Goodbye, California

This week went by incredibly fast, as you might imagine. I spent every single day doing basically nothing. I brought along a few 'academic papers' and some half constructed matlab code with high hopes of accomplishing something (anything) while on my quasi-vacation, but alas it was not meant to be. 'Reading academic papers' turned into 'taking pictures of myself beside california-looking things', and 'writing code' turned into 'trying to get a tan so people believe I actually went to California'. So the week was spent mainly relaxing and watching other people (John and Chris) do work like lugging car batteries and GPS equipment around.

Well, my slacking days are over (for the time being). I'm in a hotel in Sacramento and am being picked up by the Super Shuttle at 3:45am. My flight leaves at 6am, I'll fly to Denver, then to Laguardia, then arriving in Boston at 10pm. The C&J trailways bus will take me to Portsmouth, and I'll take a taxi from the station to home sweet home. I should arrive sometime near 1am. The next day I will meet Gretchen and her family at 7:00am in preparation for the graduation day ceremony. After the ceremony we're going for lunch and celebratory drinks at Kennebunk with Gretchen's family and friends. Much coffee will be consumed between now and Saturday night.

PS: for anyone who is not sure, this is not my graduation. It is Gretchen's. And many others. And believe it or not, Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. are speaking at the graduation ceremony. I'm not joking

Gretchen's visit

Gretchen came up to sunny New Hampshire for a couple of days to hang out and to pick up her graduation gown (how exciting!). It's great to have the G-force back in town, even if it's super brief. but she'll be back in a few weeks for the graduation - and she's going to bring the infamous Maxwell (James Clerk Maxwell the dog). Oh yes, and she'll bring Ryan too. Gretchen convinced Barbara to pick up some doughnuts at the bakery in Somersworth (or Rochester, or wherever it is) - because they are the best doughnuts ever. ever. so Barb brought them in and put them in the lunchroom. They were gone so fast. Good thing I grabbed one as soon as they were put out. I can smell free doughnuts from a mile away.