thinking about work on the long drive over to Homers and pack, nor was I thinking about work while we worked on a contraption we’re developing..  I was not thinking about work through dinner.. or when Ian and his freinds stopped by. In fact I was not thinking about work until about 5 minutes ago when I sat down to write this.. That may not sound like a big deal.. but for someone who’s usually obsessing about work.. it is..

The big accomplishment for the day was going for a hike. Diane and I were determined to spend time outside today. For me, it was all about the weather.. the heat had broken last night. and it’s ow cool and dry.. By the time we drove the 4 or so miles to the bolton notch trailhead of the long trail, the temperature had dropped into the low 60’s.. A full 30 degrees cooler than it had been just 2 days before.

 

We love this hike.. I think it’s about 4 miles of up and down through fairly covered trail. There are some good lookouts over camels hump about a third the way in and a beautiful beaver pond.

We stopped at duck brook shelter to give the dogs a rest and drop off a samstone.

Right after the shelter we ran into our friends and neighbors  Veronique and Matt and their dog Toby. They were planning a quick up and downjusst to Duck Brook and back, but Diane had the great idea of giving them our car key and letting them hike the same thing we’d just done in reverse. It gave them a chance to see the really nice parts of the trail beyond the shelter.. and it allowed us to get our car back here .. everybody made out.. they loves the hike.

Later in the day I went over to homers to work on a long term project we’re doing. While there he tried to convince me to join him in forming a team for the 72 hour redbull create competition in July.. It looks pretty cool. I’ll have to think about that…

but I won’t think about that until tomorrow..

 

All for now..

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

 

Friday evening – Torpor

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Torpor….that word has been on my mind all day. in this heat

I see it’s defined as

Tor·por   [tawr-per]

noun

1.sluggish inactivity or inertia.
2.lethargic indifference; apathy.
3.a state of suspended physical powers and activities.
4.dormancy, as of a hibernating animal.
I read with interest that torpor is usually used to describe the periods of reduced activity that animals use to conserve energy during periods of extreme cold. not heat.. but something in my past remembers the word being used to describe southerners moving slowly about in the summer. Sounds like Faulkner.. .. no ?
I know it’s only in the low 80’s.. but the humidity and stillness of the air have me walking around like a zombie wondering how I ever survived 20 years in Houston..   I  have said in these pages that my IQ drops 1 point for every degree over 60 degrees.
I have to say that it’s not entirely unpleasant.. it’s like being in a warm bath.. I think slowly, type slowly, talk slowly.. (ok.. more slowly) … I’m wearing as few clothes as would be socially acceptable.. and I’m enjoying the hazy sunshine outside..   The day has me thinking about global warming… I know its one of the first days of summer.. but I don’t recall it being this hot this early (I’m sure it has been).. I just chose to forget) .. At this rate I’ll need to be living in northern Quebec in 20 years ..
I’d think about that more.. but my brain has stopped working..  ..
stay cool
nite all, nite sam
-me

Thursday night, late – stairway to Kevin

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It’s just past 2AM and I just got home from a long, but nice drive back from NYC. I began the day in RTP.. It was the 2nd day of a trip I made to get to know some of the folks on the team I’ve just joined. Overall a good trip..though I came back realizing even more how much I have to learn

I flew back to NYC where my car was and began the long drive back to VT . I had a good plan, though. I had timed my trip to all ow me to dropping in on my good freind Kevin’s surprise retirement party in Beaken NY. The party had been concocted by Kevin’s long time friends and coworkers Ang and Rob.. even Kevin’s wife Betsy wasn’t in on the plan.

The plane got in at 5:30 so traffic was pretty tough.. so by the time I reached Beaken the 6:30 surprise was long passed. .. It was so great seeing the turnout there.. many  of Kevin’s freinds were there.. and many of them were also my friends.. so it was doubly good seeing all of them.   I loved seeing Kevin surrounded by so many folks who loved an admired him.. (ok.. do you really use the word ‘love’ for work colleagues ? here I think it’s appropriate.. this is one very lovable guy.. calm, funny, smart and a very loyal freind.. and just quirky enough to always keep you guessing )

here are Kevin and his wife Betsy.. their daigheer Meagan will be at UVM next year.. so I’m sure we’ll be seeing them all up here .. which makes me happy !

And here’s Ang the amster mind (with Rob) of the shindig tonight… nice work..

OK.. it’s still about 80 degrees in here.. going to try and get a little sleep.. lets see if thats possible in this heat..

 

more tomorrow..

 

nite all, nite sam

-me

Wednesday night – as tall as they sound

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Hello from RTP NC.. ..where it’s actually cooler right now than back in Vermont.   Getting here involved leaving the boat max lives on  this morning at 4:30 after arriving their at 12:30.. at least I can say it was peaceful . I heard it was 103 degrees there today.. Oy veh !

 

 

 

 

I’m down here in NC on a quick trip to meet a few folks I’ve been working with face to face for the first time.. Call me old fashioned (I dare you).. but I absolutely need to meet the folks I’m working with at least once to get that human bond. Until you’ve seen where someone works, what they where, what kind of pictures they have on their walls (or cubicle)  . what kind of music they listen to, a picture of their family, ,how tall they are, etc, what do you truly know about them ?   I was astonished to find all the people today to be just about as tall as they sound on the phone..

How would I have known that if i had not shaken each of their hands ?  Anyway.. it was a really interesting and useful day work wise.. I learned a ton and met some folks who I’m bound to become good working freinds with  and met some super sharp interns. .. can’t ask more form a business trip.

 

After work , friend Pam invited me over to her house to meet her husband scott and son cody..
Pam has been one of the folks helping me learn the ropes since taking my new job. Pam , Scott, Cody and their daughet Maya (away at camp) live in a really nice part of Raleigh that backs up on a park thats several hundred acres big. Despite the heat and humidity, Scott, Pam and I took a two mile walk around the small lake there.. it was great being outside.. and getting to know scott and pam out of work…

After our walk.. we all went to a good pizza place and had a nice dinner.. Around 9:00 it occurred to me that I was  running on less than 4 hours o sleep.. and headed back to my hotel…   I tlked to Diane on the way.. she’d told me earlier that it was 90 degrees out in Jonesville this afternoon and 85 degrees IN OUR ROOM !!!!  I hope all you guys can sleep tonight…

The weather here reminds me so much of the weather I grew up with in houston.. .. hot and ‘soft’ air.. like a warm each. you step out of an air conditioned car.. and suddenly.. you’re covered in mist…

kind of a cool look .. no ?

 

more tomorrow..

 

nite all, nite sam

-me